Only six days and counting until the official Starz debut of Outlander! Although there are a lot of Scottish themed recipes out there ( from Theresa at Outlander Kitchen among others), guest blogger @LallybrochLaura has come up with a western cuisine themed series of menu items for those who want a slightly different take on Outlander Premiere party nibbles.

Outlander Premiere Party

In the Western US, we will be camped in front of our TVs in groups and singly, so these Outlander-themed party food recipes can be easily scaled up or down to suit the size of your Clan Gathering.

Western States Menu:

Sassy Nachos
Two-Lick ARD (Avocado Roasted-red-peppers Dip
Standing Stones
Turtle Soup
JAMMF Sangria

Sassy Nachos (Say It With Me…)

Ingredients:

• 1 16-oz can Refried Beans
• 1 4.5-oz can diced Green Chile Peppers (mild to hot, depending on how “sassy” you feel)
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• 2 cups shredded mild Cheddar Cheese
• 1 4-oz can chopped Black Olives
• 1 cup fresh or jarred Salsa (mild to hot, depending on how “sassy” you want)
• Chopped fresh Cilantro (or Green Onion, if no Cilantro available) for garnish
• Good tortilla chips, 1 14-oz. bag.  In San Francisco Bay Area, our go-to tortilla chips are Casa Sanchez “Thick & Crispy Gruesos”: http://casasanchezsf.com/products/chips/thick-crispy-gruesos-tortilla-chips/  Your market may have these, or can use your preferred local brand.

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In saucepan over low-medium heat, mix refried beans, diced green chili peppers; heat until bubbling. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. In 9×13” baking dish, arrange a flat layer of tortilla chips; cover any gaps or holes with chips.
4. With spoon, drizzle hot Refried Bean mixture over tortilla chip layer.
5. Sprinkle chopped black Olives and Salsa in dollops, using small spoon or fingers, across the Chips and Beans.
6. Sprinkle Cheddar Cheese evenly across the other ingredients in pan.
7. Bake in oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling slightly.
8. Remove from oven, sprinkle with chopped Cilantro (or Green Onion)
9. Serve hot, with small plates and/or napkins.

Two-Lick ARD (Avocado Roasted-red-peppers Dip)

Serve with chips and/or vegetable sticks (such as zucchini, celery, carrot, bell pepper)

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe Haas Avocados, halved and peeled
• Juice of 1 Lime
• ½ cup Sour Cream
• ½ cup chopped, jarred Roasted Red Peppers (for example, Divini, Mezzini, Trader Joe’s or other brand). If more ambitious: can also roast Red Peppers at home.
• ½ medium Onion, grated or finely diced
• 2 T + 1 t chopped fresh Cilantro
• Salt: 1 t or to taste
• Black Pepper: ½ t or to taste
• Chips and/or vegetable sticks

Directions

1. In large bowl, mash Avocado with lime juice, salt, and pepper
2. Fold in the rest of the ingredients; mix well.
3. Garnish with 1 t fresh Cilantro
4. Serve fresh with chips and/or vegetable sticks (can refrigerate before serving for 1 – 2 hours if needed)

Standing Stones

Slab-shaped Sweet Potato oven-baked fries, seasoned with spices, and standing in the bowl, or in your hand!

Ingredients:

• 2 large Sweet Potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut into 4-inch long and 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick slabs – these are the Standing Stones
• 4 tablespoons Olive Oil, add extra if needed
• 1 t Chili Powder
• ¼ t ground Mustard
• ½ t Coriander
• Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
• Condiments for dipping, as preferred: Catsup, Aioli sauce, Brown Vinegar (Malt Vinegar), or Two-Lick ARD

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, rub foil lightly with Olive Oil (or spray with non-stick oil).
3. In large bowl, toss Sweet Potatoes with Olive Oil until coated.
4. Mix spices in small bowl, then add to Sweet Potatoes, toss to distribute spices evenly.
5. Arrange potatoes in single layer on the prepared pan.
6. Bake for 20 minutes; turn potatoes over.
7. Bake 10 minutes longer, until crispy.
8. Serve “standing” in a bowl or twist of butcher paper, with condiments for dipping.

Turtle Soup

This sweet course harms no actual sea turtles – we’re going in the caramel-pecan-turtles direction! While a variant from the dish Jamie and Claire enjoyed, chocolate is a noted aphrodisiac – so fair warning, Sassenachs!

Ingredients:

• Chocolate Pecan Turtle Candies, 1 per serving. These are turtle-shaped candies made with caramel, pecans, and milk or dark chocolate: can find online, or at many candy stores.
• Ice cream: 1 – 2 scoops per serving. Select a flavor you like which is compatible with the chocolate, caramel, and pecan candies (Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Chocolate, or blends). If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, source your ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery http://biritecreamery.com/icecream – it’s the best!
• Caramel Sauce
• Chocolate Sauce

Directions:

1. Scoop Ice Cream into small bowls, 1 – 2 scoops per serving.
2. Drizzle Caramel and/or Chocolate sauce “soup” over ice cream.
3. Add one Chocolate Pecan Turtle candy – position artistically and turtle-ifically; serve.

JAMMF Sangria

Jamie likely would approve of this quaffable, thirst-quenching drink – use a fine wine which he and his wine merchant cousin Jared Fraser would approve of, aye?

Ingredients:

• Juice – 1/3 cup fresh citrus juice: orange, lemon, lime, or blend to taste
• Apple – ½ to 1 cup, any sweet, red variety; cleaned and sliced into thin wedges (skin on or peeled as you prefer)
• Mulling Spices – one bag prepared (for example, R.W. Knudsen Organic Mulling Spices). Or if more ambitious, can make your own – there are many good recipes online.
• Morello Cherry Brandy (yes, Cherry Bounce!) – ½ cup Cherry Brandy
• Fine Wine: one (750 ml) bottle red wine, good quality and fruit-forward (for example Zinfandel, or a Rhone-style blend)

Directions:

1. In large pitcher, combine all ingredients.
2. Cover and chill 1 to 2 hours; remove and discard Mulling Spices bag.
3. Serve with 1 – 3 Apple slices in each glass.