cheese

Stuffed Zucchini Hasselback Pepperoni Pizza Style

August 9, 2018

Stuffed zucchini takes on a whole new look when it’s cut hasselback-style then stuffed with pepperoni pizza fixins’ for an easy, healthy, all-in-one 6-ingredient meal or pull-apart appetizer.

For most every backyard farmers the question isn’t how to grow zucchini, it’s what to do with it all once the harvest begins. These guys are prolific!

So what are some ways to use up all that zucchini? Stuffed zucchini is likely one of the first recipes on your idea list.

But how about this…how about we make the method even simpler and forgo the scoop and hollow method and simply slice these bad boys hasselback-style instead?

They’re ripe for the stuffing, so let’s get slicing.

continue to the recipe… about Stuffed Zucchini Hasselback Pepperoni Pizza Style

Healthy Homemade Egg McMuffin

July 22, 2018

Grab and go breakfasts can be the saving grace of any weekday morning. The eggs in this homemade Egg Mcmuffin sandwich recipe can be batch cooked in the oven, on the stove top, or in the microwave, and make eating a healthy breakfast your easiest decision of the day.

This recipe is brought to you by Kroger

We’re all guilty of it. The alarm blares at some ungodly time of the morning (no matter what time it is) and our first reaction is to fumble about and emphatically hit that snooze button for just.10.more.minutes.of.I.NEED.MORE.SLEEEEEP.

And that my friends is how you your morning time table suddenly becomes irrevocably out of whack. So what’s the first thing to go in your morning routine? Breakfast.

You think to yourself as you hustle out the door, “I’ll just grab something later,” or “Here honey, just eat this pop tart,” and load everyone into the car and buckle up for your day.

But that muffin/bagel/donut you impulsively picked up as your cruised through the drive-thru with your grande skinny latte is loaded with sodium, fat, and calories? Where’s the skinny or the healthy in that? Or worse, you don’t grab anything at all so you overeat at lunch. And your kid finds herself starving thanks to those empty carbs before 1st period is even over.

That’s why having a stash of make-ahead breakfasts ready to run out the door along with you is the secret to your morning’s success.continue to the recipe… about Healthy Homemade Egg McMuffin

How to Make an Awesome Antipasto Salad Platter

June 25, 2018

Making a salad for a crowd doesn’t get any easier than adding all the antipasto toppings like olives, pickled veggies, artichokes, pepperoncini, salami, salumi, prosciutto, pasta and mozzarella balls to a big pile of lettuce for an Italian salad everyone will love.

This recipe is in partnership with DeLallo Foods

Antipasto is known as the first course of the Italian meal. It’s the time to get a nibble of olives and pickled peppers or a bite of cured meats and cheeses, and to prepare your belly for the feast about to come.

What I love about this Antipasto Salad Platter is it bridges the gap between that appetizer course and the salad course, for a more relaxed vibe that mixes all my favorite tastes together, and can easily be made into a meal all its own.

And when you serve this salad family-style in the middle of the table, everyone can add “just a little more” to suit their taste and their appetite, creating a more festively communal way to share.

continue to the recipe… about How to Make an Awesome Antipasto Salad Platter

Truffled Mushroom Pizza

May 22, 2018

A simple mushroom and cheese pizza gets an upscale twist with truffled mushrooms and a light arugula salad topping one of the easiest homemade pizza doughs you can make.

I’m pretty sure we can all agree that pizza is the quintessential meal. It crosses all boundaries and pleases people of all ages and gender. And with nearly every culture cultivating its own version of the classic pizza pie, it doesn’t matter if you’re a drunk at 2 a.m. college student, a family ordering it for Friday night, or a high society maven who serves it as a dainty appetizer, if you like food it’s likely you’re a pizza pie fan.

Making pizza at home is one of life’s simple pleasures. At home you have complete control of what tops your pie and make it your choice to keep it super simple, or load on all the fixins’. Mushroom and cheese pizza is always a favorite of mine. I like to keep my pies simple, but simple certainly does not mean boring.

Sure, I like my mushroom pizza topped with simple ingredients, but I like my ingredients fancied up with an upscale twist.

Say hello to my truffled mushroom pizza.

continue to the recipe… about Truffled Mushroom Pizza

Beyond Easy Chicken Mole Enchiladas

May 3, 2018

This super easy, no-cook, homemade mole sauce is made from scratch, and gives regular chicken enchiladas a delicious twist for a super fast Mexican dinner to meal prep or even throw together for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

I recently heard about a study that reported that no matter how many recipes they have on their Pinterest wish list or the dog eared in their favorite cookbooks, the home cook generally makes the same 15-20 recipes over and over and over again.

Now, on one hand, this limited recipe strategy can be a bonus, because:

They’re recipes you know you and your family will eat.
They’re proven recipes that work.
Since you’re familiar with them, there’s no time wasted leaning into a recipe learning curve.

But on the other hand, those recipes can get you totally get stuck in a rut. And who wants to be the boring cook in the kitchen anyway??!!

Today’s recipe is a hybrid of one of my go-to recipes to cook (enchiladas) with a twist (mole sauce!), because:

It’s totally familiar = enchiladas. Approachable = chicken. But with the addition of just two ingredients to regular enchilada sauce, this recipe gets serious brownie points for uniqueness.
When they’re as easy to make as these, enchiladas are pretty much impossible to screw up.
All you need to know about these babies is how to use a blender, an oven, and how to roll with the best of them.

How to Make Mole Enchiladas

Because mole sauce isn’t found at most ordinary Mexican American restaurants, many people aren’t familiar with it which leads to the most popular questions about mole sauce: what is mole made of and what does mole taste like?continue to the recipe… about Beyond Easy Chicken Mole Enchiladas

Heavenly Funeral Potatoes Recipe

November 27, 2017

Funeral potatoes are an easy-to-make and even easier-to-love comfort food casserole that is totally heaven sent.

This recipe is brought to you by Cache Valley Cheese

If you grew up in Utah, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ve had (and loved) funeral potatoes. If you haven’t lived in Utah, you’re likely scratching your head wondering what in the world am I talking about?!? Unless you’re from the South, then you may be in the know, too.

This potato casserole’s roots run deep in the LDS faith and are a long-lived staple at family gatherings of every sort, including potlucks, family dinners, and any Sunday night dinner. My Grandma used to serve them at Christmas with her Roasted Turkey Breast with Oregano and Lemon with warm potato rolls, and believe me, rarely were there any potato casserole leftovers to be found.

So where did funeral potato casserole get it’s name? It’s from years and years of being served following Mormon funeral services, typically prepared by the ladies of the ward (aka the Mormon congregation) for a luncheon gathering for families and friends and pretty much anyone who crossed the threshold. I’m not Mormon, but I’ve been to several Mormon funerals, and I can bear witness that you’ve never seen so many pans of potato casserole than at a Mormon funeral. Proof that food does indeed heal.

But there’s another reason they’re called funeral potatoes, and that’s because they’re absolutely heavenly.

continue to the recipe… about Heavenly Funeral Potatoes Recipe

Instant Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese Five Ways

October 23, 2017

With just 5 minutes cooking time (thank you Instant Pot!), this lush and creamy macaroni and cheese recipe is made with 100% real cheese and couldn’t be easier or faster to make in the pressure cooker. Plus, I’m sharing 5 more recipe ideas for jazzing up this old-fashioned family favorite for adults and kids alike, especially when it’s time to party.

I grew up on the blue-boxed variety of mac and cheese. In high school my friends called it yellow death. I called it delicious. In fact, it’s still one of those things we always have in the cupboard for emergency situations…like when it’s Tuesday…or Wednesday…or Thursday…or…you get the picture.

But after making this homemade mac and cheese recipe in less time and with all real ingredients, I don’t think I’ll be replenishing my stash any time soon.

I honestly can’t think of a food that is more comforting to me than a lush and creamy macaroni and cheese recipe, and I am ALWAYS on the lookout for a new variation on my favorite cheesy noodle. So when I was introduced to this pressure cooker version by my friend Ashley, it went straight to the top of my bust-out-the-Instant-Pot-must-make list.

