Italian Nachos

Italian Nachos

1 Cups Half and Half
1 Cup Heavy Cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Cup Parmesan
Salt and Pepper
2 Tablespoons flour

Nachos
Wonton wrappers cut in triangles
Cooked, and shredded chicken
Sauteed Peppers*
Mozzarella Cheese
Olives
Parsley, chopped
Parmesan Cheese
Oil for frying (peanut or canola)

In a sauce pot, over medium heat, add the unsalted butter and begin to melt. Stir in the garlic until the butter is completely melted. Quickly add the flour and continuously stir until it is clumped together and golden. Whisk in the heavy cream and half and half. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer for 8-10 minutes or until thickening. Add the cheese and seasoning. Stir thoroughly.

*If you need to saute your peppers, just add them to a hot pan with a little oil over medium high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender.

Wonton Prep
Heat the oil in a large skillet, oil about 1/3 of the way up, over medium high heat. Add the wontons one at a time and allow to cook until barely golden, flip and cook again. Drain on a paper towel.


To Assemble
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then the wontons. Sprinkle with alfredo sauce, chicken, peppers, and mozzarella cheese. Place under the broiler in your oven until the cheese is completely melted, 5-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with olives, parmesan cheese and parsley. Enjoy!

ohsweetbasil.com

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Arancini (Rice Balls) with Marinara Sauce

Arancini (Rice Balls) with Marinara Sauce

Yield: 8 arancini

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 5 min

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked white rice, cooled (See Kelly's Notes)
½ cup grated Parmesan
3 eggs, separated
8 small cubes fresh mozzarella
1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
Oil, for frying
1 cup store-bought or homemade marinara sauce

Directions:

Place a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and add enough vegetable oil to rise 4 inches in the pot.

Combine the rice, Parmesan and 1 egg in a medium bowl and use your hands to thoroughly combine the mixture.

Form each arancini by taking a small portion of the mixture, squeezing it firmly and stuffing one cube of mozzarella inside each ball. Repeat this process to form 8 arancini.

Whisk together the remaining 2 eggs. Dip each arancini in the eggs and then in the breadcrumbs, shaking off any excess.

Once the oil reaches 375ºF, add 2 or 3 of the breaded arancini to the pot and fry them until golden brown and cooked throughout.

Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried arancini from the pot and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate. Immediately salt the arancini. Repeat the frying process with the remaining arancini.

Serve the arancini warm with a side of warm marinara sauce.

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Mozzarella Sticks With Buttermilk Dip

MOZZARELLA STICKS WITH BUTTERMILK DIP

The secret to getting restaurant quality mozzarella sticks at home is using panko-style breadcrumbs and making sure that each piece of cheese is double dipped for an extra crispy crust that is free of any holes for the cheese to escape from during frying.  Freezing the mozzarella sticks prior to frying ensures that the crust has time to adhere to the cheese in the dry environment of the freezer.  As with all frying, make sure to carefully monitor your oil temperature and allow it to rebound in between batches.  Because the mozzarella sticks are frozen, it might be a good idea to make a double batch to keep on hand for any last minute game day parties.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Mozzarella Sticks:

• 12 stick s of string cheese or 12 pieces of mozzarella cut into 4 x 1/2 inch sticks
• 1 1/2 cups panko-style breadcrumbs (or Progresso Italian-style Panko breadcrumbs)
• 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• Canola oil for frying

For the Buttermilk Dip:

• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons minced green onions
• 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

METHOD:

1. Dredge the mozzarella sticks: Spread the flour and breadcrumbs on separate plates (pie plates work well for this).  Add the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to the breadcrumbs and mix well.  Place the eggs in a small bowl and beat them lightly.
2. Drop a piece of cheese into the flour and roll it around until it is well covered.  Shake off the excess flour and dip the cheese into the egg mixture before rolling it in the breadcrumbs until well coated.  One last time, dip the breadcrumb coated cheese back into the beaten egg and roll again in breadcrumbs to create an extra crispy coating.  Set aside on a clean plate and repeat with the remaining cheese sticks.  Once all of the mozzarella has been breaded, place the plate into the freezer uncovered and freeze until the breadcrumb coating is firm, at least 2 hours.
3. Meanwhile, make the buttermilk dip: In a small bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together until well combined.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Fry the mozzarella sticks: Pour enough oil into a large heavy-bottomed pot to come to a depth of at least 2 inches.  Using an candy thermometer, heat oil until it reaches a temperature of 350°.  Fry the mozzarella sticks in batches, being careful not to overwhelm the oil, until crispy and browned on the exterior, about 5 minutes.  Drain on paper towels.
5. Repeat with remaining mozzarella, allowing the oil temperature to rise back to 350° between batches.  You can place the finished mozzarella sticks in a 200° oven to keep them warm while the others fry.
6. Serve immediately with buttermilk dip.

