Jack's Apple Cinnamon Nachos

My guest blogger today is my son Jack.....

Jack made these for his upcoming Healthy Snack Competition at School.  He is a finalist and so excited to cook for other chefs along with his bro Drew!
Hope you try them!

1 bag of Cinnamon pita chips
1/2 c smooth peanut butter
1/4 c milk
1 T honey
1 granny smith apple, cored and diced
1 banana, halved lengthwise and sliced

In a small saucepan mix peanut butter, milk, and honey.  Melt over low heat while stirring.  Pile chips on plate and pour sauce over and top with fruit.  Eat it and say yum!

Puppy Chow with a twist {Poppy Chow}

I love chocolate and peanut butter and saw a recipe on pinterest for Poppy Chow (Puppy Chow made with Popcorn).  So I wanted to make a variation of it.  I had no problem eating a bowl full:)

1 c. peanut butter
12 oz. chocolate (chips, bars, leftover easter bunny...etc....)
1 stick butter
1 bag of Seyferts puffed corn puffs
1lb of powdered sugar
Mini Marshmallows

Melt peanut butter chocolate and butter in a big bowl....I used the tupperware fix n mix bowl.  Stir in the corn puffs and make sure to coat all with choc. mixture.  Add powdered sugar and marshmallows....eat! and enjoy!

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

I always like cheap ways to do things.....so try this!

1/3 cup popping corn
2 T butter
salt

1. Pour kernels into a paper lunch bag (I got mine at Kroger and they were called "Giant Lunch bags" They are a little bigger than the reg. lunch bags) I found that these were perfect size; I think the small ones would be too small.
2. Fold the bag over (1/2 inch folds) twice (remember popcorn needs room to pop) and staple two times (I had no troubles). Place bag in microwave and cook on high 2-3 min, or until the pops are 5 sec apart.
3. Drizzle with butter and salt or your favorite toppings.

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn

Sooooo easy and soooooooooooooooooo incredibly delicious!

Enjoy!

1 pkg microwave popcorn
2 T butter, melted
1 T brown sugar
1 t cinnamon

Pop popcorn. Add brown sugar to melted butter and mix well with a spoon. Drizzle over popped corn. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Toss well to combine. Eat!

Refried Black Beans

This is one of my recipes that I pretty much created by completely changing a recipe. It's one of my favorites because I love refried beans.

1 t canola oil
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 large garlic cloves, mince
3/4 t cumin
1 15oz can of black beans, undrained ( I have used kidney beans or red beans before too)

Saute onion and garlic for 2 min. in oil in a small saucepan. Add cumin and stir. Then add the black beans and mash with potato masher partially. Simmer 10 min or until thickened.

Chicken Jalapeno Dip

Love this one. I made it for New Year's Eve and then Molly got sick so we just stayed home. But we still ate it up!

1 can cream of chicken
1 8oz of cream cheese
1 cooked chicken breast, diced (0r you can use a can of chicken)
1 large jalapeno, seeded and minced

Stir all up and put in a small slow cooker (on low for about 1 hour)or in a baking dish (bake in oven 350 for 20 min. You can also just zap in micro. til hot and bubbly.

Cranberry Salsa Dip with Cream Cheese

Turned out wonderful! I give this a thumbs up! My dad thought this would be good on pork too! I stirred up the leftovoers and I think I like it better all stirred up, even though it's prettier, presentation wise on top of a block of cream cheese.

1 (12-ounce bag) or 3 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup minced green onions
2 small (approximately 2 tablespoons) jalapeno peppers, cored, seeded and minced
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced
2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
Cranberries and/or cilantro sprigs for garnish


Rinse, drain, and pick over cranberries, (discarding all that are soft or bruised). Place them in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped but not mushy.
Place crushed cranberries in a bowl; mix together with onions, jalapeno peppers, sugar, cilantro leaves, ginger, and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours so flavors develop (salsa will be too sharp and tart to begin with).
On a serving plate, place cream cheese; cover with the dip. Garnish, if desired, and served with crackers.

COCKTAIL SAUCE

This is the best cocktail sauce!

1/2 cup chili sauce or catsup
2 tablespoons hot cream-style horseradish
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
4 drops Tabasco
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
In a small bowl, mix ingredients together to taste, cover and chill until ready to serve and to develop flavor.
Makes 2/3 cup.

