Snackin’ with Sarah Sellers: Wonton Pizza Bites

Everything seems to make its way  back around, especially the 80’s. No matter how much I wanted the decade of acid washed jeans and New Kids on the Block to remain in my rear view mirror forever, alas, it’s back. But like most reincarnations the heart and soul is in tact, but with a little different look.

So in honor of tonight’s 80’s themed American Idol episode I’m doing a little recreating of my own. As an 80’s baby one of my favorite after school snacks was pizza bites. I had some extra wonton wrappers left over from my Lasagna Cups recipe so I thought I would make a healthier version of the old school classic.

Tonight’s recipe is featured on Lyndsey Parker’s Reality Rocks blog. Check it out HERE!

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Snackin’ with Sarah Sellers: Mini Taco Cups

Mini Taco Cups

Last week on American Idol the contestants sang songs they wish they’d written. So for Lyndsey Parker’s Reality Rocks blog I was cooking up recipes I wish I would have thought of first!

These turned out soooo delicious and they were super easy to put together. I added some onion, garlic, tomatoes and green onions to the recipe to make them feel more like a taco. Won ton wrappers are so versatile and can be filled with just about anything. So give this recipe a try!

Happy Eating!


Mini Taco Cups

Recipe Adapted From: All Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound lean ground sirloin
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 3 tbsp salsa
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 24 wonton wrappers
  • sour cream
  • 2 tbsp green onions, chopped
  • 1 tomato, chopped

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Mini Tacos

Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium high heat. Sauté onions until softened. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, around 30 seconds.

Mini Taco Cups

Add the beef and sauté until no longer pink. Stir in taco seasoning and 3 tablespoons of salsa.

Mini Taco Cups

Press wonton wrappers into mini-muffin cups, two per cup. Spoon beef mixture into wonton cups.

Mini Taco Cups

Top with salsa and cheese. Bake about 8 minutes or until wontons are deep golden brown.

Mini Taco Cups

Garnish with sour cream, green onions and tomato.

Bon Appétit! 

Snackin’ with Sarah Sellers: Mini Shepherd’s Pies

Mini Shepard Pies

And the obsession continues. Muffin tins and won ton wrappers are a match made in heaven! Just line the tins with a won ton wrapper, fill with whatever your heart desires, pop in the oven and bam…deliciousness!

The contestants on American Idol are singing songs from John Lennon and Paul McCartney so for tonight’s recipe, featured on Lyndsey Parker’s Reality Rocks blog, I’m sticking with a British theme.

The brits love their meat pies, or pies in general, so I thought I’d throw a little twist on Shepherd’s Pie. Now I’m not trying to pat myself on the back too much but you MUST try this recipe!! I’m really happy with how they turned out…3 servings happy.

Happy Eating!


Mini Sheperd’s Pies

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery, chopped
  • 1/2 cup onions, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 pound lean ground sirloin
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh rosemary, minced
  • 1/8 tsp celery salt
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1tbsp flour
  • 1/2 cup beef stock
  • Olive Oil Spray
  • 24 wonton wrappers
  • 1 cup mashed potatoes
  • 1 cup medium sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 375.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

In a large dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the carrots, celery and onion and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, around 30 seconds.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Add the sirloin and next 5 ingredients, through the black pepper, and sauté until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink. Sprinkle with the flour and cook for another minute. Pour in the beef stock and simmer until mostly evaporated. Scrape up all the goodness at the bottom of the pan.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Spray a muffin tin with the spray and place two won ton wrappers per muffin cup, overlapping to make sure it holds in the filling.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Put a few tablespoons of the beef mixture in each cup. Top with a tablespoon of the mash potatoes.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Sprinkle with another heaping tablespoon of cheese.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and the won ton wrappers are a deep golden brown.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Bon Appétit!

Snackin’ with Sarah Sellers: Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

Cream Cheese Chocolate Crescent Rolls

Next to wonton wrappers crescent rolls are probably my second favorite food item. Not only are they delicious by themselves but you can pretty much stuff them with anything your heart desires. I’ve experimented with savory crescent rolls  in the past so this time around I was in the mood to try something sweet.

