Zucchini Fritters Lunchbox

Zucchini Fritters Lunchbox

 

1 ½ pounds zucchini, grated (about 3 medium)

1 tsp. salt

1 large egg

2 tsp. Italian seasoning (or favorite all-purpose seasoning)

¼ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Oil for frying

1–pint of cherry tomatoes

2 T. olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

 

Place the shredded zucchini in a colander, sprinkle with ¼ tsp. salt, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Transfer the zucchini to a clean kitchen towel and ring out the excess moisture. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and Italian seasoning until combined. Add the grated zucchini, flour, and Parmesan cheese, and stir to form a cohesive batter. In a large, non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add T.-sized mounds of the zucchini mixture, flatten the mound with a spatula, and cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown. Flip over each zucchini fritter and cook an additional 2 minutes until golden brown. Transfer the cooked fritters to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with the remaining fritter mixture. Place the cherry tomatoes in a small bowl, and toss with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and black pepper. To pack for lunch, place 3-4 zucchini fritters in a compartmentalized lunch container, and fill the empty compartments with a portion of the tomato salad and your choice of snack. Close the lunch container and pack it into a lunch bag with an ice pack.

Lemon, Ginger, and Mint Sweet Iced Tea

Lemon, Ginger, and Mint Sweet Iced Tea

Lemon, Ginger, and Mint Sweet Iced Tea

 

5 cups water, divided

8 black tea bags

2 lemons, sliced, plus additional slices for garnishing

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, plus additional mint for garnishing

1 T. sliced ginger

 

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Combine the tea bags and lemon in a large pitcher and pour the hot water over top. Steep for 30 minutes, then remove the tea bags and lemon.  While the tea steeps, make a simple syrup by combining one cup water, sugar, mint leaves, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves and simmer for one minute. Remove from the heat. Steep for 15-20 minutes and strain simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve.3. Add the simple syrup to the tea, according to your sweetness preference, then refrigerate. Serve on ice with additional lemon wedges and fresh mint leaves.

Roasted Asparagus Tomato Pesto Melt

Roasted Asparagus Tomato Pesto Melt

Roasted Asparagus Tomato Pesto Melt

 

1 large slice sourdough bread thickly sliced

5 spears asparagus roasted

2 slices tomato

2 slices sharp cheddar cheese

2 T. basil pesto store bought or homemade

fresh cracked pepper

 

Preheat broiler or grill. Toast the bread slice. Once the bread is toasted, add 2 heaping T. of Pesto onto the bread and spread evenly. Add 5-6 spears of Roasted Asparagus. Place tomato slices on top of asparagus. Place slices of cheese on top of tomato. Place in broiler for about 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted or grill until the cheese is melted. Drizzle extra pesto on top of the sandwich, to taste and freshly cracked pepper.

Zucchini Bread & Butter Pickles

Zucchini Bread & Butter Pickles

Zucchini Bread & Butter Pickles

 

2 firm zucchini, sliced 1/8” thick with a mandoline

1/2 white onion, sliced paper-thin with a mandoline

3 T. kosher salt

1 tsp. celery salt

Ice water

 

1-1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup white sugar

2 T. whole mustard seeds

1 tsp. whole black peppercorns

1 T. celery seed

1/2 tsp. ground mustard powder

1 tsp. ground turmeric

 

Thinly slice the zucchini and onion with a handheld mandoline. In a large bowl, combine the sliced zucchini and onion with the kosher and celery salts. Cover with ice water and stir to dissolve the salt. Soak the vegetables for 1 hour, then drain. Closely pack the zucchini and onions into one or a two clean canning jars. In a medium saucepan, bring the brine ingredients to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove the pickling liquid from heat and slowly pour over the zucchini until about 1/4 inch from the top.  Cover and refrigerate the pickles overnight before serving.  Keep refrigerated. Enjoy the pickles for up to one week.

