Category Archives: Snacks

Deviled Eggs light lunching

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Looking for a quick lunch, I boiled up some eggs, mashed up the yolks with some of my favourites, and ate like a queen! These aren’t the most attractive version of this treat, I was just making it for myself. It is delicious though, and there are many variations of deviled eggs out there, try them all! Make them for lunch, breakfast, appetizers, whatever floats your boat.

Deviled Eggs

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 dozen eggs, boiled and peeled (place eggs in a medium pot and cover with water. Bring them to a boil. Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for 10-15 minutes. Peel, rinse and set aside)
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard (I used habanero mustard this round)
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise (make your own!)
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 green onions, diced
  • 1 stick of celery, finely diced

DIRECTIONS

  1. Slice the eggs lengthwise, pop the yolks out and into a medium bowl. Lay the whites on a plate and set aside.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients, except onions and celery, to the yolks and mash until well combined.
  3. Stir the celery and onions into the yolk mixture.
  4. Spoon the yolk mixture into the yolk holes in the whites. Feel free to sprinkle with a little paprika before munching down.

It’s not pretty, but it is tasty.

 

Parmesan Flax Crackers

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These crackers are delicious, but really, I like the flavour of flax, so I am bias. These bake up crispy, are sturdy for cheese and dip, and can be different flavours based on preference and convenience. Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Parmesan Flax Crackers

Adapted from I Breathe… I’m Hungry

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/4 cup flax seeds, finely ground
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated (don’t use the powdery stuff, grate fresh)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
  • coarse salt for sprinkling before baking

optional flavours:

  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (great with creamy cheese/dip, salsa, hummus)
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary (good with creamy dips/cheese, hummus, or on their own)
  • 1 tsp dried basil (great with creamy mozzarella for a quick snack)
  • 1/2 tsp curry power (great with tomato soup, really)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine all the ingredients (including spices as desired), except the salt, in a large bowl.
  2. Stir with a wooden spoon until fully combined.  Let the dough sit for 10 minutes, in the fridge is best.
  3. On a large piece of parchment or wax paper, form the dough into a large log (with the circumference of your desired crackers). If you want square crackers, use a flat surface (cutting boarded) and  the counter to gently square your corners.
  4. Gently wrap the log in the parchment and allow it to chill for 1 hour.
  5. Heat the oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  6. Using a sharp knife with a thin blade, slice crackers off the log, gently placing them on the prepared cookie sheet. The thinner the cracker, the better.
  7. Sprinkle the crackers with salt and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the crackers gently and bake for another 3-5 minutes, until browned and dried.
  8. Let cool for the crunchiest crackers.

Ready for mixing.

Not the prettiest, but worth it!

Spicy Almonds and Buffalo-style Almonds- awww yes, snacking goodness

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These are a great snack when you want something a little spicy, totally convenient, and easy to make! They both whip up in about 20 minutes, and you could cook the two batches together to save time. I tossed the two flavours in a bowl together for a bit more excitement! We only had almonds on hand, but this would work great for mixed nuts, so go wild. The red almonds are the buffalo ones and the other are the general spice mix. I am going to try a few more combos for a future post.

Buffalo-style Almonds

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups raw almonds
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 1/2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp Frank’s Hot Sauce
  • 1 to 2 tsp cayenne powder
  • 1/3 tsp onion powder
  • 1/3 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 small pinch of cinnamon (for a little sweetness to add to the spicy)
  • 1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Whisk your egg white in a medium bowl until foamy. Add the almonds and stir to coat, allow to sit while you prepare your spice mixture.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt your butter. Stir in your spices, salt, and Frank’s.
  4. Drain your almonds in a colander, return to the medium bowl and coat in the Frank’s mixture. Stir well to evenly coat.
  5. Spread your almonds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and bake 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Raise the oven temperature to 375°F and roast for an addition 8 minutes, or until browned lightly.
  7. Allow the nuts to cool before storing.

Buffalo wings… wait no, almonds! Tasty.

Spicy Almonds

Recipe adapted slightly from here.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 2 cups raw almonds
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cayenne
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Whisk your egg white in a medium bowl until foamy. Add the almonds and stir to coat, allow to sit while you prepare your spice mixture.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together your spices.
  4. Drain your almonds in a colander, add your almonds to the spice bowl and stir well to evenly coat.
  5. Spread your almonds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and bake 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Raise the oven temperature to 375°F and roast for an addition 8 minutes, or until browned lightly.
  7. Allow the nuts to cool before storing.

In case you aren’t sure about whisked egg whites…

Eating time!

