Mom’s Banana Nut Bread

Make Mom’s banana nut bread with pecans or walnuts. This easy, classic loaf is delicious, and makes 1 large loaf, or 3 small mini-loaves!
Make Mom's banana nut bread with pecans or walnuts. This easy, classic loaf is delicious, and makes 1 large loaf, or 3 small mini-loaves!
It seems like everyone has a recipe for banana bread. So do I… and it’s a recipe for my Mom’s Banana Nut Bread. I’ve made it for years using this recipe for over 35 years and it never disappoints! 

The 3×5 index card it is written on wins the award for most splatters! This recipe has been made too many times over the years to even count.

Whether it’s making one large loaf of banana nut bread, or splitting the batter up to make 3 small loaves, this is a very good, reliable recipe for classic banana nut bread.

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It’s Fun To Make Mini-Loaves Of Banana Nut Bread For Holiday Gifts

Sometimes at Christmas I make 9 small loaves at a time, for gifts to our neighbors. It then feels rather like a banana bread factory in my kitchen (but it sure smells good the day I make the loaves).

Mini-loaves of Mom's banana nut bread, ready to give as gifts!

For me, it’s always been about the over ripe bananas cluttering up the kitchen counter. That, alone is enough motivation to whip up a loaf or loaves of banana nut bread!

After all, over-ripe bananas are the “perfect” candidate for morphing into a tasty loaf of bread, right? Anyways, this is a very simple, straightforward recipe. It’s easy to make, and delicious to eat!

Remember to reduce the baking time if you will be making the smaller loaves. The instructions are for one standard sized (9×5) loaf. Hope you enjoy this tasty bread as much as we do!

An inside look at a loaf of Mom's banana bread.
Hope you enjoy this banana bread. It’s especially good, eaten warm with softened butter. If you really enjoy banana bread, be sure to check out another recipe on my blog for Banana Apricot Date Bread. YUM!

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

Looking For More “SWEET” BREAD Recipes?

You can find all of my bread recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorites you might enjoy include:

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Original Recipe Source: Unknown

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0 from 0 votes
Mom's Banana Nut Bread
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Make Mom's banana nut bread with pecans or walnuts. This easy, classic loaf is delicious, and makes 1 large loaf, or 3 small mini-loaves!

Category: Bread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Mom's banana nut bread
Servings: 9 slices ( 1 lg. loaf or 3 small)
Calories Per Serving: 312 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup walnuts or pecans , chopped
  • 1 large egg , beaten
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (approximately 2 medium sized bananas)
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together into a large mixing bowl. Add 3/4 cup of the chopped nuts to the dry ingredients.

  2. In a small bowl, combine the egg, vegetable oil, mashed up bananas, and lemon juice until well blended, then add to dry ingredients. Stir only until the flour is moistened and dry ingredients have been incorporated into batter.

  3. Pour batter into a greased/sprayed 9x5 inch loaf pan (or into 3 small prepared loaf pans). Sprinkle the remaining chopped nuts over the top of the loaf.

  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes to 1 hour (large loaf) and approximately 35 minutes for small loaves. A toothpick inserted into middle of loaf should come out clean. Loaves should be golden brown on top. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Remember to bake for less time if making 3 small loaves!

Nutrition Facts
Mom's Banana Nut Bread
Amount Per Serving (1 slice (large loaf))
Calories 312 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 263mg11%
Potassium 277mg8%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 45IU1%
Vitamin C 3.1mg4%
Calcium 59mg6%
Iron 1.9mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Make Mom's banana nut bread with pecans or walnuts. This easy, classic loaf is delicious, and makes 1 large loaf, or 3 small mini-loaves!

 

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Homemade Blueberry Pancakes

Delicious, homemade blueberry pancakes are easy to make from scratch, using Greek yogurt. Bursting with flavor…a perfect treat for a family breakfast!Delicious, homemade blueberry pancakes are easy to make from scratch, using Greek yogurt. Bursting with flavor...a perfect treat for a family breakfast!

Yesterday morning I made homemade blueberry pancakes for my husband and I for breakfast.  They were FANTASTIC! Blueberry pancakes, from scratch. This recipe calls for fresh blueberries, and my goodness, they are so good!

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

I picked 15 pounds of blueberries last summer and froze a bunch of them. Once frozen, all I had to do was grab some out of our freezer and enjoy the fruits of my labor (picking them in the hot Oregon sunshine last summer!).

Fresh picked blueberries are perfect for making pancakes!
Making Homemade Blueberry Pancakes Is Easy

I was searching Pinterest for some new recipes to try that sounded good, and I stumbled upon this recipe for blueberry pancakes. They are made from scratch, and so I decided to give the recipe a try. I’d made blueberry pancakes before where you just toss in blueberries to add to a packaged pancake mix.

However,  making them from scratch sounded much better to me. It was easy! The batter is mixed together quickly and easily, and then it’s ready to turn it into yummy breakfast pancakes!

Mixing batter from scratch for homemade blueberry pancakes
The batter was easy to make. It is low in sugar, and is made using plain Greek yogurt for some extra protein. How about that-pancakes with extra protein tossed in for good measure? Alrighty then!

Homemade blueberry pancakes cooking on griddle.
Throw in some delicious blueberries as you are cooking the pancakes. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then carefully flip them to the other side. Continue to cook the homemade blueberry pancakes until they’re set, and golden brown on both sides!

Serve The Homemade Blueberry Pancakes

Homemade blueberry pancakes taste very close to what you would find in a purchased pancake mix, and they’re easy to prepare, also! Top the pancakes with butter and pancake syrup, and dig into a stack of yummy pancakes.

Blueberry pancakes, topped with butter and maple syrup!

These homemade blueberry pancakes taste delicious and are filled with great blueberry flavor! I hope you will give them a try! Take care, and please come back again soon, for more family friendly recipes.

Looking For More PANCAKE Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have quite a few pancake recipes for you to choose from, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf 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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jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Have a GREAT day!

Author's signature

 

Recipe Source: http://www.heathersfrenchpress.com/2013/07/the-best-buttermilk-blueberry-pancakes-using-greek-yogurt.html#more-1289

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0 from 0 votes
Homemade Blueberry Pancakes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 
Delicious, homemade blueberry pancakes are easy to make from scratch, using Greek yogurt. Bursting with flavor...a perfect treat for a family breakfast!
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade blueberry pancakes
Servings: 8 large pancakes
Calories Per Serving: 158 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
  • 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons butter , melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup blueberries (I used frozen blueberries, right out of the freezer)
Instructions
  1. In a medium sized bowl, whisk the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt).
  2. Whisk the milk and yogurt into the dry ingredients. Whisk until batter is smooth and no lumps are present.
  3. Stir in the melted butter, egg and vanilla. Mix until well incorporated.
  4. Heat a skillet or electric griddle to 275 degrees (a low temp for cooking pancakes)
  5. Lightly spray or butter the griddle or skillet.
  6. Pour pancake batter in 1/3 cup increments onto hot griddle. Spread a bit to create the size pancake you want.
  7. Sprinkle blueberries on top of each pancake.
  8. Cook pancakes about 4 minutes on each side (this is longer than when you use a commercial mix, but it IS the proper time for these to ensure the middle of the pancake is "set".
  9. When beautifully browned and done, remove pancakes to serving plate, and serve with additional blueberries and powdered sugar or syrup. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Blueberry Pancakes
Amount Per Serving (2 pancakes)
Calories 158 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 30mg10%
Sodium 263mg11%
Potassium 173mg5%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 150IU3%
Vitamin C 1.8mg2%
Calcium 83mg8%
Iron 1.1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Delicious, homemade blueberry pancakes are easy to make from scratch, using Greek yogurt. Bursting with flavor...a perfect treat for a family breakfast!

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Tonkatsu Pork

Tonkatsu pork originated in Japan, and is a simple dish to make, with lightly seasoned, panko crumb crusted pork cutlets, pan-fried until crispy. Tonkatsu pork originated in Japan, and is a simple dish to make, with lightly seasoned, panko crumb crusted pork cutlets, pan-fried until crispy.

Did you say Tankatsu Pork…huh? Never heard of it before. Well, I had never heard of it, until I saw a recipe for it while searching the internet for pork recipes.

Wikipedia describes Tonkatsu Pork as a “Japanese food, which consists of a breaded deep-fried pork cutlet, which originated in Japan in the 19th century.” It was originally called Katsu, and is believed to have been served for the first time at the Regatei Restaurant in Tokyo in 1899.  At the time it was thought of as the Japanese version of fine European cuisine.

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So What Is Tonkatsu Pork ?

Basically, Tonkatsu Pork is a thin pork cutlet, seasoned, and fried with a Panko crumb coating. The panko crumbs give the cutlet a wonderfully crunchy texture. It is ridiculously easy to prepare, and tastes really good.

This entree is really not hard at all to make, and I must say, the pork was wonderful! I served it with a side dish of Orzo With Parmesan, which is a great tasting side dish! This recipe would also be good served with homemade rice pilaf! I sure hope you will give this recipe for tonkatsu pork a try! I really do think you will enjoy it. Have a great day!

Looking For More PORK Recipes?

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

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf 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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jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Adapted From: http://www.lifesambrosia.com/2010/10/tonkatsu-pork-recipe.html

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0 from 0 votes
Tonkatsu Pork
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Tonkatsu pork originated in Japan, and is a simple dish to make, with lightly seasoned, panko crumb crusted pork cutlets, pan-fried until crispy.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: tonkatsu pork
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 363 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 4 boneless pork cutlets (or boneless chops, pounded to 1 1/4 " thick)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg , beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups Panko bread crumbs
  • 1 Tablespoon Vegetable or Canola oil , plus more, for frying
Instructions
  1. Lightly season the pork cutlets with salt and pepper (not the measured amounts in ingredient list, just a light sprinkle on both sides to help season the meat)
  2. Set up an "assembly line" for dipping the pork in this order: A bowl with the flour, a bowl with the beaten egg, and a bowl with the Panko crumbs.
  3. Season the flour with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, 1/4 teaspoon of the flour, and the garlic powder.
  4. Mix the rest of the salt and pepper in with the Panko crumbs.
  5. Dip pork cutlets (one at a time) into the flour (turning to coat both sides), then dip into the egg mixture (fully coating cutlet). Let egg mixture run off of pork, then dip into the Panko crumb coating (fully cover the cutlet on both sides). Set aside and repeat.
  6. Pour oil into large skillet until you have 1/4 " depth covering the bottom. Heat on medium high until hot. You can test the heat...put a couple of panko crumbs into the oil. If they sizzle, the oil is ready.
  7. When oil is hot, carefully add the 4 cutlets (the meat should sizzle). Cook 4-5 minutes on one side, then carefully flip the cutlet over and cook the other side for 4-5 minutes. When done, the coating on the cutlets should be a beautiful golden brown.
  8. When fully cooked, remove from heat, and serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Tonkatsu Pork
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 363 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 129mg43%
Sodium 827mg36%
Potassium 594mg17%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 36g72%
Vitamin A 60IU1%
Calcium 54mg5%
Iron 2.7mg15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Tonkatsu pork originated in Japan, and is a simple dish to make, with lightly seasoned, panko crumb crusted pork cutlets, pan-fried until crispy.