Teriyaki Carbonara

Teriyaki Carbonara

Teriyaki Carbonara

 

4 pounds chicken breast

1 1/2 cups teriyaki sauce, divided

Dash salt

2 pounds spaghetti

1 cup heavy cream

4 eggs

2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

8 scallions, chopped

 

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and turn the oven on broil, making sure the top rack is approximately 4 inches from the top. Cut up the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Toss the chicken in a bowl with 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce. Place aluminum foil on a sheet pan and spread the chicken on top. Sprinkle salt. Put the spaghetti in the boiling water and put the chicken under the broiler. While the pasta and chicken are cooking, combine the cream, eggs, cheese, and scallions into a pot with the remaining teriyaki sauce. Whisk and turn the heat on low. Cook both the pasta and the chicken for approximately 7 to 9 minutes, or until the chicken is almost fully cooked and the pasta is edible but al dente. Combine the chicken and spaghetti in the pot with the sauce and cook for another minute until it has come together. Serve hot.

Mom’s Sweet Corn Chowder

Mom’s Sweet Corn Chowder

Mom’s Sweet Corn Chowder

 

8 slices bacon, chopped

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup chopped onion (about 1/2 a large onion)

1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, chopped into bite-size pieces (about 3 cups)

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups half-and-half

3 cups corn kernels

Salt and pepper

Fresh chives for sprinkling on top

 

In a large soup pot or heavy-bottom Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until bacon is cooked through and crispy. Scoop the bacon out and set it on a plate lined with paper towels. If there is a ton of bacon grease, pour off all but about 1 tablespoon. Add the butter and allow it to melt then add onion and potatoes. Cook, stirring often to keep the potatoes from sticking, until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, 15– 20 minutes. Combine flour and half-and-half in a glass measuring cup and whisk until smooth. Add the half-and-half mixture and the corn to the pot and continue cooking until the soup is slightly thickened and the corn.

Spring Salad with Lemon, Mint, and Peas

Spring Salad with Lemon, Mint, and Peas

Spring Salad with Lemon, Mint, and Peas

 

About 4 Cups Chopped Escarole and/or Baby Arugula

3 Cup Thin Asparagus (about 1 bunch, bottom ends removed)

2 Cups Sliced English Cucumber

8 oz Sugar Snap Peas (sliced and chopped)

1 ½ Cups Quartered Artichoke Hearts (1 can, drained and rinsed)

1 Cup Thinly Sliced Radishes

½ Cup Chopped Fresh Mint Leaves

lemon vinaigrette:

¼ Cup Fresh Lemon Juice (about 2 large lemons)

¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

⅓ Cup Chopped Scallions

1 Tsp Minced Garlic

Zest of 1 Lemon (optional)

Salt and Cracked Black Pepper (to taste)

 

Chop and slice all your veggies before adding them to a large serving bowl. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the lemon vinaigrette ingredients until combined. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad in the bowl and toss well to coat. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge to marinate and soften until ready to serve.

 

Glazed Apricot Twists

Glazed Apricot Twists

Glazed Apricot Twists

1 frozen puff pastry sheet (from a 17 1/4-ounce package), thawed according to package instructions

1/2 C. apricot jam (6 ounces), melted

1/4 C. confectioners’ sugar

1 T. heavy cream or milk

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Special Equipment

parchment paper

 

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12- by 10-inch rectangle, then cut in half lengthwise. Cut each half crosswise into 4 (5- by 3-inch) strips (for a total of 8 strips). Spread each strip with 1/2 T. jam, then fold strips in half lengthwise to form 1 1/2-inch-wide strips. Twist each strip 3 times and place on baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer twists to a rack set over a sheet of parchment. Stir together confectioners’ sugar, cream, and lemon juice until smooth, then brush over warm twists. Serve warm.

Acacia Flower Fritters

Acacia Flower Fritters

Acacia Flower Fritters

 

½ cup (60 g) plain flour

½ tsp (0.5 tsp) baking powder optional

½ cup (120 ml) beer

10-12 (10 ) acacia flowers freshly picked

1 T. brown sugar

½ (0.5 ) lemon

vegetable oil for frying

 

Shake and inspect your acacia flowers to remove any dirt or little bugs. Make the batter by combining flour (baking powder if using) and beer. Whisk thoroughly until smooth, you should have a runny, slightly thick batter. Holding the stalk dip the flowers in the batter and let any excess run off. Heat up a large frying pan, with enough oil in it to cover the base. You can test the oil is hot enough by dripping a bit of batter in and it will fizz and start to brown when it’s ready. Fry the fritters on a medium/high heat, until the underside is golden brown, turn them over and repeat. Add more oil if you need to cook another batch. Best eaten when very soon after cooking. Sprinkle with brown sugar and a drizzle of lemon. Enjoy your delicious mouthful of acacia flower goodness!

