Almost Tandoori chicken

We tried Rachael Ray's almost Tandoori chicken tonight. This is so simple to make and has yummy Indian flavors! I couldn't find Naan at Kroger today (but I swear I've seen it there before) so I used mini-pita pockets, and I subbed chicken breasts instead of thighs (just a personal preference). I'll definitely be making this one again!

Hot and tangy NY strip steak

We made this hot and tangy NY strip steak from Bobby Flay's new Throwdown cookbook. This combined two of Robert's favorite things - Asian sauces and a big hunk of meat. It was a winner!!

Chicken parmesan with pepperoni

We made chicken parmesan with pepperoni from Food + Wine magazine for Sunday dinner this week. It was a huge hit - everyone loved the addition of pepperoni to this classic dish. Robert said it was the best chicken parmesan he's ever had, and will probably be asking for a repeat next week!

Roast beef sandwich

We made these roast beef sandwiches from Rachael Ray this weekend. They are very simple to make - the only thing you have to cook is the sandwich! The horseradish sauce is tangy, and the red pepper adds a lot of heat. We used deli roast beef and skipped the watercress (because we didn't have any), and the sandwiches were delicious!

Kung pao chicken

Dinner tonight was kung pao chicken from Cooking Light. I halved the recipe and served it over brown rice. Also, we added extra soy sauce to the finished product to make it saucier.

Salted caramel banana pudding pie

I saw this salted caramel banana pudding pie on a new Food Network show called Dessert First and immediately put it on my to-bake list. To be honest though, it's pretty complicated - homemade caramel sauce, homemade pie crust, homemade vanilla pudding AND homemade whipped cream. For all that work, this pie needed to be out of this world, and it wasn't. It was just... good. The salted caramel sauce is amaaaaaaaaaaaazing though, and it would be fantastic with other desserts!

Pumpkin scones

I was on a pumpkin kick today so I made these pumpkin scones I had bookmarked a few weeks ago on A Feast for the Eyes blog. They. are. delicious!! I used a combination of cinnamon chips and mini-chocolate chips (heavier on the cinnamon chips), and no crystallized ginger. My only mistake is that I halved the recipe - I missed these when they were gone!

P.S. I've added a 'pumpkin' label to my recipes that call for canned pumpkin. A single recipe rarely uses an entire can, so you can click on the pumpkin tag to see other options to help you finish the rest of it! Today I made a repeat of the pumpkin spice marshmallows in addition to these scones.

Neiman Marcus cookies

My sweet tooth was aching last week so I baked these Neiman Marcus cookies, and they were fantastic! Everyone who had one commented on the light and fluffy texture. They are baked at 300 degrees, which is much lower than most baked goods - I'm no food scientist, but I assume the low cooking temperature is what creates the great texture. But who cares about all that mumbo jumbo - these cookies are easy to make and they taste DELICIOUS!!

Sloppy lasagna

We made Rachael Ray's sloppy lasagna last week, and it was devoured while we watched Sunday night football. It's a delicious recipe with a meat sauce AND a bechamel cheese sauce. I read people's reviews of the recipe and followed their advice to use 1/4 less lasagna noodles, and it was a perfect amount. I also increased the amount of tomatoes because I like my pasta saucy - I used a can of diced tomatoes AND a can of crushed tomatoes. I served it with the grilled romaine salad from an earlier blog post. Yum-o!

Poblano popper super-slides

We actually made these poblano popper sliders weeks ago, but Rachael Ray's website took forever to post the recipe and I wasn't in the mood to type it out. So, better late than never, right? All of the toppings were fantastic- loved the quick-pickled onions and the avocado cream sauce!

Roasted butternut squash and bacon pasta

We tried roasted butternut squash and bacon pasta from Cooking Light last week and loved it. Roasted butternut squash, bacon, and cheese - what's not to love??

