Caprese Dip

I think this might be the easiest dip ever! It's delicious with pita chips.

Caprese Dip
8 oz. mozzarella, cubed
2 T. shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 t. dry basil
1 roma tomato, chopped
drizzle of olive oil

Arrange mozzarella in a pie pan.

Sprinkle parmesan on top.

 Then add basil.

 Top it all with chopped tomato and drizzle with olive oil.

 Bake at 375 F for 10-15 minutes or just until melty.

 This would be a fun appetizer for a backyard barbecue. Enjoy!

Healthy Pizza Dip

I recently saw this recipe on Pinterest and I just had to try it. It's super easy!!!! After a few little adaptations, we ended up this delicious and healthy dip that is great with crackers or veggies.Healthy Pizza Dip

1 (14 oz.) can garbanzo beans

1/2 c. marinara sauce (any brand will do)

1/2 c. water

2 T. oil

3 t. garlic powder

1 & 1/2 t. onion powder

1 t. dried basil

salt to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender.

So easy, so good, and so healthy. Score. Enjoy!

Brazilian Cheese Bread

Okay, so lately I've been trying to find the perfect recipe for brazilian cheese bread (pao de queijo) and it's been quite the adventure. I think I've probably tried at least 15 different recipes. Finally I found one that I love! Plus my husband approves (and he would know since he lived in Brazil for 2 years.) I found the original recipe on Globe Trotter Diaries, but I adapted it to my own taste.So cheesy...so good!

This cheese was the perfect addition to this recipe. You really can use any combination of cheese but this crumbly cheese combined with parmesan was really great!

Brazilian Cheese Bread

2 1/4 c. tapioca flour

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. water

1/4 c. oil

2 eggs

1/2 c. crumbled cotija cheese

1/2 c. grated parmesan

Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine water and oil and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour into the flour mixture. Stir to mix. (It will be super stiff and lumpy.)Stir in eggs then stir in cheeses. (Mixture will still be a bit lumpy.)Roll into about 20 balls and place on a greased cookie sheet.Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 325 F and bake for 10-15 more minutes.I hope you like these little cheesy breads as much as we do. Enjoy!

Spinach Artichoke Dip

This is my favorite go-to dip for parties and special occasions. It's so easy and fast and it never disappoints. I usually serve it with pita chips or buttery crackers.Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 (10 oz.) box frozen chopped spinach
1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts packed in water, drained and roughly chopped
1 c. mayonnaise (eyeball it)
1 c. sour cream (eyeball it)
2 c. grated mozzarella (eyeball it)
1/2 c. grated parmesan (eyeball it)
3 cloves garlic, minced

Unwrap spinach, place in microwave-safe bowl, and defrost in microwave. Squeeze out excess water.Mix all ingredients together.Spread into a 2 qt. casserole dish.Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.This dip is delicious with any variety of crackers or veggies. Enjoy!

Artichoke Pizza

This is, yet again, a recipe from my Almost Homemade cookbook (which I am really loving!) This pizza is creamy and delicious. My whole family really enjoyed it.

Artichoke Pizza

1 prebaked 12" pizza crust

1 (14 oz.) can water-packed artichoke hearts, drained

1 c. mayonnaise

1 c. grated mozzarella, divided

1 c. grated parmesan, divided

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 c. grape/cherry tomatoes, halved

In a mixing bowl, combine artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, 3/4 c. mozzarella, 3/4 c. parmesan, and garlic.

Place pizza crust on an ungreased pizza sheet. Spread evenly with artichoke mixture.

Top with tomatoes.

Sprinkle with remaining cheeses.

Bake at 450 F for 15-20 minutes.

I will most definitely be making this again. I loved it. Enjoy!

Easy Pizza Bread

This is such an easy recipe for dinner or an appetizer. I threw it together last night after a busy day.

Easy Pizza Bread

1 loaf french bread

grated mozzarella cheese

italian seasoning

garlic powder

sliced pepperoni or salami

Split french bread lengthwise and sprinkle with cheese, seasoning, and garlic powder. Top with pepperoni or salami.

