It’s winter in Michigan. Meaning that (barring the last week or two) it’s cold and snowy. After what feels like months of winter (and the resulting months of minor colds) we’ve been looking for some serious comfort food. I came across a recipe for jambalaya and after making just a few adjustments here and there, came up with what you see here. It was exactly what we needed to pull ourselves out of this cold winter funk. Better still, it comes together in just about a half an hour, making it an easy weeknight dinner. 

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 package andouille chicken sausage
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 large stalks celery, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 small jalapeno, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can diced fire roasted tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups basmati rice

Directions:
Sauté the chicken sausage in a large Dutch oven until cooked through. Add the bell pepper, onion, celery, oil and bay leaves and sauté until tender and slightly golden. Stir in the salt, basil, oregano, thyme, jalapeno, garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute.

Pour the can of tomatoes, chicken broth and rice and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked through. Remove bay leaves and discard, and serve.

Source: Adapted from Cooking Light

Like virtually every other family in existence, from time to time we get stuck in a big dinner rut. Tacos, pasta, chicken, lather, rinse, repeat. So recently I decided that it was time to break the streak and make something new and different for dinner. I pulled out cookbooks and cooking magazine and started to label recipes that looked good. I surprised even myself by marking and eventually selecting this recipe as the winning newcomer to the dinner repertoire. You see, pork, and pork chops especially, have never been my favorite thing. Bad pork chops are just sooo bad. Dry, flavorless and just plain gross. Turns out, that’s only when they’re overcooked with a stinky recipe (light bulb, right?). These came out perfectly. So flavorful and juicy and lovely and the sweet butternut squash combined with the cinnamon and cloves just screamed fall.

Spiced Pork Chops with Butternut Squash
Serves 4

printable recipe

Ingredients:
4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 3/4 inch thick)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1 butternut squash (about 1 1/4 lbs)
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint

Directions:
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Sprinkle both sides of the pork chops evenly with pumpkin pie spice, black pepper and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

Sauté the pork in the skillet for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove from the pan and keep warm.

Meanwhile, poke several holes in the butternut squash with a fork and cook in the microwave for 1 minute, then using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin. Cut the squash in half, scoop out the inside and seeds and discard. Cut the squash into 1 inch cubes.

Re-coat the skillet with cooking spray and add the squash, cooking covered for 7 minutes. Add onion to the pan and sauté the squash and onions for 5 minutes. Pour the water into the pan, scrapping the bottom of the pan to loosen the browned bits. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon salt and chopped mint.

Serve pork with squash spooned on top.

Source: Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals

Find Laura on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise to you, since we’re a house with 2 young children, to hear that we eat our fair share of mac & cheese around here. It’s tasty, it’s quick…but not super healthy most of the time. So, when I came across this recipe for a healthier version of our beloved favorite I couldn’t wait to try it. Now, I’m not usually down for the whole “sneak the veggies in so the kids don’t notice” thing. So I didn’t. I did big chopped hunks of cauliflower along with the pasta and served it. And it was a hit! There was even a request for larger cauliflower chunks next time. (Granted, that came from Brian, but still. A win is a win!) This is now the reigning M&C recipe in the house.

Won’t Make Your Jeans Snug Macaroni & Cheese with Cauliflower
serves 6 (HUGE servings)
Print This Recipe

Ingredients:
12 oz. whole grain elbow macaroni
1 large head of cauliflower, coarsely chopped
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and pepper
1 medium onion, diced
1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups light sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.

Cook the pasta according to package directions. During the last 3 minutes of cooking add the chopped cauliflower and drain.

In a food processor or small bowl combine the bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Set aside.

In an oven-proof pot or Dutch oven on the stove top heat the last tablespoon of oil. Sauté the onion until it is tender. Add in 3/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, cheese, sour cream, milk, and mustard and combine. Stir in the pasta and cauliflower.

Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the macaroni and bake, uncovered, for 12-15 minutes or until the top is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Source: Carrots ‘N’ Cake

I have had this idea in the back of my mind for a long time now to print and frame or mount a few of my favorite food photos to hang above my dining room table. I have it all laid out in my head but I hadn’t gotten any further than that. Then, to my great fortune, a few weeks ago the kind folks at Easy Canvas Prints offered to send me one of my photos canvas mounted! I, of course, jumped at the chance!

