Crispy Homemade French Fries

Crispy Homemade French Fries (restaurant quality) are EASY to make at home, using this classic 2 step process that ensures a crisp exterior, but soft inside!Crispy Homemade French Fries (restaurant quality) are EASY to make at home, using this classic 2 step process that ensures a crisp exterior, but soft inside!
I LOVE french fries, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because Crispy Homemade French Fries are easy to make and delicious, and a curse, because they are easy to make and delicious! See my dilemma? Uh Huh.

I tried a recipe for beer battered fish last year, and ended up making some homemade french fries (chips) to serve on the side. Boy, oh boy… they were delicious, and actually very easy to make.  Crispy on the outside… soft on the inside. Thought I’d share it with you.

By the way… do you know the history of how french fries came to be? There’s an interesting article on Wikipedia that is full of interesting facts you might enjoy reading.

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

Here’s How To Make Delicious Homemade French Fries:

Peel, rinse, and then cut the potatoes, by slicing them lengthwise into 1 inch slices. Cut each slice into finger thickness sized strips. Dry the potatoes as much as you can by patting them dry with paper towels.

Potatoes are cut into sticks before frying

Heat oil in large skillet or stock pot until it reaches 350 degrees. I used my electric skillet, which has a temperature gauge on it. (No electric skillet? Try using a meat or candy thermometer to get the accurate temperature).

Cooking Homemade French Fries

To ensure you get a good “fry” on the potatoes, make sure the oil is heated to 350 degrees.  Carefully add cut, dried potatoes into the hot oil. Let them cook for about 8 minutes, turning to cook on both sides.

French fries are cooked in oil for the first fry.

Remove the french fries from the hot oil. Use a slotted spatula or slotted spoon to help remove them, letting excess hot oil drip back into the skillet.

Homemade french fries are removed from hot oil with slotted spoon.

Place hot potatoes onto a baking pan or a wire rack with paper towels underneath, to drain the oil off of them (without the paper towels sticking to the fries). Then let the fries rest on paper towels for just a minute while you reheat oil back to temp.

Homemade french fries are placed on paper towels to drain after first frying.

Cook The Homemade French Fries A SECOND Time!

Heat the oil back to 350 degrees. Once oil is at temperature again, carefully add the fries for a second cooking (this is what gives them a crispy texture on the outside). Cook for 3-4 additional minutes, until crispy and hot! Remove chips and drain on paper towels once again.

Crispy Homemade French Fries are fried a second time.

Season to taste with salt (or seasoning salt). Serve and enjoy your crispy homemade french fries!

Homemade french fries are lightly seasoned with salt, then served.

It’s really easy to make delicious and crispy homemade french fries in the comfort of your own kitchen. The key is cooking them twice and the temperature of the oil being ACCURATE and hot enough. If I can do it, so can YOU.  Hope you have a great day, and please pass the ketchup to dip my fries in, okay?

Looking For More SIDE DISH Recipes?

You can find all my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a good variety of side dishes 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 soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
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0 from 0 votes
Crispy Homemade French Fries
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
11 mins
Total Time
16 mins
 
Crispy Homemade French Fries (restaurant quality) are EASY to make at home, using this classic 2 step process that ensures a crisp exterior, but soft inside!
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade french fries
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 216 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 3 large russet potatoes
  • Vegetable oil (enough for 2 inches depth in skillet)
  • Salt (or seasoning salt), to taste
Instructions
  1. Peel, rinse, then cut potatoes, by slicing potatoes lengthwise into 1 inch slices, then cutting each slice into finger thickness sized strips. Dry the potatoes as much as you can by patting them dry with paper towels. The drier the potato strips, the less oil splatters you should have.
  2. Heat oil (enough to cover skillet with 2 inches of oil) in large skillet or stock pot until it reaches 350 degrees. Use a thermometer (meat or candy) to gauge temperature. I used my electric skillet, which has a temperature gauge on it. Carefully place cut, dried potatoes into hot oil. Let them cook for about 8 minutes, turning to cook on both sides. Remove potatoes from hot oil (I used a slotted spatula to help remove them). Place hot potatoes onto a baking pan or a wire rack with paper towels underneath, to drain the oil off of them).
  3. Let them rest for just a minute while you reheat oil temperature back to 350 degrees.
  4. Carefully add the chips for a second "fry". Cook for 3-4 additional minutes, until crispy and hot! Carefully remove fries from hot oil with a slotted spatula or spoon and drain on paper towels.
  5. Season to taste with salt (or seasoning salt). Serve hot, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Crispy Homemade French Fries
Amount Per Serving (1 -1/4 of total)
Calories 216 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Sodium 7mg0%
Potassium 666mg19%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 2g8%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin C 9.1mg11%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Crispy Homemade French Fries (restaurant quality) are EASY to make at home, using this classic 2 step process that ensures a crisp exterior, but soft inside!

 

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Bacon, Mushroom, Spinach And Cheese Omelette

Hungry for a filling breakfast? Whip up this bacon mushroom cheese omelette, with fresh spinach leaves thrown in for good measure. It’s delicious!Hungry for a filling breakfast? Whip up this bacon mushroom cheese omelette, with fresh spinach leaves thrown in for good measure. It's delicious!
Do you enjoy omelettes? My husband and I sure do… but only eat them a couple times each month. The other day we enjoyed a homemade breakfast together.  I made us each a Bacon, Mushroom, Spinach and Cheese Omelette, and decided to share it on my blog… because it tasted fantastic!

Because we both work from our home, we had a late breakfast… which ended up being so filling we didn’t have to eat lunch! I’m so thankful to have opportunities occasionally to leisurely share a nice breakfast together, sip on orange juice and coffee, and talk about the day ahead of us.

What’s IN This Bacon Mushroom Cheese Omelette?

I am NOT going to post a printable “recipe” for this omelette, because I know a lot of people like different ingredients in their omelettes. That being said… (and in case you ARE wondering) for 2 omelettes I used: 6 large eggs, tiny bit of milk (approx. 3 Tablespoons), salt and pepper, 2 teaspoon of butter, 4 slices bacon, 6 mushrooms, couple handfuls of fresh baby spinach, and a couple handfuls of grated cheddar cheese.

