Tag Archives: snack

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar sounds like a strange name. What is it exactly? Basically it is a healthy dip full of black beans, black eyed peas, bell peppers, purple onions, tomatoes, and cilanto in a light vinagrette dressing. It’s kind of an oxymoron though. The cowboy part tells us that this is nothing fancy, however, the caviar description means that the nothing fancy IS, in fact, fancy! I can tell you firsthand that this is delicious!

Cowboy Caviar can be classified as a dip or salsa. It is loaded with healthy ingredients such as black beans, peppers, black eyed peas, purple onion, etc etc etc. You really could add/subtract whatever you want and make it spicy or keep it mild, you can tweak it to include whatever ingredients you want. To keep things simple, let’s stick with the recipe I know and love, shall we?

When To Serve

Cowboy caviar is a favorite among kids and adults. The recipe makes a huge batch, but you know what is crazy? At a family party, there are never leftovers! And if I make it just because for my family, it only lasts a day or two. It’s crazy how much everyone enjoys this healthy salsa. It’s great though.

I love making this for parties because it is a great appetizer that pairs well with Tostitos, especially Tostitos Hint Of Lime. The tangy lime chip really brings this salsa an extraordinary level.

I also love making this salsa for my family as a side dish to our dinners. You can serve this in place of a pasta salad and save the carbs for something else, maybe a yummy dessert such as a Cheesecake Cookie Cup. Sounds like an idea! Or you could pair cowboy caviar with homemade cheeseburgers. Skipping the fries and adding some veggies to your kids’ plates. And they will be happy about that! Did you think skipping french fries could be a good thing in their minds? It can!

Easy To Make

Cowboy Caviar is super easy to make. There is NO COOKING. Nothing! No need to preheat the oven because you don’t need it! Just chop up the veggies, wash the beans, and whip up the easy to make dressing and you are done. This is a raw salsa that consists of:

  • Black Beans
  • Black Eyed Peas
  • Green Bell Peppers
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Yellow Bell Peppers
  • Orange Bell Peppers
  • Roma Tomatoes
  • Purple Onion
  • Corn
  • Cilantro
  • Olive Oil
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Lime Juice
  • Honey
  • Chili Powder

The list of ingredients is pretty long (as far as I’m concerned), but since you don’t have to chop AND cook, it is okay. Just wash, chop, and combine. No cooking or baking skills required which makes this recipe a super-duper easy recipe!

How To Store

If you are lucky enough to have leftover cowboy caviar, make sure you store it in a container that is air tight. This salsa lasts a few days and actually tastes better the longer it sits. You could make it the day before your party (huge time saver!).

The flavors of all the ingredients break down in the bowl and merge together. When you go to re-serve it, mix it up well and taste a small portion. You might want to add a touch of lime or salt and then remix it up.

Family Favorite

Cowboy Caviar is super easy to make, delicious to eat, and it is such a pretty dish to serve. The peppers, onions, beans, and corn bring a variety of vibrant colors such as green, yellow, orange, red, purple, and black. It’s almost too pretty to serve. However, it’s too good not to eat!

Just writing about this recipe is making my mouth water, it’s just SO GOOD! I’m positive that this cowboy caviar dip/salsa, whatever you want to call it will become a staple appetizer for your family.

Print

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar is a healthy dip full of black beans, black eyed peas, bell peppers, purple onions, tomatoes, and cilanto in a light vinagrette dressing.
Course Appetizer, lunch, Side Dish, Snack
Keyword dips, salsa, veggies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

Salsa

  • 1 Purple Onion chopped
  • 1 Green Bell Pepper chopped
  • 1 Orange Bell Pepper chopped
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped
  • 4 Roma Tomatoes seeded and chopped
  • 1 bunch Cilantro chopped
  • 1 can Corn
  • 15 oz Black Beans rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz Black Eyed Peas rinsed and drained

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 4 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
  • 4 tbsp Lime Juice
  • 3 tbsp Honey
  • 2 tsp Chili Powder

Instructions

Dressing

  • In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for dressing and whisk well. Set aside.

Salsa

  • In a large bowl combine all salsa ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix together well.
  • Add dressing to the salsa and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
  • Serve with corn chips, crackers, etc.
  • ENJOY!

Two Ingredient Bagels That Are Healthy And Weight Watchers Approved

Two Ingredient Bagels sounded pretty interesting to me. I first heard of them during the beginning stages of the Covid19 lockdown days. A woman in a Facebook group mentioned how to make the 2 ingredient dough in lieu of regular dough since it sold out at the grocery stores.

What Two Ingredients?