And that’s how in just 5 minutes cooking time, we had this velvety lush mac and cheese ready for devouring.

Now that this recipe has become a super fast, weeknight solution for what to have when there’s no time to cook, I’ve come up with 5 doctored up versions of this basic mac and cheese recipe depending on what I had hanging out in my fridge to create a super easy solution for easy entertaining and creating a mac and cheese bar where guests can mix and match to make their own.

Who is ready to dig in?continue to the recipe… about Instant Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese Five Ways

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers

October 9, 2017

Fresh green bell peppers become their own all-in-one serving vessel when stuffed with chicken, rice, mushrooms, and a creamy mushroom-infused sauce to create a weeknight dinner that puts the all the essential nutrients in one easy-to-make and totally delicious dinner.

You know how you have staples in your culinary repertoire? Those dishes that no matter how gourmet you try to fool your family and friends into thinking you are—and more often trying to convince yourself? The recipes that are the staple for Sunday night comfort food cravings and oh so easy to make on a weeknight, too?

This here recipe is one of them. Crave-a-licious.

I first shared this stuffed bell pepper recipe nearly 5-years-to-the-day-ago and after referring back to it so many times over the years, I felt it needed an update. Five years ago it was one of our go-to, favorite dinners then, and it absolutely still is today.

My mom used to make stuffed peppers with hamburger and tomato sauce, but as I kid I was so. not. into. peppers. Ew. But true to form, I began to like them the more I had them. I keep telling myself my little girl AliSmudge would be making the turn too. And she has. Oh yes, she’s a fan too.

My man and and I came up with this stuffed bell peppers recipe that will forever be in our top 5 favorite meals to make at home: Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers for the all-in-one-dinner-for-the-stuffed-bell-pepper-win.

continue to the recipe… about Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers

Turkey Bolognese Lasagna Toss

October 2, 2017

Turkey takes over for traditional pork, veal, and beef in this rich and delicious homemade bolognese sauce to create a short cut lasagna dinner that cuts the calories, without sacrificing flavor.

It’s raining. The leaves on the mountain outside my front window are in the most vibrant change of fall colors I’ve seen in ten years. We pulled the tomato plants this weekend and I’ve harvested all my basil to make pesto before frost does it for me. There are days when comfort food is absolutely called for. And that’s when a rich, delicious lasagna raises its hand and squeals, ” PICK ME!”

I love a good lasagna with a rich, delicious meaty sauce with loads of cheese layered throughout and then melted on top. I mean, is there anything better?

But the thing is, my skinny jeans don’t always agree. My solution? Put all that rich flavor in a healthier turkey bolognese sauce and instead of layering my lasagna, toss it together instead.

I borrowed this lasagna toss idea from my Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup where the creamy ricotta mixture is added on at the end as an accent instead of playing equal parts to the noodle and sauce equation. I’m a cheese girl through and through, so that way, I meet my comfort food cravings but my jeans won’t revolt. continue to the recipe… about Turkey Bolognese Lasagna Toss

Harvest Squash and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

September 27, 2017

Busy nights call for easy recipes and once harvest time has hit, it’s time to slink into comfort food territory. These stuffed shells with zucchini, butternut, and yellow squash baked in a creamy white alfredo sauce couldn’t be easier to prep and are even easier to crave.

This recipe is brought to you by McCormick

I’ve been working hard on my meal planning skills and trying to pay a lot more attention to food waste. What I’ve discovered is I waste way too much food. I do my weekly Farmers Market shopping with the best of intentions of cooking and eating up all I buy, but what family of three can truly eat 4 pounds of peaches, 10 gorgeous bell peppers and a bakers dozen of fresh sweet corn in just one week?

So when I’m in a funk of what to pull out of my back-to-school-weeknight-dinner-making hat, I head to my fridge and rummage through the crisper drawer to capture any veggies, lettuces or fruits that are just shy of taking a turn for the worst.

And that’s how today’s recipe puts last week’s farmer’s market find of zucchini and yellow squash on the top of my meal planning list.

continue to the recipe… about Harvest Squash and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Chorizo Queso Dip with Beer and Chiles (Try It Over Fries!)