Cook on a cookie sheet under a low broiler until cheese is melty.

Cut in strips and serve.

Enjoy!

Baked Chicken Dip

Ever since I got this recipe from my good friend a few months ago, I seriously have made it about six times! I am IN LOVE with this chicken dip! I've adapted it a little because the original recipe makes a whole casserole dish and my little family can't eat quite that much. But the next time you're in a snacking mood make this dip. It's amazing!

Baked Chicken Dip

1 (12 oz.) can chicken, drained

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese* softened

1/4 c. mayonnaise

1 c. grated cheese, any kind

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 green onions, thinly sliced (or 1/4 c. red onion, minced)

1 bell pepper (any color) chopped

*I always use 1/3 less fat cream cheese in place of regular. It's an easy way to cut calories without sacrificing taste.

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Spread evenly into a pie pan. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

I like to serve this dip with Ritz crackers or veggies. Honestly, I'm pretty sure you could dip anything into this and it would taste wonderful!

Mmmmm! I just had this yesterday and now I'm tempted to make another batch. It really is THAT good! Try it and then you'll believe me. Enjoy!

Corn Quesadilla

This is such a simple recipe. Actually, I don't know if it would be considered a recipe, really, it's just a different type of quesadilla. Instead of using flour tortillas I used large corn tortillas. They were very tasty!

Corn Quesadilla
corn tortillas
cheese
guacamole (optional)
salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Melt cheese between two tortillas and top with guacamole, salsa, or sour cream. These would also be fantastic with meat or beans along with the cheese. Enjoy!

Sneaky Halloween Deviled Eggs

Flipping through cookbooks is very relaxing for me. Make fun if you will, but I love it. So I went to the library the other day and checked out some cookbooks. Among them was Deceptively Delicious (which I referred to in this post.) Anywho, the whole concept is trying to get kids to eat more nutritious food by sneaking veggies into recipes! It's very intriguing. I saw a recipe in the book for deviled eggs and I thought I'd give it a try, but I tweaked it a little. These deviled eggs are "sneaky" because hidden inside are veggies! Sweet potatoes to be exact so it makes them festive and orange.

Sneaky Halloween Deviled Eggs
6-8 boiled eggs
1 medium baked sweet potato
couple spoonfuls mayonnaise
drizzle of mustard
salt

Peel boiled eggs and cut them in half. Remove yolks and put them in a bowl and place whites on a plate.

To the yolks, add sweet potato, mayonnaise, mustard, and a bit of salt. Mix well until smooth and creamy.

Place a spoonful of yolk mixture into each egg white. Serve with paprika on top if you want it to look more fancy. Keep leftovers in the fridge so that you can make a Halloween egg salad sandwich the next day!

I mashed 2 deviled eggs and spread it onto warm, buttered sour dough bread. Mmmmmmm! I think the idea of sneaking veggies in recipes is a brilliant idea. I might share some more "sneaky" recipes in the future. Enjoy!

Baba Ganoush

I know what you're thinking, "Baba Ga-what?" Well, baba ganoush is a popular middle eastern appetizer that would best be described as a roasted eggplant dip. I was a little skeptical when I saw the original recipe here, but I gotta say it's amazing!!!! It's typically served with pita bread but I used flatbread crackers.

Baba Ganoush
2 large eggplants
1/4 c. tahini (sesame seed butter)
3-4 large cloves garlic, minced
2 T. olive oil
chopped or dried parsley
salt

To roast eggplants, use a fork to prick the skin all over and place on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Heat under a hot broiler for about 30 minutes, turning often, until tender and the skin is shrivelled and blackened. Cool for a good hour. Remove skins and transfer the soft eggplant pulp to a bowl. Mash with a fork. Add tahini, garlic, oil, and parsley. Mix well. Finally, add salt to taste and serve with bread or crackers. Enjoy!