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Chipotle Ranch Summer Salad with Tomatoes and Corn
August 25, 2020

Chipotle Ranch Summer Salad with Tomatoes and Corn

Chipotle Ranch Summer Salad with Tomatoes and Corn features romaine lettuce, avocados, cherry tomatoes, fresh corn, hard boiled eggs, bacon, and a Chipotle Ranch Dressing. This is a great side salad to serve at a barbecue or picnic, but it’s hearty enough to serve as …

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by Sharon
Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Rice
August 23, 2020

Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Rice

Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Rice is a hearty soup filled with celery, onions, green pepper, andouille sausage, okra and shrimp. It’s topped with an andouille rice pilaf. I served this gumbo for lunch, but it would also make a terrific dinner, accompanied by a green …

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by Sharon
Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels
August 22, 2020

Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels

Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels are sweet, blueberry filled bagels with a cinnamon sugar topping. They are served with Blueberry Cream Cheese and are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

The Equipment You’ll Need

  • A Bread Machine- You will need a bread machine for this recipe.
  • A Food Processor- You will need a food processor for the Blueberry Cream Cheese.

The Ingredients You’ll Need for Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels

  • Bread Flour- You’ll need bread flour to make these bagels. All-purpose flour just doesn’t have enough protein to make chewy bagels.
  • Active Dry Yeast- You’ll need active dry yeast, not quick yeast.
  • Blueberries- You’ll need fresh blueberries for this recipe.

How I Made My Bagels

  • First, I simply put all the ingredients into my bread machine. I went to the mall, and when I got back my dough was all ready.
  • Next, I boiled the water and preheated the oven.
  • Then, I added the blueberries to the dough and formed the dough into balls and then rings.
  • Next, I boiled the bagels and then added the topping and baked them.
  • While the bagels baked I made the cream cheese.
  • Finally, I let the bagels cool on the rack for ten minutes, and then we ate those warm delicious bagels all up.

These Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels are absolutely delicious! We were all craving bagels on this Saturday morning, but I can’t tell you how busy are local bagel store is on weekend mornings . Even with everyone wearing masks, I’m just not comfortable crowding into a small bagel store with 40 hungry people. Using my bread machine made these bagels so easy to make. I just loaded in the ingredients and went to the mall. When I got back I spent about 20 minutes getting them ready to bake, and that was it! If you love sweet bagels as much as I do, I highly encourage you to try these yummy homemade treats!

Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels
Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels
bread machine blueberry bagels

Bread Machine Blueberry Bagels

Blueberry cinnamon sugar bagels made in the bread machine, served with a blueberry cream cheese.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Rising time 1 hour 50 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Equipment

  • Bread Machine

Ingredients
  

For the Blueberry Bagels:

  • 1 cup water
  • 6 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 3 cups bread flour (360g)
  • 2 tsp. active dry yeast
  • 1½ tsp. salt
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp. cinnamon

For the Blueberry Cream Cheese:

  • ½ cup cream cheese
  • ¼ cup blueberries
  • 1 tbsp. brown sugar

Instructions
 

  • For the Blueberry Bagels:
  • In a bread machine add the water, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, flour, salt and yeast in the order suggested by your bread machine. Process on the dough cycle.
  • When the dough cycle ends, remove the dough and gently knead in the blueberries. Form the dough into 8 balls and using your thumb, make a whole in the ball and form it into a ring with a 3 inch opening.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to a simmer, and cook the bagels two at a time for a minute on each side. Remove them with a slotted spoon to a wire rack.
  • Place the bagels two inches apart on a parchment covered baking sheet. Mix together the remaining brown sugar, the white sugar, and the cinnamon and sprinkle it on the bagel tops.
  • Bake for 25 minutes. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes.

