Hint-of-Lemon Shortcakes

Strawberry shortcake evokes early summer nostalgia like no other dessert!

We grew up enjoying homemade shortcakes with sugary fresh strawberries, and lightly sweetened whipped cream. It was heavenly. Sometimes I even requested it for my early June birthday dessert. I make it for my family now and it's a looked-forward to favorite. Sometimes we add vanilla ice cream and sometimes not. Sometimes we make it a mixed berry shortcake depending on what berries we have and what's in season, but mostly, we just love traditional strawberry shortcake. 

This recipe for the shortcake is simple, flavorful, and delicious. The lemon zest adds a wonderful twist on the original dessert. I prefer a shortcake that is not overly sweet - you may add more sugar if you want a more sweet shortcake biscuit. 

This recipe takes approximately 20-25 minutes from start to finish. The recipe is easily halved - this makes enough for a crowd - 16 shortcakes. I am delighted to share this with you and hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Summer isn't complete without Strawberry Shortcake!

HINT-OF-LEMON SHORTCAKES
Print This Recipe

4 c. all-purpose flour

2 Tb. baking powder

1/2 c. white sugar

1 tsp. salt

zest of 1 large lemon

1 c. (2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled

2 c. whole milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Opt:

Heavy cream

Coarse sugar

3-4 lb. Strawberries, sliced

3-4 Tb. Sugar 

Combine and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream

2 Tb. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Whip the cream with a hand mixer until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla and whip until stiff peaks form. Taste and adjust to your preference.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine all dry ingredients. Add lemon zest and whisk together. Add butter, milk, and vanilla. It will seem thin at first, but once combined, it will thicken. 

Use a large scoop to portion out onto greased baking sheet or stone. It makes 16 large or more if you want a smaller amount. 

If desired, brush tops with heavy cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar before baking.

Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 

Split the biscuit and serve with lightly sweetened sliced strawberries and fresh whipped cream. 

Enjoy this summer goodness on repeat!

Stuffed Burrito Casserole

Stuffed Burrito Casserole is sure to be a popular dinner and easy for weeknights!

This delicious, easy recipe was a hit with EVERY SINGLE one of my family members. They could not get enough of it and suggested we eat it weekly. My friend, Julie, sent me the base recipe and improvised when I didn't have the cream soup it called for, I made my own Jalapeno cream soup. We don't tend to be a casserole family aside from egg casserole and lasagna, but this was amazing. There were no leftovers and all 7 of us had seconds...nearly unprecedented. My only regret is that I didn't take a photo.

STUFFED BURRITO CASSEROLE
Print This Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9x13.

Cream Sauce:
1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. flour
2 c. milk
2 cubes chicken boullion
1 TB diced jalapeno peppers (generous TB - I use fresh packed jar)
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
salt & pepper to taste
1 c. sour cream

In a small saucepan melt butter until browned and fragrant. Whisk in flour. Slowly add milk. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened. Add jalapeno, chicken boullion, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper. Stir in sour cream.

Meat Filling:
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
1/2 c. shredded carrot (opt.)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can refried beans
1 pack taco seasoning (or make your own)

Brown the meat, onion, and carrot (add a little water if very lean). Add refried beans and taco seasoning.

2 1/2-3 c. cheddar or mexican cheese
12 taco size flour tortillas
Cilantro (opt) for garnish

To layer:
1/3 of the cream sauce
4 tortillas (overlapped and torn to fit bottom of 9x13)
1/2 meat filling
1 c. cheese
1/3 of cream sauce
4 tortillas
other 1/2 meat filling
1 c. cheese
4 tortillas
1/3 cream sauce
cheese

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes until bubbly and melted.

Cookie Bars

Cookie Bars Make the Perfect Pitch-In Dessert!

Fall always make me want to bake. I can't even help it. And thankfully, we tend to have events that need baked goods. This fall, our oldest is a freshman and is playing football.

#42 - Friday Night Lights!

