Back when I shared my recipe for deviled eggs, I told you that I was a bit of a purest when it came to making them. Well, I thought I was. By that time, I had tried various kinds of deviled eggs but kept insisting that the classic recipe was the best.  Now I may have to eat my words, if you will, because these Sriracha Deviled Eggs are quickly becoming a favorite. They have the same creamy filling that we’re all accustomed to but spicy sriracha gives them a wonderful kick.

I have always had a fondness for cream cheese spreads. They are super easy to make and you can add just about any flavor that you like. Take this recipe for instance. After making my Spinach, Arugula, Cranberry and Walnut Salad, I have discovered a new found love for dried cranberries and the sweetness that they add to dishes. In this recipe, their sweetness pairs nicely with the fresh rosemary and smooth cream cheese. Spread on some crisp crackers and you’ll have an addicting little snack perfect for all of your upcoming holiday festivities.

Who doesn’t love nachos? I mean seriously, what is not to love about a big plate of chips covered with cheese, meat, beans, tomatoes, olives and jalapenos? Now, imagine with me for a moment that you remove the chips from the equation and take all of those wonderful goodies that you usually pile on top of the chips, layer everything in a casserole dish and bake until hot and bubbly. That my friends is what I like to call Hot Nacho Dip. 

Whether it is crab, jalapeno or pork I usually always have some frozen wontons waiting to be plucked from my freezer and tossed into the fryer on a moments notice.  I say usually because to my utter dismay, when I opened my freezer to grab some for dinner last week, I realized I was out. Apparently I had been a little too busy (or was it lazy) lately to replenish my stock. But this was a problem that was quickly and quite easily remedied by these wontons filled with bay shrimp, vegetables, garlic and a little Chinese 5 spice.

Some of you may be saying to yourselves, “what on earth is she thinking? She wants me to do what? Fry what?” But I ask you to hear me out on this one. They probably do sound a little odd to those of you that have never thought of frying a pickle and I’ll admit that I was skeptical at first too. But let me tell you with their crispy, salty outside and tangy inside these little devils are down right addictive.

Last week when I made Roasted Garlic Hummus I knew exactly what I wanted with it: pita chips. Crispy, perfectly seasoned pita chips. While it would’ve been easy to head to the chip aisle at the grocery store and buy a bag of pita chips, I decided that I should stick with the “homemade” theme and make my own.  With some store bought pita bread, seasoning salt and olive oil it was a cinch. The only problem? Sharing.

Hummus is another one of those dips that I just can’t get enough of. And much like my experience with french onion dip, my purchases of hummus have gotten a little out of control. So just as I created my own version of  Caramelized French Onion Dip, I decided to make my own hummus. Roasted garlic hummus to be exact.  Creamy, nutty and garlicky, just how I like it.

Since I started blogging dining at restaurants has not been the same. I use to order, wait patiently and then enjoy my meal while engaging in whatever conversation was taking place. Now however, when I take my first bite,  I don’t have much time to savor it before I immediately start thinking to myself “How can I make this at home?” It’s like a little challenge for myself to see how close I can actually get to the restaurant version.  My latest at home attempt were these scrumptious beef samosas. It took just one bite of these flaky snacks filled with a mixture of seasoned ground beef, onions and peas and carrots to realize challenging yourself can be a very good thing.