The Grateful Girl Cooks!

16
Feb
2018

Orange Marmalade

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With a very small investment of time, you can make 12 delicious half-pints of homemade orange marmalade for long-term storage or to give as gifts.

Do you enjoy orange marmalade on toast, scones, or biscuits? I really do, and today I want to show you how to make (and can) your own jars of this thick, delicious citrus jam!

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

What Ingredients Do I Need?

The ingredients to make this absolutely delicious citrus marmalade are quite simple. They are oranges, lemons, sugar and pectin powder!

Process For Canning Fruit Jams/Marmalades

I did not take photos during the actual “making” of this particular marmalade, but I can assure you it’s similar in process to making other jams.

**Below are photos I took while preparing my raspberry jam, so you can “see” the jar filling process.

The fruit is cooked, sugar and pectin are added, then hot clean canning jars are filled, air is removed from jars, and then the jar rims are wiped clean to remove any jam residue.

Clean hot flat lids and jar rings are attached to the jars, and after that, the jars of marmalade are processed in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

After Processing The Orange Marmalade

Once the orange marmalade has finished processing, the hot jars are removed from canner and transferred onto a dish towel on the counter to rest and cool for 24 hours.

When the jars have completely cooled, check the lids to ensure all jars are properly sealed for long term storage. Label the jars, then store them in the pantry for later use!

You can see the pieces of the oranges in the finished orange marmalade. When I made this marmalade for the first time, it made just a little bit more than 12 half-pints.

The marmalade lasted a long time in our pantry. I love the fresh citrus taste of orange marmalade on biscuits or toast. Recently I’ve used it on baked chicken, and in my Grilled “Thai” PB& J Sandwiches (yum)!

This orange marmalade is very delicious, and I love that with only a small investment of my time, I can have many jars of this delicious treat to provide for our family for months and months.

What a great thing to give jars of homemade jam as gifts to friends and neighbors! I really hope you will give this marmalade a try! It’s GOOD!

Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Looking For More JAM Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of wonderful jam recipes to choose from, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1^st and 15^th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
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Recipe source: Instructions from inside a box of MCP Pectin powder

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

5 from 1 vote

Orange Marmalade

Prep Time

1 hr

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

1 hr 10 mins

With a very small investment of time, you can make 12 delicious half-pints of homemade orange marmalade for long-term storage or to give as gifts.

Category: Jams

Cuisine: American

Keyword: orange marmalade

Servings: 12 half pints

Calories Per Serving: 50 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

3½ pounds oranges (Valencia oranges, about 6 large)
6 cups water
4 lemons (for juice- total = 1/2 cup)
9½ cups granulated sugar
1 box MCP fruit pectin , (1.75 ounces)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To Prep Oranges:

Cut off ends of oranges. Thinly slice the oranges (keep the peel ON), then cut each slice into 4 pieces. Place oranges, water, and ½ cup fresh lemon juice in a large stockpot (6-8 quart). Bring the mixture to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for one hour (or until peel is tender),stirring occasionally. Measure out EXACTLY 7 cups of the cooked orange mixture. If necessary, add water to make 7 cups.

To Prep Canner/Jars/Lids:

Prepare water bath canner (filled half way with water), canning jars and lids according to manufacturer instructions and general canning guidelines. Bring water in canner to a simmer.

To Make Marmalade:

Measure out the granulated sugar into a large bowl and set aside until ready to add to jam.
Place 7 cups of prepared orange mixture in large stockpot. Add box of Pectin and stir to combine. Bring mixture to a rolling boil on high heat (a rolling boil is when it's boiling so hard it won't stop bubbling even when stirred).
Stir in granulated sugar quickly (all at once). Stir well to combine. Bring the jam/pectin/sugar mixture back to a full, rolling boil. Once it is a full rolling boil, boil it for exactly 4 minutes, stirring constantly. When time is up, remove pan from heat, then skim off any accumulated foam (and discard).
Ladle marmalade into hot, prepared jars. Fill the jars, leaving ⅛ inch headspace at the top. Remove air bubbles with a plastic utensil. Adjust the headspace, if necessary, by adding or removing jam.
Use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe down rim and edges of the jar. You need it free of debris in order to get a good seal. Cover with a hot, flat jar lid. Screw on bands to fingertip tightness.
Lower the jars on an elevated rack into the simmering water in the canner. The jars must be completely covered with water, and have at least an inch of water over the top of the jar. Add more boiling water to canner, if necessary. Cover the canner; bring to a gentle boil. Once water is boiling, process jars for 10 minutes. When done, turn off heat, wait for a minute, carefully remove canner lid (lift lid away from you because of steam); lift each jar out (with canning tongs), and place on dish towel on counter to cool (don't put jars directly on counter because temperature differences could possibly crack jars). You should hear "ping" sound as the jars seal properly.
After the jars cool off, you can check to see if jars sealed properly by pressing the middle of the lid. The jar should NOT spring back when touched. If it does spring back, the jar did not seal properly for long term storage, so you will need to refrigerate that particular jar. Let the sealed jars stand at room temp for 24 hours, wipe clean, label, then store unopened in a cool, dark place.

Recipe Notes

Altitude Adjustments:Higher altitudes require additional processing times:
1-3 K feet = +5 min. 3-6 K feet = +10 min. 6-8 K feet = +15 min.

Nutrition Facts

Orange Marmalade

Amount Per Serving (1 Tbs)

Calories 50

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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13
Feb
2018

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

categories: Lunch - Quick and Easy, Meatless Meals, Salads, Side Dishes

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You’ll enjoy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, with traditional Greek flavors of kalamata olives, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, and a simple dressing!

I’ve been enjoying cooking with quinoa recently. Did you know that quinoa is believed to have originated in the northwest part of South America?

Cooked quinoa provides healthy nutrients similar to what is typically found in rice and wheat, contains proteins and fiber, and is gluten-free. It is commonly referred to as a superfood, and is so easy to prepare!

If you enjoy quinoa, I’m confident you’ll like this delicious salad! By the way, if you’re interested in using quinoa for breakfast, be sure to check out my recipe for Apricot Almond Breakfast Quinoa! Anyways, here’s how to make this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad.

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

Cook The Quinoa

To make this delicious dish, you will first need to cook the quinoa (according to package instructions) in lightly salted boiling water until done.

Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork once done. Set it aside until it has cooled down to room temperature.

Make The Salad Dressing

While the quinoa is cooking, make the simple salad dressing for the Mediterranean quinoa salad. Add the ingredients (olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper) to a small bowl.

Mix these ingredients well using a fork, until fully combined. Set dressing aside until ready to top the salad.

Assemble The Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Place all the salad ingredients into a large mixing or serving bowl. Isn’t it colorful? The salad has quinoa, roasted red peppers, corn, cilantro, red onion, feta cheese and kalamata olives.

Give the salad dressing a quick stir and pour over the salad ingredients. Gently mix the Mediterranean quinoa salad together so the dressing coats everything well.

Time To EAT!

Once the salad has been mixed, it’s ready to serve! See how easy that was? And it REALLY tastes great!

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a fantastic side dish for a variety of meals. We enjoyed it with pan-seared creole salmon, and a small spinach salad, and it tasted wonderful!

This would also be a tasty light lunch, as well, and just for the record, the leftovers were just as good the next day!

If you enjoy quinoa, you might also enjoy my recipes for Southwest Quinoa Salad, Quinoa Enchilada Casserole (meatless), or a delicious Shrimp, Quinoa & Veggie Bowl.

Hope you will consider trying this recipe, and as always, I hope you will enjoy it! Don’t forget to check out ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

Take care, and may God bless you and surround you with His love today and always!

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

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Recipe Source: https://cooktoria.com/recipe/mediterranean-quinoa-salad/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

25 mins

This simple Quinoa Salad is filled with Mediterranean flavors! Easy to prepare, this is a fantastic tasting salad or side dish to serve for lunch or dinner!

Category: Salad/Side Dish

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: Mediterranean quinoa salad

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories Per Serving: 295 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Salad:

1/2 cup quinoa , uncooked
1 cup kalamata olives , pitted, sliced
1 cup corn kernels , fresh or canned
1 cup roasted red peppers , sliced
2/3 cup feta cheese , fat free
1/2 cup red onion , diced
1/2 cup cilantro , chopped

For Salad Dressing:

2 Tablespoons olive oil , extra virgin
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper , to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook quinoa in lightly salted water according to package instructions (approx 12-15 minutes). When done, drain, then set aside to let quinoa cool.
Mix salad dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until fully blended.
Place all salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour salad dressing over the top. Mix all ingredients gently until dressing has been incorporated into salad. Serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 295 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Fat 19g29%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 22mg7%

Sodium 1507mg66%

Potassium 267mg8%

Carbohydrates 24g8%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 575IU12%

Vitamin C 17.5mg21%

Calcium 165mg17%

Iron 1.8mg10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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08
Feb
2018

Chicken Taco Salad Bowl

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern, Salads

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Make a Chicken Taco Salad in an edible tortilla bowl shell! Why go out when you can enjoy this yummy, filling Mexican salad from home?

Did you know it’s easy to make a delicious Chicken Taco Salad Bowl. Who doesn’t like this filling salad served in an edible tortilla shell? Taco salads are simple to create, and the edible tortilla bowls are very easy to make.

How Does The Tortilla Bowl Get Its Shape?

I use metal tortilla bowl forms that I bought on Amazon several years ago. I think it was about $10 dollars total for two of them.

No, I am not receiving compensation for mentioning this, just thought you might like to see what I used. They have been worth every single penny, and I’ve used them so many times I’ve lost count!

The metal forms are sprayed with non-stick spray and the tortillas are lightly pressed into the mold, then baked for 5 minutes. That’s it! It’s really simple (and you can store them in an airtight container for 2 days, so you can easily make them ahead of time)!

**NOTE: If you don’t have access to tortilla bowl pans, you can still bake tortilla bowls without them. Spray medium sized oven safe bowls with cooking spray. Press a “burrito-sized” tortilla into the bowl (creasing the edges to fit, if needed).

Bake for 10-15 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven, or until light brown and crispy. Remove from oven. Let cool for a few minutes, then carefully remove crisp tortilla from bowl.

Cook And Season The Chicken

When I make a taco salad bowl I typically use shredded pork, ground beef or shredded cooked chicken. This time I used 2 cooked/shredded chicken breasts and added a little bit of onion.

I season the meat by using my own taco seasoning mix, OR you can use 1/2 an envelope of store-bought taco seasoning (following instructions on package), to season the chicken.

“Building” A Chicken Taco Salad Bowl

Spread warm refried beans across the bottom of the baked tortilla shell. I usually try to use non-fat beans to cut down on calories.

After that I add lots of shredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, then top it with the seasoned shredded chicken and onion mixture.

Finish Making The Chicken Taco Salad Bowl And Serve

Top the chicken taco salad off with a nice chunky salsa, chopped tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream or non-fat plain yogurt, and a few sprigs of cilantro.

Use whatever suits your own personal preference. This is how we enjoy them! You can add any other garnishes you enjoy, such as guacamole, avocado slices or sliced black olives, too.

Here are the two chicken taco salad bowls I made for my husband and I. They look festive, and the crisp tortilla bowls are completely EDIBLE! This is one of our favorite dinners, because it fills you up, tastes fantastic, and because we LOVE any kind of Mexican food!

Another big plus is that we don’t have to go out to a restaurant, but can enjoy it from the comfort of our own home!

Go ahead… pull up a chair, grab a fork and have a bite! I just KNOW you will enjoy this meal! And by all means, add any other ingredients you wish, to creatively make this salad your own!

At times I’ve added avocado slices, or guacamole, sliced olives, and even chopped green chilies to our salad… all are tasty additions!

Sure hope you will try this recipe for a delicious chicken taco salad. As much as I enjoy going OUT for Mexican food , sometimes it’s easier, more convenient and less expensive to make these tasty salads at home!

Thanks for stopping by, 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 MAIN COURSE SALAD Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some wonderful tasting main course salad recipes you might enjoy, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1^st and 15^th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Chicken Taco Salad Bowl

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

0 mins

Total Time

15 mins

Make a Chicken Taco Salad in an edible tortilla bowl shell! Why go out when you can enjoy this yummy, filling Mexican salad from home?

