Box Oven S'mores Brownies - Secret Recipe Club

My assigned blog for this month's Secret Recipe Club is Angela's Kitchen.  Angela cooks gluten and dairy free.  If you are looking for a gluten or dairy free recipe, check out Angela's blog.  You'll be able to enjoy many of the same recipes, while following a gluten or dairy free diet.

I spent quite a bit of time on Angela's blog trying to decide what to make.   I really wanted to bake one of her great recipes but was concerned about the substitution of non gluten free products in her recipes.  After much deliberation, I settled on her Box Oven S'more Brownies but chose to make them in a regular oven.  If you're a camper or have kids this would be such a fun recipe to try.

Box Oven S’more Brownie Bars

Author: Angela Litzinger at angelaskitchen.com

Serves: 16 to 20

Ingredients

• 1 gluten free box brownie mix (or homemade), batter made dairy free according to instructions
• 2 cups gluten free mini marshmallows
• 1 cup broken and crumbled gluten free graham crackers or gluten free sugar cones
• 12″x8″ foil pan
• oil for pan
• Box oven

Instructions

1. Set up box oven. See this post (http://angelaskitchen.com/2013/07/02/the-great-gluten-free-campout-box-oven-muffins-and-eggs/) for instructions. While charcoal is flaming and heating up, make gluten free brownie mix according to instructions on box.
2. Oil foil pan. Pour batter into pan, patting out batter to cover the entire pan. Sprinkle crushed gluten free graham crackers evenly over batter, then add mini-marshmallows.
3. When coals are ready, place brownies on cans in box oven. Set the box over brownies and allow to bake for 5 minutes longer than the longest bake time on the brownie batter box (in the case of Better Batter Brownie Mix, allow to bake for 30 minutes) before checking to see if brownie bars are done. Bars are done when bakes through in center and marshmallows have melted and browned slightly.
4. Remove brownies from box oven and allow to cool before slicing.
5. To bake these at home, bake in a 350 degree F oven for the shortest time on your baking mix box before checking for doneness.

Swiss Chard Pasta Bake

 Besides the fresh, locally grown farm veggies, my favorite thing about being in a CSA is the vegetables we haven't tried before.  This year we've been treated to kale and swiss chard.  Kale is my new favorite vegetables but chard not so much.  We've received it twice in our CSA.  The first time, I sauteed in olive oil with salt and pepper.  It was way too much like cooked spinach for us.  When we received it a second time, I searched for a recipe to try and see if we like it any better in something.

I found this recipe for pasta with swiss chard. The verdict?  I liked it, Tim not so much.  He struggled through it, pushing the chard to the side wherever he could.  Do you like swiss chard?  How do you prepare it?

Swiss Chard Pasta Bake
Recipe courtesy of Love and Olive Oil

INGREDIENTS:
12 oz. penne pasta
 2 cups tomato sauce, any kind you like or see recipe below
1 pound swiss chard (about 6 large leaves), stems removed
3/4 cup asiago cheese cut into small cubes (I used goat cheese)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
shredded parmesan to go on top (optional)

simple tomato sauce:
1 onion, diced
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 14-oz can diced tomatoes
1 8-oz can tomato sauce (plain)
1/4 cup white or red wine
2 teaspoons sugar
salt & pepper
red pepper flakes (optional)
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Fill another bowl with ice and a bit of water. Drop chard leaves in boiling water for about 1 minute, remove and drop in ice water to stop the cooking process so your chard keeps its vibrant green color.
Re-using the same pot, cook pasta according to package directions, cutting the time a minute or two short since the pasta will continue cooking while it bakes.
Meanwhile make the tomato sauce (or use your own and skip this step). Over medium-high heat sauté onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add a few pinches of salt. Add garlic. When onions are translucent, add both cans of tomatoes, sugar and wine. Reduce heat. Simmer for 10 or 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more salt & pepper to taste (only if needed). Add red pepper flake, if using.
Remove chard from ice water, squeeze out excess water, and chop.
In a large bowl mix pasta, chard, cheese cubes and tomato sauce.
Pour the mixture in a 9×13 pan. Sprinkle shredded parmesan cheese on top (if you like), and/or a drizzle of olive oil. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Broil for the last 1-2 minutes if you would like the cheese topping more brown and bubbling. (note, if you’re not putting cheese on top, watch it more closely because it will dry out faster). Even without cheese on top, I prefer a bit of a crunchy crust. If you don’t cook it less.
Remove from oven, let cool for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil.

Susie's Salsa (Revisited)

How are the plants in your garden doing this summer?  Ours are growing like mad, producing lots of tomatoes and tons of jalapenos!   What else to do with that combination but make salsa.  My favorite salsa is one shared by a friend of ours a few years ago.  It's become my go to salsa recipe.  If you like a super hot salsa, this probably isn't the one for you.  Susie's salsa is only mildly hot with a hint of sweetness.

I first shared Susie's Salsa on my blog in 2009.  Last week, I made a big batch but didn't have time to photograph, so I am revisiting my post from 2009.

Susie's Salsa

5 green tomatoes (I used 10 tomatillos), chopped
10 red tomatoes (I used romas), peeled and chopped
4 jalapeno peppers, chopped and seeds removed
2 cubes of beef boullion (I used 2 tablespoons of beef gravy mix)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 medium sweet onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
12 oz. tomato paste

Mix everything, except the tomato paste in a large saucepan. Cook 1/2 hour over medium heat. Remove from the stove and stir in the tomato paste.

Makes 5 - 6 pints.

I froze this in freezer containers so we can enjoy the fresh taste of salsa when it's snowy and cold outside.

