Apr
2014

Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho

categories: Soups, Vegetable Dishes
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Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup… refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories… and delicious!Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup... refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories... and delicious!
Ooh… today’s recipe is for a delicious, cold, sweet, and a bit spicy Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho. I tried this chilled soup for the first time last year, and LOVED it! I truly enjoy the crunch of the vegetables and the sweetness of the watermelon. It’s FRESH & HEALTHY!!!!

I love this quote: “A true friend is like a good book – the inside is even better than the cover”. (author unknown)  I am so grateful for the friends God has given me the opportunity to know over the course of my life. I’ve learned many things from each of them, including making this wonderful watermelon gazpacho (with cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, jalapeno, lime juice and mint).  Isn’t it gorgeous?

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

How I Found This Recipe

I have a beautiful, dearly loved friend named Shari who has taught me many things about cooking. She taught me great food presentation, creating recipes outside the “box”, and being fearless to try new cooking experiments in the kitchen. By far the most important thing she has modeled is how to be a loving, caring, encouraging friend.

I was first served this chilled soup in her home, at a themed dinner party (photo above shows how Shari served it to us that evening)!  Can you guess what the theme was?  Watermelon.

Picture of smiley face watermelon rind

We Had A “Watermelon-Themed” Dinner

Every single part of the meal had to include watermelon. That’s right…soup, salad, beverages, main courses, (including pasta, I might add), and even the desserts (my contribution) had to include watermelon. I’ve posted one of the desserts on my blog: Tropical Watermelon Sorbet with Lime Semifreddo. Yum.

The dinner was a bit of a challenge, to say the least, but it ended up being a FUN, phenomenal, absolutely DELICIOUS watermelon-themed meal to eat, sitting outside on the deck on a gorgeous, hot summer night! Here’s a peek at the menu and a collage picture of some of the dishes we had, including this watermelon and cucumber gazpacho!

Menu from watermelon themed dinner

Can you believe all the watermelon-themed food we ate that night?  There were 8 of us at the dinner, and we left, completely full of delicious food. I think I might have DREAMED about watermelons for weeks after this evening!

Collage of photos from watermelon-themed dinner
We all contributed dishes or beverages following the theme! One of the courses served and made by our hostess Shari was this Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho, originally created for Bon Appétit magazine (August 2005 issue) by chef Cat Cora.

What Is IN Watermelon Cucumber Gazpacho?

This chilled watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is full of yummy, healthy ingredients like watermelon, cucumbers, bell peppers, celery, onion, jalapeno, lime juice and fresh mint… and it is PACKED with flavor! The soup is served chilled, which adds to the deliciousness!

Oh my goodness…this soup was FANTASTIC! Completely HEALTHY, chock full of sweet and slightly spicy ingredients –  absolutely PERFECT!  My husband and I loved it so much that I got the recipe from my friend, and have made it several times since then! I’ve posted the photos I took, with her permission. Here is a picture with my friend Shari. She’s the “creative brain” behind our fun themed dinners!

Two women, holding flowers

This refreshing watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is amazingly simple to make! Honestly- chopping/prepping the veggies is the “hardest” thing about it. I think you will LOVE the results…absolutely refreshing, a bit sweet, crunchy, low in calories… and delicious!

The recipe can be doubled very easily!  With warm Spring and hot Summer days ahead, I’m looking forward to making this wonderful chilled soup many times!

Looking For More WATERMELON Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. If you enjoy watermelon, you might also enjoy these recipes for Watermelon, Lime & Mint Agua Fresca, Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad, or Watermelon, Feta and Balsamic Bites.  Have a great day!

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.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Watermelon-and-Cucumber-Gazpacho-232543

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup... absolutely refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories... and delicious!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: watermelon and cucumber gazpacho
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 146 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1- 3 pound seedless watermelon (about 5 cups), finely diced
  • 1 small cucumber , peeled, seeded, finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium-sized red bell pepper , seeded and finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium-sized yellow bell pepper , seeded and finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 small jalapeno chile , seeded and very finely minced
  • 3 pale green inner celery stalks , finely diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 of a small red onion , finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup creme fraiche , or sour cream (for garnish)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Place 4 cups of the watermelon in blender or food processor. Puree until it is completely smooth.
  2. Transfer watermelon puree to a large bowl.
  3. Add remaining 1 cup of diced watermelon and the next 10 ingredients to the puree; stir to combine.
  4. Cover the gazpacho and refrigerate for several hours (up to 4 hrs.).
  5. To Serve: Serve cold. Divide the gazpacho among bowls or margarita glasses and garnish each bowl with a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream. ENJOY!
  6. *Note: The dice on all the veggies is fairly small.
Recipe Notes

Be sure and chill this gazpacho very well. It's the best when completely cold!

Nutrition Facts
Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 146 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 115mg5%
Potassium 616mg18%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 2675IU54%
Vitamin C 94.9mg115%
Calcium 72mg7%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup... absolutely refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories... and delicious!

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Apr
2014

Crunchy Homemade Onion Rings

categories: Appetizers, Side Dishes, Vegetable Dishes
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Restaurant quality crunchy homemade onion rings are so good, and they’re easy to make! Grill a burger and enjoy it with this classic side dish!
Restaurant quality crunchy homemade onion rings are so good, and they're easy to make! Grill a burger and enjoy it with this classic side dish!
I have a confession. I LOVE onion rings…really crunchy onion rings, AND I even dip them in ketchup. Forgive me. I can’t help myself. Thank goodness I only order them once or twice or twelve times a year.

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

Here’s My Story And I’m Sticking to It!

So, here’s the story: It was a gorgeous day here in Oregon. My husband was helping a friend move into an apartment today. I was staying inside because I have been a bit sick with a cold for a couple of days. I really wanted to make something new…something I’ve never made before.

In a moment of sheer madness (maybe it was the cold?), I decided to try and make crunchy homemade onion rings. How hard could THAT be, right? I did a quick search for recipes and settled on one I found on Pinterest from Six Sisters’ Stuff, and off to the kitchen (kleenex in hand-achoo!) I went.

