Crock Pot Brownies

Where do I begin with this one? Yes, I made amazing, fudgy brownies in my crock pot. They were super easy to make with a bunch of pantry staples and we practically inhaled them. Mostly topped with ice cream. to the point that I thought I might need to make another batch because there was barely anything left for me to use for pictures. And that wouldn't have been a bad thing. Except for the part where my pants would be snug. I don't know, snug pants might be worth it for how chocolatey and delicious these brownies turned out. I've been wanting to make a few more desserts in my crock pot lately, after making coffee cake and banana bread in the past, so when I saw this recipe from my Secret Recipe Club assignment, I knew my mind was made up.

Italian Herb Focaccia

I love a good bread. Whether for the prefect sandwich or as an accompaniment for a delicious pasta dinner or some other amazing meal, there's something about a great piece of bread. I like it with a crunchy crust and soft center or a buttery, flaky texture throughout or a nice, chewy and perfectly fluffed piece, like this amazingly easy focaccia bread. This loaf is perfectly seasoned with salt and Italian herbs, and bakes up super quick after two easy rises. I didn't need a lot of ingredients or time to make this bread and I can't believe it took me so long to tackle this recipe. I've wanted to make focaccia for along time--it's one of my favorite indulgences to pick up from the bakery or our farm stand (which sells for a local baker), but I don't due it very often. That's why I have Secret Recipe Club to challenge me to try recipes on my list of must-makes!

Chocolate Applesauce Muffins

Sometimes you need chocolate. And sometimes it's breakfast so you need something that's passes as real food because apparently chocolate and ice cream aren't appropriate breakfast foods. Remind me I need to talk to whoever is in charge of deciding the appropriateness of ice cream consumption (answer: always). But if I make muffins (breakfast food!) and they happen to be chocolate (yay!), then that's acceptable. Hey, I don't make the rules, I just look for ways to bend them so I get my delicious treats whenever I want. Fortunately, these chocolate muffins aren't completely horrible for you because they are made with applesauce to replace some of the fat, but still keep them moist and delicious. Nope, these muffins don't taste like apple, they are all chocolate all the way and perfect for a morning pick me up, or for a great afternoon snack. Thank goodness I have the Secret Recipe Club to convince me to try new things!

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

The days are longer, the weather is warmer and no one wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen this time of year. It must be summer. Even though I don't want to be in the kitchen for hours, we still need to eat, so my crock pot keeps a spot on the counter even through the summer. It's perfect for creating excellent dinners without heating up the kitchen or keeping me away from the summer fun. So I'm thrilled to have this recipe for stuffed peppers with a Mexican twist to cook right in the crock pot. They are delicious, filling and super easy to make. Mexican flavors are always a win in our house and these peppers definitely make us happy. Enchilada sauce, seasoned rice and diced tomatoes with green chiles and more get added to ground beef for a delicious filling to these tender pepper just bursting with flavor. This is one of those recipes that makes me so excited to be part of Secret Recipe Club!

Korean Beef

I'm embarrassed that I've been absent for this long. I've been cooking, but the new job has taken some getting used to in terms of setting our routine (but it's great!) and of course my new little kitchen helper is still figuring out all the tools and how they work. But at 5 months old, he has a lot more to learn, not the least of which is don't put all the tools in your mouth. I've got a backlog of birthday baking to share with you, a few more tasty quick breads and some other goodies I'd like to get to you before this time next month. Because I while I super excited that today is Secret Recipe Club reveal day, I'm disappointed that the last time I posted something delicious was for last month's Secret Recipe Club. But we all hit these ruts and I'm thrilled with this recipe and the nudge to get back in gear with posting. We've actually had this a few times already because it's super easy to make during the week after work and daycare, between feeding the little guy and getting him ready for bed. Plus it tastes awesome. I love my crock pot Beef and Broccoli, but this stove top Korean Beef is equally delicious with a slight twist in the flavor, texture and presentation. I've never been to a Korean restaurant, so I can't vouch for authenticity. Authentic or not, it's still delicious and is definitely in our rotation. The first time I made this, I didn't have any broccoli, so I substituted green beans and it was equally good. thank goodness for Secret Recipe Club for helping me get back on track and find this awesome recipe.

