Category: Appetizers, Desserts & Snacks

Sriracha Oyster Cracker Bites

After making (and devouring) a big batch of my Sriracharitos (Sriracha-flavored tortilla chips) the other day, I still had Sriracha snacks on the brain. I noticed a bag of oyster crackers in the pantry, so the next step was pretty obvious: Sriracha oyster cracker bites. Easy to make, and addicting as anything you can imagine. A great crunch and of course, a little Sriracha kick. Don’t like a lot of heat? Just cut back on the amount of spice mix. But, I think more is definitely better on these snacks.

Sriracha Oyster Cracker Bites

Oyster Crackers Love Spicy Flavors

If you love oyster cracker snacks, check out my spicy version, or the nacho cheddar bites. Did I mention how much we love oyster cracker snacks like these Sriracha oyster cracker bites? Those little crackers really take on flavors well. It’s like having your own cracker factory! Every day can be a different flavor!

New England Original Westminster Bakeries Oyster & Soup Crackers (3 Pack)
New England Original Westminster Bakeries Oyster & Soup Crackers (3 Pack)

Also try my spicy oyster cracker bites.

Sriracha Oyster Cracker Bites
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5 from 1 vote

Sriracha Oyster Cracker Bites

Easy to make, and addicting as anything you can imagine. A great crunch and of course, a little Sriracha kick. Don’t like a lot of heat? Just cut back on the amount of spice mix. But, I think more is definitely better on these snacks.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword oyster crackers, spicy
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 5 cups
Calories 294kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Place crackers in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle with oil.
  • Add Sriracha salt or rub and toss to coat evenly.
  • Place crackers on a large baking sheet and bake 15 minutes.
  • Turn crackers over and bake another 10 minutes.
  • Serve warm or cooled.

Notes

Store in an air-tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 746mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Papa a la Huancaína

Huancayo is a fairly large city about 5 1/2 hours outside of Lima, Peru. It was the first city that I went to outside of Lima when I lived there many years ago. The drive is through some very beautiful areas in the Andes. Once there you can enjoy a potato dish called papa a la Huancaína.

Papa a la Huancaína

A Wonderful Potato Dish

Golden potatoes are topped with a creamy sauce that is almost Holandaise-like. It has a nice spicy kick thanks to aji amarillo. Aji is a somewhat-spicy Peruvian pepper that is a bit fruity in flavor. Papa a la Huancaina is topped with boiled eggs and olives and sometimes corn. It’s a great summer dish that can be served cold or at room temperature.

If you can’t find aji amarillo paste, use pureed habaneros. Papa a la Huancaína has a little kick to it.

NutriChef Food Vacuum Sealer Machine - Automatic Air Sealing System for Dry & Moist Foods, LED Touch Controls, Includes Vacuum Bags, Hose & Wine Stopper, High Suction Power, 14"x6"x3", Black
NutriChef Food Vacuum Sealer Machine – Automatic Air Sealing System for Dry & Moist Foods, LED Touch Controls, Includes Vacuum Bags, Hose & Wine Stopper, High Suction Power, 14″x6″x3″, Black

Also try some of my other Peruvian favorites, lomo saltado, palta rellena and Solterito Arequipeño (Arequipa Avocado Salad).

Papa a la Huancaína
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5 from 1 vote

Papa a la Huancaína

Golden potatoes are topped with a creamy sauce that is almost Holandaise-like, but it has a nice spicy kick thanks to aji amarillo.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Peru
Keyword Peruvian, potatoes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 476kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel the potatoes.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
  • Add potatoes and cook until just soft. Do not over cook. Remove, drain, and run under cold water. Drain again. Slice thick.
  • Place aji, oil, crackers, cheese, milk and salt into a blender and process until creamy smooth.
  • To assemble, lay down a few leaves of lettuce.
  • Top with the potatoes and drizzle heavily with the sauce.
  • Add the olives and eggs.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Notes

Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 180mg | Sodium: 583mg | Potassium: 797mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 858IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 524mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Sriracharitos (Sriracha Doritos) with Dip

Like just about everyone these days, I’m a really big fan of Sriracha sauce. And I’m a really big fan of tortilla chips. I used to be borderline addicted to habanero-flavored Doritos, but sadly and wrongly, they were removed from the market. They were darned hot. Seriously hot. Now, Sriracha isn’t as hot as habaneros, but it still has some kick. It’s a nice kick, not the kind that leaves you curled up on the floor in agony. Not even close. I was jonesin’ for some kickin’ hot tortilla chips and a dip. So I developed Sriracharitos with dip.

