Spreads, Dips & Salsas

Thumbnail image for Roasted Garlic and White Bean Dip with Fresh Basil

Roasted Garlic and White Bean Dip with Fresh Basil

April 19, 2012

Mariel here. I’m in the midst of moving from the city to the suburbs, so my mom has been spearheading the blog while I sort through my life… But I’m back this week and I’ve got another recipe in the hopper for next week so I won’t be neglecting Feast for too long! On Easter [...]

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Thumbnail image for Healthier Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Healthier Spinach and Artichoke Dip

March 19, 2012

Mariel here. I have to admit, it’s been awhile since I’ve indulged in Spinach & Artichoke dip, not because it isn’t delicious, but because the stuff they dish up at the average restaurant is so overloaded with full-fat cream and cheese, I’d rather just go whole hog and eat a gallon of Haagen Dazs. So [...]

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Thumbnail image for Homemade Mixed Berry Jam

Homemade Mixed Berry Jam

March 1, 2012

Mariel here. As my mother elucidated in her post earlier this week, we’ll be hosting one of my best friend’s bridal showers this coming Saturday. Since my mom is a specialist in afternoon teas, we decided to stay the course and drum up an array of dainty, midday nibbles. While mommy dearest is far more [...]

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Thumbnail image for Chile Con Queso aka Tex-Mex Style Nacho Cheese Dip

Chile Con Queso aka Tex-Mex Style Nacho Cheese Dip

January 31, 2012

Mary Anne here. Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, and this year I may actually watch the game as my New York Giants tackle the New England Patriots! Usually it’s all about the grub…and the commercials. My cheering section of the Ellicott-Rittenhouse team plans to keep up our spirits no matter what happens on the [...]

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Thumbnail image for Sun-Dried Tomato Caprese with Smoked Mozzarella

Sun-Dried Tomato Caprese with Smoked Mozzarella

December 27, 2011

Mary Anne here. Old Man Winter officially arrived last week, yet here at Feast on the Cheap, Mariel and I share a craving for all things tomato. Our Summer Tomato Salad with Brie and Bermuda Onion, The Palm’s Monday Night Salad, or even a hearty Heirloom Tomato and Bread Salad would quell our yearning. Maybe [...]

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Thumbnail image for Spinach-Ricotta Spread on Crispy Parmesan Squares

Spinach-Ricotta Spread on Crispy Parmesan Squares

December 9, 2011

I’ve become a serious deadbeat in the kitchen. Apparently my culinary inspiration has gone the way of the Walkman and every week I scratch my head over what to make for Feast. Stew Leonard’s prepared foods have become my new bestie – ditto for Progresso soups and frozen ravioli – and gone are the days [...]

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Thumbnail image for Montrachet and Walnut Quesadillas with Apple, Fig, and Date Salsa

Montrachet and Walnut Quesadillas with Apple, Fig, and Date Salsa

September 21, 2011

Mary Anne here. At Feast on the Cheap, we’ve written our fair share about enjoying breakfast for dinner. And Mariel realized recently that when I broke out the pancake batter for our night-time repast when she was just a little girl, it was more an act of…ummm…laziness, rather than altruistic, motherly benevolence. Busted by my brood, [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cucumber and Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions – aka My New Favorite Burger Topping

Cucumber and Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions – aka My New Favorite Burger Topping

August 16, 2011

Mariel here. So judging by the calendar, this past weekend marked your 437th “woo summer 2011!” backyard BBQ. I have a feeling I could extrude pure mayonnaise from your arteries or butter a dinner roll with your forehead. Let’s lighten things up, shall we? August seems to herald the unofficial crescendo of gloopy pasta salads [...]

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Thumbnail image for Shrimp Po’ Boys with a Spicy-Sweet Remoulade

Shrimp Po’ Boys with a Spicy-Sweet Remoulade

August 4, 2011

Mary Anne here. It would seem we’re on a sandwich roll here – get it? Oh whatever. From Mariel’s Crispy Chicken, Fried Egg and Prosciutto Sammie and my Classic Lobster Roll to these ridiculously rich Open-Faced Peach and Prosciutto with Brie and Arugula Sandwiches, we could practically open a deli! Thanks to the steamy temps outside, I [...]

