Oct
2014

Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Soups
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Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!
Fall is here! I am ready for cool, crisp mornings… and soup! I made a pot of Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup yesterday, and it was really good!

We’re had a gorgeous summer here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, but I am really enjoying the cooling air, the trees beginning to turn into their Fall colors, etc. There’s just something about Fall that calls for a large pot of delicious smelling soup cooking away on the stove.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How I Came Up With This Recipe For Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup

Yesterday I was in the mood for a yummy, Italian-inspired Tuscan chicken vegetable soup. I’ve seen many recipes online for Tuscan Soup over the years (trust me, there’s a bazillion of them). Because of that, I had a basic idea of what items COULD go into this soup. I I ended up not using any ONE particular recipe, because I decided to simply create my own version. Guess what? We LOVED it!!!!

Seriously, people, we LOVED this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup! Success! Lots of “good-for you-veggies”, cannelini beans, chicken, and spices in a light Italian broth produces one great pot of soup!

Can You Make This Soup Vegetarian?

If you wish to make this a vegetarian friendly soup, it is easy! I typically use chicken broth and chicken in this soup when I make it. However, this soup tastes just as good using vegetable broth and NO chicken (if you’re vegetarian).

A bowl of the Tuscan chicken vegetable soup, ready to eat!

The Tuscan chicken vegetable soup was fun to make, because I was able to use some of the veggies I grew in our garden. These home-grown veggies included onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, basil, carrots, kale and spinach! Of course, all those ingredients can also be found at your local grocery store!

All that said, this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup is an easy recipe to prepare, and is absolutely delicious! I sure hope you’ll try it. Serious… you just gotta try this soup, because it is so yummy! Throw on a warm sweater, some sweatpants, turn on some great music, and make a pot of this soup. While you’re at it, enjoy the beauty of this glorious Fall season! Enjoy!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. These recipes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signatureRecipe Source: My brain. In “Fall” mode.

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Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

Category: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Tuscan chicken vegetable soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 194 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts , cooked and cubed
  • 7 cups chicken broth (may substitute vegetable broth, if desired)
  • 1/2 cup onion , chopped
  • 3 carrot stalks , sliced thinly
  • 3 celery stalks , sliced thinly
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 small zucchini , sliced thinly
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup kale , chopped (stems removed) (if omitting, double the spinach quantity!)
  • 1 cup baby spinach , chopped
  • 1 can cannellini beans , drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt & pepper , to taste (may have to add more)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup tomato paste
  • Parmesan cheese , grated (for garnish if desired)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot, saute the onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and zucchini in olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken broth and cooked, cubed chicken to soup pot. Now add the salt & pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, and garlic powder to season the soup. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

  2. Add tomato paste, Mix well to combine. Add cannellini beans, kale and spinach. Season again with salt & pepper to taste, if necessary. Cook on low for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. When ready, ladle hot soup into bowls, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, and serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tip: Use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for the fastest way to make this recipe.

*I boiled the chicken breasts in water for 45 minutes earlier in the day... then used them later in this recipe. Whatever works best for you is the bottom line.

Nutrition Facts
Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 194 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 24mg8%
Sodium 1556mg68%
Potassium 826mg24%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 7035IU141%
Vitamin C 44.1mg53%
Calcium 116mg12%
Iron 3.4mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

 

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Sep
2014

Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern, Sauces and Dressings
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Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.

Do you cook with chicken often? I sure do!  The recipe I want to share today with you is for Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken. This recipe is delightfully GOOD. An added benefit is that it’s low in calories (under 200 per serving), so it’s a win-win in my book!

My favorite food to eat is Mexican food. I love the flavors in most Mexican-inspired dishes, which is why I really like this one. Pan-seared Mexican chicken has great flavor, from spices like cumin, chili powder, garlic, oregano and lime juice. YUM!

The recipe for pan-seared Mexican chicken is easy to prepare. I have modified it slightly from a recipe I found on Skinnytaste.com a while ago.

If you can mix up a marinade, add chicken to the marinade, then cook it, you can make this delicious chicken! Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

It’s Easy To Make Marinated Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken!

Marinate the chicken breasts for at least half an hour. TIP: The chicken tastes even better if you let it marinate all day! If you have the time, go for all day marinating.

As you can see in the photo below, I only made two small chicken breasts, since there was only two of us eating this meal.

Chicken breasts are marinated before cooking.

Time To Cook The Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken Breasts!

Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray OR add a Tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken breasts.

You can see in the photo below the little pieces of minced garlic on each piece. There’s a lot of flavor saturated on those chicken breasts!

The marinated chicken breasts are pan-seared in a hot skillet.

Cook each side of the pan-seared Mexican chicken until it is golden brown, and cooked through. This usually will take about 4-8 minutes per side depending on the chickens thickness.

The internal temperature of the cooked chicken should be at 165°F. when the chicken breasts are finished cooking.

Two of the marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken breasts cook in a skillet.

Add the reserved batch of marinade plus 1/4 cup water to the skillet, halfway through cooking the second side of the chicken breasts.

Cook the pan-seared Mexican chicken in the marinade for 3-4 minutes (until cooked through). Spoon the pan drippings over the chicken as it cooks. Once done, the chicken is ready to serve!

Serve The Pan-Seared Marinated Chicken

This pan-seared Mexican chicken recipe is to prepare, and it’s delicious! We enjoy this chicken, and usually serve it with white steamed rice on the side.

You might also enjoy topping the cooked chicken breasts with some pico de gallo salsa as a garnish! That really takes the flavor up another notch!

Finished cooking, the pan-seared Mexican chicken has darkened in color.