Homemade onion rings in a red and white tray
Before I even knew what happened, the crunchy homemade onion rings were done! Simple and delicious! Naturally I HAD to try one for the sake of quality control. Hmmm…nibble, nibble, nibble. Oh man…these things were GREAT! I might have sampled a couple others before stopping (thankfully there is no photographic evidence…whew). Using great self discipline, I waited until my husband got home to cook the rest.

Guess what? He LOVED them! He munched on the onion rings while grilling our tri-tip dinner – perfect!  I even made these for a big outdoor BBQ with family and friends. The crunchy homemade onion rings were served on a large platter as an appetizer. On the side were 3 serving bowls containing BBQ sauce, Ranch dressing, and ketchup on the side, for dipping! They were a huge hit!

How To Make Crunchy Homemade Onion Rings

Separate the onion slices into rings; set them aside. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cayenne pepper, seasoning salt, and the “regular” salt. Take the onion rings (a few at a time) and dip them in the flour mixture until coated on all sides; set them aside again.

Sliced onions are tossed with flour before cooking.
Add the eggs and milk to the remaining flour mixture. Whisk until combined well. (Mixture will be thick). This is the batter for the onion rings.

Eggs are whisked into onion ring batter.
Now pour the bread crumbs into another medium sized bowl.

Bread crumbs are placed into a small bowl to coat onion rings
Take the floured onion rings (two or three at a time works best) and dip them into the flour batter. Coat each ring completely, then remove each ring (I used a fork to lift them out of batter) and let the batter drip off as much as possible. Now place the onion ring into the bread crumbs. Using the fork, gently toss the crumbs to coat the ring evenly; flip and coat the other side.

Cook The Onion Rings

If you are certain the oil has reached 375 degrees, then carefully place 4-5 rings at a time in the hot oil. Fry the rings for 2-3 minutes, making sure to flip the rings over half way through the cooking time. Fry until golden brown.

Battered onion rings are fried in hot oil
Remove the onion rings to a paper-towel lined plate when done, to drain. Season each batch of rings with salt, after removing from oil. Make sure oil is at temperature before adding next batch of onion rings. Repeat the process until done. Serve and enjoy!

Fried onion rings, ready to eat!
They look really good, huh?  Wait until you taste them! YUM!

Tray of crunchy homemade onion rings, ready to eat!

I hope you will give these a try…the crunchy homemade onion rings were fantastic! (I even froze some of the rings once coated and breaded…we’ll see if they fry up as well, after being frozen. An experiment of mine for another day)  Update: They froze well in a resealable freezer bag! Cooked perfectly!

If you enjoy dishes like this, you’ll enjoy my recipes for Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries, Cajun Tater Tots with Dipping Sauce, or Crispy Homemade French Fries! Be sure to check out ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. Have a great day.

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

Have a fantastic day!

Author's signatureRecipe Adapted From: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/06/restaurant-style-onion-rings-recipe.html

5 from 1 vote
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Crunchy Homemade Onion Rings
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Restaurant quality crunchy homemade onion rings are so good, and they're easy to make! Grill a burger and enjoy it with this classic side dish!

Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crunchy homemade onion rings
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 414 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 quart vegetable oil (strain and save the leftover oil for another batch-keep sealed in refrigerator)
  • 1 large vidalia onion , cut into 1/4" slices
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • salt , to taste (after rings are cooked)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. In a deep-fryer, large pot or electric skillet, heat the oil to 375 degrees. (I used an electric skillet; if using pot, make sure to use a cooking thermometer to determine proper heating). It is really important to make sure the oil is heated accurately so the onion rings will brown and "crunch up" properly.
  2. Separate the onion slices into rings; set them aside.

  3. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cayenne pepper, seasoning salt and the "regular" salt. Take the onion rings (a few at a time) and dip them in the flour mixture until coated on all sides; set them aside again.

  4. Add the eggs and milk to the remaining flour mixture. Whisk until combined well. (Mixture will be thick)
  5. Pour the bread crumbs into another medium sized bowl.
  6. Take the floured onion rings (two or three at a time works best) and dip them into the flour batter. Coat each ring completely, then remove each ring (I used a fork to lift them out of batter) and let the batter drip off as much as possible. Now place the onion ring into the bread crumbs. Using the fork, gently toss the crumbs to coat the ring evenly; flip and coat the other side.

  7. If you are certain the oil has reached 375 degrees, then carefully place 4-5 rings at a time in the hot oil. Fry the rings for 2-3 minutes, making sure to flip the rings over half way through the cooking time. Fry until golden brown. Remove the onion rings to a paper-towel lined plate when done, to drain. Season each batch of rings with salt after removing from oil.

  8. Make sure oil is at temperature before adding next batch of onion rings. Repeat the process until all rings are cooked. Serve (with dipping sauce on the side), and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Crunchy Homemade Onion Rings
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 414 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 84mg28%
Sodium 1088mg47%
Potassium 447mg13%
Carbohydrates 74g25%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 285IU6%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 227mg23%
Iron 4.8mg27%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Restaurant quality crunchy homemade onion rings are so good, and they're easy to make! Grill a burger and enjoy it with this classic side dish!

 

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Apr
2014

Italian Biscuit Flat Bread

categories: Breads
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Italian Biscuit Flat Bread is made with canned biscuit dough, Italian spices, garlic and Parmesan cheese. It’s an EASY side dish for meats or soups!Italian Biscuit Flat Bread / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
My husband and I have had a friend (whom we’ve known for 40+ years) staying with us for the past week. One evening I made a side dish of delicious Italian biscuit flat bread (filled with Parmesan cheese, garlic, etc.) to accompany some grilled pork chops. The flat bread is so good!

The weather has turned gorgeous and sunny the past few days in the Portland area! The three of us have enjoyed being outside more and even grilling a few dinners on our trusty Weber BBQ! Our friend was going to stay with us for two nights, but we were having such a great time, she stayed for a week!

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

Okay- But WHAT Does Italian Biscuit Flat Bread Have In It?

We really enjoyed the Italian biscuit flat bread. It basically can go with just about any favorite meal you would normally serve with bread. Canned biscuit dough is flattened into large rounds, then topped with a creamy, well seasoned mixture.

