Welcoming My Hubby Home with MEATBALLS!

My hubby has been traveling all week so I thought I'd have something comforting waiting for him at home. I knew his flight wasn't landing until 10pm so I thought meatballs would make the perfect reheated late-night dinner. I found Alex's recipe, which included sour cream in the meat mixture to keep the meatballs super moist. I also loved the kick of the chili flakes and licorice flavor from the fennel seeds. VERY yummy and welcoming dinner!

Muffins that Taste Like Apple Pie!

Wanna have pie for breakfast? Well, with these Apple Pie Muffins, you can and don't have to feel guilty about it! They're so yummy and you can totally taste the Pumpkin Pie Spice, which makes me wish it was the holidays already! The pecans also added the perfect crunch to these moist muffins. YUM YUM!

Ingredients:


2-1/4 c all-purpose flour
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 c buttermilk
1/2 c butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 c packed brown sugar
2 c chopped apples (2 medium)
1/2 c chopped pecans


Prep:


1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 12 cup muffin cups with paper liners.


2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla and brown sugar. Stir until sugar has dissolved.


3. Pour butter mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Gently fold in apples and pecans. Use a large scoop to fill each muffin well, filling the cups to the top.


4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Store at room temperature.

My Go-To Cooking Shortcuts

I LOVE saving money on my groceries and those coupons are the only reason I subscribe to the Sunday paper. That being said, I also work fulltime but still wanna make a home-cooked meal almost every night. That's when I gladly accept any help I can get from the grocery store, even though I know they cost a bit more. Here are my favorite go-to cooking shortcuts that might save you some time in the kitchen as well!

1. Pre-chopped onions - I usually get the baggies from Trader Joe's but pretty much ever grocery store carries these in the produce section. They take the time (and tears!) out of chopping onions, which I use in almost every recipe. In a pinch, dried onion flakes also work but they're nothing like the fresh stuff!

2. Pre-minced garlic - same idea as the onions. I get mine in a big jar from Costco cuz I put them in everything but they also come in smaller jars. Just like the onions, garlic powder works too but the fresh adds so much more punch!

3. Sliced and cleaned mushrooms - sure they don't make me cry like the onions and garlic but the time I save by not having to wipe each of them clean is totally worth it! Plus they make great dippers when you want a good-for-you snack!


4. Rice, pasta and couscous mixes - they're quick-cooking and take the decision out of what spices to add. I always keep at least a few on hand to go with whatever main dish I'm preparing. My favorites are Knorr (especially the Fiesta Sides!), Neareast (the Pearl Couscous is amazing!) and Rice-A-Roni (don't judge!).

5. Canned tomatoes - they last forever, unlike the fresh ones, so I can always have some on hand. I like to use fire-roasted or garlic and oinon ones to add more flavors to my dishes. Did I mention that tomatoes are also REALLY good for you thanks to the lycopene they contain?


6. Rotisserie Chicken - I buy mine from Costco and they don't get any cheaper than $5 each. I shred up the meat as soon as I get home, use half and freeze half for another day. The possibilities are endless when it comes to cooked chicken. I use them in Enchiladas, stuffed pasta shells, stir-fries, pizzas...you name it!

7. Pasta Sauces - yes making them from scratch is great but on a weeknight, they're life savers! Just boil some pasta, add some meat, stir in some sauce and dinner is on the table in no time! My favorites are Classico (Four Cheese Alfredo anyone?), Prego (no meat needed when you use the meat-flavored!) and good old Bertolli (LOVE the Vodka sauce!).


8. Shredded and Sliced Cheese - last but definitely not least! They save me SO much time especially since we like cheese in everything! From pizzas to lasagnas to panini, cheese is just a part of us! All that shredding and slicing can take up a HUGE chunk of time and these days you can find most varieties already done for you. Sure, sometimes I find the need to buy a chunk of gourmet cheese the grate myself but most nights, it all about Kraft!

Everything BUT the Kitchen-Sink Fried Rice!

Ok so maybe not EVERYTHING but I sure got to use up a lot of stuff in the fridge with our fried rice tonight! It's got shrimp, chicken, pineapples, carrots and pretty much all of my "Asian" seasoning like garlic, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, dried red chiles, sesame oil and green onions. VERY tasty and VERY easy! Oh, and of course, fried rice isn't complete until you add some scrambled eggs into the mix!

Ole' Chipotle!

I've been saving this recipe for Lamb Shanks Braised in Chipotle-Coffee Sauce for a while now but just couldn't seem to find the San Marco Chilpotle sauce. (Yes, I checked Whole Foods and mine apparently doesn't carry it.) Anyway, so I decided to get creative and used Ole' Chipotle Salsa instead. It's actually one of our favorite salsas and has a really nice smokey flavor. I LOVED the combination of the chipotle and coffee and the maple syrup added a nice hint of sweetness. I cooked the entire dish on the stovetop by just simmering it for 2 hours covered. The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender and the sauce was just so incredibly flavorful! Served over some mashed potatoes and it was the perfect Sunday night dinner!

My (Cheater) Version of a Croque Madame!

For once I was up early enough to make us a nice brunch on a Saturday morning. The idea of Croque Madame came up but I wasn't really in the mood to make the traditional sauce from scratch and I definitely didn't feel like driving out to get Gruyère cheese. So, I decided to make the sandwiches my way, with roast beef, Smoke Gouda and spicy mayo in between sourdough bread. I browned one side in a cast iron skillet, topped them with shredded Monterey Jack, then broiled them in the oven for a few minutes. Of course, a Croque Madame is only a lady after you top it with a fried egg. Yummy and so much easier than the traditional way! We are ready to start our weekend!

Chicken Marengo is Not Only a Fun Name!

Have you heard of Chicken Marengo? According to Wiki, it was an Italian dish that Napoleon ate after the Battle of Marengo. The chef cut up some chicken and fried it in olive oil, then made a sauce from tomatoes, garlic onions and wine. Since those are ingredients I always have on hand, it became a very easy weeknight meal. My version also included mushrooms and mashed potatoes. Nothing fancy but a VERY comforting Friday night dinner!