Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

It took me probably 4 or 5 times putting this on my menu plan before I finally remembered to take our pork tenderloin out of the freezer to defrost in time! But honestly? That was the hardest part of this recipe, haha. It was SO easy, and so good! The only thing I would do differently, is to double the glaze amount. I used it all to baste the pork on the outside, and had none left to drizzle on the sliced meat once served, which would have taken this dish from good to absolutely amazing. The flavor on the outside of the pork was delicious, and the inside was tender and juicy, but it really needed extra glaze to take it over the top, and make it pintastic!!

Baked Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Last night I decided to try this recipe for baked garlic brown sugar chicken. I followed the recipe to the 

Click for original recipe

letter. It's a super easy and simple recipe that only takes four ingredients (including the chicken!) It smelled amazing. The brown sugar/garlic mixture was more like a rub texture than a sauce, so we rubbed it into the chicken on both sides before putting it in the oven. I cooked the chicken for the recommended amount of time. It came out great. As you can see from my pictures, the sauce around the chicken burnt.  I think this could be rectified by adding water to the pan.

The chicken was good. On the outside. It was pretty bland inside though. My husband and I both decided that it would be better if the chicken were marinated in this mixture for a few hours before baking it (or grilling!). The sauce is delicious, but you don't get the full flavor of it by cooking it on the chicken for twenty-thirty minutes. I'll keep the sauce recipe, but next time we'll try marinating the chicken first.

Chicken 'N Dumplings

As a true Southern gentleman, my husband loves chicken and dumplings. As a true Southern belle, I should know how to cook it, right? Well, I've always been too scared. I remember my grandmother rolling out dough for hers, and that alone intimidated me enough to not try it. My other grandma makes her dumplings by cutting out tortilla strips, soaking them in water, and covering them in flour. My sister has started making her chicken and dumplings this way, and although I couldn't taste the difference, my husband wouldn't let me try it that way because he wanted it ROLLED OUT like his MAMA did it! I called his mama close to his birthday to get her recipe, because he requested it for his birthday dinner, but she advised against making chicken and dumplings because I would be cooking for a crowd and she said that it didn't always turn out right. This further intimated me. So I made something else and took him to Cracker Barrel later on to get his chicken and dumplings fix.

I pinned this recipe immediately when I saw it, because the description promised a chicken and dumpling recipe done in the crock pot, and my goodness, does it look delicious. One cold February morning when my whole family was home, I decided to attempt these crockpot chicken and dumplings for our lunch.

Recipe

I clicked on the picture to look at the recipe. And guess what, IT'S NOT A CROCKPOT RECIPE. I don't know who originally put that description, but I've seen a million of my friends pin this recipe since then, and it ALWAYS has in the description that it's a crockpot recipe. I used to comment on everybody's pin and correct them, but I got tired of doing it, so I decided they could learn the hard way like I did.

And I forgive whoever posted that description in the first place. Why? Because this recipe is friggin' delicious. So much so that my husband now brags about my chicken and dumpling cooking abilities, and I feel like a rock star because I can make this shizz from scratch, JUST LIKE MY MAW MAW. :) The recipe I linked is accompanied by a wonderful picture tutorial, and it managed to ease the anxiety and stress I felt over making dumlings before I even attempted them. If you like Cracker Barrel's chicken and dumplings, make this recipe. NOW!

To Note:
-I would say that J's mom is wrong and they do turn out the same if you make them following this recipe.  I've made them several times since I first tried it and they always have turned out well.
-My sister insists her way with the tortilla strips is easier, and although it tastes the same, I don't think it's any less work. Both recipes use a lot of flour and make a huge mess.

My Version, served over rice.
Not as juicy looking as the original picture, but damn delicious!

Verdict: Pintastic x100!!!
-Betsy

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

OMG. Best way to get your veggies, ever! I ate half of a fairly large spaghetti squash tonight...

I was running a bit short on time and didn't do the onions, red peppers, or thyme - just added a couple tablespoons of margarine and the sour cream and cheese. The top got nicely brown and it tasted amazing. Definitely pintastic - this will probably be the only way I make spaghetti squash from now on!

http://dandydishes.blogspot.ca/2011/10/spaghetti-squash-au-gratin.html#.UGj-K5hJJmw

Copy Cat Zupa's Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup

I love Zupas.  Love love love them.  Honestly I could probably eat their soup every day (if I was rich and could afford to eat out every day).  I don't normally put much trust in copy cat recipes, but I have been craving good soup for a while now so I decided to give this recipe a shot.

