Deviled Eggs

Cheap. Easy. And, makes a lot. What else can you possibly want?

You need:

1. Dozen large eggs
2. 1/2 cup diced dill pickles
3. 2 heaping tbsp mayonnaise
4. 1 tspn worcestershire sauce
5. 1/2 tspn salt
6. 1/2 tspn black pepper
7. 1/4 tspn smoked tarragon

You will:

1. Boil the eggs in a large pot for 15 minutes, or until hard boiled.
2. Allow eggs to cool.
3. Carefully peel eggs and discard shell.
4. Cut eggs in half lengthwise
5. Remove yolks from all eggs and place the yolks into a medium bowl.
6. Add pickles and mayonnaise to yolks and mix with a fork to break up all yolk pieces.
7. Add mayonnaise to yolk mixture and mix with spoon until you have one big blob.
8. Add worcestershire, salt, pepper and tarragon and mix well.
9. Taste, and add any more of the ingredients that suits your taste.
10. Using a teaspoon, fill each egg with the yolk mixture.
11. Serve with dill pickles for a great appetizer, side dish, or snack!

Nam! Nam!

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

This is a super healthy dip, with protein and fiber, and it's a way of forcing myself to eat veggies like celery!

You need:

1. 8 oz. roasted red peppers
2. 16 oz can garbanza or cannellini beans
3. 1 tspn dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
4. 2 tspn minced garlic
5. 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
6. 3 tbsp olive oil
7. pinch of salt and pepper

You will:

1. Add red peppers and beans to food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
2. Add basil, garlic and vinegar. Blend about 30 seconds.
3. Add olive oil and blend about a minute.
4. Transfer dip to bowl and stir in salt and pepper.
5. Serve with veggies and/or pita chips.

Nam! Nam!

Mushroom-Swiss Turkey Burgers

Craving a burger, but don't want to down that many calories in a meal? Well, here's a tasty alternative to a beefy cheeseburger. It's full of flavor, and can be served alongside a tossed salad or sliced, fresh veggies.

You need:

1. 1 lb. ground turkey
2. 2 tspn dijon mustard
3. 1 tspn cajun seasoning
4. 1 tspn garlic powder
5. 1/2 tspn dried parsley
6. 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
7. 1/2 pint sliced mushrooms
8. 3 tspn teriyaki sauce
9. 1 tbsp water
10. 2 tspn dry red wine
11. 1 tspn olive oil
12. 4 hamburger buns
13. 4 slices Swiss cheese

You will:

1. Turn oven broiler on high.
2. Combine turkey, mustard, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and parsley in a large bowl. Form into 4 patties and set aside.
3. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and mushrooms to pan, and cook for about 6 minutes.
4. Combine teriyaki sauce, red wine and water in a small bowl.
5. Add about 3 tspn of teriyaki mixture to pan with onions and mushrooms. Stir constantly, until sauce is reduced, about 1 minute.
6. Place vegetables in a bowl off to the side and replace pan on stove eye.
7. Add olive oil to pan and rotate the pan so that the oil covers all of the bottom.
8. Place the patties in the pan and cook for about 5 minutes.
9. Spoon about a tspn of the teriyaki mixture onto each patty and turn them. Cook on the second side about 3 minutes, or until cooked through.
10. Open 4 hamburger buns on a cookie sheet. Place one piece of Swiss cheese on each of the bottom buns, and place under the broiler for about 1-2 minutes, until cheese is melted.
11. Spread dijon mustard on the top buns. Place a patty on each of the bottom buns. Top with 1/4 of the onion-mushroom mixture. Add the top bun, and serve.

Nam! Nam!

Ham and Mushroom Quiche

1. This is a great main dish to any breakfast or brunch. Full of protein plus some veggies, for an extra nutritious punch!

You need:

1. 6-8 oz turkey sausage, diced
2. 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
3. 3/4 cup diced mushrooms
4. tspn butter
5. 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
6. 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
7. 5 oz evaporated milk
8. 8 oz light sour cream
9. 2 large eggs
10. 2 large egg whites
11. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12. 1 tspn baking powder
13. 1 tspn parsley
14. 1 tspn salt
15. 1/2 tspn black pepper

You will:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease an 8-inch round baking dish with the butter.
3. Sprinkle 1/4 cup parmesan cheese in the bottom of the baking dish.
4. Heat mushrooms and onions over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Saute about 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Add diced sausage to pan with onions and mushrooms. Allow to cook about 5 minutes, or until onion is brown and mushrooms are tender.
6. In a large bowl, combine eggs, egg whites, sour cream and evaporated milk.
7. In a smaller bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
8. Using a fork or whisk, add flour mixture to egg mixture while stirring constantly.
9. Add parmesan and cheddar cheeses, salt, black pepper, and parsley to egg mixture.
10. Add meat and veggies into baking dish. Spread mixture so that it is in an even layer.
11. Pour egg mixture over the meat and veggies.
12. Place baking dish on a cookie sheet (in case the quiche runs over) in the oven for 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
13. Allow quiche to sit on counter for 10 minutes.
14. Slice and serve alongside grits, biscuits, and fruit salad for a scrumptio-deli-uptious brunch!

Nam! Nam!