Cheddar Crusted Potatoes with Onion and Rosemary

Served with the Coq au Vin Blanc. Excellent side dish!

 

Original recipe credit: https://www.sargento.com/recipes/meals/appetizer-and-sides/rosemary-cheese-crusted-potatoes/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 T. olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced

1 tsp. Lowry's seasoned salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1/8 tsp. lemon zest

8 oz. Sargento shredded mild cheddar cheese, traditional cut, divided

1/4 c. panko  

1 T. butter, melted

1/2 tsp. crushed dried rosemary

 

Directions:

 

1. Grease an 8" x 8" baking pan. Heat oven to 400°F.

 

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onions and cook for 5 min, stirring occasionally.

 

3. Add garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.

 

4. Stir in the potatoes, salt, pepper, and lemon zest. Remove from heat.

 

5. Layer half of potato mixture into the prepared baking pan. Top evenly with half of the cheese.

 

6. Spread remaining potato mixture atop the cheese, then top evenly with remaining cheese.

 

7. In a small bowl, combine the panko, butter, and rosemary. Sprinkle atop the cheese.

 

8. Cover the pan and bake for 40 min. Uncover and bake for additional 20 min, or until lightly browned. Serve and enjoy!

Boneless Pork Chops in Creamy Garlic Sauce (with video link)

Another win from Eatwell101.com---10/10! Have made this a couple of times now and really enjoy it. Roasted potatoes make a great pairing (provided you don't over-roast them like I did for the ones in the video, d'oh!), and next time, I will pair with egg noodles.

 

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://youtu.be/bUEO0z9fptk

Original recipe credit: https://www.eatwell101.com/boneless-pork-chops-in-creamy-garlic-butter-sauce

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

4 boneless pork chops

salt & fresh cracked pepper, to taste

1 tsp. paprika

olive oil

2 T. butter

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced

1/3 c. chicken stock

1 3/4 c. heavy cream (or half and half)

3 c. baby spinach

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 c. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

4 sage leaves, chopped 

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork chops with salt & pepper (to taste) both sides, then season with the paprika (half for one side, half for other). Place pork chops in pan and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side (or more), depending on thickness of your chops, until completely cooked. Remove from pan, cover with foil, and set aside.

 

2. Add the butter to pan. Once it has melted, add the garlic and onion. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes.

 

3. Deglaze pan with the chicken stock, stirring and scraping pan to release fond. Stir in the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.

 

4. Reduce heat to low, then stir in the heavy cream. Let sauce come to a gentle simmer (you may have to increase heat back up a little).

 

5. Add the spinach leaves. Stir and cook until the leaves have wilted a bit.

 

6. Stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano and chopped sage until cheese has melted into sauce.

 

7. Return pork, along with any accumulated juices, back to pan. Stir to coat in sauce and reheat. Serve with desired side and enjoy!

Best(?) Chocolate Chip Cookies (with video link)

According to this recipe, these are the BEST chocolate chip cookies. Well, with a claim like that, you know I had to try them! And, as I stated in the video, yeah, they really could be! Thing is, I've made many different recipes for them and it would be impossible for me to name just one as the very top. I think I could do a top 5, though, and this would be one of them for sure :)

 

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YJkVIxZ9Zw

Original recipe credit: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a50605/chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

*pardon my dust, entry in progress! for now, please see video for instructions*

Ingredients:

320g (2 2/3 c.) all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 1/4 c. (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

3/4 c. light brown sugar (packed)

1/2 c. sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

120g coarsely chopped chocolate, 70% cacao

 

Directions:

Skillet Roasted Chicken with Veggies (with video link)

**pardon my dust, entry in progress! In the meantime, check out my YouTube video for the recipe!**

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://youtu.be/oT249W45rZw

Original recipe credit: https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/lunch-dinner/skillet-roasted-chicken-with-lemon-thyme-sauce/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

4 T. unsalted butter, softened

1 T. chopped fresh parsley

1 T. chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. fresh lemon zest

olive oil

 

1 whole chicken (4-5 lb.) fat trimmed, giblets and neck removed, seasoned inside and out with salt and pepper

1/2 of a lemon

1 bulb garlic, unpeeled, halved horizontally

6 sprigs fresh parsley

6 sprigs fresh thyme

3/4 c. dry white wine

 

1 lb. baby potatoes, halved

1 lb. baby carrots

8 medium shallots, peeled

olive oil

 

3 T. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 c. low-sodium chicken broth

1 T. chopped fresh thyme

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice 

Directions:

 

 

 

Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies (with video link)

Happy St. Patrick's day! (If you are reading this on the day I posted it, anyway 😊🍀)

These cookies are really, really excellent. And so easy to make! Might have to make more again quite soon, as my kid has already declared there are not enough of them 😅 It does only make about 2 dozen.