Category: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: chicken taco salad

Servings: 2 servings

Calories Per Serving: 348 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

2 burrito sized flour tortillas , baked into bowl shape and crisp (See NOTES below)
2 cooked and shredded chicken breasts
2 Tablespoons chopped onions
1/2 package taco seasoning (plus water per pkg. instructions)
1 can refried beans (I used non-fat)
2 cups Iceberg lettuce , chopped
2 Tablespoons cilantro , chopped, divided
Salsa (as desired)
1 medium tomato , chopped, divided
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese , grated, divided
Dollop of light sour cream (as desired)
Additional sprigs of cilantro
OPTIONAL GARNISH: guacamole , sliced avocados, sliced black olives, chopped green chilies

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Bake tortilla bowls until crisp. Set aside. NOTE: If using metal tortilla bowl forms, spray pan with non-stick spray. Press tortilla into pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes or until light brown and crispy. If you don't have access to the tortilla bowl forms, you can still bake tortilla bowls without them. Spray medium sized oven safe bowls with cooking spray. Press a "burrito-sized" tortilla into the bowl (creasing edges to fit, if needed). Bake 10-15 minutes in a 375 degree oven, or until light brown and crispy. Remove from oven. Let cool, then carefully remove crisp tortilla from bowl.
Cook shredded chicken, onion and taco seasoning per package instructions. Set aside.
To build salads, divide and layer ingredients into tortilla bowls: Refried beans, Shredded lettuce, cilantro, and seasoned shredded chicken, salsa, chopped tomato, grated cheddar cheese.
Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and additional cilantro, if desired. Additional garnishes can include guacamole, avocado slices, sliced black olives or chopped green chilies. Serve, and enjoy this delicious Mexican salad.

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Taco Salad Bowl

Amount Per Serving (1 salad bowl)

Calories 348 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 101mg34%

Sodium 539mg23%

Potassium 637mg18%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 34g68%

Vitamin A 855IU17%

Vitamin C 10.6mg13%

Calcium 247mg25%

Iron 1.8mg10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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05
Feb
2018

Asian Style Stir Fry Veggies

categories: Side Dishes, Vegetable Dishes

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You’ll love colorful, delicious, quick and easy to make Asian style stir fry veggies. They’re a perfect side dish for a variety of meals.

Asian Style Stir Fry Veggies are bursting with color and flavor, and are a simple, delicious way to serve fresh vegetables with your meals. Even kids will like this simple side dish!

The recipe for Asian style stir fried veggies couldn’t be simpler, but the results are sure yummy! I came up with a simple sauce many years ago and enjoy using it occasionally to enhance mixed fresh stir-fried vegetables! Here’s how to make this dish:

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

Prep The Stir Fry Veggies

Clean veggies, dry and then prep them, by cutting them into bite sized slices or chunks. This time I used broccoli, yellow squash, green zucchini, red and orange bell peppers, brown onion, baby carrots, and mushrooms.

Truthfully, any combination of vegetables you have available will work well (I’ve also added bok choy, green peppers, fresh asparagus or green beans, at times). Set aside.

Make The Asian Style Sauce

Mix Asian-style sauce in a small cup or bowl. I simply used a fork to mix the ingredients (water, soy sauce, ground ginger and cornstarch) together. Set aside.

Stir Fry The Veggies

In a large skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat until very hot (but not smoking). Add the vegetables all at once (except for minced garlic).

Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are cooked (about 5-6 minutes). They should be crisp-tender when done. Add the minced garlic, and stir, to prevent burning. Cook an additional minute.

Add Sauce To The Stir Fried Veggies

Give the sauce a final stir, then pour the Asian sauce into skillet, and stir to combine. The sauce will begin to thicken almost immediately. Continue to stir.

If the sauce becomes too thick, add just a touch of water to skillet and stir until all veggies are coated with sauce, and are heated through.

Ready To Serve

Once the Asian style stir fry veggies are heated through, and covered with sauce, they are ready to serve. They pair very well alongside a variety of meats and other sides.

For this meal, I served the Asian Style Stir Fried Veggies as a side dish and served them along with a piece of pan-seared salmon and steamed rice. YUM!

That’s it! I really hope you will consider making these Asian Style Stir Fry Veggies. They add a LOT of color and wonderful flavor to any meal! It’s a great way to get more vegetables onto the plate, and they really do taste great (hint, hint).

Hope you have an absolutely WONDERFUL day and remember… be KIND to those you encounter throughout your day. You never know what others are going through… why not be their bright beacon of hope for that day! Take care and may God bless you!

Looking For More VEGETABLE Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of delicious veggie recipes for you to choose from, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

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

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
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0 from 0 votes

Asian Style Stir Fry Veggies

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

6 mins

Total Time

16 mins

You'll love these colorful, delicious, quick and easy to make Asian style stir fry veggies. They're a perfect side dish for a variety of meals.

Category: Side Dishes

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: stir fry veggies

Servings: 2 large servings

Calories Per Serving: 221 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Veggies (Use any combo or quantity you wish... this is what I used):

2 Tbsp Vegetable oil
1 Zucchini , I used 1/2 green and 1/2 yellow), sliced
6-8 Mushrooms , sliced
1/4 medium Brown onion , sliced
1 cup Bell peppers , I used red and orange, sliced
8 Baby Carrots , I used 8-10, sliced lengthwise
1 cup Broccoli florets
1 tsp Minced garlic

For Asian Style Sauce:

3/4 cup water
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cornstarch , I used a heaping teaspoon

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Clean veggies, dry them, then prep them, by cutting them into bite sized slices or chunks. Set aside.
Mix Asian-style sauce in a small cup or bowl. I simply used a fork to mix the ingredients (water, soy sauce, ground ginger and cornstarch) together. Set aside.
In a large skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat until very hot (but not smoking). Add the vegetables all at once (except for minced garlic). Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are cooked (about 5-6 minutes). They should be crisp-tender when done. Add the minced garlic, and stir to prevent burning. Cook an additional minute.
Give the sauce a final stir, then pour it into skillet, and stir to combine. The sauce will begin to thicken almost immediately. Continue to stir. If sauce becomes too thick, add just a little bit more water to skillet and stir until all veggies are coated with sauce, and are heated through. Remove skillet from heat, serve, and enjoy!.