Hope you enjoy these tasty (and easy) pan-seared Mexican chicken breasts! They are really easy to prepare, and have good flavor!

Thanks for stopping by today, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find all of my chicken recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few of those recipes include:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signatureRecipe Adapted from: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/08/grilled-chicken-with-black-bean-mango.html

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Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
17 mins
 
Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: pan-seared Mexican chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 140 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 ounces each)
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 6 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 limes, JUICE OF
  • 1/4 cup water
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Season chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper. Place chicken breasts in large bowl.

  2. In separate bowl, mix together minced garlic, cumin, oregano, and lime juice. Pour HALF of the marinade sauce over chicken. Reserve the other half of  marinade for later.

  3. Coat chicken with marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at LEAST half an hour. (The longer the chicken marinates, the better the flavor!)

  4. Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray. Heat on medium high until very hot. Once skillet is hot, place marinated chicken into skillet. They should sizzle when added to skillet. Discard marinade that the chicken was in. Cook chicken 3-4 minutes, then turn to other side. Halfway through cooking second side of chicken, add the reserved marinade, plus 1/4 cup water to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 additional minutes, continually spooning sauce over the top of chicken breasts. This will coat the chicken and will help to darken the color. Cook chicken until cooked all the way through.

  5. When chicken is done, remove from skillet. If desired, serve with pico de gallo as a garnish. Serve chicken with rice, or your favorite side dish. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Caloric calculation was made based on using a 4 ounce small boneless, skinless chicken breast per serving. Larger portions of chicken will have more calories.

Nutrition Facts
Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken
Amount Per Serving (1 (4 ounce) breast)
Calories 140 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 134mg6%
Potassium 455mg13%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 45IU1%
Vitamin C 6.4mg8%
Calcium 26mg3%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.

 

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Sep
2014

My Heart Is Full… So Are My Pantry Shelves!

categories: Canning And Preserving, From Our Veggie Garden
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I took a good look at our canned and dried food pantry yesterday and was overcome with thankfulness for the blessing of abundance. I know lots of “serious canners” have LOTS and LOTS of canned goods in their pantries, so this would seem small, but for us, this is more than enough for our family and some of our friends to enjoy the bounty of summer!My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Up until this summer, the only canning I had done was making jams and jellies for our family’s needs, and to give as gifts for friends. I LOVE to give baskets of homemade jams and goodies to friends at Christmas. This summer I decided to learn more about canning and dehydrating.I did a lot of researching and reading up on canning and dehydrating foods, and then put that learning into practice. Baby steps…

Because we have a small raised bed garden in our back yard  and the fact that I bought a pressure canner (with birthday gift cards), I can now preserve a lot of what I grow in more ways than I was able to before. So… it is now September, and we are blessed to have “more than enough”. While I am absolutely in no way a “doomsday prepper”, it does feel good to know that we have canned goods in storage. It’s very convenient to pull a jar of home grown food off the shelf when we need something quick like salsa, veggies, jam, etc. (haven’t purchased jam in about 5 years!).

Canning some of our own home-grown food also saves us money, as we don’t have to purchase as much “stuff” at the store. Plus I LOVE to be able to give away a lot of the canned goods I “prepared with love” to our friends. For me, it’s a matter of being frugal and wise with what God has provided… and being able to bless others, as well. Now THAT’s a win-win situation.

My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Besides having produce and fruit available all summer to eat just by going out to our little backyard garden and gathering it,  I was also able to preserve from our garden (by canning OR dehydrating). Food such as strawberries, blueberries, green beans, tomatoes, onions, pickles, garlic, basil, flat leaf parsley, thyme, oregano, peppermint, sage, parsley, zucchini, coriander, rosemary, carrots, and peppers.

I was also able to preserve (by canning or dehydrating, or freezing) fruit that I picked at local U-Pick Farms or that I was given by friends ): apples, peaches, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, more blueberries, asian pears, etc.

My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks! My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks! My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks! My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks!I feel very fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country (the great Pacific Northwest) with a great summer climate and adequate rainfall where I can grow, pick, and preserve the bounty God has provided. I realize that it is all a gift… others might not be as fortunate, due to life circumstances or geographical location, and I thank God for this blessing.

I worked really hard this summer processing our garden’s abundance (even after giving away a lot of it to family and neighbors), and now as a result, for the next year or so my family and friends can enjoy the “fruits of my labors” by simply opening a jar! I am so filled with thankfulness for God’s provision and blessing… my heart is full…and now my pantry is full, also. For all of it… I AM GRATEFUL!

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Sep
2014

Chocolate Creme Brulee

categories: Chocolate, Desserts
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Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.
My husband LOVES Creme Brulee. He also LOVES chocolate. So when I found this recipe for Chocolate Creme Brulee, how could I go wrong? Chocolate AND Creme Brulee???… whoa. That’s a winning combo, in my book!

I found the original recipe on Pinterest a while ago, and finally decided to try a chocolate version of this classic dessert. My husband had just finished taking a few more continuing ed. classes to renew his Real Estate Appraisal License once again. I wanted to celebrate with one of his favorite desserts! He was pleasantly surprised… and enjoyed these very much!

If you like creme brulee, I highly recommend this delicious chocolate version. Perhaps you would like to make a non-chocolate version? Check out one of my recipe for Classic Creme Brulee! I think you will love it!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Do I Need Special Equipment To Make Chocolate Creme Brulee?

This delicious treat is a nice and easy, yet impressive dessert to serve to those you love. I have a creme brulee set (a birthday present from years ago). I’ve given directions which include a way for you to make this without specialty pans. All you will need are four 6oz. ramekins and a cake pan (with sides).

