Greek Lemon Pepperoncini Tuna Dip

 

I have been on the look out lately for protein dishes and things with a little spice or pickle to it. My favorite new neighborhood cocktail is the Dirty Girl (or her cousin the Dirty Little Secret) that uses the brine from pepperoncinis in wonderful ways and one hell of an oil slick. Yum ! This recipe makes me think of her! Written out by stopping and starting (too many times) a TikTok video. 

 

Bright lemon, salty pepperoncini, fresh herbs, and creamy tuna come together in under 10 minutes and the kind of high-protein lunch that completely takes over your week.

Greek Lemon Pepperoncini Tuna Dip 🍋🐟
Yield 2–3 servings
 

Ingredients

2 cans tuna (5 oz each), drained well
1/4 cup avocado mayo
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2–3 tbsp pepperoncini, finely diced
1–2 tbsp pepperoncini brine (to taste)
2 tbsp red onion, fine dice
2 tbsp celery, fine dice
2 tbsp scallions, sliced
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp granulated garlic
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Crumbled Feta, Lemon Juice, Pickled Onion for finishing

 

Process

1.  In a bowl, whisk together avocado mayo, Dijon, lemon zest, lemon juice, peperoncini brine, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth. 
2.  Fold in the red onion, celery, pepperoncini, scallions, dill, and basil so everything is evenly coated.
3.  Gently fold in the tuna, keeping some larger pieces intact for texture.
4.  Taste and adjust. Add more brine if you want it punchier, more lemon if you want it brighter, and a pinch of salt to make everything pop. 
5.  Let it sit for 10–15 minutes if you have time so the flavors meld together.

Hot Garlic Pickle Feta Dip

 

This recipe is another one of those TikTok sensations that one would have to make while starting and stopping a video. This homey is too old for that shit.  So, I did it ONCE, and typed it out to land it on my blog. So here it is, without any pictures of the dish, because I haven't made it yet! It looks fabulous. 

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXhFhZ1gG2m/

Creamy, garlicky, tangy, baked until golden and bubbling… then finished with that salty, crispy chip crunch that takes it over the top!🫠

Serves 6-8 People

 

Ingredients

 

Roasted Garlic:

1 whole head garlic

1 tsp olive oil

Pinch kosher salt

Dip Base:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

½ cup sour cream

2 cups part skim milk mozzarella, shredded

½ cup grated parmesan

6 oz feta cheese, crumbled

1 cup Mezzetta Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini Peppers

¼ cup peperoncini brine

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

Pinch of kosher salt & black pepper

1 cup crushed kettle potato chips

2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

2 tbsp Chopped Chives

Ridged Potato chips

 

Process 

1. Roast one head of garlic at 375°F for 40–45 minutes until soft and jammy, then squeeze into a paste.

2. In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, sour cream, chives, and the roasted garlic until smooth. Stir in mozzarella, parmesan, feta, chopped pickled Peperoncini Peppers, peperoncini brine, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

3. Spread the dip into a greased baking dish and top with crushed potato chips.

4. Place the dip on a baking pan, cover, and bake at 375°F covered for 20–25 minutes until hot and bubbling. Remove the cover, and bake an additional 2-3 minutes for extra crunch.

5. Finish with freshly chopped dill and serve warm with chips or crostini. Enjoy!

frohneats

 

Caramel Apple Tarts by J.L. of Great Diamond Island

 

This recipe is from a cookbook that is a collection of recipes from the residents of Great Diamond Island, in Casco Bay off the coast of Portland Maine. J. L. (who has not given me permission to use her name YET, is the mother of one of my best friends from high school in CT.  SP and I have recently started the "empty nest cull" where we are clearing ourselves of the things that no longer serve us, are not things that are used regularly, and that our children don't want. We are repacking some books and clothes etc. for the grandchildren we want. Anyway, the kitchen cookcook shelves were recently tacked, and I passed this book along to Pickle, extracting this recipe since it was special. Without further ado...

 

Ingredients

 1 sheet frozen puffed pastry, thawed

4 Granny Smith Apples, cored and cut into slices 1/2 inch thick

6 Tbs brown sugar 

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 egg white, beaten

4 tsp honey

caramel sauce 

 

Process

 

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 
2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. 
3. Roll out the pastry sheet on lightly floured surface into a very thin 18x14 rectangle. 
4. Using a small plate and a guide, cut out four 7 inch rounds. 
5. Transfer to baking sheets and refrigerate. 
6. Heat a non-stick frying panover medium heat. 
7. Add apples, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice and saute until slightly browned, about 15 minutes. 
8. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. 
9. Place the apples in the center of each pastry round. 
10. Fold the edges of the dough over the apples to form a volcano shape. 
11. Brush the outside of the dough with the beaten egg white.
12. Bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden. 
13. Drizzle each tart with 1 teaspoon of honey.
14. Transfer to a rack and cool for 10 minutes. 
15. Serve warm or at room temperature. 
16. Prepare serving plate with a design of caramel sauce, then place tart onto the plate and add a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. 

 

ENJOY!