It's been a lot of hard work for him and a lot of fun for our family. Each game week of the season, the football families gather for dinner on Thursday nights. Tonight, my contribution was cookie bars. My packed schedule meant that I didn't have time a lot ot time to make something and these were perfect. This recipe could very easily be adapted to whatever flavors you want! And this makes a huge pan (12x17), so halve the recipe if you don't want as many or give some away. 

These can be made in one bowl and you do not need a mixer! 

These taste as good as they look!

COOKIE BARS

3 sticks butter (1 1/2 c.), melted

2 c. brown sugar

1 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 Tb. vanilla extract

4 1/4 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

3-4 c. baking chips (I used a combo of chopped Rolo candy, dark chocolate chunks, and a bag of milk chocolate toffee bits, but you can use whatever you want!)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line pan with foil and grease with non-stick spray. In a large bowl, stir together butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and stir until combined. Add flour, salt, and baking soda and mix together. Stir in most of the baking chips - reserving some of the toffee bits for the top). Press mixture into the prepared pan (it will be thick). Sprinkle toffee bits or chocolate chips on top.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into squares. 

I warned you that it makes a huge pan!

VARIATIONS (these are ideas that I have yet to actually make): 

Citrus White Chocolate - 1 1/2 tsp. lemon or orange extract in place of half of the vanilla, zest of 3 lemons, oranges, or limes and 2 c chopped white chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Chocolate - Add peanut butter chips and dark chocolate chips. Drizzle with melted peanut butter and/or dark chocolate

Butterscotch Oat - Reduce flour by 1 c. and add 2 c. oats, 2 tsp. cinnamon, and 2 c. butterscotch chips

Coconut Toffee - Add 1 bag sweetned coconut and 1 bag of toffee bits

Candy Bar Cookies - Chop up your favorite candy bars or add some M&Ms.

Really, the ideas are endless. Hope you enjoy!

** I'm working to add the printable URL link - my apologies that I can't get it working tonight.

Freezer Breakfast Links

Freezer breakast is a time saver and avoids sugary breakfast!

Here's a list of some of our favorite breakfasts for the freezer. I will try to add to it when we find new favorites!

Breakfast in the Freezer for Hassle-Free, Healthy Mornings!

Granola

Berry Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies

Pumpkin Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins

Breakfast Sandwich

Baked Oatmeal

Potato Egg Cups

4th of July Entertaining

I'm so excited to partner with Oriental Trading company again for this post! I love hosting and they have the perfect items for celebrating the 4th of July! I loved putting together this "Keep Cool" table.

Keep Cool!

Your drink area is so cute with simple mason jars dressed up with these amazing straws! Serve strawberry lemonade, honey kiwi strawberry lemonade or another refreshing drink!

These cute star spangled straws dress up your drink area! 

Adorable straws!

We nearly always go to our local 4th of July parade and more often than not it's HOT which makes these items perfect for everyone to grab on their way to the festive event! They also work for a fun cookout which we also enjoy annually. Invite adults and kids alike to enjoy water guns, beach balls, fans (do you see the cute buckets that I have the fans in?) and more!

These come in a pack of 12!

Festive fans perfect for parade viewing or keeping cool at a cookout!

Look at these beautiful pinwheels and flags! They not only make awesome centerpieces, but are fun for waving at the parade. I have many fond memories of pinwheels as a little girl and just love them!

Pinwheels!

Flags!

The beautiful votives (pictured below) made a beautiful decoration on our deck. Burn some citronella votive candles in them to keep the bugs away!

See the votives along the deck - so pretty!

I really liked the idea of the red, white, and blue bunting (you can see parts of it above) and it is really gorgeous, but it was a little hard to hang- I need to work on my technique. I love that it is 20 feet which makes it awesome for decorating and I'm looking forward to using it again and again!

I really thought of what my kids would enjoy for Independence Day, too - they really enjoy having friends to join in the celebration. They love the beach balls and the pinwheels were super cute as well, but the squirt guns were definitely the favorite! Why am I not surprised?!

Look at the variety of fun designs! Provide a bucket of water for quick refills!

I also have some star skewers that I can't wait to use for fruit kabobs on the 4th! Or maybe brownie, marshmallow, strawberry kabobs! YUM!

