Zucchini Critters

My kids call these critters-not sure why, not even sure I want to know why, but its just what they came up with somehow.

My kids are not big fans of zucchini, I however could eat it every other meal. Its good stuff!

2-3 Zucchini washed and sliced 1/4"

2 eggs beaten

1/2 c. bread crumbs

3/4 c. Parmesan cheese shredded

Heat the oven to 400F. Spray a cookie sheet with non stick spray.

In a bowl combine your bread crumbs and Parmesan. 

Dip the zucchini in the egg, and then in the bread/cheese mixture on both sides. Place on a cookie sheet and bake 15-20 min flipping over once half way through.

Quick Pesto Tortellini

While making my 2 week grocery list, I'll ask my husband if there is anything specific he would like. He always says something like tortellini, or ravioli-he's a pasta lover...which I totally get,I love pasta, and I love him! :) Cute right?

So I wanted to make something really quick and tasty since we only have 20 min before our daughters gymnastics class...so here's what I came up with.

1-20 oz pkg. Buitoni cheese tortellini

3-4 tabl. Store bought basil pesto 

1 c. Heavy cream

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook pasta according to the package. While pasta is cooking, in a lg sauce pan, bring the heavy cream to a simmer.Allow to reduce by 1/4, add the basil pesto and remove from heat. When the pasta is finished, drain, and toss with the basil pesto sauce.

There you have it! I like to toss in some green beans or asparagus or some cubed cooked chicken. And serve it with some garlic bread. Yum!

Pizza Monkey Bread

This recipe is great for both adult and kid. Any food that is stuffed is fancy right? RIGHT! And anything pizza is just plain yummy! It's a fairly easy recipe to put together and you can add any of your fav pizza toppings to it!

You'll need:

2 can refrigerated home style biscuits

1 pkg turkey-roni (you can use plain pepperoni)

2 c shredded mozzarella

your fav. pizza toppings (I use finely chopped green bell peppers and onions)
1 stick butter melted
1 tea italian seasoning
1/2 tea garlic powder
marinara sauce

Heat the oven to 375 F.
Mix the melted butter, italian seasoning and garlic powder together in a bowl.
Open the biscuits up and slice a pocket in the biscuit stuff it with a few pepperonis, about 1 tabl cheese and your toppings. Pinch the pocket closed and completely dip it into the butter mixture and place standing on its edge in a bunt pan. Repeat with the rest, and place into the oven to bake for 35 min.
Allow to cook 5-10 min, then invert pan on a plate, if needed tap around the pan until it falls out.
Dip in warmed marinara sauce and enjoy!

Greek Marinaded Chicken

I wasn't sure about this recipe when I saw the ingredients, but went a head and tried it anyways...it was delish! It really has a great flavor, one I didn't expect! I'm planing on making this again soon! 

1 c. plain greek yogurt

2 tabl olive oil

4 minced garlic cloves

1/2 tabl dried oregano

1/2 tea salt

1/2 tea dried parsley

6-8 chicken drum sticks skin/fat removed

In a mixing bowl, whisk the yogurt, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt and parsley together. Place chicken in the marinade and turn to coat evenly. Cover wih foil and place in the frig for an hour. 

Pre-heat grill and cook 10-15 min until juices run clear. Goes great with some garlic bread and a side salad!

Garlic Focaccia Cheesy bread

I bought some focaccia bread at Costco today and completely spaced getting garlic bread...So I thought I could cue the foccaccia bread instead...It turned out really good, and had that fresh chewy texture I really like! 

I know you are looking at the picture thinking "wow this girl must be a professional photographer" right? LMBO!! I really have a desire to take great pictures, but unfortunately I lack the patience needed to learn photography. One day when I have time, and I make these again I'll retake the pic.

3 Focaccia bread rolls sliced in half

Extra virgin olive oil

Garlic powder

5 cheese Italian blend

Pre heat your oven to 400F. Drizzle on the EVOO (olive oil), sprinkle about 1/4 tea garlic powder over each roll, and sprinkle 1/4 c. cheese and bake for 5-10 min until lightly toasted.

They really do turn out great!They're crispy on the outside, and chewy on the inside-just the way this lady likes!

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Don't you love it when you stumble upon a GREAT recipe that you haven't tried in a while? I made these for my kiddos birthday party 2 years ago, and looking through my recipe book I found it! Everyone liked them, and I remember being especially proud of my self pulling these off, being 9 months pregnant and scheduled for a c-section in 2 days! 

Nothing says fancy like cupcakes that are stuffed with cookie dough! 

1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix

1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon instant espresso granules
1/2 cup warm water
pinch of fine grain sea salt
1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted
4-6 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
Roll cookie dough into 1 teaspoon balls, and drop into the middle of the cupcakes, making sure you cover them with batter.
Bake 18-22 min, until they pass a tooth pick test.
Remove to a wire rack and allow to cool competently. 

For the frosting:

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 lbs powdered suar
Pinch of salt

1 tabl vanilla

3-5 tabl. heavy cream

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.Line muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs, and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine instant espresso granules and warm water, stirring until dissolved. Add espresso mixture to the cake batter and stir until fully incorporated. Scoop about 3 tabl. batter into prepared muffin tins.

For the frosting:

With an electric mixer, cream the butter until fluffy, add in (slowly) the sugar until well blended. Add salt, vanilla and 3 tabl. heavy cream. You can add 1-2 more tabl. of the cream until you reach the desired consistency. 

Mustardy Chicken

I've been making a similar chicken recipe like this one for a while, and when I tried this recipe it totally blew mine out of the water! This is soooo good!!! 

You can easily roast some veggies at the same time (different pan) so they'll be done at the same time. Slice up some french bread and smear it with some yummy garlic butter and you have a tasty dinner!

