If you love avocado egg rolls, then you will love this healthier recipe for Cheesecake Factory's Avocado Egg Rolls. Now you can enjoy your favorite appetizer at home without all the added fat.
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I’m a sucker for stuffing things in an egg roll and calling it an appetizer. So when I found out that Cheesecake Factory had an appetizer where they stuffed an avocado in an egg roll with a dipping sauce, I was on board.
Enjoy the flavors of the popular New York street cart chicken (Halal Guys Copycat) right in your pressure cooker with this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Dish. This quick and easy delicious dinner can be ready in less than 30 minutes.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
I love New York City, especially the food. In law school, I took a trip to New York for a conference. Ask me if I remember what the actual conference was about...I don't. What I do remember is traveling with some wonderful law school colleagues, seeing Swizz Beatz on the street and asking for a pic (he was so cool about it too), partying at the 40/40 club, and standing in a long line at 3am waiting for some chicken that was sold in a cart. Yes, you read that right, I like to eat chicken at 3am. That literally was the best street food I had in my life and I knew for sure it was something that I had to recreate in my own kitchen.
I found that my Instant Pot Pressure Cooker was the perfect vessel to recreate this dish. I’m always making one-pot meals in my Instant Pot, like my ever so popular Pressure Cooker Shrimp Paella. In fact, I use my pressure cooker so often I’ve made a whole recipe category just for you all in the recipe section of the site.
I adapted this street chicken and rice recipe from the Serious Eats website and perfected it for my Instant Pot. The recipe as written on their site is pretty delicious but I truly didn’t feel like marinating the meat when it came to this dish. Making this dish in the pressure cooker is perfect for a weeknight meal.
First, you'll want to make the famous white sauce for this chicken and rice dish. This sauce has a tangy yet slightly sweet taste that pairs well with the rice and chicken. Prepare this first and set it aside.
Then it's time for the pot. You’ll want to brown your chicken in the pot to build flavor, especially since we are skipping the traditional step of marinating the chicken. I like to set my sautè function on high to get a good caramelization. Just make sure you don’t overcrowd the pot when browning as you won’t get a nice sear. Cook your chicken thighs in batches for the best results.
Next, you will have nice brown bits (they may even look a little burnt). This is fine, don’t freak out, it’s flavor! Take a bit of chicken broth and deglaze the bottom by pouring the broth into the bottom of the pot. Take a wooden spoon and scrape the bottom bits up. Make sure it’s a wooden spoon as you don’t want to scrape the bottom of your pot with metal utensils.
Next, add your onions and garlic and sauté them until the onions have softened. Make sure onions are softened a bit before adding the garlic. You don't want the garlic to burn or it will give your dish a horrid taste.
Then add your rinsed rice. Rinsing your rice will allow the rice to remain fluffy and not stick to the bottom. Rinsing your rice is key for any rice dish in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.
Add your remaining seasonings, broth, and your chicken back to the pot. Push chicken into the broth to ensure it gets fully cooked.
Set the pressure cooker for 10 minutes. Once time is up, allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes, dinner is served.
Yes, yes, and yes. I get it, you may not want to but the purpose is to build flavor since you aren't marinating the meat.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do...and don't forget the sauce.
I've included step by step photos below for those who prefer those over video. Enjoy 🙂
For more photos of the operation of the Instant Pot, check out my Pressure Cooker Shrimp Paella recipe.
This by far is the best banana bread recipe in the world. No lie, it truly is.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
For years, I had been on the search for the best banana bread recipe in the world. I'd search the internet, find a recipe, try it out, and leave feeling "meh." Some were too crumbly. Others were too moist (Is that a thing?). A few had an off taste. At the same time, others had too many ingredients besides the banana.
So for a while, I gave up my search for the perfect banana bread recipe and just settled on buying banana bread from Starbucks, which has some pretty good banana bread.
Until this recipe. This banana bread is my all-time favorite recipe, and I've been making it for years. I think it may become your favorite, too.
♡, Tanya
I came across this recipe in Simply Recipes and decided to give it a go. It had almost 1,000 positive reviews. So, although I love the recipe, I threw in a few changes.
Not just because I say it is, but it is, in fact, delicious, and it gets requested a ton by my family and extended family. There is enough banana taste, yet the perfect amount of sweetness to this recipe.
It also has the perfect amount of moistness. Banana bread shouldn't be too moist to the point of gummyness, but it also shouldn't be dry. There is a perfect balance, and this recipe provides just that.
It does create one single 4x8 inch loaf pan that is perfect for eating immediately or giving away to a loved one. Baking banana bread in a 4x8 loaf pan is a must in my opinion. It leads to the perfect portion size. Also, banana bread already takes nearly an hour to bake...Baking in a larger loaf pan would take longer and wouldn't result in the perfect result.
In addition to its amazing taste, it's super easy to make. I make everything in one bowl! No separation of ingredients is necessary in this banana bread recipe.
Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 4x8 inch loaf pan and set it aside.
Step 2: Place the butter in a large microwavable bowl and microwave in 30-second increments until fully melted.
Step 3: Add the ripe bananas to the melted butter and mash them with a fork, making sure the butter coats the bananas as you mash.
Step 4: Add the baking soda, salt, brown sugar, sour cream, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and egg to the bowl. Stir everything together until well combined.
Step 5: Stir in the flour until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 6: Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan. Bake on the center rack for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 7: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.
Here's to this delicious, easy banana bread recipe. Hope you enjoy 🙂
Looking for another way to use those leftover bananas? Try these Banana Fritters or these Banana Pancakes.
Adapted from Simply Recipes.
This Crispy Korean Air Fried Chicken Wings recipe is delicious, sweet, sticky, and a little bit spicy. The Air Fryer provides the perfect crunch to these wings without all the added fat from frying.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
So here’s a fun fact about me...I am not the biggest fan of traditional fried chicken. Only a few close friends know this fact because I live in the South and in the South, everyone loves fried chicken. However, fried chicken should be doused in a delicious sauce after it’s fried to perfection. This must be why I love Korean fried chicken so much.
*Update: My thoughts changed on traditional fried chicken after I made it in the air fryer. Air Fryer Fried Chicken is the truth!
Korean Fried Chicken is fried chicken that has a super crunchy exterior, yet juicy interior. Therefore, the chicken is usually double fried in oil and then covered in a delicious spicy, sweet and sour type sauce. Any part of the chicken can be used to make Korean Fried Chicken.
Korean fried chicken is popular for the spicy sauce that it is covered in. The main ingredient to this sauce is a spicy Korean paste known as gochujang. The good thing about this paste is there are different heat levels. I used the mild for this recipe so I could enjoy the flavors more but the paste can be extremely spicy if you are not careful.
Most Korean fried chicken is double fried in oil. Part of me wanted to find a healthier alternative but another part of me didn't want to do all that work. Blame it on the baby, work, life...but if I can simplify a delicious recipe then that's what I'm going to do.
Coating these chicken wings in cornstarch and frying them for 30 minutes in the air fryer was easy, fast, and healthy.
Creating Korean Air Fried Chicken Wings is easy. You don't even need to preheat the air fryer. Just set the temperature to 390 degrees, season the chicken wings, cover them in a corn starch, and cook in air fryer for 30-35 minutes.
Make sure when coating the chicken wings with cornstarch, that you shake off the cornstarch from each piece really well. You want the chicken wings to be completely covered but you don’t want too much excess corn starch. Pick up each chicken piece with a pair of tongs, tap it against the side of your bowl before placing it in the air fryer basket.
As with any air fryer recipe, make sure the bottom of your air fryer basket is properly seasoned with oil so your chicken does not stick.
Never use aresole can sprays in your air fryer. Invest in a good quality spray oil bottle. I use this brand.
As always, enjoy.
If you like this recipe, check out my general Air Fryer Chicken Wings from Fresh or Frozen post or my Honey Mustard Chicken Wings recipe.
Kitchen Tongs
Large Bowl
Looking for more Air Fryer recipes? Try my Perfect Air Fryer Steak or Healthier General Tso's Chicken in the Air Fryer.
This Jamaican Style Carrot Juice Recipe is a refreshing yet sweet treat. One of my favorite drinks when growing up in Jamaica.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Growing up, carrots were one of my favorite vegetables to eat—not the cooked carrots, but a regular raw carrot right out of the bag. I'd grab one, sit in front of the TV, watch my cartoons, and chew on the carrot. I wanted to be Bugs Bunny.
A little birdie also told me that carrots were really good for eyesight so as a kid, I made sure I ate at least 2 a day. I still don't need glassess...I'll give props to the carrots and that little birdie.
Growing up, while I wasn't eating all the carrots in the house, I would also get to enjoy this Jamaican Style Carrot Juice. It wasn't made too often in the house, but when it was made, it was a true treat.
Now, this isn't your typical carrot juice recipe. It's a bit thicker and sweetened with condensed milk and other spices. So, in other words, it ain't the healthiest drink on the block. But seriously, who cares? It's delicious, and it does have a vegetable in it.
Peel and chop carrots, then add them to to blender with water and blend until smooth. Strain the liquid into a jar.
Add condensed milk, vanilla extract, and nutmeg to the jar and serve. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate or serve over ice. Enjoy 🙂
This Jamaican Style Carrot Juice Recipe is a breeze to make. All you need is a blender, a strainer , a bag of carrots, a can of condensed milk, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Serve it over ice for a nice refreshing drink. Ya mon.
Want more Jamaican Recipes?? Check out my Jamaican Sorrel Drink, Instantpot Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge , Corned Beef and Cabbage - Jamaican Style and these Jamaican Banana Fritters.
This Roasted Tomato Basil Soup Recipe is the best ever! Not only is it creamy and delicious, but it can be made in less than an hour with all fresh ingredients. With vegetables that are roasted in the air fryer, this flavorful soup can be on your table in less than 1 hour.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
I love a good and delicious tomato soup. As a matter of fact, I have two rules when it comes to tomato soup.
Why the rules? Because following that method has lead to some of the best tomato soup I've ever had. I used to roast my vegetables in the oven when I wanted to make tomato soup from scratch but found that it took longer than I wanted to roast the vegetables. Now that I have my air fryer, I can roast vegetables in half the amount of time it takes to roast in the oven.
All you need is about 1 lb of any kind of fresh tomato. I tend to stick with roma or tomatoes on the vine for this recipe, whichever I have on hand. Both tomatoes roast beautifully in the air fryer.
Roast the tomatoes, along with onion, carrot, garlic cloves, and red bell pepper in the air fryer for about 25 minutes at 360 degrees. Roasting your vegetables will allow your tomatoes to roast, not burn, releasing the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and other vegetables.
Once your vegetables are roasted, you will add your stock and warm a bit for added flavor. Then blend, add your chopped basil, cream, and splash of balsamic vinegar.
Once my tomatoes and vegetables are roasted, I sometimes peel the skin off of the tomatoes and red pepper. This results in a smoother finish to my soup once it's blended. It really depends on the day on whether I do this or not. The soup is still delicious either way but for the smoothest soup possible, you must do the following: peel, blend in a blender, and pour through a fine mesh strainer.
I like to serve our tomato basil soup topped with parmesan cheese. Serve along side a delicious grilled cheese sandwich if you want a full meal.
I hope you enjoy this roasted tomato basil soup as much as we do. During these summer months, enjoy those tomatoes and fresh basil as much as you can. 🙂
Watch this video tutorial and see how I make this tomato basil soup from start to finish.
Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle
Immersion Hand Blender
Looking for more Air Fryer Recipes to enjoy with this dish? Try my Perfect Air Fryer Steak or Air Fryer Potatoes.
Cheerwine Floats made with vanilla bean ice cream and amazing cherry flavored Cola are a delicious treat for the summer. This spin on a traditional float is an easy treat for those hot summer months.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
What the heck is a Cheerwine Float? I'm sure plenty of you have that question...unless you've been to North Carolina and tried a cute, yet chain, fast food restaurant known as CookOut. Well that was my first time ever trying Cheerwine and I had it in the form of a float. The float was delicious. I am obsessed. The end.
Just kidding. Cheerwine is just too amazing not to give you just a tad bit of information about it.
Cheerwine is a cherry flavored soda that was created in Salisbury, NC in 1917. The company is owned by the Peeler family (still, how cool is that) and can be found in many Southern grocery stores.
Sorry folks but it does not taste like wine. Just imagine your favorite cola with a delicous cherry flavor. It does not taste like artificial cherry either, but taste like somone manually squeezed cherry juice into some Cola. If this is in fact true, I'd love to meet that person. It's in fact hard to describe how incredible Cheerwine is but trust me when I say it's delicious.
A Cheerwine float is pretty easy to make. Just grab your favorite glass, fill it with vanilla bean ice cream, and add your soda until it fizzes at the top. Stick a straw in it and enjoy.
You can add the maraschino cherries if you like but they aren’t necessary, they just make it pretty.
I hope you enjoyed my history (although brief) history of Cheerwine. What's your favorite float reicipe?
Love a good milkshake recipe? Try my Oreo Cookie Milkshake.
This elegant Pan Seared Scallops Recipe is served over an amazing purple carrot and ginger chutney and potato and leek soup. This post is #sponsored by A Table is Set: A four city tour served with a Coke. All opnions are my own.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
I live for amazing food and recipes. I watch cooking shows, try different restaurants, and read cookbooks for fun. Call me a foodie nerd. So imagine how thrilled this foodie nerd was to hear about the Soul Food Sessions Tour, The Table is Set: A four city-tour served with a Coke.
So what is Soul Food Sessions? It's a series of nonprofit dinners in Charlotte, NC that was created to help increase diverity in the culinary industry. The movement acknowledges and supports people of color in the culinary, hospitality, and beverage industry. I have to say that I am excited about this movement. The need for diversity in the food blog world was one of the reasons I started My Forking Life. I am honored they asked me to help spread the word about their upcoming tour.
Soul Food Sessions has partnered with Coca-Cola Consolidated to take their dinners on a four city tour. The tour starts in Charlotte, NC (their home market) on June 19th, 2018. Next stops will be Washington DC, Baltimore MD, and Charleston SC.
Now what does any of this have to do with these scallops? Everything!!!! I was blessed with the opportunity to create this pan seared scallops recipe that will be served at the dinner in Charlotte, NC. It was my first time making scallops. It was my first time making chutney. But the results? AMAZING!!! I truly hope they can bless your palet with this dish in all 4 stops because it is delicious!
I wish I could say that I created this recipe but all credit goes to Chef Greg Williams, one of the founders of Soul Food Sessions and co-owner of What the Fries Food Truck. Let's just say the man is a culinary genius. The flavor of that chutney had me dancing around my kitchen in joy. It has now been deemed a staple recipe for our home kitchen.
I had a blast recreating this dish and I learned a ton about picking scallops and cooking chutney. Check out my step by step photos below to learn what I learned.
That's one great thing I can say about this tour, it will awaken your inner foodie and encourage you to try foods you wouldn't typically eat at home.
It's recommended that you pair this pan-seared scallop recipe with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar brings to the forefront the richness of scallops combined with the bold flavors of ginger and garlic in the chutney.
Date: June 19, 2018
Location: Free Range Brewin
This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe is a delicious spin on traditional macaroni salad. The creamy tangy and sweet sauce combined with pasta and bright vegetables make this the perfect pasta salad.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Summer is made for cookouts, spiked lemonade, and macaroni salad. Ok, summer is so much more than that but if you know me, you know I love me some summer. Speaking of summer, one of my best summer memories is from a summer when I was 17 and I traveled to Hawaii to stay for an entire month! Best summer ever!!! Although the summer I got married on June 21st, the first day of summer, may just have that one beat. Either way, I had a blast in Hawaii visiting family, volunteering at the local hospital, hiking, attending luau's, and straight chilling.
I love this recipe for Hawaiian Macaroni Salad because everytime I make it it brings back memories of my time on the island (I only stayed on Oahu). This recipe is so simple yet delicious that it's a must try for any macaroni salad lover.
It's a creamy sweet and tangy salad that can be found all over Hawaii. There are many additions that can be added, but base recipes generally include elbow macaroni that has been slightly over cooked and lots of good quality mayonnaise.
The Sauce!! It's sweet, tangy, and oh so delicious. The mayonniase, milk, and apple cider vinegar are keys to the sauce. Most Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipes require at least 2 cups of mayonaise...this one does not. I'm not that into mayonnaise and the movie Undercover Brother makes me feel bad for even liking it. Just kidding. But I feel that my version just didn't need 2 cups.
Traditional Hawaiian Macaroni Salad also tends to have super soft overcooked noodles to absorb all the creamy sauce. I like my noodles cooked to al dente so I don't overcook it. My obsession with the dish is with the sauce.
The beauty of this dish is that it is amazing with or without tuna. I make it both ways often, my daughter doesn't like the tuna (hence why my photos are missing tuna). On the other hand, everyone else loves it with tuna. Your choice, both are amazing.
I really hope you enjoy this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe. It's perfect for bbq's, cookouts, and for meal preps throughout the week.
Loving this summer pasta salad recipe? Try my Cold Seafood Salad Recipe.
Have you tried this recipe? Lease us a comment below and let us know how you liked it 🙂
This Cheddar and Sour Cream Corn on the Cob seasoning is a delicious twist on traditional corn on the cob. Serve it along side your favorite cookout meal for a fun and tasty side dish.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
There is something magical about grabbing an ear of corn with both hands and chowing down. Heck, you could use one hand for all I care but corn eaten off the cob is just simply amazing. There’s a relaxation that comes along with it that I just can’t explain. In our house, we eat a ton of corn on the cob. It was one of my cravings during my pregnancy and if I ate it, we all ate it.
Traditionally, we would season our corn with loads of butter and some salt. Of course, as foodies, we had to start to think outside the box and then this corn on the cob seasoning became a favorite in our household. The credit for this beauty goes to hubby who loves cheddar and sour cream potato chips.The corn on the cob seasoning in this recipe is pretty simple and involves minmum ingredients, cheesy puffs, sour cream, and our top secret ingredient...Jerk Seasoning. I guess it’s not so top secret anymore. Actually, it’s not really top secret...my hubby puts jerk seasoning on just about everything and he was the brain child behind this recipe creation. If you don’t have jerk seasoning than salt is just as fine as a substiute. But seriously, use the jerk if you can.
You can prepare the corn anyway you like when it comes to this recipe, as long as it’s cooked. I like to use my Instant Pot as it’s quick, easy, and gets my corn cooked just the way we like, cooked with a nice little crunch that leaves juices flying everywhere. With only a 2 minute pressure cooktime, this method just can’t be beat.