Nutrition Facts

Asian Style Stir Fry Veggies

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 221 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Sodium 1071mg47%

Potassium 900mg26%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 10g11%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 8330IU167%

Vitamin C 157mg190%

Calcium 55mg6%

Iron 2.1mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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02
Feb
2018

Chocolate Chip Muffins

categories: Breakfast, Muffins

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Chocolate Chip Muffins are easy to make, amazingly delicious, and will be a family favorite for breakfast or a light snack!

Do you enjoy a great tasting treat for breakfast or a snack? If so, then you will want to read on and will need to make these delicious Chocolate Chip Muffins, bursting with miniature chocolate chips! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and read on.

I found the recipe on Pinterest and whipped up a batch for our family several weeks ago. WOW!!! They are wonderful, and were difficult to stay out of!

The recipe made 12 standard sized muffins, which were packed with chocolate chips and were NOT dry! Absolutely DELICIOUS! As an added bonus… they are super easy to make, too! Here’s how:

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

How To Make Chocolate Chip Muffins

In a large bowl, mix together butter and oil, until well blended. Add sugar, egg, egg white and vanilla extract.

Stir or whisk ingredients very well, until completely combined and smooth. Add the buttermilk, and stir until combined.

Whisk together flour, corn starch, baking powder and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients.

Fold or gently stir dry ingredients into batter, making sure NOT to overmix.

About half way through folding dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stir in the chocolate chips. Once combined, cover the bowl and let the batter sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes (trust me-this will help the muffins to rise higher).

While batter is “resting”, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a standard sized muffin tin with paper cupcake liners and spray bottom of each paper liner with non-stick baking spray (I learned this trick from a friend whose husband was a baker).

Once batter has “rested”, fill each paper liner with batter (about 3/4 full), distributing evenly between muffin cups.

Bake The Chocolate Chip Muffins

Sprinkle the top of each muffin with coarse granulated sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for 8 minutes, then turn down the oven to 350 degrees and cook for another 7-8 minutes.

Check muffins for doneness (they should be light golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into middle of muffin should come out dry). When done, remove muffins from oven to a wire rack, and let muffins cool.

And that’s how easy it is to make these wonderful treats! Don’t they LOOK good? Each muffin rose well above the top of the paper liner! And just look at all those mini chocolate chips inside… YUM!

These chocolate chip muffins tasted FANTASTIC! We loved them. I sent some of them home with one of our sons, and he loved them, too.

I hope you will consider trying this recipe, and trust that you, and those you love will enjoy them as much as we did. Have a GREAT day!

Looking For More MUFFIN Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. Some of our favorite muffins 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 (1^st and 15^th) 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

Recipe Source: Samantha Merritt, at https://sugarspunrun.com/bakery-style-chocolate-chip-muffins/

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0 from 0 votes

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Chocolate Chip Muffins will be a family favorite for breakfast or a light snack, and they're easy to make!

Category: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate chip muffins

Servings: 12 muffins

Calories Per Serving: 279 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons butter (melted, cooled to room temp.)
1/4 cup vegetable (or canola) oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg (at room temp. is best)
1 egg white
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk (see NOTES for substitute)
1¾ cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons corn starch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips (I used mini-chips!)
1/3 cup granulated or coarse sugar (for sprinkling on muffins before baking)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together butter and oil, until well blended. Add sugar, egg, egg white and the vanilla extract. Stir or whisk ingredients very well, until completely combined and smooth. Add buttermilk; stir until combined.
Whisk together flour, corn starch, baking powder and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold or gently stir dry ingredients into batter, making sure NOT to overmix. About half way through folding dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stir in the chocolate chips. Once combined, cover the bowl and let the batter sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes (this will help the muffins to rise higher).
While batter is "resting", preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a standard sized muffin tin with paper cupcake liners and spray bottom of each paper liner with non-stick baking spray (I learned this trick from a friend whose husband was a baker). Once batter has "rested", divide batter evenly, and fill each paper liner with batter (about 3/4 full), distributing evenly between muffin cups.
Sprinkle the top of each muffin with coarse granulated sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for 8 minutes, then turn down oven to 350 degrees and cook for another 7-8 minutes (without removing muffins from oven). At the 7 minute mark, check muffins for doneness (they should be light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into middle should come out dry). When done, remove muffins from oven to a wire rack, and let muffins cool. Serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

!No buttermilk? Use this as a substitute: Put 1½ tsp. white vinegar OR lemon juice into a measuring cup. Fill to 1/2 cup marking with milk. Stir. Let sit 5 minutes before using.
!Want to make 6 JUMBO sized muffins? Follow exact recipe and use jumbo sized muffin tins - bake at 425° for 8 mins., reduce heat to 350°, then bake an additional 15 mins. before checking for doneness.

Nutrition Facts

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Amount Per Serving (1 muffin)

Calories 279 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 27mg9%

Sodium 163mg7%

Potassium 117mg3%

Carbohydrates 48g16%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 32g36%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 380IU8%

Vitamin C 0.5mg1%

Calcium 65mg7%

Iron 1.2mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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30
Jan
2018

Grilled Patty Melt

categories: Beef, For The BBQ Grill, Main Dishes, Sandwiches

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Make a classic grilled patty melt from the comfort of home! Seasoned beef, rye bread, caramelized onions, and gooey cheese create a delicious grilled sandwich!

Do you enjoy a good Patty Melt? I sure do – YUM! Sometimes when we go out for hamburgers, I opt for a grilled patty melt, because I love the simplicity of this sandwich and I LOVE the taste! Did you know it’s EASY to make them from the comfort of your own home?

Seriously… I love grilled onions, I love cheese and I love burgers, so how could I not enjoy this simple classic grilled sandwich? A patty melt features all of those ingredients, and is a popular menu item at diners and Mom and Pop restaurants around the country!

Now, please note that I didn’t say they are the HEALTHIEST meal option, but I do believe life (including food choices) is all about balance. Every now and then, a grilled patty melt with perfectly caramelized onions and gooey cheese on buttered rye bread makes me deliriously HAPPY.

I enjoyed eating this grilled patty melt. Every single bite… THEN I went for a 237 mile walk to work off the calories… Ha Ha!

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

How To Make A Grilled Patty Melt

Patty melts are easy to make. They do take a little bit of prep time, because you need to caramelize and brown the sliced onions really well!

