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Posts from the ‘Non Sweets’ Category

Roasted Broccoli

I have never eaten nor heard of roasted broccoli before.  It just never seemed like the type of vegetable that one would roast, so the idea never entered my mind until I watched a Food Network show that showed how to make roasted broccoli.  I thought it sounded, and looked, really yummy, so I had to make it for myself, although with some changes (I didn’t use the cheese or lemon).

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Photo above is of fresh broccoli, just before going into the oven.

Roasted Broccoli
Adapted from Tyler Florence

Ingredients
1 head of broccoli
Olive oil
Salt & pepper

Method
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Trim about 1 inch off the ends of the broccoli stalks and cut the broccoli lengthwise into spears. Arrange the broccoli on a nonstick cookie sheet, drizzle with some olive oil and season with a little bit of salt and a generous amount of pepper. Toss to coat evenly. Transfer to the oven and roast for 10 minutes.

Remove the broccoli from the oven and turn broccoli spears over.  Return to the oven for another 5-10 minutes.

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This yummy green side dish tastes amazing.  I didn’t realize that roasting the broccoli would give it a totally different taste.  I can’t even explain it, just try it for yourself next time instead of steaming or boiling!

Cupcakes Are Coming

This past week I haven’t had a lot of sweets, but I have enjoyed trying out some other new recipes that I’ve been craving for lunch and dinner. For example, this simple chicken and salad wrap really hit the spot the other day.

Chicken & Salad Wrap

All it is is a whole wheat tortilla, romaine lettuce, grilled chicken strips (these can be purchased frozen and pre-cooked, to be reheated in the microwave) and a few drips of tomato & herb based salad dressing. Simple, healthy and tasty!

The other recipe I cooked up was very nice as well. It is super easy and can be made in one pot. All it is is chicken breasts, stewed tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms and oregeno.

Chicken, Tomatoes & Mushrooms

I would have liked to have served this with plain white or brown rice, but I didn’t have any. I served it with peas instead. My 18-month-old son loved this and ate every single last crumb of this. I was so pleased because this is a boy who loves his french fries and chicken nuggets, so when he eats any kind of vegetable it is something to write about! My 3-year-old daughter, however, would have nothing of it!

I forget where I got this recipe, it was just printed out in Notepad and stuck in my recipe book, so I’ll post it here in case anyone else is interested in trying this as well.

Chicken, Mushrooms & Tomatoes
Serves 4

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, about 1 1/2 pounds
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, trimmed and quartered
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Method:
Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large (5-quart) saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat oil over medium-high heat; swirl to coat bottom of pan. Cook chicken, turning when it easily releases from the pan, until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Add mushrooms; cover, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes, and oregano. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, until tomatoes have broken down, 10 to 15 minutes.

Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pan; cover, and cook until chicken is opaque throughout, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn chicken to coat with sauce, and serve.

I was not able to enter Iron Cupcake: Earth this month because I have simply not had time to go on a search for necessary ingredients. The only time that I did have a chance, I couldn’t find one of the main ingredients that I needed! This is the first challenge that I have missed, but I do eventually intend to make the wine cupcake that I wanted to make for January’s challenge.

And just as a heads up, coming up later in the week are chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes. Chocolate chip cookie dough baked inside chocolate cupcakes, and frosted with raw (eggless) chocolate chip cookie dough! Yum! I can’t wait to taste these!

Mini Cupcake Charms

A little while ago I posted a photo of my cupcake charm necklace from Tiny Cravings. I just wanted to let everyone know that there has just been a new cupcake charm added to the Tiny Cravings shop – mini buttercream scented cupcakes. They are so adorable!

Read more about these on the Tiny Cravings blog and order your own here.

Cupcake Necklace

I bought this cupcake charm necklace from Jeanine of Tiny Cravings over a year ago. I think it’s just so cute! Jeanine has many new cupcake charms on her website that are well worth checking out, if you like cupcake jewelry.

Latest Piece of Jewelry

It is a strawberry cupcake with white frosting and sprinkles, and it is also scented! Reminds me of a Strawberry Shortcake smell.

Green Tea/Matcha Powder Recipes

The recent popularity of my green tea cupcakes has sent me off on a mission to find more quality matcha recipes. I found a great collection at Boulder Tea. You can find recipes for matcha shortbread cookies, matcha chocolate chip cake, matcha mousse, and even matcha jelly. Check out their recipes here.

Meatloaf Cupcakes

For those of you who do not have a sweet tooth but still enjoy the occasional cupcake, here is a perfect solution – meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato frosting.

Photo by Michele Humes @ Fine Furious Life

Michele Humes of Fine Furious Life created a three-meat meatloaf cupcake with plain mashed potato frosting and beet-tinted mashed potato frosting, sprinkled with finely diced green peppers. The recipe is included in her blog post.

Yet another ingenious creation in the world of cupcakes!