Enjoy a wonderful 4th of July! You still have time to order wonderful items for your celebration - Oriental Trading Company provides great prices on so many different party items!

Disclaimer: Oriental Trading Company sent me these products free in exchange for my honest review. This review and opinions of the products are all my own. 

Honey Kiwi Strawberry Lemonade

We tend to be water and milk drinkers and that's about it, but there's something about summer that begs fruity, yummy, special drinks. Homemade strawberry lemonade has been a favorite for quite a few years now. However, it's definitely a special treat since it contains a fair amount of sugar. This past weekend, I was on a quest to make a lighter, honey sweetened version of lemonade. The results received six thumbs up and a request to definintely make it again. It's refreshing and delicious.

This could easily be adapted to whatever fruit combination you would like for your lemonade - peach/blueberry or strawberry/lime sound like good combinations to try!

Looks at this delicious, frosty drink!

Honey Kiwi Strawberry Lemonade

4 kiwis, peeled and quartered

3/4 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/2 c. honey

2 c. water

2 c. ice

1 - 1/2 c. frozen strawberries (or whatever frozen fruit you like that will lend a little sweetness!)

Fresh mint, optional

Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend until pureed. Pour into 6, 8oz glasses and garnish with fruit and fresh mint if desired. I added just a few cubes of ice to each glass before pouring in the lemonade because I like my summer drinks very cold. 

I actually think some fresh mint blended into this would take it right over the top and I will be doing that next time! Hope you enjoy!

Entertaining + Creme Brulee Recipe

I don't get to entertain as much as I would like these days, but I always love it when I get a chance! I partnered with Oriental Trading Company to set this gorgeous Welcome Spring brunch table! I chose pink, gold, navy, and white as my main colors and I simply adore how this turned out. It's simple yet elegant and feels festive.

Check out the Navy Blue Chevron Hanging Lanterns!

The beautiful Gold Shimmer Burlap Table Runner and Gold Metallic Chargers were my base - both can be used many times over, which I love! I kept the centerpiece simple with a chalkboard I already owned and two gorgeous Milk Jug Vases tied with Hot Pink Baker's Twine - I decided to put some tealights inside, but I think they would also be stunning with flowers and I can't wait to use them again. The final part of the festive decor was the Navy Blue Chevron Hanging Lanterns which hung from the light and looked so pretty.

I love the Gold Shimmer Burlap Table Runner and the Milk Jug Vase!

I love the color combination!

The place settings anchored by the chargers included Navy Blue Chevron Scalloped Paper Dinner Plates, Hot Pink Paper Dessert Plates, Hot Pink Luncheon Napkins, and Premium Gold Metallic Cutlery. The quality on all of these items was really excellent and the combination perfect. I absolutely loved the chevron of the plates and hanging lanterns - so fun! I used the Dictionary Stickers & Tags for place cards tied with the baker's string and set them on the plates to finish the place setting.

The stunning place setting! The Metallic Gold Chargers were truly beautiful and will be so versatile. 

I always love including party favors and these Gold Takeout Boxes were awesome for that! I used Vintage Washi Tape and the baker's string to dress up the boxes a bit.

The simple favor with Gold Takeout Boxes decorated with Vintage Washi Tape were super cute! 

I've used Oriental Trading Company in the past for Oscars Parties, birthday parties, and other events and have not been disappointed. I love that you can mix and match what works for any theme and any price point!

I couldn't let you go without including a recipe for your next event! One of my kids asked for creme brûlée because he had seen it on a baking show and didn't know what it was. I obliged because...why not?! Creme Brûlée is simple, but oh so decadent and delicious. I don't own a torch, so I appreciated that this recipe gave instructions for melting the sugar under the broiler. The original recipe came from the New York Times Cooking.

Creme Brûlée 

Creme Brûlée
serves 4

2 c. heavy Cream

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

1 tsp. vanilla extract, optional

1/8 tsp. salt

5 egg yolks

1/2 c. sugar plus more for top

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a saucepan, combine cream, vanilla bean (I scraped and added the beans to the liquid before also adding the split bean), and salt. Cook over low heat until just hot. Let sit for a few minutes, then remove vanilla bean. Add vanilla extract if desired. 