Pre-Cook the Bacon

As to the “process”… this is how I made these delicious omelettes.  To start off, cut 4 pieces bacon into small strips (using kitchen scissors). Slice fresh mushrooms (about 6), then cook mushrooms AND bacon together on medium heat in a large skillet until bacon is done and crisp.

The bacon will cook a bit faster because it has been cut into tiny strips.  Remove bacon strips and mushrooms from the skillet and drain them on several thicknesses of paper towels. Set aside.

Cooking bacon in skillet

Cooked bacon pieces draining on paper towel

In medium bowl combine eggs, a little bit of milk, and salt and pepper. Whisk well to combine.

Whisking eggs and milk in metal bowl
Preparing The Omelette

Melt half the butter in a small non-stick skillet on medium-low.  Pour in half of the egg mixture for ONE omelette.

As the omelette begins to cook around the edges, slightly lift up the edges with the spatula, tilt pan, and let some of the egg mixture run under the cooked edges all around the pan. I use a rubber spatula to do this. You will slowly let the “runny” uncooked egg mixture run to the underneath side of the cooked egg, and it will cook.

Omelette egg mixture beginning to cook in skillet

Once almost all of the egg mixture has “cooked”, place a handful of fresh baby spinach leaves onto one HALF side of the omelette.  The spinach leaves will slightly wilt from the heat of the egg mixture.

Raw spinach added to omelette in skillet
Now add half of the cooked bacon/mushroom mixture to half of the omelette, on top of the spinach.

Cooked bacon added to omelette with spinach
Now add a small handful of grated cheese to HALF of the omelette (on top of the bacon/mushroom mixture). I used Cheddar for this one, but use whatever you prefer!

Grated cheddar cheese added to eggs, bacon and spinach in skillet

Almost Done!

Using a rubber spatula, carefully flip the “empty” side of the omelette over onto the stuffed half, to cover.  The heat from the eggs will slightly melt the cheese. Gently lift and slide the omelette out of the skillet and onto the serving plate.

If you want cheese totally melted, just put omelette (on microwaveable plate) into microwave for a few seconds.  Remove and serve hot.  Repeat same cooking process for the remaining ingredients to make second omelette.

Omelette flipped over halfway over bacon, spinach and cheese

This really is a hearty breakfast… a three egg omelette (can cut back to 2 eggs per person, if desired), a couple pieces of bacon, some healthy spinach and creamy cheddar cheese makes for a delicious start to the day!

Make It Your OWN!

If you wish, you can also cut the omelette in half for smaller appetites!  Add a piece of toast, some juice and coffee, and you will be quite full, satisfied, and ready to take on the day!

The beauty of making your own omelette is that you can create one using YOUR favorite ingredients. You can substitute ham for the bacon, add green onions, pepperjack cheese, salsa, etc. The possibilities are endless!  Here’s to starting the day with a great breakfast.

Thanks for stopping by this blog.  My sincere hope is that your day will be blessed by the One who made you and loves you the most.  I know that my own life has been changed forever for the better because of the undeserved grace and mercy God has shown me through His son, Jesus. For that I am truly GRATEFUL.

Interested In More Recipes?

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

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Hungry for a filling breakfast? Whip up this bacon mushroom cheese omelette, with fresh spinach leaves thrown in for good measure. It's delicious!

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How To Make Ahead and Pre-Freeze Pie Fillings

Learn how to make and pre-freeze pie fillings for your favorite fruit pie with this easy tutorial. This is a great way to save time making pies!Learn how to make and pre-freeze pie fillings for your favorite fruit pie with this easy tutorial. This is a great way to save time making pies!
I am grateful I was shown how to make ahead and pre-freeze pie fillings. Have you ever done this before? If you haven’t… it’s a real time saver, especially if you have lots of fruit pies to prepare!

Having the filling already made for a pie or two and frozen is very convenient! Not too great if you are trying to watch your calories, but handy, nonetheless!

How To Pre-Freeze Pie Fillings

This tip works on just about all fruit pies. To pre-freeze pie fillings, begin by making a fruit pie filling according to your recipe’s instructions. Here is a photo of peach pie filling, for example.

Filling for fruit pies is made up according to your own recipe.

Cover a standard sized pie dish with several layers of plastic wrap, making sure to let the edges extend about 4-5 inches over the rim of the pie plate on all sides.

A standard pie dish is completely covered with plastic wrap.

Pour the pie filling into the prepared pie dish, and evenly distribute ingredients.  Bring in all the sides of the plastic wrap, to completely cover the pie filling.

All of the prepared filling for one pie is then added to dish.

Tightly seal the pie filling with the plastic wrap.

Now wrap the pie filling (pie dish included) in aluminum foil. Cover completely.  Place pie plate into freezer, and let the filling completely freeze (overnight is best!).

Aluminum foil covers the plastic wrapped pie filling.

Remove the pie plate after the filling is solidly frozen. Re-cover pie filling with aluminum foil, label, and freeze until you’re ready to bake pie.

Once frozen solidly, the pie plate is removed and filling stays in freezer. When you pre-freeze pie fillings, they will hold their shape in freezer.

What Do I Do When I’m Ready To Bake My Pie?

Once you are ready to bake a pie, remove the aluminum foil and plastic wrap from pie filling. Place the frozen pie filling, unthawed, into an unbaked pie crust (using same pie plate the filling was frozen in).

If using a double crust, place additional pie dough on top of frozen filling, and crimp edges to form crust. Make small slits on top of pie to let steam release.  Your pie can go into the oven frozen.

Baking A Pie AFTER You Pre-Freeze Pie Fillings

Bake your pie at the temperature given for the recipe you are using, but remember you will need to bake pie longer (on average 25-35 minutes longer), because the pie filling is frozen.

To make sure pie is fully baked, look for slow bubbling juices to come to the top of the crust without bursting. That is a good sign the inside is fully cooked through.  If the crust begins to brown too much, simply add aluminum foil strips over the crimped crust edges.

