Tag Archives: appetizer

Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Bacon

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This is a warm and toasty dip, perfect for fall and winter – it’s great for potlucks, football Sundays, or just good comfort food to snack on! 🙂Blog artichokedip1 Blog artichokedip2

Ingredients

  • 1/3 c mayonnaise
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2x 8oz. packages cream cheese, softened by letting sit at room temp for ~20 mins
  • 3/4 c grated parmesan cheese
  • 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (tip: put slices flat between paper towel and microwave for ~1min per slice)
  • 1 or 2x 14 oz cans quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 1 10oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry

Directions

  • Oven to 350
  • Place mayo, garlic, cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with mixer till well blended and creamy (you can also do this in your food processor – which I’m a huge fan of for quick & easy blending)
  • Stir in parmesan cheese, bacon, artichoke hearts, and spinach
  • Spread mixture into an 11×7 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray
  • Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese
  • Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated, bubbly and starting to turn golden around the edges
  • Serve with carrot sticks

Super mom tip: This is another dish that freezes super well and can be reheated.

dit-elle-Esther

What to do with pumpkin seeds!

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It’s pumpkin season.. OK, I get a little obsessed when pumpkin lattes arrive and then it just takes off from there. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin frosted cupcakes :-),  pumpkin soup, pumpkin curry.. I’ve been feeding fresh cooked pumpkin to baby Anders who is 7 months and chowing it down! And let’s not forget pumpkin seeds! Roasted and salted.. YUM!

Blog pumpkinseeds 1

Ingredients

  • Pumpkin seeds (if you are digging them out of a pumpkin, first rinse and pat dry w/paper towels)
  • Oil or cooking spray
  • Salt

Directions

  • Oven to 350*
  • Toss pumpkin seeds with oil or just spray a large pan with some cooking spray
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until you hear them start to pop or they start turning golden
  • Salt

dit-elle-Esther

Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

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So simple, so easy, so tasty – hello goat-cheese stuffed dates!StuffedDates

Ingredients

  • Fresh dates
  • Goat cheese
  • Balsamic vinegar

Directions

  • Slit open fresh dates and remove pits
  • Stuff w/goat cheese
  • Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes (or until toasty)
  • Top with balsamic vinaigrette

Super mom tip: These can be prepared up to a day in advance, refrigerated, and popped in the oven when you are ready to bake.dit-elle-Esther

Bacon wrapped dates

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Looking for a delicious hot appetizer that is super easy to make? Bacon wrapped dates are amazing – a combination of sweet hot date wrapped in salty crispy bacon – yum! This is lovely as an appetizer or pairs well with Velvety Squash Soup for a warm lunch on a chilly September day.DatesOriginal

Ingredients

  • Dates, pits removed
  • Bacon, cut in half, cross-wise
  • Garnish: fresh thyme (optional)

Directions

  • Wrap dates in bacon slices
  • Bake @ 365 degrees for 25 minutes
  • That’s it! :-)

Super mom tip: getting ready for a dinner party? Make these a day ahead by wrapping dates in bacon slices, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake them!dit-elle-Esther

Caprese salad

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BlogCapreseSaladNothing says summer like a Caprese salad. Tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella cheese – so simple, yet so delicious!

Ingredients

  • Tomatoes
  • Fresh mozzarella cheese (look for it in a container with liquid, usually comes as a ball, in various sizes)
  • Basil
  • Olive oil
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

  • Wash & dry basil leaves
  • Slice tomatoes and mozzarella
  • Arrange everything on plate and drizzle with olive oil and vinegar
  • Top with salt & pepper

Super mom tip: make ahead of time by arranging cheese/tomato/basil on plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Then drizzle dit-elle-Estherw/olive oil and balsamic and voila!

 

 

 

Basil Pesto

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Basil pesto – excellent with fresh cut vegetables, cooked chicken, as a marinade, and so much more!GreenYumminess-2GreenYumminess-1

Ingredients

  • 2 cups basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • salt to taste

Directions

  • put garlic and salt in food processor and pulse
  • add basil leaves and blend
  • add olive oil in stream while it’s blending
  • add nuts or seeds and blend well
  • add more olive oil if needed for consistency

Paleo tip: omit cheese, it’s still super yummy!

Super mom tip: make a big batch, fill small containers or an ice-cube tray, and freeze.dit-elle-Esther