April 20, 2025

Chicken Meatballs with Orzo

 Chicken Meatballs

1 pound ground chicken

1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 chopped fresh parsley (optional)

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Garlic Parmesan Orzo

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups dry orzo pasta

2/3 cup cream

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups fresh spinach

  1. Mix meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine chicken, bread crumbs, cheese, milk, egg, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic, onion powder, and pepper. Mix well, then let it sit for a bit before using it.
  2. Cook meatballs: Roll the meat mixture into 1-1¼” balls, put them into a hot pan with oil, and sear until golden brown.
  3. Make sauce and add orzo: Sauté the garlic, add the broth, and deglaze the pan. Bring it to a low boil, then add the orzo, cream, parmesan, salt, and pepper, and stir.
  4. Add meatballs: Place the meatballs on top of the sauce, cover, and simmer to cook.
  5. Add fresh spinach: After meatballs are cooked, gently stir in spinach; heat until wilted.
From here

Crockpot Turkey

 3 lb butterball turkey breast

1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon Lawry's seasoning salt

Combine butter and seasonings. 

With the thawed turkey, take out of package, but keep the netting on.

Spread butter mixture over turkey.

Place turkey in crockpot on low for 5 hours, or until turkey reaches at least 165 degrees.

Make gravy that comes with the turkey, or see link below for an accompanying gravy recipe. 

From here.

Chickpea Blondies

 1 can chickpeas

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

1/3 cup almond flour

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1. Rinse, drain, and pat dry chickpeas. (Don't skip drying them!)

2. Add all ingredients (except almond flour and chocolate chips) to a blender or food processor; combine until smooth.

3. Add almond flour and blend.

4. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. Spread mixture into an 8x8 baking dish; Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

6. Cool before serving.

Spinach Pasta with Avacado Sauce

1 box rotini pasta

2 cups raw spinach

1 avacado

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 Tablespoons olive oil, divided

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Boil the pasta according to the box directions

Heat olive oil in a skillet; saute garlic and then add spinach to wilt.

Add spinach, along with the remaining ingredients (minus the Parmesan), to a blender. Blend until smooth (add pasta water if necessary to loosen sauce).

Combine drained pasta with sauce; top with Parmesan.

From here

November 16, 2024

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

 2 Tbs Oil

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

2 ribs celery, finely chopped

1 cup carrots, finely chopped or shredded

1 tsp dried parsley

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp dried thyme

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 boneless chicken breasts

4 cups chicken broth

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 Tbs cornstarch

3 cups small gnocchi 

1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped

1/4 grated Parmesan cheese


In a large pot add oil, onion, carrots, and celery; cook over medium-high heat until slightly softened.

Add parsley, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper; stir. 

Add broth and chicken; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer on medium-low until chicken and vegetables are cooked.

Remove chicken and shred. 

Whisk together heavy cream and cornstarch. Stir in this mixture and the gnocchi into the pot; simmer for 4-5 minutes, until gnocchi is cooked and soup is slightly thickened.

Stir in shredded chicken, spinach, and Parmesan. 


**I used milk instead of heavy cream, and chopped up some already cooked chicken and threw it in at the end. Still worked!

From here

April 16, 2023

Crumpets

 Ingredients

  • 150g (1 cup) white flour
  • 200ml (3/4 cup + 1 tbsp) warm water
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp white sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Yeast Mixture

  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 1 tbsp warm water

Cooking:

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (or vegetable oil)

Crumpet Batter:

  • Place flour, water and salt in a bowl and whisk for 2 minutes.
  • Yeast Mixture - Dissolve Yeast into 1 tbsp warm water in a small bowl.
  • Add Yeast Mixture, sugar and baking powder into bowl, then whisk for 30 seconds.
  • Cover with cling wrap or plate, then place in a very warm place for 15 to 30 minutes until the surface gets nice and foamy. It will only increase in volume by ~10 - 15%.

Cooking Crumpets:

  • Grease 2 or 3 rings with butter (approx 9 cm / 3.5" wide, though any ring or metal shaper will do, (TIP: Non stick rings - brush with melted butter. Everything else - smear with butter)
  • Brush non stick skillet lightly with melted butter then place rings in the skillet.
  • Turn stove on medium high (medium for strong stoves) and bring to heat.
  • Pour 1/4 cup batter into the rings.
  • Cook for 1 1/2 minutes - bubbles should start appearing on the surface (but not popping yet).
  • Turn heat down to medium, cook for 1 minute - some bubbles should pop around the edges.
  • Turn heat down to medium low, cook for a further 2 1/2 to 4 minutes, until the surface is "set" and it's clear there will be no more bubbles popping! (At this stage you can help the final bubbles pop with a skewer!)
  • Remove rings (you might need to run knife around to loosen).
  • Then flip and cook the other side for 20 to 30 seconds for a blush of color.
  • Transfer to write rack (golden side down) and fully cool.

From here - go to post for more tips and a video.

Monster Cookies

 3 large eggs

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter

12 oz peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

2 tsp baking soda

1 cup M&Ms 

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine eggs and sugars; mix well. Add butter, peanut butter, vanilla and salt; mix well. Add remaining ingredients

Form dough into balls (heaping tablespoon), then flatten slightly on pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. They will be soft; let them rest for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

From here

October 19, 2022

Coffee Cake

 Ingredients

  • cup granulated sugar
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • egg
  • cup milk
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil 

Topping:
  • 1/2 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup white granulated sugar

Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease loaf pan.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl or mixer, beat eggs, milk and oil.
  • Gradually add dry mixture to wet until just moist.
  • Pour mixture into loaf pan. Combine topping, spoon on the loaf and swirl in with a knife, leaving some on top.
  • Bake for 50 minutes.

From here