Dragon's breath chili

Chili is one of those foods that a million recipes exist for and once you find one you love, you stick to it like glue. I love chili, and as soon as the weather drops below 60 degrees I officially declare it "chili weather". We had some friends over to cheer on the Hogs this weekend and served Guy Fieri's dragon's breath chili. Don't let the words 'dragon's breath' scare you - this recipe is not super-spicy (I promise!). Robert, the ultimate carnivore, loved the addition of steak alongside the usual ground beef and sausage. I halved the recipe (more or less :)) and it served 6 adults. I skipped the french fries, and went the Saltines/green onions/cheese/and sour cream route instead. Delicious!!

Farmhouse grilled cheese sandwiches

We made farmhouse grilled cheese sandwiches from 5-Ingredient Fix on the Food Network (brilliant idea for a show, huh?). These were a sophisticated take on a simple sandwich, and were as easy to make as the standard version. (We used regular tomatoes because heirlooms are no longer available, and we had to substitute brioche rolls because a Brioche loaf was nowhere to be found). Yum!!

Ravioli lasagna

We made this ravioli lasagna for dinner a few weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting it. We've tried several new recipes lately, but I'm behind on blogging... so here goes! We made a small tweak using cheese tortellini in place of ravioli because it's the only thing the store had in a small package (I halved the recipe as I was only cooking for 2). You don't have to pre-cook the pasta, which is a nice timesaver. We will definitely make this again, but agreed that we like our pasta a little saucier, so I think I'll use my go-to Rachael Ray easy marinara next time and pile it on. Overall, very delicious!

Nutella thumbprint cookies

Last week we were crazy enough to participate in Drew's Polar Bear Plunge - brrrrrrrrrrrr - and took these chocolate Nutella thumbprint cookies along with us. Yum!

Chile-rubbed steak nachos

It was Game Day - Razorbacks vs Auburn- and Robert was craving nachos. He picked this recipe for chile-rubbed steak nachos from the Food Network website, and it was an excellent choice!

Bacon, potato, rosemary & fontina pizza

 Last week we tried Tyler Florence's bacon, potato, rosemary & fontina pizza, and it was delicious!! The recipe calls for topping it with arugula and a squeeze of lemon. We tried it that way plus plain, and liked them both. If you already have arugula in the fridge, use it -if not, just serve it without. The pizza tastes great leftover, too!

Pumpkin spice marshmallows

I've been interested in trying homemade marshmallows for a while now, and when I saw this pumpkin spice version on Taste and Tell, I knew this would be my inaugural attempt. I don't know what to say about these other than they're AMAZING. They are fun to eat plain, but oh my goodness, add a few to your morning coffee and WOW! These rival Starbucks' pumpkin spice lattes, which are a personal favorite of mine. Next, I'm going to try them in hot chocolate and S'mores. The recipe says they last a week in the fridge, so we banished some to the freezer to make them last longer. Seriously, make these today - your coffee will never be the same!

Nutella crepes

Robert and I recently went to France (fantastic!), where we feasted on some very fabulous food. One of my personal favorites was just a lowly street food - the Nutella crepe. Mmmmmm. I knew these would be easy - and necessary - to recreate at home, so I used this crepe recipe from Alton Brown (the sweet variation at the bottom, minus the liqueur), and added about 2 tablespoons of Nutella once both sides were cooked. Simply fold and EAT!

(Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread that you'll find on the peanut butter aisle at the grocery store).

Bacon burgers

We were craving big, beefy burgers last week, and this bacon burger recipe from Tyler Florence/Food & Wine magazine really hit the spot. We followed the recipe as is, except we scaled it back to feed 2. But bacon and beef weren't enough - we added to the gluttony with these cornmeal fried onion rings. YUM!

Brie and apple quesadilla

Last week we tried Cooking Light's brie, apple and arugula quesadillas. Again, Robert was skeptical - no meat? - but we enjoyed them just the way they were!