Slice the onions thin, then cook low and slow in a little butter for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you are a multi-tasker, you can grill the patties at the same time.

You can also prepare the onions for the patty melt ahead of time, if you want. This could save you time later on when everyone is ravenous and starving.

Lightly season the ground beef with salt, pepper, a touch of garlic powder and some Worcestershire sauce, then shape the meat into patties.

Make the patties slightly oblong to fit better on a piece of Rye bread (the “traditional” bread used to make this sandwich).

Cooking The Beef For A Patty Melt

Grill the beef patties on both sides on medium-high heat until they reach the desired doneness (I am a medium-well gal, myself). I cook the meat on an indoor cast iron grill, but they are just as easily cooked on a BBQ grill.

Make sure the grill or pan you use is very hot before adding the meat. This helps to create a crusty “sear” on the outside.

Once ready to cook the grilled patty melt, spread butter on one side of each slice of bread (like making a grilled cheese sandwich).

Place the cooked meat patty onto the non-buttered side, then pile on the caramelized onions.

NOTE: If you want a LOT of cheese, place a piece of Swiss cheese on the bread before placing the patty on, then add another one to the top. I wanted just a small amount of cheese, so I put it only on top of the onions.

Top With Another Slice Of Bread

Place another slice of bread on top of the cheese (buttered side out). If you wish to add Thousand Island dressing (a lot of restaurants serve it with this), spread it onto the unbuttered side of the top slice of bread.

Cook the patty melt as you would a grilled cheese sandwich. Once the bottom slice of bread is golden brown and toasty, carefully flip the sandwich to the other side.

Continue cooking the grilled patty melt until the bread is crusty and golden brown, the cheese has melted, and the sandwich is heated through.

Time to EAT!

Once done, carefully slice the patty melt in half, and serve with additional Thousand Island dressing or ketchup for dunking!

And, if you want MORE calories (cough, cough), add some fries! French fries are VEGETABLES, right?

That’s it! See how easy it is to make this classic sandwich? Now you can make a delicious grilled patty melt in the comfort of your own home!

The secret is getting the onions cooked just right, along with crispy rye bread, a well-seared beef patty, and ooey gooey melted cheese! This simple meal always make me happy!

I hope you will consider making these yummy sandwiches for lunch or dinner for friends or family! Have a fantastic day!

Looking For More SANDWICH Recipes?

You can find all my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few delicious sandwich recipes you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

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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Grilled Patty Melt

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

30 mins

Make a classic grilled patty melt from the comfort of home! Seasoned beef, rye bread, caramelized onions, and gooey cheese create a delicious grilled sandwich!

Category: Entree, Sandwich

Cuisine: American

Keyword: patty melt

Servings: 4 servings

Calories Per Serving: 804 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

2 onions , peeled, sliced thin
1 Tablespoon butter
1½ pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
4-5 dashes Worchestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons butter
8 slices rye bread (can substitute sourdough)
4 slices Swiss cheese (use more, if desired- can also substitute American cheese)
Thousand Island dressing (optional, if desired)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Trim ends off onions, peel, then slice thin. Melt 1 Tablespoon butter in skillet. Cook onions slices on medium heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done, the caramelized onions should be softened and light brown. Set aside.
Season ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Worchestershire sauce. Mix well. Shape meat into 4 slightly oblong patties (to fit shape of rye bread). Grill beef patties on grill or in skillet on medium-high heat (spray skillet with non-stick spray or use melted butter) until cooked through to your preferred done-ness. Make sure the grill or pan you use is very hot before adding the meat. This helps to create a quick, crusty "sear" on the outside. When done, set beef patties on paper towel to drain excess grease.
When ready to cook sandwich, spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place cooked meat patty onto the non-buttered side, then piled on the caramelized onions. Top with slice of Swiss cheese. NOTE: If you want a LOT of cheese, place a piece of Swiss cheese on the bread before placing the patty on, then add another slice to the top.
Place a slice of buttered bread on top of the cheese (butter side out). If you wish to add Thousand Island dressing, spread it onto the unbuttered side of the top slice of bread. Cook patty melt on low heat as you would a grilled cheese sandwich. Once the bottom is golden brown and toasty, carefully flip the sandwich (with a spatula) to the other side, and continue cooking until golden brown, cheese has melted, and sandwich is heated through. Once done, carefully slice patty melt in half, and serve with additional Thousand Island dressing or ketchup for dunking! Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Patty Melt

Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)

Calories 804 Calories from Fat 468

% Daily Value*

Fat 52g80%

Saturated Fat 23g144%

Cholesterol 169mg56%

Sodium 1222mg53%

Potassium 667mg19%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 42g84%

Vitamin A 495IU10%

Vitamin C 4.3mg5%

Calcium 311mg31%

Iron 5.4mg30%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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26
Jan
2018

Overnight Banana Coconut Oats

categories: Breakfast

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5 minutes prep time is all you need to make a family friendly breakfast of Overnight Banana Coconut Oats! A quick, easy and delicious dish everyone will enjoy!

Have you ever made overnight oats before? I would like to recommend these Overnight Banana Coconut Oats today, for your consideration! Take a couple minutes to mix up the ingredients, and simply refrigerate them while you sleep, then wake up to a thick and creamy cup of “ready to go DELICIOUS oatmeal” the next morning!

I really like the idea of having overnight oats ready to grab and go in the morning. There’s no fuss- just a hearty, filling, DELICIOUS breakfast to enjoy with my coffee!

It couldn’t be easier to make banana coconut oats, with a few ingredients! Make a few up and go to bed at night, knowing your breakfast will be waiting for YOU! Here’s how to make one serving:

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

How To Make Overnight Banana Coconut Oats

In an airtight container with a lid (I used a pint sized Mason jar), place rolled oats, sliced banana, vanilla extract, chia seeds, shredded coconut, and pure maple syrup. NOTE: If you want more coconut flavor, you can also add a very small bit of coconut extract. I didn’t find it necessary, but it is an option!

Add unsweetened coconut milk until the oats are fully covered. Give the ingredients a good stir, until they are completely mixed together. If necessary, you might need to add a bit more coconut milk to ensure the ingredients are covered.

