Spicy Peanut Chicken Noodles

Ingredients:
1 Tbs vegetable oil
2 Tbs sesame seed oil, divided
2 boneless skinless chicken thighs, sliced
1 1/2 Tbs ginger, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup rice wine
2 Tbs rice vinegar
1/8 tsp garlic chili sauce
1 carrot, julienne cut
2 green onions, thinly slices, just the green portion
1/2 cup sliced shitake mushrooms
1/2 cup of dry roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped snow peas
1/4 pack of rice noodles, prepared according to package instructions

Directions:
Heat at medium-high vegetable oil and 1 Tbs of sesame oil in large pan.

Add garlic, ginger, chili sauce and chicken, cook until chicken is browned, then add rice wine, rice vinegar and peanut butter, stir. When peanut butter has broken down into sauce, add remaining sesame oil and vegetables. Saute for about 5 minutes, snow peas should be bright green and still crisp.

Finally add prepared rice noodles and toss to coat noodles evenly.

Serve hot and garnish with chopped peanuts and fresh green onion.

The Ultimate Crostini Toppers

Fig & Prosciutto

Ingredients:
1 sliced baguette
fig or apricot spread
goat cheese
prosciutto

Directions:
Turn the oven on broil. Spread the goat cheese on each slice of bread. On top of that spread the fig or apricot. Top each slice with prosciutto. Place on cooking sheet in oven until the prosciutto is crispy.

Gorgonzola & Pear

Ingredients:
1 sliced baguette
gorgonzola cheese
sliced pear
candied walnuts

Directions:
Turn the oven on broil. Crumble the gorgonzola over each slice of bread. Top each piece with a slice of pear. On top of that, add the candied walnuts. Place on cooking sheet in oven, and broil until cheese is melted.

Recipe Courtesy of Moira O'Connell

Grilled Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Toast and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
1 medium head garlic, unpeeled
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 1/2 pounds thick stemmed asparagus
4 slices sourdough bread

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Coat the head of garlic with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on a baking sheet, and roast 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Once the garlic is roasted, cut the head in half horizontally, exposing all the cloves. Squeeze both halves into a bowl, discarding any skin. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
3. While the garlic is roasting, place the minced shallot in a bowl with the balsamic and red wine vinegars for about 30 minutes to let the flavors blend. Whisk in remaining olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place asparagus spears in the mixture until ready to grill.
4. Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
5. Place asparagus in a large skillet or directly on the grill. Grill the asparagus, turning over once, until tender, about 10 minutes. While asparagus is grilling, spread the roasted garlic mixture on the bread. Grill bread until toasted. Arrange the bread and asparagus on a plate, and drizzle with the remaining shallot and vinegar mixture.

Recipe Courtesy of Allrecipes.com

Chipotle Taco Bar

Chipotle Turkey Taco Filling

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
1 1/3 pounds ground turkey breast
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
1 cup tomato sauce
1 rounded tablespoons chili powder
Salt
1/2 cup water

Directions:
In a small skillet preheated over medium high heat, add oil and turkey breast meat. Brown meat 2 or 3 minutes, then add onions and garlic. Cook onions and meat together for another 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in chipotles, chili powder and tomato sauce. Season your filling with salt to your taste. Stir 1/2 cup water into your filling. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until ready to serve.

Fish Taco Filling

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds mahi-mahi filets or any white fish
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 lime
1 Tbs cayenne pepper
1 Tbs chili powder
salt / pepper

Directions:
Pat fish dry and combine in a nonreactive bowl with lime juice and wine. Set aside to marinate about 10 to 15 minutes.
When fish is ready, remove it from the marinade, and season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, cayenne, and chili powder.
Heat oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, place fish skin-side down in skillet. (Or grill) Cook until opaque and firm to touch, about 3 minutes per side.
Flake the fish, squeeze one of the lime wedges over the top and serve.

Guacamole

Ingredients:
3 ripe avocados, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon freshly minced cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a small mixing bowl, combine the avocado with the onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt and mash with the back of a fork until mostly smooth.

Salsa

Ingredients:
4 large tomatoes, about 21/2 pounds, seeded and roughly chopped
1 cup chopped white onions
5 teaspoons minced garlic
4 serrano peppers, stems and seeds removed, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine. Let salsa sit for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend.

Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Dip

Ingredients:
3/4 cup chopped pepperoni
1 can (15 oz) pizza sauce
4 green onions, finely chopped
1 can (2-1/4 oz) sliced black olives, drained
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1-1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 package (8 oz) refrigerated breadstick dough
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
2 teaspoons minced parsley

Directions:
In a heavy pot, over medium heat, combine pepperoni, sliced olives, green onions, oregano and pizza sauce. Cook until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.

Add cream cheese and mozzarella cheese. Stir until melted and mixture is well combined. Turn heat to low while preparing the breadsticks. Stir occasionally.

Remove breadsticks from tube and cook according to package directions. If you are really fancy, clever and an over-achiever, you could make these from scratch.

When breadsticks are finished baking, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with parsley.

Serve warm.

Recipe courtesy of The Noble Pig

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients:

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup ground pecans
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
3/8 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, ground pecans, 2 tablespoons white sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and the melted butter or margarine and mix well. Firmly press mixture into one 9 inch springform pan.
3. Combine 3/4 cup of the white sugar, the pumpkin, 3 egg yolks, ground cinnamon, ground mace, ground ginger and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well, and set aside.
4. Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy; gradually add 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar and mix well. Add the whole egg, remaining egg yolk and the whipping cream, beating well. Add cornstarch and vanilla and lemon flavorings, beat batter until smooth. Add pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 to 55 minutes. Do not overbake. Center may be soft but it will firm up when chilled. Let cheesecake cool on a wire rack, then refrigerate.

Bruschetta with Sauteed Sweet Peppers and Gorgonzola

Ingredients:
Good olive oil
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into thin strips
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon capers, drained
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Baguette
3 ounces creamy Gorgonzola or other blue cheese, at room temperature

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and cook until soft, about 12 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with the sugar and continue cooking for 2 more minutes. Stir in the capers and basil, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Slice the baguette crosswise into 18 thin round slices. Brush the bread rounds lightly with olive oil on 1 side. Arrange them in rows, oil side up, on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and toast in the oven until lightly browned, about 7 to 10 minutes.

Top each toast round with a teaspoonful of the pepper mixture. Place 2 small pieces of Gorgonzola on top. Return the toast to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes and warm through. Serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy of Food Network

Stuffed Dates

Ingredients:
1 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. fine dried bread crumbs
24 large dates, preferably Medjool
1/4 lb. soft fresh goat cheese

Directions:
Preheat an oven to 375°F. Lightly oil a baking dish just large enough to hold the dates in a single layer.

In a small fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the bread crumbs and cook, stirring constantly, until the bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, transfer the bread crumbs to a plate and let cool.

Using a small knife, make a small lengthwise incision in each date. Carefully remove the pits. Stuff 1 tsp. of the goat cheese into the cavity left by each date's pit. Arrange the dates, with the goat cheese side facing up, in the prepared dish. Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the top. (The dates can be prepared up to this point up to 24 hours in advance. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.)

Bake the dates until warmed through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve warm. Serves 6.

** OPTIONAL: ADD CHORIZO**
--saute chorizo link (without casing) until fully cooked through. When adding goat cheese, add equal parts sauteed chorizo. Top with breadcrumbs as recipe suggests. Cook. Your Done!!

Recipe courtesy of Williams and Sonoma