Click here for the original recipe

I have a tendency to alter recipes as I go.  Since I was reviewing this recipe I tried to stick to the recipe as closely as possible, but some changes were still made.  First I started out with 3 Tb. of butter instead of two.  I felt like two was going to disappear really quickly when I added the onions.  When I added my diced onions to the pan, I knew that 3 Tb. was much better.

The part of the recipe that I had an issue with was the adding flour and salt.  The original recipe says to let this cook for two minutes.  1/4 cup of flour added to 3 Tb. of butter and onions is sucked up really quickly.  If you wanted to make a thinner roux (which I'm assuming the recipe was trying to achieve at this point) you would only add a tablespoon or so of flour before adding more liquids.  So if you wanted to more closely follow the recipe I would suggest flour then liquid and repeat until you're out of flour.  I added all of the flour, whisked it around and then added some of my milk.  

I did straight milk instead of water because I wanted my soup to be creamy and thick.  After adding all of the liquids, I added the cauliflower as directed.  I let the cauliflower reach a boil and then turned it down.  I simmered mine for closer to fifteen minutes.  I wanted it to be pretty soft when I threw it in my food processor.  

After processing the soup (I did mine in two batches, but my food processor is pretty large), I added it all back to the pan.  At this point I added a lot more salt, some pepper, the mustard, and my cheeses (I did 1 1/2 of pepper jack and 1/2 cup of extra sharp cheddar to start).  After letting it cook for a minute (so yeah I ignored that part of the recipe too) I added more salt and another 1/2 cup of extra sharp cheddar.

The end result was a tasty soup.  Was it as good as Zupas?  Not even close.  But it was a good homemade soup.  Personally I would have added another cup of cheese, but my family isn't as cheese happy as me.  I added some to my bowl though and it was quite tasty.  Before I try this again, I might visit Zupas and try to figure out what flavors I'm missing.  Like I said, this is a good cauliflower soup and it's pretty simple to make.  But if you're expecting it to taste like Zupa's cauliflower soup, I think you'll be disappointed.  

-KP

Beer Crockpot Chicken

the picture from the website of the chicken...not so sure why it looks browned

I decided to menu plan for the next two weeks, as I have gone back to work and needed a way to make sure my husband had some food at some point! So this recipe made it onto my menu, simply as a result of it being uber easy to make! This morning while getting ready for work, I plopped L down in the living room with cartoons on (don't judge me...I only had 2 hours of sleep). Anywho, I started to pull out the ingredients for this recipe - 5 chicken breasts (frozen), some garlic powder, salt, pepper, basil, and beer (we used Sam Adams Octoberfest). I also added in some Frankie's Creole Seasoning (yummo - it makes its way onto many of our dishes). As I tried to pry the frozen chicken from it's styrofoam home (I mean seriously - could they make it even harder to get off that thing?) it kept sticking. So the chicken went in the microwave for a few minutes.

I finally got the chicken into the crockpot, added the spices and beer and set for 10 hours on low. It was 6 am and I would be home around 4 pm, and we would eat maybe around 530ish. So it worked out.

And it was great! This recipe will remain in our arsenal. I may try it with different types of beer and sodas even. Of course, I will update if I do :)

Go here for the recipe :)

<3 Kari

Slow Cooker Bacon-Wrapped Apple BBQ Chicken

I liked this chicken, but 8 hours is WAY too long. The BBQ sauce started to burn and we took it out early - can't remember exactly how long, but I'm sure it would only need 2-3 hours.
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/08/slow-cooker-bacon-wrapped-apple-bbq.html

"The World's Best Chicken"

I don't have any pictures of this chicken from what I made, but it looked just about spot-on to what the picture from the pin looked like. (Don't get all excited, though, it doesn't look particularly pretty!)

"The World's Best Chicken"

This recipe was very easy to follow, although the ingredients seemed a little odd to me. Maple syrup and dijon? On chicken? Really? Anyway, go HERE for the original pinner's blog to find the recipe.

The Verdict: Pintastic, although I would not go as far as to call it "The World's Best Chicken". It graces the pages of my recipe book under the title "Dijon Syrup Chicken". 

