Appetizers

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip

July 30, 2019 By Patti 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip is a healthy, protein-packed appetizer that will wow guests at your next party or get-together. This recipe is also a great way to use leftover baked or grilled salmon.

I want to thank Cedar Bay Grilling Company for inviting me to be a part of the Inaugural Cedar Bay Grilling Blogger Recipe Challenge. Cedar Bay has provided me with their two of their 24-ounce Planked Atlantic Salmon to create my recipes with. Each of the recipes in this challenge will be judged on visual appeal, creativity and taste; and be eligible for a cash prize. Please wish me luck in this recipe contest!

This salmon dip recipe is so quick and easy to make. It will surely impress your guests at your next family get together or dinner party. This recipe only requires three ingredients and a whirl of the food processor and you’d done. This elegant appetizer recipe couldn’t be any easier.

One of Cedar Bay’s high-quality products is their full fillet of Atlantic Salmon, pre-seasoned (choose either Sugar & Spice or Orange Ginger) on a pre-soaked cedar plank and sold frozen. You can’t beat the convenience as we are all looking for new ways to cook healthy meals for our families in less time.

For this recipe, I used Cedar Bay’s Applewood with Orange & Ginger Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon. It was easy just place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Cooking the already prepped salmon in the oven (or can easy be grilled also) and it’s ready to serve in about 20 minutes. This recipe is also a great option for leftover salmon after you’ve enjoyed an impressive Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon dinner.

Cedar Bay Grilling Company products can be found throughout the US and Canada, at Kroger, Publix, Hannaford, Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Ralph’s, Giant, Giant Eagle, Stop n Shop and Roche Bros. Visit Cedar Bay Grilling Company for a store location near you and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for great tips and recipes.

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Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip is a healthy, protein-packed appetizer that will wow guests at your next party or get-together. This recipe is also a great way to use leftover baked or grilled salmon.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Appetiser

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Patti from CooksRecipeCollection.com

Ingredients

1 Cedar Bay Applewood with Orange & Ginger Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon Filet (24 ounces)
8 ounces Cream Cheese at room temperature
1 T. Capers
Fresh chives to garnish chopped
Crackers

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place Cedar Planked salmon directly on the middle rack and place a foil-lined baking sheet on the rack below to catch dripping juices.
Cook 18-20 minutes, until the flesh becomes flaky. It is perfectly cooked when it is still slightly pink in the center of the fillet.
Crumble baked or grilled salmon into a food processor bowl.
Add cream cheese and capers, pulse in a food processor until combined.
Spoon into a serving dish and serve with your favorite crackers.

Notes

1. Discard the plank after 1 use.
2. Keep the salmon frozen until 24 hours before cooking.
3. Once Salmon has defrosted, do not re-freeze!
4. This recipe can be cut in half; to provide 2 salmon servings and 1 cup salmon dip.

Classic Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

June 13, 2017 By Patti Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

This Classic Bruschetta recipe is so quick and easy to make, and the perfect appetizer for any meal or get together.

Classic Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

This Classic Bruschetta recipe with tomato and basil is so quick and easy to make. It’s perfect for a snack or weekday appetizer. I love making this Classic Bruschetta, especially in the summer when tomatoes are in season and have so much more flavor.

When I found these multi-colored grape tomatoes I knew I had to give them a try for added variety and such an appealing presentation. I’m so glad that multi-colored vegetables are becoming more readily available and love to give them a try whenever I see them.

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Classic Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

This Classic Bruschetta recipe with tomato and basil is so quick and easy to make; and the perfect appetizer for any meal.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time1 min

Total Time6 mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Author: Patti from CooksRecipeCollection.com

Ingredients

1 cup chopped tomatoes
3 tablespoons shredded fresh basil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic minced
6 slices of french bread
Parmesan cheese grated (for garnish)

Instructions

Slice 6 slices of french bread on the diagonal. Place on a cookie sheet and broil for about 1 minute, or until lightly browned.
Combine chopped tomatoes, shredded fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and minced garlic in small mixing bowl.
Spoon over toasted french bread slices and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.
Serve and enjoy.

Fresh Garlic and Herb Dipping Oil

May 26, 2015 By Patti 3 Comments
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This is by far my favorite herb dipping oil. My husband and I are regulars at a family owned Italian restaurant that serves the best garlic and herb dipping oil for their homemade bread. I’ve asked for the recipe to no avail, so it was time to come home and experiment a bit. I just had to include this recipe, as a main stay aside Italian dishes, at home.

As with all recipes, make sure you use the highest quality and freshest ingredients you can find. The cost of fresh herbs can be greatly minimized by growing your own. When you need to add a new herb to your collection, consider buying a small potted plant, rather than the cut fresh herbs. And best of all, when you only have to go outside your back door or your kitchen window sill, the chance is high that you will reach for those fresh herbs more often.