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Thumbnail image for Puff Pastry Bites with Stilton, Fig Jam, and Candy-Glazed Walnuts

Puff Pastry Bites with Stilton, Fig Jam, and Candy-Glazed Walnuts

May 5, 2011

Mary Anne here. Living in the Northeast, this wickedly wild winter left me wanting to hibernate. And while our spring has certainly had its fair share of dark and dreary days, we’ve also enjoyed intermittent bouts of sunshine and warmth. I am SO ready for real spring weather that I’m determined to dust off the [...]

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Thumbnail image for Roasted Tomato Salsa with Fresh Cilantro and Tomatillos

Roasted Tomato Salsa with Fresh Cilantro and Tomatillos

April 19, 2011

Mariel here. I don’t have to tell you that fresh salsa beats the pants off the jarred stuff, so I won’t get into some long-winded explanation as to why I whipped this up. But I will tell you this: a) I was inspired by a delicious-looking Salsa Verde over at Mommie Cooks! b) this is [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cranberry Pear Sauce

Cranberry Pear Sauce

December 14, 2010

Mariel here. Thanks to my love affair with Costco, I had a jumbo bag of cranberries hanging out in my fridge – taking up space, weighing down my crisper drawer. Cranberries are for Thanksgiving, so once the holiday comes and goes, what on earth are you supposed to do with any leftovers? Has anyone ever [...]

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Thumbnail image for Smoked Salmon Challah Bites

Smoked Salmon Challah Bites

September 16, 2010

Mary Anne here. As I’ve mentioned before, the Ellicott clan was raised in a Christian-Judeo household. We were confirmed Catholics but our step-dad, George, was a devout Jew. And as he embraced our Christmas and Easter traditions with all the enthusiasm of an excited toddler, we honored his religious holidays as well – and none [...]

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Thumbnail image for Roasted Veggie Sandwiches with Sweet Herbed Ricotta

Roasted Veggie Sandwiches with Sweet Herbed Ricotta

August 26, 2010

Mariel here. By now I should be a pie crust whiz. Between my mom’s one-on-one training and our joint video demonstration – not to mention the hours I’ve spent fixing my own botched crusts – I’ve had a good deal of practice. That being said, unless I’m making a delicious dessert pie, I’d rather leave [...]

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Thumbnail image for Jalapeno Corn Fritters with Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish

Jalapeno Corn Fritters with Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish

August 2, 2010

Mariel here. My mother’s Jalapeno Crab Cakes with Mango Salsa are second-to-none. These snappy morsels aren’t loaded with filler like so many lesser cakes, instead they’re brimming with tender crab and the spice, well it’s just right. Because they’re so chock full o’ seafood, they’re also on the pricey side ($30 and that doesn’t include [...]

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Thumbnail image for Summer Peach Relish

Summer Peach Relish

July 26, 2010

Mary Anne here. Peaches are hitting their prime right now and after watching “Produce Pete’s” peachy dissertation on our local news station, I made a bee-line for the farmstand to pick a peck. Pete dished up a slew of fruity tips about selecting this precious produce and he managed to illuminate, entertain and inform in [...]

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Thumbnail image for Pesto Plain and Simple

Pesto Plain and Simple

July 12, 2010

Mariel here. Pesto is the type of thing that does wonders for sprucing up a lackluster meal. Pop it on toasted bread and you’ll instantly add pep to a Tomato Salad; spread it on chicken breasts for a little zest; or just blend it with your favorite pasta. And, there are more pesto renditions than [...]

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Thumbnail image for Ahi Tuna Poke

Ahi Tuna Poke

April 25, 2010

Mary Anne here. At our most recent family chow-down, my niece, Heidi, whipped up this smashing appetizer in about 10 minutes. Initially I didn’t deem sushi-quality Ahi Tuna Feast-worthy (given its high price tag), but when I saw how far it went in my family of gastronomes, I quickly changed my tune and sweet-talked my [...]