Now that I’ve let you all know about this corn on the cob seasoning, I’d love to hear from you about your favorite corn on the cob seasoning in the comments below. Until the next recipe, Enjoy 🙂
Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Try my Pressure Cooker Slamon with Creamy Herb Parmesan or my Pressure Cooker Shrimp Paella.
This Pressure Cooker Salmon is the perfect quick and elegant meal. Top it with a creamy herb parmesan sauce for a quick and fancy meal.
I would have never imagined that I, Tanya, would be cooking salmon in an electric pressure cooker. Not too sure why I am surprised since I use my Instant Pot for just about everything. I’ve made sous vide egg bites and cornmeal porridge for breakfast and this beautiful shrimp paella for dinner and meal prep lunches. But fish, in the pot? Yes, it can be done and it’s so awesome.
The inspiration for this recipe comes from a high school friend Katharine who informed me of a salmon recipe she created in her Instant Pot. Her method was simple yet genius. Salmon in pot with stock, herbs, and lemon juice; pressure cook, remove and add cornstarch and let cook until it thickened. Amazing sauce and fish. I was intrigued and I decided to give it a go myself.
But there was a problem. Every single time I wanted to try the recipe, I didn’t feel like making a store run to get fresh non frozen salmon. And the week I finally bought salmon, I bought it frozen and forgot to defrost it the day I wanted to make it. Yes, fish defrost quite quickly under running water but even that felt like such a hassle. So it dawned on me, why not cook it from frozen, just like I did with the shrimp in the shrimp paella.
I set it to the same cook time for 5 minutes, closed the lid, and said a prayer. Well prayer works because my salmon came out perfect! With just a 5 minute cook time, my salmon was done from frozen. My fish was flakey and perfectly cooked, and I was able to make an amazing sauce in the same pot once done. Dinner was complete in less than 20 minutes!
The beauty with this salmon in the pressure cooker is the ability to use fresh or frozen fish. Non frozen fish will cook with a pressure cook time of about 3 minutes. Use your judgment when setting cook times for fresh or frozen fish. The thicker and bigger the filet, the longer the cook time.
You can have fun with the herbs used in this dish as well. I've used various combos of basil, parsley, chives, and dill and it's always been delicious.
Some may have some questions about this dish and I’ve made a nice notes section for this pressure cooker salmon along with step by step photos. Of course, if you come up with new questions or love this dish, feel free to leave me a comment below. As always, enjoy 🙂
This Healthy General Tso's Chicken Recipe is still fried but "fried" in the air fryer and can be made in less than 30 minutes. Top it with the amazing general tso's sauce for an easy and quick weeknight dinner.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
I have a few rules when it comes to General Tso's chicken. It must have crunch, it must have a little spice, and it must be saucy! At least that was my experience the first time I tried this dish.
It was almost 10 years ago when I first had it at a restaurant in Durham, NC during law school. I first tried this dish during a study break with friends and I fell in love.
It was also during this study break that I bit into one of the hot peppers that comes in the dish and I couldn't breathe for a good minute. The peppers are not to be eaten, the peppers are not to be eaten. I wish I knew that before I took a bite.
Despite the incident with the pepper, the dish was delicious. The chicken had the perfect crunch and the sauce was a perfect combination of sweet and salty. The depth of flavor was amazing. It's a dish that I came to love and recreate in my kitchen quite often.
Initially, my general process when creating general Tso's chicken was to batter and fry the chicken pieces until crunchy and then coat them in my sauce.
Although delicious, it became a bit cumbersome for weeknight dinners. My deep fryer broke which was a bummer and the time it took to heat oil on the stovetop just didn't fit into my tight schedule for weeknights.
So one night when my daughter requested this for dinner, a light bulb clicked in my head and I found that my Air Fryer would be the perfect fix. It became a win win because the air fryer cut the time it took to prepare the general tso chicken recipe but it also became my new healthy general tso chicken recipe since I needed no oil to fry it.
I initially purchased my air fryer to deal with a pregnancy craving I had for french fries. Well to be fair, I always crave french fries so I shouldn't blame that on pregnancy. Either way, I use my air fryer for much more than french fries and I am excited to share with you all the recipes I create in this amazing appliance.
So what's an air fryer you may ask? In general, it's an appliance that recreates fried foods without actually frying the food in tons of oil. It also roasts and bakes food but its main claim to fame is the fact that it can give the same texture as fried foods without using a ton of oil.
It's a healthier option for home cooks who desire the delicious crunch that comes with fried foods but not the delicious calories and fat. It also tends to have a quicker cook time than many foods that are typically baked in the oven.
With help of my air fryer, I create this dish in less than 30 minutes. That's right, I use the air fryer to prep my chicken and I create my sauce while that's going.
There are a few tips and tricks to make this recipe a success. For one, you will want to coat your chicken pieces in potato starch. It's a tip I picked up from This Old Gal. It provides the perfect crunch for the chicken pieces without changing the taste profile.
You will also want to make sure that your air fryer basket is properly oiled. I just put a little olive oil on a paper towel and rub it all over the bottom of my basket. That way the chicken pieces won't stick when frying. This is the only oil you will need for frying the chicken pieces in this recipe. How awesome is that?!?
The last tip is to shake the air fryer basket about every 5 minutes when cooking. This will ensure that your chicken pieces are evenly cooked and crisp.
The beauty of this dish is that while your chicken pieces are cooking in the air fryer, you can work on creating your sauce on the stovetop. Dump the chicken pieces into the sauce when they are done cooking for the perfect weeknight dinner.
I like to serve our healthy general tso chicken recipe with a side of white rice I make in my Instant Pot. For veggies, I serve with steamed or air fried broccoli.
I hope you enjoy this healthy General Tso Chicken recipe in the air fryer as much as we do.
You will want to coat chicken with Silicone Kitchen Tongs 
so coating stays on chicken when mixing and transferring to air fryer.
A skillet
for making the sauce on the stove top.
Potato Starch
Want more Chinese recipes? Try my Zucchini Mushroom Chicken Recipe.
This Copycat Rice a Roni recipe is even better than the boxed version. Make it in the Instant Pot for a hands off quick, easy, and healthier side dish.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
You ever have a random craving for a meal from your childhood? Happens to me quite often. I'll be thinking of what to create in my kitchen and I'll get a sudden urge for a dish I hadn't had in years. That's how it was when it came to this Rice a Roni.
Even as an adult, I used to buy the flavored rice and pastas from the dried goods section of the supermarket. Once I realized that these things were full of sodium and other no no ingredients, I stopped buying them.
As a matter of fact, I discovered that it was much easier and cheaper to make flavored rice out of ingredients I already had in my pantry.
Hence this homemade copycat rice a roni was born. I recall the first time I made it to go along with a delicious steak dinner I made for hubby and myself. Apparently he used to eat rice a roni as a kid too and loved it. So I made this copycat rice a roni, plated it beside a delicious steak and asparagus dinner, and waited for the verdict.
Initially, he thought it came from the box and he claimed I doctored it up somehow because it tasted so delicious. He was in shock when I told him it wasn't from a box. As a matter of fact, he didn't believe me, still doesn't believe, and always looks in the trash for a rice a roni box as evidence when I make it.
I tend to make all my rice in my Instant Pot now and this copycat rice a roni is no different. Reason being is that with the right ratio, rice cooked in the pressure cooker always comes out perfect. I tend to walk away and forget to lower the stove when it comes to stove top rice. The pressure cooker allows me to place my ingredients in the pot, set my timer, and go on to the rest of my meal. Perfection and no more burned rice bottom.
The great thing about this rice a roni is that you can prep the majority of the ingredients ahead of time. No need for a rice a roni seasoning packet when all the dry herbs and spices are in your cupboard. The only herb in this recipe that isn't dried is the parsley. Dry parsley can be substituted but fresh parsley is so much better.
I hope you enjoy this homemade copycat rice a roni as much as we do. I hope your family believes you when you tell them it's not from the box. As always, Enjoy 🙂
Looking for more Instant Pot recipes with rice? Try these out:
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice (Halal Cart Copycat)
Instant Pot Rice and Beans (Jamaican Style)
Or Find All of My Pressure Cooker Recipes Here.
This zucchini mushroom chicken is a chinese restuarant dish that can be on your dinner table in a hurry with minimum ingredients. Coated in an amazing sauce with tender chicken pieces makes this meal a winner.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
There was a point in my life that I ordered chinese food about once a week. I mean, how convenient is to sit at home, order dinner over the phone, and have it delivered piping hot at your door? Pretty convenient I'd say. And I would continue to do this until I realized that sometimes that food wasn't piping hot when it reached my door. Or sometimes I'd shell out 40 bucks for a meal that I could make for a fraction of the cost. Or sometimes the meals I ordered were very high in sodium which can cause a host of health issues.
So cooking Chinese dishes at home became a thing for me and it should become a thing for you too. So about this Zucchini Mushroom Chicken...omg delicious!!! Not only are the flavors of this dish amazing, but if you follow my technique for this recipe, you will end up with the most tender pieces of chicken breast you ever had in your meal.
Chicken breast is one of the most trickiest parts of the chicken to cook with as it's not as forgiving if you overcook it. Most chinese restaurants have mastered the chicken breast by providing succulent velvet textured chicken. How do they it you may ask? Well they...velvet the chicken.
If you do a google search about velveting chicken you will find various techniques on how to do it. Some say you should parboil the chicken first, others have it coated in cornstarch and then parboiled. Either way, most ways were too complicated and discouraging. This way is by far the easiest and brings amazing results. I find that velveting the chicken is an important step in this zucchini mushroom recipe and I hope you don't skip it. If you do, no worries, your dish will still be amazing but seriously consider giving it a try.