Roasted Kale and Arugula Salad

One of my favorite things about our CSA is the veggies we get to try.  We've had kale twice this year.  I am slow getting on the kale bandwagon but it's my new favorite veggie.   I love that it's so good for you.  A couple of weeks ago, I had kale and arugula in the fridge.  Surely there's something I can make that uses them both?  A quick google search returned this salad.  I didn't have any parsnips but I did have a cucumber.  Not at all similar but a good crunchy addition.  (The cucumber is the white blob in the picture.)  I had a little leftover roasted kale for  lunch the next day.  Roasted, crispy kale is delicious.  A wonderful healthy substitution for chips.  Next spring, we'll be planting kale, so we can try more new recipes and have this delicious green more often.

ROASTED KALE & ARUGULA SALAD WITH TANGY ASIAN VINAIGRETTE

½ lb kale leaves (about 1lb if purchasing them on the full stem)

3 TBL extra-virgin olive oil

¼ TSP ground black pepper

¼ TSP kosher salt

half of a medium parsnip, cut into a small dice

half of a spicy red pepper (optional), seeded with membrane removed

small handful of baby arugula

Vinaigrette

6 TBL extra-virgin olive oil

3 TBL rice vinegar

2 TSP light soy sauce

3 TSP sugar

1 TSP toasted sesame oil

2 TSP honey

dash kosher salt

dash ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roughly chop kale leaves into 2-3 inch pieces. In a large bowl, evenly mix kale, olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper. Spread the kale out in one layer in 2 large baking sheets/pan. Roast kale until its crispy and dark around the edges of the leaves, about 15 minutes. Set cook kale aside.

To make vinaigrette, combine the olive oil, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and honey in a bowl. Whisk until thick and emulsified. Salt and pepper to taste.

Add parsnip, red pepper and arugula in vinaigrette bowl. Toss until completely coated. Set aside.

As you are serving salad lightly toss the cooked kale with the vinaigrette mixture. NOTE: Do not do this step ahead. The vinaigrette will moisten the kale and you will lose the crispy texture. On that note, don’t over mix the kale and vinaigrette – as to not over saturate the crisp kale with liquid.

Serves 2.

Lemon Pie Bars - Secret Recipe Club

 Three weeks since my last post?  Seriously where have I been?  Week one, we were in Seattle visiting with my son and his girlfriend.  What an amazing city!  I will post a few pics, sooner or later.  The second week we were gearing up for Summer Fun Days in our neighborhood.  We live in the BEST neighborhood ever, great friends and truly wonderful neighbors.  Along with 20 or so couples, we hosted a party for 100+.  If I was a more organized blogger, like a lot of you, I'd have posted pictures!   Last week was Summer Fun Days week and we were helping with Kids Night, the Duck Race and last night's Dinner / Dance. 

I am thrilled to have my first post in three weeks be Secret Recipe Club, it's always my favorite week of the month in blog land.  Each month when I receive my recipe assignment for SRC, I can't wait to visit the blog!  I browse the recipes, read about the blogger and spend time deciding what recipe to choose.  Normally it's the recipe that draws me in.  Initially this month, it was the recipe for Lemon Pie Bars that I found interesting but it was the cookbook the recipe is from that sealed the deal.  The recipe comes from The Back in the Day Bakery cookbook.  Just recently, my best friends of 30 plus years and I were discussing when can we say "back in the day"?  Ever since then,  I find myself running across this phase being used in lots of different ways.  These Lemon Pie Bars come from a blogger I follow,  A Spoonful of Thyme.  She takes beautiful photographs and posts delicious recipes.

Looking for a quick and easy summer dessert, give this recipe a try.  The color is vibrant and the flavors tart and lemony!  

Lemon Pie Bars
Recipe Courtesy of A Spoonful of Thyme

For the crust
3 cups graham cracker crumbs
12 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
2 Tbsp sugar

For the filling
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp grated lemon zest
1 cup fresh lemon juice
Two 14 oz cans sweetened condensed milk
6 large egg yolks

Fresh whipped cream

Position a rack in the middle of  the oven and preheat the oven  to 350° F.  Grease a 9 X 13 inch baking dish and line with parchment, allowing the ends of the paper to hand over two opposite edges of the pan.  (I also greased the parchment paper when it was in the dish.)

To make the crust:  In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter,  and sugar and blend with a fork until the crumbs are evenly moistened.  Press the graham cracker mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.  Use a piece of parchment to press on the crust with the palm  of your hands to make sure it is completely level.

Bake the crust for about 8 minutes, until lightly golden.  Let cool completely before adding the filling. Turn the oven temperature down to 325° F.

To make the filling:  In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, sweetened condensed milk,  and egg yolks.  Pour the filling over the cooled crust.

Place the baking pan   inside a larger baking pan and pour enough hot water  into the larger  pan  to come halfway up the sides of the smaller pan.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the filling is puffed at the edges and no longer jiggles in the center when the pan is tapped.  Remove the pan from the water  bath and set it on a rack to cool for 1 hour, then refrigerate until cold.

Cut the bars into squares and serve chilled, with the whipped cream.  The bars will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Kohlrabi Slaw

Have you had kohlrabi?  It's that veggie that looks like it just landed from space.  With two in my fridge, I needed to find something to do with one of them besides grill them.  Which by the way is delicious, you can find my recipe here.

Using this salad as my inspiration,  I added kohlrabi, apple and carrots.  I used the food processor to shred the kohlrabi.  If you do, be careful because it can come out a little too grated.  I actually liked this better after the next day.  The crunch of the apple gives this slaw a great texture!

