by Kathy Douglas | Jan 25, 2021 | Appetizers
These five ingredient chicken wings are super easy to make and tastes delicious. Simply combine the spices, rub them on the wings, then bake! Perfect for your Super Bowl Party served with a delicious Cilantro Dipping Sauce.
Ingredients
Chicken Wings:
40 chicken wing pieces or 20 whole chicken wings
2 tablespoons Chinese five- spice powder
3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce:
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¼ cup light sour cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup yogurt
½ lemon, juiced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Chicken Wings:
Preheat the oven to 500˚F. Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet and set aside.
If you have whole chicken wings, cut off wingtips and cut the wings in half at the joint. Discard wingtips.
Place the wings in a large bowl. In a small bowl combine well the five-spice powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the wings and rub the mixture into all the wings, rubbing until all the mixture is absorbed on to the chicken.
Place the wing pieces on the cooling rack set over the baking sheet with the side of the wing that has the most skin is facing up. Roast until cooked through, browned and crispy, about 25 minutes. Serve hot with Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce.
Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce:
Combine ingredients except the salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Whisk ingredients to completely combine and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with the hot wings.
by Kathy Douglas | Sep 28, 2020 | Appetizers
An easy fall appetizer made with spicy sausage, fresh sage, and pumpkin. These pinwheels are perfect for snacking or dipping in our creamy Crème Fraîche sauce.
Crème Fraîche Sauce
INGREDIENTS
1 (8-ounce) container creme fraîche
Zest of one lemon and juice
2 teaspoons ground toasted cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS
Stir all the ingredients together until well blended. Season with salt and a few grinds of pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate.
Spicy Pumpkin Pinwheels
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces bulk spicy Italian sausage
One box Pepperidge Farm frozen puff pastry 2 sheets, thawed
6 tablespoons canned pumpkin purée, divided
1-1/2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese, divided
4 tablespoons chopped green onion, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage, divided
For Serving: Crème Fraîche sauce, below
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a sauté pan, cook the sausage over medium heat, stirring until browned and crumbly; drain on paper towels.
On a lightly floured surface, unroll pastry sheets. Spread each sheet with 3 tablespoons pumpkin. Sprinkle each sheet with half of each: sausage, cheese, green onion, and sage; gently press down into the pastry. Roll each sheet into a log, pinching seams to seal. Cut each log into 12 slices. Place 2 inches apart on prepared pans.
Bake until lightly browned on bottom, approximately 10 minutes. Turn pinwheels over and bake 7 minutes more. Let cool on the sheet trays before serving.
by Kathy Douglas | Sep 14, 2020 | Appetizers
A perfect end-of-summer grilled appetizer for dinner or a football watch party, our salt and pepper peel-and-eat shrimp with spicy gochujang is guaranteed to disappear fast.
Gochujang Dipping Sauce
INGREDIENTS
2 Tablespoons Gochujang2 Tablespoons White vinegar
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoons Honey
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk together and set aside.
Salt Grilled Shrimp
INGREDIENTS
16 Jumbo shrimp in shell
3 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup of Kosher salt
Skewers
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a BBQ grill to hot. Devein the shrimp by making a ¼-inch deep slit down the backs of the shrimp and remove the vein but not the shells.
Add the shrimp in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil to coat lightly all over. Sprinkle the salt evenly over the shrimp and toss to even distribute the salt over the shrimp so they are coated in a crust of salt.
Skewer the shrimp and place the shrimp in the center of the grill grate. Cooke for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until the shrimp is pink and the flesh is opaque (white).
Serve immediately with dipping sauce on the side to peel and eat.
by Kathy Douglas | Sep 7, 2020 | Appetizers
These later summer veggie appetizers will keep you coming back for more. Pan-fried eggplant slices topped with a delicious, spicy tomato jam then mozzarella, baked, and topped with a fresh basil leaf.
Ginger Tomato Jam
INGREDIENTS
1 pound fresh or canned Roma tomatoes peeled, cored, seeded, and coarsely chopped
¾ cup sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 Anaheim pepper, stemmed, seeded and minced
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a heavy medium saucepan, Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture has the consistency of thick jam, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Can be made a week ahead. Keep refrigerate, bring to room temperature when ready to use.
Eggplant Rounds
INGREDIENTS
2 long thin Japanese eggplant cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Kosher salt
⅓ cup cornstarch
1 large egg
½ teaspoon coarse salt plus additional for sprinkling the eggplant
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
Grapeseed or Canola oil for deep-frying
INSTRUCTIONS
Place a cooling rack inside a sheet tray.
Lightly sprinkle salt over the eggplant slices and place salt side down on paper towels to remove excess water. Sprinkle salt over the top and cover with paper towels pressing lightly to remove excess water.
Add into three separate shallow dishes: the cornstarch mixed with ⅛ teaspoon salt, the egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, and the panko bread crumbs mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt. Dredge each eggplant slice in the cornstarch, coating it thoroughly and shaking off the excess. Next, coat it with the egg mixture and then dredge it in the breadcrumbs, pressing on the crumbs to make them adhere. Transfer the eggplant on to the cooling rack that is over the sheet tray and let it dry slightly. In a deep heavy skillet, heat ½ inch of oil until shimmering and 375°F.
