Looking for a healthy homemade game day snack? Try my guacamole recipe! It taste so fresh & takes 10 mins to put together. Your guests will be so impressed!
Time: 10 mins - serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2 green chili peppers
- 2 slices of tomat
- 1 slice red onion
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 handful fresh cilantro
Recipe:
- Cut the avocados in half & scoop the flesh into a bowl. Squeeze the lime juice over it.
- Mash the avocado with a fork until almost smooth.
- Dice the onion slice, the tomato slices, & the chili peppers, nd roughly chop the cilantro leaves.
- Mix all ingredients into the avocado mixture along with the salt.
- Serve with multigrain tortilla chips & enjoy!
Hard-boiled eggs covered in seasoned mashed potatoes & a homemade batter then fried to golden perfection! Try this delicious Guyanese recipe for breakfast, an easy snack, or appetizer.
Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 6 hard-boiled eggs
- 2.5 cups vegetable oil for frying
Potato mixture:
- 3 potatoes, washed & scrubbed
- 3 cups boiling water
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons ground onion
- Salt to taste
Batter:
- 4 tablespoons ground split peas
- 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup water (or more, added slowly to create batter consistency)
- Salt to taste
Recipe:
- Boil potatoes for 15 mins.
- Mash them in a bowl with all the potato spices above, set aside.
- Peel the hard-boiled eggs.
- Use your hands to cover the eggs one by one with the mashed potatoes, creating a large ball.
- Dip the ball into the batter so it's evenly coated.
- Place the ball into the hot oil & fry for about 1 minute (or until golden).
- Place on a paper towel to drain off any excess oil.
Serve with some homemade mango chutney or sauce of your choice!
GREAT for my Meatless Mondays!
Eggplant Parmesan is vegetarian, but most recipes require you to use egg to coat the eggplant before adding bread crumbs. I don't eat meat or eggs on Mondays so I thought up this recipe. Enjoy!
Time: 1.5 hours
Ingredients:
- 1 large eggplant
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 log herbed goat cheese
- About 3 tablespoons salt
- 1 bottle marinara sauce
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil or as needed to coat the pan
- 1 cup bread crumbs (you can use flavored or unflavored - I used Italian flavored). You can also sub regular bread crumbs with Panko
- 1 tablespoon crushed red peppers
- Black pepper to taste
Recipe:
- Cut the eggplant into 1/4 inch rounds - salt both sides and let them sit for 5 mins (so the salt absorbs some of the moisture, and doesn't make your eggplant brown or soggy)
- Next, coat the bottom of a non-stick skillet with olive oil, amount will vary based on how big your pan is. Get the oil to medium heat.
- Fry each eggplant round in the olive oil for about 1-2 mins on each side. You want the cooking to start, but not completely cooked through.
- While the eggplant is still hot, lay them out on a plate or napkin and drop about 1 teaspoon or 1/2 teaspoon of goat cheese on top so it can melt - then spread evenly.
- After the goat cheese is spread on one side, immediately coat with breadcrumbs.
- Turn each round over and spread the other side with goat cheese, coat it with breadcrumbs as well.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Place the coated eggplant rounds back into the skillet and fry them until they are golden brown on both sides. You may need to add more olive oil to the pan before this step.
- Lay eggplant rounds side by side into your baking pan.
- Take your 3 cloves of garlic, chop them up and add them to a sauce pan or pot with a little olive oil.
- After the garlic is golden brown, add marinara sauce, black pepper and crushed red pepper.
- Let this mixture simmer for about 10 mins then pour over your eggplant.
- Sprinkle your grated Parmesan cheese on top of this. Bake on 350 for about 15 - 20 mins or until cheese is melted.
- Serve hot & enjoy :)
Photo credits to Anand Bahadur, JR: https://www.facebook.com/abpdphotography
Another serving suggestion: If you don't have marinara sauce on hand, you can also serve the eggplant fried in goat cheese & breadcrumbs as an appetizer or snack! Just add some additional seasoning in the breadcrumb mixture (i.e. some dried oregano or basil).
Fabulously easy! Try this fast, no-bake recipe for your next chocolate fix!
