I bet you can’t eat just one! Never eat deep-fried jalapeño popper again!

Using breadcrumbs is totally optional. I’ve made them without and they were still delicious! The panko breadcrumbs just add a nice little crunch!

You’re welcome and I’m sorry all at the same time. These spicy bacon wrapped bites of perfection will put a serious wrench in your dieting plans! If you’re walking down the aisle this summer and are trying to fit into a wedding dress (like THIS girl) then close your laptop darling and read this post after the big day! I’m slightly kidding but for real, this recipe is très indulgent and a little  bit of a treat.

TIP! Buy yourself some inexpensive kitchen gloves and wear them when working with the jalapeños. After several times of learning the hard way; I always wear gloves!

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers will be the star of your party! Don’t forget to slice the piece of bacon in half before wrapping it around the jalapeño!

These Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are pretty much EVERYTHING you guys! I kid you not.

The individual ingredients each bring something different to the table. Jalapeño lends spice, bacon brings the savory component and both ingredients are cradled by the mellowness of cream cheese. The trifecta! It just works beautifully.

First things first, consider wearing kitchen gloves when slicing and de-seeding the jalapeños. I’ve made these a few times without gloves and every time I was cursing myself well into the night. Why did I do this to myself?! Never again! It’s worth the few dollars to purchase gloves and skip the burning hands chapter of the evening.

I like to dip these Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers in classic Ranch or sprinkle with a few dashes of Valentina’s hot sauce.

This recipe can be made the day before, packed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge. It’s great to be able to make this ahead of time and have one less one less thing you’ll be rushing to do. I’m always looking for ways to make my life easier and simplify so I’m not stressed about having people over. Count this as one for the books!

Enjoy xx

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

45 mins

 

This spicy, savory and creamy recipe is the definition of a crowd pleaser! Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are a great option when entertaining for a large group. Cocktail party, game day, girls night; You name it! This will be always be a hit and don't even think about leftovers!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 12 Jalapeños, cut in half and seeded
• 12 pieces bacon, cut in half (I use applewood smoked bacon)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 2 splashes Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup Queso de Oaxaca or Monterrey Jack cheese
• ¼ panko breadcrumbs
• 24 toothpicks to secure bacon in the oven
• ranch for dipping (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Place a baking rack on top of the baking sheet. Set aside.
2. Slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise; remove the seeds and membrane. Keep the membrane if you want more spice. Set aside.
3. Beat the cream cheese, garlic, Worchestershire sauce, smoked paprika and Oaxaca or Monterrey Jack cheese together until smooth. I prefer to use a standing mixer or hand mixer but you can certainly do this by hand. Season to taste with a bit of salt.
4. Fill jalapeño halves equally with cream cheese mixture.
5. Cut slices of bacon in half and wrap a piece around each stuffed jalapeño. Use a toothpick to fasten the bacon around the jalapeño.
6. Transfer jalapeño poppers over to the baking rack. Sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs and bake for 25-30 minutes depending on size and oven temperature.
7. Serve immediately!

Notes

Jalapeño Poppers can be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container.
You can also use mini sweet peppers if you want a less spicy option.

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This Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip is a MUST at any Super Bowl party!

I’m obsessed with Buffalo anything at the moment! It has just enough heat to keep me coming back for more but not enough that I know when to walk away. You feel me?

I couldn’t even get a quick photo op before Rez stole a taste! Unreal!

Let me break this down for you. Three words; simple, inexpensive and delicious.

With a small list of accessible ingredients (some you likely already have) this recipe is an absolute breeze to pull together! To really make your life easy, buy a roasted chicken from Whole Foods or your local grocery store and the dip will practically make itself!

Serve with veggies for a lighter approach to this indulgent dip!

This dip is what I like to refer to as ‘what’s up’. It’s one of those dips you take a nibble of (perhaps unsure) tilt your head back, reflect and say ‘yaaaa, that’s what’s up’! I can just picture my friends laughing as they read this post while simultaneously dialing my hotline to tease me.

