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cheese board trend

March 4, 2022

Are you into the cheese board trend? Above are 2 boards I made. It is such a fun creative project! Use a variety of colors, textures, shapes and sizes. Fill up the board! Incorporate different flavors such as sweet, salty, crunchy, and soft. Wow your guests with a beautiful presentation!

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This square board above was from a cheese board class. This is a fun activity to do with girlfriends. Ask if the cheese board girl in your area offers classes.

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Finally, don’t limit yourself to just cheese! The breakfast board above was for Father’s Day. You can use pancakes, granola, fruit, chocolate. I even used an airplane cookie cutter to make pancakes in the shape of an airplane. The sky is the limit!

In cuisine Tags cheese board, board, cheese, pancake, breakfast
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50 New Desserts in 2020

March 18, 2020

My New Year’s Resolutions is to bake 50 new desserts. Below I list the first 10 and highlight my favorites so far.

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In cuisine Tags dessert, desserts, cake, cakes, cookies
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spider-web-cupcakes

halloween spider web cupcakes

October 18, 2019

Easy cupcakes! Use cake out of the box and canned icing if you’re not motivated to make from scratch. Let the kids do it!

The cool part is the spider web icing. It looks cool and is not difficult

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In holiday, cuisine Tags cupcakes, cupcake, halloween, spider, web, spider web
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confetti cookies

confetti cookies

June 6, 2019

Another recipe I discovered on Smitten Kitchen! I brought these cookies to an outdoor concert at a winery with kids and dogs. They are cheerful and were a hit with all ages.

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In cuisine Tags cookie, cookies, confetti, confetti cookies, sugar cookies, smitten kitchen, sprinkles, sprinkle
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rice-krispie-treats

rice krispie treats with brown butter

June 2, 2019

I enjoyed this easy recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Only 4 ingredients, very easy! They are not THAT different from regular Rice Krispie treats…..but I ate more than usual. I think that means the brown butter and sea salt made an impact!

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In cuisine Tags treats, rice krispie, rice crispy, brown butter, smitten kitchen, dessert
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oatmeal-cookies

oatmealers

March 7, 2019

This is another old recipe that I used to make all the time. Oatmealers (a Lawton name). They are oatmeal cookies with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips.

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In cuisine Tags cookies, oatmeal cookies, oatmealers, chocolate chips, butterscotch
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mustard-chicken

crispy mustard chicken + frisee - ina garten

March 2, 2019

Another Barefoot Contessa recipe! Crispy mustard chicken. This was easy to make - one pan in the oven.

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In cuisine Tags barefoot contessa, chicken, ina garten, mustard, crispy chicken
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sheet-pan-steak

sheet pan steak & veggies

February 27, 2019

This was a very easy dinner! Not a ton of ingredients to buy at the store, and it cooks all in one pan. A contender for my “One Dish Wonders” of 2019.

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In cuisine Tags steak, sheet pan, potatoes, flat iron steak, dinner
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2 chocolate chip cookie recipes

February 21, 2019

2 chocolate chip cookie recipes! I made these as gifts for some neighbors who did a favor. The one on the left is Emily Schuman’s recipe. The pic on the right is the Neiman Marcus recipe. I like the cookie dough from Emily’s better….Neiman’s is easier. Try them both let me know what you think!

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In cuisine Tags cookies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip, Emily schuman, Neiman marcus
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orzo

parmesan orzo

February 20, 2019

Thanks again to Brooke Shafner for sharing this easy orzo! I used 2 TBSP of butter and no lemon. I grated the Parmesan rather than buying the already shredded kind….it just tastes better.

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In cuisine Tags orzo, side dish, recipe, brooke, parmesan
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Mac-n-cheese

mac 'n cheese from mrs. clifford

February 19, 2019

The Lawtons make this recipe all the time….and all my friends in LA know and love this famous recipe. Every time I try mac ‘n cheese at a restaurant with my dear friend Jed, he always says “Neely, this isn’t as good as yours.”

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In cuisine Tags Mac n cheese, macaroni, mac, gruyere
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chocolate-cake

easy chocolate cake

February 18, 2019

Easy peasy chocolate cake! Thanks to Brooke Shafner for sharing this family recipe. It has a secret ingredient that keeps it moist…….sour cream!

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In cuisine Tags cake, chocolate cake, sour cream, kahlua, dessert
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bolognese

bolognese

January 22, 2019

Ina Garten/Barefoot Contessa recipe - not a surprise! It was easy and the feedback was “this is a restaurant quality meal.” Lots of leftovers - a cozy meal for a winter night.

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In cuisine Tags pasta, ina garten, barefoot contessa, bolognese, italian
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squash-salad

roasted butternut squash salad for thanksgiving or fall

November 29, 2018

Thanks to my friend Karin for recommending this autumn salad for Thanksgiving! I am always in charge of the salad and needed new ideas.