 

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Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats With Pecans

Apple cinnamon steel cut oats with cinnamon, pecans, cranberries, brown sugar, garnished w/ Greek yogurt and honey will be a favorite breakfast treat. Yum!Apple cinnamon steel cut oats with cinnamon, pecans, cranberries, brown sugar, garnished w/ Greek yogurt and honey will be a favorite breakfast treat. Yum!

Sure… the title for this recipe “Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats With Pecans” is a mouthful…but so are these steel cut oats! They’re delicious!

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Steel Cut Oats… Who Knew I Would Like them?

I grew up eating oatmeal…and didn’t like it so much. I preferred my oatmeal in a COOKIE, thank you very much! But as an adult, I’ve discovered I actually like oatmeal, especially steel cut oats! The caveat to this is I like steel cut oats if they are “classed up” a bit with some tasty add-ins!

This is THAT kind of steel cut oats recipe! The kind of recipe where you take humble oats and add in chopped apples, cinnamon, pecans, dried cranberries, brown sugar…well, you get the picture!

These are the steel cut oats I used for this recipe.

I love to make this recipe because by the time I add all the good stuff in, I have enough for 6 decent sized servings. The oats will really firm up when refrigerated!

Do You Eat Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats HOT Or COLD?

My preferred method for eating them is to eat them cold, with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt on top, along with a drizzle of honey, and a pinch of cinnamon on top (for pizzazz!) It’s so good!

Of course, this recipe is great eaten hot, as well… (but remember to leave off the yogurt and honey at the end if you eat them that way).

Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats Are Great For “On The Go” Meals

It is very convenient to package these apple cinnamon steel cut oats up in little plastic cups with lids on them…then my oatmeal becomes a “Grab and Go” kind of meal.

I used to take a container of apple cinnamon steel cut oats to work, for a quick and filling breakfast or break treat. With a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey on top, this was a delicious “to go” breakfast!

Keep the covered containers in the refrigerator, then just grab one any time you want, or you can take it with you in the car if you’re in a hurry! See how cute they look in their little “Grab and Go” cups?

Containers of apple cinnamon steel cut oats with yogurt make a "to go" quick breakfast!

The first time I tried making apple cinnamon steel cut oats and decided to eat them cold, I was skeptical I would enjoy them served that way. Well, I was totally surprised at how fantastic it tastes!

If you told me a year ago that I’d enjoy COLD apple cinnamon steel cut oats I would have laughed. I’m not laughing now…I LOVE it, and I love the convenience of being able to make a few servings extra, ahead of time. Perfect… Hope you will give this recipe for apple cinnamon steel cut oats a try. They are delicious!

Looking For More OATMEAL Recipes?

All of my recipes can be found in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorite breakfast using oats include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf 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 brain, plus instructions for making oats on the back of bag.

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5 from 1 vote
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats With Pecans
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 
Apple cinnamon steel cut oats with cinnamon, pecans, cranberries, brown sugar, garnished w/ Greek yogurt and honey will be a favorite breakfast treat. Yum!
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple cinnamon steel cut oats
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 220 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 green apple , large, peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup pecans (or walnuts), chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar , heaping
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 6 Tablespoons plain , Greek yogurt (for topping oats-this is optional, but I recommend)
  • 1 teaspoon Honey (to drizzle on top of yogurt topping-this is optional, but I recommend)
  • Additional cinnamon (to sprinkle on top of yogurt and honey-this is optional, but I recommend)
Instructions
  1. In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the steel cut oats, salt, chopped apple, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir well to combine and continue cooking and stirring occasionally for approximately 7-10 minutes, until water has all been incorporated into oats.

  2. When oats are done cooking, remove pan from heat; add in the vanilla and stir. If eating warm, serve it at this point.

  3. If eating cold (YUM), place oat mixture into a covered container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. When ready to serve, divide into 6 equal portions. On top of each serving, place a large dollop (1 Tablespoon) of yogurt, then a drizzle of honey on top of yogurt, then a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of honey. Serve and ENJOY!

Recipe Notes

I have also added in just a bit of vanilla almond milk at times to the finished product (especially if eating it warm). If desired, you can also add in 1/2 cup milk to the recipe...just decrease the water used to 1 1/2 cups.

Nutrition Facts
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats With Pecans
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 220 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Sodium 59mg3%
Potassium 54mg2%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 6g12%
Calcium 41mg4%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Apple cinnamon steel cut oats with cinnamon, pecans, cranberries, brown sugar, garnished w/ Greek yogurt and honey will be a favorite breakfast treat. Yum!

