It’s Thursday and the weekend can’t come quick enough. What to do? Hit the bacon key!

Here’s a very easy recipe for Charlie Trotter’s Bacon and Lentil Soup from the folks at the A Good Appetite Food Blog that will help you add more Vitamin B(acon) to your life.

The recipe is originally from Soup’s On!: 75 Soul-Satisfying Recipes from Your Favorite Chefs.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 lb bacon julienned
1 c diced onion
1 c diced carrots
1 c green lentils
8 c chicken stock or broth
salt
pepper
1/2 c chopped scallion (also known as a green onion)

How to Make Charlie Trotter’s Bacon and Lentil Soup.

You can also see our list of delicious soup recipes, organized by type to help you enjoy more soup recipe ideas throughout the year.

Also, here’s some convenient links to our first 100 Original Recipes on Hugging the Coast to make it easier for you to find culinary inspiration and ideas beyond soup.

Please join us tomorrow to see this week’s Fish For Friday Recipe of the Week: Salmon Fish Sticks With Pimento-Caper Sauce.

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(Photo Credit: Bacon Key by Brian Cors on Flickr.)

Some parties and gatherings are the kind you plan weeks in advance while others just sort of happen.

The phone rings, you bump into old friends while running errands, you hear happy news from a good neighbor; and somehow you end up with a living room full of hungry people wondering what delicious thing you’re about to bring from in the kitchen.

Today’s Dijon Cheddar Beer Spread from the folks at the Culinary Concoctions by Peabody food blog might just be the perfect appetizer for those times.

A versatile spread that you can serve with your favorite crackers, chips, crusty bread, carrots and celery sticks, etc. it’s very easy to adapt this recipe as needed.

Prefer to use peanuts, sunflower seeds, or almonds you have on hand instead of hazelnuts? This recipe will still be delicious.

Want to make this spread ahead of time in case of emergency? No problem at all as it can be stored for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 1/2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
2 TBSP heavy cream
1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup flavorful beer (the folks at Peabody used Redhook Ale)
2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup hazelnuts, lightly toasted, skinned and coarsely chopped

How to Make the Dijon Cheddar Beer Spread.

Love to cook with beer? You can find more recipes here.

You can also see our growing list of delicious party appetizer recipes, to help inspire your gatherings with friends and family throughout the year.

Also, here’s some convenient links to our first 100 Original Recipes on Hugging the Coast to make it easier for you to find culinary inspiration and ideas beyond appetizers.

Please join us tomorrow to see our latest daily food and cooking article, a recipe for Charlie Trotter’s Bacon and Lentil Soup.

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Although more commonly used in soups and stews, orzo works beautifully in salads as a delicious alternative to the more commonly used macaroni shapes found in mayonnaise heavy pasta salads.

Here’s a wonderful and festive looking salad recipe for Spinach and Orzo Salad with Cranberries and Almonds from the folks at Aggie’s Kitchen.

By the way, if you’re already a fan of orzo, you might also want to see our recipe for Creamy Indian Spiced Orzo Pudding.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat orzo, uncooked
3/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
about 3/4 of a 6 oz bag of baby spinach, thinly sliced
3/4 cup dried cranberries
4 oz gorgonzola, crumbled
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (I toast in a nonstick skillet over med heat for about 5 minutes)
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1-2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons minced onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/3 – 1/2 cup oil (I used grapeseed oil, but canola or light olive oil will work)
salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Spinach and Orzo Salad with Cranberries and Almonds.

You can also see our growing list of delicious salad recipe ideas, to help inspire your gatherings with friends and family throughout the year.

Also, here’s some convenient links to our first 100 Original Recipes on Hugging the Coast to make it easier for you to find culinary inspiration and ideas beyond appetizers.

Please join us tomorrow to see our latest daily food and cooking article, a recipe for a Dijon Cheddar Beer Spread.

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You’ve probably heard the phrase, ‘as easy as pie’. Actually making a French galette is even easier.

A galette is a delicious, easy to make, rustic looking French pie which you can fill with whatever you think your guests might enjoy. Because galettes feature an open crust, the ingredients you use can visually entice (ie. drive mad) your friends and family long before they take their first bite.

Here’s a delicious party friendly appetizer recipe for a Sun Dried Tomato, Smoked Mozzarella, and Sausage Galette from the folks at Food Blogga; the perfect crusty galette to make as we move closer to Spring.

Enjoy!

Galette Pie Crust Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
1/8 cup ice water, plus more if needed

Galette Filling Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 pound hot fennel sausage, removed from the casing
1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons sugar
6 sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in oil, patted dry and thinly sliced
1 cup shredded smoked mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary

How to Make a Sun Dried Tomato, Smoked Mozzarella, and Sausage Galette.

You can also see our growing list of delicious party appetizer recipes, to help inspire your gatherings with friends and family throughout the year.

Also, here’s some convenient links to our first 100 Original Recipes on Hugging the Coast to make it easier for you to find culinary inspiration and ideas beyond appetizers.

Please join us tomorrow to see our latest daily food and cooking article, a recipe for Spinach and Orzo Salad With Cranberries and Almonds.

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(Photo Credit: All Party Appetizer Recipe photos are courtesy of the featured blog, in this case Food Blogga.)