Sweet Potato Casserole

This is one of my daughter's highly requested Thanksgiving side dish. She has even asked for it as a birthday dinner before! If you think you don't like sweet potatoes, TRY THIS. It's a great blend of sweet and savory... 

4 medium sweet potatoes

2 large eggs

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 cup evaporated milk

4 tbsp butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp clove

Topping:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Place the sweet potatoes on a foil-lined baking pan and poke several times with a fork. Roast the potatoes at 375 for 45 minutes, turning once. Let them cool, then peel the skin off.

Mix potatoes with remaining ingredients and mash until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 baking dish.

Make the topping by mixing together the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixtre is coarse. Sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture, then sprinkle the pecans.

Bake in 325 oven for 30 minutes.

Esquites (Mexican Street Corn)

 I love Mexican street corn. Did you know it's called esquites off the cob and elotes on the cob? I've had it from a few different restaurants around town in both forms, but needed to recreate it at home. I perfected my recipe when my sister-in-law requested it for her family birthday dinner. This fed a crowd (and extra for her to take home!) but you can easily halve it for a smaller portion.

2 tbsp butter

6 cans corn, drained*

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 scallions, chopped

1/2 cup mayonnaise

zest and juice of one lime

1 cup cotija cheese, plus more for topping

2 tsp each, smoked paprika and chili powder

salt, to taste

Tajin, to taste

fresh cilantro, chopped

Melt butter in large skillet; add corn, jalapeno, and garlic. Sauté for 8-10 minutes; add scallions and sauté for another 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix together the mayo, lime zest and juice, cotija cheese, and seasonings. Put corn mixture into large bowl and combine with mayo. Stir in cilantro, if desired. Top with more cotija and Tajin and enjoy!

*When corn is not in season, I use canned corn. If fresh corn is available, I would use 8 ears of corn. You could also grill the ears of corn before cutting off the corn, rather than sautéing after.

Brussels Sprout Slaw

 

1.5 lbs brussels sprouts

8 oz bacon

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup coconut flakes

Trim stems from brussels sprouts and chop in food processor (half at a time). Place in large mixing bowl. Chop the bacon and brown on stovetop until crispy. Drain from fat and let cool.

Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon; pour over the sprouts and toss to coat. Add bacon bits, cranberries, and coconut flakes, tossing to combine.

Cheesy Potatoes

Happy Easter! This is a famous side dish for holiday gatherings in my family. One of those yummy traditions that I'm sure my own kids will carry on!

32 oz bag southern style hash browns
16 oz sour cream
10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 375. Thaw hash browns for a few hours, if possible (it will just be harder to mix, but you can use them frozen). In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients (I like to save 1/2 cup of the cheese for the top). Put into a greased 9x13 casserole dish. Bake uncovered for an hour.

Creamy Baked Mac-n-Cheese

I have made so many varieties of mac-n-cheese, but the possibilities are endless! I came across a recipe that used cream cheese and sour cream in the sauce and thought hmmm.... I changed up the cheeses used and added more spices. It was SO GOOD. Especially with our smoked pulled pork! I used penne pasta since it was in my pantry, but you could use another pasta.

16-oz package penne pasta
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg yolk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp paprika (I used smoked)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup grated parmesan*
1/4 cup crumbled feta*
1/2 cup monterey jack*
2 cups mild cheddar*, divided
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick spray.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt, then cook pasta until almost cooked through. Drain.

Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, butter, egg yolk, and spices in a bowl. Add the cheeses (only 1 cup of the cheddar) and stir. Gently stir in the milk.

Mix the sauce with the pasta and pour into dish. Top with remaining cup of cheddar cheese. Bake in preheated oven until heated through and cheese has melted, about 15 minutes. I also like to broil to brown the cheese on top a bit!


*Feel free to use your favorite cheeses, just use a total of 2 cups in the sauce. This combo had a fantastic flavor!

Kimchi Pancake

I have been craving this and they no longer serve it at my favorite Korean restaurant in town.  Now that I know how easy it is, there's no need to leave home to get one!  It only takes a few ingredients, most of which I keep on hand (except for the kimchi).  This recipe is modified from one I found on allrecipes.