Double dipping while taste testing at home is fair game right? Don’t judge! I dare you to dip just once!

Feel free to add some grated jack or cheddar cheese on top if that’s your jam!  I decided the dip was indulgent enough and kiboshed the extra cheese I intended on using. I surprisingly didn’t miss it at all. HONESTLY! This dip is a little all-star without it!!

I hope you guys enjoy! xx

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

This addicting dip will win MVP at any house party or sporting event. Bring it along with you to a Super Bowl party and I'm sure it will be well received!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups roasted chicken, shredded
• 1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (I use Valentinas Extra Spicy)
• ½ ranch dressing
• 1 small can fire roasted diced green chilies
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
• celery sticks and tortilla chips for serving

Instructions

1. Beat cream cheese+buffalo sauce+ranch dressing+until smooth. I prefer to use an electric mixer but you can certainly do it by hand. It's really important that the cream cheese is softened to minimize lumps.
2. Mix in the shredded chicken and diced green chilies
3. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes (check halfway through because oven temperatures vary)
4. Sprinkle with green onion
5. Serve piping hot with celery sticks and tortilla chips

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Icelandic Smoked Trout Dip with Skyr

One of my girlfriends recently returned from a holiday in Iceland and it sparked my interest. What is the food like there? When I think of Nordic food, I think of the cliché pickled herring and Rose Nylund’s cringeworthy recipes from The Golden Girls. But seriously, I had very little knowledge of their culinary scene so I did a little internet creeping to find out some popular foods in Iceland. Of course I found the expected smoked fish and pickled herring but it became abundantly clear there was one traditional favorite: Skyr. Skyr for breakfast, skyr for lunch, skyr for dinner…you get the point!

Between the smoked trout and skyr this dip is a protein powerhouse!

Skyr is Iceland’s version of Greek yogurt and it has been a staple in their cuisine for over a thousand years.  It is believed that Icelanders first started making skyr when settlers from Norway arrived in the 9th century. Yaaaa guys, THAT long! I think they’ve got this covered.

It has the consistency of a thick yogurt, with a mildly tart flavor. It’s super high in protein and has virtually zero fat or artificial sweeteners. AMEN! Because skyr contains live active cultures it must be consumed within 5 days of opening, so keep this in mind when you buy it.

Serve this healthy dip alongside crackers, endive leaves, cucumber slices or celery sticks.

I found Siggi’s Icelandic Skyr at Whole Foods and have to say, I’m really happy with it. I will definitely be adding this to my grocery list. It’s a healthy product you can feel good about eating and I can see me using this in my recipes.

This Icelandic Smoked Trout Dip with Skyr is great to make when entertaining because it’s healthy, delicious and different. Spice things up and add this new dip to your list of tricks in the kitchen!

Enjoy! xx

Icelandic Smoked Trout Dip with Skyr

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Cuisine: Nordic

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8 oz skinless smoked trout filets, broken into ½ inch pieces (approximately 2 cups)
• ¾ cup Skyr (a thick Icelandic style yogurt)
• ¼ cup crème fraîche
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp prepared horseradish, drained
• a medium sized dill pickle, finely diced
• ¼ cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup green onions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
• 1 tbsp capers, strained
• freshly ground pepper
• flakey Icelandic sea salt

Instructions

1. Using an electric mixer, beat skyr, crème fraîche, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce. Transfer mixture into medium bowl. Stir in smoked trout, dill pickle, green onion, capers and fresh dill. Season with freshly ground black pepper and flakey Icelandic salt.
2. Let dip chill in the fridge for 1 hour prior to serving.
3. Serve with endive leaves, sliced cucumber, celery sticks or crackers.

