Chinese Green Beans with Turkey over Rice

Yummy, but will try in lettuce wraps next time...because why not?

Photo Credit to Weary Chef

1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 small bunch green onions sliced thin
2 cloves garlic minced or crushed
1 pound ground turkey
2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce {I used Mae Ploy}
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon crushed ginger
1 pound washed and trimmed green beans or Chinese long beans if available
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar

Heat large skillet over high heat. Add sesame oil, and sauté green onions and garlic for about 2 minutes. Stir in ground turkey and sauté 3-5 minutes, until meat is mostly cooked. Crumble meat as much as possible.

Stir in chili garlic sauce, hoisin sauce, and ginger. Add green beans and soy sauce, and stir to coat. Continue cooking over high heat for 7-9 minutes longer, stirring frequently, until beans are slightly tender.

Stir in rice vinegar, and cook one minute longer. Serve over cooked rice.

Recipe Source: Weary Chef

Skillet Butternut Squash, Sausage and Penne Pasta

This doesn't have the most flavor of any dish, but it was pretty homey and yummy.

Photo Credit to Mel's Kitchen Cafe

1 large shallot (or 1/4 cup minced yellow or white onion)
2 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
1 pound chicken sausage (if links, remove the casing)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
5 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth {I used 6ish}
12 ounces penne pasta
3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
3 cups coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach
2 large sage leaves, torn into small pieces, or 1/4 teaspoon dried, more or less to taste
1 cup (about 4 ounces) shredded or cubed fontina or mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Freshly grated Parmesan for serving, if desired

In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet, combine the shallot, garlic, sausage, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, breaking up the meat into small pieces, and cooking until the sausage is cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Scrape the mixture to a plate and return the skillet back to the heat.
Add the chicken broth and pasta and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking and the pasta clumping together. Stir in the squash and simmer 5-7 minutes longer until the squash and pasta are both tender. As the squash breaks down, it will help bring a creaminess to the sauce and pasta so add more liquid, if necessary, while cooking if the mixture seems dry.
Stir in the spinach and sage and cook for 1-2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Add the sausage/shallot mixture back to the skillet and stir in the fontina or mozzarella cheese and add salt and pepper to taste.
Off the heat, cover the skillet with a lid or foil and let the pasta sit for 5-10 minutes. Give it a good stir and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Sweet Cornbread

Maybe I should try a new cornbread recipe, but this one is amazing. {As is the one Sharrie makes...I need to get that recipe...}

Photo Credit to Mrs Harding Cooks

Sweet Cornbread
1 1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 Tbs butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, then whisk together to form a smooth batter. Pour in a greased 9x13 pan, bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are golden brown. Delicious served with honey butter!

Recipe Source: Mrs Harding Cooks

Glazed Kielbasa Pineapple Bites

Perfect New Year's {gluten free!} appetizer. {I also thought thick ham steak chunks would be good in place of the Kielbasa.}

Photo Credit to Jam Hands

Glazed Kielbasa Pineapple Bites
1 (14 oz.) regular Kielbasa, sliced
1 (20 oz.) can pineapple chunks, reserve juice
3 Tbsp. Teriyaki sauce
1 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. pineapple juice (from can)

Preheat oven to 425-f degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place a piece of pineapple on top of a slice of kielbasa and stick a toothpick into them.
In a small bowl combine remaining ingredients. Place kielbasa bites onto the baking sheet and brush glaze over tops and sides of bites.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until hot. Let cool slightly and serve warm.

Recipe Source: Jam Hands

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars

Super easy. Delicious. And in bar form...so no batches of cookies!

Photo Credit to The Baker Upstairs

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars

12 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
11 ounces caramel bits (or 11 ounces caramel squares, unwrapped)
3 tablespoons heavy cream
sea salt, for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 325. Prepare a 9 x 13 pan by lining with foil. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and sugars and mix until combined. Add egg and egg yolk and vanilla, and mix until combined. Add flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix until just combined (be careful not to over mix). Gently fold chocolate chips into the dough. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels and heavy cream, and microwave on high power at twenty second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Spread half of the cookie mixture in the prepared pan, pushing with your hands to form an even layer. Pour the melted caramel over the top and spread to cover. Sprinkle with sea salt. Top with remaining cookie dough. (I found it easiest to put the cookie dough on a cutting board and smush it with my hands into an even layer about the size of my pan, then transfer it to the baking pan.) Sprinkle the top with more sea salt. Bake 25-30 minutes or until very lightly golden around the edges. Be careful not to over bake! The cookies are best if they are soft and a little gooey. Remove from oven and let cool 10-15 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack. Cool almost to room temperature before slicing.

Recipe Source: The Baker Upstairs

Mexican Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa & Black Beans

Love this because it was vegetarian and easy and quick.

Photo Credit to One Lovely Life

Mexican Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa & Black Beans
4 bell peppers (any color), sliced in half stem-to-tip, seeds removed
1c quinoa, uncooked
½ medium onion, diced
1 (15oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 roma tomato, seeded and diced
1 (4oz) can diced green chiles (don't drain)
¼ c cilantro, minced
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
olive oil, if desired
½ c Monterrey Jack, grated*
½ c cheddar cheese, grated*
1 recipe red enchilada sauce (or 1 (28oz) can)

Add quinoa and onion to a large saucepan with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil 5 minutes, cover, turn off heat and let steam 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
In the meantime, microwave pepper halves 2-3 minutes to soften slightly. (Prepared this way, the peppers should come out crisp-tender. If you want them crisper, you can omit this step.)
Pour quinoa/onion mixture into a mixing bowl. Stir in black beans, tomato, green chiles and their juices, cilantro, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper. If the mixture seems to dry, drizzle in a bit of olive oil (I didn't need any).
Pour enchilada sauce into a 9x13" baking dish. Divide filling among peppers. Nestle stuffed peppers into the enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with cheeses.
Cover the pan with foil and bake at 375 degrees 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and cook about 5 minutes longer. Serve peppers drizzled with enchilada sauce.

Recipe Source: One Lovely Life

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwiches

These were delicious and so much more healthy than any other chicken salad sandwiches I've ever made. I made them for Lilian's 3rd birthday at the park and it was perfect. The recipe was just a template, I changed a lot about it. Except for the ingredients you see...

Photo Credit to Damn Delicious

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwiches

1 pound cooked chicken breast, shredded {I used a whole roasted chicken, so good}
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup diced apple
2/3 cup grapes, halved
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds {or cashews, or peanuts...}
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more, to taste {I used red wine vinegar}
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 rolls ciabatta bread, toasted, for serving {I used whatever bread I had, white rolls, wheat bread...}

In a large bowl, combine chicken, red onion, apple, grapes, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, In another bowl, whisk the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste. Combine the dry stuff and chicken mixture and fold gently.
Serve sandwiches on bread with chicken mixture.

Recipe Source: Damn Delicious

Homemade Pizza Sauce

Mel does it again. The simplest, most flavorful pizza sauce I've ever made. And make at least once a month!

Photo Credit to Mel's Kitchen Cafe

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Pinch of crushed red pepper {optional}

Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until desired consistency. I leave mine slightly chunky. You can adjust the seasonings to taste. This recipe is open to interpretation. Use what you like, taste it along the way and it is sure to be delicious!

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla

I love simple, easy, and quick. This is definitely one of those! You for sure need to add a side of vegetables, or fruit, or, in our case, both.

Photo Credit to Mrs Harding Cooks

Barbeque Chicken Quesadillas
onion, sliced (one small onion was about right for two quesadillas)
olive oil
dash salt
dash sugar
chicken, cooked and shredded (we had 2 leftover drumsticks)
sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
mozzarella cheese, shredded (any kind of cheese you have will do)
barbecue sauce
tortillas

Caramelize the onions: Heat olive oil over medium-low heat (about 1 T to 1 onion), add onions, salt and sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20-30 minutes.

Wipe out the skillet from the caramelized onions and heat to medium. Pile onions, shredded chicken and cheese on tortilla. Drip a few dollops of barbecue sauce over it, then top with a second tortilla. Toast quesadillas in skillet for a couple minutes on each side, till cheese is melted and tortillas are lightly browned.

Serve with extra barbecue sauce for dipping, if desired.

Recipe Source: Mrs Harding Cooks

{Healthy} Banana Bread

I have made lots of different banana breads. This is not a cakey, sweet deliciousness. This is a healthy yummy very banana-y bread. I love it!

Photo Credit to Just a Pinch

{Healthy} Banana Bread
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar free applesauce
3/4 cup honey
2 eggs, beaten
3 mashed overripe bananas

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together applesauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Recipe Source: Just a Pinch

{Healthy} Skillet Summer Vegetable Lasagna

Delicious. Simple. Healthy. Yummy.

Photo Credit to Mel's Kitchen Cafe

{Healthy} Skillet Summer Vegetable Lasagna
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped fine
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper
10 curly-edged lasagna noodles, broken into 2-inch lengths
1 small zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 small yellow squash, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Drain tomatoes into a 2-cup liquid measure. Add water to tomato liquid to make 2 cups. Add tomato/water mixture and 1 teaspoon salt to skillet.
Scatter noodles into the skillet, layer tomatoes over the noodles and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, covered, stirring occasionally (so the noodles won’t stick!) for about 10 minutes.
Stir in zucchini and squash, cook, stirring now and then, until noodles and squash are tender, about 8 minutes. Add basil and half of the rictotta cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese to the noodles, stirring until the sauce is creamy. Dollop remaining ricotta cheese over the noodles, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream Sauce

Hey-O. Super easy, but you have to have that one jar of processed stuff (or you can make your own, which I did not do). It was creamy and delicious and oh so delicious. Oh, did I say that already? Oops.

Photo Credit to myrecipes.com

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream Sauce
1 (20-oz.) package refrigerated four-cheese ravioli
1 (16-oz.) jar sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce
2 tablespoons white cooking wine
2 medium-size fresh tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish: fresh basil strip

Prepare pasta according to package directions.

 Meanwhile, pour Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan. Pour wine into sauce jar; cover tightly, and shake well. Stir wine mixture into saucepan. Stir in chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup chopped basil, and cook over medium-low heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Toss with pasta, and top evenly with 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Garnish, if desired.

Recipe Source: Slightly adapted from MyRecipes.com

Broccoli Beef

Oh man. I love stir fry anything because it's fast and, lets face it, who doesn't love rice? This thing was awesome and I loved it. Another reason Mel is my best friend (creeper? Yep, that's me.)

Photo Credit to Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Sauce:
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons low-sodium chicken broth
5 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Beef and Broccoli:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 pounds flank steak, cut into 2-inch-wide strips with the grain, then sliced across the grain into 1/8-inch-thick slices
6 medium cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced (about 2 tablespoons)
1-inch piece fresh ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon peanut oil or vegetable oil, plus extra for cooking
1 1/4 pounds broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/3 cup water
3 medium scallions, sliced 1/2-inch thick on diagonal, optional

In a medium bowl, combine beef and soy sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour. Meanwhile, whisk the sauce ingredients together in a liquid measure or small bowl. In another small bowl, combine garlic, ginger, and 1 teaspoon peanut oil. Set aside.
Heat 1-2 teaspoons peanut oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot and rippling. Add half of beef to skillet and break up clumps; cook, without stirring, for 1 minute, then stir and cook until beef is browned around edges and cooked through, about 1-2 minutes. Don't overcook the meat - cook until just barely cooked through so the meat stays tender. Transfer beef to a medium bowl and cover with a lid and tin foil. Heat another 1-2 teaspoons peanut oil in the skillet and repeat with remaining beef.
Add 1 tablespoon peanut oil to now-empty skillet; heat until rippling and hot. Add broccoli and cook 30 seconds; add water, cover pan, and lower heat to medium. Steam broccoli until tender-crisp, about 2 minutes. Push the broccoli to the sides of the skillet and add the garlic/ginger mixture. Cook, mashing the mixture with a spoon, until fragrant, about 15-30 seconds. Stir the mixture into the broccoli. Add the beef back to skillet and toss to combine. Whisk the sauce to recombine and add to the skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and evenly distributed, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle with scallions, and serve - or be like me and serve it straight out of the skillet!

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

{Mom's} Sloppy Joes

This is the best sloppy joe recipe you'll ever try. Hands down. You don't need another one.

Photo Credit to Examiner

{Mom's} Sloppy Joes
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1/2 can tomato soup
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 can water
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar
buns
cheddar cheese

Brown ground beef with onion over medium high heat.
Meanwhile, mix the soup through vinegar to make the sauce.
Pour the sauce over the beef and simmer for ten minutes.
Serve on buns with cheese.

Recipe Source: Susan Warren

Paella

Beth got this recipe straight from Spain, baby. you can tell by the recipe. But it's super delicious and not that hard, although it does require seafood, which can be expensive. We don't make it often, but we love this one.

Photo Credit to ifood.tv

Paella
a chicken
a rabbit
mixed seafood
3 cups rice
1 onion
1 teaspoon saffron {I looked, there's no real substitute, but this kind of needs it}
garlic
red pepper
green pepper
3 spoons tomato paste
6 cups broth
1 teaspoon paprika
salt
olive oil

Using about 2 teaspoons olive oil, heat in a big pan. Add chicken/rabbit until cooked through. Remove meat, then add onion, garlic, peppers and cook until crisp tender. Add the seafood and cook until done. Add the meat back and the tomato paste. Mix well, then add rice, broth and spices. Cook on low for about 20 minutes. Serve warm!

