Apple Cheddar Grilled Cheese

Don't worry...I didn't give up on my blog but I have been lacking lately with new posts. I have cooked plenty and taken pictures I just haven't posted anything, but today I'll get back to it!! The weather is perfect and this is a great recipe using apples: the most fall-ish fruit! Grilled cheese can get very boring and normally I'm not a fan but add apples and it's an entire new concept. Kyle made faces as I was making it but was shocked at how good they are! Pair these grilled cheese with chili for a great meal!

Ingredients per Sandwich

2 slices of bread

1/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/4 sliced fresh Apple

1 tsp Garlic Salt

Lite Mayo

Honey Mustard

Cooking Spray

Directions

1. Spread mayo and honey mustard on one slice of bread.

2. Layer cheese, then apples, and remainder of cheese with sprinkles of garlic salt.

3. Using cooking spray in pan (and as needed while flipping) cook sandwich on skillet over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.

I know... this is very simple! Please try it, you will love it!

Pistachio Fruit Dip

This pistachio fruit dip is so delicious and easy to make! Perfect for parties or a healthy snack and made with low fat ingredients!

Ingredients:

2 boxes Pistachio Sugar-Free Instant Pudding

2 cups low fat or skim milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 8 oz. container fat free cool whip

Directions:

1. Blend pudding, milk, and extract together.

2.  Fold mixture into cool whip and refrigerate for at least 30 min.

3. Serve with your favorite fruit!

Seafood & Veggie Stir Fry

My sister in law's grandma recently suggested Jasmine Rice, which is a thai rice and I love stir fry so I decided to pair them! With thanks to my sister and no thanks to my boyfriend, I had fresh peeled and deveined shrimp to use too (It is a long story!)  This recipe is actually pretty healthy and very filling-Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 package asian stir fry veggie mix-or your favorite fresh veggies

1 cup uncooked Jasmine rice

1/4 pound fresh shrimp

1/2 cup imitation crab meat

1/2 cup stir fry sauce

4 tablespoons soy sauce

Lawry's Sesame Ginger marinade

Directions:

1. Place shrimp and crab in marinade and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Boil 1 1/2 cup water and stir in rice. Cover and reduce to simmer for 15 min, stirring often.

3. Place fresh veggies in a glass bowl with 3 tablespoons of water and place in microwave covered for 3 min. to steam.

4.  Cook shrimp and crab on medium heat until shrimp is pink and add in steamed veggies with stir fry sauce and soy sauce and continue to cook for about 6 minutes.

5. Serve stir fry mix over Jasmine rice.

Mac & Cheese Mini Pies

Yesterday I prepared food for about 30 people (with tons of help from my sister) for my best friend Joy's baby shower. It was the perfect opportunity to try new recipes and this one was a hit! She loves mac n cheese so I wanted to do something bite-sized that didn't require a fork. Next time, I'm going to try to do this in a casserole as baked mac & cheese...this seems to be the perfect recipe!

Ingredients:

1 sleeve crushed Ritz crackers

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 eggs

8 oz. elbow macaroni pasta

4 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons cold butter

5 oz. spreadable garlic and herb cheese (found in cold dairy cheese aisle-I used Rondele brand)

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup sour cream

Pinch of red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

2. Combine 1 cup shredded cheese (use a mixture of both kinds of cheese), melted butter, and ritz crackers. Place in bottom of each muffin cup to form a crust.

3. In another bowl combine the hot cooked pasta, cold butter, milk, eggs, 3/4 cup shredded cheese, spreadable cheese, sour cream, and red pepper flakes.

4. Spoon mixture into each muffin cup and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

5. Bake 15-20 min. and serve immediately!

Adapted from: Epicurious-The Deen Brothers

Tomato Feta Baguettes

We had a family get together tonight at the Jano's house and I made these delicious baguettes for appetizers. They are also very easy and no baking required (anyone notice a trend yet?) I'll be posting lots of recipes next weekend...it is my best friend's baby shower and I'm making all of the food, so I can't wait to share! Also, if you've tried any of my recipes...please let me know! I would love to hear how they worked for you! I've had over 500 views in less than two weeks so I hope someone has tried something!

Ingredients:
Cherry Tomatoes
Sliced Baguette Chips (found in the bakery area pre-sliced)
Feta Cheese
Gia Russa Balsamic Glaze


3 Easy Steps:


1. Slice cherry tomatoes in half and top baguette chips.


2. Sprinkle baguette chips with feta cheese.


3. Drizzle balsamic glaze over baguette chips.

Baked Sesame Chicken Tenders

Enough with the sweets...time for a dinner post! I love sesame seeds, so when I saw this recipe, I had to try it! Your hands will get a little messy but they don't take that long to make and they have a kick to them!

 

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp Chili Oil (found in ethnic aisle with Asian products)

3 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1/2 Cup Sesame Seeds

1/2 Cup Panko bread crumbs

1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

2 Chicken Breast

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Cut chicken into slices for chicken tenders. 

