A delicious alternative to a traditional Caprese Salad, using peaches instead of tomatoes. Perfect for juicy, ripe, freshly picked summer peaches!
RECIPE:
Category Archives: Appetizers
Smoked Pulled Pork Jalapeño Poppers
We had some leftover smoked pulled pork in the freezer, and I decided to use it to top some jalapeño popper appetizers. Now I will always set aside pulled pork so I never have to make them any other way!
I didn’t have any barbecue sauce prepared when I decided to make these, so I mixed the pork with just a bit of some homemade enchilada sauce that I had on hand, and we really liked it that way. Whichever you choose, use just enough to barely moisten the pork.
RECIPE:
Filed under Appetizers, Low Carb/Keto
Satay Chicken
While this is usually served as an appetizer in Thai restaurants, we like to give it center stage and serve it as a main course. It is easily one of Julia’s top 2 favorite meals.
Thin strips of chicken are marinated in a pungent blend of spices, and then glazed with a peanut sauce during the final minutes of cooking.
Traditionally, the chicken is threaded onto bamboo skewers before cooking. However, in the interest of time and ease, I usually skip the skewers.
These are great grilled outside, but can also be cooked quickly under a broiler.
Serve with cooked rice and additional peanut sauce for dipping.
RECIPE:
Filed under Appetizers, Main Dishes
Seven Layer Dip
We are going old-school today, with a seven layer dip straight out of the 80’s. Sometimes the classics are worth a revisit.
I like the spiciness turned up a notch, so I use spicy refried beans mixed with diced canned chiles. But since there are a lot of flavors going on in here, I stick with a simple guacamole: avocados, lime juice, and salt.
Technically, there are more than 7 ingredient layers in this chilled dip, but the olives, green onions, and diced jalapenos aren’t really distinct layers so I count them all as one layer.
This makes an easy appetizer to assemble ahead of time and then pull out for the big game!
RECIPE: Continue reading
Filed under Appetizers
Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
As the weather warms, these fresh spring rolls make a perfect appetizer or light main dish.
Fresh spring rolls are made with a thin rice paper wrapper and a combination of thinly sliced vegetables, proteins, noodles, and herbs. The hardest part about making them is seeing the wrapper once you wet it. They are very thin and almost transparent when wet. And chopping-these do involve a lot of vegetable chopping.
To make the rolls:
Fill a large shallow bowl (or plate with a rimmed edge) with warm water. Dip one piece of rice paper into the water, just until the wrapper begins to soften (about 15 seconds); make sure to wet entire piece. Lay the wrapper on a separate plate, textured side up, with a small edge hanging off of the plate (this will make it easier to start rolling). Don’t wet more than one wrapper at a time; they will quickly stick together.
Place a combination of desired vegetables, protein/noodles, and herbs on the bottom part of the rice paper. Fold the bottom edge of the rice paper over the filling and roll tightly once or twice. Fold in the two sides and then continue rolling completely.
Fresh spring rolls should be served the same day as making then. If you do need to store leftovers, store rolls (not touching) in a single layer; the rice paper gets sticky as it starts to dry and they will stick together if stored in layers.
Below are ideas for vegetable, protein, noodle, and herb fillings that can be used, and recipes for various dipping sauces. Pictured above are Spicy Sesame, Creamy Peanut, and Sweet Chili Hoisin Dipping Sauces.
RECIPES:
Filed under Appetizers, Main Dishes
Eleventh Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Slow Roasted Spiced Almonds
DAY 7: Slow Roasted Spiced Almonds
Not a cookie, but perfect for Christmas snacking when you need something savory to counterbalance all of the sugar. These also make a great gift for friends and neighbors.
RECIPE:
Slow Roasted Spiced Almonds
¼ cup coconut oil or butter
4 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs Sriracha
1 ½ tsp sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp ground mustard
9 cups (3 lb) whole raw almonds
Preheat oven to 250°F.
In a Pyrex measuring cup, melt coconut oil or butter in the microwave. Stir in seasonings. Place almonds in a large mixing bowl and pour seasoning mixture over the nuts. Stir with a rubber spatula until nuts are well coated.
Spread nuts in a single layer on a very large baking sheet (or use 2 medium baking sheets). Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Taste nuts and sprinkle with additional sea salt (½ – 1 tsp), to taste. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet, stirring occasionally.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Makes 9 cups
NOTE: Almonds can also be roasted at 350°F for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.
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Filed under Appetizers
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