To make the hardened sugar top, I use a chef’s kitchen blowtorch. That is not necessary, because you can also use your oven broiler to do this. The instructions are in the printable recipe.

Chocolate Creme Brulee Is Easy To Make

Making this treat is pretty easy! A chocolate custard-style base is cooked and then poured into ramekins and baked. Once baked, the desserts are refrigerated until very cold.

Here are 4 ramekins filled with chocolate creme brulee, straight out of the oven. They are now ready to refrigerate until they have fully chilled. Later we will sprinkle the top of each dish with granulated sugar and take a blow torch to them. THAT’S where the magic happens!

Four ramekins of brulee, out of the oven after baking.

The Crisp Sugar Top Is Fun To Crack Into On Creme Brulee

This dessert is so easy to prepare, and there’s nothing more fun than to crack into the hardened sugar “shell” on top. Granulated sugar is heated with a cook’s blowtorch and it forms a hard shell on top. Now to crack into it, and enjoy every bite!

The creme brulee has a hardened sugar topping.

See how the torched/broiled sugar topping cracks? Do you see all that delicious chocolate creme brulee underneath it? YUM.

Cracking through the sugar crust, to see the chocolate creme brulee underneath.

Sure hope you enjoy this delicious chocolate creme brulee dessert! Have a GREAT day, and stop by again soon!

Looking for More DESSERT Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of wonderful dessert recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://www.melangery.com/2013/02/chocolate-creme-brulee-have-most.html

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Chocolate Creme Brulee
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate creme brulee
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 674 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 3 oz. bittersweet chocolate , finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar (For garnishing the top of the cooked creme brulee)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a full boil. While the water is boiling, prepare the recipe.

  2. Place the finely chopped chocolate pieces into a heatproof bowl.
  3. Add the whipping cream, 1/4 cup sugar, and the salt to a saucepan. Stir and cook over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes (until you can see the steam beginning to rise). Do not boil. Remove the hot cream mixture and pour it over the chocolate pieces. Let it stand for a couple minutes, then whisk it to combine. Mixture should be smooth.

  4. Beat the egg yolks and vanilla in a medium sized bowl until smooth. Slowly and in a very thin stream, pour (just a little at a time) the hot chocolate mixture into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly. You don't want the eggs to scramble, so do this slowly and stir continually. Once mixture is fully incorporated and smooth, pour the mixture into four 6 oz. ramekins.

  5. Using A Standard Creme Brulee Pan And Rack? Prepare the recipe. Place ramekins and rack in pan. Place the pan onto a middle baking rack. Now carefully pour the boiling water into the pan (but NOT into the ramekins!). Pour the boiling water in the pan until it reaches about half way up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the entire pan with aluminum foil. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. The custard should just be "set" at this point.

  6. Preparing This Without A Creme Brulee Pan And Rack? Take a dish towel and get it damp. Lay it in the bottom of a baking pan (with sides). The damp towel is there so ramekins don't move around while baking. Place ramekins on towel in pan. Now carefully pour the boiling water into the pan (but NOT into the ramekins!). Place the pan onto a middle baking rack. Pour the boiling water in the pan until it reaches about half way up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the entire pan with aluminum foil. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. The custard should just be "set" at this point.

  7. Remove baking pan from oven; and remove ramekins from pan. Chill ramekins for 4-6 hours (can even chill overnight!), to ensure they are fully "set" and cold. Right before serving, sprinkle 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar over the top of each ramekin. Use a kitchen torch to brown/crystallize the top OR place under the oven broiler to brown (about 2-3 minutes). If broiling, keep a close eye on the dessert, so it won't burn. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Creme Brulee
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 674 Calories from Fat 495
% Daily Value*
Fat 55g85%
Saturated Fat 33g206%
Cholesterol 310mg103%
Sodium 63mg3%
Potassium 224mg6%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 32g36%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 1945IU39%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 108mg11%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.

 

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Sep
2014

Banana Crumb Muffins

categories: Breads, Breakfast, Muffins
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You’re gonna love these delicious Banana Crumb Muffins, with a surprise cream cheese filling! Easy to make, they will be a family favorite breakfast or snack!You're gonna love these delicious Banana Crumb Muffins, with a surprise cream cheese filling! Easy to make, they will be a family favorite breakfast or snack!What’s a girl to do when her husband is out of state at a seminar and she can’t sleep? Make these amazing Banana Crumb Muffins (with a surprise cream cheese filling) at 5:00 AM for breakfast… that’s what!

I found this recipe for banana crumb muffins on a blog that I love… “The Café Sucré Farine”, and thought I would give these muffins a try. I highly recommend this website and it’s author, Chris Scheuer. She is very creative, and posts wonderful recipes, along with great photography by her husband, Scott!

Back to my story… I woke up very early after only 3 hours sleep  and decided to whip up these muffins. They sounded wonderful, and I loved the idea of cream cheese filling inside the muffins, along with a crumbly topping.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

If You Enjoy Banana Bread, You Will Enjoy Banana Crumb Muffins

I compare these banana crumb muffins to a really, REALLY good banana nut bread… on steroids. They are soooo delicious!

The muffins are made with a layer of banana batter, a surprise layer of cream cheese filling, and another layer of banana batter. For a finishing touch, the banana crumb muffins are crowned with a brown sugar, cinnamon and pecan crumb mixture on top. Here’s a photo of the banana crumb muffins, hot and  fresh from the oven… looking GOOD!

Banana muffins with crumb topping on wire rack

Once the paper baking wrapper has been removed, you can see the three layers, plus the crumb topping!

Side view of banana crumb muffin on plate

My favorite way to eat these delicious banana crumb muffins is warm, with a touch of butter… Yum! You are gonna LOVE these muffin treats!

