Friday, August 26, 2016

Quiche Pastry Cups



Photo source:  Taste of Home



We love experimenting with puff pastry and love this clever idea of filled puff pastry cups!

Use the concept of the recipe and make it your own by using ingredients you and your family love.  A simple pastry cup filled with eggs and cheese would be awesome.

This recipe comes from the website Taste of HomeClick here to go the recipe page.






Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Topping


Photo source:  Pillsbury



Oatmeal Cake is something I have not tried, but it looks delicious!

This recipe comes from the Pillsbury website.

Click here to go to the recipe page.



Monday, August 1, 2016

Baked Two-Cheese & Bacon Grits Casserole


Photo source:  Taste of Home


Being a southern girl, grits is one of my favorite foods.  When I'm not hungry for a big meal, I'll make a bowl of grits and be totally satisfied.  You must try them if you have never had them!  They are delicious with fried eggs.

Love the concept of this recipe, but I would make some changes.  Velveeta is not a favorite cheese of mine and I would just use yellow cheddar cheese along with the white cheddar cheese.  I use yellow cheddar cheese (mild or sharp both work for me) in my grits often and they work very well together.  My meat preference would be breakfast sausage instead of bacon.

This recipe comes from Taste of Home.

Click here to go to recipe page.


Originally published as Baked Two-Cheese & Bacon Grits in Freezer Meals Bookazine 2013, p17





Sunday, July 31, 2016

Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken



Love this type of recipe where you can throw everything together and forget about it, leaving a delicious aroma as it cooks.

Many who reviewed this recipe were concerned about the lack of liquid and added chicken broth or salad dressing.  I would agree that adding a little chicken broth isn't a bad idea . . . neither is adding more onion and some fresh chunky sliced mushrooms. 

During the end step in the oven (I would use a normal oven temperature like 350 instead of broiling), I would take some of the juices and make a gravy.  I'd also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins which is my personal preference.  Use what you like and adjust the recipe accordingly.  

This recipe, from the Betty Crocker website, would be a great one for a beginner cook to try out and impress your guests who will think you worked in the kitchen cooking for hours.

This recipe is no longer available on the Betty Crocker website.  Scroll down for the recipe. 

Check out the website for more awesome recipes.

Photo and recipe source







Ingredients

1 large onion, halved, cut into thin slices 

1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cut-up whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 lb)



Directions

Spray 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray and place onion and garlic in slow cooker.

Mix thyme, basil, oregano, salt and pepper in a small bowl and rub each piece of chicken with the herb mixture. 

Arrange chicken pieces over onion and garlic.

Cover and cook on High heat setting 3 hours 30 minutes (or Low heat setting 6 to 7 hours) or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest pieces are cut to bone (at least 165°F).

Set oven control to broil and line broiler pan or cookie sheet with foil.  Place chicken skin side up on pan. 

Broil with tops 6 inches from heat 4 to 6 minutes or until golden brown.








Saturday, July 30, 2016

Cherry Dump Cake

Photo source:  Food.com




It doesn't get easier than dumping three ingredients in a pan and baking it.

Can't wait to serve it warm with some ice cream!

Gotta love dump cakes!


UPDATE

After making this dump cake, I need to make a few notes to add to the recipe.

First of all, after dumping all ingredients into the pan, stir until the cake mix is moistened.  We found that just dumping them into the pan left some spots "floury" after baking and left too many crunchy pieces throughout the cake.

Otherwise, the taste was excellent, but was very sweet and almost needs whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to offset the sweetness.

We really liked it and will be making it again!

Click here to go to the Food.com recipe page.




Thursday, July 28, 2016

Cobblers, Crumbles, Crisps and More from Martha Stewart



One of my fond childhood memories involves wandering around the woods by my house to pick blackberries.  We'd come home with a bucket of berries for my neighbor Dot to make her famous blackberry cobbler.  She would put the cobblers together with smiles and love, singing along the way . . . she was a special lady. Cobblers, crumbles and crisps remind me of her.

Martha Stewart has put together a collection of these wonderful recipes that remind me of those good old days.  Click here to go there.



Friday, July 22, 2016

Churros


Photo source:  Pati Jinich


I was first introduced to churros as a young adult while also discovering the joys of the flea market.  It was immediate love for the crunchy sweet treats that were drenched in sugar and cinnamon.  

The recipe and photo comes from Pati Jinich's website. After seeing her prepare the sweet treats on her cooking show on Create TV, Pati's Mexican Table, I had to find her recipe since I lost my recipe a long time ago and missed making them.

Click here to go to Pati's recipe page.



Thursday, July 21, 2016

Italian Crescent Casserole


Photo source:  Pillsbury



"Here's a casserole classic! The beefy, cheesy filling is topped with flaky crescents."  Comment from Pillsbury

Love meat pies!  My mom makes one with cheddar cheese and green beans mixed in with the ground beef that was a much requested meal during my childhood.  I'll post the recipe when I find it.

Click here to go to the Pillsbury recipe page.





Sicilian Meatballs



Photo source:  Ciao Italia -- Mary Ann Esposito


I grew up on sicilian meatballs and spaghetti prepared by my nana every Thursday night and Sunday dinner.  Her meatballs were different than the ones that Mary Ann Esposito made on her television program, like I never heard of raisins in meatballs.

After seeing the Ciao Italia television episode that included these meatballs, I had to look up the recipe to include on the blog.

Click here to go to the Ciao Italia recipe page.