The mixture includes Parmesan, basil, oregano, green onions, etc. and really gives the bread a wonderful flavor. Truthfully, the ingredients (which includes mayonnaise- really?) sounded weird when I first found the recipe many years ago…but trust me. This Italian biscuit flat bread is delicious!

Canned biscuits are used to make Italian flat bread biscuits.

Italian Biscuit Flat Bread Is EASY To Make!

If you’re looking for something besides a dinner roll or garlic bread to serve with a meal, I hope you will give these a try. The filling is mixed, spread on the flattened biscuit dough rounds, and then baked until the cheese on top is bubbly. That’s it, so you can see just how easy it is to make!

I usually have most of the simple ingredients in our pantry, so I only need to buy a can of refrigerated biscuits when I make Italian biscuit flat bread. It is a quick, economical, delicious and “easy to make” recipe… I hope you will enjoy this bread like we do!

The finished Italian biscuit flat bread is a great side dish.

I really hope you consider trying this simple recipe for Italian Biscuit Flat Bread. It is truly delicious, and can be served with most entrees. Have a great day.

Looking For More BREAD Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of yummy bread recipes you might enjoy, 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 Adapted from: http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/italian-biscuit-flatbread/eaf7f806-c6c1-4378-a314-6219cac5d7c9

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Italian Biscuit Flat Bread
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

Italian Biscuit Flat Bread is made with canned biscuit dough, Italian spices, garlic and Parmesan cheese. It's an EASY side dish for meats or soups!

Category: Bread
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Italian biscuit flat bread
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 209 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 Tablespoon green onion (white and green parts), chopped
  • 1 minced garlic clove (or substitute 1/4 tsp. garlic powder)
  • 10 ounce can refrigerated biscuits (I use Grands Biscuits...but cheap biscuits work, too!)
  • *Optional: dried parsley and paprika (sprinkled on top for garnish)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together except for the biscuits (and paprika and parsley, if using). Set aside.
  3. Separate the biscuit dough into 8 biscuits.
  4. On an ungreased work surface, press or roll (with rolling pin) each biscuit out into a 4 inch circle. Place biscuit rounds 1" apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
  5. Spread 1 TBSP of the cheese mixture onto each biscuit (to the edges).
  6. *If desired, sprinkle the top of the cheese mixture with dried parsley and paprika before baking.
  7. Bake for 10-13 minutes in a preheated 400 degree oven, or until cheese bubbles and begins to slightly turn golden color on top.
  8. Remove flat breads from baking sheet; serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Italian Biscuit Flat Bread
Amount Per Serving (1 piece)
Calories 209 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 605mg26%
Potassium 101mg3%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 95IU2%
Vitamin C 0.6mg1%
Calcium 119mg12%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Italian Biscuit Flat Bread is made with canned biscuit dough, Italian spices, garlic and Parmesan cheese. It's an EASY side dish for meats or soups!

 

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Apr
2014

Blueberry Banana Kale Smoothie

categories: Beverages, Breakfast
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A healthy blueberry banana kale smoothie, with strawberries, almond milk and flaxseed is a delicious cold beverage treat for breakfast or any time of day!A healthy blueberry banana kale smoothie, with strawberries, almond milk and flaxseed is a delicious cold beverage treat for breakfast or any time of day!

Sometimes my husband and I don’t want a big breakfast. We simply want a cold, fruit and veggie smoothie, with lots of healthy fruits and veggies in it, like blueberries, bananas and kale! That’s how we both felt a couple mornings ago. We had gone out to eat the evening before and were still feeling rather full. We wanted something light and healthy for our breakfast.

After putting on our thinking caps (they’re really quite lovely!), we decided to make a healthy smoothie for each of us, full of fruits and veggies. What a great way to start our day…(drinking) something good for us, like this blueberry banana kale smoothie!

Scroll down For A Printable Recipe Card At The bottom Of The Page

Fresh Kale In Our Garden!

I went on a pillaging mission in our kitchen. The first thing I did was grab a couple frozen bananas (which I keep year round in our freezer), some frozen blueberries (leftover from my blueberry picking spree last summer), and a few strawberries.

Then I decided we needed something of the veggie variety to throw into the old blender to increase the healthy aspect of our smoothies. You can translate that to mean – I wondered how to “sneak” in a veggie before my husband knew what hit him.

Out into our back yard I went, and picked a handful of kale leaves from our garden (convenient, huh?). I carried the kale back into the house and had it blended the blueberry banana KALE smoothie before my husband had a chance to see it and opt out. Pretty sneaky, right?

Blueberry, Banana And Kale Smoothie / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Okay – So How Do You Make A Blueberry Banana Kale Smoothie?

After washing the kale and draining it, throw all the ingredients into a handy dandy blender and “blend away”. Truthfully, that’s it! You might have to rip some of the kale leaves away from the stems before adding, but this whole drink is ready in a couple minutes! Before I even knew it, we had 2 perfectly purple, delicious (and dare I say healthy?) breakfast smoothies. The blueberry banana kale smoothie actually tastes great, as well!
 
Guess what? *You (or your family) will never know the “super food” kale is in there…trust me.*  It’s a super cool way of “sneaking” vegetables into a delicious drink This blueberry banana kale smoothie is lip smackin’ good!
 

Blueberry, Banana And Kale Smoothie / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

The blueberry banana kale smoothie is cold, creamy, bursting with flavor AND it’s good for you! You don’t have to confess to anyone that there’s kale in there! Shhh… let’s just keep this our little secret, ok? I hope you will consider giving this fruit (and veggie) smoothie “recipe” a try. I think you’ll like it! I’ve already made these smoothies two times this week…Yum!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great day, and sincerely want to invite you to come back again soon, for more delicious family-friendly recipes.

Looking For More SMOOTHIE Recipes?

