Tag: Appetizer

Perfectly Seared Brown-Butter Steak Bites

Perfectly Seared Brown-Butter Steak Bites

Perfectly Seared Brown-Butter Steak Bites—is there anything more delicious than the combination of butter and tender, medium-rare red meat? I’ve had steak bites at restaurants as an appetizer and I’ve always wanted to make them. The most popular version on the internet uses lots of 

Warm Spinach Dip for a Crowd

Warm Spinach Dip for a Crowd

This Warm Spinach Dip for a Crowd is the perfect recipe for a large gathering. Serving the dip warm so the cheese is oh-so gooey is only one secret to this spinach dip. There are at least two other secrets to this recipe—feta cheese and 

French Onion Dip with Caramelized Onions

French Onion Dip with Caramelized Onions

Every holiday or special occasion I can remember, my family had a snack table we would nibble on prior to the main meal. One of my favorite snacks—potato chips and French onion dip. I recently had a hankering for this nostalgic snack. When I read 

Mom’s Classic Deviled Eggs

Mom’s Classic Deviled Eggs

I have been making my Mom’s Classic Deviled Eggs for years. Mom would make them for almost every family gathering and party. If people were coming over for Christmas dinner, New Years Day, a Superbowl party, Easter dinner, or a summer barbecue then most likely 

Easy-To-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

Easy-To-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

Why hard boiled eggs can be challenging for home cooks Something that seems so simple, boiling an egg, can be a challenge. On the one hand, there are two ingredients eggs and water. Yet, I’ve had under cooked, over cooked eggs with a green ring, 

Mini-Pepper Nachos

Mini-Pepper Nachos

Finally, a whole-food healthy version of nachos. These delightful bites are grain-free and dairy-free. Plus, peppers are a good source of vitamin C. Whether you want to enjoy a nutritious appetizer or introduce others to a healthier option these mini-pepper nachos are easy to make 

Greek Turkey Meatballs (Keftedes)

Greek Turkey Meatballs (Keftedes)

Yes, you can make Greek meatballs using ground turkey. My husband and I love my all-beef Greek Meatballs. We often serve them to guests with rave reviews. I wondered if they would taste just as good with extra-lean ground turkey. The answer is yes! The 

Blistered Shishito Peppers

Blistered Shishito Peppers

The first time I had blistered shishito peppers was at a speak-easy in Ft. Collins, Colorado called The Social. My husband and I celebrated many special occasions there: birthdays, anniversaries, and out-of-town guests. They had the best atmosphere (in the basement of a building like 

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Balsamic, and Dried Cherries

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Balsamic, and Dried Cherries

Brussels sprouts weren’t on my radar. I don’t remember the first time I had them. I don’t remember my mom making them. My best guess is that I was at a restaurant that served them roasted. I was probably at a steak place with friends 

Homemade Ranch Dressing (and Dip)

Homemade Ranch Dressing (and Dip)

I love the convenience of bottled salad dressings, but equally important is knowing exactly what all the ingredients are in those type of convenience foods. If I buy salad dressing from a store I prefer to buy the kind that needs to be refrigerated. The 

Tzatziki

Tzatziki

There are a boat load of recipes for tzatziki, I know.  I have been on a quest for the recipe that I remember from my youth. I grew up in the Metro-Detroit area and I enjoyed many dinners in Greek Town. Oh, the memories—fresh warm 

Greek-Inspired Salad with Cannellini Beans, Red Onions, and Feta

Greek-Inspired Salad with Cannellini Beans, Red Onions, and Feta

I don’t know why I have waited so long to blog about this salad. My husband and I have enjoyed this salad for years. We serve it to company. You can serve it family-style, split between six bowls, or split between two bowls. Add some 

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce leaves make a great vehicle for low carb meals and snacks. Recently, I was craving an egg salad sandwich, but I didn’t want to have the added carbs with this particular meal. I thought why not put it in a lettuce leaf. This seems 

Salsa – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Salsa – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

In full disclosure this is a semi-homemade salsa because this recipe uses canned tomatoes. Someday if I run across amazing tomatoes from a farmer’s market, or if I grow my own then I’ll make a 100% homemade version. That said, this salsa tastes so fresh 

Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad

This salad is a family favorite. We eat it all the time. My father-in-law recently stayed with us and when I asked him what some of his favorite “bites” were during his stay the first thing he said was “Caesar salad.” Wow. I was surprised…a 

Buffalo Wings – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Buffalo Wings – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

I am a Buffalo Wing snob and this recipe is inspired by Outback’s Kookaburra Wings. I won’t go as far to call these a copycat. However, my husband and I agree they are so much better than wings we’ve had at many restaurants. We have 

Mom’s Oven-Roasted Barbecued Ribs

Mom’s Oven-Roasted Barbecued Ribs

Recently someone asked my husband who makes his favorite barbecued ribs. I was so proud when he said, “my mother-in-law.” My mom does make the best ribs. The ribs she makes are the bar by which I judge all other ribs. I grew up on 

Fresh and Simple Guacamole

Fresh and Simple Guacamole

I have to confess that I’ve made this guacamole recipe a few times. The problem is that I’m usually whipping it up so fast I forget to take pictures of all the steps. Now, I think I have enough pictures to piece together for a 

