Tag: Summer Cooking

Homemade Chicken Tenders

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Chicken tenders are a childhood classic, they are like that baby blanket we still sleep with because we just can’t seem to let them go. Though you can buy them pre-frozen in the store [no shame] you can make them just as easy at home, with a little extra clean up. I prefer panko breadcrumbs for these, it adds to the texture and gives you that crunch.

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
  • 1 TSP Chili Powder
  • 1/2 TSP Garlic Powder
  • Chicken Tenders
  • 2 Eggs
  • Salt + Pepper

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat the oven to 375F. Combine the panko + chili powder + garlic powder + salt + pepper.

Crack the egg in the bowl to make an egg wash.

Dip the chicken in the egg wash, then coat in the panko bread crumbs. Line on a baking sheet.

Cook in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy warm and with whatever condiments you love most.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Steak Salad

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No one wants a lame salad at work. I am not one who enjoys getting like a rabbit, but I understand some people like it. Anyway, lets spice up this salad with some steak and pretty much whichever toppings you enjoy. Idea and recipe for the Balsamic dressing comes from Longbourn Farm.

Ingredients

  • Salad greens of your choosing
  • Steak, I used 2 smaller cuts I found at the store
  • Cherry Tomatoes, sliced
  • Cucumbers, quartered
  • Red onion, sliced into ribbons
  • Green Onions
  • Goat Cheese [or cheese of your choosing]
  • Salt + Pepper

For Dressing:

  • 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 TSP minced garlic
  • 2 TSP Honey
  • 1 TSP Dijon Mustard
  • 1/2 TSP Salt
  • 1/4b TSP Pepper

Let’s Get Cooking

Heat a skillet on the stove to MED-HIGH heat. Cook the steak to your liking, I prefer med-rare so I went about 4 min per side. Remove steak from heat and LET IT REST! That part is important, this allows the juices to reabsorb and not get lost in the process of immediately cutting it.

Prep the rest of your ingredients and throw into a large bowl.

Combine the dressing ingredients in a closed container and shake to mix.

Cut the steak into strips once cooled and add to the salad. Place in your separate containers for lunches and keep the dressing on the side, or dress and serve immediately.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Greek Pasta Salad

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I think some of the best recipes come from scavenging in your fridge. I needed some lunches for the week but did not feel like going grocery shopping. I had a lot of different individual items so figured why not throw it into a pasta salad; that always ends up turning out well. Here is my little creation, I don’t know how greek it really is, but that’s the name I came up with.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Cherry/Grape Tomatos, quartered
  • 2 Cups Spinach
  • 1/2 Cup Olives, halved, Kalamata or Green
  • 2 Cups Cooked Rotini
  • 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Cup Feta Cheese
  • Salt + Pepper

Let’s Get Cooking

Cook the noodles per package instruction, make sure you cook it al dente.

Prep the rest of your ingredients.

Grab a large bowl and place spinach on the bottom, then pour the cook pasta over top, add in the olives + tomatoes + feta cheese + olive oil and toss. This allows the spinach to slightly cook due to the warm pasta.

Season with salt + pepper and enjoy!

Have for your weekly lunches or for a quick pasta side dish.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Dill Potatoes

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I planted a small herb garden on my patio, my very small patio. One of the herbs, dill began to completely take over, in a good way. I decided that I needed to use some to clear up some space and let its herb neighbors grow. I had some potatoes in the pantry and found this recipe from the Kitchn which is a Ukrainian Dill Potato recipe. I edited the recipe a bit, I prefer a crunchy potato with the grassy dill. This is a perfect summer side.

Ingredients

  • 1-2 Large Potatoes, cut into cubes
  • 2 TSP Duck Fat [optional]
  • 1 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 1/2 Cup Chopped Dill
  • Salt

Let’s Get Cooking

After cutting the potatoes into cubes, boil in salted water until a fork can pierce them easily, but does not fall off.

Preheat the oven to 420F. Place the par-boiled potatoes on a baking sheet and toss with the duck fat. Roast in the oven for about 25-30 minutes.

Once the potatoes are done, place in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, salt, and chopped dill.

It’s as easy as that!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Avo Toast & Eggs

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Theres something about sourdough bread and avocado that makes breakfast 100% times better. This is a super easy breakfast that will impress your whole family, or cat, I’m not judging! You obviously don’t need to make your own sourdough bread specifically for this recipe, but if you have some around the house UTILIZE IT!

Ingredients

  • Sourdough Bread, toasted/ or whatever bread you have
  • Avocado
  • Salt + Pepper
  • Lime Juice
  • Eggs
  • Butter

Let’s Get Cookin’

Another at home recipe that I did and obviously didn’t start writing it down until it was too late, but here we are anyway.

Cut your bread, or if your fancy and it’s already sliced, place in the toaster and toast to desired doneness.

Halve the avocado and place in a small bowl. Add in the salt + pepper + lime juice and mash until mixed well.

Place about 1 TBSP to 1/2 TBSP in a pan and heat to med-low. Whisk eggs in a bowl. Pour into pan and turn the heat down to low. Frequently push the eggs around the pan as they begin to fold. Cook until they are solid. Finish off with salt + pepper.

Take the toasted bread and spread the avocado mash over top, place the avocado over top or on the side whatever you prefer, I’m not going to tell you how to eat your eggs.

Always Hungry,

Hannah

Quick Shrimp Po Boy

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Another improvised recipe? You betcha it is! I had some frozen shrimp and hot dog buns in the freezer along with some beautiful lettuce from the garden and this is what we ended up with. A delicious classic. Of course I don’t have anything measured exactly, respect my creative space please.

Ingredients

  • 3-4 Shrimp, fresh or frozen
  • Hot Dog Buns, toasted
  • Lettuce
  • Tomato, sliced
  • 1/4 Cup Mayo
  • 2 TBSP Sriracha
  • Cumin
  • Chili Powder
  • Corn Meal
  • Flour

Ingredients

Mix together enough flour+ corn meal+ salt + pepper+ chili powder + cumin to coat the shrimp.

In a large pan, heat up a thin layer of oil. Once the oil is hot, place in the coated shrimp. Cook about 2-3 min each side. The corn meal should crisp up and begin to brown. Once cooked, remove the shrimp and place on a paper towel.

While the shrimp is cooling down, mix together about 1/4 cup mayo with about 2 TBSP of sriracha.

Take the toasted bun, place lettuce, tomato, shrimp, and top off with the sriracha mayo.

Always Hungry,

Hannah

“To Err is Cumin Burger”

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Another Bob’s Burger, Burger recipe?! Don’t act like you’re not excited! I used our hot peppers from the garden instead of jalapeños so feel free to use whatever pepper you’d like! This one is for the Cumin Lovers, if you don’t like Cumin, don’t bother.

Ingredients

  • 3 TBSP Ground Cumin
  • 1 LB Ground Beef
  • 2 Jalapeño Peppers, seeded and diced
  • 1/2 Cup Mayo
  • 1 TBSP + 1 TSP Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1/3 Cup Chopped Cilantro
  • 1 Ripe Avocado
  • 4 Buns
  • Arugula/or any lettuce
  • 1 Large Tomato, sliced

Let’s Get Cooking

Add the cumin into the ground beef along with some salt + pepper. Mix in the diced jalapeños and form 4 patties. Cook the burgers to your desired doneness.

In a small bowl add in mayo + lime juice + cilantro. Mix well!

Halve the avocado and slice into thin slices, top with 1 TSP of lime juice.

Take your buns and add mayo on the top bun.

Time to build the burger: bottom bun, arugula/lettuce, tomato, burger, avocado, top bun.

Wham, Bam, Boom, what a quick and easy burger that gives you a little extra kick!

Always Hungry,

Hannah

Chickpea Masala

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I LOVE Indian Cuisine; the spices, the flavors, it truly goes unmatched. The hard thing about Indian recipes is that at times, to get such these amazing spice profiles, they take quite a while to complete. This recipe, Antoni’s of course, has such amazing flavor in such a short time. Not only that, but if you are working to incorporate a meatless meal here and there, this is a great one!

Ingredients

  • 2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive oil
  • 2 TBSP Unsalted Butter
  • 2 Medium Onions, Finely chopped/ about 3 cups
  • 4 Garlic Cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 TBSP Ginger, Finely chopped & peeled
  • 1 1/2 TSP Ground Coriander
  • 1 1/4 TSP Ground Cumin
  • 1 1/2 TSP Ground Turmeric
  • 1/8 TSP Cayenne Pepper
  • Kosher Salt
  • 1 28 oz Can Whole Tomatoes
  • 2 15 oz Can Chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1/3 Cup Dried Apricots, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 Cup finely Chopped Fresh Cilantro
  • 1/2 Cup finely Chopped Red Onion
  • Lime Wedges
  • Plain Yogurt
  • Basmati/Jasmine Rice

Let’s Get Cooking

Heat the EVOO and butter in a large pot over med-high heat until the butter is melted. Add in onions + garlic + ginger and cook, stirring until the onions have softened. Add in the remaining spices, coriander + cumin + turmeric + cayenne + 1 TSP Salt.

Add in the tomatoes with their juices, and 1/2 cup water. Using a wooden spoon, break up the tomatoes. Add in the chickpeas and use the spoon to mash up a quarter of them. Stir in the chopped apricots and increase heat to high. Once the mixture has come to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and stir occasionally. Let thicken for about 18-22 minutes. Once the time is up, taste and adjust for salt and remove from heat.

Serve the masala ASAP with some jasmine or basmati rice. Top with, if you’d like, some red onion and cilantro on top with lime wedges and a scoop of yogurt!

Always Hungry,

Hannah

Grandma’s Macaroni Salad

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My grandma would make this Macaroni salad for any family get together. We lost my grandma a few years ago, but when I make this recipe it makes me think of her. I’ve never tasted a macaroni salad that tastes like this one! This recipe can make a lot if you need it to for a party, or you can make a smaller serving as well. It’s one of my favorite family recipes and I hope you all like it as well!

Ingredients

  • Macaroni Pasta
  • Marzetti Cole Slaw Dressing or Mayo
  • Spanish Green Olives, sliced
  • Green Onions, diced
  • Hard Boiled Eggs, diced
  • Paprika
  • Celery, diced
  • Salt + Pepper

For this recipe the ingredients aren’t exact, it usually depends on how big of a serving you are making. So while making this, add in how much feels right.

Let’s Get Cooking

Start off by cooking the macaroni per the boxes instructions.

While the macaroni is cooking, prep the rest of the ingredients. Dice the hard-boiled eggs, dice the celery and green onion, and slice the green olives.

Once the macaroni is finished cooking, rinse and let it cool.

Place the macaroni salad into a large bowl. Start with about 1 cup of Marzetti Cole Slaw dressing, or mayo. As the day goes on you may need to add in more dressing. Combine the dressing with the macaroni, making sure everything is covered.

Add in green onions + olives + celery + hard-boiled egg+ paprika + salt + pepper.

Mix well to combine.

And guess what, thats it! The recipe is complete. I hope you love this recipe as much as I do, it’s one of those meals that just brings me happiness.

Made with Love,

Hannah

General Tso’s Cauliflower

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I have been working on adding a few meatless meals into my week however, I personally have found that these meals aren’t as satisfying. That’s where recipes like this come into play! I found this recipe from Woks of Life and you need to check out their page. This meatless recipe has everything you need, that crunch of fried foods, a little bit of heat, and a little bit of sweet!

Ingredients

For the Cauliflower

  • 1 Small Cauliflower Head
  • 2 TSP Cornstarch
  • 1 TSP Baking Soda
  • 1/2 TSP Salt
  • 1 TSP Sesame Oil
  • 1/8 TSP White Pepper/or regular pepper if you don’t have
  • 1/4 Cup Water
  • 1 Cup Rice Flour/ I used regular flour and it worked out okay!
  • 2 TSP Toasted Sesame Seeds
  • 2-3 Cups of Canola Oil

For the Sauce

  • 1 TSP Canola Oil
  • 2 TSP Ginger, finely minced
  • 2 Cloves Garlic, finely minced
  • 5 Whole Dried Red Chili Peppers, optional
  • 1/2 TBSP Shaoxing Wine, I didn’t use and it still worked out!
  • 1/2 TSP Sesame Oil
  • 1 1/2 TBSP Light Soy Sauce
  • 2 TBSP Rice Wine Vinegar
  • 2 TBSP Sugar
  • 1 Cup Water/Chicken Stock
  • 1 TBSP Cornstarch + 1 TBSP Water
  • Scallon for topping

Let’s Get Cooking

Cut the cauliflower into about 1-2 inch chunks. Mix into a batter cornstarch + baking soda + salt + sesame oil+ white pepper + 1/4 cup water + 3/4 cup rice flour in a large bowl.

Add in the cauliflower and fold together until the cauliflower is coated. Sprinkling the rest of the rice flour over the cauliflower, mix everything until it is sticking to the cauliflower.

In a small pot or large pan, heat the oil to 375F. While heating, sprinkle sesame seeds over the cauliflower. Once the oil reaches heat, fry the cauliflower in small batches, about 3 minutes each. Once fried, remove from heat and place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

In a wok, heat 1 TBSP of oil over med-high heat. Add in ginger and let fry for a few seconds. Add in garlic + dried red pepper and stir. Add in Shaoxing wine + sesame oil + soy sauce + rice wine vinegar + sugar + water/chicken stock. Turn the heat down to low and let simmer. Add in the cornstarch slurry and stir constantly, for about 20 seconds. The sauce should thicken and coat the spoon.

Add the fried cauliflower and scallions into the sauce and mix until everything is well coated!

Top with a little extra sesame seeds and serve with rice or on it’s own!

Made with Love,

Hannah