September 14, 2017

This spiced up queso cheese dip skips the fake stuff and is made with real cheese instead. Chorizo and chiles add the heat that’s then cooled down with every football lovers favorite flavoring: BEER! Serve it with chips or even better, pile it on french fries for a riff on the classic poutine.

This post is brought to you by Kroger

Football season has it’s signature trigger words ending in -ING: Passing. Scoring. Tailgating.Watching. Cheering. Drinking and eating.

But for this foodie, my favorite action word ending in -ING has been and always will be GRAZING.

At this stage in life’s game I’m miles away from being an arm-chair quarterback when it comes to tailgate snacking. Listen guys, I’m a pro. For me, it’s all about getting in the game and grazing on a little bit of this and some more of that, and bites of all of the shareable eats game days are known for.

So whether it’s a high school play-off, college rivalry, or the Super Bowl, this girl is ready to go the distance.

One of the most popular recipes to make around game day is a cheesy queso dip, and while I typically like to eat healthy, when it comes to tailgating, all bets are off, but I still want to eat real food.

Too many of the recipes I’ve seen use pasteurized cheese to achieve that creamy texture so that’s why I set out to make one that’s creamy, but still real, and loaded with flavor.

continue to the recipe… about Chorizo Queso Dip with Beer and Chiles (Try It Over Fries!)

How to Make a Kid-Friendly Cheese Board Even Adults Will Love

August 28, 2017

Cheese boards aren’t just for adults anymore. Here are my top 10 tips for creating the ultimate kid-friendly cheese board that kids will love and the host will serve proudly at the main table.

This post is in partnership with Cache Valley® Creamery

Everyone loves a party. And at every party there’s always the most popular one in the group. The one that the whole group gathers around. The one that everyone comments about how pretty they are. The one that no one can get enough of.

Yes, we are talking about the cheese board.

But here’s the deal. Cheese boards are typically geared to the more refined tastes of adults. You know, the cheese boards that with a hand gripped around a glass of Beaujolais, pinkies instinctively jut into the air as guests gaze over the extra strong blues and extra ripe cheddars, the peppered and spiced charcuterie and the fancy triple-creamed wedges you spent a fortune on that nobody ends up eating.

Ya. Those. This is not that cheese board.

Creating a kid-friendly cheese board doesn’t have to look…well…cheesy. No animal shaped formations out of cheeses and veggies, or ships sailing through a sea of fruit or salamis and toothpicks somehow tinker-toyed into action figures. Sorry guys, not at my party.

Instead, this is a cheese board every child would happily dig into and any adult would gladly place center stage at every party.continue to the recipe… about How to Make a Kid-Friendly Cheese Board Even Adults Will Love

Friday Faves

June 16, 2017

Happy Friday friends!

And what a happy Friday it is indeed! I’m on my way home! It’s been 17 days today that I’ve been away, the longest time probably, like, ever.

It’s interesting what you miss when you’re away from home for an extended period of time, and just how easy it is to adapt to new places, too. But, I can’t wait to get home and nuzzle my 3 dogs, check on the progress of my tomato plants (I’m scared), cook in my own kitchen, and of course, lay in the big bed and watch CBS Sunday Morning with my man and my Smudge who will be firmly snuggled up between us. Seriously, it’s the best thing on regular TV. Maybe the only thing.

I’m so lucky to have a job that offers up so many opportunities and gives me the flexibility to mix work with pleasure and family time, and to do it all on my own accord. I mean, the majority of the workforce is beholden to someone else’s expectations and time tables (just like I was for 20+ years) and that makes it a whole lot harder to swing an adventure like I just completed. But with time comes normalcy, and it can be pretty easy to take fortunes and flexibility for granted.

My goal is to never let that happen.

I won’t go into a recap of all that I experienced on my travels right now, but if you want to read a snippet of my last travel leg’s travel mishap, you can read more about it here.

But enough about me, let’s get to why you’re here: THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FAVES, with a few guest contributors mixed in. Enjoy!

