Recipe: Lunch Nachos with Spiced Cauliflower

Lunch Nachos with Spiced Cauliflower

Bon Appetit Magazine, Mar 2021, p. 37

4.8 stars

Discovered another great weeknight meal -- that's economical too! I was just thinking about the last time we ordered nachos from a restaurant for pick up. It was so expensive and a pathetically small portion. 

I wasn't sure about the spiced cauliflower, but it worked! Added some cholula on top and a margarita on the side, and this was a great dinner.

Ingredients: tortilla chips, refried beans, cauliflower, radishes, carrots, sharp cheddar, avocado, cilantro, plain yogurt, seasoned rice vinegar, ground coriander, ground cumin, paprika, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, Kosher salt

Tips:

• Heat up the beans fully on the stove
• Either grease the sheet pan or use a silpat mat (we used foil and the nachos and cheese stuck to it)
• Use sour cream or creme fraiche instead of yogurt

Recipe: Chocolate Banoffee Pie

Chocolate Banoffee Pie

Bon Appetit Magazine, March 2021, p. 25

4.5 stars

I hadn't made a pie in a pretty long time. This was good for a chocolate banana pie -- but probably wouldn't make it again unless we have a NEED for a Banoffee pie. I was afraid that it was going to be too sweet, but it wasn't -- the high cacao % in the ganache helped keep the sweetness level down.

The crust was DELICIOUS -- I'm a huge fan of Biscoff cookies, the ones you get on the plane and would use this crust recipe again. One note is that the crust fell apart when eating it so would add more butter potentially to bind it together better. In addition, this ganache recipe was great.

Crust Ingredients: Lotus Biscoff cookies, unsalted butter, sugar

Ganache Ingredients: semisweet chocolate (at least 64% cacao), heavy cream, unsalted butter

Pudding Ingredients: heavy cream, eggs, light brown sugar, milk, unsalted butter, sugar, cornstarch, Kosher salt, chocolate, bananas

Tips:

• As noted above, add a binder (more butter) so the crust holds together better.
• Not sure about the egg step -- I followed the directions exactly constantly whisking the egg yolk mixture with the butterscotch and couldn't get it smooth. It was lumpy like the egg cooked in it.

Recipe: Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad

Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.7 stars

Restaurant-worthy salad. I think the dressing was better than any honey mustard dressing I've had at restaurants.

Ingredients: mixed greens, boneless chicken tenders, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan, avocados, bacon, pretzel twists, eggs, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper

Honey Mustard Dressing Ingredients: honey, dijon mustard, tahini, apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, extra virgin olive oil

Tips:

• Use 1 egg instead of 2
• Make sure to use very crispy pretzel twists; might consider mixing it with panko to make sure it turns out crunchy 
• Also, 1 cup was a little too much pretzel

Recipe: Creamy Polenta with Burst Cherry Tomato-and-Red Wine Ragout

Creamy Polenta with Burst Cherry Tomato-and-Red Wine Ragout

Food and Wine Magazine, Feb 2021, p.82

5 stars

Lovely side dish (and not just because I love polenta) that's restaurant-worthy. We had this with some leftover brisket. 

Polenta Ingredients: uncooked coarse-ground polenta, whole milk, water, garlic, thyme, Kosher salt, black pepper

Ragout Ingredients: cherry tomatoes, kale, dry red wine, garlic, red pepper, basil, butter, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper

Tips:

• The polenta was a bit salty. Recommend 1.5 tsp of Kosher salt instead of 1 Tbsp in the polenta.
• If making this for a dinner party, double the amount of ragout.

Recipe: Homemade Cheesy Gordita Crunch Tacos

Homemade Cheesy Gordita Crunch Tacos

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.9 stars

I love this taco -- only issue for me is that it's double the carbs! Basically, it's 2 tortillas per taco... but it's worth it! Delicious and super flavorful. Plus, it's EASY.

Taco Ingredients: ground meat (chicken, beef or turkey), yellow onion, chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, dried oregano, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt

"Doritos" seasoning: onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, grated parmesan cheese, Kosher salt

Assembling Ingredients: soft tortillas, hard taco, shells, shredded Mexican cheese blend, "Doritos" seasoning,  ranch dressing, romaine lettuce, sharp cheddar, cilantro, avocado, limes, hot sauce

Tips:

• Used already prepared (bottled) ranch dressing
• Used ground bison

Recipe: Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese

Roasted Cherry Tomato Caprese

Bon Appetit Magazine, Nov 2017, p.44

4.7 stars

We had this for Easter dinner along with steak and wine -- a lovely meal!

