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appetizers

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Kale pesto pizza is delicious, healthy option for pizza lovers

We’re never too old for a simple slice of cheese pizza, but the best part of being an adult might actually be the whole new world of pizza toppings we open ourselves up to. Seriously — you probably started to order veggies, and even things like pears, on your pizza somewhere around the time you got excited you could pay all your bills on time. Since then, you’ve never looked back. The great pizza awakening also means you no longer need red sauce to consider it a proper pie, so I don’t need to tell you that pesto can go on pizza. But wait! What if I said that this pesto can be made of kale — the ultimate adult vegetable — and you’re going to love it! My friends (adults when they want to be) were shocked to find out my pesto sauce was made with kale instead of the basic basil they…

Parmesan crisps make for a perfect, crunchy appetizer

One ingredient recipe? I’m totally in. These paper-thin wafers make for incredible appetizers. A thin layer of fresh-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is sprinkled into a hot non-stick pan until it bubbles and forms a lacy pattern, full of delicious cheese flavor. Your appetizer effort can end there. But you may also choose to top with a touch more flavor by adding basil, sesame seeds, cumin or black pepper. I chose to use thin jalapeño slices on some and a dried garlic and rosemary blend on others — our ingredient count is still only at three so I figured that was still in the “insanely easy” category of cooking. It’s best to experiment a little at first so you can get the heat in the pan just right. Once you have it right, you can turn out tons of them in no time. Make sure your cheese is real Parm-Reggiano or another hard, grating cheese.…

Grapefruit, avocado, capers, a flavorful salad for all seasons

Discounts can lead you to make some questionable choices. In one of those “I’m totally saving money” moments, I purchased an enormous jar of capers for two bucks at the market a few months ago. (It was 150 servings!) My love of the little briny flower buds is strong, but how many cups of capers can one person honestly eat? Since my excessive purchase, I’ve let them be my muse. You’d think a recipe like the one below would have started with the citrus at its center. But actually, it was the salty capers that lead me in. But no matter where you start in a recipe, it’s the final product that matters most. This recipe works all year round. Make it in the winter when citrus is in peak season. Or whip it up in summer when we have an endless appetite for all things fruity. The sour to semi-sweet grapefruit pairs perfectly with the smooth,…

20 recipes you can make in a muffin pan

It should be a rule that all kitchen tools and appliances should have to do double duty. There’s just not enough space for a tool that can only slice strawberries or cut hotdogs. If your muffin pan has only ever met blueberries, it’s definitely being underused. So take it beyond the muffin, and try these 20 delicious recipes that will help you justify owning that specialty pan. Bacon & Avocado Hash Brown Egg Cups Start the morning with these bite sized cups. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2744449756654183/ Garlic Knots An easy appetizer for the Big Game and beyond. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/277745502001222303/ Buffalo Chicken Cups Wonton wrappers make an crispy cup for delicious contents. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/257197828700485103/ Mini Potato Gratin Stacks Great as a party for or even a fancy dinner. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535998793136688346/ Make-Ahead Egg Muffins An easy breakfast on-the-go. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/44613852535996935/ Spinach, Tomato, Eggwhite Breakfast Bites A bite-sized breakfast that will let you stick to your New Year’s resolution. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/123778689738894492/ Crunchy Taco Cups Fun to top…

The most searched Super Bowl recipe in your state

No matter who makes it in the Super Bowl this year, one thing everyone can get behind is a table full of delicious appetizers. And let’s be honest, some people will only be there for the food, so you better make it good! Google released a list of the most-searched football playoff recipes by state to help you out. They results have been divided into five categories: dips/salsa, dessert, wings, chili, and other. Everything from porchetta sandwiches in Alabama to homemade Oreo cookies in Wyoming, cornbread cake, and grilled pork belly made the cut. Check out your state’s favorite snack when watching football below. Most searched Super Bowl recipe by state: Alabama — Porchetta Alaska — Spinach Quiche Arizona — Cornbread Cake Arkansas — Cheese Dip California — Cupcakes Colorado — Queso Dip Connecticut — Cupcakes Delaware — Chili Florida — Spinach Artichoke Dip Georgia — Pico De Gallo Hawaii…

