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weekly specialsAuthor Archives: Laura Youngquist
May 1, 2023
Taco ‘bout a good time!
Cinco de Mayo is coming soon – it’s Friday, May 5th. Cinco de Mayo quite literally means the 5th of May in Spanish so it’s easy to keep track of the date 😊 If you aren’t familiar, here are 3 fun facts about Cinco de Mayo, 1) it’s not Mexico’s Independence Day, 2) it’s not a national holiday in Mexico, 3) it celebrates Mexico’s victory against Imperial France. As you can see, it’s a relatively minor holiday that is celebrated regionally in Mexico….and pretty much everywhere in the United States. In Puebla, Mexico it is celebrated with parades, parties, music, folk dancing, and traditional foods. In the United States, it’s celebrated with Mexican food. Are you sensing a theme to my blog post? I’m going to share fun Mexican fares to enjoy for Cinco de Mayo or anytime you are craving Mexican food. Here’s my lineup: Homemade Flour Tortillas Slow Cooker Shredded Salsa Chicken Spicy Grilled Queso Chunky Guacamole Mexican Fried … Continue reading
April 25, 2023
Cheesy Pull Apart Bread Bowl
Cheesy Pull Apart Bread Bowls are designed for sharing making them the perfect appetizer! Simply pull apart (hence the name) or tear the pieces of bread off and enjoy. Toasted bread with melted cheese that’s smothered in garlic and herbs? Yes, please. It’s comfort food at its finest! If you aren’t familiar with “pull apart bread” it’s basically a round loaf of bread that is cut at a diagonal leaving little squares that you stuff cheese, meat, and/or herbs between then cover with melted butter and bake. Sounds delicious, right? It is and you’ll be drooling while you wait to dig in! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a bread knife to slice the round sourdough loaf from side to side in both directions, leaving about 1-inch of space between each slice. You will create a cross pattern and do … Continue reading
April 20, 2023
Turkey & Swiss Sliders
I’m sure you’ve either seen, tasted, or heard of the ever-popular ham and cheese sliders made with King’s Hawaiian Rolls. They are a crowd pleaser because they feed a crowd and are easy to whip up. I made a slight variation using turkey and Swiss, and the result was phenomenal! I can easily see myself making a pan of each (ham and turkey) at my next gathering for a little variety. The turkey is sliced thick and is juicy and tender and the melted Swiss cheese holds it all together (literally). The recipe can be found here. Start by spraying a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Use a long bread knife to slice the rolls in half. Keep the rolls attached to each other, do not separate into individual rolls. Remove the top half of the rolls and add a layer of cheese. You will use 5 slices of cheese with one piece being cut … Continue reading
April 15, 2023
Slow Cooker Chicken Philly Cheesesteak
Slow Cooker Chicken Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches are loaded with tender chicken, bell peppers, and onions, piled high on a hoagie roll and covered in melted cheese. It’s a tasty meal that’s easy to make! I think it’s perfect on a cold winter night or on a busy weekend because your slow cooker is doing most of the work. The recipe can be found here. Start by placing the chicken in a slow cooker. I recommend using boneless skinless chicken breasts but if you prefer to use chicken thighs, make sure to trim some of the fat off first. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Season to taste. I tend to add more garlic powder because we love the flavor. Pour the chicken broth over the top and cover. Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours. Add the bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Cover and cook on LOW for an additional 1 ½ – 2 hours or until the … Continue reading
April 10, 2023
Chicken Alfredo Bruschetta Pizza
Bring a taste of Italy into your kitchen with Chicken Alfredo Bruschetta Pizza! It combines the delicious flavor of alfredo sauce with chicken, bruschetta, mozzarella cheese, and crispy crust. You’ll love it! This recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, is packed with flavor, and is perfect for pizza night. I even hear it makes great leftovers for lunch (or breakfast if you’re into that sort of thing) 😊 The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. I like to line my baking sheet with parchment paper so it’s easier to transfer the pizza to slice when done baking but that is completely up to you. Make the bruschetta first by combining the tomatoes, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. You want the flavors to blend together while you prepare the base of the pizza. Place the pizza crust on a baking sheet. I like to … Continue reading
