The Ultimate Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Israeli Salad

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

The Ultimate Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Israeli Salad was created in partnership with Kingsford. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Eating out in NYC. Besides my family and friends, it could quite possibly be my favorite part of being alive. There's something so amazing about the incredible breadth of culinary greatness that's squeezed within 22 square miles of space. Seriously. I have a never-ending list of restaurants I want to try. Every time I cross one off, I add 3 more. The amount of ridiculously amazing food in this city is unreal.

And yet, I find myself returning to a few places over and over again. Not because it's anything fancy or mind-blowing, but because it's downright delicious. One of those places is Souvlaki GR. I've yet to have a bad meal there, and time and time again they just do the simple things extraordinarily well.

My good buddy Tyler and I have a photography studio... Ashe Photography Studio (shameless plug), and whenever we go into Manhattan for a client meeting, we always end up at this place after. The order is always the same. Chicken souvlaki with a massive amount of tzatziki sauce (and pita... their pita is freaking legit).

Ever since first tasting their chicken souvlaki, I knew I had to recreate it at home. I needed to perfect the ultimate Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Israeli Salad. And guys, I'm so excited to share this with you. It's EPIC.

So what makes the chicken souvlaki and tzatziki at Souvlaki GR so good? A few things. Let's break it down:

You want all those lemon-garlic-oregano flavors to permeate through the chicken. That's why I recommend marinating this chicken overnight. It's worth it.
So that all the chicken cooks at the same rate and finishes at the same time, it's important to make sure your cubes of meat are all cut to the same size. Go for the most uniform cubes you can get.
Don't go too big on the cuts. 1" cubes are ideal. This way the marinade goes all the way into the meat and the chicken will cook fast.
Get your grill cranking on medium-high/high. You want all those charred crispy bits on the outside of the chicken.
The perfect pairing for chicken souvlaki? A highly seasoned tzatziki. The flavors are intense, just the way they should be. And to give you a burst of crunchy freshness in every bite, the simple Israeli Salad (tomatoes and cucumbers) is totally the way to go!

Guys. I haven't mentioned this yet because I don't want to believe it... but my summer is coming to and end. School starts back up at the end of next week, so it's time to get all the end-of-summer celebrating I can. I don't have time to wait for Labor Day. The celebrations start now.

And you know what? Kingsford gets it. They want to celebrate life's non-holidays with you too. That's why their Kingsford® Match Light® Instant Light Charcoal briquettes get you cooking FAST. No lighter fluid required... just strike a match and you'll be ready to cook in TEN minutes. Yup, I know! EPIC!

Kingsford wants you to submit your favorite non-holiday celebrating. Forget just partying it up for special occasions. Life's too short, so let's celebrate the mundane... everyday. Make sure to tag Kingsford the next time you share your favorite non-holiday celebration!

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When it comes time to serve up the ultimate Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Israeli Salad, you've got some options. You can certainly go straight up and just eat it as is. It's a great paleo-friendly, gluten free meal that you'll feel good about serving to your family.

To take it to the next level, feel free to get a side dish of rice and some warm pita on the table. Or maybe get some lettuce and make yourself a legit Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki salad! Either way, you're going to want to make The Ultimate Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Israeli Salad over and over!

*recipe slightly adapted from The Iron You.

The Ultimate Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Israeli Salad

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kingsford®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage Soup

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

This Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage Soup was created in partnership with Butterball. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

How is it almost the end of August already? Seriously... next week I actually have to go back to work . It's apparently time yet again to give up my elastic shorts for fitted work pants. Now may be a good time to go and see if they actually still fit.

It's been a great summer and a two month break from work is absolutely amazing. But let's be honest. No vacation is ever long enough. Can't we just go back to July again? Please.

Well, if there's one good thing about August, it's all the tomatoes, corn, and beginning of stone fruit (I'm looking at you peach pie).

One food my wife and toddler are obsessed with, EVEN in the summer heat? Soup. They could eat soup every day for the rest of their lives and be pretty darn content. We've also been finding that Olivia will eat foods that she usually would avoid at all costs... if it's bobbing in soup. She calls it "fishing". Want her to eat some sausage? Fish for the sausage, Olivia! Boom.

This Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage soup is actually 100% the brainchild of my wife Asheley. She pretty elated that something she created is ending up here, and I couldn't be more excited to share this soup with you. Asheley really doesn't get the chance to cook often in our house (the kitchen is kinda my man cave), so it's always a lot of fun when she gets to cook something up for the family.

Oh my gosh... Olivia is OBSESSED with this Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage soup. I'm pretty sure Asheley has been bringing it to work every day for lunch the last two weeks as well. It's so simple, but that's the beauty of it. The more and more I live on this earth, the more I find that often times the best foods are those with the fewest (and highest quality) ingredients.

The Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage soup comes together with barely any prep at all, and we've found it to be a great way to get sweet potato and sausage in to Olivia's diet.

Corn has never been a problem for Olivia. I'm pretty sure she'd be happy with corn being the one and only source of food in the house. Case in point? I had to make TWO extra ears of corn while making this recipe for her to eat. She's a beast... and I love her.

To get the most flavor into your soup, I would recommend roasting your sweet potatoes in the oven. It takes way longer doing it that way then just popping them in the microwave, but all that extra time equates to an extra flavorful sweet potato.

It also helps to go for the high quality stuff in the broth aisle. Asheley actually uses bone broth in this because it's really good for the autoimmune diet she's on, but you can feel free to use whatever your preferred broth happens to be.

Also, you're making this Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage Soup and it's not corn season, feel free to use the frozen stuff.

You'll notice I put a chipotle in adobo as an optional ingredient. We don't usually add it because Olivia doesn't like it, but it definitely adds a nice smoky spicy kick to the soup if you're into that sort of thing!

When you think of turkey, I'm sure you instantly think of either Thanksgiving or deli meat sandwiches. I don't blame you. Both are delicious. But there's so much you're missing out on (see the bottom of this post for a TON more turkey recipe ideas). Turkey is a fantastic source of lean protein and makes for great burgers, tacos... and soup! Become a turketarian and eat turkey as a regular part of your dinner rotation!

The last thing I think of when I'm thinking of turkey would be sausage. But would you know it... Butterball makes one HECK of a turkey sausage. The Butterball Everyday Turkey Dinner Sausage is absolutely delicious! I'd be super happy just throwing it on a hot dog bun with a bit of mustard. Ugh, now my stomach is rumbling and I want 2nd dinner. Sorry, I digress.

I love how the super moist and flavorful Butterball Everyday Turkey Dinner Sausage adds the perfect meaty and smoky touch to this soup. It goes so well with the sweetness of the corn and sweet potato.

And you know what? Even though I'm not one to eat soup in August like my two favorite ladies in my life... this Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage Soup is definitely one I'll make an exception for.

Easy enough for the spouse to make. Delicious enough for the toddlers to eat. Fast enough to make on a weeknight with your eyes closed. What more could you want?!

Big thanks to Asheley for creating this recipe and allowing me to share it!

Sweet Potato, Corn, and Sausage Soup

Need More Turkey Inspiration?

Huevos Rancheros Pizza with Turkey Sausage

Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Greek Turkey Burgers

Korean Turkey Burgers with Kimchi Slaw

Korean Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Spicy Honey Soppressata Pizza - The Bee Sting Pizza

By Chris Cockren 3 Comments

Find out what makes the Spicy Honey Soppressata Pizza (aka the Bee Sting Pizza at Roberta's Pizza in Brooklyn) the most addictive pizza on the planet!

There are few things in this life more enjoyable than pizza. Growing up in the suburbs just outside of New York City, there's no shortage of amazing slices and pies. In fact, it's pretty difficult to locate a bad pizza in these parts. #blessed

When I was a kid, I just assumed everyone had access to the same quality pizza (and bagels for that matter) that we had. Then we went on vacation and ordered "pizza". It was at that moment my parents had to give me the talk. You see, son... you don't order pizza or bagels just anywhere.

New York. It's where it's at for pizza. There's something so ridiculously satisfying about a greasy NY slice. But lately, I've really been getting into Neapolitan-style pizzas... the ones cooked in wood fired ovens that come out with beautifully blistered crusts and minimal toppings. Simplicity, done extremely well. There's nothing better. A few places in NYC do it really well, like one of my favorites... Motorino.

My good friend Tyler has actually been pumping out some seriously legit Neapolitan-syle pizza lately at his house. The dude build a wood fired oven in his backyard, and he's obsessed with perfecting a cold-fermented dough that is filled with great flavor and lends to a beautiful airy and chewy crust structure. A few times a summer, Tyler hosts these epic pizza parties where everyone brings a bunch of different toppings and we all can make our own pizzas.

My absolute favorite? Recreating the Bee Sting Pizza from Roberta's Pizza in Bushwick. The uber-trendy restaurant boasts a really cool atmosphere, an unapologetic hipster crowd, and some really good wood-fired pizza. The Bee Sting Pizza consistently is my favorite there. The spicy soppressata is bonkers good on it's own, and it pairs amazingly well with a surprising secret ingredient... honey! The spicy and sweet combo is highly addictive.

Every single time Tyler hosts a pizza party, I make this Spicy Honey Soppressata Pizza. And every time... people go crazy for it. It's not complicated. It's certainly nothing fancy. But it is freaking fantastic.

Not going to lie. I didn't make my own pizza dough for this pizza. I just didn't have the time and wanted a quick dinner. In a perfect world, I'm going to make some pizza dough using Tyler's recipe (which takes 24 hours, by the way). But when the Bee Sting Pizza craving hits last minute, I just go to my local pizzeria to grab a pizza dough (or get one from your local grocery store!) and call it a day.

I also don't have a wood fired oven in my backyard (although I did recently get this propane fueled pizza oven that mimics the crazy high temperature of a wood-fired oven... it gets to like 800 degrees and does an AMAZING job... HIGHLY recommend). Since I figured most of you don't have a dedicated pizza oven, I recreated this Spicy Honey Soppressata Pizza the way most of us would make it: using store bough pizza dough in the regular good old fashioned oven. And you know what? It's still amazing.

Now, in order to have the BEST pizza experience possible, a few tips:

make sure your dough is at room temperature before trying to stretch it out. Cold dough never stretches out the way you want it to.
flour the pizza peel and the dough before stretching it out. Then work quickly with the toppings so that the dough doesn't get stuck to the peel.
the tomato sauce shouldn't be complicated. Just canned crushed tomato, a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Maybe a pinch of garlic powder if you want, but that's it. I know it sounds crazy, but it's the way to go for pizza.
use high quality mozzarella... the kind that you kinda wince when you see the price of it. WORTH IT.
get the best soppressata you can find. Makes all the difference!
buy a PIZZA STONE for your oven. It's essential to making pizzas in your oven at home!

Spicy Honey Soppressata Pizza - The Bee Sting Pizza

Need More Pizza Ideas?

Huevos Rancheros Pizza with Turkey Chorizo

Corn and Blueberry Grilled Pizza with Whipped Goat Cheese

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

These Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa were created in partnership with Butterball. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Ah, summertime... when the livin' is easy. There's nothing better than these couple of months I get to recharge my batteries before another school year begins. And yes, thank you. I know. Another school year is right around the corner. But we aren't going to talk about that right now. There's no need to get me all depressed, especially when I'm on vacation.

Actually as I write this, I'm sitting in a hotel room huddled in the bathroom while my wife and daughter are fast asleep in the pitch black abyss just beyond this lavatory door. I know, I lead a glamorous life.

It's our little family vacation to Sesame Place! We just arrived to the hotel. We planned it perfectly, leaving the house right after rush hour traffic was done. It's coincidentally also Olivia's bed time, and she loves sleeping in the car. No traffice + a sleeping toddler?! Life is good. #parentwin

However, for the first time ever, our little 2 year old decided to stay up for almost the entire 2 ½ hour car ride belting out "Let It Go" (not the whole song, just those words over and over again) and naming every Sesame Street character over and over again. I guess she's a wee bit excited.

But I digress. Before Olivia starts dragging us around Sesame Place these next few days, I need to tell you about this epic win I had in the meal planning department back at home last week. If you remember, I made this legit Huevos Rancheros Pizza with Turkey Chorizo for breakfast. Ermagherd. That breakfast pizza was unreal. I knew I was going to have a bunch of leftover "turkey chorizo", so I transformed it into perhaps one of my favorite dinner options of all time. TACOS!

These Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa... ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Okay, we have so much to talk about in this recipe. First, there's no need to actually make that breakfast pizza first if you don't want to (but I mean, why wouldn't you want to?). Just whip up a batch of the taco turkey for these Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa (recipe is below). This seasoned ground turkey is also great for wraps, quesadillas, salads, omelettes, etc.

You may recognize the pineapple salsa. It's a staple around here (Pineapple Habanero Salsa, Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon). It's the most requested item for pretty much any of my parties throughout the year. The sweet and spicy combination is perfect on salty tortillas chips, various meats and poultry, and also it makes for an absurdly amazing taco with my Cowboy Beans (shout-out to my friend Steve for creating that winning combo).

Now I know the pineapple salsa does call for habaneros, but if you are serving this up to your family, I would definitely omit those. They are quite spicy. The poblanos in the recipe are mildly spicy, so if you have sensitive eaters, you can replace them with green bell peppers so the color is still there at least.

You know avocado is always a hit in my house, so they always make an appearance on taco night. Sometimes straight up, sometimes in my famous guacamole. The word famous in this case is complete unregulated, in case you were wondering. There's no declaration anywhere exclaiming my guac as famous. My mommy just thinks it is, so there.

You could totally use your favorite shredded taco cheese here (I'm looking at you cheddar and Monterey Jack), but I absolutely love the salty little kick of queso fresco. You only need a little bit because it packs a powerful punch of salty flavor!

Onto my big pet peeve with tacos. Listen up, friends. Don't go through all the trouble of making this epic meal, and then just serve tortillas out of the bag. They need some TLC before they are destined for taco greatness. Tortillas are best served up warm and toasty. Take the extra few minutes and do it up right. Your family deserves it... right?

My favorite way to warm tortillas is in a dry pan over medium-high heat (I spray a light coating of nonstick cooking spray between each tortilla). A few seconds on each side (you'll see the tortillas begin to puff as they warm and toast) is all they need! If you look at the bottom left photo below, the reason they look all toasty golden brown is because I heated them in a pan. BOOM.

When serving tacos for a crowd, it's easier to just wrap a stack of them in aluminum foil and let them heat up in a 350°F-ish oven for about 5-10 minutes. If in a real hurry, you could wrap them in a moist paper towel and microwave for a few seconds.

No matter what your approach, make sure those tortillas are ready for these Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa.

Did I mention how I absolutely love how easy it was to simply reheat this turkey from the Huevos Rancheros Pizza and turn them into tacos? Like, all I had to do was slice up some avocado and quickly prep this pineapple salsa, which takes a whole whopping 15 minutes AT MOST. A delicious and healthy dinner on the table that quick? That's a huge win in my book.

Let's give it up to this Butterball Ground Turkey for a second, can we? I love using ground turkey because it's a good source of lean protein and something we all can feel good about serving up to our loved ones to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Speaking of healthy lifestyle, did I tell you I started running this week. Ugh, I hate exercising. Truly and completely, I do. In theory, I really really really want to be one of those runners that can just be like hey, I think I'm going to run a half marathon next week. In reality, a 5K seems like an impossible feat even after months of training. Anyway, more on my running (and by running I mean jog... walk... jog... walk... walk... jo-no-walk....) another time.

Back to this Butterball Ground Turkey. It's the perfect lean protein-packed solution for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you need some turketarian inspiration, here ya go:

Anyone else only give turkey a chance at Thanksgiving and on their boring lunchtime white bread sandwiches? Ugh, come on guys. We're better than that. Let’s give Butterball Turkey a permanent spot in our weeknight dinner rotation. And with tacos like these Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa, that'll be an easy thing to do!

Healthy Turkey Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

This Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria was created in partnership with Finlandia Vodka. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly.

Okay, Chris. Let's try not to freak out. You just saw a back to school commercial on TV. It's no big deal. You still have plenty of summer left. Half, to be exact. No need to panic.

Ohhhh my gosh why is it going so fast?!?!

That's a question every teacher asks themselves as soon as the end of July/beginning of August rolls around. From the end of June through July, every day feels like Friday. Now we're at the point where it's starting to feel a bit like Sunday. You know what I mean. Friday nights are great. It brings the hope of a nice long weekend. You feel like a million bucks on Friday night. On Sunday, it's like holy crap it's Monday tomorrow.

But it's true, though. There is plenty of summer still on the table.

The other day Asheley told me that it feels like we are hosting parties and get togethers at the house every single week lately. That's crazy, I said. It's more like twice a week. I love entertaining, and the summer gives me the perfect opportunity to bring family and friends together.

When I was a bit younger, I felt the need to impress my party guests by preparing these elaborate and time consuming recipes. I would spend days prepping and the entire party cooking. Since becoming a dad, I realized how dumb this truly is. Delicious food and drink is still a huge priority for me, but so is actually spending time with the people I invited over in the first place.

That's where make ahead recipes and super simple easy entertaining recipes come in handy. And today, I have a great one for you. This Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria. It's bright, it's fruity, it's colorful. It's a great summer beverage. And best of all? It'll only take you about five minutes to put together way before your party even starts!

Getting back to my old way of entertaining. I loved to have a signature drink for the party. It would be something that I had to make... one or two at a time... over and over again throughout the whole party (while still trying to cook). Yea, dumb. I know this now.

Fast forward to my current easy summer entertaining style. I still like that signature drink idea, but now it's made ahead of time in a huge batch. Guests help themselves. They're happy. I'm happy. Victory achieved.

This Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria is one of those awesome make ahead group party cocktails. Just mix together a few ingredients, let it sit in the refrigerator for at least two hours (or overnight to let those flavors really meld together nicely), and then serve it up with some bubbly seltzer for a refreshing summertime drink.

Let's talk options. You could definitely make this Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria with a few different wines. If you don't have rosé on hand, feel free to use a dry white wine instead. You could definitely add in some different fruit if you have it on hand. Citrus, peaches, or other stone fruit would all work well here I think. If going the citrus route, I would change out the Chambord with some triple sec. With stone fruit, I'd use a peach schnapps or the like.

For seltzer options, I was able to find a strawberry seltzer that of course worked well with this Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria. You could 100% use a different berry seltzer if you find it or even straight up plain unflavored seltzer. Don't fret too much... sangria is pretty darn forgiving and an easy recipe to play with!

With this Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria I used Finlandia Classic Vodka. It has a clean, pure taste that lends perfectly for this sangria. I also love the design of their bottle. It's sleek and modern looking... so perfect to put out on display during the party! They also have berry flavored vodkas in their product lineup that would work well here!

So remember, spend less time cooking and prepping for that next get together and instead put together this easy make ahead Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria!

Sparkling Berry Rosé Sangria

Southwest Turkey Wraps

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

These Southwest Turkey Wraps are brought to you by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Can we be real for a second? Like no fluff, no BS, straight up real life? Great, I'd knew you'd be on board. Most days over the summer, lunch doesn't get much thought. My morning starts bright and early with our 2-year-old child alarm clock. Asheley goes to work, and daddy day care begins. We play, we have fun, and we make way more of a mess than Asheley is ever happy about. When it comes time for Olivia to eat, I'm all over it. I'm making sure she's eating a semi-balanced meal (no, you can't just have pretzels Olivia).

Meal time with a toddler is quite interesting. She's pretty independent now while eating, except she makes a tremendous mess. This includes "dipping" her corn in her water glass, spreading her mac n' cheese across the table, and touching every surface imaginable with her sticky watermelon hands. Needless to say, I have to stay on top of her in order to make sure our kitchen stays semi-presentable.

After she eats, she naps. That's my opportunity to eat something, but I'm usually wiped out and need something really quick and easy so I can get on my computer and bang out some work (editing photos, typing these words in this Southwest Turkey Wraps post, answering emails... you know, that kinda stuff). I refuse, however, even when tired and lacking energy, to eat food that's not delicious. Life's to short for that crap. I usually try to put something together that's full of flavor with using whatever ingredients I can find in the fridge and pantry. Enter these Southwest Turkey Wraps. They are the perfect quick and easy lunch wraps!