The canvas came out perfect. It was super-easy and quick to upload my photo to their site and place the order, and it arrived just a few days later. I love it so much I am already trying to decide on what other food photos to pick to place around it!

Now, onto this orzotto. I’ve also had the idea for this in my head for quite some time. I love risotto. I love orzo. So every time I made one or the other I kept wondering what would come of it if I combined the two ideas. Cooking the pasta in a similar style to cooking risotto, I made it up as I went along and was thrilled when it turned out better than I had expected. Simple, easy, delicious. You can’t beat that.

Spinach and Tomato Orzotto
printable recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups orzo pasta
1/2 cup white wine
4 cups chicken broth, warmed
2 Tablespoons butter or olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, diced
2 cups spinach, chopped
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon herbs de province
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
In a small sauce pan over low heat warm the chicken broth. Keep warm.

Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat, then sauté the shallot until it is translucent. Add the garlic to the pan and cook one minute further.

Add the orzo to the pan and stir to coat the pasta, then pour the wine into the pan and stir to deglaze. Simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, then add 3/4 cup of the broth. Continue to add the broth 3/4 cup at a time, letting most of the liquid absorb between each addition, until the pasta is slightly softer than al dente, adding the spinach to the pan with the last liquid addition.

Add the tomatoes and herbs de province and cook for one minute further. Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan. Sprinkle with additional grated parmesan to serve.

Source: A Laura’s Recipe Collection Original

A few weeks months ago my baby turned 2. As we were planning her birthday party I sat on the couch with her and flipped through recipes for cupcakes, trying to pick one or two to make. She climbed into my lap as I leafed from page to page, then suddenly jumped and squealed “BLUEBERRIES!”. If a girl could actually scream in all caps, this would have been one of those times. She loves blueberries. LOVES blueberries. As in we have to actually police the amount she eats of them because otherwise she will eat herself sick. (That was not a fun day.)

So, being that blueberries are basically her favorite thing everEverEVER I decided to make my faithful vanilla cupcake recipe, add blueberries, and concoct blueberry buttercream. The resulting cupcake was just what I was looking for. The vanilla cupcake was just light enough to let the sweet, tart blueberries really shine.

Blueberry Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream Frosting
yields 12 cupcakes
printable recipe

Blueberry Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
zest of 1 medium lemon
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350. Prepare a muffin pan with liners and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating to combine between each addition. Mix in the lemon zest and vanilla.

In a medium bowl stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.

With the mix speed on low add half of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Pour the milk into the bowl and beat to combine, then mix in the remaining flour.

Using a rubber spatula gently fold the blueberries into the batter, then scoop evenly between the muffin cups.

Bake for 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Blueberry Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients:
1/4 cup blueberry puree (about 1 cup fresh blueberries)
2-3 Tablespoons blueberry juice, yielded from blueberry puree
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon lemon zest
pinch of salt
5-6 cups confectioners sugar

Directions:
In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the butter until smooth.

Add the blueberry puree, juice, vanilla, lemon and salt into the bowl and beat until well combined.

Slowly add the confectioners sugar, one cup at a time, until frosting is light and fluffy.

Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes.

Sources: Vanilla Cupcake recipe adapted from my Raspberry-filled Vanilla Bean Cupcakes, originally from The Novice Chef , Blueberry Buttercream from Baking With Basil

Leave it to me to take a relatively healthy concept like a chicken burger and do this to it. And in advance, you’re welcome!

By a long shot the most-viewed recipe on here is Chicken Cordon Bleu with Creamy Parmesan Sauce. And rightly so. It’s one of my favorite dinners. Relatively easy to put together and delicious. The highlight of the recipe? The sauce. Sure, the chicken itself is great. But the sauce. Oh the sauce. It, in my opinion, is the food symbol for all that is good in the world. Trust me on this one.

