Best Ever

Cinnamon Pecan Crumb Cake

/ Jodi / 34 Comments
cinnamon-pecan-crumb-cake-piece

BEWARE:  This Cinnamon Pecan Crumb Cake is only for the most serious crumb cake lovers!  Are you one like me?  Do you love more buttery, sugary, nutty crumbs than cake?  If so, this is the cake for you!  And I dare say it should not be consumed without a large steaming cup of coffee to wash down the “crumby” goodness.  Be still my coffee crumb cake lovin’ heart!

Let’s take a closer look at all that “crumby” deliciousness…

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Don’t say I didn’t warn you.  This is a seriously “crumby” cake!

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With buttery, nutty, cinnamony wonderfulness, this cake is a serious indulgence justified as breakfast when served with coffee…. but Hubby discovered it works very well as an evening snack when topped with a scoop of Vanilla Caramel Gelato!

If you don’t like your cake quite so “crumby,” you could double the cake batter or half the crumb topping.  Also – be careful not to overbake and dry the cake out – –  unless you are eating it with vanilla caramel gelato or dunking it in coffee.  In that case – who cares!

Diet shmiet – this cake is worth the calories!  Enjoy!

Cinnamon Pecan Crumb Cake

Ingredients:cinnamon-pecan-crumb-cake-piece-2
  • Topping
    • 2 1/2 cups flour
    • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
    • 2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
    • 1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
    • 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, melted
    • 1 cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
  • Cake
    • 1 1/2 cups flour
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 2/3 cup milk
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
    • 3 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325° F.  Prepare  8 or 9 inch square baking pan by spraying with vegetable spray and lining with parchment paper so it overhangs sides of pan. Spray the parchment paper with vegetable spray and set aside.

Make topping by combining flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center of the mixture and add the melted butter. Stir to combine, then add the pecans using your hands to thoroughly mix. Topping should have a loose, crumbly consistency.  Set aside.

Prepare cake by whisking milk, oil, egg, and vanilla in medium bowl.  Add sugar, baking powder, salt, and flour.  Stir until just combined.

Pour the cake batter into prepared pan. Add all of the crumb topping evenly over the batter.

Bake approximately 30 mins.  The cake will rise, and the topping will bake into the cake batter.

Remove from oven and cool for 10 mins. in pan. Run a butter knife along the edges of the pan to loosen cake and lift it out to a cutting board. Cut into 9 squares. Sprinkle with powdered sugar to garnish if desired. 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*recipe adapted from Garlic&Zest

Best Ever Pecan Pie

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

pecan-pie-2

If you have it with coffee, it counts as breakfast.
Right??
Confession – I ate a slice of pecan pie for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.

There.
It’s out!

And O M G – was it delicious!

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I made this pecan pie for Thanksgiving, and I have to admit,  I was too full of turkey and stuffing and much too busy holding my new granddaughter to even give a second thought to dessert that day.

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But the next morning (while decorating for Christmas 😉  ), I decided to have my piece.

This recipe is simply divine.  If you’ve never tried making a pecan pie, you really should try this.  You won’t be sorry!  MMM MMM Good!

Best Ever Pecan Pie

Ingredients:pecan-pie-2

Pie Crust:

  • 1 cup flour
  • Heaping 1/3 cup Crisco shortening
  • Dash of Salt
  • 1/3-1/2 cup cold water

Filling:

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 cups whole pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Prepare pie crust by blending flour, shortening and salt with pastry blender until fine crumbs form.  Add cold water and mix just until dough comes together and can be formed into a ball.  Do not overwork dough – this makes it tough.  Place ball on floured surface and roll out to fit into 9″ pie plate.  Fold dough in half and then in quarters.  Life and unfold in pie plate.  Pinch edges to flute.

Prepare filling by boiling brown sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan for 2-3 mins.  Set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, beat eggs lightly.  Slowly pour the syrup mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly.  Stir in butter, vanilla and pecans, and pour into crust.

Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until set.  Cool completely.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

 

Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Lasagna

/ Jodi / 27 Comments


roasted-butternut-squash-and-spinach-lasagna-1

Roasted Butternut Squash….
Fresh Baby Spinach…
Spicy Pepperoni…
Cheese, Cheese, and just a little more Cheese….

O. M. G!

This might seriously be the most delicious thing I have ever made…

Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna.

(Either that or I was just totally craving butternut squash…. which I was… but still…)

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When I saw one of my blogging buddies, Jenna at The Painted Apron, share this recipe a few days ago, I could not resist making it that same evening!

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I may have added a bit more cheese (because… well…. just because…) and Jodi’d it up a teensy bit, but Jenna totally gets the credit for sharing this amazingness!!!

This is one of those recipes where you kinda moan in delight after each bite.  (Well – at least I did!)  Hubby absolutely loved it too.  A LOT!