 

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Mom’s Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

It’s easy to make a delicious, thick chocolate buttercream frosting from scratch that will add a touch of YUM to cakes, brownies, and cupcakes!It's easy to make a delicious, thick chocolate buttercream frosting from scratch that will add a touch of YUM to cakes, brownies, and cupcakes!

I love to bake cakes and cupcakes…this is hands down my favorite frosting!  This chocolate buttercream frosting is wonderfully creamy and delicious, and is easy to make from scratch!

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Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Just Like My Mom Made It!

When I was growing up, one of our family’s favorite desserts was when my Mom would go into our kitchen after dinner and whip up a “from scratch” chocolate cake

She would frost it with her creamy chocolate buttercream frosting, and we would dig in! Well, this is her recipe for the frosting.

Make The Frosting

Making the chocolate buttercream frosting is simply a matter of melting butter. Once it’s melted, you add other ingredients (cocoa powder, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, etc.).

Stir or beat until it becomes a nice, chocolate frosting! It’s a CINCH to make, and you can thicken it by adding a bit more powdered sugar, if desired!

Cocoa powder/ other ingredients are mixed with melted butter to make chocolate frosting.

Many Uses For Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

I’ve made it many times over the years when I need an easy chocolate buttercream frosting to cover a cake, brownies or cupcakes!

Here is the chocolate buttercream frosting on a cake.

It’s always more tasty and inexpensive when you make it from scratch with a few common ingredients (probably already in your pantry).

Mom's chocolate buttercream frosting on yellow cupcakes.

The recipe makes enough to cover a bunch of cupcakes, a 13×9 sheet cake, or a two layer cake. It is full of chocolate flavor, very creamy and delicious! Hope you enjoy it!

If you enjoy homemade cake frosting, be sure to check out my recipes for Coconut Pecan Frosting, Grandma’s Fluffy White Frosting, and The Best Brownie Frosting.

Looking For More CHOCOLATE DESSERT Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of yummy chocolate dessert 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..
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.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

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

Author's signatureRecipe Source: My Mom

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0 from 0 votes
Mom's Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 mins
Total Time
8 mins
 
It's easy to make a delicious, thick chocolate buttercream frosting from scratch that will add a touch of YUM to cakes, brownies, and cupcakes!
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate buttercream frosting
Servings: 24 Enough for 24 cupcakes or one layer cake
Calories Per Serving: 84 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 Tablespoons butter
  • 4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 dash salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 12 ounces powdered sugar (3/4 of a 16 oz. box)
  • 1/4 cup milk plus more if needed
Instructions
  1. Place butter in a small saucepan over low heat and heat until melted. Remove pan from heat.
  2. Add cocoa powder to melted butter and mix until combined. Add salt, vanilla, and milk; mix well.

  3. Slowly add the powdered sugar; beat until thoroughly combined. If the frosting is too thin for your liking, add additional powdered sugar (a little at a time). If frosting is too thick, add a little bit of milk (a little at a time).

  4. Frost cake or cupcakes and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Recipe Source: My Mom

Nutrition Facts
Mom's Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Amount Per Serving (1 (frosting for one cupcake)
Calories 84 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 7mg2%
Sodium 28mg1%
Potassium 16mg0%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Sugar 14g16%
Vitamin A 90IU2%
Calcium 5mg1%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* 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 delicious, thick chocolate buttercream frosting from scratch that will add a touch of YUM to cakes, brownies, and cupcakes!

 

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Rocky Road Ice Cream

Grab the old ice cream maker and get ready to enjoy delicious Rocky Road Ice Cream, bursting with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and pecans!Grab the old ice cream maker and get ready to enjoy delicious Rocky Road Ice Cream, bursting with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and pecans!

Who wants some Rocky Road Ice Cream? This yummy ice cream is a personal favorite of mine. It doesn’t matter if it is hot or freezing cold outside, I will always enjoy a scoop of this ice cream, if offered! Today I want to share a wonderful recipe for homemade rocky road ice cream. It tastes wonderful, and is easy to prepare.

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Time For Homemade Ice Cream

As the weather here in Oregon has begun to warm up, I’ve started getting excited to prepare homemade ice cream! There’s just something about enjoying a cold dish of homemade ice cream on a warm night!

I get inspired to drag out my trusty, beloved Cuisinart ice cream maker and get busy in the kitchen! It’s been fun making ice cream using this machine, because you do not need rock salt OR ice to freeze the ice cream. EASY PEASY!

This is the ice cream machine I used to make rocky road ice cream.

Why I LOVE Rocky Road Ice Cream!

I found this delicious recipe for homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream online at “Taste Of Home”.  The recipe sounded pretty “spot on”, so I decided to give it a try, and now it is one of my favorite homemade ice creams! Rocky road ice cream is a chocolate based ice cream, packed full of marshmallows, chocolate chips and pecans. Because of those yummy ingredients, it’s a real taste treat!

How Much Rocky Road Ice Cream Will This Recipe Make?

The original rocky road ice cream recipe makes just over 4 quarts (using a standard sized ice cream maker). Those are the ingredient quantities I have listed here in the printable recipe below.

When I made this rocky road ice cream, I simply halved the recipe to work in my smaller indoor ice cream maker. If you want to make the full recipe, simply refrigerate the extra until ready to freeze another batch later in the day or the next day!

The rocky road ice cream is now ready to eat!

Hope you enjoy making some great homemade ice cream this summer! It’s very simple to make, and is always a big hit with everyone who tries it! Have a great day, friends. Make it a GOOD one! Please come back soon for more delicious recipes.

Looking For More ICE CREAM Recipes?

You can find all of my ice cream recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorites are:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf 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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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
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Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/rocky-road-ice-cream

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Rocky Road Ice Cream
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Grab the old ice cream maker and get ready to enjoy delicious Rocky Road Ice Cream, bursting with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and pecans!

Category: Ice Cream
Cuisine: American
Keyword: rocky road ice cream
Servings: 32 servings (4 quarts total)
Calories Per Serving: 407 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 3 cups half and half
  • 9 ounces semi-sweet chocolate , chopped
  • 2.75 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1,5 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1.5 cups miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 6 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Mix the milk and half and half in a large saucepan. Heat until the mixture is 175 degrees (do not boil!).
  2. Add the chopped chocolate, sugar and salt to the cream mixture, then stir until the sugar dissolves and the chocolate has melted.
  3. Remove pan from heat and cool it off quickly. Do this by placing the saucepan carefully in a large bowl of ice water, and stirring the mixture for a couple of minutes. When the ice cream mixture has cooled completely, pour it into a large bowl.

  4. Stir in the remaining ingredients. (Note: If using a smaller Cuisinart like mine, add the remaining ingredients in during the last 5 minutes of freezing time!). Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (you want it cold!)

  5. When ready to make the ice cream, fill the cylinder of your machine 2/3 full. Freeze, according to the manufacturer's instructions for your ice cream maker. If you need to make this in two batches, cover bowl and refrigerate until you are ready to freeze.

  6. Once the ice cream has frozen, transfer it to a freezer container. Ice cream will need to "ripen" and firm up in your freezer for 2-4 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Rocky Road Ice Cream
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/2 cup per serving))
Calories 407 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Fat 29g45%
Saturated Fat 16g100%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 94mg4%
Potassium 216mg6%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 26g29%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 785IU16%
Vitamin C 0.5mg1%
Calcium 93mg9%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Grab the old ice cream maker and get ready to enjoy delicious Rocky Road Ice Cream, bursting with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and pecans!

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Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts

These delicious glazed chocolate doughnuts are baked, not fried! Make fresh doughnuts from scratch in the comfort of your own home in under 20 minutes!These delicious glazed chocolate doughnuts are baked, not fried! Make fresh doughnuts from scratch in the comfort of your own home in under 20 minutes!

Who wants Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts? Me, Me, Me…Every now and then I can’t help myself…I want a doughnut! Now I know all about how “unhealthy” they are, but truth is, sometimes I just want a doughnut! The End. That’s why I enjoy making doughnuts from home. No need to run out in my pajamas to buy some. Nope… I can make them at home, fairly quickly!

I found a very simple and delicious chocolate doughnut recipe on Pinterest (where else?), thanks to Karly at Buns In My Oven, and made some of these doughnuts to stare at…I mean wolf down. These doughnuts were very dense with chocolate flavor and delicious.

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

Making Doughnuts

In the past I have made doughnuts the “traditional way”, fried in oil. I made some delicious Glazed Pumpkin Buttermilk Doughnuts and Amish Apple Fritters (my second most-pinned recipe) using that method and they tasted amazing!

Collage of glazed pumpkin buttermilk doughnuts (L) and Amish apple fritters (R).

Baking Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts Instead Of Frying Them

Last year I bought an inexpensive doughnut pan on Amazon for about $7.50 (with a gift card I received for my birthday…SCORE!).

Pan used for baking glazed chocolate doughnuts.

The doughnut pan was not too expensive, but it gave me the option of BAKING doughnuts instead of FRYING them. Baking doughnuts is a very simple way to make this breakfast treat.

Doughnut batter is mixed, then poured into individual “wells” in a  doughnut pan. The doughnuts are then baked, and covered with icing once done! Baking glazed chocolate doughnuts instead of frying them is my way to enjoy a decadent treat occasionally! Cooking them in the oven helps to slightly reduce the number of calories in each doughnut!

Glazed chocolate doughnuts cooling on wire rack after being iced.
Another Benefit To Making Homemade Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts

Another added benefit to making the doughnuts at home is I saved money by making the glazed chocolate doughnuts myself! I was also quite proud I didn’t have to put on an evening gown and pumps to go to the doughnut shop or grocery store to buy them when the mood struck.

This recipe makes 10 glazed chocolate doughnuts, so I made them in 2 batches (since my doughnut pan only has 6 spots). I hope you will give these breakfast treats a try.  You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. If you enjoy making BAKED doughnuts, you might also want to check out my recipe for Glazed Lemon Poppy Seed Doughnuts.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf 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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jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2013/04/01/glazed-chocolate-donuts/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 
These delicious glazed chocolate doughnuts are baked, not fried! Make fresh doughnuts from scratch in the comfort of your own home in under 20 minutes!
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: glazed chocolate doughnuts
Servings: 10
Calories Per Serving: 255 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the doughnuts:
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (Optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 6 Tablespoons sour cream
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
For the glaze:
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Make the doughnuts: In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, chocolate chips, and baking soda together.
  3. In another bowl, beat the vanilla, egg, sour cream, milk, and oil until well incorporated. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir only until combined.

  4. Spoon the batter (or pipe it) into a greased doughnut pan. Fill each "well" about 3/4 of the way full with batter. Bake doughnuts at 375 degrees for 8 minutes, or until the top of the doughnut springs back when touched.