Notes

You can use hot smoked salmon in this recipe if you don't have access to smoked trout.
You can find Siggis Skyr Yogurt at Whole Foods but you can sub greek yogurt in a pinch.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard and Maple Glaze is the perfect vegetarian side dish to serve during the Holidays!

Did you know that an 80g serving of sprouts contains four times more vitamin C than an orange?

This recipe is proof that eating healthy doesn’t have to be a bore! Oh, and did I mention this recipe is vegetarian and gluten free? At the moment, I’m ALL ABOUT this seasonal side! Brussels sprouts are in season here in California and I like to buy them still attached to the stalk, while I can.

These mini cabbages are on my radar because they are so freakin’ versatile!  This recipe features roasted brussels sprouts but they are excellent raw in salads, sautéed, grilled and steamed.

The freshest sprouts are green with a white base. If they are slightly yellow or brown it means they’re past their prime.

This dish is single-handedly responsible for my fiancé falling in love with brussels sprouts! They were never his thang and he clearly didn’t light up when they rolled out on his dinner plate. I was SO OVER the usual brussels sprout and pancetta sauté I had gotten a little too used to making. There had to be a better way!

Fresh brussels sprouts from Santa Cruz California. There’s nothing like cutting them fresh from the stalk!

So there I was trying to brainstorm while staring into my fridge in a trancelike state. Then BRAAAAP! It hit me like a ton of delicious food angel bricks! To combine my favorite condiment of all time; spicy Dijon mustard and a sweet Canadian staple; maple syrup. I am oh-so-happy to say it was a success and this meatless side is completely addicting!

This recipe is both vegetarian and gluten free but it’s important to remember not all Dijon mustards and maple syrup brands are gluten free. Annie’s & Organicville are two brands of Dijon mustard that are easily accessible and gluten free. When choosing maple syrup you want to make sure you’re always buying the purest kind. The maple syrup in my kitchen has one ingredient; maple syrup!

Sprinkle roasted brussels sprouts with a small handful of toasted pistachios or hazelnuts before serving. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

This is a great option to have on your dinner table during the Holidays for a variety of reasons. It’s simple to prepare, has few ingredients and lends new flavors to the traditional thanksgiving dishes.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard and Maple Glaze are a welcomed lighter option in contrast to stuffings, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy (all of which I live for) but I’m trying to find a healthier balance this year. I’m loading up on healthy vegetable sides and just a couple of my favorite indulgences.

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do in my house! xo

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Annie’s Organics and Organicsville. This is not a sponsored post. I just simply like their products!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard and Maple Glaze

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

50 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Side Dish

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 lb brussels sprouts, halved
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt + pepper
• 2 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup toasted pistachios or hazelnuts
• sprig of rosemary for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with tin foil.
2. Wash, trim and halve sprouts. Make sure loose leaves set aside as they will burn quickly in the oven.
3. Drizzle sprouts with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, toss to coat
4. Bake for 35-40 minutes, tossing sprouts half-way through the cooking process. You want sprouts to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
5. While sprouts are roasting, lets make the mustard and maple glaze. Combine Dijon mustard + maple syrup + red wine vinegar and mix together using a whisk.
6. Remove roasted sprouts from the oven and sprinkle with kosher salt. Toss with mustard and maple glaze then pour into a serving dish.
7. Sprinkle toasted pistachios or hazelnuts overtop of the roasted sprouts and garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.

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Bacon & Egg Baked Breakfast Cups are equally convenient if you’re cooking for one or feeding a family of five.

I suck at breakfast! There is no denying it anymore. My fiancé is always getting on my case about not eating breakfast and he’s starting to sound like a broken record (it’s been almost 3 years). I know it’s super important but it’s always been difficult for me to eat in the morning. For years my daily breakfast of champions consisted of a large coffee with cinnamon and maybe a banana when I’m flying. Don’t judge! I’m challenging myself to break this habit so be prepared to see more breakfast posts from me.

I like to serve this with a simple cucumber and avocado salad with sriracha greek yogurt dressing.

