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Red Chili and Cheddar Crackers

Red Chili and Cheddar Crackers

Jan 30, 2012 10 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | entertaining | testers choice

A made-from-scratch riff on Cheez-Its, these crackers boast actual Cheddar cheesiness, not stain-your-fingers fake cheeziness.

Broiled Buffalo Wings

Broiled Buffalo Wings

Jan 30, 2012 5 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | chicken | turkey | poultry | testers choice

These lip-tingling wings and to-dip-for blue cheese goodness boast far, far fewer calories than what you’d get at the neighborhood bar. Not that anyone will notice…

Blue Cheese Dip

Blue Cheese Dip

Jan 30, 2012 3 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | leite's lite™ | testers choice

Tired of settling for an ordinary blue cheese dip where you practically need a search party to find the few chunks of cheese swimming around in mayo? This one won’t disappoint.

Mussels Marinara | <em>Cozze alla Marinara</em>

Mussels Marinara | Cozze alla Marinara

Dec 12, 2011 4 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | fish | seafood | gluten-free | leite's lite™ | testers choice

Three ingredients. One pot. Less than 15 minutes. Barely gives you time to uncork a bottle of wine or crack open a beer…but somehow, we think you’ll manage.

Bibb Wedges, Radicchio, Endive, and Blue Cheese Dressing

Bibb Wedges, Radicchio, Endive, and Blue Cheese Dressing

Dec 08, 2011 8 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | gluten-free | lunch | salads | sides | veggies | testers choice | vegetarian

Remember those insipid wedges of iceberg buried beneath blobs of bottled blue cheese dressing? This salad will erase all such memories.

Duck Prosciutto

Duck Prosciutto

Dec 07, 2011 6 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | chicken | turkey | poultry | gluten-free | testers choice

Pig-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free, this home-cured prosciutto tastes beguilingly, deceptively complex and beguiling–who’d have thunk it’s as easy as heck to make?!

Sauteed Chicken Liver on Toast

Sauteed Chicken Liver on Toast

Dec 07, 2011 10 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | chicken | turkey | poultry | testers choice

Tuscan through and through, this classic first course snazzes up chicken livers with capers, butter, onion, anchovies, and a splash of that other Tuscan tradition.

Stilton and Walnut Crackers

Stilton and Walnut Crackers

Nov 23, 2011 6 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | baking | entertaining | hors d'oeuvre | testers choice | vegetarian

Perhaps the simplest precursor to a dinner party ever. Just make the savory shortbread dough, freeze it, slice it, and bake it at the very last second. You’re welcome.

Grilled Porcini Mushrooms with Mint and Garlic

Grilled Porcini Mushrooms with Mint and Garlic

Oct 25, 2011 3 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | gluten-free | grilling | sides | veggies | testers choice | vegan | vegetarian | weeknight winners™

Boletus edulis–that’s the fancy-pants name for porcini–is hardly a come-hither sort of name, but with a taste like this, who cares?

Smoked Whitefish Brandade

Smoked Whitefish Brandade

Oct 05, 2011 5 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | fish | seafood | testers choice

Turns out an old brandade can learn new tricks. Here smoked sable stands in for salt cod, bringing a smoky richness to the garlicky potato purée–to great effect.

Sausage and Chutney Picnic Puffs

Sausage and Chutney Picnic Puffs

Sep 01, 2011 3 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | pork and ham | testers choice

This easy-to-make, easy-to-transport picnic fare appeases the robust appetites of gents as well as the dainty sensibilities of ladies. Don’t mind if we do.

Smoked Shrimp with Three Dipping Sauces

Smoked Shrimp with Three Dipping Sauces

Aug 28, 2011 7 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | fish | seafood | gluten-free | testers choice

Longnecks, lots of shrimp, and beer. There’s little else a bash requires, in our minds, although we go it one better with three eminently easy dips.

Spanish Gazpacho

Spanish Gazpacho

Aug 10, 2011 2 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | lunch | soups | testers choice | vegan | vegetarian

Puree tomatoes, cukes, bell peppers, bread, vinegar, garlic, and olive oil until smooth, toss in the fridge until mind-numbingly cold, then slurp and sigh.

Sunflower Squash Fritters

Sunflower Squash Fritters

Aug 07, 2011 5 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | sides | veggies | testers choice | vegetarian

These little blobs of deep-fried cornmeal batter and grated summer squash scream summer. They’re part hush puppy, part fritter, and lovely through and through.

A Trio of Deviled Eggs

A Trio of Deviled Eggs

Apr 18, 2011 4 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | entertaining | gluten-free | hors d'oeuvre | testers choice

Lovely is all we can think to say of this bevy of deviled eggs: classic, smoked salmon, and lightly truffled. Our favorite? Nope, we’re not going there.

Herbed Ricotta Dip with Vegetables

Herbed Ricotta Dip with Vegetables

Apr 18, 2011 6 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | entertaining | gluten-free | hors d'oeuvre | leite's lite™ | testers choice | vegetarian

True story: This recipe inspired a kid to dip an entire bag–an entire bag–of carrots, one after the other, into this luscious little number. Behold, the power of the dipper!

Semolina Gnocchi | <em>Gnocchi di Semola</em>

Semolina Gnocchi | Gnocchi di Semola

Apr 06, 2011 30 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | entrees | pasta and grains | readers raves | testers choice | vegetarian | weekend projects™

This sexy, simple gnocchi is all Roman La Dolce Vita, made with semolina flour and not potato. See for yourself how seductive it can be.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Mar 20, 2011 1 Comment by  
Filed under appetizers | breakfast | gluten-free | the arsenal™

Hard-boiled eggs are a staple in kitchen. But, oddly, many cooks find it hard to make them. Here’s a simple foolproof way to cook eggs worthy of the cover of a food magazine.

Chicken Wings with Garlic and Paprika | <em>Pollo al Ajillo</em>

Chicken Wings with Garlic and Paprika | Pollo al Ajillo

Jan 30, 2011 6 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | chicken | turkey | poultry | gluten-free | testers choice

No need to wait for a big game to make these Spanish-inflected, finger-licking-good chicken wings. We’ve known them to be welcome at any party.

Goat Cheese with Honey

Goat Cheese with Honey

Dec 29, 2010 2 Comments by  
Filed under appetizers | gluten-free | hors d'oeuvre | testers choice | vegetarian

This little ditty is simplicity itself. Drizzle honey over fresh goat cheese, scatter with some chopped hazelnuts, and behold the subtly sweet synergy.