Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

I was recently WATCHING an episode of Barefoot Contessa and she made this AMAZING sounding soup. I was inspired to try it, but SIMPLIFY it at the same time. I think I came up with a WINNER, but let me know what ya think!

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
Extra virgin olive oil
1 large butternut squash (about 2 1/2 pounds)
2 sweet apples
1 large sweet onion
1 tablespoon curry powder
Salt and pepper
1 cup water
1 cup apple juice
3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a 9 x 13-inch pan with a drizzle of olive oil in the bottom; set aside.

Peel and cut the squash, apples, and onion into uniform pieces. Place in the prepared pan, drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle the curry powder, salt, and pepper over top. Toss to coat and add more oil if necessary to get a good coating. Bake in the oven until tender, about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. When done, blend the mixture with the water and apple juice until smooth. This will have to be done in batches. To finish, pour thick soup mixture into a soup pot and stir in milk. Warm through over medium heat.

TIP: This is a pretty thick soup, so feel free to add more liquids. My husband said he would have liked more apple juice, but I would add more milk myself, so whatever you think! I loved the consistency this way though. Also, I served my soup garnished with pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and grated fresh Parmesan cheese. Really yummy!

All Night Sticky Buns

I saw this RECIPE on some tv news segment years ago, and it's so EASY I just had to share it. We make these for SPECIAL occasions at our house and even though there's only three of us, we POLISH off the whole thing in 2 days or less!

All Night Sticky Buns

3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

12 to 16 frozen rolls

1 small box instant butterscotch pudding

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Spray a Bundt pan with nonstick spray. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Arrange frozen rolls over nuts. Sprinkle the dry pudding mix over the rolls. Combine the brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon; pour over rolls. Place pan in a cold oven for 8 to 10 hours (overnight!). Remove pan from oven in the morning and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake sticky buns for 25 minutes and then invert onto a platter and serve. 

TIP: If you don't have a Bundt pan, I've also used an 8-inch square pan and that seems to work just fine. Also, a great addition to this recipe would be a sprinkle of chocolate chips with the nuts. :)

Spicy Cornbread

Doesn't this TIME of year always make you feel like eating some WARM cornbread? Well, we love the stuff at our HOUSE! This variation makes an appearance in my NEWEST book, 101 Things to do with Cheese. Let me tell ya, it is definitely SPICY and sooo gooooood!

Spicy Cornbread
1 (8.5-ounce) box Jiffy cornbread mix
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
2 ounces diced jalapeños (this is half of the 4 oz can, so feel free to make two batches!)
1 cup grated pepper jack cheese

Use a fork to combine the cornbread mix, milk, and egg. Stir in the jalapeños and cheese. (No need to drain the jalapeños.) Pour batter into a sprayed 9-inch pie pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Makes about 6 wedges.

TIP: This is definitely spicy, so if you want to tone it down, use green chiles instead of jalapeños. And take it a step further and use cheddar cheese instead of the pepper jack. You could also stir in a 1/2 cup or so of corn too. Also, I like to sprinkle a little bit more cheese over the top of the batter before I stick it in the oven. :)

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

It's COLD outside! Well, it is at my house anyway. The time of YEAR when I have to face the fact that I won't be WARM again until June. Oh well, though—the CHANGE in the weather is nice. It puts me in the mood for SOUP, and this easy recipe is a total winner.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 cups chopped cauliflower
2 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
3/4 cup diced celery
1/2 cup dice onion
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
4 1/2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half is good too!)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

In a saucepan, combine the broth and veggies and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 10 to 12 minutes; remove from heat. In a large soup pan, melt the butter and then stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly stir in the milk, stirring constantly until it starts to thicken, about 10 minutes over medium heat. Add the veggies and broth and then stir in the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 6 servings.

TIP: Since I'm a cheese lover, I usually add closer to 2 cups cheese, as well as sprinkle some on top for a garnish. It's just so yummy that way! Also, you can use all sorts of potatoes in this recipe. I did fingerling for this batch, but Yukon golds are super yummy, as well as reds.