Let me just say I love a recipe that gives you a ton of freedom to modify ingredients depending on what you have available. Bacon & Egg Baked Breakfast Cups is absolutely one of those recipes. You can use a variety of ingredients: mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, spinach and cheese to name a few. This weekend I used my leftover Sautéed Shishito Peppers and they were stellar diced up and added to this recipe.

Local & Organic Pasture Raised Eggs from Lonely Mountain Farms CA

Another thing I love about this recipe is how easily you can cater to individual preferences. Maybe someone dislikes mushrooms or wants to include every vegetable known to mankind. You can put whatever you want in each muffin cup and everyone will be happy at breakfast. This recipe is equally convenient if your cooking for one or feeding a family of five. This recipe is simple enough that you can easily adjust the ingredients depending on the number of mouths you need to feed.

These Bacon & Egg Baked Breakfast Cups are making breakfast easier than ever! It’s a great way to use leftover veggies or whatever you have at home! So many options!

I’ve experimented with this recipe quite a bit because the first time I made it, the yolks were too hard and the bacon was undercooked. Well that’s just not going to fly. Challenge accepted!

After I line around the muffin tin with a slice of bacon, I bake it in the oven for about 10 minutes to jump-start the cooking process. The bacon takes longer to cook than the eggs so I precook the bacon to end up with a crispy outer shell. I also prefer to scramble each egg individually in a small bowl and add 2 tbsp of whatever ingredient before adding to the muffin tin. I prefer the texture and find everything cooks more evenly if it’s mixed together. This is totally personally preference.

Enjoy! xx

Bacon & Egg Baked Breakfast Cups

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Enjoy Bacon & Egg Baked Breakfast Cups this weekend for brunch and then take them to go for breakfast during the week. It's the meal that keeps on giving! Set yourself up for success and don't skip breakfast!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 12 eggs
• 12 slices of bacon (I use applewood smoked)
• 1.5 cups total or 2 tbsp per muffin tin of your desired ingredient(s)
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Line each muffin cup with a piece of bacon
3. Put bacon lined muffin tin in the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. You want the bacon to look half cooked before adding the eggs.
4. While bacon is in the oven prepare your desired add in ingredient(s) like peppers, mushrooms etc. You should allocate for 1.5 cups total or 2 tbsp per muffin cup.
5. In a small bowl lightly beat 1 egg and add 2 tbsp of desired ingredient(s). Pour egg mixture into bacon lined muffin cup and repeat the process for each egg.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until done. Everyone likes their eggs cooked differently so take a peak at about the 15 minute mark. They might be done to your liking!

Notes

I served this with a simple cucumber & avocado salad with a Sriracha greek yogurt dressing.

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Stuffed Mushrooms with Chestnuts & Boursin are a welcomed vegetarian option at any party.

I had you at Boursin didn’t I? I can’t blame you because I’m with you! This soft creamy cheese comes in a variety of flavors and I use the Garlic & Fine Herbs (my go to) in this recipe. These stuffed mushrooms will be sought after at any event and your vegetarian friends will be happy you thought of them!

TIP! Choose your crimini mushrooms in bulk for this recipe. That way you can choose mushrooms of the same size, shape and free of bruises.

This recipe brings together a lot of my favorite things: mushrooms, chestnuts, Boursin, breadcrumbs and fresh herbs. Suddenly I am wished I decided to write this blog post at midnight. I’m now hungry and want to make these right now but that just seems slightly embarrassing. Ooops, I got a tad sidetracked. Back to these little bites of Heaven!

Be careful not to rip the mushroom caps when removing the stem. Bake for 20 minutes and remove the liquid from the mushroom caps prior to adding the Boursin mixture.

I clearly inherited my love of Boursin from my mum. I have memories of her sipping a glass of vino and snacking on crackers with Boursin spread ever-so-evenly across. Fast forward twenty years and I’m pretty much doing the same thing, but somehow it feels less glamorous. Time is really a funny thing. It seems like so much has changed and yet small details like this remain the same.