Kohlrabi Slaw

Ingredients:

For Dressing:
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste


1 Granny Smith apple or other tart, green apple
1 Kohlrabi shredded (I used the food processor - be careful not to over process)
3 carrots peeled and shredded

3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup)

Directions:

To prepare dressing, whisk together cider vinegar and honey. Drizzle in olive oil and whisk until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Core apple and cut into small cubes or matchsticks. Place in a small bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of dressing to prevent the apples from browning. Peel kohlrabi, grate with grate, mandolin or food processor.  Peel and shred carrots. Toss with apples and remaining dressing.  Set aside and let sit for at least 15 minutes or more.(I thought it was better the next day)

Asian Cole Slaw - Secret Recipe Club

There's a Wednesday night Farmer's Market in the area where Tim works.  A few weeks ago, he was were given a coupon for $5.00 off at the market.  Tim used his to purchase two beautiful heads of cabbage.  That means cole slaw at my house.   I'd just received my Secret Recipe Club assignment for the month, Morsels of Life.  One of the first recipes I found was for Asian Cole Slaw.  We prefer non mayonnaise based cole slaw's at our house, so this was a perfect recipe to try.

We really enjoyed the flavors in this dressing.  Mine came out a little thick. When I make this again, I think I will add a little olive oil to thin it out just a bit.  You can find a series of cole slaw recipes at Morsels of Life.  Next time we have cabbage, I can't wait to try the Cranberry Walnut Slaw.

Asian Cole Slaw
Recipe Courtesy of Morsels of Life

8 oz cabbage, shredded
2/3 cup carrots, grated
1/8 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp ginger, grated
2 tsp peanut butter
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. lime juice
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/8 c peanuts, chopped

Combine cabbage and carrots.  Whisk remaining ingredients together.  Pour over cabbage and carrot mixture.  Combine well.  Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top, just prior to serving.

Not Your Mama's Banana Bread

One blog I never miss reading is Tomatoes on the Vine.  If you haven't been to Velva's blog, stop by she takes beautiful pictures and has delicious recipes.  I am always intrigued by banana bread recipes because I have one that I consider THE BEST!!  It's not my mama's but one of my best friends mama's and it is delicious.  When Velva said if you have a family favorite recipe, you'll like this one better, I knew I had to give this recipe a try.    I've tried a lot of banana bread recipes the past 30 years and none have replaced my favorite but let's take this one for a spin and see where we end up.

In fairness the recipe calls for bourbon and we didn't have any.  I used brandy instead.  I was going to throw in a few chocolate chips because they make everything better but I forgot.  That's probably good because it wouldn't be a true test of the recipe with the addition of the chips.  I think my pan was a little large than what the recipe called for so I reduced the baking time to 40 minutes.  Checked it and it was done.  The brandy added a delicious flavor profile to this bread.  Is it going to replace my favorite banana bread recipe?  Probably not but I will add it to the recipe box!

 

 Not Your Mama's Banana Bread

Recipe Courtesy of Tomatoes on the Vine

Ingredients:

3 to 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted salted butter

3/4 to 1 cup light brown sugar (depending on your level of sweetness, that your prefer)

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Pinch of ground cloves

1-1/2 cups of flour

Directions:

 Preheat the oven to 350 degree F.  With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.  Mix in the sugar, egg vanilla and bourbon, then the spices.  Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.  add the flour last, mix.  pour mixture into a buttered 4x8-inch loaf pan.  Bake for 50 minutes to one hour, or until a tester comes out clean.  Cool on rack.  Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Enjoy!

Red Hots Rice Krispy Treats

I've been making desserts as long as I can remember but never a lot of Rice Krispy treats.  Until recently that is!  Like a lot of older desserts, Rice Krispy treat recipes are receiving some updates.  There's even a blog, devoted to nothing but Rice Krispy treats.

 When Tim told me the coworker who's birthday they were celebrating with treat day liked  Red Hots, I wasn't sure I was going to find a recipe including the little hot candies.  I should have known better, you can find a recipe for almost anything with just a google search!

Rice Krispy treats are quick and easy to make and almost everyone likes them.  It's fun trying different flavors for a this classic treat.  The toughest thing about this recipe is smashing the red hots.  I ended up using my meat mallet out on the front porch, in a baggie of course. 

Red Hots Rice Krispy Treats
Recipe Courtesy of Mallow and Co
4 Tbsp butter
6 cups marshmallows 
1/2-3/4 cup crushed red hot candies (really smash them down to a powder)
1 tsp vanilla extract
 6 cups rice krispies
red food coloring (optional, I didn't use this)
4 oz (2 squares) Vanilla Almond Bark (I didn't do this step)

Pour the rice krispies in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Once it's melted add in the marshmallows. Stir until they are mostly all melted (this will take a few minutes--low and slow is key for perfect texture) then stir in the vanilla, crushed red hots, and a few drops of red food coloring.

Once fully melted, take them off heat and pour over the rice krispy mixture. Stir lightly to combine, then dump into a greased 9x9 pan (I made mine in 9 x13 pan). Allow to cool 5 minutes, then press into pan with greased hands. While they finish cooling, melt the almond bark in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between each one until fully melted. Drizzle the bark over the treats. Enjoy!

Grilled Romaine

There's almost always a package of romaine lettuce in my refrigerator. We enjoy the flavor and it seems to keep well. Now that summer is here, I wanted to grilling the romaine. Pretty confident you just brush them with olive oil, sprinkle on some salt and pepper before grilling them, I wasn't sure I needed a recipe. However, I wasn't sure how long to leave them on the grill. I ran across this recipe and was intrigued by the use of the red wine vinegar granita.

If you haven't tried grilling romaine, try it soon!  We love it!  The combination of the char and red wine vinegar granita give the lettuce a nice smoky tang!

  Grilled Romaine

Recipe Courtesy of Alton Brown

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 hearts of romaine, rinsed and patted dry
1 tablespoon olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup finely grated Parmesan
Vegetable spray, for pan

Directions

Place vinegar in shallow pan and place in the freezer. Allow the vinegar to freeze, approximately 2 hours. Once frozen, scrape with a fork to create a shaved ice texture. Return the vinegar to the freezer until ready to use.

Cut each heart of romaine in half lengthwise so that the root keeps each piece together. Lightly brush the cut side of the romaine pieces with olive oil. Season with the pepper. Place the cheese in a shallow pan large enough to lay the romaine in and press the cheese firmly onto the cut side of the romaine until it adheres.

Spray a nonstick griddle or saute pan with vegetable spray and preheat over medium-high heat. Place the romaine in the pan and cook until the cheese turns golden, approximately 1 to 2 minutes Place the romaine, cheese side up onto plates and sprinkle with the vinegar ice. Serve immediately.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!

Butterfinger Cake

Do you try new recipes before you serve them to company or take them to an event? Normally I do! There's nothing worse than making a dish for a dinner party and having it be a flop. We were having friends over for dessert and I was debating whether or not to make a tried and true dessert recipe or try a new one. Browsing the dessert recipes, I'd pinned on Pinterest I saw this Butterfinger Cake. Looks easy enough and doesn't use too many ingredients, I decided to give it a try.  Oh my gosh, what a great choice, simple to put together and so good!  This may become my new go to for dessert.  I am going to try it next time with a chocolate cake and Heath bars!!!

Butterfinger Cake
Recipe Courtesy of Plain Chicken

 1 box yellow cake mix, plus ingredients to make the cake
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 jar Smucker's caramel ice cream topping
 1 (8oz) tub Cool-Whip 4 regular sized Butterfinger candy bars, crushed

Bake cake according to direction on the package.

 While cake is baking, mix milk and caramel topping until well blended. When the cake is done and while it's still hot, poke holes in it with a fork. Pour milk mixture over the cake. Allow cake to cool completely. If you don't want it quite as sweet, add half the can and half of the jar. Sprinkle two candy bars over cake. Spread (refrigerator temp) Cool Whip over the top, then sprinkle the remaining candy bars on top. Chill.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!!!

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats - Secret Recipe Club

Can you believe it's the second week of June?  Crazy!  The second week of June means two things Secret Recipe Club and here in Omaha,  the College World Series.  This month my assigned SRC blog is No Reason Needed.  I am not sure whether my favorite part of SRC is browsing my assigned blog or finding out who had my blog and what recipe they chose.  Either way, SRC is fun.  You can find out more about SRC here.

It's always hard to decide which recipe to choose but when I saw the recipe for Cake Batter Rice Krispie treats, the decision was easy!!  I love cake batter!  I know it's risky  because of the raw eggs.  I've been eating it for years and have never gotten sick, so it's a risk I am willing to take.  Over the past few years the blogsphere has been filled with cake batter recipes.  I've made a couple of them Cake Batter Muddy Buddies and Cake Batter Ice Cream.  

I've always thought Rice Krispie treats were just okay,  almost too sweet for my taste.  Although it may sound strange, the addition of cake batter seems to tone down that sweetness.  I will never make the original Rice Krispie treats again.  Maybe it's that cake batter obsession but it's Cake Batter Rice Krispie treats for me from now on!

 Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. butter
1 (10 oz) bag marshmallows
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup yellow cake mix (I used 3/4 cup cake mix)
6 cups rice krispies cereal
assorted sprinkles

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until the begin to melt and mix in vanilla. Add in cake mix one spoonful at a time and stir until combined. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray (I like an 8x8 or 9x9 to make them thicker - I used a 9x13 pan) and top with remaining sprinkles. Let sit for about 30 minutes before cutting.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!

Five Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Five ingredients? This recipe caught my eye immediately! I love a good cookie but don't bake drop cookies very often because they take so much more time than bar cookies. These are a creation of Emily's, she at Sugar Plum. If you don't follow her blog, you should. She has the best recipes and they're all her own.

These cookies are quick and easy to make.  Emily suggest grinding the coconut in the food processor until it's fine.  My coconut seemed to just whirl and whirl around, never seeming to become fine.  No worries, it still worked great in the recipe.   Five Ingredient cookies are delicious and crispy.  I will be making these again!  Next time I may try nutella or biscoff spread instead of peanut butter!!

Five Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Recipe Courtesy of Sugar Plum

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup egg whites or 1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups finely ground unsweetened flaked coconut

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together peanut butter, sugar, and egg and until well combined - about 1-2 minutes.  Beat in baking soda until combined.  Beat in coconut until combined.

Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls.  Place on baking sheets, spacing about 3/4-inch apart.  Flatten balls making a criss-cross with a fork.  Sprinkle with a little sugar, if desired.  Bake 12 minutes or until cookies are golden around the edges, and crisp.  Cool 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 1 dozen cookies depending how big you make them.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!

Peaches and Dream Pie

Happy Memorial Day!  I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend with friends and family!

I know it's not quite peach season but the first official weekend of summer has me thinking peaches! This is a recipe I made almost a year ago.  Last summer produced some the best peaches I'd experienced in years. I believe I read somewhere the hot summer produced a sweeter fruit?

 Pie crust and I just don't get along.  So I must confess, the crust for this was a boxed pie crust.   Isn't the color of these peaches just beautiful?  In reading the reviews of this pie, it received more nays than yeahs.  It's much different than what we all expect when we think of pie.  At our house, it was a yeah.  It reminded us of a custard pie. 