When done, remove and let pie cool slightly before serving.  That’s it! This is a convenient way to get pies ready ahead of time, to save you precious minutes (especially around the holidays) when there are a bazillion other things to do.

Baked and ready to enjoy!

Hope you will give this handy tip a try! It really can be a real time-saver!  Blessings.

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

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!How To Make Ahead And Pre-Freeze Pie Fillings / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

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Old-Fashioned Crumb Coffeecake

You’ll enjoy this simple, yet delicious old-fashioned crumb coffeecake from recipe originally prepared for Los Angeles City School District students many years ago.Simple yet delicious old-fashioned crumb coffeecake from recipe originally prepared for Los Angeles City School District students many years ago.
I saw a recipe pop up on a friend’s Facebook page for a coffeecake that was served to Los Angeles City School students years ago. Wow! That brought back great memories of enjoying a piece from the cafeteria with friends, while on class breaks.

I just HAD to make it,  and as a result, here’s the recipe for a delicious Old-Fashioned Crumb Coffeecake! The recipe is so easy to prepare! Here’s how to make this flavorful coffeecake:

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

How To Make This Old-Fashioned Crumb Coffeecake

In a large bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, nutmeg and oil. Mix until the ingredients become crumbly.  Set aside.

Flour, brown sugar, oil and spices are mixed in a bowl.A crumb topping is made for the coffeecake.

Measure out 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture and place it in a small separate bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon to this crumb mixture and mix to combine. Set aside.

Some of the crumb mixture is mixed with cinnamon.Cinnamon crumb mixture to add to coffeecake.

Mix And Add The Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, combine remaining teaspoon of cinnamon, baking soda, egg, and buttermilk. Mix this well with a fork or whisk. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Stir well to combine, but don’t over mix (only till ingredients are fully incorporated).

Buttermilk, eggs and cinnamon are mixed together, then added to the crumb coffeecake batter.Pouring wet ingredients into dry ingredients in bowl.Batter for the old-fashioned crumb coffeecake is now ready.

Prepare The Coffeecake For Baking

Grease a 9×13 pan (can use slightly smaller pan like an 8×12 for “taller” piece of coffeecake, but will need to adjust cooking time slightly). Pour in the batter and spread to distribute evenly.  Sprinkle the reserved crumb/cinnamon topping evenly over the top of the batter.

Coffeecake batter is poured into a 13x9" greased pan, for baking.

Streusel topping is added to the surface of the coffeecake batter.

Bake And Serve The Old-Fashioned Crumb Coffeecake!

Bake the old-fashioned crumb coffeecake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in middle of coffeecake comes out clean. TIP: Check the coffeecake at the 30 minute mark- mine only took 30 minutes to be fully baked! Be careful not to overcook the coffeecake or it can become dry.

When done, remove pan to a wire rack, and let the coffeecake cool before slicing and serving.

Crumb coffeecake has baked, and been cut into pieces to eat.

Hope you enjoy this tasty, simple old-fashioned crumb coffeecake!  It sure brought back memories for my husband and I, as we gobbled it up!

One piece of the old-fashioned crumb coffeecake, on a white plate.

Have a wonderful day. May you find encouragement for your heart and soul today! God bless you! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon for more delicious recipes.

Looking For More COFFEECAKE Recipes?

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

Interested In More Recipes?

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

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signature

Recipe Source:  Article titled “Culinary SOS”, by Rose Dosti, Recipe submitted by Frances, (former pastry cook for LAUSD), published in the Los Angeles Times, January 27, 1994

0 from 0 votes
Old-Fashioned Crumb Coffeecake
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Simple yet delicious old-fashioned crumb coffeecake from recipe originally prepared for Los Angeles City School District students many years ago.

Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crumb coffeecake
Servings: 12 servings
Calories Per Serving: 367 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, brown and granulated sugars, salt, nutmeg and oil. Stir to combine until mixture is crumbly.
  3. Remove 1/2 cup of the crumbly mixture (for crumb topping)and place in small bowl. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon to the reserved 1/2 cup crumbly mixture. Stir to combine. Set aside.
  4. In another bowl, combine remaining teaspoon cinnamon, baking soda, egg, and buttermilk. Whisk to combine ingredients. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture in large bowl. Stir to combine, but do not over mix.
  5. Grease or spray a 13x9 cake pan. Evenly spread the coffeecake batter in the pan. Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping evenly over the surface of the batter.
  6. Bake coffeecake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into middle of cake comes out clean (mine only needed to cook for 30 minutes). Check coffeecake at the 30 minute mark, and be sure not to overcook (or coffeecake could be dry!).
  7. When done, remove pan to a wire rack and let coffeecake cool completely before serving.
Recipe Notes

If you use an 8x12 pan, be sure to adjust cooking times accordingly. Batter will be "thicker", so will need a bit more time to cook through.
13x9 pan=12 servings. If you want larger portions, this recipe will serve 8-10.

Nutrition Facts
Old-Fashioned Crumb Coffeecake
Amount Per Serving (1 piece)
Calories 367 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 19mg6%
Sodium 318mg14%
Potassium 85mg2%
Carbohydrates 55g18%
Sugar 35g39%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 60IU1%
Calcium 48mg5%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Simple yet delicious old-fashioned crumb coffeecake from recipe originally prepared for Los Angeles City School District students many years ago.

 

 

 

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Italian Orzo and Spinach Soup

Make a big pot of Italian Orzo Spinach Soup (delicious and easy to make), with pasta, spinach, Italian spices, and diced tomatoes in 30 minutes!Make a big pot of Italian Orzo Spinach Soup (delicious and easy to make), with pasta, spinach, Italian spices, and diced tomatoes in 30 minutes!
We’ve had some stormy, windy, and rainy weather in Oregon lately. I decided to make a big pot of Italian Orzo Spinach Soup for dinner! The soup sounded so scrumptious, comforting, and WARM on a wet, cold, and blustery day! It was wonderful (the soup, NOT the weather).

I found the recipe while searching Pinterest and decided to give it a try! Glad I did, because this was a very delicious meal, PLUS we had great leftovers for our family! Italian Orzo Spinach Soup is extremely easy to prepare! It also can be ready in about 30 minutes, which is fairly “do-able” on a busy night, after a long day!

