Mediterranean Grilled Salmon Kabobs

 

What You'll Need:

1 2lb salmon fillet
1/3 cup of olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon of cumin 
1 teaspoon of thyme
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 teaspoon of dill
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
1/4 teaspoon of coriander
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1 large zucchini 
3 lemons
1 small red onion
2/3 cup of grape tomatoes 

What You'll Need to Do:

Remove the skin from the salmon fillet and chop into 1-2 inch chunks.
Juice two of the lemons and slice the other discarding the seeds.
Thinly slice the zucchini and red onion.
Add cubed salmon, lemon juice, slice vegetables, sliced lemon, tomatoes, olive oil, and spices in a large bowl.
Toss to combine. 
Cover with foil and place the  bowl in the fridge from 20 minutes to 2 hours (your choice!).
Spray six 12-inch metal skewers with cooking spray.
Add salmon, lemon slices, tomatoes, and sliced vegetables to the skewers in an alternating fashion.
Spray grill will cooking spray and preheat to 350 degrees F.
Add kabobs to grill once heated.
Cook 3-5 minutes on each side.
Remove from the grill and enjoy!

serves: 4 / prep time: 15 minutes / marinade time: 20-120 minutes / cook time: 6-10 minutes

Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup

Another simple and delicious soup recipe! Be sure to check out my favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup recipe!

What You'll Need:

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups of carrots, sliced
4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 1/4 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast

9 cups of chicken broth

9 ounces of cheese tortellini pasta

1/4 to 1/3 cup of heavy cream

1/2 cup of fresh baby spinach leaves

2 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons of dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper

1 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of pepper

What You'll Need to Do:

Place a large stockpot over medium heat.

Add the olive oil and chopped onions to the pan.

Sauté for 3 minutes to soften.

Then add chopped bell pepper, carrots, and garlic.

Sauté another 3 minutes.

Add whole, raw chicken breasts, chicken broth, dried thyme, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper to the pot.

Lower the heat and simmer 15 minutes or until the chicken in cooked through.

Remove the chicken and set aside.

Turn heat back to medium.

With broth still simmering, stir in the tortellini.

Chop or shred chicken and place back in the soup.

Turn off the heat once tortellini is cooked through (10-15 minutes).

Stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream, spinach, and parsley.

Add more cream if desired.

Taste. Add additional salt and pepper.

Serve and ENJOY!

10 Kitchen Tools for The Great British Bake-Along

The new season of The Great British Bake Off kicks off the in US on Netflix on Friday (with a new episode every following Friday)! Whether you want to test your skills with molton puddings and arlettes or start with soda bread or Chelsea buns you'll want a few tools to add to your kitchen!

 BAKEWARE SET

A bakeware set is a must-have for a baker of any skill level. Choose a set that comes with different sized and shaped cake tins and that includes a muffin tray, baking sheets, and a loaf pan.

APRON

Choose a fun apron that matches your personality and protects you clothes from any baking mishaps or disasters! I suggest a Union Jack apron in a nod to The Bake Off!

DIGITAL KITCHEN SCALE

Exact measurement of ingredients is the key to any bake. Use the scale to get the correct amount for a show-stopping end result!

STAND MIXER

A stand mixer is a great for mutli-tasking. You can throw in the specified ingredients and let it mix while working on a different part of the recipe. It will also save you from using a lot of elbow grease! A KitchenAid mixer is an investment so look around for other stand mixer brands (that often include the attachments) that may be more in your budget.

COOLING RACKS

The Great British Bake Off contestants only get a set amount of time for their challenges. Cooling racks are key to bringing down the temperature of your creations so you can get to decorating quicker!

DIGITAL KITCHEN THERMOMETER

You'll need a kitchen thermometer if you plan to bake a game pie, temper chocolate, or make caramel (which the constants on the Bake Off often do). Choose an easy-to-read digital thermometer that multitasks for sweet and savory creations. 

DOUGH SCRAPER

Get a dough scraper for bread and pastry week (or anytime you try one of Paul Hollywood's famous bread recipes)! A dough scraper is used to manipulate raw dough and used to slice it. It also can be used to cleans surfaces on which the dough as been worked!

FROSTING SPATULA

A frosting spatula, commonly known in the baking world as a palette knife, is a utensil designed specially for spreading frosting (or any other substance) on to a flat surface. This tool will allow you to spread your icing quickly and evenly!

PIPING TOOLS

Piping tools are so important for putting on the finishing touches! You will want a set that includes piping bags and piping tips of many different shapes and sizes. Presentation is important on The Great British Bake Off!

CAKE STAND

You'll need something for presentation. Again, think about saving time! Go for a cake stand that pulls double duty - one with rotating capabilities - so you can ice and decorate easily and not to have to transfer the bake to present! 

