We kicked off September with a fun and tasty Labor Day BBQ and my mouth is still watering over the perfection of our meal. My husband, master griller and smoker of meats, pulled out all the stops by smoking up a tasty beef rope sausage from Southside Market and Barbeque out of Texas and a brisket we bought locally. If meat is a love language for you too, you’ll want to read on. 

Beef Rope Sausage Link Goodness:

• 1 Large can of Chicken Breast meat in water
• ¾ jar  Blue Cheese Dressing
• 2 tablespoons (or more to taste) Cayenne based Hot sauce (think Tabasco®, Franks® or Texas Pete®)
• 1 cup celery, diced small (reserve celery greens for garnish)
• 1 package Neufchatel Cheese or softened Cream cheese

In large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients together until Chicken breast meat is broken apart and ingredients mixed in.

Garnish with celery greens and chill for at least an hour before serving.

Serve with your favorite chips, crackers, carrots, celery sticks or any dip-able veggie.

My husband loves this dip best with big dipper corn chips and celery sticks. He’s requested it for this week’s game and since it takes just 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes to make, I’m happy to oblige his request! Another great thing about this recipe is it is easy to double, or even triple the serving amount to feed a crowd!

Whether you watch the game from home, or are heading out to do some tailgating, try making and serving our Hearty Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip. It really is perfect football fan food!

Do you watch football games with your family? Do you have a favorite NFL team, or do you enjoy college games more? Please let me know in comments!

• 1 pound Roasted Red Pepper Sausage (or any bulk sausage flavor you like)
• 2 cups (8oz.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 can (8oz) Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls (choose your favorite brand)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Spray foil with cooking spray, set aside.
• Cook sausage on medium heat until just brown, drain and put in mixing bowl.
• Add cheese and rosemary to bowl and mix with hands or spoon.
• Unroll crescent dough onto floured work surface; coat each side of dough with flour.
• Cut dough into about ¼ -inch pieces with a pizza cutter or knife.
• Mix crescent dough pieces into bowl of sausage mixture in small amounts until well blended.
• Shape mixture into 40 inch sized balls. Place on pan.
• Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.