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

How To Make Italian Orzo Spinach Soup

In a large soup pot, heat olive oil until very hot (on medium-high heat). Add diced onion, and sauté it, stirring occasionally for about 4-5 minutes. The onion will become translucent in color and soften.

Chopped onions are cooked in olive oil for soup

Add the diced carrots and celery to the onions, then add the minced garlic. Stir to combine, then cook the veggies, stirring occasionally for another 3-4 minutes.

Diced carrots, celery and garlic are cooked with onions for soup

Cook The Italian Orzo Spinach Soup

Now add your chicken stock, canned diced tomatoes, the orzo pasta, thyme, oregano, and rosemary. Stir all the ingredients together, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to Low, then let the Italian orzo spinach soup cook on a low simmer, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes.

When done, the pasta should be al dente.  Be sure to stir the soup occasionally, scraping the bottom, to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the pot.

Italian spices, orzo, tomatoes, broth are added to soup

Add the fresh spinach to the hot soup. Stir to incorporate into the soup, then cook for 2 minutes. The spinach will wilt as it cooks in the soup.

Fresh baby spinach is added to Italian orzo soup

This is what the Italian orzo spinach soup will look like when it’s is done! The spinach will be wilted and the orzo pasta will have greatly expanded in size.

Italian orzo spinach soup is ready to serve in 30 minutes!

Time To Serve This Delicious Soup!

Now all that is left to do before serving is to taste test it. Season the soup with salt and pepper, to taste. To serve, ladle this delicious Italian orzo spinach soup into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl of soup with grated Parmesan cheese, for even better flavor! Serve… and enjoy a hot bowl of delicious, homemade Italian orzo spinach soup!

Grated Parmesan cheese is added to Italian orzo spinach soup before serving.

See how simple that was? In no time at all and with minimal effort, you can enjoy a big pot of Italian orzo spinach soup on a cold day! The leftovers are wonderful, as well. This would be a great soup to have for lunch with a side salad. YUM.  Sure hope you will consider making this Italian orzo spinach soup. I’m sure I will be making it again!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of great soup recipes you’ll enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

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

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

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

Have a blessed day.

Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/italian-orzo-spinach-soup-recipe/

0 from 0 votes
Italian Orzo and Spinach Soup
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Make a big pot of Italian Orzo and Spinach Soup (delicious and easy to make), with pasta, spinach, Italian spices, and diced tomatoes in 30 minutes!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Italian orzo spinach soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 329 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small white onion (diced)
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 6 cups chicken OR vegetable stock
  • 1 can (14 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes OR regular diced tomatoes
  • 1½ cups orzo pasta (uncooked)
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves (loosely packed)
  • Salt and pepper , to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
  1. In a large soup pot, heat olive oil until very hot (on medium-high heat). Add diced onion, and sauté it, stirring occasionally for about 4-5 minutes. The onion will become translucent in color and soften.
  2. Add the diced carrots and celery, then add minced garlic. Stir to combine, then cook, stirring occasionally for another 3-4 minutes.
  3. Now add your chicken stock, canned diced tomatoes, the orzo pasta, thyme, oregano, and rosemary. Stir all the ingredients together, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to Low, then let the soup cook on a low simmer, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes. When done, pasta should be al dente. Stir soup occasionally, scraping the bottom, to make sure pasta doesn't stick to the pot.
  4. Add the fresh spinach to the hot soup. Stir to incorporate into the soup, then cook for 2 minutes.
  5. Taste test soup. Season with salt and pepper, then ladle soup into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl of soup with grated Parmesan cheese, for even better flavor! Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Italian Orzo and Spinach Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 329 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 574mg25%
Potassium 598mg17%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 5820IU116%
Vitamin C 10.9mg13%
Calcium 130mg13%
Iron 2.2mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Make a big pot of Italian Orzo Spinach Soup (delicious and easy to make), with pasta, spinach, Italian spices, and diced tomatoes in 30 minutes!

 

 

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Starbucks Gingerbread (Copycat Recipe)

Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe) is a yummy version of “a famous coffee place’s” beloved gingerbread loaf. Make it at home for a fraction of the price!Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe) is a yummy version of "a famous coffee place's" beloved gingerbread loaf. Make it at home for a fraction of the price!
Our family recently gobbled up some of the most wonderful gingerbread with cream cheese icing I’ve ever made! It’s a knockoff recipe called Starbucks Gingerbread (Copycat Recipe), because it tastes as good (or better) than the kind available at our local “famous” coffee spot.

The gingerbread loaf is flavor-filled with lots of aromatic spices associated with Fall… cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, and is a very moist cake… definitely NOT dry!

This Starbucks gingerbread copycat recipe is perfect for a late afternoon snack, or a quick breakfast with a great cup of coffee or tea! My family thought it was absolutely fantastic, and it did not last long around our home, at all.

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

How To Prepare Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe)

First preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare a 9×5 inch bread loaf pan by spraying it with non-stick spray. To make your work easier, line the loaf pan with parchment paper. Leave some of the parchment paper well extended over the rim of the pan, so that you can easily lift the entire loaf out of the pan once cooled. Set pan aside.

Cream the room temperature butter and granulated sugar until it is fully combined. Add the vanilla and a room temperature egg. Beat the ingredients well until fully incorporated.

Mixing up the batter for Starbucks gingerbread loaf.

Add apple butter to the batter and mix well, to combine. I was fortunate to have some home canned Apple Butter available in our pantry. You can substitute applesauce for the apple butter, if desired. TIP: The blogger I got this recipe from used a 15 ounce can or pears, drained them and pureed them. That is another good substitute you could try.

Apple butter is added to Starbucks gingerbread batter.

Apple butter is mixed into the batter for Starbucks gingerbread (copycat recipe).

Sift the all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg together. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the batter, mixing well to combine. Once the batter is fully mixed together, evenly spread it out in your prepared loaf pan.

Flour and spices are sifted before adding them to wet batter for Starbucks gingerbread.

Baking Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe)

Place the batter-filled baking pan in a preheated oven. Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the top/middle part of the loaf comes out clean. TIP: Check the bread at 50 minutes to test for done-ness.

