Archive for Appetizers

Springtime Ceviche

April 27, 2012 · Filed under Appetizers, Recipes, Shrimp · Tagged , ,

Huge shout out to Tracy who was making this in Arizona and shared photos on Facebook!  I of course asked her for the recipe and made it ASAP!  Actually we have had it twice since then!  The kids love it! We just eat it as a salsa with chips the 1st night, and it makes GREAT tacos the next night!  Two meals, both healthy, clean, and honestly SO GOOD for you!!  Everybody wins, and I do very little work.

Also Shrimp are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which starve tumor cells and help fight cancer. According to Dr. Oz Shrimp are also GOOD for our hearts! “Despite being a source of cholesterol, shrimp can be helpful for your heart. They contain taurine, an amino acid, which acts like plastic wrap so fats can’t cross the intestinal wall and get into your arteries.”

Great idea for summer and sending the kids outside to eat!

Jose’s Shrimp Ceviche

Ingredients:

***This makes a ton, serving 20 ppl.  The website allows you to scale the serving size up or down.  I made it for 10 the 1st time and it lasted two days between dinner, my lunch the next day, and tacos the next night.

  (to scale the recipe click here)

  • 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
  • 1 cup fresh lime juice
  • 10 plum tomatoes, diced
  • 1 large yellow or red onion, diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced, or to taste
  • 2 avocados, diced (optional)
  • 2 ribs celery, diced (optional)
  • chopped fresh cilantro to taste
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Place shrimp in a glass bowl and cover with lime juice to marinate (or ‘cook’) for about 10 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque. Meanwhile, place the plum tomatoes, onion and jalapeno (and avocados and celery, if using) in a large, non-reactive (stainless steel, glass or plastic) bowl.
  2. Remove shrimp from lime juice, reserving juice. Dice shrimp and add to the bowl of vegetables. Pour in the remaining lime juice marinade. Add cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to mix.

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oldies but goodies

January 13, 2012 · Filed under Appetizers, Chicken, side dishes, Soups & Chilis · Tagged , ,

Here in the PNW we are gearing up for a long, COLD, Holiday weekend!  With the extra day off, and some fantastic football games on, we are heading to the Beach House to hunker down, bundle up and spend some fun family time!  Sitting inside by the fire is relaxing and comforting, but also leads to lots of snacking.  So besides stocking up on healthy snacks and I am pulling out some of my favorites, oldies…but goodies.

1)  Tortilla Soup http://thegoodstuff411.com/2010/10/28/tortilla-soup/

I love this because I can keep it warm in the crock pot and people can help themselves all weekend.  It is filling and tastes great!

2)  Healthy Seven-Layer Dip http://thegoodstuff411.com/2010/02/05/and-something-spicy-for-the-super-bowl/

This is a football day favorite at our house and it really is amazing how great it tastes!

Hope everyone enjoys their long weekend…stay warm, stay safe, and have fun!

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Tuna Pops.

August 3, 2011 · Filed under Appetizers, Brands I Love, Snacks · Tagged , , , ,

Ok, I know…sounds HORIRBLE!  But listen this is my new favorite lunch!  YUMMERS!  Hear me out!

Take 11 Pop Chips (1/2 a serving by the way…that’s right, a serving is 22 Pop Chips)!

All Natural Pop Chips – Salt and Pepper, 0.5 bag (About 11 Chips) 50 calories        

all natural. no trans fats. no saturated fats. no cholesterol. no preservatives

Add Sweet N Spicy Tuna

Starkist Tuna Creations – Sweet N Spicy Tuna Pouch, 5 oz 175 calories        

Use the whole pouch, not just a serving…the WHOLE thing people!

And you get a DELISHIOUS snack, and pretty darn healthy too!

Here is the 411 on my Tuna Pops: Calories 225/ fat 3g/ carbs 18g/ sugar 9g/ Protein 29g

Added bonus…I made mine and everyone ELSE ate them!  So now I have a new easy appetizer and a yummy snack!  Win:Win.

I love this because it is under 300 calories.  High in protein so I am not starving 30 minutes later.  And I get a little salt, a little crunch.  A little somethin’ somthin’!

Might need a new name though:)

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Prawns. Dip. Done.

February 8, 2011 · Filed under Appetizers, Fish, kids, Quick Dinner Ideas, Recipes · Tagged , , ,

You guys know by now how much this girl LOVES an easy dinner that my family will eat, is healthy…and frankly requires VERY LITTLE work on my part!  Well this dish began its circuit with my friends as an appetizer.  The perfect appetizer if I am honest.  Simple, easy to prepare, yet tastes great, and leaves your guests asking for the recipe.  A winner for sure. 

One of my New Years Resolutions for 2011 was to stop saving the best things for special occasions.  Crystal glasses have come out for OJ, wedding china has served my kids macaroni and cheese (after I peeled a few labels off the bottom), Michael and I enjoyed a $90 of wine with some chili the other night (a gift, I don’t spend $90 on wine)- I am wearing cashmere on days I do nothing, and even the “good” jewelry has made its way to happy hour!  What the heck, life is short! 

So in this same spirit this yummy appetizer of jumbo prawns has made its way to Monday night dinner and it was a hit, even with the kiddos!

 

I forgot to take a pic, this is pretty close, minus the cilantro, which would taste great!

Prawns:

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail on

Dipping Sauce:

1/4 Cup mayonnaise (whichever you buy for your home.  Olive Oil, low-fat, they all will work) 

1/4 Cup plain yogurt (I use Greek yogurt)

1 teaspoon grated lime peel

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon capers, chopped up dash of ground cayenne pepper

(Now some plain low-fat sour cream/or greek yogurt with some chopped up cilantro, or a Taziki sauce from Costco or Trader Joe’s will work JUST FINE here for Monday night dinner, no need to bring out the capers and fresh lime juice for the kiddos)

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients for sauce in a bowl and refrigerate prior to serving (helps it to get a bit thicker).

2. Toss shrimp with spice mixture and saute in pan with a little olive oil until cooked through.

The other thing I so adore about this dish  is though the prawns taste good hot, they actually taste just as good cold so there is no need to rush everyone to the table.  I served them with a big salad tonight, but they have also been served A la carte…hey, if I didn’t buy it deep-fried and wrapped in brown paper I am one step ahead of the game!

Cheers!

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Just keep the crackers in the box

September 27, 2010 · Filed under Appetizers · Tagged

We had friends over for dinner this past weekend and I put together my usual tray of finger foods.  I bought some yummy crackers, but completely spaced putting them out.  No one noticed, nor asked, and the tray was devoured!  The apples, cucumbers and thinly sliced meat all served as perfect vessels for getting the cheese and hummus (not pictured) to our mouths! 

Sometimes less is LESS, but just as good!

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The Mysterious Radish

July 14, 2010 · Filed under Appetizers, Veggies · Tagged , ,

Radishes seem to be popping up all over (no pun intended).  Do you see radishes in the store and think “gross”, “yuck”…or like me, simply have no idea what to do with them?  Time to make friends with these little red gems, they are easy, yummy, and lots of fun!

I know they are good for us because my Husband’s family eats them ALL the time, and I am finding that many of the things we are now calling “health food” have been staples in the Eastern European diet for centuries and have many health benefits (apple cider vinegar, beets, dark rye bread, fish oils, berries, barley, oats….and the list goes on).

At a recent family celebration I was reminded that they are a traditional, and DELICIOUS taco topping finely diced and sprinkled on top!  We made taco salads the other night and added them as well.  They add a great texture, and crunch!

Then I get an email form my friend Stacie passing on a super-yummy summertime appetizer!  I gave it a try last night and HUGE thumbs up!

Stacie’s Summertime Radish Treat

Toasted bread slices

(toast, or brush with olive oil and broil briefly)

Add ricotta cheese

Add FINELY sliced radish

Add lemon zest

Sprinkle with pepper and sea salt

Drink (and this part is key) with chilled glass of white wine

Radishes are easy to grow, and fun for the kids to plant, water and see results fast!

If you buy fresh radishes from a farmers market, or co-op they will probably have some dirt or grit on them, just rinse them off, chop the tops off and you are all set!

Radishes contain as much potassium as bananas, half the ascorbic acid of oranges, are an excellent source of vitamin C, folate, fiber and magnesium!  Calories are hardly worth mentioning, kind of like lettuce & cucumbers, so fill up on them!

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And Something Spicy for the Super Bowl

February 5, 2010 · Filed under Appetizers, Recipes · Tagged

 

You can not have a Super Bowl Party without a Seven Layer Bean Dip, right?  Offer to bring it and make Tosca Reno’s from her Clean Eating Cookbook, it is THE BOMB!

This dip will give you a healthy option at the party, though if you don’t tell everyone how healthy it is I venture to bet it will be gone before the 1st Quarter!

Seven Layer Bean Dip by Tosca Reno

 

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 Cups plain non-fat yogurt, strained for about two hours to thicken.  (see below)

4 Tbs green chilies

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

2 cups plum tomatoes, peeled, chopped and drained in a colander

1 cup finely chopped purple onion (nicer dicer it)

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

1 16-oz can low-fat refried beans (get spicy if they have it)

Tabasco sauce, several drops

Worcestershire sauce, several drops

1 1/2 cups guacamole (trader joes and Costco have great ones, already made and zippy)

1 cup black olives, chopped (optional)

1 bunch green onion, trimmed and chopped

1 1/2 cups low-fat Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1.  In a small bowl combine strained yogurt with chilies, sea salt and pepper.  Set aside.

2.  In a medium bowl, combine chopped, drained tomatoes, purple onion, cilantro…mix well and set aside.

3.  In another medium bowl combine beans, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauces.  Mix well and set aside.

The dip gets messy so try NOT to use a glass dish if you have another option!

1st layer is the bean mixture.  Spread, making as smooth as possible.

2nd Layer is guacamole

3rd layer is the yogurt mixture from step 1

4th layer is chopped olives if you are using them

5th layer is tomatoes mixture, use hands to distribute evenly

6th layer is green onions

7th layer is shredded cheese

*To Strain the yogurt: Place 2 layers of cheesecloth which you can get at any grocery store in a fine-strainer and dump the yogurt in.  Place over a bowl to catch the liquids and place in the fridge.

NOT HARD!

The 411 on Tosca’s Dip:  Calories 59/Protein 3g/carbs 4g/TOTAL fat 3g/ Saturated fat 1g/ Trans Fat 0g/ Fiber 1g/ Sodium 166mg/ Cholesterol 1mg/ Sugar 1g

Serving size is 4 Tbl.  And the leftovers make for great tacos, or rolled up as burritos!

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Easy Snack or Appetizer Anytime!

December 22, 2009 · Filed under Appetizers, kids, Snacks, Veggies · Tagged

The two foods we consume the most in our home are hummus and cucumbers.  I would say both are eaten most every day, and often together.  My husband taught the kids to use cucumber slices like chips to scoop up their hummus and they love it!  This little snack-bite is simple, easy, tastes great and can be made to look festive for the Holidays!  We put this out while preparing dinner, which lets us snack, without filling up before enjoying our meal!

  • 1 container of hummus
  • 1 English cucumber, sliced
  • 1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers, cut into small strips
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or some cilantro

    • Place humus onto cucumber slices, top with a roasted red pepper strip and garnish with cilantro or thyme. Serve immediately.

    *Another version of this snack is to sprinkle the hummus with lemon pepper instead of the roasted red-pepper strip.

    *Use a vegetable peeler or zester/scorer to take off strips of the cucumber to make a decorative edge. Or pull the tines of a fork down the outside length of the cucumber without peeling to make a decorative edge.

