Baked Zucchini Fries with Pesto Dipping Sauce

I always enjoy trying something new at a restaurant and then trying to recreate it at home. These fries were inspired by the fried zucchini sticks at Claimjumper in Nashville. I hardly ever fry anything and think that the baked option can taste just as good or even better, and these zucchini fries were no exception. Claimjumper served theirs with a basic ranch sauce, but I wanted to change the flavor a bit so I made up a pesto-ranch sauce instead.

These turned out absolutely delicious. Crunchy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. And the pesto sauce completely took these to the next level. We had these as a side with some tuna burgers, but they would be so good as a side to a pasta or lasagna dish as well. And a marinara dipping sauce would also be fantastic. There are so many options and ways to try them - Grant even liked them! Well, at least the sauce that he stuck his hand into. :)

Ingredients:

Zucchini Fries

• 2 large or 3 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch slices
• 1 cup breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (powdered form)
• 2 eggs, beaten

Pesto Dipping Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup ranch dressing
• 3-4 Tbsp. pesto
• 1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl. Mix together the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a separate shallow bowl. Dip each zucchini slice in the eggs, and then in the breading mixture. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, turning over halfway through the cooking. Serve warm.

For the sauce, mix all ingredients together and serve immediately. 

Sweet and Sticky Slow Cooker Chicken

Since I've had Grant (my 9-month old baby boy), the slow cooker has become one of my favorite kitchen appliances. It's so easy and convenient to throw in some food in the morning or early afternoon, and then have dinner pretty much ready within just a few hours! I love that I don't have to be home and that I can go about my regular routine without having to worry about getting home in time to start dinner or wondering what I should make at 5:00 when we're all starving and grumpy.

Yesterday before we left for church, I threw in some frozen chicken and a few other ingredients and set the heat to low. A few hours later, after we returned from church, the house smelled amazing and all I had to do was cook up some wild rice and toss a salad. Love it! The chicken turned out sweet and salty and I loved the flavor combination of the BBQ, Apricot and onion soup mix. You can't beat the simplicity of 4 ingredients! I honestly don't know what I'd do without my crock pot...

Ingredients:

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (Mine were frozen)
1 cup BBQ sauce
1 cup apricot jam or preserves
1 packet dry onion soup mix

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Mix together the BBQ sauce and the apricot preserves and pour over the top of the chicken. Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix over the top of everything. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or closer to 5-6 if using thawed chicken breasts. Serve over rice if desired.

Soft Sugar Cookies with Fluffy Buttercream Frosting

I have had several people ask me about my cooking blog lately and if I still had it running. The truth is I kind of put this blog aside for the past several months and kind of forgot about it. Then yesterday I made some sugar cookies that were absolutely fantastic and decided I needed to start adding recipes again! And since I've got a much better camera than I did before, I can start taking my own pictures which makes it a lot more fun. 

So on to these cookies. I've heard a lot of really great things about these from the "Our Best Bites" cookbook and website, but I've never actually tried making them. But recently I've been thinking about sugar cookies and how long it's been since I made them so I thought I'd give this recipe a try. These were hands down, the best sugar cookies I've ever had. They are so soft and chewy and the frosting is the best buttercream I've ever tried - way better than the Lofthouse cookie frosting or anything I've tasted from a bakery. 

The dough was a little tricky to work with since it was crumbly and sticky all at the same time, but I found it was easiest to roll out between two pieces of parchment paper or two silicone baking mats. The frosting came together beautifully and was silky smooth. It's been so tempting to not eat the entire pan so I've been trying to give them away to my friends and neighbors. Let me know if you want any! :)

Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup real butter (no substitutions!) at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or other flavor of your choice, like vanilla)
3 C flour, lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled (don’t scoop it! This is very important!)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy- about 2 minutes. Add in egg and extract and mix to incorporate.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.  A very important note: It’s important to correctly measure your flour or you will end up with a dry, crumbly dough. Never, ever use your measuring cup to scoop up the flour.  Use a regular sized spoon and spoon the flour into the cup and then level it off with a knife.

 Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until completely combined.

When your dough is made, instead of putting it in the fridge, immediately roll  to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick between 2 sheets of waxed or parchment paper and then place on a flat surface in the fridge.  Chill for about 20-30 minutes and then start cutting it out.  This way it chills faster and the bonus is that you don’t need to add extra flour to roll it out.  