When the gingerbread is done, remove pan to a wire rack to cool. Once it has cooled, lift the Starbucks gingerbread loaf out of the pan, using the extended edges of the parchment paper.

Batter for Starbucks gingerbread (copycat recipe) is placed in paper lined bread pan to bake.

Make The Icing

While the gingerbread is baking, beat together 8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese. Trust me, it will blend much smoother if it’s at room temp. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, continuing to beat until icing is smooth and creamy, with no lumps. A bit too thick? Add a drop or two of water. Too thin? Add a bit more powdered sugar.

Frosting is mixed together for Starbucks gingerbread (copycat) while bread is baking.

Frost The Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf

Once the gingerbread has completely cooled, frost the top (and let it slightly run over the edges) of the gingerbread. You will end up with a LOT of frosting, which makes for a thick, creamy and amazing topping for the gingerbread.

If you don’t want that much frosting on the gingerbread (but it’s soooo good!), simply cut the icing quantity in half. Lightly dust the frosted gingerbread loaf with ground nutmeg.

Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat) is frosted once cool, then sprinkled with nutmeg.

Time To Eat!

Once the icing has had a chance to slightly firm up, slice yourself a piece, take a big bite, and ENJOY! It tastes TERRIFIC! A whole loaf with 8 slices can be made for a fraction of the cost of buying 8 pieces of this loaf at that “you-know-where” coffee spot!

A close up look at the Starbucks Gingerbread (Copycat Recipe) on a white plate.

Sure hope you will try this recipe for Starbucks gingerbread (a copycat recipe). I’m going to make it again around Christmas time, and I can’t wait!  Have a wonderful day!

Looking For More Recipes For “Sweet” Bread Loaves?

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

Interested In More Recipes?

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

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

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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/copycat-starbucks-gingerbread/

5 from 1 vote
Starbucks Gingerbread (Copycat Recipe)
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 
Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe) is a yummy version of "a famous coffee place's" beloved gingerbread loaf. Make it at home for a fraction of the price!
Category: Starbucks Gingerbread (Copycat Recipe)
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Starbucks gingerbread
Servings: 8 slices
Calories Per Serving: 601 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For The Gingerbread Loaf:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter , room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg , room temperature
  • 1 cup apple butter (can substitute applesauce or pear purée)
  • 1½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For Cream Cheese Icing:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese , room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2.5 cups powdered (confectioner's) sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9x5 inch bread loaf pan (Spray with non-stick spray, line with parchment paper with paper extending well past the rim of loaf pan for ease in lifting loaf out of pan once cool).
  2. Beat the butter and granulated sugar until completely mixed. Add vanilla and egg; beat well until batter is smooth and light. Add apple butter (or applesauce/pear puree). Blend well.
  3. In separate bowl, sift together the all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, a little at a time, mixing as you add. Once batter is fully mixed, evenly distribute it into the prepared loaf pan.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 55 minutes. Check it at 50 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the top/middle of the loaf. If the toothpick comes out clean, the gingerbread is done. Once done, remove pan to a wire rack to cool completely before lifting the loaf from the pan.
  5. Prepare the icing while gingerbread is baking by using electric mixer and blending room temperature cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a creamy, no lumps, thick icing.
  6. Once gingerbread has completely cooled, spread icing completely over the top (and let some run off the sides). Dust the icing with a small amount of ground nutmeg. Let icing firm up just a bit, then cut a piece, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Note on Pear Purée: The original author of the recipe says she substituted a 15 ounce can of pears for the apple butter. She drained, then processed pears in food processor or blender until smooth.

Nutrition Facts
Starbucks Gingerbread (Copycat Recipe)
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 601 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 82mg27%
Sodium 535mg23%
Potassium 110mg3%
Carbohydrates 97g32%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 75g83%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 775IU16%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 49mg5%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Starbucks Gingerbread (copycat recipe) is a yummy version of "a famous coffee place's" beloved gingerbread loaf. Make it at home for a fraction of the price!

 

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Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Easy to prepare in about 30 minutes, this scrumptious glazed pork tenderloin is coated with Island-inspired spices and a sweet/spicy glaze.Easy to prepare in about 30 minutes, this scrumptious glazed pork tenderloin is coated with Island-inspired spices and a sweet/spicy glaze.

If you are looking for an easy to prepare, budget friendly AND flavor-filled dinner, then you just have to try this Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin! It tastes FANTASTIC! I enjoy cooking pork tenderloin, because it is fairly inexpensive. The pork tenderloin I used was one and a half pounds and cost $6.99, but gave us enough for 4 good sized servings.  It takes less time to cook than a large pork roast or thick chops.

This glazed pork tenderloin recipe is very easy to prepare, because there are not a lot of steps. A dry rub of “Island-inspired” spices are used to coat the tenderloin, and the meat is pan-seared. Next, a  sweet n’ slightly spicy glaze is added to the tenderloin, and then it bakes for about 25 minutes. That’s it!

There is so much phenomenal flavor on the pork, I really think you will enjoy this just as much as we did… it’s THAT good!  Here’s what you do to prepare this dish:

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

How To Make This Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. While oven is preheating, mix together the spices for the dry rub (salt, cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, and black pepper). Once mixed, rub the spices over the entire tenderloin (top, bottom and sides). Make sure to rub the spices into the meat, using your fingers.

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Pan-Sear The Seasoned Tenderloin

Heat olive oil in an OVENPROOF skillet (see NOTES section of printable recipe for tip). Heat oil on medium-high. Once oil is very hot (but not smoking), add the seasoned tenderloin to the hot skillet. It should sizzle as it hits the hot oil.

Let it sear on one side for a couple minutes, then turn it over and brown the other side for two or three minutes. Turn the meat onto its side, as well, to give the tenderloin a nice brown appearance all over.

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Prepare The Glaze

Mix up the glaze ingredients with a fork or spoon in a small bowl (brown sugar, minced garlic and sriracha sauce) until you end up with a thick glaze.

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Glaze The Pork Tenderloin

Coat the tenderloin (top and sides) with the glaze. I used a spoon, and spread it all over. Some will run down the sides into the pan. No problem… it will be a wonderful sauce to drizzle over the cooked pork slices, when done.

