Denver Omelet Nachos

Serves 6

Think Denver Omelet, but turned into nachos. Genius? Aw shucks, why'd you have to go and embarrass me by saying that?

1 pasilla or poblano pepper, diced

8 ounces white mushrooms, diced

1/2 yellow onion, diced

1 pound Black Forest ham, about 1/4 inch thick - diced

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar, colby-jack, monterey jack - up to you

3 big handfuls homemade tortilla chips, see recipe here (or store bought)

1 or 2 eggs, cooked sunny or over easy - just be sure there’s a runny yolk

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick pan over medium, and add the pepper, mushrooms & onion - cook until nicely softened, about 5 minutes

• While it cooks, melt butter in a small butter then stir in the flour - cook stirring about a minute

• Preheat oven to 350

• Add milk, and continue cooking a couple minutes, using a whisk then add the shredded cheese and continue whisking until smooth

• Season with salt & pepper - keep warm

• Put a large layer of chips in an oven safe dish, cover with a layer of the cheese sauce, a layer of the ham/veggie combo, then more chips, more cheese sauce, the rest of the ham/veggei and top with remaining 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese

• Place in oven or microwave until the shredded top cheese has melted

• Top with eggs, and away you go

Warm nuts

Bunch last minute visitors arrived on your doorstep...?! Have no fear. Keep your pantry stocked with these simple ingredients and it will always be a breeze.

INGREDIENTS

• bag of nuts (any kind, but I prefer cashews, unsalted)
• 1 teaspoon butter
• dash of smoked paprika
• pinch of Kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In small heat-proof dish, add all ingredients
2. Microwave for 30 seconds
3. Mix and serve with a ice cold beer or cocktail.

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

Herbed Goat Cheese

A perfect last minute appetizer for the holiday season or any party.

INGREDIENTS

• 4oz soft goat cheese log
• 2 green onions, chopped finely 
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped finely (or, dill works too)
• pinch Kosher salt
• 6 grinds fresh black pepper
• whatever bread you have... Bagel, French Baguette, sliced thinly

DIRECTIONS

1. mix green onion parsley and salt and peper
2. roll the goat cheese in the mix coat generously and evenly
3. toast your bread and serve. 

WATCH ME MAKE THIS... 

Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms

Makes 24 mushrooms

These little gems are perfect for anything. NO really - anything.

Ingredients

• 24 mushrooms: white, cremini, brown, whatever works for you
• Olive oil
• 6 green onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1 cup smoked Gouda, grated
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and fresh ground
• 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and finely diced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Remove stems from mushrooms, set caps aside and chop stems finely
3. Preheat non-stick pan on low/medium heat
4. Lightly drizzle mushroom caps with olive oil and place bottom-side up in pan
5. Cook until softened and just beginning to color - about 5 minutes - remove, gently turn upside down on a paper towel to drain any liquid then put face up on a lightly greased baking sheet
6. Cook chopped stems with a little oil over medium heat in a non-stick pan about a minute
7. Add green onions and continue to cook until all is softened, 4 to 5 minutes more - remove and put in a bowl
8. Add panko, gouda, Worcestershire, parsley, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper & bacon - mix well
9. Put some of the mixture into each mushroom cap
10. Bake 20 minutes or until slightly crispy on top - serve

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Filled Jalapeños

Makes a dozen

These are ridiculously good.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1/3 cup cooked baby shrimp

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire

• 1 large clove garlic, minced

• 12 short, fat Jalapeños with stems

• 12 strips uncooked bacon

Directions

1. Combine cream cheese, shrimp, Worcestershire and garlic in a medium bowl - mix well

2. Holding the jalapeños vertically, cut a T shape into each one

3. Then use your fingers to open the door-like cut to expose the inside - remove seeds and membrane

4. Once cleaned out, stuff them with the filling, close the door and wrap with a piece of bacon

5. Cook seam side down in a medium hot pan or grill until the bacon is crispy all the way around, 10-15 minutes

6. Let cool slightly before devouring, I mean eating – no, I mean devouring

Dukkah

Serve this or take this to a party and you will be the coolest person ever. Make a bunch put it in a jar and give it as a gift – spread the word!

