Category: Appetizer

Creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

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Serves 6-8

Ingredients

  • 1 pound elbow or shell noodles (or your favorite variety)
  • 1 medium head cauliflower, chopped
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 cup fontina cheese, cubed
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • optional: red pepper flakes, chopped chives

Instructions

  1. Start by making sure your ingredients are ready to go because this is a quick recipe that you should monitor as it is cooking to ensure the noodles are well cooked and the cheese melts so that it is nice and creamy. Note: a food processor can be used to quickly prepare the freshly grated cheese.
  2. In a large pot or dutch oven, bring 4 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of salt to a boil.
  3. Turn the heat down to medium high and add the pasta and cauliflower. The water should still be boiling but too much heat may cause your noodles to stick. Cook and stir occasionally for about 8 minutes. The pasta may not be completely done cooking yet but that’s okay.
  4. Keeping the water in the pot, stir in the milk, cream cheese, mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder (option to add crushed red pepper flakes here). Continue cooking until the cream cheese has melted and the pasta is al dente.
  5. Stir in the butter and cheeses until melted and creamy. Consider adding 1/4 cup heavy cream to add a bit more richness to the dish. Remove from the heat. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  6. Option to top with fresh chives, and additional salt and pepper to taste.

*Any nutritional information provided is an estimate. The accuracy for any nutritional information on this website is not guaranteed.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. This recipe began here!

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Smoked Salmon Bites

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Serves 12-15

Ingredients

  • 2 English cucumbers, skinned and sliced
  • 12 ounces whipped cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt and pepper
  • 4 ounces feta
  • 4 ounces smoked salmon
  • capers
  • everything bagel seasoning

Instructions

  1. In a medium size bowl, stir together the cream cheese, lemon juice, fresh dill, and salt and pepper.
  2. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of a slice of cucumber, top with a sprinkle of feta, a piece of smoked salmon, a couple capers, garnish of dill, and everything bagel seasoning.

*Any nutritional information provided is an estimate. The accuracy for any nutritional information on this website is not guaranteed.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors.

Healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip

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Serves 10

Ingredients

  • 1 large chicken breast, cooked and shredded
  • 4oz Neufchatel cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt (plain)
  • 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta, divided
  • for serving; carrots, celery, crackers, or bread

Instructions

  1. Cook and shred the chicken breast. 
  2. Preheat oven to 350F and spray an 8×8 baking dish with non-stick spray.
  3. In a large bowl whisk together the softened cream cheese, yogurt, buffalo sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  4. Fold in the green onions, chicken, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, and 2 tablespoons blue or feta cheese.
  5. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes.
  7. Remove from the oven. Optional: top with the remaining cheese crumbles.
  8. Serve immediately.

Notes:

Make Ahead: If you want to make this dish ahead of time, complete steps 1-5 and refrigerate until ready to heat and serve.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. This recipe began in here.

Artisan Crusty Bread Loaf

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Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 3.25 cups all purpose flour + more for dusting
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1.5 cups warm water
  • 2 tsp active dry yeast

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl or your kitchen aid mixer add the flour, salt and yeast. Use a spatula or the paddle attachment and mix to combine well.
  2. Pour in the warm water and keep mixing until everything is incorporated, and a soft dough has formed. It will still stick to the bottom of the bowl.
  3. Cover the bowl with some plastic wrap loosely and a tea towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours until doubled in size.
  4. Sprinkle some flour on your kitchen counter and dump the bread dough on it.
  5. With floured hands fold the dough onto itself forming it into a round ball (no kneading).
  6. Use a sharp knife and lightly make a few cuts across the top of the loaf.
  7. Place the bread dough on top of a lightly floured pizza peel, cardboard or parchment paper and allow it to rest while your oven is heating up.
  8. Preheat your oven to 450”F with a pizza stone inside for about 45 minutes before baking the bread. Fill an oven proof bowl with 2 inches of water and place it on the bottom rack. This will create the steam that will cause the crust to become crispy as it bakes.
  9. Once your oven is hot sprinkle the pizza stone with some corn meal and carefully slide the bread loaf on top.
  10. Bake the bread for about 30 to 45 minutes until golden brown all over and cooked through.
  11. Transfer the bread to a cooling rack and allow to cool off completely before slicing into it. You can also let it cool inside the oven with the door slightly open.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. This recipe began here.

Monster Macaroni and Cheese

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Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 box of kraft mac and cheese, prepared
  • green food coloring
  • edible candy eyes

Instructions

  1. Prepare the box of mac and cheese as directed on the box.
  2. Stir in green food coloring until desired color has been reached.
  3. Plate or put into a crockpot to keep warm.
  4. When ready to serve, top with edible candy eyeballs.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. The recipe found on this page started here.