  5. Remove doughnut pan from oven when done, and let the doughnuts cool IN THE PAN for 2-3 minutes before you remove them to wax paper. Repeat with another batch to finish batter. Let doughnuts cool before icing.

  6. Make The Glaze: Mix the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in a small pan over low heat. Mix well to combine. Remove the pan from the heat. Pour glaze into a large bowl. Carefully hold a cooled doughnut and "dunk" it in the glaze to coat it; set glazed doughnut on a wire rack to let the glaze harden. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Glazed Chocolate Doughnuts
Amount Per Serving (1 doughnut)
Calories 255 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 21mg7%
Sodium 76mg3%
Potassium 87mg2%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 31g34%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 80IU2%
Calcium 40mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!These delicious glazed chocolate doughnuts are baked, not fried! Make fresh doughnuts from scratch in the comfort of your own home in under 20 minutes!

 

 

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Copycat Mocha Frappucino

Make your own version of a famous coffeehouse’s cold, creamy mocha beverage, with this simple and delicious Copycat Mocha Frappucino recipe!Make your own copycat version of a famous coffeehouse's cold, creamy mocha beverage, with this simple and delicious recipe!

I own five or six books by author Todd Wilbur in his series called “Top Secret Recipes”. They are such fun books in which to find some great “copycat” recipes. 

It’s a great way to fix a “very close to the original” (but for a fraction of the price) clone of a favorite food at home. This copycat mocha frappucino is one of those recipes found on his website.

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

Why Not Make A Copycat Mocha Frappucino At Home?

Made popular by the famous coffee chain that seems to be on every corner, these chilled coffee beverages (the bottled version you find in grocery stores) can really add up ($$) if you purchase them often.

Well, now you can make a copycat mocha frappucino at home, so you can grab one on the way out the door without having to make an extra stop on the way to work or a kid’s baseball game (and for a fraction of the cost!)

Bottles are filled with copycat mocha frappucino, and are ready to refrigerate, then drink!

We don’t buy these very often at all, but when we do, this is my favorite. So naturally, I was curious to try making these at home. This is the copycat recipe for the bottled version you find in the stores.

They are very easy to make (and if helps if you happen to have a few extra bottles left over to package this in…I saved a few for this very purpose!)

Making This Coffee Drink

The copycat recipe calls for Natural Fruit Pectin (don’t let that scare you off), which is a fruit thickener, commonly used when making jam. It actually acts as a thickening agent in this recipe. I used it, but the original author of the recipe states that you don’t have to use it, if you don’t care about duplicating the texture.

Fruit pectin is used to make a copycat mocha frappucino.

The recipe also calls for espresso, but you can “fake it” with the easy to follow tip (found in the notes section of the recipe) and make your own. This is what I did, using the very easy instructions.

The recipe, as written, makes 24 ounces, but can easily be doubled. Hope you enjoy this cold, creamy, mocha coffee beverage (how’s that for a description)!

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have the opportunity to make a delicious copycat mocha frappucino for yourself or for someone you love. Have a great day, and come back soon.

Looking For More BEVERAGE Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of beverage 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..
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.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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Author's signatureOriginal Recipe Source: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/Starbucks-Frappuccino-Bottled-Version-Copycat-Recipe.html

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Copycat Mocha Frappucino
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Make your own copycat version of a famous coffeehouse's cold, creamy mocha beverage, with this simple and delicious recipe!

Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Keyword: copycat mocha frappucino
Servings: 3 (makes 24 ounces total)
Calories Per Serving: 163 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup fresh espresso (see Notes below for how to create your own)
  • 2 1/2 cups lo-fat milk (2 percent)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon dry pectin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cocoa powder
Instructions
  1. Make the espresso. In a large bowl add the sugar, dry pectin and cocoa powder to the hot espresso and stir or whisk well until completely incorporated. Chill mixture.

  2. When espresso mixture is completely chilled, add the milk; stir until combined.
  3. Pour mixture into a serving pitcher or individual bottles, and refrigerate. Serve cold.
Recipe Notes

**How to make copycat espresso to use in this recipe**
Use 1/3 cup ground coffee and 1 cup of water in your drip coffee maker. Brew this once, then run it through again, using the same grounds. (this will make approx. 1/2 cup espresso needed). **Run a pot of water through coffeemaker when done, to clean machine.

NOTE: Original Recipe Source: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/Starbucks-Frappuccino-Bottled-Version-Copycat-Recipe.html

Nutrition Facts
Copycat Mocha Frappucino
Amount Per Serving (1 (8 oz. portion))
Calories 163 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 9mg3%
Sodium 97mg4%
Potassium 295mg8%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Sugar 26g29%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 385IU8%
Calcium 246mg25%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Make your own copycat version of a famous coffeehouse's cold, creamy mocha beverage, with this simple and delicious recipe!

 

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Fully Stuffed Calzones

Fully stuffed calzones are yummy baked “Italian hand pies”, filled with Italian sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, etc.
Fully stuffed calzones are yummy baked "Italian hand pies", filled with Italian sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, etc.
Ever eaten Fully Stuffed Calzones? Maybe you’re saying, “Ever EATEN  fully stuffed calzones? I don’t even know WHAT a calzone is!” Well, here is the answer some of you have been waiting for.