Bake at 350 for 8-12 minutes. The baking time really depends on how you like them. If you like them really sot and slightly chewy, about 8-9 minutes does it. If you like them slightly crisp and buttery, then go for 10-12. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to completely cool. 

Makes approximately 2-3 dozen cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.

Frosting

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2-3 tablespoons milk (or more, if needed)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large mixing bowl, whip together the powdered sugar and softened butter until combined. Add in the almond and vanilla extract and very slowly, add a little bit of milk at a time until desired consistency is reached. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring.

When the cookies are cool, spread with frosting and sprinkle with colored sprinkles.

Greek Veggie Wraps

I'm a big fan of Greek salads with feta cheese and that fantastic Greek dressing. So how about taking the basic Greek salad ingredients and putting them into a wrap? I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about this recipe, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try since I liked the salad so much! These turned out great and made a healthy and filling lunch for Neal and I. I loved the tang of the dressing and banana peppers mixed with the feta cheese and crunchy veggies. Add in some cooked, diced chicken and these can become a great dinner too! (Recipe and picture courtesy of Annie's Eats)










Ingredients:

• 4 wraps or tortillas
• Cooked whole wheat couscous or rice
• Baby spinach leaves
• Diced fresh tomatoes
• Julienned or shredded carrots
• Chopped banana peppers
• Chopped cucumbers
• Crumbled feta cheese

For the Dressing:

• 3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 5 Tbsp. olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

To make the dressing, combine all of the ingredients in a small jar or tupperware and shake well to combine. To assemble wraps: Put all ingredients into a wrap or tortilla and drizzle with as much dressing as you'd like. Roll up the wraps tightly, tucking in the ends. 

Egg Salad BLT Sandwiches

Lately I've been trying to come up with different lunch ideas to play things up a bit. Neal has been coming home for lunch more often lately and I think we both get tired of the same boring options every day. So one morning I cooked up a dozen hard boiled eggs and decided to make some of them into egg salad! Then I added bacon, lettuce and tomato and piled them all onto whole wheat toast. Yum! It was definitely a great change from our usual lunches and would also make a great quick and easy dinner. Over the next couple of days I'll be posting some more lunch recipes and ideas for any of you who are also in a "lunch rut." Enjoy! (Recipe adapted from Our Best Bites)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3 Tbsp. thinly sliced green onions
• 3 Tbsp. sour cream
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• Dash of pepper and salt
• 8 hard boiled eggs
• 4 rolls
• 8 bacon slices, cooked
• 4 slices tomato
• 4 large lettuce leaves

Combine mayo, onions, sour cream, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir to combine well. Coarsely chop eggs and add to mayo mixture. Stir gently to combine. Top each bread slice with about 1/2 cup egg mixture, 2 slices bacon, slice tomato and one large lettuce leaf and top half of roll. Serve sandwich immediately.

Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwiches

So obviously I've been terrible at adding any new recipes since my little one was born! I've been focusing a lot more on my personal family blog over the past couple of months to update all of my family and friends who live away from me. It's a private blog, so just holler if you want me to invite you!

I've got about a dozen recipes I've been meaning to add and I'm going to do my best to add them over the next few days. This is a twist on the classic chicken salad sandwich with a bit of a kick. If you like buffalo sauce or wings, you'll love this one! Neal told me he doesn't want the original chicken salad sandwich anymore.. It's just not good enough. Ha. I really liked this version for a change and will definitely be making it over and over again. (Picture courtesy of Elephant Eats)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 2 celery stalks, diced finely
• 1/4 cup onion, diced finely
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• sandwich buns

In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Serve on buns and top with your favorite sandwich fixings (tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, etc.) Store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge. Serves 4-6.

