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Holiday Chicken Salad
This festive Holiday Chicken Salad contains all the wonderful flavors of the season. Sweet, dried cranberries, crunchy pistachios and hints of orange and rosemary. It’s savory with a hint of sweet and oh soooo good! To make this yummy salad I started of by seasoning and roasting chicken breast. Once cooled, pull the chicken into small pieces. You can use rotisserie chicken from your supermarket deli if you like. Place chicken into the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until well combined. The paddle will shred the chicken while mixing. I like to leave a bit of chunks to…
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Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
This Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is so flavorful, creamy and delicious! And making it is such a breeze that it’ll have you wondering why you ever bought that store-bought hummus. Preparing it yourself also insures that there are no added preservatives or unwanted chemicals in your food. Hummus is not only delicious, it is actually healthy too! It contains: Protein and Fiber to help keep you satiated. Extra virgin olive oil for heart health and antioxidants Tahini (sesame seed paste) contains antioxidants, healthy fats and anti-inflammatory compounds. Lemon Juice also contains antioxidants as well as Vitamin C. Garlic helps detoxify the liver, boost the immune system, helps lower blood pressure…
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Za’atar Seasoned Grilled Carrots
These Za’atar Seasoned Grilled Carrots are are so good, you’re gonna fall in love with carrots all over again! No more boring carrots sticks. Your veggie tray is gettin’ an upgrade! What is Za’atar, you ask? Well, it’s a delicious, savory Mediterranean spice blend that has been around, well, since the beginning of time. But has, in recent years, become all the rage in the culinary field. And for good reason. It’s delicious! and very versatile. The spice blend consists of salt, toasted sesame seeds, ground sumac, oregano, marjoram and thyme. And, as of late, I have been using it in just about everything! Enter these yummy grilled carrots. The…
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Spicy Corn Maque Choux
This Spicy Corn Maque Choux (pronounced: “mock shoe”) is my spiced up version of the classic Cajun/Creole dish. And the perfect way to cook up some fresh summer corn. The main key to making this tasty dish is to use fresh corn cut off the cob. And make sure to get all that milk from the corn as well. That’s what makes it taste so fresh and delicious. Once the Corn is cut off the cob, it gets sauteed with some onions, peppers and garlic until tender. Then we spice it up with a bit of fresh jalapeno pepper and some cajun spice. And for the finish…..Some heavy cream and…
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Strawberry Rose Tea Cakes
Strawberry Rose Tea Cakes: Fresh strawberries baked into a tender, lightly spiced little bundt cake with a delightful floral scent of rose water. These really are lovely little cakes. My first time ever using rose water and, I have to say, I absolutely love it! Not only did it add a nice floral scent, but it adds a beautiful fresh taste as well. With a bit of cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla, the smells coming from the oven, Oh my! These little cakes are my new addiction. I wish I had made more than six! I served mine up with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and fresh diced strawberries.…
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Tacos al Pastor
Tacos al Pastor are one of my most favorite kind of tacos. Juicy, tender pork is marinated in a combination of spices and chilies and then grilled. The pork is then sliced into tortillas and topped with pineapple, onions and cilantro. The flavor combo is absolutely delicious! I love how the spices kind of char onto the outside of the meat but it still remains tender and juicy. The sweetness of the pineapple pairs so well with the spice crusted meat. And the onion and cilantro and a nice freshness to the whole dish. Perfecto! And if this yummy al Pastor seems a bit reminiscent of the deliciously spice…
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Pear, Fig and Bacon Chutney
This Pear, Fig and Bacon Chutney is the perfect condiment for roasted or grilled meats, baked brie or goat cheese or a charcuterie board. A delicious blend of salty, sweet and tangy with a little bit of heat. And, oh so good! I could eat it by the spoonful! And it’s actually quite simple to make. Start with a couple of bartlett pears, peeled, cored and diced. Mince some red onion and a clove of garlic Chop the figs Cook (crisp) and chop a couple of slices of thick cut applewood smoked bacon Saute’ the pears, onions and garlic in some butter until tender Add the figs, bacon, seasonings and…
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The Best Flank Steak Marinade
Grilling season is finally here! My favorite time of the year! I just love all things grilled, meats, vegetables, even fruit. I love steak but don’t tend to buy it often since most of the cuts I love (ribeye) are a bit pricey. Flank steak (aka London Broil) though, is perfect for grilling and much less expensive. It is a very lean cut of meat, so marinating is essential. This Best Flank Steak Marinade lends amazing flavor to this already flavorful cut, making it absolutely the best! Since Flank Steak is such a lean cut of meat it should Not be cooked past the medium stage or else it will…