The brown sugar glaze helps sweeten the rolls so there’s no need to add a bunch of sugar in the filling. Give these a shot! They turned out quite tasty!

Check out today’s recipe featured on Yahoo! Music HERE!


Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

Ingredients

Crescent Rolls

  • 8oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tbsp chopped hazelnuts, reserve some for garnish
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • 1 package crescent rolls

Glaze

  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • 2 tbsp water

Preheat oven to 350.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

In a large bowl mix together the cream cheese, chocolate, hazelnuts and almond extract until smooth.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

Spread the crescent rolls onto a non-stick cookie sheet.

Place a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on wide end of each triangle.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

Roll up, starting at shortest side of triangle, rolling to opposite point.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown, around 15-20 minutes.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

While the crescent rolls are baking combine all 4 ingredients to make the glaze. Whisk until smooth.

Remove the rolls from the oven and drizzle with the brown sugar glaze. Sprinkle with some of the chopped hazelnuts.

Bon Appetit! 

Snackin’ with Sarah Sellers: Guacamole Dumplings

Guacamole Dumplings

The Texas State Fair is a magical place. Only there can you find anything you could possibly imagine deep fried. I typically stay away from fried food but when that wonderful time of year rolls around I go into complete food junkie mode.

All season long for American Idol I’m cooking up themed recipes for Yahoo! Music Lyndsey Parker and her Reality Rocks Blog! This week the contestants are still in Vegas so I took some inspiration from my favorite Sin City chef, Bobby Flay.

I bought way too many avocados this week and didn’t want any of them to go to waste so when I was thinking of appetizer ideas I decided to take a que from my favorite state fair snack, Fried Guacamole.

I love how the texture of the wonton wrappers kept the dumplings light, crispy and full of flavor! You have to give these a try, you won’t be able to eat just one!

Happy Eating!


Guacamole Dumplings

Ingredients

    • 2 large avocados
    • 2 tbsp red onion, minced
    • 1 tbsp cilantro, minced
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 1 tsp lime juice
    • 1/2 tsp chili powder
    • 1/2 tsp cumin
    • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
    • 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
    • 1 cup rotisserie chicken breast, diced
    • 1 oz queso fresco
    • 1 egg
    • wonton wrappers
    • 2 cups canola oil
    • salsa

In a large bowl mix together the avocados and next 8 ingredients, through the pepper, until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.

Guacamole Dumplings

Add the diced rotisserie chicken.

Guacamole Dumplings

And crumbled queso fresco.

Guacamole Dumplings

Take a wonton wrapper and brush the edges with the egg wash. Place a tablespoon of the guacamole in the center of the wonton.

Guacamole Dumblings

Starting from the middle pull the edges of the wonton wrapper over the guacamole and pinch to seal.

Guacamole Dumplings

Making little packets.

Guacamole Dumplings

Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over high heat. Fry the dumblings until golden brown.

Guacamole Dumplings

Remove and place on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.

Serve with your favorite salsa. Check out my Fire Roasted Salsa recipe!

Bon Appétit! 

Snackin’ with Sarah Sellers: Lasagna Cups with Spicy Ground Turkey

Alright it’s official…I’m completely obsessed with making things in my muffin tin. You can pretty much turn any dinner staple into a quick and easy snack by turning them into mini cakes, or cups, or whatever you want to call them. I’ve been seeing Lasagna Cups everywhere lately so of course I had to give them a try.

Since the premier of American Idol in January I’ve been serving up tasty snacks for Yahoo! Music reality blogstress Lyndsey Parker and her Reality Rocks blog. This week on Idol the remaining 9 are singing songs from their Idols so I thought I would make some food inspired by a few of my favorite chefs.

Tonight’s inspiration is an Italian classic so of course I had one chef in mind, Mr. Mario Batali. Watching Batali on the Cooking Channel is like drinking a glass of warm milk…he just relaxes me. Okay weird comparisons aside I love this guy…him and his hideous orange crocs.

Give this recipe a try. Besides my muffin tin I think I’ve found a new obsession, Wonton Wrappers! You can stuff them with anything you want and they’re healthy. I will definitely be coming up with some more recipes using them again soon!

Check out my feature on Reality Rocks HERE!

Happy Eating!

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