Ingredients: cherry tomatoes, fresh buffalo or cow mozzarella, thyme, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, flaky sea salt; Country-style bread brushed with oil and toasted

Tips:

• Instead of fresh buffalo or cow mozzarella, we used... BURRRRATA!!!!!!

Recipe: Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Orange

Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Orange

Bon Appetit Magazine, May 2011, p. 132

5+ stars

I honestly wasn't sure if this was going to be a good dish or not but decided to give it a chance. It looked easy (almost too easy and simple), and from reading the recipe, it looked like it would be too soupy or liquidy. It wasn't. This was an AMAZING pasta dish. I kept saying during dinner that it was restaurant-worthy (this would be $22 per person in a restaurant) and there was no reason for us to go to an Italian restaurant again because it was so good.

The key is to make homemade pasta.

We served this with a Soft Lettuces with Prosciutto, Peas and Poppy Seeds salad (see in the background of the photo). Definitely will be serving this at a dinner party.

Ingredients: 12 oz egg tagliatelle or fettuccine (preferably fresh), prosciutto, heavy whipping cream, orange juice and zest, Parmesan, butter, Kosher salt, pepper

Tips:

• Make only 1/2 the zest (the recipe doesn't say where to use the other half?!)

Recipe: Soft Lettuces with Prosciutto, Peas and Poppy Seeds

Soft Lettuces with Prosciutto, Peas and Poppy Seeds

Martha Stewart Living, Apr 2021, p. 96

5 stars

Restaurant-worthy salad -- and incredibly EASY to make! This is going into our salad rotation for sure. In reading the recipe, I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. It turned out to be a wonderful, balanced, delicious salad that I can't wait to have again. We had this with the Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Orange pasta dish.

Ingredients: spring lettuce, prosciutto, English peas, poppy seeds, shallot, white balsamic vinegar, lemon zest and juice, mayonnaise, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper

Tips:

• Use a little more shallot than the teaspoon that it calls for
• Couldn't find fresh English peas so used frozen peas

Recipe: Crispy Oven-Baked-Fish Wraps

Crispy Oven-Baked-Fish Wraps

Martha Stewart Living, Apr 2021

5 stars

I wish I had this recipe earlier during Lent. I was craving fish tacos but no one in town seems to make a GREAT one! We tried TJ's Seafood fish tacos a few weeks ago, and it was horrible, probably the worst I've ever had. (No seasoning, thick awful breading.) 

This recipe is so good that we made it last Friday and the Friday before -- and it's SIMPLE!!! Flavorful. Restaurant-worthy.

Ingredients: flour tortillas, cod or halibut fillets, panko, mayonnaise, coleslaw mix, small green apple, distilled white vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper, herbs such as cilantro and dill, lime wedges

Tips

• Used cod
• Substituted apple cider vinegar for the distilled white vinegar
• Had cabbage from another dish and red apples so used those
• Made fries in our Instant Pot air fryer

Recipe: Mushroom-Poblano Frittata

Mushroom-Poblano Frittata

Bon Appetit Magazine, May 2011, p. 58

4.8 stars

I have to be honest that I planned this dish for a Friday meal during Lent, and then we didn't make it. I thought about repurposing the ingredients for another dish and then thought -- no, we have all the ingredients, let's just make it. I'm so glad we did as this was a GREAT frittata recipe. 

While the ingredient list looks interesting (cumin and feta?) and that the dish would be ok, it was DELICIOUS. Restaurant-worthy. Plus, it was super easy to make! The cumin gave this dish an unexpected level of flavor. Will be making this again for sure. We had this for dinner, but this would be a wonderful brunch dish as well.

Ingredients: assorted mushrooms, poblano chile, scallions or chives, feta, eggs, cilantro, cumin, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper

Recipe: Marinated Tofu with Brussels Sprouts and Farro

Marinated Tofu with Brussels Sprouts and Farro

Bon Appetit Magazine, Feb 2021, p.55

5 stars

EASY weekday vegetarian dish that was so much more flavorful than I thought it would be. The cumin gave this a nice, unexpected layer of flavor. By the looks/appearance of the dish, it looks like it would be a boring, dull, flavorless dish, but it was completely the opposite. We're adding this to our Asian, vegetarian rotation!

Ingredients: farro, extra-firm tofu, brussels sprouts, scallion, cilantro or parsley, soy sauce, fish sauce, cumin, ginger, lemon, vegetable oil, Kosher salt

No tips for this one!

Recipe: Sausage and Cheese Manicotti

Sausage and Cheese Manicotti

Epicurious.com

5 stars

Definitely a restaurant-worthy dish! As we were eating this, I thought -- no need to ever go to an Italian restaurant again! This will be served at a dinner party in the future...

Ingredients: manicotti, Italian sweet sausages with fennel seeds, Italian plum tomatoes with basil, whole-milk ricotta, provolone cheese, Parmesan cheese, onion, basil, dry white wine, olive oil, red pepper, black pepper

Tips

• Added a garlic clove
• Used mild bulk sausage (instead of links) and added fennel
• Regarding the Italian tomatoes with basil -- a guy in the grocery store said that Cento brand often has basil in its canned tomatoes even if it's not noted, and sure enough, basil is listed on their ingredients list on the can I bought
• Cooked the sausage in the red sauce instead of mixing with the ricotta
• Used a piping bag to pipe the filling into the manicotti

Recipe: Instant Pot Chipotle Chile Corn Chowder

Instant Pot Chipotle Chile Corn Chowder

HalfBakedHarvest.com

5 stars

I was looking for a recipe to make in my new Instant Pot, but we ended up making this in our Dutch oven (pot) on the stove. Really easy to make -- with great flavor. Can't go wrong with potato, cheese, cilantro, green onions and bacon if those are ingredients you like. It was similar to a loaded potato but in soup form. I loved the texture of it and understand why they call this a chowder because of the texture from the corn.

Ingredients: bacon, sweet onion, garlic, corn kernels, russet potato, chipotle chiles in adobo, cilantro, sharp cheddar cheese, green onions, whole milk, chicken broth, Kosher salt, black pepper

Tips:

• Used frozen corn
• Could use 2x the amount of potatoes next time for a thicker chowder

Recipe: Crispy Cauliflower Tinga Tacos with Honey Lime Avocado Crema

Crispy Cauliflower Tinga Tacos with Honey Lime Avocado Crema

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.7 stars

Really great flavor for this vegetarian dish (I always love the flavor of chipotle in adobo), but it was a half fail because of our tortilla issue -- see tips below. The next time we make this, I'll add a photo to this post.

Ingredients: corn tortillas, cauliflower, yellow onion, chipotle peppers in adobo, red enchilada sauce, pepper jack cheese, cheddar cheese, dried oregano, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt

Honey Lime Avocado Crema Ingredients: avocado, cilantro, honey, garlic, lime juice, Kosher or flaky salt

Ingredients for Serving: salsa, shredded lettuce, pickled onions

Tips:

• The corn tortillas wouldn't fold over very well and turned out a bit chewy; use crispy taco shells instead next time
• Cut the cauliflower into small pieces

Recipe: Spiced Crumbled-Tofu Bowl

Spiced Crumbled-Tofu Bowl

Bon Appetit Magazine, Feb 2021, p.16

5 stars

This was an unexpectedly great dish. It's an Asian-Mexican fusion vegetarian bowl. (Note: Blog contributor the grandcruman did not enjoy this dish as much as me -- he thought it was just ok.)

Ingredients: firm or extra-firm tofu, double-concentrated tomato paste, hot sauce, ground coriander, ancho chile powder or smoked paprika, ground cumin, ground fennel seeds, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt

Bowl main ingredients/toppings: cooked white rice, shredded red cabbage, sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, cilantro, lime wedges

Tips:

• Make sure to add enough salt (we used Maldon sea salt to taste at the table)
• Used lettuce instead of cabbage
• For the photo, I forgot to add the queso fresco

Recipe: One Pot Spicy Alla Vodka Pizza Pasta

One Pot Spicy Alla Vodka Pizza Pasta

HalfBakedHarvest.com

5 stars

Next time we have to go to a potluck, we're bringing this. A one pot yummy pizza pasta -- that's what it is! So good and have been enjoying eating the leftovers this week.

Ingredients: short cut pasta, spicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, marinara sauce, fontina cheese, mozzarella, grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese, vodka, basil pesto, garlic, oregano, thyme, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper, fresh basil

Tips:

• Used 1/4 cup vodka and 1/4 cup broth
• Used spicy Italian sausage (not chicken sausage that it called for)

Recipe: One Skillet Cheesy Cuban Chicken Rice Bake

One Skillet Cheesy Cuban Chicken Rice Bake

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.7 stars

I was actually looking for a Cuban Sandwich recipe but came across this. Muy delicioso! It didn't taste like a Cuban, per se -- see the tips/suggestions below.

Ingredients: long grain rice, dry broken spaghetti or angel hair pasta, chicken breasts, swiss or mozzarella cheese, pepperoncini or dill pickles, black beans, cilantro, lime juice and zest, red bell pepper, yellow onion, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper

Tips:

• Turn on the oven when the chicken goes in the skillet.
• Mix in the black beans about 4 min before the rice is done.
• Add ham to the dish!!!
• Add more dill pickles on top when serving.

Slow-baked Salmon with Lemon and Thyme

Slow-baked Salmon with Lemon and Thyme

Bon Appetit Magazine, May 2011, p. 50

5 stars

Usually, we cook salmon on the stovetop (we've occasionally baked it in the past but not often); however, this recipe has changed our mind and we'll be baking salmon from here on out! Follow this recipe if you want amazingly moist, flaky, perfectly cooked salmon. The secret is to bake it on a low temperature (275 degrees).

Ingredients: salmon, extra-virgin olive oil, thyme, lemon zest, Kosher salt, pepper, lemon wedges for serving

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Chive Pesto

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Chive Pesto

Bon Appetit Magazine, May 2011, p. 54

4.7 stars

I liked the chive pesto, but blog contributor the grandcruman thought the potatoes were better without it. It was a refreshing take on regular roasted potatoes and went nicely with the salmon it accompanied. As you can see, we did not use fingerling potatoes as the grocery store was out of them, but Yukon Gold potatoes substituted nicely.

Ingredients: fingerling potatoes, chives, parsley, slivered almonds or walnuts or pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper

Tips:

• Made 1/6 of the pesto recipe since we were limited on the amount of chives on hand

Recipe: Steak and French Fry Salad with Blue Cheese Butter + Poached Eggs

Steak and French Fry Salad with Blue Cheese Butter + Poached Eggs

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.7 stars

A french fry salad? It works!!! We had some sweet potato fries in the freezer so this was a perfect way to use them up (we didn't make the fries). One of my favorite parts of this dish is the dressing -- I loved the surprise of heat from the hot chili oil and ginger. Lots of shortcuts for this one in the tips below.

Oven-baked French Fry Ingredients: russet potatoes, olive oil, smoked paprika, chili powder, pepper, salt

Dressing/Blue Cheese Butter Ingredients: blue cheese, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, honey, olive oil, hot chili oil, ginger, butter, basil, salt, pepper

Salad Ingredients: steak, greens, grape tomatoes, walnuts, honey, eggs, olive oil, salt, pepper

Tips:

• Really no need to make the blue cheese butter for the steak -- just use blue cheese crumbles in the salad
• As mentioned above, I liked the hot chili oil and ginger dressing but blog contributor the grandcruman wasn't a fan and said he would just use balsamic dressing next time
• Didn't add the poached egg but would be a nice touch
• If making the compound butter, make 1/8 of it

Recipe: Brown Butter Corn and Feta Orzo with Crispy Prosciutto

Brown Butter Corn and Feta Orzo with Crispy Prosciutto

HalfBakedHarvest.com

5 stars

So good!!! What else can I say? I selected this recipe because it used up many ingredients that we had in our fridge (feta, thyme, chives, corn, jalapeno, avocados -- love it when I find a recipe that uses what we have so it doesn't go to waste!). This could be a main dish or a side dish. Really nice flavors... we had this as a main along with bread as a side.

Ingredients: orzo, prosciutto, shallot, corn, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, avocados, jalapeno, thyme, lemon juice, Champagne or apple cider vinegar, honey, basil, chives, salted butter, extra virgin olive oil

Tips

• Bake the prosciutto so it's super crispy

Recipe: Smoked Gouda Enchiladas

Smoked Gouda Enchiladas

HalfBakedHarvest.com

5 stars

Another successful and delicious enchilada recipe, this one from -- you guessed it, Half Baked Harvest! Of all of our enchilada recipes we've tried, this one took a little bit more time to make the enchilada sauce, and it was SPICY, just how I like it, with the chili powder and chipotle in adobo.

