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Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus

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Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus is a fast and easy side dish perfect for weeknight dinners and holiday feasts. Everything you need (except the asparagus) is probably already in your fridge! Check out my tips for picking out perfect asparagus in the store (bottom of recipe).

Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus is a fast and easy side dish perfect for weeknight dinners and holiday feasts. Everything you need (except the asparagus) is probably already in your fridge! Check out my tips for picking out perfect asparagus in the store (bottom of recipe).

The truth is I’ve been making my sautéed asparagus the same way for years! I keep it simple with butter, salt and pepper.  It is amazing and perfect!  But this year I decided to branch out a bit more and try some new things.  I didn’t go crazy but I did come up with several new options we have enjoyed putting into the rotation!

This Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus was a huge hit with Jonathan.  I think it reminded him of a more Asian style vegetable dish.  We both like the simplicity of prep and being able to toss it together while cooking something else on the stove or in the oven.

If you are unfamiliar with asparagus make sure to check out the tips at the bottom of the recipe.  You will be picking out the perfect bundle of spears in no time!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  Most kitchens need two good skillets.  I’m using this set from Calphalon for my basic pans.

You know what goes well with Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus?  Roast Beef!

This Roast Beef only takes five minutes to get in the oven and comes out perfectly every time. Even cheap cuts of meat are sensational!

Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus is a fast and easy side dish perfect for weeknight dinners and holiday feasts. Everything you need (except the asparagus) is probably already in your fridge! Check out my tips for picking out perfect asparagus in the store (bottom of recipe).
5 from 1 vote
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Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus

Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus is a fast and easy side dish perfect for weeknight dinners and holiday feasts. Everything you need (except the asparagus) is probably already in your fridge! Check out my tips for picking out perfect asparagus in the store (bottom of recipe).
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 102 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1 pound asparagus see note
  • 3 Tbsp. salted butter
  • 2 tsp. minced garlic optional
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper coarsely ground
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Trim the root ends from the asparagus spears about 1” or enough to remove any white part.
  2. Heat butter and garlic in a large skillet over medium high heat just until the garlic starts to turn light brown.
  3. Add the trimmed asparagus, water, salt and pepper. Toss with tongs or spatula occasionally. Cook 4-6 minutes until the asparagus is just tender with the smallest crunch and the pan is starting to go dry.
  4. Taste for salt and pepper and serve hot.

Recipe Notes

How to Choose Asparagus: In the store look for spears of asparagus that are about the width of a pencil or at the largest a narrow sharpie. Choose a bundle that has firm green tips and is not slimy. The asparagus should look fresh and nice.

Nutrition Facts
Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus
Amount Per Serving
Calories 102 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 23mg 8%
Sodium 320mg 13%
Potassium 229mg 7%
Total Carbohydrates 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 2g
Protein 2g 4%
Vitamin A 22.7%
Vitamin C 7.7%
Calcium 3%
Iron 13.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Garlic Butter Sautéed Asparagus is a fast and easy side dish perfect for weeknight dinners and holiday feasts. Everything you need (except the asparagus) is probably already in your fridge! Check out my tips for picking out perfect asparagus in the store (bottom of recipe).

✕

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Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes

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These Garlic Parmesan Potatoes have that perfect mix of garlic, butter, cheese and seasonings. They are a quick side dish to toss together for a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal. Adding the butter at the end gives them SO much extra flavor.

These Garlic Parmesan Potatoes have that perfect mix of garlic, butter, cheese and seasonings. They are a quick side dish to toss together for a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal. Adding the butter at the end gives them SO much extra flavor.

My mom started giving me an allowance when I was about 2.  I got a quarter a week (big money in the 80s!) and liked to take my coins to the farmer’s market to buy potatoes and tomatoes.  I think if you could be born with food in hand mine would have been potatoes!

While I’ve never met a way to cook potatoes I didn’t like, roasted is always high on my list!  It does a great job of concentrating the potato for that rich roasted flavor I love and only takes a few minutes to prep a side dish for the oven – no fuss, no muss.

I used to roast potatoes exclusively in oil but these days I toss a bit of butter on in the end.  Unlike mashed potatoes a little goes a long way and taking that extra step gives you tons of wonderful flavor.  If I’m feeling a bit fancy I toss on some fresh herbs at the end for color and more flavor.  Bing, bang, boom and DONE!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post: I keep a bottle of this Italian Herb Blend on hand at all times. It is my go to instead of fresh herbs that are more expensive and hard to keep handy. Usually you can find this in the produce section of the grocery store for $4 or under. If not badger the grocery store or order off of Amazon.

I like to serve these potatoes with this Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin! 

We love this simple bacon wrapped pork tenderloin! The creamy onion sauce and bacon make this easy dinner look fancy without the extra work. Serve it with a salad or rice and veggies for a fast, easy meal.

These Garlic Parmesan Potatoes have that perfect mix of garlic, butter, cheese and seasonings. They are a quick side dish to toss together for a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal. Adding the butter at the end gives them SO much extra flavor.
5 from 2 votes
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Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes

These Garlic Parmesan Potatoes have that perfect mix of garlic, butter, cheese and seasonings. They are a quick side dish to toss together for a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal. Adding the butter at the end gives them SO much extra flavor.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 362 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds small gold potatoes petite or baby size work well
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp. black pepper coarsely ground
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. onion salt
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 2 tsp. freeze dried Italian herb blend I use Litehouse brand
  • 6 Tbsp. salted butter melted
  • Fresh parsley or chives to garnish optional
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  2. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
  3. Wash the potatoes and slice in half. Place in a single layer on the baking sheet.
  4. Sprinkle everything else except the butter over the potatoes. Gently toss to coat.
  5. Bake for 25 – 30 or until golden and crisp. The potatoes should be very tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Stir in butter until melted. Taste for salt and serve garnished with fresh parsley or chives if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 362 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 744mg 31%
Potassium 50mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Vitamin A 11.6%
Calcium 1.1%
Iron 1.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

These Garlic Parmesan Potatoes have that perfect mix of garlic, butter, cheese and seasonings. They are a quick side dish to toss together for a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal. Adding the butter at the end gives them SO much extra flavor.

✕

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Copycat Cracker Barrel Blueberry Syrup

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Mmmm pancakes with blueberry syrup! This syrup is easy to make at home and much better than the beloved syrups served at Cracker Barrel or IHOP! It has more flavor, less sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup! This is the stuff heavenly Saturday mornings are made of.

Mmmm pancakes with blueberry syrup! This syrup is easy to make at home and much better than the beloved syrups served at Cracker Barrel or IHOP! It has more flavor, less sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup! This is the stuff heavenly Saturday mornings are made of.

A few weeks ago I was doing some yummy recipe research at Cracker Barrel.  (The entire family loves it when I do this kind of research.)  My project of the day was trying blueberry pancakes which came with a cute jar of Dickinsons Wild Main Blueberry Syrup.

The syrup was really nice but heavy on the sugar and lite on the blueberry flavor.  Of course the label reveals three kinds of sugar after blueberries  – two of which are sugars food can generally do without in my not so humble opinion.

My mission when we arrived at the restaurant was pancakes but I went home thinking I could make a better syrup too!  Well it turns out I was right!  Blueberry syrup is easy to make at home either with whole berries or smooth.  The results are way better than what I got at the restaurant and my syrup actually had a lot of fruit in it.  It is still a sweet syrup but not so sweet as to loose the wonderful blueberry flavor.

I will note that most people won’t be able to find Wild Main Blueberries easily and if you can the price point is usually steep.  Many stores do carry “wild blueberries” in the frozen section which will give you the great wild berry flavor Main berries are prized for without the cost of the true Main version. Of course you can also use regular cultivated blueberries and still have wonderful syrup – the choice is entirely up to you!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  I like this syrup with a few berries in it for texture.  If you want a smoother syrup you can use an immersion blender like this at the end.  These are also handy tools for jam, soups and sauces.

Need a great pancake recipe to go with your syrup?  These Copycat Cracker Barrel Pancakes are about my most popular recipe ever and one we make for breakfast most weeks. 

These Copycat Cracker Barrel Pancakes are a bit better than the ones served at the restaurant. Only 5 ingredients, and instructions to make a homemade mix.

Mmmm pancakes with blueberry syrup! This syrup is easy to make at home and much better than the beloved syrups served at Cracker Barrel or IHOP! It has more flavor, less sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup! This is the stuff heavenly Saturday mornings are made of.
5 from 2 votes
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Copycat Cracker Barrel Blueberry Syrup

Mmmm pancakes with blueberry syrup! This syrup is easy to make at home and much better than the beloved syrups served at Cracker Barrel or IHOP! It has more flavor, less sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup! This is the stuff heavenly Saturday mornings are made of. (Makes 2 cups of syrup.)
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 76 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 2 cups blueberries see note
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Combine the cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. of the water in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Add the rest of the water to a medium saucepan with the blueberries and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat stirring occasionally.
  3. Reduce heat to bring the syrup down to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
  4. Stir the cornstarch mixture in making sure to stir until everything is well mixed. Continue to stir occasionally and simmer until the sauce thickens a little bit. A few of the berries will be whole still which gives this syrup a fun texture. You can always choose to puree the remaining berries with an immersion blender or a drink blender.
  5. Store in the refrigerator for several weeks or in the freezer for several months.
  6. Serve cold or warm however you prefer.

Recipe Notes

Type of Blueberries: You can use any kind of blueberries to make this syrup. They can be fresh or frozen. Some people prefer using wild blueberries because they have a slightly more intense and tangy taste than cultivated blueberries. I like using wild blueberries for syrup because they are small and you get nice thick syrup with little blueberries in it. That being said, the cost of frozen wild blueberries is generally about twice as much as frozen cultivated blueberries.

Nutrition Facts
Copycat Cracker Barrel Blueberry Syrup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 76
% Daily Value*
Sodium 2mg 0%
Potassium 28mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 19g 6%
Sugars 16g
Vitamin A 0.4%
Vitamin C 4.3%
Calcium 0.2%
Iron 0.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Mmmm pancakes with blueberry syrup! This syrup is easy to make at home and much better than the beloved syrups served at Cracker Barrel or IHOP! It has more flavor, less sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup! This is the stuff heavenly Saturday mornings are made of.