Sriracharitos with Dip

It’s Time For A New Dorito Flavor!

Sriracharitos have that great Sriracha flavor, all on a crunchy tortilla chip. The dip has a generous amount of dill, so it actually seems cool. It’s a great contrast to the heat. You can serve it with any kind of chip. But then you’d have to re-name it! Just kidding…. I think corn chips would also be excellent prepared this way.

I found J&Ds Sriracha rub in the spice section of my grocery store. You can also substitute Weber’s Sriracha rub. Either way, you’ll love a big plate of Sriracharitos with a big bowl of dip!

NutriChef Food Vacuum Sealer Machine - Automatic Air Sealing System for Dry & Moist Foods, LED Touch Controls, Includes Vacuum Bags, Hose & Wine Stopper, High Suction Power, 14"x6"x3", Black
NutriChef Food Vacuum Sealer Machine – Automatic Air Sealing System for Dry & Moist Foods, LED Touch Controls, Includes Vacuum Bags, Hose & Wine Stopper, High Suction Power, 14″x6″x3″, Black

Also try my Sriracha Bugles.

Sriracharitos with Dip
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5 from 1 vote

Sriracharitos with Dip

Sriracharitos have that great Sriracha flavor, all on a crunchy tortilla chip. The dip has a generous amount of dill, so it actually seems cool. It’s a great contrast to the heat.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword corn chips, dip
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 211kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Sriracharitos (Sriracha tortilla chips)

For the Sriracha dip

Instructions

For the Sriracharitos

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Place chips onto a large baking sheet.
  • Spray the chips with a bit of oil or non-stick spray.
  • Sprinkle with the Sriracha seasoning.
  • Turn the chips over and spray and season the other side.
  • Place the chips into the oven for 5-10 minutes.
  • Let cool just slightly before serving with the dip.

For the sriracha dip

  • Whisk together all ingredients.
  • Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Any leftover chips should be stored in an air-tight container. Leftover dip should be stored in the fridge. Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 302mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 78IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Grilled Twinkies

You can grill just about anything and it’ll come out great. I grilled donuts and they were fantastic. Twinkies are no exception to the rule. Grilled Twinkies take only minutes to cook, so they make for a very quick and easy dessert you can make after grilling burgers or hot dogs. The Twinkies get a bit of a nice crunchiness on the outside. They have a slight grill flavor to them. The insides stay creamy, delicious. As simple as they are, they are very good.

Grilled Twinkies

Grilled Twinkies taste just like toasted marshmallows. They’re surprisingly tasty and highly addicting.

My homemade Neapolitan ice cream teamed perfectly with the Twinkies. They were also great drizzled with a bit of chocolate syrup and topped with toasted chopped pecans. Yummy! For a slightly different variation, try cooking the Twinkies on cedar planks instead.

I grilled these Twinkies on my Weber Q 1200, a small portable grill that is also absolutely perfect for cooking at home for two. It heats up fast, and is more efficient than my big gas grill.

Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket
Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket

Also try my grilled banana sundae.

Grilled Twinkies
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5 from 1 vote

Grilled Twinkies

Grilled Twinkies taste just like toasted marshmallows. They’re surprisingly tasty and highly addicting.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Mike
Keyword dessert, grilled
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 65kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill.
  • Toss the Twinkies over direct heat.
  • Let them cook for a just a bit on a side, until you see grill marks.
  • Roll the Twinkies over to the next side and grill until you see grill marks.
  • Repeat until all sides have grill marks.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Great by themselves or served with whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate syrup… all of your favorites!

Nutrition

Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g

Nutritional values are approximate.

Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush
Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush

Smoked Potato Chips

I had my Weber Smokey Mountain smoker set up for a cold smoke the other day. I was making a batch of smoked cheeses. Since I already had everything in place, I decided to throw on a bag of cheap, plain potato chips. In a short time I had a batch of fantastic tasting smoked potato chips! How easy is that?

Cold smoking can be a tricky endeavor. The key is to not get above 90 F. Though chips aren’t as picky as cheeses, you still don’t want to cook them over high heat or get too much smoke on them. They can definitely get overpowering.

Smoked Potato Chips

It’s Actually Very Easy

My cold smoke setup for smoked potato chips is easy. I put 4 lit charcoal briquettes topped with a piece of apple wood. Once the wood starts to smoke I put on the chips or cheeses or whatever I am cold smoking. I monitor the temperature in the smoker, making any damper adjustments needed to maintain 90 F. It’s easier to do on a cloudy, cool day. I taste as I go, until I get the amount of smoky flavor I want.