You can find all my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. You might enjoy a few of our favorite smoothie recipes which 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!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Blueberry, Banana And Kale Smoothie / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

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Blueberry, Banana, and Kale Smoothie
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
A healthy blueberry banana kale smoothie, with strawberries, almond milk and flaxseed is a delicious cold beverage treat for breakfast or any time of day!
Category: Beverages, Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: blueberry banana kale smoothie
Servings: 2
Calories Per Serving: 223 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cups vanilla almond milk (I've also substituted orange juice for this...quite good!)
  • 2 frozen ripe bananas , (if bananas frozen, you won't need ice. If room temp, add some crushed ice)
  • 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 cup kale , chopped (and large stems removed)
  • 6 strawberries
  • 1 Tablespoon flax seed (this is great fiber...helps fill you up...but is optional)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Place the almond milk, bananas, and blueberries in the blender. (If the bananas are not frozen, add a small handful of crushed ice to the mixer).
  2. Blend until smooth.
  3. Add remaining ingredients; blend well. If it is too thick, add a bit more almond milk...you really can't hurt these smoothies! Serve and ENJOY!
Nutrition Facts
Blueberry, Banana, and Kale Smoothie
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 223 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Sodium 219mg10%
Potassium 739mg21%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 3460IU69%
Vitamin C 78.8mg96%
Calcium 262mg26%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!A healthy blueberry banana kale smoothie, with strawberries, almond milk and flaxseed is a delicious cold beverage treat for breakfast or any time of day!

 

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Mar
2014

Peanut Butter Bon Bons

categories: Candy, Chocolate, Desserts, Holidays!, Truffles & Bon Bons
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Chocolate dipped peanut butter bon bons (truffles) are creamy, rich and decadent. With only 5 ingredients, and so easy to make, what’s not to love?Chocolate dipped peanut butter bon bons (truffles) are creamy, rich and decadent. With only 5 ingredients, and so easy to make, what's not to love?

The quick and easy recipe for Peanut Butter Bon Bons (truffles) is one of our family’s favorites!  These chocolate covered treats are a tradition in our home over the Holidays!

I don’t know about you, but I love peanut butter!  Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve enjoyed eating peanut butter bon bons, peanut butter crunch cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and many other dishes featuring peanut butter. I come by this love of peanut butter honestly, because one of my biggest memories of my old grandma was always seeing her eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

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Making Peanut Butter Bon Bons Is A Tradition

These simple bon bons (also known as truffles) are one of the goodies I almost always make at Christmas time for family and friends. These tasty peanut butter treats (whatever you want to call them) are so delicious, it’s hard to eat only one!

I’ve been making peanut butter bon bons (sometimes called “buckeyes”) for years and years. I don’t even know where I got the original recipe! My recipe is written out on an old, stained 3×5 index card – aren’t all the GOOD ones like that?

Chocolate covered peanut butter bon bons in paper wrappers, ready to eat!

How Are Peanut Butter Bon Bons Made?

The peanut butter bon bons are easy to make. A creamy peanut butter filling is blended, rolled into balls, and refrigerated until firm. They are coated in a chocolate covering, and refrigerated again, until the chocolate firms up. That’s it!

Sure do hope you will give the peanut butter bon bons a try. I tend to make them at Christmas time, but I think you will find them wonderfully delicious any time of the year!

Looking For Other Recipes For BON BONS or TRUFFLES?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few bon bon or truffle recipes you might also enjoy 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!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original Recipe Source: Unknown…handed down recipe from many years ago

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Peanut Butter Bon Bons
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Refrigeration (inactive time)
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins
 
Chocolate dipped peanut butter bon bons (truffles) are creamy, rich and decadent. With only 5 ingredients, and so easy to make, what's not to love?
Category: Candy, Desserts
Cuisine: American
Keyword: peanut butter bon bons
Servings: 30 bon bons (approx.)
Calories Per Serving: 239 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For bon bons:
  • 12 Tablespoons butter (1½ sticks) (or margarine-whatever floats your boat!)
  • 18 oz. creamy peanut butter (small jar)
  • 16 ounces powdered sugar (16 oz. box) (confectioner's)
For chocolate coating:
  • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and peanut butter together in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed and creamy. Add powdered sugar; mix until smooth. Mixture will be thick.

  2. Using a spoon, scoop out mixture and roll/shape into (approx.) 1 inch balls between your hands. Place rolled bon bons onto a wax or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Store in refrigerator to chill for a couple of hours.

  3. Right before the bon bons are done "chilling", prepare chocolate coating mixture to dip them in: Place the chocolate chips and the vegetable shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove. Stir chocolate and shortening. Place back in microwave and microwave for 30 additional seconds. Remove and stir. (You do it this way to prevent the chocolate from burning). By now the chocolate and shortening should be completely melted and smooth. If not (some microwave temps vary), put it back in for 15 seconds and stir. Remove from microwave. *Tip: If the chocolate is still too thick for dipping, just add a tiny bit more shortening and microwave for a few seconds.* (If you prefer, you can also prepare the chocolate and shortening in a double-boiler...again...whatever works for you).

  4. Remove bon bons from refrigerator and dip each one completely in melted chocolate. I use a toothpick inserted into bon bons to dip into chocolate, then remove the toothpick and fill in the small hole on top of bon bon with additional chocolate. As each bon bon is dipped, place on wax or parchment paper to allow chocolate time to "harden".

  5. When chilled, place each bon bon in a small paper candy holder, and refrigerate! Enjoy.

Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter Bon Bons
Amount Per Serving (1 bon bon)
Calories 239 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 12mg4%
Sodium 118mg5%
Potassium 143mg4%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 145IU3%
Calcium 12mg1%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chocolate dipped peanut butter bon bons (truffles) are creamy, rich and decadent. With only 5 ingredients, and so easy to make, what's not to love?

 

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Mar
2014

Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry

categories: Asian, Chicken, Main Dishes
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Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry is a delicious dish featuring boneless chicken breasts and fresh asparagus, cooked in an Asian-inspired lemon sauce.Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry is a delicious dish featuring boneless chicken breasts and fresh asparagus, cooked in an Asian-inspired lemon sauce.
Today’s post features one of my favorite veggies… asparagus! I love the changing of the seasons, and the distinct differences each one proudly displays. We are officially one week into Spring in the great Pacific Northwest. Tulips and daffodils are popping up everywhere, and the days are getting longer (yay).