Banana crumb muffins cut in half with butter inside

By the way, if you enjoy muffins, you might enjoy other delicious recipes on my blog for Blueberry Crumble Muffins, Cranberry Orange Muffins, or Triple Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, to name a few! Be sure and check out the Recipe Index with ALL of my blog recipes! The Recipe Index is located at the top of the page.

I enthusiastically recommend these moist, delicious Banana Crumb Muffins for breakfast OR a light snack! The recipe as written makes 12 muffins, and they freeze well. Hope you will give them a try! Have a GREAT day, friends! Get in that kitchen and whip up a batch of these muffins. You won’t regret it!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://thecafesucrefarine.com/2011/04/banana-crumb-muffins/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Banana Crumb Muffins
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
18 mins
Total Time
33 mins
 

You're gonna love these delicious Banana Crumb Muffins, with a surprise cream cheese filling! Easy to make, they will be a family favorite breakfast or snack!

Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana crumb muffins
Servings: 12 muffins
Calories Per Serving: 283 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Muffins:
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 very ripe bananas , mashed
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg , slightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup butter , melted
For Cream Cheese Filling:
  • 4 oz. cream cheese , softened
  • 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 egg , slightly beaten
For Crumble Topping:
  • 2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons old-fashioned oats
  • 2 Tablespoons finely chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 Tablespoons butter , melted
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with 12 muffin wrappers or spray lightly with a non stick spray.
  2. Prepare the muffin batter in a large bowl: Mix the 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, powder and salt together. In a separate bowl, beat the bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and mix only until ingredients are combined and moist. Do not over mix. Set aside.
  3. Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, egg and vanilla. Mix these ingredients until well blended. Set aside.
  4. Make the Crumb Topping: Mix together brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and butter in a small bowl. Use a fork to combine; mix until the ingredients becomes small crumbs. Set aside.
  5. To prepare/layer the muffins: Spoon half of the muffin batter into the bottom of the prepared muffin cups. Top muffin batter with a Tablespoon of the cream cheese filling. Top cream cheese filling with the remaining half of muffin batter. There should be three layers: muffin batter, cream cheese filling, muffin batter. Sprinkle the top of each muffin with crumb topping to cover. Total of four layers!
  6. Bake the muffins in a 375 degree oven for 18-20 minutes (mine took 20), or until a toothpick inserted into middle of the muffin comes out clean. Remove pan to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

**TIP: Once you remove the muffins from oven, If the muffin is spilling over the top of the pan, simply take a butter knife and gently but quickly push the muffin back into the pan on all of it's sides. This tends to round the muffin off and make for a prettier presentation. The recipe's author suggested this and I did it... it works!

Nutrition Facts
Banana Crumb Muffins
Amount Per Serving (1 muffin)
Calories 283 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 56mg19%
Sodium 292mg13%
Potassium 189mg5%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 400IU8%
Vitamin C 2.6mg3%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You're gonna love these delicious Banana Crumb Muffins, with a surprise cream cheese filling! Easy to make, they will be a family favorite breakfast or snack!

 

 

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Sep
2014

Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana

categories: Chicken, Italian, Main Dishes
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Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!Mom's Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!

I love my Mom’s recipe for Chicken Parmigiana. Really, really, really love it. I love my Mom more, but that’s a completely different story. Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana is an absolutely fantastic Italian dish!

My mom first made this classic Italian dish for me YEARS ago. I have no idea where she got the recipe… all I know is that it is fantastic! I’ve made Mom’s chicken parmigiana for years now, and it never disappoints!

About 10 years ago I prepared this delicious meal for about 35 hungry friends at a retreat, and it received rave reviews!

Mom’s chicken parmigiana is actually pretty easy to prepare, and the smell in the kitchen as the sauce is being cooked… oh my goodness! The chicken is “fork tender” and full of good old Italian flavor! The pasta sauce is totally easy to prepare, as well.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Making Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana Is Fairly Easy

Flatten boneless, skinless chicken breasts to about 1/2″ thick, then season with salt and pepper. Dip the chicken pieces in an egg/milk mixture, then an Italian bread crumbs mixture. Brown the breaded chicken breasts in a skillet, in butter and olive oil.

Make a homemade Italian-style tomato sauce (it’s simple). Layer a bit of the sauce in the bottom of baking dish before adding the chicken on top. Spoon more sauce on top of each piece of chicken.

Top the chicken with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and then bake Mom’s chicken parmigiana for about 20 minutes.

Combine the remaining Italian style tomato sauce with cooked angel hair pasta (or spaghetti noodles), and serve, alongside the chicken. Mom’s chicken parmigiana is perfectly cooked, tender, and tastes delicious!

Pasta and asparagus are served alongside Mom's chicken parmigiana.

I’ve never taken photos of Mom’s chicken parmigiana while actually preparing it (my bad), so unfortunately you only get to see the finished product. Trust me, this dish is easy to make! If you can follow basic directions, you can do this!

You just might thank me for the amazing aromas in your kitchen as you cook this meal. Hope you will “get your Italian on” and give this classic Italian dish a try. I think you’re gonna love Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of chicken recipes, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
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Author's signatureRecipe Source: Mom (original source is unknown)

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Mom's Chicken Parmigiana
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

Mom's Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: chicken parmigiana
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 924 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
  • 28 ounces large can Italian chopped tomatoes ,do not drain
  • 1/2 medium brown onion , finely chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves , minced
  • 6-7 leaves fresh basil leaves (1/4 cup), chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning (or more, to taste)
  • Salt , to taste
  • 8 ounces Angel Hair Pasta (enough for 4 small servings)
For Chicken Parmigiana:
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts
  • salt and pepper (to season chicken breasts)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups Italian bread crumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1½ cups mozzarella cheese , or four 1/2 inch slices
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Prepare the sauce: Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet. Saute the chopped onion and crushed garlic in the olive oil and butter for a few minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the can of Italian tomatoes. Cook for approximately 10 minutes until heated through. Add the chopped basil and Italian seasoning. Remove from heat.

