Take 5 Bars

Remember when I told you I would share a recipe for dessert bars two months ago and then never delivered on that promise? Well for those that have been anticipating the day for the recipe to be posted....the day is finally here! I hope it delivers from all the built up hype! The truth is a lot has happened in the past two months and I'm still adjusting from all the changes. Let me fill you in...

My husband was offered a new job in the great state of Florida mid-March. After accepting the offer, he moved down 2 weeks later. I had originally planned on sticking around New York with R until we were ready to move into a house, but after two weeks of being apart, R and I booked a one-way ticket and became Floridians ourselves! We have been staying with some family in the area, waiting on our brand new home to be built, which I'm SO excited about. Due to all the changes, most of our stuff is still in NY waiting to be moved down once the house is complete. Even though I have been cooking and making new recipes during the transition, I haven't had the time to sit down and write about them or do much else.

I am excited to say our house should be ready by the end of the month. Once all of our stuff is moved down I hope to be back up and running the website. Until then, please make this recipe, but be warned, you can't eat just one!

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-9463]

Source: Handle the Heat

 

Parmesan Garlic Knots

Last week I shared a new soup recipe which happened to have these cute little knots sitting in the background of the picture. They were the perfect accompaniment to the soup and such an easy side to put together. I've tried making several different kinds of  homemade rolls, none of which have turned out. You put so much effort and time into letting the yeast rise, it can be such a disappointment when they turn out less than mediocre. While I'm not going to give up on the idea of fresh, homemade rolls, sometimes you just want something fast and that you know will turn out in time for dinner. This recipe is my solution. Most of the time I already have everything on hand to make them. All you need is a can of biscuits, some grated Parmesan, and a few dried herbs and you have something the whole family will enjoy.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-7756]

Source: Real Mom Kitchen

Menu Planning - Week Eleven Postponed

This week we are celebrating Spring Break and plan to take some time off for some R & R in Charleston, SC. My husband and I have been before, but this time we are meeting some of my family who have yet to experience the low country. Since we won't be in the kitchen much, I don't have a menu to share. Instead this week I plan to post some yummy sweets and easy to make bread knots. Here is a sneak peek below. Remember to check back for the recipes on Tuesday and Thursday.

Easy Parmesan Knots - Recipe Coming Soon

Take 5 Bars - Recipe Coming Soon

Tomato Tortellini Soup

Before the cool weather leaves us for good, I wanted to share with you a new soup recipe that my family has really enjoyed. It is quick to throw together and definitely classifies as warm, comfort food. I like to think of the soup as a fancier version of tomato soup. The base of the soup starts with regular canned tomato soup, but also adds sun dried tomatoes, which my whole family loves. Throw in some cheese tortellini and you won't miss the grilled cheese to accompany the meal!

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-7671]

Source: Taste of Home

Chicken Pot Pie Calzones

I wish I could say I was the genius behind this dish. After seeing it for the first time myself, it makes perfect sense to turn a chicken pot pie into a calzone. What an "ah ha" moment and perfect idea. I put this on our menu as soon as I saw the original dish on Bev's website. It did not disappoint! The chicken pot pie filling is loaded with flavor and packs all the comfort. While in the process of making the calzones, I decided next time I think I might even try making mini empanandas using biscuit dough, similar to this recipe. Make sure to try this version the next time you are craving a Chicken pot pie!

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-7624]

Recipe slightly adapated from: Bev Cooks

Menu Planning - Week Ten

Time has got the better of me. The weekend flew by, today has been a blur. My "to do" list is growing by the minute and I'm tired from daylight savings time. Those sound like pretty good excuses for not sharing my menu with you, right?!? Nah, I didn't think so. With the cold weather coming to an end, I am considering this week one of my last to squeeze in a few of my favorite soups and comfort foods. Here is what's on the menu this week:

Chicken Pot Pie Calzones - Recipe coming soon

 Asian Meatball Subs

Tomato Tortellini Soup - Recipe Coming Soon

 Pantry Meal: Buttermilk Pancakes 

Bowtie Chicken Alfredo

I love pasta. I could eat it everyday and still feel the need for more. Since I started meal planning, I have tried to limit pasta dishes to once every other week especially since I have a serious lack of portion control when it comes to a big bowl of noodles! You can bet that if pasta is on the menu, then there is also a loaf of garlic bread on the table. In my defense, I also serve salad, so the two together should cancel each other out, right?!? When I hear Alfredo as an ingredient in pasta dishes I assume it will be a pretty heavy sauce, but not this dish. The Alfredo is nice and light, with a minimal amount of cream and butter. This was another quick and easy weeknight meal to throw together and one that we all enjoyed.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-7351]

Source: Pioneer Woman

White Chicken Chili

 

This week has already been hectic, I hope that was just the case of the Monday's and things settle down from here. This chili was just a sample of what my week has been like so far. The recipe comes from Land O' Lakes, so naturally they include their brands product in the ingredients. I however could not find the specific cheese the recipe called for, so I substituted it with a white cheddar cheese. I also couldn't find the can of corn with red and green peppers, which was disappointing, so I just used a can of plain ole corn. If that wasn't enough, I didn't review the recipe before going grocery shopping and bought a precooked chicken. Having said all that, somehow the chili survived. Next time I make it, I plan to (a) follow the recipe and use uncooked chicken, which I'm sure will make the spices added more apparent , (b) either search again for corn with peppers included or add some drained Rotel diced tomatoes for some additional spice and (c) use a better substitution for the cheese. The chili was simple, yet all the comfort we needed. The only thing missing for me was the spice factor, but that is more of a personal preference as I enjoy eating chili that has a little bit of spice. Don't let my mixups with this recipe discourage you from trying it out, its worth adding to your recipe box.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-7343]

Source: Land O' Lakes

Menu Planning - Week Nine

We made it back from our trip to Florida and Atlanta. It was a short trip and ended with us back in the cold weather, which has convinced me someone is playing a cruel joke on us. Now that it is March, I am starting to get Spring fever. I am ready to go out and play for hours and hours, enjoy the sunshine and mother nature with my little guy. Since it's not quite time yet, I have a new chili recipe as well as a new pasta dish to share this week. Come back on Tuesday and Thursday to check it out.

White Chicken Chili

 Spencer's Sloppy Joes

Bowtie Chicken Alfredo

 Pantry Meal: Rosemary-Orange Pork Chops

Find out what recipes I've pinned this week here.

Broccoli and Cheese Quinoa

I was probably the last food blogger to get on the boat and try quinoa, but it now has a welcomed place in my pantry. For anyone that might not know about quinoa, it  is similar to a grain, but is actually a seed. It is cooked similar to rice and just like this recipe can be a great substitute for rice. If you haven't heard of quinoa before, you can read more about it here.

Consider this a quicker version of a broccoli and rice casserole. Here are the perks: (1) Ready in 20 minutes or less (2) only one pot needed (3) super healthy (4) only four ingredients. If that alone doesn't convince you, I'm thinking you probably aren't a broccoli fan! Side dishes are rarely something that I want to put a whole lot of effort and time into, so having a quick and easy side like this to fall back on is important when looking for healthy options to serve with the main course.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6981]

Source: Closet Cooking

Broccoli Salad

I have my Aunt to thank for this delicious recipe. She was kind enough to bring the dish for our family's Thanksgiving feast last year. It was such a humble looking salad I never thought it would be in the running for my favorite dish from our Thanksgiving meal, but besides the smoked Turkey it was the one dish I was looking forward to eating as leftovers the next day. Since swapping recipes, I have made this salad countless times. My family just loves it and it is so simple to throw together. I can even eat this as my lunch throughout the week and never grow tired of it. Everyone who has tried the salad always gives rave reviews and comes back for seconds. It's the perfect side salad for any meal.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6890]

Source: My Aunt Sandy via AllRecipes

Menu Planning - Week Eight postponed

Today I'm usually sharing our menu for the week ahead, but this week the only thing on the menu is some sun, sand and relaxation in Florida. That's right, we are saying so long to winter and escaping to warmer weather for the week. My hubby has some business in Florida, so R and I are tagging along. We will also be making a pit stop in Atlanta on the way home to visit some family too, but not to worry, I still have some recipes to share.

I've decided to dedicate this week to some of our favorite side dishes which coincidentally also share the same main ingredient. Be sure to check back on Tuesday and Thursday for the recipes, but for those too excited to wait, below is a sneak peek at whats coming your way.

Broccoli Salad



Broccoli and Cheese Quinoa



 

 

If you're in need of more side dishes, follow my Pinterest Side Dishes board here for some of my favorites.

Southwest Chicken Panini

Several years ago, my hubby bought me a panini press for Valentine's day. It was such a sweet gesture and a very welcome addition to our kitchen. Paninis make me happy. I could eat them everyday. For some reason though, I never think to make them at home. Instead I'm usually forcing my husband to take me out for half a panini and a cup of soup at one of my favorite restaurants. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy going out for a meal every now and then, but for the price of one meal you could feed your whole family with panini's at home. Don't have a panini maker, no worries, use a grill pan or your favorite pan for making grilled cheese.

Let's get down to business and talk about this pretty sandwich. Not only is it a super fast meal to put together, the filling for the sandwich can be made ahead of time and reheated before assembling. The sauce for the chicken is similar to a red enchilada sauce making this another tex-mex favorite for our family. The chipotle pepper adds just a hint of smokiness and then a splash of citrus from the juice of a lime gets added. Throw in some cheese, Pepper Jack for us, and the panini starts singing!

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6667]

Source: Annie's Eats, originally from Heat oven to 350

Linked up with: Buns in My Oven

Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie

As it turns out, there are quite a few dishes I've never tried until moving East. Shepherd's pie is yet another meal I never had the pleasure of eating until moving to New York and now it's another must have comfort meal on our menu, especially during the winter months.

I've had a few variations of this dish, but this particular recipe attracted me because of the use of the crock-pot. For me, crock-pot meals are more about having a meal ready when you get home from work, after you've had a long day and are too tired to spend any time in the kitchen. Some of you might be scratching your heads after reading the recipe instructions wondering why this is a slow cooker meal when it calls for so much prep. If that is the case, think of it as more of a make ahead meal, much like the prep that goes into making a casserole dish, instead of a "set it and forget it" meal. The additional prep lends the dish more flavor. The mixture of bread with the meat helps to keep the meat from overcooking. Browning off the meat before placing in the slow cooker helps provide the deeper flavor Shepherd's Pie is known for. Although it takes some effort before powering on the crock-pot, the reward will be worth it when you get home from a long day at the office.

Note: The recipe calls for three cups of mashed potatoes. If you don't have a favorite mashed potato recipe already, try my favorite version here.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6668]

Source: America's Test Kitchen, Slow Cooker Revolution

Menu Planning - Week Seven

Happy Monday! If there is one thing to look forward to on Monday, it is a great menu for the coming week! You might also say I'm food obsessed, so maybe I'm the only one who can get excited for all the good eats we will be diving into each day. This weeks menu features a new slow cooker recipe that my family loves as well as a super quick panini recipe that gets dinner on the table quick and will satisfy everyone. Make sure to check back on Tuesday and Thursday for the recipes.

Here is what's on the menu this week:

Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie



Pasta e Fagioli Soup



Southwest Chicken Paninis



Pantry Meal: Chicken Parmesan



Keep up with me on Pinterest by following me here.

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Happy Valentine's Day to each of you! Meet one of my Valentine's, Rylan. We made you cookies and just wanted to say, "Thank you", for visiting Whole Lotta Oven. Don't forget to let those in your life who are most important know how much you love them today and everyday!

Many Blessings!

Grandma Pizza

Have you heard of Grandma Pizza before? Better yet, have you ever tried Grandma Pizza? It took me 6+ years living in New York to discover this pizza and now I am making up for lost time. I now have a new favorite pizza and I owe it all to my husband who was adventurous enough to order something new from our local pizzeria. Now I'm not convinced that this homemade version is better than take-out (although my hubby thinks its better), but sometimes its hard to compete with New York pizzeria's, especially when the pizza originated from the area. It is however still very tasty and more friendly on our wallet, and for that I'm loving it!

