SANDRA’S ADDICTING BAKED TROPICAL JALAPENO SPINACH DIP

This rich and cheesy baked tropical jalapeno
appetizer offers a popping flavor surprise
and is great served with
warm and crispy herb pita chips...

Servings: (10)

Prep: 10 Mins.

Bake: 25 to 30 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Dip:

1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped jarred sliced pickled jalapeno peppers

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup sour cream

½ cup mayonnaise

4 oz. cream cheese, at room temp.

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

½ cup shredded medium cheddar cheese

1 (9 oz. pkg.) frozen chopped spinach thawed, drained and squeezed dry, then chopped finer

1 (8 oz. can) can crushed pineapple, drained

½ teaspoon old bay seasoning

Topping:

¼ cup Japanese panko breadcrumbs

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Garnish:

2 slices of jarred pickled jalapenos

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 2-quart (round/square) ovenproof baking dish, and set aside.

In a small skillet over medium heat with a bit of olive oil, saute onion for 2 minutes.  Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds.

In a medium bowl, combine all the dip ingredients, including the onion/garlic mixture. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. 

Mix together the topping ingredients in a small bowl, and sprinkle mixture evenly over dip.

Bake until the sides are bubbling, the cheese has melted and turned golden brown on top, about 25 to 30 minutes. ~ Enjoy!

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Click here for Sandra's Baked Whole Wheat Herb Pita Chips

Tip:  For spiciness levels of dip, feel free to use the following finely chopped jarred sliced pickled jalapeno pepper amounts as a gauge:

      MILD: 1 tablespoon

      MEDIUM: 2 tablespoons

      HOT: 3 o 4 tablespoons

SANDRA’S BAKED WHOLE-WHEAT HERB PITA CHIPS

These warm and crispy herb pita triangles
have a crazy-good texture and flavor
you just can't get compared to
the store-bought version...

Servings: (10)

Prep: 5 Mins.

Cook: 7 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

6 whole-wheat pita bread pockets

Olive oil cooking spray

Spice/Herb Mixture:

¼ teaspoon granulated garlic

¼ teaspoon granulated onion

1 teaspoon dried cilantro

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a couple of baking sheets with foil; spray, then set them aside.

Cut each pita bread around the circumference so you have 12 halves.  

Line the cutting board with foil (for easier clean up), and spray both sides of 12 halved pitas with olive oil spray. 

Mix the spice/herb mixture in a small bowl.  Sprinkle one side of the halved pitas with half of the spice mixture, then spray with olive oil for spices to adhere.  Repeat, doing the same on other side of pita halves as well.  Toss the tin foil, and cut pita halves into 4 equal triangles; yielding 48 total pita chips (or cut them smaller if you wish to yield even more smaller triangles).

You will be baking these in batches.  Begin by placing the pita triangles on baking sheets in a single layer, and bake for about 7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.  Watch carefully, as they could easily burn! ~ Enjoy!

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Tip:  I only make as much as we are going to eat of the herb pita chips at one setting, as they tend not to store or reheat as well as when they first come out of the oven.

Click here for Sandra's Addicting Baked Tropical Jalapeno Spinach Dip

SANDRA'S MOROCCAN CHICKEN with SAFFRON and PITA TRIANGLES

A ethnic dish that has a complexity
of flavors, spices, and textures that compliment each other,
which you are simply going to love...

Servings: (2 to 4)
Prep: Marinade 2 hrs. |
Cook: 1 Hr. - 15 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

4 bone-in, skinless chicken breasts

***Marinade
½ teaspoon ground pepper
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 garlic cloves, quartered
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil

***Sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper
1 (15 oz. can) diced fire-roasted tomatoes, drained
¼ cup calamata olives, quartered lengthwise
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Pinch saffron threads (soaked in ¼ cup hot tap water)
2 tablespoons honey (for recipe, click here: Sandra's Homemade Alaska Fireweed Honey)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

***Garnish & Serving Options:
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted (for garnish)
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
2 to 4 slices of pita bread, each cut into quarters, forming triangles for serving

METHOD

Combine the chicken with the marinade ingredients in a shallow non-reactive baking dish, covered, and leave in refrigerator to marinate for two hours.

Drain the chicken, and pat dry with paper towels, and remove all the garlic pieces (or else they will burn during the following searing process.) Melt the butter and olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat, and add the chicken and sauté, until golden brown on all sides, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and cover with foil, and set aside.

Meanwhile, place the saffron threads into 1/4 cup of hot tap water, and set aside to let soak for 20 minutes (reserving both liquid and threads).  In a small dry and nonstick skillet, toast the pine nuts over low heat, just until fragrant, and set aside to cool.

After chicken is seared, reduce the heat under dutch oven to low, and add the onion to caramelize by slowly cooking, stirring often, until onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Add the garlic, cinnamon, ginger, kosher salt, and pepper and cook 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the black olives, chicken broth, saffron with soaking water, honey, lemon juice, and the reserved chicken (including any juices the chicken has given off on the plate), and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover the dutch oven for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and continue simmering to reduce the sauce for another 15 minutes. Taste sauce for seasonings, adding kosher salt and ground pepper, if need be.

Serve the Moroccan Chicken on a rimmed platter, and garnish with toasted almonds and cilantro, including placing pita triangles along the perimeter for sopping up the sauce (BTW: This dish is meant to be eaten with clean fingers and pita bread as your utensils. – Enjoy!


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Tips: For an even heartier meal, you might also wish to serve this dish with couscous, orzo, or steamed rice.


Also, most moroccan recipes call for raisins to be added at the end of the cooking process, although I do not particularly care for them, but feel free if you choose to do so ;-)

SANDRA'S SUPERB GRILLED SALMON KABOBS

What a blast to prepare,
and they surely provide for a
spectacular and
scrumptious presentation...

Servings: (4 = 2 skewers ea.)
Prep: 10 mins. |
Grill: 10 mins.

You will need 8 (10”) skewers.  Pre-soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes in water beforehand, or use metal skewers.

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons fresh dill, minced (or ½ teaspoon dry)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 lb. salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 1”x2” pieces

--Prepared pita bread, cut into triangles (for serving)

METHOD

Preheat indoor/outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs, and rub it over the rack or grill pan.

Combine dill, oil, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper in a medium bowl. Add salmon; toss to coat. Cover and marinate for at least 15 minutes, but no longer than 30 minutes, turning once.

Divide salmon pieces among 8 skewers (discard the marinade). Grill the skewers, carefully turning once after 5 minutes (if using metal skewers, use oven mitts because they’ll be ‘hot’), continue cooking salmon until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes total (do not disturb them otherwise). Serve immediately with pita triangles - Enjoy!


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Tip: You can also make vegetable kabobs at the same time using red onion, red bell pepper, and tomato chunks drizzled with olive oil, kosher salt and ground pepper on alternate skewers, just as I did (only put them on 10 mins. earlier, as they take a bit longer to cook.)