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Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki Sauce
Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki Sauce: Delicious grilled chicken skewers that have been marinated in lemon, garlic and herbs are served with a creamy yogurt cucumber sauce. Souvlaki Pita is a popular Greek fast food, consisting of grilled skewered pieces of meat or fish, that are served on pita bread and topped with Tzatziki sauce. It is very similar to a Gyro, the difference being how the meat is cooked. With the Gyro, the meat is placed on a spit (rotisserie), roasted and then thinly shaved onto the pita bread. Both are delicious but Souvlaki is definitely easier and faster to make. This recipe is perfect for weekend BBQ’s, camping, or even…
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Pasta Salad with Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas and Creamy Roasted Garlic Tahini Dressing
This Pasta Salad with Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas and Creamy Roasted Garlic Tahini Dressing Is bursting with yummy flavor! And it’s Vegan, making it the perfect Meatless Monday option. I just love salads during the spring and summer. They are so fresh and inviting after a long hot day at work or play. While there are a few fresh ingredients in this salad, most of the items are available right out of your pantry. Making it a breeze to throw together after a long Monday at work. Or anyday, really. Actually, you could prepare it the day before and then dinner is ready when you get home. I like to make…
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Simple Weeknight Beef Tacos
These Simple Weeknight Beef Tacos are one of my favorite things to fix on those nights when you are short on time or too tired to cook. They are so quick and simple to make. I like to buy ground beef when it’s on sale and cook up a big batch of taco meat. Then I portion it out and freeze it for those nights when you just don’t have the time or energy to spend in the kitchen. Then you can just grab a package from the freezer, transfer it to a baking dish, cover with foil and pop it in the oven to reheat. While it’s heating up,…
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Home Run! Potato Salad
A simple and delicious addition to your next summer gathering.
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Smokey Pimento Cheese with Fresh Basil Topped with Sundried Tomatoes, Field Greens and Crispy Bacon
A unique twist on the traditional southern pimento cheese sandwich
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Italian Almond Cake
This Italian Almond Cake is one of those desserts that you just can’t help going back for more. It’s buttery and dense but moist and tender at the same time. Imagine, if you will, that Almond Shortbread and Almond Pound Cake got together and had a baby. The result would be this buttery, almondy, pound cake like, Italian Almond Cake. It’s absolutely decadent but surprisingly light at the same time. And definitely one of my all time favorites! The first time I tried Italian Almond Cake I was at a little coffee shop in the Salishan Marketplace in Gleneden Beach, Oregon. It was so good, I had to find a…
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Mom’s Cornbread
Mom’s Cornbread, nothing warms the soul like a big pot of homemade soup or chili and a hot skillet of cornbread straight from the oven. I have tried many a cornbread in my lifetime, and all of them were good, but there is just nothing as good as mom’s cornbread. I’m not sure what she does to it but you can just taste the love. And it’s always best when it’s fresh out of the oven, slathered with a pat of butter. I like to crumble some into my chili as well. Yum! Here’s Mom’s Cornbread recipe. I’m not sure where it came from originally but it is my favorite.…
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Summer Heirloom BLT Sandwich
Summer Heirloom Tomato BLT Sandwich: Juicy ripe heirloom tomatoes, pancetta bacon, baby lettuces, creamy avocado, egg aioli and fresh basil leaves. Yum!
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Pok Pok Wing-Thai Street Food
These Pok Pok wings are totally amazing. They are a glistening, sticky, sweet and salty, crispy, tender, juicy, spicy, garlicky, flavor bomb of yum! If you Google the top ten foodie cities in America, Portland OR is number two on the list. Number one being San Francisco and number three is New York. Way to go Portland! Pok Pok is one of those restaurants that helped put Portland on the map of foodie cities. And definitely one to try if you are ever in the area. It is certainly not your typical Thai restaurant (no Phad Thai Noodles here!), this is strictly Thai street food (with a little Vietnamese in…
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Spicy Minced Chicken and Water Chestnut Lettuce Wraps
These Spicy Minced Chicken and Water Chestnut Lettuce Wraps are so delicious and packed with big flavor and so easy to make. Happy Chinese New Year! Looking for something yummy and healthy to celebrate? Instead of going out for Chinese or ordering take-out, make these simple and tasty Spicy Minced Chicken and Water Chestnut Lettuce Wraps. I found this recipe in The Oregonian Cookbook. One of the many cookbooks that I have found while out “treasure hunting” at Estate Sales. And what a treasure it is! This book is chock -full of so many delicious recipes. If you have never been “treasure hunting”, I highly recommend it. I think that I…
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Really Good Chocolate Frosting
This frosting is the perfect combination of creamy, buttery, chocolaty yum with a hint of coffee.
