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Thumb Print Cookies
One holiday baked good I remember my mom making often was the thumb print cookie. She would vary in the jam flavors from year to year, but the dough and technique was always the same. Whenever I make thumb print cookies, I always think of the first time my mom taught me how to make them. I was not an easy child to convince to learn the art of cooking and baking. I just wanted to eat the food, I didn’t want to put forth the work. Little did I know how much I would later enjoy the culinary arts. This year I knew I needed to recreate the thumb…
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EGGLESS – Royal Icing
Developing an eggless royal icing was never on my to-do list, but I thought I had some meringue powder in my baking supplies. Turns out I didn’t, and I couldn’t run to the store when I had planned on icing the sugar cookies I had baked the day before. Thus the science experiment of creating eggless royal icing. Royal icing is typically used for detailed designs, I also use it when we make gingerbread houses because it also dries quickly and is a great edible glue. When I decided to try my hand at eggless royal icing, I knew I would need to be able to create a binding agent…
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Holiday Spritz Cookies
I am back at you all with 12 Days of Holiday Baking. Last year was my first year of taking on the project, 12 different recipes, 12 different blog posts, 12 different baked goodies, and lots…lots…LOTS of kitchen messes, flour, sugar, and fun with my kiddos. One request I had for this year’s holiday baking was to add in some recipes that are simple and quick, so here is my first baked goodie that falls into that category. Spritz cookies are like if sugar cut out cookies and shortbread cookies had a baby. They have the flavors of both, and they are in fun shapes; BUT the hassle of making…
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Copycat Olive Garden Creamy Gnocchi Soup
Can I tell you a secret? The day that Olive Garden came out with their soup, salad, and breadsticks combo I just about died and went to heaven. There are very few things that are more comforting and fulfilling during the fall season than a tasty soup, garlicky carbs, and a salad on the side. One of my favorite’s has to be hands down OG’s Chicken Gnocchi soup. The creamy texture combined with fresh vegetables and the pillowy goodness of the gnocchi, just the perfect combination of flavors and textures. I’ve been wanted to create my version if this soup for a long while now, but was stuck on feeling…
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Cran-Apple Harvest Salad
Fall season maybe just around the corner, but here in Las Vegas the 100º+ weather doesn’t agree. Finding recipes that fill my need for harvest season foods while not overheating myself spending too much time in front of a hot stove. This quinoa fruit and vegetable filled salad definitely fits that harvest food spot. Add in some grilled chicken and it goes from being a side salad to a main dish. If you aren’t a fan of some of the fruits or vegetables I have added to my salad, then exchange them for some in-season produce that you love. Orange slices, dried apricots, raisins, pears, carrots…all of these would be…
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Meatloaf Zucchini Melts
As much as I love to create healthy, yet tasty foods, zucchini is definitely not one of my favorite vegetables. Just like Brussels sprouts, I have to force myself to create food with zucchini. While I do love the flavor of zucchini, it is the texture I have a hard time with. However I prepare it, it must always have a crisp bite to it. If it is mushy in any way, I cannot eat it. That being said, I have snuck zucchini in many recipes, grated into the ground meat or into the sauce. For this recipe though, I thought it would be fun to add one of my…
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Green Chili and Chicken Enchiladas
Enchiladas are easily one of my most favorite Mexican meals. I have so many variations of enchiladas in my meal arsenal that I could easily make a different type every night for a whole month. So it was surprising to me when I realized I had never done a green chili version. I almost always used red enchilada sauce, but when I realized I had a bunch of green enchilada sauce in my pantry, I knew I needed to make a green chili version. I have to say, that this recipe is easily one of my top favorites. I love the slightly spicy flavors and the prominence of the green…
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Baked Love Donuts
Donuts are arguably one of the best breakfast foods ever! I am always in the mood for a donut. I especially love a donut that is on the healthier side, and this one is definitely one of those. No added sodium, low fat, and real strawberries. Additionally, the base recipe for the donuts can be used for just about any flavor. Change the icing flavors and you have a whole new type of donut. Switch the extract flavors and the dough has a completely different flavor. Baking donuts for my family for Valentine’s Day breakfast has become a tradition over the last couple of years. I knew this year I…
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Stone Ground Honey Mustard Chicken
My love of honey mustard began when I lived in Mississippi, fifteen years ago. I have always enjoyed the sharp flavors of mustard but never knew the heaven my mouth could experience with combining mustard and honey. Ever since I’ve been somewhat obsessed with this flavor combination and have attempted several variations with both chicken and pork. This recipe stemmed from two particular condiments; stone ground mustard and Mike’s Hot Honey. I know I’ve talked about Mike’s Hot Honey before, but I’m telling you, if you haven’t listened to me yet, you HAVE to try it! Stone ground mustard is different from regular yellow mustard, as well as Dijon mustard.…
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Quick Cashew Chicken
Well, I did it! I made it through my first Foodie February and blogged a recipe every weekday. It was definitely a challenge for me at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed all of the cooking and baking. I came up with a lot of recipes and perfected others. BUT don’t despair, I still have plenty up my sleeve and several upcoming recipes I am pretty proud of. I couldn’t give away all of my secrets in February. I LOVE Asian food. Ok, let’s be honest, I just love food…especially ethnic foods. But, Asian food is definitely in my top 3. When I finally purchased a wok, I just about cried.…