Ingredients: flour tortillas, chicken breasts, smoked Gouda cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, chipotle in adobo and adobo sauce, diced green chiles, yellow onion, all-purpose flour, cumin, chili powder, chicken broth, olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper; sour cream, hot sauce

Tips/Notes:

• Doubled the recipe which made about 14 enchiladas (10 flour, 4 corn -- used large and small Pyrex dish).
• Used sauteed diced chicken.
• The recipe doesn't say when to add the chili powder so added it with the cumin.
• We always top our enchiladas with a "salad" -- lettuce, tomato, cilantro, avocado and sometimes radish.

Recipe: Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup

Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.8 stars

What a great hearty, healthy, soup for the winter. This turned out so well -- we used the stovetop version of the recipe (there's a slow cooker and Instant Pot recipe too). You'll forget that this is vegetarian! 

Ingredients: carrots, celery, kale, fresh cheese tortellini, yellow onion, tomato paste, Parmesan cheese, whole milk or heavy cream, white wine, vegetable broth, garlic, thyme, basil, oregano, fennel seeds, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper 

Tips:

• Recommend using cream instead of milk.
• Blog contributor the grandcruman thought that the fresh-bought tortellini got too gummy so watch that or we may try different tortellini next time.

Recipe: Crispy Skillet Latke with Kale

Crispy Skillet Latke with Kale

Food & Wine Magazine, Dec 2020, p. 64

5 stars

Best latkes we've made as these were incredibly flavorful. Loved the balsamic vinegar in the kale -- and the chives, lemon zest and sour cream just made this an overall yummy dish. We served this with gruyere bread from Central Market as well as a side salad.

Ingredients: russet potatoes, yellow onion, kale, red onion, eggs, panko, chives, lemon zest, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, vegetable oil, water, Kosher salt; creme fraiche (optional)

Tips:

• Used the food processor grater instead of a box grater
• Added another egg since we had a bit more potato than what was called for
• Used sour cream instead of creme fraiche since we had sour cream on hand

Recipe: Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

BobsRedMill.com

4.8 stars

I've had almond flour in the pantry (to make macarons, actually) and had been meaning to make the cookie recipe on the back of the package. A friend of mine had brought them to a get together a while back, and we were all addicted to them! Love that they're so easy to make.

Ingredients: Bob's Red Mill Natural Almond Meal, dark chocolate chips, toasted sliced almonds, coconut, maple syrup, egg, egg whites, vanilla extract, almond extract, baking soda, sea salt

Tips:

• I like the hint of coconut from the oil but wonder how butter would work instead
• Didn't use the almond extract which is optional but will next time
• Leave out the toasted sliced almonds to make it lower calorie
• Half a batch made 11 cookies

Drink Recipe: Paris Between the Wars

Paris Between the Wars 

Food & Wine Magazine, Dec 2020, p. 72

4.5 stars

You have to like Campari or semi-bitter drinks to enjoy this lovely restaurant-worthy cocktail that's not hard to make but tastes complex (how I like it!).

Ingredients: Campari, blended Scotch whisky (such as Dewar's), lemon juice, simple syrup, dry sparkling wine such as brut Cava, ice cubes, lemon peel strip for garnish

Recipe: Quinoa Grain Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Chile-Marinated Tofu, Kale and Lemony Tahini-Miso

Quinoa Grain Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Chile-Marinated Tofu, Kale and Lemony Tahini-Miso

BobbyFlay.com

5 stars!!!!

I was more than pleasantly surprised by how good this dish turned out, but should I be surprised? It's a Bobby Flay recipe where he's all about great flavors. This is easier to make than our Ancient Grains Buddha Bowl which we also LOVE. Very easy to make especially on a weekday, despite the recipe looking long.