So a few months ago, while making chicken burgers I had the idea of adding the sauce to the burger. A few days later this gem was born. The flavor of chicken cordon bleu with half the prep work involved. I love when I can have dinner prepped and cooked in 20 minutes. I love even more when I have an excuse to use heavy cream and cheese.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Burgers & Creamy Parmesan Sauce
printable recipe
Serves 4

Chicken Cordon Bleu Burger
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground chicken
1/2 lb. thinly sliced deli ham, cut into 1/2 inch squares
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
burger buns for serving

Directions:
In a large bowl mix together the ground chicken, ham, cheese, thyme and garlic. Gradually add the bread crumbs until the mixture is well-combined.

Shape into four patties. If the mixture is sticking to your hands rinse your hands under cold water between each patty.

Cook on a grill, a pan or broiler until no longer pink in the center.

Source: An original Laura’s Recipe Collection creation

Creamy Parmesan Sauce
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1-2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1/2-3/4 C half-and-half or heavy cream
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup white wine
salt & pepper
1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Directions:

Melt the butter in a small sauce pan, then sauté the garlic for a minute or two. Add in the and continue to simmer for another 1-2 minutes.

Whisk together the half-and-half with the cornstarch. Slowly pour into the sauce pan and mix until it is smooth and thickened.

Add the cheese, salt and pepper to the sauce pan and cook until melted.

Drizzle the sauce over the breasts just before serving.

Originally posted under Chicken Cordon Bleu with Creamy Parmesan Sauce, Source: Mary Ellen’s Cooking Creations

I must be really, really ready for spring. Absolutely everything I’m making right now is light, fluffy and blueberry filled. Blueberry ice cream? Check! Blueberry pancakes for dinner? Check! Blueberry lemon scones! Check! (obviously, right?) You see, in Michigan the weather is a bit unpredictable and our winter is very, very long. So come April I’m ready for some sunny days and the fresh produce at the farmers market. But until that comes, I make due with cloudy, rainy- or wait is it snowing again?- weather and frozen berries and those daydreams of sunny days.

And P.S.? As I write this it is currently hailing pea sized hail. Spring! Come save me! PLEASE!

Lemon Blueberry Scones
printable recipe

For the scones
Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1/2 cup fresh or frozen (not thawed) blueberries
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions:
Place an oven rack at the middle setting. Preheat the oven to 425.

Blend the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.

Using a pasty cutter, or two knives, cut the butter and lemon zest into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse sand. A few larger butter lumps will remain. Add the blueberries and gently fold with a spatula to evenly distribute the berries.

Add in the heavy cream and stir gently until well combined.

Gently fold the dough into a slightly sticky ball. Roll out into a disc 3/4 inch thick. Slice into 8 wedges and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the scones are lightly golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

For the glaze
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Directions:
Stir together the lemon juice and confectioners sugar in a small bowl until smooth. Spread or drizzle over the still-warm scones.

Sources: Scones adapted from Baking Illustrated, glaze from Baking Bites

I have to admit, when I pulled this loaf from the oven I was skeptical. I’m not sure what about it made me leery. It smelled delicious. The golden wheat color was beautiful, and… I mean, it’s bread! What is there not to love? But still, I was cautious. Perhaps it was the dark seeds that looked a little funky?

Alas, when I cut into this bread and took a bite, all my doubts were vanished immediately. This now is in the top 5 on my list of favorite breads, and believe me that’s not an easy spot to take. Sweet, but not too sweet, wheaty without being too dense or heavy, it was the perfect sandwich bread. Or if we’re being more honest, the perfect Eating-Strait-From-the-Oven-With-Butter bread.

One Year Ago
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Two Years Ago
Rich, Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Flax Bread
printable recipe

Preferment
Ingredients:
1 cup bread flour
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in a warm area for 12-16 hours.

Final Dough
Ingredients:
The preferment
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups bread flour
1 cup rolled oats
3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon kosher salt

Directions:
Pour the water into the bowl of an electric mixer. Add in the oats and flax, stir to combine and let soak for 10 minutes.

Add in the remaining ingredients and mix on low speed until well combined. Using the dough hook knead the dough until elastic, but not gooey. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, lightly covered with plastic wrap, to let rise for 1 hour.

After 1 hour, fold the dough a few times, re-cover and let rise for another hour.

Shape the dough into either a loaf pan or free-standing loaf placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lightly dust the loaf with flour. Re-cover with plastic wrap and rise for an additional 1 1/2 hours. After the first hour pre-heat the oven to 400.

