Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My guys all managed to catch a cold bug over the holidays, but thankfully, everyone seems to be feeling a bit better at this point. There is a lot of comfort food and warm soup on our menu right now and I’m here for every delicious bite of it.
We didn’t put our tree up until late this year, so I’m happily enjoying the lights for a while longer. May this weekend be filled with whatever you like best, be that a fresh house cleared of Christmas already, or a house still glowing with the lights of the season.
ON OUR MENU THIS WEEK: Dinner tonight is the best ever Green Chile Stew. It is loaded with bite-size chunks of pork that are seasoned with onion and plenty of garlic. The pork is simmered in a green chile sauce until tender enough to almost fall apart when you bite it.
Baked Potato Soup is a favorite with my middle son and when it’s served with all the toppings and a warm loaf of bread, we all enjoy it. Everything you love about a fully loaded baked potato is tucked into this rich and creamy soup. There are fluffy bites of baked potato in every bite.
This Pasta with Cabbage and Sausage is one of the meals I’ve craved the most over the past year and it gets serious bonus points for also being a lightning fast dinner to make.
The first time I baked Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer it was a game-changer for me. Over the past couple of years, this has been my lunch at least once a month, if not more often than that. Sometimes I top the sweet potatoes simply with a pat of butter, other times I may fill them with taco beef or stuff them with bbq chicken.
As always, this unforgettable Tomato Soup and crispy, gooey, Grilled Cheese sandwiches make frequent appearances on our menu plan when everyone is home on a chilly afternoon.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon are pure awesomeness from start to finish. Adding salty bacon and a splash of vinegar makes this one heck of a fantastic side dish – although I eat it as a full meal more often than not.
This easy-to-make Chili is filled with beans, tomatoes, corn, and plenty of Mexican spices. I’ve made this chili with meat and without and it’s delicious both ways. My boys like to top their bowls with shredded cheese, sour cream, and a handful of Fritos.
If seeing the ever-popular
Satisfy your chocolate cravings with this indulgent Brownie Batter Dip. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, it’s the perfect sweet treat for any occasion.
This dessert dip will be your new go-to recipe when you need a quick appetizer or a no bake dessert dip for a party or potluck! Bonus: brownie batter dip is easy to make!
Easy Brownie Batter Dessert Dip
Our girls have started cooking more and more, and while I love it, I also want to make sure that it always stays fun and not merely a means to eat. We found this darling new cookbook by Aimee from Like Mother Like Daughter called 50 Fixes for Brownie Mixes and knew it would be just perfect for Friday movie nights.
One of the most important things we want to teach our children is that family matters. We spend time together, we talk about silly stuff, real stuff and future stuff.
A good friend once told me that her mother taught her that her siblings were her best friends. If ever it became clear that siblings weren’t being nice to each other or constantly wanting to be with friends and not family, then they had a few days where it was sister time and they could only play with each other. What a lovely idea! To this day they are all the best of friends and that’s something to admire.
We now choose to do the same. In fact, our girls have been having sister dates. I take them somewhere and just sit back and watch them choose ice cream together or whatever.
I’m getting off topic, this brownie cookbook was a great chance for our girls to spend time together doing something fun. They can choose to cook from the cookbook whenever they want as long as it’s together. It’s so fun trying their new creations and this last weekend it was brownie batter dip. This chocolate dip is so good!!
The whole cookbook is loaded with beautiful pictures, easy recipes, and it’s all thanks to brownies — Cade’s Achilles heal. 😉 So maybe this Christmas do the same for your kids and just see what happens when they start making memories and yummy food together.
Brownie Batter Dessert Dip Ingredients
Whether you’re on the hunt for easy Valentine’s Day dessert recipes, easy party desserts, or simply want a snack for your family movie night, this creamy brownie batter dip is a must!
Here’s what you’ll need to make this chocol
Cheese fondue and all the sides you could want for a happy New Year’s Eve celebration! Pull out your skewers, because it’s time to dip all the things in cheese! This fondue is creamy and smooth and is a blend of 3 cheeses.
What does New Year’s Eve look like at your house? Do you have any food traditions? Cheese fondue has become a favorite NYE tradition of ours. It is so fun to put that big pot o’ cheese in the middle of a bunch of fun dipping choices!
What is your favorite thing to dip in cheese fondue? We are going to share all our favorite dippers as well as how easy it is to make this fondue. As long as we are having a party, make a batch of dessert chocolate fondue too and dip away!
What Ingredients Go in Cheese Fondue?
This ingredients list is short and simple! Grab these three cheeses and few things you probably already have, and you’re on your way to cheese town! Here is everything you need for this cheese fondue recipe:
- Fontina Cheese
- Gruyere Cheese
- Smoked Gouda
- TIP: Buy all the cheeses in a block and shred it yourself. The pre-shredded cheeses are coated in additives that prevent them from melting together properly.
- EZ Gel or Corn Starch
- Garlic Clove
- Chicken Broth
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dijon Mustard
- Nutmeg
The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. And don’t forget to buy all the stuff for dipping too. See section below for our suggestions.