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Cauliflower Broccoli & Halloumi Fritters with Coriander Aioli

Ingredients

• 1 cup finely diced cauliflower
• 1 1/2 cups finely diced broccoli
• 1/2 cup grated Halloumi cheese
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 tbsp coconut flour
• Black pepper
• Ghee for frying (clarified butter, you can use coconut oil instead)

For coriander aioli 

• 2 tsp olive oil based mayonnaise (can also be completely omitted)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp chopped  fresh coriander
• 1/2 garlic clove, finely grated or chopped
• A squeeze of lemon or lime juice

Instructions

1. Combine cauliflower, broccoli and halloumi with eggs, coconut flour and black pepper. If not using any halloumi, add a good pinch of salt. Mix well.
2. Heat a large frying pan to high and melt 1 tablespoon of ghee or coconut oil.  Using your hands, shape mixture into balls and flatten into fritters before adding to the pan. Bring the heat to medium and fry on each side for 4 minutes or until golden brown crust forms.
3. Whisk aioli ingredients together and serve in a little side ramekin.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Number of servings: 7-8 fritters

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Potato Rings

Potato Rings with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dipping SauceMakes 32-40

Ingredients:3 large russet potatoes, cleaned peeled and chopped into large pieces
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
¼ cup unsalted butter (½ stick), softened
½ cup caramelized yellow onions, chopped
3 tablespoons chives, thinly sliced
2/3 cup  all purpose flour
1/3 cup rice flour
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 eggs, lightly beaten
salt and pepper to taste
2 quarts vegetable oil
buttermilk ranch sauce:
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
¼ cup low-fat buttermilk
1 ½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, minced
1 tablespoon chives, thinly sliced
1 teaspoons dill, minced
½ teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:1. Place the potatoes in a large pot and fill with water.
2. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat and cook until the potatoes are fork tender, a20-25 minutes.
3. Drain the potatoes into a colander and pour back into the pot.
4. Pour the cream and butter over the potatoes and mash with a potato masher until smooth (Add more cream 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed).
5. Fold in the caramelized onions and chives until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper and stir.
6. Spread the mixture onto a sheet pan, about ½ inch thick and place in the refrigerator until the mixture has cooled down and hardened, 4-6 hours.
7. While the potato mixture cools place both flours, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika into a shallow dish and stir together until fully combined. Set aside.
8. When the potato mixture has cooled, remove from the refrigerator and using 1-1 ½ inch circle cutters, cut out as many circles as possible (usually makes about 32-40).
9. Using a ½ inch circle cutter, cut out a ½ inch circle from every 1-1½ circle, creating a small donut shape.
10. Dip the potato rings into the flour mixture followed by the egg mixture and finally again in the flour mixture (make sure the rings are completely coated).
11. Place the coated rings onto a clean sheet pan, lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer and allow the rings to freeze completely, 4-6 hours.
12. Once the potato rings are frozen, preheat the oil, in a large pot, to 375°F.
13. While the oil heats up, place the ingredients for the dipping sauce into a mixing bowl and whisk together. Season with salt and pepper.
14. When the oil is hot, carefully drop a few of the rings into the oil and fry for 4-6 minutes or until golden brown.
15. Drain onto a large plate lined with paper towels and season with salt with pepper.
16. Repeat with the remaining potato rings and serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

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Baked Garlic Cilantro Fries

Ingredients (2-3 servings)

• 5-6 yukon gold potatoes, cut into thin fries
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 – 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 – 3/4 tsp sea salt
• pepper
• 1/4 c. loosely packed cilantro leaves, finely chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees, and get a baking sheet with rack ready (if no rack, just line with foil/parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil. Cut the potatoes into fries and place in a bowl of cold water to soak for a few minutes.

Drain the water and dry the fries with paper towel. Once dry, toss the fries with the olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Lay on a baking sheet in a single layer, preferably one that has a cooking rack so the fries can have the air circulating all around them (and no need to flip.) Bake for 20-25 minutes depending on your oven and how crispy you like your fries. If using a baking sheet without a rack, halfway through the cooking time, flip the fries.

Once done, toss fries with cilantro in a bowl.

