Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Ingredients

4 tbsp unsalted butter
cup wing hot sauce (we love Frank’s RedHot)
cup crumbled blue cheese, plus more for serving
1 pinch Kosher salt and black pepper
cup panko bread crumbs
½ cup celery rib, chopped
½ cup finely chopped carrot
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 large egg
1 lb ground chicken
extra virgin olive oil
sliced green onion
Italian parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 425º. Heat the butter, hot sauce, blue cheese, salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine well, cook about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Mix together bread crumbs, salt, celery, carrots, garlic, egg, and shallots in a bowl. Add the chicken and half of the hot sauce mixture. Mix until just combined, do not over mix.

Coat a 10 inch cast-iron skillet with olive oil, using a paper towel or brush. Form 1 inch meatballs and place in the prepared skillet in a single layer. Drizzle with some more olive oil. Bake until the meatballs are lightly golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes.

Warm the rest of the sauce and drizzle over meatballs. Top with green onions, parsley and some blue cheese. Serve on toothpicks or small cocktail forks.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Orecchiette with Sausage & Spinach

Recipe: Orecchiette with Sausage & Spinach

Ingredients

1 lb Orecchiette, cooked to package directions
1 lb ground sausage (breakfast, sweet Italian or Andouille)
1 tbsp olive oil
½ chopped red onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups baby spinach
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
splash dry white wine
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 oz high quality crumbled feta (I prefer sheep feta for it’s deep, tangy flavor)

Directions

Cook the pasta to package directions in plenty of salted water. Drain and return the pasta back to the cooking pot, set on the counter.

While the pasta is cooking make the sauce. Heat a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sausage and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink remains, about 7-10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a bowl.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the olive oil and onions to the skillet. No need to rinse the skillet, leave a small amount of sausage grease in the pan to enhance the flavor of the onions. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and translucent. Add the garlic at the last 30 seconds of cooking the onion. Add the spinach, wine and lemon juice to the skillet. Cook a few minutes until the spinach is wilted. Transfer the sausage back into the skillet. Cook until all is hot, season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer the sausage mixture into the pasta and toss to combine. Transfer to a large serving dish and top with crumbled feta cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Campfire Loaded Veggie Nachos

Recipe: Campfire Loaded Veggie Nachos

Ingredients

1 15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 10 ounce can Rotel, drained
½ large red onion, diced & divided
1 2 ounce can sliced black olives, drained
1 tsp Tajín Clásico mexican spice blend
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp cumin
1 16 ounce bag tortilla chips
1 8 ounce package shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 ripe avocado
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
lime slices
sliced jalapeños

Directions

Line a 10 inch cast iron skillet with foil.
Combine the corn, beans, 1/2 of the onions, Rotel, olives, Tajín Clásico, pepper and cumin in a large bowl.

Place 1/2 of the chips in the skillet, top with 1/2 of the cheese and 1/2 of the corn mixture. Repeat with another layer of chips, corn mixture and cheese.

Campfire or Grilled Nachos

If you are heating over the campfire; tent with foil and grill until the cheese melts 8-10 minutes. Remove from the fire, carefully remove foil. Top with avocado, the rest of the onions, cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños and drizzle Chipotle Cream Sauce.
If using the grill, heat over medium high heat and follow the rest of the directions. Serve immediately.

Baked Nachos

Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit with rack in the middle. Place the skillet in the oven, tent with foil and bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven, carefully remove foil. Top with avocado, the rest of the onions, cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños and drizzle Chipotle Cream Sauce. Serve immediately.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Grilled Brie with Tomatoes and Basil

Recipe: Grilled Brie with Tomatoes and Basil

Ingredients

2 wedges brie cheese, or 1 large round
1 pt grape tomatoes, quartered or 1 pound ripe tomatoes diced
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
¾ tsp salt and more to taste
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup chopped basil ribbons, chiffonade
1 loaf sliced rustic baguette or pita chips
balsamic glaze and shaved parmesan for topping

Directions

Tomato Basil Salad

Combine the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt pepper and basil in a large bowl.

Grilled Brie

Line a 10 inch cast iron skillet or griddle with foil (this makes for an easier clean up.) Place the brie in the center of the skillet. Grill over a campfire or hot grill for 15-20 minutes or until the brie softens and bubbles.

Baked Brie

This is easy to make in your kitchen too! Simply preheat oven to 375ËšF with the rack in the middle.

Line a 10 inch cast iron skillet or griddle with foil (this makes for an easier clean up.) Place the brie in the center of the skillet. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the brie softens and bubbles.

Serving

Top the melted brie with the tomato basil mixture. Top with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and shaved parmesan. Serve with baguette.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Asian Cucumber Salad

Recipe: Asian Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

1 English cucumber (about 1 pound)
3 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 pinch garlic powder
1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp chopped pickled ginger
2 sliced green onions

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve immediately. Adjust any ingredients to taste.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Quick, Easy & Crispy Baked French Fries

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Quick, Easy & Crispy Baked French Fries

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Quick, Easy & Crispy Baked French Fries

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Greek Barley Salad

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Spring Pasta with Prosciutto & Peas

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Spring Pasta with Prosciutto & Peas

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith