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Homemade Vegetable Broth for Thanksgiving Dressing

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Vegetables for Vegetable Broth

One of my daughters, Brittany, has been a committed vegetarian since she was 12 years old. It began with eating the top part of tacos while leaving the meat at the bottom untouched and with eating everything on her plate except for the meat. I asked her, very matter of factly, about it one day – not wanting to make a mountain of what may have been a molehill.

Spoiler alert – it was not a molehill.

She adorably told me, “I don’t want to ever eat anything that once had a face.” I told her that it was her decision to make and that I was on her side. If she didn’t want to eat anything that once had a face, no one… and I mean no one… was ever going to make her.

I read up on protein,vegetarianism, health concerns AND benefits, etc. We became black bean burger experts and, truth be told, the whole family surely benefited from the increased veggies in the kitchen. I made certain then and I make certain now that anything I cook for her doesn’t contain any ingredients that… well… once had a face.

One of the biggest areas of concern (for me anyway as a cook) has been replacing chicken broth in the food I make for her. It adds SO MUCH FLAVOR! Store-bought vegetable broth simply cannot compare. That’s why I prefer to make my own vegetable stock to use for her dressing at Thanksgiving. She’s a huge, huge, huge fan of garlic and flavorful herbs, so I can add those in and give her the layers of flavor she loves.

And no faces.

The recipe below really isn’t a recipe as much as it is a technique because it’s so customizable. If you’re using a vegetable broth for soup or stew, you might want to leave out the sage and replace it with thyme or basil. However, for Thanksgiving stuffing, don’t dare leave out the sage.

While I’ve said (in the recipe below) to simmer for 30 minutes, I actually turn the heat down and simmer for longer. Why? I love for the kitchen to smell like Thanksgiving! Naturally, you can’t simmer too long, however, or your broth will cook away. The house will smell like Autumn Heaven, but you’ll be left with a tablespoon of broth.

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Homemade Vegetable Broth for Thanksgiving Dressing

Homemade Vegetable Broth for Thanksgiving Dressing

Ingredients

  • 1 large Sweet Onion
  • 2 cups Chopped Celery
  • Celery tops
  • 20 Baby Carrots (halved or left whole)
  • 9-10 Cloves Garlic, coarsely chopped
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • Twig of Rosemary
  • Twig of Thyme
  • 3 Sage Leaves
  • 1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 8 Cups Water

Instructions

  1. Clean and chop (coarsely) the vegetables.
  2. Heat EVOO in a soup pot.
  3. Add vegetables and herbs to the EVOO and cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes, stirring often.
  4. Add salt and water. Bring to a boil.
  5. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes (uncovered).
  6. Strain and throw out (or eat!) the vegetables.
  7. Store your broth in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Vegetables for Vegetable Broth Vegetables for Vegetable Broth

Best Fudgy Brownie Frosting Recipe – You’ll Want to Eat it Straight Out of the Pan

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Brownies Baked in a Pie Plate with Fudgy Brownie Frosting

Brownies, Baked in Pie Plates and Frosted with a Fudgy Frosting

A few weeks ago, a familiar mood hit me… an “I MUST MAKE SOMETHING CHOCOLATE!” mood that has come to define me. I mulled over the usual cast of chocolate characters – chocolate cupcakes, chocolate cake, cookies, brownies, and fudge. Brownies won and I started rounding up the needed ingredients.

I found that I didn’t have any walnuts, but decided to forge right ahead in spite of the absence of a favorite brownie ingredient. I decided (as I always do when my brownies won’t have nuts) that I’d simply make a fudgy chocolate frosting for the brownies and the absence of walnuts wouldn’t even be missed.

I was right.

As I was mentally dreading the all too familiar brownie-baking-battle (trying to get the center SET without the corners becoming so hard they could knock out a mouse), I had an idea. Why not divide the brownie batter in two and bake them in pie plates?

I didn’t know of any mice who needed konking, so I grabbed a couple of glass pie plates, greased them, and proceeded just as I would if I’d been using a square pan.

I seriously doubt I’ll ever bake brownies in a square pan again.

Brownies Baked in a Pie Plate with Fudgy Brownie Frosting

Pie Plates Keep The Crusty Corners Out of the Picture!