Enjoy by the handful!

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Oven Baked Parmesan Seasoned Fries

Oven Baked Parmesan Seasoned Fries

NOTE: The amounts listed are for every one pound of fries. One pound of fries is the equivelant of appoximately 3 medium potatoes. (I just double or triple the recipe to fit within my needs).

Ingredients:

1 pound of medium russet potatoes (approx 3 medium potatoes)
1 1/2 TBSP of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 tsp Dried Thyme
1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
1/8 tsp Dried Rosemary
1/4 tsp of Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp of Old Bay Seasoning
2 TBSP of Kraft Parmesan Style Grated Cheese (I used reduced fat)

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 425.
*Wash and cut potatoes into 1/8ths.
*Place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with foil (I used Reynolds Release foil so that they will not stick, but you could also either use non-stick cooking spray or lightly grease the top of the foil with extra virgin olive oil).
*Mix all of the spices and the parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
*Place all of the potatoes (remember we are talking about one pound at a time) into a gallon size freezer bag, add olive oil and the parmesan cheese/spice mixture to the bag.
*Seal the bag and shake until the potatoes are evenly coated.
*Once thoroughly coated dump onto the prepared cookie sheet and spread in a single layer.
* Bake 30-45 minutes or until tender and lightly golden brown. (Baking times will vary depending on the amount of fries that you make and the size that you cut them). For the ones shown in the picture they were baked at 425 for 45 minutes.

ENJOY!

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Buffalo Chicken Bites

Buffalo Chicken Bites

recipe adapted from Gourmet

1 cup finely diced cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup hot sauce (Frank's brand is what I used)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 1/4 teaspoons rapid rise dry yeast

2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup warm milk ( I used 2%)

2 1/2 cups of flour

To make the buffalo chicken mixture, in a small bowl, combine the chicken, blue cheese, cheddar cheese, melted butter and hot sauce; set aside.

In a 1 cup measuring cup, heat the milk and then add the 2 tablespoons brown sugar; stir into warm milk until dissolved; place in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.

Add 2 1/2 cups flour and yeast to the stand mixer and mix on low speed until a soft dough forms, adding up to 1/2 cup additional flour, a little at a time, if necessary. Allow the dough to knead in the stand mixer for 5-7 minutes. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead a few times to form a smooth ball. Place dough into a clean bowl that's been lightly oiled. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled and bubbles appear on surface, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in the middle of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 4 equal pieces. Lightly dust your hands with flour, then gently roll and stretch 1 piece of dough to form a 12-inch-long rope. Flatten dough and arrange so a long side is nearest you, then roll out to a roughly 12- by 4-inch rectangle with a lightly floured rolling pin. Gently press one fourth of buffalo chicken mixture into lower third of rectangle, leaving a 1/2-inch border along bottom edge. Stretch bottom edge of dough up over filling and press tightly to seal, then roll up as tightly as possible to form a rope. Cut rope into 12 pieces and transfer to a sheet pan. Make 3 more ropes with remaining dough, filling and cut into pieces, transferring to sheet pans. Let rest at room temperature, uncovered, 30 minutes (dough will rise slightly).

Bake buffalo chicken bites in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Remove from oven (some cheese may have melted out.) and brush tops with melted butter before serving (optional).

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Mississippi Sin

Mississippi Sin

• 16oz sour cream
• 8oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup chopped ham
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 1/4 tsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt
• pepper
• 16 oz French bread loaf

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, except French bread; stirring until well blended.

Cut a thin slice from top of bread loaf; set slice aside. Using a gentle sawing motion, cut vertically to, but not through, bottom of the loaf, 1/2 inch from the edge, to cut out center of bread. Lift out center of loaf. Fill hollowed bread loaf with the dip. Wrap loaf with foil. 

Bake dip at 350° degrees for 1 hour. Serve with reserved bread cubes, crackers, or potato chips.

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Baked Cheddar-Broccoli Rice Cups

Ingredients:

1 cup quick-cooking rice, like Minute Rice (can substitute about 2 cups regular, cooked rice and omit the 1 cup stock below)

1 cup chicken stock

1 10-oz. box frozen, chopped broccoli, thawed and excess water squeezed out

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1/4 cup Homemade Ranch Dressing or store bought

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Prepare rice as directed on package, substituting stock for water.  Place cooked rice in a large bowl and let cool slightly.  Add the remaining ingredients, using only 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese, and stir until combined. Transfer mixture to eight well-greased muffin cups–I like to use an ice cream scoop–and top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.  Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees or until tops are lightly browned and edges are starting to get crispy.

