Mini Pavlovas

I love Pavlova. I've loved it since the first time I had it way back in 1990. Sadly, I've only had it a few times in my life, but that's about to change. I happened upon this recipe last week and it was so much easier to make than my previous experiences that I'm going to be making it regularly. :) The recipe I've made in the past makes one 11" pavlova. This recipe makes eight 3-4" pavlovas and comes together, ready to eat, in just over 2 hours. You're gonna love it! (Recipe from Our Best Bites found here.)

Pavlova:

1 cup sugar
1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch

4 egg whites

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. white vinegar

Whipped Cream:

1 c. heavy cream

1 tsp. vanilla

3 Tbsp. sugar

Fresh fruit for topping (like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi...)

Chocolate ganache (see notes)

Preheat oven to 275º. If desired, trace 6-8 circles onto a piece of parchment with a pencil (the top of a large, wide-mouth mason jar or drinking glass works well). Flip paper over and lay on baking sheet. Set aside.

Place sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk together. Place egg whites in a stand mixer with whisk attachment. Beat for 1-3 minutes, until soft peaks form. with mixer running on medium-high speed, slowly add sugar mixture, one spoonful at a time until all is incorporated. Increase speed to high and continue mixing 3-4 minutes longer, until mixture is smooth and glossy and holds stiff peaks.

Add vanilla and vinegar and mix to combine, scraping down edges with spatula. Place mixture in a piping bag and pipe rounds onto prepared sheet. (Alternately you may simply spoon mixture onto the 8 rounds and shape with a spoon.)

Use a spoon to make a little indentation in the center of each mound, like a bowl. 

Place pan in oven and decrease temperature to 250º. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until edges are set and sound hollow when tapped. Turn off oven and with oven door cracked open, let pan cool completely. 

Pavlova shells may then be stored in air-tight containers for a day or two, or filled.

To fill, whip cream, vanilla, and sugar until soft peaks form. Spoon into center of each shell and then top with desired fruit. Drizzle with chocolate ganache (instructions below), if desired. 

Chocolate Ganache:

Use equal parts of heavy cream (by volume) and chocolate chips (by weight). I've found that 2 ounces of each is enough for all eight pavlovas.

Instructions: Heat 2 ounces of heavy cream and pour it over 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips. Let sit for about 5 minutes and then whisk until smooth. So easy and SO delish!! 

Photo from Our Best Bites

Sweet Potato Rolls

I requested this recipe from my mother-in-law after she made these for us on one of our visits to Idaho. These rolls are so soft and dense and delicious. As usual, I've tweaked the recipe a bit, so that's what you see below. But I've included the original recipe in the photo, just in case you want the authentic version. :)

1 pkg. (2 1/4 tsp.) instant yeast*
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 c. sugar (67g)
1 1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 c. shortening (128g)

2 eggs

1 c. canned yams, drained and mashed 

       OR 1 c. canned pumpkin

6 1/2 to 7 c. flour

Softened butter (for spreading on dough before rolling up)

In a stand mixer, combine water, sugar, salt, shortening, eggs, sweet potatoes and half the flour - Sprinkle the yeast over the flour before mixing. Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle. Either turn out onto a floured board and knead for about 5 minutes, OR knead in stand mixer for 5 minutes. Dough should be smooth and elastic, but not sticky.

Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 16" circle, about 1/4" thick. Spread with softened butter. Cut into 16 wedges. Roll up, beginning at rounded edge. Place point underneath on baking sheet. Let rise until light. (This sometimes takes a while, 2+ hours. Mine rise more when baking.) 

Bake at 375º for 12-15 minutes.