  3. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet between layers of plastic wrap or a large zip lock bag until thinner (the chicken, not YOU). They should end up being about 1/2 inch thick, if possible.

  4. Put two eggs in medium sized bowl; beat slightly. Add milk; stir to combine. Place Italian bread crumbs onto a dinner plate and spread to cover plate.

  5. Salt and pepper chicken breasts. Dredge one chicken breast at a time into the egg/milk mixture. Let excess egg mixture drip off back into bowl. Dredge each piece of chicken into Italian bread crumbs to coat all sides of chicken. Place each piece of chicken onto a baking sheet once completely coated.

  6. Heat butter and olive oil in large skillet. Once oil is very hot, add the chicken breasts (may have to do this in 2 batches due to size of chicken). Brown chicken for 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from skillet. Chicken does not have to be fully cooked at this point, because it will bake in oven.

  7. Place a thin layer of prepared pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan (just enough to keep chicken from sticking... save the rest for the the top of chicken and the pasta!). Lay the browned chicken breasts in single layer on top of the sauce, then sprinkle chicken with grated parmesan cheese. Place a large spoonful of pasta sauce on top of the chicken breast, followed by the slice of mozzarella cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly on top.

  8. While chicken is baking, prepare angel hair pasta, per package directions. Add remaining sauce to cooked pasta, and serve alongside the chicken parmigiana when done. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Mom's Chicken Parmigiana
Amount Per Serving (1 breast + pasta)
Calories 924 Calories from Fat 342
% Daily Value*
Fat 38g58%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 236mg79%
Sodium 1490mg65%
Potassium 1203mg34%
Carbohydrates 88g29%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 56g112%
Vitamin A 1155IU23%
Vitamin C 23.2mg28%
Calcium 540mg54%
Iron 6.6mg37%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Mom's Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!

 

 

 

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Sep
2014

Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles

categories: Appetizers, Canning And Preserving, From Our Veggie Garden
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Make Garlic Dill Pickles the “old-fashioned way” or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer’s bounty.Make Garlic Dill Pickles the "old-fashioned way" or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer's bounty.

Well… here’s our new favorite pickle… these homemade Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles!  Even if you’ve never made pickles before… have no fear! You will only need a few things to make some yummy pickles. These jars of pickles, once sealed properly, will be shelf stable for quite awhile. Then when you need a new jar of pickles, just pull a jar out of your pantry, refrigerate, then enjoy! They are so good!

I grew our own pickling cucumbers this summer. I am so glad I did. Last summer my friend Sandy gave me some of her pickling cucumbers from her huge garden to make pickles. It inspired me to try growing them this year in our little backyard garden… so I did! I only grew 3 plants, but it was more than enough for about 12 or 13 jars of pickles.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Growing pickling cucumbers to make crunchy garlic dill pickles.
Yahoo! Of course you can always find pickling cucumbers (you know, the cute little ones grown especially for pickle-making!) at your local grocery store or a Farmer’s Market when they’re in season and plentiful during the hot summer months.

Making Garlic Dill Pickles The Old-Fashioned Way

Okay… back to the recipe. This method is the old-fashioned way to make these pickles. Basically you slice the ends off the cukes (yes, both ends), slice them into spears, chips (horizontally) or into sandwich slices (vertically), making sure you have enough cut slices to fill 6 pint-sized cleaned and hot canning jars (12 oz.). Add a bit of minced garlic and dill seed.

Let the jars sit in a 250 degree oven (I place filled jars onto a tea towel lined cookie sheet) until they are hot and ready to fill with a boiling hot brine. Then when everything is really hot (including the lids and seals heated separately), you pour the brine over the pickle slices, remove air bubbles, wipe the rims to make sure you have a good clean seal, pop the lids and rings on, and seal to fingertip tightness.

Once the lids and bands are on, invert the jars for 5 minutes, then turn right side up again. Let the jars cool on the counter (on a towel, to prevent breakage). You should hear the seals “pop” to indicate the jars have safely sealed, while they cool. If the jars do not seal properly, they must be refrigerated, as they cannot be stored safely for any length of time in a pantry.

**Then comes the hard part. You have to let the pickles “cure” for about 2 weeks before you open the jar and taste them. IT IS WORTH THE WAIT! Trust me.

NOTE: **This old-fashioned process (above) has worked on every jar I’ve made of these pickles. HOWEVER,  if you wish to can the pickles using a water bath process (which is the safest, most current and recommended process for canning safety), see below.

Canning The Garlic Dill Pickles In A Water Bath Canner

For the most current and recommended method to safely can these pickles, follow USDA recommended guidelines. Pint jars of the garlic dill pickles are filled, leaving 1/2″ headspace, air bubbles are removed, rims cleaned, etc. The jars should be processed in a hot water bath canner for 15 minutes.

Follow all current safe canning guidelines to prepare, jars, rings, and flat lids, if you will be canning these pickles in a water bath.

Jars of processed crunchy garlic dill pickles cooling down after processing.
I made long sandwich slices and round hamburger slices…

I made pickles (using both methods) this summer, and I’ve already made several new batches as more of my cucumbers have ripened. I  keep any extra brine I had leftover (if I wasn’t making the full recipe) in the refrigerator and then use it within a couple weeks for a new batch.