Time: 20 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
- 5 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsweatened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
Recipe:
- Pulse shredded coconut, honey, ground cinnamon & vanilla extract in a food processor.
- Form bars whatever shape or size you like - you have to squeeze them together with your hand so the shape holds. Let them freeze for at least 10 mins.
- Mix unsweetened cocoa powder with coconut oil in a bowl. (Tip: you can use margarine or butter instead). *Add more coconut oil if the mixture is too thick - you want it to be thin enough so you can dip the bars in without them breaking apart*
- Take bars out of the freezer and dip them into the chocolate mixture, then set them on parchment paper.
- Dust with cocoa powder & set in the refrigerator for at least 15 mins before devouring.
- Enjoy!
This recipe originated from me craving fish n chips! I ended up having no potatoes to make fries, and I was on a "healthy" kick - in comes Baked Cassava Fries with Baked Flounder!
It's amazingly satisfying and very easy to create.
Time: ~45 mins + time for water to boil
Ingredients:
Recipe:
- Peel & cut cassava
- Boil until tender (~ 15 mins)
- Spread cassava on cookie sheet
- Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper
- Bake on 425 for 20 mins
- Enjoy!
Serving suggestion:
I made this with a Baked Flounder Fillet:
Time: 20 - 25 mins
Ingredients:
- Flounder fillet
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt/Pepper
- Fresh dill (optional)
Recipe:
- Sprinkle flounder fillet pieces with lemon juice
- Drizzle the top with olive oil
- Sprinkle with salt and black pepper
- Bake on 350 for about 15 mins (or until golden brown)
- Optional: garnish with some fresh dill!
Put this on your holiday dessert list!
Time: about 1.5 hours total
Ingredients:
- 2 Pears
- 2 sticks of unsalted butter or margarine (1 stick = 1/2 cup)
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 425° F
- In a food processor, pulse 1 stick of cold butter (cut into cubes) with 1 cup all purpose flour & 1 teaspoon salt until dough forms (you will likely have to finish forming dough with your hands after you take it out of the food processor).
- Roll dough out with a rolling pin so that it's wide enough to cover the bottom of your round pie pan, and have room to press up the sides of the pan (like a crust).
- Press dough into the bottom of the pan and around the sides, ensure all around the pan is coated with the crust.
- This step is optional: I sprinkled some ground cinnamon into the pie crust so that it's a little more flavorful. I fully believe in cinnamon.... on everything.
- Bake crust alone for about 20 mins or until slightly browned.
- Filling: Slice pears very thin (I used a mandoline slicer, but you can just do this with a utility/paring knife). Remove any seeds.
- In a medium bowl, coat sliced pears with brown sugar, remaining ground cinnamon, gloves, and ginger. Add a little salt if you'd like.
- Remove bottom crust from the oven and fill it with the above mixture.
- Top crust: Repeat steps 2-4. Roll dough out over the pie filling with your hands (to cover the pie) and gently tuck in the corners using the excess dough (you may have to pinch a little to ensure that the top crust stays on!)
- Cut two slits on the top so the filling has room to breathe
TIP: wiggle your knife so the slits are a little wide, since the dough will expand a little as it cooks. - Put pie into the oven first, then lower the degrees to 350° F and bake for about an hour or until the top crust is golden brown!
- Enjoy!
Simple lunch recipe bursting with flavor!
Time: 30 mins + time for water to boil
Ingredients:
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 cup farfalle (bowtie) pasta (from a box, dried)
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup diced cucumbers (peeled)
- 1/4 cup asiago cheese cubes
- 1/4 cup grape/cherry tomatoes (or as many as you like)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Bunch of fresh or dried basil leaves (if fresh, break them apart to smaller, bite-sized pieces)
- Bunch of fresh cilantro leaves
- Salt/Pepper to taste
Recipe:
- Boil water with about 2 teaspoons of salt
- Add pasta and cook until al dente (not mushy but cooked through)
- While the pasta is cooking, mix all other ingredients together in a bowl (except the salt, pepper, and cilantro) - the olive oil will help incorporate everything.
- Strain pasta and it to the bowl of mixed ingredients
- Sprinkle salt/pepper and fresh cilantro if desired.