Sauté the eggplant slices in batches in the oil for 2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain any excess oil. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and move the eggplant over to the parchment paper. Make about 18-24 slices.
To assemble
INGREDIENTS
½ pound of fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced and cut to fit the top of the eggplant slices
18-24 fresh basil leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the broiler on high. Place the eggplant rounds on a parchment-lined sheet tray. Top with 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons of tomato jam, and a thin slice of mozzarella cheese. Place under the broiler to just melt the cheese. Remove and top immediately with a basil leaf and serve.
by Kathy Douglas | Jul 27, 2020 | Appetizers
Summer Squash is plentiful so it’s time for Fried Squash Fritters with Ginger Tomato Jam. Crispy pan-fried fritters filled with fresh squash, bread crumbs and parmesan cheese then topped with a zesty summer tomato jam.
Ginger Tomato Jam
INGREDIENTS
1 pound fresh Roma tomatoes peeled, cored, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
Zest of one lemon
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a heavy medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture has the consistency of thick jam, about 1 hour. Can be made a week ahead. Keep refrigerate, bring to room temperature when ready to use.
Squash Fritters
INGREDIENTS
3 cups grated summer squash, about 2-3 medium squash
1 cup toasted panko bread crumbs*
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 green onions, finely sliced
2 large eggs, beaten until yolks and white are combined
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more if needed
INSTRUCTIONS
Using a food processor or a box grater, grate the squash. Lay on a clean kitchen towel; roll up and squeeze several times, as tight as possible, to remove excess moisture. Measure out 3 cups.
In a medium bowl, combine the squash and with the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, green onion, eggs, oregano, salt, and pepper. Shape mixture into 2 ½ inch patties, pressing together firmly. Place on a parchment-lined sheet tray and refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes.
In a large sauté pan over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, carefully add half the squash fritters to the pan and sauté for 4 minutes per side or until lightly browned. Be sure to turn over carefully. Remove and keep warm. Add extra oil, about 2 tablespoons if needed, and sauté the rest of the fritters. Served warm topped with the tomato jam.
*To toast the bread crumbs – lay in a single layer on a sheet tray and toast in a 350˚F preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until light brown.
by Kathy Douglas | Jul 14, 2020 | Appetizers
This summer fruit tart recipe is a delicious way to celebrate Grand Marnier Day! Topped with a combination of fruits to bring out summer’s sweetness, the shortbread crust is filled to the brim with a Grand Marnier and Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream.
INGREDIENTS
Shortbread Pastry Crust
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
¼ cup granulated white sugar
1 large egg
Pastry Cream
1 ¼ cups whole milk
3 large egg yolks
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
2 teaspoons Grand Marnier
Topping
½ cup apricot jam or preserves
3 cups of summer fruit such as raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, plums, pineapple, peaches
INSTRUCTIONS
To make the shortbread crust: In a small bowl, whisk the flour with the salt. Place the butter in a mixer bowl, add the sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Lightly whisk the egg then add to the butter mixture, beating until just incorporated. Add the flour mixture all at once and mix just until the dough forms into a ball. Dump out on a floured surface and flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, or place in a zip-top bag. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or just until firm.
Lightly butter an 8” or 9” tart pan with a removable bottom or an 8” or 9” tart ring. Roll the dough into an 8” or 9” circle then add to the pan or ring and evenly pat the dough onto the bottom and up the sides of the container or pastry ring. Cover with plastic wrap and rest in the refrigerator for a least one hour.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400˚F. Lightly prick bottom and sides of the pastry crust with the tines of a fork and place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Bake the crust for 5 minutes then reduce the oven temperature to 350˚F and continue baking the crust for about 15 minutes more or until dry and lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the pastry cream: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the sugar and egg yolks together. Sift the flour and cornstarch together into the egg mixture and mix into a smooth paste.
In a saucepan, add the milk and heat until the liquid starts to foam up. Remove from heat and slowly temper small amounts at a time into the egg mixture, constantly whisking to keep a smooth mixture. Pour the egg mixture into a clean medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until just boiling, whisking constantly. When it boils, remove from heat and immediately whisk in the vanilla bean paste and Grand Marnier. Pour into a clean bowl and quickly cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a layer from forming. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until very cold. When ready to use, whisk to remove any lumps that may have formed.
Topping: Heat the apricot jam with one tablespoon of water in a small saucepan over medium heat until liquid. Remove from heat and strain the jam through a fine strainer to remove any fruit lumps.
To Assemble Tart: Be sure to assemble the tart on the day it will be eaten. Remove the tart from the sides of the pan and remove the bottom of the pan, then slide the tart shell on to a platter.
Spread a thin layer of apricot glaze over the bottom and up the sides of the baked tart shell to help prevent the crust from getting soggy. Let the glaze dry for 20 minutes. Spread the pastry cream onto the bottom of the tart shell over the glaze. Arrange the fruit on top and carefully brush a very light coating of fruit glaze on the fruit. Refrigerate until ready, serves 6.
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