Impossible Scotch Eggs with Duel Dipping Sauces

 

Scotch eggs are probably the thing I've missed the most since I went pescatarian almost 13 years ago. If you're not familiar with this often overlooked pub favorite, it consists of ground meat (typically sausage) wrapped around a boiled egg and then fried to crispy brown deliciousness and often paired with a spicy mustard dipping sauce -- sounds pretty eggcellent amirite?! 

Salm I Am App

Ahhh yes, the Salm I Am, not to be confused with Sam-I-am that fellow who likes green eggs and ham (which totally just gave me a new recipe idea by the way *mental note*). Salmon and eggs are probably in my top five favorite food combos of all time. There's just something about the rich and velvety texture of the eggs with the salty smoky flavor of the fish that hits the spot sooooo when your friend gives you FRESHLY smoked salmon straight from her fisherman relative (one of the many perks of living in the PNW) I had no choice but to let this delicious ingredient shine atop a golden pedestal.

Easy Summer Appetizers With TRISCUIT

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MadeForMore #Walmart #CollectiveBias

TRISCUIT crackers and I go way back, you see, I've never been much of a potato chip kinda gal so my mom would pack some crackers along with her famous grape and cheese kabobs (a genius invention if you ask me) in my lunches. To this day I still enjoy snacking on TRISCUIT crackers but instead of mindlessly eating them out of the box (which I often do) I decided to get a little creative and combine my favorite seasonal ingredients to make some party pleasing appetizers.

I headed over to my local Walmart and picked up my favorite flavors including: TRISCUIT Original Crackers, TRISCUIT Cracked Pepper & Olive Crackers, and my new favorite, TRISCUIT Smoked Gouda Crackers. With endless choices of seasonings and spices they provide the perfect base to build any small bite.

Some things to keep in mind when creating your appetizers is you want a balance of flavors and textures - sweet + savory, rich flavors + fresh herbs, crunchy + smooth, you get the idea. To assemble each recipe simply follow the steps starting with one and working your way up. For mine I used similar ingredients with different proteins and it only took me a little over 30 min. to assemble all three so whipping these bad boys up for a party would be easy!

A new spin on the classic deviled egg, this is the ideal breakfast food bite.

Not Your Mamma's Deviled Eggs

makes 15 appetizers

1.TRISCUIT Original Crackers
2.3-4 hard boiled eggs, sliced thin
3.4 strips of crispy bacon, chopped (optional for my vegetarian homies)
4.about 1 TBS of capers
5.Sprinkle of Paprika (optional)
6.Hand full of fresh dill for garnish

The perfect balance of tart, savory, and slightly sweet.

Maple Apple Bacon

makes 15 appetizers

1.TRISCUIT Smoked Gouda Crackers
2.1 green apple, sliced thin
3.3-4 strips of crispy bacon, crumbled
4.drizzle of pure maple syrup

*Side note: I learned through many a fallen apple that you should slice the apple thin, place it on the cracker, then top with bacon (duh Annie).

One of my all time favorite ingredients, smoked salmon, pairs perfectly with cream cheese, salty capers, and refreshing cucumber.

Salm I Am

makes 15 appetizers

1.TRISCUIT Cracked Pepper & Olive Crackers
2.Schmear of cream cheese
3.1 cucumber, skinned and sliced then in halves
4.1 fillet (8oz) of smoked salmon, flaked
5.About 1 TBS capers

What are some of your favorite flavor combinations? Are you more sweet or savory? For more inspiration on awesome apps, check out the TRISCUIT webpage and show off your creations with #MadeForMore.

Crispy Tofu Rice Noodle Bowl

Noodle bowl - never have two words sounded so tantalizing. I am practically drooling.

As you know, I have never been discrete of my love of all things influenced by Asian and Thai flavors. Whenever I am exploring a new town and I'm looking for something to eat, I am always immediately attracted to anything with Noodle in the name...Noodle House, House of Noodles, The Happy Noddle - doesn't matter, there's a 99.9% I will probably eat there.

There's just something about that beautiful medley of textures and flavors coming together, not to mention the heavenly smells. Rice noodles, when seasoned properly are slightly chewy and a perfect vessel for pretty much any protein or veggie. I stir fried mine in a sweet and savory sauce with a touch of spice with some chili sauce. Forget everything you'be ever heard about bland, tasteless tofu!

Crispy Tofu Rice Noodle Bowl

serves 3 really hungry people

1 package of extra firm tofu, diced, marinated, and cooked
2 cup steamed edamame
1 cup diced or shredded carrots
1 small onion, sliced thin (is it necessary to have both green onions and regular onions? Nope, I just really like onions...)
3 green onions stalks, diced
1-3 eggs
olive oil
1 cup peanuts, chopped (for garnish)
rice noodles (14oz. package)

For the sauce...
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons low-salt soy sauce
1-2 tsp spicy chili paste
1-2 TBS Hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 TBS honey
1 tsp fresh lime juice

To find out how I make my tofu taste awesome, check out some tips HERE

1.Prepare rice noodles by soaking in cold water for about 8 min. Drain and set aside.

2.In a mixing bowl, add the sauce ingredients and whisk to make a dressing. In a wok (or sauce pan) heat oil then add sliced onions, cook until translucent then add the garlic and carrots. Once carrots are tender, add cooked edamame and cook for 3 min. Add noodles and mix, then add sauce mixture and stir fry (you might have to add more water to prevent noodles from sticking together).

3.Meanwhile, fry the eggs in a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with a lug of olive oil until cooked to your liking (I like mine with a runny yolk). Divide the noodles between bowls, pop an egg on top of each one, and serve drizzled with chilli sauce for that all-important added kick. Sprinkle with green onions and chopped peanuts.

Variations: You could also use buckwheat noodles in place of rice, they take longer to cook but provide more flavor. Feel free to add any other fresh seasonal veg, or leftovers you have in the fridge.

Toad in the Hole with Sweet Potato Hash

Well, I have officially conquered my summer class midterms! Among all the studying, tests, AND starting a new second job I haven't felt like preparing complicated and time consuming dinners lately. It's times such as these when I often take the brinner (breakfast for dinner) approach.As much as I love breakfast I have never tried the famous "toad in a hole" aka "eggs in a basket" aka "gashouse eggs." Whatever your term for it, it always consists of buttered toast with a fried egg in the center. It's a pretty perfect concept when you think about it, using crispy buttery toast as a vessel for luxuriously rich runny yolks - what's not to love?

Instead of going with traditional hash browns, I paired this with sweet potato hash which is not only more colorful and exciting but the velvet and slightly crispy textures of this side pairs perfectly with the crunchy toast and broken yolk 'sauce'.

Sweet Potato Hash

serves 2

1 large sweet potato
handful of fresh spinach
1 small onion, diced
salt and pepper
2-3 strips of bacon, cubed (optional)
1 TBS oil (if not using bacon)
1 tsp dried sage

1.If using bacon, cook in saute pan on medium heat until cooked, remove from pan and set aside. Add onion to bacon pan and saute until translucent. Add diced sweet potato and cook until slightly brown and crispy (I steamed my sweet potato for 5 min, then diced it). Add salt, pepper, and sage then add spinach, stirring until wilted.

Toad in a Hole

2 eggs
2 pieces of toast
butter
salt and pepper

1. Take a saute pan (covered in nonstick spray) and put on medium heat. Butter each side of the toast, then cut a hole in the center of each piece (I used the top of a water glass) and place in saute pan. Carefully crack an egg in the center of the bread and add salt and pepper. Wait until the egg is cooked to your desired consistency (you may flip if you want to).