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5 from 1 vote

Fresh Garlic and Herb Dipping Oil

Fresh Garlic and Herb Bread Dipping Oil

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 5 mins

Course: Dips &amp, Sauces

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Author: Patti from CooksRecipeCollection.com

Ingredients

1 clove garlic finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh basil finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh oregano finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Olive Oil

Instructions

Chop garlic and herbs, add salt and freshly ground pepper.
Add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil to herb mixture and combine. This will give you an herb paste consistency. Cover and let flavors mingle for at least 2 hours.
Place herb mixture in shallow dish and pour more olive oil over the mixture.
Serve with warm bread.

Healthy Vegetable Soup

November 26, 2013 By Patti Leave a Comment
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You’ll love this Healthy Vegetable Soup Recipe. It’s quick and easy to make and filled with a rainbow of healthy veggies. This vegetable soup makes a tasty and filling lunch or a healthy addition to any family dinner.

I’ve always loved soup and this healthy vegetable soup recipe makes it guilt free. Not only are you adding a variety of brightly colored vegetables to your diet, it’s also a low-calorie alternative, thanks to the broth base. You’ll feel good about both eating this healthy vegetable soup and serving it to your family.

This recipe makes a large batch of soup, which reheats well. I love making this soup when I have a busy week ahead. It’s nice to know I have a healthy meal to heat up quickly for a week of lunches.

Try these other Soup Recipes:

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Healthy Vegetable Soup

This Healthy Vegetable Soup Recipe is quick and easy to make and filled with a rainbow of healthy veggies.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time50 mins

Course: Soups

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Patti from CooksRecipeCollection.com

Ingredients

olive oil cooking spray
1 cup arrots sliced
1 onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
6 cups fat free chicken broth (or broth of your choice)
1 head Napa cabbage chopped
6 ounces fresh spinach chopped
1 can whole tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 zucchini diced

Instructions

Spray a large saucepan with olive oil cooking spray, and warm over medium heat.
Saute onion, garlic and carrots until they are soft, about 5 minutes.
Add broth, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, basil, oregano and salt to the onion mixture and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer, covered for about 15 minutes.
Add zucchini and cook an additional 5 minutes.
Serve warm.

Southern Mashed Potato Pancakes

October 29, 2013 By Patti 19 Comments
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Southern mashed potato pancakes, made with leftover mashed potatoes. This versatile recipe can be prepared for breakfast (as a replacement for hash browns), as an appetizer, side dish or a snack.

My southern grandmother, who grew up in Plains, GA (home of President Jimmy Carter), would always make these southern style mashed potato pancakes with our leftover mashed potatoes. Like any good southern cook who was raised in the great depression, she didn’t allow food to go to waste. Many of grandma’s traditional southern recipes were economical, only used a few ingredients, and are both quick and easy to prepare.

Do you typically have leftover mashed potatoes after Thanksgiving dinner? I typically make way too much to ensure there is plenty for everyone. If you’re anything like me, this is the recipe for you! Instead of just heating up those mashed potatoes again, why not reinvent them into these delicious pillows of comfort?

This versatile recipe can be prepared for breakfast (as a replacement for hash browns), as an appetizer, side dish or a snack. Around grandma’s house, they were usually made shortly after dinner for an evening snack and never lasted very long.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have over the years!

Types of Potato Pancakes

Potatoes are a part of many food cultures since they are both inexpensive and easy to store. Because of this potato pancakes also appear in many cultures throughout Europe and beyond, with each country having its unique versions of this traditional food, like different spices or additional vegetables. Here are a few examples:

German Potato Pancakes

German Potato Pancakes (as do most around the world) start with grated potatoes and add eggs and flour as to bind them into pancakes. They are traditionally served with either sour cream for a savory option or with applesauce for a sweeter version.

Jewish Potato Pancakes (Latkes)

Latkes are also made with grated potatoes and onions, eggs, and flour (or matzo meal). Traditionally, they are served as part of the Hanukkah celebration, along with other fried foods. The oil that the Latkes are fried in represents the miracle of a small amount of oil that kept the Temple’s lamp lit for eight days.

Southern Mashed Potato Pancakes

Southern Style Mashed Potato Pancakes are different from others by starting with a base mashed potatoes. Adding eggs and flour to the mashed potatoes allow you to form a patty, that is then pan-fried.

Hash Browns

Hash Browns were thought to have originated in New York as a Northen American breakfast staple. They start with grated potatoes and onion that are fried without added binders, which differentiates them from potato pancakes.

