Guacamole

Grilled Turkey Burger with Guacamole

• 3- 4 Avocados
• 1 Roma Tomato
• 1-2 TBSP of fresh Cilantro
• 1/4 cup red onion
• juice from half a lime
• 2-3 TBSP of minced garlic
• optional jalapeno to add a kick

Cut open avocados and scope into bowl. Smash avocado with a fork or potato masher. Dice the tomato and jalapeno if used and add into bowl along with garlic. Chop up the cilantro and add it in along with the lime juice. Add a pinch of salt to taste.

Some say adding the pit of the avocado will make it last longer. make sure to over the top with plastic to preserve it.

Use instead of mayo on sandwiches or burgers

Mango Peach salsa

Mango Peach Salsa

I know what you're thinking. Tomatoes peaches and mangoes in one dish. A huge no. But if you thing about it they are all fruit. This salsa is quite delicious. Try it on a grilled salmon

• 2 mangoes, peeled and chopped
• 2 fresh peaches, peeled and chopped
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• juice of one lime
• dash salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Cover and chill at least 2-3hrs before serving.

TIP

If in a rush use canned tomatoes and peaches. 

Spice it up by adding a jalapeno (highly suggested)

What's For Dinner

So because of my work schedule I generally only cook one meal per week. It will generally last me into the weekend as I'm off on Thursday. But I'm always looking for something quick easy and, of course, delicious. So last week it was baked chicken with garlic smashed potatoes and corn. You can do this for almost any baked meat and I guarantee you will love it.

What you will need:
A baking dish
aluminum foil
chicken (wing or drumstick work best)
seasoning (whatever is in you cabinet)
rough cut vegetables like carrots celery onion (optional)
1 cup of milk
flour

Take your chicken and season it on both sides. Place your rough cut veggies into the baking dish with chicken cover tightly with foil, or lid if you have one. The chicken needs to sweat and you want to use those juices to make the gravy. Place covered pan into a preheated oven (about 325). Cook for 1hr to 1.5hr. Juices should run clear and internal temp. should be about 175 (180 by standard but it will get there trust me). Once chicken is done it's time to start plating up the food, but lets do the gravy first. Pour most the juice from the chicken into a warm skillet on med low heat. Pour the rest  into a dish with the milk then add to the skillet. Slowly add 1-2 tablespoon of flour to the mix and simmer until thick and your gravy is done. You can use more or less flour just remember its easier to add but once its in you can't take out.

Once gravy is done, try adding the chicken to the gravy and simmer for a few minutes while prepping the rest of dinner. Then you'll have smothered baked chicken for dinner. 

Rum Sauce

Banana Bread and ice cream with Rum Sauce

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons white or dark rum

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Mix together the sugar and cornstarch, and stir into the butter. Pour in milk, and cook stirring frequently until the mixture begins to boil. Continue cooking until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in rum. Serve warm.

       Tips

For a richer sauce try using 1 cup of half and half or 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of half and half.

Adjust the flavor by using a tablespoon of vanilla and 2 table spoons of rum

Spice it up with some cinnamon and nutmeg

Use Brandy instead of rum and brown sugar instead of white sugar

Try it over ice cream, banana bread, even apple pie. be creative and toss it over fruit or nuts. I personally can't think of a dessert that this sauce wouldn't be good over. 

Banana Banana Bread

over ripened bananas  

• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 3/4 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vanilla 
• 2 1/3 mashed overripe bananas (between 3-5 nice sized bananas)

         Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Mix in eggs vanilla and mashed bananas until well blended. With a spatula or wooden spoon stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Banana Banana Bread with Walnuts

         Tips
Right before pouring your batter into your loaf pan add raisins, chocolate chips, walnuts, or butterscotch chips to the batter. Save a little to pour on top before baking as well.

If you love cinnamon as much as i do add that in with the vanilla.

If you want a super moist bread try adding 1/2 a cup of applesauce into the banana mixture. Also a good thing to use if you don't have quite enough bananas.

SMOOTHIES

So the summer is almost here, or at least it feels like it. Now is the perfect time to get out there and get the seasons best in fresh fruits and veggies.
But if you're like me and work all day and forget about that pint of strawberries or bunch or broccoli. Or got that one banana that's all brown and nobody wants to eat it here's a trick:

MAKE SMOOTHIES

Green Apple Strawberry Smoothie

Yes you can throw anything you want in a smoothie. And if you're not sure about it try in in small portions. Pull out your blenders and have fun. That brown banana is packed full of natural sugars and no one will know that those strawberries weren't brought yesterday. Want a creamy smoothie go grab your favorite yogurt, or just mix it with some ice. 

Remember what your parents taught you: Waste not want not. what

Here's whats in mine (usually enough for 2-3 people)

3 apples
8 strawberries
1 banana
1 tablespoon honey
couple dashes of cinnamon
1 cup of yogurt (greek or regular)

Oatmeal Rum Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal Rum Raisin Cookies with Walnuts

• 1/4 cups raisins
• dark rum
• 1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/2 cups coconut (toasted for extra flavor)

The night before soak raisins with just enough rum to cover them. Cover and set in a cool place. Remember the longer they soak the more potent the flavor.

             Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats, raisins, coconuts and nuts until just blended. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Cookies should be at least 2 inches apart.
3. Bake for about 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

             Tips

Once you have the batter mixed refrigerate for a few hour. Allows for the flavor to settle in. 

I love cinnamon so if you do as well don't be afraid to add a little more than the recipe calls for. 

Make frosting and drizzle on top once cookies cooled.

             Frosting

Mix 3/4 cups of powered sugar with 3-4 tablespoons of milk. You can always add more milk but you can't take it out once added. 

        

Welcome

So this is my first attempt at this so feedback is important to me. Just be nice. I'll try to share simple recipes at least two per week with you. These will all be recipes I've tried or will try. If you have questions or Let me know I promise to answer all. So with all that said let me get to my first recipe hope you enjoy!