This is a crowd pleaser.  Make this recipe your own...add sausage, remove the bacon, use jalapenos instead of banana peppers, spice it up or tone it down, take them outside to your grill...
 
INGREDIENTS:
6 large banana peppers                                               1 cup  shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
3 oz cream cheese                                                           1 small tomato, diced
1/4 cup diced onion                                                        1/2 small green bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeño pepper, diced                                            1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper                                                     6 thick cut bacon slices

​Cut tops off banana peppers.  Slit peppers in half lengthwise being careful not to cut through both sides.  Remove seeds.
 
Combine cheddar cheese, cream cheese, tomato, onion, bell pepper and jalapeno pepper.  Mix well.
 
Stuff peppers with cheese mixture.  Wrap with bacon slice, securing with a toothpick.  Place on a rack with broiler pan.  Broil for 4-5 minutes per side until golden.
 

 

INGREDIENTS:
2 acorn squash                                                                                            2 tbsp butter
4 oz fresh spinach, chopped                                                               7 oz canned artichoke hearts, drained
2 oz Neufchatel cheese                                                                         1 cup half and half
2 cups Gruyere cheese, grated                                                          salt and pepper, to taste
fresh baguette, sliced
 
   Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a deep roasting/baking pan with aluminum foil.
 
   Slice the acorn squash in half crosswise (one half is the top of the squash with the stem, the other is the bottom half, making four small bowl shapes). Use a spoon to remove the seeds. Slice a small piece off the bottom of the squash pieces so they can sit upright in the pan without falling over.
  
   Place the squash in the roasting pan and season lightly with salt and pepper.

​   Next, melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the spinach leaves and allow them to wilt for about 2 minutes. Add the artichoke hearts and saute for an additional 3-4 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and set aside.
  
   In a large bowl, mix together the Neufchatel cheese and the half and half. Add in the spinach and artichoke mixture and stir until incorporated. Ladle this mixture into the squash halves, about ¾ of the way up.
  
   Add the freshly grated Gruyere cheese to the top of each squash half.
  
   Cover the roasting pan with a sheet of aluminum foil and place in the oven to bake for one hour, until squash becomes tender. If you'd like your baguette to be warm, place it in the oven wrapped in aluminum foil in the last few minutes of baking.
  
   Finally, remove the aluminum foil from the top of the roasting pan (and remove the bread if it is being warmed), turn the broiler to high, and cook for an additional 5 minutes, until cheese is golden brown and bubbling.
  
   Remove from oven and carefully place the squash halves in bowls or serving plates alongside baguette. Dip, spread, and enjoy!
 

 

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb tomatillos, husked, washed, halved                                                 
4 cloves garlic
2 jalapeno peppers                                                                                  
1 green bell pepper
1 poblano pepper                                                                                     
1 onion, cut in quarters
salt and pepper                                                                                         
olive oil
fresh cilantro                                                                                               
​zest and juice of 1 1/2 limes
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Spread the tomatillos, garlic, jalapenos, bell pepper, poblano and onion on a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and toss everything to coat. Roast until the vegetables are soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes.
 
Remove the seeds from the peppers. Put all of the roasted vegetables and the cilantro into a food processor or blender. Process until still a bit chunky. Thin with some water if it is too thick. Stir in the lime zest and juice. Let cool completely.
Use immediately or pour into freezer bags, label and freeze.
  
Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman
 

Eggplant Fries

2 Servings

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups canola oil              
1 small eggplant, peeled
½ cup all-purpose flour  
1 tsp dried basil and oregano
2 eggs, beaten
​½ cup bread crumbs
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
Heat oil to 350 degrees in a large pot.  Cut eggplant into large steak fries.  Whisk together flour, basil, oregano, and eggs.  Toss eggplant in mixture then dredge in bread crumbs.  Fry until brown, 2-3 minutes.  Season with salt to taste.
 
From Cuisine magazine

Baked Parsnip Chips

INGREDIENTS:
​1 lb parsnips, peeled - (this recipe also works well with any root vegetable)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350.

Slice parsnips into very thin slices, about dime width.  Toss in oil and arrange on baking sheets in single layers.  Bake for 20 minutes, flip chips and rotate baking sheets.  Cook an additional 10 minutes or until chips become crisp and darken in color.  Transfer sheets to cooling racks.  Chips will continue to crisp as they cool.

From Cuisine magazine
 

Salsa Fresca / Pico de Gallo
​
INGREDIENTS:
     2 lbs ripe tomatoes
     1 large onion
     3 jalapeño peppers
     2 tbsp fresh cilantro
     1 bell pepper
     1 tbsp lime juice
     Salt to taste
    
INSTRUCTIONS:
     Chop all ingredients to desired consistency.  Mix and enjoy!
     Adjust any ingredient to your desired taste.

Roasted “Pumpkin” Seeds

INGREDIENTS:
     Seeds of 2 squashes or 1 big one
     ¼ tsp ground allspice
     ¼ tsp ground cloves
     ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
     ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
     Vegetable oil
     Pinch of salt
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
     1.  Wash the seeds thoroughly removing any squash “guts”, then pat dry and put in a bowl.
     2.  Add spices and salt with just enough oil to coat evenly.
     3.  Spread seeds on a baking sheet and roast for 25 – 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

​***Sub in your favorite seasonings to make the perfect custom recipe?

Kale Chips

INGREDIENTS (per baking sheet):
    Approx. ½ bunch kale leaves                                              
     ½ tbsp. EVOO or coconut oil                                              
     ¾ tsp chili powder                                                             
     ½ tsp smoked paprika                                                        
     1 ½ tbsp. nutritional yeast
     1 tsp garlic powder
     ½ tsp onion powder
     ¼ tsp sea salt
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
     1.  Preheat oven to 300F.  Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
     2.  Remove kale stems and roughly tear leaves into large pieces.  Wash and thoroughly dry.
     3.  Evenly coat leaves with oil and then sprinkle with seasonings, tossing to combine.
     4.  Spread kale evenly on prepared sheet in a single layer.  Do not overcrowd.
     5.  Bake for 10 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake for another 12-15 minutes until the kale begins to firm up.
     6.  Cool the kale on the sheet for 3 minutes.
     7.  Enjoy immediately as they lose their crispiness with time.
 
     *Adjust your seasonings or make it simple with just salt and pepper.
     *Freeze leftover stems to use in smoothies.