Avocado Salsa

One thing I miss about living a little further south is El Pollo Loco. Everything I got at that restaurant was delicious (although slightly over priced in my humble opinion). My favorite thing to order was their Chicken Taco Al' Carbon and I would drench it in this amazing avocado salsa.
So being that we no longer live by an El Pollo Loco I had to go in search of a copycat recipe. 
This recipe is PRETTY DARN CLOSE to El Pollo Loco's Original avocado salsa. I say original because they changed the recipe for theirs a few years ago (per the update below). I don't know if they changed it back but this is our favorite homemade version.
We like ours a bit more thick then how they have theirs but aside from thickness, everything else is pretty spot on.
This recipe is a great alternative to salsa's that use a tomato base for those who can't have tomatoes or who are just looking for something different. We like to make a double batch and keep it in the fridge for a few days to eat with chips and quesadillas.

**UPDATE** I have recently been noticing that the kind at El Pollo Loco is spicier then it used to be and read a sign somewhere that they don't use the jalapeno anymore to make this but they use a habanero pepper instead. So I guess if you like the extra heat you can change the type of pepper in this recipe but I prefer the taste of the original salsa better.

Panzanella Style Salad

Okay I know this doesn't look like your typical Panzanella because I didn't slice up the stale bread and incorporate it into the salad, but I've adapted this recipe to how we like it and called it Panzanella for so long now that I don't know what else to call it. So please don't criticize the name if you know your stuff. You can still chop up your bread and put it in the salad so it is traditional, I just don't like to because I like having leftovers.
This recipe we have been using for YEARS! At first, this was a "branching out of our comfort zone" recipe, but now it is a staple at our house.
One thing I like about this recipe is if you have leftovers (the main reason I don't like adding the bread to the salad) is that it tastes great the next day cold or slightly warmed up.

Cheesy Bacon & Ranch Potatoes

I'm pretty sure the title of this recipe says enough, but if it doesn't then let me tell you that this recipe is to die for! Cheese. Bacon. Ranch. Potatoes. Uhhhhh I'm literally salivating as I type this and making a mental note that I need to make this again ASAP! We have been doing a lot of grilled food at our house lately. I like it when I can keep the heat out of the kitchen by turning on the grill and cooking not only my main dish, but also my sides. This side pairs so well with any type of grilled meat or let's be real, I ate these alone as an entire meal because...why not?!

This also makes a great dish that you can have in the cooler months as well because it can also be cooked in the oven.

Roasted Chickpea "Croutons"

I know what you are thinking. There is no way that chickpeas can replace the heavenly crouton that usually tops my salad. Trust me. I get it. I was a bit skeptical as well. Anybody who knows me knows that I love bread. All things bread are my downfall, but I am here to say that although these Roasted Chickpeas are not exactly like a crouton, they do satisfy my need for something crunchy and delicious on top of my salads. I recently paired them up with an Anti-Inflammatory Caesar Salad and it was pretty amazing.
So if you are looking for a gluten free alternative, give these a try.
*To be honest, I have actually just sat down and eaten these as a snack as well, not just as a salad topper*

Anti-Inflammatory Caesar Salad

Who would have thought that the words anti-inflammatory and Caesar dressing would be in the same sentence.  Every time I go to a restaurant, I order a Caesar salad. There is just something magical about that dressing that gets me salivating.
Now I am not about to claim that this recipe for the dressing tastes exactly like a Caesar dressing, but it is pretty darn close, especially for having not really ANY of the same ingredients. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted, especially for how easy it was to make. I topped my salad with some crunchy oven roasted chickpeas, to replace the croutons, and some sliced grilled chicken.

Kettle Corn Popcorn

One thing I love about going to the zoo down here is the heavy smell of Kettle corn in the air. It makes me salivate so much every time we go, but who wants to pay $8 for a bag of it when you know it costs less then $1 to make. Not me. So our new tradition when we visit is for me to whip up a batch and bring it in bags. I'll tell you what I don't know if it really does taste better or not but saving that much money sure does make it taste better to me :)

I never knew how simple making kettle corn was. The hardest part is making sure it doesn't burn. Which if you keep an eye and an ear on it you won't have any problems at all.

