Appetizer Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped & Blue Cheese-Stuffed Dates

This is one of our favorite appetizers ever. Smoky bacon, sweet dates and a tangy, cheesy center? Yes, please!
If blue cheese isn’t for you, go ahead and try these bacon-wrapped snacks without it-- they're still delicious. We recommend making extra because people will snatch these up and they’ll be gone before you know it—they’re quick and easy to prepare, which means you don’t have to stress and spend all your time in the kitchen while your guests mingle in a different room…. Go out and join the party!

Bacon-Wrapped Blue Cheese-Stuffed Dates

(Serves 6 as an appetizer)

Ingredients
24 Medjool dates, pitted
12 slices bacon, cut in half
1/3-1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
toothpicks
Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400º F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Take pitted date and insert blue cheese crumble into the center. (Should be about the size of a pebble.) Repeat with the rest of dates.
3. Wrap each date in a half piece of bacon. Secure bacon with a toothpick inserted through the middle.
4. Place bacon-wrapped dates on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping over halfway so bacon is crispy on both sides.
5. Serve immediately.

Buttery Garlic Breadsticks

Some restaurants have the most amazing bread sticks that are puffy and chewy and delicious. We decided it was too much to have to wait for our next restaurant visit and decided to find a way to make them from home—and boy, did we ever! These are not your typical breadsticks that are more akin to a cracker; these babies are like miniature clouds of bread that you bite into, with tons of flavor packed in. You might think it’s a lot of effort to go for something “simple”, but these are out of this world…you have to try them!

Garlic Breadsticks

Makes 12-13 breadsticks

Ingredients
Bread:

• 3 1/3 cups bread flour
• 1 cup, 2 tablespoons warm water (105-115º F)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast

Topping:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2/3 teaspoon garlic salt
• Italian seasoning, optional

Directions
            [When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400º F.]

1. In a small bowl, combine your yeast and warm water. Set aside 5 minutes. Should be foamy on top.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt, then add in the softened butter.
3. Once yeast is dissolved and foamy, pour that into flour mixer and beat with a dough hook for 7 minutes on medium speed. Dough should be elastic and smooth.
4. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size. 1-1 1/2 hours.
5. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces (roughly 2 oz. each) and roll each piece into a 6-7-inch log.
6. Place logs on parchment-lined baking sheets, cover and let rise until doubled again in size. 1 hour.
7. Place in oven and back for 12-13 minutes, or until golden brown.
8. Remove bread sticks from oven and immediately brush with butter and season with garlic salt (and Italian seasoning, if desired).
9. Serve warm and enjoy!

Slow Cooker Meatloaf

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/2 pound Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 large carrots, halved
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups ketchup, divided
• 3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard

Directions

1. Place carrots in the bottom of a 3-5 quart slow cooker.
2. Combine beef, sausage, onion, 3/4 cup ketchup, breadcrumbs, eggs, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix and make sure everything is well incorporated.
3. Form meat mixture into a loaf and gently place over carrots in slow cooker.
4. In the same bowl, mix sugar, mustard, remaining ketchup and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder together. Spread over the top of loaf, cover and cook on low for 8 hours (or overnight), or on high for 4 hours.
5. Let sit for 15 minutes after turning off heat, drain excess liquid and serve warm.

Lunches and Few Dinners...

Lunches and Few Dinners

A post on a working moms message board I read got me thinking.  I plan on doing a post about food prep/feeding/schedule/cooking soon.  I think its interesting to get a perspective on how different people handle the task of meal prep/healthy eating.  

Onto the last few weeks:

snap peas + dried cherries + strawberries + pizza

refried beans + orange (she loves to peel these herself) + chicken quesadilla + bunny cookies

yogurt + berries + angel hair pasta and sauce + pepperoni + string cheese (not pictured)

ravioli + turkey hot dog + grapes and raspberries with shredded coconut + orange

pizza + fruit snacks + orange + snap peas

These pizzas are super easy to make - just a sandwich round, organic ragu (we always keep this around and sometimes I even mix carrot puree into it - shhhhhhh), cheese and turkey pepperoni.  Microwave for 20 seconds to melt everything.  Easy, not greasy and somewhat balanced.

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 enchiladas + quesadilla + some chicken + cheese + berries.

turkey hard tacos  + ground turkey + black beans and corn + a few chips + strawberries. 

Lunch Rut

Lunch Rut

Soup starter kit and added extra frozen mixed veggies and chicken.  I love soup, but The Husband doesn't consider it a meal so it makes a good lunch option for me.  Combined with sliced apples and a string cheese.

   

 

 

 

I am doing my best to provide her with healthy options

ritz crackers + cheese + turkey + raspberries + greek yogurt

pizza with turkey peperoni + snap peas + dried cherries + strawberries

wheat wrap with cheese and turkey + cherries and chocolate chips + gold fish + strawberries and grapes

turkey meatball + orange + cheese pizza + no bake energy ball

turkey and cheese quesadilla + energy ball + pretzels + orange

Olivia Lunches...

Olivia starting her school from this September trying to create some lunch ideas with some nutrients into her Lunch.

ravioli with organic sauce + shakeology oat brownie + snap peas + yogurt

yogurt + grapes + cheese quesadillas + lemon pepper chicken

berries + cheese cubes + crackers + turkey sausage breakfast pattie

strawberries and grapes with coconut flakes + green beans + sand which round pizza

chicken enchilada casserole + cheese + blueberries + pretzel chips

pizza + grapes + trail mix with popcorn, fish and raisins

ravioli + sausage + fruit salad for dinner

This is a good example of how we can use left overs and small bits in her lunch.

For Raj, lemon pepper chicken and veggies with green beans, squash, zucchini and tomatoes Sauté with garlic. 

 

Olivia Lunches Lately...

Olivia don't even want to eat anything at meal times. So I am struggling to find a balance between "eat what I tell you at meal times" and " I am hungry" at random times ha ha.

annies mac n cheese + ham + popcorn and raisins + applesauce

mac n cheese + turkey + berries + yogurt

cheese and turkey + crackers + grapes + yogurt

lasagna + cherries + yogurt + applesauce

And for Raj, a taco bowl with brown rice, black beans, corn, shredded seasoned chicken and salsa.  Very filling and satisfying!