Pizza with crispy pancetta and soft baked egg recipe

If you're a fan of eggs on almost anything...I say go ahead and add two or three more to the top of this pizza...

If egg is not your thing...leave it off...this pizza is still totally delicious!

You may not think this pizza looks all that special... but the combination of crispy pancetta with a slightly spicy red sauce, sauteed spinach and two cheeses is superb!

The egg pairs perfectly with the crispy pancetta and spinach and adds a richness to the pizza that's addicting!

(Think spinach salad with a warm pancetta emulsion dressing... .....Mmmmmmm)

You'll find the recipe here at SheKnows: Pizza with crispy pancetta and soft baked egg

Turkey and Cheese Chowder

Staring at a pile of leftover Thanksgiving turkey?

Turn it into a pot of this hot and creamy Turkey and Cheese Chowder!

 You'll find my recipe here at SheKnows: Turkey and Cheese Chowder recipe

Thanksgiving pizza

Give those coveted Thanksgiving leftovers new life with this pretty (and delicious) Thanksgiving pizza!

I added a few extra ingredients to pull it all together...garlic, red onion, Gorgonzola cheese, etc...

You'll find more (and a tip) here at SheKnows: Thanksgiving pizza recipe

Pineapple stuffing with crispy bacon recipe

Trust me with this one... if you like pineapple upside down cake... you will absolutely love this pineapple stuffing with crispy bacon!

The bacon was not added to this dish to be gimmicky...the touch of crisp, saltiness truly adds to the overall taste of the dish!

A traditionalist at heart, I wouldn't serve this as my only stuffing on Thanksgiving day, but as a side dish option (perfect with turkey or ham) it's a welcome surprise to the typical spread!

*I used Pepperidge Farm white sandwich bread in this recipe...it works well in a stuffing.

You'll find the simple recipe here at SheKnows: Pineapple stuffing with crispy bacon recipe

Country-style bacon, apple and cheese egg bake recipe

Whether you have overnight guests coming for the holidays or you're simply looking for a special family breakfast...

Wake up their senses with this, Country-style bacon, apple and cheese egg bake!

This is a great one to make a day in advance (just be sure not to overcook since you'll be reheating)...then in the morning...take it out of the fridge, cover it with foil and reheat until warm though-out ... 

(Sitting for a day, allows all those delicious ingredients to come together and then shine through when ready to eat!)

Juice, hot coffee and warm cinnamon raisin toast with butter makes this egg bake extra special!

Find the recipe here at SheKnows: Country-style bacon, apple and cheese egg bake

Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes

Kick up your Sunday game day baked potato bar with a tray these loaded Hasselback potatoes!

Find more here at SheKnows: Cheesy Hasselback Potato Recipe

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows and Brown Sugar Butter

Make a a whole pan of these Hasselback sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows and brown sugar butter! 

Bake the potatoes ahead of time...then about 20 minutes before you're ready to serve dinner, stuff them with the marshmallows and brown sugar butter and pop them back into the oven to melt the marshmallows and caramelize the tops!

Top with a pinch of Kosher salt and you have a perfect sweet potato side dish all of your guests will love!

You'll find to how to and recipe here at SheKnows: Marshmallow stuffed Hasselback sweet potatoes with brown sugar butter

5 compound butter recipes

Compound butters are one of those things that are so simple to make, yet provide such an impact!

Whether you're spreading it on an earthy whole grain bread, crispy baguette or a warm homemade biscuit...

Whether you're melting some onto grilled meat, chicken, veggies or fish....



Here are 5 compound butter recipes:

• EARTHY
• FRUITY
• SWEET
• CHEESY
• SPICY

...that are sure to enhance any food!

A perfect hostess gift for the Holiday season...you'll find my recipes here at SheKnows: 5 Compound butter recipes

Brown sugar ginger rosemary crisp cookies

So they're not in the shape of little snowmen...

...and they're not covered with icing.

 They're not dusted with confectioners sugar...

 ...and they don't have chocolate...or nuts.

All that being said...I promise these Brown sugar ginger rosemary crisp cookies are a must for the Christmas season!

Soft and chewy in the center with a crispy, buttery edge... if you haven't made these before, once you do, they're sure to become a holiday favorite!

(*To make them a super flat, buttery cookie...press them down on the cookie sheet before baking.
**The rosemary flavor is very, very subtle...)


You'll find the recipe here at SheKnows: Brown sugar ginger rosemary crisp cookie

Pasta with Pumpkin Cream Sauce and Crispy Sage

Not sure there's any bowl of pasta that's much more satisfying than this, Pasta with Pumpkin Cream Sauce and Crispy Sage!

