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weekly specialsAuthor Archives: Laura Youngquist
March 6, 2023
Caprese Ravioli Salad
Caprese Ravioli Salad is the pasta salad of summer…. or winter…. whenever you are looking for something light and refreshing. It’s ready in about 20 minutes or less and is packed with fresh flavors of basil, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and balsamic glaze. This recipe can be served as a side dish or main course. If serving as the main course, add a garden salad or some fresh veggies and hummus on the side. The ravioli is coated in a wonderful oil and herb dressing. You can use cherry or grape tomatoes. I recommend cheese ravioli or perhaps cheese tortellini (if you can’t find ravioli). Use fresh basil, it’s way better than dried basil. And use mozzarella pearls or fresh mozzarella slices that are cut into smaller chunks. The keyword here is FRESH! You will really notice a difference in the taste and texture of the dish if your ingredients are fresh. The recipe can be found here. Start by … Continue reading
March 1, 2023
Sun Dried Tomato & Scallop Pasta
Sun Dried Tomato & Scallop Pasta is an easy to make yet incredibly delicious weeknight meal. It’s a recipe that sounds like you ordered if from a local restaurant when in fact you whipped it up in no time at home. I think scallops pair well with a cream sauce and pasta so it’s the perfect combination. The pasta is tender and coated in a lovely mozzarella, sun dried tomato sauce. The scallops have a nice sear and good texture. And there is good heat from the red pepper flakes. The best way to cook scallops is to sear them on the stovetop in a skillet with some oil or butter. You want a golden crust on the top and bottom and the inside to have a soft texture. You can use fresh or frozen scallops. I tend to use frozen so I don’t have to worry about cooking them so soon after purchasing but you will have to ensure … Continue reading
February 24, 2023
Asian Cuisine: Ground Chicken Meals
Every so often I’m looking for a simple weeknight meal that is filling, flavorful, and doesn’t require a lot of effort or groceries. One thing we both like is Asian cuisine and the wonderful variety of flavors and sauces (some homemade and some store-bought) you can use to create meals and elevate your recipes. A favorite in our house is to prepare ground meat and serve it over a bed of rice. It’s simple, you can change up the flavors for each recipe, so you aren’t eating the same thing over and over, and we often already have all the ingredients on hand, so the recipes are easy to whip up. I’d like to share a few recipes with you that are favorites of ours: General Tso’s Ground Chicken Ground Orange Chicken Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls General Tso’s Ground Chicken is sweet, sour, and spicy all at the same time. It’s a very popular … Continue reading
February 17, 2023
Mardi Gras Grub
Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 21 this year. It’s traditionally celebrated on “Fat Tuesday” which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. It’s a wonderful celebration filled with plenty of food and drink…New Orleans style! We like to celebrate Mardi Gras every year with a fun and festive meal at home. Sometimes we are with friends and family and sometimes it’s just us. Either way, the drinks are flowing, and the food is plenty. Any reason to make a themed meal, right? I like to have a big entrée that allows us to have plenty of leftovers. This year we are making Spicy Gumbo. To keep us lubricated, we’ll be enjoying a cocktail while we cook. And for an appetizer and dessert, we’ll be snacking on a simple themed treat. It’s an easy menu that I’ll walk you through how to make! Mardi Gras White Chocolate Covered Pretzels – These are a wonderful finger food … Continue reading
February 15, 2023
Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
Chicken Parmesan is a classic dish and meatloaf is a family tradition shared by many so why not combine the 2? The result is Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf. It’s a wonderful dish for a cold winter night or when you are looking for an elevated weeknight meal. The chicken is tender and perfectly seasoned, it’s stuffed with lots of cheese, and served with marinara sauce to coat every bite. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. This will make removing the meatloaf from the pan easier once done baking. Add the ground chicken, ¼ cup marinara sauce, 4-5 minced garlic cloves, 2 Tbsp chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, onion powder, 2 Tsp salt, and black pepper to a mixing bowl. Mix to combine then divide into 2 equal portions. To a separate mixing bowl, add the ricotta, ½ cup mozzarella, ½ cup parmesan, 2 … Continue reading
February 9, 2023
Cupid’s Cocktails & Confections
Valentine’s Day is a few short days away. Do you have plans or know how you’re going to celebrate? A lot of people have set traditions each year and like to go out to dinner or prepare a fun meal at home with their friends and/or loved ones. We prefer staying in and making a meal at home. We feel less rushed, it’s fun to cook together, and we can make something special to celebrate the holiday. Two things I like to focus on when creating new Valentine’s Day recipes is desserts and cocktails. Both will enhance your dinner and make the event more memorable and are required to complete the meal (in my opinion). So, let’s walk through my new recipes and hopefully something will catch your eye to prepare for Valentine’s (or Galantine’s) Day! I’m going to start with the cocktails because 1) they are easy to make, 2) they are delicious, and 3) you need … Continue reading
February 5, 2023
Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf
Meatloaf is the epitome of comfort food. And this time of year, we are all looking for something warm, hearty, and comforting to beat the cold temperatures. What’s better than meatloaf? Try Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf. It has the traditional texture and shape of meatloaf but is made with ground chicken. The hot sauce or buffalo sauce brings the heat, but it’s balanced by creamy blue cheese. This is a dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal and makes great leftovers. If you are buffalo sauce fan, I recommend you give it a try! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. Alternately, you can line the loaf pan with parchment paper to make removing the meatloaf easier. Add the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, celery, blue cheese, and onions to a large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined and set aside. I’m not the biggest … Continue reading
January 30, 2023
Hawaiian Pizza Chicken Tenders
These low carb Hawaiian Pizza Chicken Tenders will be a new weeknight favorite! They are all the flavors of a traditional Hawaiian pizza but without the crust. Instead, the ingredients are piled on top of chicken tenders and baked to perfection. The recipe is amazing! The chicken is moist and tender, the Canadian bacon is lean and a little salty, the marinara sauce is fresh and herby, the pineapple adds a wonderfully sweet flavor, and the mozzarella really brings it all together. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Season each chicken tender with salt and pepper or garlic powder. This step is optional, but I think it’s necessary to add flavor to the chicken. You could also use an Italian blend. Wrap one piece of Canadian bacon around each chicken tender. Place, seam side down, on the baking sheet. You can … Continue reading
January 25, 2023
Open Faced Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
Open Faced Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches will be your next go-to meal for a busy weeknight! They are easy to make, hearty, and perfect for a cold winter night. These open-faced sandwiches are packed with tender rotisserie chicken that’s coated in marinara sauce (or tomato sauce) flavored with garlic and added seasonings and are served open-faced on crispy garlic Texas toast with plenty of melted cheese. They are delicious and come together in about 20 minutes (including prep and cook time). The recipe can be found here. Start by removing the rotisserie chicken from the bone. Shred it and set aside. You will only need about ½ the rotisserie chicken for this recipe. The recipe makes enough for 4 open-faced sandwiches. If you need more than 4, adjust the ingredients accordingly. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and … Continue reading
January 20, 2023
Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup is my new favorite soup. It’s rich, creamy, and loaded with the perfect toppings. It’s a made from scratch soup but it’s SO SIMPLE, so please keep reading. It’s hearty, can be a main entrée or served as a side dish/starter, reheats well so it can be enjoyed for lunch throughout the week, and makes a lot. When I first thought about making a baked potato soup, I thought this is just going to be like eating mashed potatoes. But it’s not! It has all the flavors of mashed potatoes but with a different consistency. It’s yummy and perfect for this time of you. The recipe can be found here. Start by washing and peeling the potatoes. I prefer to peel my potatoes but if you like to leave the skin on, that’s just fine. Then, slice into 1-2-inch pieces. Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Add the potatoes, garlic, onion, chicken broth, salt, and … Continue reading
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