So what is Grandma pizza? First of all, its served "Sicilian" style, meaning rectangular pizza versus the more traditional round pizza. Second, the crust is thin, crispy, and chewy. Third, the pizza sauce isn't really a sauce,  but more uncooked tomatoes that have been crushed with garlic and a few other ingredients added. Lastly, and most importantly the ingredients are layered in reverse order on the dough - cheese first, then sauce.  This pizza is so good, you won't even miss all the meat toppings.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6365]

Source slightly adapted from: Cook's Country

Chicken Tamale Pie

I have another really good weeknight meal to share with you today! So good in fact that I only took a picture of the dish before we cut into it. Once we sliced up the pie and ate our portions...the leftovers didn't stand a chance. We ate THE. WHOLE. THING. I'm beginning to wonder about us. It's like we've never seen food. All the sudden we just can't help but eat everything in front of us. Call it the winter blues, comfort food, boredom...whatever - we will need to go on a diet before hitting the beach. OK, maybe its not that bad. Let's just call it more of a testament to how good the dishes have been.

I'm typically not a fan of red enchilada sauce and only recently became somewhat of a fan of tamales, but this meal was so good! The cornbread mixture makes the perfect base for the enchilada sauce to seep into. Seasoned chicken is piled on top and then a healthy layer of cheese is added to create a gooey delicious tex-mex meal.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6298]

Source adapted from: Pinch of Yum, originally adapted from Cooking Light

Linked up with: Buns in My Oven

Menu Planning - Week Six

Is anyone else still swimming in snow from storm Nemo? We lucked out and only received 10.5 inches of snow (crazy to think that means we were lucky). It's snowed here several time since having Rylan, but this was our first time taking him sledding. Let's just say he wasn't a fan. He started screaming as soon as we started going down the hill and never stopped until he was back inside and watching from the window. That's ok, I'm sure when he gets a bit older he will come to love and appreciate all the good sledding hills available right outside our doorstep. I however took full advantage of the hills and sled my heart out, only stopping to build a snowman!

Last week was all about Valentine's Day and the perfect treats and snacks for both kids and adults. This week, it is back to weeknight meals. Here is what is on our menu:

Chicken Tamale Pie

Honey-Hoisin Pork Tenderloin

Penne a la Betsy

Pantry Meal: Grandma Pizza

Want to know what recipes I've bookmarked to try? Follow me on Pinterest here.

Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies

It's not Valentine's Day without some Red Velvet in the mix. This recipe is as simple as it gets AND it has gooey and butter in the title...it's a win, win! Red Velvet Cake mix and other store bought ingredients come together for a delicious gooey treat. Perfect for your kids Valentine's day party or to enjoy all alone.

I might suggest using a stand mixer to whip up the batter if you have one available. I have a pretty strong hand held mixer, but it still seemed challenged by the thickness of the batter.



[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6023]

Source: Buns in My Oven

Valentines Day Party Mix

This is such a simple recipe, it's almost embarrassing. I stumbled upon the recipe during Christmas while making homemade chex mix. The recipe was located on the back of the cereal box, it sounded like the perfect sweet and salty snack to have around the house in the midst of all the holiday food. The mix was gone as soon as it hit the table and I was back in the kitchen to make a second batch for the rest of the family to try. The best part about the recipe is you can mix up the flavor combinations and go crazy with different variations. You can use butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, peanut M&M's, Reese's pieces, regular peanuts, or whatever you're craving.  Just be sure to buy extra, chances are you will be asked to make more!

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6016]

Source adapted from: Chex

Strawberry Sandwich Cookies

After making donuts, I needed to find another use for the leftover cake and jello mix. Cookies are never far from my mind, so I decided to play around until I found just what I was looking for. After eating the cookies by itself...temptation got the better of me and I was dunking the cookies in leftover icing from the donuts. That's when I had an epiphany...sandwich cookies! The filling between the cookies is very similar to the glaze over the strawberry donuts except for the addition of cream cheese. I have to say, even though the cookies might look all pink and girly...it was the men that couldn't keep their hands away from this cookie. Perfect for Valentine's day, but also for when you're craving something strawberry. This sandwich cookie is both a quick and delicious treat made with simple ingredients and bursting with lots of flavor. It's so berry, berry good!

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6125]

Source: a Whole Lotta Oven original recipe

Baked Strawberry Donuts for your Valentine

In honor of Valentine's day, I was on a mission to "woo" my hubby with something sweet and charming. I might have also wanted to make donuts for myself, but we won't talk about that. I received this awesome donut pan for Christmas and haven't broken it in yet, so I needed to remedy that pronto. My inspiration for this donut was based off of a simple strawberry sheet cake recipe that happens to be one of my favs. Let's face it, a donut is the best excuse to eat cake for breakfast! Don't have a donut pan? No problem, use a mini muffin pan and make donut holes instead.

The donut itself is very moist and crumbly. I took extra care to flour the pan around the center so that the surface was as non-stick as possible in order to avoid the donut crumbling out of the pan. The use of strawberry jello instead of just a box of strawberry cake mix gives the best strawberry flavor and for an added bonus of good health, fresh strawberries are thrown in the mix for even more flavor. And then there is the frosting.  So, so good! It's a simple strawberry buttercream that takes the cake donut over the top. I was finding all sorts of things to dunk into this deliciousness, sugary glaze.

Wondering what to do with the rest of the box of cake mix and jello? No worries, just come back tomorrow for a bonus recipe and even more Valentines' day treats.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-6022]

Source: a Whole Lotta Oven original recipe

Menu Planning - Week Five

It's February!! I'm kicking the month off by bringing you a Valentine's day treat for the remainder of the week! Be sure to check back for some fabulous sweets to win over your sweetie.

Here is what's on the menu this week:

Slow Cooker Chili

Curry in a Hurry

Moo Shu Pork Pockets

Pantry Meal: Garlic Fried Rice

Follow me on Pinterest here.

Pantry Salsa - a.k.a. My Favorite Salsa

Have you been invited to a Super Bowl party this weekend, but don't know what to bring and don't have the time to spend in the kitchen this weekend? I have the perfect recipe to share with you today. This is my absolute favorite salsa. It is something I can whip up in a snap and almost always have all the ingredients on hand in my pantry. It's so easy to make, I don't even need to buy canned salsa from the store. Fresh salsa that tastes 10 times better already in your pantry...I'm sold, but how about you?!?

As with most recipes, this should be adapted to your taste buds. The key to this salsa is lots of freshly ground black pepper with a hint of cilantro. The pepper determines how spicy you want the salsa to be, so start with around 2 teaspoons and continue adding until its the perfect ratio for you and your guests. I typically like a lot of cilantro, but in this salsa, I recommend starting with a small amount and adding more as needed. I tend to buy canned jalapenos so that its always on hand, but you can also use fresh. If feeding a large crowd, just double the recipe. This is the perfect party food and appetizer and its low maintenance enough to be part of your week night meals.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-5938]

Spicy Sausage Pasta - A one skillet meal

My husband always gives me a hard time when he walks into the kitchen after a meal and sees all the dirty dishes. I'll admit, sometimes it does look like a bomb went off and all the dishes from the cabinet landed in the sink...dirty, piled high, and in need of a good scrub down. Enter the one pot, or in this case, one skillet meal. God bless the individual who used their brain to think of ways to eliminate all the extra dishes. This is the perfect meal for when you need a night off from cleaning the kitchen. Oh and did I mention, its ready in 30 minutes or less.