Garlic Naan Pizzas

I think there are very FEW people out there that don't like PIZZA. Even the ones that don't like it may actually go for this VERSION though. As always, super easy, SUPER good!

Garlic Naan Pizzas

1 package premade garlic naan (2 packs at most Target and Walmart bakeries)

Marinara sauce

Pepperoni, diced

Canadian bacon, diced

Red onion, diced

Grated mozzarella cheese

Sliced green olives

Sliced green bell pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Remove the naan from it's packaging and place on a pizza pan or stone. Spread desired amount of marinara sauce over the top, just inside the edges. Top with a little of the diced meats and onion. Sprinkle the cheese over top. Add more of the diced meats over the cheese, along with olives and bell pepper. Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until done according to desire. Serve with a yummy salad and enjoy the easy cleanup!

TIP: The naan is amazing and brings a great flavor to these pizzas. What's even better is that most bakeries offer several different kinds of naan. You can get original, wheat, garlic, and a bunch more. Mix it up and try them all to find your favorite. Oh, and obviously you can use whatever pizza toppings you want!

BONUS TIP: I also wanted to add that adding the meat and onion to the sauce just bumps up the pizza to another level of taste. Even better is to simmer the onions and diced meat in the sauce for awhile before putting it on the pizza. Wow!

Enchilada Casserole

This is a FAMILY favorite recipe that makes an appearance in my newest book, 101 Things to do with Cheese. My husband raves about this EVERY time I make it. This totally makes me laugh because these are about the EASIEST enchiladas to make in the world. I really should make them MORE often . . .

Enchilada Casserole

1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey

1/2 cup chopped onion

Salt and pepper

3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

12 ounces cream cheese, softened

10 to 12 flour tortillas

2 1/2 cups grated Mexican blend or cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown meat in a large skillet and drain the fat. Stir in onion and saute a few minutes until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add the tomato sauce and chili powder and let simmer a few minutes. Spread a spoonful of sauce into the bottom of a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch pan; set aside.

Evenly spread cream cheese down the center of each tortilla, and then top with small spoonful of meat sauce. Roll up and then place seam side down in prepared pan. Pour remaining meat sauce over top and then sprinkle with the cheese. Cover and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until casserole is warmed through and cheese is bubbly. Serves 6 or so.

TIP: This is great served with lettuce, avocados, salsa, olives, etc. You can do all of them or just a couple. And honestly, it's yummy just by itself. 

Fresh Apple Pear Cake

I think this is my last PEAR recipe, so I hope you've enjoyed them all! I'd been wanting some sort of CAKE that would be good with cream cheese FROSTING, so when I saw something similar on allrecipes.com, I thought I'd try my own variation.

Fresh Apple Pear Cake

2 cups peeled and chopped apples

2 cups peeled and chopped pears

2 cups white sugar

3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 heaping teaspoon ground ginger

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting

2 to 3 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons butter

Salt

Powdered sugar

Milk

Combine the fruit with the sugar and let sit in a bowl for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and prepare a Bundt pan with nonstick spray.

Mix the dry ingredients together and then stir in the eggs, oil, and fruit mixture. Stir in the nuts. Pour or scoop mixture into the prepared pan and then bake for 50 to 60 minutes. (Make sure to check with wooden skewer at minimum cook time to avoid over baking.) When done, let cool in pan for a few minutes and then invert on a wire rack to cool.

To make the frosting, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add a dash of salt, some powdered sugar, and a tablespoon of milk and beat again. Keep adding powdered sugar and milk by the tablespoon to reach desired taste and consistency. Frost cake and store in the refrigerator.

TIP: You can make this cake with all pears or all apples. I ran out of pears and decided to make up for it in apples. And, I actually think this cake is better the next day. If you can stand to wait a day to eat it, do it! Or just have a slice both days like me. :)

Pear Pancakes

So pear SEASON has hit at our house (we have 2 pear trees!), and I'm LOVING it. I love trying out new recipes, and this one was a HIT, especially with my 1 year old. PANCAKES are always super easy, but these taste extra SPECIAL—definitely different from your regular old pancakes.