In a bowl, beat yolks and sugar together until light. Stir about a quarter of the cream into it, then pour sugar-egg mixture into cream and stir. Pour into four 6-ounce ramekins and place ramekins in a baking dish. Place pan in oven and carefully fill with boiling water halfway up up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until centers are barely set and slightly jiggly. Cool completely and refrigerate at least a couple of hours and up to a couple of days (perfect to make ahead!).

When ready to serve, completely cover the top of each custard with a thin layer of sugar. Place ramekins 2-3 inches under the broiler. Cook until sugar melts and browns or even blackens a bit, about 5 minutes - watch carefully. Serve within 2 hours. 

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Oriental Trading Company sent me these products free in exchange for my honest review. This review and opinions of the products are all my own. 

Berry Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins

These delicious and easy muffins are one of our freezer breakfast favorites. They hare delicious and the greek yogurt increases the protein. You can definitely use coconut sugar in place of the brown sugar. I use a mix of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. We warm these in the microwave for about 30 seconds to thaw them. They will store in the freezer up to 3 months. I double or even triple this recipe.

Berry Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins

BERRY GREEK YOGURT OAT MUFFINS

Makes about 12 muffins

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. rolled oats

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2-1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 c. plain Greek yogurt

1/4 c. honey

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1/4 c. unsweetened vanilla almond milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 c. frozen mixed berries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with liners and lightly spray for easy release.  

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl or large measuring cup, lightly beat the egg just to break it up. Mix in the yogurt, honey, sugar, almond milk, and vanilla, until well combined.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the berries and stir to incorporate. Scoop the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, filling about 3/4 full.

Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins are lightly golden and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool and then freeze if desired.

No Fuss Applesauce Spice Cake

Fall is perfect for Applesauce Spice Cake!

A couple of weeks ago we had family over for an impromptu Sunday dinner. The weather was beginning to change from summer to fall and a spice cake with apple just seemed like the right choice for dessert. This was so quick and so easy and everyone loved it. 

NO-FUSS APPLESAUCE SPICE CAKE

2 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cloves

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 1/2 c. coconut sugar (or white sugar)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 c. applesauce

1/4 c. buttermilk or sour milk (to do the latter - 1/4 c. plus a splash of vinegar and let sit for a couple of minutes)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 pan. Stir together dry ingredients. Beat butter and sugar together on high. Add vanilla and eggs. Add milk and flour. Mix on low until combined. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Cool completely and frost - sprinkle with cinnamon if desired. Store in fridge. 

CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1 - 8 oz block cream cheese, softened

1/4 c. butter, softened

2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. cinnamon (more for sprinkling on top if desired)

milk or half & half - add to get desired consistency

Cream the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, sugar, and splash of milk. Add more milk as needed. 

Come follow our pinterest board!

Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies

Who doesn't want a cookie for breakfast?!

What is you could eat a cookie for breakfast without guilt? A cookie that is satisfying, filling, and energy giving would be a win, right? I think we have the recipe for you! It's delicious and easy. We quadrupled the initial recipe and froze them to continue on our freezer breakfast prep trend. 

(As an aside, breakfast-to-go freezer meals continues to be one of my most favorite ideas ever. It just works so well for our family. I long ago gave up the illusion of sitting down to breakfast on school mornings and everyone is so much happier with this solution plus I don't worry that they haven't eaten enough or had enough protein.) 

Anyway...back to the recipe. I found this recipe on Leelalicious (I'm excited to try her other breakfast cookies!) and knew we had to try it. I made a few changes for our taste. I think these are perfect for fall and would be fun to customize with different nuts or fruits or sub applesauce for the pumpkin puree. 

Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies

PUMPKIN SPICE BREAKFAST COOKIES

Makes 2 dozen cookies

1/2 c. coconut oil

1/4 c. honey

1/4 c. maple syrup

2 c. old-fashioned rolled oats

2 c. quick oats

1 c. dried cranberries

1 1/3 c. pumpkin seeds

1/2 c. golden flax meal

1 Tb. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. pumpkin puree

4 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt honey and coconut oil. Mix together oats, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, flax, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Add pumpkin, vanilla, eggs, honey, and oil. Stir all together to combine. Drop by 1/4 c. (large scoop) on a baking stone or parchment lined cookie sheet. Flatten cookie with the bottom of a cup (spray for easier flattening. Bake for 15-17 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Let cool for 5 minutes and then remove to wire rack and let fully cool. If freezing, wrap cookies in wax paper and place in freezer bag. To enjoy, remove from freezer and nuke for 20 seconds if desired or let thaw.

Check out our Pinterest board!

Pumpkin Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins

Pumpkin Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins for the freezer!

These muffins are gluten free if you buy gluten free oats. I found the original recipe on Running with Spoons, but changed these slightly to work for us! They are delicious and I'm so glad I found her recipe! Next time I may add pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon. You can also add chocolate chips after blending if you like - that's her recommendation and I'm sure it's wonderful. We added these to our breakfast-to-go agenda and they are a hit!

Delicious, gluten-free pumpkin muffins!

 PUMPKIN GREEK YOGURT OAT MUFFINS

1 c. Greek yogurt

1 c. canned pumpkin

2 eggs

2 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned - I used the latter)

1/2 c. coconut sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a muffin tin with liners and spray (helps with release when you re-warm them later). 

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. 

Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. 

These muffins came out of the oven fairly puffy, but will deflate just a bit as they sit, so no worries if you notice that!

Cool them completely and pop them in a freezer bag and into the freezer! Thaw a muffin in the microwave (about 25 seconds) and enjoy!

Breakfast Sandwich

Breakfast Sandwiches

Few things are better than a breakfast sandwich! It's comforting, delicious, and portable. These definitely made it on my freezer breakfast prep list. They are endlessly customizable and simple to assemble!

Assembled and ready to be wrapped!

Step 1: Choose your bread. English muffins and bagels work exceptionally well, but you can use whatever you like! (English muffins are the more economical choice and frequently go on sale or can be found in bulk at your local warehouse store.)

Step 2: Choose your meat. Meat is always optional, but my kids really like it and I want the extra protein it provides. Ham, canadian bacon (we chose a nitrate/nitrite free version for this batch), bacon, or sausage are all excellent. I'm thinking a chorizo one with pepper jack cheese would be delicious!

Step 3: Choose your cheese. We used a sharp cheddar this time which is a family favorite. Any sliced cheese would be fine, so mix and match to create your favorite combination!

Step 4: Cook your eggs. We did 6 or 8 at a time in an electric skillet (make sure it's nice and hot, so you keep a relatively round shape). We break the yolks and season with salt and pepper. Once they were finished, we put them on a cooling rack to cool before assembly.

Eggs cooked and ready for assembly.

Step 5: Customize. Do you like veggies, herbs, or other seasonings? Feel free to add them! We kept these basic because that's what our families like. 

Our breakfast sandwich components this time around.

Step 6: Assemble, wrap, and freeze. These are seriously easy! We wrap the individual sandwiches in plastic wrap (or wax paper bags) and then store 8 or so in a gallon freezer bag. 

DONE. These are a complete breakfast in themselves which I love. 

To Thaw: They take about 2 minutes to warm in the microwave or 4 minutes at 50%. 

What are your favorite breakfast sandwich ingredients?

Breakfast-to-Go in the Freezer

Breakfast-to-Go Revolutionized Our Mornings.

Breakfast-to-Go

Our schedule changed significantly this year and in preparation for it, I planned to make some freezer breakfasts. Guys, this decision was a game changer! Also, I super wish I had thought to do this a way long time ago!

I'm not a big fan of cereal for breakfast for the kids, but too often it was the easy solution and while my kids are far from picky, a couple don't love oatmeal (okay, by a couple I mean ME and a kid). I soldiered on and made oatmeal and eggs at least 4-5 mornings a week most weeks because I wanted healthy, filling, protein packed breakfasts. Enter...breakfast in the freezer to go.

I made a quick plan initially and did pretty well - I had about six weeks of breakfasts in the freezer. It took less time than I thought it would and pretty much all of the recipes were hits.

Here are some of the things I love about it: 

1) Everyone is in charge of their own breakfast except for the kindergartner - we help her with warming up her choice.
2) Everyone gets their choice of what's available - aka no one has to eat the same thing.
3) When we are running behind (ahem), they can be heated and transported.
4) They are higher protein breakfasts.
5) They are healthier because I control the ingredients.
6) Less stress for all.

That last one makes for smoother mornings in general. At least half of us are not morning people, so that's important for us.

I just did a second day of breakfast prep and this time I did it with a sister. We worked together and split the meals. GO GET A FRIEND. It's way more fun to do with someone! We are already planning our next prep day. I don't think more than 2 people would work very well because of juggling the oven time unless you have a commercial kitchen available.

In about 2 hours we made:

40 egg, sausage and cheese burritos
36 egg sandwiches
24 pumpkin greek yogurt muffins
36 baked oatmeals
48 potato egg muffin cups

So we each went home with over 90 items. IN TWO HOURS. 

(May I take this moment to tell you that Aldi had eggs for $.39/dozen! I often buy organic ones, but at that price and the volume we needed - 10 dozen - we went ahead and got those)

We had plans to make some Lemon Muffins, Greek Yogurt Popsicles (my kids fave!), and waffles, but alas, we had to go pick up our kids from school. Next time we will shop ahead and I think in 3 hours we can add at least 3-4 dozen more items/person.

Here are our tips for a successful day:
1) Plan ahead - print recipes, make lists, and shop.
2) Start with a few recipes - I always plan too many.
3) Have good quality packaging - there is nothing more frustrating than needing 5 dozen pieces of plastic wrap and it's impossible to rip. (I think wax bags would be awesome.)
4) Use muffin liners when you can to reduce the need to wash the pans in between each item, but spray the liner so it releases easily from the breakfast item.
5) Post a whiteboard or sign on the outside of the freezer with the available options so the kids don't leave the door hanging open while they look. :) (Not that I know anything about that. HA!)
6) On the whiteboard or sign, list the approximate amount of time it needs in the microwave or toaster oven.

So...you don't have to be an amazing cook and you don't have to have lots of time. This is super doable. My kids love it, I love it, my husband loves it... It is totally a sanity saver for us!

I'll keep adding recipes that go with this theme - and for the additional recipes not yet linked above!

Potato Egg Cups

Potato Egg Cups

To continue our freezer breakfast theme - check these out! My kids were exceptionally excited about these - I found the idea for these at Ella Claire Inspired. We sampled one of these out of the oven and YUM! I think two would be a good serving for breakfast or one and another item - like a piece of fruit or toast. 

The beauty of these is that you can totally customize this to your own taste! My kiddos LOVE sausage - I'm not a huge fan myself. If I were to customize these for myself - bacon, swiss, chopped spinach, and mushrooms. Ham, bacon, or sausage would all work well, your favorite cheese, and any veggies or herbs that your family enjoys.

Potato Egg Cups

POTATO EGG CUPS

(makes about 2 dozen)

1 - 32 oz package of tater tot style potatoes (I'm certain you could also use hashbrowns as the base!*)

1 lb. sausage, browned

1 small green pepper, small diced

1 small red or orange pepper, small diced

4-6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese

16 or so eggs, beaten 

Salt & Pepper to taste (in eggs)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 2 - 12 count muffin tins. Thaw tater tots enough to press into bottom of muffin tins (about 3/spot) - we used the bottom of a cup. Bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and top with 2-3 tsp. sausage, diced peppers, and a sprinkle of cheese. Pour eggs over all - almost to the top. Bake for 15 minutes or until eggs are set. Cool and freeze if desired. Pop in the microwave to re-heat.

* I have since tested hashbrowns and they also work well!  

Baked Oatmeal

INDIVIDUAL BAKED OATMEAL for the freezer.

We've talked about baked oatmeal before and how delicious it is! I gave a recipe I found a bit of a makeover to make it dairy free and to use coconut sugar instead of a refined sugar. These can be topped with whatever topping you like - my kids like blueberries, chocolate chips, plain, and dried cranberries. We make a double batch and make a variety.