For the Blueberry Cream Cheese:

  • Mix all the ingredients together in the food processor.
Keyword bagels
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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by Sharon
Tarragon Chicken Stuffed Avocados
August 21, 2020

Tarragon Chicken Stuffed Avocados

Tarragon Chicken Stuffed Avocados are pretty avocado rings filled with creamy tarragon and lemon chicken salad. This is a pretty lunch to serve to the ladies; for my husband I just smashed the whole thing between two slices of white bread and he was perfectly …

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by Sharon
Poutine with Chicken and Thyme Gravy
August 20, 2020

Poutine with Chicken and Thyme Gravy

Poutine with Chicken and Thyme Gravy is an amazing Canadian appetizer that combines French fries with cheese curds and rich chicken gravy. We tried to visit some restaurants that specialized in poutine in both Boston and Walt Disney World, but we just never timed it …

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by Sharon
Creme Fraiche and Bacon Tarte Flambee
August 19, 2020

Creme Fraiche and Bacon Tarte Flambee

Creme Fraiche and Bacon Tarte Flambee is a French style pizza topped with creme fraiche, fontina cheese, red onion, thyme, and bacon. It is a lovely change from the typical Italian style pizza, that bacon lovers will especially enjoy.

The Equipment You’ll Need

  • A Bread Machine- I really love making pizza dough in my bread machine, since it does everything from heating up the ingredients to activate the yeast to kneading and rising the dough.
  • A Food Scale- This is invaluable for making sure you’re using the right amount of flour.
  • A Pizza Peel- You’ll need this to get your pizza in and out of the oven.
  • A Pizza Stone- You’ll need this to bake your pizza to perfection.

The Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Creme Fraiche and Bacon Tarte Flambee

  • Active Dry Yeast- You’ll need active dry yeast, not quick acting yeast for this recipe.
  • All Purpose Flour- I use all purpose flour for this pizza recipe.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil- I like California Ranch olive oil. It’s nice and mild without a bitter flavor that some cheaper olive oils have.
  • Creme Fraiche- You can find this in the fancy cheese section of better markets.
  • Nutmeg- I like to grate my own for fresher flavor.
  • Cream Cheese- I microwaved it for a minute so it was easy to spread.
  • Bacon- I used Niman Ranch bacon. The pieces are nice and thick.
  • Fontina – I used Italian fontina cheese.

How I Made my Tarte

  • First, I made my dough.
  • Next, I rolled out the dough and brushed it really well with olive oil. This makes the crust so nice and crispy and golden brown.
  • Then, I put on all the toppings, spreading them to the very edge of the pizza.
  • Finally, I baked the pizzas and served them for lunch.

This Creme Fraiche and Bacon Tarte was truly delicious. It was even good cold, straight from the refrigerator. This pizza is so unique and certainly nothing that any of my restaurants serve. I know I won’t be traveling any where for a long time, but today I felt as though I was dining in a French bistro. If you love pizza, you must try this bacony, cheesy delight!

creme fraiche and bacon tarte
Creme Fraiche and Bacon Tarte Flambee
creme fraiche and bacon tarte

Creme Fraiche and Bacon Tarte Flambee

A thin crust pizza topped with creme fraiche, bacon, red onion, thyme, and Italian fontina.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Rising time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine French
Servings 4
Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

  • Bread Machine
  • Pizza Stone

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cups all purpose flour (360g)
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. active dry yeast
  • 5 ounces very softened cream cheese
  • ⅓ cup creme fraiche
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 6 strips chopped bacon
  • 1 cup chopped red onion
  • 2 cups shredded fontina cheese
  • 1 tbsp. fresh thyme

Instructions
 

  • Put the water, one tablespoon of the oil, flour, yeast, honey, and salt in your bread machine in the order suggested by your manufacturer.
  • Use the dough cycle to knead and rise your dough.
  • Remove the dough from the bread machine after the dough cycle has completed and divide the dough into 3 balls. This recipe uses 2 of the balls to make 2 12 inch pizzas.
  • On a floured parchment lined pizza peel, roll the dough into a 12 inch circle. Brush it with one tablespoon of olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes. Repeat with second ball of dough.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the pizza stone and oven to 425 degrees.
  • Mix together the creme fraiche, cream cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and spread it evenly over both crusts. Sprinkle the bacon and onion all over.
  • Bake the pizza 15 minutes, add the fontina, and bake 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with thyme and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcal
Keyword creme fraiche, Pizza, tarte flambee
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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by Sharon
Old-Fashioned Nectarine and Raspberry Slump
August 18, 2020

Old-Fashioned Nectarine and Raspberry Slump

Old-Fashioned Nectarine and Raspberry Slump is a traditional American dessert featuring baked fruit topped with a sweet dumpling and syrup. This particular slump contains nectarines and raspberries and a cinnamon brown sugar, and is topped with raspberry ice cream. I just love reading about historic …

