Author Archives: sbp

Gingerbread Hula Dancers

Posted in dessert, entertaining, holiday favorites, sweet treat by

IMG_1086Gingerbread Hula Dancers

My daughter Dani decorates these whimsical cookies around the holidays and they always make me smile.  The dough is easy to make thanks to Trader Joe’s.  We make the dough with their  Gingerbread Cake and Baking Mix.   Here is the easy recipe…

Cookie Ingredients

1 box Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Cake and Baking Mix
1 stick melted butter (1/2 cup)
1 large egg
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup water

Frosting Ingredients

3 egg whites
1 box powdered sugar (1 lb.)
1 tsp. cream of tarter

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375degrees. Combine the mix, butter, egg in a medium sized bowl.  Form into a ball and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Roll out the dough on  a floured board about 1/8 inch thick  Cut into desired shapes.

IMG_7678 at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes.  Cool 2-3 minute and transfer to a wire rack.  Yields 4-5 dozen small gingerbread cookies (Less if you use large cookie cutters)
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Just before you are ready to decorate the cookies, mix up the frosting ingredients using a high speed mixer until it peaks.  Place in a decorator bag with the smallest tip you can find.  This frosting is great for gingerbread house decorating too!  The recipe makes more than enough.

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Best Macaroni and Cheese Ever

Posted in comfort food, Dani's Favorite, main meal, pasta by

mac n cheese

My daughter says, “There is nothing like coming home to Mom’s Macaroni and Cheese on a chilly day.  Comfort food like this warms up the soul as well as the belly.   I like to add a little variety by using different cheeses.  We used french gruyere this time.  Enjoy!

Mom’s Macaroni and Cheese

Yield: 4 servings

 

 

½ cup butter (divided)
4 T. flour
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
2 cups milk
1 ½ cups of your favorite hard cheese, sharp cheddar, gruyere, etc (shredded or cut into ½ inch cubes)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 ¼ tsp. prepared mustard
1 T. onion (chopped)
8 saltine crackers, crushed (optional)
2 cups elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)

Directions Continue reading →

Spicy Mexican White Chicken Chili

Posted in AP's Favorites, comfort food, mexican, soup by
mexican chicken chiliGrowing up as a kid, the definition of chili was both a  small pepper with a very hot flavor and a spicy stew of ground beef usually with beans too. Both meant yummy goodness.  Now chili in our family seems to be synonymous with Monday Night Football.  Our version is a chicken variety with savory mexican spices.  It’s always a hit, even when our team doesn’t win.

Spicy Mexican White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

2-3 cups shredded chicken (I use rotisserie chicken from the deli section at Sprouts)
2 (15 ounce) cans great northern beans or 2 (15 ounce) cans navy beans
2 cups roasted corn (I use frozen from Trader Joe’s)
1-2 ounces taco seasoning mix (I use part of the envelope from Trader Joe’s)
1 (7 1/2 ounce) can of chopped green chilies (use less if you like a milder chili)
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (14 ounce) can low sodium chicken broth

TOPPINGS

1/2 cup sour cream
chopped green onion (optional)
Monterey jack cheese (optional)

Directions:

Pour beans, corn and chicken in large pot.

In a medium bowl, combine taco seasoning, chiles, condensed soup, and chicken broth.

Pour over top of ingredients and stir together over medium heat.

Simmer for 15-30 minutes.

Serve topped with green onions, sour cream, and jack cheese, if desired.

Spicy Korean Chicken Wings

Posted in appetizer, asian, bbq, chicken, main meal by

We like heat in our meat and I recently discovered a new kick it up ingredient  called Gochujang that is a chile paste used in many spicy Korean dishes.   I think you’ll like it.  My family does.

Spicy Korean Chicken Wings

Ingredients

  • 1¼ Pounds Chicken Wings
  • 2 Cloves Garlic
  • 1 Scallion (top green portion)
  • 2 Tablespoons Soy Glaze
  • 1 1-Inch Piece of Ginger
  • 1 Tablespoon Gochujang (I like Mother In Law’s found at World Market)
  • 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
  • 1 Teaspoon Black & White Sesame Seeds

Instructions

IMG_04811. Roast the chicken wings:

Preheat the oven to 475°F. Line a sheet pan with foil. Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels and place on the foil-lined sheet pan. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to thoroughly coat. Arrange in a single, even layer and roast 22 to 24 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.

2. Prepare the ingredients:

Thinly slice the top green part of the scallion (Save the white part  for the bok choy side dish). Peel and mince the garlic and ginger.  To make the sauce, in a medium bowl, combine the soy glaze, vinegar, sesame oil,  garlic, ginger and as much of the gochujang as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be.

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3. Glaze & finish the chicken wings:

Remove the roasted chicken wings from the oven and evenly brush or drizzle with the sauce. Return to the oven and roast 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned on top. Remove from the oven.

4. Plate your dish (if preparing as main course):

Divide the finished chicken wings between 2-3 dishes. Garnish with the sesame seeds and green top of the scallion. Serve with the seared baby bok choy on the side if you like.  Enjoy!

PSST!  This is a tasty appetizer too.  Don’t forget the napkins though!

