Snacks

Cheers to the Weekend: Buffalo Chicken Mozzarella Sticks

April 28, 2017

Nothing screams the weekend more than a giant pile of buffalo chicken wings or crispy mozzarella sticks, but rather have you decide between one or the other, I’ve decided to make miracles happen for you because you can now just have both of them in one hybrid mega crunchy spicy cheesy stick. Just call me your crunchy spicy cheesy fairy godmother. These Buffalo Chicken Mozzarella Sicks are what dreams are made of, I’m certain of it, and if they’re not part of your weekend plans–hopefully said plans also involve cocktails or wine–then you need to rearrange your plans to include them. The recipe yields quite a few sticks, and before you start contemplating whether or not you should cut it in half or something crazy like that, stop and think about how amazing it would be if you made the full batch and enjoyed them all yourself. Maybe it’s been that kind of week and you just need to treat yourself, it is the weekend after all, but in case you’re trying to be good, then just invite some friends over, that way you guys can all be bad together. While you’re being bad, don’t forget to Cheers to the Weekend.

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Cheers to the Weekend: Avocado and Crab Toast

March 17, 2017

Recipes that don’t require any cooking at all, short of toasting some bread, are the perfect recipes for the weekend. Don’t you think? This post is for everyone out there that loves avocado toast just as much as I do, and at the same time, for anyone who rolls their eyes at avocado toast as well. Let’s face it, it’s everywhere and we probably all talk about it way too much, so I don’t blame you. But don’t worry, this isn’t your every day run of the mill avocado toast. There are no instagram worthy fried or poached eggs on top. We’re stepping up our game this time around because it’s St. Patrick’s Day today, and because it’s finally the weekend, and let me tell you that after a looooong work week, this is a much needed treat that requires all but 10 minutes, if that, to put together. Did I mention there is no cooking involved? It’s the perfect appetizer, starter, snack or even a light lunch or dinner for when you’re just too tired to cook or even eat. Too tired to eat, that’s a thing. Help me Cheers to the Weekend with this Avocado Crab Toast. You bring the cocktails and I’ll bring the toast. Deal? Deal.

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Beef Nacho Spring Rolls

February 1, 2017

I’m not one for football, I won’t even pretend like I am, but I am one for all of the snacks and drinks that come with the game. Any game for that matter. It’s not like we really need an excuse to eat nachos and wings and drink beer during the day, but it is nice to have a valid reason like sports in order to do it. It makes me feel better. Anyhow, since the Super Bowl is right around the corner, I figured it would be a great idea, and the best time if any, to share an over-the-top snack/appetizer recipe with you that you can make and enjoy on the big day. And y’all know how much I love anything over-the-top so this fits right in. So now here we are, faced with the dilemma of eating just one of these spring rolls or an entire plate full? I say go for the plate full. Why force yourself to make such a difficult, life changing decision? No one deserves that kind of pressure.

These will be a hit at all your game day festivities, but just incase you need some more appetizer inspiration, I’ll remind you of a few great recipes from the past. These Loaded Baked Potato Spring Rolls are like these nacho spring rolls, but filled with potatoes instead. If dip is the name of your game, then give this Kale Artichoke Dip or Mushroom and Queso Fundido a try! I’m also all about the sliders at parties (I’ve written a book on the matter, so it’s no surprise). It’s good thing for you I’ve crowned myself The Slider King of The World. These Surf ‘n’ Turf Sliders are the way to go, and a great place to read about my upcoming book (just not-so-casually throwing that in here, forgive me). Pot Roast Sliders, Seafood Sliders, Baked Potato Sliders, or even Fried Shrimp Po’Boy Sliders are also great dishes to invite to your party. Feel free to look through the “cocktails” tab on the site to look through all of the great drinks to serve along side your game day party.

If you make any of these game day recipes (or any other recipe from the site on any other occasion for that matter) be sure to let me know. Snap a picture and share it online with the #candidappetite or #thecandidappetite hashtags. I love to see your photos (it makes my day)! Be the coolest person on the block with the best appetizers. Make Susie next door jealous because Susie won’t have these amazing nacho spring rolls at her super bowl party. No she won’t, because she isn’t cool. But you can be. You’re smarter than Susie. You’re cooler than Susie. Make these spring rolls and beat Susie once and for all.

