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Category: Appetizers & Snacks

Baked Parsnip and Sweet Potato Chips

Baked Parsnip and Sweet Potato Chips

baked1 small parsnip, peeled

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 small sweet potato, peeled

a little salt, optional

 

Preheat the oven to 300 F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a sturdy potato peeler or small swivel peeler to peel thin strips from the parsnip. Put the strips in a bowl and toss with half of the oil. Spread out in a single layer on one of the prepared baking sheets. Do the same with the sweet potato, spreading the strips on the second baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate the baking sheets. Bake for a further 5 minutes, then check and remove from the oven if crisp and browned at the edges. Otherwise continue cooking for a further 4-5 minutes, checking every minute, as the crisps can go brown very quickly. You may find that the parsnips cook slightly more quickly than the potato. Transfer the cooked chips to a bowl and sprinkle with a little salt. These are best served the day they are made but can be stored in an airtight container overnight (they may soften a bit).

 

From Top 100 Finger Foods

 

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Pimento Cheese Crisps

Pimento Cheese Crisps

pimcrisps1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimentos

8 ounces sharp cheddar

½ cup (1 stick) cold butter

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon smoked paprika

½ teaspoon sweet paprika

Dash of cayenne pepper

A generous pinch of salt

A few grinds black pepper

½ cup chopped pecans

 

Rinse and drain the pimentos and place them on paper towels.  Pat them dry and then leave them for 10 – 15 minutes to air dry.  Grate the cheese and the cold butter together in a food processor.  Switch from the grating blade to the metal blade, then add the flour, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne salt and pepper.  Process until the dough just begins to come together and looks moist and grainy.  Add the pecans and process until the dough begins to pull away from the sides and form a ball.  Add the pimentos and pulse a few times until the dough is a ball. Dump the dough onto a piece of waxed paper, scrapping out all the pimento pieces from the bowl.  Knead the dough a few times just to incorporate and distribute the pimento pieces.  Cut two more lengths of waxed paper, divide the dough into two portions and place each portion on one waxed paper length.  Form each into a log and roll tightly, pressing in to form a nice solid log.  Twist the ends like a candy wrapper.  Refrigerate the logs for at least an hour before baking, but you can refrigerate them for two days or freeze them for 3 months. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350° and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  Remove the rolls from the fridge and slice into medium-thick wafers, about 1/4 inch each.  Place on the baking sheet with a little room to spread and bake until golden around the edges and firm on the top, about 10 – 12 minutes.  Cool on the pans for a few minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool.

Zucchini Fritters with Chili Lime Mayo

Zucchini Fritters with Chili Lime Mayo

frittersVegetable oil for frying
3 cups grated zucchini
1 cup diced onion
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

 

1 cup prepared mayo
juice of half a lime
1/2 tsp chili powder

 

I started by pouring the vegetable oil in my skillet so that it was half an inch deep and turned the heat to medium. Meantime, I combined the zucchini, onion, and eggs in a large bowl.  I gave the mixture a good stir to combine. It got all kinda frothy. Awesome.   Next, I combined the flour, baking powder, 1/2 tsp of chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl and stirred to combine. To finish the batter, I added the dry ingredients to the zucchini mixture and folded it all together. To test my oil, I dipped a spoon into my batter then dipped the spoon into the oil. Once the oil bubbled in contact with the batter, I knew it was hot enough. I dropped my batter into the oil by the heaping tablespoon, frying about six fritters at a time. They cooked for 2-3 minutes a side. Once the centers were firm, I removed the fritters from the oil and let them drain on a dinner plate lined with paper towel.  To make the dip, I simply combined the prepared mayo, lime juice, and chili powder in a small mixing bowl and stirred it all up.

Cheesy Quinoa Cakes with a Roasted Garlic and Lemon Aioli

Cheesy Quinoa Cakes with a Roasted Garlic and Lemon Aioli

quinoa cakes2 cups cooked quinoa

2/3 cup grated fontina cheese

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 green onions, thinly sliced

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

2 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt to taste

aioli:

½ cup light mayonnaise

1 head of garlic, roasted

1 lemon, zested and juiced

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

 

For the cakes: Place all ingredients, except for the oil, into a mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. Season with salt and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. Pour oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium heat. Form ¼ cup patties with the quinoa mixture and place in the heated sauté pan. (this will have to be done in batches) Cook quinoa cakes for about 5 minutes on each side. Repeat with the remaining patties until all of the cakes have been cooked. Set aside. For the aioli: Place all ingredients into a food processor, season with salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and serve alongside the warm quinoa cakes.