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

5-Ingredient Chipotle Chicken Taquitos

May 4, 2017

Crispy, crunchy, and oh-so-incredibly easy, these chipotle pepper flavored chicken taquito roll-ups call for just 5 ingredients and can be baked or fried for a super fast appetizer, dinner or snack.

When I was a teenager in high school, my friends and I would sprint from 4th period class and load into my friend Brenda’s car (lucky for us she had a very early 16th birthday and a mom who gave her free use of the car), roll down the windows, and crank up Madonna’s “Borderline” as we high-tailed it to one of our two favorite spots for lunch.

The first spot was Rax Roast Beef where I always ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich. The second spot was Taco Time, where the crispy bean burritos with extra packets of mild salsa would always leave me with blisters in my mouth because they were hot out of the fryer and it was torture to wait until they cooled to eat them. I can STILL smell their crispy aroma lingering in my memory bank.

Taco Time was usually first on our list because in the newspaper each week they would include a promotional brown paper sack that when you took to Taco Time, you could get 5 tacos, crispy bean burritos, or soft beef burritos for $1.00. Or was it $2.00? Either way, as a high schooler with no money, it was a total steal.

Back then I didn’t know that my crispy bean burritos loved by cheap teenagers are known in more authentically-inclined parts of the country as taquitos, or even more authentically known world wide as flautas.

Either which way, they’re simple to make and deliciously good and this time around, made with chile-spiced shredded chicken.continue to the recipe… about 5-Ingredient Chipotle Chicken Taquitos

French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich

April 12, 2017

Today is a big day in the world of cheese lovers. It’s National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. Two snaps and let’s celebrate.

I know. They make food holidays out of the oddest of food themes: Bologna Day (October 24). Fruit cocktail day (May 13). Bicarbonate of soda day (December 30). What?

But for pretty much every food lover everywhere, Grilled Cheese Day is officially one to break bread for. I mean, it’s cheese. And I’ve made it my goal to share a cheesy fave every GCDay since I started this bloggity blog back in 2011. So let’s dig into this melty onion, cheesy favorite between two slices of sourdough bread.

Who needs brothy soup anyway?continue to the recipe… about French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Broccoli Cheese and Potato Soup

February 13, 2017

Still dreamy but lightened up in the load, this cheesy potato and broccoli soup leaves the cream right out of it.

I was a bit of an an0maly as a kid.

I didn’t care for peanut butter, opting for liverwurst instead. I loved oatmeal for breakfast and salad was one of my favorite snacks. And what was my pre-dinner ritual? Two tall glasses of milk before the food ever even hit the table.

Who was this kid?continue to the recipe… about Broccoli Cheese and Potato Soup

Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

February 6, 2017

This easy and extra cheesy one-pot mac and cheese dinner gets a heathified veggie bump thanks to caramelized cauliflower added to the velvety cheese pasta to create a whole new take on a comfort food favorite.

This post is in partnership with Cache Valley Cheese

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a 783 times. There’s nothing like sneaking a little healthy into dinner and knowing the thrill of everyone at the table loving it. And even better when they ask for more.

Break out the mom victory dance!

It’s one of my secrets when it comes to feeding kids of all ages. For instance, my husband. He’s the biggest kid I know and not the biggest fan of cauliflower. But when that bulbous head of a vegetable is cooked to become caramelized and sweet, and mixed with macaroni that’s coated in a silky, creamy, cheese sauce? Suddenly, he’s just as much a fan as Smudge has been since she was a wee toddler.

Sneaking healthy in. It’s my secret weapon at meal time.continue to the recipe… about Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Game Day Sheet Pan Nachos Two Ways

January 30, 2017

Game day snacking won’t leave you feeling guilty thanks to these two recipe ideas for sheet pan nachos that’ll make you the winner at the end of the day.

This post is in partnership with Bolthouse Farms

My dad was always the nacho maker in our family and when my mom would throw her hands up in the air and declare she had no idea what to fix for dinner that night, she’d usually suggest something super simple like nachos and cross her fingers he’d be willing to take over the kitchen reigns for the night.

