Tag Archives: appetizers

February 2, 2013

Healthy Super Bowl Food

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

So, it occurs to me that you may be looking for something tasty to bring to a Super Bowl party tomorrow.

And that maybe you left it to the last minute.

And that maybe you and I have that in common.

I’ve posted a bunch of football appetizers on this blog lately, just none this week because… let’s face it, I’m already over the Super Bowl. I’m pretty much the ultimate fair weather Pats fan, and as soon as they were out, I was, too.

I’ll be in it for the commercials tomorrow, and of course the food… so let me share a few suggestions. These appetizers will make you more than welcome at anyone’s house this Sunday!

Buffalo Brussels Potato Skins with Lightened Up Blue Cheese Dressing - My favorite appetizer of all time, and they even have green stuff hidden in there. Oh my goodness. This is an awesome veggie alternative to wings.

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

Healthy Leek and Gruyere Sweet Potato Skins - If you prefer sweet potatoes, these are totally for you. You can use sharp cheddar instead of the gruyere so they won’t be stinky!

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

Chipotle Black Bean Dip - One of my favorite healthy dips, and super easy to throw together.

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

Extra Creamy Hummus - This is also super fast to whip up a batch of, and is perfect if you want something healthy to munch on.

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

Simple Guacamole - Everyone likes guacamole.

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

And if you’re hosting the party, here are a few suggestions for easy dinners to make:

Vegan Three-Bean Chili - You can double the recipe to make an enormous pot of this. No one will go home hungry!

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

Roasted Red Pepper, Mushroom, and Caramelized Onion Pizza - OK, so the pictures aren’t the best, but this is seriously delicious. Top with the cheese of your choice!

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

Chickpea Tacos with Guacamole - And finally, my most-pinned recipe recently. You won’t believe how quick these tacos are to make, and they’re a great healthy alternative to meaty tacos with cheese and sour cream.

Healthy Super Bowl Food | coffeeandquinoa.com

Can I put in a shameless plug here for you to like Coffee & Quinoa on Facebook? That way, when I post an urgent plea for someone else to wash my dishes, you can be notified immediately. I KNOW, right?! Also, Pinterest, because then we can play a fun game called “what is Erica going to blog about next week?” It’s usually pretty obvious what’s on my mind when I pin five beet cake recipes in a row (hint hint). And if you’d rather spend Sunday ignoring the Super Bowl and repinning baked good recipes… well, I’m right there with ya!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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Filed under Roundup, Vegetarian

Tagged as appetizers, football

December 19, 2012

Mushroom & Mascarpone Crostini

I’m slightly obsessed with crostini. Is that normal?

I think so. Anyway, I assume that everyone you celebrate the holidays with will be obsessed with crostini, too, so you might as well serve them these.

Little toasts hot out of the oven, smeared with mascarpone, and topped with a savory mushroom mix. They might not be as festive-looking as those other Christmas crostini, but they can hold their own in the flavor department. The mascarpone gets a little melty and mixes with the juice dripping off the mushrooms… oh man, they are so good.

If you make these for friends or family, prepare to have zero leftovers. You may want to make a few extra. For Santa, maybe? He might be sick of cookies by the time he gets to your house, and prefer some hot melty mascarpone and mushrooms. I know I would. (But then I’ll have the cookies too, please.)

Mushroom & Mascarpone Crostini

Adapted from Small Bites by Jennifer Joyce

Makes about 24 crostini

Ingredients:

1 baguette, sliced (about 24 slices)

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup mascarpone cheese

1 lb baby bella mushrooms, diced (stems included)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp sherry vinegar

small handful parsley, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread baguette slices out on a baking sheet and lightly brush one side with olive oil. Toast at 400 for 6 minutes. (You may be tempted to toast them longer, but resist, or they will become too crunchy!)

Over medium heat, saute the garlic with a drizzle of olive oil until fragrant, about a minute. Add the diced mushrooms and sherry vinegar, and saute until mushrooms are soft. Stir in the chopped parsley and add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

Spread a thin layer of mascarpone on each toast and top with a spoonful of the mushroom mixture. Serve hot!

Time:

20 minutes

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Filed under Appetizers, Vegetarian

Tagged as appetizers, christmas, mushrooms

December 11, 2012

Christmas Chili Crostini

Bah humbug.

Just kidding. Red and green appetizers – they’re pretty much the most festive thing EVER.

The truth is, I often feel Scrooge-like at this time of year. It starts the day after Thanksgiving, when stores have put up Christmas decorations and started playing Christmas music inappropriately early (if you ask me). Friends who are really into Christmas start getting excited, everyone makes a big deal of Black Friday, and I’m like LET’S RELISH THANKSGIVING. I love Christmas, but I’m not really into the commercial holiday thing as much as some people are, so it takes me a few weeks after Thanksgiving to warm up to the idea of it.

But I’m happy to say that time has arrived! I made these appetizers this weekend while ordering Christmas gifts and listening to my “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Pandora station with gingerbread in the oven. It was a lot of Christmas multi-tasking (’tis the season) and I’m now officially in the holiday spirit.

(Please excuse the avocado under my fingernails. Note to self: cooking + hand modeling = not a match made in heaven.)

So I ended up making these 4 times this weekend… suffice it to say we liked them! But what’s not to like about some spice, avocado, and a schmear of cream cheese? (Not vegan.)

These are definitely my new go-to holiday appetizer. They would be perfect to bring to a friend’s house for a holiday cocktail party, or to serve at your own party.

So crank up the Mariah Carey and get cookin’!

Christmas Chili Crostini

Adapted from Small Bites by Jennifer Joyce

Makes about 24

Time: about 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 baguette, sliced (about 24 slices) –> I like to buy them pre-sliced from the grocery store to save time!
olive oil
1/4 cup cream cheese
2 large (or 3 small) avocados, halved and carefully sliced crosswise
1/4 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
2 red jalapeños, seeded and thinly sliced (sometimes called red Fresno peppers, or use green jalapeños if you can’t find these)
6 green onions (green parts only), thinly sliced

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice baguette (if not using pre-sliced!) and spread on a baking sheet. Brush the top of each slice with olive oil. Bake at 400 for 6 minutes. (You may be tempted to leave them in longer, but don’t! They get crunchy quickly, and you don’t want to serve little bricks to your guests.) Remove baguette slices from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on each baguette slice. Lay a slice or 2 of avocado on top, followed by a quarter-sized dollop of Thai chili sauce (exact measurements here!). Garnish with a slice or two of jalapeño and a sprinkle of green onions.

Voila! Ready to serve!