Potstickers

You know, I love Asian foods. One of the reasons I like it so much is because for the most part it's pretty easy to make and honestly the flavors are always going to be pretty similar to anything you can get at a restaurant.
A few weeks ago I was in the mood to have a break from life and spend some time in the kitchen. Yes I know that may sound strange to some but my relaxing time is when I can just be alone in the kitchen without screaming children and just cook. I don't know, there is just something about hearing the knife slice through fresh vegetables that just makes my brain happy. So on a rare occasion I try to take a little break from life and prepare a meal that takes a little more then just a "quick throw it in a pan" type of prep.
Potstickers. Ohhhh I love them. Not only do they look so cute and fun but they taste awesome. This recipe is approved by my whole family, even my 4 year old which at this stage in life is pretty hard to get any approval on any food.
Once you get into the groove of making these they actually don't take that long to make, especially because you don't have to cook the filling first. AND...you can freeze your leftovers and save for another time!

BBQ Meatballs

Meatballs.  You can't get much easier then these for an amazing appetizer that requires no work at all. These bbq meatballs are always a crowd pleaser and I promise you will always have people asking for this recipe. Sometimes I don't like to share how easy it is because they taste like they should take more time and effort.

50-60 frozen meatballs (I like the Italian ones from costco)
9 oz bbq sauce (I use any original flavored kind)
9 oz grape jelly

1. Combine the bbq sauce and grape jelly in the bottom of your crock pot.
2. Add meatballs and stir to coat.
3. Set temperature to high, cover, and cook for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.

**Randi's Side Notes**
- I would keep an eye on these as they tend to brown more on the side that is in the liquid. I like to stir mine when I has about an hour left.

Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Hello friends! Tis the season for goodies and appetizers! I figured since I have been posting a lot of my goodies that I have been making this year that I would post about a fabulous appetizer.
Its cheesy and gooey, pretty much everything you want to eat around the holidays. Yes it may not be the most nutritious recipe out there, but hey the holidays are for eating food that taste good and aren't good for you so that you gain weight and make a new years resolution to exercise...which inevitably ends within the first month. Sigh.
BUT this recipe will get great reviews from friends and family. I personally had this recipe over Thanksgiving break as an appetizer before our big Thanksgiving day meal at my sisters house. She always manages to find such fantastic recipes although I don't know how I haven't tried this one before because it is from a very popular site that I have used quite a few times. The recipe comes from Our Best Bites! It is one of their earlier recipes. They really do have some fantastic recipes in their collection so if your looking for another blog to look through (besides my own of course) then hop on over to them and check it out.

Fruit Bruschetta

This is by far my favorite appetizer to make whenever I am asked to bring one. The fresh fruit on top of cinnamon bread with this amazingly fantastic orange-honey creamy sauce on top....makes my mouth water! I love this recipe because it is a great fresh and healthier appetizer.
Not only does it taste fantastic but it is very appealing to the eye, so they will disappear within minutes! The sauce is what makes this recipe different then just a regular old fruit salsa with cinnamon chips recipe (although also a great appetizer).
Whether its a classy party or just a small get together with close friends and family, this appetizer will be a hit.

Party Smokies

One of my aunts (who makes the most wonderful food ever) gave me this recipe after one of our traditional Christmas Eve Parties. I think I ate at least a couple dozen of these. This is another appetizer that I always bring with me now. Thanks auntie :)

Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms

So up until a few years ago I was not a huge mushroom fan. I was at my sister-in-law's house one day and they had made these as an appetizer and I refused to eat them. Basically I was dared to eat one, and to show how brave I was :) I ate one... and now I make these anytime I am asked to bring an appetizer somewhere.