TT: w/Linky: Bacon Chedder Pinwheels = LOVE

'Tis the season for holiday parties isn't it.  There are just loads of cocktail parties happening right now and I normally opt to bring an appetizer over anything else.

My apps normally involve bacon as a key ingredient....because, really, is there anything that actually tastes bad with bacon?!....

I think not.

Okay.  So, here's any easy one to  put together that everyone but maybe a vegetarian will just LOVE.

Ohhh Baby...

Recipe and photo courtesy Pillsbury

Ingredients:

1  can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury Crescent   Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet

 2  tablespoons ranch dressing

 ¼  cup cooked real bacon pieces or 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

 ½  cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

 ¼  cup chopped green onions (4 medium)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut lengthwise into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle.

2. Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle each with bacon, Cheddar cheese and onions. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Link up with anything you’re thankful for! And if you’re not a blogger, just let us know in the comment section what you happen to be thankful for on this day
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For those of you in the area, come down to Finnegan's Marin the evening of Saturday December 8th, where we're conducting a Toy Drive to benefit UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and I'll be 'Guest Bartending' beginning at 8:30 p.m.  Should be a fun party! Finnegan's has a full menu and bar for those who would like to eat and drink and  DJ dancing that night as well!  I hope to see some of you there!

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Bacon Wrapped Dates - Portuguese Roll-Ups

I just returned from NYC where I was attending a Blogging conference.  Five days of sessions, networking, meetings, and cocktail parties.  I had been invited to attend the Social Soiree party held at this swanky bar, Murals on 54th, located in the Warwick Hotel.  The purpose of the party was to meet the brands that the Social Soiree team work with, drink some cocktails, meet other bloggers, and eat some very yummy appetizers.

One of the appetizers served, one of my very fave's, was bacon wrapped dates.  OH SO GOOD!  If you like the taste combination of sweet with salt, you will LOVE this dish.  Only two ingredients needed: dates and bacon!


After having a few {bacon dates} at the party, I remembered I had prepared these for a party last year but ate many of them myself prior to attending the party.....they only party they made it to was the one going on in my tummy that day.  I think this is why I don't make these too often.

So if you can refrain from gobbling these up yourself before taking them or serving them at a party, here's all you need to do...........

Portuguese Roll Ups

Ingredients needed:
30 pitted dates
bacon
+ toothpicks

Slice the bacon in half, length-wise. Wrap a date with a bacon strip and secure with a toothpick. Place all on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes then turn and bake for another 8-10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

before they go in the oven

Enjoy!

Here's a peek at the Social Soiree Party.........

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment. I love to hear from you! Have a fantastic day!
 
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BOTW ~ Baked Brie with Pecans

It's Christmas party season!  We have five or six to go to in the next few weeks leading up to Christmas and for two of them I'll be bringing an appetizer to share.  My 'Best of the Web' feature for the week is this super easy and very tasty baked brie with toasted pecans by Martha Stewart will be coming with me to one of the parties.....can't EVER go wrong with baked brie.

I could make a meal out of this and a glass of old vine Zin.

Photo courtesy Martha Stewart

Toasted pecans and maple syrup complement the creamy Brie in this hors d'oeuvre. For the best texture, let the cheese cool before topping it with the syrup mixture. 

Ingredients

• 1 small wheel of Brie or Camembert (about 9 ounces)
• 1/2 cup pecan pieces
• 3 tablespoons light-brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• crackers or sliced baguette, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cheese on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until softened, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate; cool about 20 minutes.
2. While cheese cools, place nuts on a clean baking sheet; bake until toasted and fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle nuts over cheese.
3. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and maple syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat; simmer until foamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Drizzle warm sauce over slightly cooled cheese and nuts; serve with crackers or baguette.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment. I love to hear from you! Have a fantastic day!

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Baked Brie ~ Happy Birthday to Me!

Because it's my birthday today and calories do not count for me today, I'm having one of my favorite appetizers, ever.  Baked Brie with raspberry jam.  Yum! 