Oven-Broiled Peel-and-Eat Shrimp with Garlic-Butter Zip Sauce

Oven-Broiled Peel-and-Eat Shrimp with Garlic-Butter Zip Sauce

This Oven-Roasted Peel-and-Eat Shrimp can be prepped in advance and broiled in minutes. The garlic-butter zip sauce from this recipe exists in my refrigerator as a staple, so I’m always looking for creative ways to use it. The inspiration for this recipe is from a 

Fresh Fruit Platter for a Crowd

Fresh Fruit Platter for a Crowd

When recently volunteering to prepare fresh fruit for 50 people, at first I thought I would create  a couple of  extra large fruit salad bowls similar to my “Strawberry, Orange, and Grape Salad with Basil” post.  After doing some shopping and seeing what looked fresh, 

Pan-Seared Oven-Finished Salt and Pepper Rack of Lamb with Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus

Pan-Seared Oven-Finished Salt and Pepper Rack of Lamb with Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus

It was the day before Easter and I still didn’t know what to make for our Easter dinner.  This year it was going to be dinner for two, my husband and me. This was good news since “life” had been busy lately. I had already 

Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Sauce

Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Sauce

One of my favorite appetizers is a classic shrimp cocktail. If shrimp cocktail is on our menu, it’s probably a special occasion.To be honest, I’ve always bought frozen or thawed precooked shrimp; I have yet to buy raw shrimp and boil it myself for shrimp 

Not-Your-Ordinary Fruit Salad

Not-Your-Ordinary Fruit Salad

This is not-your-ordinary fruit salad because tomatoes, olives, and avocados are not often thought of as fruits. Technically, they are fruits. Add apples to the ingredient list and that makes four fruits in this salad. This salad is a bit like a party in your 

Chinese Chicken Soup

Chinese Chicken Soup

What should you do when you are craving a hearty chicken soup, but don’t want any grains or higher-carb vegetables involved? That’s how this “Chinese Chicken Soup” recipe was born. I starting thinking about all my favorite chicken soups. When I thought about “wonton” soup, 

Jeff and Zoe’s Master Boule Dough Recipe

Jeff and Zoe’s Master Boule Dough Recipe

Homemade no-knead breads are hugely popular nowadays. No wonder. In about 4 hours you can have a homemade boule.

Mostly Vegetable and Turkey Soup

Mostly Vegetable and Turkey Soup

Recently, my husband and I entertained another family for dinner. Our guests were unexpectedly surprised with a menu that was Thanksgiving part II. We did the whole thing all over again: roaster turkey, crock pot mashed potatoes, classic turkey stuffing, etc. We were all happily 

Empanaditas (Mini Empanadas)

Empanaditas (Mini Empanadas)

Some friends invited my husband and I to a party recently. Their menu called for heavy hors ‘doeuvres. That is one of my favorite kind of party menus because you can usually get many different kinds of small bites in one evening. That makes my 

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Now I know what the fuss is all about. I think everyone knew about kale chips except for me. Several months ago I saw an episode of Down Home with the Neely’s on Food Network. When I finally got around to making these and tasting 

Broiled Wild Salmon

Broiled Wild Salmon

I used to be intimidated to make a whole side of salmon. Not anymore! Making seafood has been a learning curve and it takes practice. This is a salmon preparation that I now serve to guests! Broiled Wild Salmon1 large fillet (about 2 pounds)3 tablespoons 

Authentic Recipe Italian Meatballs – Polpette

Authentic Recipe Italian Meatballs – Polpette

Who knew that a “food stuff made of ground meat” could taste so good? I had no idea how many different kinds of meatballs there were until I did a little reading on Wikipedia. There must be thousands of recipes using every kind of meat 

Roasted Garlic

Roasted Garlic

The other day I was walking through Whole Foods admiring their salad bar area (I often cruise by to get ideas) and I saw the biggest station of roasted garlic cloves that I had ever seen—hundreds of little cloves in a light amount of olive 

Garden-Fresh Pico de Gallo

Garden-Fresh Pico de Gallo

While I was grocery shopping in the produce section, I noticed that the pico de gallo was $3.99 for an 8 oz tub. Now, it is not beyond me to pay for something chopped up and ready made once in a while for a quick 

Stromboli

Stromboli

I love bread. Sometimes, I really think that I could survive on wine, bread, and cheese alone. (But it would have to be really good bread). Even though there all countless types of bread. My favorite type of bread has a crispy crust with a 

Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

This recipe has made its way to an Easter tradition in our home, and has been served as a brunch item, and used as an appetizer on occasion. If there are any left over (and that is a big “if”) I love to chop them 

Potato Pancakes—German Style

Potato Pancakes—German Style

I have had many versions of potato pancakes, after all, they come in many shapes and sizes. When I was a kid my mom made a version from leftover mashed potatoes which we all loved. I have made them from box mixes. I have ordered 

Turkey and Lettuce Roll-Ups

Turkey and Lettuce Roll-Ups

This is one of my favorite snacks or sometimes I make more and have them for lunch. Butter lettuce is easy to buy in plastic containers. I can keep a couple of these containers in the fridge and they last awhile because the roots are 


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