Sunday, September 29, 2024

Pizza Poppers



Pizza Poppers are mini pizza bites stuffed with cheese and pepperoni, perfect for snacking or serving as appetizers. They are quick to make and a hit with both kids and adults.

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of refrigerated pizza dough
  • 1/2 cup pizza sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup diced pepperoni
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • Cooking spray

Instructions:

Turn on your oven and heat it up to 375F 190C

On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough and cut it into squares

In the middle of each square, put a little pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, diced pepperoni, and a pinch of Parmesan cheese

To make little pizza bites, fold the dough over the fillings and pinch the edges together to seal

Put the pizza poppers on a baking sheet that has cooking spray on it

If you want to use red pepper flakes, mix garlic powder, dried oregano, and them in a small bowl

Put this mix on top of the pizza poppers

They should be baked in a hot oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly

Take them out of the oven and let them cool down for a few minutes

Have fun with your tasty Pizza Poppers!


Thursday, September 26, 2024

Quinoa Salad with Black Beans, Avocado and Cumin-Lime Dressing



A healthy and refreshing quinoa salad with avocado, black beans, and a spicy cumin-lime dressing. Perfect for a meal that is both light and tasty.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and water

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until quinoa is cooked and water is absorbed

Fluff with a fork and let it cool

In a large bowl, mix cooked quinoa, black beans, avocado, red onion, and cilantro

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, ground cumin, salt, and pepper to create the dressing

Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss gently to coat evenly

Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld

Serve chilled and enjoy!


Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Chicken Caesar Ciabatta Sandwiches



These Chicken Caesar Ciabatta Sandwiches are a delightful twist on the classic Caesar salad, featuring tender chicken breasts, crisp romaine lettuce, and savory Parmesan cheese, all sandwiched between soft ciabatta rolls.

Ingredients:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 ciabatta rolls, sliced in half
  • 1 cup Caesar salad dressing
  • 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 4 slices of bacon, cooked crispy optional

Instructions:

Add salt and pepper to the chicken breasts

Add olive oil to a skillet set over medium-high heat

Cook chicken breasts for about 6 to 8 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and fully cooked

Take the chicken out of the pan and give it a minute to rest

On the bottom half of each ciabatta roll, spread Caesar dressing

On top of the dressing, put the cooked chicken breasts

If you want, you can add crispy bacon slices, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and shredded romaine lettuce on top

Put the top half of the ciabatta roll over it

Serve right away and enjoy!


Saturday, September 21, 2024

Digestive Health Pineapple Paradise



This pineapple smoothie is gentle on the stomach and promotes digestive health with the goodness of yogurt and ginger.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup coconut water
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon mint leaves

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a blender

Blend until smooth and refreshing

Serve and promote digestive wellness!


Thursday, September 19, 2024

Sausage-Stuffed Potato Galette



A delicious savory galette featuring thinly sliced potatoes as the crust, filled with a savory sausage mixture and topped with melted cheese.

Ingredients:

  • 4 large potatoes, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 pound sausage, casing removed
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions:

Get the oven ready by heating it up to 400F 200C

Add the potato slices to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper

Place potato slices on a baking sheet in a circle, slightly overlapping them to make a crust

Bake the potatoes for 20 minutes, or until they are just barely soft

In the meantime, brown the sausage in a skillet over medium-low heat, then break it up into small pieces

Put in the minced garlic and diced onion

Cook until the onion gets soft

Take the potato crust out of the oven

Cover the crust with the sausage mixture

Put some mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top

For another 15 to 20 minutes, bake until the cheese melts and starts to bubble

Add chopped parsley as a garnish before serving


Thursday, September 12, 2024

Fudgy Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies



Indulge in the delightful holiday spirit with these Fudgy Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. Their rich chocolatey flavor, combined with a hint of peppermint and the classic crinkle texture, make them a perfect treat for festive occasions.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes

Instructions:

Warm the oven up to 350F 175C and put parchment paper on a baking sheet

To melt the chocolate chips in a bowl that can go in the microwave, stir them every 30 seconds for about a minute

Allow it to cool a bit

Mix the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl with a whisk

Melt the butter and mix the white sugar, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a different bowl

One at a time, add the eggs and beat well after each one

Add the vanilla extract and mix well

Mix the melted chocolate into the batter little by little until it is smooth and well mixed in

Mix the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, then fold them together just until they are mixed