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Reuben Sandwich Egg Rolls

January 18, 2017

I’m really into snacks and appetizers. Sometimes I honestly feel like I can make a whole meal out of them. It’s like when you go to a restaurant for happy hour and order a bunch of different starters to “share,” along with a few drinks. Then you’re too full to eat a regular meal so you go home satisfied because you basically just had finger food for dinner. It’s a dream come true, really. This post is exactly like that but better because you’re home and you don’t have to deal with the noise, the people or the traffic and driving and parking situation. Happy hour at your own house sounds 100 times better than going out. Especially since your house can have these Reuben Sandwich Egg Rolls if you want, and trust me…you do want.

I’ve made a few crazy mash-up egg rolls and spring rolls on the blog already, so I figured adding these to the repertoire wouldn’t be the worst idea ever. In case you were wondering, these Cuban Sandwich Egg Rolls also do exist, along with these Beef Nacho Spring Rolls and let’s not forget Loaded Baked Potato Spring Rolls. They all scream party to me. Speaking of parties, how amazing would a egg roll/spring roll party be? Think about it, you already have the wrappers and the oil is all situated, why not make it a party by making different types of egg rolls and sauces for dipping. Invite some friends over, make some cocktails and eat egg rolls all night long. The caveat is that I have to be invited since I just gave you the best idea ever. Deal? Deal.

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Loaded Baked Potato Croquettes

September 19, 2016

It’s always hard coming back to work right after a 2-week vacation. If you’ve been following me along on Instagram, you’ll have seen that I was just in Europe for 2 whole weeks. It. Was. Awesome. It was also the first time I was out of this country and I’ll remember it forever. Julian turned 30 this year so I surprised him with this trip and we finally got to go. I worked so hard on my cookbook over the past 2 years, and Julian has been working nonstop, so figured a vacation was in order. I had the best time ever and for the first time in a very long time (too many times in that sentence sorry), I didn’t work at all. I didn’t think about work or even look at my email. It was a luxury for sure. I posted a bunch of photos during my travels, so if you haven’t seen them yet go check them out on my instagram! I’m pretty sure that was the most non-food photos I’ve ever posted there.

All this to say that it was very hard getting back to work after those two magical weeks. I had a lot of emails to wade through this weekend, of which I’m only halfway through, and was fighting with getting back to my normal time zone and having to cook again and shoot so many recipes to catch up. Luckily I’m almost 100 percent back to normal and even though I still have a lot to shoot, at least I get to do something I really love, and so I’m really grateful for that. In other good news, I’m partnering again with Idaho Potato Commission and going to Idaho for their Harvest Tour tomorrow till Thursday. I’ll be sharing my potato adventures so stay tuned. I thought in honor of this tater tour, I would kick things off with these Loaded Baked Potato Croquettes! They’re like crunchy deep fried baked potato bites and they’re incredibly addicting. I’m warning you. Don’t let that stop you from making them though because you need to give them a try for yourself.

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Cheers to the Weekend: Pea Pesto Crostini

September 9, 2016

I don’t know about you, but I’m always on the lookout for new and exciting appetizers to cook. What usually ends up happening is that I invite some people over for dinner, especially over the weekend, and then when it comes to planning the menu, the starter is always the part where I struggle the most. I don’t know why, but I never know what to serve as soon as the guests arrive. What’s going to be the easiest recipe to whip up? You have to take that into account especially because we’ve just spent so much time on the main course, the sides, the drinks and the dessert. The appetizer is always the last component for me to figure out. I usually have an “oh crap (not really it’s usually an adult word but my mom reads this so crap it is) I forgot all about the starter moment. What am I going to make?” The great thing about these Cheers to the Weekend posts is that hopefully I’ll be able to help out in the party/gathering appetizer department. For all those of you out there that are just like me when it comes to weekend dinner parties, let me help you out. Let me make your menu planning a little easier by throwing some new and exciting appetizers into the mix.

One of my favorite cookbooks is Date Night In by Ashley Rodriquez from Not Without Salt and in that book she has an amazing recipe for Crostini with Ricotta, Prosciutto and Peas. It’s out of this world. It’s a much larger crostini so I wanted to create a smaller, bite-sized version of it for parties. My family isn’t a big fan of peas, so I decided to pull a fast one on them by creating a pea pesto instead of having whole peas on the crostini. Call me a trickster because it worked and they love the crostini. I’m determined that when I have kids I’ll make this Pea Pesto Crostini for them and they’ll love it because they won’t know that it’s made of peas and when they’re older I’ll tell say to them, “PYSCH! You fell for it! Hahahahaha! You’ve been eating peas all your life!” And I’ll laugh in their face and they’ll cry and it’ll be awesome. That’s what parenting is all about, right? I’m sure it is. As always, let’s all Cheers to the Weekend…and make kids cry.

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