I wasn't expecting to be wowed by this meal. I guess I figured since the recipe seemed so simple, so would the flavors. I love being wrong... at least when it comes to food. Cheesy pasta with the perfect amount of spice; about a 4 or 5 out of 10 on the heat scale, more of a 3 for my husband. For those that like extra spice, you can substitute the original Ro-tel tomatoes for the spicy version. If feeding to little ones or your prefer less spice, choose the milder version. This meal was so good, we found ourselves going back for more until it was gone and even today I'm still thinking about it and wanting more.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-5759]

Source adapted from: America's Test Kitchen, The Best Simple Recipes

Linked up to: Taste and Tell Thursdays

What's in my Kitchen - Blender edition

So I decided to start a new series of posts to highlight my favorite kitchen gadgets. I'm excited to share with you the stuff I can't live without in my kitchen. No paid advertisements, no sponsors...just my honest opinions of products that I have come to rely on and love. The first product in the series of posts is dedicated to the one appliance most used in our home (if you don't count the fridge, oven, or dishwasher, of course).

Our Blender choice: BlendTec

We have had our Blendtec blender since August of 2009. My husband started making a shift in his lifestyle and after adopting the love of running, wanted to incorporate a healthier diet. We were on the market to find the best blender for green smoothies and this blender met all our needs. I'll admit, it was hard to swallow the price tag, but over three years and 2000+ uses the expense has been more than  justified.

The blender itself can do so much more than just smoothies, but green smoothies are what gets the most usage day to day in our blender. If you've ever tried a smoothie that still had chunks of ice, fruit, or worse kale or spinach...you probably didn't go back for more. This appliance takes care of any kind of texture other blenders might leave behind. It's also programmable, so at the touch of a button, the blender gets to work on my smoothie and I'm free to walk away and tend to other things. Still not convinced, do a quick search on youtube and find the Blendtec blending a cell phone and all sorts of other crazy random things.

As a bonus, I've included my Green smoothie recipe. It took me many tries to get the taste just right, so adjust the flavors as needed until you are sold on the idea of greens in your smoothie; you'll be surprised to find you can't taste the greens. Even my 18 month old son loves to drink them each morning. It's the one thing we all share at the beginning of each day.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-5907]

Source: Whole Lotta Oven original recipe

Chicken Tikka Masala

It took me 22 years and convincing from my Husband before I ever tried Indian food. I don't even remember what I ate, but I do remember being pleasantly surprised, which is almost always the case. It's funny how our minds work. I had convinced myself I didn't like Indian spices and therefore would not enjoy Indian food. Fast forward to now, and Chicken Tikka is one of my favorite meals. This is actually one of my top three favorites and something that I could probably make once a week; even my husband agrees with me on that! I typically make an extra half batch just for the sake of having extra leftovers for lunch throughout the week.

Here is my breakdown of Chicken Tikka. The chicken marinates in a yogurt  and spice mixture, resulting in tender pieces of chicken before hitting the grill (or in my case, the grill pan). The marinade can be done the night before or up to four hours before making the meal. Then comes the sauce....oh the sauce! More spices, some cream and tomato sauce marry to become the perfect condiment for the chicken and some naan. Don't skip the naan. I highly recommend garlic naan, but regular naan is fine too. I might be biased, but I really think this recipe is even better than the dish at our favorite Indian restaurant, but I'll let you be the judge.

[kitchenbug-your-recipe-appears-here-5544]

Source: adapted from Sweet Pea's Kitchen, originally adapted from Allrecipes

Linked up to: Buns in My Oven

Menu Planning - Week Four

We have made it to the last week of January. Can you see me jumping up and down? Last week was bitterly cold here in NY. I spent most of the week in a double layer of socks, sweats, hoodies, and rolled up in a blanket drinking any kind of hot beverage I could find. While I'm happy to say goodbye to January, February generally brings even more cold weather and snow, but I'm trying to think of it as the home stretch. I'm finding my zen moments dreaming of the sunrise over the beach, laying out in the warm sun, and listening to waves crash on the ocean.....ahh that was a good moment! Until we can rejoice with warmer weather, I will continue to menu plan with some comfort food. Here is what's on the menu this week:

Chicken Tikka Masala

Slow Cooker Roast with an Onion-and-Mushroom Gravy

Spicy Sausage Pasta

Pantry Meal: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

Make sure to check out all the recipes I discovered this week on Pinterest by following me here.