appetizers
Crispy Brussel Sprouts
1. Trim and slice the sprouts lengthwise and mix in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. 2. Dump in the air fryer,or, as shown, in the crisper basket of the Ninja Foodi. 3. Air fry at 390 or 400 degrees for six minutes, open up, toss and fry for...
Tortilla Chips and Strips
Tortilla chips and strips have lots of uses, either as a snack, an appetizer, or part of a main dish. You can make them or buy them, and of course this page is about making them. I make chips and strips out of both flour and corn tortillas, depending partly on the...
New Orleans Shrimp
Here's a good shrimp recipe that cooks up in a jiffy and makes a simple but special dinner. I usually use frozen shrimp, but fresh is OK if it's really fresh. Your nose knows. Frozen shrimp comes cooked, raw, with or without shells, and in various sizes. For this...
Shrimp Cocktail
I guess I've loved shrimp cocktails as far back as I can remember. Here's a shrimp cocktail recipe that's just a little different. The photo shows a shrimp cocktail that has both a seafood cocktail sauce and a Remoulade sauce. Of course you can make the shrimp...
Salami & Provolone Snack
Here's a recipe for a fast, easy appetizer that everyone I know likes. The reason this is so easy is that Gallo sells a package that contains pre-sliced Italian Dry Salami and Provolone cheese. It should be hanging on a peg in the deli section of your...
Quesadillas
This is probably the number one quick snack around here. But we also frequently make them for breakfast, appetizers, or a fast lunch. You can either start with cooked or uncooked flour tortillas. I usually prefer the uncooked, but for quesadillas it doesn't make much...
Nachos
We make nachos a lot, and hardly ever do them the same way twice. Depends on what's on hand. If there are leftover refried beans, use 'em. But if you don't have any, make nachos anyway. There aren't any beans in the nachos at the ballpark. As my oldest son is bound to...
Jalapeno Peanut Butter Boats
OK, it seems strange, but once you taste these appetizers, you'll believe. And they are always a big hit with our guests (well, maybe not all our guests). The photo shows home-grown and pickled jalapenos, but most of the time, most people, including me, use pickled...
Guacamole
One of the delights of living in Southern California is that not only do we produce most of the nation's avocados, we also consume most of them. And I try to do my share. I usually serve it as a dip with tortilla or potato chips, or with taquitos(rolled tacos) and...
Fried Quesadillas
We try to always keep uncooked flour tortillas and shredded cheese on hand for quesadillas. Great for a quick lunch or breakfast, we just throw a tortilla on the griddle, turn it over when it's brown on one side, fill it with cheese, and fold in half. That's a normal...
Fresh Pickled Jalapeños
Of course you can buy pickled jalapeños, and I have for years. But this year after I grew a few jalapeño plants in my garden, I was surprised at how many peppers I had. Fresh jalapeños are good, and you can roast them, stuff them, or dice them in dishes. But the...
Deviled Eggs
I suppose most deviled eggs are made after Easter, to use up the hard-boiled eggs. But they are always a welcome treat as a appetizer for pot-lucks, picnics, or barbeques. Or keep the leftovers in the fridge for a quick breakfast, as I often do. Put the raw eggs...
Chimichangas
Chimichangas are a real taste treat! They are actually deep-fried burritos, usually filled with refried beans. If you don't have a deep fryer, it doesn't matter much; just heat 1/2 or so of oil in a skillet and cook them there. It's a little slower because they only...
Cheese Crisp (Crisp Quesadilla)
Here's one of our favorite easy and delicious appetizers. And they bring back fond memories for me. Back in my college days in Tucson, most of the Mexican restaurants served a big cheese crisp as a free appetizer. I didn't realize until I had moved away that this was...
Hot Wings
Buffalo Hot Wings are a very important part of football. Either tailgating or watching the game from your favorite seat, whether at home or at the game, this special appetizer treat can't be beat. You can fry them or bake them, buy them in a bag or make them from...
Avocado Relish
Here's a delicious relish, or salsa, recipe that is fast to prepare and delicious to eat. Serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips, crackers, or pieces of toast or pita. I served it as a relish with steak, and it was great. You can make it hot or mild depending on...
Artichokes
Artichokes are definitely a family favorite, and for our guests as well. Depending on the crowd, I usually fix one for every three or four people. Some like just the leaves, and some, like our Cooking Dudette, like carving up the heart at the end. You can fix them in...