Southwest Frito Pie

In case you haven't been able to tell from the many, many Mexican recipes on here, we're a big fan. Neal always says he could eat Mexican food every night and be totally content. Me, not so much, but I do love having some type of Mexican-style dinner once or twice a week. I found this recipe in a recent Taste of Home magazine and knew it would be a big hit! Quick, easy, fresh ingredients and a perfect weeknight meal to throw together when you don't have much time or energy. With this little guy due to arrive any day now, quick and easy meals are definitely taking over my meal plans since I know my time to prepare and cook will quickly disappear! I loved the extra crunch and flavor the Fritos added to this recipe. And it's SO simple! Just layer Fritos, meat and beans and your choice of toppings and you've got yourself a meal. It's great for picky eaters too because they can put whatever toppings they want on and still love it. I think this would also taste great substituting chili instead of the ground meat and bean mixture - a great way to use up the inevitable leftover chili since that stuff can feed an army. (Recipe and picture courtesy of Taste of Home)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef OR ground turkey
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 cup water
• 1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups corn chips
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion or green onions
• Sour cream and fresh cilantro

In a large skillet, cook beef or turkey over medium-high heat until cooked through and no longer pink; drain. Stir in the chili powder, flour, salt and garlic powder until well blended. Slowly add in the water. Add in the beans and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 12-15 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.

To serve, divide chips between 4 bowls. Top with beef/turkey mixture and desired toppings. Serve immediately. (Makes about 4 bowls)

Guilt-Free Alfredo Sauce

Maybe I just haven't found the right brand or type of canned bought-from-the-store alfredo sauce, but every kind I've tried just doesn't taste all that good. It's either too strong, too thin, not enough flavor or too "fake" of a flavor. So when I ran across this recipe that was quick, easy, fairly healthy and absolutely delicious, I was thrilled! This sauce is garlicky and flavorful yet has a very light and creamy taste that is perfect over pasta, vegetables or even as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or pizza. It takes about 20 minutes from start to finish so it's ready to go by the time you finish preparing the rest of your meal! Even better, you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate it. When ready to use, just reheat the sauce and add a little milk until the right consistency is reached. It also makes a great freezer meal poured over some pasta with a little diced chicken and vegetables. I've got a big pan in the freezer just waiting to be used after little Grant arrives in the next few days (hopefully!) :) (Recipe and picture from Our Best Bites)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 1/3 cup (3 oz.) low-fat cream cheese
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (pregrated Parmesan cheese still tastes fine, but the sauce will be lumpy)

In a blender (or using an immersion blender), blend the milk, cream cheese, flour and salt until smooth and set aside. In a large, nonstick saucepan, melt the butter on medium-high heat and add the garlic. Saute the garlic for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from sticking and burning. Add the milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more or until the sauce thickens, about 6-7 minutes.

Once the sauce has started to thicken, remove from heat. Whisk in the cheese and immediately cover the pan. Allow the sauce to stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Serve immediately.

My favorite way to use this is over some whole wheat pasta with diced chicken, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes for a little twist on the flavor!

Tuna Lemon Pepper Sliders

Since they first became popular, I have always loved the idea of having a slider instead of a huge hamburger or sandwich. They are the perfect size for an appetizer, party food, or for dinner with a few small sides. These turned out so delicious and were surprisingly easy to throw together for a quick meal. Neal loved them too and told me to put them on the "permanent-and-never-forgotten" menu - not a problem for this girl! I topped off the mini-size patties with a homemade tartar sauce, tomato and lettuce, all piled in between a King's Hawaiian roll which added just a hint of sweetness to the savory tuna and pickle flavors. This will definitely become a go-to on my summer menu and I can't wait to make them again! (Picture and recipe adapted from Lauren's Latest)

Ingredients:

• 2 5 oz. cans chunk light tuna, drained well
• 2 chopped green onions
• 1 egg
• 3 Tbsp. bread crumbs
• 1 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning
• 2 Tbsp. butter

Tartar Sauce:

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. relish OR 3 Tbsp. chopped dill pickle
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• dash of paprika
• 1/2 tsp. dried dill

Sliders:

• 6 King's Hawaiian Rolls
• 6 slices of Roma tomato
• 6 lettuce leaves

In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, onions, egg, bread crumbs and lemon pepper seasoning together. Mixture should be thick and hold together when formed into patties. If they don't, add more bread crumbs until they hold together. Form into 6 even patties, about 3/4 inch thick.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Place patties into the hot pan and cook about 4 minutes on each side or until brown. Remove from pan and set aside.