Halloween Candy Nachos

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Ingredients

Serves 12

  • 1 cup marshmallow fluff
  • 4 large green, red, or a mixture of apples, cored and sliced (skin on)
  • 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup various Halloween candy, chopped (any chocolate candy, candy corn, etc.)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pretzels
  • 1 ounce edible candy eyes
  • alternative option: instead of apples as your “nachos”, consider using any variety of graham crackers, sweet pita chips, or cookies

Instructions

  1. Select a circular serving platter to plate ingredients. Place the apples onto your serving platter in an even layer.
  2. In a microwave safe bowl microwave the marshmallow fluff for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the marshmallow is able to spread easily over the apples.
  3. In additional microwave safe bowls, microwave the peanut butter for about 30 seconds. Stir to check the consistency. It should be a little runny to allow for easy spreading across the apples.
  4. Spoon or using a ziplock baggy with the corner trimmed, spread the marshmallow mixture and peanut butter over the apples.
  5. Top with chopped Halloween candy, pretzels, and candy eyes. Serve immediately.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors.

Wrapped Up Mummy Dogs

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Serves 8-10

Ingredients

  • 1 package (8-10-count) hotdogs
  • 1 can of refrigerated crescent roll sheets 
  • edible candy eyes
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • optional: relish and mustard

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Unroll the crescent dough onto a large cutting board.
  3. Using a knife or pizza wheel, cut the crescent dough into 1/4th inch slices (with the length of the dough to make the longest strips possible).
  4. Starting at one end, wrap the dough randomly around the hot dog. Repeat with a second strip so that each hot dog has two strips creating a mummy wrapped look. While wrapping, think about where you want to place the eyes and leave a gap for them. You can put the eyes at one end or in the middle of the hot dog depending on what direction you want the mummies to face.
  5. Place the crescent wrapped hot dogs on the prepared baking sheet and place into the oven. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the dough is golden brown. Keep an eye on them to make sure they do not overcook. Cooking time will depend on how accurate your cuts are.
  6. Remove the mummies from the cookie sheet and place on a serving platter.
  7. Put a small dot of mustard or ketchup to glue on two eyes per hot dog.
  8. Optional Ketchup/Relish Dip: Fill a small serving container (around the outer edge) in a circular motion with ketchup. Fill the center with green relish. Randomly place eyes on top.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. The recipe found on this page started here.

Spooky Spiderweb Seven Layer Dip

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Serves 10-12

Ingredients

  • 1 can of Frito Lay Bean Dip (found in the chip aisle)
  • 1 cup of prepared guacamole
  • 1 cup of sour cream + 1/2 cup for the decorative spider web.
  • 1 ounce pouch of taco seasoning (2 tablespoons)
  • 8 to 10 black olives sliced in half, reserve two whole olives to make the spider
  • 1 cup of cheddar cheese
  • 1 tomato, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup of kale, shredded thinly
  • chips for serving (corn tortilla or blue corn chips)

Instructions

  1. Use a circular or round tray for platting the dip. Start by spreading the bean dip across the plate in an even layer, making sure to leave a 1-2” perimeter of open plate (this will be for your sour cream mixture).
  2. In a small bowl, mix 1 cup of sour cream with the taco seasoning. Spread the sour cream mixture around the perimeter of the plate surrounding your bean dip.
  3. On top of the beans and just in the center of the sour cream ring, spread the prepared guacamole.
  4. Put 1/2 cup of sour cream into a small ziplock. Using scissors, cut a small piece off the corner and use the bag to draw the spider web on top of the guacamole.
  5. Sprinkle kale, cheese, tomato and olives on top of the sour cream.
  6. To make an olive spider, place one whole black olive in the center of the web, then slice the other olive into 8 thin strips to make the legs.
  7. Serve with your favorite chips! I enjoy corn tortilla or blue corn chips.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. The recipe found on this page started here.

Korean Shrimp Skewers in Honey Gochujang

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Ingredients

  • skewers (wooden or metal)
  • 20 extra-jumbo shrimp (16–20 count, about 1 lb.), peeled and deveined
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons gochujang
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and minced
  • 2 scallion whites (save green for serving)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • For Serving: reserved dipping sauce, sliced scallion greens, and toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Whisk together honey, gochujang, zest, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, scallion whites, and oil in a bowl
  2. Reserve half of the marinade mixture for a dipping sauce.
  3. Toss shrimp in remaining honey mixture; let for 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat grill to medium.
  5. Thread shrimp onto skewers.
  6. Lightly oil grill grate with oil. Spray shrimp skewers with oil.
  7. Grill shrimp until cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
  8. Sprinkle shrimp with scallion greens and sesame seeds; serve with reserved sauce.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. The recipe found on this page started here.

Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Dijon Aioli

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Ingredients

Brussel Sprouts
  • 1 lb. fresh brussel sprouts, halved
  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
Dijon Aioli Dip
  • 1/4 cup mayo
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 & 1/2 tbsp dijon
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp fresh chopped or dried parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss the brussel sprouts with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until crisp. Toss halfway through.
  4. Serve brussel sprouts with dijon aioli dip.

Thank you to the big community of food visionaries out there in the world, working together to inspire and pass on food traditions and flavors. The recipe found on this page started here.