How to Make Healthy Brownies With Black Beans

Blistered Shishito Peppers

These blistered peppers with burrata cheese are a total fork-and-knife job, but they're so worth it. The spice mellows out perfectly, thanks to the creamy, light balls of cheese. (via Forks and Foliage for Brit + Co)

Gluten-Free Avocado Fries

These avocado "fries" are coated in a gluten-free breadcrumb mixture for maximum enjoyment without ever weighing you down. Plus, any appetizer that doubles as a finger food is prime pickings in our book. (via Brit + Co)

Honey Whipped Goat Cheese with Pomegranate

This whipped goat cheese absolutely deserves a spot on your dinner table. It's light, tangy, and sweet, which can help offer a nice flavor reprieve before a heartier, savory main course. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Vegan Grazing Platter

When in doubt, make a charcuterie board. Just load it up with all of your fave GF snacks, and boom, pre-dinner is taken care of. Take this pretty vegan platter as pure inspiration! (via The Edgy Veg)

Fried Halloumi Bites with Spicy Honey

Halloumi is so yum, so if you haven't tried it by now, try whipping these lil' bites up for your next spread of gluten-free appetizers. It's pungent and tangy, much like goat cheese, but has a lot firmer texture, which helps keep these fried finger foods intact! (via Bowl of Delicious)

Carrot Tart with Pesto

Use some GF dough or puff pastry to wrap up this savory tart, then slice it into small pieces to serve a crowd! The earthy carrots are complemented perfectly with pistachios, pomegranate seeds, and some cheese. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Crispy Jalapeño Cream Cheese Buffalo Cauliflower Taquitos

These taquitos are wrapped with corn tortillas, making them certifiably gluten-free. Everyone's bound to love anything buffalo-flavored. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are one of our favorite gluten-free appetizers to make, whether they're for a strictly GF crowd or not. This iteration is packed with a deliciously cheesy pimento filling that feels nothing but comforting. (via Averie Cooks)

Maple Glazed Prosciutto Wrapped Sweet Potatoes

Maple, prosciutto, and sweet potato? Consider us hooked. The saltiness of the meat will instantly balance out the sweetness of the sweet potato, so you can get a complex bite every time. Bonus points if you serve these bad boys with aioli or ranch. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Easy Fresh Corn Salsa

This flawlessly fresh corn salsa is a tasty ode to summer produce. All the legwork lies in the chopping, but once you're done with the cutting board, you'll toss everything into a bowl, and viola! (via Earthly Provisions)

Charred Jalapeño-Lime Guacamole

Guac is a total classic gluten-free appetizer, as long as you serve it with some high-quality corn chips. This big green bowl also assumes some unique smoky flavors from the charred jalapeños! This makes a very reliable (and yummy) starter for Taco Tuesday. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Vegan Green Goddess Dressing

Smashed potatoes truly are the best thing since sliced bread. Indulge in a starchy, crispy bite using this appetizer recipe. The green goddess dressing is non-negotiable. Mind = blown. (via The First Mess)

Baked Feta with Olives and Honey

Grab some GF crackers or bread to dip into this sweet-yet-salty skillet appetizer! The feta will absorb all the honey and olive brine for a bite that's undeniably Mediterranean. (via Forks & Foliage)

Zucchini Tater Tots

Zucchini tater tots are a must-make when it comes to gluten-free appetizers. Once they're baked to browned perfection, you won't even taste the squash. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Bruschetta Hummus Stuffed Zucchini

This bruschetta and hummus love affair is just the dish for a light meal or party snack. If you’re planning on serving it as an appetizer, halve your zucchini boats for more mileage and watch them go. (via Running to the Kitchen)

Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats

If you’re the kind of person who carries hot sauce in her purse, buffalo chicken likely holds a special place in your heart. These buffalo chicken stuffed zucchini boats might be just the trick you needed to get on board with the green veggie. Now if only there was a safe way to carry these boats in your purse… (via Destination Delish)

Chili Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats

You can take these boats to the next level by adding a hot dog and/or Fritos. The zucchini here just might beat the texture of a gluten-free bun, though. (via Maebells)

Zucchini Pizza Boats

How cute are these mini pepperonis? They're so cute, you’re going to want to eat these pizza boats all up. The best part of this easy recipe is not getting flour all over your kitchen like you would with actual pizza. That’s a win for lazy girls and healthy girls alike. (via Cooking Classy)

Lemon Asparagus Cauliflower Rice Stuffed Grilled Zucchini with Shrimp

For a totally healthy, flavorful meal, try this zucchini dish with cauliflower rice and grilled shrimp. Though it’ll seem like you spent tons of time on these boats, you can actually pull it off in 30 minutes. (via Food Faith Fitness)

Stuffed Zucchini Boats With Garlic Sauce

Even if you’re not a fan of zucchini, the garlic sauce topping this dish is made with might just change your mind. It’s like a lightened-up aioli, thanks to the addition of yogurt. (via Delicious Meets Healthy)

Baked Potato Zucchini Boats

Recreate the glorious loaded baked potato with this healthy twist! Swap out your usual starchy spud for a zucchini or two, and you might not feel the pull of a food coma post-meal. Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt and hot sauce for the best not-a-baked-potato ever. (via Real Food by Dad)

Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini Boats

This super simple dish works well as a side or a light main. It helps to have the cashew cream and quinoa prepared beforehand — as they do take some time to make — so get a head start on those ingredients over a lazy weekend. After that, these zucchini boats come together in a snap. (via Simply Quinoa)

Quinoa & Black Bean Enchilada Stuffed Zucchinis

Up your healthy enchilada game by swapping in zucchinis for tortillas. They make the dish lighter, but still satisfying. The quinoa, black bean and zucchini makes for a fibrous combo that can’t be beat. (via Tastes Lovely)

Lasagna Zucchini Boats

Put a spin on veggie lasagna with these zucchinis filled with red sauce, ricotta cheese, and ground meat. It’s a solid option for a quick weeknight dinner. If you’re looking for a vegetarian version of this recipe, try diced mushrooms in place of ground meat for an even healthier take that still tastes meaty. (viaCooking Classy)

Roasted Zucchini Tuna Melts

Skip the deli and make this healthy version of a tuna melt at home! Since these are technically open-face sandwiches, the top layer of cheese and tuna gets extra melted and crispy with a little broiler action. Sorry, tuna melt — you’ve been replaced. (via The Honour System)

Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats

You can still get the flavors you love from chicken Parmesan in this zucchini-centric version. This recipe uses ground chicken instead of fried cutlets, which is both healthier and easier to prepare. (via The Wholesome Dish)

Lentil Walnut Vegan Chorizo Stuffed Zucchini

Both non-vegans and vegan devotees will appreciate this stuffed zucchini boat. It’s loaded with a delicious mix of spices from cumin to cinnamon, so it’s definitely not lacking in flavor. This dish also boasts at least three different forms of protein to give you an energy boost to power you through the day. (via Connoisseurus Veg)

Cheeseburger Stuffed Zucchini Boats

When a burger craving hits, it’s not always in line with your meal plans — whether your concerns are budget- or health-related. You can satisfy that craving guilt-free by cooking up these burger boats! Though the recipe calls for beef, any ground meat you prefer will do. Just don’t forget the ketchup and mustard. (via The Skinny Fork)

​We're Back On The Outer Banks!

FINALLY! After a couple of seasons in the Caribbean and South America, Outer Banks is back, well, on the Outer Banks. Honestly, this automatically makes the season better because it provides a ton of familiarity, nostalgia, and comfort for readers. And it also provides a realistic, grounded aspect to the adventure. Because let's be honest, a group of teens hopping on a tiny plane and taking part in a jungle treasure hunt requires a little too much suspension of disbelief for me. Plus, just like Gossip Girl wouldn't be the same without Blair and Serena hitting up Bergdorf's, a Pogue beach & surfing day just feels right.

​The Pogues Open Their Own Bait, Tackle, & Deep Sea Charter Business

The first episode of Outer Banks season 4 catches us up on that season 3 time jump. After learning how much money they actually have their hands on, the Pogues move into JJ's old house (renaming it "Poguelandia 2.0"), and open a bait, tackle, and charter shop. While I have a few questions about how six teens literally built a business without the help of a contractor, I love seeing this group lead regular lives. The shop plays into their strengths and allows them to cultivate their relationships in normal settings instead of life-or-death ones. Friendships are made in those boring moments, IMO.

​The Group Is Searching For More Than Blackbeard's Treasure

After Outer Banks season 3, the one thing I said I didn't want the show to do was go into supernatural, ghost territory. And for a moment, I thought that's where we were going. Wes Genrette and his son-in-law Chandler Groff hire the Pogues to find Blackbeard's treasure, but it doesn't take long for them to realize they're in over their heads (again).

Wes is a direct descendent of Francis Genrette, the man responsible for killing Blackbeard and his wife Elizabeth. Now, Elizabeth haunts every generation of the Genrette family, and once she appears, you don't have long to live. Wes reveals his daughter Larissa (Chandler's late wife) saw Elizabeth a week before she died, and Wes himself has seen her, which means his days are numbered.

At the end of part 1, the Pogues are on a mission to find Elizabeth's amulet & break the curse, which also puts them on track to find the Blue Crown. Their race against Lightner and Dalia brings Pope, Cleo, Sarah, and John B. to Charleston — and leavesPope and Sarah trapped in a crypt as it slowly floods.

Turns out, Chandler Groff was behind the ghost murders the whole time, something Shoupe should have clocked a long time ago.

​John B., JJ, And Their Friends Have A Beach Day Run-In With The Kooks

Because so much of Outer Banks season 4 takes place on the OBX, it means John B., Sarah, JJ, Kie, Pope, and Cleo are once again clashing with Topper, Rafe, and the rest of the Kooks. Despite the fact this season features plenty of death-defying stunts, the scene that will stick with me the most is when the Pogues and Kooks wind up at the same beach access.

I audibly gasped when Ruthie, Topper's new girlfriend, plays chicken with the Pogues on the beach, almost hitting Kiara with her Jeep and running over a turtle hatch in the process. (IRL, protecting endangered sea turtles & their hatches are a big deal on the Outer Banks, so this definitely got a visceral reaction from me).

