Tag: ndash

23 Skinny Appetizer Recipes

House parties, finger foods, champagne – many of us will be ringing in the New Year at a house party, spending it with close friends or family.

When sit down dinners are too formal, I love finger foods – something you can prep ahead then heat just before serving. I went through my recipes and picked out some favorites that would be perfect if you are hosting a New Year’s party. Some served cold, others hot, a perfect combination to make any table proud.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites^[1]

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip^[2]

Skinny Coconut Shrimp^[3]

Spinach and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms^[4]

References

^{^} Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
^{^} Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
^{^} Skinny Coconut Shrimp (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
^{^} Spinach and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)

Holiday Recipes

The holiday season involves a number of luxuries, from nice gifts, to comfortable traditions, and, perhaps most importantly, food. It seems that, come Christmas, people go to great lengths to find new and appealing recipes with which to impress friends and families. To some, this can be as simple as looking into Christmas hampers from Marks & Spencer^[1], which often offer a number of specialty food and drinks; however, for others, it can mean learning how to cook and prepare exciting new dishes that go well with the holidays and can be enjoyed by a number of different people. For the latter type, there are a number of websites online that specialize in sharing holiday recipes.

One example of one of these helpful websites is epicurious.com, which has an interesting and broad selection of recipes specifically designed to go well with the holidays. For example, their porchetta dish offers an interesting alternative to the somewhat more traditional Christmas meat dishes of turkey or roast beef. The dish is pork based, and is prepared to offer a seasoned, almost crispy skin-on outer layer, with juicier meat at the center. This is a fantastic option as a centrepiece for any Christmas meal, or even for a different meal during the holiday season.

There are also a number of recipes listed on epicurious.com that are more geared toward desserts and holiday treats than main courses. For example, one of the most highly rated options on the website is a decadent-looking zeppole with chocolate sauce. Essentially, these are light, small powdered donuts that can be great to offer to a group of people. With a number of these in a bowl and a dish of chocolate sauce available, an entire group can enjoy a unique dessert together, which some find more appealing than indulging on different sorts of pies and cakes.

There are of course thousands of other recipes available online and indeed in cookbooks and kitchen advice publications all over the world. Due to the nature of the holiday season as a time of comfort and luxury, holiday recipes are an extremely popular topic in the world of culinary expertise. In fact, this is one of the most consistent portions of cooking, as the holidays come every year and many people – though they enjoy their traditions and like to stand by what’s good – never stop looking for the next great meal. All it takes is a little bit of research, and you can find this meal just about anywhere.

References

^{^} Marks & Spencer (www.marksandspencer.com)

Mini Baked Frittata with Ham, Jalapeno, Sharp Cheddar, Tomatoes, and Cilantro

by Pam on November 12, 2012

I love making individual frittatas for lunch. They are easy to make, healthy, and a great way to use up leftovers in your refrigerator. I am surprised that I have never tried adding cilantro to my frittatas before – it made such a wonderful addition to this dish. I loved the combination of flavors – spicy from the jalapenos, salty from the cheese & ham, and sweet from the baked tomatoes. I have a feeling I will be making this again very soon!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a mini baking dish with cooking spray.

Mix the eggs with the milk until well combined then season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Place a few pieces of ham, jalapeno, sharp cheddar, tomatoes, and cilantro into the mini baking dish.

Pour the egg mixture into the baking dish then place the remaining ham, jalapeno, sharp cheddar, tomatoes, and cilantro on top.

Place into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Enjoy.

Print^[1]

Mini Baked Frittata with Ham, Jalapeno, Sharp Cheddar, Tomatoes, and Cilantro

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 min.

Cook Time: 25-30 min.

Total Time: 30-35 min.

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1-2 tsp milk
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
1 slice of Canadian bacon ham, diced
3 slices of pickled jalapeno, diced
1 small slice of sharp cheddar, diced

2 grape tomatoes, sliced
1/2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a mini baking dish with cooking spray.

Mix the eggs with the milk until well combined then season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Place a few pieces of ham, jalapeno, sharp cheddar, tomatoes, and cilantro into the mini baking dish.

Pour the egg mixture into the baking dish then place the remaining ham, jalapeno, sharp cheddar, tomatoes, and cilantro on top.

Place into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Enjoy.

Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net

References

^{^} Print Recipe (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)