While the patties are cooking, mix together the ingredients for the tartar sauce in a small bowl.

To assemble the sliders, slice each roll in half and spread on a generous scoop of tartar sauce. Layer with a tuna patty, tomato slice and lettuce leave. Serve immediately.

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

My life has taken a huge change this week and I'm absolutely loving it. When Neal and I found out I was pregnant, we made the decision that I would quit working once the baby came so I could be a full-time stay at home mom and be with our little one. It's a dream I've always had and we both fully agreed it would be the most beneficial for our children and for us. Although I'm not due for another few weeks, my last day of work was Friday and now my sole focus is getting everything ready for our baby boy and for the move to our new house in a couple of weeks. Being at home is definitely a big adjustment since I've always either been in school or worked full-time. This is a whole new experience that I'm quickly learning to love and look forward to.

I like to talk to our baby boy when I'm by myself. Even though I'm sure I look pretty silly talking to my belly, I know he can hear me! :) When I left my work for the last time on Friday, I talked to him almost the whole way home about how excited I was to turn all of my focus and attention to him and his daddy - my two boys! Although I'm only in Day 2 of this new homemaker business, I'm determined to make it the best I can and live each day to the fullest. I'll keep you all posted on how everything's going since I know you're all dying to hear about my mundane life.. ;)

Anyway, back to the recipe here. I realize it's the middle of June and eating soup on a hot, humid 90-degree day sounds about as wonderful as getting a root canal, but we had a refreshing rain storm come through last night that cooled it off enough to make soup actually sound pretty nice! I knew it would be the last time I could get away with eating soup until around October, so I took advantage of it! There's nothing like a homemade chicken noodle soup, but I think I may have made it even better by making it creamy! I can easily say this is one of my favorite soups. Neal came home today to eat lunch with me and quickly decided this was much better than a sandwich or lean pocket any day! It's chocked full of hearty vegetables, chicken and thick noodles which absorb most of the liquid - just the way I like it. Plus there's an added bonus: it's a one-pot meal so less dishes are used and there's only one pot to clean - can't beat that, I tell you. It makes enough to comfortably feed around 4-5 people, or 2 people for several meals in our case!

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 2-3 chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 2 stalks celery diced
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 8 oz. egg noodles
• 1 cup milk
• 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 tsp. ground sage
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add in the chicken, carrot, celery and onion and saute for 3-4 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and onions are translucent. Add in the chicken broth and egg noodles and bring to a boil. Cook for 7-8 minutes or until egg noodles are al dente. In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the milk and flour until the flour has dissolved. Stir into the soup and simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until the soup has thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese and spices. Allow the heat from the soup to melt the cream cheese, stirring occasionally until dissolved. Serve warm.

Healthy Spiced Carrot Muffins

This is one of those "Oh no... I have a bunch of carrots in the fridge that need to be used now!" recipes that actually turned out really good! Neal and I are a big fan of healthy muffins for breakfast that are easy to grab-and-go when you're running late in the mornings and these definitely fit the bill! They're packed full of rolled oats, whole wheat flour, carrots, applesauce and a wonderful mix of spices that make them out of this world. I loved them and Neal may have liked them even more, which is really saying something! The only down-side to this recipe is they only last for 2-3 days outside of the freezer. So if by the 3rd day you still have muffins left, freeze them and get them out when you want them! I think the combination of the carrots and applesauce makes them only last for a couple days on the counter before turning bad.. Which we quickly learned after we had to throw away 4 or 5! Whoops.. But other than that, this is pretty much the ideal muffin that's got it all! (Recipe adapted from Kitchen Treaty)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup rolled oats + a couple extra tablespoons for topping
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup milk
• ¾ cup applesauce
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups carrot, grated*

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease or place cupcake wrappers in a standard-size, 12-cup muffin pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, 1 cup oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, applesauce, brown sugar, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and whisk just until all ingredients are incorporated. Stir in the carrots.

 

Divide the mixture between the muffin cups. Cups should be filled just about to the top. Bake for 20 minutes or until muffin tops spring back when poked and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 – 10 minutes before removing from the muffin tin. Serve plain with butter and honey, if desired.

 

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 - 3 days, or freeze.

 

Makes approximately 12 large muffins.