Pear Pancakes

1 cup flour

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

1 pear, peeled and diced

Preheat a griddle over medium.

In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and beat until smooth. Stir in the pears. Pour or spoon about 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot griddle and cook until lightly browned on both sides. Serve with butter and maple syrup. Makes enough pancakes for 2 to 4.

TIP: Make sure to spray your griddle with nonstick spray so the pancakes don't stick. Also, I think this recipe would be great with peaches instead of pears!

Apple-Pear Salad

This salad is from my book 101 Things to do with Salad and is the perfect recipe for FALL. Apples, pears, and a LIGHT lemony dressing make the perfect combination. And BELIEVE me, you'll want seconds for sure!

Apple-Pear Salad

Dressing

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 to 6 tablespoons sugar

2/3 cup light olive oil

1 tablespoon poppyseeds

2 pears, peeled and diced

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced

1 large head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

1 1/2 cups grated Swiss cheese

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup cashew halves

Combine dressing ingredients together in a bowl. Add pears and apples to keep from browning; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine remaining salad ingredients. When ready to serve, pour dressing over top and toss until completely covered. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

TIP: I do lots of variations of this recipe. For example, sometimes I just grab a bag of the already prepared romaine lettuce and combine it with a bag of spring mix salad. It's a good combo! Also, I don't usually peel the fruit just because it saves me time, and I think the color looks pretty. Finally, I like to try different cheeses (my obsession again!), so in the photo above, I used a nice extra sharp white cheddar that I cut into cubes. It was so yummy! Another favorite of mine in this salad is bacon . . .

Chocolate Banana Bread

OK, so I have to admit this bread is more CHOCOLATE than banana, but if BANANA is in the recipe title, it sounds a little BETTER for you, right? Anyway, we love this BREAD straight from the oven with butter, to make it even better!

P.S. This is actually a variation of a recipe from my friend, Stephanie Ashcraft. Thanks Steph!

Chocolate Banana Bread
2 to 3 overripe bananas, mashed
1 banana or spice cake mix
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup water

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon (if using the banana cake mix)
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, mix together all of the ingredients until almost smooth. Divide batter into two greased bread pans and then bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

TIP: You can leave out the cocoa to make it less chocolatey, but I'm not sure why you'd want to do that! Also, if you're not loving the whole chocolate idea and don't want the cocoa, you might as well switch the pudding mix to banana flavor too!

Baked Spaghetti (Squash) Casserole

I love this recipe because the SPAGHETTI squash actually takes place of spaghetti NOODLES. I think it tastes PHENOMENAL and ranks right up there on the pretty HEALTHY list. Yum!

Baked Spaghetti (Squash) Casserole
1 medium spaghetti squash
12 to 16 oz bulk Italian sausage (Italian turkey sausage also works well and makes it even healthier!)
1 package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium green or red bell pepper, chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


Halve the squash crosswise and then remove the seeds. Place cut sides down in 2-quart rectangular baking dish; add 1/4 cup water and then cover with vented plastic wrap.  Microwave for 13 to 15 minutes or until squash is tender when pierced with a fork; set aside.


In a large skillet cook the sausage, mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, and garlic over medium heat until the sausage is no longer pink; drain off fat.


Scrape the pulp from squash (about 3 cups).  Wipe out baking dish and then coat with nonstick cooking spray. Spread half the squash in the dish. Add half the sausage mixture. Top with half the sauce and half the cheese. Top with remaining squash, sausage, and sauce.  Bake for 30 minutes or until slightly bubbly around the edges.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese and then bake for 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted.  Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serves 6.


TIP: A great addition to this recipe is sliced olives, and you can also try sprinkling in some dried Italian seasoning as well. Oh, and if you want to make it even healthier, use Italian turkey sausage instead!