I almost always have the makings of this wrap in the fridge and pantry:

Salsa. Yup, all the time.
Guacamole... uhm yes, doesn't everyone have a supply in their fridge at all times? Oh, maybe just me. Pro tip: just mash up some avocado if you don't have guacamole on hand (or don't have the energy to make it).
Cream cheese, usually. If you don't have cream cheese, feel free to use cheddar cheese or something like that... but I really like cream cheese in this wrap.
Lettuce, always. It's a staple feel like you're eating healthy green to have on hand.
Turkey, when I remember to grab it. Usually it's for Asheley, so she can make sandwiches for herself. You can always feel free to use leftover roasted/grilled chicken if you have that hanging out in the fridge.
Frozen corn... have you seen my freezer? It's pretty much all corn. Olivia LOVES the stuff. And I refuse to find out what would happen if the moment comes where she wants it and I don't have it. Thus, corn is always in our house.

And that's it, a wrap of epic proportions, without the whole need to plan and stress out. The wrap takes me all of 5 minutes to put together, and it's an instant flavor party for my taste buds. Then again, I'm obsessed with southwest flavors.

I can't even tell you how many times at this point Flatout Flatbread has literally saved a meal for me. Whenever I'm in a rut or can't figure out what to eat, my eyes always land on Flatout.

Best of all, with Flatout’s full line of flatbreads, fold-its, and pizza crusts, I always have plenty of inspiration for a last minute meal! Proof? Just look at all these Flatout recipes I've created over the last couple years!

Some ideas to ponder... Flatout flatbreads make great wraps, burritos, quick crepes and duh, quesadillas! Their Fold-it’s are the perfect substitute sandwich bread, pita, and burger buns. And of course the Thin Crust Pizza is the perfect canvas for whatever flavors I can whip up together for a legit flatbread experience!

Anyone else trying to eat a little better? It’s a constant struggle for me (gosh why does food have to taste so good and exercising stink so much). Flatout makes it easy, because they are the official wrap for Weight Watchers! These Flatout Light Original Flatbreadwraps are just 90 calories (say what?!), high in fiber, and have 9 grams of protein!

Make sure to check out all of Flatout’s products and flavors… you can grab them at the deli section of your local grocery store. To make sure your store stocks them before making the trip, check out the Flatout Store Locator here.

And if you need some Flatout recipe inspiration, check out their jam-packed recipe center!

Southwest Turkey Wraps

Huevos Rancheros Pizza with Turkey Chorizo

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

This Huevos Rancheros Pizza with Turkey Chorizo was created in partnership with Butterball. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Raise your hand if you are a breakfast person! Did you really just raise your hand to a computer screen?

Don't judge me (you will anyway), but I'm 100% not a breakfast person. That's right, you heard me. I rarely, if ever, crave breakfast. Growing up, I wasn't even a fan of those sugary cereals or pop tarts. Muffins and doughnuts I was all over, but the usual breakfast stuff... ehhh.

I honestly still don't understand the breakfast for dinner thing (but side note: I would totally be on board with dinner for breakfast). As an adult, I happily eat eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles, and even some cereals. But I don't crave them. I don't wake up super excited for a meal. It's just not really worth the effort to me.

That doesn't mean I'm not a morning person. I love love love the mornings. I'm super productive in the morning. I'm always on the go, ready to accomplish the next project. Eating though, is a complete afterthought. Most times it's just a yogurt or something. Breakfast, unfortunately, just isn't my thing.

HOWEVER. Once in a while, I get the itch. And when the breakfast itch comes on, I scratch... hard. Case in point: all of these epic breakfast recipes. When I can combine my love for southwest flavors with that rare breakfast itch... HOLY COW where has breakfast been all my life?!?! This Huevos Rancheros Pizza with Turkey Chorizo might just be my favorite new breakfast recipe to date.

HUEVOS RANCHEROS PIZZA. Ermagherdddddddddd it's so darn good.

Not going to lie, this definitely isn't a quick weekday morning breakfast recipe. It takes a bit of time to whip together, but it's still ready and done in under 30 minutes! Actually, what am I saying. I'm a teacher. I totally CAN make this throughout the week. Ha, suckers with your Monday through Friday jobs. Just kidding, don't hate me.

This pizza. It all starts with some store bought dough because really, who has time in the morning to make their own. You can probably score some at your local supermarket, or just buy one from your neighborhood pizzeria. Just make sure to let the dough come to room temperature before trying to stretch it out... it's way easier to work with that way.

The "sauce" for this pizza is simply some chunky salsa. You could go crazy with making your own, but don't. It's easier to just buy a decent jar for a couple of bucks. Top with some thawed frozen corn and turkey chorizo (more on that later), this Huevos Rancheros Pizza is just a hefty sprinkling of cheese away from the oven.

The oven. This is important. Do you have a pizza stone? I keep one in my oven at all times (I read once it helps regulate the temperature of the oven a bit), and it's a necessity for oven baked pizzas! If you don't own one and can't get one, you can still make this pizza on a baking tray, but just adjust cooking times according (it'll take longer probably). You'll also want to make sure to grab a pizza peel. It makes pizza prep to oven transfer a breeze.

Let's go back to that turkey "chorizo" for a second. Is it real chorizo? No, not even close. But is it freaking delicious? Heck to the Y-E-S. The seasoned ground turkey is the perfect addition to this Huevos Rancheros Pizza, and will taste equally great on tacos, nachos, salads, and more!

So why did I use turkey chorizo here? Two reasons. First, I already had some ground turkey on hand and wanted to make good use of it. Second, ground turkey is a good source of lean protein and something we all can feel good about serving up to our families to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Butterball Ground Turkey is the perfect lean protein-packed solution for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I've been busy whipping up Greek Turkey Burgers, Korean Turkey Burgers, and Korean Lettuce Wraps with the stuff lately... and it's all SO delicious.

Anyone else only give turkey a chance at Thanksgiving and on their lunchtime sandwiches? Well snap out of it peeps. Let's give Butterball Turkey a permanent spot in our weeknight dinner rotation. There’s a little turketarian in all of us… so embrace it! Grab some Butterball Ground Turkey the next time you are at your grocery store and whip up this Huevos Rancheros Pizza for breakfast!

Did your heart just skip a beat? That happens to me too when I see a glorious golden runny yolk. I'm totally craving this pizza again right now.... but wait, it's dinner time. Does that mean ::gasp:: I'm not a breakfast for dinner person?!?!

Depending on the size of your pizza, you'll be able to fit either one or two eggs on your pizza. Don't add it right away... you'll want the pizza to be partially cooked first. That way once the whites of the eggs are just set, the pizza will be golden brown and crispy. Top it with some avocado, cilantro, and hot sauce, break into that yolk... and DEVOUR.

Huevos Rancheros Pizza with Turkey Chorizo

Grilled Watermelon Salad with Arugula and Feta

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

This Grilled Watermelon Salad with Arugula, Feta, and Pickled Onions is sponsored by Bota Box. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Asheley and I decided to take the plunge and get a pool heater this year. Our backyard doesn't get a ton of full sun, so the pool typically stays on the more frigid side. That's all good and fine when it was just the two of us and the pool was only rarely used when entertaining family and friends. But now with Olivia, that all has changed. We are in the pool at least once a day. Olivia might just have some polar bear blood, because she'd go in the pool regardless of temperature. Asheley and I, on the other hand... yeah, so we got a pool heater.

It's actually pretty glorious, because now it's a balmy 85°F all day, every day. Sure, I'll probably hate myself when my summer electric bill comes in the mail, but for the first time ever I'm actually enjoying our pool. And not going to lie, we kind of want to ~~show it off~~ invite all of our friends over to enjoy this delightfully warm pool with us.

Almost all of Olivia's friends have parents that are also teachers (hmm, weird how that worked out), so we're taking full advantage of lots of weekday pool play dates this summer. It's not so much planned events as a text blast mid morning... hey, do you guys want to come over later today and lounge by the pool? Uhm yes, of course everyone does. First, because they know their kids will have fun. Second, because they know that while the kiddies play, the adults feast.

What's a spontaneous pool party without a good spread of summertime eats? And listen, I have to share this new recipe with all of you (and also my new summer entertaining secret weapon: Bota Box) because it got rave reviews the last few times I made it. It's the perfect light lunch fare that a pool party deserves (you know, so we can eat ice cream after). This Grilled Watermelon Salad with Arugula, Feta, and Pickled Onions isn't all good looks... it tastes AMAZING.

Growing up, I always viewed salad as something to adhere copious amounts of thousand island dressing to. It's definitely delicious in its own right (who doesn't love a trashy salad now and again), but in my age of enlightenment (I can't believe I turn 33 THIS Friday!) I like a little more refinement in my salads. I want to build a salad like I do any other recipe. It's gotta have bold flavors, lots of different textures, and has to make my taste buds dance.

This Grilled Watermelon Salad is just that. Arugula is such a vibrant lettuce, with a subtle peppery bite. I dress it up in a bit of olive oil and season in gently with Kosher salt for a base that stands up to this tremendous flavor bomb I put on top:

grilled watermelon: Yes, you heard that right. I grilled watermelon. It may sound weird, but it actually imparts a subtle smoky flavor and caramelizes some of those sugars. If you're freaked out by grilling watermelon, ~~suck it up~~ feel free to just use plain ole' cubed watermelon instead.
barrel aged feta: This is way better stuff than the regular feta cheese you see at your local mega mart. It's like going from shopping at the dollar store to Saks Fifth Avenue. Barrel Aged Feta is such a flavor explosion. Of course, if you can't find it, feel free to use the normal stuff. We won't judge you.
pickled onions: These are the bomb dot com. I seriously use them on everything I can because they are so freaking good. They pack a powerful acidic punch that brightens up any dish.
pine nuts: honestly, I had them on hand and they taste great. They are buttery little nut nuggets, but are kinda expensive. Scratch that, they are stupid expensive. If your last paycheck is leaving your bank account a little thin, feel free to swap in some chopped walnuts or almonds. That'll work just fine.
mint: because a salad needs a little herbaceous lift, and mint pairs so well with watermelon and feta.
balsamic glaze: i know, you don't see any balsamic glaze in these photos. That's because I serve it table-side so people can add however much they want. If you've never indulged in balsamic glaze before, just know that you have not fully experience life. It's what happens when you reduce balsamic vinegar into a sweet syrupy sticky submission. SO. GOOD.

Meet my secret weapon for easy poolside entertaining this summer (besides the Grilled Watermelon Salad, of course). There's nothing that says disaster like having a bunch of glass wine bottles and glasses by the pool. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way. It was terrible. That's why I stocked up this summer with Bota Box wine! Guys, this is revolutionizing my summer entertaining game!

When I was growing up, I remember my parents always bought this really low quality boxed wine for every backyard shindig. They didn't drink wine, and the only two people in my family were perfectly happy with the crappy stuff. Well guess what? Times have changed and now boxed wines are kicking butt and taking names.

Bota Box serves up the premium stuff, and they have an impressive lineup of wine varietals! It's high quality wine that actually has earned 30 Gold Medals in competitions since 2011, as well as 35 “Best Buy” ratings from Wine Enthusiast magazine. That's impressive.

I absolutely love that it's super safe around the pool, incredibly easy to bring around on adventures (pack a few Bota Minis into your backpack for a hike/outdoor concert or bring along a Bota Brick to the beach for an evening picnic)! It's environmentally friendly too, which is super cool. The 100% recyclable packaging features BPA-BPS free wine bags and it creates 85% less landfill waste than traditional glass packaging. BOOM. We are helping the environment while drinking wine.

Okay, you ready? Best part. When I open up a bottle of win, there's always this pressure to finish the bottle because once you open a bottle of wine... it can't sit for more than a day. With Bota Box's state of the art bag-in-box technology, it keeps wine fresh for up to FOUR WEEKS after opening opening. That's insanely amazing! Every glass is fresh!

With Bota Box, there's something for everyone... everywhere!

I paired this Grilled Watermelon Salad with Bota Box Pinot Grigio. It's a medium-bodied wine that had fruity flavors that's refreshing, bright, and clean. I can't think of anything more perfect for an impromptu poolside get together!

What's super cool is that Bota Box's are 3 liters! That equals 4 bottles! I can put out one bota box (along with reusable plastic wine glasses... remember, glass and pools don't mix in my experience) and my guests are taken care of for the entire party! LOVE that.

And hey, if I have one of those pesky picky guests that doesn't drink Pinto Grigio and insists on a red, with Bota Box I have so many options to choose from! And who cares if there's leftovers, because it stays fresh for up to 4 weeks anyway! Bota Box (and Grilled Watermelon Salad) for the win!

Grilled Watermelon Salad

Thanks to my friends at Bota Box for this recipe collaboration!

Need More Summer Salad Inspiration?

Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad

4 Healthy Chicken Salads

Stone Fruit Caprese Salad with Grilled Corn

Vegan Grilled Corn, Plum, and Avocado Grain Salad

Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Grain Salad

Sweet Potato Bacon Salad

Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

These Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri were created in partnership with the American Lamb Board. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

It's Friday! No, not really. But every day over the summer sure feels like it. The past few weeks, my wife and I have entertained and had backyard get-togethers... on weeknights. There's just something so innately and incredibly satisfying to have family or friends over and to cook for them. I love to entertain, so my grill has been working overtime lately.

Olivia is totally on board as well. She is obsessed with swimming around in the pool (thanks to this awesome swimmer helper thing... HIGHLY recommend). She happily swims all the way down to the deep end and all the way back. By swim I mean float and her little legs kick furiously under the water. It's super cute. And while she swims with Asheley or whatever friends are over at the time, I'm manning the grill.

Burgers and hot dogs are good and all, but let's get real. Sometimes you want something a bit fancier. Something a bit more refined. Something that's a showstopper of a dish. Enter these Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri.

Here's the beauty of these Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri.

They look (and taste) like some high end culinary masterpiece. I mean, just look at them. That's the epitome of elegant summer eating. But here's the secret. These Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri are incredibly easy to pull off.

If you can cook a burger, you can cook these lamb chops.

The key to a great lamb chop? Make sure to season them generously with salt and pepper and have a good quality instant read thermometer. Cook them to 145°F for lamb that's super moist and tender with a perfect rosy interior!

The biggest secret of all when it comes to a great lamb chop? The lamb. When you're working with a superior product, you don't need to do much to it.

American lamb is just that... superior.

It makes me so bummed that a lot of the lamb sold here in the states is actually from Australia and New Zealand. What the what?! I know, it's crazy. We are buying meat from the opposite side of the world when we have BETTER lamb right here! And it's LOCAL!

How local, you ask? American lamb is produced in almost every single state. I had the honor to tour a lamb ranch in California last year and I can tell you this... raising lamb is a labor of love and passion. It's not some get rich quick scheme or anything like that. These guys work incredibly hard, and I personally am so happy to support our local farmers by keeping it local.

Let's review. Lamb from 10,000 miles and 30 days away from our supermarkets... or lamb that was raised right here on American soil by family-owned ranches AND tastes better? Uhm, yea. No duh. American lamb for the win!

Next time you are at the butcher counter… make sure you let them know that you want AMERICAN lamb.

Speaking of lamb, it's once again time for Summer LAMBventures! The American Lamb Board wants to know what type of Summer Lambventure personality you are...

Grilling Guru
Fit Foodie
Outdoor Adventurer
Patio Party Planner

Head over to their contest page by and enter their Summer Lambvetures contest by August 1, 2017 to win some serious swag and prizes! We're talking a $250 gift card AND lamb! It literally takes less than 60 seconds to enter the contest, so make sure to go there now! Winners announced August 15, 2017!

Want to win the grand prize worth $2000?! Complete two of your summer bucket list items and share photos of it to Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter. Use the hashtag #summerlambventures and you'll be entered to win the grand prize... a large Green Egg and 4 seasonal Lamb Party Pack Shipments!

I'm thinking about which personality I am. Definitely not the Fit Foodie. I want to be fit and think being fit is super important, but in all honesty I like ice cream a lot more. I'm also definitely not the Outdoor Adventurer. I much prefer being inside with the air conditioning thank you very much. But Grilling Guru and Patio Party Planner? Yes and yes. I absolutely LOVE grilling and LOVE entertaining. I'm pretty sure we've had at least one party or get together every week since summer started.

It's no secret that lamb goes extremely well with mint. Even people that don't eat lamb regularly know that lamb and mint is a classic pairing. You often see chimichurri sauce with steak in Argentinian cuisine, but I created a mint chimichurri for these grilled lamb chops. It's like a chunkier version of pesto and is super bright and herbaceous.

It's the perfect condiment for these Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri. The lemon and red wine vinegar cuts right through the richness of the lamb, and the parsley and mint brighten up your tastebuds. It's a serious flavor party and you're all invited.

The chimichurri comes together in under 10 minutes (under 5 minutes if you're quick in the kitchen) and can be made hours ahead of time.

Up to this point, you have a paleo-friend, gluten free, and dairy free meal on your hands. This last part is totally optional (and isn't paleo friendly or gluten free), but it's darn good.

My favorite summer salad of all time is this Blueberry and Corn Grain Salad, so I adapted a version for these Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri.

Regular couscous is alright, but Pearl (or Israeli) Couscous is the bomb dot com. The corn and zucchini are basically summer in vegetable form, and the walnuts add a great crunch and the scallions are the perfect delicate onion-y bite. I dress the salad in a bright lemon vinaigrette and top it with a bit of fresh mint, which ties in the salad perfectly to the lamb and chimichurri.

All together, this is one epic meal filled with LEGIT bold flavors!

And listen, if you've never had lamb before or had a bad experience with it in the past, you need to try it again. Lamb chops are super tender and have a very mild lamb flavor. It's not "game-y" at all and is like the filet mignon of the lamb world. These little gems are highly addictive!

If you've never cooked lamb before, what are you waiting for? It's just like cooking a steak, except these lamb chops come with their own little handle! Just take care not to overcook it (that's where I highly recommend an instant read thermometer) and you'll be a lamb-cooking ninja in no time!

Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri

Need More Lamb Ideas?

Lamb Kefta Meatloaf with Spiced Yogurt and Israeli Salad

Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce

Lamb Kefta Burgers with Spicy Whipped Feta

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Mexican Lamb Tacos

Southwest Ancho Chile Crusted Lamb Chops

Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

These Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers were created in partnership with Kingsford. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

I think I've talked enough about how great summer is being a teacher and all. There's nothing better than the two month vacation! But if I'm being completely honest, I'm only on break from one of my three jobs. Teaching might be on hiatus, but Shared Appetite and Ashe Photography Studio are in full swing. It's a packed summer of creating and developing epic summer recipes and photographing (and editing... oh the editing) a bunch of engagements and weddings.

But my most important job over the summer? Olivia. There's nothing more important and nothing remotely as special as being her daddy. I love it. Whether it's spending way too much time in the pool or going on an adventure somewhere together, every present moment is a future memory. Just the other day I was cooking with her in the kitchen, and she wanted to help me with the entire recipe, from start to finish. It was ridiculously adorable.

Not going to lie. It's tiring work. Olivia's a super active toddler and trying to be a good dad while at the same time getting work done can be a struggle. Juggling it all can be trying at times. #adulting

That's why I'm a big fan of celebrating all summer long with family and friends. Not a birthday or a holiday or anything like that. Just a chance to randomly hang out together and enjoy the summer. It's especially great getting to hang with some of my teacher friends who have kids the same age of Olivia. The kiddies can all play together while us big kids unwind a bit from all the adult responsibilities from the day.

Entertaining, though, has changed quite a bit since having Olivia. I don't have the freedom to just prep recipes all day long. I need to serve something that has high impact without all the high maintenance. It's all about doing it up right, without all the work. We'll talk about my secret time saving weapon in a second (I'm looking at you Kingsford^® Match Light^® Charcoal), but first let's break down my current favorite burger this summer... these Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers!

Yup, you read that right. Meat on meat on meat.

Oh sweet baby Jesus, these burgers are legit eats. It's not a light or dainty recipe, so get your big boy and big girl shorts on and grab a seat at the table. A napkin too, because you'll most likely need that too.

It all starts with an 80/20 blend of ground beef. Please oh please don't grab the "lean ground beef". It might as well read "dry burgers". The fat is needed super juicy burgers. And listen, now's not the time to skimp on the salt. If you want super flavorful burgers, salt 'em right. By right, I mean generously.

Towards the last minute of cooking, I top these Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers with some pulled pork and good 'ole fashioned American cheese. You could totally go for cheddar or any of your favorite cheeses here... I just love the perfect meltability of that American cheese.

Slap these burger flavor bombs on a bun with some lettuce (I love the peppery bite of arugula when I have it on hand like I did today for these Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers) and top with a few strips of crispy bacon.

As far as condiments go, you have some options. Standard ketchup will always work with these Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers. Your favorite BBQ sauce would also be a great choice here. I'd also be down with some spicy mayo.

