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September 23, 2021
Willkommen to Oktoberfest!
Willkommen (or welcome) to Oktoberfest! If you aren’t familiar, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest…or beer festival and traveling funfair, for those of use that don’t speak German. It’s held in Germany and runs about 2 weeks, typically from mid-Sept to the first Sunday in October. You can find traditional German food such as sausages, oversized soft pretzels, mustard and curry ketchup, cabbage and radish salads, dumplings, spaetzle, and obviously, plenty of ice-cold beer! More than 6 million people from around the world attend the event every year. Unfortunately, the Oktoberfest celebration in German is cancelled again this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy plenty of yummy food. So, pull out the decorations, get your house in order, invite some friends and family over, and cook up some delicious German food! I’d like to share with you 5 different ideas to host the perfect Oktoberfest party. We’ll … Continue reading
September 22, 2021
Tuscan Chicken Alfredo
Tuscan Chicken Alfredo tastes like a restaurant quality meal! You won’t be able to get over how amazing the creamy sauce is and how each bite just the perfect amount of spice to it. This dish is loaded with tender chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and a lovely garlic sauce. Not only does it taste amazing but it’s easy to make. The chicken is marinated before cooking, the sauce whisks together in no time, and the veggies add a little texture to each bite. You might even find yourself licking your plate clean! The recipe can be found here. Start by slicing the chicken. I like to slice the chicken into 1-inch pieces, but you can use strips if you prefer. Place the chicken in a bowl and pour the Roasted Red Pepper Salad Dressing over the top. The chicken should be mostly coated but you can push it down … Continue reading
September 17, 2021
Sheet Pan Pancakes
Sheet Pan Pancakes are like one giant perfect pancake! Once you make these or try these, there is no going back. No standing at the counter flipping pancakes for an hour over the griddle! Simply bake, slice, and devour. They are moist, fluffy, and easy to assemble. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F. Generously spray a baking sheet (11×17 size) with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pancake mix, milk, and eggs. Any brand of pancake mix will work just fine. Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet. It might look like the batter isn’t filling much of the baking sheet, but it will rise as it bakes so you don’t need to add additional batter. If you do, your pancakes will turn out more like cake! Add any toppings of your choice – blueberries, bananas, … Continue reading
September 12, 2021
Cake Pops
Cake Pops are a fun phenomenon and something I had to try. When I think of a Cake Pop, I think of cake that is coated in melted chocolate, skewered on a stick, and served as a bite sized treat. They can be made in most cake flavors and decorated as simple or elaborate as you want. They are very similar to truffles but are often a little lighter and truffles aren’t served on a stick. I started my Cake Pop venture before the 4th of July (can you see I’m a bit behind on writing this? :)) but thought these are great treat for any time of year! You could make some to celebrate Labor Day, the end of summer and kids going back to school, dessert at a BBQ, or just make them because you love cake 🙂 I purchased this fancy Cake Pop maker (little countertop appliance … Continue reading
September 7, 2021
Caprese French Bread Pizza
When I think of crisp and refreshing, I think of caprese salad. It has juicy, ripe tomatoes, slices of soft mozzarella, and is finished with incredibly fresh basil leaves. If you add some French bread and a smear of pesto and can turn a lovely caprese salad into a tasty pizza. It’s bursting with flavor and is to toasted to perfection. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the French bread in half, horizontally. If the bread is too long to fit on a baking sheet, slice the bread in half so it will fit. Make sure you look for soft Italian bread or French bread. You don’t want to use a hearty baguette or anything that will be too hard and crusty after baking. I like to use store-bought basil pesto, but you can make homemade pesto if you have … Continue reading
September 2, 2021
Chicken Souvlaki
Chicken Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish consisting of marinated grilled meat that is served with vegetables, creamy Tzatziki sauce, and pita bread. It is a low carb, low in fat and very fresh. So, for a very good reason, it’s a popular street food in Greece! Souvlaki means “meat on a skewer”. Pork is the most common type of meat used but chicken, beef, and lamb are other options. The recipe I am going to share with you today uses chicken. It’s packed with flavor and will bring a taste of Greece to your kitchen! The recipe can be found here. This is a 3-part recipe. You must prepare the chicken souvlaki (aka skewers), the yogurt sauce (tzatziki), and tomato cucumber salad. Each has a vibrant, fresh taste. You will feel satisfied without feeling full after this meal. Let’s start with the chicken. Combine the lemon juice, olive oil, … Continue reading
August 30, 2021
State Fair Home Edition
The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing. Do you plan on going? I know a lot of people that plan on attending the fair and a lot of people that don’t, for various reasons. I sure love the fair and missed not being able to attend last year. Unfortunately, this year, it’s also not in the cards for me. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some delicious fair food at home, and you can do the same! First off, I want to share with you a link to a blog I wrote last year. The blog is called Your Favorite MN State Fair Food…at Home, because that’s what the blog is about – creating and enjoying all the classic state fair foods in the comfort of your own home. I wrote this blog because the fair was cancelled last year and wanted to give everyone the option of … Continue reading
August 28, 2021
Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches
Chicken. Bacon. Ranch. Three things that pair amazingly well together. Combine them in sandwich form and you have one mighty fine meal. Think tender chicken, creamy ranch (which really goes with just about anything), and crispy bacon smothered between a bun with some melted cheese for good measure. This is what dreams are made of. I may be getting ahead of myself, but I do sure enjoy a good Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich! The recipe can be found here. Start by cooking the bacon according to package instructions. I like to move the bacon to a paper towel lined plate to absorb some of the grease and set aside until I’m ready to use. Add the cream cheese to a large saucepan or pot and heat over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to melt the cream cheese. Once it’s about halfway melted, add the entire packet of ranch seasoning (Ugh, it … Continue reading
August 24, 2021
Cauliflower Parmesan
Cauliflower Parmesan is a real delight! Not only is it delicious and hearty, it’s also a vegetarian meal that will satisfy any carnivore (I think…don’t quote me on this :)). So, if you are craving Italian food, I recommend you give this a try! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the cauliflower into 4 planks (or 4 cauliflower steaks if you are familiar with that term). Place the planks in a single layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender and golden brown. Remove from the oven and top with marinara sauce. Add 1-2 cups, depending on how much marinara sauce you want. This direction is 100% to your taste. I like a little extra … Continue reading
August 20, 2021
Breakfast Enchiladas
Breakfast Enchiladas are a great way to start your day! Enchiladas are tortillas that are filled with various ingredients, rolled up, covered with sauce, and baked to perfection. For my Breakfast Enchiladas, I’m swapping a typical enchilada sauce for whisked eggs, and filling the inside with cheese and diced ham. These Breakfast Enchiladas can be customized to meet your taste preferences. I used diced ham, but you could use bacon or sausage. I used white onion, but you could substitute with bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, etc. Really make these your own and use the recipe below as a guide for quantities! Another plus side of this recipe is you can make the Breakfast Enchiladas the day before and bake when you are ready. You can also make them the morning of…. like really early the morning you plan to bake if you are an early riser. You want the dish … Continue reading
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