And when I shared some with my son, Nick – he called it “ridiculous!”

I think this might just be my absolute favorite lasagna recipe ever, and I can’t wait to make it again and share for company or a potluck or party.

Okay – I think I’ve told you enough how much I loved this.  Now – please – go make it – and tell me it isn’t so!

Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Lasagna

Ingredients:roasted-butternut-squash-and-spinach-lasagna-1

  • 6 Barilla Oven Ready Lasagna Pasta Sheets
  • 1 Butternut Squash, cubed
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni slices
  • 2-3 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 6 oz (4 thick slices) fresh Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated  Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Parmesan Cream Sauce

  • 3/4 cup half and half
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp flour
  • 1 cup freshly grated  Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions:

Place cubed butternut squash on a baking stone/sheet and sprinkle with salt, pepper, ginger, and minced garlic.   Roast at 425 degrees F for 20 mins.

Place chopped pepperoni slices on a paper towel or napkin lined plate and microwave on high for 20 seconds to render the fat.

Prepare sauce by combining butter, milk and wine (or water) in a small sauce pan over medium-high heat.  Bring to a boil.  Briskly whisk in flour until incorporated and thickened.  Stir in 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano.

Spread about 1/4 sauce on the bottom of 9×9 square baking dish.   Place two lasagna sheets side by side on top of sauce.  Layer half of the roasted butternut squash on top, followed by half of the fresh spinach, half of ricotta, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and half of the pepperoni.  Top with another 1/4 of sauce and repeat layers.

Top with remaining 2 sheets of lasagna and spread with remaining sauce.  Add sliced mozarella cheese and a few reserved pieces of pepperoni.  Finally top with 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano.

Bake in 350 degree F oven uncovered for 30 minutes, or until hot and browned and bubbly.   Let set for 10 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Best-Ever Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps & Lettuce Art

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Last week, I made these YUMMMMMMMMMY Chicken Lettuce Wraps.   They are so delicious filled with fresh vegetables and chicken coated in a sauce with a little kick and a peanuty hint.  Wrapping them in crunchy lettuce just makes everything SING together.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps 2

I am sure this recipe can be adapted with changes to any veggies you like and making the sauce as spicy or sweet as you like.  However you do it, I believe you are going to really enjoy these.   They are nice for a light summer supper and elegant enough to serve to guests.

And since it is July and #WorldWatercolorMonth, I thought I’d try painting some lettuce from my garden to share with this recipe.

lettuce watercolor

Watercolor Lettuce Leaf -140# Arches Hot Press – Lemon Yellow, Green Gold, Sap Green, Burnt Umber

Here’s the recipe.  Enjoy!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps*

Ingredients:Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

1 head romaine, butter, bib, or iceberg lettuce to get approximately 8 large leaves (whatever kind you like best)

 Filling:

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast, diced
  • 1/2 cup sweet or green onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup diced red bell peppers
  • 1/2 cup matchstick carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup diced fresh pineapple

Sauce:

  • 4 Tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp chili garlic paste
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dry basil
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Add at end:
    • 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
    • 1/4 cup peanuts

Directions:

Dice and chop all Filling ingredients.

Whisk together all Sauce ingredients in a medium bowl except peanut butter and peanuts. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large wok or skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook just until no longer pink, about 3 mins. Add onions, peppers, carrots and celery and saute for 2 more mins. Stir in pineapple chunks and Sauce and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until smooth.   Top with peanuts.

To serve, fill lettuce leaves with desired amount of filling and enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*Slightly adapted from another amazing recipe by Jen @ CarlsbadCravings.com! 

Best Ever Meatballs

/ Jodi / 35 Comments

best ever meatball

Who doesn’t love a great meatball?!  Perfect little rounded balls of meat and cheese and bread and seasonings can be simmered in a rich tomato or marinara sauce served over a heaping plate of pasta.

They can be served on a soft Italian roll  smothered in melted mozzarella or provolone cheese.

They can be made into great party appetizers when simmered in a sauce of grape jelly or cranberries and chili sauce and eaten from tasseled toothpicks.

They can even be simmered in a cream and beef Swedish Meatball broth served over buttery egg noodles or eaten just as is from a fork for a tiny delectable delight.

best ever meatballs with spaghetti

Sometimes I just crave a nice plateful of spaghetti and meatballs.  When I do, this is my go-to best-ever perfect meatball recipe.  I’ve been known to substitute veal for the turkey or simply divide the recipe’s meats half and half with beef and pork.  It just depends on what I have on hand.

This week’s had turkey, beef, and sausage simmered in a spicy Puttanesca Sauce filled with chunky tomatoes, black and kalamata olives, capers, onions and garlic.  (Trader Joes’s makes a great base sauce that I “doctor up.”)  I served it atop whole wheat thin spaghetti, and we sprinkled with fresh, salty shaved Parmesan cheese.