 

*Note: This is best done in a food processor if you have one. I chopped the carrots into medium-size pieces and chopped them in my food processor for about 30 seconds. I have a really small 1-2 cup processor and it worked great!

Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream

Last weekend, I went to a strawberry farm with Neal's mom and sister to pick our own strawberries. I kept driving by the farm and wanted to stop in and see what it was like and finally got the opportunity to go. It was so much fun! Rows upon rows of fresh, huge ripe strawberries that were calling to us to be picked and eaten! I started filling up my basket and before I knew it, I had collected almost 5 pounds of strawberries! Ha. Whoops.. I knew they wouldn't last more than a few days, so after eating them fresh by the handful with almost every meal, I dug up a few recipes to use up the rest of them. I've made strawberry ice cream once before and it turned out amazing and so creamy, but this time I tweaked the recipe a bit and added in coconut milk and shredded coconut for more of a Hawaiian type flavor... and it was awesome! There was a very subtle hint of coconut in every bite and it mixed perfectly with the chunks of strawberries and creamy texture of the homemade ice cream. If you're looking into buying a new appliance for the summer, I cannot say enough good things about the Cuisinart electric ice cream machine! It is so easy and only takes about 15-20 minutes to make just about anything frozen you want. I've made slushies, frozen yogurt and ice cream - next on the list is a fresh fruit sorbet. Mmm... Enjoy!

 

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup coconut milk
• 2/3 cup sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped into small pieces
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut

In a mixer, or using a wire whisk, mix the coconut milk, sugar and salt together in a medium bowl until sugar is dissolved. Pulse strawberries in a food processor or blender until mostly pureed. This is based on personal preference - if you like chunky pieces of strawberries, don't pulse for as long. Stir in the pureed strawberries and vanilla. Add in the whipping cream and coconut, stirring to combine. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight. Freeze according to the directions on your ice cream machine. Ice cream will be very soft, so if you prefer it to be harder, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for another 2-3 hours or until hardened.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

You know when you hear people talk about healthier versions of foods that "taste just as good as the original" and you know they're lying? Like low-fat mayonnaise or ranch, or homemade baked taquitos instead of the original fried crispy version. Except for these lightened-up taquitos really do taste just as good (if not better!) than the originals fully fattened fried versions! In fact, they turned out so nice and crispy that Neal was shocked that they weren't fried. Spraying the tops of the tortillas with cooking spray and baking them in a hot oven makes everything nice and crispy and without that oily taste that fried foods always have. I made the chicken version of these taquitos because that's what I had in the fridge, but these would also be awesome with ground or shredded beef, or even vegetarian-style for a change. Perfect for a football party or for a quick and easy weeknight meal with your family. We dipped ours in Creamy Cilantro Dressing which was uh-mazing! But they'd also be great in sour cream, salsa or guacamole. Recipe and picture adapted from Our Best Bites.

 

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup (3 oz.) cream cheese
• 1/4 cup green salsa or diced green chilies
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
• 2 Tbsp. diced green onions or yellow onions
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 cup grated pepperjack cheese
• White corn tortillas
• Cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.  Heat cream cheese in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until softened. Add green salsa/green chilies, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder and the chopped cilantro and stir to combine. Add the onions, chicken and cheese and combine well.

Place 3 or 4 tortillas in between damp paper towels and microwave for 30-40 seconds, or until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. If yours start to crack, heat them longer and dampen your paper towels.

Place 2-3 Tbsp. of the chicken filling on the lower third of a tortilla and roll up tightly. Place seam down on the baking sheet and continue until all of the chicken mixture is gone. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to turn light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit on the pan for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Serve warm with your preference of sauce.

 

Creamy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Disclaimer: This is not a healthy recipe. :)

I have a confession that's a little embarrassing, but has to be said. I am in love with macaroni and cheese. Kraft Mac and Cheese from a box with the yellow powder cheese is one of my all-time favorite meals. I can even eat an entire box all to my self, and all in one sitting... Yeah. It's dangerous which is why I only buy it when Neal is gone and I'm cooking for myself. And the fact that Neal hates mac and cheese from a box doesn't help my "eat-all-4-servings-in-30-minutes" problem I have. :) I've always tried to make my own macaroni and cheese from scratch, knowing it's so much more healthy and would probably taste even better than Kraft (If possible!) but it never turns out quite as good as the stuff from the box. It's never as creamy and the flavor always seems to lack something... So in a contest between working and toiling over a decent mac and cheese compared with a minimal effort dinner from a box, the box always wins. Hands down.

