Category Archives: Appetizers

Appetizers, Crockpot, Food & Recipes, Recipes, Soup, Wholesteading

Making Chicken Stock is Easier Than You Think

Have you ever tasted a soup with a depth of flavor that you just can’t explain?  Did it have an indescribable richness that you would love to duplicate?  Chances are the chef of that soup utilized a secret trick that has become less common ever since boxed and canned broths have become prevalent at the market.  Most likely the cook has an important but old-fashioned weapon in his or her arsenal – chicken stock made from scratch.  While the sound of this might initially seem too overwhelming or involved, I can assure you that making chicken stock is easier than you think.  I dare you to try it just once and you likely won’t be buying boxed chicken broth again.  It does take some planning ahead, but it is SO WORTH IT!  Not only is homemade stock delicious, it is incredibly nutritious as well. Continue reading Making Chicken Stock is Easier Than You Think →

Appetizers, Dehydrator, Food & Recipes, Recipes

Beet Crisps

These beet crisps are infinitely superior to the commonplace chips you find in the supermarket snack aisles.  Packed with nutrition and fiber, these crisps have no evil ingredients to spoil the fun!  Who needs MSG and preservatives when you have a chip with the depth of flavor that these have?  This recipe starts with the pulp left over from the Beet Juice Cocktail recipe.  Just a couple of minutes of effort followed by an overnight stay in the dehydrator, and you will be gnoshing these tasty snacks down. Try them out on your friends at your next get-together! Continue reading Beet Crisps →

Appetizers, Food & Recipes, Sides

Balsamic Glazed Beets With Goat Cheese and Pistachios

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Serving Size: approximately 1 whole beet with toppings

Balsamic Glazed Beets With Goat Cheese and Pistachios

Ingredients

    • 6 Cooked and Peeled Beets (directions here )
    • 6 TBSP organic goat cheese
    • 6 TBSP organic Balsamic Glaze (directions here )
    • 24 Pistachios (salted or unsalted – your preference)
For the beets
    • 6 medium beets
For the glaze

Instructions

  1. Slice beets into 1/4 inch slices.
  2. Divide beets evenly among 6 appetizer plates.
  3. Sprinkle goat cheese on top of beets.
  4. Top each plate with 4 pistachios.
Appetizers, Chicken, Food & Recipes, Recipes, Sides

Fruited Whole Wheat Tabbouleh with Goat Cheese

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Fruited Whole Wheat Tabbouleh with Goat Cheese

I distinctly recall the very first time I tried tabbouleh. It was in Morocco.

Okay… it was in Epcot’s Morocco. It was way back when we had only two little ones to cart around Disney. We had stopped at one of the little sidewalk restaurants for a little respite from the sun and to have a little snack. At the time I had never even heard of the word tabbouleh. The entry on the menu board piqued my interest, and I just had to sample the salad with such an unusual name. As soon as that first spoonful crossed my lips, I was instantly grateful. The bright, flavorful mixture of herbs, grains, and citrus was intriguing. What a fresh new taste!

I have had many tabbouleh variations since then, and they have all been good. However, I recently decided to create a tabbouleh that even my kids would like. This is what I came up with.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole grain quick-cooking whole wheat bulgur
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 pound cooked chicken breast, chopped
  • 1 pound pineapple, diced
  • 8 oz strawberries, diced
  • 1/2 cucumber, seeded, peeled, and diced
  • 1 shallot, finely minced
  • 1 0z. mint, cut into thin ribbons
  • 1/4 cup garlic rice wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
  • 2 TBSP honey
  • 1 TBSP Sugar in the Raw
  • 1/2 cup Goat Cheese

Instructions

  1. Pour boiling water over bulgur and let sit at least one hour.

  1. In a large bowl or serving platter l, toss the chicken, pineapple, strawberries, cucumber, shallots, and mint together.

  1. In a separate container, whisk the vinegar, lime juice, teriyaki sauce, honey, and sugar together until mixed well.

  1. Pour over bulgur mixture and stir until evenly distributed.

  1. Garnish with goat cheese and strawberry slices if desired.

  1. There you have it. Simple. Fresh. Healthy. And the kids loved it!