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Baked tortilla chips

Taco salads call for homemade (EASY) baked tortilla chips. They’re crunchy on the corners, a little chewy in the center, and can be flavored any way you want! My favorite- Mission-Artisan Style Tortillas- Corn and Whole Wheat Blend With a pizza cutter cut into triangles. Spray cookie sheet with Coconut oil spray and spray tortillas. Season with your favorite salt. I love to add Tajin or even a little lime juice or zest. Bake at a very high temp or broil for a few minutes and then turn over and re-season and broil other side.

Proscuitto & Asparagus Toast

When all else fails, stack it! When I’m at a loss of what to make for dinner, I start stacking things on top of toast. They end up being some of our favorite dinners (or breakfast/lunch). Whole wheat sourdough toast *Arugula Pesto Burratta cheese Prosciutto Avocado with a dash of lemon juice Grilled asparagus Fried or poached egg *Arugula Pesto In a blender combine: 1/2 cup walnut pieces or toasted pine nuts 1 garlic clove, minced 2 cups packed arugula leaves 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese Kosher salt After blended slowly add: 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Brie Asparagus Proscuitto Crostinis

I remembering making this appetizer the first time I hosted Easter back in Corona Del Mar 12 years ago and it’s still one of my faves! Toast baguette slices (slice at an angle so you get more surface area). Slather Butter Dijon mustard mixture on top of toasted baguette (1/2 butter 1/2 mustard, mixed). Layer Prosciutto, roasted asparagus, and top with Brie cheese. Broil for one minute. I just ate 3 of them!

Stuffed Dates

There are dates on every corner here in Jerusalem and it reminded me of an appetizer I had made a while ago and never posted. Sliced dates Goat cheese or Blue Cheese Chopped pistachios Bacon, cooked and chopped Balsamic reduction Stuff dates with cheese, pistachios, and bacon. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. I put my stuffed dates on a Traeger grill and it was salty, sweet, and perfectly smoky. Drizzle with bottled balsamic reduction. If you have leftovers, slice them up and add to a chicken salad for lunch or dinner the next day! (Instead of cooking an entire batch of bacon for this recipe, just buy a small amount at your grocery store salad bar.)

Homemade Hummus

I wasn’t sure this homemade hummus would be that much better then store bought, boy was I wrong! It is so easy and so fresh! 2 cans chickpeas, drained with 2 Tb liquid reserved 4 garlic cloves 1/3 C Tahini 2 lemons, juiced 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt Put all ingredients in blender until combined. Refrigerate overnight for best taste. Garnish with EVOO, pine nuts, and hot sauce. Buy the best Pitas you can find and brush with EVOO and grill or broil. Sprinkle Zaatar or salt when still warm. As I’ve been looking up recipes for these Middle Eastern dishes, I’ve realized they all have the same ingredients. Here is a quick run down in case you’re going grocery shopping today. Tahini Lemons (a lot) EVOO Garlic Parsley Cumin, Paprika, Coriander Mint leaves Pita (All veggies shown in picture, including eggplant)

Watermelon & Cucumber Guacamole

And finally, my third Cinco de Mayo recipe with watermelon and cucumber. (My personal favorite!) Avocado or premade guacamole Watermelon, chopped Cucumber, chopped Feta cheese Lime juice and zest Chili powder Kosher salt I Love my local grocery store’s deli-made guacamole so I started with that. Add watermelon and cucumber and mix. Top with feta cheese, lime zest, lime juice, chili powder, and salt. TIP *I don’t often post all the different recipes I try with the same ingredients but I do this a lot. If you have a lot of cucumber and watermelon for instance try totally different ways of using it. Don’t let extras go to waste or feel like you have to have the same leftovers 3 nights in a row. Make extra guacamole then put it over grilled chicken and brown rice the next night. I find it challenging and fun to come up with totally different uses for ingredients I have around the house.

Vegetable Birds Nests with Ahi Tuna

Speaking of TJ’s favorites, these Vegetable Birds Nests are unbelievable and can not be saved for an appetizer only! Ahi tuna and some toppings turn it into a delicious salad or light dinner. Butter lettuce Vegetable Birds Nests Ahi tuna, chopped to small pieces Avocado, chopped Edamame Sesame seeds The dip is to die for so add a little Seasame Oil, soy sauce, and sugar to make extra for a dressing. FOR AN APPETIZER- add one Nest on top of a leaf of butter lettuce. Top with a couple pieces of tuna and avocado and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Your guests will thank you!

Trader Joe’s Scallion Cakes

Have you tried these Trader Joe’s ( I can’t help myself) Scallion pancakes? They’re our new favorite after school snack! They’re 7 grams of fat and 160 calories and taste fried (is that a bad thing?) I sauté mine for a couple of minutes per side and top with Sweet Chili sauce!

Corn Cake

This meal has my name written all over it. I was going to share my party drink recipes but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Corn cake: 1 C corn meal 1/2 C flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp sugar 1 1/2 – 2 C milk 1 egg, beaten 1/4 C honey Green onion, sliced 1 1/2 C Frozen corn, thawed 1 C shredded cheese Jalapeño, diced Mix well and cook like a pancake. Top with leftover pulled pork or any meat (beef or chicken would be great). Top with fried or soft boiled egg. *For an amazing sweet corn cake, mix 2 parts mascarpone cheese to 1 part honey and smear (a lot) on corn cakes. OH MY GOSH!!

Peach and Mozzarella Stacks

I wish you were all able to come over for lunch right now with this peach salad, grilled chicken, and a cold Diet Coke! Sprinkle lime juice and honey on sliced peaches. Grill peaches until they have grill marks. (You don’t have to grill the peaches, fresh peaches or nectarines would be great too). Lay Arugula on platter and mix with dressing. Layer mozzarella slices and peaches and place on top of arugula. Drizzle dressing and EVOO on top of stacks. Dressing In a blender (until combined): 5 peaches One bunch green onions, sliced 1 C chopped fresh cilantro 1/3 C honey 1 tsp salt Zest of one lime 2 limes juiced 3/4 tsp cumin 3/4 tsp chili powder 1 C EVOO