How to Make Cheese Fondue?
You aren’t going to believe how easy it is to make your cheese fondue at home! Here are the steps:
- Toss: Grate all the cheeses and toss with the EZ Gel (or cornstarch) and set aside.
- Rub: Slice a garlic clove in half and then rub the exposed side all over inside your fondue pot (or saucepan).
- Simmer: Add the broth and vinegar to the pot over medium heat and bring it to a simmer.
- Stir: Add the grated cheese mixture to the pot one handful at a time and stir until melted.
- Mix: The mustard and nutmeg get added last. Stir them in until smooth.
- Serve: Serve with all your favorite accompaniments.
The steps for making this recipe can also be found in the recipe card below.
What to Dip in Cheese Fondue?
Th
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito Bowl is a quick and easy dinner recipe the whole family loves. A bright cilantro lime rice with flavorful Tex-Mex chicken, beans and lots of gooey cheese!
When we’re short on time and ingredients, this is a go-to meal at our house, and yes, you can totally swap any meats, beans or add-ins that you’d like! It’s like making a delicious Chipotle burrito bowl in the comfort of your own kitchen!
I’m finding that the older my kids get the more I desperately need quick and easy dinner ideas as we pretty much live a life of errands lately. It’s soccer, piano, clothes shopping because heaven forbid anyone stay the same size for more than a month and on and on. Anyone feel me?
Ingredients for Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Chicken Breasts: You want boneless, skinless chicken breasts and then chop them into bite-size chunks
- Oil: used to sauté the chicken
- Seasonings: Cumin, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Kosher Salt and Chili Powder
- White Rice: just simple long-grain white rice works great
- Garlic: adds flavor
- Chicken Broth: cooks the rice and adds more flavor
- Green Chiles: adds flavor
- Cilantro: adds bright herby freshness and flavor
- Lime: You’ll want to use the zest and juice for maximum flavor.
- Pinto Beans: Keep it simple by using canned beans. Swap for black beans if desired.
- Colby Jack Cheese: You can’t have a burrito bowl without the melty cheese! Colby jack is our favorite, but you can also go with Monterey jack or pepper jack.
The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below. Once you serve up the chicken and rice, top with all your favorite burrito toppings. See section below for ideas.
Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito Bowls
Start by seasoning your chicken (onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper and chili powder) and then cook it in a little olive oil in your Instant Pot in “sauté mode”. You won’t need to cook it long, just enough to get a little sear on the outside, about 3 minutes.
Add the rice and garlic and stir it with the chicken for about 20-30 seconds. Then you add the rest of the ingredients (broth, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice and pinto beans) and change your Instant Pot to “high pressure”. Give everything a good stir and place the lid on the Instant Pot. Set the valve to “seal” and cook for 7 minutes.
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Learn how to make crispy and flavorful smoky fried potatoes with this easy recipe and step-by-step video tutorial. Perfect for a hearty and satisfying breakfast or a tasty side dish for any meal!
A while back, we did a series of Farm to Table posts with McCormick Gourmet Spices and it was so much fun for us to do as it’s how we live in our own home. It’s so fun to share our passion. This potato side dish recipe taps into my family history too, which is the reason I love cooking and food so much! It connects us!
Family History and Potatoes
These potatoes are really simple and all about using what you have on hand all winter versus buying expensive, out of season produce at the store. My grandpa served in World War II while my grandma held down things back home. Both were from Idaho and we all know what Idaho grows a lot of, potatoes!
Well they were clearly a staple that were kept in cellars to eat all winter long, but they have taken on a little more meaning for my family. Grandpa was honored for the work he did in the Czech Republic after he had passed and Grandma went and learned how to make these potatoes there. Little did we know, they are really just potatoes with seasoning, the salt being key, but Grandma said her secret was that if she called them Czech potatoes the kids all ate them, even the picky eaters. Sometimes you just need a fun name!
They are simple, fried potatoes with smoked paprika and salt and pepper, though occasionally we throw a little garlic powder in there as well. Now whenever we make them we think of them and our history. I’m going to share information below about how to be smart about produce just like my grandparents, so scroll to the end for all our tips!
Ingredients for Fried Potatoes
You only need a few household ingredients to make these home fries. Here is everything you will need:
- Vegetable Oil: cooks the potatoes so that they are crispy outside and soft inside
- Russet Potatoes: , chopped in 1″ pieces
- Smoked Paprika: adds the smoky flavor , or Hungarian paprika
- Salt: adds flavor
- Garlic Powder: adds flavor
- Black Pepper: adds flavor and a little heat
- Butter: adds extra flavor
The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. Keep scrolling for all the details.
How to Make Smoky Fried Potatoes
As you can see from the video, this crispy potatoes recipe is all made on the stove top and in one pan. It is so easy to pan fry potatoes! Here are the basic steps:
- Prep: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Toss: When the skillet is hot, add the oil. Once it is shimmering, add the potatoes and spices and toss everything together to coat.
- Cook: Leave the potatoes alone and let them cook for about 10 minutes. Add a lid if desi