Webster’s Dictionary offers this definition of a calzone: “a food originally from Italy that consists of baked or fried dough folded over and filled with tomato sauce, cheese, etc.”. Ugh…that’s okay, IF you know what etc. means. MY rookie definition is: a calzone is a baked pizza dough “handpie”, filled with all of our favorite pizza toppings!

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

How I Came Up With This Recipe For Fully Stuffed Calzones

A year or two ago I made some homemade pizza dough (thinking I would throw together a pizza for dinner). Once the dough was prepared, I decided to switch it up and try my hand at creating FULLY STUFFED calzones, without using a recipe. Note: if you use purchased pizza dough, you will save some time!

I gathered up the toppings our family loves on a great tasting pizza, cooked it, and then made 6 pizza dough balls. Each of the dough balls was rolled into a circle, and I put the filling and sauce inside, and sealed them all up. The dough was then brushed with egg, and I added a couple garnishes. My final act was to put them in the oven and cross my fingers while they baked.

Beginning to cook some of the calzone filling ingredients in skillet.

Boy, was I surprised at how great looking these fully stuffed calzones turned out! And guess what?  Once we tasted them, we were amazed at how delicious they were. Who knew? So that’s my story of creating these…and now YOU know.

You can either crimp the edges of the pastry dough with a fork, or you can roll the edges, like shown in this photo below.

 Fully stuffed calzone, hot from the oven!

Even though there are quite a few ingredients, the directions for these fully stuffed calzones are pretty simple…I hope you’ll give them a try!

If you enjoy these Italian handpies, you will probably also be interested in making grilled pizzas on your BBQ or making a simple pepperoni pizza from scratch! Have a great day, and don’t forget to check out ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf 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

Have a GREAT day!

Author's signature

Dough Recipe Source: The Oster Deluxe Bread And Dough Maker Owner’s Handbook (c. 1994 Sunbeam-Oster Household Products) Calzone Filling Source: My brain.

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Fully Stuffed Calzones
Prep Time
1 hr 30 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
1 hr 55 mins
 
Fully stuffed calzones are yummy baked "Italian hand pies", filled with Italian sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, etc.
Category: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: fully stuffed calzones
Servings: 6 calzones
Calories Per Serving: 680 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the dough: (or use your favorite pizza dough recipe)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons regular active dry yeast (or quick acting active dry yeast)
For The Filling:(or use your favorite pizza ingredients)
  • 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese , grated
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 Italian sausage links (casings removed)
  • 1 cup mushrooms , sliced
  • 1/2 cup brown onion , chopped
  • 1/2 cup green pepper , chopped
  • 1 cup pepperoni slices
  • 1 egg , slightly beaten (to brush on tops of calzones, prior to baking)
  • Oregano (dried) and Parmesan Cheese (to sprinkle on tops of calzones, prior to baking)
Instructions
Using bread machine:
  1. Put all the dough ingredients into the bread pan in the order listed. Select DOUGH cycle.
  2. When dough is done, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  3. Divide dough into 6 equal dough balls. Roll each dough ball into a 7 inch circle on a lightly floured work surface.
If making by hand:
  1. Mix the yeast and water in a large bowl or base of a stand mixer. Stir well, then let it sit for 5 minutes to "proof".
  2. Add oil, sugar and salt. Stir well to combine.
  3. Add the flour and mix well with your (clean) hands or use the dough hook on your stand mixer.
  4. Knead dough (either by hand on a lightly floured surface or stand mixer) for 5-8 minutes, until the dough ball is smooth and elastic (you don't want it to be sticky).
  5. When dough ball is ready, place it in a lightly oiled large bowl. Flip it over to the other side, making sure the dough is coated with oil. Place a slightly damp dish towel over the top of the bowl.
  6. Put the covered bowl in a warm place and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. This usually takes about an hour. Follow instructions above (under bread machine instructions) for forming the dough into individual circles
Make filling for the calzones while dough is rising:
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
  2. When skillet is hot, add the Italian sausage (casings removed), mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. Saute, crumbling the sausage into small pieces with a spoon as it cooks. Right before sausage mixture is fully cooked, add the minced garlic. When done, remove from heat to cool.
To fill the calzones:
  1. Spread one heaping Tablespoon of the spaghetti sauce on each dough circle to within 1 inch of edge. (Don't go all the way to the edge because the sauce will leak out while cooking)
  2. Place the sausage/mushroom/onion/pepper filling on top of the sauce but only on HALF of each circle, to within 1 inch of the edge. (Remember the filling is for 6 calzones - disperse evenly!)
  3. Add the pepperoni slices. (again...disperse evenly to within 1 inch of edge). Add the mozzarella cheese (same instructions as above). Add Parmesan cheese (same instructions as above)

To seal the calzones and prepare for baking:
  1. Carefully fold the dough over the filling to form a half circle. Makes sure edges touch.  Pinch edges securely with your fingers (to seal), then use the tines of a fork to crimp the dough all the way around the edge to securely seal. You want the edges sealed well to prevent leakage.

  2. Gently lift and place the calzones on a large cookie sheet (or sheets). Brush the tops of the calzones with the beaten egg. Sprinkle tops of calzones with crushed dried oregano and parmesan cheese.