Sunday, July 17, 2016

Chicken-Bacon-Ranch Foil Packs


Photo source: Pillsbury


"Wrap a handful of ingredients into a foil packet and toss it in the oven for a no-fail, all-in-one dinner. Bonus: Cleanup is a snap!"  Comment from Pillsbury

Whether you make this meal in a foil pack or as a casserole, the prep is quick and easy, using a few different ingredients.

Many reviewers of this recipe used sliced potatoes instead of broccoli with great results.  Some used italian dressing instead of ranch.  Of course I would add fresh mushrooms!

Click here to go to the Pillsbury recipe page.





Saturday, July 16, 2016

Best Ever Cole Slaw


Photo source:  Chic-Fil-A



Chick-Fil-A recently discontinued cole slaw from their menu.  It was a blessing in disguise since they also decided to release their recipe.

The Captain and I have made this cole slaw many times and it is THE BEST we have ever had!  Now we can make it anytime . . . and we do often!

The recipe is quick and easy to put together, but the wait time in the refrigerator is the killer.  Two hours!!  That is the only thing I don't like about this recipe.

Click here to go to the Chic-Fil-A recipe page.


Monday, July 11, 2016

Grilled Shrimp with Garlic


Photo source:  The Food Network


We have been experimenting with grilling shrimp, using different marinade and rub methods.  The results have been delicious and easy.  

Here is another grilled shrimp recipe that sounds spicy, yummy and easy courtesy of Bobby Flay and the Food Network.

Click here to go to Food Network's recipe page.




Pink Lemonade Stand Cake


Photo source:  Taste of Home


Yummy lemon cake and cream cheese frosting!

This cake sounds super special and worth the fuss in making it. But I would not suggest this cake for a beginner baker.

Such a pretty cake!

Click here to go to the Taste of Home recipe page.


 



Sunday, July 10, 2016

Cream Cheese Frittata




Cream cheese in a frittata is something I have never heard of, but it sounds delicious!

Love the combination of ingredients, however, you can add or remove ingredients to suit your taste.  Adding sliced tomato sounds good to me!

The recipe comes from Martha Stewart, so it has to be a good thing . . .





INGREDIENTS 

2 teaspoons olive oil 
2 ounces mushrooms, sliced 
1 small red bell pepper, ribs and seeds discarded, chopped into 1-inch pieces 
1/2 small onion, finely chopped 
1 small garlic clove, minced 
3 large eggs 
1/4 cup half-and-half
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (1/2 bar), cubed 
2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (1/2 cup) 
2 slices white sandwich bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 cup) 
Coarse salt and ground pepper


DIRECTIONS 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Heat oil over medium heat in a small (8-inch) ovenproof nonstick skillet. 

Cook mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, and garlic about 5 minutes, until almost tender. 

Transfer mixture to a bowl, cool slightly. (Reserve skillet.) 

Add eggs, half-and-half, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bread, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to mixture in bowl . . . stir until combined. (There may be a few chunks of cream cheese remaining.) 

Pour egg mixture into reserved skillet; and bake until set, about 30 minutes. 

Heat broiler, and broil until top is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. 

Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving.



Frico with Potatoes and Montasio Cheese



Photo source: Lidia's Italy


This recipe comes from Lidia on Create TV.  We just watched the program that featured this frico and it looked so delicious that we had to find the recipe.

It is one of those versatile recipes that you can add whatever ingredients your family loves.  I would definitely add mushrooms!

Note:  This recipe does not contain eggs.

Click here to go to Lidia's recipe page.  Check out her website while you are there.




Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Lemon Chicken with Potatoes


Photo source:  Pillsbury


Looks easy, delicious and economical . . . great for a beginner in the kitchen.

What I would change . . . substitute thighs with boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins.

Click here to go to the Pillsbury recipe page.







Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Crunchy Potluck Taco Salad


Photo source:  Betty Crocker


"Ready in only 30 minutes, our Crunchy Potluck Taco Salad with tortilla chips, taco-seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, olives and cheddar cheese is a must-make meal. Whip it up whenever you're craving a flavorful dinner or lunch with crunch."  Comment from Betty Crocker

This salad looks delicious and would also work as a tortilla or taco shell filling with a little extra meat and cheese.

Quick and easy meal, great for beginners in the kitchen.

Click here to go to the Betty Crocker recipe page.











Monday, June 27, 2016

Grilled Three Cheese Potatoes


Photo source:  Taste of Home


Those potatoes look delicious!

Love this easy prep recipe that is also versatile.  Change the type of cheese or make additions like fresh mushrooms to suit your family's tastes.

Please note that although this is meant to be cooked on the grill, it can also be baked in the oven.  See note on recipe.

Click here to go to the Taste of Home recipe page.




Sunday, June 26, 2016

Mushroom Cheese Bread


Photo source:  Taste of Home


This bread is like little french bread pizzas!

Love the ingredient combination, but you know you can add or remove ingredients so it matches your family's tastes.  I would add italian sausage and peppers.

Perfect recipe for a beginner in the kitchen . . . quick and easy!

This recipe comes from one of my favorite recipe sources, Taste of Home.
  
Click here to go to the recipe page.




Florida Gulf Shrimp and Sweet Pepper Stir Fry


Photo source:  Fresh From Florida


Looks delicious!  The Captain and I make a similar recipe that does not including the sesame seeds, onion or orange juice, but we will be tweaking the recipe to make it a cross between this recipe and ours.

What I would change on this recipe . . . take the tails off the shrimp (so much easier to eat), add a pinch of cayenne pepper, use at least one or two poblano peppers (you can never have enough peppers) and garlic.

Don't overcook the shrimp . . . we usually take it off the heat as soon as it turns pink, otherwise it gets rubbery-like.

Click here to go to the Fresh From Florida recipe page.