 

Until this amazing recipe entered my life! And the funny thing is, it wasn't even a recipe! It was one of those miracle dishes that happen when you just start mixing in random ingredients until you taste perfection. Most of the time these type of dishes don't turn out so good for me, so I tend to stick to a recipe. But luck was on my side this time and I made an incredible, creamy, cheesy dish where the cheese actually melts and makes those mouthwatering string things as you're pulling a forkful out of the bowl. You know what I'm talking about?? I decided there are a few different secrets to make a creamy mac and cheese that's not dry, clumpy or non-flavorful. The first is to use half-and-half instead of milk. It creates a creamier texture in the base of the sauce and thickens up beautifully with a little flour and butter. Second is the use of Velveeta. Yes, that weird non-refrigerated cheese from a box that's really not cheese, but makes a dang good cheese dip. And the third is to use a good quality, freshly grated cheese - not that pre-shredded stuff you can buy in a bag. Mm... I wish I would have taken a picture of the final result, but here's one that's pretty dang close. And if this description and picture doesn't make you want to go make some cheesy mac, then we've got some serious issues.. (Note: this recipe makes enough for 6-8 people as a side, and about 4-5 as a main dish)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz.box pasta noodles (macaroni and shells are my preference)
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 8 oz. cube of Velveeta cheese
• 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• Dash of pepper
• Dash of hot sauce

Cook the noodles according to package directions. While cooking, melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large frypan over medium heat. Add in the flour and stir into the butter to create a thick roux. Cook over medium heat 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly until it begins to turn a very light brown color and smells nutty. Add in the half-and-half all at once and stir with a wire whisk to get rid of the clumps from the roux. Simmer the mixture for 8-10 minutes over medium heat, stirring every 1-2 minutes or until the mixture thickens and becomes creamy. Add in the Velveeta in small cubes, stirring to melt and combine. Add in the cheddar and parmesan cheese, stirring to melt. Add in the pepper and hot sauce (optional) for a bit more flavor.

 

Drain the pasta noodles and slowly stir in the cheese mixture until all of the noodles are coated. It will seem like a lot of sauce compared to the amount of noodles, but you'll want to put every bit of sauce in to make it creamy and gooey! Serve warm immediately, or put into an 8x8 baking dish and bake uncovered at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese begins to brown and bubble on the top.

 

Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Hands down, one of my all time favorite smells is banana or zucchini bread cooking in the oven. I love the sweet, spicy small that makes every inch of your home smell warm and welcoming - especially on a cold winter day. There's also not much better than that first bite of warm bread with melting butter, but add in gooey chocolate chips to the mix and you've hit the highlight in your life! Period.

I've always loved all of the baking recipes from King Arthur flour and knew I wouldn't be disappointed when I found this recipe. It has a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour which creates the perfect balance of light and fluffy and whole and hearty. I originally made a batch of these for Neal and I to eat for breakfast throughout the week, but they ended up completely disappearing in about 3 days.. Ha. And I think Neal only ate about 2 or 3... I have no shame. They were worth every little calorie. Plus, they have bananas and whole wheat flour in them, so technically I'm eating healthy, right?.....

(Recipe and picture courtesy of King Arthur Flour)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup mashed banana (about 2 large or 3 medium bananas)
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup chocolate chips OR 1 cup blueberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a large muffin tin, or place 12 muffin cups in each hole. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the mashed banana, egg, vanilla and milk. Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt and flours, stirring until smooth. If the mixture has a lot of lumps, continue stirring until they've nearly disappeared. Stir in the chocolate chips or blueberries.

Heap the thick batter into the muffin cups, mounding them quite full. Sprinkle the tops with coarse white sparkling sugar, if desired. Bake the muffins 20-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove the muffins from the oven and tilt them in the pan to cool a bit; this will prevent the bottoms from getting soggy. As soon as you can safely handle them, transfer the muffins to a cooling rack to cool completely.

