Recipe #326: Strawberry Pizza!

You need:
baseball sized ball of pizza dough
chocolate chips
whipped cream
strawberries

• preheat oven to about 450 or 500 
• roll out pizza dough
• once the baking stone is heated put pizza dough inside
• about 5 minutes afterwards punch down dough and sprinkle on chocolate chips
• bake until pizza dough is cooked through
• take out and let cool. 
• top with strawberries and whipped cream

Recipe #325: The Ron Swanson vs.Chris Traeger

This is what Will wanted to call it...I mean look at the picture.

sweet potatoes vs. steak...

got to love parks and rec! :)

The weather is warm and most of our cooking is done on the grill! We love doing sweet potatoes on the grill. So healthy and delicious! And there is the steak. probably not as healthy but pretty delicious!

You need:

Steak (I got these from Will's mom so I have no idea what kind they were!)

Barbecue sauce. We used Jack Stack barbecue sauce I got while I was in Kansas City, MO. I used it earlier with pork chops but haven't posted it yet!

• Marinate steaks in barbecue sauce. keep in fridge for a while.
• grill at around 400 for about 30 minutes. (depending on how done you like it!)

Eat up! Will was so happy while eating tonight! :)

Recipe #324: Almond Joy Pancakes

These were so delicious!

You need:
Pancake Recipe
chocolate chips
cut up almonds
coconut

• mix up the pancake batter
• add in the almonds and coconut, and mix again
• pour about a 1/4 cup of batter onto a hot pan. add chocolate chips
• when the pancake starts to bubble flip over.
• cook a couple more minutes
• enjoy with powdered sugar or syrup!

Recipe #323: Cinnamon and Sugar Foccocia

You need:
1 small grapefruit size of pizza dough
cinnamon and sugar
olive oil

• heat oven to 450
• spread olive oil on the bottom of a pie pan
• roll out the dough into a circle that it the size of your pan
• place dough in pan, flip to cover both sides with the oil.
• indent the dough with your finger to keep it from puffing up so much.
• add cinnamon and sugar on top
• bake for 15 minutes or until done
• remove from pie tin and allow to cool 
• then eat!

Recipe #322: Cranberry Almond Chocolate Bark

I was really in the mood for some chocolate the other day, almond chocolate to be exact and was pretty happy with the end result!

You need:
Chocolate (baking works great--use maybe 4-6 squares)
almonds
cranberries
coconut
pinch of sea salt

• Melt chocolate in microwave.
• add in desired amounts of almond, cranberries, and coconut.
• mix in a pinch of sea salt and then stir until everything is evenly coated
• spread out on parchment paper and sprinkle some more coconut on top.
• Let cool for a couple hours then break into chunks!

Don't eat it all at once! 

Recipe #321: Cranberry, Almond and Spinach Salad

You need:
cucumbers
spinach
cranberries
almonds, finely cut
balsamic vinegar

• mix cucumbers, spinach, cranberries, and almonds together
• pour vinegar over salad and mix up

Recipe #320: Baked Sweet Potato

I am so out of practice! It has been a crazy, busy, horrible month. But May is just around the corner and hopefully the showers of April are behind me!

I decided to not to go all the way to the beginning of the month but I will catch up on those when i have time...I am already behind from last week!

I don't think I have done baked sweet potatoes yet!

You need:

3 sweet potatoes

1/2 lb ground beef

shredded cheese 

sour cream or greek yogurt

barbecue sauce

• microwave sweet potatoes for 6-8 minutes depending on the size
• meanwhile, brown ground beef. 
• drain fat then add some barbecue sauce and mix up.
• top potatoes with sour cream, beef, and cheese.
• enjoy with roasted veggies!

Blogging break...

Well in the last couple of weeks I have made...

#308: oreo pie

#309: salsa













#310: snickerdoodles













#311: caprese hamburgers













#312: cinnamon roll pancakes













#313: barbecue pork chops and #314: oven roasted veggies

#315: sesame broccoli and #316: mini spinach meatloaves

#317: Rosemary white pizza

#318: spinach and salami pizza














#319: chocolate pudding pie
(no picture!)

But in the last two weeks I have been out of town 7 days and been playing catch up the other half....

one of these days I will catch up on the other recipes! 

Until then...happy cooking, baking and grilling! :)

Side Dish #23: Garbage find makeover!

I had been thinking how we needed to get a table that was Alex-sized so we could attempt to eat outside a little better. Well, as we were driving home the other day I saw a dirty old kids picnic table in someone's garbage pile. Much to Will's horror I made him go back and get it! :)

This was after the first hose down! 

But later Alex and I took some soap and water to it and the dirt and junk came right off...

It was still really faded looking with 80s colors, so...

some khaki, hunter green, and a uv protector coat later...

(they make spray paint for plastic...yay!!)

the finished product! :)

I love how it turned out!

a perfect place for Alex to sit (I hope!) while we enjoy some meals outdoors!

The boy is happiest when he is outside and now I hope it will be easier to eat outside too!

Recipe #307: Homemade General Tso's Chicken

I needed a meal today and just got my new copy of Everyday with Rachel Ray so found a quick and easy meal to make This is a great variation of your favorite take out! :)

You need:
1 egg white
5 Tbsp cornstarch or flour
1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce (and then another 1 tsp)
1 Tbsp ground ginger
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tsp sesame oil
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
1 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 Tbsp oil
1/2 white onion, cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced

• whisk together egg white, 4 tbsp flour, 1 tsp soy sauce and 1/2 tsp ginger in a medium sized bowl. add in chicken and mix until evenly coated
• in another small bowl combine sesame oil, 1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce, remaining flour, ginger and then honey and vinegar
• pour oil into pan and let it heat a bit. start adding in chicken (do it in two or more batches so that there is one layer on the bottom of your pan) take out when no longer pink and set aside on a plate
• meanwhile cut onion and garlic
• after last batch of chicken is done add garlic and onion into the pan.
• add sesame oil mixture, then chicken. stir fry for several minutes, until chicken is done.
• serve with rice and broccoli!