*the original recipe calls for active dry yeast with instructions on how to properly incorporate it, but I always use instant yeast and I add it when I add the flour. No need to dissolve first.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Have you ever tried Dairy Queen's Frozen Hot Chocolate? It is one of my favorite treats and, in my experience, it's always available even if it's not on their menu. Full disclosure - this recipe isn't as good as Dairy Queen's. I just can't duplicate that perfectly delicious chocolaty taste. But I did my best and, after several mediocre attempts, came up with a sufficient and surprisingly easy substitute. Plus, I can make this recipe 8-10 times for the price of one DQ serving!

1 c. crushed ice
1/2 c. chocolate milk*
1 packet Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix**

Combine ingredients and blend until ice is broken down to almost a milkshake consistency (there will still be tiny beads of ice). I use an immersion blender, but a regular blender should work just as well. Recipe can easily be doubled.

*I use the premade chocolate milk from the store. I tried chocolate almond milk and didn't like it quite as much. I haven't tried any of the powdered versions like Nestle, etc.

**I tried other brands and flavors of Hot Cocoa and Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate was always our favorite. But use what you have on hand. A different brand isn't a good enough reason to miss out on this yummy treat!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup - Easy Version

We LOVE gnocchi soup! It is definitely a favorite around here. But the recipe I originally used takes forever to make so we didn't eat it nearly as often as we would have liked. This version of the recipe is a game changer - it literally takes at least 30 minutes off the prep time - and is every bit as good! You really can't go wrong either way, but this one is my current go-to. Yum! (Originally found here.)

2-3 chicken breasts grilled using Perfect Chicken recipe*, diced

1 stalk celery, chopped

1/2 white onion, diced (yellow or red onion is fine, too)

2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1 Tbsp olive oil

4 cups chicken broth (4 bouillon cubes + 4 c. water works fine)

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp thyme

1/4 cup flour

16 oz. potato gnocchi (I literally buy this at Dollar Tree)

2 cups half and half

1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add celery, onions, garlic, and carrots. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until onions are translucent.

Add salt, pepper, thyme and flour. Stir to coat veggies. Add chicken broth and stir well. Add chicken. Bring to a boil, then gently stir in gnocchi. Boil for 3-4 minutes more, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes** to finish cooking gnocchi. (**Or cook the gnocchi in a separate pan according to package directions before adding to other ingredients. Then you can skip the last 10 minutes of cooking time.) 

Stir in half and half and spinach and cook another 1-2 minutes until spinach is tender. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve alone or with homemade bread, breadsticks or rolls.

*You can substitute a 12.5 oz. can of chicken breast if you don't have time to make Perfect Chicken. Or make it without the chicken. I did that once on accident and no one noticed! Or just cook the chicken however you like!

Swig Sugar Cookies {Copycat Recipe}

I don't live anywhere near a Swig. I don't think I've ever eaten one of their sugar cookies. But when a young friend requested pink frosted sugar cookies, I made these and they were a hit! I found the recipe here, and altered it a little to come up with what you see below. 

1 c. salted butter (2 cubes)
260 g. sugar (about 1 1/4 cup)
97 g. powdered sugar (about 3/4 cup)
56 g. canola oil (1/4 cup)
59 g. water (1/4 cup)
1 egg
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar (or angel cream)
630 g. flour (just over 4 1/2 cups)

1. Preheat oven to 325º. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat and set aside. 

2. Cream together butter, sugar, powdered sugar, oil, water and egg until light and fluffy. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated. 

3. Using a cookie scoop (mine is small with a 4 tsp. capacity), scoop cookie dough balls onto lined baking sheet, 12-18 per sheet. Using a flat, heavy bottomed glass, dip the bottom of the glass in sugar then gently flatten the dough balls so they are 1/2 to 2/3 inch thick. Edges will look rough. Bake 10-11 minutes in preheated oven. Cookies should be slightly puffed, but no brown edges. (Centers will be soft, edges cooked.)

4. Cool on baking sheet for 3-5 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack (or a piece of foil on the counter or whatever). Frost when completely cool. If not eating the same day, frosted cookies can be frozen and eaten at your convenience. 