 These pickles are really very easy to make, and I just KNOW you’re gonna love them. By the way, if you enjoy pickles, be sure to check out my recipe for delicious bread and butter pickles!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Author's signatureRecipe Source: unknown

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4 from 3 votes
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Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Make Garlic Dill Pickles the "old-fashioned way" or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer's bounty.

Category: Condiments
Cuisine: American
Keyword: garlic dill pickles
Servings: 6 pints
Calories Per Serving: 166 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup canning salt
  • 4 1/2 cups white vinegar
  • 8 cups water
  • 6 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 5 Tablespoons (approx.) dill seed (not dill weed, but dill seed)
  • enough pickling cucumbers to fill 6 pint canning jars (depending on size, approx.18-20)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Wash canning jars in hot, soapy water. Place the clean jars upside down onto a tea towel lined cookie sheet (with edges) in the oven to keep them hot.
  2. Place flat lid seals and rings in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. Wash the cucumbers, slice a piece off of each end (stem and bottom) of the cucumber, and discard, then slice your cucumbers into spears, chips, or lengthwise into sandwich slices. Pack the pickle slices into the hot jars (be careful when removing hot jars. I recommend canning tongs to hold the jars securely). I find it helpful to turn the jar sideways and slip the sandwich slices in... it helps them to stand up better in the jar.
  4. Add a teaspoon of minced garlic and 3/4 Tablespoon of dill seeds to each jar.
  5. When jar is filled (I remove one jar at a time from oven), place filled jar back in oven while filling another jar. You want the jars to stay really hot so that when you add boiling brine, the jars will seal properly.
  6. In a large saucepan, heat the vinegar, canning salt and water to boiling, stirring to dissolve salt.
  7. While the vinegar/water/salt brine is coming to a boil, in a separate bowl pour some **almost to boiling** water (plain "not quite boiling" water, NOT the brine) over the canning lids and rings. Let them sit in the very hot water for 5 minutes to soften the rubber seals.
  8. Once brine is boiling, remove jars from oven (be sure to place hot jars on a tea towel to avoid breakage). Pour boiling liquid into each jar, filling to within 1/2 inch from top (pickles must be covered with brine). Remove the air bubbles in each jar by inserting a plastic knife or canning tool down the sides of each jar. Add more brine, if needed to cover pickles. Leave about 1/2 inch head space in jar. Quickly wipe the rims of each jar with a clean towel to make sure the rim is dry and clean. Place flat lid on, then screw down canning ring to finger tight. Immediately invert the jars on the towel. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then turn them right side up again. Listen for the clicking sound to know the jars have sealed.
  9. **If you want to water bath can the jars, once filled and jar lids and rings are tightened, place them in a water bath canner and process for 15 minutes, following USDA canning guidelines and manufacturer instructions for your canner..
  10. Once the jars are all processed and sealed, leave them alone on the tea towel to cool. As they cool, you should hear the "clicking sound" of the jars sealing while cooling. Once completely cooled and sealed properly, store them in a cool, dark pantry for two weeks (to let the brine fully incorporate into the pickles, then refrigerate jar and enjoy. You might want to label each jar with the date they will be "ready", so you will know when you can enjoy them!
Recipe Notes

From start to finish, the jars stay in the oven for about 20 minutes to make sure they are hot before adding the boiling brine. The last thing you want is to have the jar crack.
Once pickles have "cured" for two weeks and you are ready to bust into a jar of these, refrigerate the jar for several hours before opening...they are at their best cold!

Nutrition Facts
Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles
Amount Per Serving (1 pint jar of pickles)
Calories 166 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Sodium 9454mg411%
Potassium 1309mg37%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 650IU13%
Vitamin C 31.5mg38%
Calcium 236mg24%
Iron 3.1mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Make Garlic Dill Pickles the "old-fashioned way" or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer's bounty.

 

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Sep
2014

Date Roll Cookies

categories: Cookies, Desserts, Holidays!
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Date roll cookies are sweet, soft and chewy slice and bake cookies, featuring a simple rolled cookie dough with a cooked date and pecan filling.Date roll cookies are sweet, soft and chewy slice and bake cookies, featuring a simple rolled cookie dough with a cooked date and pecan filling.
My Mother-In-Law Elsie made these delicious, soft and chewy Date Roll Cookies all the time, and in her memory I decided to make them and post the recipe!

She always made them for her family, and she made them for her friends! Elsie traditionally made her date roll cookies for us at Christmas, and mailed them from whatever state she lived in at the time. These cookies are THE cookie I will always associate with her.  When I see them or the recipe, I cannot help but think of Elsie.

She’s been in heaven for a couple of years now, but I still make these date roll cookies occasionally (usually at Christmas time, in her honor). They are soft, chewy and delicious… and my husband and I love them. I hope you will, also!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Date Roll Cookies Are Easy To Prepare

A simple cookie dough is made and rolled out. A date and nut filling is cooked, then spread over the dough, and then it is rolled into log shapes. The dough logs for the date roll cookies are refrigerated until really firm, then the cookies are sliced and baked!

The date roll cookies are very easy to make… the length of time specified in the recipe below is inclusive of “chilling the dough” time. I usually make the dough in the morning, and come back to it later in the day to slice and bake. No big deal.

The date roll cookies are baked, and ready to eat!

I hope you will consider making these delicious date roll cookies. They are easy to make, and are really delicious, soft and chewy! Thank you for stopping by today, and I hope you will come back again soon. Have a GREAT day!

Looking For More COOKIE Recipes?