NOTES Don’t eat the stalks, you can just pull them out easily when the fritters are cooked.

 

Elderflower Panna Cotta with Lemon Sauce

Elderflower Panna Cotta with Lemon Sauce

Elderflower Panna Cotta with Lemon Sauce

 

1½ cups fresh elderflowers (no stems)

1 envelope of unflavored Knox gelatin

2 T. cold water

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup half and half

⅓ cup sugar

 

Lemon Sauce

 

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup sugar

½ cup lemon juice

1 T. finely grated lemon zest

2 T. salted butter

 

In a small saucepan, add 2 T. of water and evenly sprinkle gelatin powder on top. Allow it to stand for 2 minutes. Then heat on low and stir until gelatin completely dissolves. Turn off heat and set aside. In a medium or large saucepan, combine cream, half and half, sugar, and elderflowers. Bring just to a boil, stirring often, and then immediately turn off heat. Strain to remove the elderflowers. Divide the strained mixture among six small cups or ramekins and allow to cool on the counter. Then cover each ramekin with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 hours, until set. Meanwhile, make the lemon sauce. In a stainless-steel bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until smooth. Then add lemon zest, lemon juice, and butter. In a small to medium saucepan, boil some water to make a double boiler. Place the bowl with the egg-lemon mixture on top of the saucepan with boiling water, and cook, stirring often, until thickened. This could take at least 10 minutes. The sauce is thick enough when it could coat the back of a spoon, and you can create a clear path by running a finger through it. Allow it to cool before serving with the panna cotta. To unmold the panna cotta, hold the ramekin for a few seconds in hot water. Turn the ramekin over on a plate. Serve with cooled lemon sauce on the side or on top. If you decide to serve the panna cotta inside the ramekin or cup, simply spread lemon sauce on top. I like to use a clear cup to be able to see the layers.

Spiced Parsnip & Carrot Soup

Spiced Parsnip & Carrot Soup

Spiced Parsnip & Carrot Soup

 

1 T. light olive oil

1 medium onion, peeled and coarsely chopped

3 sticks celery, washed, trimmed and chopped

1 fat clove of garlic, peeled and crushed

1 T. finely grated fresh ginger root

1/2 to 1 T. curry powder (depending on your taste)

pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

salt and black pepper to taste

500g parsnips, peeled and chopped (a generous pound)

250g carrots, peeled and chopped (1/2 pound, generous)

1 litre of vegetable stock (abut 4 1/2 cups)

Additional hot stock as needed

 

Heat the oil in a large deep saucepan.  Add the chopped onion and celery, garlic, and grated ginger root.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, without allowing to brown.  Stir in the curry powder and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add the chopped parsnips and carrots.  Stir to coat well in the aromatics.  Season lightly with salt and pepper. Pour in the vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook over low heat for a further 30 to 35 minutes, or until very soft.  Remove from the heat and puree, using an immersion blender, until smooth.  Return to the stove and add additional stock as needed to give you the right consistency.  Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper and a pinch of cayenne if desired.  Serve immediately in heated bowls.  Alternately you can pour this soup into sealable freezer containers and freeze for up to 3 months.

 

Daniel & Joyce’s Broccoli Fudge Balls

Daniel & Joyce’s Broccoli Fudge Balls

Daniel & Joyce’s Broccoli Fudge Balls

 

2 cups White Chocolate

1 cups Sweetened Condensed Milk

4 tbsp Salted Butter

1⁄4 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 drops Green Food Coloring

3 tbsp Broccoli

 

Melt white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and vanilla over a double boiler, fold as needed. Add a drop of green food coloring if using.  Finely chop raw broccoli. Dry toast broccoli to desired doneness in a pan on low heat. 2-5 minutes just to remove the raw flavor. Fold in broccoli bits as desired. Pour fudge into molds or chill and scoop into balls. Place in a parchment lined container, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use. Allow to come to room temperature for a few minutes before serving.

