Game Day Treats

Game Day Serious Eats

It's that time of the year to get on your game day face and clothes and party on.

Consider these treats for your next gathering.

BRUSCHETTA

Bruschetta is a fresh, simple and delicious Italian appetizer that can be prepared in minutes and enjoyed any time of the year. Recipe makes 6-8.   

Ingredients and Directions:

• 1 baguette 
• Slice baguette at an angle in 1/2" slices. 
• Bring 1/4 cup canola oil and 2 T butter to bubbling on medium heat. 
• Baste baguette on both sides. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
• Place slices on a parchment lined baking sheet brown on one side 3 minutes turn and brown the other side. Set aside. 

Topping Ingredients:

• 3-4 large ripe meaty tomatoes or 8-10 ripe plum/Roma tomatoes
• 2 T B. olive oil
• 2 - 3 cloves garlic
• 1 TB. dark balsamic vinegar or Black Mission Fig Balsamic 
• 6 or 7 fresh basil leaves or more if you like a lot of basil
• Salt and pepper to taste. 
• Olive oil to finish. I used a basil infused olive oil. YUMMY

Topping Directions:

• Peel tomatoes by blanching then plunging in ice water. Chop tomatoes into small pieces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and let rest 10 minutes. 
• Mince garlic. Saute garlic in 2 TB. olive oil on medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Do not brown.
• Add in tomatoes. Simmer until water from tomatoes boils off. Remove from heat.
• Chop basil leaves and add to mixture.
• Splash balsamic over. Drizzle olive oil over (to taste).
• Just before serving, spoon mixture on baguette slices.
  

Recipe adapted from Mix and Match Mama
Sausage and Smoked Gouda Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Italian sausage
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
• 1 container of Herb Garlic soft cream cheese
• 2 cups of shredded smoked Gouda cheese
• 3 (12-count each) boxes of mini puff pastry shells (found in the freezer department)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high, brown up sausage with a drizzle of EVOO until it’s browned and crumbly.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in herbed cream cheese and shredded Gouda. Stir until the cheese is melted. Add in just a pinch of salt and pepper. 
• Fill each mini puff pastry shells with a tablespoon of filling. Place each shell on prepared baking sheet. 
• Bake for 10 minutes. 
• Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Sheet Pan Skinny Nachos

Cooks Notes: Nachos just might be the king of all party foods! But they are normally fat laden. These layered and baked nachos use all skinny ingredients which include reduced-fat ingredients such as tortilla chips, lean taco meat, cheese and topping with a skinny ranch dressing. 

One skinny serving has 207 calories, 5 grams fat and 5 Weight Watchers SmartPoints. Taco Bell’s Nacho Supreme has 406 calories and 5 times more fat at 26 grams per serving!

Recipe adapted from skinnykitchen.com
Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef, I used 96%
• 1 cup red onions, chopped
• 1 TB. garlic, minced
• 1 (1 oz) package taco seasonings mix, I like Lawry’s
• 2/3 cup water
• 12 ounces bag reduced-fat tortilla chips, (about 100 chips)
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 small can of Steamfresh corn
• 1 (4 oz) can Ortega fire roasted diced green chiles
• 1¼ cups chunky salsa
• 1½ cups (6 ounces) reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
• 6 tablespoons fat-free sour cream, Greek nonfat yogurt (plain) or lite ranch dressing
• Tabasco Sauce, optional

Directions:

• In a large pan or skillet, cook ground beef with onions and garlic until meat is browned. Drain off excess fat. Add meat mixture back to pan.
• Add in taco seasoning, water and mix well. Bring to a boil, turn heat down to simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add in chiles, salsa, corn and drained black beans. Simmer uncovered on low. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  
• Place the tortilla chips evenly on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. 
• Top the chips with ground beef mixture using a slotted spoon to drain excess juices. Sprinkle the cheese all over the top.
• Bake 5-6 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the nachos are hot.
• Garnishes include: Chopped tomatoes, a dollop of lite ranch dressing, Greek yogurt  or sour cream and add a bit more salsa if needed. If you really like food spicy, sprinkle a bit of Tabasco sauce over the top!
• Serve at once.