Thank you for ALL the Birthday wishes on Facebook and Twitter!  You certainly know how to make someone feel loved:)

Photo by Google Image

What you need:

6 oz. round of brie cheese

one roll of crescent rolls

your favorite jam

water crackers

Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.

Spread the crescent roll onto a counter and pinch together seams.

Cut the Brie through the equator into two pieces and place one half on the puff pastry, cut side up. Spread the jam on the cheese. Replace the top half of the Brie.

Wrap the dough up and over the Brie.  Place the Brie package on a nonstick baking sheet, seam side down.

If you have extra dough, cut designs from the dough scraps and decorate the top of the dough. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve with the crackers and sliced pear or apple alongside.

What's your favorite appetizer, if calories didn't count?

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment, I love to hear from you!. Have a fantastic day!

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October's Healthy Cooking Meeting

October's Healthy Cooking Meeting was hosted by Debby at her lovely home and the theme was 'Game Time Favorites'  Ahh, snack food, my favorite!  Each month from September through May, our Mother's Club Healthy Cooking Group meets once a month, at an alternating member's home to share healthy recipes, wine and chatter.  Our kickoff cocktail party was at Cathy's house last month.

Here are some of the fabulous dishes we enjoyed.....
Butternut sqaush dip topped with roasted pumpkin seeds, yum!

Fire roasted, home made salsa, perfect for any get together.

Okay, these nachos that Charlotte made were to die for...and healthy-she found the recipe in the Weight Watchers Cookbook!  Recipe below.

I think this was my favorite.  Ribbon Zucchini Crostini that Barb made.  The zucchini is marinated in lemon juice for 30 minutes, which kind of  'pickles' it before it's placed on the toasted bread and topped with shaved Parmesan.  I'm sure I could have eaten half the platter myself.  See recipe below.

Here's another favorite that Leslie whipped up.  Cauliflower Pizza Crust served with marinara for dipping.  You would never know this was made predominately of cauliflower when you taste it.  I thought it was some sort of flat bread.  Perfect for a gluten free diet.  This is another must try for me.  Recipe below.

My dish......okay, so I cheated this time.  I brought a pesto, tomato and broccoli pizza that I heated up out of the box from Trader Joe's.  What can I say....I was running late!

Who knows what next month will bring!?

Here are the recipes:

Healthy Nachos from Weight Watchers:

For the chips:

Buy 6 6-inch plain corn tortillas (not the hand-made corn ones; they have wheat in them which adds calories and fat...)
Cut them into quarters, put them on a baking sheet under the broiler. No oil or spray at all, it's not necessary. My broiler has a low setting, and it took about 4 min. Careful because they burn really quick.

For the filling:
Non-stick spray on a pan
1 clove garlic
1 small yellow onion
...cook until soft
1/2 lb ground lean turkey
2 Tbsp taco seasoning mix
...add to pan and cook until brown
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
approx 4 oz taco sauce (most brands are fat-free)
...add to pan, stir and let flavors develop about 5 min.

Spoon the turkey mixture over the chips
Sprinkle with:
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar
1 Tbsp sliced jalapenos, chopped (which I forgot)

Broil about two minutes
Then top with diced tomatoes, cilantro and scallions
Makes approx 6 servings


Ribbon Zucchini Crostini

1 baguette

olive oil (for brushing)
juice from 2-3 lemons
1-2 zucchinis (depending on size)
shaved Parmesan

Use a peeler to make thin lengthwise "ribbons" with the zucchini. Soak ribbons in lemon juice for 30+ minutes. Slice baguette and brush with olive oil. Toast in 350 degree oven for approx. 8-10 minutes (watch closely, so as not to burn). Once toasted, fold ribbons on top of bread and top with shaved Parmesan.


Cauliflower Pizza Crust

1 cup cooked, riced {grated}cauliflower
1 egg
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp fennel
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Press evenly on the pan. Sprinkle evenly with fennel, oregano and parsley.
Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes (15-20 minutes if you double the recipe).

Use as a pizza crust; top with your favorite toppings OR cut into pieces and dip into marinara sauce.

Happy Sunday!
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