I used a fresh spinach tortellini here, but any pasta would do...

If your sauce seems too thick, you can easily thin it out with some milk, to keep with the creamy consistency (while not adding additional cream) or even a chicken or vegetable stock would work just fine.

The fried sage, toasted walnuts and freshly grated cheese on top ~ pulls the entire dish together!

Show them you love them and make this tonight!  You'll find my recipe here at SheKnows: Pasta with pumpkin cream sauce and crispy sage

Halloween food idea ~ Mini scream face pizzas

Two English muffins or a piece of store bought Naan bread will form the shape of the face for these individual mini Scream Face Pizzas.

If you're making for a group of kids, either construct the pizzas and place them on an oven sheet - show them the pan with the pizzas uncooked and then again after they're cooked - so they can see how the cheese melted and the scream face formed.

Or... cook them right before kids arrive, turn off the oven and allow them to keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.

Or Plan C... let the kids get involved in the making of the scream face pizzas!  Have a contest for...scariest face, most like the original scream face, silliest face, messiest face...etc....

Have Fun and Happy Halloween!!!  You'll find the how to here at SheKnows: Mini Scream Face Pizzas

Mini caramel apple bites

Feeling the need to redeem myself after, Ralphy the barfing pumpkin. These mini caramel apple bites are the polar opposite...

When I was finished making this plate here, I was half expecting the Queen of England to walk through my kitchen door to place an order.  Now I know...she probably has someone do that stuff for her...but in my imagination, it was her....and she wanted a lot!

So many ...that I was going to have to move to England and open up a quaint little shop where all I do is make these darling little candies for the Royal family... and they just keep handing me sacks of gold for payment!

Kate would become a regular and my best'est friend!

She would share her clothes with me (because in my fantasy we wear the same size) AND let me borrow her riding boots - then give me a few pairs because she, "has so many and we ARE bff's!"

I don't bake or make sweet things very often...so when I do...and it's easy..AND they turn out cute...I'm quite impressed with myself.

So anyway....these are a super adorable (for real ONE bite) treat! They look so pretty when plated and the topping choices are endless! In my experience, the crushed peanuts did the best job of holding up and keeping the caramel in place.

A great idea for any kind of autumn party (Kids, adults or Royalty!!!)...you'll find the recipe here at SheKnows: Mini caramel apple bites

Barfing pumpkin Jack-o-lantern with a simple chili cheese dip

When I mentioned to my mom that one of my assignments for SheKnows, was to make and photograph this barfing pumpkin, the phone went silent on the other end....then...

"Oh, Carolyn... that's disgusting! You're not for real, right?"

"Ummm, yes, I have to carve a pumpkin into a Jack-o-lantern and make it look as if it's throwing up cheese dip."

Usually my mom is full of suggestions...recipe tips, photo staging ideas, etc, etc... but not for this one...

I imagine the feeling I had at that moment, was the same an adult son or daughter might feel when they tell their parent(s) they're doing porn to, "make ends meet...."

I could hear her thinking...'what if my friends see it? What will I say?"

"But mom, they're paying me to do this...I think it might be fun...."

"Well... you do what you have to do... and that's enough talk about that...."

So here he is. We named him Ralphy (get it?). The kids, husband and I grew attached to Ralphy while he was in our home.

He's gone now.  Only survived a few days after this throwing up episode...shriveled up and is now back outside - one with earth.

Who knows? Maybe next year we'll have some mini Ralphys sprout up from the ground?  That would be nice...

So if you're hosting a Halloween Party this year...this barfing pumpkin's a must!

Some will love him! Some will hate him! You might even lose a few friends....

Luckily for me...my mom is my mom...I am her daughter and well, in this case, you can't choose family.

She's stuck with her, 'gourd barfing carving 3rd born' ...till the end. (At least I carve with my clothes on.  .............I mean...most of the time...)

You'll find the, "how to" here at SheKnows:  Barfing pumpkin chili cheese dip

Beer-braised brats with caramelized onion, apple and Dijon recipe

Here's a recipe perfect for a football tailgate, Harvest party, weekend gathering or Oktoberfest!

Make your brats a lil' extra special with all the ingredients and aromas of the season!

Apples... caramelized onions... Dijon mustard... grilled meat on a bun with a pumpkin beer on the side...!