When it comes to stir fry at home, I usually use my large nonstick pan rather than my wok. Since I cook on an electric stovetop, there isn't enough heat to properly heat up all sides of a wok. A non-stick skillet works best for home cooks, especially those with electric burners.
I hope you enjoy this zucchini mushroom chicken recipe as much as we do. Don't forget to scroll down and check out the step by step photos for this meal.
Looking for more Zucchini Recipes? Try these Zucchini Fritters made in an Air Fryer.
Looking for more Stir fry recipes? try this one out:
Chicken and Green Bean Stir Fry
Looking for another dish with mushrooms? Try my Baked Italian Chicken with Mushrooms.
This Orange Poppy Seed Bundt Cake is a delicious citrus flavored cake with the perfect amount of poppy seed crunch. Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or an after dinner dessert.
March has arrived and I'm super hype about it. I'm only a few months closer to my all time favorite season, summer. But in the meantime, I'll just enjoy the fact that it's not freezing cold here in Carolina. Speaking of warmer weather, the change in temperature has made me want to get in the kitchen and bake more. Oddly enough, the warmer it is outside, the more I crave desserts like cakes and oven baked pies. So let me start by sharing this Orange Poppy Seed Bundt Cake Recipe with you.
I'm a huge fan of citrus desserts. Lemon meringue pie is a favorite around here and so is this Grapefruit Cake Recipe. But lemon is always the star of the desserts, so I figure why not give it a go with an orange. This Orange Poppy Seed Bundt Cake takes the cake...haha, get it?
I love this cake because it is so easy to put together and toss in your oven. I love the addition of vegetable oil rather than butter as it keeps the cake moist. I also love the addition of buttermilk for the texture and taste.
Speaking of buttermilk, I tend to run out of it quite frequently, especially when I want to use it in a baked good. I've found a good subsitution is to use 1 cup milk and 1 teaspoon of white vingear. Just combine the two in a measuring cup and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. Like magic, your milk curdles a little and makes a wonderful buttermilk subsitute.
I like to enjoy this cake with a nice hot cup of coffee and staring out my living room window. I tend to do this a lot while I listen to a great playlist. For this, Isacc Hayes Walk on By is what I enjoy listening to. I hope you enjoy this Orange Poppy Seed Bundt Cake as much as we do. Until the next baking adventure, enjoy 🙂
Looking for more dessert recipes? Try these out:
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Creamcheese Frosting
Here's an easy and delicious way to prepare the Sous Vide Egg Bites Recipe in the Instant Pot. A creamy and delicate egg all in two bites...or one if you want to gobble it up.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
Hello World! I feel like I've been flooding my most recent blog post with a ton of Instant Pot recipes. Let me apologize and start by saying that I won't be posting only Instant Pot recipes. But Gosh darn it, that Instant Pot is amazing.
I'm used to making soups, stews, and one pot meals in it but I was intrigued when I discovered that I could make eggs in the Instant Pot. No, not boiled eggs (which I hear is a great way to make a ton of boiled eggs) but creamy delicious egg bites.
Yep, but I don't use a Sous Vide machine. The first I heard of these is when Starbucks added it to their menu and called it "Sous Vide Egg Bites." They apparently use the sous vide machine but the Instant Pot gets the same velvety, creamy texture.
Let's be real, everyone and their mama got the Instant Pot for Christmas. How awesome is it that we can make this wonderful breakfast at home and save some coins when we head to our favorite coffee shop. These are the kind of a breakfast snack that can be made ahead of time. The whole family will love this grab and go breakfast.
This egg bites recipe comes together quickly and requires only a 9 minute steam time and 10 minute natural release time in the Instant Pot. There are a couple of suggested tools when making these babies...a blender, a a silicone baby food mold , and a Steamer Rack Trivet(this should have come with your instant pot).
As you can see, the texture of these eggs are creamy. This recipe isn't for you if you like your eggs hard or fried. But if you like creamy eggs and don't have the patience to make Gordon Ramsey's creamy scrambled eggs in a skillet (my favorite way to make them), then this Sous Vide Egg Bites Recipe is for you.
The best thing about these egg bites, other than the fact that they are creamy and delicious is the fact that you can hide veggies in them. I keep it simple with just adding spinach to mine. I also add bacon. Can I call bacon a veggie?
I hope you all enjoy these "Sous Vide" egg bites as much as we do. Until the next recipe.
Watch this video tutorial and see how I make these egg bites from start to finish.
Instant Pot Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge Recipe
White Cheddar Pressure Cooker Pasta
Southern Style Pressure Cooker Collard Greens
Cheddar and Sour Cream Corn on the Cob
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice (Halal Cart Copycat)
Adapted from Foodie & Wine.
This Pressure Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe is not only delicious but has only a 25 minute under pressure cook time. It's the perfect one pot dinner that can be made on any weekend or weeknight.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Oh how I love my Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker! Although I took a leave of absence from the blog, I've been getting great feedback on my Instant Pot recipes, like this Pressure Cooker Shrimp Paella or this Instant Pot Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge Recipe. So, of course, the first recipe I had to share on my return to blogging was this Pressure Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe.
One pot meals are a necessity in our meal rotations and our electric pressure cooker has been a life saver when it comes to creating these meals. Let's just say that for the last few months I've been super busy and extremely tired. Why may you ask? Well for starters, I starred in a feature-length film that is available on Amazon. It was a pretty big way to start the year and something brand new to me. But hey, YOLO (you only live once) and being an actress is now on my resume. The movie took a bit of time as I not only acted in it, but I helped with directing and editing as well. Feel free to check out the movie free on Amazon.
After the movie was made, you would think life would slow down but we chose to keep it moving. My husband and I always wanted to expand our family of 3 but were told that it would only be possible with In Vitro Fertilization(IVF). That itself was a little overwhelming. Dealing with taking shots every day, various medical procedures, and the fear that it just may not work will have you feeling overwhelmed. Regardless, it was totally worth it as we became pregnant on our first round. 8 months later, after a difficult pregnancy, our little precious daughter made her way into this world. Now our house is full of girls, sorry hubby.
It's meals like this Turkey Chili made in my Instant Pot that allowed my family to eat healthy while our lives went through so many exciting changes.
Chili used to be a meal that I thought was only available on a long weekend when you had hours to sit over a stove and stir every once in a while. Truth is, it's been a long time since I've made chili on the stove top. I'm not the hugest fan on watching food on the stove for long periods of time. The slow cooker is my 2nd favorite method for cooking chili but it didn't provide me with the last minute dinner availability. So the Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker became the perfect vessel to make this delicious turkey chili dinner.
Although my Instant pot has a slow cooker function, I prefer to use the pressure cook and sauté function only on my machine. Rumor has it that the slow cooker function on the Instant Pot isn't as good as the original slow cooker.
Although the majority of the chili we make in our house is made with beef, I wanted to try something different for my hubby and oldest daughter. Chili happens to be one of her favorites but I wanted to limit the amount of red meat we were eating. The great thing about this turkey chili is you won't even notice that there isn't beef in the chili because...well, it taste like some darn good chili.
So which is healthier? It pretty much depends on which kind of ground turkey or ground beef you buy. Fit Found Me has a great article detailing the differences between both.
So what's the secret to this delicious chili?? The spices! Of course, there is chili powder, cumin, and a dash of cinnamon. All that combined with the other ingredients gives you a dynamic chili taste.
Spices
You will get different opinions on how long you should cook anything in the pressure cooker. Some even say you can get that flavor within as little as 10 minutes cook time. I'm a firm believer that this chili deserves a good 25-minute pressure cooker time. The longer it's in there, the better the chance of getting that dynamic flavor.
Cornbread!!! or Tortilla chips. I like to top mine with sliced jalapeno, cheddar cheese, and sour cream.
It's super easy to make this chili, which makes it perfect for a weeknight or weekend meal. So spice it up and enjoy this pressure cooker turkey chili recipe. Also, it feels great to be back.
I had the opportunity to dine and relax at Dame's Chicken and Waffles Cary, NC. This new location is perfect for those that are looking for delicious Dame's entrees in a new bigger location.
I usually don't venture outside of Charlotte when it comes to my restaurant escapades, but when a friend becomes co-owner of a restaurant, I have to go check it out. Dame's Chicken and Waffles is pretty much a household name around North Carolina with locations in Durham, Greensboro, and now Cary, NC. When I heard Dame's would open in Cary, NC, I immediately got jealous. I've been waiting for them to open in Charlotte for years. But I digress...folks in Cary are lucky to have this location.
Let me start from the beginning...
I had to travel to the Triangle for work and realized that it would be a great time to catch up with my law school study group who are more like close friends rather than just old study partners. Ironically, on the morning of our planned dinner, Facebook reminded me that 10 years earlier we took a photo during out first year of law school. The majority of these friends are in private practice, one is an assistant public defender (me), 2 are bloggers, and one became co-owner of Dame's Chicken and Waffles Cary, NC. Dame's became the obvious location for us to grab a bite and catch up.
I arrived at Dame's at 7pm on a Tuesday. This location is located in a shopping center which makes parking easy. I was out of my car and at the front doors of the restaurant in no time. Once I walked in, the atmosphere of Dame's was perfect for our law school reunion. This place is much bigger than the Durham location. I immediately noticed this amazing artwork on the wall. It's painted by a local Durham artist, Artie Barksdale. Kuddos to Dame's for keeping it local. In the background, D.J. Pandora was spinning a nice jazz mix and I realized that this was a place I could relax, have great conversation, and eat.