Just two ingredients is all it takes to make these bagels which have been also referred to as Weight Watchers Two Ingredient Bagels. So what are these magical ingredients? Wait for it…Plain Greek Yogurt and Self Rising Flour. Can you believe that? And you can use the non-fat plain greek yogurt making these an incredibly healthy bagel! No wonder Weight Watchers endorses this recipe!

Self Rising vs All Purpose Flour

Again, when making the two ingredient bagels you only need flour and yogurt, specifically self rising flour. What is the difference between self rising flour and all purpose flour?

All purpose flour does not rise unless you add a leavening agent such as baking powder. Self rising flour already contains baking powder as well as salt. And as the name implies, it allows the dough to rise on it’s own. Nothing more is needed to assist with that.

If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can use ‘regular’ flour so don’t worry about that. A good adjustment to regular flour is to add a small pinch of salt as well as 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder to each cup of flour in your recipe. The baking powder will assist in the dough rising, the salt has nothing to do with that. The salt is purely for taste so depending on your preference, you can eliminate it altogether or add more than just a pinch.

Making The Dough

This is one of the easiest recipes you will find, especially when making dough. Just measure the ingredients (all two of them!), combine them in a bowl, and then mix them thoroughly. That is basically it! You will need to put some muscle into it and knead the dough. Believe it or not, the yogurt and flour will make a dough. It seems as though it would make a mushy mess, but I can assure you that the more you mix and knead the ingredients, the more it will begin to resemble dough. Amazing!

Making The Bagels

Now that the dough is done, you just need to shape it into bagel shapes. I’m sure you know what that looks like even without a picture. The easiest way to do this is to separate the ball of dough into 8 equal parts. Next, roll each part in the palm of your hand so that it looks like a ball. Then, using your thumb, push through the middle of the dough while pulling the sides to create that bagel-like (or doughnut-like) shape. It doesn’t take long so making these bagels will be quick and easy. Amazing!

Baking The Bagels

Once the bagels have formed, just brush them with an egg wash so that they get that golden color on top. If you don’t have an egg, it is not a problem, the egg is only for aesthetic reasons, it doesn’t really add much in terms of flavor. The egg does make the dough look a little nicer because it will brown the tops of the bagels rather than having them stark white – again, purely aesthetics. Adding a little salt to the tops would be a great addition, however. Too much salt is never a good thing, but using it in moderation is a beautiful thing.

Now that everything is ready to go, just put the two ingredient bagels in the oven and they will be ready in 20 to 25 minutes. Don’t walk away completely though, you will need to turn the bagels halfway through to ensure that they bake evenly.

When the bagels look done, take them out of the oven. Turn the heat up and then pop them back in the oven for 3 to 4 more minutes to get them that golden brown color that you want. That’s it! Sounds pretty easy? It is!

Cut into your bagels and spread your favorite cream cheese, butter, or jams. Or you can eat them as-is. Warm bagels don’t need a lot of extras!

More Breakfast Breads To Try

Brown Sugar Banana Bread

Lemon Blueberry French Toast Bake

Sausage And Biscuits

Nutella Pop Tarts

Print

Two Ingredient Bagels

Two Ingredient Bagels are SO EASY to make, just need nonfat greek yogurt and self rising flour!
Course Biscuits, Breakfast, Snack
Keyword bagels, homemade bread, sandwiches
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8 bagels
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

Bagel Dough

  • 2 cups Self Rising Flour
  • 2 cups Non Fat Plain Greek Yogurt
  • *3 tsp Baking Powder *If you don't have Self Rising Flour*

Bagel Toppings

  • 1 Egg
  • pinch Salt
  • 1 tsp Water
  • Any seasoning you prefer, if you want

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and lightly coat with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine flour (and baking powder, if using) and yogurt until the mixture clumps to ball of dough.
  • Dump mixture onto a lightly floured work surface and knead the dough by hand until the dough is smooth and elastic (approx 5 min). Dust with add'l flour as needed if the dough is too sticky.
  • Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and shape each portion of the dough into a ball.
  • Use your thumbs to make a hole in the center of each ball. Gently pull and stretch until the dough is a uniform ring. Repeat with remaining dough balls. *Flour your hands as needed, if too sticky to handle.
  • Arrange the shaped bagels on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Mix together the egg wash by whisking the egg, salt, and water in a small bowl until smooth.
  • Brush the egg wash mixture over the bagels. Sprinkle desire toppings if desired (additional season, such as everything bagel, ranch, parm cheese, etc).
  • Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through.
  • Remove from oven. Increase oven temp to 450 degrees F.
  • Return baking sheet to oven and bake for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until the tops of the bagels have browned.
  • Remove from oven and let cool.
  • ENJOY!

