Thanksgiving dessert

Thanksgiving is a great foodie holiday.  A day to give thanks with an abundance of food in front of you.  While my family is very traditional and really none of the food choices have changed since I was a kid (turkey, stuffing, bread, a vegetable, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie), I was given the opportunity to make a different chocolate dessert every year.  Last year it was Ina's chocolate chip cookie ice box cake and this year it was death by chocolate.  Literally, this dessert is called "death by chocolate" and it was a recipe by a wonderful pastry chef, Anne Thornton.  It is a trifle layered with homemade dark chocolate chip brownies, homemade chocolate pudding, toffee pieces (not homemade- Heath bars are just fine), and homemade vanilla whipped cream.  In a word, mmmmmm. 

The picture may be a little dark, but you get the idea of what it looks like. 

This is view of the top- I think I had more toffee pieces on there, but my brother in law ate them.

Of course I have to get a picture of myself with the dessert before it was gone.  I think I could have eaten half of it by myself.  However, when I make it again, I think I'll use chocolate chip cookies in place of the brownies.  I think it was almost too chocolaty (yes, there's such a thing). 
If you want the recipe (it's too long for me to type out), go to www.foodnetwork.com and type in "death by chocolate".  A recipe by Anne Thornton will pop up and print it out.  Oh yeah, homemade chocolate pudding is so much better than the packaged kind and really easy to make! 
Also, this recipe has 3 parts- brownies, pudding, and whipped cream.  You can make the brownies and pudding ahead of time and keep them sealed in the frig and just whip the cream the day you want to serve and layer the dessert.  For example, I made the brownies Tuesday, the pudding Wednesday, and the whipped cream Thursday.  I layered it a few hours before serving and it was perfect.

Quick meals

I really don't cook very fancy all of the time.  I usually cook quick, easy, and healthy meals during the week, then venture out on the weekends and cook things that require more time.  I have also found that most people struggle with finding good recipes to cook from, so they usually go out or order takeout.  The truth is, cooking doesn't have to be fancy or hard.  People make cooking more difficult than what it should be and that's why they don't cook more often.  I have a list of quick meals that I can prepare and are usually done within a half hour and use everyday ingredients.  Below is a sample of my quick meals, but I consider these to be the tastiest and easiest.

Parmesan chicken:  dethaw chicken breasts, season with salt and pepper, coat them in a little flour, roll them in egg wash (a beaten egg mixed with a few drops of water), and coat in a mixture of equal parts freshly grated Parmesan cheese and seasoned dried bread crumbs.  Then, bake at 400 for about 20 min.

Chicken salad:  this is not a mayo salad.  Instead, season chicken breasts and bake at 400 for 20 min. Allow the chicken to cool so you can handle it, then shred it.  Top shredded chicken with your favorite lettuce, tomato, cheese, dried cherries, cucumber, roasted radishes, cauliflower, and whatever else you like on your salad and add dressing.  Serve with bread.

Tacos:  I think everyone knows how to make tacos- I top mine with fat free sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, lettuce, onion, and green pepper.  I also vary my meat choice- shredded chicken, ground beef, sliced steak, or a mixture of sliced portobello mushrooms and steak. 

Pork loins with leeks:  season pork loins and bake at 400 for 20 min. Meanwhile, slice and clean leeks, mince a couple cloves of garlic, and a few tablespoons of mixed herbs.  Saute them over medium heat until leeks are tender.  Add salt and pepper and a splash of brandy and reduce until almost all of the liquid has evaporated.  Then, add about 1/3 cup chicken stock and about 1/4 cup sour cream.  Heat through and serve sauce over pork loins.

Spaghetti:  this one is a staple in most homes.  However, to make it a little more healthy, I add cooked broccoli, chopped fresh tomatoes, and fresh herbs into the sauce.  I also add shrimp for protein.

Mustard chicken:  mix 3 tablespoons mustard, 3 tablespoons dijon mustard, a splash of worcestershire, and 2 tablespoons of honey.  Coat chicken breasts with the mustard mixture and bake at 400 for 20 min.

Asian salmon:  this is an Ina Garten recipe that is no fail and extremely flavorful.  Mix 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons dijon mustard, 2 teaspoon minced garlic, and a tablespoon of olive oil.  Coat salmon with mixture and bake at 425 for about 10 min.

Fish:  Take your favorite fish (I usually use tilapia), season, coat with dried breadcrumbs, and your favorite vegetables.  Bake at 425 for 10 min. until veggies are tender and fish is done

Fritatta:  Dice a small onion and cook over medium heat.  Add your favorite vegetables (I like broccoli and mushrooms) and cook until softened.  Add your favorite breakfast meat (ham, sausage, bacon) and season with salt and pepper.  Crack 4 eggs into a separate bowl, add salt and pepper, and a splash of milk.  Add eggs into the veggies and meat.  Transfer skillet to the oven and cook at 350 until eggs are set.

Meatloaf:  Everyone has their own recipe for meatloaf, but I use half beef and half turkey.  Use quick cooking oats in place of breadcrumbs and use dijion in place of ketchup.

Hopefully this will give you more ideas on what to make for a quick meal.  Trust me, they are much better than any takeout or fast food.

Ingredient swaps

Swapping ingredients in a recipe is one of the easiest things you can do to turn an old boring recipe into a new and exciting one.  I've been ingredient swapping for years and it can take a dish to a whole new level.  Some classic swaps that I've done are using applesauce or peanut butter for butter, sour cream or half and half for cream, seafood for red meat, cauliflower or celery root for potatoes, hummus for a thickening agent in soups, and meatloaf for round steak in beef stroganoff. 

