Friends’ Kale and Hemp Seed Pesto

Ingredients: 1 small garlic clove 2 cups loosely packed baby kale leaves or regular kale with stems removed 1 cup loosely packed basil leaves ¼ cup hemp seeds ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice Salt & pepper to taste (approximately 1/4-1/2 tsp each) Preparation:…

Festive Tortellini Skewers

Ingredients: 1 Package of fresh basil washed and dried 1 Container grape or cherry tomatoes washed and dried ½ Package cheese tortellini 1 Ball fresh mozzarella, cut into ½ inch pieces 4 oz of bottled or freshly prepared pesto Appetizer skewers or toothpicks Preparation: Cook tortellini according to package directions. Strain and place in a…

Holiday Goat Cheese Bites

Ingredients: Two 8 oz logs of goat cheese, softened for 10 minutes at room temperature Coating ideas: ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped finely ¼ cup freshly chopped herbs (parsley, thyme & rosemary are festive!) ½ cup salted pistachio kernels, chopped finely Pretzel sticks Preparation: Create goat cheese balls using 2 tsp of goat cheese and…

Sweet Potato Crisps With Gorgonzola and Honey

Ingredients: 2 Sweet potatoes (choose long, even width potatoes) 2 Tbsp of olive oil 4 oz of Gorgonzola, crumbled Walnut pieces Honey Preparation: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Add the garlic, sauté for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, salt & pepper and water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cut the sweet potatoes into thin…

Easy Corn Dog Muffins

Ingredients: 2 pkgs. “Jiffy” Corn Muffin Mix 2 Eggs 2/3 cup Milk 4 Hot dogs Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease muffin pan or use paper baking cups. Prepare muffin mix as directed on package. Cut each hot dog into three equal pieces. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Place one section of hot dog, standing…

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients: 1 8 oz Package of cream cheese 1/2 cup Mayonnaise 1/2 cup of Sour cream 6 oz Gorgonzola cheese, Crumbled 1 celery stalk, finely chopped 1 green onion, finely chopped 1/4 – 1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce (depending on how spicy you like it) 1 cup cooked chicken, chopped (from a rotisserie if possible)…

Cheeseburger Meatball Skewers

Ingredients: 1 lb Ground beef (85% lean) 1 Egg 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs 1/4 cup Ketchup 2 Tbsp Yellow mustard 2 Tbsp Mayonnaise 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce Optional: 2 Tbsp Pickle juice (brine from the bottle of pickles) Salt & pepper to taste Skewer Ingredients: 1/2 pint of grape tomatoes, cut in half 1/2 head…

Brie & Ham Crostini with Farmhouse Chutney

Ingredients: ½ of a Pain D’Avignon Baguette 1 large wedge of Brie 3-4 Slices Applegate Farms Uncured Black Forest Ham ½ jar of Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse Chutney Arugula leaves for garnish Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut the baguette into slices (¼ inch – ½ inch thick). (Note: You can cut each slice…

Festive Cucumber Bites

Ingredients: 1 English Cucumber 1 8oz jar of hummus (any flavor) ½ pint of cherry tomatoes, washed and dried Preparation: Cut cucumber into thin rounds, approximately ¼ inch thick. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. For an elegant presentation, put hummus into a piping bag with a star tip or into a zip-top bag with the…