Sprinkle with fresh thyme before serving. It adds a nice pop of color and great flavor.

Stuffed Mushrooms with Chestnuts & Boursin have been a recipe staple in my kitchen for years. I’ve enjoyed them over wine with girlfriends, as a substitute for meat, arranged on a platter for rooftop cocktails; you name it. I’ve made these bombs of deliciousness at ungodly hours after returning home from working a late flight. Cooking at 1am isn’t unusual for a flight attendant. As you can see, we go way back!

I like serving these on a simple white serving plate with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of time. They really pop!

Over the years I’ve tweaked the recipe here and there, often switching up the herbs I use depending on what I have at home.

This simple recipe gets taken up a notch when you use fresh breadcrumbs. It takes an extra 20 minutes of your time but it’s worth it. Fresh Breadcrumbs have copious amounts more flavor than store bought brands. At least all of the kinds I’ve tried. Depending on what you like, you can use thyme, rosemary, sage, garlic, oregano, ground fennel, pepper to name a few. The options really are endless!

I hope you guys love these as much as I do! xx

Stuffed Mushrooms with Chestnuts & Boursin

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

40 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 18 mushrooms

Ingredients

• 18 large crimini mushrooms, stems removed and cleaned
• 1 package herbed boursin cheese, room temperature
• 1 small can water chestnuts, finely diced
• ¼ cup minced chives
• ½ cup breadcrumbs, preferably homemade
• ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano, finely grated
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• fresh thyme for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with tin foil.
2. Now let's clean the mushrooms. Using a damp paper towel, remove any dirt from the mushrooms. It's okay to give the mushrooms a quick shower to save time, just make sure to not let them soak. If you give the mushrooms a quick shower to clean them, make sure you dry them as best as you can.
3. Space the mushrooms out evenly on the baking sheet. Drizzle 2 tbsp of olive oil over the mushrooms and sprinkle with salt.
4. Bake mushrooms for 20 minutes.
5. In a medium sized bowl mix together boursin cheese, minced chives and finely diced water chestnuts. Set aside.
6. When you remove the mushrooms from the oven there will be a small amount of liquid in each mushroom cap. Discard this liquid by using a small spoon or with clean hands just tip the cap upside-down over a bowl.
7. Spoon a tsp of the boursin cheese mixture into each mushroom cap.
8. Top with breadcrumbs and finely grated parmigiano reggiano cheese.
9. Put back in the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until tops of mushrooms are golden brown.
10. Let them cool, sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve

Notes

I always try to buy my mushrooms in bulk, especially when making this recipe. It allows me to choose mushrooms of similar size and shape. I try to get the crimini mushrooms that are perfectly round and free of any bruises or mushy spots
This recipe is significantly better with fresh bread crumbs. Store bought bread crumbs just won't have the same flavor. So if you have 15 extra minutes to spare, I strongly suggest you go all the way and make your own.

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Try using different kinds of peaches for variety. I used both a tart & sweet peaches and loved contrast in taste!

Wow your guests and skip the stress! 5 ingredients: Peaches, Prosciutto, Fresh Mozzarella, Mint and Balsamic Glaze.

This handful of accessible ingredients and simple preparation make this a great option for a thanksgiving appetizer. Did I mention these bad boys can be made ahead? Take the stress out of the holidays this year by choosing make ahead recipes.

This year I’m stepping out of my traditional realm of recipes and reinventing my holiday repertoire. Time to switch things up!  Change is good!

Local Californian peaches at San Francisco’s Ferry Building Farmers Market. They have half a dozen different varieties and you can sample before buying. YES PLEASE!

