Buttermilk Biscuits

We love carbs! I'll admit it. . .  Taylor is a huge bread guy and now biscuit guy, so that makes me a baker! ;)

I typically don't eat breakfast unless it's made for me. Sound ridiculous? It probably is, but mornings aren't the easiest time for me to eat, it really takes work. [haha, few will understand]. So, in making these biscuits I was hoping it would be something quick and easy to warm up and eat in the mornings, with a nice hot cup of coffee [Mmmmm!]. These biscuits were so extremely simple and fun to make. It's delicious with any dinner meal, and for breakfast, just add a little jam! :)

Buttermilk Biscuits - adapted from Fearless Homemaker

You will need:

1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup cold butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
3-4 tablespoons butter, melted, for brushing the tops of the biscuits

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Combine flour, salt, & baking powder in a mixing bowl. You can use a food processor if you don't have a mixing bowl.

3. Add butter, in pieces, and mix well. [see picture]

4. Using a spatula, slowly add buttermilk. Stir until it turns into dough.

5. On a floured surface, knead dough. *FOUR TIMES* This is what is recommended, so I'd follow the rules. Only knead the dough 4 times.

6. Roll the dough out and using a round cutter or small cup, mold out the biscuits. Place them on wax paper on a baking sheet.

With melted butter, brush tops of biscuits.

Bake 10-15 minutes.

Num num num!!

ENJOY!










Pssssssst! With Easter just around the corner, I will be making my Grandma's Pound Cake, you will want the recipe, so keep an eye out!! :)

If you love asparagus . . . .

If you love asparagus, you will love this! I am starting to make different greens to cook with our meals. We have green beans a lot, they are a safety for me. ;) But recently, asparagus has been on my mind, so more asparagus recipes will be coming soon. I've made this recipe before when we had friends over, they enjoyed it too! So to her, here's the recipe!! And to all of you, try it and enjoy!

Asparagus Gratin - adapted from Apron Appeal

You will need:

1-2 pounds asparagus
3 cups water
2 tbs unsalted butter
2 tbs flour
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
salt & pepper, to taste

Note to self & you: Use a bigger pot then this!!

1. Turn the oven on to broil. Line your baking dish with paper towels. Snap asparagus, keeping  both stalks and ends.

2. Bring water to boil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add asparagus ends & 1/4 tsp salt, cook covered, for 5 minutes. Remove & discard.

3. Add asparagus stalks to the pot, cook for 2-4 minutes. [Recipe says to cook and cover, I didn't cover and they turned out fine]. Remove and place in baking dish on paper towel.

4. Keep asparagus water in a measuring up, measuring 1 cup. If there isn't enough to make 1 cup, just add water.










5. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour, until golden, about 1 minute.

Whisk in asparagus water and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat and let it thicken, about 3-5 minutes.

6. Off heat, whisk in 1/2 cup Parmesan and Cheddar cheese, until smooth.

Season with salt & pepper.
*Don't use too much salt!

Let stand about 5 minutes.

Isn't that pretty?!!

7. Remove paper towels from baking dish.

Pour sauce over asparagus and spread it out over the entire dish.

Take other 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and sprinkle over top. Broil 4-8 minutes, until cheese is golden and asparagus is tender.

ENJOY!





* Biscuit recipe to come! :)

Best part of all :)

Two enthusiastic thumbs up! 

Broccoli Casserole

Our meatless meal this week was a Broccoli Casserole dish. I have to confess though, I was seriously nervous on how this was going to turn out and already had Chinese take out planned for when it didn't taste good. . . . But! It was delicious :) and the husband loved it! [He liked it so much he went back for seconds & decided he wanted it for lunch the next day]! Surprise to me! I honestly just got nervous because it was a new recipe and well... you never know until you try it. Right? I was so happy it turned out well and we both really liked it. *Thank you Lord!*

You will need:

2 packages [10 oz] frozen broccoli spears
1 can [10.5 oz] cream of celery soup
1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, separated
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
1 cup [or a few handfuls ;) ] potato chips

1. Grease your crock pot. Add the broccoli, celery soup, 1 cup cheese, & onions. Mix lightly.

2. Crush a handful of chips on top.


3. Cover & cook on Low 5 to 6 hours or on High 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

4. Once it's cooked, take another handful of chips and crush over top & add rest of cheese. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.

5. Serve & Enjoy!!

My apologies, I forgot to take a finished picture. It turned out really well. I added a little bit of pepper once it was in the bowl. You won't need any salt, the chips and soup has enough.

This made a great meal, but would also make a great side dish. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Chicken Cacciatore

I am all about making cooking in the kitchen quick & simple during this season. I go to work at 2 in the afternoon and usually don't get home until 6:30, right around the same time Taylor gets home. So, eating dinner at a reasonable time is, well... unlikely! It usually happens around 7 or later. This brings me to my crock pot. I love my crock pot! My lovely sister gave me a beautiful blue one that gets a lot of attention. :) [If you don't have a crock pot, no worries, you can cook this on the stove too]. This chicken cacciatore meal is super simple! A big thank you to my MIL, Gisele, for the recipe. 