Ingredients:
1 cup kimchi, drained and chopped
1/2 cup reserved juice from kimchi (I used water to make up the remaining 1/2 c. since I didn't have enough   juice)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For the dipping sauce:
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. rice vinegar
1/2 t. sesame oil (optional)


Directions:
1. Stir together the kimchi, kimchi juice, flour, eggs, and green onion in a bowl.
2. Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Using about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake, pour into skillet, spreading as thin as possible.  (Note: I've always had it served as one large pancake, so that is how I made mine.  You may need to increase the cooking time.) Cook pancakes until set and lightly browned, turning once, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Season to taste with salt.

3. Whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Serve with the pancakes.

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

I don't like mashed potatoes, but I did like this and it seems to be an acceptable lower-carb option if you like mashed potatoes.  I actually steamed the broccoli first so I didn't have to mess with draining it and patting it dry.  I also omitted the butter at the end because it was flavorful enough without it.

Ingredients

• 1 medium head cauliflower
• 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh or dry chives, for garnish
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

Set a stockpot of water to boil over high heat.

Clean and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Cook in boiling water for about 6 minutes, or until well done. Drain well; do not let cool and pat cooked cauliflower very dry between several layers of paper towels.

In a bowl with an immersion blender, or in a food processor, puree the hot cauliflower with the cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper until almost smooth.

Garnish with chives, and serve hot with pats of butter.

Hint: Try roasting the garlic and adding a little fresh

rosemary for a whole new taste.

New Fave Mac-n-Cheese

I started making my roux a little different in my mac-n-cheese, just to give it a bit more flavor. It turned out GREAT and now it's my new fave! I've made this quite a few times this summer - it's perfect for a BBQ side dish. I also have thrown it in the oven with a bit more cheese on top, after doubling the recipe for a crowd. Yum!

1 lb elbow macaroni
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
pinch pepper
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1-1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar (or colby jack is also great)
dash Worcestershire
dash hot sauce

Cook the macaroni in boiling water according to package directions. Meantime, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and ground mustard (I combine them all in a little bowl ahead of time, then add at once). Stir with a whisk and let the flour taste cook out but don't burn. Whisk in the milk until combined - let cook until thickened. Turn off the heat and add the cheese. Once the cheese melts in add the Worcestershire and hot sauce, and add cheese sauce to the cooked & drained noodles.

Three Cheese Grilled Potatoes

I saw this recipe on Pinterest and adapted it a bit (it's originally from Taste of Home). I grilled it ahead of some steaks and it was delicious! My husband raved about them. :)

4 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1 tbsp minced chives (I used dry, since that's what was on hand)
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp pepper
sprinkling of kosher salt
2 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter, diced
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, onion, parmesan, chives, 2 salts, pepper, and olive oil. Transfer to a criss-cross of aluminum foil, sprayed with non-stick spray. Dot the potatoes with the butter. Fold the foil around the potatoes and seal tightly.

Grill over med-low heat  for about 20 minutes. Open foil to stir potatoes. Top with both shredded cheeses, reseal foil, and grill for about 10 more minutes. (You can also add some cooked, chopped bacon with the cheese!)

Spinach and Raisin Rice

This rice was so flavorful, and I loved the addition of the raisins and spinach.  My five year old ate three servings of this, when he usually shies away from ANYthing with spinach.

1 T. butter
1/3 c. minced shallots
1 c. basmati rice
2 c low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 c. golden raisins
Minced zest of 1 lemon
1/2 t. kosher salt
Red pepper flakes to taste
4 c. chopped fresh spinach
2 T. fresh lemon juice

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Add shallots and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.

2. Stir in rice and cook 1 min.  Stir in broth, raisins, zest, and salt, and season with pepper flakes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook rice until tender, about 15 min.

3. Add spinach; toss until wilted.  Remove pan from heat and let stand 5 minutes, then stir in lemon juice.

Grilled Vegetable Couscous

This is an awesome recipe which is delicious served warm for dinner or cold for lunch the next day. Enjoy!

3 c. sliced zucchini
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed (I omitted this)
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2 in. thick slices
2 T. olive oil
Salt and black pepper
1 red bell pepper, cut in half with ribs and seeds removed
10 oz. instant couscous
1 T. minced lemon zest
3 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. olive oil
2 c. halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1/4 c. chopped scallions
3 oz. goat cheese, crumbled

1. Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush grate with oil.

2. For the veggies, toss zucchini, asparagus, onion, and red pepper with 2 T. oil. Season with salt and black pepper. Grill vegetables until charred, 5-6 min. Chop into bite-sized pieces.