  3. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until they are golden brown. Remove from oven to a wire rack, and let cool for a couple minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

**Use whatever pizza ingredients you like for filling!

Nutrition Facts
Fully Stuffed Calzones
Amount Per Serving (1 calzone)
Calories 680 Calories from Fat 360
% Daily Value*
Fat 40g62%
Saturated Fat 15g94%
Cholesterol 117mg39%
Sodium 1613mg70%
Potassium 525mg15%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 470IU9%
Vitamin C 14.6mg18%
Calcium 273mg27%
Iron 4.2mg23%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Fully stuffed calzones are yummy baked "Italian hand pies", filled with Italian sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, etc.

 

 

 

 

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Greek Salad

 You will love the flavors in this traditional Greek salad, with romaine, kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onions and tomatoes, in a homemade salad dressing!You will love the flavors in this traditional Greek salad, with romaine, kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onions and tomatoes, in a homemade salad dressing!

Many years ago I worked at a private school where the employees were given the option of purchasing a specialty salad each week, created by my friend Dana, who was in charge of the lunch program. That was the first time I ever tried a traditional Greek Salad…and I loved it. Fast forward a few years. I really wanted to make a Greek Salad for our dinner, and decided to try a recipe from Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. I love her recipes (and have many of her cookbooks), so I knew I could count on THIS salad to be really tasty!

The simple homemade dressing that tops the healthy and crunchy Greek salad veggies, tastes amazing.  The addition of very traditional Greek items like kalamata olives and feta cheese makes this salad so good! Now I’m hungry!!!

This is a fairly easy to make Greek salad. TRANSLATION: If you can chop veggies, you can make this! The recipe makes enough for 4 side salads or 2 entree sized salads. I think you will love it! Hope you will give it a try and get your Geek Greek on!

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

How To Make This Delicious Greek Salad

First – chop up a head of rinsed and drained Romaine lettuce and toss it into a large salad bowl. Chop, Chop!

Romaine lettuce is chopped for the Greek salad.

Cut or slice (see ingredient list for details) the ripe tomato, peeled cucumber, onions, and kalamata olives.

Cucumbers are peeled to use in the Greek salad.Peeled cucumbers are cut into wedges, then chunks, for the Greek salad.

Place all the prepped veggies into the salad bowl. You’re almost done now! See how easy THAT was? I told you…you’re welcome!

Romaine lettuce, red onion slices and tomatoes go into the Greek salad.

Finish Building The Greek Salad

Now stand back and look at how pretty that salad looks…so far! When you’re done admiring your handiwork, add half of the feta cheese and the kalamata olives to the top of the salad. NOW it’s looking like a TRUE Greek salad!

Feta cheese and kalamata olives are added to the Greek salad. Homemade salad dressing on side.

Make Salad Dressing And Finish The Greek Salad

Now you need to mix up the salad dressing (so easy!). Once you’ve got the dressing mixed up, pour it over the salad. Give that Greek salad a good toss, until dressing is mixed in and the lettuce and veggies are coated.

Right before you serve the Greek salad,  give it one final garnish. If serving this salad on individual plates, garnish each plate. If serving salad in one large bowl, garnish the top. Top the Greek salad with the additional feta cheese crumbles. Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice all over the top. Serve and enjoy!

Traditional Greek salad is served on plate!

Sure hope you enjoy this delicious Greek salad. This recipe is a real KEEPER, and I’m confident you will enjoy it, too!.

Greek salad, with red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and kalamata olives.

Have a wonderful day! Hope it’s filled with love, laughter and a great sense of purpose!

Looking For More SALAD Recipes?

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

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf 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://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/04/greek-salad/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Greek Salad
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 
You will love the flavors in this traditional Greek salad, with romaine, kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onions and tomatoes, in a homemade salad dressing!
Category: Salad
Cuisine: Greek
Keyword: Greek salad
Servings: 4 side salads
Calories Per Serving: 242 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 head of (chilled) Romaine Lettuce (chopped)
  • 2 whole Ripe Tomatoes (cut each one into 6 slices, then cut each slice in half)
  • 1/2 large Cucumber (peeled, cut in fourths lengthwise, then cut into bite-sized chunks)
  • 1/4 of a whole Red Onion ,(sliced thinly)
  • 15 whole Kalamata Olives (cut in half lengthwise)
  • 3 oz. Crumbled Feta Cheese
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
  • 1 clove Garlic (minced)
  • 6 whole Kalamata Olives , chopped fine (these are extra, for salad dressing)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • Freshly ground Black Pepper
  • 1/2 whole Lemon (for squeezing juice over salad)
Instructions
  1. Place the chopped lettuce, tomato chunks, cucumber chunks, sliced onions, halved olives, HALF of the feta, and the chopped parsley into a large bowl. Set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, sugar, garlic, salt, pepper and the chopped olives until the ingredients are fully combined. Pour the salad dressing over the salad, and toss with tongs till lettuce is well coated with dressing.

  3. Transfer "dressed" salad to a large salad bowl or to individual serving plates. Right before you serve the salad, sprinkle the top of the salad (or each individual salad) with the other half of the feta cheese, then squeeze lemon juice over the top. Serve chilled, and ENJOY!

Nutrition Facts
Greek Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 side salad w/ dressing 1/4 of total))
Calories 242 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 718mg31%
Potassium 343mg10%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 1880IU38%
Vitamin C 26.7mg32%
Calcium 138mg14%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You will love the flavors in this traditional Greek salad, with romaine, kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onions and tomatoes, in a homemade salad dressing!

 

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