Chicken Quinoa Chili

We are loving this chili. I have made it 3 times this month! It is delicious is so many ways. We are quinoa addicts in this house, that’s for sure. I always use it in place of rice, always. We honestly don’t even have rice in our house anymore! This chili is a perfect way to introduce your family to quinoa if they have never had it before. They can still get used to the texture, while the flavor is mixed with a well-known white chili. Make this tonight!

Chicken Quinoa Chili

Printable Version

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cooked and shredded

2 cans, drained + rinsed cannellini beans

1 quart low-sodium chicken stock

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 cup half and half

4 ounces monterey jack cheese, freshly grated + more for topping

blue corn chips for crushing on top

lime wedges for serving

Heat a large pot over medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add in the onion, peppers and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add in the cumin, paprika, salt and pepper and stir. Add the in shredded chicken, beans and chicken stock. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

Stir in the quinoa, half and half and grated cheese, stirring well until the cheese is melted. Reduce the heat to low and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and season additionally if desired. Serve with extra cheese, chips and lime wedges.

Recipe from howsweeteats.com

Serves 4

Curried Sweet Potato Apple Soup

This soup is on my menu again, and I wish I could it eat daily! The perfect tiny kick from the curry, the sweet apple cider vinegar, the fresh cilantro. And, of course, the rich, creamy sweet potato. I can't wait for dinner!!

Curried Sweet Potato Apple Soup

Printable Version

3 medium sweet potatoes

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated

¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish

1 ½ teaspoons curry powder

salt and freshly ground pepper

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 1/4 cups chunky applesauce

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Peel and dice 2 1/2 sweet potatoes. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ginger, nutmeg, 1 1/4 teaspoons curry powder, and salt and pepper to taste and cook until toasted, 1 more minute.

Add the diced sweet potatoes, chicken broth and 2 cups water to the pot, cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and stir in the applesauce. Simmer, covered, until the sweet potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Puree the soup with a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper; keep warm.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon curry powder and cook, stirring, until browned; remove from the heat and add the vinegar. Top with the curry butter and cilantro.

Recipe from Food Network Mag

Serves 4

Applesauce Oat Muffins

I have a hard time thinking of good, healthy snacks for my family. I am always reaching for the same things, which we all get sick of, and quick! When I saw these posted on my friends blog, I had to give them a try. And guess what?! My kids devoured them, I couldn’t stay away, and, this is the big shocker...My husband ate them. He even took them to work with him the next day for a snack. Seriously this just doesn’t happen. He always eats the same snacks, so this was monumental! I hope your family enjoys them as much as we do!

Applesauce Oat Muffins

Printable Version

1 cup rolled/old-fashioned oats

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

4 Tbs. butter or coconut oil, melted

1/3 cup sugar

1 banana, mashed, optional

1/2 cup white flour

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tbs. flax seed, ground, optional

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease the muffin cups. Set aside..

In a medium bowl, stir together the oatmeal, applesauce, milk, egg, vanilla, butter or oil, sugar, and banana. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (and flaxseed if using). Make a well in the center and pour in the applesauce mixture. Stir until just combined (don't overmix or the muffins will be dense and dry). The muffin batter texture is quite runny, fyi!

Distribute the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. (I LOVE to make mini muffins-that way my young kids don’t waste 1/2 of the serving that I give them! If doing so, bake for 9-10 minutes.) Bake regular size muffins for 13-15 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don't overbake or the muffins will be dry.

Remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. These freeze wonderfully, if needed!

Recipe adapted from Melskitchencafe.com

Makes 12 regular size muffins, or 48 mini muffins

White Cheddar Broccoli Soup

Fall has arrived here! I had a crazy baking/cooking day last week and whipped up all sorts of delicious fall-flavored foods. Of course, soup had to be on the list, and I served it along with the best bread I’ve ever made, Homemade Bread. This dinner made me happy, happy! I was “mmmm-ing” after each and every bite. The tart white cheddar gives this creamy soup a different flavor than you are used to in broccoli soup, and it kept me wanting more and more. This soup will be on the menu shortly in the future, and for the coming cold, cold months. It’s a quick fix, and with baby #3 headed our way, I’m going to need a few, or a lot, of these meals!

White Cheddar Broccoli Soup

Printable Version

3 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/3 of a large yellow onion, roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

salt and pepper to taste

3 Tbsp. All-purpose flour

2 and 1/2 cups chicken stock

3/4 cup milk

2 cups uncooked broccoli florets

2 cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded, plus extra for garnish

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.

Add onion, garlic, salt and pepper, and saute until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.

Add flour to saucepan and stir until flour has soaked up all the moisture. Cook for 1 minute.

Add stock a little at a time, mixing the soup thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients and work out any flour-onion-garlic lumps that may have formed. When all stock has been stirred into mixture, add the milk and stir to combine.

Bring mixture to a simmer and add broccoli. Simmer over medium heat until soup has thickened slightly, about 10-15 minutes.

Remove soup from heat and break up broccoli and onion chunks using an immersion blender. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can transfer the soup to a regular blender in small batches or use a potato masher. (Make sure not to have the lid on tightly...hot liquid in a vacuum sealed blender=pressure steam burn. Just put a towel over a slightly cracked lid to allow steam to escape).

Return soup to heat and simmer another 5 minutes.

Remove soup from heat and stir in shredded white cheddar cheese. Stir until all cheese is melted. Ladle into bread bowls and serve immediately, garnishing with extra sharp cheddar cheese.

Recipe from www.lifeasastrawberry.com

Serves 3.