Cheddar Ranch Buttermilk Biscuits

Cheddar Ranch Buttermilk Biscuits

 

2 cups self-rising flour

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup butter, room temperature (2 sticks)

1 1/2 T. Ranch salad dressing & seasoning mix

½ T. dried herbs, such as Thyme

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup chopped cooked bacon

2¼ cups buttermilk

1 egg

1 T.p milk

 

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine self-rising flour, all-purpose flour, room temperature butter, Ranch seasoning, herbs, cheddar cheese and bacon. Make sure to break up any large clumps of butter. Gently mix in half of the buttermilk into the flour mixture. Add remaining buttermilk and gently combine. Knead dough until just combined. Remove from bowl and place on a floured surface. Gently knead dough a few times, adding more flour if the dough is too sticky. Fold dough over on itself 3 times, and press to 1-½ inch thickness. Cut out biscuits with a 3-inch cutter. Place biscuits on prepared pan. Press together unused dough and repeat kneading and cutting. Whisk together egg and milk. Brush over tops of biscuits. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking.

Tomato, Fennel and Chickpea Soup with Garlic Toasts

Tomato, Fennel and Chickpea Soup with Garlic Toasts

Tomato, Fennel and Chickpea Soup with Garlic Toasts

 

Extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves fresh garlic, peeled, left whole

½ red onion, diced

1/3 fennel bulb, diced

2 cups diced tomatoes

2 cups spring or filtered water

2 T. white miso

½ cup cooked or canned chickpeas

2 stalks basil, leaves removed, shredded

Garlic Toasts

4 slices whole grain baguette

Extra virgin olive oil

2 fresh garlic cloves, peeled, halved

Sea salt

 

In a medium soup pot, place a small amount of oil and the whole garlic cloves over medium heat. When the garlic begins to sizzle, remove the cloves and stir in diced onion and a pinch of salt. Sauté until translucent, about 1 minute. Stir in fennel, tomatoes and water; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until fennel is quite soft, about 10-15 minutes. Make the garlic toasts. Place a small amount of olive oil in the bottom of a skillet. Rub the halved garlic cloves on the bread slices. Lay the bread in the skillet over medium heat and sprinkle lightly with salt. Cook, turning once, until the edges of the bread slices are golden brown. Using an immersion blender or standard blender, puree the soup until smooth. Return to the pot and remove a small amount of hot broth. Puree the miso and stir back into soup with chickpeas. Simmer for 1-2 minutes more (to heat chickpeas). Serve garnished with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil.

One Pan Spanish Rice with Meat or Poultry

One Pan Spanish Rice with Meat or Poultry

One Pan Spanish Rice with Meat or Poultry

 

One 15-ounce can tomato sauce

One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, not drained

One 4-ounce can diced green chilies, drained

1 T. onion powder

½ tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. sugar

¼ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. dried oregano

¼ tsp. salt

1 pound cooked ground beef or one 12-ounce can roast beef, rinsed, drained, and pulled into smaller bites, or one 10-ounce can chicken or turkey, drained and pulled into smaller bites

Cayenne pepper (optional)

¼ cup sliced black or green Spanish olives (optional)

1 cup uncooked mediumto long-grain rice

 

In a large saucepan, combine all of the ingredients but the rice. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture just begins to boil. Stir in the rice and cover. Reduce the heat and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.

Boxty

Boxty

Boxty

 

1 cup (250g) mashed potato freshly made or leftovers

1 cup (250g) peeled and grated raw potato

1 ½ cups (220g) all-purpose flour (plain flour)

1 tsp. baking soda (bicarb of soda)

1 tsp. salt

1 cup (250ml) buttermilk (or 250ml milk with 2 tsp. white vinegar or lemon juice stirred in and left for 5 mins)

Butter or oil for frying

 

Wring the grated potato out in a clean tea towel to dry it out a little. Discard the starchy water. Add all ingredients except the buttermilk to a mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Stir in the buttermilk to make a thick batter. Heat a little oil or butter in a frying pan over a medium/low heat, then add tablespoonfuls of the boxty batter and fry until golden and cooked though, about 5 minutes per side. Flip and cook the other side.

