Favorite Fajitas

I may have been MIA from this blog, but I have been eating well!!

Today for dinner I served up our favorite fajitas.  We usually substitute chicken for beef, but both are amazing!  The fajita seasoning is quick and perfect... no hidden ingredients!  Amp up the cayenne and black pepper if you like a spicy fajita!

Tortellini with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Dinner last night.  One of my quick, yummy, go-to dishes.  Miles, Dan, and I enjoyed this recipe.  Ellie even had a few bites!

I replaced the basil with parsley, but have made the sauce both ways.

Often times instead of a jar of roasted red peppers, I will roast the peppers myself.  To roast red peppers, you can follow this recipe by Ina Garten.  Sometimes if I am (who am I kidding, I'm always) in a rush I will broil the peppers instead of baking them.  You just have to watch to make sure they don't burn!

Chicken Tagine

Chicken Tagine from bettycrocker.com

 

This flavorful, Moroccan dish was a big hit at our house!  Ellie especially enjoyed the plums.  I put slightly less turmeric than the recipe said and I left out the green olives entirely.  The ingredient list looks long, but it is really quite easy to make! 

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

This recipe make approximately thirty delicious carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place cupcake liners into muffin pans.

1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 1/2 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
3/4 cup golden raisins

In large bowl mix oil, eggs, and sugar.  Stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in another bowl.  Add flour mixture to egg mixture and mix well. Stir in carrots, nuts, and raisins. 

Fill muffin cups two-thirds full.


Bake at 350 F for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into a cupcake comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool before frosting.




For the frosting:

1/4 cup butter (at room temperature)
4 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon milk (skim, whole, cream - the richer the better!)
2-3 cups powdered sugar

Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth.  Add vanilla and milk.  Beat again.  Add one cup powdered sugar, beat until smooth.  Add powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency/flavor for icing your cupcakes.

Roasted Veggies

During the summer, I try to avoid using the oven too much since in makes the kitchen so warm.  But when autumn rolls around, nothing is better than walking into a warm kitchen with savory scents!  So I've been roasting lots of delicious vegetables!  These are two of my new favorite recipes:

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Squash Medley

Even if you don't like Brussels Sprouts or Squash, these recipes might make you change your mind (like they did for Dan)! 

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder

- See more at: http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/2014/02/roasted-sweet-potato-quinoa-and-kale-salad.html#sthash.IwkTYNAt.dpuf

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder

- See more at: http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/2014/02/roasted-sweet-potato-quinoa-and-kale-salad.html#sthash.IwkTYNAt.dpuf

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder

- See more at: http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/2014/02/roasted-sweet-potato-quinoa-and-kale-salad.html#sthash.IwkTYNAt.dpuf

A slightly spicy, simple roasted sweet potato!

Ingredients:
4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 in cubes
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon adobo sauce (or more depending on how spicy you want the dish to be)


Directions:
Preheat oven to 425F.

Toss cubed sweet potatoes with remaining ingredients.

Spread sweet potatoes on baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes, flipping once after 20 minutes.

Enjoy!


This recipe idea came from this salad.

Peanut Butter Pie

Dan's birthday a few years ago.

 
This recipe for Peanut Butter Pie was my most popular post on my old blog "The Mustard Diva."  Probably my greatest creation of all time.  Well, Miles and Ellie might be better.  Just kidding, I love my kids!  ...and this pie, too!

As evidenced by this photo, you can see why I don't usually take pictures!

Mac 'n Cheese Fit for a King

A long time family favorite.  You can't go wrong with this recipe for Mac 'n Cheese!  I use sharp cheddar cheese.  Before baking, I sprinkle one roll of crushed Ritz or Saltine crackers on top.  The crackers are what make this recipe "fit for a king." :)

I usually make a double recipe and freeze half.  Then I always have something to take to a friend, to bring to camp, or if I just don't feel like cooking!  If your mac 'n cheese is frozen it takes about 55 minutes to cook.

Basil Spaghetti with Tomatoes

From realsimple.com

 
Quick, Simple, and Yummy. The perfect summer meal!  I found this one in a Real Simple magazine a few years ago.  Sometimes I only make the tomatoes for a tasty side.

Grizz Cake

from Melskitchencafe.com

One day Miles woke and announced that it was his bear, Grizz's, birthday. Since Grizz is considered a member of our family, we needed a cake!  My friend, Rachael, had introduced us to a delightful dessert, Gingerbread White Chocolate Bars, from the website, Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  Perfect for a grizzly bear's birthday!
Henceforth we have referred to Gingerbread White Chocolate Bars (a mouthful in Miles' opinion) as Grizz Cake!  ...and we eat it as often as we can, probably more often than we should!

Sausage-Spinach Breakfast Casserole

Picture from thepioneerwoman.com

The Mother of All Breakfast Casseroles.  'Nuf said.

I substitute a bag of spinach for the kale.   I saute the spinach until it is wilted, before adding it to the casserole.

If your family and friends taste this deliciousness, they will love you forever.  I promise :)

Ground Chicken or Turkey Tacos

This recipe is great!  It's healthy and versatile. You can follow the recipe or add any other veggies you like to it!

I found this one in Taste of Home magazine a few years ago.  I couldn't find the recipe online, so here it is!

Prep time: 20 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Makes about 8 soft tacos

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs ground chicken or turkey breast
1 cup diced onions
3/4 cup diced green bell pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1 cup seeded and diced tomatoes
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Spray a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray.  Add chicken, onions, green pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until chicken is no longer pink, about 8 minutes.  Drain off any liquid.

Ad tomatoes, carrot, ketchup, chili powder, vinegar, brown sugar, cumin, and pepper to chicken.  Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  If mixture is too saucy, simmer ncovered for a few more minutes until most of the liquid is evaporated.

Once you've made the meat your adventure is only just beginning! You can make a traditional taco or try one of these options:

1. Mix up some cornbread batter, but cook it in a waffle iron. Top your "cornbread waffle" with meat and your favorite toppings.  You could try cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, salsa, taco sauce, or Tabasco, just to name a few!

2. Cut zucchini in half length-wise and hollow out seeds. Place meat in hollowed out zucchini. Top with cheese and bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

3. Try this recipe for Indian fry bread. Top with meat and favorite toppings.

4. Taco salad!
5. Stuffed poblano peppers: Cut of the top of the peppers, remove the seeds, fill with taco meat, top with cheese, and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°.

Blueberry Banana Muffins

Banana bread... its ok. 

Blueberry muffins... pretty good. 

Blueberry Banana Muffins... now we're talking!

You should definitely give this recipe a try!  I make this bread as muffins for an easy-to-grab, trying-to-survive-two-kids-under-three treat! I bake them for about 20 minutes.

Courtesy of Betty Crocker, herself. :)

Lemon Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies

Lemon Poppy Seed Ricotta Cookies

After yesterday's post I had some ricotta cheese left over, so I decided to make these delicious cookies.  I add 1 1/2 teaspoons of poppy seeds when adding in the dry ingredients.  My cousin's wife, Candice, shared this recipe with me a few years ago and I have loved it ever since.  Thank you Candice!

Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Brown Butter

Any time of year these pancakes taste amazing, but especially in the fall!  With a side of sausage, you're off to a great start for the day!

Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Brown Butter

Courtesy of Taste of Home