Pepper Scraps » Appetizers http://PepperScraps.com Scraps of my Life Tue, 21 May 2013 17:21:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Baked Pepper Nachos http://PepperScraps.com/2013/04/baked-pepper-nachos/ http://PepperScraps.com/2013/04/baked-pepper-nachos/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=6263 baked-pepper-nachos

One of our families favorite recipes, before eating healthier, was baked nachos. But once you start counting calories and looking at carbs, you realize chips are really hard to fit into a low calorie diet.

So nachos have been one of those things that we gave up, until now!

I have been trying to figure out good substitutes for things we have eaten in the past or things I have been craving. Well I have been craving chips. I found out that you can eat a whole bell pepper for less than 50 calories and it fulfills that crunchy savory craving.

But then it came to me why couldn’t you use bell pepper for chips in recipes also. You could serve them with dip at parties or even make baked nachos!

Baked Pepper Nachos_4

Print Recipe

Baked Pepper Nachos

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb ground chicken
  • 1/2 can black beans
  • 20 mini bell peppers
  • 1 cup low fat cheese
  • 1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
  • 1 roma tomato chopped
  • 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup black olive slices

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Slice bell peppers into chip sized servings
  3. Cook meat with taco seasoning
  4. Layer peppers, taco meat, and cheese on a cookie sheet
  5. Heat till cheese is melted about 5-10 minutes
  6. Remove from oven and tops with tomatoes, yogurt, and black olives

Per Servings: 4 | Calories: 301 | Fat: 10 | Carbohydrate: 19 | Fiber: 6 | Protein: 25

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Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

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]]> http://PepperScraps.com/2013/04/baked-pepper-nachos/feed/ 1 Krab Ceviche http://PepperScraps.com/2013/03/krab-ceviche/ http://PepperScraps.com/2013/03/krab-ceviche/#comments Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:51:52 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=6154 Krab Ceviche

I am strange one of my favorite seafood meats of all time is imitation crab (krab). I love it because the flavor is very light and easy to work with.

Krab Ceviche could make a great dip to take to a family gathering. Or if you wish you could add a spoonful on to sliced cucumbers and make a light and tasty appetizer. But for me I enjoyed it as a light flavorful lunch.

Print Recipe

Krab Ceviche

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound imitation crab
  • 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion diced
  • 2 roma tomatoes diced
  • 1 lime
  • 1 cucumber sliced
  • salt & pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Chop crab meat
  2. Mix crab, cilantro, onion, lime juice, salt & pepper and tomatoes
  3. Let sit in fridge covered for at least one hour
  4. Arrange slices of cucumber on plate (serve on one plate as an appetizer or on seperate plates for a meal)
  5. Top cucumber with crab meat

Servings: 4 | Calories: 134 | Fat: 1 | Carbohydrate: 8 | Fiber: 2 | Protein: 6

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Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

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]]> http://PepperScraps.com/2013/03/krab-ceviche/feed/ 0 Buffalo Egg Salad http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/buffalo-egg-salad/ http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/buffalo-egg-salad/#comments Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:25:23 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=5606 Buffalo Egg Salad

Remember Wasabi Egg Salad? Well I found something even better! Buffalo Egg Salad. I was thinking about all the things that are in my favorite buffalo sauce (Frank’s Red Hot Sauce) and how they are the things I love in egg salad. Spice, vinegar, hot and tangy. So I knew I had to try it.

And you know what it’s awesome! I think this may be one of my favorite combos for egg salad yet! If you want to kick your egg salad up a notch you have to try this recipe.

Print Recipe

Buffalo Egg Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs hard boiled
  • 1 teaspoon buffalo sauce or to taste
  • 1 sprinkle paprika
  • 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
  • 1 stalk celery
  • salt & pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Mix eggs, buffalo sauce, salt, pepper and mayonnaise till smooth
  2. Serve on celery sticks and sprinkle with paprika

Servings 1 | Calories: 135 | Fat: 9 | Carbohydrate: 4 | Fiber: 1 | Protein: 6

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Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

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]]> http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/buffalo-egg-salad/feed/ 1 Baked Ricotta in Wonton Cups http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/baked-ricotta-in-wonton-cups/ http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/baked-ricotta-in-wonton-cups/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:05:34 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=5602 Ricotta Stuffed Baked Wontons

You could serve these as a light appetizer or as a fun lunch. Serve them with a little marinara for dipping if you wish.

Ricotta Stuffed Baked Wontons

I’ve found that wonton wrappers are a great replacement for noodles in some Italian recipes. The are low calorie and quick and easy to work with.

Ricotta Stuffed Baked Wontons

You could fill these little cups with all kinds of things to change up this little treat. Think about using them as mini taco salad shells or use them for finger salads. There are lots of fun ways to use these cups.

Print Recipe

Baked Ricotta in Wonton Cups

Ingredients

  • 6 wonton wrappers
  • 1/4 cup fat free ricotta
  • 1/4 cup italian blend cheese
  • 2 teaspoon fresh herbs I used dill
  • salt & pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat oven 350 degrees
  2. Take a mini cupcake pan and fill each cup with one wonton wrapper
  3. Bake for 5 minutes
  4. While wontons are baking mix ricotta, fresh herbs, salt and pepper, and italian blend cheese
  5. Fill each wonton wrapper with ricotta mixture and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes

Servings: 6 | Calories: 48 | Fat: 2 | Carbohydrate: 5 | Fiber: 0 | Protein: 3

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Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

]]> http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/baked-ricotta-in-wonton-cups/feed/ 0 Light Artichoke & Spinach Dip http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/light-artichoke-spinach-dip/ http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/light-artichoke-spinach-dip/#comments Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:35:32 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=5584 Light Artichoke & Spinach Dip

One of the tricks to keeping dips light is serve them with vegetables instead of chips and crackers. Chips and crackers are high in calories and carbs. Veggies I love to serve with dips are carrots, celery, zucchini slices, and cucumber slices.

