Month: May 2023

Caribbean Grilled Chicken

Caribbean Grilled Chicken

Whenever I make grilled chicken, I like to marinate it in advance so it can soak up the flavor.  This chicken was tender, moist, and bursting with flavor.  I served this chicken with mango coleslaw and roasted sweet potato. Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts cut into 

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers

One of my favorite things about this dish is the ability to add or subtract spice depending on your preferences.  I prepared this rather mildly and then topped it with buffalo sauce and fat free ranch dressing when I was ready to eat. Ingredients: 3 

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Swirl Date Fudge

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Swirl Date Fudge

If you are craving something sweet with hints of peanut butter and chocolate, then this is a simple dessert to try.  This is lighter than traditional fudge since the dates provide a natural sweetener.

Ingredients:

1 heaping cup of pitted dates

2 cups peanut butter chips

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Soak the dates in 2 cups of boiling water for 10-15 minutes to soften the dates.
  2. Drain the soaking liquid reserving ¾ cup.
  3. Add the dates and reserved liquid to a food processor and pulse until the dates are dissolved.
  4. Melt the peanut butter chips in a microwave bowl.  Microwave for 2 minutes (add 30 second intervals if needed).
  5. Pour the date liquid over the peanut butter chips and mix.
  6. Spread the peanut butter and date mixture into a small glass dish (8×8 or smaller).
  7. Melt the semi-sweet chips for 30-60 seconds.  Stir to mix. 
  8. Place gobs of semisweet chocolate over the peanut butter date mixture and swirl in to combine.
  9. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until the fudge is set.
  10. Cut into squares and enjoy!
Marshmallow Stuffed Funfetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Sprinkle Buttercream Frosting

Marshmallow Stuffed Funfetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Sprinkle Buttercream Frosting

For my son’s birthday I wanted to make a colorful cupcake with a yummy filling.  He loves sandwiches with marshmallow fluff, so I decided to try something new and stuff cupcakes with some marshmallow fluff before baking.  My kids said these were some of the 

Strawberry Filled Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Strawberry Filled Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

If you like strawberries, then these cupcakes will make you melt.  The strawberry filling and tasty strawberry buttercream are a delight.  I used strawberry ice cream topping as my filling, but you can use pie filling, jam, or preserves as well.  Freeze dried strawberry powder 

Brown Sugar Jerk Pork Tenderloin

Brown Sugar Jerk Pork Tenderloin

This is a tasty and simple recipe good for any night of the week.  I simply mixed jerk seasoning with brown sugar and rubbed it all over the tenderloin.  Then once the oven was ready I baked until the meat reached 160 degrees. I served this with a mango red cabbage coleslaw.

Ingredients:

2 pounds pork tenderloin

1 tablespoon jerk seasoning

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

  1. Mix the jerk seasoning and brown sugar.  Rub over all sides of the pork loin.  Allow it to soak in while the oven pre-heats.
  2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  3. Line a small baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray.
  4. Place the pork loins in the baking pan.
  5. Bake until pork loins reach 160 degrees.  It took mine approximately 40 minutes as I had 2 pork loins in one pan.
  6. Let rest a few minutes before slicing.
  7. My kids like this with BBQ sauce, but with the rub it tastes great on its own.
Mango and Red Cabbage Lime Coleslaw

Mango and Red Cabbage Lime Coleslaw

I love fruity and light coleslaws in the spring and summer.  Feel free to add/subtract ingredients depending on your personal preferences. Ingredients: ½ head red cabbage sliced ½ cup matchstick carrots 4 tablespoons lime juice 2-4 tablespoons honey or agave nectar 2 tablespoons mango balsamic 

Banana Blondies with Brown Butter Caramel Icing

Banana Blondies with Brown Butter Caramel Icing

Yum, yum, yummy!  These blondies are so delicious.  These taste like banana bread topped with the perfect frosting to complement the blondie and banana flavors. Ingredients: Banana Blondies- ½ cup unsalted butter melted 1 cup brown sugar 1 large egg 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 

Fiesta Pork Chops with Zachos

Fiesta Pork Chops with Zachos

On weeknights I am always looking for quick and simple meals.  This is a one pot dish that doesn’t take long to prepare. I served this with nachos and zachos (zucchini sliced nachos).

Ingredients:

4-5 boneless pork chops

2 tablespoons salt

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 bell peppers (or 1 bell pepper and 1 poblano pepper) diced

½ sweet onion diced

2 limes juiced

One cup frozen corn

One 15 ounce can black beans rinsed and drained

Optional toppings: avocado sliced, guacamole, salsa, queso, sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

  1. Mix spices in a small bowl (salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, black pepper). 
  2. Sprinkle mixture on both sides of the pork chops reserving one tablespoon of the mixture.
  3. Heat a nonstick pan medium heat with olive oil and butter.
  4. Sear the pork chops for 3-4 minutes per side. 
  5. Remove pork chops and add corn, peppers, onion, remaining spice mixture, and lime juice. 
  6. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes mixing as it cooks.
  7. Add the black beans and top with the pork chops.  Cover and cook for 2 minutes. 
  8. To serve place spoonfuls of the pepper mixture on plates or bowls and top with a pork chop.
  9. Add any desired toppings to the pork chop and enjoy!

Zachos

  1. Slice a zucchini into quarter inch slices.
  2. Place aluminum foil on a baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray.
  3. Arrange zucchini slices in an even layer.
  4. Top with chili powder or other seasoning.
  5. Add shredded cheese or squares of pepper jack cheese.
  6. Top cheese with dollops of salsa or queso.
  7. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.
Oreo Pancakes

Oreo Pancakes

If you like pancakes and you enjoy Oreos then this is a recipe you have to try.  These pancakes feature Dutch processed cocoa and crushed Oreos.  I topped mine with Nutella hazelnut spread, vanilla Greek yogurt, and crushed Oreos.  My children topped their pancakes with