Hawaiian Ham & Swiss Slider

Hawaiian Ham & Swiss Slider

hamsliders24 Slices of deli honey ham

6 Slices of Swiss cheese

1/3 cup Mayonnaise

1 T. Poppy seeds

1 1/2 T. Dijon mustard

1/2 cup Butter melted

1 T. Onion Powder

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 Pkg. (12 count) KING’S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls

 

Spread mayo onto 1 side of roll. Place a slice or two of ham and slice of Swiss cheese in roll. Replace the top of the rolls and bunch them closely together into a baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, melted butter, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Pour sauce over the rolls, just covering the tops. Cover with foil and let sit for 10 minutes.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for additional 2 minutes until tops are slightly browned and crisp. Serve warm.

Roasted Tomato, Basil & Cheese Crostini

Roasted Tomato, Basil & Cheese Crostini

Apps-RoastedTomato-Cheese-BasilCros5 Roma tomatoes, roasted (see instructions below)

10 fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup chopped green onion, green & white parts

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

kosher salt & pepper

1 baguette, sliced about 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick

olive oil (for drizzling on the baguette slices)

 

To roast the tomatoes: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise and arrange on the baking sheet cut side up. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt and pepper. Roast for about 40 minutes to 1 hour, or until the tomatoes are somewhat caramelized. Remove from oven and allow to cool. These can be made a day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. To prepare the baguette slices: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle a large baking sheet with olive oil. Lay the baguette slices flat on the baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle the tops of the slices with olive oil and use a small brush to evenly distribute the oil on top of the baguette slices. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until they are toasted to your liking. The longer they bake, the crunchier they become. Keep in mind that you will bake them again when making the appetizers. For the cheese mixture and assembly of the crostini: Combine the green onions, cheeses and mayonnaise and mix well. Set aside. Stack all of the basil leaves on top of each other and roll them up. Slice the rolled leaves in thin slices and separate the slices. This technique is called chiffonade. Set the basil chiffonade aside. Cut each of the roasted tomato halves in half which should give you 20 pieces of roasted tomato. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. To assemble the crostini, spread each of the baguette slices with some of the cheese mixture. Sprinkle the basil chiffonade on top of the cheese mixture. Top with a piece of roasted tomato. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese mixture is hot and bubbly, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

Cheesy Herb Kale Chips

Cheesy Herb Kale Chips

kale1 large bunch of kale, washed and dried

2 T. olive oil

1 T. apple cider vinegar

1 T. water

2 T. nutritional yeast

1 tsp. dried chives

1 tsp. dried parsley

1\2 tsp. garlic powder

1\2 tsp. dried dill

1\2 tsp. kosher salt

 

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 2-inch pieces. Place in a large bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the rest of the ingredients. (Olive oil though salt.) Pour over kale and mix well. Spread out in a single layer onto 2 baking sheets. Bake for about 50 minutes, turning the leaves halfway through, about 25 minutes. **At about 40 minutes, I’ll check on them and take out the ones that are already crispy. The leaves will never cook evenly. It helps to remove the crispy ones first and leave the rest so they can continue to bake!

 

1. There’s a variety of different kinds of kale. The most common type is curly kale which I used in this recipe. I’ve also used tuscan kale which is more tender and a little less bitter. I actually prefer to use tuscan kale, but it’s not always available.

 

2. Practice makes perfect. Even though recipes for kale chips are pretty simple, it takes a few tries to get them how you’d like. I’ve tried cooking them at many different temperatures, but have come to a conclusion that their best cooked at lower temperatures for a longer period of time. Cooking them at too high of a temperature causes them to burn easily and results in them being bitter.

 

3. Bake them in a thin layer. You want the kale chips to bake as evenly as they can, so be sure to place them side by side without overlapping.

 

Pizza Bites

Pizza Bites

pizzabitesPizza dough (or 2 cans refrigerated pizza dough)

8 oz. block mozzarella cheese

4 oz. thin sliced pepperoni

2 tsp. Italian seasoning (combine oregano, basil, parsley, and garlic)

1/4 cup olive oil

3 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Pizza or marinara sauce

 

Prepare pizza dough and roughly chop pepperoni. Cut block of mozzarella into 48 cubes. If you are going to bake some (or all!) right away preheat oven to 400°F. Grease 3 pie pans. If using refrigerated pizza dough: roll one dough out into a large rectangle and cut into 24 pieces. Repeat with 2nd pizza dough. If using homemade dough just pinch off walnut sized pieces as you go. In each dough piece place a couple pieces of chopped pepperoni and a cube of cheese. Seal dough around meat and cheese and place seam side down in pie pan. Repeat, placing approximately 16 dough balls in each pie plate. Once assembled, combine oil and spices and brush over the dough. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Now you can cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze or you can bake right away. When ready to bake: bake at 400°F for 16-20 min. Serve with warm pizza or marinara sauce.

