Broccoli Cheese Bites

 

Can you believe it!?!  I am actually blogging about something savory today!  Not sweet but savory! Honestly, I couldn't help myself.  I found the recipe for these little yummy treasure bites on Megan's blog called,  Cooking Whims.  Cooking Whims was my Secret Recipe Club assignment for this past month.  What fun I have had browsing through Megan's blog!  Megan lives in New England (the Boston area) and it always makes me happy when I find a fellow food blogger from New England.  Megan also has a soft spot for all things sweet.  Hello HAPPINESS!

 

 

 

 

I almost made her Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies but then realized that maybe I should make something with banana in it as I had a lot of VERY ripe bananas that needed to be used.  I looked closely at her recipe for Chocolate Swirled Banana Bread until I realized that I needed something with veggies for dinner that night.  Thus I ended up making these fabulous Broccoli Cheddar Bites.   Everyone loved them!  The kiddos loved dipping them in Honey Mustard sauce and the adults enjoyed just popping them right into their mouth. These bites can easily be served as an appetizer or a side dish.  No matter what they will disappear fast!

 

I thank Megan for all her dedicated work that she has put into her food blog.  I thoroughly enjoyed "visiting her" and discovering lots of new recipes that I can't wait to make in my near future!

 

Broccoli Cheddar Bites

         (recipe found on Cooking Whims)

 

Ingredients:

 

1 (16 oz.) package of frozen broccoli florets, cooked according to package directions (I used 2 cups of fresh broccoli, steamed and cut up)

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (I used 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese)

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a cookie sheet with foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray or parchment paper.

 

2. Prepare broccoli - cool and chop up into uniform small pieces.

 

3. In a medium bowl combine beaten eggs, broccoli, cheese and bread crumbs with a wooden spoon until well combined. 

 

4. Scoop batter into balls with a medium size scoop or spoon and place onto prepared cookie sheets.  Flatten slightly with the back of your hand to create a patty or leave as is for a rounder "bite".

 

5. Bake for 15 minutes and then flip bites.  Bake for an additional 5 minutes.  Cool slightly and enjoy!

 

Happy Broccoli Cheese Bites Baking!

 

Enjoy the recipes below that my fellow Secret Recipe Club  members made this past month too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheesy Ham, Broccoli and Rice Skillet

Have you noticed a change around these parts? That's right there is some serious new cuteness on my blog!  I am just giddy with excitement over my look here at Baking and Creating with Avril!!! The fabulous Ashton from Something Swanky is the master mind behind my new look.  I can't thank her enough for all her help and talent that she has provided me.  I highly, highly recommend her services.  And to boot she is an AMAAAAZING baker too! Please do go check out her yummies and then you must check out her artistic creations too!

 

 

Speaking of changes, today instead of a recipe that is sweet and requires baking I've got a savory recipe for you.  That's right nothing baked.  No sugar or flour involved.  Not even a tiny bit of vanilla extract.  Just a simple, delicious and savory dish that will knock your socks off.

 

 

All this dish requires is a large skillet with a lid that can contain all the ingredients.  And then of course some rice (white or brown is just fine), a couple of cooked ham steaks and a couple small heads of broccoli.  All of the other ingredients can most likely be found in your pantry and fridge such as chicken broth and some grated cheese.

 

 

 

Now Easter is just around the corner - the end of this month in fact - and most likely there will be LOTS of good deals out there for ham.  Make sure you grab some or save some from your left-overs and make this recipe.  It's super easy and SUPER yummy!!

 

Cheesy Ham, Broccoli and Rice Skillet

(recipe from the fabulous Karly from Buns In My Oven)

 

Ingredients:

 

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 cup long-grain rice

2 1/4 cups chicken broth

2 small heads fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces

2 Tbsp butter

3 cups cooked and diced ham, hot (warm up in microwave before adding into skillet)

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (or a mixture of cheese of your liking...I used 1/2 parm cheese and 1/2 cheddar cheese)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper,  to taste

splash of milk, if needed

 

 

Directions:

 

1. Place large skillet over medium heat.  Drizzle olive oil into pan and then pour in rice.  Stir to coat.  Cook rice until toasted and light brown, stirring often so that the rice doesn't burn.

 

2. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Lower heat to low and cover.  Cook covered for 10 minutes.  Add in cut up broccoli and cook covered for an additional 5-10 minutes or until liquid has been cooked down.

 

3. Take skillet off of heat and add in butter, ham, cheese and garlic powder. Stir well to combine and then cover for 5 minutes more.  Add in S and P to taste just before serving.

 

Serve, enjoy and rejoice over a simple and delicious meal!

 

Happy Cheesy Ham, Broccoli and Rice Skillet Making!