The Best Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

I labeled these “the best” pumpkin Snickerdoodles, because, I think they are! They have the perfect amount of pumpkin and spice to them (because I added to to original recipe), without losing the whole “snickerdoodle cookie” effect. Honestly, I ate about 3 straight from the oven (I’m pregnant or I’m sure the dough would have been consumed in large quantities), and at least 5 more throughout the evening. I’m not proud to admit it, but I guess that is a testament to just how yummy they are! Just as a disclaimer, these are a “cakey” cookie, so if a nice chewy cookie is what you are looking for, look the other way! All my friends and neighbors that I shared them with loved them as much as I did, I hope you do too!

The Best Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Printable Version

Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 3/4 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Coating

1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Dash of allspice

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin puree, then beat in the egg and vanilla.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until fully incorporated. Cover and chill the dough for at least an hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liner. Mix the coating ingredients in a small bowl. Scoop equal dough balls and roll into the sugar mixture. Set on cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Dip the bottom of a flat drinking glass into water, then into the sugar mixture and use to slightly flatten the dough balls. Recoat the bottom of the glass in the sugar-spice mixture as needed.

Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes, or until baked through. Let cool on the baking sheets about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

Recipe from Teddy and seededatthetable.com

Makes about 60 cookies

Baked Potato Soup

The first soup of the season, and mmmmm it was GOOD! Sometimes I feel like the title to meals just doesn't quite fit...well, this one did. This tasted exactly like a baked, mashed up, loaded potato, in soup form. It was so yummy, and very filling. We will be adding this to our winter rotation!

Baked Potato Soup

Printable Version

2 tbsp. butter

1/4 of a large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

4 baking potatoes

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

4 1/2 cups milk

1 1/4 cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/2 cup bacon bits, cooked and diced

Bake your potatoes either by piercing with a fork and 1) Baking in a 400 degree oven for 1 hour or 2) Cooking in microwave for 6-9 minutes, depending on size of potato, turning half way through cooking.

Remove potatoes and coarsely mash. We like to leave the skins on but you are welcome to peel them!

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute until soft, about 8 minutes.

Add flour and mix until encorporated, then add milk, stirring with a wisk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly, about 10 minutes.

Add mashed potatoes, 1 cup cheese, salt, and pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat.

Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup onions. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle each serving with remaining cheese, onions, and bacon bits.

Serves 8.

Bourbon Street Chicken

Okay, so immediately after tasting this, I realized what everyone was raving about! The sauce has a great flavor, just the right amount of sweetness and spice. It is also such a simple recipe...which of course makes meals 10 times better! There is no BOURBON in this recipe...who knows why it is called bourbon?? Anyone? Anyway, it is delicious, my hubby said it is one of the best chicken dishes I have ever MADE! Points with the husband can never hurt. I even made this recipe once without the crused red pepper flakes and it was equally as divine. Enjoy!

Bourbon Street Chicken
Printable Version

Chicken
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbs. oil (for frying)
4 Tbs. cornstarch

Sauce
1 garlic clove (minced)
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce (or Bragg Liquid Aminos to be GF)

Cut chicken breasts into bit sized pieces, and lightly dust with cornstarch. Heat oil in your wok or frying pan and fry chicken until lightly browned. Drain chicken on paper towels and set aside.

In a separate bowl combine all sauce ingredients. Pour into wok or frying pan and bring to a boil. Add chicken back to the pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over rice or quinoa...delish!

Serves 4.
Recipe from Blog Chef

Tuna Noodle Bake

I have been absolutely, 100% craving this meal for about 3 weeks now. Actually, for about 1 1/2 years! My husband is an anti-tuna, anti-casserole kind of man. I honestly think he would laugh, barf, and run out the door to get some fast food if I made this for him for dinner. No, I KNOW that he would do all of those things! However, I adore this meal. My amazing friend made this for me all the time when we were roomies, and I am still addicted. It is a blast from the past...and a delicious one!

Tuna Noodle Bake
Printable Version

3 Tbs. milk
1 can cream of chicken soup
12 oz. noodles
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1 can tuna
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook noodles according to package directions, drain and rinse. Mix noodles, milk, tuna, soup, and 1/4 cup cheese together and put into a casserole dish. Season with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake for 20 minutes and Enjoy!

Recipe from Brianne
Serves 2.

Hoisin Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork anyone? Yes, PLEASE! I love pulled pork. I have a variety of different recipes, including Sweet Pulled Pork, Mango Pulled Pork, and Cafe Rio Pulled Pork. They are all so different and equally delicious! This is another recipe, more asian flare-ish. We really loved it, especially with the coleslaw. Please don’t omit it! The sour tang of the coleslaw makes this sweet pork really pop!

Hoisin Pulled Pork
Printable Version

3 pounds pork butt
6 cloves garlic, smashed (3 Tbs.)
1 Tbs. fresh ginger, grated
1 bottle hoisin sauce, 15 ounces

Wrap the pork butt completely in foil. Put in the slow cooker and pour ½ cup water around pork. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove from crock pot and drain juice and water. Shred pork, removing excess fat, with two forks. Meanwhile, combine smashed garlic cloves, grated ginger and hoisin sauce. Return shredded pork to crock pot. Pour hoisin sauce mixture over pork and mix together. Cook for an additional 1-2 hours.
Top with coleslaw (below). Serve over rice or in tortillas.

Serves 6.
Recipe Highly adapted from the kitchn.com


Hubby Friendly Coleslaw

8 ounces red cabbage, sliced thinly
8 ounces carrots, shredded
2/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

Combine the red cabbage and carrots.
Whisk together the mayo, vegetable oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, and poppy seeds in a medium bowl; mix  thoroughly. Pour dressing mixture over coleslaw mix and toss to coat. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.`

Makes 3 cups