We started our meal at Dame's in Cary with this twist on your traditional Shrimp and Grits. This version is made with a grit cake and it was my first time trying it. It's a spin on the classic grits as the outside is fried and the inside is filled with creamy grits. I loved this spin and the flavor was on point.
We next moved on to our entrees and almost everyone ordered chicken and waffles. Dame's doesn't serve your typical Chicken and Waffles. The menu offers great variety and combinations that it's hard to pick just one. Waffles range from sweet potato, gingerbread, and vegan while there are a variety of drizzles and smears that come along with it. The menu at Dame's comes is filled with suggestions but feel free to change it up, I know I did. All food is made fresh and we got our orders delivered to our table in really good time.
I ordered the gingerbread waffle with vanilla almond smear and sweet whiskey creme drizzle. It was amazing!!! The other cool thing is that my chicken breast was shaped like a heart. It's so good to be loved 🙂 I also ordered some of the calypso sauce to dip my chicken in which provided a nice spice to my meal. Each chicken and waffle entree comes with a side, which most restaurants don't offer in a chicken and waffles special. I ordered the spicy collards and they were absolutely amazing! I don't usually do collards but these were so good. So full of flavor and just the right touch of spice.
Overall, my experience at Dame's Chicken and Waffles in Cary, NC was great. The only sad face moment was that they didn't serve alcohol but a little birdie told me that is coming soon. If you've been to any Dame's, you know that the drinks are delicious. I'm sure the ones here will be as well.
So for you lucky folks in Cary, you have a wonderful gem in your city. As for me, I'll still dream of the day Dame's decides to open a location next door to my house. A girl can dream can't she.
This Awesome Quinoa Dish is a delicious spin on quinoa. Eat more quinoa with this recipe.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
April is here! Did you play any April Fools Day pranks on anyone? I didn't. My husband tried to trick me all day...he never got me. I couldn't think of anything clever so unfortunately I didn't get anyone this year. I'll have to make sure to plan something amazing next year.
So about this Awesome Quinoa Dish...it was provided to me by my friend/co-worker Kate. Funny enough, while we chatted during court sessions, I told her how much I despised quinoa. First, I had no clue on how to pronounce it correctly. Thankfully, Kate was able to teach me the right pronunciation(Keen-wah). No more strange looks when I ask where the quinoa is located in the grocery store.
Second, I just didn't like the taste. She was shocked and informed me that quinoa could be...well delicious. I doubted her at first but Kate was nice enough to write the recipe out for me with the title of "Awesome Quinoa." It took me a while to get to trying the recipe and when I finally did, I had to admit it was pretty awesome. Even my daughter loved it...and she is the pickiest.
I've been experimenting a ton with quinoa now but this quinoa dish is what really got me into it. This quinoa recipe is great as a side dish or a base for other dishes, like chicken burrito bowls or even vegetarian Buddha bowls. Feel free to sub the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
So why quinoa rather than good ol' fashion rice? Because there are a ton of health benefits associated with quinoa. I haven't given up on rice but it's a nice way to mix it up from time and time again. I hope you enjoy this quinoa recipe as much as we do. I've provided a video with this one. I've been practicing on my video creation and editing...I think I did a pretty decent job with this one. Well, until the next recipe and video.
This pressure cooker shrimp paella, made in my Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, will knock your socks off. And if you're not wearing socks, it'll make your toes curl. Not only does it have tons of flavor, but it comes together so quickly, with only a five-minute high-pressure cook time in the Instant Pot.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
I'm bizack with another Instant Pot recipe...and I'm super excited to share this one because it's such a quick and easy meal.
Although I love to cook, most weeknights, I'm exhausted, and I'd rather not stand in front of the stove, dirty up pots and pans, or order out. I'd rather order out, but then my bank account says, "No, ma'am."
It's days like that that recipes in my Instant Pot are so important. If you haven't gotten an Instant Pot yet, you're missing out. It is one of my all-time favorite kitchen appliances, outside of my oven.
I went on and on about it in my post about Instant Pot Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge, so I won't do that again here. But for those who don't know, it's an electronic pressure cooker that cuts cooking time in half.
Its sauté function makes it great for browning meat and softening onions in meals.
Alrighty, so about this Instant Pot pressure cooker shrimp paella. Well, I always keep a bag of raw frozen shrimp in our freezer at home. I love frozen shrimp because the defrost time is so quick, and the cook time is so fast.
The great thing about this recipe is that you don't even have to defrost the shrimp. It's literally a throw-it-in-the-pot kind of recipe. And if you prep your ingredients ahead of time by chopping the onions, peppers, and garlic...well, my friend, you may break the record for the quickest dinner on the table.
I remember the first time I made this for my family. My daughter was literally shocked. She thought I ordered out and didn't tell her. She couldn't believe how quickly dinner was done. I just told her I was Super Mom. She was indeed impressed.
People don't generally think of cooking shrimp in a pressure cooker. That makes sense because shrimp cooks quickly, and if it's not done right, it can lead to a rubbery mess.
Of course, the key to avoiding this is a short cooking time and using jumbo frozen shrimp with the shell on. This will ensure your shrimp is perfectly cooked.
The only slight annoyance with this recipe is the taking the shell off after cooking and before serving. Honestly, it's up to you how you handle that part. On days I'm really tired, hubby and daughter are on their own when it comes to taking off the shells. On other days, I remove it for them so I don't hear their whining.
I've included step-by-step photos of how to cook this meal in the Instant Pot. I remember when I first got my Instant Pot, I was lost on how to operate it. After pressing buttons and reading the manual 4 times, I figured it out. Well, as always, Enjoy 🙂
Looking for more Pressure Cooker Recipes? Try these out:
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice (NY Street Cart)
Instant Pot Salmon with Creamy Herb Sauce
Southern Style Pressure Cooker Collard Greens
Adapted from Health Starts in the Kitchen.
This Cinnabon Waffles Recipe is delicious and easy to make. Enjoy this sweet treat in celebration of Spring.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
So Spring is here! Hooray! Other than my allergies acting a fool, I love Spring because it means we are one season closer to my favorite season, Summer! Another cool thing about Spring are all the cool foodie holidays that happen during this time. In honor of these foodie Holiday recipes, I've included a few recipes from a few other bloggers below.
National Waffle Day is on March 25th and I decided to represent with this Cinnabon Waffle Recipe!!! Why a Cinnabon Waffle?? Well I love, love, love, love Cinnabons. They are my favorite mall treat. I love them so much that one time, on a road trip home from Maryland, I made my husband get off the highway because I swore I saw a Cinnabon sign. Well...there was no Cinnabon off that exit, apparently no sign, and 10 minutes added to our trip. Oooops. It was at that time that I realized I had it bad for this sweet treat.
I've actually made copycat Cinnabons from scratch a few times but in order to get the dough just like I like it, it takes a whole lot of mixing and rising which means a whole lotta waiting. So I needed a faster fix and decided using my waffle iron would be much better.
I tend to make this Cinnabon Waffles recipe alone or with a side of fried chicken for some good ol' Chicken and Waffles. Great thing is if I make them for dinner, I just pack up any leftover waffle batter and enjoy waffles for breakfast too.
This recipe does take a few steps but the results are the perfect waffle for Waffle Day. Perfectly waffled waffles with a brown sugar topping and cream cheese glaze. So yum.
For brown sugar topping
Don't forget to check out some of the other post for some other great foodie holiday recipes. Until next time...
Looking for more breakfast recipes? Try my Pumpkin Waffles, Pressure Cooker Bread Pudding or Creamy Instant Pot Cheddar and Jalapeño Grits.
March 20th National Ravioli Day
Biscuits & Savvy | Spinach Ravioli with Ricotta Bacon Filling
March 23rd National Chips and Dip Day
Stay Snatched | Smoked Cheddar Jalapeno Bacon Dip
March 27th National World Whiskey Day
March 30th National Turkey Neck Soup Day
This Beet Apple Carrot Juice is one of my favorite juice recipes. Yes, raw beets can be delicious!
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
The first time I had beets, which wasn't that long ago, I thought they were the grossest thing on the planet. Seriously, I wondered why anyone would even consider eating them. Granted, the beets I tried were pickled and I ate them by themselves. So for a while, I left the beets alone.
Then one day, I was reading...as I tend to do often because I'm a smarty pants, and discovered that beets have a ton of health benefits. Like a freaking ton. And since I'm on this whole healthy kick in my life (except for the fact that I've been test baking macarons every night), I decided I was going to have to find a way to get beets in my belly, other than pickled of course. Hence the creation of this Beets Apple Carrot Juice recipe.
I played around with a lot of different ingredients when it came to creating beet juice. The first time I had way too many things added and decided to keep it simple with what was in my kitchen at the time, which happened to be beets, carrots, and Honeycrisp apples. Once I mixed these together, I was surprised by how delicious it was and it became my go-to breakfast drink.
Now of course, there were a few...umm, complications when it came to drinking this beet juice. First, this beet apple carrot juice causes a little stomach discomfort initially. Oh heck, I'll call it what it is...It causes gas. My hubby seriously threatened to leave and I provided so much laughter to my daughter when I started drinking this juice. Now I can't be sure if this was caused totally by the beet juice or the fact that I started eating fruits and vegetables like crazy. If your body isn't used to tons of healthy food, it may react like that initially. I no longer have this problem if anyone was wondering.
