Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Potatoes have been one of my favorites since I can remember. They were also my first “vegetable”. I also love how versatile potatoes are. You can really put whatever you want into your potatoes and they will, most likely, still be good.
I know that it may not be cold where most of you are, unless you are in Colorado I hear it is still snowing!, but I would suggest turning up your AC and still making this soup because it is just too delicious not to. If you have never had a loaded baked potato soup before, you need to. It is all of the goodness of a baked potato made into a creamy and delicious soup.
Throwback Thursday: Sweet & Spicy Salmon w/ Roasted Potatoes
This week’s throwback recipe is very memorable for me. I cook frequently for friends, especially my roommate. She is not a big seafood fan, but I have made her eat a few things this winter. This was one of the few salmon recipes that she liked, so I felt pretty accomplished! I think it also helped that I paired it with her favorite thing that I make- oven roasted potatoes. They are so easy, but so delicious!
So this week you get two throwback recipes. The first, a spicy salmon filet with a sweet orange glaze. The brown sugar and orange marmalade offset the spicy for a sensational taste. The second, seasoned oven roasted potatoes. These are easy to make and serve as a great side dish for tons of different meals. Definitely one to keep in mind.
Ritzy Spinach Artichoke Tartlets
The finalists were announced finally for the Ritz recipe contest, unfortunately I didn’t make finals. It’s okay though, there were over 1,400 entries… that is a lot of competition. Looks like I have to find another way to fund my culinary school. If anybody knows of any good scholarships or ways to get money for culinary school PLEASE let me know!
Here is my entry for the Ritz recipe challenge. I used crushed Ritz crackers in the tartlet dough to give it some extra flavor. These little bites will have your guests drooling over the appetizer table. I ended up eating the entire batch over a few days!
Brussels Sprouts Salad w/ Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
Some of you may know, I recently was given a cook book called Raising the Salad Bar by Catherine Walthers. It is a great book that I recommend all of you take a look through at some point. It tells you about all the different sorts of leafy greens and types of salad toppings, as well as how to make all sorts of dressings. Either way, the book motivated me to make more unique salads. I usually find myself putting the same vegetables in every salad I make, despite what else I am eating it with. Now I have realized that choosing a salad that compliments a meal can make a huge difference.
With that said, this salad is much different than most I have made. I came across this recipe in a Cooking Light magazine while bored at work the other day- yes I spent half of my day at work reading cooking magazines… Shh! One thing that makes this salad unique is its warm vinaigrette. This dressing went perfectly with the roasted Brussels sprouts. The bacon and maple syrup also added a ton of flavor. This is one salad that did not need a ton of toppings to complete it. I even ate it as a complete meal the next day!
Inside-Out Onion Ring Sliders w/ Adobo BBQ Sauce
One thing I really miss about summertime is being able to grill. Grilling is fun, social and delicious. I have really been craving some warmth and sunshine lately, maybe it was the week of -30 degree temperatures a few weeks ago that made me sick of winter. Either way, with hopes for an early spring, I decided to make burgers this week, except I sauteed them instead of grilling them since winter is unfortunately still here for now.
I had seen a photo of an inside-out burger recently and the idea seemed pretty awesome. I added one homemade onion ring to the top of each slider to create a seriously tasty combo; added a bit of adobo barbecue sauce that I had made previously and voila! The perfect miniature burger for a spring-time grill out.
Balsamic Glazed Carrots
Do you ever get that feeling where all you want to do for dinner is grill a steak and microwave a potato? Sometimes simple is better, but you don’t have to sacrifice flavor! This recipe is a simple way to add a little extra flavor for those days when your motivation is lacking. It is quick, easy and healthy!
Throwback Thursday: Hot Spinach & Red Pepper Dip
This week’s Throwback Thursday recipe is a hearty spinach and pepper dip; great for a cold winter day. There is something nourishing about a warm cheesy dip with bread. This recipe is a great pick-me-up. It goes well with chips or bread and is a great recipe for a potluck or party, and can easily be doubled if need be.
Double Tomato Bruschetta
This week I was asked by friend to cook something Italian for dinner. For me, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Italian food is pasta. I decided against making pasta, since I eat it at work constantly. Instead, I chose to make this double tomato bruschetta along with an Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup. Bruschetta is easy to make, and is a great appetizer for guests. The addition of sun-dried tomatoes to the bruschetta gives it a different texture and a little bit of a kick. These little snacks were very popular.
Green Garlic Risotto w/ Parmesan Crisps
Now that the new year has started, I’m sure many of you are trying to eat healthier. I have personally been trying to eat more vegetables in my meals. I recently came across this recipe on the Gourmet Traveler blog. It uses a huge amount of spinach, which was great for me since I have a giant Costco bag of spinach at the moment. On a less healthy note, the Parmesan crisps are to die for, but beware they are super addicting! I ate this with my Broiled Lemon and Garlic Shrimp.
Broiled Lemon & Garlic Shrimp
I love shrimp, but I feel like it is hard to find new recipes for shrimp so I am usually stuck making the same recipes over and over again. I liked this recipe because it was a bit different, even though it was just another lemon shrimp recipe. Broiling the shrimp gave it a different texture and kept the lemon and garlic flavor really strong. This recipe is quick and easy with great results, definitely one to try.