Baba Ganouj

Baba Ganouj

4 Medium-small eggplants
Juice from two lemons
1/2 – 1 C. Tahini
6 Cloves of Garlic
1 C. finely Chopped Parsley
1/2 C finely Minced Scallions
Black Pepper
2 T. Olive Oil

Cut off and throw out the stem-ends of the eggplants. Prick the eggplants all over with a fork. Place them directly on an oven rack (preheated to 400 degrees), and roast them slowly until they pop (about 45 minutes).  When they are sagging, wrinkled, crumpled and totally soft, they are ready. Remove them from the oven and wait for them to cool enough to handle. Scoop out the insides and mash them. Combine will all other ingredients except the olive oil. Chill completely. Drizzle olive oil on just before serving.

 

Chile-Roasted Edamame

Chile-Roasted Edamame

edamame1 (12-oz.) package edamame

2 tsp. olive or vegetable oil

1/4 tsp. dried basil, crushed

1/2 tsp. chile powder

1/4 tsp. each onion salt and ground cumin

1/8 tsp. each paprika and black pepper

 

Split the edamame pods and release the beans into a bowl. Discard the pods. Stir together the oil, basil, chile powder, onion salt, cumin, paprika and black pepper in a small bowl. Drizzle the mixture over the beans and toss to coat. Arrange the beans in a single layer in a shall baking dish. Roast, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once, until the beans begin to brown. Serve hot as a vegetable side dish or cooled as a snack. Refrigerate any leftovers.

 

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Marinated Roasted Peppers, Olives and Cheese

Marinated Roasted Peppers, Olives and Cheese

6 large red or green bell peppers

1 C. whole Greek or pitted ripe olives

4 oz. mozzarella cheese, cut into cubes

1/4 C. olive or vegetable oil

1/4 C. lemon juice

2 T. chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp. chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1/4 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1 tsp. chopped fresh basil leaves or 1/4 tsp. dried basil leaves

1/2 tsp. chopped fresh sage leaves or 1/8 tsp. dried sage leaves

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

 

Set oven control to broil.   Broil bell peppers with tops about 5 inches from heat, turning occasionally, until skin is blistered and evenly browned. Place peppers in a plastic bag and close tightly. Let stand 20 minutes.   Remove skin, stems, seeds and membranes from peppers. Cut peppers into 1/4-inch strips. Place peppers, olives and cheese in glass bowl or jar.   Shake remaining ingredients in tightly covered container; pour over pepper mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours to blend flavors, stirring occasionally.    Store tightly covered in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.  Turn this recipe into a scrumptious gift by filling a decorative glass jar with the roasted pepper mixture and tying with a pretty ribbon. Attach a copy of the recipe with a sprig of fresh herbs.

 

 

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Lacy Zucchini Herb Fritters with Jack Cheese

Lacy Zucchini Herb Fritters with Jack Cheese

1 C. Flour

3/4 C. plus 2 tsp. cold Chicken Stock

2 Eggs

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Pepper

6 small Zucchini, ends trimmed and shredded

1/2 C. minced Parsley

1/4 C. minced Mint

1/4 C. minced Chives

1/2 C. grated Jack Cheese

1/4 C. Parmesan Cheese

Corn Oil for Deep Frying

 

Combine flour, stock, eggs, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. In large bowl combine zucchini, herbs and cheeses. Add batter and mix well. In deep saucepan or deep fryer, heat at least 2 inches of corn oil to 350F. Spoon batter by generous tablespoonfuls into the oil in a sweeping motion to create a thinnish, lacelike, fritter and fry until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve right away.