The outside, smaller cuts were triangular (a small price to pay for having the outside of brownies that are just as moist and delicious as the center pieces) but the rest were able to be cut into squares – you’d never know they were baked in a pie dish.

I made my favorite Fudgy Brownie Frosting and iced them once they cooled off. They were outstanding.

If you attempt the pie plates method with your favorite brownie recipe (or mix), just be sure to start checking on them before the traditional time limit. They tend to cook a little faster when they’re divided into two separate dishes.

I made a single batch of the Fudgy Brownie Frosting and it was just enough for the two pie plates of deliciousness. If you’re making a large batch of brownies, you might want to double the recipe. This is chocolate deliciousness at it’s finest!

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Fudgy Brownie Frosting Recipe

Fudgy Brownie Frosting Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons Butter (not margarine)
  • 1-1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Whole Milk
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Tablespoons Cocoa

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Be careful not to let it brown.
  2. Add cocoa to the melted butter and remove the pan from the heat.
  3. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
  4. Stir until smooth.
  5. Carefully spread over the brownies.
  6. Lick the spoon and don't burn yourself while trying to get every drop from the sides of the pan (been there, done that).

 

 

150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Cookbook

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Is anyone even half as ready for autumn and winter as I am? Don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of things about summer – baseball, fresh produce, songbirds at my bird feeders that aren’t there in cold weather, grilling out, and so on. Summer’s awesome in every way… but, having said that, autumn and winter are super special.

As a foodie, the cooler months make me think of soup, stew, chili, casseroles, chai tea lattes, and (of course) Halloween goodies, Thanksgiving dishes, and Christmas baking… how could a foodie NOT love this time of year???

I may be one of the biggest soup fanatics in the world, which is one of the reasons I’m excited about a new cookbook I was sent to review: 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Naturally, grilled cheese sandwiches are perfect all year. We certainly eat them year-round in our house. In fact, we’ve been known to enjoy grilled cheese sandwiches at all times of the day and night.  Talk about a delicious comfort food.  Cheesy deliciousness that comes together pretty darn fast – sign me up.

150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches is a perfect guide to getting extra creative with this wonderful comfort food.  Although the modern version of the grilled cheese sandwich dates back to 1920 (when it became popular during the great depression, for obvious reasons), these delicious and inexpensive delicacies are currently a popular trend in cooking.  I think one of the reasons is the fact that they aren’t expensive to pull together.  I think the popularity of food trucks has also helped revive this wonderful sandwich.

Some people are even calling the grilled cheese sandwich the “new burger.”  The fact that so many people are eating less meat is another reason these sandwiches are so wildly popular.

From the Back Cover: A grilled cheese sandwich is classic comfort food and it’s enjoying an incredible resurgence in popularity. These fabulous recipes all begin with the grilled cheese we all know and love, and then from there, creative twists showcase just how incredibly versatile this sandwich can be.  The recipes reflect an almost endless and delicious variety of choices that include simple and timeless as well as gourmet and artisanal. From breakfast to dessert, there’s something for everyone in this book.

Another reason grilled cheese sandwiches are so popular is, let’s face it, they’re fast and easy to make.  You can have a warm, delicious, and comforting meal in a matter of minutes. This is one of the reasons they’re so popular with bachelors, college students, and beginner cooks.

Whether you enjoy your grilled cheese sandwiches with soup (one of my favorite meals), chips, or alone, nothing beats a great grilled cheese sandwich.

As I’ve probably mentioned on the food blog, when I had to totally give up wheat and gluten a number of years ago (health reasons), it threw my cooking persona into a tailspin. Imagine everything you are accustomed to cooking and baking for your family and yourself thrown out the door. Then finding yourself having to start over, pretty much, and discover a whole new way of both cooking and eating.

BUMMER!

It’s a hideous predicament for anyone but for an avid cook and food blogger who was extra keen on homemade breads, cornbread, cakes from scratch, pies, etc.. it knocked me on my backside for a bit. However, I (honestly) found out that many aspects of gluten-free food are actually as good as their gluten-y counterparts and some are even better in many ways.