3. In bowl, mix soy sauce and chili oil, set aside.

4. In a separate bowl, mix sesame seeds, panko crumbs, and cayenne pepper.

5. Dip chicken in oil/soy mix, then coat chicken with breading mix and place on pan.

6. Bake for 6 min., flip and bake an additional 6 min. or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Smores Brownies

I know I just posted a smoresesque recipe not too long a go...but if you have leftover ingredients, now is the perfect time to try this dessert! Most people don't know that I'm also a couponer, not the crazy kind-but I like getting good deals! I recently got a really good deal on brownie mix so, I will be cheating and this recipe won't be entirely from scratch (not that that's a bad thing!)

 

Ingredients:

1 Box Brownie Mix

1 cup crumbled graham crackers

1 cup marshmallows

Directions:

1. Mix brownies according to box instructions.

2. Before pouring into pan, mix in graham cracker crumbles.

3. Pour mix into pan and top with marshmallows. Bake according to box instructions (or a few minutes shy if you like them chewy like I do!)

3 Easy Steps and you have "Gourmet Brownies"

Breakfast Cups

I'm usually not a fan of most breakfast foods...but these breakfast cups are pretty good and are ready in less than 20 minutes!

Ingredients for 2 Breakfast Cups:

2 slices of bread

2 eggs

1 slice of any deli meat (I used turkey but anything will do)

4 Tbsp shredded cheese

Salt & Pepper

1. Spray muffin pan with cooking spray & preheat oven to 350F.

2. Remove crust from bread and tear slice into circular shape to fit muffin pan. Mold bread circles into muffin cups and put in oven for 4 min. to lightly toast.

3. Remove tray from oven and place 1/2 slice of deli meat in cup and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

4. Crack egg and separate out half of egg white. Pour egg over the top of each cup.

5. Bake for 8-12 minutes depending on how you prefer your eggs. Top with Salt & Pepper to taste and enjoy!

Lemon Balsamic Chicken Pasta

I promise to give credit where credit is due and this recipe originated from a recipe on the box of Publix brand pasta. It pays off to buy Publix brand sometimes! I've made lots of changes from the original recipe and this was one of my favorites to cook with one of my old roomies, Ashley. I wish I could see this girlay again to cook with her but she is off to Cali! Can you tell I'm proud? Also, just to warn you: I love garlic so feel free to cut back a bit if you don't/substitute for other seasonings!

Ingredients:

1 Box Pasta (I used Penne Rigate, but any type will do)

Chicken breast

Garlic Powder

Garlic Salt

1/2 fresh lemon

1/4 cup Balsamic Glaze (I used Gia Russa brand)

1 box frozen chopped spinich

1 cup white wine

1 cup flour in a Ziploc bag

Olive Oil & Cooking Spray

Directions:

1. Cut chicken into small strip pieces and place in ziploc bag of flour. Shake bag to coat chicken in flour.

2. Bring pasta to boil and cook according to instructions on box (drain, etc.), as you begin to cook the chicken. Also, place spinach in the microwave to thaw stirring every 2 minutes.

3. Spray pan with cooking spray and add chicken on medium heat. Cook a few minutes until chicken is browned.

4. Once chicken is cooked, pour 1 cup white wine into pan and let simmer for 8 minutes.

5. Squeeze 1/2 fresh lemon over chicken and drizzle with Balsamic Glaze, flip chicken and repeat.

6. Once spinach is completely thawed, drain water from spinach and mix with pasta. Add garlic powder, garlic salt, olive oil, and any other seasonings that you would like. I also added a lemon garlic finishing butter this time!

7. Top with completed lemon balsamic chicken & serve.

I suggest enjoying with a glass of Chardonnay!

I'm going to try to keep the recipes coming...but I can only cook so fast and tonight is Gordita night (from a box...but it is so delicious) so I won't be sharing anymore for at least a day or two. 

Thanks for reading & let me know if you try it out!

Peanut Butter Smores Squares

Last night I needed a quick treat to prepare for a food day at work that was sure to impress my coworkers! This recipe was the perfect answer and it has one of my favorite ingredients: pretzels. These Peanut Butter Smores Squares are easy to make and no baking is required!

Ingredients:

1 box of Graham Crackers (broken into 24 squares)

1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

1 cup milk chocolate chips

2 cups crushed pretzels

1 cup mini marshmallows

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

2 tbsp. milk

1. Using wax paper, line a cookie sheet and spread graham crackers evenly.

2. Mix crushed pretzels, marshmallows, and milk chocolate chips in a bowl and set aside. 

3. On low heat, melt white chocolate chips and peanut butter.

3. Spread melted mixture evenly onto crackers (saving about 1/4 of mixture for drizzle)

4. Immediately, top crackers with the pretzel, marshmallow, chocolate chip mixture.

5. Drizzle remaining melted peanut butter white chocolate on top.

Let cool and enjoy! See how easy that was?

Getting Started...

To get started & give fair warning...this blog is a work in progress and I'm sure it will be a valuable learning experience the more I actually post! I'm going to attempt to try new recipes, share some of my favorites and successes, and have fun in the kitchen! So...bear with me as I figure out how to design my blog, photograph my food and discover awesome recipes. I'll be keeping it simple at first. Let's Begin!!!

PS- Let me know what you think!