Seeking Recipes - Berwyn,IL

Here is super easy! Spread a softened 8 oz pkg of cream cheese on a dinner sized plate. Top with a layer of Hot Pepper Jelly or Spread..you can find something like this with the jams/jelly in the grocery store. Serve with a cracker like Carr's...or a bland type of cracker...not like Ritz or Cheese crackers. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve, if you can.

here's one of my favorites- a healthy homemade dip and chip. Very easy and people LOVE it! You'll be making it for yourself once a week!

Edamame Hummus with Spiced Pita Chips
by Ellie Krieger

2 cups frozen shelled edamame, cooked according to package directions
1 cup silken tofu, drained
1/2 tsp. salt, plus more to taste
Pinch of pepper, plus more to taste
1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin, plus more for garnish
3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbs.)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste

Set 1 Tbs. of the edamame aside for a garnish. Place the rest, along with the tofu, salt, pepper, cumin, garlic, oil and lemon juice, in a food processor and process until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice, if desired.

Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl and garnish with the reserved edamame and a sprinkle of cumin. Serve with the spiced pita chips.

Spiced Pita Chips

1/4 cup olive oil
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
6 whole-wheat pita breads, cut into 8 wedges each
Heat the oven to 375°F.

Combine the oil and spices in a large bowl. Add the pita wedges and toss to coat. Spread the wedges in a single layer on two baking sheets and bake, tossing once, until the pitas are brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.

HUGE crowd pleaser and can be eaten hot or cold.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 cans crescent rolls
2 pkg cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick of butter
¾ cup of sugar with desired amount of cinnamon

1. Spread one of the rolls on the bottom of slightly greased 9X13 pan.
2. Mix cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar and vanilla.
3. Spread cream cheese mixture onto first layer of crescent rolls.
4. Spread another pkg of crescent rolls on top of cream cheese mixture.
5. Place pats of butter on top.
6. Cover with cinnamon/sugar mixture.
7. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

This is not a healthy idea but always a huge hit Velveeta Rotel Dip and chips.

You can make it in the microwave or in a crock pot.

1 block velveeta
1 can Rotel

1 bag tortilla chips

Rotel dip in a crockpot sounds fantastic to me! Maybe some extra salsa, sour cream, guacomole on the side for more stuff to pile on those chips!!

Oh. Wait. You mentioned healthy. Cheese has calcium, right? And avocados have healthy fats!

Fresh Green Veggie Salsa (from Cooking Light)
1/2 c. finely chopped tomatillos (about 2 medium)
1/2 med. cucumber, peeled, seed & chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 med. celery stalk, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
3 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
1 green onion, thinly sliced (about 2 tbsp)
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1 ripe avocado, chopped

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Serve immediately or cover and chill. Great with chips or as a topping for tacos!

Probably not the healthiest but it always goes at our parties. Take one package of Philly cream cheese and spread it on a casserole dish pretty thinly. Pour one can of chili-no beans on it, covering all of the cream cheese. Sprinlke shreaded cheddar cheese evenly on the top. Cook in the microwave for 2 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted. Serve with tortilla chips.

Cooks.com I find a lot of recipes there. or simplyrecipes.com

... what about making little 1/2 pita sandwiches.. you could season and grill chicken ahead of time and then when the time comes, cut pitas in half, add the chicken, sliced veggies (e.g. cucumbers, red bell peppers, calamata olives) and then a vinaigrette.. they are simple and easy to make.. also, small enough but also satisfying..

What about pulled BBQ beef or pork on buns? Super easy in a crockpot.
Cook chuck roast with a quartered onion. Drain liquid. Shred with two forks. Add 1/2 bottle of your fave BBQ sauce mixed w/ half cup of apricot preserves. Serve with buns. You can do little slider type buns, too.

My SIL had ham and turkey in crockpots with hawaiian rolls at her last party and they were delicious. The ham was just presliced lunch meat with brown sugar and honey and the turkey was presliced lunch meat with jarred gravy.

you should do a fajita bar. Do a crockpot with beef and one with chicken and then have all of the toppings set out. There are lots of recipes online for crockpot fajitas.

I love this, and you can "healthify" it by using low fat/no fat ingredients:
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/seven-layer-taco-dip/Detail...

It's always well received every place I take it. We serve it with tortilla chips (okay, so not as healthy, but...)

You can make it ahead and just stow it in the fridge.

BBQ Pull Pork with mini buns are great for a party! You can prepare this overnight in the crock pot and shred and prepare this before work in the am and put it in your crock pot to warm up the meat. Easy & Yum - It will be a hit!

Ingredients:
1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle root beer
1 (18 ounce) bottle your favorite barbecue sauce

Directions:
1. Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker; pour the root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low until well cooked and the pork shreds easily, 6 to 7 hours. Note: the actual length of time may vary according to individual slow cooker. Drain well. Stir in barbecue sauce. Serve on Fresh buns.

You can as much tenderloin as you need I typically do 3-4 punds and it will serve a ton of people. Just increase the root beer.

Here are a couple of my easy, cheap go-to appetizers:

Fiesta Ranch Dip
16 oz sour cream
1 pkg of Fiesta Ranch salad dressing (Dry dressing)
Fiesta blend cheese

Mix sour cream and ranch in a bowl.
I add a few seasonings and a touch of hot sauce
You can also add anything else at this point (peppers, tomato, etc)

Spread in round cake pan and sprinkle top with cheese
serve with tortilla chips
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1 pkg of cream cheese (softened)
2 roma tomatoes
2 tbsp italian dressing
fresh basil (optional)
parm cheese

Spread cream cheese in bottom of dish
chop roma tomatoes
mix tomatoes with italian dressing and some fresh basil
put tomato mixture over cream cheese
sprinkle with cheese

serve with wheat thins, triscuts, any cracker
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