Category Archives: appetizer

Blackberry Aged Cheese Skewers

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‘Tis the season for backyard BBQs, tailgate parties and picnics! We love summer and the social gatherings that come with it. These Blackberry Cheese Skewers are a no fuss appetizer or incredibly easy low carb dessert that everyone loves…trust me, they will be the first thing to go at your next shindig.
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Blackberry and Aged Cheese Skewers #ketoappetizer #ketodessert #simpelappetizer #cheeseandfruit

Let’s Talk Cheese Please:

This beautiful board is simple, elegant, and delicious. We choose juicy blackberries sandwiched between aged gouda and either a raw aged cheddar or Spanish Manchego cheese for our skewers. Aged gouda tastes like a blend of cheese and caramel. Seriously, my favorite cheese on the planet! Aged cheddar is nice and sharp which is wonderful when combined with sweet blackberries. Manchego is a semi hard cheese made from sheep’s milk and can be found in almost any grocery store that carries speciality cheeses. NOTE: many aged cheeses taste amazing with berries. If you can’t find the three I suggest, feel free to try others. Fruits and cheese is always a winner!

Blackberry and Aged Cheese Skewers #ketoappetizer #ketodessert #simpelappetizer #cheeseandfruit

Low Carb too!

This beautiful combination of fruit and cheese can be served as a simple appetizer or low carb/keto dessert. When we were in France recently we ate cheese and fruit for dessert every night. It’s a thing! And a really good thing. Give it a try after dinner instead of a traditional American sweet dessert, you may just be surprised at how much you love it!

Need more appetizer board ideas? Take a look at my No Fuss Appetizer Platter and my Mediterranean Appetizer Platter.

Blackberry and Aged Cheese Skewers #ketoappetizer #ketodessert #simpelappetizer #cheeseandfruit

The Recipe: Blackberry and Aged Cheese Skewers

What you need: skewers. We like these bamboo skewers with the knotted end. Gouda cheese can crumble so using a really thin skewer makes crumbling less likely. As always, you need a good knife!

5 from 9 votes
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Blackberry Aged Cheese Skewers
Prep Time
10 mins
 

A simple, delicious, low carb appetizer or dessert! NOTE: many aged cheeses taste amazing with berries. If you can't find the two I suggest, feel free to try others. Fruits and cheese is always a winner!

Course: Appetizer, Dessert
Keyword: cheese and fruit, easy appetizer recipe, easy dessert recipe
Servings: 20 skewers
Ingredients
  • 1 pint blackberries (about 20 blackberries)
  • 10 ounces aged gouda, cut into triangles (I use gouda aged three to five years)
  • 10 ounces aged cheddar or Manchego cheese, cut into cubes
Optional: Serve with crackers and style with flowers and herbs
Instructions

  1. Cut cheeses, slide onto skewers with blackberries placed in between. Voila!

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Sun Dried Tomato Hummus!

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When it comes to choices in appetizers, hummus is a favorite at our house. We especially love this Sun Dried Tomato Hummus. It’s fabulous and only takes five minutes to make!
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Sun Dried Tomato Hummus! #hummus #appetizer #vegan

THE STORY OF HUMMUS:

Hummus is a staple food from the Mediterranean and  middle east. And like all staple foods it has a history. Back in the day when people had to travel long distances on foot or animal they had to carry their food with them. It needed to be lightweight, nutrient dense and easy to make….dried chick peas, otherwise known as garbanzo beans fit the bill. When travelers arrived to their destination they could soak the dried chick peas in water, mash with olive oil, add a little lemon juice and sea salt and they had a protein packed meal loaded with energy producing healthy fats!

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus! #hummus #appetizer #vegan

Adding  Flavor To Hummus:

We are big fans of plain hummus. It’s totally a fan favorite. But sometimes we love to toss in some additions to take the flavor profile up a notch. Check out my gorgeous brilliant pink Roasted Beet Hummus as well as  the black bean and roasted red bell pepper variations on my Trio Platter! 

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus! #hummus #appetizer #vegan

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus: Perfect Alone or as Part of a Platter!

This hummus can certainly stand on it’s own served with a simple assortment of veggies or pita. But I also love it as one component of my Ultimate Mediterranean Appetizer Platter. Trust me, this platter is a hit at any party.

The Recipe: Sun Dried Tomato Hummus!

