Appetizers/Snacks Archives - Love Grows Wild

7 S’mores Recipes to Try

Liz Fourez — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:40 +0000

our taste-tested top s’mores combinations + how to roast marshmallows in the oven – in partnership with Walmart

This time of year my boys love having bonfires in the backyard and roasting marshmallows, and I thought it would be fun to try making them with different ingredients and see which ones we like best. Our kitchen counters were covered with every different type of s’more ingredient you can imagine, and we were all in a happily miserable sugar coma when all the taste testing was over.

Below you’ll find our top seven favorite combinations and tips for making them in the most delicious, least messy way. Yes, seven is a random number, but we couldn’t decide on just five. There were too many good ones! And I’ll share how I roast marshmallows in the kitchen when the weather isn’t cooperating to have a fire outside. If I’m being honest – I 100% prefer this method because I can make a bunch of perfectly toasted marshmallows at a time, and I don’t end up smelling like a bonfire. Let’s make some s’mores!

THE PERFECT S’MORES FORMULA:

something crunchy – example: graham cracker, pretzel, cookie – not a soft one!
something creamy – example: slightly melted chocolate, peanut butter, caramel
a perfectly toasted marshmallow

HOW TO TOAST MARSHMALLOWS IN THE OVEN:

Turn the broiler on high with an oven rack positioned in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place marshmallows flat side down so they don’t roll around. Space the marshmallows a few inches apart so they don’t stick together when they expand from the heat. Place the baking sheet under the broiler and watch them very carefully. It only takes a few minutes, if that, to brown on one side so don’t walk away from the oven. After the first side is toasted to your liking, take them out of the oven, gently turn them over with a pair of silicone-tipped tongs, and place them back in the oven to toast the opposite side. This side will brown even faster, so again don’t walk away from the oven! As soon as they reach toasted perfection, immediately pull them out and allow to cool slightly before transferring them to your s’more.

REESE’S TAKE 5 CANDY BAR S’MORE

original graham cracker + peanut butter + marshmallow + pretzel crisp + peanut butter cup

HOW TO MAKE: Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on two squares of graham cracker – crunchy would be more like the Take 5 bar, but you can use creamy too. To one graham cracker add a peanut butter cup, a warm toasted marshmallow, a pretzel crisp, and the second graham cracker on top.

MINT CHOCOLATE S’MORE

chocolate graham cracker + marshmallow + andes chocolate mints

HOW TO MAKE: Place Andes chocolate mints on a graham cracker square and top with a toasted marshmallow and a second graham cracker square.

ICED OATMEAL COOKIE S’MORE

iced oatmeal cookie + marshmallow + white chocolate

HOW TO MAKE: Place a piece of white chocolate on an iced oatmeal cookie and top with a toasted marshmallow and another iced oatmeal cookie.

COOKIES ‘N CREAM S’MORE

oreo chocolate sandwich cookie + marshmallow + cookies ‘n cream chocolate

HOW TO MAKE: Separate one chocolate sandwich cookie. Add a piece of cookies ‘n cream chocolate and a toasted marshmallow to one of the halves and top with the remaining cookie half.

TIP: Since an Oreo is so much smaller than a graham cracker square, it might be better to use mini marshmallows for this s’more instead of the regular size. Better marshmallow to cookie ratio.

SALTED CARAMEL CHURRO S’MORE

cinnamon graham cracker + marshmallow + white chocolate + salted caramel sauce + sea salt

HOW TO MAKE: Place a piece of white chocolate on a cinnamon graham cracker and top with a toasted marshmallow. Add a drizzle of salted caramel and sea salt to a second cinnamon graham cracker and place on top.

COOKIE BUTTER S’MORE

cinnamon graham cracker + marshmallow + cookie butter

HOW TO MAKE: Spread a fairly thick layer of cookie butter on two squares of cinnamon graham cracker. Add a toasted marshmallow to one graham cracker and top with the other.

NUTELLA BANANA SPLIT S’MORE

graham cracker + marshmallow + nutella hazelnut spread + strawberry + banana

HOW TO MAKE: Spread a thin layer of nutella on two squares of graham cracker. Add a toasted marshmallow and slices of fresh strawberry and banana to one graham cracker. Top with the other graham cracker.

