Friday, July 15, 2011

Peach Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce


This week, I had a lot of time that I could have used to be unproductive or get some things done around the house.  Instead, I decided that I wanted a yummy summer dessert with some fresh summer fruit.  Here's what I came up with!


Peach Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce
4 peaches, peeled and cubed
8 slices of good quality bread (I used a brioche loaf)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup 1% or nonfat milk
2 tbsp butter
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
caramel sauce (recipe below)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  I used my stoneware pan for this recipe.  If you are using glass, grease your pan.  Peel and cube your peaches (boil water on the stove, create an ice water bath in a large bowl, boil peaches 1-2 minutes, then drop into ice water, peel peaches after 2-3 minutes in ice bath)  Tear bread slices into bite-sized pieces.  Place bread and peaches in a 9x9 square baking dish.  In a small sauce pan, heat whipping cream and milk until skin just forms on top of the milk.  Remove milk from burner and add butter.  Stir butter into milk until it melts.  Allow milk mixture to cool.
In a separate bowl, combine eggs, sugars and cinnamon.  When milk mixture is cooled to room temperature, combine milk mixture and egg mixture, whisk until combined.  
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.  Bake until egg and milk mixture is firm and not runny.
Caramel Sauce:
1 cup of sugar
6 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Heat sugar, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until sugar melts and and is golden brown.  Remove sugar from burner and add butter.  Stir sugar and butter mixture until butter melts.  Allow mixture to cool about 10 minutes.  Slowly add cream, a little at a time, whisking so its blended.
Store caramel sauce in the fridge in  a mason jar, heat as necessary.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

BBQ Chicken Nachos with Pineapple Salsa

About a week and a half ago, I was going to make BBQ chicken quesadillas with pineapple salsa.  I realized in my hurry at the grocery store, I got out without the tortillas, and I didn't have any in the fridge.  I had hungry boys that needed to be fed!  What do I do?  Well, this was what I came up with, and my husband has asked me almost every other night when I'm making them again!  These have a wonderful combination of salty, sweet, and crunch.



BBQ Chicken Nachos with Pineapple Salsa
2 breasts of chicken
Pinch of salt
4 TBSP BBQ sauce
1 bag tortilla chips, organic if possible
1-1 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, grated


For Salsa:
1/2 fresh pineapple cut into wedges
2 green onions, sliced with some green parts
2 TBSP Cilantro
1 tsp salt
1 cob fresh corn, removed from husk
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and diced

Directions:
Grill pineapple, place on a panini press or under broiler for 3-4 minutes.  Dice other ingredients for salsa and add salt.  Put in small bowl and set aside.

Salt chicken.  Grill chicken until cooked through.  When the chicken is cooked, brush with BBQ sauce and cut into small bite-sized pieces.

Layer chips, chicken and cheese on a baking sheet and heat under a broiler until the cheese is melted.  Top with salsa and serve.  Enjoy!



Dinner:
Sunday: Broccoli and Pesto Tagliatelle from Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Monday: Steak and Cheese Croissant Sandwiches
Tuesday: Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Chicken Korma
Friday: Homemade Pizza

Snacks: 
Homemade Fruit Leather
Granola Bites

Breakfast:
homemade granola
cereal
waffles with peanut butter

Friday, July 8, 2011

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches

Last weekend, my son wanted s'mores while we were on vacation.  Between being out site seeing in the Sierras and not wanting to fire up the gas grill, it didn't happen!  This week, back at home, it was HOT, HOT, HOT!  I didn't want to stand over a grill or oven of any kind!  Instead of S'mores, this is what I came up with!

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches
2 cups 1/2 and 1/2
2 cups nonfat or 1% milk
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used 3/4 cup semi-sweet and 3/4 cup bittersweet)
1 1/2 cup mini marshmallows (I used organic ones)
2 squares graham crackers
In ice cream maker, mix milks and sugar according to the directions on your ice cream maker.  As the ice cream begins to freeze, slowly add chocolate chips and marshmallows.  Continue to churn for about 15 minutes.  Freeze in freezer for 1-2 hours.  To make sandwiches, scoop ice cream onto graham crackers and make into a sandwich.  This is a great hot day treat!


