Appetizers

Cotija Chipotle Corn Guacamole

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With Memorial Day right around the corner, I’ve been planning what will be on the menu.  This Cotija Chipotle Corn Guacamole, inspired by Mexican elote, is a must make! One of my favorite treats is elote, a popular Mexican dish of freshly roasted corn that is spread with mayonnaise, rolled in crumbled cotija cheese, then dusted [...]

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Tomato Bacon Chutney

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The story of my tomato bacon chutney is one of sheer will and determination triumphing over my proverbial MBS (“Mommy Brain Syndrome”).  Tomato bacon chutney is one of those condiments that could be eaten on so many things that I should just plan on always having a container of it sitting in the fridge.  Versatility [...]

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Salt & Pepper Roasted Nuts—Daydreaming of Chile

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Almonds and walnuts tossed in a salt and pepper mixture, then roasted, make a wonderful afternoon snack or easy appetizer. (Hey, the Super Bowl is coming up!)  I’ve whipped up several batches of these nuts in the past week because they disappear so quickly.  This recipe was inspired by an opportunity that came up recently [...]

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Three Pepper Jelly

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Three pepper jelly and goat cheese served with crackers makes my list of perfect party foods.  All of the work on this appetizer is done ahead of time, making it perfect for a stress-free party lineup.  When it comes to entertaining, I am all about easy.  Yes, I want the food to be good, but [...]

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Candied Seven Spice Almonds

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Merry Christmas Eve!! I can’t believe it is already December 24th.  This month has flown by quicker than I could say Kris Kringle.  We have especially enjoyed the Christmas season in our family this year, as Squirrel is more excited and filled with wonder about the magic and traditions of the holiday than ever before, [...]

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Roasted Potato Wedges with Gomashio (Japanese Sesame Salt)

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A match made in comfort food heaven: roasted potato wedges sprinkled with fragrant nutty gomashio—Japanese sesame salt, one of my all-time favorite condiments.  

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Orange Slices with Basil Lime Sugar—A Utility Knife Adventure

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Orange slices topped with a basil lime sugar is one of my favorite quick snacks, or simple appetizers to whip up when I’m craving citrus.  I hesitate to call it a recipe because there’s really nothing to it, but I’m sharing it with you nonetheless.  This dish is also a great way to work on [...]

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Ham & Cheese Endive Nachos

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Is it just me, or does the word “nachos” strike a comfort food chord for you too?  There’s something about the combo of crunchy, cheesy, salty, and juicy that tastes so darn good!  The non-comforting part about nachos is their tendency to be a bit higher in the calorie and fat counts.  Well, I recently [...]

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Lighter Avocado Dip

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Add this recipe to ZipList! Lighter Avocado Dip Makes 10 servings 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 ounces nonfat plain Greek yogurt 3 ripe avocados, peeled, seeded, and cut into large chunks 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, chopped 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 1 red jalapeno, [...]

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Celebrate the Super Bowl with Turkey Avocado Onigiri Footballs

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Add this recipe to ZipList! Turkey Avocado Onigiri Footballs Makes approximately 6 onigiri 1 medium avocado, peeled and pitted 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 thin slices turkey (lunch-meat style) 3 cups freshly steamed Japanese rice 1 sheet nori (seaweed) Special equipment: football-shaped cookie cutter 1. Mash the avocado, lime juice, and [...]

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