When I first started this blog, I was living in Old City and working in Center City Philadelphia, which meant I got to stop at Reading Terminal on my way home and get inspiration for my meals based on what looked the best that day. I stopped by the Historic Lewes Farmers Market recently looking for some inspiration while at the Delaware Beaches. While I was there, I was able to catch a demonstration by SoDel Concepts’ Pastry Chef Dru Tevis and Bennett Orchards’ Henry Bennett. I picked up some White Peaches from Bennett Orchards while I was there, which inspired me to make this perfectly summery White Peach Strawberry Salad!
This salad is very simple to make, and has less than 10 ingredients, but delivers a balanced mix of sweet, toasty, earthy, and acidic flavors, making for a truly memorable bite!
Ingredients:
Salad:
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1 (5 oz) bag spring mix
2 sliced white peaches or nectarines
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (if you don’t like blue cheese, you can substitute in feta)
Note: This post for Lobster Pasta in a Caramelized Fennel Sauce is sponsored by Wildgrain. Opinions are mine alone.
It probably comes as no surprise that one of the ways I show my love for my husband, family, and friends is through cooking. When cooking for those I love, I try to use high-quality ingredients so that the food is the best it can be. In the winter, my recipes become more comfort food-like, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to skip on quality!
Wildgrain is here to help me out on my quest for high quality ingredients that can be used to make oh so comforting winter dishes, like this recipe for Lobster Pasta in a Caramelized Fennel Sauce, adapted from a recipe on Food52.
Wildgrain is a bake-from-frozen membership that has two different box choices: Mixed Wildgrain and Bakery. The Mixed Wildgrain comes with an assortment of sourdough bread, hand-cut pasta, and artisanal pastries. The Bakery Box comes with an assortment of sourdough bread, breakfast baked goods, and artisanal pastries. All products are ready-to-bake from frozen, no prep required!
source: wildgrain.com
Everything included in the box is made with clean ingredients with no preservatives. The items are vegetarian, non-GMO, and contain no artificial colors.
Wildgrain has provided an exclusive code for I Can Cook That readers! You can receive $10 off your first box by using discount code ICANCOOKTHAT so you can try out Wilgrain for yourself!
I received a box chock full of awesome products, including two pastas, breads, croissants, and cookie dough. The pasta and bread in my box inspired me to make a pasta dish with plenty of sauce to sop up with bread! The addition of lobster makes this dish perfect for date night, or for a dinner party. The sauce can also be made ahead of time so that when you’re ready to cook, it takes no time at all!
Ingredients:
7 oz lobster meat, thawed if frozen
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 fennel bulbs, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup heavy cream
the juice of one lemon
12 oz container fettuccine, or other pasta of your choice
I hope you’ll allow me one more festive holiday recipe. Honestly, these Holiday Spiced Nuts are so tasty, they can (and should!) be enjoyed all year!
Around Thanksgiving, I was in Lancaster, PA and popped into Lancaster Central Market. While there, I stumbled upon Totally Nutz, which sells various cinnamon glazed nuts. They were so addicting, I wanted to try my own at home!
This recipe includes a bit more of the “holiday” spices than just cinnamon and includes four different types of nuts: pecans, walnuts, almonds, and cashews for a tasty sweet and spiced mixture!
This past weekend was my husband’s birthday. So to celebrate, I made him a special treat with some of his favorite ingredients: Almond Peach Crisp! My husband absolutely loves peaches, so I try to make him peachy foods from time to time.
This recipe makes about two servings, but can easily be multiplied to serve a crowd (I was afraid if I made too much, he’d eat it all in one sitting!)
Ingredients (serves 2, multiply as needed):
Peach Filling:
2 (10 oz bags) frozen sliced peaches, defrosted
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
a pinch of salt
Almond Crumble:
1/4 cup each of:
flour
old-fashioned oats
brown sugar
sliced almonds
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
I am a big fan of my slow cooker (I have 50+ slow cooker recipes on my blog); especially recipes I can set them and walk away (or leave my house) for 4 to 8 hours. But like a lot of people, I’ve been home quite a bit more, given the pandemic, so I decided to try to make a recipe that requires you to stay a bit closer to your slow cooker – Slow Cooker Granola.
My mother-in-law mentioned making granola in her slow cooker, and how great the results were, so I wanted to try to make my own version!
This recipe is very adaptable, you can substitute in any nut, oil, liquid sweetener, and dried fruit you prefer. This recipe also makes a good amount of granola, but if your house is anything like mine, it will be gone before you know it!
Ingredients:
Cooking spray
5 cups old fashioned rolled oats (use gluten-free oats to ensure this is gluten-free)
1 1/2 cups sliced almonds (or any nut you prefer; omit to make nut-free)
1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon each of
ground cinnamon
ground nutmeg
salt
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup agave (or maple syrup or honey if you prefer)
1 tablespoon almond extract (or vanilla extract to make nut-free)
My husband really likes chia seeds. He will even just add them to water and have them that way. As (un)appealing as that sounds, I’ve been trying to incorporate them into some recipes that make the most of chia seeds while being a bit more… tasty, like this recipe for Overnight Chia Seed Breakfast Pudding Jars.
Chia seeds are pretty bland, so they are easy to add to recipes without impacting taste. When soaked in a liquid, they expand and thicken whatever liquid they are added into, making them perfect for pudding or jam.
This recipe for Chia Seed Breakfast Pudding is an easy make ahead recipe for breakfast on the go. My husband and I just grab one of these pre-made jars and bring with us to work to eat.
Note: this recipe makes 4 (16 oz) jars or 8 (8 oz) jars, depending on how large you want your servings
I know that most of us are probably partied out. But it can never hurt to have some really great (and easy) party appetizer recipes on hand, like these Baked Cranberry Almond Brie Bites, right?
This recipe for Baked Cranberry Almond Brie Bites is a bite-sized version of baked brie wrapped in puff pastry; some versions of baked brie are stuffed with jam and nuts. This mini version uses mini phyllo cups stuffed with brie and cranberry sauce, then is topped with toasted almonds and fresh thyme. Mini phyllo cups (paid link) are typically available in the dessert frozen section of the supermarket.
It really takes me a while to adjust to colder weather. I feel like I’m always freezing! So a warm and hearty meal is a must this time of year, especially a soup or stew.
Romanesco is an intriguing little veggie. I don’t come across it terribly often, but when I do, I love using it in recipes like this recipe for Pasta with Roasted Romanesco and Capers.
Romanesco is similar to normal broccoli and cauliflower, and can be prepared the same ways. However, the flavor of Romanesco is much more muted. I personally love it roasted and tossed with pasta. The below recipe is heavily inspired by Bon Appetit’s Pasta with Roasted Romanesco and Capers recipe.
I received Romanesco in my latest Hungry Harvest (note: this is a referral link) and couldn’t wait to make this recipe!
Ingredients:
¼ cup sliced almonds
¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil; plus more for drizzling
2 tablespoons drained capers, divided
Salt, to taste
1 medium Romanesco, cored, cut into small florets
8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
½ cup dry white wine (or chicken/vegetable broth, if preferred)
Note: I was sent a copy of Eating With Peter for review. Opinions are mine alone.
It comes as no surprise that I gravitate toward books that use food to tell a story. Eating with Peter: A Gastronomic Journey written by Susan Buckley tells the story of her adventures travelling the world with her husband Peter— a well known writer, food critic, and gourmand—exploring foreign cuisine and cultures, from the Michelin-starred restaurants to the sprawling souks of Morocco. Eating with Peter chronicles a life-changing journey of gastronomy and love across Europe, North Africa, and various less-known culinary corners. The book also features 28 recipes that will appeal to lovers of North African, Caribbean, and French cuisines.
Susan’s life would never be the same after she meets Peter Buckley. A man who was larger than life, Peter pulls Susan out of her comfort zone to taste the fine life, literally. Together they embark on a rollicking adventure through Michelin-starred restaurants in France to the souks of Morocco and the waters of the Red Sea and the Caribbean. They explore the world, and along the way discover the most desired tables (sometimes in a tent) and the best markets, moving from Peter’s adventures with Hemingway to sampling delectable treasures in an Alpine meadow. When they return to New York, Susan and Peter—a writer, photographer, gourmand, as well as an inventive chef—incorporate their adventures into their daily American life. As they explore three-star restaurants, French farms, and Italian cheesemakers, the reader gets a taste of famous gastronomic dishes and their chefs, in addition to learning about mouth-watering recipes, culinary moments around the Buckley’s kitchen and table with family and friends, and many of their New York food secrets.
Inspired by the chapter about their travels through Morocco, I adapted the recipe provided within the book to make this One Pot Moroccan Chicken with Couscous.
It’s a fairly simple recipe made with ras el hanout, a North African spice blend that makes this such a tasty dish. The name, which means “head of the shop” (which is similar to the English expression “top-shelf” is a mixture of the best spices the seller has to offer. As such, there is no definitive ras el hanout recipe. Common ingredients include cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, coriander, paprika, and turmeric. For those near Philadelphia, I picked mine up from The Head Nut in Reading Terminal, but it can be found in many supermarkets as well.
This cold snap feels like it will never end. One good part about the cold weather is I definitely do more cooking!
One of my husband’s favorite recipes I make is one for Slow Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Tagine. I wanted to try a tagine with a different meat, so when I found this recipe for Slow Cooker Lamb Tagine on the cooking section of the New York Times, I used it as a base to make a slow cooker version.
Tagine or Tajine dishes are Moroccan slow cooked dishes named after the pot they are cooked in. The dishes are typically a stew with a protein, spices, and fruit. And, well, they are fantastic; they make for a perfect comfort food meal!
I braved the cold so I could pick up the ingredients for this yummy dish. I’m lucky enough to live close to Reading Terminal Market, and La Divisa Meats in the Terminal cubed some lamb leg meat for me for this recipe. If you do not have a local butcher, lamb stew meat works too.
Ingredients:
3 pounds cubed boneless lamb leg meat
salt and pepper, to taste
2 cinnamon sticks
large pinch saffron
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
1 3/4 cups beef broth
1 cup dried apricots
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or margarine to make dairy free, or ghee to make paleo)
A while back, I was given the chance to taste test some of the Cheesecake Factory‘s new menu items, which they do twice a year (who knew?) I was able to sample some cocktails and bites from across the menu. I, naturally, also wanted to try to make one of the recipes at home.
Cocktails included:
Cucumber Mojito – Gin and St. Germain with cucumber, basil and mint
Blood Orange Martini – Vodka, blood orange liqueur and blood orange juice
Irish Coffee Manhattan – Jameson Irish coffee served ice cold and straight up
Espresso Martini – Vodka with cold brew coffee
Other new menu options included:
Korean Fried Cauliflower – crispy cauliflower tossed in a sweet and spice sauce, topped with toasted sesame seeds and green onions
Chicken Taquitos – Crispy corn tortillas with grilled chicken, green chile, corn, onion, cilantro and cheese. served with avocado cream and salda verde
Skinnylicious Chicken Pot Pie – Sauteed chicken breast, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, peas and carrots in a light cream sauce, topped with puff pastry
Chicken Mango and Avocado Salad – Mixed greens, fresh pineapple, tomato, cucumber, red peppers, crispy wontons and almonds
Pasta Napoletana – Italian sausage, pepperoni, housemade meatballs, mushrooms, peppers, bacon, onions and garlic in a tomato sauce served over parmesan cream pasta
Seared Ahi Tuna – Served over white rice with sriracha aioli, stir-fried vegetables and wasabi butter sauce
Truffle-Honey Chicken – Fried chicken breast with truffle-honey, asparagus, and mashed potatoes
Chicken Riesling – Chicken breast, mushrooms, bacon, onions and garlic in a white wine Riesling cream sauce with buttered parmesan pasta
Carne Asada Steak Medallions – Certified Angus beef with sauteed peppers, onions and cilantro, served with a creamy ranchero sauce, fresh corn and white rice
Chicken Parmesan “Pizza Style” – Chicken breast coated with breadcrumbs, covered with marinara sauce and melted cheese. Topped with angel hair pasta in an alfredo cream sauce
Crispy Pineapple Chicken and Shrimp – Crispy chicken and shrimp with snow peas, mushrooms, onions, garlic, peppers and cilantro in a sweet and spice sauce, served with white rice
(The lighting in there is very dim so please excuse the quality of these photos)
The Cheesecake Factory has over 250 items on their menu, so there is sure to be something for everyone’s taste buds.
I tried my hand at recreating the salad we were served, with some adjustments to try to make it a bit more “home cook” friendly to make this Chicken Mango and Pineapple Salad.
Ingredients (serves 2):
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce (store bought, or recipe below)
5 oz baby lettuce mix
1/4 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1/4 cup fresh mango, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons julienned carrots
2 tablespoons tortilla strips, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cucumber, cut in half lengthwise and sliced thin
1 tablespoon almond slivers, toasted
1/2 tsp black sesame seeds
1 teaspoon fresh mint, thinly sliced
Dressing
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
pinch of salt and pepper
juice of 1/2 an orange
Teriyaki Sauce (makes 1/2 cup – you’ll need ~1/4 cup for this recipe):
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SimplySpecialMeals #CollectiveBias
We all have those nights where dinner is the last thing on your mind. On busy days (especially Mondays), I just don’t want to think up something for dinner, and I don’t want to spend the money on delivery.
Having a main dish in the freezer, like Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts, is a lifesaver for busy days. I picked up a 6-pack of Barber Foods Chicken Cordon Bleu from my local Superfresh (you can find them in the freezer section) so that I’m set for future dinners. Look for their new snazzy packaging!
The stuffed chicken breasts are individually wrapped so you can make as many or as few as you want at a time. Barber Foods’ Chicken Cordon Bleu is a chicken breast stuffed with savory ham and Swiss and American cheese which is then breaded — they recently updated the recipe to go along with their new packaging, yum! The frozen raw chicken can go right in the oven from the freezer, so no preparation is needed. This allows me to get dinner going as soon as I walk in the door, so helpful!
I like to make a quick side dish to serve while the chicken is cooking, so for the Chicken Cordon Blue I decided to make sauteed green beans with garlic and toasted almond slices.
Ingredients:
4 Barber Foods Breaded Stuffed Chicken Breasts (I used Cordon Bleu)
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WhenImHungry #CollectiveBias
Almost every weekday afternoon, I hit a wall of sorts. With a commute that can near two hours one way, I have plenty of time to think about the delicious dinner I plan to prepare when I get home. But 90+ minutes of dreaming about my next meal means I get hungry. And I mean hungry. Add in a late train, or some other minor inconvenience, and we’ve entered the hangry stage, which no unsuspecting other commuter (or my poor fiance) is equipped to deal with. I’ve even made myself my own little hashtag for these very moments in life — #crabbyKait.
So to avoid #crabbyKait and all the joys that come with her, it’s nice to have a little something on hand to take the edge off without being so big as to ruin the dinner I am looking forward to a bit too much.
Cue SNICKERS®, and their new products that are perfect for those that need just a little something — SNICKERS® Almond, SNICKERS® Xtreme, and SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared. The combo of chocolate and caramel gives me the little sugar rush I need, plus the nuts help keep me full until I get home. Luckily there is a Walgreens on the way to the train station and I can stock up before heading home! All three bars can be found in the candy aisle (along with SNICKERS® original bars.)
SNICKERS® Almond is pretty straightforward– it’s everything in a normal SNICKERS® bar (nougat, caramel and milk chocolate), with almonds subbed in for the peanuts.
SNICKERS® Peanut Butter Squared is made with caramel, nougat, milk chocolate, roasted peanuts and peanut butter squished into two square-shaped nuggets. These are great when you only need a little bite to get you going again — each pack comes with two squares so you can have one piece and save the other (or share with an equally hangry friend).
SNICKERS® Xtreme is made of a single layer of crunchy roasted peanuts and smooth caramel with milk chocolate (there is no nougat in these, so there’s more crunchy goodness in this versus the original SNICKERS® bar.) The Xtreme bar comes in a “2 to Go” format that’s ideal for sharing or eating some now and saving the rest for later.
I’m sure I’m not alone with my Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde reaction when I’m hungry! You can check out some great SNICKERS® recipes and fun stories on the SNICKERS® social hub as well.
SNICKERS® also wants to see who you are when you’re hungry. Enter the SNICKERS® “Who are you when you’re hungry?” contest by uploading a personal photo or video from yourComputer, Facebook, Instagram or use the SNICKERS® Meme Generator to create something new! Voting begins at Noon on 5/11/15 and ends at 11:59:59AM ET on 7/15/15.
Every Easter, my fiance’s mom makes peanut butter nests for her sons to take home. They are made with chow mein noodles, mixed in a melted peanut butter sauce, shaped into little nests and topped with egg-shaped chocolate candies. And I absolutely love them! I look forward to eating more than my share of them each year, but this year I just couldn’t wait.
I had a craving for something chocolatey and peanut buttery so, I decided to make mine with semi-sweet chocolate as well as peanut butter. We were visiting my fiance’s brother and his wife last weekend, so I used them as an excuse to make the recipe!
They try to eat vegan as much as possible, so when I began assembling the ingredients for this recipe and realized how simple this recipe would be to make vegan, I did so! You can easily make these Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Nests non-vegan if you so choose.
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz) package chow mein noodles
1 cup roasted unsalted peanuts
12 oz vegan semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup creamy peanut butter
~12 oz Jordan almonds or dark chocolate covered almond “eggs” (or any other candy that is egg-shaped if not making vegan) — you’ll need roughly 85 egg shaped pieces