 

 

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Baked Polenta Fries with Spicy Lime Mayo

Baked Polenta Fries with Spicy Lime Mayo

Baked Polenta Fries with Spicy Lime MayoFries:
4 C. whole milk
1 C. water
2 T. unsalted butter
2 1/4 C. cornmeal
1/2 C. grated Parmesan
2 tsp. kosher salt, and more for sprinkling
2 T. olive oil

Chili Lime Mayo:
3 T. mayonnaise
3 dashes Cholulua (or Tobasco)
1 tsp. lime juice
Pinch salt

Spray non-stick cooking spray on a baking sheet (or casserole dish). Bring milk, 1 C. water and butter to boil in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to low and cook until polenta is very thick and starts to pull away from sides of pan, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese and salt. Add more salt if you like. Immediately transfer polenta to prepared baking sheet, spreading mixture to a 1-inch thickness. Mine filled up half of the baking sheet. No biggie. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool and firm, about 1 hour. (You can totally do this a day ahead. Just be sure to cover and keep refrigerated.) Cut polenta lengthwise in pan into three-inch-wide rectangles. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 3/4-inch-wide strips. Set polenta strips aside. Preheat oven to 450F. Transfer polenta fries to lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with about a tsp. of kosher salt and some olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the fries at the 10 minute mark. Fries, when done, will be slightly golden brown at the edges. Meanwhile, mix together the mayo, hot sauce, lime juice and pinch of salt.

Spiderweb Eggs

Spiderweb Eggs

webegg1 dozen large eggs
8 cups water
2 cups frozen blueberries
sea salt, for serving

Place eggs in single layer in a large saucepan, and cover with water and blueberries. Bring to a boil.  Remove from heat. Cover; let stand for 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs one at a time, and place on several layers of paper towels. Lightly crack shell on one side with the handle of a whisk or wooden spoon. Transfer egg to medium bowl. Repeat with remaining eggs and then pour all of the cooking liquid on top of the cracked eggs. Place bowl in the refrigerator and let cool completely.  Carefully peel shells from eggs. Serve with salt. Serve in a Halloween Bento with plastic spiders.

 

 

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Halloween Devilled Spider Eggs

Halloween Devilled Spider Eggs

spider3 slices bacon (3 oz.)

8 hard-cooked large eggs

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Salt and pepper

8 large  black olives

 

In an 8- to 10-inch frying pan over medium-high heat, cook bacon, turning slices as needed, until browned on both sides and crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. When cool enough to handle, crumble bacon. Cut each egg in half lengthwise; gently scoop out yolks and place in a bowl. Mash yolks with a fork, then stir in mayonnaise, green onions, mustard, and crumbled bacon until well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste.   Spoon or pipe about 1 tablespoon yolk mixture into the hollow of each egg-white half. Serve immediately or cover and chill up to 4 hours.  Then:  cut pitted black olives in half lengthwise and nestle one half on top of an egg for the body, and then cut the other half crosswise into thin slices to form the creepy legs.

 

 

 

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Zucchini, Cheddar and Bacon Cakes

Zucchini, Cheddar and Bacon Cakes

4 slices of bacon chopped into small pieces and fried until crisp

1 small zucchini shredded in a box grater

1 C shredded cheese

2-3 scallions, thinly chopped, white and green parts

2 eggs separated

½ C white flour

½ C yellow corn meal

2 T sour cream

dash of cayenne pepper

salt

 

Garnish: Fresh tomato, avocado, sour cream

Oil and Butter for frying

 

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except the egg whites. You will want to whip those up until soft peaks form and gently fold those into the mixture. Play with the batter until it is the texture of thick pancake batter. Heat up a large flat skillet with both a pad of butter and some olive oil until it is hot. Add a generous dollop of the batter to the hot pan and watch carefully (I lost a few because they burned!) and flatten into discs with a spatula. Be sure to fiddle with the cakes so that they don’t stick to the bottom. Once they get brown on one side flip. Place on a plate with paper towels. Serve warm with fresh tomatoes, avocado and sour cream!

 

 

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Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

wings2 pounds chicken wings

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons brown sugar

2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

 

 

For the Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

1/3 cup roasted red pepper, chopped

2 ounces goat cheese

2 tablespoons sour cream

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.  To make the dipping sauce, combine roasted red pepper, goat cheese, sour cream and salt in the bowl of a food processor until emulsified; set aside.  In a large bowl, combine wings, olive oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper, to taste.  Place wings onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn at halftime.  Serve wings immediately with dipping sauce.

Preston Bentley’s Cheese Straws

Preston Bentley’s Cheese Straws

1 C. sifted all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (or more if you like spicy food)

1/3 C. butter, melted

1 C. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 1/2 T. ice water, or, as needed

Celery seeds to sprinkle over top of cheese straws

cheese straws

Pre-heat oven to 350F°. In a medium bowl, sift flour with salt, dry mustard and cayenne pepper. With pastry blender, cut in butter and cheese until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water and stir to blend. Shape into ball. On lightly floured surface, roll out 1/8″ thick wide. Cut into strips about 3″ long and 1/2″ wide with pastry wheel. Sprinkle with celery seeds. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet and bake about 10 to 12 minutes, or until crisp.