Quinoa Ingredients: quinoa, olive oil, water, salt

Sweet Potato Ingredients: sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper

Chile-marinated Tofu Ingredients: extra-firm tofu, sesame oil, soy sauce, chili paste

Kale Ingredients: kale, celery, olive oil, lemon juice, Kosher salt

Lemony Tahini-Miso Dressing: lemon juice, honey, white miso paste, tahini, toasted sesame oil, water, garlic ginger

Toppings: sliced avocado, sunflower seeds, celery leaves, cilantro

Tips:

• Sauteed the kale a little bit
• Left out the sunflower seeds and celery leaves

Recipe: Pizzettes

 

Pizzettes

Bon Appetit Magazine, Dec 2020/Jan 2021, p. 96

4.7 stars

The photo in the magazine looked amazing, but I wasn't sure how these were going to turn out. They were so delicious and turned out like the photo! As I'm typing this, I'm thinking I need to get a pizzette (not to be confused with pizzelles) right now to have with my coffee. The soft brownie-like texture with the glaze on top, along with the winter spices, citrus and texture of the almonds makes this a new winter cookie favorite for me. I love that this cookie isn't too sweet either.

Cookie Ingredients: raw skin-on almonds, flour, baking powder, Kosher salt, unsalted butter, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, sugar, Dutch-process cocoa powder, egg, egg yolk, bittersweet chocolate chips, lemon zest, orange zest

Glaze Ingredients: bittersweet chocolate, powdered sugar, unsalted butter, Kosher salt

Tips:

• For our oven, we baked these for approx. 11 minutes (5 min + 6 min)
• Because the cookies were on the softer side, we didn't dip them into the glaze but instead, poured the glaze on top

(Find recipe under: Dessert - Pretzel and Potato Chip Moon Pies)

Recipe: Cauliflower and Cheese with Spicy Breadcrumbs

 

Cauliflower and Cheese with Spicy Breadcrumbs

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.9 stars

We had this wonderful side dish with steak and the Charred Focaccia and Steak Salad (without the steak in the salad). The flavors were so unique -- I'd not had a dish like this with flavors of smoked paprika, chipotle chili, gouda, cheddar, thyme, oregano and prosciutto. We loved it and will definitely be making it again. It's not a hard dish to make at all...and is relatively quick!

Ingredients: cauliflower, ciabatta or sourdough bread, prosciutto, smoked paprika, oregano, red pepper flakes, salted butter, flour, whole milk, cheddar cheese, gouda cheese, thyme, chipotle chili powder, onion powder, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper

Tips:

• The cauliflower head was more than 3 cups -- maybe 5 cups. I made 1.5x the amount of cheese sauce which actually wasn't needed in the end.
• Used panko breadcrumbs and toasted it on the side in a pan with the extra virgin olive oil, oregano and salt
• The prosciutto didn't crumble (didn't want to overcook/bake it) so chopped it up

Recipe: Pretzel and Potato Chip Moon Pies

Pretzel and Potato Chip Moon Pies

Bon Appetit Magazine, Dec 2020/Jan 2021, p.96

4.3 stars

These cookies were good, but I'd make some changes if I make them again -- see tips below.

Ingredients: pretzels, potato chips, marshmallows, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coconut oil, flour, sugar, unsalted butter, Kosher salt, Pretzel salt or flaky sea salt

Tips

• Don't wait for the cookies to turn golden brown (which means they're overdone)
• Don't use organic marshmallows as I don't think they melted as well. May make my own marshmallows!
• Instead of coconut oil, make a ganache or glaze with oil so the the chocolate actually hardens.

Recipe: Tofu with Rice and Miso-Maple Dressing

 

Tofu with Rice and Miso-Maple Dressing

Bon Appetit Magazine, Dec 2020/Jan 2021, p.43

4.4 stars

A light, flavorful, healthy dish! Only problem was that I didn't feel very full after eating it so I'd recommend serving this with gyoza or maybe another item.

Ingredients: tofu, ginger, scallions, carrots, shelled edamame, garlic, white miso, unseasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, toasted sesame oil, cornstarch, red pepper flakes

Serve with steamed white rice, cilantro, toasted sesame seeds

Tips:

• Make about 60% of the marinade. There was a lot of extra marinade that became a little bit gelatinous.

Recipe: 30 Minutes Coq Au Vin Chicken Meatballs

30 Minutes Coq Au Vin Chicken Meatballs

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.6 stars

My new favorite chef is Tieghan Gerard from HalfBakedHarvest.com. Her recipes are for one, GREAT, and they just all look incredibly delicious (see her Instagram account). I've been going to her site more often than Bon Appetit or Food and Wine's magazines and sites.

We had ground chicken in our freezer so this recipe caught my eye especially during these semi-cold winter days. Loved this dish -- good flavor!!! While it took a little bit more than 30 min, it doesn't taste like a simple, 30 min dish.