Shop the tools for The Great British Bake-Along:

Quick and Easy Restaurant Style Salsa

A fresh tasting, simple salsa perfect for summer! 

This recipe is for hot salsa. If you like a more medium salsa sub Rotel Hot Diced Tomatoes and Habaneros with Rotel Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles or use Rotel Mild Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles for a mild salsa.

What You'll Need

28 oz can of diced tomatoes

15 oz of Rotel  Hot Diced Tomatoes and Habaneros

4 cloves of fresh minced garlic

1 tablespoon of honey

1/2 teaspoon of cumin

3/4 cup of cilantro, chopped and loosely packed

3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice (from about 1.5 medium sized limes)

1/4 to 1 teaspoon of salt

What You'll Need to Do

Place all ingredients expect for the salt in a blender or food processor.

Blend until well combined (about 1 minute).

If desired, add salt 1/4 teaspoon at a time until desired taste is achieved.

Refigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

ENJOY! 

What's Hap'pin'ing in Quarantine?

How is everyone doing in week... 5? 6? of quarantine? I've been staying sane with video chats with friends/coworkers and my sister, brother's wife, and cousin. My sister-in-law and I video chatted/watched that new Bachelor franchise show Listen to Your Heart together. Those shows are always more fun to watch with someone else. I'm looking forward to a virtual meeting with my book club tonight! Along with working on the blog I've been hitting up Pinterest! 

Since I've been watching The Great British Baking show I've been itching to make some stuff at home! However, it's really hard to get yeast, sugar, flour, and butter right now. Is anyone else having the same problem? When I do get my hands on some baking supplies I really want to make this cherry almond cake, cheddar zucchini bread, copycat Outback Steakhouse bread (honey wheat bushman bread), and Buckeye fudge.

This quarantine can be a bit stressful with not being able to see loved ones or not working. I'm thinking about trying a green tea detox bath!

I made pork loin using this recipe and it was so delicious! It was very flavorful, moist, and a hit with the husband!

My hair has gotten so long (which I looooove), but I like to have it pulled back at work so it stays out of the way. I'm tired of just twirling it up in a bun so I pinned the following styles to try when I get back to work:

Crafting can keep you going! I've been knitting (I'm at a very basic level) and I like crafting, but I'm not great at it. So I went to Pinterest to find some easy crafts that I can't screw up too badly! 

tutorial here

tutorial here
learn how to make your own stencils without a cutting machine here

What's been hap'pin'ing with you during quarantine?

Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

Whip up some warm, fluffy bread right at home with this easy recipe!

What You'll 'Knead':

3 cups of warm water

1 1/2 tablespoons of yeast (or 2 packets of yeast)

1/4 cup of shortening

1/4 cup of honey

1 tablespoon of salt

6 cups of whole wheat flour 

butter

What You'll 'Knead' to Do:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine warm water and yeast in a large bowl. 

Wait until dissolved and until yeast froths.

Add in flour one cup at a time until a soft dough forms. 

Knead and place the dough back in the bowl.

Cover the bowl with a cloth and let rise for 1 hour.

Knead the dough again.

Place in a greased loaf pan.

Let rise for another 1 hour.

Bake for 30 minutes or until brown on top.

Brush the top of the loaf with butter.

Bake an additional 2 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

Remove the loaf from the pan and let the loaf cool an additional 10 minutes.

Serve and ENJOY!

Hello, March.

March 2020 is bound to be epic.

First, March always starts off with a bang because our wedding anniversary is March 1! This year we celebrated 12 years!

Nick and I spent a lot of time together over the weekend and got out on Sunday for brunch! We tried a new-to-us place called Cherie Inn.

Nick looooves breakfast and this place had so many yummy options on the menu. The food did not disappoint and I especially loved my Mocha-Choca-Latte-Ya-Ya.

It was a really nice sunny day too!

Our anniversary is one of my favorite things to celebrate, but we went low key this year because later this month we are headed to Greece!

So, if you haven't heard, there's this thing called the coronavirus. Our tour is still on and we are still planning to go. I found a really good article from the Wall Street Journal about traveling during this time. We did receive an e-mail over the weekend stating those who have traveled from or visited China, South Korea, or Hong Kong within the 21 days prior to the tour may not got on the trip. We have a couple more weeks to go so think good thoughts, say some prayers, and put positive vibes out that nothing changes! 

Four Energy Giving Foods

I lack serious energy on Mondays and instead of turning to iced coffees and energy drinks, I've been trying to incorporate food that are naturally energy giving.

//1// Fortified Orange Juice

Fortified orange juice contains Vitamin D which is important for immunity and energy. Getting enough Vitamin D during the day might help you sleep better at night, and good night's sleep is key to feeling perky throughout the day!

