Posts Tagged ‘snacks’

• Salted Toffee-Chocolate Squares

  Date: 2010.05.20 | Category: Baking | Response: 4

  The day is here.  Today I get to see how poorly or how well I do cooking with Martha Stewart.  Actually my brother and I bake with Martha.  Here is the recipe that she shared with us doing the show.  You can watch us today create it.  Check your local listings for the Martha Stewart Show.

  Ingredients:

  13 graham crackers
  1 -8 oz. bag toffee bits
  1 1/2 c. coarsely chopped toasted natural almonds
  1/2 c. sugar
  1 c. unsalted butter
  3/4 c. bittersweet chocolate chopped
  3/4 tsp coarse salt

  Preheat oven to 350.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.  Place graham crackers in a single layer on sheet, edges touching.  Sprinkle toffee bits and almonds over graham crackers.

  In a small saucepan, bring sugar and butter to a boil over medium-high.  Reduce heat and cook at a rapid simmer, swirling pan occasionally, until mixture is syrupy, 2 minutes.  Immediately pour over graham crackers. Bake until sugar topping is bubbling, 12 minutes.  Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate and salt over graham crackers.  With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut into 2-inch squares.  Let cool completely on sheet on a wire rack. (Store in an airtight container, up to 1 week.)

  There you have it.  You can tell by the way we gobbled it up on national television that it was and is delicious!

• Ginger Plum Chicken Wings

  Date: 2010.02.07 | Category: Cooking | Response: 0

  It’s here!  Thee most important day of the entire football season–Super Bowl Sunday.  If you are having people over or going to a friend’s home and need to bring something, I hope you will find a great recipe here to share with your loved ones.

  Today’s recipe can be swapped for spareribs if you have a chicken wing recipe you love.  We all know that no Super Bowl party is complete without wings.  You could use your recipe and mine to showcase two entirely different flavors of wings.

  Ingredients:

  1 10-oz. jar plum preserves
  1/3 c. dark corn syrup
  1/3 c. soy sauce
  1/4 c. chopped green onions
  2 cloves garlic, minced
  2 tsp. ginger
  2 1/2 lbs. chicken wings, separated at the joints

  In saucepan, combine preserves, corn syrup, soy, onions, garlic and ginger.  Stir constantly while you cook until melted and liquid.  our into 11 x 7 baking dish.  Add wings and turn to coat entirely.  Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning once.  (If you don’t have overnight, you can reduce it to several hours).  After marinated, remove from pan and place on a baking sheet.  Bake at preheated 350 oven for 45 minutes, basting with marinade throughout baking time.

  If you want to make chicken bites, follow the same recipe only baking for only 30 minutes.

  xo–me

• Jalapeno Black Bean Dip

  Date: 2010.02.06 | Category: Cooking | Response: 0

  I have been waiting for weeks for tomorrow to arrive–Super Bowl Sunday.  Not because I am a huge football follower, but because the other half is and his team has always been the Indianapolis Colts.  Each week I would sit here wondering if they would continue to win thus further stalling our Sunday open house visits.  Tomorrow is a game changer.  Next Sunday we will be attending every open house from Brooklyn to the Bronx!

  I have plenty of football viewing snack recipes on the site.  Search hors d’oevres or snacks and you will find plenty to share tomorrow at your party.  Today’s is a simple and very flavorful bean dip with just enough kick.

  Ingredients:

  1 16-oz. can black beans, drained and mashed
  1 c. shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
  1/3 c. mayo
  1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
  1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  1/2 tsp. chopped garlic or 1/4 tsp.garlic powder
  bag of tortilla chips
  bag of pretzel rods
  fresh veggies

  Preheat oven to 375.  In medium bowl, combine beans, 1/2 c. cheese, mayo, jalapeno, cumin and garlic.  Put into casserole and top with remaining cheese.  Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until heated.  Serve with chips, pretzels and veggies.