But dad didn’t make nachos the way most of us know nachos. There was no pile of chips and loading on of ingredients. My dad’s nachos were simple precision and consisted of the same 4 ingredients every time. Each tortilla chip was precisely laid out in rows on the baking sheet, then precisely topped with a teaspoon or so of refried beans, and then topped with a slice of cheese. They looked like little cheese topped tortilla cookies as they baked in the oven, and once they came out, they were topped with a slice of jalapeño.

And that was it. Done.

Sure they tasted great to me as a kid and quite honestly, I bet they still would win a nostalgia award. But as I got older and visited restaurants (okay, I’ll tell it like it is—BARS!) and someone at the table would order nacho, and then they’d come out as a big pile of cheesy deliciousness you had to dig through layers of taco meat, and beans, and guacamole, and sour cream to get to, my taste for nachos went up a notch or two.

Now these nachos, they’re taking it up even more, but I’m feeling totally good about that.continue to the recipe… about Game Day Sheet Pan Nachos Two Ways

Cheesy Texas Trash Dip

January 7, 2017

This favorite Mexican bean dip gets its popular flavor from taco seasoning and green chiles baked in a mix of cream cheese, sour cream, and Mexican cheese—it’s definitely a crowd pleaser!

This post is in partnership with McCormick

I have several good friends who are true Texans. They’re the kind that are proud to bear a full-blown Texas sticker on the back window of their car (Nicole). They’re also those in the group photo who throw up the Longhorns hand signal whenever a group photo is taken (Laura). It’s cute. It’s endearing. And bless their hearts, they are a proud bunch.

My sister, a Utah transplant, also lives in Texas. Houston to be exact. Home to a certain football team that just might be working their way through the playoffs and who I’m in a football viewing dippable face-off where I’m representin’ Houston.

While it’s the state that bears my sister’s address on her drivers license, after 15 plus years, I think we’ve finally convinced her and the husband that they’ll eventually be coming back home to the Wasatch front. Right Holly? RIGHHHHHT???? Mom, and dad, and I are waiting for you. Just sayin’. #throwthelonghornsignhere

But until then…continue to the recipe… about Cheesy Texas Trash Dip

Garlic Butter Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

December 21, 2016

These easy, from scratch garlic-slathered pizza dough bites are stuffed with cheese and mini pepperoni, then baked for an appetizer everyone at the party will love.

This post is in partnership with DeLallo Foods

One of the earliest recipes I shared here on le bloggity blog was for little nuggets of garlic joy called Killer Garlic Rolls, inspired by a popular restaurant in our old neighborhood of Marina del Rey in California.

Those rolls. Pure love right there.

Today they’ve provided a nod of inspiration to this recipe for stuffed pizza rolls that are bathed in a simlilar garlic and herb butter—and bursting with a cheesy pepperoni pop.

These rolls. Pure love right here X 10.continue to the recipe… about Garlic Butter Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

Beef and Butternut Squash Enchiladas

December 14, 2016

These enchiladas are the best, and they’re such an easy meal to prep ahead, with slow cooked beef and roasted butternut squash, they’re delicious and ready to serve in no time.

This post is in partnership with Kroger

For the past few months, I’ve been focusing on creating meals that take a little more planning, and doing a lot more batch cooking when I use my weekly meal planner. It’s led to our whole family eating dinners that are far less stressful, a little healthier, and far more budget friendly.

I was shocked at how much we’ve saved from not going out to eat as much now that there’s quick meals in the refrigerator that are ready to roll.

So when Kroger asked me to create a holiday recipe I immediately went into time- and money-saving mode.

We all have so much going on during the holidays that having a quick and easy meal on hand means holiday cheers-ing is a whole lot easier to enjoy. This Beef and Butternut Squash Enchiladas recipe checks all the boxes on my Christmas wish list.

And even better, you’ll want to keep it around all year long.continue to the recipe… about Beef and Butternut Squash Enchiladas

Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Casserole

April 20, 2016

This easy, cheesy Mexican casserole recipe with salsa verde makes it simple to serve a nutritious dinner for a crowd on even the busiest of weeknights.

Arrrrrriba! This year I’m happy to share recipes created as a Kroger blogging ambassador, where I will featuring all sorts of products from Kroger grocery stores for my family, and for yours including this festive dish aimed squarely at celebrations for Cinco de Mayo.