Here are 2 recipes that I've made recently with ingredient swaps.  The first is a simple vegetable soup that uses hummus and the second are muffins that uses peanut butter in place of the butter.

Broccoli Hummus Soup

2 full head of broccoli, cut into florets
1 medium onion, diced
3 cups chicken or veggie stock
small container of garlic hummus (8 oz)
1/3 cup sour cream
crushed red pepper (as much as you like)
5 teaspoons fresh minced herbs (thyme, parsley, basil- you can use 1 or a mix)
salt/pepper for taste
Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 425
Spread the broccoli florets and diced onion on a sheet pan
Sprinkle with olive oil, salt, and pepper
Roast for 15-20 min. until broccoli is softened

Place broccoli and onion in a dutch oven or a large pot
Add chicken or veggie stock, hummus, sour cream, crushed red pepper, herbs, salt, and pepper
Blend with a stand blender, hand blender, or food processor
Heat soup and simmer for a few minutes until it's heated through
Taste for salt and pepper
Serve hot with grated Parmesan on top

Peanut Butter, Banana, Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
heaping 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter (do not use natural)
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
3 bananas mashed with fork
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup mini chocolate chips (you can add more if you like)

Heat oven to 350 and line muffin pans with 15 liners
Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together and set aside
In another bowl, mix peanut butter and sugar
Add eggs one at a time and mix thoroughly
Add bananas and vanilla and mix
Add dry ingredients and mix only until combined
Fold in the chocolate chips 
Divide batter into 15 muffin liners
Bake 15-25 min. depending on your oven, until a toothpick comes out clean
Place muffins on a cooling rack to cool all of the way

It's ok to eat crappy foods...once and awhile

I'll admit it- I like some crappy foods.  I enjoy the occasional fast food sandwich, store bought dinners, and easy boxed meals and desserts.  I'm also not alone.  I have seen many interviews with famous chefs where they purposely ask them what their favorite guilty pleasure is and most say a fast food joint or canned cranberries.  So, even though I love to cook and bake from scratch and pride myself on loving some of the finest foods, I also love foods that are embarrassing.  Here are some of favorites:

Boxed foods: 
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  Come on, name someone who doesn't enjoy this food?  It's a childhood staple and still beloved by many adults.  However, the generic brands aren't the same- you need to have the name brand stuff.
Boxed Stuffing.  This one is pretty embarrassing because homemade stuffing is so easy to do, but on a busy weeknight or a night when you don't feel like slicing bread, boxed stuffing is the way to go.  It's also very easy to eat the whole box yourself.
Hamburger Helper.  I made this a lot in college for my husband.  He finally banned me from making it because it's the definition of crappy food.  The problem is, it's so easy to make and includes your meat, starch, and vegetable (you have to add that in though) all in one skillet!  I think my husband finally drew the line when I made Hamburger Helper Fettuccine Alfredo and it turned into a paste after 5 minutes.  I guess I don't blame him- it was pretty gross.

Canned foods:
Canned peas.  For some reason, I only love canned or fresh peas.  Frozen peas are gross.  My husband thinks they smell like dirty socks, but I'll eat them every now and then.  I think I ate them so much growing up that I developed a strange love for them that hasn't died. 
Canned cranberries.  This one is a Thanksgiving staple.  I read a poll in a foodie magazine that asked people if they preferred canned or fresh cranberries and the majority said canned.  I'll never forget the Thanksgiving when my sister and I had a cranberry eating contest.  I don't remember who won, but I remember feeling sick.
Canned fruit cocktail.  Again, another childhood favorite.  I craved this when I was pregnant and I remembered how good it was.  The real treat was the cherry halves.  It sucks that they only include like 1 or 2 of them though.

Boxed desserts:
I love love love a homemade dessert made from scratch, but sometimes I don't have time, patience, or ingredients to make fresh brownies or cakes.  I do enjoy a good boxed brownie- Ghiradelli is the best one by the way- and they are easy.  Cake mixes are just ok.  I only use a cake mix if I'm desperate for cake and don't have flour or if it's masked by other ingredients. I do draw the line at cookies in a box- gross.

Frozen foods:
Frozen pizza.  As much as I love making my own pizza dough, frozen pizza is simple and good.  I've had all brands and I love them all- even generic.  Most of the time, I buy a plain cheese frozen pizza and top it with fresh veggies and turkey pepperoni.  It makes me feel less guilty.
Frozen meals.  While I usually don't eat frozen meals (mostly because of sodium and the fact that they don't fill me up), I will eat a Healthy Choice meal every once and awhile.  In a pinch, they're easy and if you add a salad, it's not bad.
Lean Pockets.  I know that this is a crappy sandwich, but they are good!  I especially like the pizza pockets and the turkey and cheese.  I won't even justify this. 

Refrigerated cookie dough.  This is in a category all on its own.  I love cookie dough and for a quick fix, just open package and eat.  Very simple and tasty.  However, I hate the cookies once they're baked- not good at all.  The uncooked cookie dough is all I need.

Fast Food:
Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich.  This is really good and not bad for you.  Grilled chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, soft bun, and mustard.  One of my favs.
Taco Bell tacos.  I love the beef and chicken.  I think I ate Taco Bell a couple times a week in high school, so I still get a craving.  It always happens late at night though....
Dairy Queen hot fudge sundae.  For some reason, this is my favorite sundae.  Simple ice "milk" and hot fudge- not from scratch, but I still love it.

Ok, there are some of my favorites.  I won't apologize.