Chicken Cacciatore 

You will need:

1 Garlic Rotisserie Chicken [already cooked]

1/2 cup or so of Red Cooking Wine

2 Jars of Garlic & Onion Spaghetti sauce

Spaghetti Pasta [or your choice of pasta]

Parmesan Cheese

[Now, you don't have to use that flavor rotisserie chicken or spaghetti sauce, that is just what I use].

1. Empty Spaghetti sauce into crock pot.

2. Pour some wine into each jar, swish around to clean out the jar and pour into sauce.

3. Cut or shred chicken into bite size pieces, add to sauce.

4. I cook ours on low for a few hours, though you don't need too. 

5. Before serving, cook pasta. Follow directions on the box.

6. Plate your food then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with your choice of greens! ;)

Enjoy!! 

Chicken Bacon Panini

I've surprised myself by making this recipe. This sandwich was delicious and real easy to make. Plus you can change it up in so many ways. Next time I'd like to add roasted red peppers to the sandwich! Mmmmm! But this one is a Chicken, Bacon, Swiss, with Pesto Panini. What a name! ;)

Chicken Bacon Panini

Here's what you need:

2 boneless chicken breasts

8 pieces of bacon

2 slices of Swiss cheese

4 slices of sourdough bread

pesto sauce

1 tbs butter

drizzle of canola oil

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the bacon on a rack on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

2. While the bacon is cooking, slice the [thawed] chicken breasts in half. 

3. In a sauce pan on Medium, drizzle canola oil in the pan and add the butter. Let it melt and warm. Then fry the chicken, until the juices run clear and the chicken is fully cooked. [Take it out of the pan and slice it to check to see if it is cooked thoroughly]. This will take about 12-15 minutes. Once it's done, let it cool then slice into pieces.

4. Slice the bread and butter each slice.



5. After the bacon and chicken are cooked, start preparing the sandwich.

Spread the pesto sauce on both sides of the bread. Place one slice in the pan, butter side down like you're cooking grilled cheese. 

Then assemble the sandwich: bread, chicken, Swiss, bacon, bread. 

[You can use a panini maker, but if you don't have one, use a grill pan and place a heavy pot on top].

6. Place the heavy pan on top of the sandwiches as they cook. After 2-3 minutes carefully remove the heavy pot and flip the sandwiches, then placing the pot on top of the sandwiches again. 

7. Once the cheese is melted and it's cooked to your liking, slice in half and enjoy! I served this with a side Caesar salad. Sooo yummy!!!! 

Taylor & I are off to Orlando, Florida to visit Jon & Julie! I hope you have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

The BEST Shrimp & Grits You'll Ever Eat!

I promise you, this recipe will become a regular in your household. It is delicious! I never had grits, let alone shrimp & grits, before I moved to NC. And even then, it had been 3 years living here before I tried it. It wasn't until I had this meal at Taylor's while we were dating, and man oh man! it. is. gooooood.!! :) So, let me not waste any time. . . here is the recipe!

Shrimp & Grits - [Thank you, Gisele for the recipe]!

1 cup stone ground grits
1/4 of a stick of butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 pieces of bacon strips, raw & chopped
1 pound peeled & de-veined, shrimp
1 medium garlic clove, minced
3 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp dried parsley
1 cup [or just under a cup] green onion, chopped
** 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper [optional] 

1. Cook the grits, follow the instructions on the grits box.


2. After the water boils & the grits are added, let it simmer 15 minutes.










3. Add the butter & cheese, set aside.

Hubby joined me in the kitchen :-D Such a blast!!! 

4. Fry the bacon in a deep pan until it's nice and crispy.










Remove the bacon and set aside on a paper towel. [Hide the bacon so you don't eat it]!

Run warm water over your shrimp to thaw them out.

[I'd do this while you are starting the grits & bacon to save time].  

Then, my amazing husband, de-tailed the shrimp!

* Simply pinch the tail & pull right off.

5. In the BACON GREASE, yes, keep the bacon grease - this is the best part ;). Put the crushed red pepper, garlic & shrimp into the bacon grease. Cook on medium for 3 minutes.

** With the crushed red pepper, the meal is real spicy. If you don't want spicy omit the crushed red peppers. If you want a hint of spice, add less than 1/2 tsp. I've had it both ways, and both are good. Tay & I personally like it with all the spice. :)

6. Add the lemon juice, parsley & green onion. Immediately pull off the heat.

7. Add the bacon, stir.

Then add the shrimp & goodies to the grits.

[Grab a spatula(!), you don't want to waste any of the goods]!

Mix together.

Enjoy!!!