Tag: #Appetizers

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16 Puff Pastry Desserts That’ll Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

There’s something seriously irresistible about the way puff pastry transforms in the oven, with its buttery layers rising into crisp, golden sheets that shatter at the lightest touch. Its aroma alone signals that something special is happening, and that’s exactly why puff pastry tends to be one of the first ingredients I grab when making easy Christmas desserts. These puff pastry desserts are simple yet luxurious, whether filled with fruit, laden with whipped cream or crunchy from caramelized sugar.

This collection of baked puff pastry sweets offers plenty of versatility, allowing you to change the fruits, spreads or toppings to fit the occasion. The recipes all work with store-bought or homemade puff pastry. If you’re new to puff pastry, no worries. We have plenty of tips for working with and storing puff pastry to get you started. These desserts don’t just look beautiful, they also deliver the texture, flavor and ease that bakers reach for again and again.

Taste of Home

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28 Healthy Dips to Snack on All Week

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Each of our healthy dip recipes uses nourishing ingredients like vegetables, beans, yogurt or olive oil. The dips are light in sodium and saturated fat, too.

For a snack with important components like healthy fats or vegetables, I like to add a dollop of hummus, salsa or guac. Serve healthy dips with a plate of raw cucumbers, peppers and carrots as an easy appetizer or to encourage your kids (and yourself) to eat more vegetables.

Taste of Home

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Pizza Tots

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Who said pizza needs a traditional doughy crust? We’ve seen pizza crusts made with cauliflower, zucchini, portobello mushrooms and pita bread. These pizza tots top them all. I’ve always been a sucker for combo dishes, and this nontraditional pizza idea is pure mashup magic.

Crispy, golden Tater Tots form a pizza base piled high with mozzarella, tangy sauce and pepperoni. Make pizza tots once and they’ll be your new go-to for game days, late nights and any evening you don’t feel like wrestling with pizza dough. If you have time, elevate the dish using scratch-made sauce and tots. But this recipe is just as satisfying when you let the freezer aisle do the heavy lifting.

Ingredients for Pizza Tots

Ingredients for making Pizza Tots recipe.
ALLISON CEBULLA FOR TASTE OF HOME
  • Frozen miniature Tater Tots: Mini Tater Tots get super crispy in the oven and cook faster than regular-sized tots, making a perfect pizza base. If you use regular-sized tots, you may need to bake them a bit longer before adding the toppings. If you love the process, homemade tots are delightful.
  • Pizza sauce: A tangy, tomato-rich layer pushes the tots into classic pizza territory. A jarred version works great, but making homemade pizza sauce is quicker than you think!
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese: One of the best melting cheeses, mozzarella provides that essential cheese-pull moment we all secretly crave.
  • Pepperoni: For that classic pizza vibe, pepperoni adds salty, savory and slightly spicy notes. Arrange the slices artfully or scatter them haphazardly—you can’t go wrong.
  • Italian seasoning: A famous blend of oregano, garlic, basil and black pepper, Italian seasoning brightens the flavors and makes the whole tray smell like your favorite pizzeria.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes: These are optional, but they are an excellent way to add a little heat to balance all the melty richness of these pizza Tater Tots.

Taste of Home

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37 No-Bake Christmas Cookies and Treats

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Baking isn’t everyone’s forte—we get it! But just because you’re oven-averse doesn’t mean you can’t make great desserts at home, especially during the holiday season when every hour is sweets-o’clock. Here’s proof: This list has our best no-bake Christmas cookies and treats that are still indulgent and super festive.

There’s a range of Christmas desserts in this list, so there’s a little something for everyone. Of course, Christmas no-bake cookie recipes dominate the list, with cute reindeer, thumbprints, Christmas wreath cookies and even a no-bake version of the iconic peanut butter blossoms. But there are lots of other treats in store, too, like peppermint pies, fudge and frozen desserts, all sorts of chocolate-covered bites and balls, no-bake bars and even a glorious Christmas trifle that feeds a crowd.

While these are easy no-bake holiday cookies, some require a stovetop or microwave and a few require baking tools like a food processor or mixer. Others are truly no-heat with zero baking tools involved, so read through the recipes that catch your eye before claiming them for Christmas dinner.

Taste of Home

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30 Best Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

One of the best parts of Christmas is the food: decadent Christmas mains and sides, festive appetizers and cocktails, and, of course, Christmas cookies. But if you have a gluten allergy, at times it can feel as if your options are limited or nonexistent.