But you HAVE to sneak one or two to eat warm with butter if you really want to live your life right. :)

Makes about 12 muffins.

Zucchini Onion Pie

I always seem to get in a rut every time I try to think of side dishes for dinner. The usual potato or rice is always an option, but trying to come up with a vegetable side that's different and not just a frozen or sauteed version of some vegetable is nearly impossible for me. I knew when I saw this recipe in a recent Taste of Home magazine that I had to cut it out and try it. And to be honest, it actually exceeded my expectations! It bakes up similar to a frittata due to the eggs and baking mix, but has a wonderful savory, cheesy and herbacious flavor that complements the zucchini and onions perfectly. After I made it, I had tons of little variations run through my head of different vegetables you could add to make a new variety of savory pie! Squash, carrots, corn, or a mixture of two or three to get all of those veggies in for the day. And an added bonus, this dish literally takes about 5 minutes to throw together, aside from the baking time. That's a HUGE plus in my book when I'm trying to prepare the main dish and don't want to waste time preparing the sides. :) (Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home).

 

Ingredients:

•  3 eggs
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 Tbsp. minced parsley
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 3 cups sliced zucchini
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup biscuit/baking mix

In a large bowl, whisk together the first 7 ingredients. Stir in the zucchini, onion and baking mix. Pour into a greased 9-inch deep dish pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until lightly browned. (Serves 6-8)

Salmon Burgers with Basil Mayonnaise

So for once I actually have a decent excuse for not posting any recipes... I'm 16 weeks pregnant!! :) Overall I've been feeling amazing and Neal and I are thrilled about the new addition that will be coming to our family in July! I'm tempted to make a paper chain to count down the days until our munchkin arrives.. But I'll resist.. for now... :) The only real "sickness" (if you can even call it that..) that I've had so far is an aversion to certain foods, especially cooking. So needless to say, new recipes and a lot of food in general has not sounded so good the past couple of months.. I'm finally over the stage of  "cereal, fruit and smoothies are the only things in this house I can stomach" so I'm finally back to my sad, neglected blog to post a few new recipes that I've collected over the past few weeks. It feels great to have the appetite to actually try new things again.

These burgers were great, healthy and super quick to throw together. Perfect for a weeknight meal when you're hungry and don't want to spend more than 30 minutes throwing a meal together. The basil mayo had a great flavor and added enough flavor and sauce to the burgers that no other sauces were even needed. And I felt kind of fancy for eating salmon burgers since it sounds like something you'd have in a gourmet steakhouse with truffle fries.. Mm... This recipe makes enough for 2 good-size salmon burgers, so double or triple it to feed more mouths. (Recipe adapted from Tasty Kitchen)

Ingredients:

Basil Mayonnaise:

• 4 Tbsp. light mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1-2 pinches dried basil
• 1/4 tsp. dried dill

Salmon Burgers:

• 4-5 oz. canned salmon, drained and gently mashed
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 Tbsp. parsley (dried or fresh)
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
• 1/3 cup fine bread crumbs
• 1 pinch oregano
• 1 pinch thyme
• 1 pinch basil
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 sesame hamburger buns
• lettuce leaves
• sliced tomatoes

Combine all of the ingredients for the mayonnaise and set aside. Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat until hot. To make sure the oil is at the right temperature, flick a little water into it. If it sizzles lightly then it's right. If it sparks and splashes and goes everywhere, it's too hot so turn it down and wait a couple of minutes. If nothing happens, or if it's a very delayed reaction, increase the heat and try again. 

While the oil is heating, mix all ingredients for the salmon burgers together through the basil. Form into two patties (the patties will be very moist and will fall apart easily) and gently place into the hot oil. Cook on each side for about 4 minutes until light brown.

To assemble burgers, spread basil mayo on the hamburger buns and top with a patty, lettuce and tomato. Serve immediately while still warm.

BYU's Mint Brownies

While I was going to school at Brigham Young University (BYU), it was always a challenge to stay away from their made-from-scratch orange rolls, chocolate covered cinnamon bears, cinnamon rolls and especially their mint brownies. Soft, chewy and fudgy with a thin layer of mint frosting topped with a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth layer of chocolate frosting. Sinful and decadent.

