Category: Appetizers

  • Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs

    kebab 1Have you ever noticed that food tends to taste better on sticks.  I don’t know why, but there is something more appealing and tasty about it.  I was just at the Iowa State Fair last week and I enjoyed a pork chop on a stick and a bacon wrapped rib on a stick…delicious! So, to keep the fair fun going in my back yard, I designed this tasty kebab with some of my ordinary grilling staples.  It includes potatoes flavored with olive oil, garlic, and dill. And when you thread that with onions and green peppers, the flavors meld beautifully.    

    kebabs 4

    kebab 5So get out your skewers and let’s start cooking.  If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning on the grill.  This is a picture of my skewers soaking in water on a cookie sheet.

    skewersStart by cutting the baby potatoes in half.  Then place the baby potatoes in enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes so that the potatoes are fork tender. Then drain them and rinse them with cold water so they are easier to handle.

    cooking potatoesThen cut up 1 green pepper into 1-inch pieces.

    green pepperThen cut up the onion into 1-inch pieces.

    onionsThen cut up the pre-cooked bratwurst on a slant in 1-inch size pieces.

    bratsNow in a bowl mix the potatoes with 2 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

    potatoes and spicesAlternately thread bratwurst, onion, potato, and green pepper onto 8 12-inch skewers.

    putting it on skewersGrill kebabs, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until bratwurst is browned, turning frequently.

    Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs 1Now you have a great twist on bratwurst to serve at your next backyard barbecue.

    kebab 6

     

    [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:45]

  • Pigs in a Blanket

    pigs in a blanket 1Summer is here and this is a perfect recipe for a quick lunch or dinner. My mom has been making this recipe since the 1970s when I was a little girl, and I’ve always loved them since then.  Now as a mom I enjoy making them for my family. This is definitely a kid friendly recipe to try this summer.  And don’t be afraid to have your kids help you make them.  Kids love the fact that they taste like a cross between a grilled cheese sandwich and a hot dog on a bun; two of their favorite meals. Pigs in a blanket pairs perfectly with a bowl of tomato soup.  So let’s get out the ingredients and make this easy summertime meal.

    baked pigs in the blanketYou will need one package of 8 hot dogs, 8 slices of American cheese, 8 slices of bread, and enough soft butter for one side of each piece of bread.

    ingredients for pigs in a blanketFirst spread the butter on one side of each piece of bread and place it buttered side down on a cookie sheet lined with foil.

    buttering breadNow place one slice of cheese on each piece of bread.

    cheese slicesNow place a hot dog on each slice of bread.

    hot dogs on bread

    Pull each side of the bread up and secure it with a toothpick.

    adding toothpicks

     

    pigs in a blanket ready to bake

    Bake them in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

    baked pigs in the blanket

    Let them cool for a few minutes and serve with ketchup and your favorite soup. The kids and adults will love this quick summertime favorite.

    [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:40]

     

     

    Pigs in a blanket long pin

  • Easy Chicken Nachos

    chicken nachos 2Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Today I am featuring a very special recipe that is a must for your Cinco de Mayo party. It is a cheesy nacho dish featuring chicken, red beans, and peperoncini peppers. Plus you can’t forget about the onions and tomatoes.

    Chicken Nachos 1This dish is so easy and you can put it together so quickly that you will have time to enjoy your party. And feel free to add some of your favorite toppings that I may have left out .

    Start by rinsing the chicken breasts and then chopping them into bite sized pieces.

    chickenThen cook chicken in a pan with 1 tablespoon of butter until it is no longer pink and temps at 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.  Then mix 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1/4 tsp. garlic powder, 1/4 tsp. onion powder, 1/4 tsp. oregano, 1/4 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and 1/2 tsp. salt into 2/3 of a cup of water.

    spicesPour the spices in the pan with the cooked chicken and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the sauce has thickened up.

    cooked chickenNow get out a 9″x13″ baking dish and add one layer of tortilla chips.  

    chip layerThen add 1/2 of the chicken on top of the chips.

    chicken layerAdd 1 cup of cheese.

    cheese layerAdd 1/2 of the onions and tomatoes.

    onions and tomatoes

    Rinse and add 1/2 of the (15 oz.) can of red beans.

    rinsed beansAdd 1/4 of a cup of sliced Peperoncini peppers.

    pepper layer Bake the nachos for 7-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

    finished nachoesNow you are ready to serve this nacho dish at your party and when the plate is finished you will have enough ingredients to make a fresh batch.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

    [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:34]

    Easy Chicken Nachos long pin

  • Cream Cheese and Olive Dip

    Cream Cheese and Olive DipThe big game is tomorrow and you may be looking for a great dip to serve at your party. Well look no further.  If you’re an olive fan, you will love this dip!  And for a little kick, the cayenne pepper gives it some heat.  This is a super easy recipe to make… all you have to do is chop up olives and mix everything together.  In my playbook that is a game day winning recipe!  If I am hosting a party, I love making recipes like this where you mix everything together ahead of time and then all you have to do is get it out of the refrigerator right before the guests arrive.  Then just throw some crackers on a platter to finish off the presentation. So let’s get started so we are ready for the big game.

    The ingredients you will need are olives, softened cream cheese, minced garlic in a jar, and cayenne pepper.

    ingredients for dipFirst scoop the softened cream cheese into a bowl.

    softened cream cheeseThen chop the olives into small pieces.

    chopped olives Mix the olives into the cream cheese.

    mixing in olivesPour in the minced garlic and mix it in.

    adding garlicAdd the 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and mix it in.

    mixed dipNow refrigerate until you are ready to serve the dip.  Serve with your choice of crackers.  

    [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:21]