I added in the broccoli later, but you can eat separately too! :)

Recipe #306: Popcorn Chicken

I found the recipe here!

You need:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup flour
cooking oil

• cut chicken into one inch pieces
• season with salt and pepper
• heat oil over medium high heat
• dip chicken in buttermilk then roll in flour
• heat in oil until cooked through

enjoy with rice and your choice of dipping sauce!

Recipe #305: Chocolate Chip Cookies

This was an old recipe from reader's digest. I don't think I will ever make them again though, they did not hold their shape well at all. But at the same time I don't remember them having that problem before. However, it is marvelous cookie dough because there are no eggs in the recipe! :)



You Need:
1 cup soft butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup boiling water
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups quick oats
12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

• cream butter and sugar together
• dissolve baking soda in boiling water
• stir into butter/sugar mixture
• add vanilla, then dry ingredients and chips
• I refrigerated them for about an hour.
• drop small balls onto ungreased cookie sheet
• bake 10-15 minutes at 350.

Recipe #304: Spinach Manicotti

This is a recipe from a wonderful missionary friend! She added it to a cookbook I made for my sister. I am finally trying some of them out too! :) I actually doubled this recipe, but I will just share the measurements for one! :)

You need:

1 small carton of ricotta cheese (15 oz)

1/4-1/2 bag of fresh spinach, cut up into small pieces

1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

3/4 cup parmesan cheese

1 egg

1/2 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 jar spaghetti sauce (28 oz)

1 cup of water

1 package of manicotti shells

• in a large bowl, combine ricotta, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesean, egg, garlic, and pepper
• in the bottom of a 9x13 dish spread a little bit of spaghetti sauce and 1/4 cup of water
• stuff uncooked manicotti shells with spinach mixture and place each in 9x13 dish
• pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce and water over manicotti shells 
• sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese
• bake uncovered at 350 for 40-50 minutes

enjoy!

Recipe #303: Quesadilla Asian Style

You need:

Rotisserie chicken
corn
cheddar cheese
whole wheat tortillas
sweet chili sauce

• in a tortilla, add some shredded rotisserie chicken, corn, cheese and a little sweet chili sauce
• Spray both sides with olive oil
• heat in the pan until both sides are brown
• drizzle on some more sweet chili sauce and enjoy!

Recipe #302: Three Cheese and Rosemary Focaccia

I made spaghetti one night, and thought this was a great addition!

You need:
1 small grapefruit size of pizza dough
feta
mozzarella
parmesan
2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
olive oil

• heat oven to 450
• spread olive oil on the bottom of a pie pan
• roll out the dough into a circle that it the size of your pan
• place dough in pan, flip to cover both sides with the oil.
• indent the dough with your finger to keep it from puffing up so much.
• add cheeses and rosemary 
• let it rest for about 20 minutes
• push down into dough so rosemary and cheese do not slide off when baking.
• bake for 15 minutes or until done
• remove from pie tin and allow to cool 

Recipe #301: Rosemary and Potato Flatbread

The idea originally came from here but I decided to use sweet potatoes instead.

You need:
pizza dough
1 sweet potato, thinly sliced. I used that long slicer on my grater.
rosemary leaves
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

• heat up grill and add baking stone
• roll out pizza dough into a rectangle
• punch down with thumb to create a dimpled look. 
• spread on olive oil
• top with sweet potatoes and rosemary
• sprinkle some salt and pepper
• grill for about 20 minutes....Will took it off a tad early, but it was still very delicious! :)

Recipe #300: Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber dip

The 300th recipe! Only 65 more to go before June 1st! :)

This dip was to go with the turkish chicken boats, but (to my surprise) Will used it on a lot of different things the next week! (and also found in Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day
)

You need:
1 cup yogurt
1/2 cup shredded cucumber (I used the really small grater, it kind of made a juice)
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves, minced
1/4 tsp Kosher salt

• combine all the ingredients and chill before serving

Recipe #299: Turkish Chicken Boats

Well, I have been trying plenty of new recipes but haven't had the motivation to blog about them on this lovely spring break! Probably because this recipe I am about to share is a little involved and I haven't felt like writing down all the directions... It was really delicious though! Just don't make it when you are home alone with a active toddler... trust me on that one! :)

This is another recipe from the amazing Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day

You need:
1 lb (grapefruit size) of pizza dough
1 cup plain yogurt (I used greek)
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp paprika
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
juice and chopped peel of 1/2 lemon
2-3 chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 green peppers, cut into squares
1 onion, cut into big chunks
1 lemon for grilling
1 cup feta cheese
1 cup turkish yogurt and cucumber dip

• combine yogurt, red pepper flakes cayenne, paprika, olive oil, vinegar, paste, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic, and lemon in a tupperware.
• add in chicken, stir until chicken is well coated and allow to sit for at least 8 hours
• skewer mixtures of chicken, onion and peppers onto sticks. grill until chicken is cooked through
• preheat oven to 500 for 30 minutes with baking stone in place
• take some of the chicken and veggies off of kebabs and cut into bite size pieces
• take portion of dough and separate into 4 pieces
• roll out each portion of dough into a thin oval. 
• stuff it with the chicken and veggies down the middle then fold up sides and ends into the middle. (it should not cover chicken completely)
• I made two at one time to put on the stone (with the other 2 sections I actually just made regular pitas)
• Slide boats into oven and bake for 8-10 minutes.
• let them cool slightly then serve with lemon wedges, feta and cucumber dip (it helps your mouth cool down after the heat of each bite :) )