If making batches, keep them warm in the oven.

Rhubarb Cake with Butter Sauce

Rhubarb Cake with Butter Sauce

Rhubarb Cake with Butter Sauce

 

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

4 cups rhubarb diced

2 cups milk

6 T. butter melted

 

1/2 cup 1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

 

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the diced rhubarb, milk and melted butter. Stir just until combined. Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool. To make the butter sauce, combine the butter sugar and cream in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 1 minute stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. To serve, cut pieces of cake and serve with a generous amount of warm butter sauce. The sauce can be gently reheated on the stove or in the microwave if necessary.

Chicken Club Ring

Chicken Club Ring

Chicken Club Ring

 

2 cups cooked chicken breast meat, chopped fine

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 T. dry Ranch dressing mix

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4-5 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

1/4 cup sliced green onion, including some of the green blades (optional)

8 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese slices, cut in half

2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls

 

Dice the chicken in a fairly small dice.  Not as fine as for chicken salad, but small.  In a bowl mix the mayonnaise, mustard, cream cheese, and Ranch dressing until smooth.  Mix in the chicken.  Stir in the cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon and green onion.  Mix just until blended.

St. Patrick’s Brownies

St. Patrick’s Brownies

St. Patrick’s Brownies

 

1 box brownie mix

60 ml Guinness

60 ml vegetable oil

1 egg

 

325 g chocolate chips

120 ml double cream

120 ml Guinness

 

Heat the oven to 180°C (160ºC fan). Grease a 20 cm (8”) square baking pan. Whisk together the brownie ingredients, then spread into the prepared pan. Bake according to the package directions on your mix, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, 35 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan. Meanwhile, make the ganache: Place the chocolate chips in a medium, heat-proof bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the double cream and Guinness just to a boil. When bubbles begin to break the surface around the edges of the pan, turn off the heat. Pour the hot cream over chocolate chips. Let sit for 15 seconds, then whisk constantly until the sauce is smooth. Once the brownies are cool, pour the ganache over and spread evenly. Refrigerate brownies until the ganache has set, about 15 minutes. Slice into squares and serve.

Croque Monsieur Crescent Roll-Ups

Croque Monsieur Crescent Roll-Ups

Croque Monsieur Crescent Roll-Ups

 

1 (8-oz) pkg refrigerated crescent roll dough

½ lb deli sliced low-sodium ham

6 slices reduced-fat Swiss cheese, halved

2 T. butter, melted

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

¼ tsp. dried thyme

Powdered sugar (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Unroll dough and separate each triangle. Place ham and cheese on each dough triangle. Roll up each triangle, place point sides down, on a baking sheet. Combine butter, mustard, and thyme; brush over roll-ups. Bake 15 minutes or until golden. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar, if desired. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Bacon, Egg, and Hash Brown Casserole

Bacon, Egg, and Hash Brown Casserole

Bacon, Egg, and Hash Brown Casserole

 

10 slices bacon, chopped

4 cups frozen diced potatoes with peppers and onions, thawed

1 (10-oz) pkg spinach

1 (4-oz) pkg gluten-free seasoned croutons

10 large eggs

½ cup heavy cream

½ cup sour cream

1 tsp. garlic salt

1½ cups shredded colby-Jack cheese

 

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook bacon in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet, reserving 2 T. drippings in skillet. Add potatoes to hot drippings; cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are browned and tender. Gradually stir in spinach until wilted. Sprinkle with croutons. Whisk together eggs, cream, sour cream, and garlic salt in a large bowl; pour over croutons. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Transfer skillet to oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set.

Parmesan-Bacon Pasta

Parmesan-Bacon Pasta

Parmesan-Bacon Pasta

 

½ (16-oz) pkg linguine

6 slices bacon, chopped

½ lb asparagus, trimmed

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

¾ cup chicken broth

¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

 

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp; using a slotted spoon, remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 T. drippings in skillet. Add asparagus; cook 4 minutes or until asparagus is crisp tender. Remove asparagus from skillet, and keep warm. Add tomatoes and broth, scraping skillet to loosen any browned bits; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until broth is reduced by half. Add cheese, stirring until melted. Toss sauce mixture with pasta and bacon; divide mixture between 2 plates. Serve with asparagus.