This recipe was inspired by Prosciutto Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese, Mascarpone & Basil and my abundance of peaches from the farmers market. I opted to swap the dates for peaches, goat & mascarpone for mozzarella and basil for mint. The salty prosciutto is the only constant in this recipe and its flavor is delightful next to the other ingredients.

Before wrapping the peach don’t forget to slice your pieces of prosciutto in half. Otherwise, the prosciutto will overpower the other flavors and throw the dish off balance.

I chose to use two different kinds of peaches, one sweet and one tart. I really enjoyed the contrast in flavors but definitely had a favorite. I preferred the larger, tart peaches because they were easier to assemble then the smaller, sweeter peaches. The peaches gained sweetness as they cooked on the grill so the sweet peaches were super sweet! Taste is personal preference but the larger, brighter peaches, made for a much prettier finished product.

Drizzle it with your favorite balsamic glaze. Feel free to experiment with flavors of balsamic glaze. I use my favorite aged strawberry balsamic I picked up on a road trip in the Santa Ynez Valley.

I served these to friends who came over to play cards against humanity and ultimately be my guinea pigs! I tried out a few new recipes, two will be featured on the blog this week! This dish was especially well received by my friends. There were no Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto left by the end of the night. Always a good sign!

Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto

 

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This sweet & salty combination is sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next cocktail party or girls night. You can also enjoy this as a light weeknight dinner or afternoon snack. They're super simple to produce and have only five ingredients!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 12 pieces

Ingredients

• 3 peaches, quartered. I prefer a more tart peach because they will sweeten on the grill.
• 12 large pieces of mint, washed and dried. If you only have small mint leaves, no biggy! Just double up and use 2 per peach wedge.
• 12 piece of fresh mozzarella, cut into equal sizes.
• 6 pieces of prosciutto, cut in half lengthwise.
• balsamic glaze to drizzle

Instructions

1. Turn grill on and switch to high heat. When hot, place quartered peaches on the grill. Grill for approximately 8-10 minutes turning once halfway through. Cooking time will vary depending on grill, size of peach etc. so make you to check after a few minutes. You definitely want the nice grill marks on the side so once you have those, flip to the other side.
2. Cut pieces of prosciutto in half lengthwise. Six pieces, halved lengthwise, will give you twelve pieces needed for this recipe.
3. Take one grilled peach and place a piece of mozzarella and mint leaf on top. Slowly start wrapping the piece of prosciutto around the 3 ingredients, making sure it's not loose. Fasten in place with a toothpick.
4. Arrange on a plate or serving tray and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Notes

This recipe yields 1 dozen so keep that in mind if you're cooking for a larger group.
This recipe can be made the day before and placed in a airtight container until you're ready to serve.

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Enjoy a bowl of Mussels with a White Wine & Fennel Cream Sauce this weekend !

Being from Nova-Scotia, loving shell fish like lobster, scallops and mussels is practically in my DNA.  I recently returned from a blissful vacation back home on the East Coast, where we indulged in all of my favorites.  

Mussels were a staple in my house growing up and I always loved dunking them in garlicky lemon butter. It’s funny how nothing really changed (well maybe my glass of sauvignon blanc). This humble East Coast favorite has continued to be a special dish into my adulthood. It was the first meal I ever made for Rez and whenever I make it at home it brings back happy memories, both old and new.

Fennel lends a sweet licorice flavor to the dish. Don’t worry, it’s not overpowering and the flavor mellows out as it cooks.

At the time I was living in Vancouver and we had been dating long distance for a couple of months. We had met in Hawaii Thanksgiving weekend, had our first date in Montreal on NYE and in January I went to visit him in San Francisco. It was quite the whirlwind! Now it was his turn to come see me in Vancouver and not on buddy pass!

Side note for those of you who are not in the airline industry: Although our career allows us to travel freely and cheaply, long distance relationships can be equally or more taxing on our end. When you fly for a living, doing all of the commuting in a long distance relationship can be draining, especially when it’s not appreciated. It’s a test in a way, to see if they’re willing to put in the work and not ask for the ‘golden ticket’ immediately.