Oatmeal and Honey Lactation Cookies

If you're a breastfeeding mom like me sometimes you worry about the milk. And if you like cookies like me, you think "How can I not try to ensure the milk supply while enjoying a delicious cookie?" It's definitely not something I'd ever thought I'd blog about, but now I understand. And the plus side is these cookies are really good. Like seriously tasty. Oats and honey, with the help of dark chocolate chips and dried cranberries, make a really delicious soft cookie with a serious combination of a honey nut flavor. Yes there is flax and brewer's yeast in these cookies, but honestly I didn't even notice the yeast come through the flavor (and yes, I've definitely seen an increase in milk supply). And who knew I'd be lucky to stumble upon a lactation cookie recipe, in the very month I needed it most, from my Secret Recipe Club assignment!

Bacon Wrapped BBQ Chicken Tenders

I know, I had you at bacon. Really, do I have to tell you how delicious these chicken strips are? Tender, flavorful and just so good--after all, bacon makes everything better. Not only was this a delicious dinner on a cold, gray day (will this winter ever end?), but it took all of 3 minutes to put together and 20 minutes to cook. Bacony goodness in record time. I'm always up for wrapping food in bacon and I'm glad my Secret Recipe Club match had this idea on her menu as well.

Soft Batch Cake Batter Cookies

Our friends Felise and Nick have a little boy, Theo, who celebrated his first birthday last month. And since every little kid deserves some birthday baking, I couldn't resist bringing these celebratory cookies along. I mean, seriously, they taste like cake and have sprinkles. They are a birthday cookie for sure. But on top of all that, they are soft and chewy. A particularly delicious cookie as far as I'm concerned. This was a fortuitous recipe since I found it from my blog assignment from Secret Recipe Club.

Chicken in Mushroom Sauce

In and amongst all these holiday treats, I realize that we all still need to eat dinner. And maybe that dinner should be relatively healthy, in addition to tasty and perhaps a little comforting. And wouldn't it be nice if it didn't take that long to make since we're all busy this time of year? I think this chicken and mushroom dinner covers those bases. Whipped up on a weeknight, this chicken and sauteed vegetables has a nice sauce that goes well with pasta (and would with rice) and really makes you feel all warm and cozy--perfect as these temperatures drop. It's a good thing I have my monthly Secret Recipe Club match, because otherwise I might not have found such a great dish!

Pumpkin Pie Muffins

Ok, so maybe there's been a high proportion of pumpkin recipes lately. But can you blame me? We're well into pumpkin season and they just taste so good. Almost makes the cooler weather (and rainy crap we've been getting) seem slightly more tolerable. But these muffins--these are brunch-worthy. Like holiday brunch-worthy. Maybe Thanksgiving morning? And they're super quick to make, so you can definitely squeeze these in on the big day between the turkey and the sweet potato casserole or just before everyone else wakes up on a lazy Sunday. Dave loved the streusel topping, which really brings the pumpkin pie style to these soft, flavorful muffins. If you don't have a stone muffin pan, I'll encourage you to put it on your holiday wish list--the result is a crisp exterior edge, which is this case seems almost crustlike.

Caramel Apple Cake

We are loving apple season right now. Beautiful, delicious, fresh apples have been abundant lately--one of my most favorite things about New England. We've been buying tons from the farm stand and last weekend went to the orchard to get them fresh off the tree. There's just something about eating an apple right off the tree while walking in the orchard that makes it taste that much better. Of course, with the abundance of apples, we've been eating a few a day (each!) but I've had my eye on some recipes as well. I'm not a huge baked fruit fan--like pies--but there are some recipes I can get behind, one of which is the awesome Caramel Apple Cake. That just sounds like fall, right? And I got to tell you, it's delicious. The cake is tender and full of flavor, with shredded apples throughout, a nice brown sugar boost and then topped with a caramel sauce drizzle, it doesn't need anything else. Well, maybe to be served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yeah, that happened. And it was a very good thing. I'm so glad that I got to make this recipe for this month's Secret Recipe Club!

Chocolate Chip Cookie S'mores Bars

Holy crap, guys. Where do I begin with these bars? Tons of flavor, gooey, sweet, delicious and the perfect blend of chocolate chip cookie and classic s'mores in a perfect little bar dessert. This recipe is easy and comes together pretty quick. Plus I had all the ingredients in my pantry so you can always whip these up on the fly. My friend Cindy came over yesterday with her two kids and these bars got rave reviews all around. And I was happen to be able to send them home with some of these treats because otherwise I might have just eaten the whole pan myself.