 

 

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Orange Pekoe Tea Popsicles

Orange Pekoe Tea Popsicles

5 C. orange pekoe simple syrup

4 C. orange juice

1 C. water

Orange Pekoe Simple Syrup

1 quart water

4 C. sugar

6 bags orange pekoe tea

To make simple syrup bring ingredients to a boil. Cool, and set aside. Once cooled, mix popsicle ingredients and strain. Pour into popsicle molds, insert wooden sticks, and freeze.

 

Dilled Hummus

Dilled Hummus

dill1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans (chickpeas)

1/4 C. tahini (sesame paste)

3 T. lemon juice

1 T. olive oil or cooking oil

2 tsp. snipped fresh dill or 1/2 tsp. dried dill

1/4 tsp. salt

1 dash ground red pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

 

Combine garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, oil, dill, salt, red pepper, and garlic in a blender container or food processor bowl. Blend or process until mixture is smooth. Cover and chill up to three days. Stir before serving.

 

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Crispy Pepperoni Chips

Crispy Pepperoni Chips

6 ounces pepperoni, thinly sliced

 chip

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  Lay the pepperoni slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Remove the pan from the oven and soak up the excess grease by pressing paper towels against the pepperoni chips. Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 2 to 4 minutes, until the pepperoni slices are very crispy.  Serve as a snack anytime or use in place of crackers for dipping or for topping with your favorite cheese! They’ll stay fresh and crispy for 1 to 2 days if you store them in an airtight container.

 

Yield:  4 servings

Calories: 211

Fat: 19g

Fiber: 0g

 

 

Lime Chili Cilantro Roasted Chickpeas

Lime Chili Cilantro Roasted Chickpeas

roasted chickpeas done1 15-oz can chickpeas

3 tsp. chili powder

1 T. olive oil

1 T. fresh squeezed lime juice

1/2 tsp. sea salt

2 T. cilantro, finely chopped

Preheat oven or toaster oven to 400 degrees. Drain and rinse canned chickpeas.   In a large bowl combine chickpeas, chili powder, and, olive oil. Toss. Spread chickpeas in a single layer on lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for ABOUT 35-50 minutes, lightly shaking the pan every 15 minutes or so. They’re done when the chickpeas are lightly brown and totally crunchy. (Sorry for the less-than-exact cook time. I got a little distracted playing lumberjack—don’t ask—and lost track of how long my chickpeas were in the oven. So keep a close eye on yours from about 35 minutes on. They burn quickly at the end!) Remove from oven. Let cool completely. Toss with lime juice, cilantro, and sea salt. Serve.

 

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Firecracker Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce

Firecracker Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce

firecracker25 large tail-on shrimp, deveined

15 eggroll/springroll wrappers, cut in half diagonally (2 triangles)

Oil for frying

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 tsp. grated ginger (using rasp grater)

1/2 tsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. sweet chili sauce, plus additional for dipping

1 tsp. cornstarch

1 T. cornstarch

1/4 C. water

 

Taking a cue from the Japanese shrimp tempura, score or nick the shrimp several times along the inside of the “curve.” This lets you straighten out the shrimp so you don’t get a short, curly roll. Just be sure not to cut too far…three little nicks is good. Combine marinade ingredients in bowl, marinate shrimp for 20 minutes. Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Wrap each shrimp tightly in a eggroll/spring roll wrapper half. Seal with a little cornstarch paste on the corner. Fry in hot oil (375) for 3 minutes, until golden brown and shrimp is cooked through. Serve with sweet chili sauce for dipping

 

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Spicy Toasted Garbanzo Beans and Pistachios

Spicy Toasted Garbanzo Beans and Pistachios

2 15 1/2-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained

1/4 C. corn oil

1 tsp. coarse sea salt

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 C. shelled raw pistachios

2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

 

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss garbanzo beans with next 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Transfer mixture to rimmed baking sheet. Bake until garbanzos are golden and crisp, stirring occasionally with metal spatula, about 20 minutes. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Keep at room temperature.)  Stir pistachios and thyme into garbanzo mixture. Bake until beans and pistachios are crunchy, about 12 minutes. Transfer mixture to bowl and serve warm.

