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Posted on July 9, 2024 by wdrell

Refreshing Lemon Icebox Pie

This is an amazing summertime dessert! It is like cheesecake but it is light and refreshing with a healthy dose of lemon! I would almost go as far as to call it a lemon cheesecake pudding pie! Happiness by the slice!

Ingredients

  • 1 (9″) Graham cracker crust (homemade or store-bought, doesn’t matter.)
  • 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1 (14 oz.) Can sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ Cup fresh lemon juice (roughly 3-5 lemons)
  • Zest of two lemons

Cooking Directions

  1. Place the cream cheese into a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to blend until smooth and creamy. Add the sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and lemon zest and blend again until the ingredients are fully incorporated and completely smooth.
  2. Pour the filling into the pre-made graham cracker pie crust, smooth the top and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours to set.
  3. Top with whipped cream or cool whip and serve cold.

**Notes**

  • Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing in order to get a smooth filling.
  • Bottled lemon juice can be used if you can’t find fresh lemons. I tested the recipe with both options and my taste testers could NOT tell the difference.

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Posted on July 9, 2024 by wdrell

Baked Garlic with Feta and Pasta

My cousin Caryn sent me this recipe from Instagram and it was amazing! The salmon isn’t in the original recipe found here, but it was a great addition! Very Lemony and very garlicy with a tiny hint of spice that rounds it out perfectly!

Ingredients

  • 1 8 oz. Block Feta
  • 1 Cup Garlic cloves (3 heads of garlic give or take)
  • ½ cup Olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes
  • 2 Cups Fresh Spinach
  • ½ lb. Orzo cooked al dente in salted water
  • ¼ Cup Pasta water
  • ½ Lemon juiced
  • 2 Tbsp White Balsamic Glaze
  • Salt and pepper

Cooking Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
  2. Prepare orzo according to the directions on the box – making sure to save at least one cup of pasta water when straining.
  3. Next, add garlic, feta, olive oil, salt and red pepper flakes to a baking dish.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and lightly mash up the garlic (potato masher works great!) and then stir the feta into it.
  6. Add the spinach and pasta and lemon juice and stir.
  7. If it’s dry , add a little pasta water (stirring 2-3 tablespoon at a time) to make the sauce creamier.
  8. Plate and top with a drizzle of white balsamic glaze and fresh cracked pepper.

**Video instructions found here!

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Posted on December 7, 2023 by wdrell

Marry Me Chicken

I have heard about this recipe on and off on the internet the last few years I think. Finally decided to give it a try and well… I ended up eating 3 servings when I made it. The original recipe that I used I found here @ Sam The Cooking Guy’s page. The only change I made to his recipe is swapped out red chili pepper flakes for 1 Tbsp cajun seasoning.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • ~1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 ounces diced pancetta
  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 1Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 ½ Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 Cup chicken stock
  • 1 Cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 Tsp dried oregano
  • 1 Tsp dried thyme
  • 1 Tbsp Cajun Seasoning
  • ½ Cup grated Parmesan
  • 3 Oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil, sliced
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

Cooking Directions

  1. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper, dredge both sides in flour shaking off excess, then put on a plate and set aside.
  2. Heat a large pan over medium high heat, add the pancetta – cook until just getting crispy, remove and set aside – there shouldn’t be much grease, but if there is you can leave about a tablespoon of it.
  3. Add the butter and olive oil, and when melted put in the chicken and cook until golden brown on each side, 3-4 minutes, then flip and repeat – remove and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to low, add the onions and cook until translucent, approx 3 minutes, then add the garlic stirring until fragrant.
  5. Put in the tomato paste and Dijon, stirring into the onions about 2 minutes.
  6. Add the chicken stock, cream, oregano, thyme, cajun seasoning, parmesan, sun dried tomatoes and cooked pancetta.
  7. Cook over a low simmer, stirring often until it begins to thicken, 3 – 4 minutes
  8. Stir n the fresh basil, then put the chicken back into the pan, and simmer on low for 15 mins, you’re good to go…and get married.

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Posted on July 25, 2023 by wdrell

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup – Instant Pot

Yummy addictive comfort food! Comes together in a snap! Original recipe found here!

Ingedients

  • 2 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 3 medium carrots diced (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 3 medium celery stalks chopped (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 1 rotisserie chicken shredded with skin and bones removed
  • 6 Cups chicken broth
  • ½ Tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 Tsp kosher salt
  • ½ Tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Cup uncooked orzo
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 fresh bay leaves
  • 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 medium lemon)
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped for garnish (optional)

Cooking Directions

  1. Turn your Instant Pot on to sauté mode and add the olive oil. Once the oil is heated and shimmering, add onion and garlic. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  2. Add the carrots and celery. Stir occasionally and cook until slightly softened, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add in the chicken, chicken broth, turmeric, kosher salt, pepper, and orzo. Stir to combine.
  4. Tie the fresh thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves together with kitchen twine and place on top of the soup.
  5. Seal the Instant Pot lid and cook on manual mode on high pressure for 5 minutes. After the time is up, quick-release the pressure valve.
  6. Remove the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf bundle from the pot.
  7. Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, and pepper to your liking. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

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Posted on July 9, 2023 by wdrell

Oven Roasted Asparagus

Always yummy! Always easy! Plus a optional air fryer cooking instructions below.

