Cooking with my Blog Friends

How are you east coasters doing so far?!  Right now my kids and I are hunkered down in the living room with flashlights strapped to our foreheads, waiting for the eye of the storm.  I've got a pile of blankets, a bunch of candles and two loaves of bread.  That's what they tell you to stock up on for huge tropical storms, right?  So far it's just pretty nasty and drizzly, and I'm hoping that it doesn't get worse than that.  Unfortunately, I think it's probably wishful thinking.

Speaking of storms, I've been a tornado in the kitchen lately.  My schedule has me at home a lot more, and to keep myself occupied, I've been tackling so many of the recipes all of you have been putting out.  Each and every one has been a complete hit in our home, and they are all perfect for fall, especially if you need something to distract you from oncoming hurricanes!

All of the pictures below belong to the blogger who posted them.  They are not mine.

Taste and Tell: Homemade Tator Tots (Perfect for your leftover mashed potatoes.)

Two Peas and Their Pod Apple Cinnamon Granola

Mel's Kitchen Cafe Pumpkin Blondies

Mel's Kitchen Cafe Baked Spaghetti Pie

Mel's Kitchen Cafe:  Ultimate Beef Stroganoff (As you may have noticed, I've currently got a bit of a  crush on Mel's blog.  She can do no wrong!)

Epicurian Mom:  Eggplant Parmesan

Gonna Want Seconds: Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze

Eats Well with Others: Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookies

Recipe Shoebox:  Pork Chops with Apple Butter

Recipe Shoebox:  Homemade Granola Bites

Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice: Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese 

Stay safe east coasters!  We'll get through this together!

Crockpot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili

Fall is quickly approaching (yay!), which means cooler weather, busier schedules, and more PUMPKIN in our diets.  At least that's what it means in our house.

I love pumpkin season.  I'm a bit of a pumpkin hoarder actually.  The second I see pumpkin on the shelves, I leave with half a cart load.  Consequently I've sat through a few interventions from my husband on the matter.

Most pumpkin recipes are things you're pulling out of the oven, things like cookies, muffins and pies.  This recipe doesn't require quite as much work, and also doesn't come with as much guilt either.

This is a Skinny Taste recipe that you make in the crockpot.  And before you raise your eyebrows at pumpkin in your chili, let me ease your mind.  The only thing the pumpkin does is add a velvety creaminess and richness to your chili.  You can't taste it.  If you have a picky eater at home, just don't tell them that there is pumpkin in it, they'll never know. 

I ate this when I was on my strict weight lifting diet.  It has plenty of protein and fiber and is absolutely delicious.  Be sure to enjoy a big comforting bowl when the weather cools!


Crockpot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili
From SkinnyTaste

Ingredients

cooking spray 
2 lb 99% lean ground turkey
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chili powder, to taste
2 bay leaves
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
2 (15 oz cans) of white northern or navy beans, rinsed and drained
15 oz can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
4.5 oz canned chopped green chile
2 cups low sodium, fat free chicken broth
fat free sour cream for topping (optional)
chopped cilantro and chives for topping (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
 
Heat a large heavy saute pan over high heat and lightly spray with oil. Add meat and cook, breaking it up until white, about 5 minutes.  Add to crock pot.

Add oil to the saute pan, then onions, garlic, saut� about 3 - 4 minutes; add cumin and saut� another minute.
 
 Add to crock pot. Add beans, pumpkin puree, green chilis, broth, chili powder, oregano, and bay leaves. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Just in this last year, I have discovered my love for the flavors of Buffalo Chicken. And it's a good thing too, it seems to be everywhere these days! In the form of sandwiches, pastas, casseroles, and of course, you can't beat the old fashioned wing.


I found this idea on Pinterest, in need of using up the last bit of KC Masterpiece Buffalo Marinade I received as a part of the Foodbuzz Program. It's so easy, and so tasty! The chicken comes out tender, spicy and slightly sweet, which is the perfect thing to pair with pungent blue cheese and crisp lettuce. Wrapped in a tortilla and you have a finger licking lunch on your hands. It will definitely warm your belly on these cooler fall days.