Also, be prepared for your...umm...bodily waste to turn red. Don't freak out., it's normal and won't last that long. Again, your body has to get used to all the beet love. Other than those weird occurrences, beets are great!!!
So what about those health benefits of this beet apple carrot juice you may ask? Here's a nice list for ya
Both work wonderfully...however, if you decide to blend...I'd use a high quality blender and strain the juice afterwards.
Well, I hope you like this beets carrot apple juice recipe as much as I do. I'll be sure to continue to include more healthy (and non healthy...I love my sweets man) recipes in the coming weeks. Until next time...
Looking for more beet recipes? Try these beet chips or these sautéed beet greens.
This Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Recipe is a delicious treat. They are thin, crispy, and yummy.
This Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Recipe quickly became a favorite in our household. These are so thin, so crispy, so chewy, and so yummy. There are different kind of cookie lovers in the World. Those who like the fluffy cookie, like my Easy Pumpkin Cookie Recipe, or those who like the crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle cookie. In our house, these tend to be a favorite.
There are plenty...and I mean plenty of recipes for chocolate chip cookies on the net...and it's obvious why, soft chocolate chip cookies are amazing! But I like to add a bit extra when I make mine, adding additional ingredients to the base recipe. The inspiration I got for this recipe is a from German Chocolate Cake. German Chocolate happens to be hubby's favorite kind of cake and although he ask for me to make it quite often, I ain't got time for all that. Instead, I figured why not add some coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips to the cookie batter and BAM...just like a German Chocolate Cake in a fraction of the time. Well not exactly but hey, the cookie is still delicious.
It took a lot of practice to get these chocolate chip pecan cookies thin, crispy, and chewy like I like and the results were consistent. Make sure to check out the Notes Section below on some tips to ensure your cookies are the same.
Looking for more Cookie Recipes? Try these out:
This Shamrock Mint Hot Chocolate Recipe is perfect for St. Patrick's Day! Well, it's perfect any day of the year. If you like chocolate and mint, you are in for a real treat.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
The weather in NC has been so flip floppy, with one day it being cold and windy till the next day it being bikini weather. Well my body isn't bikini ready yet soooo womp womp. Either way, I like hot drinks year round, no matter what the weather. My husband thought I was crazy when we went to South Florida and I ordered hot coffee in 90 degree weather. I don't know, there's just something about that warm drink in my belly.
Despite the wacky warm weather, I found it the perfect time to talk about this Shamrock Mint Hot Chocolate recipe since St. Patrick's Day is near.
Now I won't act like I thought of this idea for Shamrock Mint Hot Chocolate out of the green....hehe, get it? I actually found out that McDonalds has a Shamrock Hot Chocolate when I was searching around for a recipe for the green Shamrock Milkshake. Rather than getting in my car and driving to McDonalds to try this hot chocolate, I walked to my kitchen and made my own...and I loved it. I've never had the McDonald's Shamrock Hot Chocolate and I probably never will because this one is so good. And you simply can't beat homemade hot chocolate.
So what makes this Shamrock Hot Chocolate so special?? Mint of course. If you follow the blog, you probably know that I love mint chocolate. I love it so much that I make these Mint Oreo Cupcakes for Two whenever I crave the combo. Funny thing is that my hubby and daughter, who claim they can't stand mint and chocolate mixed together, actually liked this hot chocolate. I swear they
Easy to make...let's see, shall we...
First, grab some semisweet chocolate and break it into pieces...
Then heat 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup milk, and 3 tablespoon sugar over medium low heat just until it starts to bubble...
Then whisk in 3 tablespoon cocoa powder until it becomes dissolved. Then add your chocolate pieces...
Stir until melted. Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract...
Pour in mugs (tall glass ones are pretty) and top with whipped cream and green sprinkles. Enjoy 🙂
This Cheesy Corned Beef Hash Breakfast Casserole is the perfect breakfast option for this St. Patrick's Day.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Alright, it's February and I've already been thinking about St. Patrick's Day. Whenever I realize St. Patrick's Day is among us, I get ready with the mint desserts, corned beef recipes, and lucky charms. I know, there is a lot of history behind the Holiday and I appreciate that...but I really get excited about them turning that river in Chicago green.I know, I'm a little nerdy but green is my favorite color.
So about this corned beef hash breakfast casserole... I'm a lover of make ahead easy breakfast recipes and this casserole is just that. I like to make it on a meal prep day and eat it for a few days of the week by popping it in the microwave. Of course, that's only when there are any leftovers.
Most of my egg casseroles are meatless but I wanted to get a little creative with this one with the corned beef. Once we tried it, we loved it and I've made it this way a few times already. Hope you enjoy this corned beef hash casserole as much as we do.
Need more St. Patrick's Day meal ideas? Check out my Corned Beef and Cabbage - Jamaican Style and my Mint Oreo Cupcakes for Two
Need more Breakfast recipes? Try these out:
These Chai Tea Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing are a delicious treat. Just think of a Chai Latte but in cupcake form. So delicious, so fun!
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
I may be a bit late to the game but I just found my love for chai tea! I was never a big tea drinker but started getting into them when I decided to give up coffee for lent last year. You can read about that experience here.
Will I give up coffee this year? I don't know, I may but I would be fine either way thanks to Chai Tea! In addition to my new love for Chai Tea, I also have a love for cupcakes. Well, I've always loved cupcakes but decided it was time to bring my two loves together. Say hello to these Chai Tea Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing!
So this tea obsession of mine was pretty serious. I have green tea, black tea, purple tea (hibiscus) and a host of others chilling in my cabinet waiting to be drunk. I can't say I loved all the teas I've tried but have found an appreciation for the many that exist. Tea has always calmed me during times of high stress. The aroma is what gets my nerves to pause and relax.
So how did we get to cupcakes? The last cup of chai tea I made tasted like dessert, only because I sweetened with milk and sugar and topped it with whipped cream and cinnamon. I think professional tea drinkers would frown upon that but it was sooo good. The next natural step would be cupcakes.
These chai tea cupcakes remind me of spice cupcakes, because I used a lot of spice in them. It literally reminds me of a chai latte I would get from my favorite coffee shot. The buttercream icing is a typical butter cream flavor to contrast all the flavor of the cupcake. And of course, I topped with cinnamon to make them perty.
I hope you enjoy these chai tea cupcakes as much as we do. Daughter snuck and ate 4 in a row the first time I made them. I couldn't even stay mad at her.
Looking for more cupcake or mini cake recipes? Try my red velvet cupcakes or these mini rum carrot cakes.
This Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Recipe is a perfect easy side dish for any dinner. The added rosemary and garlic give it wonderful flavor.
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You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Cauliflower...oh the wonderful neglected vegetable in my kitchen. I loved cauliflower growing up, especially raw dipped in tons of ranch. But for the last few years, cauliflower has been pretty absent from my diet. Such a shame.
Now that I'm a grown up, a wife, and a parent, I think it's time I start incorporating this vegetable (and a host of others I neglected) back into our kitchen and into our diet. First step will be with this easy roasted cauliflower and sweet potato recipe.
Now when I say easy, I mean easy. I just preheated my oven, chopped these veggies, added some oil and rosemary and garlic, and popped it in the oven.
This was the perfect side dish for my entrees. One night I ate this as the main course without meat. I don't know if that's healthy but I sure got full.
Speaking of full, my time has been feeling quite full lately...watching reruns of Living Single. Remember that show? Best friends in the 90s living as roommates.
It's funny because I was around 10 when that show was on t.v. I never could relate to the characters at that time (I mean, I was 10) but watching it in my 30s (early 30s) I absolutely can relate.
One episode in particular really sparked my interest. Maxine Shaw, an attorney who worked at a law firm, was fired from her job and had took up new employment at a telephone agency. Well...the agency turns out to be shady and all the employees and the owner end up getting arrested and find themselves in court.
Maxine Shaw is appointed a public defender and this guy is terrible. As a matter of fact, he represents the stigma t.v. gives a lot of public defenders, overworked, cases not even looked at before court, and urging clients to plea.
Well no worries...Maxine Shaw fired him, defended herself, and won her case! She also ended up representing all of the other employees of the call agency and got them all off. As a matter of fact, the Judge was so impressed by Maxine's work that she recommended her to the Public Defender's Office and she began to work there.
Ok, so I just recapped an entire episode of Living Single (spoiler alert) but I do so with good reason. I work as a Public Defender and the stigma giving to these lawyers, well it is a tad bit annoying.
I know many Maxine Shaw's who handle heavy case loads like a boss. Researching issues and ensuring that every client's case gets the care and attention it needs.
Either way, I was impressed how although the show initially cast Public Defenders in a bad light, I did like how Maxine Show represented quite the opposite.
A maverick attorney who is sharp, hard working, and aggressive for her clients. Now what does this have to do with this roasted cauliflower and sweet potato recipe? Not a darn thing...I just really like that episode and wanted to shout out my amazing Public Defender friends.
I hope you enjoy this cauliflower and sweet potato recipe as much as we do. Now off to watch more Living Single...
Looking for more cauliflower recipes? Try my roasted cauliflower dip recipe.
Looking for a few recipes to serve this side dish with? Try these out:
Air Fryer Steak with Garlic Herb Butter
This Mini Spinach & Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf Recipe is perfect for any weeknight dinner. Enjoy it with a side of mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
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You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Oh for the love of meatloaf! Well, for the love of mozzarella stuffed meatloaf. Add some spinach to it and it's the perfect combo.