Cold Smoke Setup

You can also cold smoke with a smoke tube.

Pellet Smoker Tube -12" Stainless Steel Wood Tube Smoke for Cold/Hot Smoking for All Electric, Gas, Charcoal Grills or Smokers - Ideal for Smoking Cheese, Fish, Pork, Beef, Nuts, Bonus Brush
Pellet Smoker Tube -12″ Stainless Steel Wood Tube Smoke for Cold/Hot Smoking for All Electric, Gas, Charcoal Grills or Smokers – Ideal for Smoking Cheese, Fish, Pork, Beef, Nuts, Bonus Brush

Serve up even more smoky goodness by making some smoked onion dip. And don’t forget these chips go great with a pulled pork BBQ sandwich.

Smoked Potato Chips
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Potato Chips

I had my smoker set up for a cold smoke the other day, making a batch of smoked cheeses. Since I already had everything in place, I decided to throw on a bag of cheap, plain potato chips. In a short time I had a batch of fantastic tasting smoked potato chips!
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword potato chips, smoked
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 1 bag
Calories 1230kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

For cold smoking

  • 4 lit charcoal briquettes
  • 1 small chunk apple wood

For the smoked potato chips

Instructions

For cold smoking

  • Place the 4 lit briquettes in the bottom of your smoker.
  • Add the wood chunk.
  • Once the wood is smoking, you can add the potato chips.

For the smoked potato chips

  • Place the chips in an aluminum pan over a cold smoke setup at 90 F.
  • Smoke 20-30 minutes, gently tossing once or twice, until the desired smoke taste is achieved.

Notes

You can store the chips in an air-tight container until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 1230kcal | Carbohydrates: 115g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 83g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1090mg | Potassium: 3727mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoke Tube for Pellet Smoker, 12'' Smoker Tube for Pellet Grill - Hot or Cold Smoker Accessories for Electric Gas Charcoal Grilling, Premium Stainless Steel Portable Barbecue Smoking Tube, Bonus Brush
Smoke Tube for Pellet Smoker, 12” Smoker Tube for Pellet Grill – Hot or Cold Smoker Accessories for Electric Gas Charcoal Grilling, Premium Stainless Steel Portable Barbecue Smoking Tube, Bonus Brush

Smoked Cheeses

I was so happy with how great these smoked cheeses tasted. I mean, they were fantastic. And definitely so much better than any so-called smoked cheese you buy in the store (which are usually flavored with a liquid smoke or chemical and not real wood smoke).

Smoked Cheeses

I made one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had with the smoked sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheeses. I served it with some of my smoked potato chips.

Grilled Smoked Cheese Sandwich with Smoked Chips

The smoked buffalo mozzarella made for the best pizzas I’ve had. It takes pizza to a whole new happy place.

The Keys To Success

Cold smoking can be a tricky endeavor. The key is to not get above 90 F. The cheese can of course melt if you get your temperatures too high. You also want to not over-smoke the cheese as too much smoke flavor can be a bad thing. The first time attempting it you might want to sample one of the cheeses every 5 or so minutes to see how much smoke flavor you have.

My Setup

My cold smoke setup is easy: 4 lit charcoal briquettes topped with a piece of apple wood. Once the wood starts to smoke I put on the cheeses or whatever I am cold smoking. I monitor the temperature in the smoker closely, making any damper adjustments needed to maintain 90 F. It’s easier to do on a cloudy, cool day.

You can also use a smoke tube for this process.

Pellet Smoker Tube -12" Stainless Steel Wood Tube Smoke for Cold/Hot Smoking for All Electric, Gas, Charcoal Grills or Smokers - Ideal for Smoking Cheese, Fish, Pork, Beef, Nuts, Bonus Brush
Pellet Smoker Tube -12″ Stainless Steel Wood Tube Smoke for Cold/Hot Smoking for All Electric, Gas, Charcoal Grills or Smokers – Ideal for Smoking Cheese, Fish, Pork, Beef, Nuts, Bonus Brush

Also try smoking Velveeta. It’s seriously crazy good stuff.

Cold Smoke Setup
Smoked Cheeses
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Cheeses

I was so happy with how great these smoked cheeses tasted. I mean, they were fantastic. And definitely so much better than any so-called smoked cheese you buy in the store.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, smoked
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 blocks
Calories 4kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For cold smoking

  • 4 lit charcoal briquettes
  • 1 small chunk apple wood

For the smoked cheeses

  • 4 blocks cheese use your favorites. I used Tillamook sharp cheddar, Tillamook pepper jack, and a log of fresh buffalo mozzarella.