TIP: place the sliced fruit on a paper towel to dry off excess moisture before adding them to the s’more. They will slide around less and stick to the Nutella better!

FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THESE RECIPES AT WALMART:

We had so much fun playing with all the different s’mores recipes, and I hope your family will enjoy the ideas we’ve put together as well. Let me know what your favorite s’more is! Even with all the ingredients I bought, I was able to save money with low-cost quality brands from Walmart. I love their online order and pickup option, but I tried Walmart delivery for the first time and it’s a game changer for our busy life!

You can click HERE to start your Walmart pickup or delivery order. Right now new customers can use promo code TRIPLE10 to save $10 off your first three pickup or delivery orders! ($50 minimum)

I partnered with Walmart on this post, but as always the thoughts and opinions shared are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting our blog and brand partners! As always, I sincerely appreciate you shopping through the links I share, which allows me to make a small commission from your purchase while your purchase price stays the same. When you use my affiliate links, I’m better able to create content for this blog as well as support my family, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting what I do!

The post 7 S’mores Recipes to Try appeared first on Love Grows Wild.

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Protein Balls

Liz Fourez — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 18:37:05 +0000

I’ve been making these little Peanut Butter Cinnamon Protein Balls for years, and I almost always have a batch in the fridge waiting for me on busy days when I need a quick snack or before I head to the gym. These bite-size protein-filled treats taste so good and are packed with nutritious ingredients like chia seeds and ground flaxseed. I first shared this recipe years ago, but have since made a few small changes to cut down on the sugar and fat in each delicious, little bite. They are easy to make, and I think you’re going to love these peanut buttery protein balls as much as I do!

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Protein Balls

A delicious bite-size protein-filled snack you'll always want to keep on hand. Perfect for busy days on-the-go or before your workout!

Author: Liz Fourez

Serves: 15

INGREDIENTS

½ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
45 grams (approx. ½ cup) vanilla protein powder
½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed meal
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large bowl, mix the peanut butter and honey together until smooth. Add the protein powder, oats, flaxseed, cinnamon, chia seeds, and vanilla extract, and stir until completely combined. Cover and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
Once chilled, roll the mixture into 15 or 16 balls about 1" in diameter. If the mixture is too dry to stick together, add very small amounts of milk or water until the mixture is just able to be rolled into a ball. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Serving size: 1 ball Calories: 88 Fat: 4.9 Carbohydrates: 7.4 Sugar: 3.4 Sodium: 47.7 Fiber: 1.6 Protein: 4.9

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know if you try it!

More Healthy Recipes to Try:

Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal

Healthy One Pan Roasted Sausage and Vegetables

One Pan Roasted Shrimp and Asparagus

The post Peanut Butter Cinnamon Protein Balls appeared first on Love Grows Wild.

Wreath Charcuterie Board

Liz Fourez — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 11:00:08 +0000

In partnership with Walmart | As the holidays are quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about gatherings with friends and family, and I have SUCH a fun food idea to share with you today. I like to keep things as simple as possible this time of year when schedules are busy and time is short. So instead of doing a big, fancy meal for Christmas, I love throwing a party with yummy appetizers and finger foods so guests can nibble all night long.

One of my favorite things is creating a big charcuterie board filled with bite-size meats, cheeses, fruits, crackers and more. With just a few special details, I turned this snack board into a festive “wreath” for the holidays, and today I’m going to break down exactly how I did it! I promise it’s really easy to do, and your friends and family will be so impressed by the display. Let’s create a Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board!

Charcuterie is a French culinary term for prepared meat products, so essentially a charcuterie board is a meat tray with additional pairings to compliment the meats. You can build your board with anything your heart desires and cater it to the specific guests you’re serving, but here is a guideline of some basic elements of a charcuterie board:

meats – salami, prosciutto, calabrese, mortadella, soppressata
cheeses – brie, sharp cheddar, gouda, havarti, boursin
fruit – apple, pear, grapes, pomegranate, figs, cucumbers, berries
crackers – pita chips, bagel crisps, Triscuits, butter crackers
nuts & dried fruit – candied walnuts or pecans, smoked almonds, dried apricots, figs, dates
jams/spreads – hummus, honey, artichoke dip, pimento cheese spread, dijon mustard, fruit jams
pickles – sweet gherkins, dill pickles, olives

To get the look of a wreath, I used a large round serving platter I picked up at Walmart (it was next to the plates in the home section) as the base and grabbed some fresh rosemary to help define the wreath shape and bring in a touch of natural greenery. Rather than leaving the very center of the tray bare, I decided to use a wheel of brie cheese in the middle to give the illusion of blank space that a wreath would have in the center. I made this a one-stop shopping trip and found the brie and all the food ingredients at Walmart while I was picking up the platter. If you walk through the deli and fresh produce section, you’ll find all kinds of specialty meats, cheeses and crackers to make your charcuterie board with. SUCH an easy appetizer with such an impressive display that I promise your guests are going to love!

