- 4th meal, appetizers + hors d'oeuvres, breakfast + brunch, comfort food, party food + snacks, sandwiches + roll-ups
Toast 6+ Ways
Toast is one of my ultimate comfort foods. When I was very little, toast was front and center of my morning routine with my father. I was his official self-appointed toast maker. Every morning, as he was shaving, I would prepare his toast. How many times had I under toasted the bread or was overzealous with the butter or the dollop of my mom’s homemade peach preserves? Who knows, because my sweet dad said it was “absolutely perfect!” every.time. Dad and I took turns fixing each others’ toast for many years. Toast was our love language. Toast was our thing. Today’s toast transcends the white bread stereotype. It is no…
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Curried Chicken Wings + Mango Chutney-Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Does anyone out there in Bloglandia remember when chicken wings were practically free at the grocery store? I mean, back in the day. Prior to their popularity, prior to their ubiquity. Before they became the uber-staple on sports bar menus worldwide (right below the uber-staple nachos). Seriously, if you didn’t know it, once upon a time, chicken wings weren’t “a thing” on a menu. They were scoffed at. They were looked down upon. They had no street cred, per se. After all, wings are merely skin and bones. But wait…isn’t that actually part of their allure? There is the bone that is full of flavorful marrow and insulates that wing…
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Sticky Sweet + Spicy Asian (v) Meatballs
I am a cheater. There. I said it. I’m not gonna lie—I don’t really feel too bad about it. In fact, I think you’ll want to be a cheater, too. Here’s how it happened. We found out last minute that another couple was coming to our Super Bowl Puppy Bowl Party, and I wanted to make ABSOLUTELY sure I had enough food for everyone. One of my big hang-ups is running out of food. We are a very food-oriented family, so I have nightmares about such things. I made an impromptu decision to throw some things together, and am actually proud of how good of a cheater I am! By…
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Mexican Three-Way* BLT Dip
Looking for something that will satisfy everyone? Try this Mexican Three-Way BLT Dip. Your group will keep coming back for more! You may need to double this recipe if you want it to last—it will practically disappear before your eyes! With this combination of flavors no one will guess this colorful dip is so simple. And it is so very versatile: Option 1: mouthwatering Mexican BLT Dip Option 2: flavorfully gluten free Option 3: veritably satisfying vegetarian version *Hence the name Mexican Three-Way BLT Dip. I keep the ingredients for this dip on hand because I can whip this up in no time and easily adapt it to my guests’…
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Ultimate Fully Loaded Vegan Nachos
What is game day without nachos? I mean, have you ever been to a sports bar that did not have nachos of some fashion on the menu? Am I right? Nachos are the classic quintessential crowd pleaser, but this time there is a healthy twist: these are vegan! Vegan nachos? Not very Y-chromosome, my burly friends say. But curiously enough the nachos somehow disappear. Hmmm. It’s the Mystery of the Disappearing Nachos. Just because they are vegan does not mean they are not drool-worthy! Yep. These spicy vegetable-laden chili slathered chips have converted even the most stalwart of carnivores. This is your opportunity to be creative, to think outside the…
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The Man’s Spicy Dragon Wings
No napkins necessary for this recipe. You will lick your fingers clean of all the deliciousness. These wings are perfect for scarfing while watching your favorite team. (In our case, they have become our good luck snack when we need a “W” in a contentious SEC game.) What are dragon wings, you may ask? They are The Man’s recipe for chicken wings coated with a fermented Korean red pepper paste called gochujang. And thanks to The Man, I am now an addict. Yep. There is something about gochujang that makes me crave it. Gochujang. I love to say it. It’s a piquant red pepper paste that will set your face…
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Caribbean Poutine (aka Dirty Tots)
This dirty dish was inspired by a visit to the Somewhere Cafe on Turks & Caicos. When we got to the beach side restaurant, we were famished. We had been shopping, sunning, swimming—you know, exhausting vacation stuff. Our adorable waiter recommended the Dirty Fries—fries piled high with layers of cheese and pulled pork and then slathered in barbeque sauce. I remember how we ooohed and aaahed with every bite we took. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them ever since! Although TCI is north of the Caribbean Sea, I suppose I could refer to these fries as Caribbean poutine. They are not exactly like the poutines that originated in…
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Chunky Mediterranean Hummus
This recipe is one of the reasons I am invited to parties. For years I thought it was my irresistible charm or my clever wit that was so alluring, but no. “Hey, we’re having a get-together Friday. We hope you can come! Around 7PM?” “Sounds great!” “Oh, and can you bring your Chunky Mediterranean Hummus?” My hummus. That’s the caveat. But who can blame anyone for loving this dish? My recipe takes hummus, a Middle Eastern staple, and loads it up with Mediterranean goodness. Hummus is like a beautiful neutral palette that complements anything that…
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