I can not stop myself from eating these Manchego, Olive, Soppressata and Melon Bites! They’re a super easy, no-cook appetizer idea that is perfect for summer entertaining. Start with mini skewers or toothpicks and add small blocks of manchego cheese (or another sharp cheese of your choice), marinated olives (get these from the grocery store olive bar), slices of soppressata (fold them into ribbons on the toothpick for easy bites) and cubes of sweet cantaloupe. I made them a few hours ahead and kept them chilled in the fridge under plastic wrap until ready to serve. They’re a refreshing, flavorful bite to pass around the table at summer parties! read more

I like to give my spring vegetable bounty an accompaniment that lives up to their fresh, crisp flavor; a homemade dip is the perfect balance for crudité. This garlic herb vegetable dip is simple to assemble and tastes best after the flavors combine for a bit in the refrigerator. While you could serve it with any veggies or potato chips, I opted for an all-green-display that would be perfect for serving on St. Patrick’s Day! read more

I have lived in New England for 20 (!) years but did you know I’m originally a New Yorker? This fact usually comes up when the topic of pizza is on the table, as it’s one of my most passionate facets of my New Yorker birthright. There’s a few pizza places near where I grew up that make these tasty little bite sized pizza rolls. They’re made from pizza dough, usually stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, and perfect for dipping in warm marinara sauce. One bite of these and I’m back home. I’ve been craving them lately and decided to make my own at home ahead of Super Bowl snack celebrations, and tested them in my air fryer for an extra speedy cooking time of just about 10 minutes. Get the recipe below, and give it a save for the big game!  read more

It’s no secret that I love a good Trader Joe’s shortcut (see my frozen gnocchi recipes!). On a recent spin around my Trader Joe’s store, I was hunting for some Super Bowl snack inspiration and got an idea to dress up their frozen mini party meatballs. They’re delicious, crowd-pleasing, bite-sized meatballs  (any mini frozen meatball will work!) and I spiced them up with a sauce that combines their Jalapeño sauce with some zesty ranch. They’re a fun alternative to the traditional buffalo chicken flavors we usually have during a Super Bowl viewing party, the jalapeño packs a spicy punch and the ranch gives it a cool balance. Just three simple ingredients that combine for a flavor-packed game day bite! Get the easy recipe below:  read more

Continuing our Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving hacks series this week with another tasty, four-ingredient appetizer that’s just about as easy as pie to make: Cranberry Pecan Crostini! I took a ciabatta baguette (any baguette will do!), sliced it into rounds and arranged them on a baking sheet. Give them a little drizzle with olive oil and toast them up in the oven. When they’re golden brown, take them out and give them a dollop of cranberry sauce, a crumble of cranberry stilton cheese and finish them off with a few candied pecans – delicious! read more

I love thinking up fun ways to get kids involved with holiday celebrations, like coloring in turkey crowns or this “cornucopia” snack mix, but I have to let you in on a little secret: the adults usually love these details just as much as the kids! I mixed up a batch of this snack mix – a spin on homemade Chex mix with some fun additions like candied peans, Reese’s pieces and pumpkin candies – and served it in big waffle cones to make it look like a cornucopia. They’re fun handheld treats for kids (and my husband, who loves this snack mix more than anyone!) — get the recipe below!  read more

One of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes is a green bean casserole. I think it’s partially because it’s one of those dishes that we only eat at Thanksgiving, so every bite really tastes like the holiday. Last year I gave the classic version of the recipe a new twist with a French onion soup style green bean casserole, complete with melty cheese on top! This year, while brainstorming my Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving short cuts series, I decided to give my green bean casserole an appetizer makeover and bake the chopped up green beans with some condensed mushroom soup inside frozen puff pastry bites (side note: Trader Joe’s Frozen Puff Pastry is some of the best, it’s made with real butter so it gets that homemade flaky crust that’s hard to achieve with many store-bought brands!). After the warm, bubbly, green bean and mushroom-flavored pastry bites come out of the oven they get topped with the best part of the dish — the crunchy fried onions. Irresistible! Get the full recipe below for your Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving holiday celebrations.  read more

I’ve been making this fresh, easy whipped feta tzatziki dip on repeat recently for friends and family. All it takes is four ingredients: store bought tzatziki, feta cheese, a pinch of fresh parsley and drizzle of olive oil, combined in the food processor for a minute or two until the feta dip is well incorporated and smooth. It pairs so well with crisp fresh veggies for a crudite platter, fluffy pita spears or crunchy pita chips are also a winning combination for dipping, and I’ve even used it as a spread on a Greek-inspired sandwich wrap. The flavors are creamy and tangy and bright, a perfect entertaining dish for the season! Get the full recipe below:
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Please note: This post was created in partnership with Coleman Natural. All opinions, images and content are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support this site.

Spending lots of weekends at home this winter (for obvious reasons!) has gotten me on an inspired snack-kick. I love thinking up new recipes for hearty appetizers to make while watching movies or football or hanging out around the fireplace. My friends at Coleman Natural shared their No Sugar Bacon with me, and it inspired this easy snack that’s packed with flavor: crispy bacon wrapped potatoes with chives and ranch dressing. read more

My garden is peaking right now with so many crunchy veggies and fresh, fragrant herbs. That late summer bounty inspired this tasty green-goddess inspired white bean and herb dip — it’s the perfect way to use up all of the fresh herbs that are spilling over my raised beds, and an ideal way to taste the fresh peppers, carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes with a dip into the savory, flavor-packed dip. The assembly is as simple as throwing it all in a food processor! Chill it before you serve it to let the garlic and herb notes deepen and the texture to thicken; serve it alongside crisp veggies and some fluffy pita bread! Get the full recipe below:  read more

 
 
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