I'm linking to Sweet Tooth Friday and  Sweets For a Saturday.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Menu Plan Tuesday

We got home last last night, after having a great time on our first trip of the summer.  I have recipes to post later this week, but right now I'm just going to get my menu plan taken care of so I can grocery shop while my little man is at his rock climbing class this morning.  Sorry for the rush!

Tuesday: Pasta with grilled summer squash
Wednesday: Pepperocini and Beef Sandwiches with asparagus fries, peach cobbler for dessert
Thursday: visiting friends, leftovers for my hubby
Friday: homemade pizza

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Baked Asparagus Fries and Menu Plan

I'm always looking for new ways to cook vegetables.  Last week when my Fine Cooking magazine arrived, I was very excited to see a recipe for asparagus fries.  I was not so excited to see that they were fried in oil.  I played with the recipe a little and made them healthier.  These were a huge hit with our family!

Baked Asparagus Fries
1 pound asparagus, cut with tips to 2 1/2-3 inch "fries"
2 egg whites, slightly beaten
2 cups bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cover asparagus with egg whites, then cover with bread crumbs.  Lay on baking sheet.  Cook for 20-25 minutes until bread crumbs are golden brown and asparagus is tender, but still crispy.

Serve with your favorite spicy chipotle aioli.


Menu Plan:
Sunday: Whole Wheat Pasta with Homemade Pesto
Monday: Orzo with Sausage, Peppers and Tomatoes
Tuesday: BBQ Chicken and pineapple quesadillas
Wednesday:  Pepperocini and Beef Sandwiches
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: We are off on a family trip

Breakfast:
Homemade English Muffins
Homemade granola

I'll be linking to Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwathering Monday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,  Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, What's on the Menu Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, and What's for Dinner?

Monday, June 20, 2011

Honey Almond Granola and Menu Plan

Granola is one of my favorite breakfasts!  It fills me up, helps be start my day, and tastes great.  About 4 months ago, I tarted looking at recipes and decided to try my hand at making my own.  The great thing about homemade granola is once you get the ratios down, you can add flavor in any way that you like!  Let me know what way you like it when you try it.

Honey Almond Granola
8 cups uncooked rolled oats
2 cups sliced almonds
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put oats and almonds in a large bowl.  In a small bowl, mix together oil, honey, cinnamon, almond extract, and vanilla extract.  Drizzle honey mixture over oat and nut mixture.  Spread oats over a cookie sheet in one layer.  Cook at 350 degrees for one hour, turning with a spatula every 15 minutes.  Allow to cool.  Store in an airtight container.  I find its delicious for about 2 weeks.



Breakfast:
Honey Almond Granola
Lemon Blueberry Muffins
Egg Sandwiches
Cereal

Dinner:
Monday:  Grilled Chicken Caesar Wraps
Tuesday:  Tri-Tip Pasta Salad
Thursday: Grilled Chicken and Summer Squash Salad
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Dinner Out


Sunday, June 5, 2011

Cheesy Spaghetti and Menu Plan

With a day and a half left of school, I am getting ready to get back to my favorite ways to entertain myself; namely cooking, sewing, scrapbooking and shopping!  I thought this week, I'd share a favorite recipe from my childhood.  My mom used to make this when we were kids.  Make this when other people are around to share, because if you make it by yourself, there will be no leftovers, not that I'm speaking from experience or anything!  This is one of my favorite comfort foods.  It has almost all my favorite foods in it; cheese, garlic and pasta.  How can you go wrong with those?    I've changed the recipe a little over the years, but this is ultimate comfort food!


1 lb box spaghetti (I used fresh spaghetti)
1 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp fresh parsley
1 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp milk

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain pasta and return to cooking pot.  Add cheese and other ingredients and mix until cheese is melted and distributed throughout the pasta.  

Yep, I think its the easiest recipe I've ever posted here!  I had a craving for it last weekend, and when I posted it on Facebook, I had 3 friends ask me for the recipe, so there you go!  Its definitely a cold day, comfort food type recipe.  (In my beautiful, sunny California right now, it feels like January!) Enjoy!



Sunday: Spinach and Roasted Red Pepper Lasagna
Monday: Spicy Peanut Noodles and chicken strips
Tuesday: Macaroni and Cheese
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: Turkey Burgers with turkey bacon and avocado
Friday: homemade pizza

I'll be linking to Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwathering Monday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,  Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, What's on the Menu Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, and What's for Dinner?