Using a sharp knife slash the top of the loaf down the center.

Just before placing the loaf in the oven, splash a bit of water on the bottom and sides of oven to create steam. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and the center of the loaf reads 190.

Cool on a wire rack and serve.

Source: Kath Eats Real Food

Submitted to YeastSpotting

Every summer when my family’s blueberry farm opens for business (and believe me, I am counting the days!) the first thing I look forward to doing is eating those enormous, sweet, delicious berries fresh from the bush. The second is eating a enormous, sweet, delicious cone of home churned blueberry ice cream they make at the farm. It is pure, creamy and wonderful. Smooth save the lone whole berry straggler here and there. This last fall, shortly after I finished the last of the farm-churned ice cream I had a wave of longing for the flavor of summer & family tradition. I started flipping through cookbook after cookbook looking for a recipe that might come close to the wonderful ice cream I was used to. Finally I came across this ice cream recipe. While it’s not a replica of the farm’s ice cream (I’m guessing that’s a closely guarded secret- dang it!) it was enough to tide me over until July when blueberry season rolls around here again. The sour cream gives it just the tiniest bit of tang and the berries give the ice cream that gorgeous purple color.

One Year Ago
Cherry Pecan Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Two Years Ago
Soft-Yet-Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

Other Favorite Ice Cream Recipes
Peanut Butter (and Jelly!) Ice Cream
Coffee Ice Cream

Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream
printable recipe
makes 1 quart

Ingredients:
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, thaw and drain before using)
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
grated zest and juice of 1/4 lemon
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup sour cream

Directions:
In a medium sauce pan bring the blueberries, sugar, salt, lemon zest and lemon juice to a boil. When the mixture is boiling and the berries burst, about 3 minutes, remove from heat.

Pour the mixture into a blender and puree until relatively smooth (it will never be completely smooth). Pour the heavy cream and sour cream into the blender and mix until combined.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl and chill completely in the refrigerator.

Pour into the bowl of an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacture instructions.

Freeze in an air tight container.

Source: Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

I was at work chatting with some co-workers about our dinner plans. I explained that, at my husband’s request, I was going to attempt a Detroit style Coney Dog. “Detroit or Flint style?” one of them asked, while another nodded knowingly. “Ummm… yes?” was my ever-intelligent response. Despite having lived in Michigan for most of my life I have actually never had an authentic Detroit Coney dog (unless you count one from a chain restaurant in the Detroit airport during a layover on our honeymoon. And since it was less than delicious I won’t count it, so neither should you. Glad we settled that.) And I certainly have never had a Flint Coney dog. My one and only foray in to Flint, Michigan involved getting lost in what I can only describe as the ghetto, running out of gas, then my mom driving the wrong way on a one way street. Needless to say we didn’t exactly stop for dinner and chill after all of that.

From what I understand from my Mo-Town friends, this is a pretty authentic replica of a Motor City Coney dog. Apparently to make it even more authentic you can use a bit of ground up beef heart in place of some of the beef. In this case I’m ok with lacking a smidge of authenticity.

What I do know is that this beats the pants off any chili dog, Coney dog or just plain ole hot dog I’ve ever had. Slightly spicy and very hearty, it’s a definite Man-Food that this girl downright loved. Mo-Town rocks again.

One Year Ago
White Wine Chicken with Mushrooms

Two Years Ago
Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Detroit-Style Coney Dogs
printable recipe
yields enough sauce for about 12 dogs

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups beef broth
4 ounces tomato paste
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco

Directions:
Mix the chili powder, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, oregano, salt & pepper together in a small bowl. Set aside.

In a large skillet, brown the beef, chopping with a spatula to break into very small pieces. Add the onion and red pepper and sauté until the beef is browned and the onions and peppers are softened. Strain the beef mixture retaining 3 tablespoons of the fat, draining the rest.

Whisk the remaining beef fat with the flour to make a roux, stirring until golden. Stir in the beef broth, tomato paste and cider vinegar.

Add the beef back into the pot and stir together. Stir the seasonings into the pan and mix until combined. Let simmer for 15 minutes to an hour.

Serve over a hot dog in a bun. Traditionally served with chopped onion and mustard. Ever better if served with bottle of Vernors ginger ale!

Source: AmazingRibs.com