Herb-Butter Roasted Chicken & Creamy Mashed Carrots

Herb-Butter Roasted Chicken & Creamy Mashed Carrots

Herb-Butter Roasted Chicken & Creamy Mashed Carrots

 

6 chicken leg quarters

3 T. butter, softened

1½ T. Old Bay seasoning, divided

2 (12-oz) pkg broccoli-cauliflower medley

2 T. olive oil

 

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Arrange chicken on a large rimmed baking sheet. Combine butter and 1 T. seasoning; rub over chicken. Bake 20 minutes. Meanwhile, toss together broccoli medley, oil, and ½ T. seasoning over a second large baking sheet. Increase oven temperature 450ºF.  Bake chicken and broccoli 15 minutes or until chicken is browned and vegetables are tender.

 

Creamy Mashed Carrots

 

2 lb baby carrots

2 T. butter

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

¾ cup milk

 

Bring carrots and water to cover to a boil in a large saucepan; cook 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and return pot to medium heat; add butter, salt, and pepper. Mash with a potato masher until creamy and thoroughly heated. Add milk, 1 T. at a time, until desired consistency.

Pan-Roasted Chicken with Vegetables and Herbs

Pan-Roasted Chicken with Vegetables and Herbs

Pan-Roasted Chicken with Vegetables and Herbs

 

¼ cup all-purpose flour

⅛ tsp. paprika

3 lb bone-in chicken breast halves (about 4 breast halves)

2 T. olive oil

2 small red onions, cut in quarters

1 lb new white potatoes, cut in quarters

8 oz fresh baby carrots (about 16), green tops trimmed to 1-inch-long

1½ cups chicken stock

3 T. lemon juice

1 T. chopped fresh oregano leaves

1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves

 

Heat the oven to 375°F. Season the chicken as desired. Stir the flour and paprika on a plate. Coat the chicken with the flour mixture. Heat the oil in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until well browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet. Pour off any fat. Add the onions and potatoes to the skillet and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the carrots, stock, lemon juice and oregano and heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the skillet. Cover the skillet. Roast for 25 minutes. Uncover the skillet. Roast, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Season to taste. Sprinkle with thyme, if desired.

Lime-Pineapple Soda

Lime-Pineapple Soda

Lime-Pineapple Soda

 

1 T. lime zest

3 T. lime juice

¼ cup simple syrup

2 cups pineapple juice

4½ cups lemon-lime soda

Garnish: lime slices

 

Add lime zest, lime juice, and simple syrup to a large pitcher. Pour pineapple juice into pitcher, and stir. Chill mixture 4 hours. Fill 6 glasses one-third full with ice; divide pineapple mixture among glasses. Top with soda; garnish with lime slices. Makes 6 servings.

Toasted Cheese Ravioli

Toasted Cheese Ravioli

Toasted Cheese Ravioli

 

1 (25-oz) pkg frozen cheese ravioli

4 T. butter

3 T. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (14.5-oz) can chicken broth

½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

 

Cook ravioli according to package directions; drain. Melt butter with oil in a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium heat; add half of ravioli and cook 3 minutes per side or until toasted. Remove from skillet and repeat with remaining ravioli. Add garlic to skillet; cook 30 seconds. Add broth; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until reduced by half. Gradually stir in cheese until melted. Add ravioli; toss.

Hot Dog Bar

Hot Dog Bar

Hot Dog Bar

16 Hot Dogs

Beef hot dogs

Turkey dogs

Linguica

Hot Links

Bratwursts

Italian Sausage (Sweet, mild, or spicy)