3. Cook couscous according to package directions with zest added; set aside.

4. Whisk lemon juice and 2 T. oil in a large bowl. Add couscous, grilled vegetables, tomatoes, parsley, and scallions; season with salt and black pepper. Top couscous with goat cheese.

Homemade Vanilla Yogurt

Making homemade yogurt is cheaper than buying it in the store, and you can control what goes into the yogurt (e.g. preservatives, sugar, etc.). There are lots of ways to make homemade yogurt, but this is the way that worked for me. If you are interested in making your own but don't want to invest in a yogurt maker, you can also incubate using your oven (if the temp stays low enough), a heating pad, or a crock pot. You will need to look online to find more specific instructions, but during my learning process I discovered quite a few excellent websites out there. Stonyfield is a great yogurt to use as a starter because it includes 6 live cultures, where as many other brands only include 2 or 3, but you can use any yogurt with live cultures, or a freeze-dried culture (after 2 unsuccessful attempts at this, I switched to the yogurt mix-in). Once you have a batch, you can save a 1/2 cup to use as your starter in the next batch (just be sure you don't do this more than once, as the quality of the cultures will decline). The amount of sugar and vanilla can also be adjusted, or different flavorings can be added. Like I said, this is the recipe I like best :-)

4 c. milk (I used 2%)
1 T. sugar
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. powdered nonfat milk
1/2 c. Stonyfield Plain Organic Yogurt (far from expiration date)

Whisk sugar, vanilla, and powdered milk into the milk in the top pan of a double boiler. Heat the milk, stirring frequently to 185 degrees.

Remove the pot from the boiler and put immediately into an ice bath. Cool to a temperature of 115, then remove in from the ice bath.

Once the temp drops to 110, whisk in the yogurt. Pour into jars and incubate for 7-8 hrs. in a yogurt maker.

Once yogurt is set, refrigerate at least 4 hrs or overnight.

Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad

This is one of my all-time favorite side dishes/desserts. I always serve it at Thanksgiving, but it is great for a summer picnic or a potluck.

Ingredients:
3/4 c. butter
2 c. crushed pretzels
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
6 oz. pkg. strawberry Jell-O
2 c. hot water
2 pkg. thawed frozen (16 oz.) strawberries
9 oz. Cool Whip

Directions:
Melt butter; add pretzels. Bake for 10 min. in 9x13 in. Pyrex pan at 350 degrees. Cool and set aside.

Soften cream cheese in a bowl; add powdered sugar. Mix with crushed pretzels and spread into the pan. Cool pretzel crust and refrigerate.

Boil water and add to Jell-O in bowl. Add thawed out strawberries. Pour over cooled pretzel crust. Refrigerate for four hours. Spread Cool Whip on top just before serving.

Basil Pesto Muffins

These are savory muffins that go well with any Italian dinner... if you can wait until dinner to eat them!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
3/4t. salt
1 c. olive oil, divided
3/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1 3/4 c. fresh basil, chopped
1 c. shredded parmesan
1/3 c. sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped
1 T. minced garlic
1/4 c. chopped pine nuts
Coarse sea salt

Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 12-c muffin pan with nonstick spray; set aside.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and table salt in a large bowl; form a well in the center.

Combine 3/4 c. oil, milk and eggs in a glass measuring cup with a pour spout until eggs are lightly beaten. Pour mixture into well of dry ingredients; stir only until moistened.

Fold basil, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic into batter just until evenly distributed.

Spoon batter into each muffin cup filling 2/3 full. Drizzle 1 t. remaining olive oil over each muffin. Sprinkle pine nuts and sea salt on top of each muffin.

Bake muffins until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 20-22 min.

Heat broiler to high with rack 6 in. from element. Broil muffins until tops are golden, 2-3 minutes.

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus

I love asparagus, and usually just saute it in a grill pan with some olive oil and kosher salt. This was a great recipe for a little variation.

1 bunch asparagus, about 1 1/2 pounds
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp grated parmesan
 salt and black pepper to taste
juice of 1 lemon

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Hold an asparagus spear at both ends and bend the bottom until the tough, woody section snaps (it will naturally snap off where the tough part of the vegetable ends and the tender part begins). Using that spear as a guide, use a knife to remove the bottoms of the rest of the bunch.