Tomato minestrone soup with garlic bread croutons

It's finally starting to feel like Fall outside, and that means soup weather! We made Rachael Ray's tomato minestrone with garlic bread croutons this weekend, and loved it. Robert was a little tentative about minestrone - it just didn't sound like his style - but he was pleasantly surprised and changed his tune. I think he was afraid it would taste like vegetable soup with pasta thrown in, but the pancetta, crushed tomatoes, and delicious garlic bread croutons added layers of flavor that he approved of!

Pimiento cheese

Robert has developed cravings for pimiento cheese because he loves the one served at The Capital Hotel Bar. We're having a lazy weekend at home, and thought it was a great opportunity to make a batch for sandwiches and snacks. This version has toasted pecans, which gives it a little twist!

Banana bread cobbler

We made banana bread cobbler a few weeks ago at the lake, and it was a big hit! This was Robert's perfect dessert because he isn't as much of a chocolate fan as the rest of us. It's easy to make, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it extra-special!

Chicken tamale casserole

Last week we tried chicken tamale casserole from Cooking Light - it was simple, hearty, and yummy! I used 1 large egg instead of egg substitute, and habanero shredded cheese for extra heat.

Pumpkin chocolate chip bread

I can't believe my favorite recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip bread hasn't made an appearance on the blog until now. My friend Kady brought a loaf of this to the office when I worked in DC, and I've been hooked ever since. I don't even want to know how many loaves of this I've made since then - it might embarrass me. Try it, you'll love it!

1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 heaping cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Combine first five ingredients and mix well. Add remaining ingredients. Mix together and pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

(I usually cover mine with foil for the last 10 minutes or so, to make sure the edges don't get too dark while the middle finishes baking).

Spicy orange beef

Dinner last night was spicy orange beef from Cooking Light. This recipe is so simple (other than the first batch of rice we ruined, but enough about that). It is spicy and delicious!

(We were out of sesame oil so I used olive oil. And minced fresh garlic (2 cloves) instead of bottled. Other than, we followed the recipe.)

Crispy ravioli with roasted tomatoes

Dinner last night was crispy ravioli with roasted tomatoes from Cooking Light. This meal is ready in mere minutes - you use refrigerated ravioli (I used four-cheese), bread it in panko and parmesan, then pan-fry it for just a minute on each side. The tomatoes are quick cooking also, so this entire dish can be prepared in 10-12 minutes! Simple, fast, and delicious - that's a great combo.

Chocolate peanut butter bars

Jennifer from Robert's office made these chocolate peanut butter bars this week, and Robert promptly forwarded me the recipe with a request to make a batch as well. I saw the words peanut butter and chocolate, and got right to work! These were DELICIOUS. I mean, you put peanut butter, chocolate, graham crackers, and two sticks of butter in a 9x13 surface area, and you know it's going to taste great!

Chocolate pecan cobbler

I made Paula Deen's chocolate pecan cobbler for a game night recently and it was a big hit! I mean, who could resist all that chocolate?? I served mine with vanilla ice cream AND the homemade caramel whipped cream, which was FANTASTIC. We had some whipped cream left over, so Robert and I enjoyed it on our morning coffee for a few days... lucky us! (Sorry my picture looks like chocolate soup, but trust me- this stuff is yummy).

Cheesy chicken enchiladas

Dinner tonight were cheesy chicken enchiladas from Cooking Light magazine. I thought it might need a little extra spice, so I seasoned my chicken with chili powder and cumin before cooking, and I used habenero pepper cheese instead of cheddar. These were great! (Note from Robert: he thinks this recipe would work well with shrimp, too).

Steak sandwich

Oh, I almost forgot to post this recipe. It's a steak sandwich with provolone cheese sauce from Rachael Ray. Similar to a Philly cheesesteak, which is one of my favorites. This was one of the few success stories in the past few weeks!