Peaches and Dream Pie
Recipe Courtesy of Baked Explorations

Ingredients
1 ball Classic Pie Dough
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter

 In a medium bowl, whisk the flour,sugar and salt together. In a measuring cup,stir 3/4 cup water with several ice cubes until it is very cold Cut the cold butter into cubes and toss them in the flour mixture to coat. Put the mixture in the bowl of a food processor and pulse in short bursts until the butter pieces are the size of hazelnuts. Pulsing in 4 second bursts, slowly drizzle the ice water into the food processor through the feed tube. As soon as the dough comes together in a ball, stop adding water. Remove the dough from the food processor and divide it in half. Flatten each piece into a disk and wrap each disk first in parchment paper and then in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough until firm, about 1 hour. (The dough can be kept refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3months. Thaw it in the refrigerator before proceeding with your recipe).

 For the Peaches and Dream Filling
10 canned peach halves, or about 2 1/2 cups fresh diced,peeled peaches
 2 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
 2 tablespoons honey
 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

 For the Pie Topping
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter,cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Make the Crust
Dust a work surface with a sprinkling of flour. Roll the dough ball out into a 12 inch round. Transfer the dough to a pie dish and carefully work it into place, folding any overhang under and crimping the edge as you go. Cover the crust in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.

 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
 Make the Peaches and Dream Filling Arrange the peach halves cut side up on the bottom of the pie shell or spread the diced fresh peaches in the pie shell. In a medium bowl,whisk together the eggs, sour cream, and honey until they just come together. Sprinkle the mixture with the salt, brown sugar, and flour, and whisk until just combined. Pour the mixture over the peaches. Make the Pie Topping Place the sugar, flour, and butter in a bowl. Use your hand to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mix looks like coarse sand. Assemble the pie. Sprinkle the pie topping across the filling, and bake for 45 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly (place a sheet pan on the oven rack directly below the pie to catch any filling that bubbles over ). Let the pie cool overnight before serving.

 BAKED NOTES:
At least 90 percent of the peaches and cream recipes that crossed Matt and Renato's path specified the use of canned peaches. Perhaps they were written in an era when fresh peaches were difficult to locate, or perhaps the sugar content of a canned peach was an added plus, but they tested fresh peaches in place of their canned counterparts in several recipes without any problems.

I am linking this to On the Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!!!

Super Smoked Sweet and Spicy Wings

A few weeks ago I shared this recipe for Smoked Mac and Cheese, prepared in Tim's smoker. We are loving this smoker, you can make just about anything in it. The flavors in these wings are a nice combination of smoky, sweet and spicy. You can adjust the sweet and spice to your own taste.

 Super Smoked Sweet and Spicy Wings
 Recipe Courtesy of John McLemore

2 1/2 tablespoons ground black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
5 pounds chicken wings, rinsed and dried
1 cup honey
 1/2 cup hot barbecue sauce
3 tablespoons apple juice
Suggested wood for smoking Apple wood chips 1. In a small bowl, mix together the black pepper, onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder, and seasoned salt. Place the chicken wings in a large Ziploc bag. Pour in the dry rub and shake to coat the wings well. Marinate for at least 30 minutes (at room temperature) or as long as 24 hours (in the refrigerator). 2. Preheat smoker to 225˚F. Place the wings on the top rack of the smoker and cook for 20 minutes. Turn wings and cook for another 25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165˚F. 3. While the wings are cooking, mix the honey, barbecue sauce, and apple juice together in a small saucepan.Cook over medium heat until warmed through. Remove the wings from the smoker and place in a disposable aluminum foil pan. Pour the warm sauce over the wings and toss to coat evenly. Return to smoker on second rack and cook for another 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the smoker and serve immediately.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I love a good muffin. I love sweets and always enjoy a delicious muffin for breakfast. When browsing, Jenny's Cookbook, my assigned blog for Secret Recipe Club this month, I found this recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. This recipe was just what I was looking for, a quick recipe using ingredients I had on hand.

These are a moist, delicious muffin with a crunchy top.  A half recipe made 9 good size muffins.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
 Recipe Courtesy of Jenny's Cookbook
Makes 18 muffins
Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
 3 ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup margarine, melted and cooled
1/2 cup 2% milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla oats and sweetened shredded coconut
 Directions Preheat oven to 350F. Line 1 and 1/2 muffin trays with paper liners (18 muffins). In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients and chocolate chips together. In another bowl, combine bananas, margarine, milk, eggs and vanilla. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir until just combined. Use an ice cream scoop (about 1/3 cup) and divide the batter between the paper liners. Sprinkle on some oats and coconut. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.

Cacio e Pepe with Lemon

We recently finished a five week wine and cheese class at our local Hy Vee store. What a great way to learn about wine and cheese.  It's so interesting to see how tasting the wines and cheese together enhances the flavors of one or both of them.  During the class on "The Kings of Cheese" we tasted one called Grana Padana. Not only did I love the flavor, what a fun name!!! I bought a piece and was looking for a recipe to use it in when I ran across this recipe. Perfect, I also just happened to have a Meyer Lemon from my plant that needed to be used. Cacio means cheese and pepe, pepper. For those of you who enjoy a simple yet delicious pasta, this is for you! If you're looking for a pasta recipe that is easy yet elegant enough for a dinner party, give this one a try.  We'll be having this one again, soon!!!!