You'll find my recipe here at SkeKnows: Beer-braised brats with caramelized onion, apple and Dijon recipe

White cheddar popcorn grilled cheese sandwich

Here we have a white cheddar popcorn grilled cheese.

I made this one day when the kids and I were brain storming on all the different things that could go into a grilled cheese sandwich. Among many deliciously silly ideas...the bag of half eaten SmartFood seemed to make sense!

If you're the type of cook who smashes down your grilled cheese sandwich when grilling, the popcorn will get lost in all that cheese (not necessarily a bad thing, but you won't see the cute little pieces of popcorn throughout).

So, go gentle with this one and serve with chocolate milk or an icy cold shake to make it feel extra special and fun!

You'll find my post here at SheKnows: White cheddar popcorn grilled cheese recipe

Beef braciola rolls with prosciutto and Parmesan cheese recipe

An Italian classic...if you grew up with an Italian grandmother always in the kitchen...she surely had her own version of Beef braciola...and her version...was the best!

Here I layered it with a quality prosciutto (sliced very thin and not overly salty) and freshly grated Parmesan cheese...toasted pine nuts and parsley, rolled up jelly roll style, secured with kitchen twine and grilled on the outside grill.

A nice alternative to the usual grilled meat, we ate our braciola with a creamy homemade polenta... but mashed potatoes or your favorite red sauce would also be delicious! (Serving with red sauce or 'gravy' is very traditional.)

Change your routine up a little and make this tonight! You'll find the recipe here at SheKnows: Beef braciola rolls with prosciutto and Parmesan cheese recipe

Steamed clams with white wine butter sauce recipe

I'm in the (slow) process of switching over to WordPress under my new name, Kitchen Snaps.

In the coming month(s) this website will be sleeker, easier to navigate and focus more on food photography while still providing recipes...  So...stay tuned!

This steamed clams with white wine butter sauce recipe is a keeper! Serve with crusty bread or pour contents of the pot over a bowl of hot linguine! Make this tonight!

You'll find my recipe here at: Steamed clams with white wine butter sauce recipe

Quinoa peanut butter banana bars recipe

Find my recipe here at: Quinoa peanut butter banana bars recipe

Shrimp cakes with lemon mayonnaise

These mini shrimp cakes with lemon mayonnaise are perfect for a party! I've made and even posted these before... but made some tweaks to the recipe and posted to SheKnows. 

The lemon mayonnaise is wonderful, but so many delicious sauces come to mind...a classic cocktail or tarter, a sweet Asian chili sauce or spicy chipotle mayo!!! 

An alternative to expensive jumbo lump crab cakes...you'll find my recipe here: Shrimp cakes with lemon mayonnaise  CHEERS!

Grilled oysters with garlic herb butter

Another photo project for SheKnows... so I can't take credit for this recipe, but I can say I made it as written and then took its picture ~ which was hard ~ because once you have one of these little guys ~ you simply want to devour the whole darn tray!

Such a delicious and fun way to serve and eat oysters...I like placing them on a bed of sea salt as shown here. What's nice about grilling oysters too, is that the heat makes their tops pop open ~ so no difficult shucking! SCORE ONE FOR EASE!!!!

Serve with a chilled champagne or sparkling rose...you'll find the recipe here at SheKnows: Grilled Oysters

3-Ingredient grilled peach cobbler

So...this dessert is grilled, but can just as easily be popped into the oven until golden brown and bubbly...

Canned peaches. Vanilla cake mix. Butter. That's it...and it's delicious!!!

(Oh and vanilla ice cream and/or cream on the side...)



Now obviously fresh is always better, but this 3-ingredient recipe is ideal for those who don't care to fuss too much over dessert OR for those occasions you need to throw something together in a flash!

The easiest dessert you'll ever cook, you find my post here at SheKnows:
3-Ingredient Grilled Peach Cobbler

 

Zucchini-Ricotta Fritters

 Mario Batali's Zucchini-Ricotta Fritters are absolutely delicious!

(scroll down for the recipe that appears in the August 2011 edition of Food and Wine Magazine, p23)








Mario Batali's Zucchini-Ricotta Fritters via FoodandWine.com

Shoestring fries with black truffle oil, sea salt and parsley

I used a mandolin to get these fries extra thin, but I good sharp knife will also work, just go as thin as you can without turning them into hash browns...

A huge heaping bowl of these shoestring fries with black truffle oil, sea salt and parsley will make you feel like you're dining at your favorite neighborhood bistro!