Pizza Popcorn

A Sunday afternoon favorite!
1 stick butter
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. Italian seasoning (I use TS Italian Garlic Bread Seasoning a F/W 2008-09 product)
1 t. paprika
1/2 t salt
dash pepper
2 T Parm. Cheese

In a stock pot add enough oil to cover bottom over med hi heat. Sprinkle some salt over oil. Cover and let heat a bit. Add 3 kernels and cover. When one pops, add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan. Put lid on and shake until done popping. While popping melt butter in small skillet. Add seasonings. Turn off heat and wait till popcorn is done. Toss butter/seasonings with popcorn and add Parm. cheese. May add more salt if needed.

EASIER VERSION:

Mix up your seasoning with melted butter and toss with 3 qts. popped corn, then add cheese.

Corn and Black Bean Quesadillas with Pepper Jack Cheese

I love this recipe too! I make a lot of Mexican dishes because that's what we like to eat. FYI: no meat in this one.

Serves: 2

1/3 c frozen corn, thawed
2 t oil
1/3 c minced red onion
1 t minced garlic
1/2 t chili powder
1/3 c black beans undrained
2 t lime juice
Kosher salt
2 tortillas
2/3 c pepper jack cheese
1 T minced jalapenos

In hot skillet add corn and cook until kernels begin to brown and pop, 3-5 min. Transfer to med. Bowl. Heat oil in empty skillet over med heat and cook onion about 3 min. Add garlic and chili powder and cook 1 min. Stir in beans and cook 1 min then add corn and toss to combine. Gently crush black beans, dump into med bowl and stir in lime juice and salt in. Wipe out skillet and warm tortillas on at a time til browned. Sprinkle with half of cheese, bean mix, and jalapenos and fold in half. Brush with oil and sprinkle with salt. Repeat. Place both in skillet and brown 1-2 min on each side.

Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn

I started making popcorn in my dutch oven on the stove top a couple of years ago instead of microwave and fell in love with this recipe. It really doesn't take that much longer than in the microwave and way better....in my opinion. I guess it's just the clean up that's the extra work I don't like:)
This is very yummy kettle corn.

Source: Rachel Ray
Makes: 10cups

1/4 c veg. oil
1/2 c popcorn kernels
1/4 c. sugar
1 t coarse salt

In a large pot, heat oil over med-high heat. Add popcorn. When oil sizzles, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels. Cover and shake the pan until the popping slows down, about 3 min. Remove from the heat and toss with salt.

Sam's Corn Salsa

This is another one of my all-time favorites, thanks to Laura....thanks to Sam:) I am writing this one off the top of my head.....I may have to edit it if I find the recipe....I think it's complete but I may have missed something.

1 can of corn, drained
1 can of red beans, rinsed and drained (I USE BLACK BEANS)
1 bunch of green onions, sliced
1 large jar of salsa (16oz or so)
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Stir it all together and serve. Makes a good amount.

Cheesy Nachos with Spicy Beef

Need a really good nacho, without going out? Here's one!

Serves: 4-6

Spicy Beef:
2 t. veg. oil
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 T chili powder
1/2 t. cumin
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1/8 t table salt
1/2 lb ground beef
Guacamole:
See my Guac recipe (Drew's Guac)

Nachos:
8oz tortilla chips
1 lb. shredded cheddar cheese
2 large jalapeno chiles, sliced thin
2 scallions, sliced thin
1/2 c sour cream
1 lime, cut into 6 wedges
Salsa

Beef: Heat oil and sauté onion until soft (4min). Add garlic spices and salt; cook stirring constantly 1 min. Add beef and cook 5 min.
Nachos: Middle oven rack, 400 degrees. Spread half of chips in 9x13, then 1/2 beef, and 1/2 of cheese, and 1/2 jalapeno slices. Repeat. Bake til cheese melts 7-10 min. Cool 2 min then sprinkle with scallinons. Serve with rest of ingredients.

Fried Ravioli

This is a fun & yummy appetizer that I don't do very often, because I don't fry things much.

Fried Ravioli

Serves: 4-6

Olive oil
1 c buttermilk
2 c. Italian-style bread crumbs
1 box store bought cheese ravioli (about 24)
1/4 c freshly grated Parmesan
1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated, for dipping

Heat oil. Put buttermilk and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip ravioli in buttermilk to coat then dredge in crumbs. Place on baking sheet until all are coated. When oil is hot, fry ravioli in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 min. Drain on paper towel. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

Drew's Guac.

I call this Drew's Guac. because he likes to make it for me. We eat this a lot. Sometimes we just eat it for lunch. Molly loves to eat it with a spoon.

2 avocados
1 lime, juiced
2 garlic cloves
1 med. Tomato
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic salt
A handful of Fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mash the avocados, lime, and garlic with potato masher. Add rest of ingredients and serve.