Polish Sausage

Chicken Sausage

Veggie Dogs

16 hot dog buns

Regular or Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns

Homemade Hot Dog Buns

Brioche Hot Dog Buns

Pretzel Buns

Crescent Rolls

Condiments

Aioli

BBQ Sauce

Dijon or whole-grain mustard

Gochujang

Guacamole

Ketchup

Mayo

Ranch

Salsa or Pico de Gallo

Teriyaki

Yellow mustard

Sliced or shredded cheese or cheese sauce

Bleu cheese crumbles

Cheddar

Cotija

Feta

Goat cheese

Mozzarella

Nacho cheese sauce

Pepper jack

Queso fresco

Meat Toppers

Bacon

Chili

Chorizo

Shredded Chicken

Veggie Toppers

Avocado

Bean sprouts

Bell pepper

Corn

Cucumber

Kimchi

Lettuce

Onions

Pickled Jalapenos

Pickles

Sauerkraut

Shredded carrots

Tomato

Sides that Double as Toppings

Baked beans

Caramelized onions

Coleslaw

Creamed Corn

Macaroni and cheese

Macaroni Salad

Peppers and onions

Potato chips

Choose 2-3 hot dog styles, then 1 or 2 buns that will go with them ALL.

Average about 1 ½ hot dogs per person. Obviously not everyone will eat ½ a hot dog, but it will make sure there are just enough extras for those who want two.

Most toppings are used in about 1-2 tablespoon portions per hot dog. Not everyone will use every topping. Prep more of the popular ones like cheese or chili, and less of things like shredded lettuce which you don’t use much off.

Most condiments are used in 1/2-1 tablespoon amounts per dog. Estimate the amount you need by portioning a 1/2 tablespoon per hot dog. Not everyone will use every condiment!

Prep ahead! Anything that can be chopped ahead of time is a win. All you have to do is set it out and cook dogs to get going.

Bacon and Cheese Wonton Pierogies

Bacon and Cheese Wonton Pierogies

Bacon and Cheese Wonton Pierogies

10 slices bacon, chopped

1 (24-oz) container refrigerated garlic mashed potatoes

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 large egg, lightly beaten

4 green onions, chopped

2 (12-oz) pkg wonton wrappers

½ cup water

½ cup butter, divided

1 (12-oz) jar refrigerated Ranch dressing

 

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp; drain on paper towels. Stir together mashed potatoes, bacon, cheese, egg, and onions in a large bowl.  Spoon about 1 T. potato mixture in center of each wonton wrapper. Moisten edges of wrapper with water, and fold one pointed edge over filling to make a triangle, pressing edges to seal. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pierogies, in batches; cook until dumplings begin to float. Remove with a slotted spoon, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Melt 1 T. butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 10 to 12 pierogies and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until browned. Repeat with remaining butter and pierogies. Serve with Ranch dressing for dipping.

Hawaiian Chicken

Hawaiian Chicken

Hawaiian Chicken

 

6 (6-oz) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

2 T. olive oil

1 (20-oz) can pineapple chunks in juice

½ cup packed brown sugar

3 T. low-sodium soy sauce

½ tsp. ground ginger

 

Pound chicken to an even thickness with the heel of your hand or a meat mallet. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Cook chicken, in batches if necessary, in hot oil 5 to 6 minutes per side or until done. Meanwhile, cook pineapple with juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, and ginger in another skillet; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chicken to skillet; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until sauce is thickened.

Chicken Club Crescents

Chicken Club Crescents

Chicken Club Crescents

 

1 (4-count) can refrigerated crescent rolls

½ (2.1-oz) pkg fully-cooked bacon

½ (22-oz) pkg fully-cooked chicken breast strips

½ (8-oz) block colby-Jack cheese, sliced

2 T. butter, melted

½ T. honey mustard

½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

 

Preheat oven to 375°F. Unroll crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles. Divide desired amount of bacon, chicken, and 1 slice cheese over wide part of each crescent triangle. Roll up crescents according to package directions. Place in a lightly greased 9-inch baking dish. Stir together melted butter, honey mustard, and Worcestershire sauce; brush over tops of rolls. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with additional honey mustard for dipping, if desired.

Peach Glazed Pork Chops 

Peach Glazed Pork Chops 

 

1½ lb boneless pork chops

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

2 T. olive oil

¾ cup peach preserves

2 T. apple cider vinegar

½ tsp dried thyme (or use dried crushed rosemary)

 

Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Cook pork, in batches if necessary, in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 4 minutes per side or until browned. Reduce heat to medium; add preserves, vinegar, and thyme. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until glaze is thickened and pork is done.