Recipe Source: Elizabeth via man from Spain

{Mom's} Cheesecake

Okay. It's no secret that I love cheesecake. Not even a little bit. I have lots of cheesecake recipes here that are a lot of different textures. This is different from them all. And I don't want to pick a favorite, but this is my favorite "wet" type cheesecake. It is so yummy and has a little tanginess to the cheesecake…which I love. My mom got this recipe from her friend a long time ago, but it has since become a favorite in my family and is known as "Susan's cheesecake."

Photo Credit to Yeunglei.com

{Mom's} Cheesecake
2 pies
1 8 ounce cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
12 ounce cool whip
2 pre-made graham cracker pie crusts
Danish Dessert {and all ingredients needed}

Beat cream cheese, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Fold in the cool whip until well combined. Place filling into pie crusts, cover, and chill.
Meanwhile, make Danish Dessert and whatever fruit you are using {our favorites are strawberry and raspberry}. Split between the two pies and top them each. Chill for at least an hour.

Recipe Source: Susan Warren

{Grandma's} Marshmallow Popcorn

Oh. This. Stuff. I've never had any popcorn like this. And Grandma only makes it around Christmas, so we usually only get it once maybe twice a year. Unless I make it, which is rarer than it should be.

Photo Credit to The Cupcake Theory

{Grandma's} Marshmallow Popcorn
2 gallons popped corn {three microwave bags}
1 cup margarine
2-3 cups mini marshmallows
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1-2 cup almonds, optional

Place margarine, sugar and syrup in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add marshmallows and stir until they are melted.
Mix popcorn and almonds {if using}. Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn and toss until all are coated.

Recipe Source: Grandma Schwartz

Fish Tacos

I love Mexican food and I love seafood. So I absolutely love when these two these are put together! Especially when it's quick!

Fish Tacos

1 pound fresh/frozen fish; cod, orange roughy, tilapia, etc.

1 1/2 cups shredded cabbage

1 teaspoon lime/lemon juice

4 tablespoons mayo

2 tablespoons plain yogurt

garlic salt

tortilla shells

salsa

Bake fish for 8-10 minutes at 375 until it flakes easily. Mix the rest of the ingredients except the tortilla shells & salsa.

On tortilla shell, put fish, cabbage mix & salsa.

Recipe Source: Sharrie Webster

Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia

More fish! We love fish in our house. Now are we not only obsessed with tuna sandwiches, but this little sucker of a recipe too! Amelia loved it and kind of freaked out about wanting more. It was cute, and worth it. This is a great recipe.

Photo Credit to Favorite Family Recipes

Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. Panko bread crumbs
1/4 c. butter, softened
4 Tbsp. mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. celery salt
1 Lb. (about 4) tilapia fillets
Old Bay seasoning (or your favorite seafood seasoning salt)
paprika, to taste
parsley, to taste

In a medium-sized bowl combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, butter, and mayonnaise.
Add lemon juice, basil, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and celery salt to mixture. Set aside.
Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking spray.
Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan and generously sprinkle Old Bay seasoning over the top only.
Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over, sprinkle on the Old Bay seasoning again, then broil for a couple more minutes.
Remove the fillets from the oven and pat about 3 Tbsp of the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side of each fillet.
Sprinkle with paprika and parsley.
Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork.

Recipe Source: Favorite Family Recipes

Sticky Chex Mix

Oh my. I love this stuff. Every time I get around it, I lose all willpower and seriously eat all of it. I just made a batch and I think the rest of my family had around 3 cups in total. I ate the rest. Yes I am disgusting, and yes, I love it. I have had some buttery versions of this, but that is why I love this version, not too buttery. Hallelujah.

Sticky Chex Mix
6 1/2 c. Rice Chex
4 1/2 c. Golden Grahams
1 c. sliced almonds
2 c. coconut

Optional: M&Ms, Reeses pieces, anything else your little heart desires
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) real butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. light Karo syrup
1 tsp. vanilla

In a VERY LARGE bowl, combine cereal, almonds, and coconut {just an FYI, I just used whatever cereal I had to made 11 cups mixed together}. Set aside. In a large saucepan, combine butter, Karo syrup, and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for three minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. While the mixture is still hot, pour over the cereal mixture and stir well so the candy mixture coats the cereal. Serve in a large bowl or divide into individual portions.

Recipe Source: Slightly adapted from Our Best Bites