Flank Steak with Blue Cheese and Herbs

Posted in AP's Favorites, entertaining, low-carb, main meal by

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Got a carnivorous craving? If you’re like me who tries to limit red meat intake but enjoys a great steak now and then, try this steak topper and enjoy the delicious taste of going to a fancy Steak House right from your own kitchen.

This is a great date night meal on a budget too.

Yield: 2 servings

Flank Steak with Blue Cheese and Herb Topping

 

Ingredients

½ – ¾ lb. beef flank steak
5-6 oz. mushrooms
¼ of an onion
1 oz. blue cheese crumbles
1 sprig of fresh thyme
1 sprigs of fresh rosemary
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions

Continue reading →

Skinny Chicken Parmesan

Posted in chicken, cut calories, italian, low-carb, main meal, weight loss ideas by

Skinny Chicken Parm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

1 lb. thin-sliced boneless chicken breast (or chicken tenders)
1 egg, beaten
shredded parmesan cheese (enough to coat the chicken)
1-2 tomatoes, medium diced
½ brown onion, sliced
Italian seasoning (2-3 shakes)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
fresh basil, chopped
2 Tablespoons olive oil

Instructions Continue reading →

Purple Mashed Potatoes

Posted in side dish by

Purple Mashed Potatoes   Purple heirloom potatoes to add beauty and a subtle, earthy flavor to any meal. Purple (sometimes called blue) potatoes get their vivid hue from a concentration of antioxidants, the same healthy nutrients that color blueberries and pomegranates.

Here is an easy recipe to brighten up your fall table.

IngredientsIMG_0186

  • 14-16 Ounces Purple Potatoes
  • 3 Scallions
  • 3-4 Tablespoons Butter
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a small pot of salted water to boiling on high. Large dice the potatoes.  Cut off and discard the root ends of the scallions; thinly slice the scallions, separating the white bottoms and green tops.

2. Cook & mash the potatoes:

Add the potatoes to the pot of boiling water. Cook 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Off the heat, add  butter. Using a fork, mash the cooked potatoes to your desired consistency. Stir in the white bottoms of the scallions; season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Plate your dish:
Divide the the potatoes between 3-4 plates. Add your  favorite grilled steak or chicken. Enjoy!

Mini Blueberry, White Peach & Goat’s Cheese Galettes (a lower sugar recipe) + GBBO 2015

Posted in dessert, entertaining, sweet treat by

I can’t wait to try this! It looks fabulous and I bet, tastes even better.

kellie anderson's avatarfood to glow

This easy to make, light as a feather spelt pie crust dough is the perfect beginner's baking recipe. Filled with blueberries, peaches and complementing goat's cheese make it sophisticated enough for company too. Apologies for non-UK readers. I’m going to gush a bit about something you won’t have seen. Recipe below! Plus SPOILER ALERT!!

‘I’m never gonna put boundaries on myself ever again. I’m never gonna say “I can’t do it”. I’m never gonna say “maybe”. I’m never gonna say “I don’t think I can”. I can and I will.’ Nadiya Hussein’s rousing response to winning the 2015 Great British Bake Off

Over 12 million people tuned in to see Nadiya storm the GBBO final in her usual soft yet steely fashion. But the creme de la creme (or the “creme pat”, if you will) was her astonishing response. Astonishing in a good way. It was the best acceptance speech I’ve ever heard (take note Hollywood: the city, not the grumpy, silver-fox GBBO judge).

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Best Caesar Dressing

Posted in dressing, salad by

ceasar dressing2

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 Cloves Garlic
  • 2 Lemons
  • 2 Tablespoons White Wine Vinegar
  • 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise (I like to use grapeseed vegonnaise)

Instructions:

1. Zest the lemons to get 1Tablespoon of lemon zest.  Then cut the lemons in half.

2. Peel and finely mince the garlic.

3. Place the garlic in a small bowl with the vinegar.

4. Using a citrus squeezer, squeeze three of the lemon halves and add to the garlic and vinegar mixture.

5. Add the lemon zest.

6. Whisk in mayonnaise until well combined.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

I love this light and lemony dressing.  It is delicious on a Caesar Salad made with either chicken or salmon.   This makes enough for four meal-sized salads. Slice the remaining 1/2 lemon into wedges and place on side of each plate.

chicken ceasar salad

Chicken Cacciatore with a Southern Twist

Posted in chicken, italian, main meal by

Chicken Cacciatore with a Southern Twist

Makes: 3 Servings
Calories: About 450 Per Serving
Cooking Time: 35 to 45 minutes

Chicken Cacciatorie-in a serving bowl

Ingredients

  • 3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
  • ¾ Cup Yellow Grits
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper
  • 1 Tomato
  • 1 Yellow Onion
  • 1 Bunch Basil
  • 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 Tablespoons Capers
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • 1 Tablespoon Molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon Southern Cacciatore Spice Blend (Smoked Sweet Paprika, Dried Parsley, Dried Oregano, Ancho Chile Powder, Garlic Powder & Cayenne Pepper)

Instructions

cheicken Cacciatore-chopped ingredients

1. Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Core and  dice tomato.  Cut out and discard the stem, ribs and seeds of the bell pepper; medium dice. Peel and dice the onion. Pick the basil leaves off the stems; discard the stems.

Continue reading →