We are seeing lots of rain as the weather begins to warm up, and asparagus has begun making it’s Spring appearance at the local grocery store! That’s right…you heard me. In Spring, fresh asparagus goes on sale! I love asparagus year round…but it just seems to TASTE better when it is priced right!

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

Why We Love This Recipe For Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry

What I also love is finding new recipes, giving them a try, and finding out they are DELICIOUS! Such is the case with this Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry. Nice big chunks of chicken breast and crisp-tender asparagus, coated in a light lemon, soy, garlic and ginger sauce make this one delicious dinner. This recipe is a keeper!

I found the recipe online at Skinnytaste.com, a wonderful website where the recipes are low-fat, reflect Weight Watchers points, and are very creative! This chicken asparagus stir fry was very easy to make. My husband and I really enjoyed this meal and I will make it again, without hesitation. Hope you will give it a try!

Making Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry

Here’s the chicken and asparagus, prepped and ready to go. Chicken breasts are cubed, and the asparagus is sliced into pieces.

The chicken breast and fresh asparagus are cut into chunks before cooking.

A quick and easy to make stir fry sauce is mixed together. Sorry the photo is a bit blurry. This step is really easy!

Lemon sauce is mixed and ready to add to the chicken asparagus stir fry.

Minced garlic is cooking with the asparagus  in a large skillet, and this sure smells good while it is cooking!

Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Cook The Chicken

Chicken breast chunks are cooked until they are cooked through and golden brown in color on the outside.

Chunks of chicken breast are cooked until golden brown.

Time To Add The Lemon Sauce!

Add the lemon sauce is to the skillet, and stir. This delicious sauce will coat all of the chicken pieces with LOTS of flavor.

Asian-inspired lemon sauce is added to the cooked, cubed chicken in skillet.

Now place the asparagus back into the skillet with the chicken and the lemon sauce. Give it all a good stir, and this dish is almost ready!

Asparagus is added to the lemon sauce and chicken in skillet to finish cooking.

Serve The Chicken Stir Fry

Once it’s finished cooking, the food is ready to serve! If desired, serve the chicken asparagus stir fry on top of a bed of steamed white or brown rice. The blandness of the steamed rice pairs great with the well-seasoned sauce. YUM!

Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry is served on a bed of white rice.

Hope you enjoy this delicious chicken asparagus stir fry recipe just like we do! Have a great day, and thank you for stopping by.

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 a LOT of chicken recipes you might enjoy 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: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/03/chicken-and-asparagus-lemon-stir-fry.html

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry is a delicious dish featuring boneless chicken breasts and fresh asparagus, cooked in an Asian-inspired lemon sauce.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: chicken asparagus stir fry
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 120 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless , skinless chicken breasts, cut in 1-inch cubes (I used 2 breasts)
  • Salt , to taste
  • 1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce. Can use Tamari for gluten-free.
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon canola or grapeseed oil , divided (didn't have them...I used olive oil)
  • 1 bunch fresh asparagus , ends trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 6 cloves garlic , chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger , finely grated
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Lightly season the chicken breast cubed pieces with salt. In a small bowl, mix the chicken broth and the soy sauce together and set aside.
  2. In a second bowl, mix the cornstarch and the water well until mixture is combined. Set bowl aside.
  3. Heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once the wok or skillet is hot, add 1 teaspoon of the oil. Now add the asparagus pieces; cook, stirring often until tender-crisp (this took about 3-4 minutes). Add in the ginger and garlic; cook till golden (only about a minute-don't want to burn the garlic!). Empty the asparagus and garlic/ginger to a plate while you cook the chicken.
  4. Increase the heat under the wok or skillet to high. Add remaining 2 teaspoons of oil; when hot add the chicken pieces to the pan; cook until browned on all sides and cooked through (this took about 4 minutes for each side). When done, remove the chicken to a plate while you make the sauce.
  5. Once chicken has been removed from skillet, add the soy sauce mixture to the pan; bring it to a boil (this will be quick), then cook for about 1-1/2 minutes. Add the lemon juice/cornstarch mixture to the skillet and mix well. When it simmers, return the chicken and asparagus to the skillet; stir it into the sauce. Cook until chicken and broccoli are heated through again (only a couple minutes); remove from heat and serve.
  6. Enjoy! This stir fry tastes great served with brown or white rice on the side.
Nutrition Facts
Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 120 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 580mg25%
Potassium 510mg15%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 870IU17%
Vitamin C 12.7mg15%
Calcium 38mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry is a delicious dish featuring boneless chicken breasts and fresh asparagus, cooked in an Asian-inspired lemon sauce.

 

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Mar
2014

White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies (Disneyland Copycat)

categories: Chocolate, Cookies, Copycat Recipes, Desserts
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White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies are Disneyland Main Street favorites, filled with white & semi-sweet chocolate chips and ribbons of raspberry jam. White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies are Disneyland Main Street favorites, filled with white & semi-sweet chocolate chips and ribbons of raspberry jam.
A few days ago I was on the prowl for a new cookie recipe to try. It was pouring down rain outside and I was itching for something to do besides laundry or dusting. Do you ever have those moments?

Well I was having that moment…big time! I found this recipe for White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies (a Disneyland copycat) and knew I wanted to try them!

I began searching for a recipe that I might already have all the ingredients for in my pantry. Voila! This recipe popped up on my Pinterest feed!

I checked out the recipe because the picture of the cookies drew me in. I was excited to read through the recipe and realize that I had all the necessary ingredients! So I made them, and the rest is history. Here’s how to make white chocolate raspberry cookies.

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About This Cookie

White chocolate raspberry cookies are available at Disneyland (at Pooh Corner and a few Main Street shops). I’ve never bought this cookie while at Disneyland (despite MANY times there). This original recipe was created by another blogger, and it sounded fabulous to me.

Who can resist a big old chewy cookie with not one, but TWO kinds of chocolate AND raspberry jam swirled throughout? I knew I HAD to make these white chocolate raspberry cookies right away!

To be truthful, I blame this urgency completely on our Oregon rain. When I am stuck inside and it’s raining, I like to experiment with recipes in our kitchen.