- Enjoy!
Disclaimer: the burger is not homemade - it's Gardenburger brand (I'll post a homemade veggie burger recipe soon!) but this twist on your typical burger & fries is decadent and EASY! Thanks to this recipe, I'm obsessed with truffle oil!
Time: ~30 mins to depending on if your toppings are pre-sliced.
Ingredients:
- 2 Gardenburger brand veggie burgers (original or flavored, I used original)
- 2 Sesame buns
- 1 tablespoon truffle oil
- 2 slices of pepper-jack cheese (or cheese of your choice)
- Toppings of your choice, I used:
- Baby argula
- Sliced grape tomatoes
- Sliced pepperoncinis
- Salt/pepper to taste
Recipe:
- Grill burger patties (I used a stovetop grill, you can pan-sear them)
- When the burgers are almost done, add sliced pepper-jack cheese and allow it to melt before removing from the grill.
- Brush truffle oil on all sides of the bread, and lightly toast them.
- Place burgers on buns, layer with your toppings.
- Enjoy!
Homemade Fries
Time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
- 2 potatoes, washed and patted dry
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- Salt/pepper to taste
Recipe:
- Slice potatoes on a mandoline with the skinny blades (TIP: slice them long-ways so they look like fries!) You can use a knife to cut the potatoes, just ensure that they are thin pieces so they cook fast and crispy.
- Heat oil to medium ~350 and fry the potato slices until almost golden, but just cooked through
- Strain potatoes out of the pot, let them sit to cool as you fry more.
- After about 10 mins, put the fries back in the fryer and raise the heat to medium-high. The fries will be golden and crispy on the outside, but amazingly soft and delicious on the inside!
- Toss with salt and black pepper if desired - you can also add some grate Parmesan cheese if you're feeling adventurous!
- Enjoy!
Watch out Popeyes! This recipe is amazingly easy and delicious!!
Time: ~ 1 hour total
Ingredients:
- Your choice of chicken pieces (I used thighs)
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon mrs dash seasoning (without salt)
- 2 tablespoons chilli powder
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup beer or dark lager of your choice
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 2 tablespoons Crisco
- In one medium bowl, mix together 2 cups of flour, a tablespoon of garlic salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon mrs dash seasoning (without salt), about 2 tablespoons chilli powder (less if you don't want it as spicy).
- In a separate bowl, stir together 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 2 egg yolks and 1/4 cup of dark lager/beer of choice. You may need to thin with additional beer if the batter is too thick.
- Heat enough oil to cover the chicken, depending on what parts of chicken you're using this will vary (I used chicken thighs, about 2 cups of vegetable oil & 2 tablespoons of crisco) - let heat until oil is at 350 degrees.
- Moisten each piece of chicken with a little water, then dip in the dry mix. Shake off excess and dip in the wet mix, then dip in the dry mix again.
- Carefully place the chicken pieces in the hot oil. Fry for 15 to 18 minutes, or until well browned. Smaller pieces will not take as long. Large pieces may take longer. Remove and drain oil before eating.
- ENJOY!
Simply DELISH way to use leftover zucchini!
Time: 1.5 hours
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons apple sauce
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Grease your loaf pan with cooking spray and lightly dust with flour.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy.
- Mix in oil and sugar.
- Stir in zucchini and vanilla.
- Combine flour, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, salt and nuts; stir into the egg mixture.
- Pour batter into pan, top with walnuts lining the middle for a design (optional).
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean!
Really quick, delicious, vegetarian dinner!
Ingredients:
- 1 Eggplant
- Olive oil (about 4 tablespoons or more as needed)
- About 1/4 cup feta cheese
- About 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- Salt/Pepper
Recipe:
- Cut the eggplant into cubes (peeled first) then roast until golden brown (low broil)
- Bake the multigrain flatbread for 10 mins on 350 degrees
- Grind half the eggplant chunks in the food processor with 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Spread ground eggplant mixture on multigrain flatbread
- Top with the remaining eggplant pieces, feta cheese & mint leaves
- Sprinkle more olive oil, salt & black pepper & broil for 5 mins
- Enjoy!