//2// Bulgur Wheat

Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy, but you need to pick the right ones! Bulgar wheat is a whole-grain, high fiber carb that gets digested more slowly than low-fiber carbohydrates. That means energy is released over time and you feel energized longer. Bulger wheat is great on salads, mixed with vegetables, or as an alternative to rice!

//3// Shellfish

Oysters, clams, and mussels are a top source of iron. Iron helps transport oxygen around your body which is important for fighting fatigue. Lobster and shrimp are yummy too, but have less iron!

//4// Almonds

We often aren't getting enough magnesium! Not having enough magnesium can make even the simplest tasks really tough. A half of a cup of almonds gives you 1/3 of the daily intake of magnesium we need!

Easy Blueberry Muffins

What You'll Need:

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

3/4 cup of granulated sugar 

1/4 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/3 cup of canola oil

1 large egg

1/2 cup of milk

1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of blueberries, fresh or frozen (do not thaw frozen)

What You'll Need to Do:

Heat oven to 400 Fahrenheit.

Line 12 muffins/cupcake cups.

Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder together in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, oil, egg, and vanilla extract.

Add wet mixture to dry ingredients using a fork to combine.

Fold in blueberries.

Divide the batter equally between muffin cups.

Bake 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Pub Grub Bangers and Mash

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The March 17 celebration started in 1631 when the Church of Ireland established a Feast Day honoring St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland who died around the 5th century. The celebration has changed a lot in the last 12 centuries! Try a traditional Irish and British dish this year to go along with a pint of green beer or Guinness! 

What You'll Need:

8 large Russet potatoes, peeled and quartered

2 tablespoon of unsalted butter

1/4 - 1/2 cup of whole milk

1 1/2 pounds of beef sausage

1/2 cup of chopped onions

1 teaspoon of rosemary

1 teaspoon of oregano

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup of mushroom, sliced

1 (.75 once) packet of brown gravy mix

1 cup of water

Salt

Pepper

What You'll Need to Do:

Preheat the over to 350 degrees.

Place potatoes in a saucepan with just enough water to cover.

Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook potatoes until tender, about 25 minutes.

Drain. Mash with 4 teaspoons of butter and enough milk to reach creamy consistency.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

In a large skillet over medium heat cook sausage until heating through, about 3-5 minutes.

Remove sausage from skillet and set aside.

Add remaining butter to skillet, add onion, rosemary, oregano, and garlic.

Stir until tender.

Whisk together gravy mix and water as direction on packet.

Add gravy mix to skillet.

Simmer, stirring constantly to form a thick gravy.

Pour half of the gravy mixture into a casserole dish.

Place sausages in a layer over the gravy.

Cover with remaining gravy.

Top with mashed potatoes.

Bake uncovered for 25 minutes or until potatoes are evenly browned.

Enjoy!

Recipe from The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook by Emily Ansara Baines.


For something a little more American check out my Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe!

5 Healthy Brunch Recipes

//1// Breakfast Banana Split from Art From My Table

//2// Ham and Cheese Egg Muffins from Adventures of Mel

//3// Poached Egg, Smoked Salmon, and Smashed Avocado from The Yum Yum Club

//4// Chai-Spiced Sweet Potato Pancakes by Ambition Kitchen

//5// Immunity Boosting Carrot Orange Juice from Choosing Chia

Spiced Eggnog Pancakes

What You'll Need

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 tablespoon of sugar

1 1/2  teaspoon on baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups of eggnog

2 tablespoons of melted butter

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

What You'll Need to Do

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Mix in eggs, eggnog, butter, and vanilla.

Cook on a griddle.

Top with your favorite toppings.

ENJOY!

What's Up Wednesday?! 6.27.18

Hey all! I've been in and out of blog land lately so I figured I'd update you on some fun haps!

My sister flew out to visit this past weekend and we started off with a bang. We went to the fair and saw a really, really horrible rodeo. We had fund playing carnival games and eating fair food tho!

 We had planned to go to the beach and go swimming in a friend's pool, but the weather wasn't overly warm or nice. We headed to the Downtown Market instead and shopped local vendors and enjoyed a delicious lunch!

We saw the movies Adrift and Tag (both of which I recommend), got pedicures, played some Guess Who?, and celebrated Nick's THIRTY FIFTH birthday with a strawberry rhubarb pie on Sunday!

Whenever my sister visit she always pranks me. It started years ago when we pranked my dad by stealing all the underwear out of his suit case. My dad retaliated by writing on me with a Sharpie. This year my sister she put Prince William in my bed. I was pretty surprised, but can't say I hated it. Who wouldn't share their bed with a prince? 

HAPPY HUMP DAY!