Portobello Appetizers

This is another delicious appetizer to make for a dinner party, cookout, or to take along to a picnic. It tastes best fresh out of the over, but still tastes good if cooled. These are also very healthy!

Items needed:

• baby portobello mushrooms
• mozzarella cheese (I use part-skim)
• turkey pepperoni slices
• black olive slices

Directions:

Cut stems out of mushrooms.

Fill mushroom cups with mozzarella cheese.

Place a turkey pepperoni slice and black olives over each cheese-filled mushroom.

Bake @ 375 for about 10 minutes.


You could also use large portabellos if desired! These are DELICIOUS and very filling.  If you opt to use large portabellos, you can add a little pizza sauce under the cheese and you have just made yourself the healthiest pizza ever - OR - add it to a bed of pasta and sauce!





Large portabello added to pasta with sauteed onions and spinach on top






The finished product if you're making the appetizer!

These were a hit at our NYE party and a bigger hit with the family when I made the large ones for dinner!

Strawberry - Champagne Slushies

Every year we have a New Years Eve party at our house. Low-key, fire pit, fire works, family friendly, and a good time. I try to make one new drink every year as the signature drink of the night. I found this recipe as I was searching the Internet and thought it would be a good change and it looked yummy!

Ingredients:

• 1 quart of fresh strawberries (you could use frozen if you can't get fresh)
• 1 bottle of champagne
• 1 lime (original recipe doesn't call for lime, but I added it)

Directions:

1. Cut stems off strawberries and place berries in blender.
2. Pour 1/2 the bottle of champagne into blender.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze.

When ready to make slushies:

1. Remove frozen strawberry-champagne mixture from ice cube trays and place back in blender.
2. Add the remaining 1/2 bottle of champagne to the blender.
3. squeeze in 1 lime.
4. Blend.

YUMMO!

Cucumber & Crab Dip Appetizer

The Cucumber & Crab Dip can serve as a great snack or an appetizer that is quick, healthy, and easy to make for a dinner party, gathering, picnic, or some kind of occasion where you need to bring something.

Items Needed:

• 1/4 cup cream cheese (I used fat free)
• 1/4 cup sour cream (I used light)
• 3/4 cup crab meat
• 1 tsp. hot sauce
• 1 tsp. brown mustard
• 1 tbls green onion
• 3 cucumbers
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper

Here's what you do:

1. Peel the skin off all cucumbers. Then cut 1 in. - 1 1/2 in. pieces.
2. Use a melon scooper & scoop the inside of the cucumber out, leaving only the walls and a thin bottom.
3. Set aside.
4. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a food processor or blender.
5. After all ingredients are combined, scoop the mixture into a Ziploc baggie.
6. Cut off one corner of the baggie and squeeze mixture into each cucumber cup.
7. Voila!!!! You are done!!!

These little scrumptious bites of goodness were awesome! The only thing I would do different the next time is to add more crab meat to the recipe. But, that's just me - I like the taste of crab and thought it could've had more of a crab flavor than it did. You may like it just the way it is!

ENJOY!

Spicy Grouper

• Place grouper fillets in a baking dish.
• Sprinkle with garlic powder, chili powder, salt, & pepper
• Cover with fresh salsa
• Top with fresh jalapenos
• Back at 375 for about 15 - 20 minutes
• While baking, heat a can of black beans on the stove top and cook a bag of 5 minutes boil-in-a-bag rice.
• Plate rice, then top with black beans, grouper, salsa, hot sauce
• DELICIOUS!!!! If you don't want the added carbs, remove the rice like I did! :)

Shrimp & Crab Pasta

• I sauteed a bag of peel-and-eat shrimp with cooking spray and garlic. Then I took my portion out and placed in another pan. I added butter, a little more garlic, spinach, and crab meat to the pot and sauteed a bit longer. Mine was the same, but still with no butter!
• At the same time I had a pot of spaghetti noodles going.
• When it was all finished, I plated the pasta and covered it with the shrimp & crab, garlic-butter mixture for the fam. Mine was paired with 1/2 a cucumber and a 1/2 cup baked asparagus.
• Lastly, I sprinkled everything with a bit of feta cheese.

SIMPLE - SCRUMPTIOUS - SATISFYING!!!!! :)

Breakfast Pods (for dinner)

We like to have "breakfast for dinner" every once in awhile, but this could be a big breakfast hit too! It's an idea I got from the pinterest website and mine don't look as perfect as the ones I saw pictured...maybe the next time they will since I know what to do now.

1. Spray a muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cut pieces of bread to fit inside. The original directions said to cut with a circular cookie cutter. I didn't have one so I cut the crusts off into a square. Cut into two triangles and push them into the muffin pan slots.
3. Now you can either add the bacon and egg OR...add some other ingredients. In two of mine I add two slices of Roma tomatoes and some spinach. You have to push them all the way down so the egg fits in. After you add your veggies, place the bacon in the bread cup.
4. Now add the egg to the top. The ones I originally saw were all perfect white and yolk sitting happily at the top. My kids DO NOT eat eggs that way so I scrambled two for theirs.
5. Bake @ 375 for about 20 minutes.

• The one pictured in the middle...you know, the one that looks gigantic compared to the rest, that one is actually made with quinoa flakes instead of bread. Yep, that ones mine since I can't eat bread. I found quinoa flakes at a farmers market. Mixed with about 1 tbls spoon almond milk and pushed that into the muffin cup instead of bread. It worked! It was delicious!
• Other things you may want to add into your cup: feta cheese, shredded cheese, mushrooms, jalapenos, onions...or anything else that sounds good to you!
• This was super easy! Super fun for my 7 year old! And delicious!
• I recommend you try it with the quinoa flakes - great source of protein!

Fiesta Grouper

Tonight's dish had the hubs asking for more and then saying, "That's a definite do-over!" (meaning, PLEASE make that one again)! Also, another super quick meal.

Grouper:

• Place grouper fillets in a baking dish.
• Brush with butter and lemon juice mixture.
• Sprinkle with garlic, chili powder, parsley, and salt.
• Slice a jalapeno pepper and place on the top of each fillet.
• Bake or broil @ 350 for about 10 - 15 minutes.
• Heat black beans in a separate pan.
• Make a boil-in-a-bag rice pouch.

I mixed mild, fresh salsa in with the black beans for a fiesta flavor. Take away the rice for less carbs. ENJOY!