Ingredients: ground chicken, egg, carrots, mushrooms, Panko bread crumbs, bacon, yellow onion, garlic, tomato paste, red wine, chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, Parmesan cheese, Kosher salt, pepper

Serve with mashed potatoes.

Tips:

• Because I was craving polenta, we made polenta instead of mashed potatoes; we'll do mashed potatoes next time. 

Recipe: Smoky Potato and Kale Soup

Smoky Potato and Kale Soup

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.6 stars

Not a great photo of the soup above since it's covered by Manchego cheese (yum!) that we decided to use to top the soup. This was so flavorful and not hard to make. Another HalfBakedHarvest delicious recipe!

Ingredients: Yukon gold or russet potatoes, kale, whole milk, chorizo, yellow onion, chicken broth, lemon, garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper, Manchego

Recipe: Pork-and-Brisket Chili

Pork-and-Brisket Chili

Food and Wine Magazine, Nov 2017, p.101

4.5 stars

Found this recipe in my huge stash (I have a mountain of recipes I've collected over the years, pulling out pages from magazines). We were in the mood for chili, and this sounded good and complex compared to what we've made before. It was delicious, and made enough to feed a crowd (but we're not having any parties during these pandemic times so had leftovers that we froze for a later date!).

The recipe took quite some time -- the recipe says that the active time is 1 hr 45 min, but I think it took longer.

Beans ingredients: dried pink beans, yellow onion, carrot, celery, garlic, Kosher salt

Chili ingredients: boneless pork shoulder, brisket, yellow onions, green bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, light brown sugar, mustard powder, ground cumin, jar of Hatch chiles, crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, oregano, vegetable oil, Kosher salt, pepper

Serving/topping ingredients: sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced scallions

Tips:

• Cut the boneless pork shoulder into 3/4" pieces instead 1.5" inches
• Used 2 yellow onions instead of 3
• Used 5 garlic gloves instead of 10
• Add crushed red pepper if the green Hatch chiles are mild
• When making the beans, cook for 1.5 hours instead of 1 hour

Recipe: Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata

 

Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata

HalfBakedHarvest.com

4.2 stars

This salad was good, not amazing compared to some others we've made. However, it's pretty fast to make and uses up pesto (which we usually have on hand) and has burrata as the cheese (one of our favorites!). The dressing tastes almost like a Caeser dressing but without the umami that comes from anchovies.

Salad Ingredients: chicken breasts, basil pesto, ciabatta bread, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, burrata cheese, garlic, red pepper flakes, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper, fresh herbs like chives, thyme and basil

Parmesan Tahini Dressing: tahini, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, grated Parmesan, lemon, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper

Recipe: Picadillo

Picadillo

Bon Appetit Magazine, Sept 2020, p. 60

4.8 stars

Easy weeknight taco dish. I love that it includes poblanos and potatoes! This was one of blog contributor the grandcruman's favorite leftovers this past week. The dish was a tad watery (from the chicken stock), but we think that's the way it's supposed to be.

Ingredients: ground beef chuck, Yukon gold potato, onion, tomatoes, poblano chile, cilantro, garlic, chicken stock, cumin, vegetable oil, Kosher salt, pepper; tortillas and Mexican cheese

Tips:

• Used less salt -- instead of 1 Tbsp, use about 5/8 of a Tbsp.
• Broiled the poblanos so we could easily remove the skin.
• Added jalapenos!
• Need to add red pepper next time for a little heat.

Recipe: Alsatian Potato Pie

Alsatian Potato Pie

Martha Stewart Living, p. 133

4.3 stars

This "side" dish will wow a dinner party. Plus, who doesn't love puff pastry? If you like things like puff pastry, potato-leek soup, Gruyere and souffles, this recipe is for you. I'm always pleasantly surprised by how so few pretty basic ingredients can come together to make such a delicious dish.

Ingredients: puff pastry, Yukon Gold potatoes, leek, egg, Comte or Gruyere, parsley, garlic, all-purpose flour, heavy cream, unsalted butter, nutmeg, Kosher salt, pepper

Tips:

• Instead of pouring the cream mixture into the pie vents into the funnel, next time we're going to layer the cream on top before the final layer of puff pastry.
• Really nice with a Chardonnay.