Lemon Raspberry Bread

Recently there were some delicious looking raspberries at the farm stand. After I bought a pint, Dave and I ate the entire thing in one sitting (maybe 10 minutes)--they were just the perfect combination of tart, sweet and juicy. So I went back to get another pint and paired those raspberries with some lemons for this amazing summer-flavored quick bread. This bread is amazing. Tart, sweet, soft and delicious. I made mini loaves, two of which Dave and I ate up right away. I shared one with Cindy since she needed some sweet lemony goodness in a bad way, and there's one left in the freezer, yet, but I'm not sure it'll be there much longer. This perfect summer recipe came from the best source--a Secret Recipe Club assignment!

Cheesy Enchilada Dip

Sometimes it's acceptable to have nachos for dinner. Even if it wasn't what you intended. In fact, I walked into the kitchen expecting to make a nice meaty casserole with enchilada flavor, lots of cheese and to dish it up for a hearty meal. Problem was, it never got thick enough to keep the structure of a casserole like I wanted. No matter, Because when life hands you cheese, seasoned ground turkey and lots of Mexican flavor, add some tortilla chips and grab a margarita--it's time for nachos.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

The last few weeks have been busy--lots of busy evenings, traffic was a bear getting home on many nights and sometimes I just wasn't interested in making dinner. Of course we still needed to eat, so I looked for some quick but also delicious dinners that I could make in a hurry. This casserole, filled with chunks of juicy chicken, lots of broccoli and a cheesy sauce all over a layer of fluffy rice, fits the bill perfectly. Plus it when from fridge to table in less than a half hour--exactly the kind of tasty and easy meal I've needed lately. Dave and I both had two servings (it was also a hungry night) and then I stole the leftovers for lunch the next day--perfect and kept me filled throughout the afternoon. If anything about this dish appeals to you, it absolutely needs to be made in your kitchen.

 

 

Twisted Cheesy Breadsticks

We're a pasta kind of household. I make a mean marinara sauce in the crock pot and it makes a ton, so we have spaghetti or some other fun pasta shape, sometimes with meatballs even, at least once a month or more. Sometimes I'll pick up a crusty bread, sometimes I'll make my own, but recently I wanted something different. Enter these fun, cheesy breadsticks. Simple to make and delicious to boot, I'm excited to have another option for extra dinner carbs. Occasionally, a bread basket is warranted and these breadsticks will be in mine. A sprinkling of mozzarella cheese and a garlic butter kick make these breadsticks more than your ordinary slice of white bread.

Black Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

While I'm not exactly sure what happened here, I'm super excited at the pleasant mistake of a (mostly) caramelized streusel topping instead of a traditional crumby coffee cake topping. The caramelized version sealed in the sweet goodness and tender crumb of this lovely coffee cake, swirled with black raspberry jam and dotted with white chocolate chips. Raspberries and white chocolate just work well together and I'm glad I paired them in this delicious cake. I took this to work for a training session can came home with make 5 or 6 slices. Yeah, it went over real well--several people came back for seconds.

Beergarita Chicken Tacos

How about a Mexican twist on St. Patrick's Day? I think that sounds awesome, so I made you these beergarita chicken tacos. And by made you, I mean I made them, took a picture for you to look at and then shoved them in face. And they were tasty. Like for real yummy. The chicken is tender and flavorful will all kinds of good stuff, not the least of which is beer and margarita mix.  So good. And not just for tacos. We ate this on top of salads and rice bowls and really enjoyed it. This versatile chicken works a lot of ways and has tons of flavor. Plus it has beer and taste like margaritas. What's not to love?

Enchilada Meatballs

You know how much we love Mexican food here, and I loved the idea of a twist on traditional meatballs. These enchilada meatballs at made with a mix of beef and turkey, combined with cornbread crumbles, and flavored lightly with cilantro, onion, seasonings and lots of enchilada sauce. They come together quickly and are baked, so they are a bit healthier than a pan fried version. We enjoyed these with noodles, a little extra enchilada sauce and a sprinkling of cheese. Not too shabby for a quick weeknight dinner.

Snickerdoodle and Cream Ice Cream

Because making ice cream during a polar vortex/snow storm/nor'easter makes complete sense. But seriously, ice cream is welcome in this house no matter what the weather is like. It's the cure that ails you in my family and this snickerdoodle ice cream loaded with chunks of snickerdoodle cookie pieces is definitely one that will cure my winter blues. Creamy, sweet and deliciously speckled with cinnamon, this ice cream is awesome even without the chunks of cookie. Don't be afraid of making ice cream. I know a lot of people have an ice cream maker collecting dust in the back of a pantry or cabinet. Bring it out! You'll be shocked how easy this is--people will be wondering what brand started making a snickerdoodle flavor.