Baked Oatmeal

BAKED OATMEAL

Makes 18 

2 eggs

¼ c. oil (coconut or canola)

½ c. applesauce

1½ c. unsweetened almond milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

½ tsp. salt

1 tbsp. ground cinnamon

3 c. old fashioned oats

1/2 c. coconut sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with cupcake papers. 

Combine first 4 ingredients in a liquid measuring cup. Mix remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pour liquids over the oatmeal mixture and stir until combined. Place about 1/4 c. into each muffin section. Bake for 20-30 minutes until bake through. Cool and freeze. Warm in microwave for a quick, on-the-go breakfast. 

These would be great topped with a little greek yogurt or even peanut butter!

Fonio & Lentil Bake

Fonio is a new (old) superfood with delicious flexibility!

I recently received a sample of an African grain called Fonio from Earth's Goodness.  I love to cook and I love to try new things, so I was curious to try it! This ancient grain boasts some great health benefits and is easy to cook. It's rich in calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and amino acids. Fonio is also gluten free, easily digestible, and diabetic friendly. A nutrient dense, flexible grain is a win in my book.

Earth's Goodness Fonio

My family loved this recipe! It was admittedly hard to photograph, but trust me on this one - it was really delicious! It had a creamy texture with the contrast of the lentils. The parmesan really elevated it. It reminded me a bit of polenta. It's creamier than couscous - more like a hot cereal.

Fonio & Lentil Bake makes a great main dish or side dish!

FONIO & LENTIL BAKE

6 c. vegetable or chicken broth
1 1/2 c. fonio (rinsed)
1 c. lentils (I used red)
1 onion, diced
2 tsp. Itlaian seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Fresh parmesan

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F. Stir all of the ingredients together and put in a 9x13 pan covered with foil or in a covered oven-proof pot. Bake for 50-60 minutes until creamy, but lentils still have some texture. Uncover and grate fresh parmesan over top and bake for another 10 minutes. Serve with more parmesan.

I think this would be fantastic with a pork chop or steak and a side of broccoli or brussel sprouts. It was creamy, flavorful, and filling. It cooked quickly and took on the flavor of the seasonings. Delicious! I'm really looking forward to trying more recipes with fonio. I'm planning to try it as a hot cereal next - perhaps topped with apples and cinnamon! Earth's Goodness has some delicious recipe suggestions!

Where can you buy Fonio? Check out Earth's Goodness!


**DISCLAIMER: These opinions are my own. I did receive a sample and compensation in exchange for my honest review of this grain. 

Easy Granola

Easy Granola is quick, delicious, and a great addition to breakfast!

Today, I was in a granola mood. I've been meaning to make a batch for approximately 1 billion days or something like that. :) This morning as I was doing dishes, putting dinner in the crockpot, and making breakfast, I thought...why not? And so I did. And it was easy and delicious. I adapted a recipe from Alton Brown - the biggest change is that I cut the brown sugar out all together. My goal was to make something healthy for us to put on our plain greek yogurt for breakfast parfaits. I think granola is ridiculously flexible in the flavor department and I'm looking forward to experimenting more! This would also be a cinch to make gluten free with gluten free oats and it's naturally dairy free.

Easy Granola

EASY GRANOLA

3 cups old-fashioned oat
1 c. pecans, chopped
1 c. almonds, chopped or slivered
3/4 c. plus a little more coconut
2 tsp. cinnamon (I actually used cinnamon plus which has a mix of spices)
1/4 oil
1/4 plus 2 TB. maple syrup
3/4 tsp of salt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and cinnamon in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, syrup, and salt. Pour the liquids over the dry and stir until thoroughly combined. Evenly spread the mixture on a large bar pan. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes until golden brown - stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool and store in an airtight container

That's it! Super easy, super delicious and totally adaptable. Next time I will add a couple of teaspoons of vanilla extract to the wet ingredients. You can add raisins after it comes out if you like that. I'm dreaming of all the variations - orange almond, apple cinnamon, vanilla coconut, cranberry spice...