This is what the overnight banana coconut oats looked like after mixing. Place a lid on the jar or container, and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, remove jar from refrigerator and remove lid. Overnight the oats will have absorbed quite a bit of the coconut milk, leaving a creamy, thicker consistency of oats. You can add in a bit more coconut milk, to thin out the oats more and loosen them up, if desired. Give the oats a good stir, and they are ready to eat cold (no, you don’t heat them!).

See how thick the banana coconut oats have become after being refrigerated overnight? They taste wonderful cold, too… kind of like pudding!

The recipe as written below will yield ONE serving, but is easily doubled or tripled to make several more servings. Overnight banana coconut oats can be prepared 2-3 days in advance. If you enjoy the flavors of coconut and banana, you will enjoy this easy breakfast that will also fill you up!

Looking for More OVERNIGHT OAT Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. You might also enjoy my other overnight oats recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

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

Recipe Source: Tammy, at https://www.organizeyourselfskinny.com/2017/07/05/banana-coconut-overnight-oats/

0 from 0 votes

Overnight Banana Coconut Oats

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

0 mins

Total Time

5 mins

5 minutes prep time is all you need to make a family friendly breakfast of Overnight Banana Coconut Oats! A quick, easy and delicious dish everyone will enjoy!

Category: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: overnight banana coconut oats

Servings: 1 serving

Calories Per Serving: 581 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 very ripe banana , sliced thin
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon shredded coconut (unsweetened preferred)
1 teaspoon chia seeds
2 teaspoon pure maple syrup
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk (plus more, if necessary)
1/8 teaspoon coconut extract (OPTIONAL-use only if more coconut flavor desired)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Place all ingredients (except coconut milk) in a mason jar or container with a lid. Give ingredients a stir until combined.
Pour coconut milk into container. Stir well. Make sure the ingredients are fully covered by coconut milk. Add additional coconut milk (if necessary), to cover. Seal jar or container. Refrigerate overnight.
When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator, remove lid, and give oats a stir. Stir in additional coconut milk, if desired, to thin out the oats a bit.
Serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Oats can be prepared 2-3 days in advance, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Overnight Banana Coconut Oats

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 581 Calories from Fat 315

% Daily Value*

Fat 35g54%

Saturated Fat 28g175%

Sodium 42mg2%

Potassium 673mg19%

Carbohydrates 62g21%

Fiber 9g38%

Sugar 23g26%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin C 8.5mg10%

Calcium 81mg8%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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22
Jan
2018

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries

categories: Appetizers, From Our Veggie Garden, Side Dishes, Vegetable Dishes

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Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries are a delicious side dish or appetizer! Baked until crispy, and served with dipping sauce, these “fries” will be a big hit!

We think Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries are a delicious family-friendly way to get kids (and adults) to EAT THEIR VEGGIES!

This appetizer is baked (not fried) to a crispy finish, and served with a cool, seasoned dipping sauce on the side. These “fries” won’t last long, as a side dish or an appetizer!

The zucchini is crispy on the outside and has lots of flavor because of the simply seasoned coating. They are really very easy to prepare, and it’s a great way to get more veggies into the food rotation!

It’s easy to get these veggies into everyone, in a fun way (especially if the kids like French fries)! Zucchini fries are delicious baked and eaten without any accompaniments, but I like to dip them in a tasty sauce (or ranch dressing).

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

Making The Sauce/Dip For Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries

This time I made up a quick and simple Mexican-spiced dip/sauce (with some of my favorite spices), to serve on the side.

Make the sauce by combining non-fat plain Greek yogurt with a Tablespoon of mayonnaise, then added cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika, and mixed until blended.

The dipping sauce has good Southwestern flavor, but is not too spicy, by the way! Make ahead, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.

How To Cut Zucchini For Zucchini Fries

I used a green zucchini and a yellow zucchini to make the fries. After slicing the ends off, they were cut like this:

#1 Cut each in half in the middle.
#2 Slice each half in half lengthwise.
#3 Cut those pieces into 4 lengthwise slices each (so they are wedges about 1/2 an inch wide).

In a small bowl, place two eggs. Lightly beat the eggs until they are fully combined. Place Panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a separate bowl.

Add the garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika and Italian seasoning, and stir well, until combined.

Prepping Zucchini Fries For Baking

Dip the zucchini wedges, one at a time into the egg mixture to coat. Shake off excess egg back into bowl and then dip and roll in Panko mixture to coat all sides.

Place each coated piece of zucchini on a baking sheet which has been lined with aluminum foil, covered with non-stick spray.

Repeat until all the zucchini “fries” have been coated. Make sure to keep the wedges separated on foil.

Cooking The Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries

Spray the top of the zucchini with cooking spray or lightly drizzle with olive oil. Bake in a preheated 425°F. oven for 22-25 minutes, flipping zucchini fries over, halfway through the cooking time.

When they are done, the zucchini should be crisp on the outside and lightly browned.

Time To Eat!

Transfer zucchini fries to a platter and serve with dipping sauce (if desired). They taste the very best when served hot, crispy, and fresh!

Serve, and enjoy this yummy finger food side dish (or appetizer!). The recipe can be easily doubled for a larger crowd (as written, the recipe makes 32 “fries”). Hope you enjoy these zucchini fries – we sure do!

Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Looking For More APPETIZER Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some delicious appetizer recipes to choose from including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

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

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
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Zucchini Fries Recipe Source: Trish, at https://www.momontimeout.com/baked-parmesan-zucchini-fries-recipe/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

22 mins

Total Time

32 mins

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries are a delicious side dish or appetizer! Baked until crispy, and served with dipping sauce, these "fries" will be a big hit!

Category: Side Dish / Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked Parmesan zucchini fries

Servings: 32 fries

Calories Per Serving: 18 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

2 zucchini (medium sized- I used 1 green and 1 yellow)
2 eggs , beaten lightly
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika

For Dipping Sauce:

1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt (can substitute sour cream)
1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon EACH of spices (chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder and paprika)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To Make Dipping Sauce:

Mix Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika in small bowl until blended. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.