So back to that secret weapon I was telling you about. I love the taste of grilling on charcoal. Gotta admit, though, the traditional process can sometimes be a bit time consuming... more trouble than what I want for a random get together celebration. Not to fear. Kingsford has our back. They developed the Kingsford^® Match Light^® Instant Light Charcoal Briquettes and it lights instantly every time.

No lighter fluid. No chimney starters. You literally just fire up the briquets with a match and you're ready to cook in 10 minutes! That's the same amount of time it takes my gas grill to preheat and there's no denying the superior taste of cooking over charcoal! You'll be drooling over these Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers in no time!

So listen, Kingsford wants you to share your favorite adulting moments and non-holiday celebrations. Screw just partying it up for special occasions. Let's decide that we are going to celebrate the mundane everyday. Make sure to tag Kingsford the next time you share your favorite adulting moment or non-holiday celebration!

Instagram @Kingsford | Facebook @KingsfordCharcoal | Twitter @Kingsford

You can find Kingsford^® Match Light^® Charcoal at your local Walmart!

Pulled Pork Bacon Cheeseburgers

Need More Burgers?

Mexican Street Corn Burgers

Fajita Burgers

Lamb Kefta Burgers

Whiskey Glazed Burgers

Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burgers

Korean Kimchi Burgers

The Fat Tyler

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kingsford®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

These Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles were created in partnership with Edy's Ice Cream. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Man, I love the summer.

I don't even know what day it is today. Honestly! And I don't care. Being a teacher, every day over the summer feels like Friday. Well, that is, until back to school commercials start up. Then fear and panic starts to set in.

The best part of summer? Impromptu get togethers. Family and friend time no longer has to be planned out months in advance and crammed into the precious little weekend time we have during the school year. Our backyard patio and pool are filled throughout the week now, whether it be a last minute play date with one of Olivia's friends or a late evening grill session with some of mommy and daddy's peeps.

So here's the thing with summer entertaining. I don't want to work too hard. Less time cooking, more time enjoying being together. I've been finding lately that it's the simple things in life that bring me the most joy. Watching Olivia laugh in the pool as the jets splash her in the face. Watching her problem solve a very simple obstacle but finding so much satisfaction in seeing that she did it all by herself. Watching a movie with Asheley on a ::gasp:: weeknight... a luxury usually reserved only for weekends.

Dessert. Anyone that truly knows me will tell you that I am obsessed with ice cream. I love the stuff. It doesn't matter if it's -10°F outside, I still crave ice cream. So when it comes time for summer dessert, you know my freezer is stocked with the good stuff. When I have guests over, I love making super quick and easy ice cream desserts... like these Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles, featuring Edy's Slow Churned Caramel Delight light ice cream.

Mmm hmm, these Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles are amazing. There's something so perfect about a salty sweet combo in dessert, and I'm totally digging the flavor party happening between creamy ice cream, luscious caramel, chewy chocolatey brownies, and the salty crunch of pretzels.

And let's talk trifles for a second. You may be thinking that these Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles kinda resemble a brownie sundae. You're right. They do. There's nothing wrong with a sundae. I enjoy them regularly, trust me. But a trifle is a little bit more refined and composed in my mind. I love that you get all the flavors in each bite, because the dessert is divided into perfect little layers.

These Mini Caramel Ice Cream Trifles come together in under 10 minutes. Yes, you read that right. 10 MINUTES!

They look elegant and well thought out, but actually are perfect for last minute "whoops, what's for dessert" moments. You can even have your family and friends help make these trifles, making it a fun and interactive experience. And really, throughout the summer, it's all about experiences.

The star of these Mini Caramel Ice Cream Trifles? Edy's Slow Churned Caramel Delight Light Ice Cream. Just look at the stuff. It's smooth and creamy. It's rich tasting. And oh my word those caramel swirls. Hello beautiful, come home to daddy and get in my belly.

Added bonus. Since it's slow churned, the ice cream has ½ the fat and ⅓ fewer calories! BOOM. Gotta love that!

Edy's has a TON of different flavors available, and they have some serious ice cream inspiration on their Pinterest page for future get togethers! But let's not rush things. For this get together, you need to make these Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles!!!

And hey, did I mention these Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles are kid friendly and perfect for the whole family? Olivia loved helping me add the pretzels to the top of each trifle. Just look at those little fingers. Ahhh, love that kid so freaking much.

She can seriously be playing with her absolute favorite toy in the other room, but if I yell out Olivia do you want to help daddy? she will drop everything and run into the kitchen. LOVE that. She's my little sous chef 🙂

Mini Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Trifles

Korean Turkey Burgers with Kimchi Slaw

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

These Korean Turkey Burgers with Kimchi Slaw were created in partnership with Butterball. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Summer is in full swing and I seriously couldn't be happier. Being off from work for two months is a major contributing factor to my overall summer excitement. My alarm clock has been unplugged. My wardrobe currently consists of mesh shorts and t-shirts. Most importantly, I get to spend a TON of time with my little sidekick. Yesterday we took a trip to the local aquarium out east and today we spent all morning in the pool. Life is good.

Next up for today? Olivia's first ever dance class. Yup, that's right world. Here comes Dance Dad. I've got her tights and leotard. Ballet shoes... check. It's going to be amazingly cute. Or a complete and utter disaster. Either way, it'll be an unforgettable experience.

After dance, I'll need to whip up something quick for dinner. Asheley will be getting home from work and she'll be hangry. That's right, not just hungry. HANGRY. There won't be any time to spend prepping a big gigantic meal, but I'll still be craving something BIG on flavor. Enter these super quick and easy Korean Turkey Burgers with Kimchi Slaw. Heck to the yes. Get in my belly.

These Korean Turkey Burgers are the perfect solution to weeknight eating when you need to get dinner on the table fast with minimal effort (but without sacrificing your culinary integrity). The flavors are big and bold. You've got all your textures covered to keep your tastebuds happy. And it's a great way to introduce some new ethnic flavors at the dinner table under the guise of a familiar summertime staple.

Just how easy are these Korean Turkey Burgers to pull off? They take less than 10 minutes of prep and cook in just 15 minutes! That's dinner... from start to finish... in under 30 minutes. BOOM.

So let's break this down. Have you ever had kimchi before? It's a staple in traditional Korean households. The fermented cabbage is definitely an assertive flavor, but it's one that I've grown to love and is actually extremely good for you. If I'm being completely real, I'm not at the point where I'll just open up a jar and start downing it (again, it's a strong flavor), but I love adding kimchi into different composed recipes. For instance, this Bacon Kimchi Fried Rice or Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen. SO good. Adding kimchi to a crunchy slaw is the perfect way to introduce your family to the stuff!

If you've ever had sriracha but haven't ventured into the world of gochujang, just know your life is not yet complete. Gochujang is like sriracha's more refined older cousin. It's got a deeper more complex flavor and I absolutely LOVE making aioli with it. Oh, side note... aioli is basically just a fancy way of saying flavored mayo. Don't be intimidated... it's just a way of making something sound more fancy.

So we've got the crunchy, slightly spicy and fermented kimchi slaw. We've got the fresh bite of radish and the smooth creamy avocado. Our gochujang aioli ties everything together with it's complex sriracha-like flavors. But the real star of these Korean turkey burgers? Well, it's what make them turkey burgers in the first place.

The best way to ensure a huge win in the quick & easy weeknight dinner department? Keep a box of these Butterball Natural Inspirations Turkey Burgers in your freezer. They go directly from freezer to grill and are done in just 15 minutes! The turkey burgers are 100% white meat and 93% lean! I love that there's no added hormones, nitrates, or artificial ingredients going on in these burgers, and they are gluten free for my wheat intolerant friends (obviously you'll need to score yourselves some gluten free buns to make these burgers happen).

I know turkey is one of those things you usually only think about around the holidays or when you're building yourself a nice lunch time sandwich, but I think turkey should get a permanent spot in our weeknight dinner rotation. I mean hey, there's a little turketarian in all of us... so embrace it! Go ahead, grab a box of these Butterball Natural Inspirations Turkey Burgers in your local grocery store's freezer aisle (enter in your zip code here to find the nearest place you can grab a box). Once you have them, grill yourself these Korean Turkey Burgers with Kimchi Slaw. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.

Korean Turkey Burgers with Kimchi Slaw

Need More Korean Flavors In Your Life?

Korean Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen

Korean Kimchi Burgers

Korean Inspired Mexican Street Corn

Honey Sriracha Chicken Kebabs with Avocado Ranch

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

These 4 ingredient Honey Sriracha Chicken Kebabs are BIG on sweet and spicy flavor and pair perfectly with the 2 ingredient Avocado Ranch dip! They are the perfect addition to your next backyard BBQ get together and are your answer for quick and easy summer entertaining!

I'm going to cut right to the point, because it's the 4th of July morning and I've gotta get ready to get my party on. Here's the bottom line. You NEED these Honey Sriracha Chicken Kebabs with Avocado Ranch in your life. I mean, sure... all the recipes I've created on Shared Appetite are fantastic and worth making, but some are must makes.

These grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Kebabs with Avocado Ranch are a 100% MUST MAKE. I consistently get rave reviews about these super flavorful grilled chicken kebabs. People can't get enough of it. The sweet and spicy combination is highly addictive, and that creamy avocado ranch is the perfect condiment for epic dipping.

But can I tell you a secret? Come in close, because it's super top secret and something only one cook can share to another cook. We don't want our guests to know what I'm about to say...

These grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Kebabs are only 4 ingredients. Yup, you heard that right. 4 ingredients...

Chicken
Sriracha
Honey
Oil

You probably have most of those ingredients in your house already. And the avocado ranch? It's just 2 ingredients:

Avocado
Ranch Dressing

This recipe is perfect even for the most novice of cooks. It only takes 10 minutes of prep (and that's if you are brand new in the kitchen... it takes me about 4 minutes to prep this dinner), and it's grilled up in under 10 minutes as well!

Feel free to use metal or wood skewers for these Honey Sriracha Chicken Kebabs with Avocado Ranch. Apparently you're "supposed" to soak wooden skewers for a bit, but I never do. Yes, the exposed skewers with no meat on it gets blackened and sometimes falls off... but who cares. It's excess skewer anyway. But that's just me. You do whatever you think feels right in your heart.

Want to make this meal into an epic rice bowl? Check out my Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Rice Bowl!

Honey Sriracha Chicken Kebabs with Avocado Ranch

Need More Backyard BBQ Ideas?

Mexican Street Corn Burgers

Fajita Burgers

Pineapple, Bacon, and Teriyaki Hot Dogs

Bacon Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs

Sausage Banh Mi

Stone Fruit Caprese Salad with Grilled Corn

Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Grain Salad

Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake

S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark

Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad

Sweet Potato Bacon Salad

Greek Turkey Burgers

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

These Greek Turkey Burgers were created in partnership with Butterball. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Ahhh, this first week of summer vacation has been solid. There's no better feeling than waking up each morning knowing you have the next 10 weeks off. I know, let the jealous comments begin (unless, that is, you're also a teacher). I can almost hear the whining now... teachers' schedules this and complain complain that. I've heard it all before, and I'm okay with it. Bottom line is that most of us got to choose what we wanted to do for a living... and I chose wisely 🙂

So back to summer vacation. It's freaking great. I taught Olivia how to swim on Monday. And by swim, I mean she has those floaties on and I taught her how to kick her legs in order to propel herself slowly back towards the pool stairs. Hey, it's a start and I'm crazy proud of her. It's nice that she feels a bit independent in the pool now and doesn't cling onto me for dear life every time we go in. Watching her little legs furiously kick under the water is also the cutest thing ever.

And then when we are all done in the pool (which, if Olivia had her way would be never), I get the grill going and start dinner. There's nothing better than cooking outside while watching Olivia play. Best of all, she loves helping. Like, she actually gets upset if she doesn't get to help cook.

Olivia isn't really into meat and poultry yet. She'll eat hot dogs and this one kind of sausage we buy from a local store, but that's about it. She's not into chicken nuggets or hamburgers yet... but when I asked her if she wanted to make turkey burgers, her eyes lit up. She was SO excited for these Greek Turkey Burgers, and I honestly have no idea why. But hey, when your toddler wants to try new foods, you don't ask questions.

Now here's how it usually goes down. Olivia asks to try something new. Asheley and I get all excited but try to play it off cool. We don't want her to think that trying a new food is a big deal... it's something that should be expected and routine. Obviously on the inside we do back flips every time. So we proceed to make that new food, and by the time it's in front of her, she says ehh, no thanks!

Frustrating.

These Greek Turkey Burgers must have really intrigued her, because she had a good 10 minutes to renege on her initial inquiry... and didn't. Olivia kept insisting how excited she was to try turkey burgers, and low and behold, she ate a bunch of one of these Greek Turkey Burger patties. #dadwin

These Greek Turkey Burgers. The patties are flavored with onion powder, garlic powder, lemon zest, and parsley. They then get studded with frozen spinach and feta. Hello flavor overload. SO good.

Now a tip about the spinach. You need, NEED to squeeze out as much of the moisture as possible after thawing the frozen spinach. This will make sure your burgers aren't soggy. It'll also make sure your measurements are on point. ⅓ cup of spinach doesn't sound like a lot, but it is once the moisture is removed.

So Asheley is officially in love with these burgers. She couldn't wait for the next day to eat the leftovers. That makes me incredibly happy, because that's when I know I've hit on a big winner in the recipe department.

The turkey patties by themselves are super flavorful, but adding on some peppery arugula, fresh tomato and cucumber, and tzatziki help put these burgers over the edge!

Are you one of those people that eat turkey just twice a year? Listen up. Turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a perfect year round choice, and this lean Butterball Fresh Ground Turkey is a great choice for a healthy alternative when you've got a burger craving.

So embrace your Turketarian side... it's inside all of us, and deserves to come out and play more than a couple times a year. These Greek Turkey Burgers will help you maintain that healthy lifestyle while indulging in an epic burger. Best of all, Butterball Ground Turkey is something you can feel happy serving up to your family as a healthy, delicious, protein-packed recipe.

Make sure to get your hands on Butterball Ground Turkey the next time you are at the grocery store and whip up these Greek Turkey Burgers!

Greek Turkey Burgers

Need More Turkey?

Korean Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Turkey Burgers

Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

This Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto is brought to you in partnership with Alessi Pasta. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto | sharedappetite.com Summer. It's a word that gets most people excited. But for teachers... summer is everything.

Ahhhh, you have no idea what an amazing feeling it is that everyday is "Friday" for me for the next two months. The alarm clock has been turned off. My wardrobe currently consists of only t-shirts and mesh shorts. The most stressful decision I have to make on a daily basis is what flavor ice cream to have. And most importantly, I get to spend the next 10 weeks with my sweet little girl. Life is GREAT.

You know what else I love about summer? All the amazing produce. Here in NY we spend all winter waiting... and waiting... for the weather to warm up so we can get a taste of summer's bounty. And now it's here. I'm talking amazing asparagus, zucchini, squash, corn, lettuces... the farm stands are filled to the brim with options!

So here's the deal. No one likes turning on their oven over the summer, but I still love to to get my fill of pasta during these warmer months. There's nothing more satisfying than that perfect bite of pasta, am I right? That's why this Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto is so perfect. It takes advantage of fresh, local produce and keeps things light (you know, so you don't have to wait those 30 minutes before getting back into the pool).

The best cooking throughout the summer is done outside (preferably with a drink in your hand). I fired up the grill to quickly cook all the asparagus, zucchini, squash, and corn for this Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto. Of course you could feel free to sauté or roast the vegetables if you find yourself without the option of grilling. And listen... don't stress too much. If you prefer different summer vegetables, feel free to substitute them in. Cooking for these next few months should be anything but rigid. Summer is too short to fuss.

I know you're not new to pesto. It's my favorite way to use up all the basil I have growing away in my yard. But did you know that you can get all crazy and make pesto with pretty much anything? That's right basil. You've been replaced. This arugula pesto is such a nice variation on the classic, and gives the pasta a beautifully fresh peppery bite. If you don't have pine nuts (or just don't want to buy them because they are kind of stupid expensive), try this arugula pesto with walnuts instead. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

In true laid-back summer fashion, you can feel free to grill up the vegetables and whiz together the pesto either right before serving this Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto or make 'em up to a few days in advance. Grilled vegetables refrigerate very nicely and the pesto will last in the fridge for up to a week. Just make sure to cover the pesto with a thin layer of oil and cover with plastic wrap to avoid it browning.

When ready to devour this Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto, feel free to serve it hot or at room temperature. I actually prefer it not piping hot, since I'm usually in a constant overheated state anyway throughout the summer.

The star of this Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto, of course though, is the spaghetti. You can't have a great pasta dish without, well duh, great pasta. And please, I urge you... cook up your pasta al dente. Mushy pasta has no place on your dinner table.

Let's talk Alessi Pasta. It's super high quality, made with wheat grown in the heart of Italy and using a centuries old practice of pressing the pasta dough through bronze dies. This helps the pasta have a more porous texture, allowing it maximum opportunity to absorb up sauces. I loved this Alessi Organic Spaghetti. It cooked up a beautiful golden color and had that perfect quintessential toothsome texture that all pasta should have.

You might have seen Alessi products beyond the pasta aisle. They have a full line of specialty Italian products, from tomato sauces to vinegars. They've been doing their thing since the early 1900's, when the Alessi family emigrated from Sicily to America. You better believe that any company that is THAT old and still going strong is doing something very right. Even after all this time, the Alessi family is still very involved in the brand. You can check out their vast product on the official Alessi Foods website. They even have an online store, so you can get this organic spaghetti shipped right to your doorstep.

Summer Vegetable Pasta with Arugula Pesto

Create Your Own Salad At Panera

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

Create Your Own Salad At Panera was created in partnership with Panera Bread. As always, all opinions, photos, and video are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Let's just get this out in the open right away. Did you know that you can completely customize salads at Panera Bread? I know! You can create your own salad at Panera. If you already knew about this, why did you keep it to yourself? That's just plain selfish. My mind was BLOWN when I found out that you can personalize salads however you'd like when ordering.

I guess I just never thought of it, considering I was too busy enjoying the perfectly crafted salads already on the menu. But when Panera approached me and asked to specifically create my own salad, I was like wait... that's a thing!?

Can we just back up for a second? I love Panera. Completely and fully, I do. For the last two years, I can honestly say that Asheley and I eat Panera almost once every week. Usually it's takeout after a long day at work or when it was just one of those days that Olivia finally gets to bed and mommy and daddy had no energy left to cook. When fatigue like that sets in, so does bad eating choices. But that's the beauty of Panera. We can get a quick meal that's super convenient and easy, tastes amazing, AND fits into our lifestyle of trying to eat nutritious foods.

Panera Bread is 100% clean, meaning that's there none of that artificial garbage present in any of their food. No artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors are allowed. They are also committed to keeping all their US bakeries and cafes totally free from all "ingredients" (and I use that term loosely) on its No-No list. Take a look at that list... it reads more like a chemistry textbook than ingredient label. Thanks Panera for keeping our food FRESH and REAL.

Asheley and I love the salads at Panera (okay, we love the sandwiches and soups too). And the baguette... don't get me started on my love affair with their baguette. I was always a big fan of the BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad, but then recently had some Panera catering at a friends house and literally fell in love with the Green Goddess Cobb Salad. The actual salad is good and all, but the dressing... ERMAGHERD THE DRESSING.

Guys. The Green Goddess Dressing at Panera may just be one of my top five most favorite things I tasted this year. It's that good. And something really interesting I learned when I went to create this video at Panera... the Green Goddess Dressing is made IN HOUSE. That's right, it's not a pre-made and prepackaged dressing. How legit is that?!

So let's get to the main event. My salad. I will be ordering this customized salad until the end of time at Panera Bread now, because it pretty much combines all of my favorite salad ingredients into one epically legit flavor experience.

I start with a mixture of romaine and kale. Romaine because I love it's crunch and texture, and kale for it's nutrition. Some of Panera's super moist antibiotic free chicken. Blueberries and corn. Pause. Blueberries and corn. I know, it's sounds weird. I first had this magical flavor combination at a restaurant in San Francisco in a pasta dish. I was highly skeptical, but my taste buds did back flips for weeks after. It was one of those what the heck just happened moments. I don't know how or why it works, but it does. Now I use blueberry and corn together as much as I can, including this ridiculously amazing Summer Corn and Blueberry Grilled Pizza with Whipped Goat Cheese.

So yes, blueberries and corn. Try it. You'll thank me for it after.

Avocado gets added, because well, avocado. Enough said. Feta is one of my favorite cheeses to use in salads because of it's smooth texture and salty flavor.

