Bacon, Cheddar and Chive Sheetpan Pretzel Nachos

'Twas the night before Christmas and cravings were kickin'

We decided it was time to cook somethin' quick in the kitchen...

Sprinkled pretzels atop a baking sheet with cheddar

Bacon and chives made it all even better...

Baked at 400ºF until melty and nice

Then added a bit of poppy seeds for texture and spice.

Sat in front of the fire, hot toddies in hand

And enjoyed this 8-minute appetizer with my sexyhawt man.

8-Minute Bacon, Cheddar and Chive SheetPan Pretzel Nachos

4 servings | 8 minutes

• 1 bag Pretzel Crisps
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• nonstick coconut oil spray
• 2 pieces peppered bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped chives, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

Heat oven to 400ºF. Spread pretzel crisps on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese, spray with coconut oil spray. Sprinkle with bacon, 2 Tbsp chives and poppy seeds. Cook for 6-8 minutes, just until cheese melts. Garnish with remaining chives. Enjoy immediately!

The Easiest Paleo Appetizer Ever

We’re here for healthy minimalism. The sort of simplicity that feeds body and soul.

Fed up by the Pinterest obsessive life, tired of too many undones, unable and uncapable to keep up, I decided to simplify.

Or rather, I got to the point where it was demanded of me.

I couldn’t keep eating shit that made me feel like shit.

I couldn’t keep mothering away any pain from all my people.

I couldn’t keep up with the treadmill of work-life-exercise-shop-sustain-be-do-live-fight-feel-love-adventure that seems required of us in the web world. So many tabs needing attention. So many people to follow. So many recipes with so many ingredients.

It was a recipe for adrenal fatigue, exhaustion, and distaster.

And so, I simplified.

I discovered life can be simple.

Food doesn’t have to be complex.

Skinny is a state of mind, not just the size of your jeans.

Recipes like this one drive that point home.

Simple. Healthy. Perfect.

Now you have time to throw a party, and still be a real woman, too.

No running endless errands, no expensive invitations, no frantic cleaning, no Pinteresty panic. One dirty dish.

Keep it simple.Life’s better that way.

 

SMOTHERED SKINNY SWEET PEPPERS

INGREDIENTS:

1 bag mini sweet peppers
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Maldon sea salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 450
2. Place peppers on a baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle with garlic.
4. Drizzle with half the olive oil.
5. Roast in hot oven for 20-25 minutes.
6. They're done when they're slightly browned.
7. Sprinkle with oodles of salt & Serve.

Paleo Jalapeño Poppers

Plain old poppers are a perfect party snack. Simple, crowd-pleasing. But fried and full of ish. You don’t need that crap in your bod.

So, I’ve gone and stripped the classic. Taken out all the nasty stuffs. Stuffed it, instead with sweet potato.

And turned it into 5-ingredient easy.

Make and bake them in about 30 minutes. Then serve as a snack, side, or party app.

These paleo poppers are perfect for:

• Party appetizers
• Mexican-inspired brnch
• Game-day eats
• Paleo potlucks
• Side dishes
• Midnight Snackage

NOTES FROM HOME

When I pulled these from the oven last night, my picky eater came sniffing around the countertop.

“What smells like enchiladas, and how soon can I eat one?”

She hovered over the dish, waiting for it to cool. I warned her about the whole jalapeno deal. “They’re spicy, chick.”

No matter, she said. Diving into the dish, she ate three. Then gave the recipe two thumbs up. The fresh jalapenos have kick, but it’s suprisingly mild once baked. The cheese masks the sweet potato thing. Which makes it easy for visual eaters to wanna try.

This version is good. Better than the original. Better for you, too.

Take that, naughty breaded-and-fried poppers. Take that.

PALEO JALAPEÑO POPPERS

INGREDIENTS:

1 large sweet potato
1/2 cup sharp cheddar
3 tablespoons bacon bits
4 jalapenos, seeded and halved
2 teaspoon cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

1. Microwave sweet potato until tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Cool, remove peel.
3. Mash with a fork in a large bowl.
4. Stir in cheddar and bacon bits.
5. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.
6. Top with cilantro before serving.

Serves 4.

Sushi-In-A-Snap Wraps

Looking for a raw-food lunch that really, really good?

These easy little Sushi Wraps are utterly yumtown. Inspired by my sister, who one day said “I can’t stop eating nori-wrapped avocado slices”.  To which I responded with a mad dash to the store, the purchase of nori and avocado with mango to boot. And a can’t-stop craving of my own.

Perfect for lunch. Perfect for detox. Perfect for those days when you feel like a fatty, but really want to eat the way skinny people should.

Amazing for those moments when you have exactly twenty-bucks to your name, and consider selling your oldest on Craigslist to find your sushi madness.

Cheap. Easy. Raw. Good.

Wrap. Roll. Enjoy.

SUSHI-IN-A-SNAP WRAPS

INGREDIENTS:

6 nori wrappers
1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
1/2 avocado, sliced thin
1/2 mango, sliced thin
1 tiny cucumber, sliced thin
Pea shoots

DIRECTIONS:

1. Sprinkle the wrappers with a little soy sauce.
2. Place avocado, mago, cukes, and pea shoots in the center of each wrapper.
3. Wrap and roll. Eat lunch.

SERVES 2.