The Skinny — Page 46

Penne alla Moscato

February 12, 2014 By Erin Kennedy Leave a Comment

I love Penne Alla Vodka, I actually love any pasta that includes cream. I have made this recipe a few times, but I wanted to try it by eliminating the vodka and substitute it with some wine. I wondered what type of wine I should use with this recipe and thought that Moscato might be a good choice. It is sweeter than a dry white wine, but that is what I thought would make this recipe work.

Since I was using canned tomatoes, the sweetness of the wine could balance the acidity of the tomato sauce without using sugar as I usually would.

I was right, there was not any sweetness indicated in the sauce but it brought a boldness and help balance out all the flavors while having them compliment each other more than I could have imagined.

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Strawberry Jam Loaf

February 6, 2014 By Madison Wetherill 4 Comments

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, now is a perfect time for all things sweet! This Strawberry Jam Loaf is just that and with hints of pink and red, it’s a perfect Valentine’s Day treat. You could make this recipe as mini muffins for your little ones or send a dozen of these off to a neighbor or coworker.

I love a fresh loaf of bread out of the oven and I am always trying to find new variations. I found this recipe in my mother-in-law’s recipe box and it sounded too good not to try! The recipe originally comes from my husband’s aunt. Trying new recipes is so fun, especially when you know they are family favorites!

The ingredients for this recipe are so simple and you probably have most of them in your house already! The only things I had to get from the store were cream of tartar and strawberry preservatives. I’m not a huge nut fan, so I didn’t use the optional pecans. [Read more…]

{Lighter} Chicken Fajita Casserole

February 5, 2014 By Megan Link 2 Comments

Hi there! I am Megan from The Housewife in Training Files. I am so honored to be a contributor to My Cooking Spot! What an amazing little blog this is.

I have a special place in my heart for quinoa and for many reasons. You can even say I am tad bit obsessed. And for good reasons! A quick cooking, gluten free whole grain that is a nutritional powerhouse. It contains more antioxidants, protein and fiber than any other grain; which is the perfect reason for me to substitute any recipe that calls for rice, couscous and even pasta!

When I think of winter, I immediately curse Mother Nature, kidding, sorta. No really; I immediately think of comfort dishes. Cheesy, gooey dishes that are so rich they keep you full and happy for hours on end! One evening I was feeling like a bit of a fiesta so I set out to make a lighter dish that was a way less time consuming than making a full Mexican spread. Let’s be honest, I had a margarita calling my name. [Read more…]

Holiday Spiced Dutch Baby

December 12, 2013 By Erin Kennedy Leave a Comment

The seasonal fruit selection at our Seattle area farmers markets has plummeted to our standard winter options of apple and pear varieties. While there are plenty of tasty things to be made with both fruits, I thought I’d share what can be made with some of the other goodies I routinely pick up at the market. Quality wise – there’s nothing better than farm fresh eggs and butter. Both blow their store-bought counterparts away. At the Ballard Farmers Market, my favorite eggs come from Stokesberry Farm and butter from Golden Glen Creamery.

While thinking of recipes to highlight these two everyday ingredients, I immediately gravitated towards one of my favorite indulgent breakfasts. Dutch Babies, also known as German Pancakes, are incredibly simple to make and are a great canvas for all kinds of special flavors or additions. Now that we’re deep into the holiday season, I thought it was about time to create a holiday spiced version – perfect for enjoying in front of a morning fire on a cold blustery day.

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