You have no idea how excited I am that Panera uses pickled onions on their menu. Pickled onions (and other pickled veggies) are one of those super secret ingredients that chefs add all the time to dishes to make them sing. I make easy pickled onions at home all the time to use in salads, sandwiches, nachos, and more. It adds a bright pop of acidic flavor that goes really well with rich foods. Pickled onions in this salad pair extremely well with the creamy Green Goddess Dressing.

And oh yes, that dressing. You better believe I'm sticking with my Green Goddess Dressing. Oh how I fantasize about this Panera dressing on a regular basis. It's so darn good.

Summer time at Panera also marks the return of the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad, made with chicken raised without antibiotics, romaine, mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, and pineapple, all tossed in fat-free poppyseed dressing and topped with toasted pecan pieces.

I was blown away by the flavor in this salad. It tastes just like summer. I'm now going to have to start cheating on my Green Goddess friend for this salad every now and again.

New for this summer, Panera introduced the Southwest Chile Lime Ranch Salad. It's made with smoked, pulled chicken, romaine, arugula, an adobo corn blend and quinoa tomato sofrito, and fresh cilantro. It all gets tossed in freshly made chile lime rojo ranch dressing and topped with feta and avocado.

Anyone that knows me knows that these flavors are right up my alley. Southwest flavors are hands down my favorite, and this salad did not disappoint!

You know the best part about Panera, though? That we can eat there as a family. Casual and laid back, delicious and nutritious. It's always a meal I love eating and I feel good about serving up to my family. Olivia loves trying all the fresh ingredients in the salads and is a big fan of Panera's Mac & Cheese.

Just look at that face. She's one happy girl at Panera.

So make sure you make your way to your local Panera Bread this summer. It's too darn hot to be cooking, anyway. Get your hands on one of their new summer salads, or create your own salad at Panera. Or hey, recreate my customized salad. I promise you'll absolutely LOVE it!

Create Your Own Salad at Panera

Bacon Jam

By Chris Cockren 3 Comments

This salty and sweet bacon jam is the perfect condiment for egg sandwiches, avocado toast, burgers, sandwiches, and more! Use it wherever you want a kick of bacon flavor!

Bacon. It's one of life's greatest joys. A culinary gift that gives a true glimpse into what heaven will be like.

Bacon has made it's way into pretty much everything at this point. Breakfast, lunch, dinner... and even desserts like this Sweet Corn Ice Cream with Caramel Candied Bacon! I'm pretty sure even vegetarians eat bacon. It's one of those unwritten rules. Bacon doesn't "count" in their food consumption. I was talking to my buddy Craig the other day and he was saying how he doesn't eat pork because he feels bad for the pigs (apparently he doesn't feel bad for chickens or cows, however). I exclaimed you don't eat bacon? Yea, exactly what I thought. The dude eats bacon.

So here's the deal. If you love bacon (i.e. if you have a pulse), you need bacon jam in your life. It's pretty much the greatest condiment on the planet. Move over sriracha. There's a new player in town, and it's salty sweet bacon-y goodness.

Bacon Jam. Oh how I love thee. I slather it on grilled or toasted bread and top it with a fried egg for an insanely good breakfast sandwich. When I'm feeling trendy and chow down on some avocado toast, I throw on a dollop. Because avocado and bacon were meant to be together (proof: this Bacon Guacamole). It's great on sandwiches and as a replacement for bacon on top of burgers. Basically, anywhere you add bacon... put bacon jam.

Oh, want to make a killer cheese board? Add a bowl of this bacon jam on the side. Your guests will deem you a culinary hero.

Making it couldn't be easier. Crisp up some bacon. Cook up some onions and garlic, and then let the bacon get all cozy with apple cider/juice, brown sugar, and vinegar. Once it get's all thick and syrupy, it's ready to go. You can make this bacon jam completely ahead of time and refrigerate it until ready to serve. I would just microwave it before serving to bring it to room temperature.

The bacon jam also freezes incredibly well!

Bacon Jam

Mexican Street Corn Burgers

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

These Mexican Street Corn Burgers are brought to you by American Greetings. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Ahhhh, it's JUNE! You have no idea how excited I am. There's just 3 weeks left of school. That's 12 full days and 3 half days standing between me and summer break. Oh how I love the decision I made my junior year of high school to pursue being a teacher. It was, in so many ways, an amazing choice. June isn't all fun and games for a music teacher, though. It's one of my busiest months with 4 performances with my bands crammed into the next 2 weeks. Then there's also recruitment for next year and collecting, cleaning, and completing inventory of all the instruments. All good stuff, though. And soon enough, SUMMER VACATION.

But let's not rush things, because there is an incredibly important holiday coming up that we all need to be well aware of and ready for. Father's Day. It's right around the corner. Let me break down for you my perfect Father's Day. It's simple, really. A grill. Some epic food. Cold beverage. And my family by my side. That's it. No more, no less. A low key backyard BBQ with darn delicious food and the people I love the most.

This year, I'm celebrating my 2nd year of being a father by combining my love of burgers and Mexican food with Olivia's obsession with corn and avocado. It's a collision of big, bold flavors (and you know how much I love big, bold flavors). These Mexican Street Corn Burgers will quickly become a staple in your house. They are 100% one of my favorite burger creations I've made to date.

Quick side story about Olivia and her corn obsession. So she does NOT like ice cream (I know, I'm working on it). So somehow at some point, she convinced herself that the ice cream man sells corn. I may have played a role in that actually. Now every time she hears or sees the ice cream truck, she starts yelling CORN MAN! It's pretty freaking adorable. End side story.

So holy crap. These Mexican Street Corn Burgers are legit. I photographed them while Olivia and Asheley were out on a long walk (it's easier to work when Olivia's not asking to "help" with the photos... and by help she means touching everything). Asheley tried one of the burgers when she got back and... well, let me stop here to tell you that she is not really a burger person. I know, it's one of her only faults in life. Asheley will eat a burger on occasion, but it's not something she ever looks forward to. She'd rather have a hot dog with plain yellow mustard any day. But when this burger touched her lips, I'm pretty sure a few profanities followed by a string of incomprehensible noises came out of her mouth. She said it was stupid good. And I have to agree.

There's something SO right about a perfectly cooked cheeseburger (more on this in a second) with The Best Guacamole ever and this irresistible Mexican Street Corn salad. The guacamole pulls double duty with these Mexican Street Corn Burgers, acting not only as an amazing flavor boost but also as a "glue" to hold the Mexican Street Corn in place.

Have you ever had Mexican Street Corn (i.e. Elotes) before? I've made a Korean version and a Sriracha Avocado Butter version before, but stayed pretty true to the authentic flavors this time around. Grilling the corn in its husk imparts such an unreal flavor that's unmatched any other way. It also smells ridiculously good. Bottle that and make a cologne... I'd buy it.

I love love LOVE roasted corn on the grill, and it's so easy to do. You simply just throw it on the grill. I used to soak the husks and remove the silk before grilling it, but now I just go for easy. Buy corn and throw it right onto the grill. And you know what... it's works. The husk and silk slides right off the corn after it's roasted to perfection, and it's SO much easier than any other method I've tried before. The roasted corn kernels then get all cozy with some mayo and sour cream, chili powder, lime juice, and cilantro. Addictive.

So about making a proper cheeseburger. You need to remember a couple of things:

An 80/20 blend is a MUST. Do not, I repeat, do not even think of buying "lean" ground beef. You're pretty much guaranteeing a terrible burger. The fat is a necessity in keeping the burger juicy and full of flavor.
Always form the patties yourself. Pre-made patties are compacted down and never the right consistency. Make your patties slightly larger than the bun, as it shrinks while cooking.
Salt your burgers generously... emphasis on generously.
Never press down on your burger with the spatula while it's cooking. That's dumb.
2 slices of cheese are better than one. And make sure to let the cheese fully melt. I'm talking ooey gooey perfection. It's worth the extra few seconds.

Of course, when we talk about Father's Day, there's always that question of what to get Dad?! Perhaps some dads like the corny tie (I don't wear them) or the #1 Dad Mug (I don't drink coffee). Maybe some dads like that power tool (I'm not handy) or other quintessential "Father's Day" gift. I don't.

Well, let's just be clear that when Olivia is old enough to go shopping for a present, I'm going to love and cherish whatever the heck crap she decides to buy me. But I honestly don't need anything. I'd much rather have a homemade gift from Olivia, anyway. Those are pretty rad.

If there's one thing I need on Father's Day (besides these Mexican Street Corn Burgers, of course), it's a thoughtful card. One that Asheley and Olivia picked out together, and full of original drawings by my budding artist. Heck, maybe if I'm truly lucky she'll rock a finger paint handprint in it too.

There's nothing better than getting a card from Olivia. It's so full of love. She takes so much pride in decorating cards. It's one of her favorite things to do.

Remember when you wanted a greeting card and you'd have to go to a store that only sold greeting cards. Yea, forget that. Asheley and I 100% get all of our cards at Target now. Why, you ask?

The card section at Target is HUGE. So many to choose from in so many designs.
I always find THE PERFECT card there (like, the funny cards are actually really funny).
It's an excuse to go to Target because, really, who doesn't love Target?
Once I load up on cards, I can complete grocery shopping, grab other household essentials, buy Olivia a toy (I love buying her stuff), and get a bunch of things I never knew I needed until I saw them at Target.

Target is setting all of you up with a sweet savings on greeting cards right now. Check out the offer here!

Let's recap. Get dad a card. Write something sweet in it. Telling him how much he's appreciated in a perfectly chosen greeting card means WAY more than some golf balls. I promise.

Get grilling this Father's Day and makes these Mexican Street Corn Burgers a priority. Then post a photo of your burger on Instagram, so all the other dads in the world can feel jealous... seriously these Mexican Street Corn Burgers will quickly become one of your favorites that you'll make time and time again this summer.

Happy Father's Day!

Mexican Street Corn Burgers

Need More Burger Ideas?

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Lamb Kefta Burgers with Spicy Whipped Feta

Whiskey Glazed Burgers with Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon

Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burgers

Korean Kimchi Burgers

Need More Corn In Your Life?

Sriracha Avocado Butter Roasted Corn

Summer Corn and Blueberry Grilled Pizza with Whipped Goat Cheese

Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Grain Salad

Korean Inspired Mexican Street Corn

Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad

Grilled Vegetable Pesto Quesadillas

By Chris Cockren 3 Comments

These Grilled Vegetable Pesto Quesadillas are brought to you by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

It's officially the home stretch. There's just a few weeks of the school year, and the hallways are full of that amazing smell of summer freedom. In reality that smell is a mixture of humidity and body odor, as some of the upper elementary grade students have not yet mastered the idea of deodorant and my classroom is right next to the gymnasium. But let's go with freedom.

Even though we are so darn close to that glorious two month vacation, June is actually one of my busiest months. I'm a music teacher, so there are 4 performances between my two bands within the next two weeks and recruitment for next year has to be completed. Once concerts are done, there are instruments to collect and clean, and our inventory has to be completed as well as ordering for next year. Oh, and it's peak wedding season for my wedding photography studio, Ashe Photography as well.

Needless to say, dinnertime sometimes gets the shaft. It's tough to juggle it all, and a lot of times after work all I want to do is enjoy a little bit of sunshine with my little girl (and by enjoy the sunshine, I mean she insists on being outside and only has one speed... hyper-non-stop-speed). But I'm trying to cook as much as possible. Bonus points for outside cooking, since that's where Olivia is anyway. I can watch her and cook at the same time... winning.

Best of all, Olivia is super interested in cooking. Whenever she sees me in my culinary element, she inquisitively comes over to me and asks... Daddy, what's that? What doing, Daddy?! It's the cutest thing ever. And she LOVES helping. It honestly ends up being way more work when she wants to "help", but it's encouraged... every. single. time.

So let's chat about one of my recent WINS in the weeknight dinner department lately. I'm really pumped about these Grilled Vegetable Pesto Quesadillas.

Now that my grill is officially open for the season, it's getting a good workout. Grilling vegetables is especially rewarding. I love the charred flavors and intensified sweetness the grill heat imparts on veggies. It also is something I feel great about serving to my family. Healthy, nutritious, and full of flavor.

Olivia loves all the colors of the vegetables, and is daddy's big helper with carrying them to the grill. She may not love eating all the vegetables yet, but I'm thinking her wanting to be a part of the process of cooking is a great first step to her having an adventurous palate.

So these Grilled Vegetable Pesto Quesadillas feature grilled peppers, zucchini, and onions. I love the flavor combo of these big three. It's the standard vegetables I usually grill, and their flavors go really well with fresh and herbaceous homemade pesto.

Feel free to substitute whichever vegetables you have on hand or that you may want to try in your quesadillas. Any color bell peppers and variation of onion will definitely work, and yellow summer squash will work equally well as zucchini.

Pesto is something I make ALL summer long. I just planted like 4 basil plants, so I know I'm going to have an overload of the stuff soon. Pesto is a great way to use up all that basil, and it refrigerates and freezes incredibly well. If you're going to refrigerate your pesto, just make sure to add a little oil to the top of your jar of pesto to provide a good barrier from oxygen touching the basil and turning it brown.

The real star of these Grilled Vegetable Pesto Quesadillas, though, is Flatout Flatbread. Gosh, I love this stuff. It has saved more lunches and dinners at my house than I can even count. I can't even tell you the amount of times Asheley and I were at a loss for what to eat, only to have instant inspiration thanks to Flatout's full line of flatbreads, fold-its, and pizza crusts.

I've used Flatout flatbreads for wraps, burritos, quick crepes and duh, quesadillas. Fold-it's are PERFECT for sandwiches and burger buns.

Anyone else trying to eat a little better? It's a constant struggle for me. Flatout makes it easy, because they are the official wrap for Weight Watchers! These Flatout Light Original Flatbread wraps are just 90 calories (WOOT!), high in fiber, and have 9 grams of protein!

Make sure to check out all of Flatout's products and flavors... you can grab them at the deli section of your local grocery store. To make sure your store stocks them, check out the Flatout Store Locator here.

And if you need some Flatout recipe inspiration, check out their jam-packed recipe center!

Grilled Vegetable Pesto Quesadillas

Need More Wrap Ideas?

Chocolate Chip Banana Fluffernutter Crepes

5 Minute Sweet Pea Goat Cheese Dip

Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Roasted Spicy Pineapple, Bacon, and Avocado Flatbread

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wrap

One Pan Baked Chicken Fajitas

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

Make dinnertime extra easy this week with these super flavorful One Pan Baked Chicken Fajitas! Perfect for feeding a whole family without a kitchen full of dishes!

Growing up, I can remember some iconic dinners in our house. Some were pretty epic (I'm looking at you fondue night and pork chops with applesauce and noodles) and some... well not so much (swedish meatballs and beef stew tragically come to mind). As I approached my teenage years, my mom upgraded her classic Americana cooking to get a bit exotic. Fajita night!

And I'm being totally sarcastic, because fajitas are so mainstream. But to my dad, who literally didn't even eat pizza when he met my mom... this was a big step.

Fajita night soon became a staple in our house. Wednesdays. Every single Wednesday... and we SO looked forward to it. Soon we started inviting other family to fajita night as well, and it became this beautiful tradition (with Flying Saucers for dessert because it was BOGO night at Carvel... woot).

Even though we are all grown up now and my brother and I each have our own families, my mom can still lure us all together whenever she wants by declaring a fajita night dinner. Even our wives are on board. The actually look forward to family dinner at the in-laws. That's how good these chicken fajitas are. Magic, I say. Pure magic.

The one thing that was always a bummer about fajita night was that my mom managed to dirty up every dish in the house. That definitely needed some updating because who has time for all that crap when you are trying to slap dinner on the table during the week. Not this guy. Boom! One Pan Baked Chicken Fajitas to the rescue!

Here's the easiest plan of attack with this recipe. Either the night prior or before you go to work that morning, pound out your chicken breasts so they are of equal thickness (about ½"-ish would be great... no need to go crazy). Mix together the super quick marinade (it only takes 5 minutes to whip together) in a ziploc bag and drop in the chicken. Let it take a nice long soak while you are hard at work all day. Come home, preheat the oven, and place all your veggies and chicken on a sheet pan. Bake... DONE.

Seriously, it's that simple. All you dirtied up was a sheet pan and a cutting board for these One Pan Baked Chicken Fajitas. I like to put out the fajita chicken and pepper + onions with some of my famous guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and lime wedges. Cheese is also a necessity... go with shredded cheddar or Monterey jack, or go all fancy with some crumbled queso fresco. Your choice.

Bottom line. You need these One Pan Baked Chicken Fajitas in your life. They are SO simple to whip together, and will become a staple in your house for years to come. They literally brought our family together around the table for just about a decade!

One Pan Baked Chicken Fajitas

Need More Mexican Food In Your Life?

Spicy Caramelized Pineapple Bacon Guacamole

Channa Masala Vegetarian Indian Tacos

4 Ingredient Nutella Choco Tacos

Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas

Apple Pie Tacos

How To Make Perfect Carnitas

Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chile Sour Cream Sauce

Animal Style In-N-Out Bacon Cheeseburger Tacos

Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

This Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad is brought to you by Taylor Farms. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

This time of year always flies by way too fast. I feel like we have all been waiting forever for the ground to thaw out and the trees to start popping out those leaves again... and in a blink of an eye, we are already half way through May. And I have to admit, spring time is always ridiculously stressful for me. There's a countless amount of weeding I have to reluctantly accomplish and my vegetable + herb garden needs to get going, engagement/wedding season for Ashe Photography Studio is in FULL swing, AND it's the busiest time of year for us music teachers. Then there's this whole food blog and food photography thing and having an almost 2-year old that wants to spend every waking moment of her life at the playground.

I know, I take on too much. People tell me that all the time. But I love it all. The craziness will all calm down soon enough (i.e. just a month and a half left before summer vacation... AHHHHH).

There's one day in May, though, that nothing else matters except for one thing... well, person. Mother's Day is THIS Sunday. It's a day that I don't do any work. My laptop stays closed. I unplug (as much as I can) from the world. On Mother's Day, I want to be fully present with my family.

Mother's Day used to be a really hard day for my wife. Several years of failed attempts to start a family left Asheley feeling incredibly hopeless that she would ever get to fulfill this intense longing in the deepest parts of her heart to be a mom. At the time she worked in an ER where she would constantly see patients that were angry they were pregnant... again. She'd overhear patients saying they'll just abort this child like they did those other few times. She'd see all her friends having their first... second... third child. All the while, she was left with nothing. No answer and no reason for infertility. Mother's Day was yet another incredibly painful reminder of another year of failure.

When our sweet miracle Olivia arrived, you better believe I made Mother's Day a huge celebration for Asheley. Not with extravagant plans or expensive presents... but with extravagant presence. It's a day that we get to celebrate being a family... and Asheley getting to be a mom.

If you've ever met Asheley or I, you know that any celebration revolves around one thing and one thing only. FOOD. What are we going to eat?! This year, you better believe we'll be chowing down on this Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad.

I don't know what it is about spring, but it always makes me crave salad. There's something so rewarding about a well made salad... key word being well-made. There's nothing more sad than a lame and pathetic attempt at a "salad"... you know, some lettuce thrown in a bowl and a bottle of store-bought value dressing slapped on the table.

For me, a legit salad needs some serious flavor. It shouldn't be treated as an after thought or meal filler. This Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad has everything I want in a salad. Big robust flavors. Different textures in every bit. It's literally a party for my mouth.

When creating this Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad, I had both Asheley and Olivia on my mind. Asheley is obsessed with blueberries. It's to the point that if I need blueberries for a recipe I'm photographing, I need to hide them in the spare refrigerator in the garage behind a bunch of other stuff just so Asheley wont get to it. Next step is barbed wire.

Olivia eats corn like it is her job. I think she believes it is her true calling in life to devour every kernel of corn in the state of New York. Every time I heat up frozen corn for her, I think I'm making more than enough. And every time I hear... more corn. No matter how much I heat up for her... more corn.

So this salad is an ode to my two favorite ladies in my life. Blueberries + Corn. Asheley + Olivia. All tied together with the creamy tang of goat cheese, the acidic bite of easy pickled onions, the magic of avocado (it makes everything better, doesn't it?!), and the crunch of pistachios.

But really, the success of any salad always starts with the lettuce. If we're being really honest here, it's kinda easy to forget about the lettuce. Ludicrous, I proclaim. It's the foundation for all this Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad flavor. Starting with great lettuce makes your salad that much better.