Mexican meatloaf and poblano potato salad

I have been on an un-intended hiatus from the food blog lately. The last 4 or 5 recipes I've tried were deemed mediocre, therefore not blog-worthy. Combine that with a busy last few weeks of summer, and it feels like an eternity since I've talked food! But, as Robert said tonight after we licked our dinner plates... I'm back! I found my swagger again in the kitchen tonight, thanks to Marcela from Mexican Made Easy and her Mexican meatloaf and poblano potato salad. These recipes are spicy and delicious! I'm not sure I'd call these easy recipes, due to the amount of ingredients and the steps required- and the number of dirty pots and pans we had to clean. But who said great food was going to be easy?? Lots of excellent, smoky flavors in these with poblano peppers, serrano chiles, and even a bit of chipotle. Looking forward to having leftovers this weekend!

Chipotle and garbanzo bean soup (crock pot)

I have bookmarked hundreds of recipes to try from magazines, tv shows, and cookbooks. None of them are conducive to planning ahead, so I find myself rushing to cook dinner between the girls bath and bedtime routines, which can get pretty hectic. A great solution for that is slow cooker meals, so you will probably see more of those on the blog in the coming weeks. First up is this chipotle and garbanzo bean soup from a cookbook my mom got me on her recent trip to New Mexico. I was able to prepare it during morning naps, and it was ready to serve when Robert got home from work. This soup is spicy, hearty, and delicious!! We will definitely make this one again.

Chipotle and garbanzo bean soup
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 (15 ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 chipotle chiles in adobo, seeded
• 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (from can of chipotle chiles)
• 6 green chilies, chopped (I used fresh jalapenos, sliced. 2-3 depending on your spice tolerance)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 cup chopped green onion

• 1 cup cubed monterey jack cheese

• 2 limes
• cilantro

Combine first 8 ingredients (through garlic powder) in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours.

Thirty minutes before serving, remove the chicken from the soup, shred, and return to the slow cooker. Add the green onions. Continue cooking on low until ready to serve.

Divide the cheese equally into soup bowls. Ladle the soup into bowls over the cheese, add juice from half a lime into each bowl, and garnish with cilantro.

Fried okra

Thanks to a generous donation of okra from my Mema's garden, we had Paula Deen's delicious fried okra this week. It was easy to make and turned out great!

Nuevo cubano sandwiches and summer peach & tomato salad

Dinner last night was nuevo cubano sandwiches and summer peach and tomato salad, both from Cooking Light. We subbed turkey instead of ham on the sandwiches (personal preference), and chose mango over tomatoes. I couldn't find any wheat hoagies I liked, so we used wheat sandwich thins, which worked great. This is a simple and delicious sandwich! Robert was skeptical about the salad at first, but he was smitten after the first bite. I peeled the peaches for ours - I don't mind a little fuzz, but Robert isn't a fan - and scaled everything down as I was only cooking for two. I also took reviewer's suggestions to use balsamic vinegar in place of sherry vinegar - we prefer balsamic, and it gives the salad a caprese-like twist.

Chunky gazpacho with shrimp

Dinner tonight was chunky gazpacho with shrimp from Cooking Light magazine. It was listed in the magazine as a quick meal (40 minutes), but I worked ahead and made it in the morning so it could chill for the rest of the day. I added about a tbsp of olive oil, and we topped ours with sauteed shrimp, sliced avocado and cheese crostini. This cold dish was so refreshing on this hot day!!

Rosemary chocolate chip shortbread

I saw this recipe for rosemary chocolate chip shortbread on Food Network last week and thought hmmm, now that's an interesting combination. The recipe is simple and I had all the ingredients on hand, so I just had to try it. I subbed 1 tsp of fresh rosemary in place of the 1/2 tsp of dried because I happened to have some in the fridge. These shortbread cookies are delicious!!! The rosemary flavor is subtle, but just enough to elevate them into something special. Try it!

Chorizo and potato tacos

We had chorizo and potato tacos this week, a recipe from Food Network magazine. We fell in love with these tacos instantly, and Robert asked that they be added to our permanent rotation. I halved the recipe, which made 4 tacos using the small soft taco-size tortillas (also, we subbed flour for corn tortillas). DELICIOUS!

