Sugar Cookies - Plain, with Icing, or with Frosting

My grandma used to make some of the best sugar cookies in the entire world. No, I'm not being biased. I swear. When we were little, my sister, my cousins and I would look forward to these cookies every Christmas Eve. They were sweet, crunchy, and perfectly sized for little kids and adults alike. I used to get jealous because my sister would be the one who helped my grandma make them and that meant I never got to taste them until our family dinner. And, unfortunately, it also means that I have no idea how to make them. My grandma is gone now so it's been a very long time since those cookies have been around. I used to try really hard to duplicate pretty much everything she used to make, but I've realized that it just isn't possible. She was a Polish grandma. And like pretty much every other grandma out there, she had her own measuring techniques and her own ingredients and I'll never be able to go back in time to figure out what those were. I've finally come to terms with that. So the only thing I can do at this point is do my best to make an updated, albeit different, version to her classics.

Tomato and Zucchini Tart with Garlic

I originally planned for this tart to be a quick, plain tomato-style to use up some of my garden tomatoes. Instead, I just kept adding things and it turned into an awesome tart with zucchini and garlic. Those combinations are so amazing together!

Mediterranean Quinoa Stuffed Avocado

I'm on a quinoa kick. And I'm always looking for new things to do with avocados, so why not combine the two! This one was inspired by a recipe a friend shared on Facebook. You can find it here: http://theleancleaneatingmachine.com/2014/01/17/quinoa-stuffed-avocados/

The original was more of a Mexican-flavored meal so I decided to change it up and bring on some completely different flavors. The only way to go, of course, was Mediterranean style!

Naked Jalapeño Poppers

My husband and I are big fans of jalapeño poppers. It's been quite awhile since we had them though because the fried goodness just isn't good for you. Tasty? Oh yeah. But to eat a lot of them is just soooo not gonna happen around here.

Baked Zucchini Crisps

Do you still have some zucchini laying around? The season is pretty much over and it's also around the time when I start to get tired of the squash. I love it, but after a summer full of it, it's nice to move on to some winter veggies.

Fried Green Tomatoes - No, Not the Movie Kind

The movie was good, but the food is even better. And what else are you supposed to do when you have a whole bunch of green tomatoes growing in your garden?

Ham and Pineapple Quesadilla with Roasted Red Pepper Spread

Another ham post? Yes. Yes it is. And there will be more after this one. I can't help it that I love it so much! I currently have three in my freezer. (I may have forgotten that I had two in there when I bought two more, but I just can't pass up sales that have them for $.70/lb!) You can just do so much with leftovers that I will bake up a ham whenever the craving strikes because, well, I guess I consider it a pantry staple.

Mini Veggie Pizza Bites

I love little food. (Let's be real though...is there anyone who doesn't?) So when I came across some little pizza bites one day, I just knew I had to make them for a party we were going to.

Roasted Garlic Hummus (and the benefits of eating it)

Hummus. Yum.

It's easy, it's healthy, it's tasty. What more can I say?

Oh...how about adding roasted garlic to bring that hummus to a new level. Oh yeah, now we're talkin'.

Or the fact that it's actually healthy. Yep, we're talkin' even more now!

Tropical Ham Roll-Ups

I have a problem. If I don't make up something new each day, I feel weird. It's to the point where I'll just come up with something on the fly sometimes just so I can blog about it. I know, I know...it's just that I'm a creative person and that creativity has to come out in so many ways! The kitchen is my studio and food is a canvas. Does that even make sense or am I just full of it? Either way, I wanted a snack and I got to thinking...

Pumpkin Crescent Roll-Ups

Continuing my 'Pumpkin Event' is so much fun. And what's more fun than little pumpkin-flavored bites that are super easy to make and super tasty?

Spinachy Garlic Dip

Love garlic? Love spinach dip? Then you'll love this super easy and extremely tasty dip! Pair it with some of that Hawaiian bread and you're in for a real treat.

The Avocado Topping Experiment #1

I recently came across an avocado recipe on Pinterest that I just knew I had to try. Well, it's not so much a recipe as it is an idea of what to do with an avocado. This particular idea had an egg being cooked in an avocado half. Yum, right? (You can find the Pinterest blog post here: http://foodbeast.com/content/2012/01/13/idea-baked-avocado-and-egg/ and the original post here: http://www.reddit.com/r/food/comments/oettz/baked_avocado_and_egg/) 

When I looked at this picture (to the left) that was pinned on pinterest, I was in love. How could you not be? Avocados are one of the best tasting foods out there and even though they are a fatty food, it's the good fat. How can there be good fat you ask? Well, there is a certain kind of fat that actually lowers cholesterol and is good for your body. I swear. And as long as you eat them in moderation, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Don't believe me? Check this out: http://www.reddit.com/r/food/comments/oettz/baked_avocado_and_egg/. There are also plenty of other sources out there that will tell you the same.

Back to the dish at hand...

Baked Avocado Eggrolls with Honey Cilantro Dipping Sauce

The Super Bowl was one of my excuses to make a whole bunch of food and entertain some guests. I've been dying to try avocado eggrolls but never really had a reason to do it. Yesterday became my reason.

Cheesy Artichoke Dip

Who can resist yummy artichokes that are bathed in a mixture of different cheeses? It's tangy but smooth. It's sweet but savory. It's, well...just plain good.

I made this dip for our Super Bowl get together and it was a big hit. Cream cheese, Asiago, Mozzarella and Parmesan blend together to create interesting flavors that are perfect with pita chips or toasted bread rounds. It's a real crowd pleaser and it's great for any occasion!

Beef 'Empanada' Pockets

I've had a few crescent roll cans in my fridge that were about to expire so I brainstormed and decided to make something similar to empanadas. I can't really call them authentic empanadas because I used the crescent rolls for the dough instead of an empanada dough, but my version is just as good in flavor and style and took much less time. I think I'll try out a actual empanada dough at some point, but crescent rolls just make life so easy sometimes!

Caprese Skewers

Elegant appetizers can be so much fun but they don't surface very often. They just bring such a different feel to a party than chips and salsa or pigs in a blanket. And the cost doesn't have to be out of control if you find the right combination of ingredients. This post happens to be about my sister's creation and it fits the bill for being easy to prepare and it's not too shabby on the budget either. 

Potato 'Chips' with Baked Potato Dip

Do you love baked potatoes with all the trimmings but wish they were in snack form? Well, if so, look no further! (Hmmm...sounds like the beginning of a commercial.)

I put these little munchies together based on some potatoes I made for dinner the other night. Those dinner potatoes were similar to the following recipe, but more like a side dish rather than a snack. They were also served plain while these snack-size bites come with a dip.

Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms

I love stuffed mushrooms but don't have them very often. They just seem like the type of food that you should only have as an appetizer for a party, so they don't really make it onto the everyday menu. And yes, I know I'm posting these just in time for those New Year's Eve gatherings, but they would also be great as a side dish at any dinner. I've omitted breadcrumbs in this version to cut down on the 'fill-you-up' factor and so it can be used in more ways than just a starter. They're, of course, great as an appetizer or a pass around at a party, but why save these scrumptious little bites for a special occasion if you don't have to!

Quick and Easy Appetizer Ideas

Think the holidays are over? Think again!

There are only four more days until New Year's Eve and more parties so I've compiled a quick list of some super simple appetizer and finger food ideas that are great for serving a crowd. A lot of these can also be partly or fully prepared ahead of time so you aren't spending the whole day in the kitchen.