I'm really digging the lettuce by Taylor Farms. This Organic 5o/50 Blend features baby spring mix and baby spinach, is triple washed, and ready to eat. I love the tender flavorful leaves and feel really good about the whole organic thing. I try really really hard to cook with as many organic products as possible, and lettuce is one of those things I demand is organic. Taylor Farms is also really big into sustainability, which makes me feel really happy to support. I want to leave this planet a better place for Olivia, and companies using sustainable practices are definitely a step in the right direction.

Although I've only had Taylor Farms organic salad blends so far (LOVE), I'm super excited to also try their single serve salad bowls and chopped salad kits. Hello convenience! That's going to make eating healthy throughout the week that much easier!

Have you seen Taylor Farms products at your local grocery store? Make sure to check out their store locator to see where you can score some.

So let's break down this salad for a second. You can totally use frozen corn that's been thawed if you can't find fresh. Grilling is definitely my favorite way to prepare corn, but feel free to make it however you're most comfortable. I just love the flavor of the grill and those char marks are pretty awesome looking.

If you don't have pistachios, you can most definitely use a different nut. Almonds or walnuts would definitely work, and I'm thinking even pecans could make for a nice swap.

If you're not a goat cheese fan, I don't blame you all too much. I like goat cheese sometimes (this Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad is one of those times because it's pretty darn rad in this), but I get that it's not for everyone. Feta cheese would definitely work in this salad, or you could do some grilled halloumi cheese or just cube up some mozzarella. When it comes to cheese, this family is not picky!

You may be tempted to skip the pickled onions. Don't you dare. It adds just a great crunchy zing to the salad. They are SUPER easy to make... you just have to think ahead because you ideally want them to sit in the fridge for a couple of days before eating them (in a pinch, just pickle them for a couple hours at room temperature). I love pickled onions on salads... and tacos, nachos, sandwiches.

This Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad is so perfect for spring easy entertaining. It makes for a great side at brunch and dinner. I'll be packing it for lunch for Asheley and I during the week, and it could even be a dinner salad with the addition of some grilled chicken or steak.

Oh gosh, the lemon vinaigrette. We didn't even talk about the dressing. Listen, if you aren't making your own vinaigrettes at home yet... I still love you. But come on. It's so easy and tastes 10 thousand times better than the stuff you get in the store. This lemon vinaigrette is bright, fresh, and pairs perfectly with the Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad. Did I mention it's only 3 ingredients? Yea... I told you it was easy.

Asheley. Happy Mother's Day. I'm so thankful that we get to do this parenting thing together. I love our little family, and I so appreciate what an amazing mother you are to Olivia. Now let's eat this Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad.

Corn, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese Salad

Need More Salad Inspiration?

Sweet Potato and Grape Wild Rice Salad

Sone Fruit Caprese Salad

Honey Sriracha Cauliflower Salad

Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad

BBQ Chicken Salad with Avocado Dressing

5 Minute Sweet Pea Goat Cheese Dip

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

This 5 Minute Sweet Pea Goat Cheese Dip is brought to you by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

It's not officially spring in my book until I get to break out the shorts. Man, I forget how much I love shorts until I put them back on for the first time. The B-E-S-T. It's the little things in life, isn't it?

The weather has been pretty fantastic here in New York the last week or so. Not only are my drawers packed shorts (see ya later sweaters... for now at least), but I even had to turn on the central air way earlier than I expected. Olivia keeps looking at the covered up pool, wondering when it'll be opened and ready for business.

When it comes to spring entertaining, the less time I spend in the kitchen the better. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen when the sun is shining and all the fun is happening outside. And turn on the oven?? Heck no. I'll leave my sweating to when I'm chasing Olivia around the yard.

That's why this sweet pea goat cheese dip is pretty darn perfect. It only requires a handful of ingredients (most of which you already probably have on hand), comes together in under 5 minutes, and requires no baking.

And really, is there anything that screams SPRING more than peas and goat cheese? It's light, it's refreshing, and it goes perfect with a glass of rosé. BOOM.

I have to admit... I thought this sweet pea goat cheese dip was going to be a bit lackluster. I mean, the ingredients on their own are kinda meh. But this really is an example of the sum being WAY greater than their humble parts.

What really brings this dip all together for me is the fresh mint and lemon. The mint brings such a fresh powerful punch of flavor, and lemon, well... it's pretty much the best thing ever. Everything it touches instantly becomes better.

I'm not even a big goat cheese fan, but here its flavor is pretty subtle and instead helps the dip be super smooth and extra creamy.

You may want to double the recipe if cooking for a bunch of people. My wife and I polished this off for a light lunch in no time. You can probably stretch it to four servings if making it as an appetizer or snack... but doubling it is just as easy and you can refrigerate the leftovers (ha... like they'll be leftovers).

And sure, you could most certainly just go out and grab some chips to go alongside this sweet pea goat cheese dip. BUT... then you'd be missing out on one of life's most greatest joys. Making them yourself... completely customized in flavor and baked to save on calories (i.e. eat more dip!).

Have you experienced Flatout Flabread yet? I'm a big fan of theirs, and am thrilled to create monthly recipes with them. The have so many different products, and they truly help make lunch, snacking, and dinner super convenient and easy at our house. The flatbreads come in all sorts of flavors and are perfect for wraps, quesadillas, burritos, and baked CHIPS! I love that they are low on calories and big on protein and fiber. The ones I used for this sweet pea goat cheese dip are just 100 calories per flatbread and contain 9 grams of protein.

And all my Weight Watchers peeps... good news, Flatout is the official flatbread and wrap for Weight Watchers!

So these chips? SUPER easy to make. I brush them with lemon juice (which pairs perfectly with this dip) and give them a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. A quick bake in the oven and bam... super crisp and flavorful healthy baked chips.

Make sure to search for Flatout Flatbread in the deli section of your local grocery store. You can also check out their store locator to find Flatout products near you.

Let's review.

Get out those shorts. Peace out sweaters.
Air conditioning is your friend. Ovens in the hot weather... not so much.
This sweet pea goat cheese dip only takes 5 minutes to make and requires no cooking
Make this sweet pea goat cheese dip. Your family and friends will thank you for it

5 Minute Sweet Pea Goat Cheese Dip

Need More Dip Ideas?

Spicy Caramelized Pineapple Bacon Guacamole

Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip

Mexican Street Corn and Avocado Dip

Southwest Kale, Corn, and Bacon Dip

Trader Joe's Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip

Caramelized Onion Dip

Channa Masala Vegetarian Indian Tacos

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tasty Bite. All opinions are 100% mine.

These Channa Masala Vegetarian Indian Tacos are brought to you by Tasty Bite. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

I am so freaking happy right now.

It's the most wonderful time of the year... Cinco de Mayo week!

What, not what you were expecting?!

Well, get excited... because you have full permission to eat as much chips and guacamole as you want this week. Yes, margaritas too. And for the main course, you've got options. Literally as I'm writing this I'm polishing off a plate of my Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas (and you better believe I'm having a homemade Nutella Choco Taco to satisfy my sweet tooth after).

Sometimes though, I like to switch things up. There's nothing more exciting to my tastebuds than combining two cuisines into an epic fusion of flavors. Let me explain. Last weekend I photographed a full Indian wedding with my wedding photography studio, Ashe Photography. It was absolutely spectacular. The celebration was elaborate, colorful, and beyond stunning. Hands down one of my favorite weddings ever. My favorite part? They had a ridiculous spread of food at the reception. RIDICULOUS. Food as far as the eye could see, and flavors that I now dream of every night.

I think Indian food is my newest obsessions, because I seriously cannot stop thinking about all the mind-blowing flavors I experienced.

But I also love tacos. So what's a guy to do? Make vegetarian Indian tacos! One of my favorite things I ate at the wedding were these super bold-flavored chickpeas called Channa Masala (or chana masala). As I was sopping up all the juices with naan I thought to myself... this would make for one heck of a taco.

And that, my friends, is how these Channa Masala Vegetarian Indian Tacos were born.

If you're new to Indian food or a bit unsure of trying exotic flavors, this is the perfect recipe for you. You've got all the familiarity of a good ole' taco with exciting Indian flavors.

Want me to try a new food? Put it in a freaking taco. I'm fairly certain I'll try almost anything if it's wrapped in a tortilla.

So what exactly is this channa masala stuff? It's a dish of stewed chick peas with onions, chopped tomatoes, and a bunch of spices. It's something I'm fairly certain I need to be eating at least once per week for the rest of my life. It's that good.

And for me to say that about something vegetarian... you know it's legit.

Even more fantastic? Channa Masala is now available anytime I want it. I just need to open my pantry, pop a pouch of Tasty Bite Channa Masala in the microwave, and it's done in one minute.

Let me run that by you again. ONE MINUTE.

Ermagherd where has this been all my life?!

We all have NO excuse at this point when it comes to cooking up some authentic flavors of India at home. We all have 1 minute... and if you don't have a microwave, heat it up on the stove. Tasty Bite... thank you for making this super convenient product. If you were here I'd give you a big giant kiss.

I am also really digging that Tasty Bite doesn't use any nasty stuff in their products. It's all natural, preservative free, and nothing artificial.

Most important of all... the global flavors of Tasty Bite's Channa Masala is spot on and makes for a perfect base in these Vegetarian Indian Tacos. BOOM.

Make sure to be on the lookout for the yellow pouch at your grocer's International Food aisle. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see a big variety of Thai, Indian, and Asian products to choose from. You'll be bringing vibrant, bold, and totally approachable flavors into your kitchen in no time! Psst... start with these Channa Masala Vegetarian Indian Tacos.

I'd be totally happy with just this channa masala wrapped up in a tortilla. But you all know how I love my toppings.

For these Vegetarian Indian Tacos, we're bringing sliced avocado, easy pickled onions, sliced jalapeños, and a cooling creamy white sauce to the party.

The white sauce, by the way, is EVERYTHING. I put it on so many different things, including these Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls. Best of all, it's dairy free (as are the rest of these tacos).

And listen, if you want to make these tacos gluten free, just use corn tortillas. Asheley isn't a fan of corn tortillas though, so we are a flour family over here. The number one thing to elevating your taco experience though, no matter what tortilla you choose, is to HEAT THEM BEFORE SERVING. It makes all the difference, I promise.

It can be as easy as throwing a bunch of tortillas in some tin foil and warming in the oven, or putting one by one on a skillet or griddle and letting them get all toasty golden brown in spots.

Channa Masala Vegetarian Indian Tacos

Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

These family friendly Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas are filled with shredded zucchini, spinach, and corn... all under a layer of green enchilada sauce + LOTS of cheese! Your kids will never know they are eating healthy vegetables! It's a meal they'll love and you'll feel good about serving!

I fully understand that for normal people this week is probably nothing more than an ordinary work week. IT'S CINCO DE MAYO WEEK!

I fully understand that for normal people, they may watch a commercial during the week and think to themselves that they should really try and remember to make tacos and have a margarita on May 5th. I'VE BEEN PLANNING MY WEEK LONG CELEBRATORY MENU FOR OVER A MONTH.

I fully understand that for normal people this is completely a manufactured semi made-up holiday. IT'S MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR.

Seriously. I love Cinco de Mayo. For one ~~day~~ week out of the year, I can eat all the guac, margaritas, tacos, guac, margaritas, nachos, guac, margaritas I want.... guilt free. I've got a vat of my famous guacamole on hand (I usually make it plain without the pineapple or bacon), will be chowing down on these perfect carnitas all week (topped with easy pickled onions of course), and I've stashed away some homemade 4 Ingredient Nutella Choco Tacos in the freezer for dessert.

I've also got a new Cinco de Mayo secret weapon. It's something for the whole family and is a 100% kid friendly recipe. Parents, meet these Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas. They will quickly become your best friend, for Cinco de Mayo week and beyond.

I'm gonna be real. Olivia isn't a huge vegetable fan. She loves fruit. Veggies, not so much. She'll eat some here and there (thank you, cucumbers, corn, and sungold tomatoes). So we do what every parent does. We hide those vegetables like it's our job. Those freaking miraculous pouches do a fantastic job at that for us on a daily basis, but I've also been working on some homemade concoctions to achieve the same results. For instance, I puree Swiss chard and add it to applesauce (she now thinks all applesauce is green, by the way).

Am I the only one struggling with getting veggies into our kid's diet? Oh... you too. Glad I'm not alone here.

When creating this Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchilada recipe, I had our kids in mind. Because if there's one things I've learned with Olivia, is that she'll eat whatever I want her to if she thinks she's in charge. And cheese. She'll eat cheese all day every day.

Ohhhh, you want these cheesy chicken enchiladas?! Here, have two. Little will our kiddies know.... these enchiladas are stuffed with shredded zucchini and spinach!

How do we hid it? Green vegetables... in a green sauce. AND the melty cheese. You can hide anything in melted cheese.

Want to make another healthy decision at dinner time? I use plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream to top these Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas. Now listen.... I completely and unequivocally LOVE sour cream. So the fact that I'm promoting swapping in Greek yogurt means that it works. BIG TIME. Like, it satisfies me the same way that sour cream does.

HUGE bonus. I've been told that you can make these enchiladas and freeze them for consumption on a later date. Just reheat and boom.... Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas are served!

I personally don't see myself having enough willpower to make a batch of these and then just freeze them away. However, what I will be doing is making 2 batches of these Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas at a time. Eat one, freeze one. That's what I'm talking about!

Hidden Veggie Chicken Enchiladas

Need More Cinco de Mayo Recipes?

Spicy Caramelized Pineapple Bacon Guacamole

4 Ingredient Nutella Choco Tacos

Baked S'mores Churro Bites

No Bake Churro Cheesecake

Apple Pie Tacos

Mexican Lamb Tacos with Tequila Soaked Raisins

Carnitas Tacos with Pickled Onions and Salsa Verde

Better Than Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Baked Horchata Glazed Donuts

Baked Brown Butter Churro Donuts

How To Make Perfect Carnitas

Peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

This Peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake is brought to you by American Greetings. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Mother's Day is coming. It's an occasion we celebrate BIG time in this house. Not with presents, but with presence.

For several years, Mother's Day was a really tough day on the calendar. It was yet another reminder that Asheley wasn't yet a mom. That we couldn't get pregnant. And at the time, we honestly thought it very well might never happen. There was no medical reason for our infertility struggles, which made the pain that much worse.

On a day where Facebook timelines are flooded with cutesy mom posts and families gather to celebrate the important women in their lives, I'd watch Asheley struggle to try to hold it together. To make her face smile, even though her heart was sobbing.

Then it happened. We were blessed with our little Olivia. She truly is the greatest miracle of our lives, and we make sure to celebrate the day by giving thanks that Asheley has the incredible opportunity to be a mom. And what a mom she is.

For us, Mother's Day isn't so much a gift giving occasion as it is a reminder to celebrate what almost wasn't. To be fully present... together.

We avoid restaurants on Mother's Day like the plague. They are the worst. Over crowded, rushed service, and lackluster food. Meh, no thanks. We'd much rather enjoy a big brunch at home, thanks. Emphasis on big, because you know I love a good spread of food. And I'm happy to welcome this Peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake to the brunch party. It's LEGIT.

Brunch is no time for fussy food. It's meant to be casual. To allow for grazing... second (and third) helpings... so I'm always looking for impressive family-style easy entertaining brunch recipes. Minimal prep. Optimal impact. That's how I roll when hosting a brunch.

You know I'm not a huge breakfast fan in general, but I do love me some pancakes. They tend to be a royal pain in the butt to pull off for brunches, because they require a lot of hands on time. Enter the Peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake.

The batter literally whips together in a blender in 30 seconds, and it goes straight into one big skillet and gets baked off in the oven for about 25 minutes. That's it. This recipe literally is fool proof and so easy my 21 month old daughter can do it.

Well, not by herself... but she seriously does help with it. She loves dumping in the ingredients into the blender.

The flavor combinations you can top your dutch baby pancake with are endless. I decided to go with peach raspberry (i.e. peach melba) this year because it is hands down my mom's favorite. Growing up, she'd always top her vanilla ice cream with peaches and raspberry syrup. As a typical kid, I found it weird. Ice cream was supposed to be topped with irresponsible amounts of hot fudge and sprinkles. Not fruit and more fruit.

But now with my 30-something wisdom, I realize the brilliance of the Peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake combination. It's absolutely delicious.

The dutch baby does have a bit of a different taste than normal pancakes. It has a more custardy flavor to it, which I think lends itself perfectly to a topping of whipped cream and powdered sugar instead of the usual butter and syrup.

When your dutch baby pancake comes out of the oven, you'll see that it's puffed up nicely. It won't stay that way for long, unfortunately. Don't worry, that's completely normal. It will shrink within a minute or two.

We celebrate all together on Mother's Day. Asheley. My sister-n-law. My mom. My grandparents. There are so many special women in our family, and we love to celebrate them all together. Don't worry, Olivia and I make sure to take Asheley out on an adventure after brunch as well... there's only so much family one can take, haha. Especially when it's my family (all of her's is up in Massachusetts).

Gifts are sometimes exchanged, but in my family we say I love you with a card. When I go and pick out cards at Target (that's where I always get my cards because hello... Target is awesome and they also have a surprisingly huge selection of cards), it's not just a quick grab and go. I spend a long time reading through almost every card just to find the right one.

It doesn't end there. Cards shouldn't be something that you read once and throw away. If you do it right, the recipient will want to treasure that card for years to come. I love sitting down and writing something special, especially on an occasion like Mother's Day. I want my wife (and mother and grandma) to know just how special and valued they are. And for me, a card does that.

I'm teaching Olivia the importance of cards from an early age. Start 'em young! I took her with me to Target to pick out Asheley's card for Mother's Day this year. I picked a couple out and let her choose her favorite. The giraffe won... it always wins, haha. When we got home, we made sure to spend some time making mommy an original drawing, toddler style.

Have you gotten your Mother's Day cards yet? Make sure to head to Target and use these special offers to save on all greeting cards at Target:

4/23-4/29 - 20% off // 4/30-⅚ - 10% off // 5/7-5/14 - 5% off

Then make sure to whip up this Peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake. The mom in your life will love you for it! ...just don't forget the card as well 🙂

Olivia wanted to help with the powdered sugar on the peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake. How freaking adorable is that?!

Peach Melba Dutch Baby Pancake

Need More Brunch Ideas?

Blood Orange Thyme Mimosas

Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Roll-Ups

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Wontons

Monte Cristo Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches

Southwest Bacon and Caramelized Onion Quiche

Lamb Kefta Meatloaf with Spiced Yogurt and Israeli Salad

By Chris Cockren 3 Comments

It's time to transform meatloaf night with the seriously bold flavors in this Lamb Kefta Meatloaf with Spiced Yogurt and Israeli Salad! This Lamb Kefta Meatloaf is brought to you by the American Lamb Board. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

My mom tried making meatloaf a few times when I was a kid. Tried. Our family must have revolted pretty hard, because it was quickly dropped from the dinner rotation permanently.

Let's be honest... meatloaf has a pretty terrible reputation. Even the name is kinda terrible. Meatloaf. Yeah, it's not really triggering the salivary glands if you know what I mean. Someone should totally come up with a new and exciting term for it. That's your homework... ready, go.

I've followed in my family's footsteps by pretty much steering completely clear of this American dinner staple, except when I whip up these Southwest Turkey and Roasted Vegetable Meatloaf Sandwiches (totally legit... make them asap). But then I thought to myself that transforming these epic Lamb Kefta Burgers with Spicy Whipped Feta into a meatloaf could actually... dare I say, save meatloaf night.

Guys. I was SO right. This Lamb Kefta Meatloaf with Spiced Yogurt and Israeli Salad is epic.

I love the bold Middle Eastern and Greek flavors in this Lamb Kefta Meatloaf. Mint. Cumin. Coriander. It's literally a flavor party for your mouth. So freaking good. I let my wife at it after I was done photographing, and her eyes lit up like she was eating pickles... that's a very very good thing.

By the way, kefta... kofta... keftés... all the same thing. It just depends where you're making it. Different regions of the Middle East and Greece call it different things.

No matter what you decide to name it, you need to serve your Lamb Kefta Meatloaf with this spiced yogurt and Israeli salad. The Greek yogurt gets an acidic punch of lemon and fragrant mint, and then gets amped up with the same spices that are in the meatloaf. It's a reinforcement of those coriander and cumin flavors.