Tips and what you will need: you need a food processor to make hummus, and as always you need a good knife! If you want to turn this into a complete meal salad, click here.

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Recipes for Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Homemade Sun Dried Tomato Hummus is perfect for dipping with pita and a variety veggies!

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Medeterranean, Middle eastern
Keyword: easy appetizer recipe, party recipe
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
For Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
  • 1 16 oz can garbanzo beans, no liquid
  • 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil and herbs (and more for garnish)
  • 1/3-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (start with 1/3 and add more if needed, I usually add)
  • juice of 1/2 a small lemon
  • sea salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoons roasted pine nuts (for garnish)
  • Serve with sliced Persian cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, red peppers, flatbreads, pita chips, tortilla chips etc.
Instructions
For hummus:

  1. Place drained garbanzo beans and sun dried tomatoes in the food processor. Give it a whirl. 

  2. Add lemon juice through the drizzle feature on top of the machine and process. Add olive oil. Process, add a pinch of sea salt. Check the consistency and add more olive oil a little at a time if needed. When hummus is the right consistency, taste. Add more salt of necessary.

  3. Place in a bowl and garnish with chopped sun dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes and/or pine nuts. Serve with sliced Persian cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, red peppers, flatbreads, pita chips, tortilla chips etc.

 

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Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates

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Sweet, savory, and salty these Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates are the appetizer dreams are made of!
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Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates #baconwrappeddates #goatcheese #paleo #stuffeddates #glutenfree

How To:

Making these little flavor bombs is actually very easy. We start with Medjool dates, make a little slice to remove the pit and then spoon a little goat cheese where the pit used to be. Then wrap with bacon and pop in the oven until crispy!

Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates #baconwrappeddates #goatcheese #paleo #stuffeddates #glutenfree

Flavor Options!

Want to spice things up? Add a little jalapeño to that goat cheese. If you want to sweeten the deal roll in maple syrup before baking. No matter which you choose the result will be nothing short of mouth watering!

Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates #baconwrappeddates #goatcheese #paleo #stuffeddates #glutenfree

Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates #baconwrappeddates #goatcheese #paleo #stuffeddates #glutenfree

Add Them To A Platter!

Served alone these are exquisite but I also love to add them to my Ultimate Mediterranean Appetizer Platter!

Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates #baconwrappeddates #goatcheese #paleo #stuffeddates #glutenfree

The Recipe: Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates

What you need: a rimmed baking sheet (like this) unbleached parchment paper (like this)

5 from 1 vote
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Recipe for Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates are a huge hit at every party and much easier to make than you'd think. 

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Keyword: easy appetizer recipe, party recipe
Servings: 20 servings
Author: Linda Spiker
Ingredients
  • Toothpicks
  • 20 Medjool dates, pitted
  • 4 oz soft goat cheese
  • 10 strips of thin sliced bacon, cut in half
Optional:
  • jalepeno
  • maple syrup or brown sugar
  • sea salt
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place parchment paper on cookie sheet.

  2. Slice dates almost end to end. Pull out pit. Use a small spoon to put a little goat cheese into date. Wrap with half a slice of bacon and run a toothpick through (side to side) to hold bacon on place. Place on parchment covered cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove toothpicks, serve.

Variations:

  1. Before baking roll in brown sugar or sprinkle with sea salt. If you want a spicy bacon wrapped date, mince jalepeno and add a teaspoon or two to the goat cheese before filling dates.

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Easy Mango Salsa!

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Mangos are in season! You know why? Because mangos are always in season here in the United States. We’re lucky to have access to many different varieties of mangos, and because they each have their own unique seasons, we can enjoy mangos and this Easy Mango Salsa all year long.
This post contains affiliate links. I may make a commission off sales but your price remains the same.)

Easy Mango Salsa! #mangosalsa #whole30 #paleo #fruitsalsa

Mango Tips:

1. Ripe mangos should be firm but have a little ‘give’ when lightly pressed, like a ripe but firm avocado. Keep unripe mangos on the counter at room temperature. Mangos shouldn’t be refrigerated before they are ripe.
2. Mangos will continue to ripen at room temperature, becoming sweeter and softer over several days.
3.To speed up ripening process, place mangos in a paper bag  and roll the bag closed.
4.Once ripe, mangos should be moved to the refrigerator, which will slow down the ripening process. Whole, ripe mangos may be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator.
5. Mangos can be peeled, cubed and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to six months.
Easy Mango Salsa! #mangosalsa #whole30 #paleo #fruitsalsa

THE SALSA!:

If you are able, make this salsa the morning of the day you plan on serving it. That gives the  flavors need a chance to meld…but if you forget to plan ahead, no worries! It will still be delicious served right away.