 Cacio e Pepe 
Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

 Ingredients
Coarse salt 8 ounces
Thick spaghetti or bucatini
 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces, softened 3 ounces
Grana Padano cheese, grated (1 cup)
 2 teaspoons freshly cracked pepper (use a mortar and pestle or the coarsest setting on a grinder), plus more for garnish
3/4 ounce Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (1/4 cup)
1 small lemon (preferably Meyer)
High-quality extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Directions
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than called for in package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
Transfer pasta to a 12-inch skillet (preferably nonstick). Add butter and 1/2 cup pasta water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. The heat helps the starch in the water meld with the fat from the butter, which prevents the Grana Padano from becoming stringy in the finished dish.
Reduce heat to low, and mix in Grana Padano and cracked pepper. Grana Padano is softer than Pecorino Romano; it will melt into the buttery water, creating a sauce as the pasta finishes cooking. Toss pasta with tongs to thoroughly coat it with sauce. Keep everything at a gentle simmer just until cheese melts and sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute.
Remove from heat, then stir in Pecorino Romano. (Always add Pecorino off direct heat; it clumps when cooked.) Zest lemon over the pasta. Any type of lemon will do, but a Meyer is particularly nice in this dish: It's sweeter in flavor and aroma, with back notes of orange and lime.
If pasta looks dry, toss it with a bit more pasta water until it has a glossy coating. Divide between 2 warm bowls. Drizzle each with oil and lemon juice, and garnish with more cracked pepper. Serve immediately.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!!

Lemon Olive Oil Banana Bread

Seems there's a wide variety of banana bread recipes available these days.  Having tried many recipes,  my favorite still remains Mrs. Flint's.  Mrs. Flint was my good friend Larry's mother. Something about a recipe that's been around for probably a hundred years, just makes it hard to beat.

When I ran across this recipe,  I was intrigued by the use of lemon and olive oil, so I decided to give it a try.   I love the flavor lemon adds to the bread and the chunks of chocolate give it an extra richness.  If you're looking for a new take on banana bread, give this recipe a try,  it's delicious. 

Lemon Olive Oil Banana Bread
Recipe courtesy of 101 Cookbooks

1 cup / 4.5 oz / 125g all-purpose flour
1 cup / 5 oz / 140g whole wheat flour
3/4 cup / 4.5 oz / 125 g dark muscovado or dark brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup / 4 oz / 115 g coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate
1/3 cup / 80 ml extra-virgin olive oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups / 12 oz / 340 g mashed, VERY ripe bananas (~3 bananas)
1/4 cup / 60 ml plain, whole milk yogurt
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:
1/2 cup / 3 oz / 85 g sifted dark muscovado or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup / 2 oz / 55g confectioners' sugar
4 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350° F, and place a rack in the center. Grease a 9- by 5- inch (23 x 13 cm) loaf pan, or equivalent.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate pieces and combine well.
In a separate bowl, mix together the olive oil, eggs, mashed banana, yogurt, zest, and vanilla. Pour the banana mixture into the flour mixture and fold with a spatula until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake until golden brown, about 50 minutes. You want to get that beautiful color on the cake, but at the same time you don't want to bake all the moisture out of it. So the minute you're in that zone, pull it. Erring on the side of under-baking versus over.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn the loaf out of the pan to cool completely.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze. In a bowl, whisk together the sugars and the lemon juice until smooth. When the cake is completely cool, drizzle the glaze on top of the cake, spreading with a spatula to cover.

I am linking this to On the Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.
 

Smoked Mac n Cheese

Tim recently purchased an electric smoker.  Foods prepared on the smoker are delicious but with a charcoal smoker they require so much tending!  An electric smoker is a breeze, you still have to check the wood and keep an eye on the temperature but it's not a project like with charcoal.  There's a great site, Dadgum That's Good,  hosted by John McLemore of Masterbuilt Smokers.   Looking for the ins and outs of smoking, we found this recipe for Four Cheese Smoked Mac n' Cheese!  Mac and cheese kicked up with bacon, four cheeses and the added flavor of smoke, well I just can't resist saying it "Dadgum That's Good!".

Four Cheese Smoke Mac n Cheese
Recipe courtesy of Dadgum That's Good

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1/4  cup butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 (8 ounces) cream cheese, cut into large chunks
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups Gouda cheese shredded
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Directions
1. Load the wood tray with one small handful of wood chips and preheat the smoker to 225° F.
2. Cook pasta according to package instructions. In a medium saucepan, melt butter, and whisk flour into the butter. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, until sauce is bubbly and thick. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil.  Cook 5 minutes until thickened. Stir in cream cheese until mixture is smooth. Add salt and pepper.
3. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup Cheddar, 1 cup Gouda cheese, Parmesan cheese, pasta, and cream sauce. Spoon mixture into an 11 by 9 ½-inch aluminum roasting pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.  Sprinkle top with remaining Cheddar cheese and Gouda cheese.
4. Place in smoker and cook 1 hour at 225° F, until brown, bubbly and delicious.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!

Morning Glory Muffins - Secret Recipe Club

It's Secret Recipe Club (SRC) reveal day!  I was assigned The Tasty Cheapskate, as she says "where tasty and cheap eat together (and hopefully remember to write down the recipe)".

In my quest to continue to choose something besides a dessert recipe for SRC, I chose Morning Glory Muffins.  One of my favorite restaurants in town has a fabulous selection of muffins and Morning Glory is one of my favorites.  Never having made Morning Glory Muffins or even looked at a recipe for them, this month's choice was made!!!

These muffins have fruit and vegetables in them, so as muffins go, they're better for you.  If you adapt the recipe to reduce the sugar and the oil, they would be even better for you.  I didn't have whole wheat flour, so I used all purpose and substituted dried blueberries for the cranberries or raisins.  These muffins are delicious, very moist with a nice crunch!!! 

Morning Glory Muffins
Recipe Courtesy of The Tasty Cheapskate

Makes about 20 muffins
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Cost: $3.60 with nuts. About $1.00 less without
(whole wheat flour: .20, flour: .10, sugar: .15, coconut: .25, raisins: .25, apple: .30, pineapple: 1.00, walnuts--I didn't use, but I'm guessing 1.00, eggs: .20, oil: .15)

1 1/4 C whole wheat flour
1 C all-purpose flour
1 C sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C shredded, sweetened coconut
3/4 C raisins or cranberries (optional)
1 large apple, peeled and grated
1 C crushed pineapple, drained (about on 15 oz. can, drained)
2 C grated carrots
1/2 C chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
2 eggs
1 C vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 and line your muffin tins.

Whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

Add coconut, raisins, apple, pineapple, carrots, and nuts. Stir to combine. (I shredded my carrots and apple in the food processor, which was speedy. If you've got a food processor, you could probably use fresh pineapple too and just sort of puree it in the food processor before you change it to 'shred.')

Add eggs, oil and vanilla. Blend well.

Spoon batter into muffins tins. Bake about 17-25 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

I am linking this to On the Menu Monday and Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday!

Smoky Blue Cheese Potato Soup and Beautiful Wine Glasses

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Wine Enthusiast wondering if I would like to receive a set of wine glasses.  Anyone who knows me knows I love a glass (or two) of wine, so of course I said Yes!!!  Next question, would I prefer white or red?  Normally a white wine drinker,  I chose white.  Wine Enthusiast sent me these beautiful Fusion Whirl wine glasses.  They're designed for the ultimate swirl.  I love swirling my wine!  Not necessarily for the reasons wine aficionados suggest you swirl your wine, just because it's fun.  If you're a red wine drinker, Wine Enthusiast has a great selection of red wine glasses, too!  Thank You, Wine Enthusiast!

Tim and I are attending a series of wine and cheese pairing classes at our local HyVee store.  It's so interesting to see how the different cheeses affect the taste of the wine.  Perfect timing to try a recipe using a cheese we tasted and enjoy a glass of wine in the new glasses.  One of our tastings was a smoky blue cheese and a white wine.  One our favorite restaurants in town serves a fantastic blue cheese burger.  I picked up some smoky blue to use in burgers.  Knowing the burgers wouldn't use the entire package of cheese, I began searching for another recipe to use the rest of the smoky blue.  I settled on this recipe for Smoky Blue Cheese Mashed Potato Soup.  A little smoky blue goes along way, so be careful with the crumbles for the top, you don't want to over power the delicious creamy mashed potatoes! Paired with a sandwich or salad, this makes for a comforting meal!

Smoky Blue Cheese Mashed Potato Soup

Recipe Courtesy of Wisconsin Cheese Talk
Serves 4
4 bacon slices
1 medium onion, diced, about 2 cups
2 cloves garlic, minced
Two 14.4-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth or 3 1/2 cups homemade broth
3 cups mashed potatoes (see recipe below)
1/2 cup Blue cheese, crumbled, about 3 ounces
Garnish
4 scallions, minced
1/4 cup smoke-flavored Blue cheese, crumbled, about 1 1/2 ounces
Cook bacon in heavy, large pot over medium heat until brown and crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towels. Crumble bacon and set aside to use as a garnish.
Spoon off all but a tablespoon of bacon drippings from pot. Add onion, celery and garlic, season with salt.  Sauté over low heat for 10 minutes or until onions are golden, but not brown.  Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Blend in the mashed potatoes and Blue cheese. Puree soup in batches in a blender or use an immersion blender directly in the pot. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish each bowl with Blue cheese, bacon and scallions just before serving.
Mashed Potatoes
2-3 large potatoes, about 1 1/2 lbs
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Peel the potatoes and cut into small chunks, place in a pot, cover with cold water. Boil until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the water, then add the butter and milk and mash with a potato masher in the pot. Season with salt.

I am linking this to On the Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday!!!

Wine Enthusiast sent me a set of Fusion White Wine glasses!  All opinions expressed are my own!

Individual Lemon Cheesecakes

My son's girlfriend, Lily made these for Thanksgiving. I couldn't get enough of them. They're light, lemony and delicious. This recipe is so versatile, you can change the toppings or the crust! I made a raspberry coulis for the topping.  Bet you can't eat just one!!!!

Individual Lemon Cheesecakes
Recipe Courtesy of Joy of Baking 

1 cup (100 grams) graham wafer crumbs or crushed digestive biscuits
1 tablespoon (15 grams) granulated white sugar
4 - 5 tablespoons (55-65 grams) butter, melted

 Filling: 2 - 8 ounce (454 grams) packages of full fat cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
 1/2 cup (120 ml) sour cream, room temperature (I used greek yogurt)

 Cheesecakes: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and place oven rack in the center of the oven. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. (Can also use silicone baking cups.) For Crust: In a small bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press a heaping tablespoon of crumbs onto the bottoms of the 12 muffin cups. Cover and refrigerate while you make the filling. For Filling: In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese on low speed until creamy and smooth. Add the sugar and salt and beat until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and sour cream and beat until incorporated. Remove the crusts from the refrigerator and evenly divide the filling among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for about 18 - 22 minutes or until firm but the centers of the cheesecakes still wobble a little. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Let cool and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate (a few hours or even overnight). To serve, gently peel off the paper liners and place on your serving plate. Serve with strawberry or raspberry sauce, fresh berries, or drizzle with melted chocolate. These cheesecakes can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for several days. Makes 12 individual cheesecakes.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.

Caramel Pretzel Magic Bars

Does it seem like all I have posted lately are sweet recipes? Whenever there's a food day at Tim's office, I take that opportunity to try a new recipe and of course, they are always for sweets! Not sure his coworkers would appreciate vegetables or a salad for food day!!!

I have always enjoyed the combination of sweet and salty.  After eating something sweet, I often want something salty.  Unfortunately, that can become a vicious circle that leads to eating too many sweets. 

I had no idea you could buy caramel bits!!!  They were about the same price as a bag of caramels and so much easier than unwrapping all of those caramels.  These bars remind me of Magic Bars and like Magic Bars, they are so good. 

