Tag: appetizers

Mexican Street Corn Dip with Chips

Mexican Street Corn Dip with Chips

Mexican Street Corn Dip with Chips is one of our favorite summer appetizers. I love this appetizer for several reasons. First of all, it has all of the great flavor of Mexican Street Corn, with none of the mess and fuss. Secondly, this dip is 

Red Beet and Tahini Hummus Dip

Red Beet and Tahini Hummus Dip

Red Beet and Tahini Hummus Dip is one of our favorite summer appetizers. I love this dip for several reasons. First of all, I adore the pretty pink color of this hummus. Secondly, I really like the flavor the beets impart to the hummus. The 

Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa

Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa

Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa are a terrific meatless appetizer or main course. Filled with sweet peppers and onions, these quesadillas are topped with a fruity salsa. I love these cheese quesadillas for several reasons. First of all, I love that these are meatless. For that reason, these are great for people who don’t eat meat. Secondly, these quesadillas can be made ahead of time and reheated. That way, you can make them up to two days before you plan to serve them. Lastly, I love how packed with vegetables these quesadillas are. Personally, I sometimes struggle to eat enough vegetables, so these really help me out.

The Equipment I Used

  • A Grill Pan- I like cooking my quesadillas on a grill pan. If you’re using a gas stove, be sure to use a heavy cast iron or enameled cast iron pan. You could also use a cast iron skillet.
  • A Large Skillet- Use this to cook your peppers and onions.

The Ingredients Needed for Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa

  • Cheese- I used Monterey Pepper Jack cheese.
  • Peppers- For sweet flavor and pretty color, I used red, orange, and yellow peppers.
  • Jalapeno- Be sure and remove the seeds and membranes before you dice your pepper.
  • Black Beans- I always use dried beans and cook them myself. You can cook a big batch and store them in the freezer.
  • Tortillas- Use large flour tortillas to make these cheese quesadillas.
  • Peaches- I used white peaches but you can use any kind you like.

How I Made my Quesadillas

  • First, I made my beans. Be sure and watch your beans so they don’t burn. Add more water if it evaporates.
  • Next, while the beans cooked, I cooked the peppers and onions. Again, be sure and make sure they don’t burn.
  • Then, I also made the salsa.

If you like Tex-Mex food, you need to try these delicious Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa.

Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa
Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa
Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa

Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa

Quesadillas stuffed with peppers, onions, black beans and Monterey pepper jack cheese. They're topped with a Peach and Tomato Salsa.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 bell peppers, sliced (red, orange, yellow peppers)
  • 2 tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 cup onion sliced
  • 3 cups grated Monterey pepper jack cheese
  • 4 flour tortillas
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter

For the Black Beans:

  • 1 cup dried black beans
  • 1 tsp. cumin powder
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 sprigs fresh oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

For the Peach and Tomato Salsa:

  • 1 cup diced plum tomato
  • 1 cup diced peaches
  • 1 minced jalapeno
  • ½ cup minced cilantro leaves
  • 1 tbsp. lime juice
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt

Instructions
 

  • Begin by cooking the beans: Rinse the beans and remove any debris. Place in a three quart saucepan covered with several inches of water. Boil for ten minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for one hour or until they're tender. Drain well.
  • While the beans cook, prepare the salsa. Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Also, prepare the pepper filling. Heat the olive oil on medium heat in a large skillet. Add the peppers, onions, and garlic and cook until they're crisp tender, for about 7 minutes.
  • Lay out your four tortillas. Place some vegetables, beans, and cheese on half of each tortilla. Fold the tortillas in half, and cook on medium heat, on a grill pan, or in a cast iron skillet. Use some of the butter to cook each quesadilla. Just cook them long enough to melt the cheese. Serve with the salsa.
Keyword meatless
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Whipped Feta and Mascarpone Dip with Crudités

Whipped Feta and Mascarpone Dip with Crudités

Whipped Feta and Mascarpone Dip with Crudités is a quick and easy appetizer. Actually, I also like serving this as a vegetable side dish. And, this is also great to keep in the fridge for between meal snacks. There are several things I love about 

Spinach and Feta Phyllo Triangles

Spinach and Feta Phyllo Triangles

Spinach and Feta Phyllo Triangles are a terrific make ahead appetizer. Today, I made a big batch, and I plan on reheating them for a dinner party this weekend. And, it feels really good to have part of that big dinner already made. In general, 

Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta

Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta

Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta is one of our favorite Italian appetizers. Typically, the base for bruschetta is toasted bread. Here, though, I use homemade pizza dough for the base of my bruschetta. I start this recipe by making the pizza dough in my bread machine. Next, I bake the pizza dough and then cut it into triangles. Then, I top the dough with mozzarella cheese and spices and bake it again until the cheese melts. Finally, I top the bruschetta with fresh plum tomatoes and fresh basil. All in all, this is a fantastic appetizer.

The Equipment Needed

  • A Bread Machine- I use a bread machine to make my pizza dough.
  • A Pizza Stone- For crispy crust, bake your bruschetta on a pizza stone.
  • A Pizza Peel- Use this to slide your pizza in and out of the oven.
  • Parchment Paper- Line your pizza stone with this, to easily slide your bruschetta pieces in and out of the oven.
  • A Food Scale- For perfect dough results, be sure and weigh your flour.

The Ingredients Needed for Caprese Pizza Dough Nachos

  • All Purpose Flour- Use this flour for your pizza dough.
  • Yeast- Be sure and use active dry yeast for your dough, not quick rising.
  • Mozzarella Cheese- Use fresh mozzarella cheese.
  • Tomatoes- I used plum tomatoes.
  • Basil- Fresh basil adds so much fresh flavor to this recipe.