✕

Free Simple Weeknight Meal Plan

Creamy chicken and rice casserole 113 by 170 for email forms

Sign up here for your free plan and start rocking dinner!

We won't send you spammy emails. Just amazing cooking ideas! Powered by ConvertKit

Easy Chocolate Truffles

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Think making special candy is hard? Think again! These Easy Chocolate Truffles are decadent and only require a few simple ingredients to make. Creamy, rich, and indulgent they will make you smile again and again. Who will you be making a batch for?

Think making special candy is hard? Think again! These Easy Chocolate Truffles are decadent and only require a few simple ingredients to make. Creamy, rich, and indulgent they will make you smile again and again. Who will you be making a batch for?

Full Disclosure:  Albertsons compensated me for developing this recipe with their products.  That being said I have been an Albertsons shopper since I was a little girl and shop there on a regular basis.  My promise to you is that I will only promote products and companies I love and use in my home.

Think making special candy is hard? Think again! These Easy Chocolate Truffles are decadent and only require a few simple ingredients to make. Creamy, rich, and indulgent they will make you smile again and again. Who will you be making a batch for?

I’ve been making these easy chocolate truffles about as long as I can remember.  My cousin Stephanie always made them at Christmas and included them on her epic plates of candy.  Year after year they were one of my Dad’s favorite treats.

We made them in different flavors, rolled in nuts, with a maraschino cherry inside and pretty much anything you can think of.  My favorite version is probably the simplest:  milk chocolate and plenty of almond extract combined into a smooth, creamy, decadent truffle that melts in your mouth.

Dad is gone now but our family still makes and enjoys these frequently.  This year I had the privilege of making them with my son for the first time.  He has just turned two but is a connoisseur of good food.  If he likes something he will ask for more of it.  If he LOVES something he will trouble himself to learn the name so he can ask specifically for that item.  Guess who learned to say “truffles” this week?

Think making special candy is hard? Think again! These Easy Chocolate Truffles are decadent and only require a few simple ingredients to make. Creamy, rich, and indulgent they will make you smile again and again. Who will you be making a batch for?

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner I wanted to do something special in honor of two of my girl friends.  I became friends with Katie and Kim (yes Crazy Kim of the Taco Balls recipe) hanging out playing board games and drinking wine.  As Jack came into my life these women worked to create a space where we could do mom life together.  Most weeks we get together and let our kids run wild while we try to keep the peace, talk about the good / the insanity, and generally encourage each other in this wild adventure that is motherhood.

These women have spoken words of encouragement through pregnancy, sleepless nights, teething, that first time I made a mistake that put Jack in harms way.  They threw baby showers and made jokes and let me be known in all my imperfections of motherhood.  A true and trusted friend is priceless.  A mom friend in the trenches with you – that is something I don’t have words for.  This winter I wanted to make a little gift to acknowledge all that they have done in linking arms with me in this season of my life.

Think making special candy is hard? Think again! These Easy Chocolate Truffles are decadent and only require a few simple ingredients to make. Creamy, rich, and indulgent they will make you smile again and again. Who will you be making a batch for?

More and more in the last year I’ve come to rely on my neighborhood Albertsons as a place to pick up all the stuff on my list.  I was able to make one trip and get everything I needed to make the truffles, some cute gift bags, cards, stunning debi lilly design™ alphabet candles, and even a beautiful bag of rose petals for gift packaging!  There were so many extra rose petals I let Jack have some to play with and surprised Jonathan with the extras.

I had the chance to meet Debi Lilly herself last fall at the Albertsons company headquarters.  She is a warm, friendly woman with a creative eye for style and fun to get to know.  I’ve enjoyed picking up several of her creations for our home.  The alphabet candles make the perfect gift and have a subtle scent with just a hint of ginger.  Mine is tucked away just for my bubble bathes when I need a bit of personal sanity away from the chaotic existence that is life as a toddler mom.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner I’m enjoying taking a moment to honor the friendships that have meant so much to me.  These easy chocolate truffles make it is simple to give special gifts to those people in your life who could use a smile this winter.  Who will you be making a batch for?

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

debi lilly design products are available in my area exclusively at Albertsons but they can also be found in the entire Albertsons Companies family of stores.  I shop at Albertsons here in Boise and at Safeway when I’m in Oregon visiting my family.  Look out for debi lilly design products at Albertsons family stores across the country including:  ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Express, United and Carrs/Safeway.  You can visit Albertsons.com to find a store near you and to get more great recipes like this.

Tools In This Post: The easiest way to form truffles is with a small scoop like this melon baller.  I like one with a bail that helps remove the truffle from the scoop.  If you don’t have a scoop like this you can use a teaspoon to portion out your candy and then continue to roll the portions into balls as directed. 

Looking for more fun and easy Valentine’s Day Treats?  Check out these wonderful Chocolate Cheesecake Deviled Strawberries! 