Recipe: Tater Tot Egg Bake with Bitter Greens Salad

 

Tater Tot Egg Bake with Bitter Greens Salad

Bon Appetit Magazine, Nov 2020, p. 74

Salad: 5 stars

Tater Tot Bake: 2 stars

I was SURE that this dish was going to be delicious, but surprisingly, it was mediocre. The tater tot had little flavor, but the SALAD was amazing -- definitely make this salad again!

Salad Ingredients: sliced almonds, mixed greens, arugula, Manchego cheese

Salad Dressing Ingredients: shallot, orange juice, sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt

Tater Tot Ingredients: tater tots, onion, eggs, Kosher salt, pepper

Recipe: Chipotle Shrimp Cobb Salad with Jalapeno Corn Vinaigrette

 

Chipotle Shrimp Cobb Salad with Jalapeno Corn Vinaigrette

Half Baked Harvest

5 Stars

This is one of the best salad recipes we've made. Restaurant-worthy. We altered this a little bit as we don't eat much shrimp unless we know it's clean. This salad has some of my favorite things including avocado, bacon, eggs, jalapeno (for some spice) and corn.

Salad Ingredients: shrimp (or corn), mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, peach or nectarine, feta cheese, avocado, bacon, eggs, chipotle chili powder, ground cumin, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt

Jalapeno Corn Vinaigrette Ingredients: corn, cilantro, jalapeno, limes, honey, apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Kosher salt

Tips:

• Forgot to add peaches but don't think it needs that added ingredient.
• Replaced the shrimp with corn.
• Made farro and basically built the salad on top of the farro to make it a hearty one-dish meal.
• I prefer soft boiled or over-easy eggs so made an over-easy egg instead of hard-boiled.
• Didn't blend the dressing.

Recipe: Molten Chocolate Crackle Pie

Molten Chocolate Crackle Pie

Half Baked Harvest

4.5 stars

We made this for Thanksgiving and I think it's one of the best chocolate pie recipes ever. It was chocolatey, RICH and had a nice complexity to it because of the hazelnut liquor and also the texture of the chocolate chunks. I'll definitely be making this again. No need to ever buy pie from other places like Emporium Pies. This beats it hands down.

Tips:

• We used Frangelico for our liquor.
• Definitely make the Hazelnut Whipped Cream! It's a nice balance to the richness of the pie.
• Make sure to let the pie cool; otherwise, it'll be a molten mess when you serve it, and you won't get the texture of the chocolate chunks.
• Half Baked Harvest's recipe didn't have instructions on how to best braid the pie crust so I got the help of blog contributor the grandcruman who has watched many a British Baking Show episodes who was able to help me.

Recipe: Butternut Squash & Fettuccine Alfredo

Butternut Squash & Fettuccine Alfredo

Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, Oct 2020, p.80

5 stars

We had this as our main for Thanksgiving -- sooo good (I'm not a turkey fan), and I can't wait to eat the leftovers. What made the dish was the fresh pasta. . . I just love the texture of fresh pasta.

Ingredients: fettuccine noodles, butternut squash spirals, onion, smoked sausage, whipping cream, fresh sage, parmesan cheese.

Tips:

• Made fresh pasta
• Added some red pepper
• Used a combination of butternut squash spirals and butternut squash cubes -- will use just the spirals next time and will double the amount
• Will add a clove of garlic next time

30 Minute Spicy Sesame Noodles with Ginger Chicken

30 Minute Spicy Sesame Noodles with Ginger Chicken

HalfBakedHarvest.com

5 stars

This is the first recipe I've made from Half Baked Harvest -- a site my co-workers recommended to me. Her dishes for one, look amazing... and from reading the recipes themselves, they look GOOD (meaning flavorful).

This dish was just that, flavorful! Despite forgetting to buy green onions and hubby not realizing that I'd bought pomegranate juice and pomegranate seeds, this was a dish that while it doesn't look super amazing in my photo, tasted great. We'll definitely be making this again.

Ingredients: Chinese egg noodles or ramen noodles, ground chicken, kale or green cabbage, shiitake or cremini mushrooms, low sodium soy sauce, pomegranate juice (optional), honey, raw sesame seeds, peanuts, peanut or sesame oil, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, orange or clementine peel, green onions and pomegranate for serving

Tips:

• Double the amount of kale
• Used marcona almonds instead of peanuts
• Used Rotisserie chicken instead of ground chicken
• Used 1/2 shiitake and 1/2 baby bella mushrooms