These cookies came together fairly quickly. They’re a bit messy to make, but the results are really delicious! I hope you will give these cookies a try (even if it’s not raining!). They are worth your valuable time and effort. 

Some of the finished white chocolate raspberry cookies, ready to eat!

How To Make White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

Preheat your oven, and whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer. Now add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla and almond extracts to the dough.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix only until the ingredients are combined. Stir in the white and semi-sweet chocolate chips until they’re fully incorporated into the dough.

Semi sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips are added to cookie dough.The dough is ready to shape into cookies!
Now Here’s The Crazy, Messy Part!

Scoop out about ¼ of the cookie dough into a small bowl (it’s easiest to work with a small bit at a time).

Add 1 TBSP of raspberry jam and “cut it” into the dough, using a butter knife. Be sure NOT to mix it in, because then the dough will turn completely pink, and frankly who wants a pink cookie?

Gently cut the jam into the dough. Think of it as stabbing the jam into the dough and dragging the knife through in a swirl, okay? Eventually you will work the jam into the dough.

Raspberry jam is added to a portion of the cookie dough.Shape The White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

Take the jam swirled dough and drop it by large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. **TIP: You might find it easier (but messier) to scoop out the dough and shape it into a ball using your hands. It’s YOUR choice.

Yes, it was a bit messy, but this tip worked the best for me the next time I made this recipe. Flatten the dough balls slightly with clean hands or use the back of a spoon.

Repeat this step with the rest of the dough and jam until the cookie dough is all used. Now it’s time to bake them!

Chocolate Raspberry Cookies are formed and placed onto baking sheet.A close up view of a cookie (before baking), with raspberry jam and chocolate chips showing.Time To Bake The Cookies!

Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 12-17 minutes (the time will depend on the size of the cookies). Keep an eye on the cookies after the 10 minute mark.

I wanted larger cookies so I cooked mine a bit longer. Remove the cookies from the oven when the edges of the cookie are set, but the center is is still slightly soft.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing them from pan. After 5 minutes, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. ENJOY!

The baked white chocolate raspberry cookies are golden brown around edges.Some of the baked cookies, cooling on the baking sheet.
These white chocolate raspberry cookies really are delicious! I hope you will give them a try!

These white chocolate raspberry cookies look good enough to eat!

Hope you enjoy these delicious white chocolate raspberry cookies! They are really good, and I really believe you are going to like them.

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

Looking For More COOKIE Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of yummy cookie recipes to check out, 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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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://cocinandoconalena.blogspot.com/2011/03/disneylands-white-chocolate-raspberry.html

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White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies (Disneyland Copycat)
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
37 mins
 

White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies are Disneyland Main Street favorites, filled with white & semi-sweet chocolate chips and ribbons of raspberry jam.

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: white chocolate raspberry cookies
Servings: 20 large cookies
Calories Per Serving: 228 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 cube), room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg , plus 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. almond extract
  • 4 Tablespoons Raspberry Jam , heaping
  • 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter, granulated and brown sugars until well combined, light and fluffy. Add egg, egg yolk, vanilla and almond extracts to this mixture. Mix well.
  3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients; mix just until combined. Stir in the white and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

  4. Scoop out about 1/4 of the cookie dough into a small bowl (it's easiest to work with a small bit at a time!) Add 1 TBSP of the raspberry jam and "cut it in" to the dough, using a butter knife. Be sure NOT to mix it in, because then the dough will turn completely pink, and frankly who wants a pink cookie? Just gently cut the jam into the dough. Think of it as stabbing the jam into the dough and dragging the knife through in a swirl, okay? Eventually you will work the jam into the dough...trust me!

  5. Take the jam swirled dough and place it by large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. **NOTE: I started out doing big spoonfuls, but found it easier (but messier) to just scoop out the dough and shape it into a ball using my (clean) hands. Yes, it was a bit messy (think jam), but worked the best for me. Flatten the dough balls slightly with your clean hands or the back of a spoon. *Repeat this process with the rest of the dough and jam until the dough is gone.*
  6. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 12-17 minutes (the time will depend on the size of the cookies). Keep an eye on the cookies after the 10 minute mark. I wanted larger cookies so I cooked mine a bit longer. You want to remove them from oven when the edges of the cookie are set, but the center is slightly soft. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing them from pan. After 5 minutes, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. ENJOY!
Recipe Notes

If you make the cookies smaller, you will have a much larger quantity of cookies.

Nutrition Facts
White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies (Disneyland Copycat)
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
Calories 228 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 22mg7%
Sodium 94mg4%
Potassium 104mg3%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 155IU3%
Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies are Disneyland Main Street favorites, filled with white & semi-sweet chocolate chips and ribbons of raspberry jam.

 

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Mar
2014

Lemon Panna Cotta With Raspberry-Orange Sauce

categories: Desserts, Holidays!
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Lemon Panna Cotta is a classic, creamy Italian custard dessert, topped with a luscious raspberry-orange sauce! It’s delicious, and surprisingly easy to make!Lemon Panna Cotta is a classic, creamy Italian custard dessert, topped with a luscious raspberry-orange sauce! It's delicious, and surprisingly easy to make!

I made this recipe for lemon panna cotta with raspberry-orange sauce for the first time a few years ago for a themed dinner party we enjoyed with some great friends. The theme of this particular dinner was foods from the Mediterranean.
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A “Mediterranean” Themed Dinner Party!

Each course had to feature foods from various countries in that region. I’m usually the designated dessert girl, so off I went to research desserts  that are representative of that part of the world.
 
I found several recipes that sounded wonderful, and ended up making a few desserts (including this lemon panna cotta) for our themed dinner.This classic Italian dessert was a big hit and was incredibly delicious! Here is a picture of our menu for the evening!
 
Lemon Panna Cotta, with a menu for our themed dinner.

What IS Lemon Panna Cotta?

“What exactly IS panna cotta”, you ask? Well here’s your answer: Pan-na Cot-ta: noun. 1) a cold, Italian custard, often served with fruit sauce or caramel syrup. If that description sounds good, then you will LOVE this recipe for Lemon Panna Cotta with Raspberry-Orange Sauce!
 
