Food

Healthy Egg & Avocado Breakfast Sandwich

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

Breakfast Sandwich Egg tomato avacado

I didn’t used to be a big fan of breakfast, but I am beginning to enjoy it more and more.

One of my favorite new hot, healthy, protein and vitamin-rich go-to’s is this yummy breakfast sandwich.

Breakfast Sandwich Egg tomato avacado 2

A protein-rich fried egg topped with fresh and juicy, red-ripe Campari tomatoes and slices of nutrient-dense avocado sandwiched between a whole wheat English muffin is just the way to start my day.

When I don’t have ripe avocados, I love to use a slice of smoked gouda cheese or some crispy bacon.  Not nearly as healthy, but oh so yummy!

I’m already looking forward to my next breakfast!  How about you?

Healthy Egg and Avocado Breakfast Sandwich

Ingredients:Breakfast Sandwich Egg tomato avacado

  • I large egg
  • 1 Campari tomato
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 whole wheat English muffin
  • butter, salt & pepper to taste

While English muffin is toasting, fry egg to your liking – sunny side up, over easy, over hard (my personal preference).  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Place egg on lightly buttered toasted English muffin, top with slices of tomato and avocado.  Smoosh together, cut in half, and ENJOY!

Remember what we were always told as children….
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so here’s to breakfast!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Best-Ever Amish Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

/ Jodi / 55 Comments

Amish Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

If you are an oatmeal raisin cookie lover……

You know – you love the ones that are crispy around the edges, but caramely chewy with plump sweet raisins on the inside…..

You are going to be in OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE HEAVEN when you make and taste these amazing Amish Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

Amish Oatmeal Raisin Cookies 2

I honestly believe these are the BEST EVER Oatmeal Raisin Cookies on the Planet!

Earth AND Mars!

Amish Oatmeal Raisin Cookies 3

Get ready to be a Cookie Rock Star when you make these!

Now go get baking!  You MUST have these!

Amish Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

  • Servings: 4 dozen large cookies
  • Print

Ingredients:Amish Oatmeal Raisin Cookies 2

  • 3/4 cup softened butter
  • 3/4 cup coconut oil or shortening
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp baking soda
  • 3 cups oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk ( you can make a substitute by adding 1/2 Tbsp white vinegar to milk or half and half and allowing to sit for 5 min as a substitute, and it works perfectly fine!)
  • 1 1/2 – 2 cups golden raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream together butter, coconut oil or shortening, and granulated sugar until fully incorporated.  Add the egg, molasses and vanilla and beat well.

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl – flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder – and add to creamed butter/sugar mixture.  Add buttermilk next, followed by oatmeal.  When well combined, gently stir in raisins.

Drop by heaping tablespoon onto baking stone or cookie sheet.  Flatten slightly.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Let cool on baking stone/cookie sheet for additional 5 minutes, then remove to cooling rack to cool completely.

Enjoy these amazing cookies (that include some healthy ingredients)!

I cannot wait to hear what you think of them, and I dare you to challenge me to a better oatmeal raisin cookie recipe! 🙂

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Groundhog Day Cupcakes

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

groundhog day cupcake

Tomorrow, February 2nd, is Groundhog Day, a rather silly U.S. holiday, where we wait for a Groundhog (Punxsutawney Phil) to emerge from his burrow and let us know when Spring will arrive.

According to folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow, winter will last for six more weeks.  If he does not, Spring will come early.

Punxsutawney Phil is the “official” Groundhog Day meteorologist.  He lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which is only about an hour and a half from Mars.  The largest Groundhog Day celebration in the U.S. is held here with an early morning festival and national news coverage.

When my son, Nick, told me he was going to dinner on Sunday at his girlfriend, Liz’s house for a Groundhog Day party, I immediately asked, “Can I make a dessert for you to take?”  (Any excuse to bake works for me!)

Seems Groundhog Day is Liz’s dad’s favorite holiday.  The family celebrates with a dinner party and an annual viewing of the comedy movie, Groundhog Day.

