Homemade Bean and Bacon Soup
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This homemade Bean and Bacon Soup is simple and easy yet so incredibly delicious! Navy beans are simmered with bacon, sautéed onions, carrots and celery in a light tomato and parmesan infused broth. A one-pot soup that's both high in protein and fiber!
- 12 ounces center cut bacon (diced)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced (about 2 cups))
- 2 large carrots (diced (about 1 cup))
- 4 short stalks celery (diced (about 1 cup))
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 (15 ounce) cans navy beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 parmesan cheese rind
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt (more or less to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (more or less to taste)
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (for serving)
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Chicken Ricotta Meatballs and Penne Alfredo
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Chicken Ricotta Meatballs Alfredo is an easy dinner recipe for any night of the week! Tender chicken and ricotta meatballs are tossed with penne pasta in a creamy spinach and parmesan alfredo sauce. Serve alongside a simple salad and garlic bread.
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup ricotta
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste (or 2 cloves grated garlic)
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 8 ounces dried penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated fresh parmesan (plus more for serving)
- 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 2 cups spinach (roughly chopped)
- kosher salt (to taste)
- freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta liquids (for thinning sauce (optional))
- fresh basil (for serving (optional))
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Easy Caramel Apples Recipe
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Sweet crisp apples dipped in homemade caramel! These Easy Homemade Caramel Apples are sticky, sweet and absolutely incredible while also being pretty simple to prepare. I encourage you to read this entire post to ensure your caramel apple making is a success! Yields 8 to 10 apples depending on apple size.
- 8 cold apples (6 to 10 apple depending on size)
- 8 sticks or sturdy twigs (see notes)
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (at room temperature)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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Cobweb Brownies
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These Cobweb Brownies are so easy, incredibly fudgy and delicious. Thick homemade black cocoa brownies are topped with threads of stretched melted marshmallow for fun and spooky treat.
- nonstick baking spray with flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 8 ounces 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking bar (I use Ghirardelli)
- 2/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup dutch black cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 5 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
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Chipotle White Bean Turkey Chili
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Smoky and spicy, this Chipotle White Bean Turkey Chili is cozy comfort in a bowl. Sautéed onions, garlic and ground turkey is cooked with spices, white beans and tomato sauce for a quick and hearty meal.
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
- 2 pounds lean ground turkey (or sub with ground chicken or lean ground beef)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt (more or less to taste)
- 1¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 (15 ounce) cans great northern beans or navy beans (rinsed and drained)
- 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
- cilantro (chopped)
- plain nonfat greek yogurt or sour cream
- grated extra sharp white cheddar cheese
- lime wedges
- tortilla chips
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Spiced Cupcakes with Brown Butter Buttercream
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These Spiced Cupcakes with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting are moist and flavorful! Tender brown sugar cupcakes spiced with apple pie spice, ground ginger and clove are topped with a simple brown butter cream cheese frosting.
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (for the frosting)
- 1¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour (or use Gluten-Free 1 to 1 flour (I like Bob's Red Mill))
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 rounded teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground clove
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream (at room temperature)
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract)
- brown butter
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 1 pinch fine salt (pink himalayan or sea salt)
- 3 to 3½ cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- ground cinnamon (for sprinkling over frosting)
- coarse sparkling sugar (for sprinkling over frosting (optional))
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Mexicali Sweet Potato Noodle Salad with Roasted Poblanos and Corn
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In this Mexicali Sweet Potato Noodle Salad, roasted poblanos and charred corn are tossed with sweet potato noodles, kale, jalapeño, cabbage and red onion in a simple lime infused Mexicali dressing. Fresh, bright and with a subtle smoky heat.
- 1 tablespoon Mexicali seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 lime (zested)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 small poblano peppers (roasted)
- 2 to 3 ears sweet corn (kernels removed)
- 2 small sweet potatoes (or 1 large, peeled )
- 1 bunch lacinato kale (leaves stripped and sliced (stems discarded or composted))
- 1½ cups sliced purple cabbage
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 jalapeno (seeded and diced)
- 1 cup cilantro (loosely packed )
- 1/2 cup pepitas
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BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad
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This BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad has it all! A blend of romaine, kale and Napa cabbage along with bacon, onions, toasted almonds, raisins and carrots are tossed in a bbq ranch dressing. Serves 8 to 10.
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 medium romaine lettuce (chopped)
- 1 bunch lacinato kale (stemmed and chopped)
- 3 cups Napa cabbage (chopped)
- 1 cup carrots (shredded )
- 3 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese (cubed)
- 1/2 medium red onion (diced (about 1/2 cup))
- 1/3 cup almonds (sliced toasted )
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 3 green onions (sliced)
- 3/4 cup ranch dressing (I used my greek ranch recipe)
- 6 tablespoons barbecue sauce
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Winter Kale and Beet Greens Salad with Pear, Gorgonzola and Fennel
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A vibrant, nutrient-filled salad that is tasty and good for you!
- 1 bunch kale leaves (leaves stripped and stems discarded)
- 1 bunch beet greens (leafy tops from one large bunch of beets)
- 1 small fennel bulb (cored and sliced thin)
- 1 red pear (sliced thin)
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup gorgonzola (crumbled, more or less to taste)
- 3/4 cup honey poppy seed dressing
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Winter Kale + Crispy Pancetta Salad with Bleu Cheese Toasts
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Think of this salad as an update on the classic spinach salad. Where spinach is replaced with kale, bacon is swapped out for pancetta and the dressing is made from the pancetta fat.
- 12 ounces baguette ( sliced on an angle or 12 slices)
- olive oil (for brushing)
- 2 ounces bleu cheese (I used Roquefort)
- 4 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
- 2 bunches kale (washed and patted dry and chopped (about 8 cups))
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 a medium red onion (sliced vertically)
- 8 ounces pancetta (diced)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I use country Dijon)
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- salt and pepper
- 6 hard boiled eggs (qartered)
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