I’ve made this lemon panna cotta with raspberry orange sauce a few times since then, and our guests always seem to enjoy it. The lemon flavor from grated lemon zest makes the custard taste fresh and wonderful!
 
The ivory colored, creamy custard dessert pairs wonderfully with the bright flavors of the raspberry-orange sauce! I could eat the raspberry lemon sauce by the spoonfuls, but that’s another story. This yummy decadent dish is a treat for the eyes, taste buds, and tummy!
 
Lemon Panna Cotta, on Christmas plate, with raspberry orange sauce.
The main title photo (above) is the lemon panna cotta I made it for guests during the Christmas holidays a couple of years ago. I think it was a perfect holiday dessert. It looked pretty with my Christmas dishes!
 
Unfortunately, I only took a couple photos to “document” the recipe to remember how it looked…way back before creating a food blog was even a thought in my little old head.
Sorry there are no photos of the preparation process, but honestly, it isn’t that hard to pull this lemon panna cotta recipe off. Really. If I can do it, so can you! Have a great day.

Looking For More Decadent DESSERT Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some wonderfully decadent desserts you can check out, 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. 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://allrecipes.com (Submitted by USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson)

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Lemon Panna Cotta With Raspberry-Orange Sauce
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 30 mins
 
Lemon Panna Cotta is a classic, creamy Italian custard dessert, topped with a luscious raspberry-orange sauce! It's delicious, and surprisingly easy to make!
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: lemon panna cotta
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 450 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the panna cotta:
  • 3 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons very finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 (.25 ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin
  • 2 Tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur (such as Grand Marnier, Triple Sec)
For the raspberry-orange sauce:
  • 2 Tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur (such as Grand Marnier, Triple Sec)
  • 1 (12 oz) pkg. frozen raspberries
  • 6 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 (6 oz) container fresh raspberries
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
Make Panna Cotta
  1. In a large saucepan (over medium-low heat), bring the whipping cream, 1/2 cup sugar and lemon zest to a simmer (but do not boil).

  2. Soften the gelatin and 2 generous Tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl. Stir and let sit for a couple minutes.  Whisk the softened gelatin and 2 TBSP of the orange liqueur into the cream mixture.

  3. Coat 8 (4 oz.) ramekins lightly with non-stick cooking spray (blot off the excess with paper towel, if necessary). Pour the cream mixture equally into each ramekin. Carefully place the filled ramekins into a shallow pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, at LEAST 4 hours (overnight if possible).

Make Raspberry Orange Sauce

  1. While panna cotta is "chilling" in the refrigerator, make the sauce: Partially thaw the frozen raspberries. Once partially thawed, place them in a food processor (fitted with metal blade). Add 6 TBSP of sugar and 2 TBSP orange liqueur. Blend until smooth.

  2. Transfer the raspberry orange sauce to a bowl. *Note: If you would like a seedless sauce (this is what I used), just strain the sauce first through a fine mesh sieve before placing in bowl*. Stir in the fresh raspberries, then let the sauce stand for approximately one hour.

To Serve

  1. When ready to serve the panna cotta, remove ramekins from refrigerator. To remove the custard, run a thin-bladed knife around the edge of each ramekin to loosen it up. Place a dessert plate on top of each ramekin and quickly invert (flip the plate over, while holding both the plate and the ramekin) onto plate to unmold.

  2. Spoon raspberry-orange sauce around (with a little on top) the panna cotta to serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Lemon Panna Cotta With Raspberry-Orange Sauce
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 450 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Fat 33g51%
Saturated Fat 20g125%
Cholesterol 122mg41%
Sodium 37mg2%
Potassium 163mg5%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 26g29%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 1335IU27%
Vitamin C 17.7mg21%
Calcium 74mg7%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Lemon Panna Cotta is a classic, creamy Italian custard dessert, topped with a luscious raspberry-orange sauce! It's delicious, and surprisingly easy to make!

 

 

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Mar
2014

Chicken Pomodoro

categories: Chicken, Italian, Main Dishes
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Chicken Pomodoro is an easy 30 minute Italian meal, with pan-seared chicken cutlets in a simple tomato/cream sauce, served over linguine or fettucine.Chicken Pomodoro is an easy 30 minute Italian meal, with pan-seared chicken cutlets in a simple tomato/cream sauce, served over linguine or fettucine.

Here’s another simple, yet wonderfully flavored chicken and pasta dish! Chicken Pomodoro… a simple, yet flavorful meal, featuring chicken in a cream sauce with tomatoes and scallions, served over pasta.
Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How I Found This Recipe For Chicken Pomodoro

My husband and I had dinner at a friend’s home recently where we were served chicken piccata. Because our dinner was so delicious, I asked our hostess for the recipe. She graciously said yes.
 
When she printed a copy of the recipe and gave it to me, I noticed there were two recipes on the page. This recipe, for chicken pomodoro, is the OTHER recipe that was on the printed copy. Yum! I have made chicken pomodoro twice since I received the recipe from my friend. It is really delicious, and from start to finish only takes about 30 minutes to prepare. What could be easier than that?
 
The sauce for the chicken tastes very fresh and light, enhanced by the flavor of green onions and fresh tomatoes. The sauce adds lots of FLAVOR to the tender pan-seared chicken cutlets and pasta. I only took one picture of the finished chicken pomodoro dinner (my bad), but the directions are very easy to understand. Pretty confident that you will find cooking this meal is a breeze! Hope you will give it a try!

Are You Looking For More Chicken Recipes?