The infamous Bacon Jam (or Bacon Marmalade), we don’t fool around when it comes to bacon

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Bacon Jam! I feel like not much more needs to be said. This is a smoky, savoury, caramelized treat. The appetizer we made from the bacon jam was inspired by a President’s Choice advertisement/recipe based on their Bacon Marmalade product. The appetizer construction was easy and delicious, but truly this bacon jam can be appreciated anywhere, on a sandwich, on crackers, with a spoon, with your fingers.

We made this for the party for Dad yesterday and it was a hit. I’ve been contracted to make a batch for one of our good friends, on the condition that he brings me the pound of bacon needed.

Bacon Jam

Recipe very slightly adapted from Dinner with Julie

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb (one package) good-quality bacon
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee (hot or cold)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1.5 tbsp balsamic vinegar

DIRECTIONS

  1. Roughly chop the bacon and cook it in a large pan; transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon, draining off most of the drippings.
  2. Saute the onion and garlic cloves in the remaining drippings for 5 minutes, until soft and starting to turn golden.
  3. Return the bacon to the pan, add the brown sugar, coffee, maple syrup, and vinegar and cook over medium-low heat for half an hour, or until deep golden (mine was more bacon coloured… deep, rich browny red) and thickened to the consistency of jam.
  4. Serve warm on toast, sandwiches, crackers, etc. Or, follow the directions below for a delicious appetizer.
Bacon Jam Appetizers
  • a baguette
  • two pears
  • white cheddar
  • fresh or dried thyme
  • bowl of fresh bacon jam
  1. Slice a baguette and lay the slices out on a baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil.
  2. Toast the slices in an oven set to 350°F for 10 minutes, or until crispy and slightly golden.
  3. Thinly slice your cheddar and place on the baguette slices.
  4. Put the tray back in the oven to melt the cheese and further toast the baguettes.
  5. Dollop some bacon jam on each slice and top with a slice of pear and a sprinkle of thyme.

Step-by-step

  1. Roughly chop the bacon and cook it in a large pan; transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon, draining off most of the drippings.

    Not roughly chopped, so much as evenly chopped.

  2. Saute the onion and garlic cloves in the remaining drippings for 5 minutes, until soft and starting to turn golden.

    Onions, bacon, garlic.

  3. Return the bacon to the pan, add the brown sugar, coffee, maple syrup, and vinegar and cook over medium-low heat for half an hour, or until deep golden (mine was more bacon coloured… deep, rich browny red) and thickened to the consistency of jam.

    Jamming out!

  4. Serve warm on toast, sandwiches, crackers, etc. Or, follow the directions below for a delicious appetizer

    Preliminary bacon jam testing.

Bacon Frittata Muffins

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Inspired by my friend Caelin and her love of Nom Nom Paleo’s Mini Prosciutto-Wrapped Frittata Muffins, I whipped a batch of my own. They are tasty delights and Genesis and I will be making these again and again. I will make twice as many next time so I can report back on their freezablity. In the meantime these treats are totally Keto-friendly (essentially lacking in many carbs) and Paleo. Cook them up, switch up the veg and enjoy! I marked things that are optional, but really all the veg is totally optional, in that you can option in and out any veg you like.

Bacon Frittata Muffins

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 package (250g) of bacon
  • 1/2 medium onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 small zucchinis (or one regular one), chopped into 1/4-slices
  • 4 mini bok choy heads (or a handful of spinach, swiss chard, kale, etc.)
  • 6 pickled artichoke heart quarters (not for everyone, again, go with what you have an what you love), chopped
  • 8 eggs
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper *optional
  • 1/4 tsp paprika *optional

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. Have a muffin tin on hand.
  2. Cook bacon flat in a pan. Don’t cook until totally crisp, but just cooked and still pliable. They will crisp up a bit more in the oven. Drain and set aside.
  3. Sauté your onions and garlic in the bacon pan until the onions are translucent. Set aside.
  4. Dice and chop the rest of your vegetables and set aside. Bite sized and smaller chunks are key, these are not fork and knife treats.
  5. In a large bowl whisk together your ricotta, eggs, heavy cream, salt and pepper, and other desired spices.
  6. Whisk in your onions and garlic, veggies and stir until well combined.
  7. Lay your bacon slices into the muffin cups, one slice to go around the edge and chop a piece to cover the bottom.
  8. Spoon your egg mixture into your bacon cups, if you have extra, make it into an omelet!
  9. Bake the muffins until they are no-longer jiggly, about 15-20 minutes.
  10. Devour.