If you are taking the dip to a friends house then offer chips and veggies for the dip.

Light Artichoke & Spinach Dip

This dip is great because you can easily split this dish into two of the Handi Foil storage containers. So you can bake one up and freeze the other for when you have to come up a dish for an unexpected party or for unexpected guests.

There is 6 servings in each of these pans.

Print Recipe

Artichoke Spinach Dip

Ingredients

  • 2 (8.5 oz)cans artichoke hearts in water
  • 1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach thawed, well drained
  • 1 (8 oz) package low fat cream cheese
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup low fat mozzerella
  • 1 clove garlic minced

Directions

  1. Chop artichoke hearts smaller and combine all ingredients together well
  2. Spread into a small pan
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes stirring once

To Bake from frozen:

  1. Place into a small oven safe pan and freeze
  2. Heat oven to 350 degrees
  3. Cook about 40 minutes or heated through stirring once or twice

Servings: 12 | Calories: 160 | Fat: 12 | Carbohydrate: 6 | Fiber: 2 | Protein: 9

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This post was sponsored by Handi Foil, all opinions are my own.

Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

]]> http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/light-artichoke-spinach-dip/feed/ 0 Mini Bacon & Cheese Frittatas http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/mini-bacon-cheese-frittatas/ http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/mini-bacon-cheese-frittatas/#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:33:47 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=5571 Mini Bacon & Cheese Frittatas

I was so excited I got to use my new silicone muffin pans to make these little yummies. I had been really wanting to get some silicone pans because egg is so hard to clean off metal pans! But I wanted to start making mini frittatas. These little beauties slipped right out of the pan!

Mini Bacon & Cheese Frittatas

If you don’t have cool silicone pans like these I would highly recommend you get some Handi Foil muffin tins! That way you have a no clean, quick and easy way to make this recipe.

Mini Bacon & Cheese Frittatas

Handi Foil also has some great little storage containers with lids that you can freeze these in to pull out and reheat later. The mini frittatas would be great for a holiday breakfast or a quick  appetizer.

Mini Bacon & Cheese Frittatas

Print Recipe

Mini Bacon & Cheese Frittatas

Ingredients

  • 6 eggs
  • 1 cup low fat cheese
  • 6 slices bacon cooked

Directions

  1. Preheat oven 350 degrees
  2. Beat eggs and mix in cheese
  3. Pour your egg mixture into a muffin tin
  4. Crumble or cut bacon on top of frittatas
  5. Cook for 20 minutes
Reheat
  1. Place in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. If you have them in two layers like I do in the Handi Foil pan at 15 minutes quickly separate the squares and make sure the cold sides are on the bottom and top of the pan.

Servings: 12 | Calories: 83 | Fat: 6 | Carbohydrate: 0 | Fiber: 0 | Protein: 5

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This post was sponsored by Handi Foil, all opinions are my own.

Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

]]> http://PepperScraps.com/2012/11/mini-bacon-cheese-frittatas/feed/ 2 Grilled Plums with Blue Cheese & Honey http://PepperScraps.com/2012/09/grilled-plums-with-blue-cheese-honey/ http://PepperScraps.com/2012/09/grilled-plums-with-blue-cheese-honey/#comments Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:28:05 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=5470 Plums with Blue Cheese & Honey

You may think I’m crazy trying this flavor combination, but I wanted to try something fun and unique. I looked through my fridge for a fun sweet snack.

These would be great as appetizers, a snack, or for dessert. It’s simple, it’s light and has a fun play with flavors.

If you are wanting to make more than just one serving and don’t feel like converting my recipes, just click the link and go to Plan to Eat. You can easy convert any of my recipes serving sizes.

Print Recipe

Grilled Plums with Blue Cheese and Honey

Ingredients

  • 1 plum
  • 1 tablespoon blue cheese
  • 1 teaspoon honey

Directions

  1. Grill plums on grill for about 5 minutes (watch closely as size of plum and grill heat can vary)
  2. Pull off grill and sprinkle with blue cheese and drizzle honey on

Servings 1 | Calories: 69 | Fat: 1 | Carbohydrate: 13 | Fiber: 1 | Protein: 2

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Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

]]> http://PepperScraps.com/2012/09/grilled-plums-with-blue-cheese-honey/feed/ 1 Tomato Boats http://PepperScraps.com/2012/06/tomato-boats/ http://PepperScraps.com/2012/06/tomato-boats/#comments Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:41:55 +0000 Pepper Ferguson http://PepperScraps.com/?p=4933

You may have seen the great photos of tomato used as bowls or stuffed tomatoes, but personally as lovely as the look they are hard to eat unless you want to eat the filling out then the tomato. That’s why I decided to create tomato boats!

Print Recipe

Tomato Boats

Ingredients

  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese lowfat
  • 1/4 cup radishes chopped
  • 1/4 cup cucumbers chopped
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon homemade ranch mix
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cut tomatoes into quarters and scoop out

DSCN6118_1

Mix cottage cheese, radishes, cucumbers, garlic, and ranch mix together

DSCN6120_1

Salt and pepper tomato boats

DSCN6122_1

Scoop mix into tomatoes

Servings: 2 | Calories: 68 | Fat: 1 | Carbohydrate: 8 | Fiber: 2 | Protein: 8

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Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

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