Grilled peaches with blackberry basil butter

Continuing with the peach theme, dessert tonight was grilled peaches with blackberry basil butter, a recipe from Southern Living magazine. The butter is a unique blend of flavors, and goes perfect with warm, grilled peaches!

Pimiento cheeseburgers

Dinner tonight was pimiento cheeseburgers from the Rachael Ray show. I have writer's block on what to say about them, other than they were simple to make and tasted great. Enjoy!

Chicken and peaches

It's peach season, one of my favorite times of the year. I love fresh peaches, and my Nannie delivered a bag of them when she visited earlier this week. I love to eat them plain, but am experimenting with them in recipes also. This week we tried Rachael Ray's chicken and peaches. I knew this recipe was a risk, because Robert typically doesn't like fruity-meat dishes -but I thought the hot sauce and Worcestershire would keep it from being too sweet, and I was right! We both really enjoyed this one!

Fried chicken

We tried a new fried chicken recipe from Food & Wine magazine last week, and it was a huge hit! The buttermilk soak added lots of flavor and kept the chicken juicy, and the batter made it crispy and delicious! Yum!

(I couldn't find the pictures I took so I borrowed one from the website).

Lemon-lime sugar cookie truffles

I made these lemon-lime sugar cookie truffles for our Bachelorette watch party this week. These are similar to a cake ball, but with different flavors. These were delicious and a big hit with the group!

Spicy poblano burgers (Guest Post)

Dinner last night was spicy poblano burgers from Cooking Light magazine.

Lindsay made these (with some Sous Chef help from me), but I wanted to do the post because these suckers were GOOD. The burgers were juicy and flavorful (with a little heat but not too much), and the pickled red onion was a nice topping. But the showstopper was the chipotle cream spread. It was just enough to cool down the heat of the poblano and was bursting with flavor. It was Yum. Seriously. Make it.

Jalapeno-cornmeal pancakes

Dinner last night was jalapeno-cornmeal pancakes from Food Network magazine. This recipe seems a little unusual, but we thought it was a great change of pace. The pancakes have tons of flavor with the jalapenos and scallions, and the orange marmalade sauce and bacon put it over the top!

Southwestern Cobb salad

We made this Southwestern Cobb salad from Cooking Light for lunch one day this week. I don't typically go for a salad as a main course, but this was layers and layers of great flavors.

(And I know I sound like a broken record, but again with the queso fresco! I googled and found that Farmer's cheese would be a good substitute, which I was able to find at Fresh Market).

French onion grilled pizzas

Dinner last night was French onion grilled pizzas from Rachael Ray's magazine. (I made homemade pizza crust from a Bobby Flay recipe here). We modified the recipe for indoor cooking - cooked the bacon and onions in saute pans on the stove, grilled the pizza crusts on a grill pan, and broiled them in the oven once they were topped to melt the cheese. Also, we put the tomatoes on with the rest of the toppings so they would be warm, instead of at the end. This pizza recipe sounded simplistic (no sauce?!), but it turned out to have a lot of flavor. Robert and I both really enjoyed this one!

Salted caramel ice cream

Oh, YUM. This salted caramel ice cream from Cooking Light (believe it!) is so creamy and delicious. I have an iffy track record with making caramel, and there was a point in making this that I thought I had ruined yet another one. When I added the caramel to the cream and yolk mixture, it completely seized up and stayed in one large chunk. As it heated back up to 160 degrees as the recipe calls for, I kept stirring and it melted back into the cream. Also, this recipe is intended for a rock salt ice cream maker, but I have/use an electric one. So I halved the recipe, afraid that the original amounts wouldn't fit in my smallish maker - in hindsight, the entire recipe would have worked just fine, and now I'm sad that there isn't more of this ice cream to go around! I'll definitely be making this one again. Soon.