A twist on pie crust

I usually find ideas on Pinterest- especially for the holidays.  This time I have a pin I  can share.  I was looking for cookie cutters the shape of leaves or other fall decor.  I found all of my letters (heretofore never used). Why not label my pies?

It's either totally lame or totally genius.  Time (and a better picture taken by someone on Martha Stewart's staff that appears on her 2015 Thanksgiving magazine cover) will tell.  

 

And yes... I made three pies today.  There is a story behind all of the free time that entails... but I'll save that for Sunday's post.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

 

This recipe (and a plethora of versions of the same recipe) have been all over Pinterest lately.  I was going to save this for Super Bowl Sunday, but the office annual party seemed like the perfect time to try it out.  This is the "lighter" version, although I don't think you're going to be sticking to any diet on this or any other version of a recipe that is 90% cheese.      

INGREDIENTS

1 8-oz. pack neufchâtel cheese (basically the same as low-fat cream cheese)

1/2c fat free greek yogurt

2 Tbsp mayonnaise (the real kind – this will give you the perfect texture to make it feel non-lightened)

1/2 c shredded mexican blend cheese (low fat if you prefer)

1/2 c parmesan

1/2 can diced green chilis (2 oz)

2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and minced

salt & pepper to taste

1/2 c panko bread crumbs

1 Tbsp butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 F. In a medium bowl, blend together neufchâtel cheese, yogurt, and mayo until smooth. Stir in 1/2 c mexican cheeses, 1/4 c of the parmesan, diced chilis, minced jalapeños, salt, and pepper.

Remove dip to an oven-safe container (I just used a pie pan). Mix panko bread crumbs with melted butter and remaining parmesan, sprinkle mixture over top. Bake for 20 min, then switch to the broiler for 3 additional minutes to make the top extra golden brown.

VERDICT

So.... this little diet killer is darned good.   It went quickly at the party and I'm pretty sure we're going to have to make up a second batch for the big game this weekend.

Quinoa pizza bites

Friday night is never a healthy night in our house.  We order a pizza, or do "snack night" with motz sticks, veggies, and other finger foods.  

I convinced my husband that I was taking away his pizza last week to try what one Pinterest pinner said was "the ultimate comfort food- made skinny!"

I'm pretty sure some people on Pinterest are just trolls who make up ridiculous recipes and then sit back and laugh as other people try to copy them.  This may very well be one of those recipes.  

INGREDIENT

1/2 C uncooked quinoa
1 egg
1/2 C fat free mozzarella cheese
1 small onion chopped
1 tsp minced garlic 
1 tsp dried oregano 
1 tbsp dried basil

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a non-stick muffin tin with cooking spray.

Combine quinoa with 1 cup of water.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat and cook for 15 – 20 minutes (until quinoa is tender or water is gone). Fluff with fork. Leave covered on turned off burner for 5 – 10 min to soak up any extra water.  

Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl until well mixed.

Using a spoon or ice cream scoop, divide mixture between the muffin tin and press the mixture flat into the pan.

Cook for 15 min or until golden on the top.

Let cool and serve warm with pizza sauce for dipping 

NUTRTION

Calories: 285 • Fat: 4.7 g • Protein: 19.5 g • Carb: 39.6 g • Fiber: 6.2 g

VERDICT

Do they taste like pizza?  Umm... kind of.  But I'm pretty sure that has more to do with the fact that I smothered these things in pizza sauce to kill the blech taste of the quinoa pizza bites on their own.

They weren't terrible.  But they didn't do anything to replace my craving for real pizza either.  

My husband assured me later that he tried each and every sauce in the refrigerator to try and make these palatable without success.

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings... healthy swap and Pinterest win.

Quinoa Pizza Bites... epic Pinterest fail.

And tonight's dinner... REAL pizza.  

  

Apple fritters

As I mentioned in a previous post, we have a LOT of apples in Upstate this year.  More apples than we were able to store in the freezer as apple sauce.

I've eaten an apple a day.  As have the kids.  But we're still facing a pile of fresh-picked apples sitting on the counter.  I thought it was time to try out a Pinterest recipe.

I've had mixed success with Pinterest crafts and other projects, but I haven't tried too many food recipes yet. So here goes...

INGREDIENTS

2 cups flour

1/2 cups sugar

3 T sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 eggs

3/4 cups whole milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 T melted butter

2  apples, peeled and diced

Glaze:

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cups milk

DIRECTIONS

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat eggs with a fork, then add milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Gently fold in the dry ingredients to the wet, mix until just combined (do not overmix). Fold in apples. Add enough apples to make a really chunky batter.

Heat a couple of inches of canola oil over medium heat. When it gets hot, drop a little bit of batter into the oil. If it sizzles and immediately floats to the top, the oil is ready. It it burns, turn oil down.

Drop teaspoons of batter into the oil, about six at a time. Make sure to flip them for even cooking. Cook them long enough that they are golden brown and that the batter is cooked through, this is about 2 minutes or so.

Remove and drain on a paper towel. Either dust generously with powdered sugar OR dip fritters in glaze...dip fritters while they are warm.

Serve immediately.

VERDICT

Greasy, but good.  But still I think I prefer the fritters at Wegman's.  I'm sure they're fried there too, but I think I actually prefer the taste and consistency to store bought here!

Credit:  The Pioneer Woman