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Ingredients

4-5 flour or whole wheat tortillas
5-6 boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
1 1/2 cup Buffalo Chicken Marinade or preferred hot sauce
Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola crumbles
Blue Cheese or Ranch dressing
chopped lettuce and tomato (optional)

Directions

In a crockpot, combine chicken thighs and Buffalo Sauce. Cook on high for 3-5 hours, or until chicken is cooked through and falls apart easily. Shred chicken with sauce.

Assemble wrap with chicken, Blue Cheese, dressing, lettuce and tomato. Wrap tightly and fasten with toothpicks if desired. Enjoy! Napkins recommended!

Cuban Sandwich Quesadillas

I'm packing my bags.

Getting ready to go.

To see my sweet fam.

In Id-A-Ho!

I won't be around.

For a month or two.

But rest assured.

I'll be thinking of you!

So have a great summer.

Keep making great food.

Soak up that sunshine.

And I'll see you soon!

These quesadillas are made with a pork cooked in the crockpot. They are so easy and quick to make, and the pork is AMAZING. A great weeknight family pleaser for sure.

Cuban Sandwich Quesadillas
By Skinnytaste (LOVE HER!)

Ingredients

1 oz slow cooked Pernil

1 slice reduced fat swiss (I used Sargento)
1 oz ham (I uses Hillshire Farm 97% fat free)
1 slice kosher pickle
mustard
6 inch low carb whole wheat tortilla (La Tortilla Factory)

Directions

Heat a non-stick pan over low heat. Spray with cooking spray and place tortilla on pan (I used my panini press). On half of the tortilla, place a piece of cheese, pork, ham, pickle and mustard. When cheese is melted, fold the quesadilla in half and flip to heat other side. Remove from heat and cut into 3 pieces.

See you in a few months!

Slow-Cooker Pork Loin Carnitas

My oldest daughter is in Kindergarten now, and out here they do full day Kindergarten, which can be good and bad. Before she started going I pictured days of endless, blissful free time. Reading for hours to my son, taking naps, shopping, consecutive lunch dates, ha! My life is busier then ever! It's not exactly like I have a whole lot MORE to do, but my days just feel longer. By the time we have reading and homework done, making dinner is about the last thing I want to do anymore. It's taken me a while to figure out how to get a good meal on the table without burning myself out. Enter crockpot, hello old friend.

The best part about crockpot meals is that you can sit down to a delicious hot dinner that you really don't even feel like you made. And though you actually did make, it only took you minutes that morning. This pork is just mouthwatering, we've already had it twice and I'm making it again tomorrow! I serve it in flour tortillas with salsa verde and sour cream, and it is slurpy, drippy heaven. In the directions it says to sear each side of the pork after rubbing it in salt, pepper and garlic. Be sure not to skip that step, I got lazy the second time around and didn't do it, it made a huge difference. The flavor is much richer when you sear in that garlic.

Slow-Cooker Pork Loin Carnitas
Fresh Food Fast by Cooking Light

Ingredients

1 (1 1/2 lb) boneless pork loin roast, trimmed
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 garlic cloves minced
cooking spray
1/2 cup water
2 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. Rub pork with salt, pepper and garlic. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork; cook three minutes on each side or until browned. Transfer pork to a 5-quart round electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Add stock to pan, scraping to loosen browned bits; cook 2 minutes. Pour stock mixture over pork; add water. Cover and cook on LOW 8 hours or until tender.

2. Remove pork from slow cooker, and place in a medium bowl. Pour broth into a medium skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat; boil 5 minutes or until reduced to 2/3 cup.

3. While broth reduces, shred pork using 2 forks. Stir in broth reduction.

4. Serve in warmed flour tortillas, top with salsa verde and sour cream.

This is why I didn't get the greatest picture. My husband could only wait for so long!


How do you amazing parents fit dinner in between school, homework, sports, dance...? Any tips for the newbie?