Nutella Pop Tarts

Nutella Pop Tarts sounds like an amazing combination, doesn’t it? I mean, who doesn’t love the creamy taste of nutella? And Pop Tarts are a tasty treat as well. Now picture biting into that creamy, chocolate, hazelnut taste inside of a crispy pastry. Yum!

Making home made pop tarts and combining those two things has to be incredible! The soft crust with warm nutella sounds like an incredibly yummy snack that you could have for dessert or possibly breakfast from time to time!

Pop Tarts

If you haven’t heard of pop tarts before, they are a flat rectangular toaster pastry with a sugary filling sealed inside two layers of rectangular, thin pastry crust. I loved pop tarts, when I was growing up. These weren’t something we ate often. So when my mom did buy pop tarts, I was SO EXCITED! My favorite flavor was the frosted raspberry ones. If you have read any of my blog posts, you will notice that I’m a huge fan of raspberry, in general! Especially raspberry martinis, aka French Martinis. Mmm, mmm! But I digress. Back to the pop tarts. They are typically considered a breakfast snack and come in a variety of flavors. You could put almost any flavor inside a homemade pop tart. For my first attempt, I went with a Nutella filling and, thus, the Nutella Pop Tart recipe was created.

Nutella

Nutella is a sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread. It’s basically a spreadable candy bar which is why it is so loved by everyone! You can add it to some bread and have a hazelnut sandwich – so good! Adding nutella to a home made pop tart just sounds like the right thing to do! When you bake the pop tarts, the nutella gets warm and gooey inside the fresh and crispy crust. Can’t you just taste it?

Making The Nutella Pop Tarts

These nutella pop tarts are super easy to make and is an awesome breakfast snack for you or your kids. I’ve made these for my entire family and everyone from age 46 down to age 2 loved them! You only need a few ingredients to bake these yummy snacks and are much tastier than the original, store bought treats. You will look like a professional baker, when you whip these up for your guests and you don’t have to have an extensive baking background. This is a very basic recipe that is easy to follow and difficult to screw up. Are you in?

There are two main ingredients, are you ready? Store bought refrigerated pie crusts and Nutella. Basically, you just put together easily accessible ingredients and bake. Then, you dress up the nutella pop tarts by adding icing to the top with some sprinkles or as we Bostonians call them, jimmies! That’s really it! And boy oh boy are these delicious. For such an easy recipe, you will be surprised at how tasty these are. Add some Pillsbury pie crusts and nutella to your shopping list (if you don’t have some on hand already) and get baking!

Ingredients

Pop Tarts

  • 1 box Refrigerated Pie Crusts
  • 1 cup Nutella

Glaze

  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Milk
  • 1/2 cup Rainbow Sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Unroll both pie crusts and cut out (8) 3″ circles from each pie crust. Cut as many as you can and then re-roll the dough to get all 8.
  • Spread the Nutella evenly on each cut circle of dough. Leave 1/2″ border all the way around.
  • Top each circle with another circle and press the edges together.
  • Then crimp the edges with a fork all the way around.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes or until they are light brown.
  • Let cool for a few minutes, then remove and place on a wire rack until cooled.
  • Whisk powdered sugar and milk together to make the glaze.
  • Drizzle the glaze over each pop tart.
  • Sprinkle rainbow sprinkles over each pop tart.

More Breakfast Recipes

Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake

Sausage & Biscuits

Lemon Blueberry French Toast Bake

Cannoli Pancakes

Snack Recipes

Chocolate Toffee Saltines (Christmas Crack)

Apple Pie Pop Tarts

Cannoli Dip

Drinks!

Pistachio Martini

Chocolate Amaretto Martini

Peach Cobbler Martini

Bananas Foster Martini

Follow Me On Social Media

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

Print

Nutella Pop Tarts

Home Made Nutella Pop Tarts
Course Breakfast, Snack
Keyword breakfast recipe, nutella
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

Pop Tarts

  • 1 box Refrigerated Pie Crusts
  • 1 cup Nutella

Glaze

  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Milk
  • 1/2 cup Rainbow Sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Unroll both pie crusts and cut out (8) 3" circles from each pie crust. Cut as many as you can and then re-roll the dough to get all 8.
  • Spread the Nutella evenly on each cut circle of dough. Leave 1/2" border all the way around.
  • Top each circle with another circle and press the edges together.
  • Then crimp the edges with a fork all the way around.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes or until they are light brown.
  • Let cool for a few minutes, then remove and place on a wire rack until cooled.
  • Whisk powdered sugar and milk together to make the glaze.
  • Drizzle the glaze over each pop tart.
  • Sprinkle rainbow sprinkles over each pop tart.
  • ENJOY!