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Thumbnail image for Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce for Buffalo Wings

Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce for Buffalo Wings

February 3, 2010

Pairs perfectly with our Tapas Wings, Sweet & Spicy Wings or Classic Buffalo Wings. Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce for Buffalo Wings Serves 6 Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons cilantro, chopped – $0.20 the juice of ½ a lemon – $0.24 6 ozs. plain yogurt – $0.80 ½ cup mayonnaise – stock 1 cup crumbled Blue or Gorgonzola [...]

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Thumbnail image for Valerie’s Fig and Olive Tapenade with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Valerie’s Fig and Olive Tapenade with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

December 20, 2009

Mary Anne here. We truly are a modern family! When my ex-husband remarried about seven years ago, we all reaped the rewards of his union. While he acquired a beautiful and gracious wife, my children gained an incredibly supportive ally and I got myself a brand new friend who I have affectionately dubbed my “wife-in-law.” [...]

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Thumbnail image for Homemade Cranberry Chutney

Homemade Cranberry Chutney

November 23, 2009

Mary Anne here. Homemade cranberry sauce is so much better than the canned variety, (Mariel here. That’s debatable), although children under the age of 20 tend to disagree. This concoction keeps beautifully for up to a week in the refrigerator. Back in the day, I used Red Currant preserves in this recipe, but given that [...]

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Thumbnail image for Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Homemade Barbeque Sauce and Coleslaw

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Homemade Barbeque Sauce and Coleslaw

June 29, 2009

Mariel here. Always a fan of Sloppy Joes as a kid, I’ve since graduated to Pulled Chicken sandwiches. They’re messy, they’re sweet and savory, they’re totally delicious. While Pulled Pork  – aka the other white meat – is a steady favorite at traditional BBQ joints, I prefer Pulled Chicken. It just makes me feel healthier [...]

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Thumbnail image for Smoked Salmon with Dill Sauce

Smoked Salmon with Dill Sauce

April 8, 2009

Smoked Salmon with Dill Sauce Serves 12 or more and recipe is easily halved Ingredients: 1 lb. Norwegian smoked salmon, pre-sliced – $17.98 Thin sliced Pumpernickel bread; cut into rounds (three per slice) with a small cookie cutter (I use a heart shape) – $2.99 Sweet butter, softened - from stock Sprigs of fresh dill for [...]

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Thumbnail image for Crab Cakes with Jalapeno Aioli

Crab Cakes with Jalapeno Aioli

March 10, 2009

  Mary Anne here. Fluffy and light, I like to pack my crab cakes full of crab, not cake. My kids are definitely biased, but they all agree that this is one of their favorite recipes. This recipe pairs beautifully with Mango Salsa or Mariel’s Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish. Crab Cakes with Jalapeno Aioli Serves [...]

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Spring Cleaning: Jalapeño Mayonnaise

March 10, 2009

Jalapeño Mayonnaise Ingredients: 1 ½ cups mayonnaise – from stock 2 Tablespoons honey – from stock 3 red or green Jalapeño chilies, minced fine – $0.87 2 cloves garlic, minced – from stock 1 ½ teaspoons horseradish – $1.79 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar – from stock ¼ teaspoon cayenne, or to taste – from [...]

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Jalapeño Mayonnaise

March 10, 2009

Ingredients: 1 ½ cups mayonnaise – from stock 2 Tablespoons honey – from stock 3 red or green Jalapeño chilies, minced fine – $0.87 2 cloves garlic, minced – from stock 1 ½ teaspoons horseradish – $1.79 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar – from stock ¼ teaspoon cayenne, or to taste – from stock GRAND [...]

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Thumbnail image for Mango Salsa

Mango Salsa

March 10, 2009

Mary Anne here. We eat A LOT of mangoes at my house. Whenever my daughter is coming home to visit, I always stock up on mangoes -Mexican, Thai, Indian, whatever.  While they’re not the hardest fruit to cut, sometimes navigating around that long, flat pit means a good deal of flesh is lost or rendered [...]

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Thumbnail image for Garden Guacamole

Garden Guacamole

February 23, 2009

Garden Guacamole 10 Servings, but this recipe is easily halved Note: With firm pressure, roll limes on counter top before cutting and juicing. Ingredients: 6 Haas Avocados, ripened – $7.50 *Note: To hasten the ripening of avocado or any fruit, place in a brown paper bag for a day or two. When choosing an avocado, [...]

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