In the fridge for at least two hours, or until firm, cover the cookie dough

Prepare the oven by heating it up to 325F 165C

Take tablespoon-sized chunks of dough and roll them into balls

Cover every ball with powdered sugar all the way around

Cover the dough balls in powdered sugar

Place them on the baking sheet that has been prepared, leaving some space between each cookie

After the oven is hot, bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops are cracked but the centers are still a little soft

Crush some peppermint candies and press them gently on top of the cookies while they are still warm

Cool the cookies for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then move them to a wire rack to cool all the way down


Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Creamy Mashed Potatoes by The Toasty Kitchen



Enjoy the comforting goodness of The Toasty Kitchen's creamy mashed potatoes. That being said, this traditional side dish goes well with any meal because it has a smooth texture and a deep flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water

Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes

Drain potatoes and return them to the pot

Add butter, milk, salt, and pepper

Mash potatoes with a potato masher until smooth and creamy

Adjust seasoning to taste

Serve hot, garnished with additional butter or herbs if desired


Sunday, September 8, 2024

Smoky Maple Glazed Ribs



These smoky maple glazed ribs are a perfect combination of sweet and savory, with a kick of spice. The slow smoking process infuses the meat with rich flavors, and the maple glaze adds a delightful caramelized finish.

Ingredients:

  • 2 racks of baby back ribs
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup paprika
  • 2 tablespoons black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • Wood chips for smoking

Instructions:

Remove membrane from the back of the ribs and pat them dry

In a bowl, mix brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to create a dry rub

Rub the dry rub generously over both sides of the ribs

Let them marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight

Prepare your smoker with wood chips and preheat it to 225F 107C

Place the ribs on the smoker grates and smoke for 3 hours, maintaining a consistent temperature

In a saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, maple syrup, and ketchup

Simmer for 10 minutes to create the glaze

After 3 hours of smoking, brush the ribs with the maple glaze and continue smoking for an additional 30-60 minutes or until the ribs reach your desired tenderness

Remove the ribs from the smoker and let them rest for 10 minutes before slicing

Serve the smoky maple glazed ribs with additional sauce on the side and enjoy!


Friday, September 6, 2024

Boston Cream Pie Cookie Bites Brownies



Indulge in the flavors of Boston Cream Pie in a bite-sized brownie form. These decadent treats feature layers of brownie, sugar cookie dough, vanilla pudding, and chocolate ganache.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box brownie mix
  • Ingredients listed on brownie mix box eggs, oil, water
  • 1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
  • 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F 175C and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan

Prepare brownie mix according to package instructions and pour into the prepared pan

Break up the cookie dough into small pieces and scatter over the brownie batter

Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean

Let cool completely in the pan

In a medium bowl, whisk together instant pudding mix and milk until thickened

Spread the pudding mixture over the cooled brownies

In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream until it just begins to boil

Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until smooth and melted

Pour the chocolate ganache over the pudding layer

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bite-sized squares

Serve and enjoy!


Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Slow Cooker Sweet and Tangy BBQ Chicken Wings



These Slow Cooker Sweet and Tangy BBQ Chicken Wings are tender and full of flavor, making them perfect for any event. When you mix BBQ sauce, honey, and spices together, you get a delicious glaze that looks great on chicken wings.

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs chicken wings
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ginger, grated
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water
  • Sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish optional

Instructions:

In a bowl, mix BBQ sauce, honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using

Place chicken wings in the slow cooker

Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken wings, ensuring they are evenly coated

Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken wings are tender and cooked through

In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to create a slurry

About 30 minutes before serving, remove excess liquid from the slow cooker, if desired, and stir in the cornstarch slurry

Let cook for an additional 30 minutes to thicken the sauce

Once done, serve the chicken wings hot, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if desired

Enjoy!


Monday, September 2, 2024

100 Calorie Chocolate Orange Muffins Vegan



With a burst of chocolate and orange flavors, these vegan muffins are a tasty treat that you can enjoy without feeling bad about it. Each one has only 100 calories.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Setting the oven to 350F 175C and putting paper liners in a muffin tin

Mix cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt with a whisk in a large bowl

Add orange juice, orange zest, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to another bowl, and mix them together

Put the wet and dry ingredients together and mix them just until they are mixed

Fill each muffin tin about three quarters of the way to the top with batter in each one

Put it in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean

Let the muffins cool down before you serve them


Sweet Potato Burger

A delicious and nutritious vegetarian burger made with sweet potatoes, quinoa, and flavorful ...