Monday, July 31, 2017

Pre-Game Munchies



Cheesy Cauliflower Tots


  • 1 - 16 oz. bag riced cauliflower
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tbsp. chopped garlic
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • Pizza sauce, for serving
Preheat oven to 425F.  Line a baking pan with parchment paper.

Put the cauliflower in a bowl and cover it with a towel.  Microwave for 10 minutes.  Transfer the cooked cauliflower to another bowl and let cool.

Once the cauliflower is cooled, add in the cheeses, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and season with salt & freshly ground black pepper.  Stir to mix everything together.  Add in the beaten eggs and mix well.

Take about a tablespoon of the cauliflower mixture and form into "tots" with your hands.  Lay them out on the lined baking sheet.  

Bake for 30 minutes, until golden.  Turn on the broiler and let them crisp under the broiler for 2-3 minutes.  

Enjoy dipped in pizza sauce.  Yum!

Deviled Eggs


  • 6 hard boiled eggs, peeled 
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • Paprika
Slice the hard boiled eggs in half lengthwise.  Put the yolks into a bowl and lay the whites out on your platter.  Use a fork to mash all of the yolks well.  Add in the mayo and mix until smooth (use more or less mayo as desired).  Add in the Dijon and mix well.  Spoon the yolk mixture into the whites.  Garnish with a sprinkling of paprika.  Enjoy!

Mediterranean Cucumber Boats


  • 1 large English cucumber
  • Trader Joe's cilantro & chive yogurt dip
  • Paprika
  • Crumbled feta cheese
Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and spoon out the seeds.  Fill the cucumber "boat" with the yogurt dip.  Sprinkle with paprika and feta cheese crumbles.  Slice into smaller, bite size pieces.  Enjoy!


The Spread!

Monday, July 24, 2017

Paleo Friendly Easy Italian Chicken Bake


  • 1 - 14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp. chopped garlic
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly grease a baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Combine tomatoes, oil, onion, garlic, oregano and Italian seasoning in a bowl.  Stir to combine.  Pour it into the greased baking dish.  Lay the chicken on top of the tomato mixture and generously season with salt & freshly ground black pepper.

Bake for 40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.  Pull it out of the oven, spoon some of the tomato mixture over the chicken.  Cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.

Serve with the tomato mixture and your favorite veggie.  Enjoy!


Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats



  • olive oil
  • 3 large zucchini
  • 12 oz. shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 1 cup garlic basil marinara sauce
  • 1 tbsp. chopped garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
  • 1 cup grated parmesan, divided
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 375F.  Grease a 9x13 baking dish with olive oil.

Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and hollow out the insides using a spoon.  Lay the zucchini "boats" into the pan and season with salt.

In a large bowl combine the chicken, marinara, garlic, 1 cup of mozzarella, 1/2 cup of parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.  Mix everything together well.  

Fill the zucchini boats with the chicken mixture.  Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan and 1/2 cup of mozzarella over the top.  Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Uncover the dish, turn oven to broil and cook until the cheese on top starts to brown, about 4 minutes.

Enjoy!


Sunday, July 9, 2017

Sunday Funday Brunch



Jalapeno Bacon Egg Cups

  • 12 slices cooked bacon
  • 10 eggs
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese
  • 1 jalapeno, minced
  • 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced into 12 slices
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 375F.  Spray a muffin man with cooking spray.

Whisk together the eggs, sour cream, shredded cheese, minced jalapeno and garlic salt. Season with salt & freshly ground black pepper.  

Line each muffin tin with a piece of bacon.  Pour the egg mixture into each muffin cup. 

Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool slightly before serving.  Enjoy!


Italian Sub Roll-Ups



  • 18 slices applewood smoked ham
  • 18 slices salami
  • 27 slices hot sopressata
  • 9 slices provolone cheese
  • Chopped pepperoncini
  • Shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. minced garlic
First make the sauce:  Combine the mayo, vinegar, oil, Italian seasoning and garlic and mix well.

Layer each roll-up:  1 slice ham, 2 slices salami, 3 slices sopressata, 1 slice provolone cut in half lengthwise, chopped pepperoncini, iceberg and about a tbsp. of the sauce.  Cover with another slice of ham.  Roll up, secure with 2 toothpicks and slice in half.



Cucumber Guacamole Shrimp Bites


    • 20 shrimp, peeled & deveined, tails removed
    • 1 tbsp. Old Bay seasoning
    • 1 tsp. chopped garlic
    • 1 tbsp. olive oil
    • guacamole
    • 20 slices cucumber
    • Minced cilantro
    First cook the shrimp:  Preheat oven to 400F.  Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Combine the shrimp, oil, Old Bay, and garlic in a bowl and stir to combine.  Once oven is heated, lay shrimp out in a single layer on the lined baking pan.  Bake for 7 minutes, until shrimp are pink and cooked through.  Set aside to let cool.

    Assemble the bites with a slice of cucumber, about a tbsp. of guacamole, one shrimp and minced cilantro.  Super easy.  Super yummy.  Enjoy!


    Individual Fruit Cups
    • blackberries
    • blueberries
    • pineapple, sliced into small pieces
    • white peach, sliced into small pieces
    Layer the fruit into individual cups.  Easy Peasy.  Enjoy!