Author Archives: Laura Youngquist

Everyone loves a good Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich, but have you ever tried Chicken Bacon Ranch Sheet Pan Nachos?  Let me tell you…they are yummy!  Super easy to make, super quick to make, super easy to cleanup, and they work well as an appetizer (or as a meal for 2…guilty as charged).  The chicken is juicy and tender, the bacon is salty and crisp, and melted cheese brings it all (or holds it all) together.  My favorite part is the ranch dressing that’s drizzled over the top.  It’s not just a bottle of ranch dressing but a homemade mixture that is rich and creamy, and you will want some in every bite! The recipe can be found here. Start by making the ranch dressing.  Combine the ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk in a mixing bowl.  Whisk until well combined.  Then cover and refrigerate until ready to use. I like to let mine sit for about an … Continue reading

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We recently tried a recipe for Bacon Apple Chicken Burgers with Dijon Sauce, and it was amazing!  The burgers are a little sweet from the apples and a little salty from the crispy bacon.  Add the Dijon sauce and you have a little slice of heaven!  The Dijon sauce is a combination of Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and maple syrup so it is sweet yet tangy, and I could not get enough of it.  All the flavors in this burger pair well and your taste buds will be happy 😊 The ingredient list looks long but these burgers really are easy to make.  And you will most likely have most of the ingredients at home already, so give them a try! The recipe can be found here. Start by preparing the Dijon sauce.  Add the Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and maple syrup to a mixing bowl and stir to combine.  Give it a taste and adjust the ingredients, as necessary.  For … Continue reading

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St Patrick’s Day is fast approaching.  Do you have plans to celebrate?  I’m admittedly well past the years of bar hopping downtown to drink some mediocre green beer in an overcrowded bar…. I tend to opt for a more homebound celebration that involves some good food, maybe a cocktail or 2, and allows me to be in my jammies by 8pm 6pm 😊 This year, we are going to make the following recipes for our St Patrick’s Day dinner: Pot of Gold Mimosa Irish Soda Muffins Guinness Glazed Meatballs Irish Cream Brownies   The Pot of Gold Mimosa is an elevated mimosa to be St Patrick’s Day themed.  This is a cocktail I like to enjoy while making dinner as well as during dinner.  It’s very light and refreshing. The recipe can be found here. Start by adding 3 oz of orange juice to a champagne glass.  Next, add ½ oz of vodka (you can always skip the … Continue reading

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Escape to the Mediterranean for a fun weeknight dinner that will feed the whole family and leave you feeling satisfied!  The recipe is for Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp.  As the name suggests, the recipe is cooked entirely on a sheet pan, so you have easy assembly, easy cleanup, and you can use the sheet pan as your serving platter. You can eat the shrimp as is and enjoy the rest of the sheet pan ingredients as a salad or combine all ingredients, so you get a little of everything in each bite.  The shrimp is cooked to perfection and absorbs some of the other flavors while baking.  I think red onion can be quite potent but when it’s combined with the other Mediterranean flavors, it really mellows out but still give you a nice crunch.  The olives and feta cheese sprinkled over the top really bring it all together. The recipe can be found here. … Continue reading

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Garlic & Parmesan Crusted Scallops are a wonderful way to prepare scallops.  They are flavorful, perfectly seared, and pair well with many entrees.  These are great on a bed of rice or served over pasta.  Our preference is to enjoy them as is so we can savor each bite.  We then add a side of broccoli or asparagus for a little crunch.  If you are a garlic lover, you’ll love that aspect of this dish.  The garlic provides this great aroma and infuses each scallop while it cooks.  You might not have the best breath after eating but your tummy will sure be happy 😊 The recipe can be found here. Start by heating olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Once hot, add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the red wine (optional), soy sauce, brown sugar, and parsley.  Stir to combine and heat for about 1 minute. Rinse the scallops.  Coat the top and … Continue reading

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Instant Pot meals are quickly becoming a favorite of mine on night we are busy and don’t have a lot of time to spend cooking but still want a nice meal.  We probably use our Instant Pot more in the fall and winter than we do in the spring and summer because it’s great for warm and hearty meals.  Recently we made Instant Pot Chicken Bruschetta Pasta.  It was delicious! The chicken was moist and tender, the noodles were al dente (I hate when they become too soft and mushy), and the bruschetta topping added some lovely color and a bit of freshness to the dish.  The flavors pair well together and left us feeling quite satisfied! The recipe can be found here. Start by preparing your ingredients – the ingredients you will be putting in the Instant Pot.  Slice the chicken, mince the garlic, etc.  Then, add the ingredients to the Instant Pot in the … Continue reading

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Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 1st this year.  I believe it always falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, signifying the end of Carnival season and the start of Lenten season, but please correct me if you are more knowledgeable on these details than I am 😊  Tuesdays aren’t usually something people get excited over, unless it’s Taco Tuesday, but Mardi Gras gives you something to look forward to.  Each city celebrates differently, and I admittedly don’t know of any raging parties happening in the Twin Cities (yet) but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate at home with a few close friends and family. We typically enjoy a themed meal or some apps and cocktails at home.  This year, we’ll be starting with Sausage Bites with Spicy Cajun Dipping Sauce as an appetizer, then moving on to Cajun Turkey Burgers with Spicy Remoulade as our main course with King Cake Cream Cheese Bites … Continue reading

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Hawaiian Sheet Pan Chicken is a quick an easy, yet super tasty, weeknight meal.  The entire meal is made with one sheet pan so cleanup will also be quick.  You do need a cutting board, mixing bowl, and knife, but that’s still less dishes than normal, right?  I think it took me 60 min TOPS to make this dish, including prep time, bake time, and cleanup. This dish is full of flavor!  The chicken is moist and juicy, the veggies are tender, the BBQ sauce adds a little tanginess, and the pineapple add a wonderfully fresh, citrus flavor.  My favorite way to serve this is over a bed of rice but mashed potatoes or a salad would be a good substitute. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the chicken and add to a mixing bowl.  Drizzle with olive … Continue reading

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If you are looking for a quick and easy breakfast option I have just the thing – Ham and Cheese Breakfast Quesadillas.  These are all the rage at my house!  They come together in a matter of minutes, can be customized, are portable if you need to eat on the run, and are big enough to share (if you want 😊). My favorite ingredients to use are scrambled eggs, ham, and cheese.  Very simple but very tasty.  You can substitute the ham for breakfast sausage or add veggies like mushrooms, spinach, onions, peppers, etc.  Make it your own!  One thing I want to point out is that the meat needs to be pre-cooked.  You will not be cooking or heating the quesadilla enough to fully cook the meat through.  Sliced deli ham works great because it’s thin and can be used as is or chopped into small pieces.  Pre-cooked breakfast sausage (I’m partial to the crumbles) also works well.  If you … Continue reading

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It doesn’t get much better than Teriyaki Chicken Quesadillas!  The sweet and tangy flavor of teriyaki sauce pairs well with chicken.  Combine it with melted cheese, crisp onions, and a warm tortilla, and you have a gourmet meal. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, add the soy sauce, ½ cup water, brown sugar, honey, ginger, sesame oil, and garlic.  Whisk to combine.  Bring to a boil and heat for 60 seconds. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and 2 Tbsp water.  Whisk into the boiling mixture and watch as the mixture begins to thicken.  Then, remove it from the heat and set aside. Place the chicken in a baking dish and pour 75% of the teriyaki sauce over the top.  You want to reserve the other 25% of the teriyaki sauce to use later.  Cover the … Continue reading

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