Appetizer Recipes

Pimento Cheese Spread

This cheddar-based dip is just the right balance of cheesy, peppery, and tangy and can be enjoyed in so many ways. A Southern classic! Last weekend, my in-laws celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage with a family trip to The Greenbriar in West Virginia. Their three children along with spouses, significant others and eight grandchildren…

Mango Pineapple Salsa

Recently, my friend Justine asked if I would create an orange recipe to shine a light on something near and dear to her heart.  You may be wondering… Why orange? Orange is the official color of the non-profit Cycle for Survival, an indoor cycling event (a four hour relay to be precise!) that raises funds for rare…

3-Ingredient Pizzadillas

A short list of ingredients yields delicious results in this speedy, hand-held recipe that’s easy to make and fun to eat. A delightful accompaniment to soups and salads, pizzadillas are great game-day fare, too!         Thirty minute meals are convenient, but sometimes we need to crank out some seriously fast–or just plain fun–food.…

Maple Tamari Roasted Almonds and Cashews

These tasty little bites are a sweet-and-savory spin on my classic recipe for Tamari Almonds.  People often use tamari as a gluten-free option to soy sauce, but after reading the label of the bottle of tamari I had in my cupboard–and seeing wheat as an ingredient–I did a little more investigating. By way of The Kitchn, I found…

3-Ingredient Mexican Cheese Bites

  A curious thing happened a few days after my Mango Chicken Chili recipe appeared in this column a few months back. The chili recipe included mango salsa as a key ingredient. Figuring this might not be a regular grocery list item for many readers, I mentioned two reliable brands. Several days later, I received…

Tamari Almonds

Simple to make and delicious to eat, these flavorful almonds offer a satisfying crunch and hint of saltiness with just two ingredients. Is is possible that Christmas is behind us and a new year is just a day away? Where does the time go? For all those who celebrated, I hope your day was merry.…

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

I’m a snacker.  Though I never miss a meal, I still get hungry between those meals.  Like many, I’m most prone to absent-minded grazing in the hour or two before dinner, when salty or savory high-carb snacks seem irresistible. Baked Mozzarella Sticks are a pre-dinner nibble I love for several reasons.  First, the protein in…

Crispy Baked Eggplant

Perfect all by themselves or dipped in your favorite marinara sauce, these tasty bites often vanish straight from the baking sheet in our house!   My family always felt lukewarm towards eggplant…until this recipe. And it’s easy! Simply dredge slices of egg-dipped eggplant into a flavorful combination of Parmesan, crumbs, and seasoning. Then roast the…

Grilled Apricot Shrimp with Harissa Aioli

These flavor-packed shrimp will impress all who try. They’re equally perfect as an entree or appetizer and can be enjoyed hot off the grill or at room temperature.       From week to week I toil—probably longer than I should-over which recipes to share on this page. The decision becomes more difficult when a…

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

First, I must apologize to the readers who have subscribed to receive recipe posts via email. Yesterday, I inadvertently sent a draft of this post.   Although I am sure to make an occasional ‘woops’ (my family would tease that I make them daily!), it is truly my goal not to send pointless emails. The…

Barbecued Bean Salad

A crowd-pleasing, family-friendly alternative to baked beans, this protein-rich salad can be prepared in advance and the flavor improves over time.   As I walked to school with my younger son one morning last month, he mentioned that his 6th grade history class’s Colonial unit would be culminating with a special lunch. All students were…

Baked Cheddar Broccoli Rice Cups

Convenient shortcuts and great taste highlight this veggie-packed recipe that’s destined to become a family favorite!   What started as a way to use the Minute rice my husband bought in place of long grain rice has become something of a sensation. When I shared this recipe shortly after I began The Fountain Avenue Kitchen,…

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