BLT Unwrap & Roll And More Belgioioso Fun

I'm such a sucker for a fun appetizer- extra points if it's super simple.  Even more extra points if it's low carb.  Still more extra points if it includes bacon, amiright? :-)

This recipe is a winner on all fronts.

Plus I got to use Belgioioso cheese again, which always makes me happy.  Remember when they sent me that selection of cheeses after they hosted our wine and cheese tastings in Des Moines?

My cheese drawer has never been happier- 

I so love that stuff!

This afternoon Allrecipes reached out to its Allstars and asked us to check out some new recipes that Belgioioso had posted.  Well...I was hungry and on my way to the store anyway, so the timing was kind of perfect. :-)

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Mushrooms and Writer's Block

I made these mushrooms over a month ago, easy.
I've been trying to figure out what to write about ever since!

Generally when I post something I have some sort of loose association between the recipe and life that gets me writing.  Not going to lie- I've got nothing.

I thought about a tie-in with the marinated mushrooms that my mom makes for their Christmas party every year.
*yawn*

I thought about mentioning that I've always kind of wanted to buy one of those mushroom growing kits.
*yawn again*

Gotta be honest guys- I've got nothing.

Nothing except for one delicious recipe, that is.  ;-)

Super Snacks for the Super Bowl: Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños

I think we've been over my penchant for stuffing things in jalapeños when I'm looking for a low carb option.

Kind of the perfect, flavorful vessel for getting goodness into your mouth when crackers and chips are off limits, you know?

Since my husband and I have been doing the low-carb thing again since the beginning of the year I definitely found myself exploring my jalapeño options when I was looking around for Super Bowl options this week.  I didn't want anything breaded and to be honest I've done the bacon thing.

Super Snacks for the Super Bowl: Lasagna Stuffed Mushrooms

Well guys, another Super Bowl is in the books- for the blog that is!

Every year the week before the big game gets a little crazy with people flocking to those Super Bowl friendly game-day recipe- by the time Super Bowl Sunday rolls around the traffic is at a fever pitch.

Then come kickoff?

Crickets.

Total drop off until the next day when things get back to normal.

Honestly every year I find it kind of hard to turn away, it's just so much fun to watch.  :-)

This year was no different, though I do have to admit that I really slacked off this month when it comes to posting new recipes.  I normally spend the month of January ramping up and sharing new fun foods with you guys for your party planning but this year my low-carbing took a bit of the wind out of my sails.

Quick and Easy Caprese Chicken

When I took my fun trip to Des Moines for Allrecipes in September we were given the chance to watch an episode of Allrecipes' Dinner Spinner TV show before it aired on TV (the episode we saw featured my friend and fellow Allstar Angela, you should check her out at Dancing With My Father and Salt et Lux - she is one incredibly talented lady!).  One of the things that caught my eye right off the bat when we were watching that first episode was that the contestants were using a kitchen appliance I'd never seen before- the Panasonic Countertop Induction Oven.

 I was intrigued.

Ok, so this thing is crazy guys.  It combines direct induction and instant double-infrared heating.

Science, guys.  I had to Google it.

So according to Wikipedia, "Induction cooking heats a cooking vessel by magnetic induction, instead of by thermal conduction from a flame, or an electrical heating element. Because inductive heating directly heats the vessel, very rapid increases in temperature can be achieved."

Also according to another article I found, double-infrared heating means that it uses "dual quartz and ceramic elements so it heats up fast."

Tex-Mex Migas Go Low Carb

Every time I get off of a low carb diet I kick myself.

I would never endorse one diet or another but I can tell you that for me, personally, it works.

Well.

When I stop watching my carb intake it's never long before I regret my decision and I kick myself for ever stopping.  Once I hit my low carb stride it's easy for me to keep it up, it's just finding that stride that is so frustrating.

I want all the foods.

All of them.

That first week or so of low carb I get a little hangry.  I think it's even more difficult for me then a lot of people because I'm quite content not eating meat at all most of the time.  I don't get excited about a steak or a thick pork chop or whatever like most people do and until I get in the swing of things I get pretty frustrated.

I found myself craving migas pretty hardcore a few days ago and I just couldn't get the craving out of my mind.  Eggs, peppers, onions, jalapeños...oh, and tortilla chips.  All served on warm tortillas- personally I like nice corn tortillas best, but that's kind of beside the point.

Migas are heaven on a plate.  A Tex-Mex meal that I could eat any time of day or night.

I didn't just want them, I needed them.

Not Quite Peruvian Pickled Veggies

I stumbled across the most amazing restaurant about a year ago.  It's Peruvian- and lets be honest, I know absolutely nothing about Peruvian food, so I have no idea how authentic it is. What I do know is that the food this place serves is seriously up there with the best food I've ever eaten in my life.  

I've tried several of the appetizers there- causa limeña, yuca, plantains, etc.  I've had a delicious soup with quinoa.  I've tried my husband's chicken with passion fruit.  However I have only ordered one entree myself.  I'm sure the entire menu is delicious and I'm missing out on loads of good food but I just can't help myself, I have to order it every time we go- that adobo arequipeño is just too good to miss out on.  I can't imagine how anything could possibly be better than that dish!  Ohmygoodness it's tasty.  Pork stew over white rice and sweet potatoes...it's perfection.  Sitting there on the plate next to all of this goodness is a little pile of pickled red onions called Salsa Criolla.

When I saw a recipe for salsa criolla I knew I had to try it.

Light and Refreshing Avocado & Tuna Tapas

I know I've been talking about my anticipation of summer a lot lately- I just can't get over it.  I go outside and see that blue sky, feel the warm sun on my skin, and my soul just sings.  It's the yin to the yang of my love of gray rainy days.  I love those too- so deeply.  Yet that sunshine...that warmth...ahhh...I'm pretty sure I'm part cat, as I'm quite content to lazily soak up the heat in a warm sunny spot as often as possible.

Just thinking about it makes me light up inside.  

Throw in extra adventure time with the kiddos and not having to wake up to an alarm for a few months and summer is pretty much sounding like heaven at the moment.

Honestly, in general I'm not a big fan of heavy meals but that is never more true than when it's hot outside.  Nope, when it's hot out I want something light and refreshing.  This dish really fits the bill!

White Alabama BBQ Sauce Wings

I tried making Alabama-style white BBQ sauce a couple of years ago and it was awful.

I was honestly really disappointed because, from a carb-watching standpoint, it's kind of perfect since it's not loaded with sugar or molasses or any other no-no's.

And, well...I really like those no-no's.

I love my BBQ sauces- you should give this one from our Smithfield campaign a try, it's kind of become my go-to these days!

Anyway.  Back to my story.

So I knew that lots and lots of people love the white variety of BBQ sauce and I'd never had it served to me before.  I really wanted to love it.  I decided to find another recipe and give it a try.

Allrecipes' partnership with Nascar gave me the opportunity to play around a little.  I've been on a bit of a chicken wing kick lately and I thought maybe I could combine a new white BBQ sauce recipe with my wing obsession.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites

I came across these Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites quite awhile ago and they've been on my "I should really try those sometime" list for quite awhile.

Cute mini foods that are also low carb?  Count me in, amiright?

Anyway, I've had the recipe saved but I just hadn't gotten around to making them until now.  Definitely glad I did!

So just to level with you, I totally intended to serve these guys for the Super Bowl this year.

I even prepared them on Super Bowl Sunday- and then I realized we had so. much. food. on hand that day and I tossed them in the freezer.

Yummy Roll-Ups

When I was a kid I really couldn't stand cream cheese and absolutely refused to eat it.  Not all that uncommon for a kid, I suppose, but now I love the stuff.

A warm toasted buttered bagel smeared with a thick layer of cream cheese.  Yes- butter and cream cheese.

I'm drooling just thinking about it, it's a bit Pavlovian.

Ugh.  I can't be trusted around carbs.

Anyway.

So I definitely have a love for cream cheese now that I'm older (try some Ma'am's Hot Jam over cream cheese with some Wheat Thins.  Heaven!), but I was not at all surprised when my daughter absolutely refused to eat these.  At first.

She meandered into the kitchen to see what I was up to and she saw pickles.

That kid can really put away some pickles.

She saw ham.

Her eyes lit up...and then quickly dimmed.

She'd seen the cream cheese swirled with two of her favorite foods.  I'd also used up all of the ham and pickles in my endeavor.  She asked if she could disassemble my work and just scrape off the cream cheese.

Hot and Spicy Stuffed Mushrooms

I have had so many interesting opportunities over the years thanks to Allrecipes and my status as one of their Allstars.  I've taken a couple of free trips (woohoo, thanks guys!).  I've been introduced to some very interesting brands (go Bison Council!).  I've become friends with an amazing group of lovely ladies (with a sprinkling of men).  

What an experience!

 This month I had the opportunity to work with Nascar.

Didn't see that one coming, gotta be honest!  I'm always excited to have new Allstar experiences, though.  After spending many years living 15 minutes or so from a major speedway I'm well acquainted with the racing craziness that surrounds these events!

It was time to throw a Daytona 500 party- and I needed a menu.

A good one.

Given my current diet, a low carb one.

No problem.  I've got this.  :-)

Big Mac Salad

I used to be a manager at McDonald's, many many years ago.  It was for three years, pre-Air Force, the last couple of years of high school and shortly after.  It was years before I would eat there again, and honestly I rarely go there to this day unless the kids want to visit Playland.  It was...an experience.  I have witnessed people get so angry over believing they had been overcharged by a dime that they felt it necessary to hurl a Super Size Coke at a fellow human being.  I have cleaned grease traps.  I have seen what's lurking in the ball pit (side note: my kids aren't allowed in ball pits...).

Anyway, while I almost never actually eat at McDonald's there are a couple of things that I really crave sometimes- namely Mac Sauce and McChickens.
Don't judge me for loving those hot little cheap chicken sandwiches please.  :-)

For some reason we were not allowed to give people a side of Mac sauce when they asked for it.  The only reason I was ever given was that the health department wouldn't allow it- which is not a response hungry customers really enjoy receiving when they just want some sauce in which to dip their fries.  Here's a silly answer from McD's itself as to why they won't serve it on the side.  Anyway, regardless of the reason, we deprived lots and lots of hungry throngs their favorite dipping sauce for those hot, salty fries.

Super Snacks for the Super Bowl: Sweet Heat Chicken Wings

So a few days ago I found myself inhaling a delicious trio of salsas at a Mexican restaurant as we celebrated a family birthday.  I've got a big thing for salsa.  :-)

 Anyway, my Seahawks were playing.  When we got the restaurant, they were down 31-0 at half time.

I really wasn't holding out much hope for a return from that as we sat down to eat.  But then I realized that I could see a television from across the restaurant.

They'd come back from that!  Lets just say I spent the last 10 minutes or so of lunch totally checked out of the conversation as I anxiously watched the game play out...we lost, but boy did we come back nicely in the second half!

Super Snacks for the Super Bowl: Low Carb Party Bites

One of the most frustrating things about a low-carb diet is the lack of snack foods.

In a world of chips, dips, crackers, candies, sauces, wraps, cakes...there you sit with the broccoli.

Or peanuts.

Or cheese slices.

 Sometimes a girl just wants something fun to snack on while she watches the NFL playoffs.  Oh boy did I never think I'd ever in a million years type that sentence...

Anyway, so I've been on the lookout for low carb snacks.  In my mind, a good low carb snack- or any low carb food, really- needs to be a couple of things.  

1) It has to actually be yummy enough that people who AREN'T low-carbing will want to eat it too

2) It shouldn't call for any weird low-carb ingredients that I don't normally buy

Jalapeño Popper Mushrooms

I've professed my love of stuffed jalapeños a time or two.  Ok, maybe more than a time or two...I just went back to see which jalapeño recipes I've posted over the last few years and I found a bunch!

Three Pepper Cheesy Stuffed Jalapeños

Grilled Bacon Jalapeño Wraps

Low Carb Chicken Nacho Bites

Fajita Stuffed Jalapeños

Pulled Pork Jalapeño Snackers... 

I think it's safe to say that jalapeños are one of my favorite vehicles for getting food into my mouth!

Another great food vehicle?  The mushroom.  I've written about those a bit as well!

They're both flavorful and delicious foods that are great for stuffing with other delicious foods.  :-)

Not to mention the fact that they're both great when you're watching your carbs.

Amazingly Easy Juicy Roast Chicken

I have a history of murdering meat.

As in killing it dead.

Dry, overcooked, icky meat.

I could pull the meat 5 degrees below temp, cover it and let it rest, and still discover that it had become tough and unpleasant- every time.

It got so bad my husband cautiously asked me to stop making his beloved thick cut chops.

Seriously.  Definitely not one of my better moments.

Thankfully I don't give up easily and I wasn't about to be shown up by a piece of meat.

I'm not exactly sure what flip has switched over the past couple of months but thankfully I seem to have turned a culinary corner and my carnivorous family is extremely pleased.  Pork chops, steak, chicken...I'm killing it in a MUCH more desirable way lately.

It's kind of amazing how many times my daughter has told me how happy she is that I finally learned how to cook meat.  Even a 9 year old can appreciate the improvement.  :-)

Buttery Cayenne Pecans

Nuts are such a great snacking food- personally my favorite are cashews.

So good.  Roasted and salted...I can't be trusted around them.  I will eat the whole can.

In one sitting.

Thankfully I don't have any around at the moment.

No, this time it's pecans.  I'm lucky enough to get some great ones from my in-laws semi-regularly and generally have some in the freezer waiting to be enjoyed.

There are lots of yummy recipes for spiced nuts out there, but they're generally of the sweet-and-spicy variety.  I love those, but I don't always love the idea of the added sugar when I'm mindlessly snacking.  I've even tried subbing brown sugar Splenda® but it's not quite the same- and it's still a sugar blend.

The Easiest Crispy Baked Chicken Wings EVER

With football season comes fun snack food, at least in our house.  I've made a bunch of yummy stuff lately, but ever since I made those low carb boneless wings with "Who Needs Buffalo?" Sauce last month I've really been craving chicken wings.

I'm a little obsessed with that sauce, truth be told.  Goodness it's good.

Anyway, while I enjoy those boneless wings and they're definitely delicious, I really enjoy a real wing too.  One that actually comes from the wing and doesn't require breading.

I've kind of shied away from making wings over the years because I really didn't feel like I knew what I was doing when I made them and I had an incredibly hard time achieving a crispy skin without frying them.  I even went so far as to remove the skin before cooking them just so they wouldn't be soggy and gross.

Have you ever tried skinning a bunch of chicken wings?

No? That's because you're normal.

Just trust me, it's a huge pain.  Plus you don't get that nice crisp outside underneath the sauce.

The Best Blue Cheese Dressing On The Face Of The Planet

I have such a hard time with my husband and his lunches.

If I pack them, 9 times out of ten he tells me he was too busy at work to eat and whatever I pack comes right back to me with a promise that he'll take it again the next day.

If I don't pack them, he complains and spends a bundle going out to eat several times a week.

I can't win.

Well, a few weeks ago I started seeing a bunch of charges on our bank statement for a sandwich place near my husband's office.  I'm not crazy- I don't care if he goes out to lunch every once in awhile any more than he minds if I do.  But several times a week for something that I can make a better version of at home for way less money?  Ugh.

When I asked him about it and offered to start packing him a lunch again the truth came out...he'd just been hooked by the blue cheese dressing.  He went on and on, waxing rhapsodic about the amazing blue cheese dressing this sandwich shop has for their salads.  How he has to order extra dressing because sometimes the chunks are so big they take up half of the little dressing cup.