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups grated, peeled, raw zucchini

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon double-acting baking powder

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Beat the eggs until light and foamy. Add the sugar, oil, zucchini, and vanilla and mix lightly but well. Combine the flour, salt, soda, baking powder and cinnamon and add to the egg zucchini mixture. Stir until well-blended, add nuts, and pour into two 9-x-5 x-3-inch loaf pans. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 1 hour. Cool on a rack.

 

Wonton Shrimp Blossoms

Wonton Shrimp Blossoms

wonton24 square wonton skins/wraps

1 T. butter, melted

10 ounces peeled, cooked shrimp, finely chopped

2 green onions/scallions, finely chopped

1/3 C. carrot, finely grated

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. salt

Small pinch cayenne pepper, or dash of Tabasco sauce

1 C. shredded Mozzarella cheese

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).  Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. With a pastry brush, brush one side of each wonton square with melted butter and gently press into muffin cups, buttered side up. Bake 8 minutes or until brown and crisp. Remove from oven and cool. Meanwhile, combine cream cheese and remaining ingredients, mixing well. With a small scoop (or 2 tsp.), fill each baked wonton C. with a rounded scoop of shrimp mixture. Place filled C. on a baking sheet as you fill them, then bake 5 to 6 minutes, or until filling is hot and bubbling around edges.

 

 

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Antipasti Bites

Antipasti Bites

anti24 slices of hard or genoa salami (about 4 inches in diameter)

1 C. marinated artichoke hearts, chopped fine

1/2 C. roasted red peppers, chopped fine

4 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes

1/4 C. fresh basil, chopped

 

Press one salami slice down into a regular sized muffin cup in a muffin tin.  Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 10 minutes until salami is crisp.  Transfer to a plate to cool.  Mix all other ingredients together and spoon into cups to serve

 

Chevy’s Pico De Gallo

Chevy’s Pico De Gallo

2 C. Tomatoes, diced into 3/8” pieces

½ C. White Onion, diced

2 T. chopped Cilantro

1 ½ T. Jalapeno, stemmed and seeded, then minced

2 tsp. fresh Lime Juice

½ tsp. Salt

 

Combine all ingredients; mix well.  Serve chilled.

From Chevy’s Tex Mex Cookbook

 

 

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Cheesy Herb Pinwheels

Cheesy Herb Pinwheels

3 C. Original Bisquick® mix

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2/3 C. water

2 T. butter or margarine, melted

1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese

1 C. pizza sauce

Heat oven to 425ºF. Grease cookie sheet. Mix Bisquick, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and water until dough forms. Turn dough onto surface dusted with Bisquick; gently roll in Bisquick to coat. Knead 10 times.   Roll dough into 18×10-inch rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with cheeses. Tightly roll up dough; pinch edge to seal. Cut roll into eighteen 1-inch slices. Place on cookie sheet.    Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until golden. Heat pizza sauce until hot. Dip pinwheels into sauce.

 

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Zucchini Fritters – Meze

Zucchini Fritters – Meze

Although these fritters are at their best when hot, in many Turkish cafés they are served at room temperature accompanied by the yogurt-cucumber sauce called cacik. Traditionally part of the meze course, they also make a nice side dish for seafood, poultry or lamb.

1 pound small zucchini, coarsely grated

Salt

1/2 pound feta cheese, or equal parts feta and kasseri or ricotta

6 green onions, minced

1/2 C. chopped fresh dill

1/4 C. chopped fresh mint

1/4 C. chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 C. all-purpose flour

Freshly ground pepper

Peanut oil for frying

Yogurt-Cucumber Sauce

Place the zucchini in a sieve or colander, salt it lightly and toss to mix. Let stand for 30 minutes to draw out the excess moisture. Using a kitchen towel, squeeze the zucchini dry and place it in a bowl. Crumble the cheese over the zucchini and add the green onions, dill, mint, parsley, eggs, flour and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to mix well.  In a deep frying pan over medium-high heat, pour in the peanut oil to a depth of 1/4 inch. When the oil is hot, using a serving spoon, drop spoonfuls of the batter into the oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry, turning once, until nicely browned on both sides, 2-3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer the fritters to paper towels to drain. Keep warm until all the fritters are cooked.   Arrange the fritters on a warmed platter and serve hot.