But even before our South of the border bash was a 🎉 festiva in our eye 🎉, my Smudge decided an impromptu sleepover with her gal pals was in order.

Also in order? An easy dinner that would feed a crowd. Even the picky ones.

This chicken enchilada bake totally delivered, with one of my favorite tricks added right in to it: I snuck a little healthy in.

continue to the recipe… about Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich

April 12, 2016

This grilled cheese is like everyone’s favorite jalapeño poppers melted between two slices of bread for the ultimate gooey grilled cheese sandwich.

It’s finally here and if you’re at all like me, you’ve been patiently waiting like a toddler patiently waits for his or her turn behind 8 other kids for a ride on the slide, or to be told to wait until after lunch for that popsicle. Tantrums, tears and frustration may or may have not all played a part in this waiting game.

But the wait is over and today we’re enjoying a different kind of meltdown. It’s National Grilled Cheese Day!

Since I first started the blog, April has heralded the arrival of one of my favorite themed months: Grilled Cheese Month. See for yourself and check out my other grilled cheese recipes here. This year I’m thrilled to be partnering with Arla to share recipes featuring their cheeses and we’re starting things off with a cheesy classic: grilled cheese sandwiches of course!

This recipe all started with “the pull”. No, not tractor pulls. Not the pull of the moon either.

We’re talking about the determining factor of every perfectly made grilled cheese. It’s “the pull” of melty, gooey cheese when two halves are divided from one.

And this recipe has what it takes to get “the pull” every time.

continue to the recipe… about Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Cheesy Sausage Pizza Bread

January 20, 2016

Mozzarella cheese and sausage are stuffed into rolled pizza dough and baked for an easy appetizer or main meal that’s always a crowd pleaser.

Today’s recipe is in honor of a sweet cheesy baby, and no, I’m not talking about myself again.

Instead, we’re celebrating the impending arrival of a sweet new baby for one of my favorite food bloggers (I wrote about her in this list of 5 Food Bloggers I’m Following Now), Sarah of Snixy Kitchen.

Sarah is a true food lover. Her two cats are even named Artichoke and Aioli, so it comes as no surprise that the new addition to her family has been nicknamed #CheesyBabyGirl.

She’s a woman after my own heart.

So in honor of this new cheesebaby, and the fact that today is National Cheese Lovers Day (ironic? I think not!) I’ve created a recipe for you today that does indeed contain cheese. Ooey, gooey mozzarella cheese.

Plus sausage.

And garlic.

And spinach, because heaven forbid I should cook anything that doesn’t have a spate of color in it.

continue to the recipe… about Cheesy Sausage Pizza Bread

The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

December 21, 2015

The combination of creamy gouda and havarti cheese make a silky, cheesy macaroni and cheese sauce that tastes far better than the boxed kind.

There are several basic, classic, everyone-loves-them-because-even-when-we-shouldn’t-we-still-crave-them recipes I am driven to master.

The best steak. Check.

The juiciest roasted chicken. Got it.

The best potato salad. Double check and thank you mom.

The best homemade fudge. Ever. End of story. Period.

I’ve made several macaroni and cheese recipes on the blog, one with lobster, another with gobs of cheese and bacon, and yet another loaded with veggies and such and I’ve deemed each of them a wonder in their own right.

But I was missing something. I was missing the basic, homey, comfort food classic of a good old-fashioned baked macaroni and cheese.

But not anymore.

This recipe, affirmed by all of the “mmm-this-is-so-unbelievable”, “can-I-have-more-please” comments, THIS recipe, with it’s incredibly silky, cheesy sauce, is the best classic yet.

continue to the recipe… about The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

Cheesy Mustard Baked Chicken Breasts

October 5, 2015

Extra sharp cheddar, parmesan and whole grain mustard lend a savory bite to these creamy baked chicken breasts, topped with crispy Panko, for an easy weeknight dinner.

For me, weekends are made for taking time in the kitchen to labor over the more complicated recipes I’m craving to make. You can see some favorite recipes here.

These Cheesy Mustard Baked Chicken Breasts are not one of those recipes.