Potato Pancake Toppings and Add-Ins

My grandmother’s version of mashed potato pancakes is both delicious and perfect comfort food, featuring only a few ingredients. They are crispy on the outside; light and fluffy inside. This versatile recipe can be served with a variety of toppings and even taken to a higher level with add-ins.

Sour Cream – This is a very traditional potato pancake topping for a savory patty.
Applesauce – Another traditional topping, when you want a sweeter option.
Hot Sauce – A great option if you want to spice things up a bit.
Cheese and/or green onions – These are both make great toppings or add-ins. Add to mashed potato, egg, flour mixture before frying, or simply sprinkled on top of your finished masterpiece.
Loaded – If you want to kick these potato pancakes to the next level; top with sour cream, cheese, green onions, and crumbled bacon pieces.

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Try these other Appetizer Recipes:

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5 from 9 votes

Southern Mashed Potato Pancakes

Southern mashed potato pancakes are made with leftover mashed potatoes. This versatile recipe can be prepared for breakfast (as a replacement for hash browns), as an appetizer, side dish or a snack.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Patti

Ingredients

2 cups Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat about 1/4 inch olive oil in a frying pan to medium heat.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. This will be the consistency of thick pancake batter.
Drop batter into hot oil and fry until golden brown. I prefer smaller pancakes and use about 1/4 cup batter per pancake.
Remove from oil and place on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Serve warm with sour cream and/or apple sauce.

Pin this Mashed Potato Pancakes Recipe for later!

Tzatziki Sauce (Greek Yogurt and Cucumber Sauce)

February 6, 2009 By Patti Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Ingredients:

2 cups Plain Yogurt
1 Medium Cucumber (peeled and diced)
1 Clove Garlic (minced)
2 t. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 T. White Vinegar
1 T. Fresh Dill Weed (chopped)
1 t. Fresh Mint Leaves (chipped)
Pinch of Salt (or to taste)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate to allow flavors to mingle.

Note: Serve with Souvlaki or makes a healthy dip for vegetables or pita bread.

Baked Tortilla Chips

February 3, 2009 By Patti Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Tortilla Chips

With the price of groceries going up steadily, why not make your own Tortilla Chips? Additionally they are baked to reduce fat, and since you are making them from scratch you can control the quality of ingredients. This is such a quick and easy recipe that anyone can do.

Ingredients:

1 package of 6 inch Corn Tortillas
1 T. Olive Oil
Salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick foil or parchment paper.
Brush both sides of the tortillas with olive oil using a pastry brush. Then cut tortillas into quarters.
Bake tortilla pieces in a single layer on prepared baking sheets until chips are crisp and golden, about 12 to 16 minutes.
Serve immediately with your favorite salsa or dip.

Guacamole

February 2, 2009 By Patti Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Fresh Guacamole

Serves 4

Guacamole is a healthy dip that is easily made and very versatile. It is great for a dip served with chips or vegetables, or as a spread on sandwiches or in a great morning omelet. Although avocados are high in fat, they contain good fat that is important to our health. This recipe is highly customizable to your (and your family’s taste).

Ingredients:

2 ripe Hass avocados
2 T. finely chopped onion
1/4 t. salt
1 T. lime juice (more if it will not be eaten immediately)

Directions:

Choose 2 ripe avocados.
Peel avocados by cutting them in half (there will be a large seed in the middle to cut around). Then, twist the halves to separate them. The seed can be removed with a tablespoon. Spoon out avocado meat into a bowl. Mash the avocado with a fork or a potato masher. This will create a creamy, yet chunky starter to the dip. Sprinkle with lime juice (to preserve the color) and stir.
Add salt and chopped onion to the mashed avocados mixture. These amounts can be altered to fit your taste. At this point you have an easy guacamole dip. This can be customized by adding salsa or chopped tomatoes to taste.
Serve immediately, or store with plastic wrap on the surface of the guacamole.

Caramelized French Onion Dip

January 31, 2009 By Patti Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Serves 10

Note: Slow-cooking or carmelizing onions brings out their natural sweetness. Their rich flavor makes old-fashioned creamy onion dip worth revisiting. Bonus: This version has only a fraction of the calories and fat of the original. Serve with baked pita chips.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 1/4 cups slivered yellow onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces low-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup nonfat Greek-style yogurt
4 ounces low-fat sour cream
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Heat the love oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and salt. Saute 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.
Place cooled onions in food processor. Pulse several times to chop. Remove 1/2 of the onions and place them in a mixed bowl. Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor. Process until smooth. Spoon into mixing bowl and combine with chopped onions.

Per Serving: 80 calories, 5g fat, 10mg chol., 3g prot., 5g carbs, 1g fiber, 170mg sodium.
Recipe Courtesy of: spryliving.com