 

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Shrimp & Pork Potstickers with Spicy Dipping Sauce

Shrimp & Pork Potstickers with Spicy Dipping Sauce

pic30m6qp1 1/2 T. soy sauce

1 T. seasoned rice vinegar

1 T. chili-garlic sauce

1 tsp. hot chili oil

 

1/4 pound ground pork

2 oz. uncooked shrimp, shelled, deveined, and finely chopped

1 egg white

1/4 C. minced water chestnuts

2 T. minced Chinese celery

1 tsp. minced cilantro leaves

1/2 tsp. minced ginger

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. sesame oil

Dash ground white pepper

24 potsticker wrappers

3 T. cooking oil

2/3 C. chicken broth or water

 

To make the sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, chili-garlic sauce and hot chili oil. Mix well and reserve. To make the filling: In a large bowl, combine, the pork, shrimp, egg white, water chestnuts, celery, cilantro, ginger, sugar, salt and sesame oil. Season with a little pepper and mix, stirring rapidly in 1 direction until the mixture is well combined and spongy. To make the potstickers: Working in batches, lay 4 potsticker wrappers on a clean surface. Keep the remaining wrappers covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying. Put a heaping tsp. of filling in the center of each of the 4 wrappers. Brush the edges with water. Fold the wrappers in half over the filling, pinching the edges together to form semi-circles. Put the potstickers on a baking sheet seam-side up and cover with a clean towel. Repeat until all the potstickers have been formed. To cook the potstickers: Heat a large skillet over medium. Add about 1 1/2 T. of oil. When the oil is hot add half the potstickers, seam-side up. Cook the potstckers until the bottoms are golden and crisp, about 4 minutes. Add 1/3 C. broth. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the liquid is absorbed, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the cooked potstickers to a platter. Repeat, cooking the remaining potstickers. Serve the potstickers warm accompanied by the dipping sauce.

 

 

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Luscious Lunch on a Stick

Luscious Lunch on a Stick

luscious-lunch-on-a-stick-recipe-photo-260-ak-0001You can make up “Kebabs” with many different foods, using straws instead of skewers. They are quick to put together and easy to pack in the lunch box. Add a container of ketchup or a dip for extra flavour. Here are some ideas for you to try, but feel free to make up your own combinations, choosing healthy foods that your child enjoys. There is plenty of scope for your children to help with this task.

Slices of ham or turkey rolled up and interspersed with cubes of cheese and wedges of pineapple

Cherry tomatoes and chunks of cucumber mozzarella cheese

Slices of cooked sausage and gherkin

Pieces of carrot, celery, cucumber, bell pepper, and baby corn

Squares of Spanish omelette

Salami, cubes of mozzarella cheese, and cherry tomatoes

 

Skewer any combination above for a perfect lunch or finger food snack for the kids.

 

From Lunch Boxes and Snacks

 

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AB’s Lime Tortilla Chips

AB’s Lime Tortilla Chips

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

2 teaspoons kosher salt

10 fresh corn tortillas, cut into quarters

2 quarts peanut oil

 

In a small mixing bowl, combine the lime juice and salt. One at a time, dip the chips into the mixture and arrange on a cooling rack set inside a sheet pan. Allow to dry for 1 hour or until there are no visible signs of moisture on the chips.  Place the oil into a 5-quart pot or Dutch oven and heat to 365 to 375 degrees F. Gently lower the chips, 5 to 6 at a time, into the oil and fry for 20 to 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon or spider, remove the chips to a newspaper-lined sheet pan. Allow to cool 3 to 4 minutes before serving.

 

 

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Mango Chutney and Cheese Crostini

Mango Chutney and Cheese Crostini

crostini1 French Baguette cut 1/2 inch slices

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Cheese of your choice like Blue Cheese, Brie, Gouda

1 jar Patak’s Mango Chutney

A few sprigs of Herb of your choice
Preheat oven to 400F.  Place a parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil. Place on the baking sheet.  Bake for 3 minutes. Turn over and bake another 3 minutes.   Top each slice of bread with cheese and Chutney. Decorate with herbs.
Mediterranean Dip with Pita Chips

Mediterranean Dip with Pita Chips

1/2 C. Sour Cream

7 oz. Hummus

1/2 C. Sliced Kalamata Olives

4 oz. Feta Cheese, crumbled

6 oz. Jar Marinated Artichoke Hearts, drained, chopped and reserve marinade

1.4 C. Sliced Green Onions

1 medium Carrot, shredded

4 6” Pita Pocket Breads

 

In medium bowl, combine sour cream and hummus; mix well.  Spread mixture on 10” serving plate.  Sprinkle with Olives, cheese, artichoke hearts, onions, and carrots.  Drizzle with reserved artichoke marinade.  Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour, but for no more than 12.  Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Split pita breads in half horizontally.  Cut each round in half; cut each half cross-wise into 4 11/2” wide strips.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake 8-10 minutes, or until crisp.  Serve pita chips with dip.