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by Sharon
Strawberry Glazed Baked Doughnuts
August 17, 2020

Strawberry Glazed Baked Doughnuts

Strawberry Glazed Baked Doughnuts are light and fluffy yeast doughnuts with a fresh strawberry glaze. This recipe makes 30 small doughnuts (and 30 doughnut holes), but because they are so airy, it’s easy to eat two or three and not feel at all full. The …

doughnuts
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by Sharon
Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad
August 15, 2020

Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad

Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad is a delicious mixture of fried chicken, strawberries, kale, blue cheese, pistachios, strawberries, and red onion. Everything is chopped up and tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette. This is a great family meal because picky kids can just eat the chicken, while the adults can enjoy a tasty main course salad.

The Equipment You’ll Need

  • A Cast Iron Skillet- This does the best job of frying chicken. If you don’t have one, use any heavy skillet.
  • A Deep Fry Thermometer- This is a must for any frying in an inch of oil or more.
  • A Mason Jar- You’ll need this to shake up your salad dressing. Or, you could use a food processor, or a bowl and a whisk.

The Ingredients Needed to Make this Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad

  • The Vegetable Oil- You can fry this in vegetable, peanut or canola oil. I like to use Crisco Vegetable Oil.
  • The Flour- You need to use all purpose flour to flour your chicken.
  • The Kale- Make sure you remove all the tough stems, and chop the kale up well.
  • The Olive Oil- Use extra virgin, and make sure it’s not too bitter. I like California Olive Ranch olive oil.

How I Made This Salad

  • First, I fried my chicken. I was careful to only put chicken in the pan when the oil was exactly 350 degrees. I let the oil come up between batches and made turned down the heat if the oil got too hot.
  • Next, I made the vinaigrette.
  • Finally, I tossed all everything together in the bowl and served it.

I really like serving these big chopped salads as the main course in the summer. First of all, big salads allow me to use all the beautiful summer produce. It just doesn’t seem like summer to me if I can’t cook with lots of fruits and vegetables. Secondly, I can cook this early in the day and then serve it after we get back from a long day at the beach. Lastly, the big salad concept allows me to eat a light dinner, especially if I only have a little bit of the chicken. Not that that ever happens in reality, since this chicken is really delicious. But, in theory, I could just taste the chicken and it would be a light dinner. If I had some kind of super human willpower, that allowed me to totally resist all yummy foods, I’m sure I could totally just have a few bites of this Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad. But, at least, I was too full from the salad to have the strawberry milkshakes, that I just made for the bottomless pits known as my family.

Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad
Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad
Fried Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad

Chicken and Strawberry Chopped Salad

Fried chicken, strawberries, kale, blue cheese, and pistachios all chopped up and tossed with balsamic dressing.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • cast iron skillet or other large skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. onion powder
  • 2 tsp. paprika
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 bunch kale, tough stems removed, and chopped
  • 1 cup shelled pistachios
  • 1 cup chopped red onion
  • 2 cups chopped strawberries
  • 1 cup chopped blue cheese

For the Balsamic Vinaigrette:

  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • ⅛ tsp. kosher salt
  • ⅛ tsp. black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Cut each breast vertically into long strips, about a half inch thick. Season the strips with salt and pepper.
  • Prepare 3 bowls for dipping the chicken. Divide the flour and spices between 2 bowls and place the buttermilk in a third bowl.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet filled with one inch of oil to 350 degrees. Dip each strip in the flour, then the buttermilk, and then into the second bowl of flour. Fry each piece until golden brown on both sides. Drain the chicken on a wire rack. Then, chop each strip into bite sized pieces.
  • Place the chopped chicken in a bowl with the rest of the salad ingredients and then pour on as much dressing as you want, and toss everything together and serve.

For the Balsamic Vinaigrette:

  • Add all the ingredients to a mason jar, and shake to combine.
Keyword Chicken, salad, strawberries
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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by Sharon
Strawberry Jelly Doughnut Muffins
August 14, 2020

Strawberry Jelly Doughnut Muffins

Strawberry Jelly Doughnut Muffins are mini muffins that taste like jelly doughnuts, because they’re rolled in cinnamon sugar and are filled with homemade strawberry jelly. Some people call these doughnut muffins, duffins. Other people, like to call them muff-nuts, or moughnuts. Then names are fun …

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by Sharon