Appetizers

Have you ever tasted something that was so amazing that you thought about it for years afterward? And finally, you tasted it again and it was…not the same. That happened to me with meatballs. A few years ago, the Young Son had a lacrosse tournament in Long Island. A couple of other moms and I …

Baked Italian Sliders are filled with Italian meats and cheeses, baked to melty perfection, and drizzled with an Italian dressing. These sandwiches are a quick and easy game day treat or a perfect supper for busy weeknights. Sometimes sandwiches are just the way to go, especially on game day. Or after Thanksgiving—be sure you check …

A spicy, cheesy queso fundido with chorizo sausage, pimento cheese, queso cheese, and fresh salsa, great for game day and tailgating. Y’all. Listen to me. You need to add this dip to your Superbowl menu because it is a cheesy, sausagey, spicy mix of WOW! and your friends and family will inhale it. I know, …

Prosciutto appetizer—this super easy appetizer made with prosciutto, arugula, and goat cheese can be made at the last minute or ahead of time! When you’re getting ready for a party, sometimes time slips aways and before you know it your guests are scheduled to arrive in 20 minutes. And you forgot to make an appetizer! …

Fresh salsa made with garden fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, Vidalia onions, and herbs. It’s a great sweet and savory appetizer! If you’re lucky enough to live in the South, then you know we have an abundance of choices when it comes to fresh vegetables all throughout the spring and summer. One of our favorites around …

I’m not sure what makes this a Texas dish, but it sure is good wherever it comes from. Texas Caviar is basically a salsa made with black-eyed peas. And there are probably as many variations as there are Texans! We like it with lots of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, and corn …

This may be the easiest and tastiest appetizer ever! My friend Rita put this together a few weeks ago and we devoured them…while she was still working on putting it together! Salty prosciutto…tangy goat cheese…sweet, juicy ripe pears…you see where this is going…amazing! The only thing that would make it better would be to add …

So simple but so tasty, this Parmesan Roasted Asparagus will have your people coming back for more and more! You just roast the asparagus on a baking sheet then add a little grated parmesan cheese. The whole thing takes less than 20 minutes and you have a perfect side dish.  If you don’t like asparagus …

Yep. My kids are all three reading that title, making a face, and going, “Yuck!” They are a traditional pepperoni and cheese pizza bunch of carnivores and I don’t thing that’s going to change. And David is pretty much the same way. So for me, changing up pizza and putting weird stuff on it is limited to …

Easy Raspberry Brie Appetizer that your guests will devour and come back for more! Just bake brie in a phyllo shell and top with raspberry preserves—simple yet elegant! Many times when we’re having a party, I will serve a fabulous, time-consuming main dish that I may spend hours getting ready. That means that the accompanying …

Here’s the thing about having a best friend who owns an art gallery and another who should be a professional decorator…they love doing things like styling photos. We were hanging out at dk Gallery last weekend for a free jazz concert in Marietta. I had made this smoked salmon dip and needed photos for this post. …

Caprese Bites made with grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil, and drizzled with balsamic glaze—this is an light, easy appetizer that will have your guests coming back for more! This is just about the easiest appetizer you can make, and the bonus is that it’s relatively healthy. All you need are grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, …

Tomato Salad Recipe–grape tomatoes, onion, balsamic reduction in a simple, easy tomato salad that makes a great side dish! If you’ve come from a line of Southern cooks, you probably cook most things without a recipe. Just throw in a little of this and a little of that and you have dinner on the table. …

Creamy Green Herb Dip is cream cheese and sour cream-based, with lots of fresh herbs and garlic. And the best thing is that it’s all thrown in the food processor so it’s QUICK and EASY! Spring is finally here and I’m so glad! I love feeling the warm sunshine and seeing the green buds everywhere, …

You know something’s good when this is part of it…grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Add some roasted jalapeno peppers and fresh cilantro and well, you’ve created something amazing. Jalapeño cilantro pesto can be used to enhance fish, chicken, pork or even just vegetables. I’ve made it a couple of times over the summer and we have …

Quick and easy Black Bean Salad with a Cumin Lime Vinaigrette makes lunch or dinner fast and nutritious! Years ago, the Atlanta Journal Constitution ran a column each week called the 5:30 challenge. The challenge was for cooks to send in recipes that could quickly be made after work—5 ingredients put together in 30 minutes. …

This easy restaurant style salsa is made with canned tomatoes and fresh peppers, onions, and garlic. Everything goes right in the blender or food processor and takes just minutes! It’s a favorite with our family and friends and keeps for days! Nothing tastes better than salsa made with fresh tomatoes, but when good tomatoes are …

I first had these crackers at my friend Joan’s house and she mistakenly called them Cajun Crackers. They are not. They are direct relatives of an insidious, addicting drug. Think I’m kidding? Ha! You will read this recipe and realize how bad these crackers are for you. Then you will make them. And then you will …

Fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest, pineapple, and a little horseradish makes a great topping for turkey, ham, or pork.  I was several years into adulthood before I learned that cranberry sauce was actually made of real berries and not some form of gelatin. My experience with cranberry sauce was that of the jellied, quivering red …

Sometimes you just want to eat food that makes you feel like you’re doing something good for yourself. This tuna salad is on that list. With garbanzo beans, egg, tuna and no mayo, it’s a satisfying combination of flavors and textures that’s also chock full of nutrients. And it’s super easy and quick to pull together, perfect …

Classic fried green tomatoes made with cornmeal and buttermilk, and just a touch of cayenne for an extra boost of flavor. Do you ever wonder how certain things came to be? For example, why did someone decide one day that an unripened, hard, green tomato would taste good sliced, battered and fried? Who would have …

The best Chicken Salad with grapes, pecans, celery and a tangy mayo and sour cream dressing! This Chicken Salad will have your guests asking for more! Years ago, several ladies of my grandmother’s and mother’s acquaintance used to hold monthly meetings which they called UDC meetings, at which someone would read something, they would all discuss whatever it …