For example, for whatever reasons, gluten-free fried catfish is actually better.  Don’t ask me why (please), but the combo of rice flour and yellow cornmeal makes the best fried catfish in the world. Trust me, this is a personal favorite and something I’ve been cooking since I was allowed to touch the stove.

Grilled cheese sandwiches have been another pleasant surprise (along with French Toast, for that matter). Gluten-Free bread, in my opinion, makes them even better. I think it’s because they’re denser and, sometimes, thicker, than regular bread. Then again, Texas Toast is a great way to go with grilled cheese sandwiches.

150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches includes so many creative, fun, and delicious recipes you won’t stop until you’ve made them all.  The cheese combinations, along with the additions of complimentary ingredients will boggle your mind.  I cook every single day (and have for years) and consider myself to be really creative in the kitchen, but even I found myself saying, “Ooooh, I would’ve never thought of that...”  One of the combinations that was wildly new to me was the one given in the recipe below.  I wouldn’t have ever invited Muenster Cheese to a grilled cheese party, but this recipe has me slapping myself for the oversight.

The recipe below is from the cookbook and is outstanding. I love it alongside tomato soup or chili and have been known to have it simply with a large dill pickle and Funyons.

I know how to live, after all.

Classic Grilled Two Cheese

Author: Alison Lewis
Serves 4

8 slices white or whole-grain bread (1/2 inch/1 cm thick slices)
2 TBS butter or margarine, softened
4 oz Muenster cheese, thinly sliced
4 oz Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Brush one side of each bread slice with butter.
  2. Place on a work surface, buttered side down.
  3. Top 4 bread slices equally with Muenster and Cheddar cheeses.
  4. Cover with remaining bread slices, buttered side up, and press gently.
  5. Place sandwiches on preheated panini grill or in a large skillet over medium heat and cook, turning once if using a skillet, for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted.
  6. Serve immediately.

When it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches, you have to really be careful with cheese combinations. Make the wrong move and the result will be thisclose to gross. You also have to be careful with what fillings you add and how you treat the bread. Again, the wrong move can leave your taste buds borderline depressed.  In this wonderful and fun cookbook, Alison Lewis has done all of the hard work for us and taken all of the guess work out of our hands.  We’re left with a ton of delicious recipes and combinations that’ll make us the Queen or King of Grilled Cheese.  Whether you use a Panini or Sandwich Press or a favorite skillet, you WILL use these recipes again and again and again.

Below are just some of the recipes included in 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:

  • Roast Beef with Asiago and Watercress
  • Grilled Steak and Blue Cheese
  • Italian Tomato-Basil Bread
  • Hot Bacon Swiss Crostini
  • Havarti and Cucumber Sandwich
  • Grilled Spinach, Pepper Jack, and Bacon
  • Warm Peanut Butter Power Wrap
  • Italian Salami Panini
  • Sweet Pepper Relish
  • Hummus
  • The Pilgrim
  • And many, many, many more.

See 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for more information and to order your copy today… just in time for soup season!


Cream Cheese, Green Chiles, and Jalapneo Dip (And Spread for the Next Day)

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Cream Cheese, Green Chiles, and Jalapeno Dip

This dip (which makes any game, movie, or History Channel show even better – this isn’t conjecture, I’ve done the studies) combines some of my favorite things in the culinary world: Cream Cheese, Green Chiles, and Jalapenos.

Hook. Line. Sinker.

Serve with tortilla chips and lose yourself in the yumminess.

If there are leftovers, refrigerate them. The next morning, spread on bagels, toast, or English muffins – you will NOT believe how incredible it is. Again. I did the studies. Anything for you.

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Cream Cheese, Green Chiles, and Jalapneo Dip (And Spread for the Next Day)

Cream Cheese, Green Chiles, and Jalapneo Dip (And Spread for the Next Day)

Ingredients

  • 8 oz Package Cream Cheese
  • 4.5 oz can green chiles (undrained)
  • 1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese
  • Tortilla Chips (for dipping)

Instructions

  1. Combine the first three ingredients and mix until smooth.
  2. Spread into a small microwave-safe dish and microwave for 3-4 minutes. You want the edges bubbly and the dip uniformly hot.
  3. Serve with tortilla chips!