  I try to have most of the ingredients around the house in case I get unexpected company.  Since I rarely have a spare jalapeno pepper, I change it up with other spices I have around.  Changed the flavor slightly and makes for a great surprise.  Go Colts!

  xo–me

• Chili con Queso

  Date: 2010.01.24 | Category: Cooking | Response: 0

  It’s Championship round time for the NFL.  And if your home is anything like mine, it’s a house full of men either gathering around the TV looking for some grub or gathering in your home for a quick snack and drinks before they head out to a bar to watch the game.  Either way, you are going to need a few quick recipes that will produce some yummy and easy snacks for their big playoff appetites.

  This recipe of chili con queso is perfect for you to begin and the fellows to end.  Toss the ingredients together, turn on the crock pot and head to the spa!  I will meet you there.

  Ingredients:

  1 16-oz. pkg. pasteurized processed cheese spread, cubed
  1 10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles
  1 c. sliced green onions
  2 tsp. ground coriander
  2 tsp. ground cumin
  3/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
  2 bags of tortilla chips

  Combine all ingredients except the chips in slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours until bubbling hot.  Serve with tortilla chips.

  Now ladies.  Pause before you write me and say “Hey, I love football too.  This day isn’t just for the men!”  I realize that and enjoy the game myself.  But.  The opportunity to slip away for several hours without any responsibility while the TV babysits them, well, I can’t pass that up.  I will be the one passed out in the steam room.

  Enjoy!

  xo–me

• Snacks On Arrival

  Date: 2009.09.06 | Category: Cooking | Response: 0

  Are you ready for the final backyard BBQ of the season?  Do you need one last quick trip to the market?  Did you plan for someone to make an ice run for you in the middle of the day (assuming your freezer is already chock full of ice.)  One final thought for you before the big BBQ celebration tomorrow.  While people are arriving to your affair, many will have either not eaten because they thought they should wait for your delicious food or were in such a big hurry, simply forgot.  Since you will not be feeding them as soon as they walk in the door, it’s always thoughtful (and to your benefit to buy some time) to have snacks around.  They don’t have to be super fancy nor over involved.  Just a few snacks to compliment the drinks and adds to the social atmosphere of the beginning of your affair.  Here are a handful of those kinds of recipes from a wonderful recipe book called Drinkology Eats.

  Garlic Popcorn:

  1 bag prepared microwaved popcorn
  1 Tbsp. butter
  1 Tbsp. olive oil
  3 cloves garlic, minced
  a few sprigs of fresh oregano
  3 Tbsp. Parmigiano-Reggiano, finely grated

  Melt the butter together with the oil in a small pan over low heat.  Add the garlic and oregano and saute until the garlic is just softened, about 2 minutes.  Transfer the popped corn to a large bowl and pour the butter mixture over it, tossing until well coated.  Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

  Spicy Parmesan Cheese Crisps:

  1/2 c. Parmigiano-Reggiano, finely shredded
  1/8 tsp. dried basil
  pinch black pepper
  pinch garlic powder
  dash ground cayenne pepper

  Preheat oven to 400.  Prepare a jelly-roll pan with a silicone liner, parchment paper or cooking spray.  In a  bowl, toss the grated cheese and spices until well mixed. Form 8 compact mounds of the cheese mixture on the baking sheet, spacing an inch apart and lightly pat down.  Bake for 3 to 6minutes, until golden and crisp.  Let cool before serving.  You can make these up to 3 days in advance and keep stored in an airtight container with paper towels between each.

  Stilton Mayo Dip:

  3 oz. crumbled Stilton
  1 c. mayo
  pinch freshly ground white pepper

  In a small bowl, mash the cheese with a fork.  Stir in the mayonnaise and white pepper and mix well.  Serve with some yummy chips.

  Add a bowl of candied cashews, green olives, sliced cheeses and you are set!  Again, it doesn’t and shouldn’t be too extravagant.  Just something that leads into the feast of the day.  Enjoy!

  xo–me