You'll find my post here at SheKnows: Shoestring fries with black truffle oil, sea salt and parsley

Beer can chicken or ...a tipsy chicken

Kind of surprised this was our first time making the 'wildly popular' beer can chicken.

Not sure it tasted much different than any other grilled chicken done right...but it was delicious!

After all...the whole point of making this 'tipsy chicken' is having fun with a few cold beers, your grill, the company of family and friends...all in the great outdoors!

Perfect Father's Day grilling activity ...you'll find the post here at SheKnows: Beer can chicken   Cheers!

Grilled skirt steak with avocado corn salad

Not my recipe here, but I was asked to make the dish and photograph for SheKnows.

I make a similar version of this grilled skirt steak with avocado corn salad and let's just say you can not go wrong when any of these ingredients come together!

Delicious and fresh...serve with warmed tortillas, cold beer with lime or a big ol' pitcher of classic margaritas! You'll find the recipe here at Sheknows: Grilled skirt steak with avocado corn salad

*Skirt steak has become expensive over the years...not horribly... but just enough to be annoying. Flank steak is a suitable substitute though has a tendency to be a bit tough. An excellent substitute is a nice flat iron steak...usually much less expensive and equally delicious! (Always slice against the grain when serving!!!)

Grilled chicken tikka masala kabobs

These Chicken tikka masala kabobs are delicious with the grilled onions and fresh lemon!

We served them with homemade garlic, cilantro naan and a curried citrus lentil salad (...both delicious and both to come)!

You could substitute the dried red chilies in the recipe with any spicy peppers you have on hand.



Perfect with a big bowl of hot basmati rice...you find my recipe here at SheKnows: Chicken tikka masala kabob recipe

Grilled pork soft tacos with spicy avocado mango salsa

These Grilled pork soft tacos with spicy avocado mango salsa are fresh, healthy and full of vibrant flavors!

Perfect for a hot summer night...it's food you can feel good about serving to family and friends! (A perfectly ripe avocado and mango makes all the difference!)

You'll find my recipe here at SheKnows: Grilled pork soft tacos with spicy avocado mango salsa recipe

3 Herb-infused cocktail recipes

Rosemary and gin fizz


Basil pepper Caipirinha ...


Cucumber mint vodka fizz


Beautiful, refreshing cocktails using herbs straight from your own garden! Rosemary, basil and mint...all simple to grow at home with limitless uses! Cheers!  You'll find the recipes here at SheKnows: 3 Herb-infused cocktails

Sausage and white beans in a spicy rustic red sauce

The small white beans in this recipe, mixed together with the tomatoes and cheese, gives this dish a rich and creamy consistency.

The combination of spicy Italian sausage and red pepper flakes gives it the heat we crave! (If spicy is not your thing...just use sweet Italian sausage and leave out the flakes all together...)

You'll think you're eating a big bowl of pasta...but the beans pack it with protein and take away all of the guilt! You'll find my recipe here at SheKnows: Sausage and white beans in a spicy rustic red sauce

Beef Kabobs In A Miso, Soy & Sesame Marinade

Perfect recipe for the 'wildly popular' kabob party ~

You'll find the recipe here at SheKnows: Beef Kabobs In A Miso, Soy and Sesame Marinade

Thai Chicken Curry

Simply one of my all time favorite things to make is this quick and easy Thai Chicken Curry!

Serve with a bowl of hot steaming  jasmine rice...chopsticks, a spoon and/or a fork!

If you love Thai food...make this tonight!  You'll find my recipe here at SheKnows: Thai chicken curry

Bacon cheeseburger with peanut butter Sriracha ketchup ~ Say what?!

I didn't want to like it.

I said I wasn't going to eat it.

After the editors at SheKnows asked me to come up with and then photograph a peanut butter based topping for a cheeseburger, I thought to myself...

'Ummm... OK? I guess I can do that, but I'm not going to try it.' (Pretty closed minded for this food blogger girl who says she'll eat anything...)

Cheese? Peanut Butter? Beef? Lettuce, tomato, onion?



Well, I don't know if it was the heap of crispy bacon on top that brought it all together or the sweet, savory, earthiness of this burger's "special sauce" ...but not only did it work...it was every last bite delicious... impossible to put down!

Damn you Sriracha!
Damn you bacon!
Damn you peanut butter, ketchup, beef, cheese and healthy stuff on top!
YOU ARE DELICIOUS!
On your own AND ALL TOGETHER!?

Don't forget the ice cold beer (if you're of age of course) ...you'll find my post here at SheKnows: Bacon cheeseburger with peanut butter Sriracha ketchup recipe