Tomato, Spinach and Goat Cheese Stacks

Thanksgiving is just around the corner for North America and while everyone is set to serve up some turkey, cornish hen, stuffing and cranberry sauce, we do need some appetizers to keep the masses satisfied before the big meal. With a lot of time being consumed with the main course at this time of year, it is great to have some appetizers that are quick to make and that people will enjoy. I always enjoyed the fact that my family had something tasty and nutritious to snack on as we waited for our main meal to finish.
This is a simple meal I learned watching some of my favourite recipe shows, I decided to add a bunch of my preferred ingredients that where not too filling but at the same time satisfying. A french baguette cut into slices is a must, tomatoes and spinach loads you up with nutrition while the goat cheese which may not be a favourite for most can be replaced with other cheeses like buffalo mozzarella or ricota. The balsamic vinegar and maple syrup glaze will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Inspired by Eating Well

 

MORE APPETIZER AND STARTER RECIPES
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GAME DAY NACHOS
SPINACH PROSCIUTTO QUESADILLAS
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Tomato, Spinach and Goat Cheese Stacks Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 3 minutes  Servings: 8

Ingredients

Chicken Shredded Sriracha

I enjoy chicken in many different ways but for those weeknights, where time is not your friend I turn to a quick family tradition of boiled chicken breast. This meal is so quick and so easy to make that it could just become a regular part of your dining experience when you want something healthy and quick. I like to use boneless and skinless chicken breast while seasoning it with a variety of sauces and spices, and what is more popular at the moment then sriracha sauce, it seems to be in everything so why not with your chicken. When boiling the chicken make sure that it is fully submerged in the water, it will be easy to shred with a fork or even your fingers if not to hot when done cooking. I decided to top a salad with the chicken but you can  also make a sandwich or something else that you want to conjure up. For those that prefer a milder taste, you can add more bbq sauce and less sriracha to the chicken as well as your favourite spices because no one knows your palate better then you.

Inspired by Family

 

MORE CHICKEN RECIPES
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PARMESAN CHICKEN BITES
SPICY BREADED GARLIC CHICKEN
SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN THIGHS
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Chicken Shredded Sriracha Recipe

Servings: 4  Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Lemon Zested Brussels Sprouts

With the summer months coming to an end I have to admit I have been enjoying patio season and not in the kitchen as much as normal, a good thing being outside but it does leave you a bit light in the pocket book. I have though been working on and have finally reached the point in sharing a brussels sprout side dish that I think many of you will enjoy. Brussels sprouts is definitely an acquired taste and I can admit until only this year I would not even give this vegetable a look at the grocery store but I could not ignore the health benefits any longer. The brussels sprout is loaded in vitamin K and C, it is also known to lower cholesterol. They should be on most peoples plates more often then they are, so I decided to try a few different ways to cook the sprouts but one thing I found out pretty quick is over cooking will result in a nasty sulfur smell, so make sure you keep an eye and nose when making them. Cutting the stem end helps them cook better and give them a few minutes to air out after doing this before you add them to a boiling pot. Once you have finished boiling the sprouts, pour out the water and run them under cold water. This will stop them from cooking. I choose to add them to a ziploc bag and poured the oil mixture over them shaking well and letting them sit for a few minutes. The lemon zest is the topping that will not only look great but adds that final touch that your palate thanks you for.
 
Inspired by Spark Recipes

MORE SIDE DISHES RECIPES
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SAUTEED SPICY GREENS
HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES
STEAM TO SKILLET VEGETABLES
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Lemon Zested Brussels Sprouts

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 20 minutes  Servings: 2

Ingredients

Spinach Prosciutto Quesadillas

 I decided to try some home made quesadillas, this is always a dish that I do enjoy when out with friends and just want a quick bite that is not all that filling. I though of what ingredients I wanted to use and a look through my fridge revealed that a trip to the grocers was in store for the near future but I did have lots of spinach and of course prosciutto, which is a dry cured ham that should always be thinly sliced. I grabbed some soft whole wheat tortilla shells and of course some shredded mozzarella cheese. When I started off this recipe I was thinking I would be pan grilling but then I figured I would add a twist and decided to pan fry them in a skillet with a bit of vegetable oil. The quesadillas should be cooked quickly once the oil is hot or you will burn them and they will become inedible. You can choose just about any other ingredients that you want to fill up the quesadilla, just remember to keep all the ingredients to one side so you can fold the tortilla shell. The quesadillas turned out terrific, you can have the as an appetizer or a light meal and if you don't want them too greasy use a paper towel to soak some of it up, for an extra kick at some hot sauce to the finish product..

Inspired by Dairy Goodness

MORE PORK RECIPES
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PENNE WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE
CLASSIC BACON AND EGG SANDWICH
SPICY KIDNEY BEAN STEW WITH SAUSAGE
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Spinach Prosciutto Quesadilla Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes  Cook Time: 2 minutes  Servings: 2 

Ingredients

Panko Crusted Salmon

I love to keep the fish rolling on my recipe blog and this time I have decided to give a panko mixture a try, I can't say often enough how I enjoy incorporating fish into my weekly meals. I mix and match spices to give my palate that taste that it enjoys when I am eating fish but you should feel free to add the spices that you enjoy to really make this salmon recipe yours. The one ingredient I always feel you can't go without when cooking fish is butter. I like to use the unsalted variety, so make sure you include it with your ingredients if you chose to go a little different on the spice selection. You can also use regular bread crumbs or kelloggs if you do not happen to have panko in your pantry. Fresh dill weed works best but if you do not have any dry works fine. A baking pan is what you need to use when you bake the salmon in the oven and if you don't happen to have one you can always use a baking dish, just remember to cover it up with tin foil, this will help the fish cook better. This recipe came out great and is so quick to make its a perfect weeknight meal that will not only impress you but any guests you may chose to feed.

Inspired by Family

MORE FISH RECIPES
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BAKED TILAPIA WITH GARLIC BUTTER MIX 
BROILED  SALMON WITH LEMON GARLIC RUB
BROILED SALMON WITH MARMALADE GLAZE
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Panko Crusted Salmon Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 18 minutes  Servings: 4

Ingredients

Ground Turkey Burger with Sauteed Mushroom Mix

You can never go wrong with a cut of ground meat, its inexpensive and you can do so many things with it. I decided to grab some lean turkey meat at the grocers and take a stab at making some burgers from scratch. I enjoy a good bbq but unfortunately I don't have the luxury of it by living in a sky box, so I do the next best thing and that's bake the ground meat. The important thing to do when your baking is to make sure you place the meat on a wire rack so that the grease drips to the bottom of your baking pan and all your left with is the delicious turkey burger. I also though it would be great to go a different route then having a bun and made a delicious sauteed mushroom mix to base the burger. I always like to mix and match ingredients and you can omit any you don't like and add those that you do. When your done and ready to hoover your food feel free to add some sweet relish or even dijon mustard to the ground turkey and layer it as you see above it adds that much more to the meal.

Inspired by Food.com

MORE TURKEY RECIPES

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TURKEY VEGETABLE MEDLEY

GAME DAY NACHOS

LUNCH TIME CHILI TACOS

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Ground Turkey Burger with Sauteed Mushroom Mix Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes  Cook Time 25 minutes  Servings: 4

Ingredients