August 6, 2016

Savory and Sweet Mini Toasts

Need a cute but chic appetizer for your next gathering? I’ve got just the thing for you. Make these mini savory and sweet toasts and they’ll definitely be a hit with the crowd. Each type of toast only requires 4 different ingredients, and what better way to celebrate summer than with simple and colorful little appetizers? The crunchy toasts pair perfectly with the cooked veggies and Trade Joe’s balsamic glaze. Well, what are you waiting for? Invite some people over and impress them with this delicious appetizer!

March 4, 2016

Rosemary-Pesto Bruschetta (Dining Hall)

With only 4 ingredients, this crispy bruschetta is easy to make at the dining hall and tastes delicious. The nutty taste of the pesto is more flavorful after its been heated since the taste infuses throughout the oil. The pockets within the rosemary bread soak up the creamy pesto, creating a beautiful color and providing flavor in every bite. In addition, the tomatoes add some freshness and color to this bruschetta. Top with a bit of shredded mozzarella cheese, bake in the oven for 60 seconds, and enjoy your meal made in under 5 minutes!

January 29, 2016

Pineapple-Sun Dried Tomato Crostini (Dining Hall)

This is a really easy appetizer that you can share with some friends, especially if you’re looking for something quick to eat for a study break! Since the only part that takes a little time is toasting the bread, this crostini only takes a few minutes to assemble!

With the slightly sweet pineapple and the sour sun-dried tomatoes, the mozzarella cheese in this appetizer acts as an “equalizer” in balancing out the flavors. Mozzarella is definitely my favorite cheese, and it can actually bring out the flavor of your dish by letting the other components stand out. If you don’t like mozzarella, you can substitute with any other creamy cheese for this crostini.

September 6, 2015

Goat-Cheese Stuffed Figs with Pistachios (Home)

A twist on the classic and yummy goat-cheese stuffed dates, I used figs instead of dates to make this popular middle-eastern dish. The creaminess and tartness of the goat cheese contrasts the sweetness of the figs, and the herbs add an accent of color to the plate. I would recommend trying out different varieties of goat cheese with this recipe to see which one suits your taste since there are so many different types out there…but of course I used Trader Joe’s Herbed Chèvre! If you warm these up in the oven or on the stove top they taste even better 🙂

July 1, 2015

Rosemary Honey-Laced Butter (Home)

I’m having regrets.

I should’ve just made a bigger batch of this and saved it for the rest of the grilling season! This butter tastes great with grilled veggies, along with a few other foods that I listed below. There aren’t many ingredients in this butter, so you probably already have them lying around the kitchen (just make sure to get some fresh herbs to really bring out the taste of all the other ingredients). This was gone in a few days, so unlike me make a bigger batch and store it in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container. With July 4th right around the corner, it’ll probably come in handy!