father's day coffee cake

This was a great coffee cake!  The only thing I didn't like was how the recipe was written so I disregarded it and did my own thing.  I wasn't sure it would turn out as great as it did.

father's day coffee cake
2 cups flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg
3/4 cup milk or as needed
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon

streusel topping:
1/4 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8x8 inch pan.  Make the strusel topping:  In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup flour, 2/3 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.  Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add melted butter.  Crack an egg into a measuring cup and then add milk to make 1 cup.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour into crumb mixture and mix just until moistened.  Spread into prepared pan.  Sprinkle with streusel.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Allow to cool.

sweet potato and black bean tacos

Hall of Fame!  Thank you, Erin, for sending this amazing recipe to me.  The entire family loved their tacos.  My husband commented on all the different interesting flavors.  This is a great recipe to satisfy the whole family which can be tricky with a non-meat eater. 
Note to self:  Had I known this recipe would've been such a success with my husband I'd have saved it for Father's Day.  I have no idea what to make.  Maybe this again! :)

sweet potato and black bean tacos (simply recipes) 
for the roasted sweet potatoes:
1 to 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups cubed)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

for the beans:
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, stemmed, seeded and minced
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
apple cider vinegar or water, as needed

to serve:
10-12 corn tortillas (I used a corn/wheat blend)
1/2 cup salsa
1 ripe avocado, thinly sliced or guacamole
fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
lime wedges
1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Roast the sweet potatoes:  In a medium-sized bowl, toss the sweet potatoes, oil, salt, cumin and chili powder.  Spread on a  baking sheet in an even layer.  Bake 15 minutes then use a spatula to flip and stir the sweet potatoes.  Roast another 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes have puffed up and have crisp, roasted edges.
Make the black beans:  While the sweet potatoes roast, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and saute until soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.  Add the garlic and jalapeno and saute 2 minutes more.  Fold in beans.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are soft and seasoned, about 10 to 15 minutes.  If beans seem dry or bottom of pan starts to sizzle, add a splash of apple cider vinegar or water as needed.  Taste and add salt as needed.
Warm the tortillas:  We "toasted" them on our gas stove.
Serve the tacos:  Fill tortillas with beans, sweet potatoes, salsa, avocado slices, cilantro and cotija cheese.  Delicious!!

garlic naan bread pizzas

I almost picked up a couple pizzas from Little Caesars but I had run myself ragged running kids around so I didn't want to leave my house one more time.  Even though I need to run kids again at 7.  Instead, I opened up my freezer and saw Trader Joe's frozen garlic naan bread and had a brilliant idea.  Pizza!  There are 4 pieces per package which was perfect for my 4 kids.  My son raved about how great this pizza is.  When I asked him if it's better than Little Caesars he said it definitely is and that I should make this a lot.  Deal.  My girls loved it too. 

garlic naan bread pizzas
1 package of frozen garlic naan bread (from Trader Joe's)
1 jar of your favorite pizza sauce (I used about half the jar)
a handful of mozzarella cheese for each pizza
misc pizza toppings- pepperoni, ham, red onion and red bell peppers for us this time
sprinkle of Italian seasoning on each one

Place 4 pieces of frozen naan bread on a baking sheet.  Bake for 8 minutes at 450 degrees.  Take out of the oven and make your pizzas!  Bake for 10 minutes.  Enjoy!

baked salmon II

This salmon was delicious.   Two of my kids who I didn't expect to eat fish ate it and enjoyed it very much.  My husband thought it was fantastic.  I'll be making this again soon.

baked salmon II (adapted from allrecipes.com)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon oil (cut back from 6 tablespoons oil!!)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
4 salmon fillets

Prepare marinade by mixing everything but the salmon.
Place salmon fillets in a dish and cover with marinade.  Marinate 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place fillets in foil, cover with marinade and seal the foil.  Place sealed salmon in a glass dish and bake 35 minutes or until salmon easily flakes with fork.

vegan chickpea curry

I wanted to make something to accompany salmon so there'd be something for my little vegetarian to eat.  This was PERFECT!  This dish is SOOOOOO good.  Unbelievably good.  We all really enjoyed it.  Even my son.  And he even ate a few bites of salmon.  

vegan chickpea curry (adapted from HurryTheFoodUp)
2 onions, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons curry paste (I used 1 Tbsp red curry past and 1 Tbsp curry powder)
1 can coconut milk
2 cans chickpeas
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fresh basil (I used a tablespoon freeze dried basil)

Chop the onions, garlic, basil and juice the lime.
Put the oil and onions into a large pan and cook on medium heat until the onions start to soften and turn clear.  Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Add the curry and the coconut milk, stirring until the curry is dissolved.  Add a pinch of salt.
Add the chickpeas.  Cook on medium heat, bringing the curry to a boil.  If it starts to burn, reduce heat.  Add the chopped tomatoes, basil, soy sauce and lime juice.  Gently simmer the curry for a few minutes.
Serve with brown jasmine rice.

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one pot chicken and noodles

The theme for tonight's meal was comfort food- chicken & noodles and chocolate chip cookies.  The chicken & noodles turned out as delicious and as comforting as I thought they would.  Everyone in the family enjoyed them so this recipe is a keeper.  We have plenty of opportunities for comfort food where we live.  The gray skies and drizzle seem to go on forever.  And ever.

one pot chicken and noodles (adapted fromBetter Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, page 402)
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
4 cups water
1/2 cup chopped celery leaves
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup sliced celery
3 cups wide noodles (I used whole wheat rotini)
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
freshly ground pepper, as a garnish

In a 4 1/2 quart pot place chicken, water, celery leaves, parsley, ba leaf, thyme, salt and pepper.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.  Add onions, carrots, and celery.  Cover and simmer about 30 minutes more or till chicken is tender and no longer pink.  Remove from heat.  Discard the bay leaf.  Remove chicken; cool slightly.  Chop the chicken and set aside.
Bring broth mixture to boiling.  Add noodles; cook for 5 minutes.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups milk.
In a screw-top jar combine the remaining 1/2 cup milk and the flour.  Cover and shake till smooth; stir into noodle mixture.  Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly.  Stir in chopped chicken.  Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes more or until mixture is heated through.  Grind some fresh pepper over each serving.  Makes 6 servings.

homemade crunch wrap supremes

My oldest introduced the family to Taco Bell's Crunch Wrap Supremes.  My kids LOVE them.  I'm not a fan of fast food so we're making them at home.  I love when my oldest cooks for us.  She's good at making these.

crunch wrap supremes (my oldest got the idea from Taco Bell)
large tortillas
tostada shells
light sour cream
chipotle dressing
taco bell hot sauce
extra lean ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning and a can of tomato sauce, cooked
shredded lettuce
diced tomato
shredded cheddar cheese
olives

My daughter heated a large tortilla in the microwave and placed it on the counter.  She smeared on some refried beans, sour cream, chipotle dressing, taco bell hot sauce, ground beef, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and olives.  She folded the sides of the tortilla up then turned it over and placed it in the pan.  She browned it on both sides then rang the dinner bell and her sisters and brother came running to see whose was done first.