You can find all of my cookie recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of cookie recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: My mother-in-law (don’t have a clue where she got the recipe many, many years ago)

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Date Roll Cookies
Prep Time
2 hrs
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 10 mins
 
Date roll cookies are sweet, soft and chewy slice and bake cookies, featuring a simple rolled cookie dough with a cooked date and pecan filling.
Category: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: date roll cookies
Servings: 36 cookies (approx.)
Calories Per Serving: 215 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
  • 1 cup butter , melted, cooled to room temp
  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 eggs , beaten slightly
For the filling:
  • 1 pound dates , chopped
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. To prepare the filling: In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, cook the filling ingredients until soft and thick (the dates will break down as you cook). Stir the mixture constantly as you cook, so the filling won't burn. Remove from heat, but keep the mixture "warm" until ready to spread onto dough.

  2. To prepare the cookie dough: In a large bowl, mix the eggs with the melted, room temperature butter. Add the dry ingredients; mix well to combine thoroughly. Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured work surface, roll each half of the dough (one at a time) into a rectangle. Dough should be about 1/4 inch thick. Your dough will end up being 6-7 inches wide, as well. Shape into a distinct rectangle, using your fingers to shape the dough.

  3. Spread half of the warm (not hot!) date filling over the entire surface of the dough. Roll the dough up tightly starting from the long side of the dough. Once rolled into a log shape, carefully place the roll onto a baking sheet. Repeat process with other half of dough. Cover the two rolls with saran wrap or foil, and chill them in the refrigerator for an hour and a half. (At this point, if you want to save one of the rolls of dough for another time, simply wrap it in saran and foil; place back in refrigerator (will last for a couple weeks) or freezer (longer storage). This dough freezes well)

  4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice the dough roll into thin slices (1/4 - 1/2 inch). Place slices 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Don't overbake. When done, carefully remove baking sheet to a wire rack. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes, then remove from pan to the wire rack. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

**The long prep times included chilling the dough time.These only take a few minutes to make once dough is chilled.
Make as many or as few of these delicious cookies as you wish. If you want to make a few at a time, cut as many slices as you want; put the rest of the dough back in freezer or refrigerator. If freezing the dough, remember to thaw completely before baking, but slice dough while partially frozen for best results.

Nutrition Facts
Date Roll Cookies
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
Calories 215 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 179mg8%
Potassium 127mg4%
Carbohydrates 37g12%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 175IU4%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 22mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Date roll cookies are sweet, soft and chewy slice and bake cookies, featuring a simple rolled cookie dough with a cooked date and pecan filling.

 

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Sep
2014

Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix

categories: Mexican / Southwestern, Mixes (spices, etc.), Sauces and Dressings
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It’s easy to make up a large batch of taco seasoning mix- perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc. It's easy to make up a large batch of taco seasoning mix... perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc.
Years ago I got tired of buying the packages of commercially prepared seasoning mixes and started adding my own spices to ground beef, pork or chicken when we ate tacos or taco salads. Today I’d like show you how to make your own taco seasoning mix very easily.

I used to haul out various jars of spices each time I made it and then haul them all back to the cupboard when I was done. Then I found a “copycat” recipe (a copycat version of Lawry’s Taco Seasoning mix) in one of my “Top Secret Recipe” books by Todd Wilbur (I have several of his books and LOVE them).

I took his basic “recipe” for the mix, multiplied it by 12 and ended up with quite a nice supply of taco seasoning, which I store in an old spice canister.  Since we eat tacos quite often (they’re my FAVORITE), it’s handy to have a ready supply of seasoning mix around whenever I need it.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How Do You Season Meat With The Taco Seasoning Mix?

It’s easy, because all you do when you want to use it is to add 2/3 cup water to 3 Tablespoons of the mix and the pound of meat, cook for 7-10 minutes and bam! You’re done… and the meat tastes GREAT!

How easy is that? Sure is great to mix this taco seasoning mix all up ONCE and not have to haul all the spices out of the cupboard each and every time we have tacos! Hope you give it a try. It will save you some bucks and valuable time in the long run (and quite possibly a trip to the grocery store!) My photo is a bit blurry, but it’s the only one I took of the seasoning spices before mixing. Oh well.

Spices in bowl used to make the seasoning mix.

How Do You USE This Taco Seasoning Mix To Season Taco Meat?

Add 3 Tablespoons of the taco seasoning mix to browned/drained meat. This photo is using hamburger meat, but the taco seasoning mix is delicious on shredded chicken or pork, too!

The taco seasoning mix is added to a pound of browned hamburger meat.

Add 2/3 cup of water. Cook the taco mixture for 7-10 minutes, until the water has cooked down and been absorbed into the meat.  Now your taco meat is fully seasoned and ready to use!

Cooking the seasoned meat in a skillet, for tacos.

Use Taco Seasoning Mix On A Variety Of Meals

Ready to eat! This time we used the taco mix seasoning to make the seasoned ground beef for taco salads.YUM!

A taco salad was made, using the taco seasoning mix on the meat.

We use the taco seasoning mix all the time when we fix our tacos! The seasoning on the meat is wonderful, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy it, too.

The mix tastes great on the meat for homemade tacos.

I hope you will consider making up a batch of this taco seasoning mix to have around YOUR home. Truthfully, I’m pretty sure you will NOT regret it!

Looking For Other SPICE MIX Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A couple favorite spice mixes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix / The Grateful Girl Cooks!Recipe Source: “Even More Top Secret Recipes”, by Todd Wilbur, published by the Penguin Group, 2002 (pages. 118-119)

**The recipe I am posting is the original recipe for enough seasoning mix for one pound of meat. Multiply it for the quantity you wish to have on hand. I found it easiest to make a whole bunch (for 12 meals) at one time.