So I searched for some inspiration on Pinterest and came up with these little cupcakes from things I had in the pantry.

If you are looking for a fun treat to make for Groundhog Day, here is how I made them.

Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Ingredients:groundhog day cupcake

  • 1 box Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix
  • 1 can White Cake Frosting
  • 1 can Chocolate Frosting
  • 1 bag (12) Lindt’s Lindor Sea Salt & Milk Chocolate Truffles
  • 36 small candy eyes (24 for eyes and 12 to cut edges off for tooth)
  • 24 chocolate chips
  • Chocolate jimmies/sprinkles
  • 1 tube black decorative frosting
  • Green food coloring

Directions:

Bake cupcakes according to box instructions.  Cool completely.

Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting from center to about 2/3 coverage.

Tint white frosting with green food coloring and pipe around top circle of cupcake.  Sprinkle chocolate jimmies on edge of chocolate frosting to appear like “loosened dirt.”

Pipe dabs of chocolate frosting onto truffle where eyes and ears and tooth and chubby cheeks and hair of groundhog head will go (I put some in a Ziploc sandwich bag and cut off small tip of corner) Add eyes, chocolate chips for ears, eye with edges cut off for tooth, and jimmies to top of head.  Finish with black frosting dab for nose.  Place in center of cupcake to appear like the groundhog is emerging from it’s hole in the ground.

Here’s to hoping Phil sees his shadow!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

 

Neiman Marcus Dip

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

neiman marcus dip

Next Sunday is the Super Bowl – an annual event in the U.S. that even non-football fans often enjoy just for the great commercials, celebrity national anthem and half-time show, parties, cocktails, beer, and yummy food and SNACKS!

This Neiman Marcus Dip is a MUST-HAVE for Super Bowl parties, whether you are hosting, taking something as a guest to a party you are going to, or just hanging with the family at home.

It is so amazingly easy and even  more incredibly addictive and delicious (though probably should not be eaten too often as it is a bit far from healthy, which is probably why it is so amazing!)   

I am pretty sure you will be considered a snack dip rock star if you make and serve this to your family and friends.

neiman marcus dip closeup

I first tried this Neiman Marcus Dip at my DIL Colleen’s Christmas Cookie Exchange Party this past December, and I made it for a recent Steelers Playoff game when the family was all over.

And though our Pittsburgh Steelers did not make it to the Super Bowl this year, we will still be watching, and we will surely be snackin’!

So whoever you are rooting for, win or lose, you will still be happy that you had this yummy dip!

Neiman Marcus Dip

Ingredients:neiman marcus dip closeup

  • 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 lb bacon, chopped and cooked very crispy
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 2 cups mayonnaise

Directions:  Mix all together in large bowl and refrigerate at least 2 hours for flavors to meld together well.  (The day before is even good.)

Serve with crackers, corn chips, tortilla chips or celery sticks.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Biscoff Crunch Banana Bread

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

Biscoff banana bread 1

I thought I had discovered the best ever banana bread recipe (which is ULTRA amazing!) – but then…. I discovered…

are you ready??…..

BISCOFF BANANA BREAD!

biscoff banana bread 2

Oh Goodness Gracious – the YUMMMMiness of Biscoff Spread, crunchy Biscoff cookies, and sweet, moist banana bread.  It is pretty much the ultimate deliciousness – especially for this time of year when we just crave comforting foods!

biscoff banana bread 3

My guys loved it!

In fact, when I gave Nick his “sample,” I asked if it was a thumbs up.

His reply:

“2”

Score!

No oil in this bread either.  It is made with Greek yogurt.

The original recipe, which I have shared below from Table for Two, calls for plain Greek yogurt.

I used vanilla.

Yum!

And I added about one more tablespoon of butter, which I added in dabbles on top of the crushed up Biscoff cookies on top, just to make them a bit crisper and crunchier.   (I can never just leave well enough alone!)