Ingredients

  • Asparagus
  • 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Parmesan Cheese, grated

Cooking directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
  2. Trim bottom 2″ of asparagus and discard.
  3. In a large bowl or 1 Gallon plastic bag, add all ingredients except for the parmesan cheese. Mix well to combine and evenly coat.
  4. Place asparagus on baking tray and evenly spread them out.
  5. Coat them with grated parmesan cheese to your liking.
  6. Bake for 20 – 30 min until desired doneness is achieved.

** For Air fryer option, Cook at 400°F for 7 -10 minutes. **

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Posted on May 29, 2023 by wdrell

Egg Casserole with green Chili’s

A yummy breakfast that hits the spot!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Flour
  • 10 Eggs
  • 1 Tbsp Baking powder
  • 8 oz Can Green Chili’s
  • 1 Pint Cottage Cheese
  • 1 Lb Shredded Jack Cheese

Cooking Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400° F
  2. Separate Eggs and Egg Whites, Beat egg whites until peaks are stiff.
  3. In a separate bowl beat eggs until combined.
  4. Combine remaining ingredients 1 at a time folding into the egg mixture. Do not use the butter.
  5. Combine the egg mixture and the egg whites. Take time to fold the ingredients and make sure to not over combine.
  6. Use the 1/2 Cup butter to coat a 9×13 baking dish. Add egg mixture to dish and bake for 35-40 min.
  7. At the end of the baking time shake the baking dish. If the casserole jiggles in the middle baking for an additional 5-10 min.

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Posted on May 2, 2023 by wdrell

Meatloaf

A classic comfort food that just hits the spot every time! Original Recipe found here and tweaked to my liking.

Ingredients

  • 2 Lbs Ground Beef, 85% or 90% lean
  • 1 Med Onion, finely chopped
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 3 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 Tbsp Ketchup
  • 3 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 3/4 Cup Italian Breadcrumbs
  • 1/3 Cup Milk
  • 1 1/2 Tsp Salt, or to taste
  • 1 1/2 Tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 Tsp Ground Black pepper
  • 1/2 Tsp Ground Paprika
  • —- Roughly 1/2 Cup Ketchup for topping to be baked on as a sauce

Cooking Directions

  1. Prep a 9”x5” loaf pan and preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients for the meatloaf. Mix well to combine.
  3. Add meat to the loaf pan, gently press meat down and shape evenly and bake meatloaf at 375˚F for 40 minutes.
  4. Spread Ketchup over meatloaf then return to oven and bake additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 160˚F. Rest meatloaf 10 minutes before slicing. Drizzle with baking juices from the pan.  

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Posted on February 21, 2023 by wdrell

Lobster Bisque

What can I say about this recipe besides the fact that it is addictively good! The tomato soup base is great on its own, add in the lobster and it becomes heavenly!

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp minced shallots
  • 2 Tbsp chopped green onions
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1⁄4 Cup white wine (Dry)
  • 2 Tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tsp Tabasco sauce
  • 1Tsp dried thyme
  • 6 Tbsp dry sherry
  • 1 Tsp paprika
  • 1Cup hot water
  • 1 Tsp lobster base (better than bouillon)
  • 4 Oz Tomato paste
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 2 Cups heavy whipping cream
  • 4 Tbsp Butter

Cooking Directions

  1. In a saute pan heat a little oil over med-high heat and saute shallots, onions, and garlic for one minute.
  2. Deglaze the pan with the white wine.
  3. Add the Worcestershire, tabasco, and thyme and sauté for another minute.
  4. Deglaze the pan with the sherry.
  5. Add the paprika, hot water and lobster base and combine well.
  6. Stir in tomato paste and add the bay leaves.
  7. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  8. Whisk in heavy cream and the butter and bring to a boil.
  9. Add the lobster and simmer until cooked through.
  10. Serve with crusty garlic bread.

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Posted on February 12, 2023 by wdrell

Tator Tots

Ingredients

  • Tator tots

Cooking Directions

  1. Place tator tots in air fryer in a single layer.
  2. Use the following cooking settings; 400°F for 12 minutes, flipping ever 4 minutes.
  3. Allow to cool for 1 min and enjoy!

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Posted on February 12, 2023 by wdrell

Fish Sticks – Air Fryer

Sure you can do them in the microwave, but the Air Fry makes them crispy and delicious!

Ingredients

  • Fish Sticks

Cooking Directions

  1. Place fish sticks in air fryer in a single layer.
  2. Cook with the following settings; 400° F for 8 min. Flip and cook for an additional 4 minutes.
  3. Let cool for 1 min and enjoy!

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