Easy Mango Salsa! #mangosalsa #whole30 #paleo #fruitsalsa

LEARN TO WORK WITH CHILI PEPPERS!

This salsa does contain Serrano chilis. Chili peppers are hot little thangs so you’re going to want to know how to handle them safely, luckily I can help you with that! Click to learn How to Handle a Hot Chili Pepper.

Easy Mango Salsa! #mangosalsa #whole30 #paleo #fruitsalsa

Serving Suggestions:

We love this sweet and spicy mango salsa on fish, like this tropical salmon….

Easy Mango Salsa! #mangosalsa #whole30 #paleo #fruitsalsa

…and we love it on our Spicy Lime Chicken…

Easy Mango Salsa! #mangosalsa #whole30 #paleo #fruitsalsa

…or our pulled pork tacos. Of course this salsa is great on plain old tortilla chips too!

Easy Mango Salsa! #mangosalsa #whole30 #paleo #fruitsalsa

The Recipe: Easy Mango Salsa!

What you need: a good knife! Click to learn How to Handle a Hot Chili Pepper.

5 from 17 votes
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Mango Salsa
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Sweet and tangy with a blast of heat.

Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: kid-friendly recipes, party recipe, summer recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Linda Spiker
Ingredients
  • 1 large mango, peeled, cored and diced
  • ¼ of a medium red onion. finely diced
  • 2 tsp cilantro, freshly chopped
  • Juice of half a lime
  • 1 serrano chili, finely minced (use as much or little as you wish)
  • ½ of a small red bell pepper, diced
  • Pinch of sea salt
Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients except serrano chili and toss. Add serrano a 1/2 teaspoon at a time, stirring between additions until desired heat is achieved. Cover and refrigerate till serving.

 

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Easy Chunky Guacamole

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Guacamole…what is there to say other than it makes just about everything taste better. Being from California, we eat guacamole like other people eat butter, we slather that stuff on everything including toast. And this Easy Chunky Guacamole is always our family favorite!
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Easy Chunky Guacamole #guacamole #whole30 #paleo #keto

Easy and Full of Healthy Fats!

An avocado a day keeps the doctor away, that is a fact. Or not, I will let you decide. But mash an avocado with a little garlic, pico de gallo, olive oil and a little sea salt and I promise no one, not even the doctor will want to stay away:)

Easy Chunky Guacamole #guacamole #whole30 #paleo #keto

How to Pick a Ripe Avocado:

Generally speaking, you want an avocado that is firm (not hard) but has a little ‘give’. But when it comes to making guacamole, avocados can be a bit softer. If you can’t wait for avocados to ripen on the counter naturally, place them in a paper bag with an apple or banana to speed up the process. Learn how to core and slice an avocado here.

Easy Chunky Guacamole #guacamole #whole30 #paleo #keto

Use Store Bought Pico de Gallo or Homemade!

This easy recipe requires nothing more than tossing chunks of ripe avocado with a little olive oil, garlic and pico de gallo. You can use store bought or my homemade version! Either way your guacamole will be a hit!

 

Serving Suggestions…

Serve with fish tacos, pulled pork tacos, butternut squash tostadas, sweet potato fries, or these caramelized veggie quesadillas!

 

The Recipe: Easy Chunky Guacamole

What you need: a good knife! Click to learn How to Handle a Hot Chili Pepper.

5 from 1 vote
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Easy Chunky Guacamole
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Less is more! Keep it simple and fresh!

Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: crowd pleaser, kid-friendly recipes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Linda Spiiker
Ingredients
  • 3 avocados peeled and diced
  • Juice of half a lime
  • ½ cup Traditional Pico de Gallo (you can use store bought or my recipe linked above) recipe above
  • 1 ½ teaspoons chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon Serrano chili minced (optional)
  • Sea salt to taste
Instructions

  1. Squeeze lime juice over diced avocados. Add traditional pico de gallo, garlic, oil, sea salt and gently toss.