I've been using Israeli Salad on pretty much anything and everything I can lately. It's so addictive. Little Olivia is even getting in on the action. She was obsessed with the cucumbers while I was whipping up the batch for this Lamb Kefta Meatloaf. Israeli Salad couldn't be easier to prep and is so healthy and fresh. I use it to top hummus in my Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip and to top bowls and sandwiches like these Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowls and Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls. #addictive

But really, the star of this show is the lamb. Specifically, American lamb. It's so sad to me that a lot of the lamb sold here in the United States is actually from Australia and New Zealand. America... it's time to wake up! Why oh why are we buying meat from literally the opposite side of the world when we have a plethora of local lamb ranches right in our own backyards. And psst... our American lamb tastes even BETTER!

American lamb is produced in almost every state. It can't get more local than that. And listen... I had the opportunity recently to visit a lamb ranch in California. When I say it's a family operation and a labor of love, I mean it in every sense of the words. This guy had more passion about lamb than I have about anything really. He lives, eats, and breathes his work. That passion translates in a better product... and I don't know, but I just love supporting our local farmers that are working so hard right here at home.

Lamb from 10,000 miles and 30 days away from our supermarkets or lamb raised right here on American soil on family-owned ranches? It's a no brainer, really. Especially because American lamb is also raised 100% without any artificial growth hormones and provides nearly 5 times the amount of essential omega-3 fatty acids than beef (get more nutritional info on lamb here if you’re into that sort of thing).

So come on America. Next time you are at the butcher counter... make sure you let them know that you want AMERICAN lamb.

Then go home and make this Lamb Kefta Meatloaf with Spiced Yogurt and Israeli Salad. BOOM.

Lamb Kefta Meatloaf with Spiced Yogurt and Israeli Salad

Need More Lamb In Your Life?

Lamb Kefta Burgers with Spicy Whipped Feta

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Mexican Lamb Tacos with Tequila Soaked Raisins

Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce

Southwest Ancho Chile Crusted Lamb Chops

Fajita Burgers

By Chris Cockren 3 Comments

These Fajita Burgers are brought to you by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Char-Broil. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

NOW it's spring. I know it technically started about a month ago, but now it actually feels like spring is here. I'm enjoying my final day of a generous 11-day spring break (every day of which I've spent at the park with Olivia... she's certifiably obsessed with slides), and the weather has been nothing short of perfection. I even got to break out my shorts for a few days.

And then it happened. I got the grilling itch. You know, when you suddenly want to abandon the kitchen you've been hibernating in all winter long and enjoy your entire meal outside. Warm weather + shorts = it's grilling season baby!

Grilling is, by far, my favorite way to cook. There is no greater feeling on earth than being on my back patio with a drink in hand... cooking up all sorts of legit eats for my family and friends. Hosting backyard BBQs is the highlight of my entire year, so you better believe it happens often. For the next several months, I'm happy to say goodbye to my kitchen and hello to the grill.

My secret sauce to a throwing an epic outdoor party? Get the music pumping, the drinks on ice, and most importantly, make sure your menu is on point. Because duh, the meal is the most important part of any party. I'll cook up a ton of make-ahead sides way before the party starts (like my famous Sweet Potato Bacon Salad and super popular Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad, so that I'm free to man the grill all the while hanging out next to my peeps outside.

What am I grilling up? The usual stuff always makes an appearance, but my rule is always to have one signature item. One thing that comes off the grill and makes that huge impact. The thing that people go home thinking about... like my Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Hot Dogs or Whiskey Glazed Burgers with Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon and a Fried Egg.

And now there's a new player in town. These spice-crusted Fajita Burgers with a melted pepper jack cheese, grilled onions and peppers, pico de gallo, and guacamole. Heck to the yes.

You know I'm slightly obsessed with Mexican and Southwest flavors. They are on my mind extra hard right now because my all-time favorite holiday is right around the corner. Cinco de Mayo!

Yes, my favorite. It's a day that encourages the mass consumption of chips with guac and pitchers of margaritas. What more could you want in a holiday?

I always whip up a huge batch of these Foolproof Carnitas for my annual Cinco de Man-o party (dudes only party), and I'm thinking these Fajita Burgers will also be joining the menu this year. If there's anything that my friends love... it's meat and grilling. It's something we all do together. The grill literally becomes the focal point of the party. And this year, they will all be gawking at my brand new Char-Broil Commercial Series TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Gas Grill.

Guys, it's beyond legit.

I've cooked on many grills in my life, and the one thing that always bums me out are those annoying flare-ups. They must annoy Char-Broil too, because they totally revolutionized the grilling game with their anti-flare-up technology. Seriously, no flare-ups on this Char-Broil bad boy!

I also am totally in love with how evenly distributed the heat is on this Char-Broil Commercial Series TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Gas Grill. I can put food anywhere I want and it'll all cook at the same pace. Glorious grilling victory!

Quite possibly my favorite feature of this new Char-Broil grill is the sideburner. It's got a rack if you want to heat up a side dish like baked beans or this unreal Spicy Southwest Corn, or you can use the included cast iron griddle to cook up things like bacon and fried eggs (hello epic burger toppings) and also these grilled peppers and onions that I used in the Fajita Burgers.

Usually when I grill up vegetables, I have to worry about them falling through the grates into the inferno below. Not any more. Boom. And I seriously couldn't believe how quickly they cooked up. It was grilling magic.

And really, this Char-Broil is so easy to use. I love the Surefire® Electronic Igniter... one push and the grill is ready to use. Perfect for foolproof entertaining!

Back to these burgers. The spice crust is your typical taco spice mix. Feel free to use a store-bought taco seasoning packet if you are feeling especially lazy. I love how much flavor these spices impart on the fajita burger.

I used spicy pepperjack cheese on my burgers here, but you can feel free to swap in cheddar or Monterey jack if you've got that on hand. And of course feel free to use any salsa if you don't want to make pico de gallo or can't find it at the store.

The one thing you can't skimp on? The guacamole. I'm talking like a 1 to 1 ratio of burger to guac here. Okay, maybe not that much, but pretty darn close.

Let's review. The next time you want to throw one heck of a party? Get outside and start grilling. Fajita Burgers... for the win!

Fajita Burgers

Need More Grilling Ideas?

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Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burgers

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Bacon Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs

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Grilled Corn, Plum, and Avocado Grain Salad

Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Salad

Sweet Potato Bacon Salad

Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad

Roasted Corn with Sriracha Avocado Butter

Four Healthy Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

Grab some store-bought rotisserie chickens and be amazed how easy it is to prepare these make ahead Four Healthy Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps! You'll be on your way to enjoying Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad, Buffalo Chicken Chicken Salad, Greek Chicken Salad, and Pesto Chicken Salad within minutes!!

Today's a big day. I'm bringing you FOUR ways to get your chicken salad game on point. These four healthy chicken salad lettuce wraps are essential in my house.

They help spice things up in the lunch department. I'm known to be a loyal consumer of rice cakes with peanut butter + jelly for lunch throughout the work week. I love PB+J, and it's not something I can have in the house (Olivia's allergic to peanuts). But not going to lie... sometimes I get a little bored of the repetition. That's when these bad boys come in. I don't always eat them on lettuce leaves and sometimes go for a wrap or sandwich, but I am a BIG fan of these four healthy chicken salad lettuce wraps. They are a huge win at lunch, and make everyone's heads turn in the faculty room. #jealous

Probably even more important for me though, is how handy these four healthy chicken salad lettuce wraps come in when I'm hosting a brunch. My family usually resorts to serving a spiral ham at every brunch... but mehhh, spiral ham. Don't get me wrong. Ham is enjoyable and all, but there's more to brunch than ham.

I like the lunch component of the brunch much more than the breakfast one (you know my aversion to breakfast), so for me it's all about options. Give me a gigantic brunch spread. Make my taste buds sing with flavor overload. And the easiest way to make that happen are with these four healthy chicken salad lettuce wraps. Of course for brunch, I put out these healthy chicken salads with some rolls, wraps, mini bagels... and yes, lettuce.

But let's be honest. If you're doing brunch right, you're not worried about some carbs. Especially when you're saving calories with the chicken salad itself.

So what's the secret? What's the magic sauce in creating super flavor chicken salads without all the fatty guilt of mayo? Greek yogurt. Seriously, it's that simple. Everyone I serve these four healthy lettuce wraps to can't believe they are made with Greek yogurt. You get all the creamy goodness without the self-loathing and regret afterward.

So let's break these four healthy chicken salad lettuce wraps down...

Healthy Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad - the Greek yogurt gets pumped up with some apple cider vinegar, and then mixed up with chicken, Granny Smith apples (very important to use Granny Smith's in my book... they are perfectly tart for this salad), dried cranberries, and sliced almonds.

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad - mix up some wing sauce and dry ranch mix with some Greek yogurt and combine it with chicken and celery. A little sprinkle of blue cheese and you have your favorite buffalo wings in chicken salad form.

Healthy Greek Chicken Salad - the secret to success in this chicken salad is the tzatziki, which is combined with chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, and kalamata olives. Sprinkle on some feta for bonus points.

Healthy Pesto Chicken Salad - okay you got me, there's no Greek yogurt in this one. Just good 'ole healthy pesto, combined with chicken, tomatoes, and a little shredded mozzarella cheese.

What's even better than offering your guests the magic of variety with these four healthy chicken salad lettuce wraps? They can ALL be made ahead of time, each only take MINUTES to prepare, and you can make the process even simpler by grabbing a couple rotisserie chickens at the grocery store. That's what I do every time. Who's got time to roast chickens all day? Just give me some rotisserie and chop it up. Easy and done.

Four Healthy Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Need More Healthy Lettuce Wraps?

Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Korean Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Cinnamon Chili Pork Lettuce Wraps with Apple Corn Salsa

Asian Steak Lettuce Wraps

Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

This Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen is brought to you by REVOL. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Asheley and I absolutely love going into the city to eat. It's hands down my favorite hobby. Yes, eating is my favorite hobby... shocker. Need ideas of where to eat in the city? No problem... start here with my The Top 10 Foods You Have To Eat in NYC (and follow that up with the The 10 Best Ice Cream and Frozen Treats in NYC). We've amassed quite a list of places we've eaten, including everything from cheap (and sometimes sketchy) eats all the way through crazy legit 3 Michelin Star fine dining. The ridiculous thing is that no many how many places we cross off our list, there's literally always hundreds more that we want to try. A never-ending food bucket list... my type of list.

But give Asheley the choice of where she wants to eat, she will always (ALWAYS) choose ramen. She is 100% certifiably obsessed. I don't blame her. The ramen scene in NYC is on point. Reproducing the authentic ramen we seek throughout the city is really time-consuming to do at home, but I'm always a fan of finding fun recreations to make for Asheley when we can't make it into NYC. And with a toddler keeping us super busy, we definitely aren't getting into Manhattan nearly as often as we would like. So I cook her up some wildly inauthentic ramen at home, like this Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen and Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Ramen.

And now, I'm bringing you this Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen. It has instantly become a staple in our house, and it's something I find myself craving again and again.

This Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen is surprisingly simple to make as far as ramen goes, and is one of those dishes that will impress the heck out of your family and friends. I seriously want a bowl of it right now... and I just ate dinner.

Have you ever heard of Khao Soi? Me neither, up until a few months back when I was served a bowl of it at the American Lamb Board's Lamb Jam Finale at the James Beard House. It was hands down one of the best things I ate all year. In the top 5, for sure.

It had this unreal depth of complex flavors, and every bite revealed another layer of deliciousness that I wish I could have every single night for dinner.

Khao Soi is a northern Thailand soup-like dish made with a thick coconut curry base, some sort of meat, noodles, lime, and other accompaniments. It's apparently super popular as a street food in Thailand, but it hasn't made its way into the mainstream of Thai restaurants here in America. It's a shame, because it's so darn good you'll cry at first bite.

This Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen is basically a ramen version of a simplified Khao Soi. Trust me, you're welcome.

Seriously, I want to eat this again right now. SO GOOD.

It all starts with this flavor bomb paste of sambal oelek (a chili paste condiment that I love more than sriracha), shallots, garlic, ginger, cilantro, coriander, turmeric, and curry powder. It's a lot of ingredients, but most are staples in your pantry already (and if sambal oelek isn't already in your fridge, give it a try and you'll be a believer too... you can snag it for cheap on Amazon here).

Best of all... no chopping required. Just throw everything into a food processor and boom. FLAY-VAHHHHHH.

After that, all you need is to cook up it up with some broth and coconut milk... add in a little bit of fish sauce and sugar and BOOM. An insanely good Khao Soi soup base for this Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen.

No ramen experience is complete without a couple things in my book:

Pork. Usually I'm all about the pork belly, but it takes too much effort. Well, too much for what I want to put in right now. This spicy ground pork is studded with sambal oelek, garlic powder, and ginger powder. It takes all of 10 minutes to whip together while the soup is simmering away.

Soft boiled eggs. Give me all those jammy custard-like yolks... ermagherd they are one of God's greatest culinary gifts. And psst, don't be intimidated. They are SO easy to make. All you need is a timer and some ice water to guarantee soft-boiled-egg-paradise.

Scallions. It gives that fresh herbal bite that cuts through the richness of the broth. It balances everything out, so no skipping the green stuff.

If you've been to any great restaurant, whether it be a hole-in-the-wall joint only locals know about or the newest fine dining celebrity chef restaurant that's trending hard right now, they've mastered one very important thing. The experience. It doesn't have to be fancy. It just has to be memorable.

That's where these awesome new bowls come in that I scored from REVOL. I am in LOVE with them, and they make this Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen experience complete. Because really, the last thing you want to do is serve this beautiful ramen in some lame super boring bowls.

These Liquorice Colored Arborescence Bowls by REVOL are absolutely the perfect size for all sorts of soups and pastas, and make this Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen look all sorts of irresistible.

Ever hear of REVOL? You may have seen a selection of their products at Williams Sonoma. They are a family-owned business that has been manufacturing culinary porcelain in France since 1768. Let's just pause there for a second.

1768. Like. over 2 centuries.

What other businesses do you know that have been going strong for over 2 centuries?! That's insane.

They must be doing something right. And that something is that their products are beautiful, durable, and design-oriented. Their innovative bakeware and cookware are all about quality meets style. It's high end stuff that's still accessible for everyday use. And you better believe that their customer service is on point (you don't stick around for 250+ years unless you constantly deliver on your promises to customers).

And that, my friends, is exactly the type of healthy cookware and bakeware I want to stock my kitchen with... functional and durable while allowing me to cook in style with sleek modern design. Heck yes.

Good news. Now you can cook your style, too. REVOL just launched a brand new website for us here in the U.S. so we can instantly search and purchase products directly from them. Shipping is SUPER fast, too. I know from experience 🙂

*recipe adapted from Bon Appetit

Follow REVOL: Facebook | Instagram

Spicy Pork Thai Coconut Curry Ramen

Need More Ramen?

Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Ramen

Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Nachos

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

Bring your game day eats to a whole new level with these family-friendly Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Nachos, topped with copycat Big Mac secret sauce!

So Asheley was a big time college athlete. Her whole life was sports. And then I happened. When we first met, she'd spend her free time on weekends watching whatever college games she could catch. She knew all the coaches. All the players. The history of each team, the direction each program was heading... but then slowly, it all withered away. Soon reality cooking show marathons won out over watching football or basketball all day.

And then Olivia happened... and the only television that's a part of our lives now is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Daniel Tiger.

Except in March. That's Asheley's one chance every year... it's March Madness baby. Even I get into it. It's exciting stuff.

But let's be real, what's the real star of watching any sporting event? FOOD.

You can bribe me to watch any athletic event if there's legit game day eats involved. And these Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Nachos. Yup, they're pretty darn epic.

Just a note before we go on. These Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Nachos (i.e. also known as totchos) would be equally fantastic on French fries. I know because... well yeah, I made both kinds.

Alright jeez YES I ate both of them too. Gosh, get off my back.

Which one to choose to make your family and friends? Isn't it obvious... BOTH. Duh.

When I was taste testing these Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Nachos on friends, one mentioned she was seriously loving the throwback to her middle school cafeteria days... buying tater tots daily to supplement her brown bag lunch nourishment. It was actually her first time since those pimply-awkward-phase-days that a tater tot has touched her lips. To that I say, what the heck took you so long?

Yea, it's fun to be all nostalgic and stuff, but tater tots are kinda awesome. And then loaded with all this bacon cheeseburger goodness? Freaking irresistible.

By the way, I have come to the conclusion that I can't spell irresistible right. Every freaking time I get that red squiggly line under the word letting me know that yet again, I spelled it wrong. Darn you irresistible.

Back to these Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Nachos. Your kids will love them. Your spouse will love them. Your friends will love them. EVERYONE LOVES TATER TOTS. And if they don't, you may want to reevaluate your commitment to having them in your life. Just saying.

I do a solid to the ground beef by browning it along with an onion, garlic powder, and some mustard for a serious flavor upgrade. If you don't want to through the trouble of shredding American cheese, you can just use a mild cheddar OR use slices of American cheese. No one will judge you, it's okay. Just make sure to not skimp out on the secret sauce (slightly adapted from here). It's magical, and tastes just like the stuff that put on your Big Mac. Except you get the control the sauce ratio here. Hint... you want lots of sauce.

Oh, and did I mention that this is GLUTEN FREE?! Yup, that's right my gluten intolerant friends. Chow down, because this is all for you, too.

Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Nachos

More Game Day Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos)?

Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Nachos

Korean Pork Sweet Potato Totchos

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Totchos

Loaded Baked Potato Totchos

Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza

By Chris Cockren 7 Comments

This Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza is brought to you by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

So yea. Breakfast. Not really my thing.

Some people wake up on the weekend and have brunch goals or cook up some extravagant breakfast. I'm like... how many hours until lunch? Basically, what's the bare minimum that I can eat right now to sustain me until the better meals of the day. Usually that means a yogurt on the go, or finishing up the scraps of buttered toast and berries that Olivia decided not to finish.

Don't even get me started on the whole breakfast for dinner thing. I'm cool if you're into it... but don't try that crap on me.

Once in awhile, though, I'll get the breakfast itch. Some weekends I wake up and say... I'm going to make my family something legit for breakfast (and what that really means is... I want something legit for breakfast). More often than not, I'm craving some variation of huevos rancheros. Thankfully I had a package of Flatout® Flatbread light originals on hand (only 90 calories each and 9 grams of protein, BOOM!), so I made this epic Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza.

Honestly, I'm pretty dumb. After eating this Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza, I'm wondering why I don't make breakfast more often. It was so tasty, filled me up for the entire morning (and kept my energy levels up while chasing around a non-stop active toddler), and was surprisingly very quick and easy.

Best part, I had everything on hand to make these already. No special trip to the food store required. Well, you might need a trip to the food store... I just have a ridiculous amount of food stored away in my pantry and fridge at all times. Ask Asheley. It annoys the crap out of her.

Have you experienced the greatness that is Flatout® Bread yet? Seriously, these guys have saved meals for me in more ways that I can count at this point. Their wraps are perfect for pizzas, burritos, tacos, and well, wraps. Their fold-its make for one heck of a pita, bun, and sandwich. I even used them for these mind-blowing Caramel Apple Pie Tacos at one point!

Now that I'm back on the stop being a fatty Chris wagon, I'm really digging the Flatout Light Original Flatbreads. They are only 90 calories each, have 9 grams of protein, and are high in fiber. They are the perfect blank canvas for all sorts of flavors... like the Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza.

You trying to eat healthier too? Well good news, because Flatout® Flatbread is now the official flatbread of Weight Watchers®! All the flatbreads are only 2 to 4 SmartPoints® (the light original is 2, woot woot).

Make sure to be on the lookout for Flatout Flatbreads in the deli or bakery section of your grocery store the next time you're food shopping (or checkout the FlatoutFinder to find a store near you).

A tip to make this Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza a great experience. The recipe calls to cook the flatbread in stages. That will help to make sure you have a solid firm foundation so the salsa doesn't make the bottom all soggy.

...and no one wants a soggy bottom.

Also feel free to use any spicy sausage available if you can't find chorizo, and use cheddar cheese (or a Mexican cheese blend) if you like that over monterey jack.

That egg. Ohhhh yeah that's the good stuff.

Conclusion... I need to make breakfast more often. That breakfast needs to be Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza.

Share the #FlatoutLove: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Huevos Rancheros Flatbread Pizza

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Mumbai Margarita

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

These Mumbai Margaritas are brought to you by Patrón. The perfect way to enjoy Patrón is responsibly. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

St. Patrick's Day is finally over. Sorry if that sounds mean, but I'm just so not into it. Irish food is bleh. I don't drink beer. And green is so not my color.

Now it's time to focus all attention on MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR. Cinco de Mayo! Yes, I'm serious.