Asiago Mashed Potatoes

I love CHEESE. There, I said it. If I can add cheese to something, I will. And ULTIMATELY, I think it makes EVERYTHING taste better. So instead of plain old mashed potatoes and gravy, try this YUMMY recipe from my newest book 101 Things To Do With Cheese!

Asiago Mashed Potatoes
2 1/2 pounds russet or red potatoes, peeled and boiled (or Yukon golds are good too!)
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
Garlic salt and pepper to taste
2 to 3 tablespoons sour cream
3/4 cup grated Asiago cheese

Using a potato masher, mash the warm potatoes with the butter and milk. Season with the garlic salt and pepper. Stir in the sour cream until desired consistency is reached. Stir in the cheese and adjust seasonings if necessary. Serves 4 to 6.

TIP: I leave the peel on my red potatoes because I love the rustic look it gives, and honestly, it saves time! Also try adding a teaspoon of Italian seasoning for a slightly different taste.

Cheesy Beef Tacos

I made these TACOS as an experiment and they ended up being pretty YUMMY, but not the healthiest thanks to the CHEESE sauce. Oh well! You've got to enjoy LIFE a little, right?

Cheesy Beef Tacos
1 pound hamburger
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup salsa, plus more if desired
Tostitos Queso Dip, plus more if desired
Flour tortillas
Toppings: lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, etc.

In a large frying pan, brown the hamburger and then drain. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in the onion; let cook until onion is tender. Stir in about 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa followed by 1/3 to 1/2 cup queso dip. (If this isn't "saucy" enough for you, add more salsa, or dip, or both if you want!) Stir together and let simmer about 5 to 10 minutes. Serve in warm tortillas topped with toppings of choice. Serves around 4.

TIP: When I "drain" my hamburger, I actually put it in a fine strainer and rinse it with water to help eliminate a few more calories. Also, if these don't have enough spice to them for you, add a few shakes of crushed red pepper to the mix!

Peach Freezer Jam

OK, since I had a ton of PEACHES even after making the crisp multiple times, as well as SEVERAL batches of muffins, I ended up being ABLE to make several batches of jam too! I just use the RECIPE from the Sure Jell box, but I thought I'd SHARE it below just so you can see how EASY it is.

Peach Freezer Jam

3 cups chopped fresh peaches

4 1/2 cups sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 cup water

1 box Sure Jell pectin

Measure peaches into a large bowl. Add the sugar and lemon juice and mix well. Let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix water and pectin in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute and then add to peach mixture. Stir 3 minutes or until all sugar is dissolved and mixture is no longer grainy.

Fill clean plastic containers with jam to about 1/2 inch from the top. Let sit at room temperature for 24 hours and then freeze or use. Makes about 6 (1-cup) containers.

TIP: Don't try to cut down on the sugar or your jam won't jell! Also, it sometimes takes a few days before the jam jells, so don't stress if it seems runny right at first. And don't forget to leave a container of the fresh jam in your fridge so you can enjoy it asap! :)

Peach Muffins

Did I already say I love PEACHES? Well, I do and I hate to see any from our TREE go to waste, so every YEAR I make up a few batches of these DELISH muffins. Hope you likes!

Peach Muffins

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

3 cups fresh peaches, peeled and chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare a muffin pan with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, spices, soda, and salt; set aside. In another bowl, mix together the oil, eggs, and sugars. Combine mixtures and stir in the peaches. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full and then bake for 18 to 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool about 5 minutes in the pan and then let cool completely on a wire rack. Makes about 2 dozen.

TIP: Because this makes so many muffins, I usually freeze about half a batch so I can pull them out a month or so later and enjoy them again! Also, I'm sure this would be great with canned peaches as well—just make sure if they are in syrup that you give them a rinse before putting in the batter.

Quick Peach Crisp

I love it when our PEACH tree is full of ripe peaches because it gives me the EXCUSE to make this dessert over and over! I love the CRUNCH of the "crisp" combined with the SWEET peaches. Yum!