Honeyed Orange Breeze

Honeyed Orange Breeze

Honeyed Orange Breeze

 

3 T. Tennessee honey whiskey

3 T. orange juice

1½ tsp orange flavored liqueur

Ice cubes

¼ cup ginger ale

Garnish: orange peel strip

 

Add whiskey, orange juice, orange liqueur, and ice to fill a cocktail shaker. Cover and

shake until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into an Old-Fashioned glass filled half full with ice. Top with ginger ale. Garnish, if desired.

Beef and Scalloped Potato Casserole & Romaine Salad 

Beef and Scalloped Potato Casserole & Romaine Salad 

Beef and Scalloped Potato Casserole & Romaine Salad

 

1 ½ lb ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

2 T. all purpose flour

1 cup less sodium beef broth

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 (4.7-oz) pkg scalloped potatoes

2 cups boiling water

⅔ cup milk

1 T. butter

 

1 (10-oz) pkg chopped romaine lettuce

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

½ cup balsamic vinaigrette

 

Preheat oven to 450°F. Cook beef and onion in large skillet over medium heat 8 minutes or until beef is browned and crumbly. Drain and return to skillet. Add flour, and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Stir in broth; cook until mixture is slightly thickened. Spoon beef mixture into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish; sprinkle with cheese. Arrange dry potatoes from box over cheese. Whisk together boiling water, milk, butter, and cheese seasoning packet from box in a bowl. Pour mixture over potatoes. Bake 20 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown and crisp. Toss together all ingredients in a large bowl

Asian Dipping Sauce

Asian Dipping Sauce

Asian Dipping Sauce

 

1 C. soy sauce

1 (2″) piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated

4 cloves garlic, finely grated

2 T. toasted sesame oil

2 T. rice vinegar

2 T. raw honey or whole cane sugar

1 T. toasted sesame seeds

Pinch of dried dulse flakes (optional)

 

Stir together the soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and honey and let stand 15-30 minutes before serving. Sprinkle in the sesame seeds and dulse flakes, if using, just before serving. For best flavor, serve immediately, but if you must store the sauce, place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Blender Orange-Lemon Cake

Blender Orange-Lemon Cake

Blender Orange-Lemon Cake

 

1/2 C. oil avocado oil or any

1/2 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

zest of one large orange T.

1 T. fresh lemon juice

1 C. all-purpose flour 120 grams

juice of one large orange

 

Pre-heat oven to 350F. Add the oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla to a blender and blend for 30 seconds. Pour it into a bowl and mix in the orange zest, lemon juice and baking powder. Add 1/2 of your flour and mix and then the other 1/2 of the flour + the juice of one orange. Mix and pour into a loaf tin sprayed with oil spray and lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes (depending on the oven) or until a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy

Bacon and Potato Breakfast Casserole

Bacon and Potato Breakfast Casserole

Bacon and Potato Breakfast Casserole

 

1 (16-oz) pkg bacon, chopped

1½ lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces

1 (8-oz) pkg sliced mushrooms

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (10-oz) pkg baby spinach

4 green onions, thinly sliced

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

12 large eggs

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain, reserving 4 T. drippings in skillet. Cook potatoes in hot drippings in skillet over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes or until potatoes are browned and tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet, and place in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Add mushrooms and garlic to skillet; cook 5 to 6 minutes or until mushrooms are browned and tender. Gradually add spinach, stirring until wilted. Spoon mushroom mixture over potatoes in baking dish; sprinkle with green onions, bacon, and cheese.

Whisk together eggs, salt, and pepper in a bowl until blended. Slowly pour egg mixture over cheese in baking dish. Let stand 15 minutes. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Family Night Pepperoni Stromboli

Family Night Pepperoni Stromboli

Family Night Pepperoni Stromboli

 

1 (13.8-oz) can refrigerated pizza dough

½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

½ (6-oz) pkg pepperoni

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

½ (24-oz) jar pasta sauce

 

Preheat oven to 375°F. Unroll dough on a clean flat surface. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Top with pepperoni and mozzarella, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides; roll up. Place, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cut 1-inch slits in top of roll at 2-inch intervals. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown; let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Heat pasta sauce according to package directions; serve with stromboli for dipping.