Caramel Pretzel Magic Bars

Recipe by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

• 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 6 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1-14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 50+ pretzels
• 20 caramels, unwrapped & cut in fourths (*They now sell caramel bits at the store near the chocolate chips!  So much easier than unwrapping & cutting up caramel squares.  I would try 1 cup of caramel bits if you aren't using the squares.)
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter.  Press in a sprayed 13x9in pan.
2. Pour about half the can of condensed milk over crust.
3. Layer your pretzels as close together as you like over the condensed milk/crust.
4. Sprinkle caramels, chocolate chips, & coconut flakes.
5. Pour remaining half of condensed milk on top.
6. OPTIONAL:  Break up some extra pretzels to put on top, with a few extra chocolate chips so you can see all the colors above the condensed milk.
7. Bake at 350*F for 20-30 min until lightly brown.  Let cool completely before cutting & serving.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday!!!

Lucky Leprechaun Bark

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!  Earlier today when I went to the grocery store, the cashier said people had been buying beer since 6:00 a.m. this morning!! 

Not being a big beer drinker, I am celebrating St. Pat's Day with this Leprechaun Bark.  I am sure you've seen these bark recipes out on the blogsphere.  There's one for every holiday.  They're fun and easy to make!

Following the recipe, I didn't think there were enough cookies on the cookie sheet.  I doubled the amount of cookies .  In hindsight, I think maybe one and a half would have been just right.  Because I had so many cookies my melted chocolate didn't spread out evenly, so I used a spatuala to even it out.  Like most recipes, I learned something for the next time I make it and there will be a next time!!!

Lucky Leprechaun Bark
Your Homebased Mom

14 whole Mint Girl Scout Cookies, broken up. 1 1/2 C pretzels, broken into pieces.  I used the small stick pretzels.
1 lb. Milk Chocolate Bark, almond bark or melts found in the bulk food section
1 C Green M & M's (the new mint flavor are all green!)
Green and White Sprinkles

Cover a large cookie sheet with wax paper.  Spread broken cookes, pretzels and about 3/4 C of the candy corn onto the waxed paper.  Place white chocolate in a container and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.  Stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds until melted and smooth. 

Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookie mixture, spreading with spatula if needed to coat evenly.  Sprinkle remaining M & M's and colored sprinkles over the chocolate while it is still wet.  Do not let it harden.  Place cookie tray into refrigerator until set and firm.  Remove and gently break bark into small pieces.  Store in air tight container.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.

Smoky Black Bean Soup - Secret Recipe Club

My favorite blog post of the month is always my Secret Recipe Club reveal! It's fun to share the recipe of the blogger I was assigned and always a great surprise to find out who had my blog!!! This month I was assigned, Learning Patience. Corey calls Trinidad home! How amazing is that??!!

 Usually when I visit my assigned blog for the first time, I read through lots of recipes before deciding on the one to make. The recipe I chose from Corey's blog was one of the first recipes I read, I knew immediately, I wanted to try it.  The Smoky Black Bean Soup contains lots of our favorites; chicken sausage, quinoa and black beans.  I am not sure if it was the chipotle peppers or the chicken sausage but this soup was really spicy.  The flavor is delicious and hearty.  If you prefer a less spicy dish, you could easily tame it down by using less peppers.  Speaking of peppers, does anyone know a good way to mince the canned chipotle peppers?  Even with the sharpest of knives, I always seem to smash them more than mince them.

Smoky Black Bean Soup with Chicken Sausage and Quinoa

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 package pre-cooked spicy chicken sausage, thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 2 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce, minced
• ½ bottle beer
• 2 limes juiced
• 1 Tbsp honey
• Salt
• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Toppings
• sour cream
• lime zest

Instructions

1. First, start cooking quinoa in chicken broth in a saucepan – bring to a boil and reduce with a lid on to simmer for about 17 min.
2. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add sausage in a single layer; cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Turn and cook 1 minute more. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
3. Add onion and bell pepper to pan; saute until soft.
4. Add garlic, cumin and oregano and onion powder; saute 1 minute more.
5. Stir in beans, broth and chipotle; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer.
6. Add lime juice, honey and beer and let simmer.
7. Add cooked quinoa and let simmer on low for another 4 minutes.
8. Add sausage and stir.
9. Serve and top with lime zest and sour cream.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.

Cookies 'n Cream Chess Bars

Sweets are my favorite food group.  Okay, yes I know they're not a food group but they're still the best!  Even better are those easy to make.   One of favorites is this chocolate cake, using a cake mix as one of ingredients.  If we have friends stopping by and I need a quick dessert, it's my go to recipe.  Looking to add to my list of options, I did a search for desserts using cake mixes and these popped up.  You can use crushed cookies or chocolate chips for the top.  I happened to have a some Joe Joe's (candy cane sandwich cookies from Trader Joe's) leftover and they added a great minty flavor to this dessert.  Thinking mint, these would be delicious using crushed Thin Mints as the crushed topping. 

Cookies & Cream Chess Bars

 Ingredients:

• 1 fudge or chocolate cake mix
• 4 eggs, divided
• 1 stick (4 ounces) butter, melted
• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 8 to 12 chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely crumbled

Preparation:

Mix cake mix with 1 egg and butter; press into greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan. In a mixing bowl with an electric hand-held mixer, beat confectioners' sugar with cream cheese, vanilla and 3 eggs until smooth. Pour about 2/3 of the topping mixture onto the cake mixture; sprinkle with crumbled cookies (or chocolate chips) then pour remaining mixture evenly over crumbs. Bake in a preheated 325° oven for about 50 to 60 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned.
Cool thoroughly and cut into bars. Keep refrigerated.

I am linking this to On The Menu Monday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.