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Bake The Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for about 23-25 minutes. Cooking times will vary slightly, depending on the size tenderloin you are cooking, but make sure pork is cooked through, to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees.

When the glazed pork tenderloin is done, remove the hot skillet (carefully) from the oven. Let pork sit, undisturbed for about 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute inside the pork.

Ready To Serve

Carve the glazed pork tenderloin into one inch slices, and place on serving plates. Make sure to spoon up some of that delicious glaze, and drizzle it over the slices of pork before serving!

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Here is how I served this delicious Island glazed pork tenderloin, with a small baked potato and sautéed vegetable medley on the side. It was amazingly delicious; the meat was very tender (cut with a fork tender), and the flavor was outstanding!

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

I really hope you will consider making this recipe for easy island glazed pork tenderloin. It is quick and easy to prepare, easy on the budget (4 servings for about $7) and truly… the spice combination is wonderful. We loved this dish, and I will definitely make it again.

Have a blessed day, and may God bless the work of YOUR hands in all you do for others!

Looking For More PORK Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of delicious recipes featuring pork 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 soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Recipe Source:  http://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/2015/09/island-glazed-pork-tenderloin-html

0 from 0 votes
Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Easy to prepare in about 30 minutes, this scrumptious glazed pork tenderloin is coated with Island-inspired spices and a sweet/spicy glaze.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: glazed pork tenderloin
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 439 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1½ pounds pork tenderloin (can use one medium-large tenderloin or 2 small)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
For Spice Rub:
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Glaze:
  • ¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon Sriracha sauce (SEE NOTES SECTION)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Mix together the spice rub (salt, cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, and black pepper) in a small bowl. Sprinkle the spice rub mix all over the pork tenderloin (on all sides). Use your fingers to rub the spices into the meat. Set aside.
  3. Measure the olive oil into an oven-proof skillet. Heat the oil on medium-high until it is pretty hot (but not smoking). Once oil is hot, add the pork to the skillet. Sear the meat for about 4-5 minutes total, turning pork occasionally until sides/top and bottom are all browned. Remove from heat.
  4. In a separate small bowl, mix the glaze ingredients together (brown sugar, minced garlic, and sriracha), until it becomes a thick glaze. Spread the glaze over the top and sides of the pork, to coat. Place the pork (in same ovenproof skillet) into your preheated oven. Cook, uncovered for 23-25 minutes at 350 degrees, until pork is cooked through. The length of cook time will vary, depending on size of tenderloin used (cooked pork tenderloin or pork roast should have a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees). Once done, remove hot skillet from oven and let pork sit undisturbed for 5-6 minutes (to let juices redistribute through meat).
  5. To serve: Slice, place on serving plates, drizzle meat with extra glaze from skillet...and enjoy!.
Recipe Notes

Not familiar with Sriracha Sauce? It is an mildly hot chili sauce (usually located in Asian section at grocery store. Other hot sauces may be substituted, but sriracha is the best way to go for this recipe!
No ovenproof skillet? No problem. Sear meat in regular skillet. Place into casserole dish, add glaze, then bake!

Nutrition Facts
Easy Island Glazed Pork Tenderloin
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 439 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 110mg37%
Sodium 1359mg59%
Potassium 772mg22%
Carbohydrates 44g15%
Sugar 40g44%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 150IU3%
Vitamin C 4.8mg6%
Calcium 68mg7%
Iron 2.5mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Easy to prepare in about 30 minutes, this scrumptious glazed pork tenderloin is coated with Island-inspired spices and a sweet/spicy glaze.

 

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Homemade Boursin Cheese

Homemade Boursin Cheese is a spreadable herb and garlic-flavored cheese. Served with crackers or crusty bread, it’s a perfect appetizer for any get together!Homemade Boursin Cheese is a spreadable herb and garlic-flavored cheese. Served with crackers or crusty bread, it's a perfect appetizer for any get together!

I’ve been testing recipes recently, to serve guests during the upcoming holidays. I have spent quality time in the kitchen, making various bruschetta and crostini appetizers.

One of the recipes I recently tried was this one, for a spreadable herb and garlic-flavored cheese. It’s called Homemade Boursin Cheese, to be exact! Homemade Boursin Cheese is so easy to make, and is CRAZY DELICIOUS!

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

So, What Exactly Is Boursin Cheese?

That’s a GREAT question, and I’m so glad you asked. I researched it and found online (thanks Wikipedia) that besides the fact that it is a completely delicious cheese spread, it was created in Normandy, France in 1957 by Mr. Francois Boursin.

Mr. Boursin apparently got his inspiration from “fromage frais” (“fresh cheese”), in which his countrymen would enjoy fresh creamy cheese  they seasoned themselves – with their choice of fresh or dried herbs and garlic, then spread on bread.

Francois Boursin created a recipe for this delectable creamy cheese, and the recipe became known for being the first flavored FRESH cheese sold throughout France, and it’s popularity has spread throughout the world.

How To Make Homemade Boursin Cheese

The cheese is super simple to replicate, using whipped cream cheese and a variety of herbs and minced garlic. All the ingredients for boursin cheese are stirred together to blend and then refrigerated (covered) for 24 hours to let the flavors develop. That’s it!

Whipped cream cheese is the base ingredient used for homemade boursin cheese.

Dried herbs are added to softened cream cheese, then fully mixed together.

Dried herbs are added to whipped cream cheese to make homemade boursin cheese.

Fresh chopped chives and minced garlic are added to the boursin cheese mixture. The cheese is then mixed together, then covered and refrigerated. It only takes about 5 minutes to make homemade boursin cheese. Read on, to see why it needs to refrigerate overnight.

Fresh chopped chives are added to homemade boursin cheese in bowl.

Homemade Boursin Cheese Must Be Fully Refrigerated To Fully Develop Flavor

After the boursin cheese has been covered and refrigerated for 24 hours, it is ready to serve at any gathering of family and/or friends.

The reason it is refrigerated overnight is because this lets let the flavors fully come together to season the cheese. Yes… you will need to make the boursin cheese up a day before you want to serve it. Plan ahead! When we tasted the finished product, we were amazed at how much flavor was in the cheese!

