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Spaghetti Braid

Raise your hand if leftovers have a bad reputation at your house? 

Even if they don’t, it’s always fun to jazz up leftovers.  At least I think so.  And, this spaghetti braid is not only delicious, but pretty too. 

Leftover spaghetti coupled with cheese, wrapped in bread, seasoned with Parmesan cheese and parsley. 

Gooey and delightful. 

Spaghetti Braid – Inspired by Colie’s Kitchen

Ingredients

Directions

Prepare 1 recipe of the whole wheat, no-rise, pizza dough according to directions.  You can find those directions here.  When the dough is ready, stretch it out so the dough makes a large rectangle, about the size of a half sheet cake.  Then, transfer to a lightly greased cookie sheet or baking mat. 

Warm your leftover spaghetti.  You’ll need about 4 C total (noodles and sauce).  If you need to be a little heavy, aim for more sauce than noodles so that the filling doesn’t dry out. 

Spread the noodles and spaghetti mixture down the center of the dough. 

Leave about 2 inches on each side, and about 1 inch on the end.  You’ll want enough dough on the end so that you can tuck the filling inside, but not too much that your end pieces are all dough. 

 

Top with cubed mozzarella cheese. 

Using a knife, cut slits 1-inch thick in the dough.  You’ll want to stop the slicing about 1/2 inch from the filling. 

Wrapping dough alternating to braid the dough over the spaghetti.

Spray or lightly brush the dough with olive oil.  Sprinkle with 2-3 T Parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley. 

Bake the braid on a cookie sheet at 350 for 25 minutes until the top is lightly browned. 

Slice and serve warm with a nice salad.  

Mmmm…. leftovers never tasted so good!

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Ingredient Spotlight: Chicken & Pasta (Double Spotlight)

It’s the last week of the month, which means it’s time for double ingredient spotlight! I don’t know about you, but Tiffany and I often find ourselves with a little of this and some of that to use up, and thought the double ingredient spotlight might provide some inspiration. 

Today’s double spotlight features chicken and pasta – two of my favorite ingredients. 

We always go for whole wheat pasta, preferably 100% whole wheat (Healthy Harvest is our favorite); sometimes we make our own

For chicken, we go organic when we can (especially if we’re making broth), otherwise go with local and as natural as we can get. 

Put those two ingredients together and you have some of our favorite meals:

Crockpot Chicken Parmesan – A go-to amazing meal that the crockpot makes for you!  The chicken is so moist and literally melts in your mouth.  Get the recipe here

20-Minute Minestrone – This soup is filling and also pairs well with pizza.  Great for the chilly winter weather.  Get the recipe here

Cheesy Chicken & Ranch Casserole – This is a relatively new casserole for us, and I could eat it every week!  Delicious.  Get the recipe here

Spinach Chicken & Pasta Skillet – This is  a light, yet filling dinner.  We enjoy it often during the summer months.  Get the recipe here.

Chicken Stroganoff – This beloved recipe comes from my mom, and was one of the first recipes posted here on Finding Joy in My Kitchen!  Get the recipe here.

What are your favorite recipes using chicken and pasta?  Link up your recipes below. 

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Berry Puff Pancake

This delicious puff pancake is a super fun morning treat. 

And, of course, I made it even better for you. 

We used 100% white whole wheat flour, 1 less egg, reduced the amount of butter and sugar, and used 2% milk rather than whole.  Loaded up the berries and served with with maple syrup rather than whipped cream. 

Delicious. 

Berry Puff Pancake – Adapted from Recipe Girl

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 C milk (we used 2%)
  • 1 C white whole wheat flour
  • 1/8 C white sugar (or try, 4 T honey)
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1 T butter
  • Splash of vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 C berries (we used blueberry, raspberry, blackberry)
  • Pure maple syrup

Directions

Combine 3 eggs with 1 C milk and 1 C white whole wheat flour.  Stir.  Then, add in 1/8 C sugar, and a pinch of salt.  Using a blender (we used our immersion blender), blend until smooth. 

Meanwhile, melt 1 T butter into a large, oven-proof skillet.  Swirl the butter in the pan so that the bottom and sides are coated. 

Pour the batter into the skillet.

Toss the berries on top. 

We used frozen berries (we did not thaw them first) and they worked really well. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, until the pancake is set in the center and lightly browned on the edges. 

Cut into wedges and serve warm. 

Enjoy!

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Lemon Brownies

With spring just around the corner (hopefully), I’ve been craving the flavors of summer.  This lemon brownie did just the trick. 

The recipe comes from The More Than Occasional Baker blog, where Ros blogs from the UK about her baking adventures.  She was my Secret Recipe Club blog for February, and she has some wonderful recipes – including a cake and cupcake recipe made with maple syrup that I might have to try next month when the trees being running sap! 

The Lemon Brownies were a hit – lemony and light, yet gooey too.  I replaced some of the butter with Greek Yogurt and used white whole wheat flour.  They would make a great base for a truffle dessert too. 

