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Crescent Breakfast Casserole

April 3, 2009 by Jen

This is an easy breakfast casserole that you can whip up on a weekend morning for a delicious breakfast or brunch. Brandon had been asking me to make his aunt’s “breakfast pizza” for years. I’m not exaggerating. I finally gave in and had him describe it to me. It was definitely less pizza and more casserole. I did some research online and through a variety of sources came up with this. While I’m not sure if it’s an exact replica of  “breakfast pizza” he enjoyed it and we’ll be making it again.

Crescent Breakfast Casserole
(Recipe source…kind of came up with this one on my own after online research)
Printable Recipe: Crescent Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

8 oz. can of crescent rolls (I used reduced fat)
8-10 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled OR your choice of breakfast meat (ham, sausage, etc.)
6-8 eggs, beaten
2 cups shredded cheese (jack, cheddar, colby – whatever you have on hand)
2-3 tbsp milk
salt and pepper, to taste
cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare a 13 x 9 or 11 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray (use 6ish eggs if you’re using the 11 x 9 and 8ish if you’re using the 13 x 9).

Line the prepared baking dish with unrolled crescent roll dough, letting it come up the sides a bit. Press together seams.

Layer the crumbled bacon and cheese over the crescent dough. Beat eggs with milk, salt and pepper and pour over bacon and cheese.

Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the center is set. Let cool for a few minutes and then cut into squares and serve.

Posted in Breakfast/Brunch, Cheese, One Dish, Quick and Easy | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments »

Naan (Indian Flatbread)

April 2, 2009 by Jen

naan1

Freshly baked naan is the perfect accompaniment to Indian dishes. Over the last few months I’ve been trying out new Indian recipes and this naan from Joy of Cooking has been a staple side item. It has a great texture, crispy and chewy at the same time (I almost liken it to a good pizza dough) and it’s very simple to make – you just have to build in the rising time. If you’ve never experienced freshly baked flatbread you’re missing out! You won’t go back to store bought!

Naan
(Recipe source Joy of Cooking)

Ingredients:

2 c bread flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/8 tsp active dry yeast or rapid rise yeast
3/4 c plain yogurt or buttermilk, at room temperature (I always use yogurt)
2 tbsp butter, melted or vegetable oil, plus 2 tbsp extra melted butter
1 tsp to 1 tbsp water, as needed
2 tbsp sesame or poppy seeds, optional

Directions:

Combine flour, salt and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add in the yogurt, butter and water as needed. Mix on low speed until a soft ball of dough is formed. Knead for about 10 minutes with the dough hook on low to medium speed, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and turn it once to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for about 1 1/2 hours.

Arrange a rack in the lowest level of the oven and place a pizza or baking stone on the rack. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees for 45 minutes.  (If you do not have a pizza or baking stone, preheat the oven, place an inverted baking sheet, preferably heavy-gauge, on the rack, and heat the baking sheet for 5 minutes.)

Meanwhile, punch down the dough and divide equally into 4 pieces. Roll into balls, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll out each ball of dough on a floured surface to an oval about 8 to 10 inches long and 1/4 inch thick.

Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired. Place as many dough ovals as will fit without touching each other directly on the baking stone or sheet and bake until each oval is puffy and just beginning to turn golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven. Bake the remaning dough, if necessary. Serve warm.

Yield: 4 ovals

naanclose

Looking for a way to use your naan? Try these Indian Spiced Chicken Burgers.

indianchickenburgersday

Posted in Bread/Yeast, Ethnic | Tagged , , | 10 Comments »

Grilled Shrimp

March 31, 2009 by Jen

grilledshrimp

My parents just moved to Atlanta a few weeks ago. I went to visit last weekend while Brandon was in Vegas. My dad discovered the Dekalb Farmers Market and told me to bring a cooler so I could stock up. We spent our Sunday there – I was in heaven! If you live near Atlanta I highly recommend that you make a trip to check it out. Their prices are incredible. It’s really not a farmers market in the traditional sense. It started out as a produce stand in the 70’s and has grown into a Whole Foods/Trader Joe’s on steroids. If you’re familiar with Central Market in Texas it’s very similar. I could go on and on but I’ll spare you!

So I returned home yesterday with a trunkful of goods courtesy of my parents! One of the things I chose was the beautiful gulf shrimp you see in the photo above. Brandon had mentioned several times that he’d like to try to grill some of the jumbo shrimp so I thought he’d love these.

We grilled the shrimp tonight and served them with organic yellow grits and sauteed squash and zucchini (all from the Delkab Farmers Market). It was a delicious dinner and a nice change from heavy winter foods.

Grilled Shrimp
(Recipe source Bakin’ and Eggs)

Ingredients:

1 lb jumbo shrimp (16-18 shrimp per pound)
Olive oil
Seasoning of your choice – you could go as simple as olive oil, salt and pepper – we used a combination of The Dizzy Pig Tsunami Spin and Swamp Venom)

Directions:

Peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails on. Coat shrimp with a thin layer of olive oil and seasoning of your choice and let sit for about 30 minutes.

While shrimp is marinating, preheat grill to 400 degrees.

Grill shrimp for about 2-3 minutes per side, until the shrimp curl and are no longer pink. Serve immediately.

Yield: 2-3 servings

grilled-shrimp-plate

Posted in Basics, Big Green Egg, Dizzy Pig, Healthy, Quick and Easy, Shrimp | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Simple Broiled Mahi Mahi

March 27, 2009 by Jen

broiledmahi

Brandon is in Vegas for a bachelor party. Anytime he’s out of town I get excited to cook whatever I want for dinner. One of the things I always turn to is fish. When Brandon’s not here to man the grill, I’ve found that broiling fish is a quick and flavorful way to prepare it.

My method is really simple – I brush both sides of the fish with olive oil and then sprinkle it with a seasoning rub. I’ve mentioned this before and will continue to mention that our favorite rubs are from The Dizzy Pig. Tonight I used Tsunami Spin. Broiled fish is also great with Ragin’ River and Shakin’ the Tree. I seriously recommend that you order some rubs from The Dizzy Pig!

This recipe also works great with salmon. Another tip, line your baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup (especially if you’re preparing salmon because of the skin).

Simple Broiled Mahi Mahi
(Recipe source Bakin’ and Eggs)

Ingredients:

Fish fillets (recommended: Mahi Mahi or Salmon), as many as you’d like to prepare
Olive oil
Seasoning rub (preferred: The Dizzy Pig)
Lemon wedges

Directions:

Arrange oven rack so it’s about 4 inches from the broiler. Preheat broiler on high. Prepare a baking sheet with cooking spray (or line with foil and spray with cooking spray for easy cleanup – I highly recommend you do this).

Rinse fish under cool water and pat dry. Brush both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle rub on both sides to coat evenly. Place fish fillets on baking sheet and squeeze a little lemon juice over them.

Broil on high for about 8 minutes (for Mahi or Salmon) or until internal temperature reaches 140-150 (depends on your desired doneness). Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your fish fillet. Fish should flake easily when done. Tip: make sure you have your exhaust fan on while broiling. The fish may smoke.

Posted in Dizzy Pig, Fish, Healthy, Quick and Easy, Seafood, Tried and True | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments »

Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Salad

March 26, 2009 by Jen

tommozzsalad

We’re back from the cruise! We enjoyed a fun and relaxing week in the Caribbean. We spent every day exploring the best beaches on the islands we visited and enjoyed lunch and rum punch at beach bars. I went on a bit of a “tour de fish sandwich.” I must say the tastiest one I had was in Barbados at a little place called Carib Cafe. We’re going to attempt to recreate it at  home soon so be on the lookout!

My parents so kindly offered to keep Sullie while we were gone. Our flight got in Sunday evening and my dad had dinner waiting for us when we picked her up. He made an amazing pasta dish from Cook’s Illustrated. He sent me home with a ton of leftover fresh basil. One of Brandon’s favorites is Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Salad so I decided to get all the ingredients for it on my weekly shopping trip. We’ve been able to enjoy it as an appetizer/salad this week. I thought I’d share this easy and flavorful dish.

Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Salad
(Recipe source Bakin’ and Eggs)

Ingredients:

SALAD
Cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
Fresh mozzarella, diced
Sprig/bunch of fresh basil, julienned
Salt and pepper, to taste

BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions

You’ll notice I didn’t give quantities for the salad. You really can adjust the amounts to your hunger/taste. For example, I like a little more basil than Brandon and he probably likes more cheese (hey, he’s a man!).

In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and balsamic vinegar. Once incorporated, slowly whisk in the olive oil.

To assemble the salad. Layer the tomatoes, cheese and basil in a small dish/plate. Season with salt and pepper and then drizzle the balsamic vinagrette over it.

Posted in Appetizer, Cheese, Quick and Easy, Salad, Tomato, Tried and True, Vegetarian | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments »

See you next week…

March 15, 2009 by Jen

bottom-bay-barbados1

We’re enjoying a 7-day Caribbean Cruise to celebrate Brandon’s last spring break (he’s  in his third year of law school). So instead of cooking I’m relaxing in Puerto Rico, Barbados, Antigua, St. Lucia, Tortola and St. Thomas! Stay tuned…be back the week of March 23.

Posted in Off Topic | 2 Comments »

Banana Nutella Muffins

March 14, 2009 by Jen

banananutellabaked

We have a jar of Nutella in the pantry that I bought to make Nutella Croissants. Last weekend I was making banana muffins and thought it would be fun to put a dollop of Nutella in the center before baking. It was a good idea. Especially warm. So next time you make your favorite banana muffins, try layering a teaspoon of Nutella in the batter. You won’t be disappointed!

Banana Nutella Muffins
(Recipe source Cooking Light and Bakin’ and Eggs)

Ingredients:

2  cups  all-purpose flour
3/4  tsp  baking soda
1/2  tsp  salt
1 /2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4  cup  butter, softened
2  large eggs
1 1/2  cups  mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1/3  cup  plain low-fat yogurt (can sub non-fat yogurt, greek yogurt or sour cream)
1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
3/4 cup Nutella
Muffin liners or cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Line muffin tins with liners or coat with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk. In a separate bowl, combine banana, yogurt and vanilla.

Beat sugar and butter with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy and well blended, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana mixture and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed just until moist.

Fill muffin tins about 1/4 of the way full with the batter. Place 1 teaspoon of Nutella in the center of each muffin. Fill muffin tins with remaining batter. They should be about 3/4 full.

Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks – but remember – these are best enjoyed warm!

Yield: 12 muffins

nutellabananamuffins

nutellabananafilled

Posted in Breakfast/Brunch, Chocolate, Muffins | Tagged , , | 8 Comments »

Indian Spiced Chicken Burgers

March 12, 2009 by Jen

indianchickenburgersday

I saw this recipe on Savory Spicy Sweet and sent the link to Brandon to see if he was interested (I do this often when I’m reading recipes online). His answer was a resounding “YES!” so I added it to the dinner menu this week. He’s been looking forward to it all week asking me when I was going to make the naan so we could have this for dinner. This is a relatively simple and quick dinner if you either buy naan or make your dough the night before.

The recipe calls these burgers but we made ours more slider/meatball size. They were the perfect size for lining up on the naan. The chicken mixture had a lot of flavor and the yogurt sauce was delicious. I really recommend you try these for something a little different.

Brandon took one bite and said “this is something I could eat a lot.” I got lots of “mmms” during dinner and he’s excited about leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Indian Spiced Chicken Burgers
(Adapted from Savory Spicy Sweet, originally from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast)

Ingredients:

FOR THE CHICKEN BURGERS
1 lb ground chicken
2 green onions, diced
2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated or finely diced (forgot this at the grocery and used about a teaspoon of dried ground ginger)
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1-2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
6-8 pieces of naan
1 cucumber, sliced thinly (optional)
fresh cilantro (optional)

FOR THE YOGURT SAUCE
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2-1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
coarse salt and ground pepper, to taste

Directions:

Mix together everything above from the ground chicken through the salt and pepper. Put mixture aside and let rest for at least 10 minutes, up to 30 minutes.

Preheat the grill to 400 degrees. Combine ingredients for the yogurt sauce. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Form the chicken mixture into about 8 patties. Grill patties about 5 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. You can also cook these on the stove top by heating olive oil in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat and cooking 3-4 minutes per side. Again, until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Arrange 2 chicken patties on a piece of naan and top with yogurt sauce. Serve with sliced cucumbers and cilantro if desired.

Yield: 3-4 servings

Posted in Big Green Egg, Chicken/Poultry, Ethnic, Healthy, Sandwiches | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments »

Grilled Chicken Salad

March 10, 2009 by Jen

chickensalad

Grilled chicken salad is a versatile basic that’s a staple in our spring/summer dinner rotation. It’s  an easy, light entree that you can adapt to whatever your tastes are and what you have on hand. We love to top ours with avocado, toasted pecans, tomatoes and fresh fruit. You can whip up a homemade honey mustard in no time and it tastes far better than anything you’ll get out of a bottle. We enjoyed this dinner out on our deck tonight – one of the first nights that it has been warm enough to eat outside!

Grilled Chicken Salad
(Recipe source Bakin’ and Eggs)

Ingredients:

FOR THE SALAD:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
Grill rub of your choice (we love all of The Dizzy Pig rubs and used Jamaican Firewalk on this)
Lettuce of your choice (I used a bag of field greens)
1/4 cup pecans, toasted
4 strawberries, sliced
1 small tomato, diced
1 avocado, sliced

FOR THE DRESSING:
3 tbsp dijon mustard
2-3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp low-fat mayo
1-2 tbsp plain yogurt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp apple cider or rice wine vinegar

Directions:

Preheat grill to 400 degrees.

Trim chicken breasts of any fat. Rub both sides with olive oil and coat with grill rub. Spray grill grates with cooking spray. Grill chicken approximately 6 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

In the meantime, make your dressing by whisking all the ingredients together. Adjust to meet your taste (adding more of any ingredient if desired).

Plate salad, top with sliced grilled chicken and drizzle dressing on top.

Yield: 2 servings

Posted in Big Green Egg, Chicken/Poultry, Dizzy Pig, Healthy, One Dish, Quick and Easy, Salad, Tried and True | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Spicy Thai Noodle Bowl with Tofu

March 6, 2009 by Jen

One of our favorite vegetarian meals is red coconut curry with tofu. When I saw this recipe on A Year in the Kitchen I thought it would be a fun version to try.

This recipe was originally titled “Spicy Thai Coconut Tofu Soup” but ours ended up being more noodle bowl than soup. It wasn’t very brothy (which was tasty anyway).

I made a few modifications to the original recipe so I’m going to post my version of the recipe. This definitely fits the quick and easy category and it’s very filling and tasty.

Spicy Thai Noodle Bowl with Tofu
(Recipe adapted from A Year in the Kitchen)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely diced (about 1/2 a cup)
3-4 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/2-1 tsp crushed red pepper
4 cups chicken stock (can use vegetable stock to make this meal vegetarian)
1 15 oz can light coconut milk
2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup sliced white or baby bello mushrooms
1 cup sliced snap peas
1/2 package thin rice noodles
1 tbsp hot red curry paste
1-2 tbsp fish sauce (optional, can sub soy sauce)
2 tsp honey
1 block extra firm tofu, diced
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger and crushed red pepper and saute for about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir frequently and watch it closely. Don’t let your garlic and red pepper burn.
Add chicken broth, coconut milk and carrots and mushrooms and bring to a gentle boil. Cook for about 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Add all the remaining ingredients and cook for another 10 minutes.
I served this in bowls with soy sauce and red chili sauce (like Sriracha) on the table so we could season to taste.

Posted in Asian, Ethnic, Healthy, One Dish, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Soups and Stews, Tofu/Tempeh, Vegetarian | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments »

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