Discard any mussels that don’t open in the cooking process. Important! Don’t forget!

Rez was due to arrive right around lunchtime so I decided to make him an old school favorite of mine; Mussels. They’re easy to make, use few key ingredients and are rather addicting once you sample a few. The broth is really what ties everything together, with thick slices of fresh bread for dipping. This certainly isn’t a fancy dish and that’s part of its glory!

Served best with thick slices of fresh bread. The bread takes it from appetizer to entrée.

We’ve created a tradition of staying in for big nights like Valentines Day or Anniversaries. We get our favorites wine & foods and spend the night at home, instead of going to super crowded and loud restaurants. Don’t get me wrong, I love those places and I’m actually late getting ready to go out for dinner & drinks. But those special nights I like being at home, hidden away from the craziness of the city, with my favorite person in the world, in our own private retreat. We always include mussels in the mix on those special days. One of us always reminding the other of that first home cooked meal together.

Enjoy! xx

Mussels with a White Wine & Fennel Cream Sauce

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

This East Coast favorite

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer or Main

Cuisine: Seafood

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 3 pounds mussels, scrubbed and de bearded
• ¼ cup butter, ½ stick
• 1 fresh fennel bulb, thinly sliced
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• ½ bottle dry white wine
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• a small handful of flat leaf parsley
• garnish with lemon wedge

Instructions

1. Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add chopped fennel, shallots, garlic and fennel seeds. Sauté until fennel is tender, about 5 minutes. Add wine and cream and boil until liquid thickens, about 10 minutes.
3. Add mussels. Cover and cook until mussels open, about 5 minutes. Discard any mussels that do not open. Ladle broth overtop and sprinkle with flat leaf parsley.
4. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with fresh bread!
5. Enjoy!

Notes

Before cooking I always sift through the mussels to check for any damaged and cracked shells.
Once mussels are cooked I discard any mussels that do not open.
I normally serve this family style at home but feel free to separate into individual bowls and ladle the broth overtop.

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Pistachio Crusted Baked Brie with Honey is the epitome of comfort food.

Pistachio Crusted Baked Brie with Honey is better than you could ever imagine it would be. Have you ever taken a bite of something incredible and you involuntarily do something ridiculous to express how delicious it is? Dramatic hand gestures? A favorite catch phrase? Random inaudible sounds of pure joy? Well get ready, because this is one of those times. You’re welcome.

Drizzle warm honey over the brie, flipping it over so the brie is coated on all sides.

This recipe is so simple and oh so delicious. 15 minutes start to finish and virtually zero cooking. Pistachio Crusted Baked Brie with Honey is such a versatile dish. I picture serving this up for my girl friends over wine, a tapas style dinner at home or as an afternoon snack on a chilly day.

I’ve been busy studying for my annual re-qualification exam and drills. As flight attendants, we have to do this once a year and it’s always super stressful! Why? Because if you don’t pass, you no longer get to fly the friendly skies. That’s right; your job is on the line. This will be my 5th annual and you would think it gets easier, but it doesn’t.

Quickly pulse shelled pistachios in the food processor. Don’t pulse too much. You want pistachio pieces, not pistachio dust!

I woke up a couple of nights ago shouting my evacuation commands. In my dream, I was evacuating an aircraft with a fire in the cabin and my exit was blocked due to water. Just lovely! My fiancé was terrified but quickly realized what was going on. If you’re close with any flight attendant I’m sure you’re aware; we can go a little crazy when our annual training creeps up.

Anyhoo, the next day I was exhausted from lack of sleep and didn’t have the energy to cook. I wanted something low maintenance, quick and warm for dinner. I opened the cheese drawer (because cheese is always the answer) and found a piece of wild mushroom brie. Boom! That’s where this idea spiraled from.

Make sure to coat all sides of the brie with honey. This will make it easier for the the pistachios to stick to the brie.