ASSEMBLING THE BOARD

I started with the cheeses since they take up the largest amount of space. I used brie in the center, a block of havarti cut into two wedges (you can cut them into slices to make it easier to serve), and herbed boursin cheese spaced evenly around the tray.
Then I added the meats: prosciutto individually rolled and salami rolled together in little “roses”. To do this, fold about 6 slices of salami in half and place them in a line lengthwise slightly overlapping each other. Roll the salami pieces into one large roll and secure with two perpendicular toothpicks at the base. (here is a video showing the process)
Next I added the fruit: clusters of red seedless grapes still on the vine, blackberries, and gala apples & anjou pears cut into thin slices.
I bought a variety pack of crackers that was perfect for a charcuterie board and very affordable: stone ground wheat, sea salt & black pepper, multigrain, wheat & flax, rosemary, and poppy & pepper. I added little handfuls of crackers spaced around the board, some fanned out flat and some standing straight up on the edge.
Then I added a few sweet gherkin pickles and made sure to dry them well on a paper towel before setting them on the platter.
I filled in any remaining small holes with nuts and dried fruit, which are perfect for covering up bare spots, toothpicks, and making the platter look nice and full. I used walnuts, honey roasted almonds, and dried figs.

FINAL TOUCHES

To give the board a festive holiday touch and make it really stand out, I added a few details for shape, texture & color that made a huge difference. First, I added a star cut-out to the top of the brie cheese and filled it with strawberry jam in the center. To do this I put the brie in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes to help it firm up, then cut the top layer off with a sharp knife. I used a cookie cutter to cut a star shape in that top layer, removed the star, and placed the layer back on top of the cheese wheel. Then I carefully spooned a small amount of strawberry jam into the star-shaped well.
I was hoping to find some little snowflake or gingerbread man shaped cookies to add some visual interest to the tray… something that would catch your eye right away. But instead I found little flower/wreath shaped shortbread cookies, and I love how they pop against all the other more colorful foods.
Once I had the entire board finished and was happy how it looked, I added stems of fresh rosemary all the way around the tray and around the brie cheese in the center. This helped further define the wreath shape I was going for and added some really pretty color and texture.

THE KEY TO A BEAUTIFUL BOARD

Want to take your board from basic to a beautiful work of art? Here’s the key: as you place each food on the platter, think about these two things: SHAPE and TEXTURE.

Notice how the prosciutto is rolled up individually and laid flat, but the salami is rolled together and stood up so you can see the edges from overhead? See how some of the fruit and crackers are fanned out and some are stood up on their edges? Notice how I paired round clusters of grapes and blackberries next to the solid flat chunks of havarti cheese? Try to alternate the colors, shapes and textures that are next to each other on the tray for a really nice visual impact.

CUSTOMIZE

Please trust me when I say you can’t mess this up, and there is no wrong way to put together a charcuterie board! You could do one that would pair well with a wine tasting, you could do a Mediterranean or Mexican themed board, or you could do something completely different and create a dessert focused board. The possibilities really are endless.

My family could care less about fancy cuts of meat or expensive cheeses, and they won’t touch olives, figs, or cheese that smells even remotely funky. So I plan on doing something like this for them!

salami, summer sausage, ham
cheddar, colby jack, pepper jack cheese
grapes, apples, pears
candied pecans/walnuts, honey roasted almonds
dill & sweet pickles
pretzels, butter crackers

CHEESE BOARDS & KNIVES

Tell me in the comments what your favorite foods are for snack boards! I hope this post inspired you to create a beautiful charcuterie board for your holiday gatherings this season, and I would love to see photos if you do! Make sure you tag me on Instagram so I can see your works of art: @lizlovegrowswild

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Ranch Pinwheels

Liz Fourez — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 15:00:00 +0000

Some years for Christmas we make an entire meal out of just appetizers, and it is arguably my favorite meal of all time. Who doesn’t love a plate full of delicious little bites? Tortilla pinwheels are sort of a nostalgic recipe in my mind because I can remember them being served at many, many parties when I was growing up, and today I wanted to share this quick, simple recipe for Ranch Pinwheels that happen to be red and green and perfect for Christmas!