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Little Muffuletta Biscuit Bites
Little Muffuletta Biscuit Bites are made using my little rosemary asiago two bite biscuits, freshly made olive salad and assorted Italian meats and cheeses. Have you ever had a Muffuletta sandwich? Muffuletta is a type of round sesame seed topped bread and also a Sicilian inspired sandwich from New Orleans. They are so yummy! The original Muffuletta sandwich was created in the early 1900’s by a Sicilian deli/grocery owner in New Orleans. The Sicilian workers in the area would come in to his store and purchase bread, olive salad, meats and cheeses for their lunch. The owner suggested that they make a sandwich out of the ingredients to make it…
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Spice Rubbed Roasted Salmon With Pear And Arugula Salad
This Spice Rubbed Roasted Salmon With Pear And Arugula Salad is so incredibly good and really simple to prepare. One of the benefits of living in the pacific northwest is the availability of fresh salmon. Salmon is probably one of my favorite types of fish. It is so versatile, with it’s rich meaty texture, it can be prepared so many different ways. Rubbed with spices and roasted or grilled is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to cook this pink beauty. Cook up a whole side with the skin on. When the salmon is done, you can lift it right off of the skin with a spatula. This will…
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Orange Teriyaki Glazed Salmon
This Orange Teriyaki Glazed Salmon is super healthy, super quick to make and 100% yummy! It is the perfect combination of salty and sweet with a little bit of heat. Living in the pacific northwest, salmon and steelhead are a big deal. And for good reason, they are delicious! And now that i’m in the south I can still get delicious wild caught salmon. Unfortunately, just not as often as I would like! While I do enjoy some good fried catfish and hush puppies, Salmon is my true love (when it comes to fish, that is). It’s delicious no matter how you cook it up! As well as being delicious, salmon…
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Chili Lime Shrimp Street Tacos With Orange Pico De Gallo And Avocado Crema
Yummy little shrimp tacos with a citrusy pico de gallo and creamy avocado sauce
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Roasted Corn And Black Bean Salad
This Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salad is like a fiesta in a bowl. Bursting with flavors of roasted corn, black beans, roasted veggies and sweet ripe tomatoes tossed in a tangy lime dressing. Cinco De Mayo is only a couple of days away. That means yummy Mexican food and Margaritas to celebrate! I created this salad as a side dish to go along with tacos and other Mexican fare but it can easily be served on it’s own as a light meal. The salad, itself, looks like a fiesta in a bowl. And is a light and refreshing change from the more traditional beans and rice. I roasted the…
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Warm Green Bean and Fingerling Potato Salad with Caramelized Shallots and Crispy Bacon
This Warm Green Bean and Fingerling Potato Salad With Caramelized Shallots and Crispy Bacon is the perfect way to transition into spring. I just love spring! Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, the air smells fresh from a recent spring shower. And the farmers markets and produce stands are coming back from their winter hibernation. The produce aisles are abundant with fresh asparagus and crisp green beans. There are baby carrots in a multitude of colors and cute little fingerling potatoes. I load my basket with the potatoes in colors of red and gold, fresh green beans and some beautiful purple shallots. Then grab a bottle of Pinot Gris…
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Taco Tuesday! Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas taste just like you slow roasted it in the oven, tender and juicy and is so easy to make. Who doesn’t love taco’s???? I think that if I was stranded on a desert island and could only have one food choice for the rest of my life, I would probably choose tacos! I don’t think that i’ve met a taco I didn’t like. Whether it be simple ground beef taco or grilled shrimp with mango salsa, it’s all good. I think that my most favorite of all, though, would have to be carnitas. While working in my last kitchen job, I had the pleasure of learning…
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10 Things I’m Lovin’ Right Now
Welcome to my post about 10 Things I’m Lovin’ Right Now. Where I can share with everyone a selection of neat/happy things that I have found or that have happened during the week. With all of this craziness happening in the world right now, I’m am doing my best to focus on the positive things around us. Some days are definitely easier than others. So Anyway, here are some Happy things for the week. The 10 Things I’m Lovin’ Right Now: 1. Inspiring Quotes I got this awesome text message today, that I shared on facebook, from Trent Shelton (former NFL Player). I follow his podcast called Rehab Time. It’s…
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Italian Beef Sandwiches
Slow-cooked Italian beef sandwiches with sauteed onions, peppers and mushrooms