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets

So...all this Chick-Fil-A controversy lately has had me craving nuggets! I know my husband wouldn't appreciate me picking up fast food for dinner every day, so when I saw the copycat nugget recipe, you can bet I pinned it just as fast as my chubby little fingers would let me!

The original pin:

via

I am NOT good at frying things. At all. Which is a shame because I'm Southern. But thanks to the picture tutorial found in the blog linked to the pin, they turned out great! I did not make the dipping sauce, so I don't know how it tasted, but the nuggets were pretty spot on. 10/10 will cook again!

My attempt: Success!

Final Verdict: Pintastic!!

-Betsy

Chinese Style Sweet and Sour Chicken

http://life-as-a-lofthouse.blogspot.ca/2010/09/baked-sweet-and-sour-chicken-with-fried.html

This recipe is called Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken, but I actually did mine in the crockpot, since that's how a similar recipe I've tried for Orange Chicken (and promptly discovered that my husband hates orange combined with other flavors - I knew he hated chocolate orange but didn't realize the hatred extended to other orange flavor combinations) cooks it. It was delicious! Aforementioned husband complained that it wasn't crispy, but it's not supposed to be crispy, as it's meant to be like the Chinese sweet and sour pork/chicken/etc.

Anyways, I followed the recipe fairly exactly, up to the point of putting it in the oven, and put it in my crockpot instead. I can't remember how long I did it or whether it was on high or low - I basically just kept stirring occasionally until the sauce was almost fully absorbed into the chicken. It wasn't very long - an hour or two.

Crockpot Pizza

There have been a couple of these floating around, but this is the one we tried and LOOOOVE!!  It's basically just baking already cooked ingredients to make it all meld into gooey deliciousness, and you could just bake it a bit.  However, part of what I love about this is getting it together during afternoon nap and then letting it crock.  That way, when we are ready for dinner, all I have to do is slide out the plates!  

DO follow all directions and use both cheeses.  Also, cook the noodles al dente, so as to prevent mush.  Sure, it can be played with, and I did that a couple times....  But it was best when I followed directions to the T(And used extra pepperoni).  This one was a win for sure!  

http://crockpotofgold.com/crock-pot-pizza/

(posted on behalf of Carla)

Green Beans, Chicken & Potatoes

This comes together in about 5 minutes(if that). It only uses one pan. And it is WONDERFUL!! Delicious! And (relatively) healthy. The chicken was so moist and flavorful. That was the best part. I will be using this as a "Welcome New Baby" meal this year at MOPS. It could also be a "Sorry You Are Not Well" meal(the Dads and kids still eat, even when we dont). It could be a "Happy Moving Day" meal.... Pretty endless, and a great way to bless someone! Or, it could be a great way to get a decent dinner on the table in a pinch. LOL

I loved it, my husband loved it and my son liked it. LOL I used the full stick of butter the first time, but don't be afraid! When you serve, most of it stays in the pan. And there is a lot in the pan. So, the next time I used 3/4 a stick. Just as good and less butter waste Too much less and I fear drying out.

http://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/2012/08/green-beans-chicken-potatoes.html

(posted on behalf of Carla)

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

This recipe was probably a 6/10 for me. The chicken was extremely moist, which was great, but it lacked some flavor. I think when I make this again (and I will, because I am not a quitter, and will try to make it better!) I will add some more seasoning to the chicken. I might use my family's favorite of "Tony's Cajun Spice" or maybe even an Italian seasoning. Or maybe I'll try both? Either way, it was a nice to have everything in one dish - the chicken, rice and veggies - instead of dirtying up a lot of pots. I will repost when I make this again with an update :)

Pinterest link: http://pinterest.com/pin/114349278009463279/
Website link: http://www.campbellskitchen.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeId=27173

Pizza Casserole

This pizza casserole was AMAZING! I actually sent the recipe to one of my fellow moms when I was her secret Elf, and she told me her mom used to make it for her as a kid! I am so glad I was able to remind her of this delicious meal. It lasted for a few days as leftovers as well. Definitely one to keep in my book of recipes :) 

http://pinterest.com/pin/114349278009463295/ is the pin and the site with the recipe is http://formamas.blogspot.com/2011/08/pizza-casserole.html :)