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 white baguette, sliced
• 1 cup Macadamia nuts
• 1/4 cup good quality Extra Virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons ground coriander
• 3 tablespoons ground cumin 
• 1/3 cup toasted sesame seeds
• large pinch of Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven 350
2. Toast nuts in oven until slightly golden, keep an eye on them, don't leave them
3. Blitz nuts until resemble coarse breadcrumbs
4. In a bowl, mix nuts and all dry ingredients
5. Slice baguette, dip in oil then generously dip in dry mix, enjoy!

SEE SAM MAKE IT >>>

Stuffed and Braided Pizza

This is the epitome of outstandingness! 

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can refrigerated thin pizza dough crust
• 10 Spanish Chorizo slices
• 6 Provalone slices  
• 1 packed cup, spinach
• 10-12 slices Genoa Salami  
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• big pinch Kosher salt  
• 3-4 grinds fresh black pepper  
• 1 cup marinara sauce (I used my EVERYDAY TOMATO SAUCE) 

DIRECTIONS

1. Stretch out the pizza dough to rectangle, about 10" on short ends
2. Get layering a single column  in the center of the dough: overlap Spanish chorizo, overlap Provolone, spinach, overlap salami, sprinkle on oregano, dust on the garlic powder evenly, load on mozzarella 
3. On both sides, make diagonal slices from edge of the filling, to dough edge, every 1/2" all the way down (see photos), get braiding one over the other
4. Brush lightly with olive oil, season generously with Kosher salt and pepper, cook for 15 minutes
5. Heat through tomato sauce
6. Slice and dip, devour!

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WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

STUFFED BABY PEPPERS

Serves 3-4

This recipe has only a handful of simple ingredients, which makes them a super easy appetizer – perfect to whip up for a party at the last minute. 

INGREDIENTS

• about 12 baby bell peppers, red, yellow...whatever ya got
• 1 lb pork chorizo
• 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat broiler to high
2. Cook chorizo in a skillet until cooked through, about 7 minutes
3. Make a T incision in each pepper (don't worry about any little seeds inside)
4. Stuff peppers with some of the cooked chorizo, then broil for 5 minutes cut side down, flip and broil for another 4 minutes
5. Remove peppers, carefully stuff with some cheese then broil again cut side up until melty, about 2 minutes

TIP: You could easily have them done through the point of being stuffed with cheese - then stop. And then when you're ready for them - throw them back in the over for the last couple minutes. #hereforyou

Crab Dip

You can buy expensive crabmeat at your favorite seafood joint, but as long as you find yourself a really good quality canned version you don't need to.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound crabmeat
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce, I like Cholula
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix all ingredients well and put in a oven proof serving bowl
3. Bake for 15 minutes, then place under broiler to brown top
4. Serve with crackers or something crunchy like baked won ton chips

Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs

Makes 24 halves

Think deviled eggs are old-school and don't belong in contemporary life? Think again junior.

Ingredients

• 12 hard-boiled eggs
• 6 ounces package smoked salmon, chopped fine
• 1/3-cup mayo, roughly
• 1/2 cup red onion, diced small
• 1 or 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
• Big pinch Kosher salt
• Pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped fine
• Caviar

Directions

1. Slice eggs down the middle lengthwise (you knew that right?)
2. Put whites on your serving plate, and the yolks in a bowl
3. To the yolks add the salmon, mayo, red & green onion, hot sauce, salt, pepper & mustard
4. Mix all well and then fill each of the egg halves
5. Add a tiny amount of caviar to the top of each egg and sprinkle with chives
6. NOTE: You can get these all set a few hours in advance, but don't add the caviar until the last minute because when it sits on the eggs too long the liquid can come out and make the top of the eggs a bit messy.

Whole Grilled Filet of Beef

Serves about 15

Think one long filet mignon before it gets cut into individual steaks. And here's my thinking - one giant steak is easier to cook than about 10 small ones.

Ingredients

• 1 whole fillet of beef, about 4 pounds
• 6 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon each Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped

Directions

1. Remove filet from fridge about 45 minutes before cooking
2. Clean and trim the filet, removing the silverskin and excess fat
3. Combine the garlic, salt, pepper and rosemary with 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil
4. Rub oil/garlic mixture all over tenderloin
5. Heat your grill well and cook the filet, grilling until its cooked to your liking (medium rare is perfect, so look for your thermometer to read between 130-135 degrees)
6. Allow to sit at least 20 minutes before serving
7. Serve with horseradish cream

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