 

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://youtu.be/qfcxePgmE5o

Original recipe credit: https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/easy-frosted-sugar-cookies/

Recipe as listed below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

2 3/4 c. (330g) all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 c. canola oil  

1/2 c. sugar (plus extra for 'coating')

1/2 c. powdered sugar, sifted

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. almond extract

frosting (I made my 'throw-together' homemade version; use your favorite recipe/kind)

 

Directions:

 

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment.

 

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and kosher salt. Set aside.

 

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, canola oil, sugar, and powdered sugar.

 

4. Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.

 

5. On low speed, mix in the reserved flour mixture, mixing until just combined.

 

6. Portion dough using a 1.5 T cookie scoop, onto prepared baking sheets. Space dough portions 2" apart. Grease the bottom of a flat measuring cup or glass, then dip in sugar, then flatten each dough ball to about 1/4" thick, re-coating in sugar before flattening each.

 

7. Transfer to oven, then bake for 8 min. After removing from oven, let cookies rest on sheet for 5 min. before transferring them to cool completely on racks.

 

8. Once cookies have cooled completely, frost and decorate. Enjoy! 

Cinnamon Sugar Butter Pie (with video link)

Happy pi day! Had a bit of a crazy day here, so my video that goes with this entry got posted later than intended. At any rate, this pie is very tasty and different (in a good way!)...it does need to probably go about 5 extra minutes from what I show in the video. I am noting that change in the instructions below :)

 

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://youtu.be/4XtjbFYMht4

Original recipe credit: https://www.landolakes.com/recipe/10483/cinnamon-sugar-butter-pie/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

for the crust--

3/4 c. quick cooking oats

1/2 c. brown sugar (packed)

5 T. cinnamon sugar butter spread

1 large egg yolk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. salt

40g (1/3 c.) all-purpose flour 

for the filling--

2/3 c. sugar

2/3 c. brown sugar (packed)

1/2 c. cinnamon sugar butter spread

1/3 c. heavy cream

2 T. cornstarch

2 T. powdered milk

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 large egg yolks

 

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9" round pie dish with non-stick cooking spray.

 

2. Make the crust-- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine on low speed the quick oats, brown sugar, cinnamon sugar spread, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and salt. Then mix in the flour until well combined.

 

3. Transfer mixture to prepared pie dish and press/pat into an even layer, including the sides, of pie dish.

 

4. Transfer to oven and bake for 5 min. Crust will appear slightly underbaked, Set aside.

 

5. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all filling ingredients until just mixed.

 

6. Pour into baked pie crust and spread evenly. Transfer to oven and bake for 30 min. 

7. Place a sheet of aluminum foil loosely to cover the pie. Bake for 15 min with the foil covering it.

 

8. Remove foil and bake for additional 7 min. The edges will be set but center will still be slightly jiggly. 

 

9. Place on a cooling rack and let cool completely before serving. Enjoy! 

Graham Cracker Brownies (with video link)

Bet you never thought of using graham crackers to make "brownies"! These unique bars are super tasty and rich...they have a brownie texture, yet a different (and good!) twist on the flavor. And no eggs are needed to make the recipe (eggs are quite expensive here in the US as of time of this entry). 10/10!

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://youtu.be/ME5Fdm_Lapc

 

Original recipe credit: https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/graham-cracker-brownies-with-chocolate-chips/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1 box (14.4 oz.) graham crackers

1/2 T. baking powder

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 can (14 oz.) condensed milk

1/2 c. golden syrup (note for those in the US: I found it at World Market)

1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

Directions:

 

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Generously spray the bottom and sides of an 11" x 7" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

 

2. In the bowl of a food processor, process graham crackers to fine crumb (likely will have to do this in batches, as I did). Place processed crumbs in a large mixing bowl.

 

3. Stir in the baking powder and kosher salt, followed by the condensed milk and golden syrup.

 

4. Stir in the chocolate chips (batter will be very stiff and sticky!), then transfer batter to prepared baking dish. Press the batter into as even of a layer as possible.

 

5. Transfer to oven and bake for 40-50 min, until brownies have turned a deep golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (You can see by the picture that I used a fork and had to check a few times, as the original recipe's time is nowhere near what is needed.)

 

 

6. Remove from oven and let cool completely on cooling rack (this will take at least an hour). When ready to serve, loosen edges with a butter knife, then transfer to a cutting board to slice into bars. Enjoy!