Ribbon Vegetable Salad

Ribbon Vegetable Salad

This easy and very fresh salad is gorgeous and delicious! You can quite easily substitute your favorite vegetables or herbs. I think dill, chives, or parsley would be especially excellent. My family loved this dish. The platter was completely devoured. I think it is a wonderful salad for welcoming spring!

Ribbon Vegetable Salad

RIBBON VEGETABLE SALAD

1 medium seedless cucumber, thinly sliced

1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced

3 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

6 radishes, thinly sliced

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced

1 tsp. dried basil or 1/4 c. chopped fresh basil 

Dressing:

3 Tb. apple cider vinegar (or your favorite vinegar)

1 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp. Dijon mustard (I used a Basil Dijon)

1 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt 

1/4 tsp. black pepper

3 Tb. canola or olive oil

Use a mandoline or spiral slicer to thinly slice the vegetables. Arrange on the platter and

sprinkle basil on top.

Combine the dressing ingredients and drizzle over the vegetables. Enjoy!

Crab Rangoon

Crab Rangoon

My kids love crab rangoon...who am I kidding, so do I?! ;) The crunchy outside and creamy inside dipped in a sweet and sour sauce is just delicious. I have a little allergy thing going on with some shellfish, so I limit my consumption and, of course, avoid the ones that I have had a reaction to all together. Anyway, all that to say that we made these using imitation crab and they were delicious. You can use whatever you prefer, though!

Crab Rangoon fresh from the fryer. 

CRAB RANGOON

1 pouch (usually 6-8 ounces) crab or imitation crab
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2-3 cloves, minced garlic
1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of white pepper
1 package wonton skins (usually available in the produce section of your store)
1 egg, beaten with just a little water

Thoroughly combine first 6 ingredients. Lay wonton wrapper out on a cutting board (I do about 6 at a time). Place 1/2-1 tsp filling in the center of the wonton. Use a pastry brush and brush all of the sides with the egg wash and then bring all of the edges together to make a pouch. Seal well and push air out (I did not do a good job at pushing the air out and these were a little puffy - delicious nonetheless). Fry at 350 degrees F until golden brown and crisp. Let drain on a paper towel lined plate. Serve hot with Sweet & Sour Sauce.

Vegan Kung Pao Tofu

Vegan Kung Pao Tofu

I will admit that I've been a tofu skeptic over the years, but I'm slowly becoming a convert. When we traveled to China, I absolutely loved a couple of the tofu dishes that we ordered. It has made me more adventurous and more determined to nail the preparation of tofu.

This was SO GOOD! It was bright and colorful and the texture was perfect. We served it over white rice. I think there are things that make tofu really good like pressing the moisture out and frying or baking it. I also prefer firm or even better, extra firm tofu. I adapted this recipe from China Sichuan Food.

Vegan Kung Pao Tofu

VEGAN KUNG PAO TOFU

(adapted from China Sichuan Food)

1 lb. extra firm tofu (drain it from the package, wrap it in a clean towel, and put a heavy skillet on top for at least 15 minutes to further remove the moisture)

3 Tb. canola oil

1 green pepper, cut in chunks

1 red pepper, cut in chunks

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and minced

5 green onions (use 2-3 inches in the stir fry and chop the remaining green part for garnish)

1/2 c. peanuts

Stir-fry sauce (see recipe below)

Heat oil in wok. Add the tofu and cook until golden brown. Remove from wok and set aside. Keep 2 tsp. of oil in the wok and pour out any extra. Add garlic, ginger, and onions and stir fry until you can smell them. Add the tofu and peppers and continue to stir fry until peppers are starting to soften. Pour in all of the stir fry sauce and the peanuts (you can reserve some peanut for garnish if you like). Mix well and then transfer to a serving dish and garnish with green onion and peanuts.  

Stir-fry Sauce

2 Tb. soy sauce

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. corn starch

2 tsp. vinegar (you can use rice, apple cider, or a sherry wine)

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 Tb. water

Combine all ingredients in a liquid measuring cup and set aside.