Instead, it’s the perfect recipe for busy weeknights, wedged in between soccer practices, helping with homework (gah, this core curriculum is harder on the parents than the kids) and folding laundry.

And the best part is that it turns boring chicken breasts into a dinner that tastes far more complicated and time consuming than it really is.

Because sometimes chicken dinner is not always a winner, winner.

continue to the recipe… about Cheesy Mustard Baked Chicken Breasts

Bacon Beer Cheese Dip

September 30, 2015

This ultra cheesy, irresistibly good dip made in a skillet adds everyone’s three favorite condiments to the party: bacon, beer and potato chips.

Is there such a thing as too much cheese? Or bacon? Or chips?

If you’re a fan of the blog, you know I’m a fan of the cheese. I’ve shared my tips on how to take the best photos of your grilled cheese, I’ve made over the top mac and cheese for you (again, BACON!) and I’ve even judged two grilled cheese contests, not to mention creating recipes for Grilled Cheese month every. single. April.

I should give up my hair dryer for a cheese grater so I can be a bona fide cheese head.

So when Kettle Brand Potato Chips asked if’ I’d be interested in creating a tailgating inspired recipe for fall, it simply wasn’t that much of a stretch to stick right with my theme, and go with the cheese.

Chip. Dip. SCORE!

continue to the recipe… about Bacon Beer Cheese Dip

Zucchini and Chorizo Cheese Toast

September 17, 2015

Spicy chorizo gives a nice kick to this cheesy gouda and squash topped toast which can easily be doubled for a crowd pleasing appetizer or main meal.

I’m always happy to add an appetizer to a family meal, but when they get too dainty and precious, that’s when I bow out.

Finger food. Tidbit. Munchie.

Really? I want (wo)man food. I want flavor. I want a mouthful. I want an appetizer that doesn’t leave me lurking over someone else’s shoulder as they reach and snatch that last canapé at the buffet table.

Foiled again by a measly morsel of food.

That’s why this cheese toast is so extremely satisfying. Sure it could be cut down to size as an easy appetizer with full-strength satiation, but the beauty lies in its ability to stand on its own bread basket and become a meal in itself.

When you take the combination of seasonal squash, sturdy but still toothsome bread, spiced up sausage and cheese, oh glorious cheese!, then my friends, you have a recipe that’s going to do just fine holding its own.

continue to the recipe… about Zucchini and Chorizo Cheese Toast

Ham and Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

April 28, 2015

This easy to make recipe is made with deli ham, smoked gouda, fried egg, tomato, and arugula, and it’s everything you want in a breakfast sandwich!

I once had a boss who had a habit for emphasizing the sensational.

He gauged quality and effectiveness by his gut, his intuition. By his visceral reaction. With a squint of his eyes, he’d push his glasses back up his nose, clench his hands and fist pound the air in front of him as he said the word visceral. “Back when I worked at [insert company name here], we created x, y, z product to get consumers to respond with a VISCERAL reaction.” You always knew he meant business when the word visceral spit out of his mouth with an extra dramatic paused slur in the middle of the word.

After pulling this sandwich from the grill, I had a flashback to those days of hearing that statement over and over. This sandwich. I had a visceral reaction to it. Visceral! My gut, my intuition, it all said that his sandwich, even before tasting it, was a fist-pump-in-the-air success.

My former boss would be proud.

continue to the recipe… about Ham and Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

Loaded Twice Baked Red Potatoes

April 6, 2015

These mini twice-baked potatoes are super creamy and loaded with all the fixins’, for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or side to any meal.

Why is it that mini-me versions of favorite standards seem like so much more fun?

Baby versions of standard stuff are what get me every time.

Puppies and tiny dogs edge out the big guys in the oohs and awww how cute department every time. Mini bottles of condiments get opened whether needed or not. Baby carrots are so much easier to grab and snack. And sliders! Who can have just one?

Don’t even get me started on baby elephants. Cutest. Things. Ever.

So when I thought about making little red potatoes locked and loaded to the rim like their full size cousins, that was my, “well of course you should” moment.

continue to the recipe… about Loaded Twice Baked Red Potatoes