 

Pimientos Rellenos del Piquillo con Chorizo ​​y Manchego – Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Chorizo & Manchego

Pimientos Rellenos del Piquillo con Chorizo ​​y Manchego – Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Chorizo & Manchego

peppersExtra-virgin olive oil

1/2 small onion, finely diced

Kosher salt

Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

1 garlic clove, smashed and finely chopped

1/4 pound chorizo, casing removed and finely chopped

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated aged Manchego

1/2 bunch Italian parsley, leaves finely chopped

1 (10-ounce) jar piquillo peppers, drained and patted dry

2 cups washed baby arugula

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

2 scallions, white and green, cut very thin on the bias

Sherry vinegar

Big fat finishing extra-virgin olive oil (high quality)

 

Coat a saute pan, over medium heat, with olive oil. Add the onion, season with salt, to taste, and toss in the crushed red pepper. Saute the onions until they are soft and very aromatic, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 2 to 3 more minutes. Stir in the chorizo and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the bread crumbs. Let the mixture cool. When cool, add the Manchego and parsley. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.   Stuff the peppers with the filling and arrange them on a sheet pan. If there is extra stuffing, press a little on top of each of the peppers. Put the peppers in the oven to warm through, about 8 minutes.  While the peppers are in the oven, combine the arugula, almonds and scallions in a large bowl. Dress the salad with sherry vinegar, big fat finishing oil and salt, to taste. Check for seasoning and divide the salad between 4 serving plates.  Remove the peppers from the oven and arrange 2 peppers on each salad. Serve while the peppers are warm.

 

 

Tapas

 

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Asparagi Fritti al Proscuitto

Asparagi Fritti al Proscuitto

16 fresh asparagus spears, washed and trimmed

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons butter

2 eggs, beaten together

Flour, for dredging

16 slices prosciutto

1 tablespoon cooking oil

Asparagi Fritti al Proscuitto

Cook Asparagus in boiling salted water until barely tender, about 10  minutes. Drain in a colander, spray with cold water, and pat dry. Lay  asparagus out on a platter. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter and drizzle it  over asparagus spears. Put beaten eggs on one plate and flour for dredging  on another. Heat remaining butter and oil in a skillet. Wrap each asparagus  spear in a slice of prosciutto. Roll them in flour (brush off excess), dip  in egg, and sauté them until golden, about 2 minutes to a side. Drain on  paper towels and serve hot.

 

Chorizo Puff Pastry Rolls

Chorizo Puff Pastry Rolls

whirls1 square puff pastry

Ricotta cheese

Very thin slices of chorizo

Arugula

Small basil leaves

Grated Hard Cheese

Pepper

1 egg yolk

Roll out the dough thinly. Spread over the ricotta, generous. Layer chorizo, arugula and basil.  Cut into slices about 1cm then crush them lightly between your palms. Place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Brush with egg yolk. Put the baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350 ° to 375 ° and go, leave in the oven for fifteen minutes.

Brie, Apple & Nut Crescents

Brie, Apple & Nut Crescents

Brie, Apple & Nut CrescentsCrescent Rolls

Tart Apple, such as Granny Smith

Pecan Halves

Brie Cheese

Honey

 

Unroll crescent dough.  Top with a piece of Brie, a slice of PEELED apple, and a couple of pecan halves.  Drizzle with a bit of honey.   Roll up loosely; twist and secure ends if you are worried about brie escaping.  Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes.

Hummus Dip

Hummus Dip

15oz. Can Chickpeas

1/4 C. Hot Water

2 tsp. Lemon Juice

4 Garlic Cloves, peeled and chopped

1/4 C. Smooth Peanut Butter

1 tsp. Dark Sesame Oil

1 tsp. Cumin

1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

4 Green Onions, chopped

1 tsp. Chopped Fresh Cilantro

1 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 

Rinse chickpeas and put them in the bowl of a food processor.  Begin to process, gradually adding the hot water to obtain a light, spreadable consistency.  Add the lemon juice, garlic, peanut butter, sesame oil, cumin and cayenne and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Process until well blended and smooth.  Mound the spread into a serving bowl or on a platter surrounded by pita chips.  Sprinkle with green onions, cilantro and olive oil.