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Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
It's easy to make up a large batch of taco seasong mix... perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc.
Category: Seasonings
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: taco seasoning mix
Servings: 1 (3 Tablespoons)
Calories Per Serving: 59 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon minced onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground oregano
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. To prepare: Brown hamburger meat in a skillet until fully cooked. Drain the grease.
  3. Add the spice mix (or use 3 Tablespoons if you prepared quite a bit of the mix).
  4. Add 2/3 cup water to the meat and spice mixture. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low setting and cook, uncovered for 7-10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  5. Remove from heat. Spoon the seasoned meat into warm tortillas, taco shells, or onto a salad.
  6. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

NOTE: Quantity listed is equivalent to one envelope of store bought mix. Ingredients as listed when added to a pound of meat (hamburger meat, shredded pork or chicken) will make enough seasoned meat filling for 12 tacos (3 Tablespoons meat each).
*I multiplied the quantity by 12 to get a large quantity of seasoning mix.

Nutrition Facts
Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix
Amount Per Serving (1 (3 Tablespoons))
Calories 59
% Daily Value*
Sodium 1781mg77%
Potassium 144mg4%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 1785IU36%
Vitamin C 2.8mg3%
Iron 1.8mg10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!It's easy to make a large batch of taco seasoning mix - the perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc.

 

 

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Sep
2014

Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties

categories: Breakfast, Turkey
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It’s EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!It's EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!
So… in my never ending quest experimenting with new recipes, I decided to try making Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties from scratch. I found the recipe via Pinterest via Martha Stewart via Lucinda Scala Quinn’s book “Mad Hungry”. Did ya get all that? Ha Ha… it takes a village.

When I was growing up my Mom used to make eggs and sausage for us about once a week. She always made sausage patties by hand (using a one pound “chub” from her favorite “name brand”). As a “busy” adult, I usually end up buying link sausage instead of patties, the kind you simply “brown and serve”.

But, when I saw this recipe, I decided to see what making homemade breakfast sausage patties “from scratch” was all about. I knew I could control the ingredients and leave out some of the unpronounceable “add ins” typically found in mass produced name brand products for longer life.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Okay… How Do I Make Homemade Breakfast Sausage?

The original recipe called for ground pork (which is my personal favorite), but I had a pound of ground turkey that I was itching to use, so I substituted turkey in this recipe for a healthier version. The sausage patties turned out very good, and I would definitely make this recipe again. Hope you will give it a try!

First things first… get all the ingredients (spices) together to add to the ground meat. Let’s do this!

Spices for homemade sausage patties

After mixing the ingredients, form the sausage patties (with clean hands, of course!). Place them onto foil or wax paper after making each one.

Breakfast sausage patties formed in palm of hand

Cooking Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties

Place the homemade breakfast sausage patties in a lightly oiled, hot skillet. I cooked several sausages at a time, then repeated the process for the remaining sausage patties.

6 breakfast sausage patties cooking in skillet

Carefully turn the patties over about half way through cooking time and continue cooking until the homemade breakfast sausage patties are cooked all the way through..

Browned homemade breakfast sausage patties cooking in skillet.

Once done, transfer the cooked sausage patties to a paper towel so any extra grease is absorbed. Once they drain a bit, they are done, and ready to eat!

One of the homemade breakfast sausage patties, up close.

I prepared these homemade breakfast sausage patties one fine morning, and ended up using them to make sausage, egg and cheese biscuits. The sausage patty was added to a fluffy biscuit, along with sliced cheddar cheese and a fried egg. It was delicious!

If you enjoy breakfast sandwiches, I hope you will check out my recipes for:

How Many Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties Does This Make?

The recipe made 8 small sausage patties and only took about 25 minutes or so to make from start to finish!  I ended up freezing half of the cooked sausage patties, to save for another breakfast.

Breakfast sausage patty on biscuit with egg and cheese

Hope you will give this easy recipe for homemade breakfast sausage a try. The calorie calculation was based on using ground turkey for the sausage. The recipe is easily adapted for using ground pork, but the calorie count will be slightly higher.  Have a fantastic day, and be sure to check out ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

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Author's signatureRecipe Adapted from: http://www.marthastewart.com/341904/simple-homemade-sausage-patties

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
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Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

It's EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!

Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade breakfast sausage
Servings: 8 sausage patties
Calories Per Serving: 72 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground turkey or ground pork
  • 1 clove garlic , minced
  • 1 Tablespoon dried sage , crumbled
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried fennel , crushed
  • 1 pinch of ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large egg white
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (for cooking the sausage patties in)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. In a medium sized bowl, combine all the ingredients except vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly. Cover the bowl; refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  2. To make the patties: Rinse your hands in really cold water (this helps to make it easier to make the patties without it sticking as much). Divide the meat into 8 patties. Shape each patty into a 2 1/2 inch wide disk.
  3. If you don't want to cook all the patties at once, you can refrigerate the patties or freeze them until you want to use them.
  4. If cooking immediately, heat a large skillet or griddle over high heat. Add the vegetable oil and continue heating. Place the sausages in hot skillet or griddle. Fry them about 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Carefully turn patties over and repeat until cooked through and lightly browned on both sides.
  5. When done, remove sausages to paper towels to briefly drain. Serve immediately.
  6. Cooked sausage patties can be cooled and wrapped and frozen for use at another time, if desired. Microwave sausage patties (in paper towels) to re-heat
Recipe Notes

NOTE:**Caloric calculation was based on the use of ground turkey.

Nutrition Facts
Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties
Amount Per Serving (1 sausage pattie)
Calories 72 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 471mg20%
Potassium 178mg5%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!It's EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!

 

 

 

Save

Save