Lemon Brownies – Adapted from The More Than Occasional Baker

Ingredients

  • 3/4 C white whole wheat flour
  • 2/3 C sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 C butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 C Greek Yogurt
  • 2.5 tsp. lemon zest
  • 2 T lemon juice
  • 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together 3/4 C flour with 2/3 C sugar, and 1/4 tsp. salt.  Stir well. 

In a second bowl, mix the melted butter with 2 eggs and 1/4 C Greek yogurt.  Then, combine the wet and dry ingredients. 

Add in the zest and 2 T lemon juice. 

Pour into a lightly greased 8x8 inch baking dish and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until the center is set. 

Cool. 

While brownies cool, prepare the glaze by combining 1/2 C powdered sugar with 1 tsp. lemon juice. 

Drizzle over the brownies. 

Slice and serve! 

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Menu–February 24

I splurged this week and bought blueberries at the grocery store. 

I’ve seen them the last few weeks, but they tempted my taste buds enough for me to cave this week.  Is anyone else craving spring?  The February sunshine and longer days only spur that on …. encouraging me to toss some greens in our breakfast sandwiches this weekend.  Get the recipe here.

Alas, we’re still in snow season, and while I wanted to buy all sorts of out-of-season produce in addition to my blueberries, I’m still relying on winter veggies, like sweet potatoes, in our menu. 

Last week, I enjoyed my favorite mac and cheesethe recipe uses sweet potatoes and Parmesan cheese and the result is so creamy and tasty your family will never know there’s only 1/4 C cheese in the whole thing!  Get the recipe here.

On our menu this week:

Sunday
Leftover Breakfast Sandwiches
Mushroom Stroganoff (new), Roasted Asparagus {our favorite way to eat asparagus!}

To do: prepare the veggies for the quesadillas

Monday
Granola & dried cherries
Zucchini, Carrot & Black Bean Quesadillas with Brown Rice

Tuesday
Berry Baked Oatmeal {freezer}
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Wraps, roasted broccoli

To do: Prep Texas Caviar; dice veggies for Thursday

Wednesday
Granola & dried cherries
Leftovers
Bible Study Game Night – Texas Caviar

Thursday
Berry Baked Oatmeal {freezer}
Honey Mustard Stir Fry, Brown Rice

To do: Thaw meat for Sloppy Joe’s

Friday
Gingerbread Cranberry Scones
Crockpot Sloppy Joes, oven fries or pan fries

To do: Make 40-Minute buns

Saturday
Healthier Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes, fruit
French Bread Pizza, steamed veggies

Menu Plan Monday is hosted at Organizing Junkie - stop by for hundreds of menus

Find more great menus at OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday!

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Friday Favorite Finds #147

I found lots of delicious recipes this week – can’t wait to see what you found.  Bloggers continually amaze me with their creativity and beautiful photos.  Happy drooling! 

All images are from the original recipe source, and linked through Pinterest;
please pin the source!

Taco Salad Casserole -  This looks like something fun for taco night!  Now, if I could just convince my husband that he actually liked tacos…. 

 

Raspberry Cream Puffs - No convincing needed here, I already know Frog Prince will love these! These look amazing. I love that the puff pastry is made from scratch too.

 

Stove Top Broccoli Lasagna - White beans, broccoli, whole wheat pasta, tomatoes all made on the stove top! Love this idea from Lindsey.

 

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower - We love cauliflower at our house and this looks like a fun new way to enjoy it.

 

Brownie Batter Cheesecakes with Fudge Brownie Crust - with this, I'd be having dessert first. My dad used to tell me that was OK to do. 

 

If you were featured, feel free to grab the image below!

What did you find this week?

Please link up to a post containing your list of recipes to try -- do not link up individual recipes, or recipes that you’ve already made, your links will be deleted.   Be sure to leave a link back here to Finding Joy in My Kitchen.

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Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles

For my 30th birthday last weekend, Frog Prince took my favorite waffle recipe and combined it with my favorite pancake recipe.   

He really knows me well.  

These waffles are our new favorite – combining the deliciousness of blueberry pancakes with the crunch of waffles! 

Hope you enjoy them too!

Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles – Adapted from Waffles of Insane Greatness

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 C white whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 C corn starch
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 C buttermilk + 2 T
  • 1 C milk (or more buttermilk)
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 C frozen or fresh blueberries

Directions

*Sorry there are no step-by-step photos for this one!  Thanks to Frog Prince for breakfast… but, that translates into no photos.  Next time we make them, I’ll update!*

Begin by combining 1 1/2 C white whole wheat flour with 1/2 C corn starch in a large bowl.  Whisk to combine.  Then, add in 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. sugar or honey.  Stir well. 

Add in 1 C + 2 T buttermilk, 1 C milk (or additional buttermilk), 1 T olive oil, 2 eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Stir well.  Allow the batter to sit for 15 minutes. 

Then, mix in 1 C frozen or fresh blueberries.

Pour into your waffle maker, and make according to manufacturers directions. 

Serve warm. 

Enjoy!

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