To Make Zucchini Fries:

Cut both ends off each zucchini (discard). Cut each zucchini in half across the middle, then cut each half in half lengthwise, then cut those pieces into 4 lengthwise slices each (so they are wedges about 1/2 an inch wide). You should have 32 wedges.
In a bowl, lightly beat eggs until combined. Set aside.
In another bowl, mix Panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika and Italian seasoning until combined.
Dip zucchini wedges, one at a time into the egg mixture to coat. Shake excess egg back into bowl, then dip and roll zucchini slice in Panko mixture to coat all sides. Place each coated piece of zucchini on baking sheet lined with foil, and sprayed lightly with non-stick spray. Repeat until all "fries" have been coated. Keep wedges separated. Spray the top of the zucchini with cooking spray, or lightly drizzle with olive oil.
Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 22-25 minutes, turning zucchini slices over, half way through cooking time. When done, zucchini should be crisp on the outside and lightly browned. Transfer zucchini fries to a platter, and serve with dipping sauce (if desired).

Nutrition Facts

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries

Amount Per Serving (4 wedges)

Calories 18

% Daily Value*

Cholesterol 11mg4%

Sodium 45mg2%

Potassium 42mg1%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 55IU1%

Vitamin C 2.2mg3%

Calcium 17mg2%

Iron 0.1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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19
Jan
2018

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

categories: Breakfast

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Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are easy to make from scratch, light, fluffy, and infused with lemon flavor, for a delicious breakfast to remember!

If you are looking for a decadent breakfast that is easy to prepare and incredibly DELICIOUS, may I suggest Lemon Ricotta Pancakes? Easily made from scratch, light and fluffy, and infused with lemon flavor, this is one breakfast your family and friends will remember!

I first tasted lemon ricotta pancakes last Fall when my husband and I enjoyed a 4-day getaway to Bend, Oregon. Oh my goodness! We stumbled upon a restaurant called The McKay Cottage Restaurant (voted best breakfast restaurant in Bend, every year since 2010) and had a wonderful breakfast there.

Our meal was so good, we ended up going back again the next day and thoroughly enjoyed their incredible lemon ricotta pancakes! So good! Look how scrumptious they looked when served to us! YUM!

Once we returned home, I vowed to eventually make them from scratch, so we could enjoy them here in our home, instead of a restaurant 4 hours away from us! I searched online for a recipe that sounded perfect and picked this one!

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

Lemons, Lemons, Lemons!

Right before Christmas, I received a box of fresh, homegrown Meyer lemons from my dear friend Lenita, in Southern California. I KNEW I had to use a few of those extraordinary lemons to make some pancakes… STAT!

So, I did use those gorgeous lemons for this recipe, and yes…they were amazing! Here’s how easy it is to make a batch of these fluffy and delicious pancakes from scratch:

Make The Batter For The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

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

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk eggs until blended. Add ricotta cheese, milk and vanilla extract. Whisk these very well, so the ingredients are fully blended.

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir until all ingredients are fully combined (do not OVERMIX!). Add fresh squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest; stir only until they are incorporated into batter.

Cook the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Lightly spray, butter or grease a griddle or large skillet. Heat griddle until very hot, then pour 1/3 cup of batter for each pancake onto hot griddle. Make sure to leave enough space between them, so they do not run into each other.

Cook a couple minutes, until bubbles form on top of batter. Flip them over and cook the other side for a couple minutes or until the bottom is golden brown.

Repeat process with remaining batter (you can keep the cooked pancakes in the oven on a low temperature to keep them warm).

Serve The Pancakes!

When ready to serve, place stack of pancakes onto individual plates. Sift powdered sugar over the top of the pancakes and garnish with fresh fruit (if desired).

I tend to “eat with my eyes” first, so I “fancied” the pancakes up a bit (like the restaurant did)! I used thin lemon slices, raspberries and blueberries. Sliced fresh strawberries would be pretty, as well!

Serve warm, with maple syrup or whipped cream! Take a big bite and enjoy this decadent breakfast treat! They taste WONDERFUL, and LOOK pretty good, too!

I really hope you will consider trying this recipe… the lemon ricotta pancakes are EASY to prepare and would be perfect for a weekend breakfast with family or friends!

You’ll definitely enjoy these absolutely delicious pancakes! They’re so good I bet you’ll want to make them again… and again! Have a great day, and please come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes!

Looking For More PANCAKE Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some delicious pancake recipes, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1^st and 15^th) 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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Recipe Source: Ashley, at https//bakerbynature.com/lemon-ricotta-pancakes/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

3 mins

Total Time

13 mins

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are easily made from scratch, light and fluffy, and infused with lemon flavor, for an absolutely delicious breakfast you'll remember!

Category: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: lemon ricotta pancakes

Servings: 16 pancakes

Calories Per Serving: 115 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1½ teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs (large)
1½ cups milk
1 cup ricotta cheese (full fat is best!)
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approx. 2 large lemons)
2 teaspoons lemon zest

For Garnish/Serving (if desired):

Powdered sugar (sifted), Fresh fruit, or whipped cream
Maple syrup

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk eggs until blended. Add ricotta cheese, milk and vanilla extract. Whisk these very well, so the ingredients are fully blended. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir until all ingredients are fully combined (do not OVERMIX!). Add fresh squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest; stir only until they are incorporated into batter.
Lightly spray, butter or grease a griddle or large skillet. Heat griddle until hot, then pour 1/3 cup of batter for each pancake onto hot griddle. Make sure to leave enough space between them, so they do not run into each other. Cook a couple minutes, until bubbles form on top of batter. Flip over, and cook the other side for a couple minutes or until the bottom is golden brown. Repeat process with remaining batter (you can keep the cooked pancakes in the oven on a low temperature to keep them warm).
When ready to serve, place stack of pancakes onto individual plates. Sift powdered sugar over the top of the pancakes and garnish with fresh fruit (if desired). Serve warm, with maple syrup or whipped cream, and ENJOY!

Recipe Notes

The pancakes can easily be frozen. Place a sheet of wax paper between each room temp. pancake, wrap securely in aluminum foil or resealable plastic storage bag, and store in freezer. Reheat pancakes (in oven or microwave) for another meal.
*Caloric count does not include powdered sugar garnish or maple syrup.

Nutrition Facts

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Amount Per Serving (1 pancake)

Calories 115 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 29mg10%

Sodium 242mg11%

Potassium 96mg3%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 140IU3%

Vitamin C 1.8mg2%

Calcium 73mg7%

Iron 0.9mg5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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15
Jan
2018

Southwest Chicken Salad

categories: Chicken, Main Dish Salads, Main Dishes, Salads

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You’ll love this Southwest chicken salad with marinated chicken, beans, corn, tomatoes, avocados, and lettuce, topped w/ a creamy lime cilantro dressing!

If you enjoy flavor-filled main dish salads, you will love this Southwest Chicken Salad. It is a wonderful main dish salad, full of flavor!

I found this recipe for Southwest chicken salad on Pinterest, and it not only sounded HEALTHY, but DELICIOUS! The original recipe serves 4, but I very slightly modified it to make two servings, for my husband and I to enjoy!

OH MY GOODNESS- this delicious salad is amazing, and I mean it is “we ate every single bite” amazing! Here’s how to make it.

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Making The Marinade

I made the marinade early in the day, and let the chicken “bathe” in it for hours, to soak up great flavor! When I was ready to fix dinner, all I had to do was grill the chicken on my stove top and assemble the salad. EASY!

To make the marinade, combine the marinade/salad dressing ingredients in a medium bowl, EXCEPT FOR THE YOGURT! Mix together until all are well blended.

Pour HALF of the marinade (set aside the other half) into a rimmed dish and add the pieces of chicken.

Marinate The Chicken

Turn the pieces of chicken over in the dish, to coat all sides of the meat well. Cover the chicken and place the dish in a refrigerator for 2 hours (or more, if time allows).

Cover the remaining half of the marinade and keep it refrigerated until it’s ready to be used.

When you’re ready to assemble the salad for your meal, remove the reserved marinade from refrigerator. Blend in the Greek yogurt, until it’s fully incorporated and the sauce is creamy.

Cook The Marinated Chicken

After the chicken has fully marinated, remove it from the refrigerator. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a skillet or on a grill on medium-high heat until very hot, but not smoking.

Sear the chicken on the first side (without moving it in the pan) until the bottom is golden brown and crispy. Flip the chicken over and cook other side until it is fully done (internal temp. of 165°F).

I typically use an indoor cast iron grill to cook the chicken, and it takes about 8-10 minutes per side. If the chicken pieces are very thin, your cooking time may be less.

Once done, remove the chicken from the dish (and discard the chicken marinade). Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes so the juices can redistribute internally, then cut each piece into thin slices,.

Assemble The Southwest Chicken Salad

When you are ready to assemble salad, fill individual bowls or plates with cold, chopped romaine lettuce. Divide the corn, beans, and cherry tomato halves between servings.

Top each Southwest chicken salad with avocado and chicken slices. It looks quite decorative if the chicken and avocado are fanned out slightly..

My husband wanted an entire half an avocado sliced on his salad, as you can tell from the 2nd photo below… ha ha!

Time To EAT The Southwest Chicken Salad

Drizzle the salad with the prepared cilantro lime salad dressing. Serve, and enjoy this absolutely amazing tasting meal!

NOTE: I made 2 large entree size salads for us. If making 4 large salads, increase chicken to 4 pieces, and double the amount of corn, beans, cherry tomatoes, and add additional lettuce. You will not need to double the marinade.

We absolutely LOVED this Southwest chicken salad; we were very full and completely satisfied after eating! The grilled chicken had great flavor, thanks to the lime cilantro marinade, and the low fat flavor-filled dressing made this dish shine!

I sincerely hope you will consider trying this recipe and trust you’ll love it as much as we do! Southwest Chicken Salad is totally delicious, filling, and very colorful!

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

Looking for More MAIN COURSE SALAD Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of main course salads you might want to check out, including:

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Recipe Adapted From: Karina, at https://cafedelites.com/southwestern-chicken-salad/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Southwest Chicken Salad

Prep Time

2 hrs

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

2 hrs 20 mins

You'll love this Southwest chicken salad with marinated chicken, beans, corn, tomatoes, avocados, and lettuce, topped w/ a creamy lime cilantro dressing!

Category: Dinner

Cuisine: Southwest

Keyword: Southwest chicken salad

Servings: 2

Calories Per Serving: 468 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

2 large chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)

For Marinade/Salad Dressing:

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lime juice (approx. 2 large limes)
1 teaspoon lime zest
4 Tablespoons fresh cilantro (finely chopped)
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 garlic cloves , minced
1/2 teaspoon cumin (ground)
1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (THIS IS USED FOR DRESSING ONLY!!!)

For Salad:

4 cups romaine lettuce (torn or chopped)
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
1/2 avocado , thinly sliced
1/2 cup canned black beans (drained, rinsed)
1/2 cup canned whole kernel corn (drained, rinsed)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a medium sized bowl, combine all marinade/salad dressing ingredients EXCEPT FOR THE YOGURT! Mix together until well blended. Pour HALF of the marinade (set aside the other half) into a rimmed shallow dish and add the chicken. Toss to coat well. Cover chicken and place in refrigerator for 2 hours (or more, if time allows). Cover remaining marinade and refrigerate until ready to use.
After chicken has fully marinated, remove it from refrigerator. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a skillet or on a grill on medium-high heat until very hot, but not smoking. Cook chicken on first side until bottom is golden brown and crispy, then flip and cook other side until chicken is fully cooked throughout. (I used an indoor cast iron grill and it took about 10 minutes per side). Once done, remove chicken, and let it rest so juices can settle internally. After chicken has rested for 5 minutes, cut each piece into thin slices. Discard chicken marinade.
When ready to assemble salad, remove reserved marinade from refrigerator. Blend in the Greek yogurt, until completely incorporated and creamy.
To assemble salads, fill individual bowls or plates with chopped romaine. Divide corn, beans, and cherry tomato halves between servings. Place avocado and chicken slices decoratively on top of salad. Drizzle each salad with reserved creamy cilantro lime dressing. Serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*NOTE: I made 2 large salads for us. If making 4 servings, increase chicken to 4 pieces, and double the amount of corn, beans, cherry tomatoes, and add additional lettuce, as desired. (Use same amounts written for marinade/dressing).

Nutrition Facts

Southwest Chicken Salad

Amount Per Serving (1 main course salad)

Calories 468 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 108mg36%

Sodium 1525mg66%

Potassium 1092mg31%

Carbohydrates 28g9%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 30g60%

Vitamin A 8670IU173%

Vitamin C 32.1mg39%

Calcium 101mg10%

Iron 3.5mg19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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