The Beauty of Buddha Bowls (Perfect for Meatless Mondays)

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Buddha Bowl

When I had to give up gluten and wheat (health reasons), I became obsessed with “bowls” – simply putting food that I may have once put between bread into a bowl with various vegetables as costars. Sloppy Joes were no longer piled onto buns but were, rather, layered into bowls with onions, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and (when I’m feeling carb-tastic) fried potatoes.

Somewhere along the way “bowls” have become a really big deal nationwide – not just in my kitchen.

One of the biggest stars in the world of bowls right now is the simple, humble, and outrageously delicious Buddha Bowl.

I’ve heard “Buddha bowls” also referred to as glory or hippie bowls, but I like the name Buddha Bowl best. It just seems to fit.

Buddha Bowls are healthy, beautiful, VERY filling dishes that are made up of your choice of vegetables, beans, and a healthy grain (rice, quinoa…). The vegetables can be roasted, boiled, sauteed, or even raw. My personal preference is to have a combination of both cooked and raw. I’m not sure why, but it’s absolute perfection.

When I first made Buddha Bowls for my husband and I, I told him beforehand, “If you get hungry later, I’ll make you some bacon and eggs…” I honestly wasn’t sure how filling they’d be. Suffice to say, not an egg was cracked and the bacon was undisturbed. When we slowly got up from the table, we both agreed… they’re VERY filling!

While I didn’t do it in the meal pictured here, topping your Buddha Bowl with pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, or chia seeds ups the looks as well as the nutrition and taste.

Some of my favorite ingredients for Buddha Bowls:

Avocados

Obviously this will fall under the “uncooked vegetables” category. Simply (but carefully) cut your avocado(s) into wedges, drizzle with lime juice, and lightly salt.

Zucchini “Noodles”

Zucchini noodles (made, of course, by spiralizing zucchinis) are nutritious and delicious, but if we’re being totally honest, when it comes to Buddha Bowls… well….I love them for their looks! I toss mine in raw, with just a splash of salt and a little lemon juice. You could, of course, cook them briefly but I like the texture of uncooked zucchini noodles.

If you don’t have a spiralizer, be sure to check produce sections. Many stores are now selling zucchini noodles.

Rice, Brown Rice, Quinoa, or Cauliflower Rice

The pictures shown have cauliflower rice but I’m just as crazy about the other grains named above. If you’ve never cooked with quinoa before, you honestly have to. It’s delicious and FUN. And who isn’t up for a little more FUN in the kitchen?!

If you aren’t keen on the idea of ricing your own cauliflower (even though it is easy peasy in a food processor – simply place chunks into the food processor and process until the cauliflower is the consistency of rice), check grocery stores. I’ve seen Cauliflower Rice sold in the produce sections of Meijer’s and Kroger. Cauliflower rice cooks easier than the others, which makes it an easier as well as healthier option.

Carrots

I like for my carrots to have a bit of bite to them, so I just boil them until they’re “fork tender.” As with most vegetables, I keep a fork right beside the stove. When the fork can pierce the vegetable without any resistance, I know we’re good to go. Overcooking vegetables leads to smooshieness, which is never good to the taste or eyes.

Roasted Radishes

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  2. Cut radishes into halves. 
  3. Toss radishes in olive oil (about 1 TBS per bunch).
  4. Spread radishes onto prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Be sure they aren’t touching one another. 
  5. Roast (tossing every 5 minutes) for 15 to 20 minutes.

Roasted Broccoli

I use the same approach for broccoli as I do for radishes when roasting. In fact, I often roast them together.


Cucumbers

Raw… never cooked. I mean, why would you???

Squash

I had used up all of my crookneck squash for a meal the night before (fried, along with green tomatoes – it doesn’t get any more Southern or delicious), so there was no squash in the meal shown here. It is, ironically, one of my favorite Buddha Bowl guests, however. I love the color as much as the taste.

Spaghetti Squash is also fantastic in these bowls. My oldest daughter, Emily, and I could eat spaghetti squash 7 days a week. Whatever it is that it’s got, we’re wild about it!