FROSTING:
1/2 c. salted butter, softened (1 cube)
2 Tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
360 g. powdered sugar (3 cups)
1 drop red food coloring

Mix butter, milk, vanilla, almond extract, and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in food coloring (one drop of red makes the perfect soft pink). Frost cookies when completely cool. 

(Makes about 60 cookies, about 135 calories each)

Banana Muffins

My sister-in-law, Brenda, made these for us when we were in Oregon last summer. They are really good and yummy and moist. Sadie loved them! Fortunately, they are super easy to make.

1 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1 egg
3 mashed bananas
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice

Mix sugar, oil, egg, and bananas. Stir in dry ingredients. Fill muffin cups (maybe 2/3 full?) and bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes.

Jeff's Chili

Jeff is a great cook and we have certain favorite meals that are always made by him. Hamburgers, biscuits, fish tacos, and waffles immediately come to mind. Yum!! Here's his latest and greatest contribution. It's delish!

1 pound stew meat or rib eye steak
1 onion, chopped
1 packet Kinder's chili seasoning, "woodfired chili" flavor
32 oz. Spicy V8 juice (or use regular V8 for a more mild chili)
2-3 cans Bush's chili beans

Saute the onion in a little bit of oil. Cut up meat and add to onions. Season with steak seasoning or salt and pepper. Cook until meat is done, then add chili seasoning, beans and V8.

Cilantro Lime Rice

This rice is so yummy with Cafe Rio style sweet pork tacos. I don't make it every time we have them, but I miss it when I don't. It's super easy, so if you have the ingredients, whip some up and enjoy on your tacos or as a side. 

1 cup white rice

2 cups water

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp lime juice

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Bring water and salt to a boil. Add rice. Cover and cook until done (about 14 minutes). Add in lime juice and cilantro. Stir to incorporate and fluff with fork. That's all there is to it! Enjoy :)

Cafe Rio inspired Green Sauce

I love this green sauce on Cafe Rio style sweet pork tacos. It's just the perfect finishing touch. I started with a recipe for Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing by Our Best Bites, but I've altered a few of the amounts and ingredients over time. This makes more than you need for a batch of the sweet pork, but I've learned that it actually freezes really well! Yay!! Then the next time you're craving sweet pork tacos, you don't have to make a new batch of sauce. :) 

1 pack (1 oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix (honestly, I just use Aldi brand)
ignore directions on packet 
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup buttermilk or milk (I almost always use milk)
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro (or more!)
1/4 cup green salsa* (I often double this one!)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend it up really well. That's it. 

*I've used various types of green salsa. I've even made my own. Just look for one that has tomatillos as the main ingredient and isn't too hot (a little kick is fine). 

Cafe Rio Style Sweet Pork

We love Cafe Rio. There are a few restaurants we try to fit in every time we travel out west and Cafe Rio is definitely on that list. Their sweet pork tacos are especially delish when you add their yummy green sauce and some cilantro lime rice. I know it looks like a lot of work, but it's really not hard and we almost always have plenty of leftovers so I can freeze some for later or just enjoy sweet pork tacos for lunch the rest of the week. I found this recipe on a blog called The Recipe Society and it's a keeper for sure!

Put a 3-6 lb. pork roast in the crock pot and cover halfway up with water. Cook it overnight*. Discard water. Shred.

When the pork is shredded, combine:

12 ounces of salsa
1 can caffeine-free coke
2 cups brown sugar

Pour over the shredded pork in the crock pot and continue to cook for another 3-4 hours. 

Eat on a tortilla with cilantro lime rice (or just plain rice), black beans, cheese, lettuce, yummy green sauce, and/or whatever you like on your tacos. 

*The problem with cooking this overnight is that the pork is ready pretty early in the day. So sometimes I start the pork at 6 or 7am and cook it initially for 6-8 hours. Add on the extra 3-4 hours with the additional ingredients and you should be able to eat dinner by 6pm.