 

 



Baked Mac and Cheese

My goodness it has been a long time since the last time I posted a recipe!! WAAAY too long!  I am hiding my head in shame....but honestly my excuse is only because life has simply grabbed ahold of me and wouldn't let me deviate from taking care of my kiddios by making sure they were feed, cleaned and most importantly HAPPY! I have often looked at my computer longingly , wishing to sit down in front of it and type out a blog post but then I suddenly get pulled in another direction and then yet another day goes by without a blog post.  I know you guys get it.  I'm sure you totally get it as the very same thing happens to many of you mommas or not.  But most importantly know that I've missed all of you! - my dear and precious followers and fellow bloggers.  I've so missed you!

Anyway, upward and onward with my recipe today that I wish to share with all of you...Baked Mac and Cheese!!!!   Like Chocolate Chip cookies I am always looking for a new and super yum recipe for Mac n Cheese.  I make it often (from the box and from scratch) so it's fun to switch it up a bit and make a different recipe every once and awhile from the one I use most often.

This recipe is great.  Full of good cheese, a dab of sour cream and even a couple eggs and viola the magic of pasta and cheese come together to form a lovely dish of Mac and Cheese.  The credit of this recipe goes to the fabulous Tina of Mommy's Kitchen who found the recipe from the good ole adorable Deen Brothers (Paula must be SO proud of them!!!).

Baked Mac and Cheese

(recipe found on Mommy's Kitchen from the Deen Brothers cookbook, Recipes From the Road)

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (or small pasta of your choice)

4 cups shredded cheese - I used a mixture of Colby Jack and Cheddar (yummy combo!!)

1 cup milk - whole milk is suggested, I used 2% and it was great

1/2 cup sour cream

2 eggs

1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/2 tsp salt

dash of hot sauce - optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9x13 baking dish - set aside.

2. Cook pasta according to directions on package.  Drain pasta and return to pot that it was cooked in.

3. While pasta is still HOT add in the cheeses and stir well to combine.  Spread pasta and cheese mixture into prepared baking dish.

4. Whisk together milk, sour cream, eggs, butter pieces, salt and hot sauce (if you are using it) in a medium bowl.  Pour mixture over macaroni and cheese.

5. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubble good.  Let stand out of oven for 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!!!

Happy Baked Mac and Cheese!

My apologies with a Brie-lishious Appetizer

I owe apologies to both of my baking groups.....I couldn't pull it together this past week to bake a cookie recipe for the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies nor could I manage baking the Cinnamon Pudding Cake for the Cake Slice Bakers.  I'd like to just blame it on my "lack of energy" @ 32 weeks of pregnancy but the reality was that I just had too many other (unexpected) things on my plate last week.   Thus, I gave myself permission to not over do myself and just skip this past week of baking commitments.  It was NOT an easy decision. But as they say, "C'est la vie" - LIFE HAPPENS!!!

 In an effort to redeem myself I am sharing with all of you lovely people a most scrumptious appetizer.  OMYumminess this is a serious, serious appetizer that will make most (if not all) of you fall over backwards with happiness....as you wipe off the drool from your lips! ;-)

I discovered this recipe from a wonderful cooking class (Simple Holiday Recipes) that I took a few weeks ago at Kristen's Bakery with a couple of my precious girlfriends (Hey, Diane, Bridget and Julie!).  What a delight the class was! - full of fabulous recipes, lots of laughs and new discoveries.  Just priceless in every way possible.

Baked Brie with Pecan, Brown Sugar and Kaluha Glaze

Ingredients:

A wheel of Brie cheese

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup of Kaluha (I used 2 nips)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, toast pecans for 5 minutes.  Stirring occasionally.

2. Add to toasted pecans, brown sugar and Kahlua - mix well to combine all together.  Lower heat to medium-low and cook for 7-10 minutes....allowing all the flavors to cook together and mixture to thicken.

3. Place wheel of Brie in an oven proof dish and pour glaze over top of cheese.  Place cheese in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheese has melted and heated through.

4. Serve with your favorite crackers or sliced fresh French Bread.....

Nothing better than a unique and EASY appetizer for the holidays ahead!

Hello yumminess!!!

Happy Baked Brie with Pecans, Brown Sugar and Kaluha Glaze Baking!

It's good for you!!! - Spinach, Cheese and Pasta Dish

Not only is this dish good for you, it is an easy "Week Night Meal" too!  Good for you and easy peasy to make........Wonderful!  And the fun part about this dish is that there are crispy French Fried Onions it in!- SUPER YUM!  It is so much fun for me to find a recipe that has an unexpected ingredient mixed into it.  Who would've guessed that French Fried Onions would be part of this recipe??  Yes, to the spinach, pasta and cheese (the title kind of gives it away....) but French Fried Onions?!?  Okay, enough of my own personal happiness with this recipe. Time for ME to share the recipe and for YOU to be the judge if this pasta dish makes YOU happy! :-)

Baked Spaghetti with Spinach and Cheese

(recipe from a delicious blog....Cassie Craves)

Ingredients:

 

4 oz. thin spaghetti or angel hair - broken into 2-inch pieces

1 egg

2 cups (16 oz.) sour cream

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese (or cheese of choice)

1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained

1 can (2.8 oz.) french-fried onions, divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.   Cook spaghetti in salted water according to package directions.   Drain.

2. While pasta cooks, beat egg (as you can see I got so excited for this recipe that I just combined all ingredients instead of beating egg before adding in the other ingredients....worked out fine) in a medium bowl.  Add sour cream, parm cheese, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.....

3.  Add cooked and drained noodles to sour cream/egg mixture along with cheese, spinach and 1/2 of the fried onions....

  Stir well all together.  Pour mixture into a well greased 2 quart baking dish.

4. Sprinkle remaining fried onions on top of noodles....

 ....and then cover with tin foil. Bake for 30 minutes then removed tin foil and continue baking for another 5-6 minutes or until onions are nice and golden brown.

For those of you that like/need to have a meat included on your dinner menu just add a nice grilled piece of chicken along side this dish and viola you've got your *protein, veggie and starch all at once! *Call me crazy but when I serve a dish for dinner if it has cheese in it of some form or another I consider it the "protein" of the dinner.

Enjoy!

Happy Baked Spaghetti with Spinach and Cheese Baking!

Cheesy "Bloomin' Onion" Bread and the WINNER

Remember these two lovely items?  Well, the WINNER of this little duo is....

....is #7, April from Abby Sweets!  Congrats to you April!  I will be contacting you to find out your mailing address so that I can send you your little prize bundle.   I had so much fun with my first giveaway....I can't wait to do another one! :-)

After all that excitement I have a VERY d'lish appetizer recipe to share.   And WOW is it serious YUM!  Easy to make.  Lots of melted cheese.  And it disappears FAST so don't even think of walking away too far once you bring it out of the oven.

Cheesy "Bloomin' Onion" Bread

(recipe discovered on Your Homebased Mom's blog - Thank you Leigh Anne!)

Ingredients:

*Round Sourdough Bread - unsliced with a good hardy crust  (I used 2 small  round sourdough breads from Panera)

*8 oz. Monterey Jack Cheese - thinly sliced (I also added some horseradish cheddar which wonderful addition to the M.J. cheese flavor)

*1/2 cup butter - melted

*1/2 cup finely diced green onions, including the white part

*2-3 tsp Poppy Seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Take your bread and carefully cut into bread (DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH BREAD TO THE BOTTOM CRUST) with a sharp bread knife going in both directions....

...place bread on a foil covered cookie sheet.

3. Place slices of cheese between cuts in bread.  Sprinkle with green onions....

....pour melted butter all over top of bread (I used 1 stick for 2 small breads)....

....and then sprinkle with poppy seeds....

(Leigh Anne suggests wrapping whole bread in tin foil before placing in the oven - I did not do this step (guess I got too excited for the whole recipe that I didn't read the directions very well) - only had tin foil on the bottom of the cookie sheet.  You are welcome to do what feels best to you.)

....pop bread in the oven for 15 minutes - or until cheese is nicely melted.

Take out of oven.....

(Oh HAPPINESS!!!)

 ...and let cool for a couple of minutes (if you can stand it) before you place bread/breads in front of your crowd and it is is devoured!!!

Happy Cheesy "Bloomin' Onion" Bread Making!

This post has been linked up to...

Siggy Spice's Thanksgiving Extravaganza (Appetizers)

Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

What a scrumptious dish!  A couple of weeks ago I made this recipe for Easter dinner along side the ham as one of the side dishes. 

It is EASY to make.  Easy to EAT.  Easy to LOVE. And EASY to want to make it AGAIN!!!

Once again, one my "Queen's of Cooking" (QOC) - The Pioneer Woman - was who I discovered this recipe from.  I seriously worship this woman.....if you haven't discovered that already.  :-)

Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

(recipe has been adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

Ingredients:

4-5 whole Russet potatoes, scrubbed clean

2 Tbsp butter, softened

1 1/2 cup heavy cream (I used 1/2 and 1/2)

1/2 cup whole milk (I used 2%)

2 Tbsp flour

4 cloves garlic, crushed or minced

1 tsp salt

freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Smear softened butter all over bottom of baking dish (2 qt baking dish or a pie pan).

3. Slice potatoes, then cut in slices and forths.  Place in a bowl of water as you cut them so that they don't get brown....also a great way to decrease the starch in them.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, cream, flour, garlic, salt and pepper.

5. Place a 1/3 of the potatoes in the bottom of baking dish.  Pour a 1/3 of the cream mixture over the potatoes.  Repeat 2 more times, ending with the cream mixture. 

6. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remover foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until potatoes are golden brown and bubbling. 

7. Add grated cheddar cheese to the top of potatoes and bake for another 3-5 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

8. Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving by the spoonful.

Deeeeelish!

Happy Perfect Potatoes au Gratin Baking!

~avril :-)

*This recipe has been linked to Mommy's Kitchen -  for "Potluck Sunday"*