Corn

Whether it’s boiled, roasted on the cob, then scraped off or roasted frozen corn (SO EASY!), like squash, corn adds great color and taste as well as texture to your Buddha Bowl.

Etc…

Chickpeas (raw, heated, or roasted), beets, shredded cabbage, black-eyed peas, black beans, wax beans, green peas (I like to use frozen peas for bowls and salads. I keep them in the freezer until right before I begin the meal. As we’ve established, however, I am uncommonly here for the crunch, so use your own preference as your guide.) The options are almost endless.

One tip, though, when using uncooked canned beans – drain them well and allow them to sit in the container before tossing them into the bowls. Same goes for cooked beans. Drain really, really well so they don’t bring their bath water with them!

As with most things, when it comes to cooking, it’s all about personalizing your meals to your family’s needs and likes. Make the bowls your own by adding your favorite vegetables and combinations. I read where a woman once ALWAYS (not usually… ALWAYS) paired frozen peas and beets in her Buddha Bowls. Me? I’d never go down that particular road… but it’s her vehicle, she’s free to drive it where she chooses!

When I first saw her pics, I thought, “Ummm…. not… sure… about… that…” but then I thought about it and I realized that she was to be commended. She was adding her own twist, creativity, and personality to her bowls and THAT is the whole idea.

One final tip: When it comes to planning your meals – whether they’re casseroles, salads, soups, side dishes, or bowls – do a little research into the health benefits of vegetables. Each one wields its own superpowers. If you combine several different “powers,” you’ll have yourself an especially powerful meal!

Buddha Bowl

Greek Fries, Using Frozen Fries (Because Who Wants to Complicate Things?)

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Quick and Easy Greek Fries

Greek Fries Using Frozen Fries

Before I had to give up gluten (health reasons), I used to enjoy a lot of different restaurants and and an unlimited array of foods. Going gluten-free forces you to give up a lot of things… let’s go ahead and make that  A LOT OF THINGS.  Fortunately, I’ve found that things I once enjoyed can (with a little elbow grease and creativity) be recreated, in my own kitchen, and they’re just as delicious.

Actually, I suppose you could say they’re even more delicious (to me) because I’m able to add more of the ingredients that float my boat and less of the ones that do absolutely nothing for my boat.

One of our favorite restaurants is in the tiny town of Draffenville, Kentucky (they don’t even have a post office… that’ll tell you how small the community is). It’s called The Majestic and it’s extraordinary. They serve pizza, steak, chicken, burgers, have an awesome buffet, and one of the best salad bars I’ve ever trolled. As a salad fanatic, I am completely familiar with salad bars and this one is a perfect 10 out of 10.

Before I had to give up gluten, I would practically throw myself on their pizza as soon as it came to our table. I had to give that up, which totally sucked… but the thing that hurt me EVEN worse was giving up one of their wonderful appetizers, Greek Fries. I’ve found a way to recreate them at home, however, so I no longer have to grieve over them.

I have made Greek Fries using cut potatoes and frozen fries and… while I’m as fond of cooking from scratch as anyone… I honestly find the frozen fries to be just as good. It didn’t take long for my brain to process the ridiculousness of spending more time and effort on something that doesn’t taste better.

I had always used crinkle cut fries for Greek Fries but, this most recent time, I used regular fries.  I honestly don’t prefer one over the other – they both look beautiful and taste delicious. As a matter of fact, Greek Tots (using, obviously, Tater Tots) is also a lip-smacking possibility.

Quick and Easy Greek Fries

This is one of those “recipes” that isn’t exactly a recipe – it’s more of a technique. Below are the steps – but, step carefully, it’s pretty complicated (sarcasm).

  • Bake fries as directed.
  • Sprinkle the baked fries liberally with Cavenders Greek Seasoning (Or whatever Greek Seasoning blend you can get your hands on – I use Cavenders, pictured below. In fact, it’s so darn good, I refuse to run out of it. Seriously, it’s out of this world good.)
  • Top with Crumbled Feta Cheese (trust me on this one.. even if you think you don’t like Feta, use Feta, because you’re going to love Feta in this role), salt, and chopped fresh parsley. The tastes go together beautifully. When the Feta starts to melt on the hot fries… it’s just a beautiful experience, y’all.
  • Optional: I’d say I do this every other time – sprinkle a little fresh lemon juice over the whole shebang. It brings the flavors all together while giving it a little extra kick.