Our gluten-free Christmas cookies are here to save the day because no one should miss out on the fun of making and decorating cookies because of an allergy! In this collection, you’ll find gluten-free holiday cookies like snowballs, pumpkin cookies and crinkle cookies to bake and enjoy worry-free. You’ll even find allergy-friendly recipes for classic Christmas cookies, including gingerbread men, spritz and shortbread.

These gluten-free festive cookies will be welcome additions to your gluten-free dessert spread and will have even your non-allergic family members coming back for more.

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100 Easy Holiday Appetizers To Elevate Your Party

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Our Best Holiday Appetizer Recipes

If you ask us, one of the best parts of the holiday season is the snacking that happens before the main meal. Who wouldn’t want to mix up a festive cocktail or two and treat themself to an assortment of small bites before a special holiday dinner? Cheese balls and cheese logs, party-ready dips, wow-worthy platters—with so many delicious options, choosing what to make can be difficult. One of the recipes we always include in our pre-dinner spread however, is this baked brie.

We like to dress it up for the holidays; we stuff it into little golden parcels of puff pastry along with a hit of cranberry sauce and crunchy walnuts—for the ultimate sweet-and-savory bite.

Food Network

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27 Traditional Holiday Cookies You’ll Want To Bake Every Year

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Traditional Christmas and Holiday Cookie Recipes

If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics.

If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics. We’re talking buttery shortbreads, all different types of sugar cookies and, of course, plenty of gingerbread. If looking for a handful of recipes that rely on classic flavors and tried-and-true techniques, these are the ones to add to your repertoire. You’ll find snowballs, thumbprints, biscotti and more. No matter which cookies you decide to bake, spritz are a holiday must. The green and white tie-dye effect gives these classic cookies a modern-retro look, and the red sprinkles add a bit more holiday cheer.

Food Network

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The 23 Best 5-Ingredient Holiday Treats (That Anyone Can Make!)

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Festive Treats With 5 Ingredients or Less

With ambitious holiday party planning comes the potential to spend the entire time cooking in the kitchen—while your guests wonder where you are. Let’s skip all that. Instead, take the quick-and-easy route: put together something festive and enjoy your limited time together, with treats that only require a handful of ingredients. Each clocks in at just five or fewer—and will fill everyone you love, including you, with holiday cheer. One of our favorites? This reimagined take on the Yule log. Using store-bought Swiss roll cakes ensures this version is a breeze—but still impressive enough to dazzle your family and friends.

Food Network

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Pecan Pralines

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When traveling in the southern United States, you’ll find pecan pralines as easily as you will find a chocolate bar. Legend has it that this treat originated from nuts accidentally spilling into a vat of caramel. Regardless of how they came to be, they are irresistible and delicious. Pecan pralines offer buttery, sweet and rich flavors that melt in your mouth. It is nearly impossible to eat just one.

Pecan Praline Ingredients

  • Butter: The butter aids in creating a melt-in-your-mouth caramel that envelops the pecans in this recipe.
  • Sugar: We use granulated and brown sugar to prepare the caramel for these pecan pralines.
  • Half-and-half: The half-and-half is essential for creating this recipe’s creamy and rich caramel.
  • Condensed milk: We depend on condensed milk to provide these pecan pralines with a nostalgically sweet and comforting flavor.
  • Corn syrup: The corn syrup helps solidify these pecan pralines so they do not fall apart as soon as you pick them up.
  • Pecans: We mix pecans into the batter of these pralines because they give the confection a necessary crunch.
  • Vanilla extract: The vanilla helps deliver the warm flavor profiles in this pecan praline recipe.

Taste of Home

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25 Diabetic-Friendly Christmas Desserts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Having diabetes can make the holiday season feel more frantic than festive, especially when searching for diabetic Christmas desserts that people actually want to eat. As a dietitian, let me let you in on a little secret: you can enjoy delicious, easy Christmas desserts and treats, even if you’re working hard to manage your blood sugars. While traditional desserts can lead to blood glucose spikes, these diabetic-friendly Christmas treats have all the flavor and fun you need, with a lot less sugar.

From apple desserts to peppermint cookies and eggnog mousse, these blood sugar-friendly sweets are the perfect sweet addition to your diabetic-friendly Christmas recipes. So you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health, I’ve rounded up the best diabetic Christmas desserts that balance sweetness with nutrition, so you can feel good about your macros while joining in on the holiday fun.

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