Tag Archives: Appetizers

Jalapeño Popper Dip with Crispy Panko Topping

Dinner Ideas July 21, 2026 Leave a comment
Baked jalapeño cheese dip topped with sliced jalapeños and crumbs alongside tortilla chips
A creamy baked jalapeño popper cheese dip served with tortilla chips.

Ingredients

  • 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded, divided
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded
  • 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles, drained
  • 4–5 fresh jalapeños, seeded and finely diced (leave seeds in 1–2 for extra heat)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Crispy Panko Topping:

  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Pinch of kosher salt

Process

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth. Add the sour cream and mayonnaise and mix until fully combined. Fold in 1½ cups of the cheddar (reserving ½ cup for topping), the Monterey Jack, diced green chiles, fresh jalapeños, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and cayenne. Stir until evenly mixed.
  3. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish in an even layer. Scatter the reserved ½ cup of cheddar evenly over the top.
  4. In a small bowl, combine the panko, melted butter, Parmesan, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Toss with a fork until the panko is evenly coated and clumping slightly. Sprinkle the panko mixture evenly over the top of the dip.
  5. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the dip is hot and bubbling at the edges and the panko topping is deep golden brown and crispy. If the topping browns before the dip is bubbling, tent loosely with foil for the last few minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving — it will be extremely hot. Garnish with sliced fresh jalapeño and fresh cilantro or scallions. Set out alongside tortilla chips, crackers, and any other dippers.

Layered Salsa Dip

Appetizers July 20, 2026 Leave a comment
Layered party dip with cheese, tomatoes, olives, lettuce, and creamy base in glass dish
Salsa dip

Some recipes are timeless, especially when it comes to party snacks. One popular choice is the Easy Layered Salsa Dip, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This dip was very popular in the 1980s and combines cream cheese, Picante Chunky Sauce, and toppings like cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, chili peppers, and black olives. It has been a staple at family gatherings since the ’80s and is the kind of dip that makes people hover around the kitchen island until it’s gone. Get ready to watch it disappear!

Ingredients

  • 1 jar of Picante Chunky Sauce
  • 1 (8-oz) cream cheese
  • 1 (4-oz) can chopped mild chunky Chile peppers (no seeds)
  • 1 8-oz bag shredded Iceberg lettuce
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes or sliced cherry tomatoes
  • 1 can of sliced black olives
  • 2 cups of fancy shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese

Process

  1. Mix Picante sauce, cream cheese, and the can of mild Chile peppers until pink. Don’t overmix; it’s okay to have some white streaks of cream cheese.
  2. Spread in a shallow pie dish or quiche dish.
  3. Spread the cream cheese mixture, then add a layer of shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, black olives, and finish with shredded cheddar or mozzarella.

The serving options are many. Tortilla chips are traditional, but I also like to offer bell pepper chunks and cucumber slices for a lighter snack. No matter how you prepare it, after over 40 years in my family, it is always the first to go at family gatherings

Wonton Butternut Squash Ravioli

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Vegetables, Wonton Wrappers April 16, 2026 Leave a comment
Ravioli pasta served with fried sage leaves, walnuts, and grated cheese in a rustic bowl

Embark on a delightful culinary adventure by transforming simple wonton wrappers into irresistibly tasty butternut squash dumplings! This fun and easy recipe combines the sweet, nutty flavor of roasted butternut squash with the delicate, chewy texture of wonton wrappers, creating a perfect bite-sized treat. Perfect for a cozy night in or impressing guests at your next gathering, this recipe proves that even simple ingredients can turn into a delightful culinary creation!

Ingredients

  • 1 butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeded (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 36 wonton wrappers
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

Pesto sauce recipe below

Process

  1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
  2. Place squash halves, cut sides down, on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
  3. Bake for 30 minutes or until tender. Cool. Scoop out pulp, discard peel. Mash pulp.
  4. Combine oregano, squash pulp, and butter in a large bowl.
  5. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
  6. Working with 1 wonton wrapper at a time, spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the squash mixture into the center of each wrapper.
  7. Moisten edges of wrapper with beaten egg; bring 2 opposite corners together. Pinch edges together to seal, forming a triangle. Repeat procedure with remaining wrappers, squash mixture, and egg. Cover wonton ravioli loosely with a towel to prevent drying.
  8. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large Dutch oven. Add half of the wonton ravioli; cook 3 minutes or until the ravioli begins to float to the top of the water.
  9. Remove wonton ravioli with a slotted spoon. Repeat the procedure with the remaining ravioli.
  10. Add ravioli to pesto; toss gently to coat.

Spinach Basil Pesto Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 1/2 cups of fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped, and divided
  • 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons organic vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Process

  1. Place garlic in a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped.
  2. Add cheese, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, spinach, basil, and 2 tablespoons toasted walnuts to the food processor.
  3. With the processor on, slowly pour oil, broth, and juice through the food chute. Process until well blended.
  4. Plate with Wonton Ravioli. Arrange 6 ravioli on each of 6 plates: sprinkle each serving with 1 teaspoon walnuts, sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Jalapeño Popper Dip

Dinner Ideas November 22, 2025 Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 4 Jalapeño peppers
  • 8 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 jar (4 oz) pimentos, drained
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Process

  1. Preheat broiler with rack 6” from broiler element.
  2. Place jalapeños on a rimmed baking sheet, broil until charred and flip to other side to char. About 6 -8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let sit for 10 minutes. The skins should slide off.
  3. Remove and discard skins, stems, and seeds from the jalapeños, transfer to a food processor with the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, pimientos, salt and garlic powder. Puree until smooth; pour into a 1-quart baking dish.
  4. Combine Panko, parsley or cilantro, and oil, sprinkle over dip. Bake at 375° F. until golden and warmed through, about 15-20 minutes.

Serve with chips or raw vegetables such as bell or red pepper, chunks of cauliflower, broccoli or celery sticks.

Smoked Salmon wrapped Cheese balls

Dinner Ideas November 19, 2025 Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 1 8-ounce cream cheese block
  • 8-ounce cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons chives, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 4-ounce package of Smoked Salmon
  • 1 English cucumber sliced into 1/2-inch rounds for garnish

Process

  1. Bring cheeses to room temperature.
  2. In a mixer, mix cream cheese, cheddar, Garlic salt, and onion powder.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  4. Remove plastic wrap and using a ¾ inch cookie scooper, scoop cheese into small balls.
  5. In a small bowl, mix parsley and Parmesan cheese together.
  6. Roll each ball in the parsley and cheese mixture.
  7. Separate the salmon layers and cut 1-inch circles of smoked salmon and wrap around each ball. Place the balls in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  8. Before serving, dip the top of each ball into chopped chives.
  9. Place cheese ball on top of cucumber slice and secure with a toothpick.