Well, it's my favorite non-major holiday of the year. Why, you ask? Uhm, have you met me? I am obsessed with Mexican and Southwest flavors. My dream last meal 0n earth is a margarita and guacamole... and when I get to heaven, I imagine it begin a place where guac doesn't cost extra. Amen.

So sure, it's only March, but I'll be busy planning some serious Cinco de Mayo eats over the next month. I've got a party to plan for.... my annual Cinco de MAN-o party. That's right, a night where all my dude friends come over and we throw down a ridiculous amount of food. Last year everyone was thrilled with my homemade 4 Ingredient Nutella Choco Tacos, so I have to bring my A game again this year.

When Patrón Tequila said they were hosting a Margarita of the Year contest between some of the world's most impressive mixologists, I was pretty darn excited. When they invited me to recreate one of the seven margaritas vying for the prestigious title of Margarita of the Year and share it with all of you, my happiness level was equivalent to when Ring Around the Rosie comes on Olivia's "toddler tune radio station". She immediately screams dance party and proceeds to sing and dance her heart out.

My friends, meet the Mumbai Margarita.

The margarita. Is there a cocktail any more perfect than a well-made margarita? Now I'm totally not above the frozen slush kind found at my local chain Mexican joint (those things are delicious), but we all know Patrón Tequila is some sophisticated stuff. It really takes the margarita to the next level.

To celebrate, they searched the world and found seven legit margarita recipes to contend for title Margarita of the Year. Even cooler, WE get to decide the winner. Just head to Patrón Tequila to check out all seven artisanal margaritas, created by some of the top mixologists in the industry.

Oh, and did I mention the BEST part. We can recreate all of the margaritas at home! Make sure to check out all the Margarita of the Year recipes at patrontequila.com. There's something for everyone, from classic citrus to spice-infused and unique flavor concoctions. Just be prepared to be known as a margarita connoisseur among all your family and friends. When they see that bottle of Patrón on your counter and taste whichever margarita recipe you whipped up, they are going to be pretty darn impressed. You're welcome.

Let's get down to business with this Mumbai Margarita, created by Mixologist Hemant Pathak right here in NYC.

The classic salt rim is replaced by a spicy and herbaceous green chili, cilantro, and garlic salt. To simplify things a bit at home, I just mixed some salt with dehydrated cilantro. Dehydrated cilantro? It's way easier than you think... just microwave some cilantro leave in a single layer on a paper towel in 20 second increments. Once the cilantro is completely dry and brittle, just give it a whirl on a food processor with some salt. Boom. Done.

The dehydrated lime wheels take a bit more time, but are equally easy. And sure, could you skip this garnish? Yes, of course. But let's remember one very important thing.... the level of bartending cred you'll earn when your friends see a homemade dehydrated lime wheel in their margarita. Darn straight.

Just pop your oven on to 170°F and slice a lime into thin wheels (about ¼" thick). Lay them on a cooling rack placed on top of a baking tray, and let them cook in the oven for a few hours. Once they are completely dry to the touch but still pliable, they are done. Let 'em cool and then they will stay for a week at room temperature in a sealed container.

Oh, cool side note. I got that cool shot above of the dehydrated limes by placing them on my iPad and then using a flashlight app to light the screen up white. Totally irrelevant to this discussion if you're not into photography, but I found it pretty cool. Be excited for me. Thanks.

The flavor powerhouse in this drink comes from the trifecta of fresh mango puree, fresh lime juice, and an absolutely delicious spicy rose syrup. You'll need to get some rose water to make this happen (I got mine from Amazon here). Don't skip out on this, it's an integral flavor in this global inspired Mumbai Margarita.

Of course the real star of any margarita is the tequila. We are using Patrón Reposado for this recipe, along with a lime liqueur called Patrón Citrónge Lime. Uhm, YES.

Just look at that bottle. Doesn't it just scream elegance. Well, I guess part of being elegant is not screaming. So maybe it doesn't scream... but man that Patrón bottle just looks so darn cool. Obviously it's proudly displayed right in front on my bar.

I can't wait to serve these Mumbai Margaritas up at my Cinco de Man-o dude fest at the beginning of May. They are going to go bonkers over this cocktail. Not only does it taste absolutely incredible, it's visually stunning.

To help serve these for a crowd, I'm going to make the special salt and dehydrated lime wheels a few days in advance. I'll also prepare the mango puree, lime juice, and spicy rose syrup a day ahead. That way all I need to do is assemble, shake, and pour at the party. Even better, I'll show one of my friends how to do it quick... and then put them in charge.

Now THAT'S how you do easy entertaining. Get stuff done ahead of time... then delegate like crazy.

Are you seeing this margarita? Ridiculously beautiful.

How cool is that little half moon salt rim? I wish I could take credit for it.

Salting the whole rim is so last year...

These Mumbai Margaritas. They are so well balanced. The fresh fruity mango and lime. The floral and sweet rose syrup with just a hint of heat. The smooth flavors of Patrón Reposado and Patrón Citrónge Lime. YAAASSSSSSSSSSS.

And you wonder why Cinco de Mayo is my favorite holiday ever. Uhm, because things like this happen. Now someone pass me the guacamole.

Let's do a little recap here:

Head to Patrón Tequila to check out all the recipes and VOTE for the Margarita of the Year
try this Mumbai Margarita for a serious flavor party
post your margarita photo on Twitter and/or Instagram and use tag #MumbaiMargarita

Follow along with Patrón: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Mumbai Margarita

Need More Drink Ideas?

Sparkling Apple Sidecar

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Slow Cooker Corned Beef Tacos

By Chris Cockren 9 Comments

Full disclosure. I don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Full disclosure. I definitely DO celebrate tacos.

There's just not a lot about St. Patrick's Day that I get excited about. Irish Soda Bread... no thanks. Beer? I'm not a fan. Green? Eh, I'm more of a blue guy. Corned beef... I can honestly take it or leave it.

You'd be proud of me, though. We attempted to take Olivia to her first parade this past weekend... a St. Patrick's Day parade. It was like 20°F and seriously windy. So yeah, that didn't happen. Olivia would have probably been fine, actually, but Asheley is allergic to the cold. She would have sucked every ounce of parade spirit out of me, and I wouldn't want that to be Olivia's first parade experience.

But helllloooooo tacos. I've never met a taco I didn't like. Even a bad taco is still a good taco, because taco. You with me?

And guys... I found a phenomenal way to enjoy St. Patrick's Day this year. Slow Cooker Corned Beef Tacos. It's got corned beef. It's got beer. It even has some green.

Oh, and even the cheese is Irish. Boom.

These Slow Cooker Corned Beef Tacos are perfect for a weeknight dinner, since they are super easy to throw together without a whole lot of planning (besides the dropping a corned beef in the slow cooker in the morning).

And what are you going to braise that corned beef in the slow cooker with? Guinness, of course! This is St. Patrick's Day, after all. I don't even like beer, but I really enjoyed the corned beef that came out of the slow cooker. The Guinness braised corned beef was super moist and succulent, and it literally fell apart while slicing it. That's my type of meat.

To top these tacos off, I made a Guinness cream sauce. It's basically a Guinness spiked sour cream, with some honey added to sweeten the bitterness of the beer. Don't worry/I'm sorry (depending on how you look at it), you won't get drunk off this sauce. The alcohol in the Guinness beer is basically cooked off just like when you make vodka sauce.

Purple cabbage makes an appearance for that needed crunch and also because, well, corned beef and _______. Yup, you know it. Feel free to use green cabbage if you prefer to keep everything green for St. Patricks' Day. I just love the pop of color the red cabbage provides.

Irish cheddar. Check. Of course feel free to use regular cheddar.

And avocado and chopped cilantro or parsley for a creamy and fresh pop... along with the whole green reinforcement.

I declare that for now on, all St. Patrick's Day celebrations should include these Slow Cooker Corned Beef Tacos. Your kids love tacos. You love tacos. It'll be a huge family win.

Or at the very least, use up your leftover corned beef to make these tacos. Your taste buds will thank you.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Tacos

Need More Tacos?

Mexican Lamb Tacos with Tequila Soaked Raisins, Pickled Onions, and Pepitas

4 Ingredient Nutella Choco Tacos

Huevos Rancheros Sausage Breakfast Tacos

Pork Belly Tacos with Ancho Chili Roasted Pineapple and Avocado

Caramel Apple Pie Tacos

Animal Style In N' Out Bacon Cheeseburger Tacos

Swiss Chard and Onion Tacos

Carnitas Tacos with Pickled Onions and Salsa Verde

Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

These Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls are brought to you by Wild Garden. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite food or favorite cuisine is, my answer is always the same. I don't have one. For me, it's all about variety. Living here in NY, it's pretty amazing that we literally have food from every corner of the earth available at our fingertips every night of the week. That's positively mind-blowing. And I love it.

Most people aren't satisfied with my variety answer though, so I always would then say that if I had to choose... I would tend to lean towards Mexican and Southwest flavors. That shouldn't really come as a surprise, considering the vast majority of the recipes here on Shared Appetite include those flavor profiles.

But here's the thing. Currently I have to admit... the tides are turning. My answer is still variety of course, but lately I've been drawn big time to the flavors of the Middle East and Mediterranean. Kinda obsessed, actually.

With the few surprisingly warm days we've enjoyed scattered in over the last couple of weeks, I happily dusted off my grill to satisfy my craving and make these Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls. They have so much flavor... and even better, they are super quick and easy! I think I'm in love.

Aren't these Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls seriously stunning? But it's not just your eyes that are going to be smiling. Let's break down this flavor bomb:

Hummus - get the best quality store bought hummus you can find. It adds a thick, silky texture that binds everything in this bowl together
Israeli Salad - I have been whipping up this quick salad nonstop lately, and I don't even like cucumbers! The bright lemony-tomato-cucumber salad adds a ton of fresh flavor to everything it touches
Arugula - because I'm told eating greens is good for you... and the peppery bite is a great complement to steak
Feta - hello, duh... cheese
Shawarma White Sauce - if you've never experienced the magic of "white sauce", it's addicting. Naan and white sauce is my equivalent to tortilla chips and queso. Yup
Naan - life is better with bread. If you're working with a gluten free diet, I'll happily eat your serving of naan and then these Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls are indeed gluten free. If you can't find naan, good quality pita also works here. I love just tearing up the naan and using it to scoop into this bowl. Insider tip... Trader Joe's has a great naan in the frozen food aisle.
The Steak and Rice - see below for all the deets!

Let's get started with the steak. Flank steak is a pretty great cut because it's relatively inexpensive and easily feeds a crowd. Growing up, whenever we had steak night dinner, it was flank steak. One $10 flank steak would feed all four of us, and we still had leftovers. Although a tough cut of meat, it's super flavorful and when sliced thin against the grain, it's perfectly tender.

With the help of Wild Garden Shawarma Quick Marinade, this flank steak was full of authentic shawarma flavor... you'll taste cardamom, cumin, and lots of herbs! What's really cool is that the marinade is designed for quick and easy meals, so you don't have to marinate the meat for a long time. Although I still enjoyed marinating the flank steak for around 4 to 6 hours to let the flavors really penetrate, you can get away with a lot less if pressed for time.

I have to admit. I thought that the Wild Garden Rice & Lentil Heat and Serve Pilaf was going to be less than stellar. Because let's be honest, how many times are heat and serve products kind of a let down? Yeah, exactly. But I was so wrong!

Guys, the Wild Garden Rice & Lentil Heat and Serve Pilaf is so legit. Basmati rice. Tender lentils. Caramelized onions. Ermagherd I am ridiculously impressed with the flavor in this pilaf. It was something I'm going to be craving again and again in the upcoming weeks, because it was really that good.

Even better, this savory Mediterranean pilaf only takes 90 seconds in the microwave. 90 seconds! It doesn't get any more quick and easy than that.

This Wild Garden Rice & Lentil Heat and Serve Pilaf is the perfect base for these Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls... and I'm already thinking it would be a great side dish to whenever I make souvlaki.

Have you seen Wild Garden's full line of products at your local grocery store? Along with their Wild Garden Taste of the Mediterranean Marinades and Pilafs, they also have a bunch of different hummus dips! You can shop all of Wild Garden's products at their Amazon store (and who doesn't freaking love Amazon?).

Beyond the Shawarma marinade and Rice & Lentil Pilaf, Wild Garden also has a bunch of other great Mediterranean marinades and pilafs that will help inspire you to create quick and easy meals throughout the week. I'm so looking forward to trying their Turkish marinade and Persian marinade, and the Heat & Serve Couscous and Bulgur are totally calling my name!

Make sure to look at Wild Garden's full lineup of products and a whole lot of recipes on their website! And while you are there, check out their store locator so you can pick up these super easy meal starters!

Grilled Flank Steak Shawarma Bowls

Love These Flavors? Check Out:

Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowls

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Healthy Mini Vegetarian Greek Sliders

Lamb Kefta Burgers wit hSpicy Whipped Feta

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wrap

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

This Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wrap is brought to you by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Well that was fun. This past week I enjoyed a glorious week off. It's one of those awesome perks of teaching. Winter vacation... you rock.

I got to spend some much needed quality time with my two favorite girls (that would be my wife and daughter, in case you didn't already know). We also caught up on some of those annoying lingering house projects that we've put off way too long. And as always my goal during vacations from work, I ate so much ridiculously awesome food, including the omakase at Sushi Nakazawa in NYC (documentary fans: Chef Nakazawa was a protege of legendary sushi chef Jiro Ono from Jiro Dreams of Sushi. He was the one training to make the egg sushi in the film).

Now winter vacation is over. Meh.

I have to get back on track with making better food choices. Being in my normal work routine always helps with that. Flatout Bread helps too. All of their wraps are right around the 100 calorie mark, and are the perfect blank canvas for all sorts of flavors. This Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wrap is going to be a staple in my lunch and dinner rotation. Not only does it pack a major flavor punch, but it also comes together in under 10 minutes! Boom.

This wrap came about kinda by accident. I bought a pineapple at the store because Olivia has been stuck in a berry rut lately. She eats them like it is her job and maintaining her organic berry habit throughout the winter would require me to get a fourth job. Thus, it was time to start supplementing her fruit intake with something different. She downed almost the entire pineapple (along with half an avocado), leaving me with just enough to make myself a wrap for lunch.

Considering Asheley is obsessed with BBQ sauce, it shouldn't come as a surprise that my mind jumped from pineapple to BBQ sauce to ohhhhh I can make a Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wrap! And what a delicious lunch it was.

The crunch of the lettuce. The sweet and sticky bbq chicken. Juicy fresh pineapple. Creamy avocado. The bite of raw red onion. All wrapped up in one glorious Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wrap. Uh huh.

Have you checked out Flatout® Flatbread yet? You can find their full lineup of flatbreads, foldits, and pizza crusts in the deli/bakery section of most major grocery stores. You can double check to make sure your store carries them by visiting FlatoutFinder.com.

You might have noticed that Oprah has just partnered up with Weight Watchers®... but did you know that Flatout is the official flatbread for them?! It makes sense really, since Flatout has always been big on flavor and low in carbs and sugar while being high in protein and fiber.

Are you doing the Weight Watchers thing? If so, Flatout Flatbreads are only 2 to 4 SmartPoints® each. Even if you’re not following the Weight Watchers plan, you can feel good about eating food with low SmartPoints, because that means you’re making some pretty good food choices.

And beyond the healthy aspects of Flatout Bread, I love how they make it so simple for me to create quick and easy meals. Seriously, Flatout has rescued my lunch and dinner plan on numerous occasions. Scroll down to the end of this post for some other Flatout recipes I've created with their flatbreads!

Flatout would love to see what recipes you're making, so make sure to tag @Flatoutbread and use #WW #WeightWatchers #FlatoutLove on your social posts!

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wrap

What To Do With All Those Wraps?

Vegan Curried Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Wrap

Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip

Steak, Romesco, and Goat Cheese Wrap with Avocado and Crispy Shallots

Chocolate Chip Banana Fluffernutter Crepes

Southwest Chorizo Breakfast Quesadillas

Grilled Spicy Pineapple, Bacon, and Avocado Flatbread

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Rice Bowl

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

This Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Bowl is brought to you by Uncle Ben's®. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Let's be real. Eating healthy can really stink.

Especially because, well, healthy food can be really bland and boring... but let me tell you the secret that's carried me through the last several weeks of getting back on the eating right track. Big, bold flavors. Yup, that's it.

Every time my eating healthy habits has failed in the past (and I've been carrying around a bit of pudge my entire life... so I have had my share of eating healthy attempts), it's because I got bored. There's only so many times you can eat raw carrot sticks and a house salad. Yawn.

But this Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Rice Bowl with Avocado. Holy yum. It's ridiculously over the top flavorful in the best way possible. The chicken is just the right amount of sweet and spicy. The avocado is creamy. And my belly is all sorts of happy.

You know what else is important with this Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Rice Bowl? It's so simple to whip together, and makes quick weeknight dinners a breeze.

Side note: with an 18-month old running around non-stop throughout the day, quick weeknight dinners are a HUGE win in our book.

The marinade is literally three ingredients. THREE INGREDIENTS. There's no chopping involved. Just dump and pour into a ziploc bag, add in some chicken, and let it hang out in the fridge overnight. Get home from work the next day, get your grilling on, cook up some UNCLE BEN'S® Long Grain & Wild Rice Original Recipe, and slice yo' avocado. And scallions and crumbled queso fresco, because... duh. They makes everything better.

And just a note about queso fresco... if you have trouble finding it, feel free to substitute in some crumbled feta. I've done it before and it works like a charm.

Man, anyone else out there absolutely love Target? C'mon, it's pretty much the greatest store ever. Little secret. I'll pretty much find any excuse to make a "Target run" necessary, just so I can go and browse. They have the cutest clothes for Olivia, amazing housewares (hello new serving dishes), and a really great grocery department.

More and more, I'm finding myself accomplishing a lot of my grocery shopping at Target. And the latest find was this UNCLE BEN'S® Long Grain & Wild Rice Original Recipe. Psst, it also comes in a Fast Cook option!

Uncle Ben's has always been welcome in our house... they have a great variety of white, brown, long grain, and wild rice options that are a healthy and nutritious addition to the dinner table. Quite possibly even more important, they are all super easy and quick to prepare. Hallelujah weeknight dinner win... especially when it's the foundation of this Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Rice Bowl.

Hey, want to save 10% on any and all Uncle Ben's products at Target? Yea you do! Just click HERE for your COUPON! (expires 3/11/17)

So yea. Do yourself a favor. Make this Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Rice Bowl. For you. For your family. For a big-time weeknight dinner victory.

Healthy ---> check

Huge Flavors ---> double check

You're welcome.

Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Rice Bowl

Need More Bowls In Your Life?

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl

Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Bowls

Southwest Sweet Potato Noodle Bowl

Korean Pork Spaghetti Squash Bowl

Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

By Chris Cockren 12 Comments

These Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps are brought to you by the Hass Avocado Board with the American Heart Association through Kitchen PLAY. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

If there is one fruit we go through more of in this house than any other... it's avocado. First off, yeah I know. Avocados are actually a fruit. Maybe you already knew that because you're smart and stuff. If not, don't worry... I remember being pretty shocked when I first found out.

I eat my fair share of avocado around here, but it's actually the ladies of the house that seriously must own a large amount of stock in them. Asheley has always had quite the appetite for nature's silky creamy goodness, and she most definitely passed down that trait to our 19-month-old. From Olivia's very first taste of a Hass avocado, she has been in love. Olivia eats half of one every day. Every day.

It shouldn't really come as a surprise that these Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps were a huge hit at our house. I'm a sucker for southwest anything, and it's a huge bonus that this can be made in just 10 minutes. You heard me right. 10 minutes.

I am kind of jealous of Olivia. I wasn't exposed to the joy of avocados until very late in life... like the end of high school or beginning of college. They were just never in the house because my dad was the pickiest of picky eaters. It's okay, though. Don't feel sad for me. I'm making up for lost time. But not gonna lie... I feel like a successful parent, if for no other reason than exposing my daughter to this amazing wonder fruit early on in life. Olivia, meet the avocado. You're welcome.

And if you haven't introduced lettuce wraps to your family yet, let's do this. They make a perfect weekend lunch or a healthy alternative to Taco Tuesday dinner. It's also easy enough to bring along these Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps for lunch during the workweek. Just pack the lettuce separate and then assemble in front of the envious eyes of all your coworkers.

Oh, and feel free to leave out the jalapeno for the kiddies. We sure do for Olivia.

Let's talk healthy eating. Specifically, keeping the heart pumping strong... since February is American Heart Month and all. And at this point, we all are aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Right? That's scary stuff.