These Greek Fries don’t even need a dip of any type, but feel free to dip them into ranch or even a “lemony mayo” (mayo with a little lemon juice and grated lemon peel).

P.S. Use the Feta….

Cavenders Greek Seasoning

Cavenders Greek Seasoning

 

 

Adorable Easter Popcorn Tin: Add Crunch, Fun, and Deliciousness to Easter

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Happy Easter Popcorn Tin from King of Pop

Easter Popcorn Tin

I’ve written fairly often about King of Pop Popcorn and Gourmet Gift Baskets on Get Cooking for a very good reason… I’m obsessed with them! I’m one of those people who celebrates every season, every holiday, and every event in a BIG way. King of Pop and Gourmet Gift Baskets are cut from a similar cloth and they actually make all of the celebrations funner and tastier.

For example, they sent me the adorable Happy Easter popcorn tin in exchange for telling you about their seasonal goodies for spring and Easter.  Each time we see the beautiful tin or eat the addictive popcorn, it makes the season somehow even better.

The popcorn is especially good – it’s come in SO handy with March Madness basketball games and Spring Training baseball. You’d be amazed at how much popcorn is in these tins and at how long it lasts.

Happy Easter Popcorn Tin from King of Pop

Butter, Caramel, and Cheddar Popcorn… Delicious!

Something else I love is the fact that their tins can be cleaned and reused. I use the holiday-themed tins to store Easter (or Christmas,Autumn or Fourth of July) decorations. Then, the following year, the tin can be filled with popcorn, chips, or cookies, and enjoyed all over again.

I actually used a Fourth of July one to store dry cat food in years ago. It looked a lot cuter sitting in the pantry than a bag of Meow Mix that kept spilling out!

Happy Easter Popcorn Tin

Festive and Delicious – Win/Win

Click through any of the links below or either of the ones at the top to see a LOT more Easter gift ideas. Trust me, everything they sell is first class and delicious to boot.

Easter Bunny Gift Tower

Easter Gift Baskets

Easter Celebration Oreo Cookies

Happy Easter Popcorn Tin

Easter Popcorn Tin

EASY Mashed Chipotle Sweet Potatoes (Using Canned Yams Makes it as Simple as Possible)

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Mashed Chipotle Sweet Potatoes 3

There are quite a few “staples” I keep in the kitchen at all times. Make that AT ALL TIMES – all caps because running out of them would make send me NERVOUS. Obviously salt, pepper, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, lemon juice, miniature peppers, Italian herbs, bacon, white wine vinegar, eggs, butter, and honey make the list. But a few things may not seem quite as obvious: chipotle peppers in adobo, orange marmalade, Classico brand pesto, smoked gouda cheese, Tamari sauce, and Worcestershire Sauce to name a few. Each, in various situations, add depths of flavor that rock my world.

Take chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, for example – the smoky flavor is just addictive as far as I’m concerned. You have to, obviously, go easy with the peppers because they do pack a whallop.

But OH! How I love that whallop!

I’ve found that the adobo sauce can be paired with countless foods. It plays beautifully with just about anything you introduce it to, but one of my favorite ways to us it is with one of my favorite foods in the world – sweet potatoes. By the way, did you know that all so-called “yams” are in fact sweet potatoes? Whatever you choose to call them, they’re out of this world delicious.

Here’s the amazing thing, even if you aren’t as in love with sweet potatoes as I am, Mashed Chipotle Sweet Potatoes will knock your socks off. Trust me.

The fact that this recipe uses canned yams makes it faster AND easier, and who doesn’t appreciate that?

{Recipe Below}

Yams and Chipotles in Adobo Sauce

There really isn’t enough to this dish to warrant calling it a recipe, so I’ll just walk you through the process.  If you think you’ll require more (or less) mashed sweet potatoes, adjust the number of cans and butter accordingly.

I use either two large cans of Bruce’s Yams (40 oz) or one large Bruce’s Yams can and two 15 oz yams cans. The exact measurements, here, isn’t terribly important. A few ounces here or there isn’t going to ruin your day.