Biscoff Banana Bread


From: Table for Two

3 ripened bananas, peeled and mashedBiscoff banana bread 1
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup Biscoff spread
3 tbsp. butter, melted
2 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
18 Biscoff cookies, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and set aside.

2. Combine the first five ingredients and mix until well blended.

3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.

5. Gently fold in 3/4 of the crushed Biscoff cookies with a spatula.

6. Pour the batter into loaf pan and top with the remaining 1/4 crushed Biscoff cookies.

7. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

8. Let cool completely before removing from pan and slicing.

ENJOY!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

A Carnival Baby Shower for Jackie & Matt

/ Jodi / 48 Comments

3

Oh what fun we had planning, preparing, and celebrating the soon-to-arrive Baby Ben with our McHendy daughter and son-in-law, Jackie & Matt.

I was designated the “official” photographer, so get ready for lots of photos.  I was so busy worrying about capturing it and so busy just enjoying it, that it is just now hitting me, after I shared the photos with Jackie (and she posted on her Facebook page), how close I am to being an “almost” grandma!

When Jackie shared the photos, she wrote:

Matt and I have always hoped we could welcome our baby boy into a community of people who will love, encourage, and support him. On Saturday, we were shown a million times over that we without a doubt have that for our baby boy, Ben. Thank you to everyone who braved the snowstorm and made it out to the shower. We are so blessed for all of you (and for all the people who couldn’t make it)! A special thanks to my mom,Jill Henderson, my mother-in-law, Carol Kallis, my future sister-in-law, Becca Cura, and my second mom, Jodi McKinney for throwing us one creative, awesome shower!!

So for the past half hour ( I am drafting this Sunday evening), I’ve been bawling happy tears and cherishing these very special moments.

I hope you enjoy viewing these photos as much as we had in creating and being a part of them.

(If you click on the first – or any one of the pics – you can scroll through the photos in full size.)

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Chessy Caprese Tarts

/ Jodi / 43 Comments

caprese tarts 2

In honor of National Cheese Lovers Day today, (you knew that – right?!) I am sharing a yummy new Cheesy Caprese Tart recipe I made this past weekend for the family while we got together to watch football playoff games.

caprese tarts cut

This recipe could also be great for brunch, lunch or even a light dinner.   It would be a well-received snack to take to a Super Bowl Party too, I am certain!

caprese tarts

Does anything beat ooey, gooey, chewy fresh melted mozarella cheese?!  Especially when topped with sweet juicy tomatoes and some lovely fresh basil?!  And everything is yummy when on top of golden, flaky puff pastry – right?

This recipe is really simple, yet it turns out looking so impressive, you are going to be a Cheese Lover’s ROCK STAR when you make this!

Caprese Puff Pastry Tarts

  • Servings: depends on how hungry you are!
  • Print

Ingredients:caprese tarts 2

  • 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 lb fresh mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh ripe Campari  (my favorite!) or cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh basil
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Directions:

Roll out the puff pastry sheet and cut into four squares.  Top with sliced fresh mozarella and then sliced tomatoes.  Drizzle with olive oil, then salt and pepper to taste.  Bake in 375 degree F oven for approximately 15 minutes or until puff pastry begins to puff and turn golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly brown.  Remove from oven and top with freshly chopped basil.  Tastes wonderful hot or cold.

For small bite-sized tarts, you could cut into 16 squares and do same.  You could also do one large “pizza” by not cutting the pastry sheet at all.

ENJOY, and Happy Cheese Lover’s Day!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

Spicy Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

Spicy Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

Are you ready for a party in your mouth?

Looking for a versatile recipe that can be a main course, a sandwich, serve a crowd, be made into a great nacho platter?

Look no further!