You can find all of my chicken recipes (there’s a LOT) in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few family favorites 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!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://www.CuisineAtHome.com

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Chicken Pomodoro
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Chicken Pomodoro is an easy 30 minute Italian meal, with pan-seared chicken cutlets in a simple tomato/cream sauce, served over linguine or fettucine.
Category: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: chicken pomodoro
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 1134 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 4 chicken cutlets , lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, then dusted with flour. *Note: If not using cutlets, then cut 2 large chicken breasts in half (horizontally), place between sheets of plastic wrap and pound with meat mallet until thin.*
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup vodka
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh ripe tomatoes , chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup scallions or green onions , sliced (For Garnish)
  • 2 cups Linguine or Fettuccine pasta (cooked according to pkg. directions)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Season chicken cutlets. Dust with flour.
  2. In a non-stick skillet, heat the 2 Tablespoons oil to medium-high. When oil is hot, saute the cutlets on both sides until golden brown (this only takes a few minutes on each side). Remove the chicken cutlets to a platter (and keep warm); drain the fat from the pan.
  3. REMOVE THE SKILLET FROM THE FLAME OR COOK TOP and add the vodka to "deglaze" the skillet (It is VERY important not to blow yourself up, so remember to do this off the heat!)
  4. After adding the vodka to the skillet away from the flame, put the skillet back on the stove.
  5. Continue stirring (to get any tasty bits up from the bottom of the skillet) and cook the vodka until it is nearly evaporated.
  6. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice to the pan.
  7. Add the chicken cutlets back into the pan. Cook on each side for another minute. Remove the cutlets; place them on top of hot pasta on the serving platter or individual plates.
  8. Finish the sauce by adding the chopped tomatoes and whipping cream. Heat through, then spoon the sauce over the cutlets.
  9. Garnish the chicken with the scallions. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

The calorie calculation includes half a cup of pasta per person, plus the chicken and sauce.

**Cook the pasta while making the chicken and sauce.

Nutrition Facts
Chicken Pomodoro
Amount Per Serving (1 cutlet + 1/2 cup pasta)
Calories 1134 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 320mg14%
Potassium 1221mg35%
Carbohydrates 170g57%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 65g130%
Vitamin A 290IU6%
Vitamin C 11.1mg13%
Calcium 62mg6%
Iron 3.8mg21%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chicken Pomodoro is an easy 30 minute Italian meal, with pan-seared chicken cutlets in a simple tomato/cream sauce, served over linguine or fettucine.

 

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Mar
2014

Blueberry Scones With Lemon Glaze

categories: Breads, Breakfast, Scones
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Blueberry scones, studded with plump juicy blueberries, and topped with a tangy sweet lemon glaze, are sure to be a hit for breakfast or snack time!Blueberry scones, studded with plump juicy blueberries, and topped with a tangy sweet lemon glaze, are sure to be a hit for breakfast or snack time!

I love to make and serve scones, including these Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze! A great tasting homemade scone is, in my humble opinion, a lovely little bite of “goodness”, when served with a good strong cup of coffee or tea on the side!

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

Do you like blueberries? We sure do! Every summer I pick blueberries at a local berry farm. I even have a couple blueberry bushes in my backyard that add to the haul!

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

I like to pick a lot of blueberries (usually about 15-20 pounds) to freeze and enjoy all year long. Then, when I see a great recipe (like this one for blueberry scones) using this delicious fruit, I just raid my freezer. It’s pretty convenient!

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
 

How I Got This Recipe For Blueberry Scones With Lemon Glaze

This particular recipe for blueberry scones is one I found online.  The original recipe for the scones was from Tyler Florence (a Food Network star), then adapted a bit by the author of the website I found. I tweaked it a bit more (as far as cutting/forming technique), and have to say I was not disappointed!
 
I think the flavor combination of lemons and blueberries is “practically perfect in every way”, to quote my friend, Mary Poppins! **OKAY, okay, maybe she is not a close friend, but I can still quote her, right? Delicious!

I didn’t get any pictures of the process of making this particular batch of blueberry scones (my bad). However, you might like this link to my Chocolate Chip Orange Scones recipe that shows (in pictures) the process I typically use to make scones. It might be helpful to you, if you’ve never made scones before.

Close up photo of the blueberry scones.

I hope you will try making these delicious blueberry scones with lemon glaze, and trust you enjoy them as much as we did! Have a great day.
 

Looking For More SCONE Recipes?

A collage of some of the other scone recipes on this blog.

You can find all of my scone recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorites 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!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://www.blueeyedbakers.com/home/2011/9/1/blueberry-scones-with-lemon-glaze.html

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Blueberry Scones With Lemon Glaze
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
18 mins
Total Time
33 mins
 
Blueberry scones, studded with plump juicy blueberries, and topped with a tangy sweet lemon glaze, are sure to be a hit for breakfast or snack time!
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: blueberry scones
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 369 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the scones:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 5 Tablespoons butter , very cold and cut into small chunks
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
For the lemon glaze:
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered), sifted
  • 1/2 Tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (I use a micro-plane zester)
  • 1/2 Tablespoon butter
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. (If using a food processor, add the sifted dry ingredients to the processor and pulse in the chunks of cold butter.) If mixing by hand, cut in the butter using a pastry blender, then follow rest of directions.
  3. Pour the heavy cream into and pulse in food processor 2-3 times (or stir if making by hand) until cream has been fully incorporated. If the dough appears to be a bit dry, add and extra 2-3 Tablespoons of whipping cream or cold water. Make sure you don't overwork the dough.
  4. Remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Sprinkle and lightly press in the blueberries, folding the dough over itself. Once blueberries have been added, form the dough into a 8-9 inch circle.
  5. Cut the dough circle into 8 wedges. Place the cut scones onto an ungreased baking sheet (Just re-form the circle, but leave about 1/2 in between each wedge). Using a pastry brush, brush a slight bit of whipping cream over the entire top of the scone. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  6. While scones are cooling, mix up the lemon glaze. To do this: Mix the lemon juice and powdered sugar in a small microwave safe bowl until sugar has dissolved. Add in the lemon zest and the butter. Microwave this for approximately 30 seconds, then whisk again until smooth. Brush the glaze all over the tops of the scones, and let cool so the icing will firm up. Grab one... and a cup of coffee, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Blueberry Scones With Lemon Glaze
Amount Per Serving (1 scone)
Calories 369 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 61mg20%
Sodium 227mg10%
Potassium 229mg7%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 690IU14%
Vitamin C 5.4mg7%
Calcium 91mg9%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Blueberry scones, studded with plump juicy blueberries, and topped with a tangy sweet lemon glaze, are sure to be a hit for breakfast or snack time!

 

Save