Author Archives: Laura Youngquist

Have you ever heard of Jackfruit?  If not, let me fill you in.  It is a meatless alternative (it’s actually fruit) that closely resembles pulled pork.  It’s great for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone looking for a little variety.  I was skeptical at first but it’s quite good.  I like to buy canned jackfruit because it’s pre-sliced and easy to work with – all you have to do is cook it and shred it! I want to share my recipe for BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches.  It’s real deal shredded BBQ, loaded with BBQ flavor, but is a plant-based recipe.  It’s a little sweet and savory but looks and tastes like pulled pork. The recipe can be found here. Start by draining and rinsing the jackfruit.  Use forks or your hands to pull the jackfruit apart to resemble pulled pork.  I think a fork works well for finer shreds of meat and … Continue reading

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Right around this time of year I get a craving for a turkey dinner…. a nice plate full of my favorite Thanksgiving foods.  But, that’s just too much food on a hot summer day.  I decided to create a recipe that not only reminds me of Thanksgiving but is light enough for summer.  I give you the Turkey Burger with Cranberry Aioli.   The turkey burger is full of flavorful herbs and when you combine it with the cranberry aioli you have the perfect burger.  It’s a great blend of sweet and savory with a lean and juicy burger. Start by making the cranberry aioli.  Combine the mayo, Dijon mustard and cranberry sauce until well mixed.  It might be a little lumpy and that’s OK.  If you don’t want any lumps use the back of a spook to mash the lumps or whisk the ingredients.  Either set aside until the … Continue reading

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Everyone loves ice cream!  Why you ask?  There are soooooooo many flavors to choose from, it’s refreshing on a hot summer day (but can be enjoyed year round), you can eat it anywhere, it goes with almost any dessert, you can make it at home….really the reasons to enjoy ice cream are endless 🙂 I enjoy making ice cream with my KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker and trying different flavors.  I’ve definitely had a few batches that didn’t turn out how I wanted but let’s be honest, I ate them anyway 🙂  Who would throw away perfectly good ice cream?  I do, however, have 3 favorites I would like to share with you today. Strawberry Ice Cream Pistachio Ice Cream Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream is incredibly flavorful and refreshing!  There is an entire pound of strawberries in this batch of ice cream, so it’s definitely fruity.  … Continue reading

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Who knew National French Fry day was a thing?  I was overjoyed when I found out this information because I love a good french fry.  Imagine the perfectly crisp outside with the light and tender inside, so hot from the fryer you need to dunk in ketchup to cool them down.  Does this make your mouth water? I typically only enjoy french fries when I’m out to eat but thought, why not make them at home?  I have 3 different recipes to share with you today and because french fries come in many different shapes, each is a different variety. Oven Baked French Fries Seasoned Potato Wedges Cajun Potato Rounds   Oven Baked French Fries are crispy, crunchy, salty, and complement any meal nicely.  I also like that they are baked and not deep fried, so they are slightly healthier to enjoy. Start by washing, peeling, and slicing the potatoes.  … Continue reading

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A Mojito is refreshing during any season, but I am partial to enjoying them during the hot summer months.  If you haven’t had one, you’re in for a treat.  Traditionally, a Mojito consists of white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and mint.  It’s the perfect combination of sweet and citrus with the wonderful aroma of fresh mint – very refreshing! I want to share with you 4 recipes today: Classic Fresh Mint Mojito Blackberry Mojito Blueberry Mojito Kiwi Blueberry Mojito   Please note: Mojitos typically have a lower alcohol content, but the recipes can be adjusted to meet your individual taste. Classic Fresh Mint Mojito – It’s hard to beat the crisp, fresh taste of this traditional drink. Start by adding the mint leaves and lime juice to the bottom of 2 glasses.  Use a muddler or wooden spoon to blend or mash the mint leaves in each glass.  … Continue reading

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Summer is finally here and now it’s time to look ahead to the 4th of July.  Can you believe it’s only a week away?  We plan on celebrating with family and friends – backyard bash, BBQ, yard games, drinks, the whole shebang!  If you are as unprepared as I am, you are probably in need of a few quick and easy food options 🙂 First up is Buffalo Chicken Firecrackers.  These are fun to assemble and a great themed food for your spread.  Feel free to use your favorite homemade Buffalo Chicken Dip if you prefer but I like to order fresh from the deli.  Saves me some time and effort, and it’s delicious!  Plus, any leftovers can be set out to enjoy with the rest of the food. Start by laying out wonton wrappers on the counter.  Place a spoonful of the Buffalo Chicken Dip on each wonton wrapper.  Then … Continue reading

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Margarita Chicken is one of my new favorite dishes.  It’s quick and easy to make, healthy, and a tasty meal you can enjoy all year round.  The chicken is grilled to perfection, then topped with melted cheese, pesto, tomatoes, and basil. The recipe can be found here. Here’s how you make it: Start by combining the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a bowl.  Add the chicken and toss to coat. In a separate bowl, combine the tomatoes, basil and lemon. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.  Cook the chicken on each side for about 8-10 minutes.  I like to cook the chicken low and slow, so I don’t burn the meat if the chicken breasts are thick.  You can always cover the skillet to help evenly distribute the heat.  If you are better with a grill it’s OK to cook the chicken that way too! … Continue reading

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If you are having a hard time deciding what to make for St Patrick’s Day, I can help!  There are some really great recipes out there whether you are hosting a party or enjoying a quiet meal at home.  I want to share my take on St Patrick’s Day and the menu I plan on serving. I’m sticking with a “green theme” for my menu and serving mostly food that is…green.  The menu is not necessarily traditional Irish food but is fun and festive for the occasion! The menu consists of the following: Avocado Ranch Dip with Veggies Reuben Sandwich Rachel Sandwich Decorative Pretzel Rods Frozen Grasshopper, for the adults Mint Green Shake, for the kids   The Avocado Ranch Dip is delicious!  It’s light, tangy, and perfectly salted.  You combine the ingredients in the food processor until smooth and serve with veggies.  I only plated green veggies to keep … Continue reading

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Laissez le bon temps rouler!  Aka “let the good times roll” is frequently heard during Mardi Gras.  It’s a celebration of music, parades, costumes, excitement, and most importantly, food.  Typical food styles are Cajun and Creole.  I have a few recipes to help you get into the spirit and feel like you are in the French Quarter of New Orleans. First up is Cajun Chicken Lazone Pasta.  Chicken Lazone is a New Orleans favorite and is a combination of Cajun chicken and comfort food.  You start by coating the chicken in a homemade rub.  It’s pretty simple to make so don’t let this scare you. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, dip the chicken into the mixture, and set aside. Next, you heat a skillet and cook the chicken until done. Then, make the sauce by adding the remaining mixture to the pan with some heavy cream and allowing … Continue reading

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When was the last time you ate a Sloppy Joe?  It’s not a common meal in my house but there is something about a Sloppy Joe that reminds me of family dinners as a child.  I wanted to create a new version of a Sloppy Joe that combines another favorite food of ours – buffalo chicken.  The result was a Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joe.  It was amazing! These Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joe’s have enough heat without being too spicy and veggies hidden within the meat that add great flavor.  I recommend drizzling some ranch or blue cheese dressing on top to offset the heat.  And because who can enjoy buffalo sauce without ranch or blue cheese?  It really completes the sandwich! The recipe can be found here. Let’s get cooking!  Start by doing all the prep work.  I like to chop my veggies, measure out my dry and liquid ingredients, … Continue reading

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