Creamy chocolate cheesecake filling is perfectly flavored and whipped, then spread unto strawberries for a elegant appetizer. Move over deviled eggs - there is a new "deviled" treat in town!

5 from 2 votes
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Easy Chocolate Truffles

Think making special candy is hard? Think again! These Easy Chocolate Truffles are decadent and only require a few simple ingredients to make. Creamy, rich, and indulgent they will make you smile again and again. Who will you be making a batch for? (This batch makes 48 truffles.)
Course Candy
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 48
Calories 89 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup Signature Kitchens granulated sugar
  • 2 bags Signature Kitchens milk chocolate chips 11.5oz each
  • 1 Tbsp. almond extract
  • 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar or cocoa powder
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. If you live above 3,000 ft see recipe note before starting. (If you don’t know what altitude you live at just Google the altitude of the city you live in to get that information. It might be higher up than you think!)
  2. Combine milk and sugar in small saucepan with a heavy bottom. Cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a full rolling boil (see note at bottom of recipe for more information.)
  3. Boil 3 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips until fully melted. Then stir in almond extract until the mixture is smooth.
  4. Pour chocolate mixture into a shallow bowl or baking dish. Cover and refrigerate 1-2 hours or until filling is firm. (If the filling becomes too firm to roll leave it at room temperature until it is soft enough to work with again.
  5. After the filling is firm, use a melon baller to make small balls, about 2 teaspoons.
  6. Roll each ball between your palms until it is round in shape. Then roll truffle in powdered sugar or cocoa powder depending on your preference.
  7. Store the truffles in layers separated by wax paper in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. For longer storage refrigerate up to two weeks or freeze in freezer bags up to three months. If frozen, thaw in fridge overnight.

Recipe Notes

Rolling Boil: A rolling boil means that the liquid is bubbling so hard that you can still see lots of large bubbles coming to the top and popping as you stir. If this sounds confusing you can always use a candy thermometer to make sure you are at the right temperature. Just follow the directions in the next note as if you lived at high altitude!

 

Making Candy Above Sea Level: If you live up a few thousand feet the milk / sugar mixture will boil differently than it would at sea level. Instead of bringing the mixture to a rolling boil and then timing you need to use a thermometer. Just clip a candy thermometer (usually less than $3 at the grocery store) to the side of your pan. As you stir watch the temperature. When the sugar / milk mixture reaches 190 F go ahead and add the chocolate. Follow the rest of the recipe as directed!

Nutrition Facts
Easy Chocolate Truffles
Amount Per Serving
Calories 89 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 15mg 1%
Potassium 16mg 0%
Total Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Sugars 12g
Protein 1g 2%
Vitamin A 0.9%
Vitamin C 0.2%
Calcium 3%
Iron 1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe adapted from here. 

Think making special candy is hard? Think again! These Easy Chocolate Truffles are decadent and only require a few simple ingredients to make. Creamy, rich, and indulgent they will make you smile again and again. Who will you be making a batch for?

✕

Free Simple Weeknight Meal Plan

Creamy chicken and rice casserole 113 by 170 for email forms

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Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip

by 2 Comments

This simple Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip takes a classic dinner and makes it into the perfect appetizer for game day or your next party. Minimal ingredients and great flavor make this recipe a party regular!

This simple Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip takes a classic dinner and makes it into the perfect appetizer for game day or your next party. Minimal ingredients and great flavor make this recipe a party regular!

Last summer I was making chicken enchiladas when my sister-in-law suggested that the filling would make great dip!  Rachel was right, of course, and I ended up adding a few more creamy ingredients to make this creamy chicken enchilada dip.

Our household is comprised of Mexican food lovers and taking a favorite dinner and turning it into dip has been a big hit.  I make it for parties of course but also for dinner!  Sometimes the hassle of stuffing all the enchiladas just annoys me and this dip means everybody can just dip their own chips or stuff a tortilla at the table.

If I do serve it for dinner, I usually put out a salad or Mexican rice and some veggies like tomatoes and olives.

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  Does your kitchen have high quality measuring equipment?  Upgrading to a good quality stainless steel set that goes all the way down to 1/8 tsp. is a worthwhile investment.  Make sure you get a strong set and one that is accurate.  (Decorative sets are not always accurate.)

Love simple appetizers?  These Teriyaki Meatballs in Pineapple Sauce are one of my favorites! 

These flavorful meatballs in a sweet teriyaki pineapple sauce always go quickly! We serve them as appetizers or with rice and veggies for a simple dinner.

This simple Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip takes a classic dinner and makes it into the perfect appetizer for game day or your next party. Minimal ingredients and great flavor make this recipe a party regular!
4.8 from 5 votes
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Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip

This simple Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip takes a classic dinner and makes it into the perfect appetizer for game day or your next party. Minimal ingredients and great flavor make this recipe a party regular!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 261 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cooked and shredded chicken
  • 8 oz cream cheese very soft
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup salsa Verde
  • 1 can chopped green chilies 4oz
  • 8 oz shredded Mexican blend cheese additional cheese to garnish if desired
  • 1 package taco seasoning or the equivalent from the canister

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  2. Butter or oil a 9”x9” casserole pan (you can use a larger casserole dish and make a thinner dip if desired – just reduce the baking time.)