One thing I’m a sticler about, however, is my Chipotles in Adobo Sauce. I always use the same brand – La Costena. I love it so much I wouldn’t even glance at another brand.

Place your cans of undrained sweet potatoes in a large pan. Add three of the chipotle peppers to the pan and simmer on low. You could, of course, crank up the heat and cut your time in half, but letting them simmer for about 30 minutes on low gives the chipotles time to flavor the sweet potatoes. Smells pretty amazing, too.

When you’re ready to mash the potatoes, drain and remove the peppers. Place hot, drained sweet potatoes in a bowl and add 1-1/4 sticks of butter (if using unsalted butter, add a little Kosher salt at this point) and 2 TBS of the crazy delicious adobo sauce.

Note: Start with 1 TBS, then taste. Some people are more sensitive to heat than others and 1 TBS is about their limit. IF you can take the heat, go ahead and add the second TBS. If, after tasting it at this point, you want even more…. add more. Go for broke!

I also finely chop up a little bit of one of the chipotles to add to the bowl as well. Again, take it easy – these guys are spirited,

Use a potato masher and mash the potatoes until you achieve the consistency you love.

This makes an absolutely delicious and easy side dish for chicken, pork, steak… you name it. In fact, it has so much flavor and depth, it’s ideal for Meatless meals.

Mashed Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

Balsamic Mushroom-Pepper Steaks: Easy Recipe for Busy Cooks

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Balsamic Mushroom Pepper Steaks

I love to cook like some people love to go out to eat. It is relaxing, fun, enjoyable, and simply a part of who I am. Having said that… if we’re being honest here… during the Christmas season, one of the last places I want to be is in the kitchen cooking meals! If it doesn’t involve making candy, cookies, pies, cakes, and edible gifts, I’m just not that interested.

Not when I could be shopping on Amazon, browsing Target’s aisles, or watching It’s a Wonderful Life for, like, the gazillionth time!

The beautiful meal above would be perfect for any busy December night and it’s so stunning, I could even see it as the perfect Christmas Eve meal.

To see how it all comes together see Balsamic Mushroom-Pepper Steaks.

Photo Credit: Terra’s Kitchen


Gluten-Free Pumpkin Stuffed Green Lentil Cannelloni

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Pumpkin Stuffed Green Lentil Cannelloni

It’s officially here….. PUMPKIN EVERYTHING!!! I’ll let you in on a little secret, I couldn’t be happier. I love all the months of the year, mind you, but there’s just something about September 1 – January 1 that floats all my boats.

The recipe below is from Explore Cuisine (so you know it’s a knock-out). Have you tried their gluten-free pasta? It’s healthy, affordable, and best of all, crazy delicious. Explore Cuisine will, hopefully, become steadily available in more grocery stores – until then, you can find it easily on Amazon.  It’s just fantastic.

Pumpkin Stuffed Green Lentil Cannelloni

  • Prep time: 45 mins
  • Cook time: 55 mins
  • Total time: 1 hour 40 mins
  • Serves: 3-4 servings

For the Cashew Cream:

For The Filling:

  • 15oz canned pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ to ½ tsp salt (to taste)
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

  1. To prepare the cashew cream (this can be prepared ahead of time), soak the cashews in 1 cup of boiling water for 30 minutes. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the soaking water
  2. Combine the soaked cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, salt and the ½ cup of reserved soaking water in a high power blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use
  3. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add salt to taste. Add the lasagna sheets and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often to keep them from sticking together
  4. While the pasta cooks, prepare the filling. Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Set aside until ready to use
  5. Once the pasta sheets are cooked, drain them and run them under cold water (if any of the sheet are stuck together, separate them carefully). Set them aside
  6. Preheat the oven to 375F. Combine the prepared tomato sauce and red pepper flakes (if using) and pour on the bottom of a 10.5 x 7.5 inch baking dish. Spoon about half of the cashew cream over the sauce
  7. To prepare the cannelloni, place about a tablespoon and a half of filling on each pasta sheet and carefully roll each one. Arrange them on the baking dish, over the tomato sauce and cashew cream. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes
  8. Drizzle with the remaining cashew cream before serving. Serve warm