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Bacon Wrapped Caramelized Sesame Asparagus

Bacon Wrapped Caramelized Sesame Asparagus

serves 4

1 bunch of asparagus, about 20-25 spears, stems removed

4 slices thick-cut bacon

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

1 garlic clove, minced or pressed

1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, whisk together oils, brown sugar and garlic. Set aside.

Bunch together 5-6 asparagus spears and tightly wrap a piece of bacon around the bundle. Place on the wire rack seam-side down and repeat. Using a pastry brush, a spoon or even your hands (I did this…), brush the spears thoroughly with the oil/sugar mixture. Give each bundle a hefty sprinkle of sesame seeds. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until bacon is crispy. Serve warm.

http://toostinkincute.blogspot.com

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Greek Potatoes (Oven-Roasted and Delicious!)

Ingredients:

Servings: 6-8

8 large potatoes, peeled, cut into large wedges (about 6-7 wedges per potato)
4 garlic cloves, minced (more garlic is a good thing, less garlic is a no-no for this recipe)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup water
1 tablespoon dried oregano (get the Mediterranean, it's the best!)
1 lemon, juice of, to 1 1/2
sea salt
fresh coarse ground black pepper

Directions:
1
Preheat oven to 420°F A reviewer has suggested spraying the baking pan with Pam - that sounds like a great idea!
2
Put all the ingredients into a baking pan large enough to hold them.
3
Season generously with sea salt and black pepper.
4
Make sure your hands are very clean and put them in the pan and give everything a toss to distribute.
5
The garlic will drop into the water/oil solution but its flavour will permeate the potatoes, and this way, it won't burn.
6
Bake for 40 minutes.
7
When a nice golden-brown crust has formed on the potatoes, give them a stir to bring the white underside up, season lightly with a bit more sea salt and pepper and just a light sprinkling of oregano.
8
Add 1/2 cup more water if pan appears to be getting dry, and pop back into oven to brown other side of potatoes.
9
This will take about another 40 minutes.
10
Do not be afraid of overcooking the potatoes- they will be delicious.
11
Note: I often melt a bouillon cube in the water; if you do, make sure to cut back some on the salt.

Recipe From: http://greek.food.com/recipe/greek-potatoes-oven-roasted-and-delicious-87782?oc=linkback

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Yam and Potato Pancakes

Yam and Potato Pancakes
(Makes about 8 pancakes)

You will need:
2 large young gold potatoes
1 medium yam 
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tbsp freshly chopped dill 
1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp pepper, or to taste
1 1/2 tbsp potato flour 
2-3 tbsp canola oil

Directions:
1. Peel and grate potatoes and yam and place in a bowl. Add the egg, dill, salt and pepper and mix. Sprinkle with potato flour and mix well to combine. Form the potato mixture into eight flattened patties (about 3 inches across). Heat oil on medium heat in a large pan and add the cakes, working in batches if necessary. Cook the cakes until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. As an option, serve with chopped scallion and sour cream or low-fat plain yogurt.

gooseberrymooseberry.com

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Grapefruit Avocado Salsa

To prepare the grapefruit for the salsa, cut it in half crosswise. Then with a knife carefully separate the pulpy flesh from the white membrane.

Then simply lift each section with a spoon and place into a bowl.

This salsa is bursting with both flavor and color. I especially love how the individual flavors combine together: the sweet, pungent taste of cherry tomatoes, the crunchy, juicy sweetness of the yellow bell pepper, the gentle buttery taste of the avocado along with the slight bitterness and the tangy flavor of the grapefruit, all drizzled with a tad of lime juice.

We had the salsa as a snack with chips. It would also go really well with lemon-marinaded chicken breast or white fish fillets, or you can use it as a topping for tacos.

Grapefruit Avocado Salsa
(Serves 4-6)

You will need
1 red grapefruit
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and finely chopped 
1 yellow bell pepper, cored and finely chopped 
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of 1/2 lime
A dash of white pepper
Salt, to taste

Directions
1. Cut the grapefruit in half crosswise, then carefully slice to separate each grapefruit section from its surrounding membrane. Spoon out the sections and place in a large bowl. Repeat with the other grapefruit half and discard the remaining peel. 
2. Add avocado, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro to the bowl with the grapefruit. Drizzle with lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Gently toss to combine. Spoon out into a serving bowl. Serve as an appetizer with tortilla chips, or as a topping for fish or chicken.

gooseberrymooseberry.com

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