  3. Combine the cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth. 

  4. Mix everything else into the cream cheese mixture and spread in an even layer in the pan.

  5. Bake at 375 for 45-60 minutes or until hot through and bubbly at the edges.
  6. Garnish with additional cheese if desired and continue to bake just until melted.
  7. Serve hot with tortilla chips or use to fill flour tortillas.
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip
Amount Per Serving
Calories 261 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Sodium 303mg 13%
Potassium 98mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Sugars 2g
Protein 7g 14%
Vitamin A 12.9%
Vitamin C 0.6%
Calcium 19.7%
Iron 1.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This simple Creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip takes a classic dinner and makes it into the perfect appetizer for game day or your next party. Minimal ingredients and great flavor make this recipe a party regular!

✕

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15 Minute Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp: A Fast & Healthy Dinner

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Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like.  Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

Love shrimp?  So do we!  This 15 minute sticky honey garlic shrimp was popular at our house from the first day I made it.  The dish is fast and simple.  The flavor is excellent.  In the end you get a meal that is better than restaurant quality for a fraction of the price and very little effort.

I put some rice in my rice cooker to steam while I make this and if I’m feeling really energetic I cook up some broccoli or make a salad too.  The only problem with this recipe?  It is intended to serve four but Jonathan can eat the entire pound of shrimp by himself…

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  Having a good quality rice maker is a worthwhile investment if you like to make rice on the fly for simple dinners like this. I recommend investing in one with fuzzy logic technology for more precise cooking.  We have had this one more than five years and still love it.

Love simple seafood recipes?  Check out this quick Baked Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze.  Tasty, fast and healthy!

This Baked Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze is fancy enough for a party but simple enough for a weeknight dinner. Start to finish it takes less than 30 minutes and the seasonings are amazing! Check out my salmon buying tips to pick the perfect fish!

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!
4 from 12 votes
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15 Minute Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp: A Fast & Healthy Dinner

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine Asian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 248 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 tsp. fresh ginger minced
  • 1/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. white pepper optional
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 pound raw shrimp size medium (see note)
  • 1 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 tsp. corn starch
  • 2 green onions sliced thinly on the diagonal

Instructions

  1. Serving Suggestion: For a fast dinner toss some rice in the rice maker before you start the shrimp and steam up some broccoli or heat up some frozen broccoli. Alternately these shrimp go great over stir fried veggies or even just by themselves! Party food anybody?
  2. In a small bowl, whisk everything together except the shrimp, corn starch and onions.
  3. Place the shrimp in a bowl and pour about half the sauce over it, stirring to coat.
  4. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the hot oil. Cook about 1 minute, stirring at least once.
  5. Whisk corn starch into the rest of the marinade and add to the pan. Cook about one more minute until shrimp are cooked through. Tip: Shrimp turn a nice light pink right through to the middle when they are cooked. Cut open the thickest part of a shrimp if you want to double check.
  6. Sprinkle green onions over the shrimp and serve hot over rice or on a plate. (Rice is a great delivery system for the delicious sauce on the shrimp.)

Recipe Notes

Choosing Shrimp: You can buy shrimp fresh or frozen but do make sure it is raw shrimp – not something already cooked. You can buy any size you like but medium works well for this and if you buy smaller or bigger shrimp you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Select peeled or unpeeled, tail on or off as you prefer. Just remember if you have to peel the shrimp that will take more time!

Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp: A Fast & Healthy Dinner
Amount Per Serving
Calories 248 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 8%
Cholesterol 285mg 95%
Sodium 1693mg 71%
Potassium 152mg 4%
Total Carbohydrates 25g 8%
Sugars 23g
Protein 24g 48%
Vitamin A 1.2%
Vitamin C 7%
Calcium 17.2%
Iron 16.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sticky honey garlic shrimp is a fast and healthy dinner full of flavor with just the right amount of stickiness. This Asian take on shrimp is always a hit! Serve it over rice or individually as a party food if you like. Either way, be prepared for it to disappear quickly!

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15 Minute Throw Together Slow Cooker Curried Lentil Soup

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This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies.  Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic.  You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian. 

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.

As our family life gets busier I have been turning to recipes that are simpler, quicker, take fewer dishes and are reasonably healthy.  I love comfort food and will still be sharing lots of that but I also make plenty of healthy weeknight recipes that we can enjoy when things are busy.  This slow cooker lentil soup is exactly that dinner!

If this is your thing make sure you sign up at the bottom of this post to get on the email list.  You get a free cookbook and some other goodies and also will get the list of what is new each week!  I’m going to be sharing a lot of this kind of simple, fast dinner for the rest of this month and in 2018!

This lentil soup hit my radar because I really enjoy the flavor of yellow curry in food.  It is usually fairly mild (unless you use a variety such as Madras) and has great flavor.  In general it is family friendly though super picky eaters might not be excited about trying something different.

It is full of veggies and protein without the cost of meat.  Seriously, this one is cheep to make!  And of course it is so flipping fast to get into the crock pot even though you are using lots of fresh veggies and healthy ingredients.

So, grab some lentils and whip up a pot!  Drop me a comment and let me know what you think.  I always love to hear what everybody else is enjoying!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  I always recommend getting a crock pot that has a timer option and a lid lock option included.  It is really nice to be able to set the pot to cook for a certain time and know it will switch to the keep warm function on its own when the time is right.  This is similar to my version and is less than $40.

Looking for more great recipes that Crock?  This Slow Cooker Pot Roast is one of my most popular recipes and justifiably so! 

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.
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15 Minute Throw Together Slow Cooker Curried Lentil Soup

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 182 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. Better than Bouillon reduced sodium roasted chicken base or vegetarian base
  • 6 cups warm water
  • 1 ½ cups uncooked brown lentils picked over
  • 4 stalks celery diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 3 tsp. minced garlic
  • 2 ½ -3 Tbsp. yellow curry powder Or Madras curry powder for spice
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Add the water and bouillon to the slow cooker. Whisk until most lumps are gone.
  2. Add everything else to the slow cooker and cook on high 4-5 hours until lentils and veggies are tender. (Or cook 6-8 hours on low.)
  3. If the soup is a bit thick for you at the end add ½ to 1 cup of water.
  4. Taste and add additional salt, black pepper or curry powder if you like.

Recipe Notes

Most stores sell “yellow curry powder” in the spice section or Asian section. If you like more spice, use Madras curry powder but you might want to cut the amount down to 1 Tbsp. You can always add more at the end if you need to.

Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Throw Together Slow Cooker Curried Lentil Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 182
% Daily Value*
Sodium 804mg 34%
Potassium 280mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 41g 14%
Dietary Fiber 19g 76%
Sugars 8g
Protein 17g 34%
Vitamin A 105.5%
Vitamin C 3.7%
Calcium 6.2%
Iron 31.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This healthy slow cooker curried lentil soup is the perfect winter warmer. Just 15 minutes of prep gets you a protein packed dinner full of veggies. Yellow curry is a flavorful and unique twist on traditional lentil soup without getting too exotic. You can choose to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to make it fully vegetarian.

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15 Minute Easy Korean Beef Bowls

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15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win.  This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.

Is there any amount of time that is too fast to get dinner on the table?  I don’t think so!  We love the flavor of Korean beef BBQ but don’t always have the time to thinly slice steak and marinate it.

Using hamburger with Korean beef seasonings is cheating for sure but it is also amazingly delicious!  It takes me less than 15 minutes to get dinner on the table and I only get one pot dinner.  If I feel really fancy I steam some broccoli to go with this dinner but plenty of nights I just steam rice and toss the beef over.  The sauce that drips down into the rice is so savory I end up getting a spoon to scoop up every drop I can.

I love a bit of red and white pepper in this dish for that authentic flavor but it is still great without if you are a zero spice family.  We still have a few more weeks of crazy holiday season left and this is a good recipe to keep handy for busy nights this winter.  Heck, it is good in the spring, summer and fall too!

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  I’ve lived with a rice cooker for seven years now and it is a game changer.  This is the one we use and we love it.  Durable (we have taken it on trips), and cooks both white and brown rice well enough to impress my Korean MIL.  If you are going to invest in a rice maker it is worth getting one that has fuzzy logic technology for precision cooking.

Love dinner in a hurry?  This Hawaiian Grilled Chicken is a simple 20 minute meal that always wins the day. 

Grilled chicken the way it should be! Tender, sweet and savory - grilled up with juicy brown sugar pineapple for an easy dinner in 20 minutes.

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.
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15 Minute Easy Korean Beef Bowls

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine Asian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 357 kcal
Author Mirlandra

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef 12% fat
  • 2 tsp. garlic
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. minced ginger
  • 2 tsp. sesame oil
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red-pepper flakes optional
  • 1/8 tsp. white pepper optional
  • 3 green onions thinly sliced on the diagonal (reserve some for garnish if desired)
  • ½ tsp. sesame seeds for garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until warm. Crumble in ground beef and add the garlic. Cook until browned, stirring occasionally about 2-3 minutes.
  2. While the beef cooks, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, white pepper and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
  3. After the beef is browned leave the fat in (unless you used a beef with more than 12% fat) and add the sauce mixture and green onions. Stir until well combined and simmer until heated through, about 1 minute.
  4. Serve over steamed rice. Garnish with additional onion and sesame seeds if desired.

Recipe Notes

Spice Level: I find that the red pepper flakes and white pepper are about as spicy as a mild or medium hot sauce somewhere like Taco Bell. If you like food milder, leave out both and consider using ¼ tsp. of coarsely ground black pepper instead. If you like spicy, add more and have fun!

Serving Suggestion: Korean beef is great by itself over steamed rice. If you want to get some veggies in, prep some frozen broccoli or steam some while you cook. Alternately this goes well with a cucumber salad or a lettuce salad with Asian dressing.

Prep Tip: I buy ginger already grated in the fresh herb section of my grocery store. Gourmet Garden makes a good one and it is a fast solution to add lots of flavor to my cooking.

Nutrition Facts
15 Minute Easy Korean Beef Bowls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 357 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 80mg 27%
Sodium 887mg 37%
Potassium 371mg 11%
Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 21g 42%
Vitamin A 1.8%
Vitamin C 3%
Calcium 3.4%
Iron 14.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

15 minute easy Korean Beef bowls taste just like Korean BBQ and are on the dinner table fast. One pan and a few great flavorful ingredients make this a win. This recipe is easy to adjust for adults that love spice or kids that would rather skip it.

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Hamburger Soup to Stay Nourished & Healthy This Fall

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This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies.  I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

Full Disclosure:  Albertsons compensated me for developing this recipe with their products.  That being said I have been an Albertsons shopper since I was a little girl and shop there on a regular basis.  My promise to you is that I will only promote products and companies I love and use in my home.

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

The cold and flu season is here and it is time to take sensible precautions about good health.  Every fall I go through this simple checklist: 

  1. Get on the family about good hand wishing.  This means using soap, warm water and thoroughly scrubbing our hands as needed.
  2. Go through the medicine cabinet and throw away all expired cold medicines.
  3. Head to Albertsons and make sure I’ve got my favorite Signature Care™ cold and flu products on hand. (I love the berry flavor Nighttime Severe Cold & Flu Relief – it actually tastes good!)  Having what I need on hand helps to prevent late night store runs with a sick kid!  Signature Care products provide the same quality and relief that national name brands do, but at a better value. Signature Care products contain the same active ingredients & are subject to the same manufacturing standards mandated by the FDA as national brands.
  4. Stock the pantry with crackers, cream of wheat, canned soups, broth, juices, ginger ale and good soup making supplies.
  5. Make and freeze pints of our favorite soups.
  6. Put a few meals in the freezer for crazy nights or when mom gets sick.  (We all know when mom goes down things get a little nutty.)

Along with my fall checklist I do a few other sensible things to keep us healthy.

  • I try to make sure we get plenty of sleep
  • I make sensible nutritious meals to keep our bodies in fighting condition.  The immune system needs basic building blocks to function including specific amino acids only found in meat.  I make sure we get protein and veggies to give our bodies the best chance of staying well.

As family we make it a priority to use high quality ingredients and make most of our dinners healthy.  But the family rule is that dinner still has to taste great!  Every time I’ve used O Organics® grass fed ground beef I have been impressed with the quality.  When you open the package it smells fresh and looks delicious.

I also like that the meat is raised without antibiotics or added hormones.  When I bring home O Organics® ground beef I feel confident that I’m feeding my family something wholesome.  I appreciate that the price fits within my budget! It is nice that Albertsons believes that good quality food should be available at a good price!

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

In recent weeks I have been working on the finishing touches for my new cook book, Simply Delicious.  I’m having a blast but the scope of the project has been taking up a lot of my mental resources so I’ve been unusually scattered.  I don’t even want to tell you how many times I forgot to thaw something or totally torpedoed my meal plan for the week!  Thankfully our closest Albertsons is less than a mile away and I’ve been popping in a lot to let their amazing staff help.

One of the things I love about Albertsons is the depth of knowledge each of their employees has.  If I have questions about the produce quality and ripeness, their people have answers. I’ve even had them come over and check on me when I can’t make up my mind about dinner. Somehow they notice I look conflicted and are ready with a kind suggestion or solution.

We go there so much we have some favorite checkers who take the time to visit with us and make us smile.  Extra help and genuine kindness is always nice but I have appreciated it just a bit more during the recent craziness.

O Organics and Signature Care™ products are available in my area exclusively at Albertsons but they can also be found in the entire Albertsons family of stores.  I shop at Albertsons here in Boise and at Safeway when I’m in Oregon visiting my family.  In your area the stores may be under one of these names:  ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Express, United and Carrs/Safeway.  You can visit Albertsons.com to find a store near you and to get more great recipes like this.

Stay healthy this winter!!!  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

Tools In This Post:  One of my almost daily dinner tricks is to use this handy tool for dicing.  Onions, tomatoes, bell pepper, jalapeno peppers – they all come out evenly and perfectly sized in a snap.  The tool rinses out easily and I save a ton of time cutting up food for meals like soup, salsa and stir fry.  If you cook much, this is a worthwhile investment.

Nothing goes with soup as well a fresh rolls!  These dinner rolls are delicious and ridiculously easy. 

These Copycat Texas Roadhouse Dinner Rolls are amazingly soft and the Cinnamon Honey Butter puts them over the top! Only 10 minutes of active work!

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Hamburger Soup

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season. Sprinkle on some cheese and watch the soup disappear!
Course Dinner or Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds O organics ground beef 15% fat
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 6 stalks celery diced
  • 2 bell peppers any color seeded and diced
  • 1 can O Organics diced tomatoes with basil garlic & oregano, 14.5 oz (or Italian stewed tomatoes)
  • 5 cups water
  • 20 O Organics baby carrots sliced
  • 1 pound red potatoes cubed with skin on
  • 2 Tbsp. beef bouillon
  • 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp. freeze dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the hamburger. Strain the fat and juices from the meat and put back in the pot for cooking. Set the browned hamburger aside in a bowl and cover to prevent drying.

  2. Add the onion, celery, and bell pepper to the meat juices and cook over medium-high heat for several minutes until they start to soften.
  3. Add everything else to the pot except the cooked hamburger. Stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cover the pot. Maintain a simmer for 20 minutes.
  4. Add the hamburger and check the potatoes / carrots - these veggies are done when they are tender and almost firm but not mushy.
  5. Continue to simmer until the potatoes and carrots are done. Taste the soup and add any additional salt or pepper if desired.
  6. Serve with grated Parmesan or mozzarella cheese and crackers, crusty French bread or rolls.

This hamburger soup is an easy and delicious meal full of veggies. I love that it fills bellies and gives us the nutrition we need to stay healthy during the cold season.

 

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Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole (A Grown Up Green Bean Casserole)

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This updated version of gluten free green bean casserole is full of mushrooms, caramelized onions, and creamy cheese. Classic flavors reimagined make for a fun new holiday treat.

This updated version of gluten free green bean casserole is full of mushrooms, caramelized onions, and creamy cheese. Classic flavors reimagined make for a fun new holiday treat.

Is gluten free green bean casserole on your radar this year?  I didn’t grow up with the traditional soup based green bean casserole so I was taken by surprise when I married and discovered it was a coveted Thanksgiving side dish!  To be frank it is not my thing.  I enjoy making it from scratch but it is not something I long for.

Last winter a friend mentioned that she had a recipe for a modern version of the dish that sounded like fun so I asked her for the recipe.  I played around a bit and fond that I enjoy this simple version and as a bonus it is naturally gluten free.  These days a Thanksgiving gathering is more than likely to come with somebody who needs a GF option and I love having some items they can enjoy without worry for their health.

If you love mushrooms and flavorful green beans this one is for you!  It also looks quite pretty in the assembly stage – so pretty in fact I could not resist a quick snap.

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by to cook with me!

This updated version of gluten free green bean casserole is full of mushrooms, caramelized onions, and creamy cheese. Classic flavors reimagined make for a fun new holiday treat.

Tools In This Post:  I own two casserole pans that are a bit more decorative for nice dinners and holiday time.  I used to own quite a few more but I’ve scaled back to one white, and one cream.  This is a lovely simple one I think is perfect for casual and elegant meals.

Need more sure fire holiday recipes?  These classic Deviled Eggs are beloved for almost every holiday!

These Deviled Eggs are true classics - creamy and perfectly seasoned with Dijon mustard and finished with smoked paprika. Instant Pot instructions included.

This updated version of gluten free green bean casserole is full of mushrooms, caramelized onions, and creamy cheese. Classic flavors reimagined make for a fun new holiday treat.
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Gluten Free Grown Up Green Bean Casserole

This updated version of gluten free green bean casserole is full of mushrooms, caramelized onions, and creamy cheese. Classic flavors reimagined make for a fun new holiday treat.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 10
Author Mirlandra Neuneker

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds frozen whole green beans thawed
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 16 oz cremini or baby Portobello mushrooms
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar optional see note
  • 3/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 large sweet onion sliced
  • 3 Tbsp. salted butter
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 3 Tbsp. milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. Cut the mushrooms into halves or if they are larger into quarters. Combine with thawed and drained green beans in a 9”x13” casserole dish.
  3. In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, balsamic (if using) and pepper. Drizzle over the bean mixture.
  4. Roast beans, uncovered for 30 minutes stirring once half way through.
  5. While the beans are roasting, prepare the onions.
  6. Trim the ends of the onion and remove the skin layers. Cut in half and slice each half into thin slices.
  7. Melt butter in a large skillet and add onions and salt. Cook stirring frequently until the onions start to soften. Turn the heat down to medium-low and put the lid on for about 10 more minutes until the onions are tender. Sprinkle with a bit of extra black pepper if desired and remove from heat.
  8. Microwave the cream cheese until it is very soft and starting to melt, about 30 seconds. In a medium mixing bowl beat together softened cream cheese, parmesan cheese and milk with a hand mixer on medium speed.
  9. When the beans have cooked 30 minutes and are tender crisp remove from oven and scatter the onions on top. Spoon mounds of the cheese mixture over the beans and return to the oven for 6-8 minutes until heated through.

Recipe Notes

Adding the balsamic vinegar gives the beans a bright grown up flavor that some people love. If you do not like balsamic vinegar omit it. My favorite way to have this is without the vinegar.

If you wish to use fresh green beans I suggest giving them a quick blanch in boiling water just to take the raw edge off before roasting.

This updated version of gluten free green bean casserole is full of mushrooms, caramelized onions, and creamy cheese. Classic flavors reimagined make for a fun new holiday treat.

Adapted from here.

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