April 4, 2023
Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli
Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli is my newest weeknight creation. It’s delicious as an appetizer or can be served as a meal, is crispy, crunchy, perfectly seasoned, and has plenty of melted cheese. What’s not to love? I personally like the Air Fryer version because it’s not deep fried and coated in oil but still has great flavor. Pair it with your favorite marinara or alfredo sauce for dipping and you are ready to dig in! This is a recipe you will need to cook in batches. My Air Fryer only held 4-5 ravioli at a time, so I ended up doing 3 cooking cycles. If you have a larger Air Fryer, you might be able to fit more ravioli at a time, but you will want to plan for cook time. The recipe isn’t hard to make or incredibly time consuming to prepare but you will have down time as the Air Fryer cooks each batch. So, pour a glass of … Continue reading
March 31, 2023
Easter Edibles
With Easter right around the corner, I want to share a few fun ideas for your celebration. I’m strictly sticking with dessert, cocktail, and snack options here. You don’t need me telling you what to bake for brunch or cook for dinner (or where to go out to eat if you prefer) 😊 My family has the same conversation every year about what we’re going to eat…and we always go with the exact same thing as the previous year. It’s tradition, we know what to expect, and everyone looks forward to the meal. I think the same applies to a lot of families out there. So, that’s why I like to focus on the “sides” if you will. It’s themed food that’s delicious, easy to make, and adds to the celebration in a way that doesn’t break tradition yet lets us enjoy something new. So please enjoy the “treats” I’m sharing with you … Continue reading
March 26, 2023
Spring Cocktails
Thank goodness for cocktails! Having a cocktail can be like a little vacation or perhaps a way to relax after a hard day of work. This time of year, it’s a way to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring as we look forward to all the snow melting, flowers starting to bloom, and warmer days. I’ve been working on some fun cocktails and hope you will continue reading to join me on this experience 😊 I chose to garnish each cocktail with an edible flower. I won’t talk about the process for me to obtain the edible flowers but know it was not easy during the winter when I was working on the recipes, and I am forever grateful for the Festival Foods employees that came to my rescue. If you do happen to luck out and find edible flowers at your local grocery store, I highly recommend purchasing some. They don’t taste like much but make … Continue reading
March 21, 2023
Brunching
Brunch is a widely popular weekend activity. Who doesn’t love meeting up with friends and family to enjoy some wonderful breakfast food and maybe a cocktail or 2? With spring right around the corner and Easter coming up, I thought it would be fun to share some of my new breakfast recipes, and perhaps get you out of the winter slumber and motivated to host a get-together. Here are the recipes I’ve been working on: Pepperjack Baked Eggs Pepperjack Baked Eggs Breakfast Sandwich Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake Sheet Pan Cheesy Hash Browns All are relatively easy to make and taste aaaaaamazing! I’ll walk you through how to make each recipe and give you some tips along the way. Pepperjack Baked Eggs are my new obsession. They are loaded with pepperjack cheese and have a little kick. Don’t worry, they aren’t spicy by any means, but you will taste a little heat in every bite. Think elevated … Continue reading
March 16, 2023
Chicken Bacon Ranch Meatloaf
Meatloaf is a wonderful comfort food and if you’re from the Midwest…it’s a bit of a staple. It’s one of those meals you either love or hate. If you hate it, you probably ate it too much as a kid 😊 but I think you should give it one more chance and try my Chicken Bacon Ranch Meatloaf. I’m a chicken-bacon-ranch fan and consider myself to be somewhat of a CBR (chicken-bacon-ranch) connoisseur. If it’s available at a restaurant in some capacity, chances are I’ll order it. I think it’s delicious and love the flavor combination. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard size loaf pan with parchment paper. This will help you lift the meatloaf out of the pan after cooking, making it easier to slice and serve. Open the jar of bacon bits and reserve ¼ cup. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, dried minced … Continue reading
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