Brie, cranberry and pecan stuffed mushrooms holiday appetizer

You can never have too many simple and tasty appetizers up your sleeve. These delicious stuffed mushrooms are impressive at any gathering, but are easy enough to whip up for yourself on a weeknight. They’re warm, filling and have just the right about of sweetness, creaminess and crunchiness to satisfy your cravings. Brie, cranberry and pecan stuffed mushrooms Ingredients 12-18 large white mushrooms or mini Portobello mushrooms 1/4 cup dried low-sugar cranberries 4-6 ounces of creamy Brie, cut in small cubes 3 tbsp pecan pieces 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Fresh cracked black pepper Directions Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Wipe mushroom caps with a damp cloth or remove dirt or residue, then carefully remove the stem. Brush mushroom caps with olive oil and place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with pepper. Stuff each pepper with several cubes of brie, cranberries and…

Spicy cranberry and pomegranate, brie crostini bites

Crostini literally means “little toasts.” But don’t let that simple translation fool you into thinking this is some bland breakfast. These tiny bites bring big flavor to the party. The sweet pomegranate seeds pair perfectly with the tart cranberries, creamy brie, crunchy baguette and just the right amount of kick from a jalapeño pepper. (You can leave out the pepper if you must, but you’ll miss out on that delicious sweet heat.) It’s the closest thing to appetizer perfection that can come out of your kitchen this holiday. Cranberry and pomegranate Crostini Crostini Ingredients 1 quality baguette, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp salted butter, melted 8 ounces of brie cheese, softened Cranberry Relish Ingredients 1 pound fresh cranberries, rinsed 1 cup sugar 3/4-1 cup pomegranate arils or seeds 1 jalapeño pepper (adjust according to your love of spice), finely chopped Directions Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a…

Cranberry, spinach pinwheels make a perfect holiday appetizer

These cranberry tortilla pinwheel wraps are a perfect holiday appetizer. They’re just bursting with festive color. Red cranberries pop against the creamy white cheese and dark green spinach. The flavor is a perfect blend of sweet and savory, and they’re filling, too. If you need to feed a lot of people, these will help you get there. For a little crunch, try them with the addition of walnuts, too! Cranberry, Spinach Pinwheels Serves 4 as an appetizer  Ingredients  2 large spinach tortillas 1 package cream cheese (8 oz.), room temperature 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1 cup baby spinach leaves, loosely packed 3/4 cup dried low-sugar cranberries 1/4 cup green onion, thinly chopped 1/4 cup walnut pieces (optional) Directions Wilt spinach by zapping in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. Spinach will shrink in size and should be easy to stir with other ingredients. If spinach is still too fresh, microwave another 10-20 seconds. In…

Sweet potato bites big on flavor

If you’re a fan of the Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole — that delicious dessert disguised as a vegetable — you’ll go crazy for these cute, bite-sized sweet potato appetizers. Serve them before dinner or alongside it for an updated take on this old-fashioned favorite. Cook time is almost no time, so you can serve these hot whenever you would like. This recipe is so simple, you might even make them beyond Thanksgiving day. Just wash and slice one or two medium-sized sweet potatoes. Cook. Top with  marshmallow pieces, pecans, cinnamon and syrup and enjoy. It tastes just like the real thing — but everyone knows finger foods are so much more fun. Sweet potato bites Serves 4-6 as an appetizer Ingredients 2 medium thickness sweet potatoes about 7-8 large marshmallows (cut in thirds) cooking spray 20-30 pecan halves 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 3 tbsp maple syrup Directions Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat baking dish…

The snacks Martha Stewart never travels without

There are some foods that should not be packed for the office, a plane, or any public space. Tuna fish, hard-boiled eggs, smelly cheese — anything that is going to be offensive to other people in proximity to you. But when you’re Martha Stewart, you can do whatever you want. Stewart recently spoke to the New York Times and shared that her go-to travel snack is none other than hard-boiled eggs. “My hard-boiled eggs are just so much better than any eggs on the plane,” Stewart said. “They’re from my own chickens. I take them for everybody I’m traveling with.” (Okay, it’s nice she shares.) For longer flights she says she might make “a delicious smoked salmon sandwich on seven-grain bread” or tabbouleh salad. Other Stewart-approved plane snacks include homemade yogurt with apple sauce. Basically, she comes prepared for any kind of hunger pang so she doesn’t have to eat what…