At the end of the day, the major (and arguably, the most painful) conflict of this teen drama is how the Kooks make the Pogues feel like they don't belong anywhere. And if you ask me, exploring this tension and these relationships is where the show truly shines.

Lightener Is Determined To Take Out The Pogues

That being said, I found the villains this season, Lightner and Dalia, to be way scarier than I expected — especially once Lightner killed Terrance and almost killed Cleo. Every time he showed up onscreen, my heart started pounding like he was chasing me! The thought of being stuck in my bait shop alone with a creepy guy, especially one brandishing a knife? Thank you, next.

​Luke Returned To The Outer Banks

After JJ & Kiara said goodbye to JJ's dad Luke in Outer Banks season 2, he's been totally off the grid. Except, apparently, he hasn't? JJ learns Luke is back when he visits Barracuda Mike, but the father-son bonding quickly takes a turn for the crazy when Luke drops a piece of news that changes everything: he isn't JJ's biological father. Chandler Groff is.

JJ Has Actually Been A Kook This Whole Time

JJ's entire character is based around the fact he's proud to be a Pogue. He hates the Kooks and everything they stand for, which is why when Luke reveals he isn't JJ's biological father, and that JJ is related to the Groff/Genrette clan, it totally sends JJ into orbit.

JJ Destroys Downtown

And by "sends JJ into orbit," I mean he literally destroys downtown Kildare...with a baseball bat (okay Steve Harrington!).

This Kook identity is something JJ's been running from the entire series — even before Kie had to reassure him that finding the gold didn't make them Kooks — and he's going to have to do some serious soul searching to figure out who he actually is now.

I was wholly sold on the theory Outer Banks 4 would reveal JJ and Sarah were siblings, but this is a pretty good alternative. And who knows? Maybe they're actually cousins.

​Powers At Be Want To Bulldoze The Cut

If this show has proven anything, it's that the OBX is far from paradise. This season, some big names are trying to turn The Cut — including Poguelandia 2.0 — into an extension of the wealthier Figure Eight. Things get even more complicated when Hollis, who worked with Ward before he died, wants to trick Rafe into being her financial partner...and then gets his girlfriend Sofia to convince him to sign her contract.

Rafe Proposes To Sofia...And Then Breaks Up With Her

It doesn't take long for Rafe to learn Hollis tricked him. And despite proclaiming his love for Sofia, proposing, and telling her nothing could get in the way of their relationship, Rafe breaks up with her and kicks her out of his home the second he finds out she conned him. Messy, messy.

The one silver lining is that it sends Rafe back to Sarah and her friends! Is he finally turning into the kind and protective older brother fans want him to be?

Sarah Learns She's Pregnant

After she starts feeling sick, Sarah takes a pregnancy test that comes back positive...and Kiara immediately finds out. Despite the fact adding a baby to the Outer Banks dynamic is a wild concept, this is exactly the kind of domestic, sweet ending I would have hoped for Sarah and John B. And Kiara's statement that Sarah's going to be an amazing mom? I couldn't agree more.

The Pogues Head To Morocco

Remember how excited I was for the Pogues to return to the Outer Banks? Well, that doesn't last long because in the final episode of Outer Banks season 4, the group heads to Morocco to find the Blue Crown. It's definitely not smooth sailing, but I really love seeing John B. and Sarah, Pope and Cleo, and JJ and Kiara work in their pairs.

​Rafe Begins His Redemption Arc

Drew Starkey admitted after season 1 that he didn't care whether Rafe got a redemption arc, and I agreed at the time. I found the idea of Rafe, who was so driven to please his father he'd literally murder for him, incredibly compelling. Plus, he's been the ringleader of the War on Pogues this whole time, so suddenly making him sympathetic towards them felt like backtracking on his character.

Rafe still has his moments (like saying he'd never date a Pogue after finding out Sofia was from The Cut), but now that him and Sarah are finally moving towards reconciling, it seems like we could actually be getting a Rafe redemption after all. But that doesn't mean I want Kiara and Rafe to get together. Let's keep things platonic people!!

JJ Dies In Kiara's Arms

If you're a fan of OBX, or you've been on the internet at all over the last week, then you already know where this is going. After the group splits up, it's total chaos. Pope ends up killing Lightener after Cleo's wounded, while JJ finds the Blue Crown.

When Chandler Groff threatens Kiara, JJ gives up the treasure in exchange for Kie — and Chandler kills him for no reason anyway. Fans went wild over the season 4 ending, and more than one told me they were heartbroken. Outer Banks will never be the same, that's for sure.

"Revenge"

After they bury JJ's body, the group gathers around a campfire and acknowledges that if any of them had died, JJ wouldn't rest until they were avenged. Kiara stands up, looks into the fire, and mutters "revenge" before the screen cuts to black.

Season 5 is going to be one wild ride, because based on Kiara's pure, white hot anger, and Rafe's love of all things vengeful, I can only imagine what kind of havoc this group is going to wreak on Chandler Groff.