Our household loves meatloaf but the typical meatloaf requires a big hunk of meat be baked in an oven for an entire hour. That's a super long time if you're making it for a weeknight dinner. It's definitely not worth it if all you'll hear for an entire hour is "is it done yet" and "let's just order pizza, I'm starving." Dang on hubby and kid.
These mini meatloafs come together in a breeze and only require a 25-30 minute bake time. The advantage of making any dish in mini form is usually less cooking time. Plus, these meatloafs are just so darn cute!
Speaking of cute, did you get a chance to watch the New Edition Story on BET?? Oh my gosh, amazing!!!! I've always loved New Edition. "Can you stand the rain" "Mr. Telephone Man" and "If it isn't love" are some of my favorite songs of all time. Let's just say that my house and car have been blasting all the hits since it aired. I sure hope they put it on DVD because I am buying.
I sure hope you all enjoy this mini meatloaf stuffed with mozzarella and spinach recipe as much as my family does. Such an easy way to incorporate veggies and cheese in a weeknight dinner. Check out the video below for further instructions. As always, Enjoy 🙂
Looking for more meatloaf recipes? Try my Air Fryer Meatloaf.
This Jamaican Callaloo and Saltfish recipe is the perfect main course or side dish for any meal. Generally eaten for breakfast in Jamaica, this delicious dish can be served at any time of the day.
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You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
What a gwan?
Translation: What is going on?!?
You gon fi luv mi callaloo n sal fish recipe.
Translation:You are going to love my callaloo and saltfish recipe.
I love speaking Jamaican patios but my mom tells me I sound horrible when I try. Although I was raised in a Jamaican household, I was raised in the lovely states of Maryland and Florida and only visited Jamaica once in a while. When I speak patios I sound like the actors in Cool Runnings. Great movie but horrible accents. Moving on...
I was honored to be invited to a Black History Month Virtual Potluck, organized by Meiko of Meiko And The Dish and Aaron of The Hungry Hutch. This potluck will include 28 of some of the best black food bloggers in the world. We are talking Southern, African, Caribbean, Creole...all kinds of amazing recipes.
[Read more...]These are the best red velvet cupcakes you will ever have! So red, so velvet, so good.
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You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Yes, you read it right, these are the Best Red Velvet Cupcakes in the whole wide world! That's such a bold statement but it is what it is. They are so moist, so delicious, and so red. They never disappoint and the recipe is easy peasy.
These cupcakes are rich and moist. I've had dry red velvet cupcakes before and it made me so angry. Like really mad, lol. When you bite into a red velvet cupcake, it should be light and fluffy yet moist, not dense.
The other necessity for a red velvet cupcake is the cream cheese frosting. Cream cheese frosting is a must to achieve the best red velvet cupcake.
To refrigerate: The dairy in the cream cheese frosting means the cupcakes must be stored in the refrigerator, and not on the counter-top. Once baked, cooled, and frosted, place the cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To freeze: If you plan to freeze these cupcakes, do so before adding the cream cheese frosting. Bake and cool the cupcakes, then place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, or at room temperature for a couple of hours, then whip up the frosting and top the cupcakes.
Red velvet cake is a vanilla cake that is flavored with some cocoa powder. The red velvet comes from the red food coloring that is added to the cake batter.
No red velvet is not a chocolate cake, it is a vanilla-based cake with far less cocoa added than you would in a regular chocolate cake.
Both buttermilk and vinegar are acidic, so they balance out the sweetness and add a little tang to any cake they are added to.
If you have tried this Red Velvet Cupcake recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Cake Recipe adapted from Southern Plate
This Sweet Chilli Thai Cucumber Salad is the perfect refreshing salad to go along any meal. Chop, chop, chop the veggies and herbs and let it marinate for a great salad.
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You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Finally, a salad recipe! woo hoo! Although I am sure most readers don't mind the baked goods, like this Mini Rum Carrot Cake or the comfort food like this Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese. Hehehe. But like everyone else, I've made a resolution to get more veggies in my diet. Now don't get me wrong, we were doing pretty well with getting veggies in our diet but I know my hubby and baby girl were getting a wee bit tired of the same ol' side salad with dinner every night. That's where this cucumber salad comes about.
I was in the grocery store perusing the produce aisle because....well, it's kind of fun looking at vegetables and herbs and sniffing them. Am I the only one that does this? Then I came across the cucumbers and picked some up because they were on sale. Anyone else buy produce just because it's on sale? I initially planned on slicing these babies up and putting it on some lettuce with a whole lot of ranch dressing. Yummy! But I knew my family would want something a tad bit different.
I recalled seeing a cucumber salad recipe on the side of a Thai sweet chili bottle and decided that's what needed to go on these cucumbers. I don't recall Add the red onion, red peppers, cilantro, and lime juice and you have a winner winner.
I sure hope you enjoy this Sweet Chili Thai Cucumber Salad as much as we do. Until the next recipe...
Looking for more salad recipes? Try these out:
Kale and Broccoli Salad with Sweet and Sour Dressing
Cranberry Pecan Apple Salad Recipe
This Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge Recipe is one I grew up eating. Now my daughter, hubby, and I enjoy this recipe almost weekly. Make it in the Instant Pot for a hands off breakfast.
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You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
*Updated on 11/17/19
Update: After feedback by some readers on the Burn Signal this recipe may cause, I've updated this post. I've tested this recipe in multiple Instant Pot machines and could never get a burn signal. I was able to purchase an Instant Pot that was more sensitive to giving off a burn and was able to figure out the cause.
Some of the newer designs are more susceptible to giving off a burn while many older models won't. If your machine does give off a burn with this recipe, simply release the pressure valve to relase all the pressure, open the machine, whisk the ingredients and cook on sauté until thickened, about 8-10 more minutes. Then add in your condensed milk. Or, you can make my stovetop cornmeal porridge recipe.
Instapot!!! Ok, I know...it's called Instant Pot, but I like saying Instapot! I got an instant pot over the Christmas break and I've been loving this thing. What the heck is an Instant Pot you may ask?!? Well that's what I wondered when I ordered it with no clue what it was. But everyone was getting it so I wanted one too. Well, it's pretty much a pressure cooker. An electronic genius pressure cooker that won't blow up in your kitchen if you follow the instructions. It has tons of settings and you can find one on Amazon for a pretty reasonable price.
My instant pot has a bunch of settings, from meat, poultry, soup, saute, slow cooker, and porridge. Yes, there is a setting on the instant pot for porridge. It isn't quite clear what they expect to be made with this setting but I automatically thought about Jamaican cornmeal porridge and got excited. Pretty much the reason I bought mine.
Jamaican cornmeal porridge is simply made with yellow cornmeal, milk, water, spices, and condensed milk. That's it for this easy breakfast. It's served warm and I like to serve mine with a side of bacon. I would serve everything with a side of bacon if I could. Bacon is amazing.
I hope you enjoy this easy peasy breakfast recipe as much as we do. Keep a lookout for some other Instapot recipes to come your way. This thing is pretty cool.
Looking for other Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes? Try these out:
This mini rum carrot cake recipe may be the cutest thing you make all year. They are so cute and perfect for giving away to family and friends. They are also perfect for Valentine's Day.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Happy New Year! 2017 is among us and it's time for me to come off my vacation and comply with all my New Year's resolutions. So for my first recipe for the new year, I decided to share this Mini Rum Carrot Cake Recipe. OK, I'm lying...I originally decided to share another recipe as the first recipe of the year and for some reason, I can't find where I wrote out the recipe. 2017 is off to a great start! No worries, I'm sure I will come across that recipe one of these days but for now, I think these mini rum carrot cakes are a great way to start the year.
One of my changes that I intend to make to the blog for this year is to incorporate more Caribbean and African recipes to the blog. I'm half Jamaican and half African (Sierra Leone) so it seems like something I should just do, right? Plus, hubby and daughter are asking for it so why not. This won't become a blog only dedicated to those kinds of recipes alone, at least I don't think it will, but I would love to recreate some dishes from my culture so you all can see some of the foods I grew up eating.
So what about that this lovely Rum Carrot Cake Recipe?!? Well...I asked my Jamaican grandmother for some recipes and she laughed at me. Thanks Granny! She wasn't one to write down her recipes and she sure didn't take photos and blog about them. However, she collected a few cookbooks and was happy to hand them over to me. One of those cookbooks was Caribbean Cookbook by Rita G. Springer, published in 1968. There was a Carrot Pudding with Rum Sauce Recipe that I had to try. So I ran to my kitchen, created the recipe, and it was not a pudding at all. Instead, the batter was more like a cake batter so I decided these would become mini rum carrot cakes. I decided to create a cream cheese rum glaze to cover these cakes because cream cheese glaze rocks. Like seriously, what other glaze is better?
I decided to make these mini because the batter is not enough for a full cake recipe. I didn't want to double it and felt that mini worked better for many reasons. First, these are great to give away around the Holidays and these are a perfect treat for Valentine's Day. I don't know about you all, but me and my hunny love boozy desserts for Valentine's Day. I think it's obvious why. Second, mini recipes are just the cutest!
Well there you have it. Full video demonstration on how I make these Mini Rum Carrot Cakes is below. Here's to a wonderful 2017!
Looking for more mini recipes for Valetine's Day? Try these Coffee Brownies for Two with Hazelnut Glaze
Looking for more Cake Recipes?
If you like this Caribbean recipe, you'll also like this Sweet Potato Pudding.