I mostly used Ina Garten’s recipe (Barefoot Contessa) with a few changes.

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In cuisine Tags salad, fall, autumn, thanksgiving, squash, ina garten, barefoot contessa, butternut squash
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pork-tenderloin

cider roasted pork tenderloin: barefoot contessa

November 6, 2018

“Best pork I’ve ever had.” “I didn’t even know I liked pork tenderloin.” These were the comments from the recent Ina Garten Cider Roasted Pork Tenderloin recipe.

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In cuisine Tags ina garten, barefoot contessa, pork, pork tenderloin
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waldorf-salad-barefoot-contessa

barefoot contessa chicken Waldorf salad

November 2, 2018

Barefoot Contessa is one of those shows I watch on Hulu when I have 30 minutes and don’t know what to watch. I always end up wanting to make her meals!

I watched this Ina Garten episode the other day, and made this yummy salad last night. It has enough meat and protein in it to be filling. This would make a perfect lunch.

Things I learned:

  • chicken in the oven - it was very easy! Buy chicken with bones and skin on for cooking, then remove those parts.

  • thick cut bacon - makes a huge difference

  • shredded apple - never done this before

  • soft boiled eggs

Recipe

Ingredients:


1 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (2 large)
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound thick-cut bacon
1/4 cup whole roasted salted Marcona almonds
1/4 cup whole roasted salted cashews
1/4 cup walnut halves
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons liquid honey
4 cups baby frisee, washed, spun dry, and sliced into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cups kale, ribs removed, washed, spun dry, stacked and thinly sliced
4 ounces baby spinach, washed and spun dry
1/2 cup golden raisins
6 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
1 crisp red apple, unpeeled
4 soft-boiled eggs, large-diced

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange 3 racks evenly spaced in the oven.

  2. Place the chicken, skin side up, on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast on the top rack for 35 to 40 minutes, until the internal temperature is 140 degrees. Set aside to cool, discard the skin and bones, and shred the chicken by hand into large, roughly 1 x 4-inch, pieces.

  3. Place the bacon on a baking rack on a second sheet pan and roast below the chicken on the second oven rack for 20 to 30 minutes, until browned. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels to cool. Cut in large dice. On a third sheet pan, combine the almonds, cashews, and walnuts and roast under the bacon for 10 to 12 minutes, tossing once, until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

  4. In a medium bowl or 2-cup measuring cup, whisk together 2/3 cup of olive oil, the vinegar, mustard, honey, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and set aside.

  5. In a large serving bowl, combine the frisee, kale, spinach, raisins, Cheddar, chicken, bacon, roasted nuts, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Before serving, grate the apple and add it. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Put the eggs on top, toss lightly, and serve.


Variety:

You can definitely change components of this recipe. As long as you have the chicken, some nuts, some greens, some cheese, and a fruit, I think you are good. For example, I did not have frisee, cashews, or raisins. I just did it without and it was fine. I think the cashews definitely would add something though!


Soft Hard-Boiled Egg Recipe:

  1. Place the eggs a large saucepan and cover them with cool tap water. Bring the water to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.

  2. Remove the eggs from the saucepan and immediately place them in a bowl of cold water until they are completely cool.

  3. Remove the shells, slice each egg in half lengthwise, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

bowl is from Heath - a gift from Mead & Mere!

bowl is from Heath - a gift from Mead & Mere!







In cuisine Tags salad, ina garten, barefoot contessa, bacon, eggs, chicken, apple
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salmon-dinner

healthy summer salmon dinner with peach salsa

July 10, 2018

Ahhhh.....peaches.  One of the best parts of summer.  How to incorporate them into your dinner besides salad?  As a salsa!

This was a Blue Apron recipe that I enjoyed.  If you aren't into salmon,

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In cuisine Tags salmon, peach, blue apron, corn, salsa
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chopped-plums

plum crisp

July 5, 2018

I am lucky enough to have a plum tree in my backyard.  Isn't it nice when fruit or veggies grow in your home and you can skip the grocery store?

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In cuisine Tags plum, plum crisp, pie, fruit
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butter-and-salt-chefs

butter + salt: tahoe private chefs

January 23, 2018

One wonderful treat while on vacation: hiring a private chef to cook for you at home.  No need to go anywhere, no need to do any dishes.  Just sit back, relax, and they do it all.

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In cuisine, gift guide, journeys Tags private chef, catering, tahoe, reno
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gingerbread man shots

December 5, 2017

 don't normally make or do shots at a party.....but I did enjoy these!  A welcome addition to the annual Xmas party.  They taste like dessert, and definitely were a hit!  

Mix it up.  Instead of only Fireball & Fernet, add a Gingerbread Man Shot to your holiday party!

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In cuisine, soirée Tags shot, xmas shot, gingerbread man shot
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50 New Desserts in 2020
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halloween spider web cupcakes
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unicorn halloween costume from 2018
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birthday party......for a dog

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