Well, good news avocado fans. Fresh avocados are a heart-healthy fruit. They provide naturally good fats, are low in saturated fat, and are cholesterol- and sodium-free. Avocado contributes nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can enhance the nutrient quality of the diet. Boom. Thanks Hass avocados!

Back in October of 2016, the Hass Avocado Board teamed up with the American Heart Association to encourage Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables (because you know most of us aren't getting our daily recommended amounts). This Healthy for Good Movement has the potential to limit cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes.

And this month, they are teaming up to host a recipe contest called Take Avocado to Heart. Here's some key information about the contest: heart.org/avocadorecipecontest.

you can enter recipes in the categories of appetizer, entrée and dessert
recipe entries must adhere to the AHA nutrition criteria
Grand Prize: $1,000; 2nd Place: $500; 3rd Place: $250
contest runs February 9 to 27, 2017
the official hashtag is #addavocado

These Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps are officially heart-check certified, so you can eat them with confidence that you are doing right by your family.

And if you need more easy and creative recipes that incorporate Hass avocados and are heart-check certified, visit Love One Today to learn more.

But let's start with these Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps. 10 minutes, people... just 10 minutes!

Follow the Hass Avocado Board: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

These Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce are brought to you by the American Lamb Board. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Guys. I'm so excited. I'm really proud to announce that I'm an official Lambassador for the second year in a row. What does that mean, exactly? I get to highlight everything that makes American lamb absolutely legit, and you'll continue to get some epic lamb recipes perfect for special occasions, easy entertaining, and everyday eating. Because American lamb is awesome.

We all know tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I'm sure by now you all have plans. The roses have been ordered. Reservations have been made (or perhaps a romantic at home meal is in the works). You're excited to let your someone special know how much they mean to you. You're on top of things. I'm proud of you.

Or maybe you are like Asheley and I. We aren't really big Valentine's Day people. It's not one of those holidays we really celebrate all that much. In all honesty, we usually don't even celebrate it on actual Valentine's Day. Restaurants are packed, they try to turn over tables as quick as possible, charge extra, and usually have lackluster "special" menus. No thanks. Sure, I could cook up a romantic meal at home... but by the time we get home from work, spend some time with Olivia, and get her to bed, it's like 7:30. All we want to do at that point is relax... so usually we'll wait until a weekend to celebrate. I'll get a reservation at a cool place in the city (sans the Valentine's Day crowd) or spend a good chunk of time cooking Asheley an unforgettable meal at home.

Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day tomorrow or next weekend (or you're not really going to celebrate it at all), February is officially Lamb Lovers Month. And that's something we all can celebrate. This year, I'm super excited about these Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce. It's the perfect romantic dinner for your someone special. Not just for Valentine's Day... but for anytime you're looking to impress.

SPOILER ALERT: scroll down below to learn more about Lamb Lovers Month, but remember to head to the official Lamb Lovers Contest to win legit prizes! It only takes 60 seconds to enter!

Looking for a huge win at your next intimate dinner party? Boom. These Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce look really elegant and sophisticated, but secretly are super easy to pull off. Seriously. The actual hands on time for this recipe is shockingly low, considering how pro this meal ends up looking (and more importantly, tasting). It's also a super forgiving recipe if you are ::ahem:: less than comfortable in the kitchen.

Don't worry though, it'll be our secret... shank you very much. Did ewe catch that pun? Wow, two in a row. I'm good.

If you've never had lamb shanks, or at least never cooked with them... me either. I've had them at a restaurant before, but never attempted cooking them at home. This is the funny thing, though. It's probably one of the easiest and most forgiving cuts of lamb to cook.

The shank is the lower part of the leg, from the knee down. As you can imagine, it's one of the hardest working parts of the animal... making it one of the toughest cuts you'll find on a lamb. That means one thing and one thing only: you gotta go low and slow. There's no quick sautéing or grilling going on with shanks. You need to braise these bad boys.

Braising is probably my favorite cooking method throughout the winter months. There's not a whole lot of prep, there's a ton of room for error (cook it too long and it's no biggie at all), and it makes your house smell amazing. Best of all, you'll get to witness one of life's greatest cooking miracles. A super tough cut of meat going from something rubbery and inedible to super moist and succulent.

To make these Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce a complete meal, I whipped up a modified version of my popular Creamy Cheddar Polenta by adding in some sweet corn kernels and fresh jalapeno. I'm drooling just thinking about it again, because it was so good. Mmmm, polenta.

And this adobo sauce. It's pretty magical. It's an earthy and rich ancho chile sauce that pairs really well with lamb. You can find the whole ancho chiles at good quality grocery stores. Whole Foods always has them. You can also find them online like here.

Let's talk American Lamb. Emphasis on American.

I'm all about supporting products made here... especially when it's local. American Lamb is produced in almost every state. You can't get more local than that.

I had a really great opportunity this past summer to visit a lamb ranch in California. I got to speak with the head rancher, and he seriously oozed passion from every ounce of his body. The guy loves what he does, and that really makes a huge difference in the final product. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather support our local farmers and ranchers than buying stuff that's been imported. Especially when the local product is BETTER!

I was pretty shocked to learn that about 50% of the lamb we eat here in America actually comes from Australia and New Zealand. That means your lamb already traveled 10,000 miles and approximately 30 days just to get to your supermarket. Uhm, why are we doing that? We have local lamb ranchers right in our own neighborhoods that are doing an amazing job. And psst, most of the US sheep operations are family-owned. That's really cool.

Extra bonus, American lamb is raised 100% without any artificial growth hormones and provides nearly 5 times the amount of essential omega-3 fatty acids than beef (get more nutritional info on lamb here if you're into that sort of thing).

Here's the part that you're going to want to pay attention to... WINNING PRIZES. That's right, it's the American Lamb Board's Lamb Lovers Month! You can win all sorts of fun prizes, including all different cuts of lamb and an epic date night with a $200 restaurant gift certificate!

Best of all, it only takes like 60 seconds to enter. Just head to the official Lamb Lovers Contest here and enter to win! Oh, and just for entering, you're going to get a cool personalized lamb spice blend!

Come on, everyone... let's ceLAMBrate! It's Lamb Lovers Month!

Just to review:

American lamb is local, delicious, and overall awesome.
enter the Lamb Lovers Contest now!
make these Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks in Adobo Sauce for a special meal.

*lamb recipe slightly adapted from here

Southwest Braised Lamb Shanks with Adobo Sauce

Need More Lamb?

Southwest Ancho Chile Crusted Lamb Chops

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Lamb Kefta Burgers with Spicy Whipped Feta

Mexican Lamb Tacos with Tequila Soaked Raisins, Pickled Onions, and Pepitas

Butternut Squash and Lamb Flatbread with Pickled Cranberries and Cider Onions

Butterfinger Cheesecake Brownie Bites

By Chris Cockren 2 Comments

These Butterfinger Cheesecake Brownie Bites are brought to you byButterfinger®. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Parents. You all can relate. Weekends are no longer about Asheley or I. Those times are long gone. Spontaneous days to the city to explore or lingering sunny days at the north fork vineyards have been replaced with... play dates.

I'm not going to lie. I miss being able to just pick up and go on an adventure every now and again, but in complete honesty, I cannot imagine life without our sweet little Olivia. She's at the perfect age right now... running around nonstop, talking up a storm, super inquisitive, and pretty much the cutest little kid on the face of this planet. As much as Asheley and I would love to selfishly keep Olivia all to ourselves, we know it's kinda sorta important for her to be social and learn how to be around other kids.

Thankfully, some of our great friends also have kids right around Olivia's age. Play dates allows us parents to have some much needed adult time as well, where we can have conversations about adult things. Actually, that's a lie. We just talk about our kids the whole time.

Any successful play date revolves around one very important thing... the ~~kids~~ food. Ah, sweet nectar of life. There is nothing better than enjoying a meal with friends. Although a meal during play dates is more of a pick-and-grab-a-bite-when-you-can sort of mentality. We've learned over the months that food requiring sitting down or utensils is probably not the best way to go.

That's why these Butterfinger Cheesecake Brownie Bites are the perfect dessert. They are completely make ahead, require no utensils, and can be eaten on the go (i.e. running after your kid who just put a rock in her mouth).

Promise not to judge me? Or at least pretend like you're not and then talk about me later behind my back? Okay, cool.

I used to loathe the chocolate and peanut butter flavor combination. I didn't understand why people would ruin a perfectly fine chocolate experience with something that was better left with some jelly on bread.

A few years ago that all changed, and my path to chocolate peanut butter enlightenment has grown exponentially (I'm looking at you chocolate peanut butter swirl cookies, vegan chocolate peanut butter mousse, chocolate peanut butter trifles, and skillet chocolate peanut butter brownie sundaes).

But still, I can't help but feel I've missed out on an integral number of chocolate peanut butter concoctions over the years. If only I knew then what I know now! Take candy bars, for instance. Growing up, I used to trade anything that had peanut butter in them for something else. Something with chocolate and crunch... that's my favorite combo. But now, I want it all. Behold, the Butterfinger® candy bar. It has a chocolately, crispety, crunchety, and peanut-buttery taste and texture.

I wanted to capture all of that chocolate and peanut butter crunchy goodness in a handheld dessert... one that we could all eat "on the go" (i.e. chasing our kids) and that tasted like everything that makes a Butterfinger so gosh darn amazing.

And of course it had to be an easy entertaining dessert that I could make way ahead of time... before the play date chaos begins.

Let's break these Butterfinger Cheesecake Brownie Bites down. It all starts with your favorite brownie mix, to which we'll add some crushed up Butterfingers. That'll give some some wonderful crunch to the fudgy brownie bites.

Next comes the no bake peanut butter cheesecake topping. It's as easy as whipping together four staple ingredients... cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and whipped topping. You know, all the good stuff in life.

Top it off with some crushed up crunchy Butterfinger and boom... that's one heck of a dessert.

Follow Butterfinger on Pinterest!

Butterfinger Cheesecake Brownie Bites

Need Some More Chocolate Peanut Butter?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Swirl Cookies

Chocolate Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Trifles

Skillet Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Tagalong Brownie Sundaes

Mini Chocolate Churros with Peanut Butter Sauce

Vegan Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse

Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

This Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip is brought to you by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

I'll be the first to admit it. Hummus is lame. At least, that's what I always thought.

Then something happened a few weeks ago. Tyler and I tried the hummus at Dizengoff in NYC's Chelsea Market. It literally changed me.

Hummus was always something I put out at parties with some mini carrots for the boring healthy people that didn't want to partake in the more delicious offerings I was cooking up. It was never something any of us that knew about "good food" ever bothered with.

Ugh, I've been wrong all my life.

Hummus is so ridiculously good, and I cannot wait to make an authentic batch (I just bought the Dizengoff owner's cookbook, Zahav). I even have a new found respect for good-quality store bought varieties, especially when I dress it up with the bright and fresh flavors in Israeli Salad. Guys... this Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip is one heck of a legit snack.

Kind of obsessed.

I'm not one to make vegan recipes because it's vegan. In fact, that's more of a reason for me to not make a recipe. But this is one of those happy it just so happens to be a vegan appetizer recipe moments.

More importantly, I'm always looking out for healthy snack options these days. Snacks that are super quick and easy (because Olivia is literally nonstop) and good for me (because I'm way too round) are everything right now.

This Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip only takes about 10 minutes to whip together. And even though some store-bought hummus with chopped up vegetables sounds like a lackluster snack... it's one of those transformative moments where the sum is greater than its parts.

The hummus is creamy. The Israeli salad is fresh, bright, and acidic. And the homemade baked chips are just the right amount of salty and herbaceous from the dried oregano.

These chips. They are ones you can honestly feel good about, because they are baked! The lemon and oregano truly transform these chips into the perfect accompaniment for this Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip. If you're thinking of just using tortilla chips or pita chips... don't. The lemon and oregano flavors really brings this snack full circle. I promise.

Man, I love the people at Flatout Bread. They have so many amazing products, and I find myself reaching for their flatbreads, foldits, and pizza crusts several times a week.

If you haven't seen their vast lineup at your local grocery store (they are always right by the deli counter), check out their store locator asap!

Oh, and make sure to get some Flatout Bread recipe inspiration... I even know the guy that photographs a lot of their recipes. He's a pretty cool dude. I spend a lot of time with him.

It's me, in case you couldn't tell.

Follow Flatout: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Vegan Mediterranean Hummus Dip

Need More Mediterranean Flavors?

Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Quinoa Bowls

Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread

Healthy Mini Vegetarian Greek Sliders

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl

By Chris Cockren 6 Comments

This Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl is brought to you by Peapod. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

And just like that, it's a new year. Also known as stop being a fatty Chris and start eating healthier. I've been "round" for pretty much my entire life, so I feel like it's become the norm for each New Year to coincide with a self-help promise to eat healthier and make better food decisions.

The problem is... I love food. A lot. Eating is pretty much my favorite thing ever. But I love Olivia more. And she needs her Daddy around for a long time. That's why I lost about 50 pounds last year, which I'm super proud of. But those darn holidays. They totally got the better of me, and now it's time to get back on track.

Here's the thing. Eating healthy can be really, truly terrible. I know. I've been on diets pretty much my whole life. Can I tell you the secret? Eat amazing food. Seriously. Eat food with huge, delicious, irresistible flavors. Just stop eating crap, and cook real food.

I've been on a huge Greek food kick lately. Not only does it have super bright and fresh flavors, it's also remarkably healthy. That's the type of food craving I can get behind right now. And this epic Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl... well, I could eat this every night because I'm officially obsessed.

We start out with some quinoa. I've been told that's a healthy grain, so let's load up. Top it with some grilled chicken that's been marinated heavily with those seriously legit Greek flavors... lemon, olive oil, oregano, garlic. Pretty much the marinade dreams are made of. And yes, I grilled this chicken on our outdoor gas grill in frigid 20 degree winter weather. #worthit

Then it gets fun.

Creamy hummus. Salty feta. A bright and acidic tahini sauce. And of course, a super simple and fresh Israeli salad. Gotta admit, I'm not a big cucumber guy. But when it comes to Israeli salad, I always make an exception. It's delicious and irreplaceable in this Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl.

You already heard in my last post for Cranberry Brie Puffs with Candied Walnuts that I absolutely love Peapod. I literally do all my food shopping on my computer and it gets delivered to my door. Do you know when I like to food shop? At 11pm. Seriously. The wife and baby are in bed, and I get to just relax on my couch with my laptop and plan out our weekly meals. And thanks to Peapod, it's a reality. All the ingredients for this Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl? Ordered from my couch. Boom.

And I LOVE that you can simply re-order past purchases and can auto fill your cart with frequently purchased items. It's totally a time saver!

Need help making healthy choices? Peapod has you covered with their search filters. They also list nutritional information for all their products so you know exactly what you're purchasing. You know what gets me every time at the grocery store... impulse buys. Since I'm shopping on Peapod's website, I can totally avoid that on-sale ice cream. I have my list, I get what I need, and it gets delivered right to my door. Winning.

Peapod is actually the longest operating and country's leading Internet grocer, and they service a ton of areas all over the east coast... in the suburbs like me and in those big cities. They even can hook up your business with groceries. And they have pretty much everything that the actual grocery store has.

With the Peapod PodPass, you can get unlimited deliveries at one low price. Yup. I know. It's awesome. And Peapod wants to hook up one of our readers with a 1 year Peapod PodPass, valued at $119! That means you'll have 1 year of free deliveries right to you doorstep. Woot! Enter below:

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Oh, and psst. Need some healthy recipe ideas? Make sure to check out Peapod's lifestyle website featuring tons of recipes and tips: Fromthepod.com. It’s basically the meal solution center, and will bring you a ton of recipe inspiration. Even better, you can use the “SHOP NOW” button on each recipe to place ingredients straight into you shopping cart!

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Cranberry Brie Puffs with Candied Walnuts

By Chris Cockren 1 Comment

This recipe for Cranberry Brie Puffs with Candied Walnuts was created in partnership with Peapod. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

It happens every year. Yet again, Christmas is here and I'm totally not ready. And it's kinda shocking, because I'm a certified 100% Type A planner.

It's our second year in a row hosting Christmas, and I love it. I really hope it's the start of a beautiful tradition, because nothing makes me happier than a home full of family celebrating together. Even if it brings on a little bit of stress this last week before Christmas. Every free moment is being spent picking up last minute gifts... wrapping... baking cookies... eating cookies. Eating more cookies.

There was a time in my life that entertaining for a crowd, whether it be family for a holiday or our friends for an epic party, meant me spending days in the kitchen prepping. This was followed by cooking throughout the entire event, me literally separated from the people we invited over in the first place.

I like to think I'm getting a little wiser in my old age. That, and I simply don't have the time to cook like that anymore because we have a toddler that literally does not stop moving. Ever.

Easy entertaining. That's the name of the game now. Delicious, crowd-pleasing food that is simple to pull off with minimal prep. It's a win-win. It gives me more time to keep Olivia from drawing on the walls with her newest obsession (crayons), and allows me the opportunity to spend time with all my extended family that are making the trip for Christmas.

I've already got the menu all set, and my appetizer game is strong. Like, beyond legit. I'll be whipping up a batch of these Havarti, Pear, and Walnut Puff Pastry Bites, some Filet Mignon Crostini with Romesco, Goat Cheese and Crispy Shallots, and Eggplant Caponatina Crostini.

And making their debut this year at our house... Cranberry Brie Puffs with Candied Walnuts!

Every single one of the appetizers on my Christmas menu can either be made ahead of time or takes very minimal prep and delivers huge in the flavor category.

And guess what? I've found yet another way to save a lot of time this year for my holiday entertaining. Peapod!

Going to the grocery store, especially this week, can take forever. The lines are long, the traffic on the roads are unbearable, and it's a surefire way to temporarily deplete my Christmas spirit this holiday season.

With Peapod, the grocery store literally comes to me. I can shop from the comfort of my own home and on my own time. There's no dragging Olivia to the food store (although I have to admit, she oddly enough loves going to the food store with daddy), and I can shop at 11pm at night right on my laptop. It's pretty amazing.

Because I'm shopping online on Peapod's amazing website, I can also avoid impulse purchases (darn you on-sale ice cream that always get me right by the checkout lines). I have my list, I get what I need, and I pick exactly when I want it delivered to the house. Boom.

Have you heard of Peapod? It's pretty huge here in New York. They are actually the longest operating and country's leading Internet grocer, and they service a ton of areas all over the east coast. Whether you live in the city or the 'burbs, are shopping for home or your business, Peapod has you covered. They have a huge selection of pretty much everything you would find in an actual grocery store.

If you're anything like me, you enjoy saving both time and money. Who doesn't, right? Peapod has your back with some really cool functions:

With Express Shop, you can enter in your grocery list and they'll auto-display your product options.
Auto fill your cart with items you buy most frequently thanks to Order Genius.
Re-orders are super easy thanks to the Past Purchases... Peapod saves every order!
With their Sort Feature, you can find products at the best price, to meet your dietary needs, and even see the most popular products.
Peapod shows you the running total of your bill as you shop so you can stick to your budget!
Check the My Specials list to see Peapod's weekly specials and sale items!
Peapod will double manufacturers' coupons (up to $0.99)!
You can enjoy unlimited deliveries with PeaPod's PodPass, which is available in 3, 6 and 12 month subscription options.
Something I just found out... Peapod has an app! Now I can shop on my phone, too. Mind blown.

Are you struggling with your holiday menu this year? Or are you ever at a loss about what to cook up for dinner throughout the week? Uhm, yes... me too. Weeknight dinners are hard sometimes! Peapod can help with their super awesome lifestyle website featuring tons of recipes and tips: Fromthepod.com

It's basically the meal solution center, and will bring you a ton of recipe inspiration. Even better, you can use the "SHOP NOW” button on each recipe to place ingredients straight into you shopping cart! How cool is that?! #timesaver

Okay, back to these Cranberry Brie Puffs with Candied Walnuts. They seriously take 5 minutes of prep. Cut the puff pastry into squares. Press into muffin tins. Fill with brie and cranberry sauce. Sprinkle with thyme and drizzle with honey. Bake. Top with candied walnuts. Allow your guests to devour. And trust me, they will devour them.

It's one of those super impressive holiday appetizer recipes that are so incredibly easy, you'll question why you ever spent so many laborious hours in the past making more "difficult" appetizers for a crowd. These are quick, fast, and beyond satisfying. And that, my friends, is the definition of holiday easy entertaining.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very, very Merry Christmas.

Oh, and these Cranberry Brie Puffs with Candied Walnuts are also pretty perfect for that New Year's Eve cocktail party you are going to. Just saying 🙂