1 1/2-2 lbs chicken thighs trimmed of all fat

1/2 c Dijon mustard

1/4 c pure maple syrup

1 tea. Rice vinegar

1/4 tea salt

1/4 tea pepper

1 tea corn starch

2 tabl fresh chopped rosemary 

Pre heat the oven to 450. In a 8x8" glass baking dish, arrange chicken. Whisk together the mustard, syrup, vinegar, sant and pepper and 1 tabl rosemary. Pour over the chicken and bake uncovered for 40 min. 

Remove from over after backing and immediately transfer the chicken to a serving plate. Quickly sprinkle the corn starch over the sauce in the baking dish and whisk until thickened. Pour the sauce over the chicken and sprinkle the remaining rosemary over the chicken!

*You have to whisk in the corn starch immediately to thicken or else if wont work.

Roasted Cauliflower

I love roasted veggies! You can substitute several different kinds of veggies for cauliflower; green beans, asparagus, brussel sprouts...I chose cauliflower since we haven't it for a while. 

1 med head cauliflower chopped into floweretts 

1/4 c extra virgin olive oil

3 garlic minced cloves

1/2 tea salt

1/4 tea pepper

1/2 c Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 450. In a mixing bowl, drizzle the olive oil over the cauliflower, add the garlic, salt and pepper and toss well. 

Place in a baking dish and roast for 25 min stirring once about half way through. When done sprinkle with cheese and serve it up!

Creamy Pesto Chicken and Asparagus

This is one of my families favorite go to quick meal. It takes me about 20 minutes to cook, depending on how many kids I have under toe.

It's such a tasty recipe, the sauce is AMAZING, and if you don't have crusty bread to mop up the left over sauce, you'll look crazy licking your plate!

Also I always feel that I need to mention when my kids really like what I made. And they did...really really like it. So much so that next time I'll have to make extras. 

2-3 chicken breasts halved

Salt and pepper

2 tabl butter

1 lb asparagus trimmed of ends (2") and cut into 2" pieces

1 1/2 c heavy cream

2-3 tabl store bought basil pesto (my fav is the Classico brand-yum!)

Melt butter in a large skillet over med heat. Cook both sides of your chicken, (seasoning with salt and pepper) 4-5 min until done, remove to a cutting board and slice into 1" cubes.

Place the asparagus in the pan, and sautée 4-5 min. Pour heavy cream over the top, and stir in the pesto. Allow to summer 3-5 min until it's thickened slightly, place chicken back in the pan and stir around to coat the chicken. And your done! I usually serve mine with Texas toast, great for moping up the extra sauce! 

Quick Sweet and Salty Popcorn

Every Friday we as a family do movie night. I make popcorn and usually put a surprise buried underneath the popcorn. Instead of hiding a special treat this week, I made a quick sweet and salty popcorn that we all gobbled up! This is also something fun that the kids can help out with. 

10 c air popped popcorn

6 tabl melted butter

1/4 c brown sugar

salt

After you've popped your popcorn, melt the butter in a bowl, stir in the brown sugar and mix well. Drizzle over the popcorn a little at a time mixing/sharing the popcorn in between drizzling. once you've drizzled all the butter/sugar mixture give it a good stir, sprinkle a little salt over and shake up. Pour in individual bowls and have at it!

French Toast

There's big excitement in the house when word gets out that mom is making french toast! 

I used to make french toast with sandwich bread, then I stumbled upon this recipe-life changing! French toast will never be the same, and it's now a very favorite! Making french toast with french bread is genius, you will never go back!

1 french bread loaf (fresh) slices into 1-1/2" thick slices

1 table butter

5 eggs

1 c flour

2 tea vanilla extract

1 c milk

Heat a large pan over medium heat with butter.

Whisk together the eggs, flour, vanilla and milk. Dip both sides of a slice of bread in the mixture and arrange it in the pan so that you can fit several slices.

Turn the heat to medium low, and cook each side 4-6 minutes, until golden brown.

Serve with your fav syrup, or powdered sugar.

Chile Rellenos

These are really tasty! And whats really nice is that you can make them quick, or you can put more time into them using fresh poblano chilies. We served them with home made corn bread-yum!

4 Poblano chilies 

olive oil

6 eggs

11/2 c milk

1/2 tea paprika

1/4 tea cayenne pepper

1 1/2 c. monterrey jack shredded

corn tortillas

Heat your oven to broil on high & butter a 9"x13" glass baking dish.

Wash and dry your poblano chilies, and rub them with olive oil. Place them directly on oven rack, and allow to roast until they form bubbles (blisters) on the skin. Depending on your oven and how awesome it is, it could take 5+ minutes. My oven is begging me to put it out of its misery and buy a new pretty model, so it takes 10+ minutes to roast the chilies. Turn the chilies and roast each side until the skin is bubbly all over. Remove from oven, and place them in a large mixing bowl and cover with foil for 5 minutes (this allows the skin of the chilie to "sweat" off making it easier to remove.)

While the chilies are roasting, whisk together your eggs,  milk, paprika and cayenne pepper, then set aside.

Remove the peppers one at a time. on a cutting board carefully peel the skin off. Then cut the chili in half and remove the seeds.

Once the chilies are all skinned and halved...and seeded, lay a single layer of chilies in your baking dish, sprinkle 1/2 of your cheese over the chilies, then pour your egg mixture over cheese, and then top off with the remaining cheese. Bake for 40 min. Then serve on warmed corn tortillas.

You can make this meal quicker by using canned roasted whole green chilies instead of roasting your own.

I like to top mine off with hot sauce (cholula) the kids like theirs with sour cream, minced cilantro and mild salsa.