Homemade Boursin Cheese in small bowl, before refrigerating overnight.

Time To Serve Some Homemade Boursin Cheese

Serve the finished boursin cheese with an assortment of crackers or small baguette slices.
Homemade Boursin Cheese is served with a variety of crackers.

This recipe is EASILY doubled or tripled to serve a small or large crowd, and it tastes amazing! Sure hope you will give this recipe a try!

Homemade Boursin Cheese is spread on crisp cracker, to serve.

I am definitely going to be making homemade boursin cheese again! I’m so glad I found this recipe, because it is such an EASY, PERFECT appetizer, and I recommend it heartily!

Sure hope you will consider making this delicious recipe! The prep time is less than 5 minutes, and 24 hours later, you will have an amazing appetizer spread to serve with your choice of crackers or bread! YUM!

Looking For More APPETIZER Recipes?

You can find these and other appetizer recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

Interested In More Recipes?

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

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

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

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

Author's signatureRecipe Source:  http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/homemade-boursin-cheese-recipe/

0 from 0 votes
Homemade Boursin Cheese
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
Homemade Boursin Cheese is a spreadable herb and garlic-flavored cheese. Served with crackers or crusty bread, it's a perfect appetizer for any get together!
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: French
Keyword: boursin cheese
Servings: 24 Tablespoons (1½ cups total)
Calories Per Serving: 51 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces whipped cream cheese
  • 1 clove garlic , large clove-finely minced
2 "scant" teaspoons of each: NOT heaping!
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons dried tarragon
  • 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons dried sage
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried chives (Note: I used fresh minced chives from our garden!)
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Mix well (by hand) to fully incorporate all ingredients, and mixture is creamy.
  2. Cover bowl or place into an airtight covered container, and refrigerate cheese mixture for 24 hours to let flavors fully develop (for absolute best flavor).
  3. To serve, place bowl of Boursin cheese alongside a variety of gourmet crackers or French baguette slices. Spread cheese onto the crackers or bread with a small butter knife, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Prep time is just that... prep time to prepare the cheese. Does not take into account time for refrigeration.

Nutrition Facts
Homemade Boursin Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 Tablespoon)
Calories 51 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 46mg2%
Potassium 41mg1%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 485IU10%
Vitamin C 2.9mg4%
Calcium 25mg3%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Homemade Boursin Cheese is a spreadable herb and garlic-flavored cheese. Served with crackers or crusty bread, it's a perfect appetizer for any get together!

 

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Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

The other evening I made a Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette to go with dinner. It tasted wonderful, with crunchy apple slices, creamy goat cheese, spinach, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and a fantastic dressing – amazing!Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Talk about a quick and easy salad (and homemade dressing)… wow! The entire salad and amazing vinaigrette dressing took only about 15 minutes from start to finish. My husband and I both loved it!

Here’s how you make this incredibly EASY salad:  Place baby spinach , thinly sliced apples, red onion, dried cranberries, toasted pecans (or walnuts), and goat cheese (half of total amount) into a large salad bowl.

Note: I sliced the apples right before serving. If preparing this salad ahead of time, remember to brush apple slices with lemon juice, to prevent them from darkening once exposed to air, OR slice the apples and add to salad just before serving.

Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Quickly whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients or place in a bottle or container with lid, and shake to fully combine.

Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Lightly drizzle the salad with vinaigrette.

Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Toss the salad to mix in the salad dressing, covering all ingredients.  Once salad has been tossed, top the salad with the other half of the goat cheese, and serve!  THAT’S IT!

See how easy that was? In case you are thinking that the salad is too easy to taste good, let me assure you, the vinaigrette is absolutely fantastic on this salad, AND the salad itself is FULL of great flavors AND textures (chewy, crunchy, creamy)!

Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

I hope you have a wonderful day. Seek out someone you can encourage or give a helping hand to today.  We can ALL make a difference in this often hopeless world. Blessings.

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

Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Recipe Source:  http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/my-favorite-apple-spinach-salad/

0 from 0 votes
Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Quick and easy to prepare, this salad is full of flavor and textures, thanks to spinach, crisp apple slices, red onion, cranberries, creamy goat cheese, toasted pecans, and apple cider vinaigrette!
Category: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: spinach goat cheese salad
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 576 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For salad:
  • 10 ounces baby spinach
  • 2 apples (cored/thinly sliced- leave peel ON)
  • 2/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup pecans (or walnut halves), lightly toasted
  • Half small red onion , peeled/thinly sliced
  • 5 ounces goat cheese , DIVIDED. (May also substitute feta or bleu cheese)
For Apple Cider Vinaigrette:
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (may also substitute champagne vinegar)
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove , peeled/minced
  • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup (or honey), to sweeten
  • pinch salt and pepper , to taste
Instructions
  1. Place baby spinach, sliced apples, cranberries, toasted pecans (see NOTES section), red onion slices, and crumble HALF of the goat cheese into a large salad bowl.
  2. In separate bowl, jar, or container with lid, mix together the vinaigrette ingredients. Shake or whisk until all salad dressing ingredients are fully blended.
  3. Lightly drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad. Toss salad, to combine.
  4. Crumble the remaining goat cheese over the top of the salad, and serve!
Recipe Notes

To toast pecans (walnuts): Place in skillet (a dry skillet) and cook on medium-low for about 5 minutes, stirring/turning often, until nuts are lightly toasted and aromatic. Let nuts cool a minute or two, before adding to salad.