This delicious and easy Spiced Iced Sweet Tea recipe is perfect for the Holidays. Enjoy it as you celebrate the Holiday season. This post is sponsored by Southern Breeze but as always, all opinions are 100% mine.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
'Tis the season for spice and everything nice, especially this spiced iced sweet tea! I love this time of year. The Holidays seems to bring out all the joy in my bones as everyone is in the giving spirit and all the best desserts get baked around this time of year. It's when bakers pull out all the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and sometimes even the rum...yea ya'll, I love me a good rum cake.
I'll be honest though, we haven't finished with our Christmas decorations. Lucky for me, hubby bought one of those flashing light tools that shine lights on the house rather than hanging lights so we aren't at a total lost. We have a tree up, albeit doesn't have decorations yet, and a really creepy elf has been creeping around the house moving about as we sleep. Other than that, our household is failing on showing our Holiday spirit.
I was able to bring a little Holiday spirit around the house by creating this Spiced Iced Sweet Tea recipe with two of my favorite spices, cinnamon and cloves, and Lemon Flavored Southern Breeze Sweet Tea.
This Spiced Sweet Iced Tea recipe comes together in a breeze and only requires 4 ingredients.
First, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. I don't have a tea kettle so a good nice pot works fine for me. Place 2 Lemon flavored Southern Breeze Sweet tea tea bags in the water along with 1 teaspoon of whole cloves and 2 cinnamon sticks.
Whole Cloves
Cinnamon Sticks
Allow to steep for 5-10 minutes. 5 minutes is recommended but I always get distracted and my tea bags end up staying around 10. Tea still good though.
Remove the tea bags from the water and transfer the tea to a pitcher, leaving the spices inside. They will sink to the bottom of your pitcher but they will continue to flavor your drink. Refrigerate until cold and serve over ice.
That's it! Easy Peasy Right. I hope you and your family enjoy this Spiced Iced Sweet Tea Recipe and have a wonderful Holiday Season 🙂 I'm off to get some decorations for this tree of our ours 🙂
This Easy Seafood Chowder Recipe is a perfect choice for this winter. Delicious, full of seafood goodness, and super easy to make.
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You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
I would probably eat seafood every day of the week if I could. Seriously, there's something I love about shrimp, crab, mussels, etc. Oddly enough, I don't cook with it as often I should. Perhaps because the majority of the time I have chicken on my mind and the majority of our weeknight meals have some form of poultry. However, this easy seafood chowder has crept into our dinner rotation so much that I had to share the recipe with you all.
When I think of seafood chowder, the word easy never usually crossed my mind...until I came across this recipe. I had been searching the interwebs for a good soup recipe and somehow stumbled across this one. Fact is, it's so easy that it can be made in about 30 minutes and nothing needs to be thawed out. This is perfect for me as I always forget to thaw my frozen meat out. In all honesty, I have been a little slack in planning my meals the last few months. Perhaps this is the reason why seafood has crept into our rotation so often. Shrimp and mussels thaw and cook quite quickly.
Nope, there is no need. Sounds crazy but seafood cooks quickly and can be cooked from frozen and will have great texture in your final dish. You don't want your seafood to over cook. I find adding it in while frozen helps. It's a method I use for my Pressure Cooker Shrimp Paella. With this soup, the broth is prepared first and the frozen seafood is added and cooked within a matter of 5-10 minutes.
I like to serve this meal in these cute french onion soup bowls so we can hold the handle while we eat our soup. It's perfect for those of us who like to eat our soup in bed.
Let me know if you try this Easy Seafood Chowder Recipe. If you post it on the social media, please hashtag #myforkinglife so I can let you know how amazing you are.
Looking for more soup recipes? Try my Pressure Cooker Sausage lentil and sausage soup recipe.
Recipe adapted from Food.com
It's officially Holiday Season and although I somewhat feel it's a bit early to see all the Christmas decorations out in the stores, it's a reminder that I need to go on and get my list together. I truly feel that everyone has an inner love for cooking.
O.k. maybe not but you may have that person in your life who has started to take an interest in cooking and you're wondering which book to get them. This list of the best cookbooks for beginners should help you with that purchase. All of these I have found tremendously helpful in my foodie life.
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1. How to Cook Everything The Basics: All You Need to Make Great Food--With 1,000 Photos
This is the book that started my love for cooking and my eventual creation of My Forking Life. It literally teaches you How to Cook Everything, from how to scramble eggs, to salads, soups, entrees, breads, desserts...you name it! I even made cornbread from scratch with this book. I've used this book so much that it is literally falling apart. I still pull it out when I am looking for recipe inspiration. Each recipe comes with photo instructions as well as tips and variations for each recipe. This book is the perfect cookbook for a beginner chef.
[Read more...]These Scalloped Potatoes with Blue Cheese are a great spin on your traditional scalloped potatoes. Impress your friends and family with this fancy side dish.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
What happens when the Managing Director of the French Dairy Board comes to your town and discusses all kinds of cheeses from overseas? You halfway listen and stuff your mouth with all the beautiful cheese. Ok, no...don't do that, you should actually listen and focus less on stuffing your face. But yea, I stuffed my face. So yea, there was that time that the Managing Director of the French Dairy Board came to visit and I ate cheese until my heart was filled with joy. I posted this picture on my Instagram from the event.
One of the cheeses I was able to try was the Saint Agur Blue Cheese. This Blue Cheese was simply amazing! Creamy with just the right amount of strength. I despise blue cheese that is way too strong. The flavor is present but it's not too intense, which is usually the problem with most blue cheeses. Hubby always says that blue cheese taste like soap (I have no clue what he means by that) but when he tried this one, he actually liked it.
So I brought the cheese home and had fun with it. First, I drizzled some honey over it (a trick the Managing Director of the French Diary Board taught me) and had it as a snack with a glass of wine. Then I stared at it and asked "what in the world do you want me to do with you?!" And Eureka!!! Scalloped potatoes with blue cheese popped into my mind!
The cool thing about these scalloped potatoes with blue cheeese is that they are super easy to make. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, easy and fancy recipes are a must. Who has times to slave over the side dishes when so much time will be spent on the turkey...and the pies. In less than an hour, you can have this in the oven baking up, ready for dinner. Also, everyone will think you are so fancy because blue cheese is so much fancier than cheddar.
As always, Enjoy 🙂
Recipe adapted from Blue Cheese Potatoes Gratin
This Simple Pumpkin Cake Recipe is the perfect sweet treat for the Fall. No mixer needed when making this delicious Southern and Simple cake.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
Fall is here! O.k, it's been here for a while but I think I am just starting to accept it. We have had warm weather here in Charlotte and it's just starting to really feel like Fall. Booooooo!!!! I am not a fan of cold weather and all the shivers it brings to my body. I guess all is not negative when it comes to the weather changing, especially when it comes to food. Bring on the chillis, the soups, and pumpkin flavored everything. Speaking of pumpkin, I am now officially tired of it. However, before I toss out all my canned pumpkins sitting in my cabinet, I wanted to share this Simple Pumpkin Cake Recipe.
This Pumpkin Cake Recipe is something I discovered in the Southern Cakes: Sweet and Irresistible Recipes for Everyday Celebrations. I encourage everyone to check out this book. There truly are some gems inside.
Back in July, when the weather was lovely, I saw a co-worker of mine with the book. I asked to browse through it briefly and asked if at some point I could borrow it. Not too long after, the book ended up in my mailbox at work. There are a tons of cakes in here that I said I would try before I return it. So far, I've only tried this one. I've had it held hostage since then because I want to try more recipes. I promise I will return it soon y'all.
This cake came out with the perfect consistency between being moist and crumby. The flavor reminds me of a spice cake with a pumpkin twist. The frosting is a lemon cream cheese frosting and it is a perfect combination when it comes to flavor. Another cool thing about this cake is that I made it with no mixer. I love my red KitchenAid but sometimes a Classic Wooden Kitchen Spoon is so much better. In fact, it's what the book recommends when it comes to combining the ingredients.
I hope you continue to enjoy the Fall if cold weather is you're kind of thing. I also hope you enjoy this recipe 🙂 Let me apologize in advance of having no video of me creating this beautiful cake. Darn camera wouldn't let me be great.
This breakfast granola recipe is not only delicious, it's healthy and super easy to make. Make your own batch in less than an hour.
This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.
You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!
It's super hard for me to get the energy to eat breakfast in the morning before work. Like seriously, I know it's extremely important to eat a healthy breakfast so your brain can function but I usually just don't have an appetite early in the morning. Am I the only one with this problem? Anyways, I strive for ways to get breakfast in my belly without too much fuss. Like seriously, not trying to cut the stove on in the AM before work. which is why make ahead breakfast recipes, like these Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookies and this Strawberry Baked Oatmeal are perfect for me or anyone else who struggles with making breakfast before work. Oh le struggle!
The beautiful thing about this breakfast granola recipe is that it can be made ahead and stored. I like to make my breakfast granola on the weekend and eat it throughout the week. I store it for about a week but it usually doesn't even last that long. I eat this stuff for breakfast and snack.
It's also healthy! ok ok, yes it has white chocolate chips which may not be the healthiest thing on the planet, but with chia seeds and wheat germ added, I think it makes up for it.
I like to pile a ton of this healthy breakfast granola on yogurt or put it in milk and eat it as cereal. It can be eaten alone if that's your thing but I'm a big fan of dairy. So bring on the milk and yogurt.