I present:

Spicy Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

ENJOY!  (We sure did)

Spicy Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

Ingredients:Spicy Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

  • 5 lb boneless pork loin (or your favorite pork roast)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • Half of a 16-oz. jar sliced banana peppers rings with juice
  • 1 10-oz. can Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilis
  • 2 12-oz cans Dr. Pepper soda
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar

Place all in crockpot and cook on High for 6 hours.  Remove pork and shred with fork.  Place back in juices and let set at least a half hour.  Even better the next day when the juices and meat all mix and mingle even more!

Serve on Hard Rolls, over mashed or fried potatoes, with rice, in a tortilla wrap with your favorite fillings or over tortilla chips with queso and shredded cheese and pickled jalapenos for the most amazing Pulled Pork Nachos!

Wouldn’t you be the hit of the party serving these nachos for the Super Bowl or a Playoff party this weekend?

Spicy Dr Pepper Pulled Pork nachos

Want to see a little closer?!

Spicy Dr Pepper Pulled Pork nachos 2

This recipe might be fun to try with beef or chicken too.

Have some fun in the kitchen.  Creativity is everywhere!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

*Inspired by The Pioneer Woman’s recipe.

Goji Berry Energy Bars – A Super Food Snack

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

Goji Berry Energy Bars 3

So this is pretty out of character for this cookie-baking, haluski and halupki making – lover of all comfort foods – but it IS the new year –

and we ALL seem to go off on little kicks….

Well, my son, Nick has been making healthy breakfast smoothies lately, so we bought him a Super Food Smoothie cookbook to go with his new Ninja for Christmas, and we’ve been discussing super foods.

We decided to try some new things like Goji Berries and Chia Seeds, and Cacao Nibs and Maqui Berry Powder.

I’m not really big on drinking my breakfast.

I like something I can sink my teeth into.

So I found and tweaked a recipe for these healthy, tasty, energy bars that make a great breakfast or mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack.

Goji Berry Energy Bars 2

I love all the ingredients in them – almonds and walnuts and sunflower seeds with a bit of sweetness from the cacao and goji berries and dates.

Goji Berry Energy Bars

Who says healthy and good for you can’t be tasty and comforting!?

Give them a try.  Throw them in a ziploc in the freezer and grab when on the go!  Let me know what you think about them if you try.   And keep in mind, this recipe can be tweaked and improvised in many ways.  Change up the nuts or berries.  Use local honey instead of agave, whole wheat or coconut flour, raisins instead of dates.  The possibilities are endless.  Just like the taste!

Goji Berry Energy Bars a Super Food Snack

Ingredients:Goji Berry Energy Bars 3

  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 12 dates
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons almond flour
  • ½ cup agave
  • ½ cups cocoa nibs
  • 1 cup goji berries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grind walnuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds in a food processor or Ninja or blender. Add the dates and pulse, making sure not to pulverize, but leaving some texture.

Pour into a mixing bowl, and add the rest of the ingredients.  Mix well.

Spread into an 8×8 baking dish, and bake for 20 minutes.

Cut into squares, and serve.  Freeze in Ziploc bag to maintain freshness and have on hand for snacks on the go.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

A Special Cookbook from Mom

/ Jodi / 49 Comments

Nicks Cookbook from mom

I have one more special little homemade Christmas gift to share this week.  This is one I was excited to give to my son, Nick.

Nick had requested I put a cookbook together of his favorite recipes I make, and especially those that are EASY, so that he will have and be able to make wherever life takes him.

For the cover of this little book, I used a photo of our kitchen in the frenzy of pots boiling, cookies cooling, and flour and sugar and other ingredients out on the counter.  I am hoping as he takes this little book with him throughout his life, he will remember the smell and feel and love of our family kitchen.

For the intro page, I wrote Nick a short note:

Nicks cookbook from mom introduction page

Nick is a chicken lover, so I tried to remember all of his favorite chicken dishes.

nick cookbook chickfila chicken sandwiches

But remembering the “easy” part, I tried to include those simple things he always enjoyed.

Nicks Cookbook page

So – it’s not a masterpiece or an Amazon bestseller, but it is simple gesture of a Momma’s love that I hope Nick will treasure.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi