Appetizers

A list of appetizers.

Chicken Liver Pate with Green Peppercorns

  Have you ever had a food flashback??!! Well, here’s mine. I haven’t thought of this story for years until I made liver pate over the holiday. Years ago (o.k …many) I planned a trip to visit my good friend Mark at the Culinary Institute of America. Flying to NYC with a […]

Momofuku Ginger Scallion Noodles

This is not just another noodle dish. It’s special…with only six ingredients! Quoting David Chang himself, “Ginger Scallion Sauce is one of the greatest sauces or condiments ever. Ever. It’s definitely a mother sauce at Momofuku, something that we use over and over and over again.” I’m sold and you […]

Maryland Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli

This crab cake is delicious. I’ve tried plenty of recipes over the years in search of the cake that really holds together. The key is to not overmix and to chill the mixture in the fridge so it can “set up.” With minimal ingredients, this recipe really lets the crab […]

Pan Fried Or Grilled Padron Peppers

  The Padron Pepper makes a very short annual appearance. “Padrones” are small green peppers, native to Spain. They have a bitter-sweet flavor however, about one per dozen (so it is said) will set you on fire!! We discovered Padrones while visiting Scott when he was studying in Barcelona. Playing […]

Marinated Burrata and Tomato Spread

  Plenty was a highly anticipated cookbook released in 2010 and has become one of my favorites.   This recipe with its first-rate ingredients, combines a beautiful array of herbs, cheese and fruit. Pairing creamy buffalo mozzarella (do not substitute) with the interesting flavors of toasted fennel seeds, oregano, basil, garlic […]

Soft-Shell Crabs with Aioli Sauce and Sweet Onion

  Now…while most seafood is available during any season, the highly anticipated soft shell crabs remain seasonal. They are only available from late April thru summer when the Blue Crabs shed their shells in preparation to grow new ones. Harvesting the crab before the hard shell arrives makes every inch […]

Tuna Tartare with Avocado and Cilantro

  Crisp, clean, fresh, bright flavors are what I taste with this tuna dish. The combination of tuna and avocado creates a rich, buttery texture. Add the nuttiness of sesame oil, savory notes with soy, a bit of bite with onion and jalapeno and finish with a fresh squeeze of […]

Rosemary Parmesan Popcorn

Need a new twist for an old snack idea? Popcorn… healthy popcorn. Who doesn’t love these crunchy, puffed, pieces of goodness? Skip the butter bath and try these ingredients for an outrageous combination of flavors…which are always on hand in my home. Pair these earthy, herbal little kernels with a crisp white […]

Oven Braised Artichokes With Lemon And Thyme

Don’t let the preparation of these prickly thistles intimidate you.  Artichokes are in season and this method of  braising is easy. Once you trim the leaves and cut out the choke your work is done. My Mom’s typical preparation for artichokes was to steam them. (Always somewhat problematic because of […]

Gorgonzola Cheese Straws

 This is the week that spring arrives. Tell that to the weather Gods. I however,  have made the culinary switch…..welcome to spring fare. Fresh, healthy and green….with an occasional twist. To accompany the many salads and side dishes try these easy to make cheese straws. Savory, rich with a bit […]

Corned Beef And Cabbage Egg Rolls

  Leftovers!! St. Paddy’s Day is over and you’re left with day old cabbage, corned beef, potatoes and carrots. Couple of thoughts. Sliders with corned beef, crunchy cabbage/carrot slaw and a mayo-horseradish sauce. Corned beef hash, made into patties and served with poached eggs. OR egg rolls. I pick egg rolls. […]

Roasted Chickpeas

  Easy, healthy, crunchy, and addicting. Roasted chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are  perfect for a quick snack that will probably not require a trip to the store. With only 4 ingredients you can be snacking in about 40 minutes. Season to your liking…I just happened to use cajun spices. These crunchy […]

Beet And Goat Cheese Napoleons

Were you born with the beet gene? I was. I love beets!! This time of year with their rich crimson color and heart healthy benefits, they make me think of Valentines Day. For years, Randy and I would make dinner reservations to celebrate this romantic evening. Now……we prefer to make […]

Asian Meatballs With Hoisin Sauce

  Thinking of the big game and what to serve? Meatballs come to mind.  A combination of pork, beef and a traditional marinara sauce certainly makes a crowd pleasing appetizer. Fortunately, a few months ago I made Asian chicken lettuce wraps and all the ingredients for these meatballs are in my […]

Black Bean Soup With Guacamole And Chips

Are you looking for a low-fat black bean soup recipe that will warm you up in 30 minutes? Well, here it is! The ingredients below are typically in my pantry so this soup comes together quickly. This south of the border family favorite has a rich,  creamy texture and delivers […]

Tomato Soup With Parmesan Crisps

What are your memories when you hear tomato soup? I think snow, brisk cold air, sitting in front of a roaring fire, skiing, sledding, ice skating, grilled cheese, family and other simple pleasures. Tomato soup makes me feel warm and fuzzy! Do yourself a favor….don’t open “the can.”  Make this […]

Ahi Tuna Appetizer

Do you know your local fishmonger??? Fortunately, we live in a community with a reliable, go-to merchant. I am thankful for the Hannigans at Diamond Fresh Seafood for my weekly fresh fish fix! (Say that three times fast!) This recipe calls for a sushi grade piece of Ahi / Yellowfin Tuna (this is a […]

Smoked Salmon Appetizer Platter

During the holiday season we all have places to go and people to see. You call to accept the invitation and then you ask that dreaded question… “what can I bring” and the answer is “an appetizer would be great!” (Be honest, you were hoping to hear…we don’t need  a […]

Sage and White Cheddar Gougeres

I have a few versions of these elegant little puffs that I’ve been saving to make for the holidays. Only 6 ingredients create these perfect companions to a glass of bubbly. Ideal for your impromptu get togethers. Trial and Error could be the subtitle of the recipe below. Some of these […]

Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread

Figs intrigue me. The shape. The flavor. The color (I would love an outfit with these hues!!). Years ago, I remember cooking figs (and many other ingredients) to create a gooey jam for a pizza. While the outcome was delicious, buying that fig spread you now see everywhere certainly simplifies the […]

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Time-out! I don’t know about you… but I need a break! Perhaps a different flavor palate? Perhaps a carb-free meal?? These tasty wraps do the trick! They have a refreshing crunchy texture, a spicy kick and have plenty of protein to call it dinner. You need to keep these Asian ingredients […]

Caramelized Onion and Apple Tarts

With the holidays fast approaching it’s a good idea to have a few easy appetizers in your back pocket. Really can’t get much easier than this! Keep these seasonal ingredients on hand …. you can also combine mushroom and butternut squash or pear and caramelized onion. This appetizer pulls together […]

Apple Galette

I had approximately an hour and a half before my friend Mary was stopping by for a Happy Birthday glass of champagne. I just looked at this recipe the day before and had all the ingredients in the house, so this made for a perfect impromptu happy (birthday) hour. Time did […]

Harvest Bruschetta

It was harvest time at the Common Threads Garden this week. Tomatoes, swiss chard, kale, oregano, basil and chives were all on the menu for the day. The children seemed apprehensive with the ingredients at first……..however ………..they all loved the results!! Healthy eating tastes good!!!!!!! Harvest Bruschetta  (adapted from a Common […]

Grilled Peaches

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said …..I never get a good peach!!  So last week I spent some time at the farmers market with a peach farmer from Michigan. I now know more than I’ve ever wanted to know about peaches!!! (Sadly, 80% of his stone fruit […]

Chorizo Flatbread

A few weeks ago we gathered with good friends for a casual Friday night dinner party. Tom and Maureen always entertain with such ease and style, I usually leave with a great take-away. This flatbread has not left my mind since. The combination of garlic aioli, greens, parmesan, and chorizo […]

Scallops with Avocado Salsa

I love scallops. The husband  loves scallops. Our good friends Mark and Kathleen love scallops. This recipe has become a regular appetizer for our casual get-togethers.  The combination of fresh summer produce and a caramelized scallop is hard to top. We pair this with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Avocado Salsa 1 avocado diced […]

Gazpacho

Chicago, like 80% of the country, is burning up. I’m starting to feel robbed as we are losing much of our summer to indoors and air-conditioning! In lieu of BBQ, we are eating lots of salads and cooler alternatives. I have never been a big fan of cold soups but […]