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    Sometimes the BEST things are so simple.

    November 10, 2009 · Filed under Appetizers, Brands I Love, Costco · Tagged , ,

    Sometimes the best things are so simple we tend to forget about them.  A few weeks ago we were graciously invited to a Halloween party!  Michael had been gone all week on the East Coast and come Halloween day I was BEAT STREET!  All done.  Now normally, (especially given my incestuous love for this Haunted Holiday) I would have come up with a fabulous, Halloween-oriented appetizer…but again, I was tired and over it! (God Bless you single Moms! Really.)As I sat pondering what I could throw together easily I came up with two great app’s that are slam-dunks every time, and honestly I think because they are so darn easy I just forget how good they are.  Nothing inventive here people, but wow…easy, somewhat healthy (for a party app) and always gobbled up!  A trip to the store and about 20 minutes to put together.  DONE. (I would also like to add both the shrimp and the meatballs were gone within about 15 minutes of our arrival).

    Appetizer #1.    Jumbo Prawns and Cocktail Sauce

    Ingredients:  Jumbo Prawns & Cocktail Sauce

    Now remember you are looking for frozen, cooked with the tail ON that have been farmed in the U.S.A (see All the Fish are Swimming post for guidelines)

    Take a large round serving dish, fill with ice, place dipping bowl of Cocktail Sauce in the center, then place prawns and slices of lemon in whatever presentation makes you the happiest

                              Assemble when you arrive.  Bring ice in a ziplock.  Shrimp in a ziplock.  Lemon slices.  Cocktail sauce.  Your serving bowl.  Cocktail Sauce bowl.

    shrimp

      

    Appetizer #2:  Chicken Meatballs with Sweet ’n Sour Sauce & Pineapple chunks

    Ingredients:  Chicken meatballs, Sweet ‘n Sour Sauce, Pineapple Chunks

    Obviously you can use any kind of meatball you wish!  Beef/pork and/or turkey will work too.  But if you are eating leaner, healthier…why not contribute this way of life to the event you are attending?  The Chicken Meatball’s I love are from Costco (Aidells Meatballs), and even with nothing on them they are a home run.  My friend Kelley just heats them and sets out some toothpicks. (BTW this is how my kids get them and they INHALE them).

    For a party I prefer to take it just one easy step further and add the Sweet ’n Sour Sauce, and pineapple chunks.

    1. Dump meatballs into baking dish
    2. Dump sauce over the top
    3. Dump pineapple chunks (juice drained out)
    4. Mix together

    Now the meatballs have been cooked, but to heat they need about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.  I like to arrive at parties and be able to simply put the dish out (not bothering the hostess with needing things…especially his/her oven) so I put these in the oven about 30 minutes before we will be leaving.  Right before we go I dump them into a stove-top pan and place the lid on.  This makes them easy for transport and keeps them warm. 

    Upon arriving I place them into the serving dish and place some toothpicks next to it!

      

     

    The Sauce:  Prior to eating a cleaner, healthier way of life I SWORE by World Harbors Maui Mountain Sweet ‘n Sour Sauce.  It really is wonderful!  But this time when I went to Safeway I decided to check the organic section for options and I found Acadia,Roasted Red Pepper Sweet ‘n Sour Sauce & Marinade.  I was intrigued because the bottle was the exact same shape and size as the Maui Mountain/World Harbors brand.  When I compared the two I couldn’t help but smile because sure enough they were/are the same parent company.  The price was pretty close to the same too.  The main difference is the Acadia brand has no High Fructose Corn Syrup, and no Preservatives.  So this is my new Sweet ‘n Sour Sauce of choice!  But, like the meatballs, I would venture any Sweet & Sour will be a sure-fire hit.

     

     
    So this post is just a reminder friends that you don’t have to break your back to contribute a yummy, healthy(ish) party dish!  Fruit trays, veggies, smoked salmon and apples…think about the things you like and just take them up a notch as far as presentation!  Have fun with it!

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