It’s better to have an entire wheel of brie because it helps keep the ooey-gooey-goodness inside, but I wanted to use what I already had in the fridge. Remember, lazy and tired? No grocery store tripping for this lady. Just keep in mind, an entire wheel looks prettier and more put together. If you’re entertaining; I would suggest going that route.

Remember not to go overboard with pulsing the pistachios. A quick pulse is all you need. You still want the texture of the pistachios. Pistachio dust is not what you’re going for with this recipe.

I served this with fresh bread, prosciutto, apple slices and green grapes. It was such a great, casual dinner! You can’t go wrong with a 15 minute, easy peasy dinner that tastes like a million bucks!

I hope you love this comforting recipe as much as I do  xx

Enjoy this slathered on fresh warm bread or with apple slices for a healthier approach.

Pistachio Crusted Baked Brie with Honey

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

This salty and sweet baked brie is the perfect thing to warm you up on a chilly day. It's super simple, with only 4 ingredients and only takes 15 minutes from start to finish!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Ingredients

• 1 wheel of brie, size can vary but I generally use a small one
• ½ cup good quality honey
• ⅓ cup shelled pistachios
• crusty bread or sliced apples for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Pulse pistachios in the food processor for a couple of seconds. You want to break down the pistachios but you still want texture. You do not want pistachio dust!
3. Heat the honey in the microwave for 30 seconds. Pour over the brie cheese, making sure you cover all sides.
4. Start sprinkling the honey covered cheese with pistachios. It's not a big deal if they don't all stick; just try the best you can.
5. Top with pistachios and bake in the oven for 10 minutes
6. Let it cool for a few minutes and then serve with bread or apple slices

3.3.3077

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1 in every 10 Shishito Peppers carry some heat. Play this mild game of Russian Roulette over a few cocktails!

Sautéed Shishito Peppers are the easiest snack you will ever make! I started cooking with them recently and we’ve become fast friends, especially when paired with cocktails. Sautéed shishito peppers are so simple to prepare you’ll be questioning if you missed something.

4 ingredients : Shishito Peppers, Oil, Flaky salt and Lime. How simple is that?

4 ingredient wonder! Shishito Peppers+Oil+Flakey Salt+Lime

These mild, bite-sized peppers are to be eaten in their entirety, seeds and all. No need for utensils, just grab the stem and take a bite of this smoky, sweet & salty pepper. Drop the stem in a separate bowl as you would edamame shells.

Apparently 1 in 10 peppers are supposed to carry heat but it’s not enough heat that should scare you off; it’s just a little kick. This is a very tame version of Russian roulette but one I will gladly sign up for.

Sautéed Shishito Peppers are the new edamame! At least in my house they are!

Make sure you eat these bad boys immediately while hot, because they will go limp as they cool. Don’t fret if you have leftovers. Sautéed Shishito Peppers are equally delicious when added to an omelette. I made one for brunch today and the Shishito Peppers added such a sweet & smokey flavor. I’m in love.

If chips are your arch nemesis like me, try these addicting peppers instead!

It’s almost wrong not to enjoy these with a cold beer or cocktail. Just saying!

Shokuyoku Japanese 

Sautéed Shishito Peppers

 

Print

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

The easiest snack you will ever make! This addicting snack pairs really nicely with a cocktail!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Ingredients

• 1 lb shishito peppers
• 2 tbsp grape seed oil
• flakey sea salt
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, until oil is hot but not smoking
2. Add shishito peppers and sauté, rotating them like ears of corn
3. Continue sautéing until they start to blister and then remove from heat
4. Pat peppers dry with clean kitchen towel then move into a large bowl
5. Toss with flakey salt and squeeze lime juice over peppers
6. Serve immediately while hot!

Notes

Serve immediately while hot. When Shishito Peppers cool, they will go limp and lose their shape.

3.3.3077

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