RANCH PINWHEELS

INGREDIENTS:

2 – 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 – 1 ounce package Ranch salad dressing mix
1 sweet red pepper, finely minced
1 sweet green pepper, finely minced
2 green onions, finely sliced
4 – 10″ flour tortillas

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and Ranch until well combined. Spread 1/4 of the mixture evenly on one tortilla all the way to the edges. Then sprinkle 1/4 of the green pepper, red pepper, and green onion over the cream cheese. Starting at one edge, roll the tortilla tightly to form a log and wrap it in plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining 3 tortillas. Place the rolled tortillas in the refrigerator for 2 hours (up to 8 hours). Cut into 1/2″ slices with a sharp knife and serve.

Note: You can also add thin slices of ham or turkey to each tortilla if desired!

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Enjoy, sweet friends! If you try any of my recipes, I’d love to see your creations by tagging me in your photos! IG: @lizlovegrowswild + #lovegrowswild

More of my Favorite Appetizers:

Mini Cookie Cutter Pizzas | Crab Dip | White Chocolate Holiday Popcorn Mix
Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball | Guacamole | Smoked Mozzarella Dip

The post Ranch Pinwheels appeared first on Love Grows Wild.

Toasted Chili Cheese Bread

Liz Fourez — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:58:54 +0000

Need a quick and easy appetizer? Try this Toasted Chili Cheese Bread with tons of gooey cheese and a spicy kick of chili! This post is brought to you by our friends at EVITE® and HORMEL®.

I have to be honest, guys. I’m kind of kicking myself with this recipe because it would have been PERFECT for the big game last month. A hot, crusty loaf of bread smothered in spicy chili and two types of ooey gooey cheese melted over top… now does that sound like football food or what? Regardless, this recipe is really delicious, and I think you’re going to love it!

The idea for this recipe came to me as a play on my boys’ favorite dip in the entire world… Chili Cheese Dip. I posted the recipe for it years ago, and despite the fact that the photos are horrendously ugly (seriously, go look at how bad they are!), that chili cheese dip has almost become my most popular recipe of all time! And really, it doesn’t surprise me… just 3 ingredients and a couple minutes in the microwave gives you the most addictive appetizer your taste buds have ever experienced. So naturally, I wanted to revamp the recipe for you a bit and combine it with another popular Love Grows Wild recipe… Ranch Bread.

The result is a toasted cheesy bread made with my beloved chili cheese dip ingredients: cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and HORMEL® Chili No Beans. The chili is super convenient for quick and easy recipes like this and adds a great spicy kick to the bread. My family doesn’t do overly spicy foods, so the subtle heat in the HORMEL® Chili No Beans is perfect for us. Now that the kitchen remodel is finished (hallelujah!), I thought I’d give you a little play-by-play on how I make this recipe:

You’re totally drooling now, right? Whether you make this for game day, a family gathering, movie night, or just to cure that chili cheese dip craving (it’s a real thing, guys… ), I hope you enjoy! Grab the recipe below and for more recipe ideas, head over to EVITE!

Toasted Chili Cheese Bread

This Toasted Chili Cheese Bread is the perfect quick appetizer and SO delicious! Tons of gooey cheese with a spicy kick of chili!

Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Appetizer

INGREDIENTS

1 loaf Italian bread
8 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
¼ teaspoon chili powder
15 ounce can HORMEL® Chili No Beans
8 ounces white Cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons green onions, finely chopped, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 425ºF. Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise (creating a top and bottom) and place both halves on a baking sheet, cut side up.
Place the softened cream cheese and chili powder in a medium bowl and stir until completely combined. Spread a layer of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the bread. Then add a layer of chili on top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle the shredded white cheddar on top and bake the bread for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly golden. Cool for a minute or two, then slice the bread into 2-inch pieces.