Baked Buffalo Wings


This is a great alternative to regular all time favorite buffalo wings  appetizer. The wings are baked instead of fried which is already cutting off on that extra fat and calories. Want even less calories and fat take of the skin and dip it in the sauce, that’s why I make extra sauce, for that extra dip. If you like them extra hot you can add cayenne pepper to the marinade.

Ingredients:
20 chicken wings, split at joints,tips removed ( total of 40 pieces all together)
12 oz. Franks hot sauce
1 stick butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup flour
Seasoning salt (optional)
celery

Blue Cheese Yogurt Dip:
1 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
¼ cup finely chopped green onions (green part only)
¼ finely chopped red onion
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese (good one)
salt to taste
fresh cracked pepper
Mix all the ingredients in a medium size bowl.

Preheat oven on 400 degrees.
Directions for marinade:
Combine buttermilk, flour, onion powder,garlic powder, salt,pepper,paprika and seasoning salt (optional).
Add and mix it well with the wings.
Arrange wings on the baking/cooling rack and add some water to the bottom of the baking pan.

Place in the oven for 30 minutes.
Turn the wings over and transfer back in to the oven for another 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the butter and hot sauce on medium heat in small sauce pan until the butter is melted. Stir to combine the ingredients.

Remove the wings from the rack. Add the sauce and toss well to cover the wings with sauce.
Serve with celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing.

……and EXTRA sauce!!!!
Enjoy!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:87]




Chicken Canapes


 

These chicken canapes are delicious and perfect for any get togethers. Kids and adults love them!

Heat oven to 450 degrees

Ingredients:

One canned  chicken
1 1/2 cup shredded cheese (1/2 mozzarella,1/2 cheddar,or your choice)
green onions sliced
2-3 garlic cloves crushed
2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise
sometimes I  like to add fresh tomatoes (diced)
1 baguette or french bread sliced(for bigger)

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients and spread on the bread.Transfer to
oven and bake on 450 degrees for 6-8 minutes or when the cheese is  melted completely.




Eggplant Caviar Appetizers


Eggplant Caviar is a classic Russian appetizer. Its basically sauteed vegetables in tomato sauce. You can serve it as an appetizer on top of  bread with butter or  bake these in a puff pastry and sip your favorite tea with your girlfriends on a nice afternoon.

Ingredients:
1 eggplant diced
1 red bell pepper diced
1 green bell pepper diced
2-3 carrots  coarsely shredded
1 big or 2 small onions diced
1 tomato diced
8 oz. Tomato sauce
3 bay leafs
1 clove garlic crushed
salt and pepper
½ cup light olive oil
2 puff pastry sheets
Directions:
Heat oil heavy pot like dutch oven. Add onions and saute for about 3 minutes on medium heat.Add carrots and peppers.saute another 3 minutes and throw in eggplants. Stir occasionally and simmer for 5 minutes on low heat. Add tomato sauce,bay leaf,salt and  pepper.Simmer for another 15 minutes.add garlic. Let it cool.
Heat oven to 375 degrees.Cut the pastry sheet in to four squares. Add 1-2 tablespoons of caviar in the middle of the square. Using your fingers press two edges together. Bake until pastries are golden brown .[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:66]



Smoked Salmon Carpaccio


Smoked salmon carpaccio is a delicious and fancy appetizer.One of my favorites.
6-8 thin slices of smoked salmon
¼  onion finely chopped
Arugula and Baby Romaine lettuce ( or you can use spring mix)
Capers
Salt and fresh ground pepper
Grilled/ toasted slices of bread such as ciabatta or pugliese
1 tbsp. Champagne wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
2 tbsp. Cold pressed olive oil
sauce:
2 tbsp. Mayonnaise
1 tsp. Honey
Mix mayo with honey and pour the sauce in to squeezable bottle.
Drizzle sauce on the plate.
Arrange slices of salmon,drizzle with sauce.
In a bowl combine lettuces,onion,vinegar,salt,pepper and olive oil.
Mix and arrange the salad in the middle of a platter.
Add capers on top of the salad. Place sliced crusty  bread slices or crackers on top of the salad.
Serve by starting with the bread, place salmon and salad on top of the bread and Enjoy!