If you are looking for the best-ever, perfect meatball recipe (that is baked, not fried) – look no further.  Here it is!

Mangia! Mangia!

Best Ever Meatballs

  • Servings: approximately 4 dozen
  • Print

Ingredients:best ever meatball

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 lb ground Italian pork sausage
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp dried parsley
  • 2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1 1/2 cups tap water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine ground turkey, ground beef and sausage in a large bowl.  Add minced garlic, eggs, salt, pepper, cheese, and parsley.  Combine thoroughly.   Add bread crumbs and water, and combine well using your hands.

Shape into meatballs.  You can make whatever size you like, but I make mine about 1 inch in diameter.

Line meatballs in a single layer on a baking stone (I love to use my Pampered Chef Stoneware Bar Pan) or any other shallow baking pan with sides.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes until browned and cooked through.

If you are making with sauce for spaghetti and meatballs, add fully cooked meatballs to sauce and simmer for several hours.

Leftovers make great meatball hoagies when served on fresh Italian rolls and topped with mozzarella or provolone cheese.

You can also use as cocktail meatballs by simmering in a sauce made from 1 32-oz jar of grape jelly or 2 cans of Jellied Cranberry Sauce and 2 12-oz jars of Chili Sauce.

No matter what sauce you like (or don’t) with your meatballs, this recipe will provide you with the best-ever perfect meatball.

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!

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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

Rolo Hot Chocolate

/ Jodi / 35 Comments
rolo hot chocolate 2

Rolo Hot Chocolate

I may have discovered the most amazing, best ever homemade hot chocolate in the entire universe.

And it is EASY!

Rolo hot chocolate

I discovered it on The Country Chic Cottage, but (believe it or not) found I could reduce the sugar content a bit over what Angie recommended in her blog.

This is the perfect warmer-upper comfort drink to enjoy by a crackling fire with your holiday lights on reading a book or watching a holiday movie.

I am sure the little ones that live in or come to your home would love this as a special treat too!

rolo hot chocolate 3

Ready for this cinchy pinchy, two-ingredient, ultra yummy, rich and creamy hot chocolate recipe?  (enough adjectives?)

Here it is!  ENJOY!

Rolo Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:rolo hot chocolate 2

  • 5 Hershey’s Rolo Chocolate Caramel Candies (Angie recommends 7, but I felt 5 was plenty.  Feel free to adjust to your liking.)
  • 1 Cup (or as much as fills your mug) Skim Milk (I used Skim, but you can use 2% or Whole Milk if you want it even richer.  I would rather eat another Rolo and go with the Skim Milk myself!)

Directions:

  • Unwrap Rolo Candies and put in your mug.
  • Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir.
  • Add Skim Milk and stir.
  • Microwave for an additional 1 1/2 minutes.
  • Stir until completely melted.
  • Garnish with mini marshmallows if desired.

Thanks for the inspiration, Angie!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Heavenly Hot Cocoa Brownies

/ Jodi / 49 Comments

Heavenly Hot Cocoa Brownies 1

Chocolate lovers look out!

Heavenly Hot Cocoa Brownies 2

Brownie lovers beware!

Heavenly Hot Cocoa Brownies 3

If you are still baking boxed brownie mixes, get ready to rock your world.

I have discovered the ultimate homemade brownie recipe that is not only easy, but has an amazingly crispy, crinkly, chewy cracked crust floating atop a rich fudgy center that is going to cause you to hear angels rejoicing from your taste buds singing.

Heavenly Hot Cocoa Brownies 4

I wanted to create a brownie that was like taking a bite of a sip of hot cocoa.

So tweaking this amazing recipe (originally from Taste of Home) up just a bit made a real winner.

Get ready to bake and taste and share and treat those you love with a brownie that is simply beyond anything you have ever tasted before.  I dare you!

Heavenly Hot Cocoa Brownies

  • 3/4 cup cocoa (I used Hershey’s)Heavenly Hot Cocoa Brownies 1
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 2/3 cup melted butter, divided
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Trader Joe’s, which I found delightful, but I often use Nestle’s also)
  • 3/4  cup miniature marshmallows

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, combine cocoa and baking soda.
  • Blend in half (1/3 cup) of the melted butter.
  • Add boiling water and stir until well blended.
  • Stir in sugar, eggs and remaining 1/3 cup melted butter.  Mix until well incorporated
  • Add flour, vanilla, and salt.
  • Stir in chocolate chips and 1/2 cup marshmallows.
  • Pour into a greased 9×13 pan and bake for 30-35 mins. until top begins to crack
  • After removing from oven, top with remaining 1/4 cup mini marshmallows and lightly brown tops with Chef’s Torch (optional)

Cheers & Chocoately Brownie Hugs,

Jodi