Quick Peach Crisp
1 heaping cup oats
4 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup butter
5 cups peeled and sliced fresh peaches

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except 1 tablespoon flour and the peaches, cutting in the butter until crumbly. Put the peaches in an 8-inch square pan and sprinkle with remaining flour. Top with crumb mixture and then bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

TIP: This recipe can basically be made with any fruit! Try it with berries, cherries, pears, apples, etc. They all taste yummers! :)

Raspberry Scones

I love all SORTS of breakfast breads, and SCONES are one of my favorite. Raspberries are also another FAVORITE of mine, so I figured, why not put them TOGETHER?

Raspberry Scones
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 heaping cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cold butter
1 egg, beaten
4 to 6 tablespoons milk or half-and-half
1 container raspberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in the egg and enough liquid to just moisten the dough. Gently fold in the berries. NOTE: I usually eat some out of the container before putting them in, so you might not need the whole thing!

Scoop 8 equal "blobs" and place on a baking stone or cookie sheet; flatten slightly if necessary. I like to shape my blobs into triangles, so feel free to as well. Bake for 14 to 17 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve warm.

TIP: What really makes these over the top is sprinkling them with large sugar crystals. They are seriously spectacular this way!

Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad

Experimenting with all my SUMMER produce is always fun and tasty, and this SALAD combo just seemed to be a NATURAL. Grilled veggies with cheese and PASTA, I mean, come on!!

Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 zucchini, sliced
1 yellow squash, sliced
1 yellow or red onion, sliced into rings
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 package spaghetti noodles, sticks broken into thirds, cooked, drained, and cooled
Asiago and/or Parmesan cheese, grated

Brush a grill pan with olive oil and heat. Place veggie slices in the pan and season with salt and pepper; grill until slightly browned and tender. Set aside to cool. When cool, cut veggies into smaller pieces (i.e., cut zucchini slices in half so they are easier to eat!). Toss veggies with pasta and a handful of cheese; drizzle with a little olive oil and toss again. Top with a couple more handfuls of cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Serve chilled.

TIP: You can obviously add whatever veggies you want to this dish, as well as change up the type of pasta used. As usual, this recipe is so EASY, yet it tastes AMAZING! :)

Homemade Oreos

This is a RECIPE my sister-in-law makes all the time, and EVERYONE loves it! These little COOKIES are so CHEWY and chocolaty, and EASY to make, you'll want to make them ALL the time too!

Homemade Oreos
1 box devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 to 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 container store-bought cream cheese frosting

In a bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil. Dough will be stiff. Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch, or use a small cookie scoop. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. The cookies won't look done, but leave them on the pan for 3 to 5 minutes and then move to a wire rack to cool. They'll turn out perfect! Sandwich 2 cookies together with the frosting and enjoy!

TIP: Stir in some chocolate chips to make the cookies extra chocolatey. Also, feel free to use homemade cream cheese frosting too.

Peanut Butter Brownies

Another easy SWEET treat for ya! I've been so into BAKING these days and I'm not really sure why! Anyway, you can WHIP these up in a snap if you need a YUMMY dessert to take somewhere.

Peanut Butter Brownies
1 box brownie mix (for a 9 x 13-inch pan)
Ingredients on back of box
1/3 to 1/2 cup peanut butter
1 bag milk chocolate and peanut butter swirl chips (or just peanut butter would be fine)

Mix brownies according to package directions. Stir in the peanut butter and 1 cup of the chips. Spread mixture into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan and sprinkle remaining chips over top. Bake according to package directions. NOTE: I had to bake mine about 5 minutes longer than the max time on my brownie box, so just make sure to check them!

TIP: I'm sure you all know the trick of adding ingredients to brownie mixes. I just think that we forget sometimes! Some other good combinations to add to a regular brownie mix: mint chips or chopped peppermint patties, chopped peanut butter cups or Snickers, M&Ms, nuts, etc.