How I Made my Bruschetta

  • First, I made pizza dough in my bread machine. I actually made the dough a few days before I made my bruschetta. It keeps very well in the refrigerator.
  • Next, I baked the pizza dough for ten minutes, and then took it out of the oven and cut it into triangles.
  • Then, I topped the dough with the cheese and spices and baked it just until the cheese melted.
  • Finally, I added the tomatoes and basil and served it.
  • To reheat this dish, just bake it in the oven at 425 degrees for about five minutes.

If you like bruschetta, you simply must try this tasty Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta.

Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta
Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta
Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta

Caprese Pizza Dough Bruschetta

Pizza dough triangles topped with plum tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Servings 16 pieces

Equipment

  • Bread Machine

Ingredients
  

For the Pizza Dough:

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cups all purpose flour (120g)
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. active dry yeast

For the Bruschetta Toppings:

  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • ¼ tsp. each garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and oregano
  • 2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup basil leaves, sliced

Instructions
 

For the Pizza Dough:

  • Put all the ingredients in your bread machine, in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select the dough cycle. When the dough cycle ends, preheat the oven ( with a pizza stone inside it) to 425 degrees.
  • When the dough cycle ends, using your fingers, push out half the dough into a square on a parchment covered pizza peel. Brush with olive oil. Save the rest of the dough for another use.

For the Caprese Bruschetta:

  • Bake the pizza dough on the pizza stone for about 10 minutes, or until it's cooked through. Cut the dough into about 16 triangles.
  • Top each dough with a mozzarella slice. Sprinkle with some of the spices.
  • Bake five minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Then, top each triangle with a tomato slice and some basil. Serve warm.
Keyword Pizza
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Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas are a terrific appetizer or main dish. I love these quesadillas for several reasons. First of all, they are full of great flavor. Secondly, the whole dish can be made ahead, and reheats really easily. And, lastly, this is an excellent 

Bite-Size Pizzette Topped with Manchego and Chorizo

Bite-Size Pizzette Topped with Manchego and Chorizo

Bite-Size Pizzette Topped with Manchego and Chorizo are tiny appetizer pizzas. This recipe is easy, but there are several steps. First, I use my bread machine to make the pizza dough. Next, while the dough rises, I make a simple pizza sauce. Then, I form 

Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles

Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles

Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles are a versatile and delicious appetizer. They’re versatile because you can customize them any way you like. For instance, if you want them to be meatless, just omit the chorizo. Or, if you want them to be dairy free, just leave out the cheese. Either way, these appetizers are super yummy. In particular, my kids have always loved phyllo appetizers. Probably because they are so flakey and buttery. Best of all, these reheat very well. Just put them in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. This makes them the absolute best appetizer for entertaining.

The Equipment I Used for My Phyllo Triangles

  • A Baking Sheet- Use a parchment lined baking sheet for cooking your triangles.
  • Skillets- You will need two skillets. One, for the kale, and another for the onions .

The Ingredients Needed for Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles

  • Kale- Of course you can use fresh kale, but I found frozen kale much easier to work with.
  • Chorizo- Be sure and use precooked Spanish chorizo links .
  • Manchego Cheese- If you can’t find this, substitute Parmesan.
  • Phyllo Dough- This comes frozen, and needs to be defrosted on the counter for three hours.
  • Onion- If you are an onion hater, just leave these out.

How I Made my Phyllo Triangles

  • First, I made the filling. It’s important to squeeze all the moisture out of the kale.
  • Next, I folded the phyllo strips into triangles. This is very easy once you get the hang of it.
  • Finally, I dipped the triangles in more butter and baked them in the oven.

Another thing you can do with these phyllo triangles, is make them into Spinach and Feta Triangles. Just use spinach instead of kale, and feta instead of the Manchego. And, omit the chorizo. Also, add a quarter cup each of scallions, parsley, and dill. My kids used to love those when they were little.

Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles
Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles
Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles

Kale and Chorizo Phyllo Triangles

Baked phyllo appetizers filled with kale, Manchego, and chorizo.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Appetizer
Servings 16 triangles

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Spanish chorizo (cooked) about a quarter of a pound
  • 10 ounces frozen kale, defrosted and drained
  • 9 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • ½ cup minced onion
  • ½ cup grated Manchego cheese
  • 1 beaten eggs
  • ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1 tsp. fresh thyme
  • 12 9×14 sheets of phyllo dough
  • 1 tbsp. sesame seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the kale in a dish cloth and squeeze out all the water.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and the kale and chorizo and cook for two minutes. Place it in a mixing bowl.
  • In a second smaller skillet, melt a tablespoon of butter and cook the onion until it's softened. Add it to the mixing bowl along with the Manchego, egg, salt, pepper, and thyme.
  • Melt the rest of the butter. On your work surface, lay out one sheet of the phyllo. Brush it with butter, and then top it with another piece of phyllo. Slice the phyllo in three vertical strips. Place one tablespoon of the filling on a bottom corner of each strip. Then, fold the empty bottom corner of each strip on top of the filling, forming a triangle. Next, fold the rest of the strip up, like your folding a flag. Dip each folded triangle in the butter, coating both sides. Place it on a parchment lined baking sheet, repeating this until you have about 16 triangles, and all the filling is used. Sprinkle the triangles with sesame seeds and bake 15 minutes.
  • Serve hot topped with more thyme. These can be reheated at 350 degrees for about ten minutes.
Keyword appetizers
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Crispy Totchos with Cheese Sauce

Crispy Totchos with Cheese Sauce

Crispy Totchos with Cheese Sauce is one of my family’s favorite appetizers. I begin this dish by making homemade tater tots. They are so much better than the frozen tater tots sold at the supermarket. On top of the tater tots, I drizzle on my