2. Place the asparagus in a baking dish. Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with the parmesan, and season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Roast until just tender, 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the asparagus.


Recipe from Cook This, Not That

Brussels and Bacon

We had roasted brussels sprouts for dinner one night, then a week later my oldest requested them again. I saw this recipe in a cookbook I had and decided to try them. What's not good with bacon, right? ;) It did not disappoint!

4 strips of bacon, chopped into small pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 lb brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed, cut in half
salt and black pepper to taste
2 tbsp sliced almonds

1. Heat a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels. Discard all but 1 tbsp of the rendered bacon fat.

2. Add the garlic, pepper flakes, brussels sprouts, and a pinch of salt to the skillet. Sauté until the sprouts are lightly browned on the outside and tender - but still firm - throughout, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the almonds and sauté for another minute or two. Season with salt and pepper.


Recipe comes from Cook This, Not That

Roasted Root Vegetables

I credit Ina Garten ("The Barefoot Contessa" from the Food Network) with the inspiration for this recipe. She makes roasting vegetables so easy. I also used a tip from my "Better Homes & Gardens" cookbook by adding balsamic vinegar and dried oregano to the veggies before roasting them. Any seasonal root vegetables would work, including sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, and even golden beets, which are wonderful sliced super thin and roasted until crisp like chips! I sort of made this recipe up, so the ingredients and amounts are to your taste. Either increase the oven temperature or lengthen the cooking time for thicker veggies, like potatoes. My 4-year-old really liked the carrots, while my husband and I loved all of the veggies. We took the leftovers to a get together the next evening as a side for lasagna and received rave reviews from everyone who ate the dish!

3 large carrots, peeled
2-3 large parsnips, peeled
2 fennel bulbs, fronds and outer layers removed (save the fronds for garnish)
1-2 heads of garlic
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano (dried basil or dried rosemary would also work well)
1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Chop the carrots and parsnips into 1/2 to 1 inch cubes. Slice the fennel bulbs in half and then, into quarters. Cut off the tops of the heads of garlic, exposing the cloves, but still keeping them tightly together.

2. Place the carrots, parsnips, and fennel on a cookie sheet. Liberally drizzle about 2 tbsp of the olive oil over the vegetables. Then, sprinkle the oregano, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper all over. With your hands, toss everything well.

3. Drizzle about 1 tbsp of the olive oil over the top of the exposed garlic cloves. Wrap the garlic heads in aluminum foil, and place on the cookie sheet with the other vegetables. Roast everything together for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables become brown around the edges, stirring them occasionally to keep them from sticking to the pan. They'll still have a slight crunch, so roast them longer if you like your veggies soft.

4. Allow the vegetables to cool slightly. Take the garlic out of the foil, and squeeze the individual cloves out by compressing the heads from the sides. Chop the saved fennel fronds finely and sprinkle on top of everything for garnish.

Lemon Pepper Green Beans

I'm typically not a fan of green beans, but every time I make this side dish, my husband and I go back for seconds!  Our two and a half year old loves them, too.

1 bag frozen green beans, thawed (16oz: French cut, crosscut, or whole)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 Tb lemon juice
1/4 tsp pepper

Over high heat, stir-fry the beans in olive oil until tender-crisp. Stir in garlic, lemon juice, and pepper. Cook just another minute or so, then serve.

Parsnip Fries

Every parent needs this recipe! These spiced "fries" are oven-roasted and delicious! If your kids don't like spicy, cut down on the amount of chili powder. These are definitely going to be a weekly vegetable at our house!

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 pounds parsnips, about 4 large ones
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 teaspoons chili powder
* 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Peel the parsnips and slice off the root. Cut into thick fries as evenly as possible. In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, chili powder, garam masala, salt, and pepper. Add the parsnips and toss to coat. Place on a parchment or foil-lined baking sheet.

Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, tossing the chips halfway through to ensure even cooking. Chips are done when they're lightly caramelized and a knife inserted in the chips goes in and comes out without much resistance.

My Favorite Cornbread

This cornbread was so moist & delicious! Even my dad, who isn't a fan of cornbread, LOVED it! This would be perfect with a big pot of chili. :)

2 cups cornmeal
2 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, combine cornmeal and milk; let stand 10 minutes. Grease a 9x13 baking pan. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix in the cornmeal mixture, eggs, and oil until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a knife inserted into center comes out clean.