Now that I live across the country in Tennessee, these brownies are kind of out of my reach, which is why I was so excited when I stumbled across the recipe that was posted in the BYU magazine back in 2003.

Let's start with the brownie part first. This was a super easy brownie recipe since it just calls for cocoa powder instead of melted and cooled chocolate. The resulting brownie was so soft, chewy and fudgy - just like the ones I remember! That's a big plus for homemade brownies since half of the time mine turn into hard bricks. :)

The frosting was also really simple and had a fantastic flavor. I love the light mint flavor combined with the chocolate frosting. And since the mint layer is tinted a light green, it makes me feel all fancy and professional, even though I'm FAR from that... Serve these with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to take them over the edge. Oh, and if you make this large 9x13 size, make sure you take it to a party where there are a LOT of people to eat them. Otherwise you'll end up with a half of a pan full of these bad boys sitting at home. Not a good start to the Holiday season..

Ingredients:

Brownies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks)  margarine
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional - I leave these out)

Mint Icing:

• 5 Tbsp. margarine, softened
• dash of salt
• 1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
• 2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. mint extract
• 1 - 2 drops green food coloring
• 3 Tbsp. milk

Chocolate Icing:

• 5 Tbsp. margarine, softened
• dash of salt
• 1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 Tbsp. milk

Melt margarine and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts if desired. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool.

Prepare mint icing: Soften margarine. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting. Note: You still want the mint frosting to be thick enough to spread and have it stay in place. Don't add more than 3 Tbsp. of milk or the consistency will be too thin.

Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time (15-20 minutes) to stiffen the icing. Mix up the chocolate icing the same way as the mint. Remove the brownies from the freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate icing. Keep brownies stored in fridge until ready to serve.

Cranberry-Orange Sauce

There's nothing quite like leftover turkey on a homemade dinner roll slathered with cranberry sauce. Especially this amazing, homemade cranberry-orange sauce with a hint of cinnamon. Mm.. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This sauce is really easy to make and tastes ten times better than the canned Oceanspray cranberry sauce you can buy year-round. Thanksgiving only comes once a year, so why not take the extra ten minutes to make your own instead of using that awful looking canned sauce that has jellied ridges from the aluminum? 

Honestly though, this sauce really only takes about 10 minutes to throw together! Put in a fancy silver dish on the table and you'll take your turkey to whole new level! (Picture courtesy of This Week for Dinner)

Ingredients:

• 1 12-oz. bag of fresh cranberries
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 orange, roughly chopped

Put all ingredients into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and let it softly simmer for about 10 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst and release their juices. Sauce will thicken slightly and all of the flavors will meld together to create an amazing tart-sweet flavor! Let cool and serve cold.

Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles

Recently Neal and I have really enjoyed Thai-style dishes, especially this CPK's Thai Chicken Salad. I recently I ran across this recipe that is pretty similar, except it's made with noodles instead of lettuce! The sauce definitely makes this dish with the fresh ginger, sesame oil, cilantro and peanut butter. Seriously, wait until you have all of the ingredients before you make this. It makes a big difference to have those fresh, flavorful ingredients on-hand. This can definitely be added to one of those quick "weeknight" meals that we all desperately need from time to time (or at least I do...). This could also be made into a great side dish instead of your usual rice or potatoes. This recipe serves 6 people easily so cut it in half if you only need to feed 2 or 3 like I usually do. (Recipe courtesy of The Sisters Cafe)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti noodles
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped finely
• 1 large red or orange bell pepper, sliced thinly
• 2 1/2 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
• 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
• 2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
• handful of cilantro

Sauce:

• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 1 (1-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 Tbsp. sesame oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
• 1 cup hot water

Cook noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside. While they are cooking, place garlic and ginger in a food processor until well chopped. Add peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar and rice vinegar. Pulse until well combined. Slowly add hot water and pulse a few more times. Set aside. 

Saute onion and bell pepper in some olive oil for 2-3 minutes or until soft-crisp. Add onion, peppers and chicken to the cooked noodles. Add sauce and stir to coat. Top with peanuts, sesame seeds and cilantro, if desired. Serve warm.

Note: Sauce tends to pool at the bottom of the warm dish of noodles so make sure to give it a good stir before serving.