Instructions

For cold smoking

  • Place the 4 lit briquettes in the bottom of your smoker.
  • Add the wood chunk.
  • Once the wood is smoking, you can add the cheeses.

For the smoked cheeses

  • Place the cheeses onto a disposable grill topper or in a vegetable or fish basket.
  • Smoke 15 or so minutes until the desired smokiness is achieved. For us, 20 minutes was just perfect. Sample as you cook to find the amount of smoke you prefer.

Notes

For more pronounced flavor, wrap the cheese tightly and refrigerate for at least 20 days before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 4kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoke Tube for Pellet Smoker, 12'' Smoker Tube for Pellet Grill - Hot or Cold Smoker Accessories for Electric Gas Charcoal Grilling, Premium Stainless Steel Portable Barbecue Smoking Tube, Bonus Brush
Smoke Tube for Pellet Smoker, 12” Smoker Tube for Pellet Grill – Hot or Cold Smoker Accessories for Electric Gas Charcoal Grilling, Premium Stainless Steel Portable Barbecue Smoking Tube, Bonus Brush

Mini Churros

These mini churros will disappear as soon as you make them. They taste just like the churros I remember getting from street vendors as a kid living in Peru. I used to hope that there’d be a churro cart at my school bus stop when I got out of school each day. The carts had little gas-fired deep fryers on them. The vendor would squeeze out the batter into the hot oil, and in minutes (and after a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar) you had a hot treat that you could not stop eating.

Mini Churros

Deliciously Addicting

This version for mini churros using oyster crackers is even easier than the classic version. And no deep frying is required. But the flavor is the same. And oh, how good they are! You’ll find yourself unable to stop eating them too!

New England Original Westminster Bakeries Oyster & Soup Crackers (3 Pack)
New England Original Westminster Bakeries Oyster & Soup Crackers (3 Pack)

If you follow this blog you know I like a little kick in everything, even my snacks. So I was tempted to add just a bit of cayenne to the sugar mixture. But since I made these treats for my wife to share with her co-workers, I resisted the temptation. I doubt I’ll be as strong the next time I make them, which will be very, very soon.

Also try my spicy oyster crackers.

Mini Churros
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5 from 1 vote

Mini Churros

These mini churros will disappear as soon as you make them. 
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword crackers, sweet, treats
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 5 cups
Calories 517kcal
Author From Cookies and Cups

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Line a large baking pan with foil.
  • Add the crackers and spread them out evenly.
  • Melt butter in a medium saucepan.
  • Stir in the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and let boil for 2 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat and stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon and all of the vanilla.
  • Carefully pour mixture over the crackers.
  • Using a spatula, gently toss and stir the crackers to get them coated completely.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Stir together the remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, the sugar and salt.
  • When the crackers are done baking sprinkle them generously with the sugar mixture.
  • Let cool completely then break the crackers apart (some will stick together).

Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 485mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 1137IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Sweet and Sour Meatball Sliders

Sweet and sour meatball appetizers have probably been around forever. I’ve certainly made them a time or two. I was looking for a different way to serve them. Something new that makes people not realize they’re eating the usual. Something with a great sweet and sour sauce and more. And so I made sweet and sour meatball sliders. These are a great way to get rid of those ‘oh great meatball appetizers again’ doldrums. Of course you still get great meatballs, but you get more. A lot more.

Sweet and Sour Meatball Sliders

They Pop In Your Mouth

The crispiness and coolness of the cucumber really makes these sweet and sour meatball sliders stand out in the crowd. As does the tomato. They’re quite yummy and addicting. Make a bunch for your next family get-together and watch them disappear. They assemble in just minutes, making them perfect for feeding a crowd.

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 3 Skillet Bundle. 12 inches and 10.25 inches with 8 inch Set of 3 Cast Iron Frying Pans
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 3 Skillet Bundle. 12 inches and 10.25 inches with 8 inch Set of 3 Cast Iron Frying Pans

I used my cast iron skillet to make the meatballs and sauce.

Sweet and Sour Meatball Sliders
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5 from 1 vote

Sweet and Sour Meatball Sliders

The crispiness (really a great contrast to the meatballs) and coolness of the cucumber really makes these sliders stand out in the crowd. As does the tomato. They’re quite yummy and addicting. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword meatballs, sliders, sour, sweet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 28 sliders
Calories 90kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 24 ounce meatballs pre-cooked, thawed (I used Johnsonville)
  • 4 cups sweet and sour sauce I made a batch of our easy sweet and sour sauce
  • 28 slider rolls
  • 2 large cucumbers sliced
  • Cherry tomatoes

Instructions

  • Place meatballs and sauce in a large sauce pan or pot and warm over medium heat.
  • Place a slice (or two if they are small) of cucumber on each slider roll bottom.
  • Add a meatball with a little of the sauce. Note: I flattened the meatballs just slightly using a wooden spatula so they would look a little larger on the buns. If you’re using larger meatballs you can probably skip flattening them.
  • Add top bun and secure with a skewer and tomato.

Notes

For a spicy version, substitute a slice of jalapeno for the cucumber.

Nutrition

Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cuisinart CSBP-100 3-in-1 Stuffed Burger Press, Black
Cuisinart CSBP-100 3-in-1 Stuffed Burger Press, Black

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

I’ve made a lot of snack mixes in my time. Traditional ones. Sweet ones. Savory ones. Sour cream and onion ones. Cajun ones. Italian-ish ones. And now, this most awesome spicy Tex-Mex party mix. Quick and easy to make.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

Bold. And Crunchy.

I really prefer our homemade taco seasoning in this spicy Tex-Mex party mix over the store bought stuff in the little packets, and not just because it’s so much cheaper to make. When you make the seasoning from scratch you can control how fine or coarse it is. For this party mix I wanted a little texture from the seasoning so I didn’t grind it for very long. There’s a lot of big things in the bowl. I didn’t want the seasoning to get lost in there.

You can also substitute your favorite Chex cereal for the cereal. Or use a combination of your favorite ones!

Chex Wheat Breakfast Cereal, Made with Whole Grain, Homemade Chex Mix Ingredient, 14 OZ
Chex Wheat Breakfast Cereal, Made with Whole Grain, Homemade Chex Mix Ingredient, 14 OZ

Also try my southwestern snack mix. Less kick, great flavor.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix
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5 from 1 vote

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

I’ve made a lot of snack mixes in my time. Traditional ones. Sweet ones. Savory ones. Sour cream and onion ones. Cajun ones. Italian-ish ones. And now, this most awesome spicy Tex-Mex party mix. Quick and easy to make.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Southwestern
Keyword Chex mix, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 464kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cup peanuts roasted
  • 2 ½ cup pretzels
  • 3 cups corn chips
  • 3 cups mini shredded wheat cereal not frosted Or, substitute Corn Chex cereal.
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 packet taco seasoning

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Place peanuts, pretzels, corn chips and shredded wheat cereal into a large bowl.
  • Drizzle the butter over the snack mix and fold to coat.
  • Sprinkle with taco seasoning and mix to coat.
  • Spread out on a baking sheet (or two) and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Let cool and serve.

Notes

Store in an air-tight container. Use your favorite snack bites.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 575mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Fried Onion Strips with Dipping Sauce

I like these fried onion strips with dipping sauce more than I like regular ole onion rings. I think it’s because I can eat a lot of them and still feel like I didn’t eat that many. They’re dangerously addicting, with a light batter coating and the perfect dipping shape and size. A basket of these little yummy morsels disappears faster than I want to admit.

Fried Onion Strips with Dipping Sauce

Better Than Onion Rings?

The dipping sauce is equally fantastic with the fried onion strips, with a kick of cayenne and horseradish. As much as I do like horseradish, it can get a little overwhelming for me, so I cut the amount in half when I made a batch of the sauce and it still came out great. If you’re a horseradish fan like my wife is, use the full amount and you’ll be a happy person!

If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel

Also try my homemade onion rings.

Fried Onion Strips with Dipping Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Fried Onion Strips with Dipping Sauce

I like these Fried onion strips with dipping sauce more than I like regular ole onion rings. They’re dangerously addicting, with a light batter coating and the perfect dipping shape and size.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword deep-fried, dipping sauce, onion
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 402kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Sunny Anderson

Equipment

Ingredients

For the onion strips

For the dipping sauce

Instructions

For the onion strips

  • Heat oil to 375 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Whisk together buttermilk, egg and hot sauce in a large bowl.
  • Combine flour, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and pour into a 1 gallon re-sealable baggie.
  • Add onion slices to the buttermilk mixture and stir gently to coat.
  • Shake off excess buttermilk and add onion slices to flour mixture. Seal and gently shake to coat.
  • Working in batches, fry onions until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Serve with dipping sauce.

For the dipping sauce

  • Whisk together all ingredients.

Notes

These are also great dipped in Ranch dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 1058mg | Potassium: 342mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel