Apple Pie Pancakes

I love adding fresh fruit to pancakes. We usually use blueberries or raspberries. But since it's apple season and I had apples available I decided to try something new. This recipe is so easy and screams fall.

INGREDIENTS:

• Aunt Jemima instant pancake mix 
• 1 apple 
• syrup or whipped cream
• cinnamon
• about 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of unsalted 
• 1 pan for apples, 1 pan for pancakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare pancake mix as the box instructs (I made enough for 12-16 pancakes)
2. Peel apple and slice thinly discarding the core
3. Melt butter in med-high skillet
4. Coast apple slices with cinnamon and add to hot butter
5. Begin browning apples and sprinkle brown sugar as you stir until apples are soft
6. Let cool and mix with pancake batter
7. Prepare 2nd pan with oil and prepare pancakes as usual

I hope you enjoy this savory and sweet spin on your usual pancakes.

Kids in the Kitchen Recipe: Mexican Pizza

My toddler loves to help in the kitchen. She loves to pour and stir and of course lick the utensils when we're done. She's been helping since she turned two years old and is getting more and more comfortable in the kitchen. She really takes pride in the tasks I give her now. So I am always trying to think of meals she can help me with. This is an easy one that she found fun to assemble.

Ingredients (Makes 4 servings):

• Corn tortillas (8)
• 1 can of refried beans, black beans OR I used Glory brand red beans & rice which you should be able to find in the International food aisle with Caribbean canned goods
• grilled chicken (about 1 1/2 chicken breasts)
• shredded cheddar cheese or blend (about 1 cup)
• 2 chopped green onions (scallions)
• (optional) sour cream and salsa

Directions: 

1.  Heat oven to 425 degrees
2. Grill your chicken and chop into small pieces
3. Spray non-stick spray on a cookie sheet
4. Place 4 of the tortillas on sheet (good job for the toddler)
5. Spoon a large spoonful of your canned beans of choice and spread out evenly (good job for the toddler) 
6. Top with another tortilla (good job for the toddler) 
7. Place chicken on top 
8. Sprinkle scallions and cheese (good job for the toddler)
9. Cook in oven for 10 min top with your favorite condiments

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RECIPE: Everybody in the Pool! Easy 15 min recipe.

This is another "clean out the fridge before the veggies go bad" dish. And by using a steam-in-the-bag shortcut I was able to complete in less than 15 min!

The point is to use fresh veggies like broccoli, roasted red peppers and squash to make a colorful and healthy dish. I try to think of my dishes as vegetarian with meat (lol) meaning chocked full of fresh veggies but an addition of meat for flavor and because I married a carnivore and I was raised on meat and starch so its hard for me to feel full if there isn't meat. Does that make me weird? If not, there are a laundry list of other things that do so I've got that covered.

What you need:

• A large pot with cover
• (Optional) Turkey Kielbasa sliced small or chopped
• Med white onion chopped
• 1 fresh bunch of broccoli cut into florets and pieces of stalk
• 1 jar of roasted red pepper cut into smaller pieces (I used Table Joy brand)
• 2 yellow squash or zucchini sliced or chopped
• 1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth (replace with oil from red pepper jar for vegan version)
• Cooked rice or my shortcut Steam-in-Bag white rice with peas, corn, and carrots

Directions:
1. Cook rice and put side
2. (Skip to #3 if doing vegan version) Slice kielbasa then cut slices in half and begin browning in med-high pot
3. Add chopped onion and chicken broth (or oil from jar of roasted red pepper) and cover
4. Add chopped squash and roasted red pepper, stir well
5 Add broccoli, stir well
6. Incorporate your cooked rice, stir well, recover for about 5 min then Serve!

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A Tasty and Healthy 10 min meal!

I remember how hard it was to shop/cook for one person when I lived alone after college. I was on a tight post college budget. I ended up splitting up my groceries and freezing smaller portions because I couldn't stand eating leftovers more than 3 days in a row no matter how tasty they were. This meal idea can be prepared and cooked in less than 10 minutes! Portions can easily be scaled up for a family. I made this for dinner last Friday because my daughter was staying at my in-laws and hubby was at work. He has a seafood allergy so I rarely cook seafood at home.

So I bought a bag of individually wrapped talapia fillets (such a mild fish, yum) and San Francisco style frozen vegetables. That's the first I've heard of this blend. It contains: broccoli, french cut green beans, mushrooms and red bell pepper. I set the oven to broil. I put about a third of the bag of frozen veggies in a small pot that had a lid and boiled on high with about 1/4 inch of water in the pot. With a few shakes of Badia brand complete seasoning. This seasoning is great on EVERYTHING. I use it on eggs, meat, vegetables.

I defrosted 2 talapia fillets and placed on a piece of aluminum foil lined cookie sheet that I greased with some butter. I seasoned liberally with Old Bay seasoning on both sides and put a half a pat of salted butter on top of each fillet. I broiled on each side about 4 min (flipping the fillets once). The fillets are delicate so I used a spatula. It was so simple and tasted better than dishes I've eaten in restaurants. I just had to share! I can't wait to have another night at home alone so I can make this meal again.