Nutrition Facts
Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Amount Per Serving (1 salad (1/4 of total))
Calories 576 Calories from Fat 396
% Daily Value*
Fat 44g68%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 16mg5%
Sodium 242mg11%
Potassium 645mg18%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 28g31%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 7075IU142%
Vitamin C 28.5mg35%
Calcium 151mg15%
Iron 3.6mg20%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Spinach, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

 

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Rhubarb-Orange Marmalade

If you enjoy the flavor combination of rhubarb and oranges, then you will enjoy this recipe for canning Rhubarb-Orange Marmalade! You will enjoy this thick, delicious, rhubarb-orange marmalade (made without pectin) using fresh oranges and rhubarb, on toast and biscuits, etc.You will enjoy this thick, delicious, rhubarb-orange marmalade (made without pectin) using fresh oranges and rhubarb. Delicious spread for toast, biscuits, etc.
This rhubarb-orange marmalade recipe is fairly simple in that it requires NO PECTIN, and only three ingredients to make some incredible tasting jam! If you prefer a “not as chunky” JAM that uses Pectin to make this same flavor combo, be sure and check out my recipe for Rhubarb-Orange Jam… that recipe uses a slightly different process for preparing the jam.

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

Before beginning, prepare your water bath canner, jars and lids, according to canning and manufacturer guidelines.  Place rhubarb and granulated sugar into a large soup pot or Dutch oven.

Rhubarb and sugar mixing in large pan

Place the two oranges (I cut them into chunks and removed any seeds), INCLUDING PEEL, into a food processor. Process the oranges until blended and in small pieces.

Whole oranges are pulverized in food processor

Preparing the Rhubarb-Orange Marmalade For Canning

Add the processed oranges to the rhubarb-sugar mixture in pan. Bring the fruit mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Once fruit begins boiling, turn down the heat and simmer mixture (uncovered) for about an hour, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.

Pulverized oranges added to rhubarb and sugar mixture
Mash the rhubarb with a potato masher as it cooks to help break down the rhubarb.  Cook marmalade until mixture “sheets” from a very cold spoon (about an hour). **Notes on the “sheeting” process can be found in the NOTES section of the printable recipe. Once the marmalade is done cooking, and the gel stage has been reached, remove the pan from the stove. If any foam has appeared on the surface of jam, remove it with a spoon and discard.

rhubarb-orange-marmalade3

Rhubarb, oranges and sugar cooking in large pan.

Fill the Jars

Carefully ladle the hot marmalade into prepared hot canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.

Prepared canning jars with funnel, ready for jam!

Be sure to remove any air bubbles, and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding or removing jam to reach correct headspace.  Wipe the jar rims clean with a wet cloth or paper towel to remove spills and ensure a good seal. Place the prepared lids and screwband on jars; tighten to fingertip tight.

Processing The Jars Of Rhubarb-Orange Marmalade

Place filled jars into simmering water onto canning rack in water bath canner. Make sure the jars are completely covered (by at least an inch above the top of jars) with hot water. Bring water to a boil; once water has reached a full boil, process jars for 10 minutes.

Jars of rhubarb-orange marmalade processing in canner

When done, carefully remove the HOT jars to a dish towel on countertop. Do not place directly on counter as temperature variations could cause jars to crack. Let the jars cool completely, undisturbed for 12-24 hours. Label and store. This recipe makes approximately 7- 8 half-pint or 4 pint jars of rhubarb-orange marmalade. Processing time is the same for both sized jars.

rhubarb-orange-marmalade3Jars of rhubarb-orange marmalade on dish towel after processing.

I love to make jams and marmalades to sample throughout the year OR to tuck into a gift basket for a friend when they least expect it!  This Rhubarb-Orange Marmalade is delicious!

Looking for More JAM Recipes?

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

Interested In More Recipes?

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Recipe Source:  http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/rhubarb-marmalade/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

5 from 1 vote
Rhubarb-Orange Marmalade
Prep Time
1 hr 10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
 
You will enjoy this thick, delicious, rhubarb-orange marmalade (made without pectin) using fresh oranges and rhubarb. Delicious spread for toast, biscuits, etc.
Category: Jam / Canning and Preserving
Cuisine: American
Keyword: rhubarb orange marmalade
Servings: 8 half-pints (approx)
Calories Per Serving: 38 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 cups fresh rhubarb , chopped (See NOTES section for info on using frozen rhubarb)
  • 6 cups sugar
  • 2 medium oranges (including peel), cut into chunks
Instructions
  1. Place the chopped rhubarb and sugar into a large Dutch oven or soup pot.
  2. Place the orange chunks (yes, peel included!) into a food processor. Process the oranges until small pieces are left. Add the orange pieces to the rhubarb/sugar mixture in the Dutch oven. Stir well, to combine.
  3. Bring mixture to a full boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered for about 1 hour, stirring quite often (to prevent burning on bottom of pot). When done the marmalade should "sheet" off of a spoon. (See NOTES section for explanation of process).
  4. While marmalade is cooking, prepare water bath canner, canning jars and lids, according to manufacturer and USDA canning instructions.
  5. Remove the marmalade and pan from the heat. Skim any foam off the top of the marmalade and discard. Ladle the hot marmalade into prepared and heated pint jars. Leave 1/4 inch headspace in each jar. Remove any air bubbles, and adjust the headspace by adding or removing marmalade. Wipe the lids of each jar well with a damp towel to ensure a good seal. Place the heated flat lid onto each jar, then screw on the jar band until it is fingertip-tight.
  6. Carefully place hot jars into simmering water in the canner. Make sure jars are completely covered with hot water by at least an inch. Bring water in canner to a full boil; process jars for 10 minutes.
Recipe Notes

If using frozen rhubarb... measure frozen, then thaw. Drain in colander-don't press juice out
Processing time is for 1,000 feet of altitude and lower. Be sure to add a minute of processing time for each 1,000 feet higher in altitude you are.
"Sheeting process": Dip a very cold metal spoon into hot marmalade. Lift up spoon; hold it horizontally. The syrup will run off the edge of spoon. As it cooks, the syrup will usually run off in drops, two at a time. Keep cooking. Once jam has cooked enough that the drops mix together and "sheet" (blob together in solid sheet) off a very cold spoon, you've reached the gel stage.

Nutrition Facts
Rhubarb-Orange Marmalade
Amount Per Serving (1 Tablespoon)
Calories 38
% Daily Value*
Potassium 20mg1%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Sugar 9g10%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Vitamin C 1.6mg2%
Calcium 6mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

You will enjoy this thick, delicious, rhubarb-orange marmalade (made without pectin) using fresh oranges and rhubarb. Delicious spread for toast, biscuits, etc.

 

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