Simply Made Recipes

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Salty Dog

A Salty Dog is a cocktail made with grapefruit juice and gin or vodka with a salt rim. Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit and sprig of rosemary to make a beautiful and delicious drink. 

I feel like grapefruit is one of those foods that is more of an acquired taste. I don’t mind half a grapefruit every once in awhile in the morning with a sprinkle of sugar for breakfast. This cocktail is the same for me- it isn’t what I always crave but it is nice every once in awhile to switch things up! Plus, you can make it really pretty by adding some fresh slices of grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary for a pop of color. 

Salty Dog

A Salty Dog is just a greyhound (grapefruit juice and gin) with a salt rim added. Traditionally, this cocktail is made with gin but vodka can be substituted which is the way I like to make mine. You can choose to add the extra garnish of rosemary and fresh grapefruit to pretty up the cocktail and add just a touch more flavor or keep it simple without. 

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Salty Dog

A Salty Dog is a cocktail made with grapefruit juice and gin or vodka with a salt rim. Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit and sprig of rosemary to make a beautiful and delicious drink. 
Course drink
Keyword cocktail, gin, grapefruit, vodka
Servings 1 cocktail
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounce Gin or vodka
  • 4 ounces grapefruit juice
  • coarse salt
  • ice
  • fresh grapefruit slice
  • rosemary

Instructions

  • Dip the tip of your glass in water and then coarse salt to salt the rim. Traditionally a highball glass would be used. 
  • Fill glass with ice. 
  • Add a shot of gin or vodka. 
  • Place a slice of fresh grapefruit inside glass (optional). 
  • Fill with grapefruit juice. 
  • Garnish with a sprig of rosemary (optional). 

Ground Beef Tostadas

Ground Beef Tostadas are made with corn tortillas baked crispy with refried beans, seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, red onion, fresh tomatoes and avocados piled on top with a drizzle of crema and plenty of crumbled queso fresco cheese. 

I am gearing up for Cinco de Mayo in a few weeks so I have tacos on the mind. Okay, honestly- tacos are always on my mind. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is. It is nice to switch up the regular taco night though and do something just a little bit different. For my family, a tostada is just a fun way to eat a taco! 

Feel free to switch up your toppings. Try any of these delicious combinations of toppings: 

  • shredded lettuce
  • refried beans
  • black beans
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • shredded queso fresco
  • avocados
  • guacamole
  • diced tomatoes
  • diced onions 
  • cilantro
  • salsa
  • corn salsa
  • jalapenos
  • whatever your heart desires!

Ground Beef Tostadas

Ground Beef Tostadas start with that crispy baked corn tortilla. You can buy tostadas ready to eat from the grocery but making them at home is really easy and they taste soooo good. Just place the corn tortillas on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive and some salt. Bake and done. 

Besides the crispy shell on the bottom, there are two other components that are really important with these Ground Beef Tostadas : the spicy ground beef and the crema over top. The ground beef has very simple seasoning but is just the right amount of spice and flavor for this dish.  The crema can be made the day before and adds that cool layer that balances that spice from the meat. Delish!

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Ground Beef Tostadas

Ground Beef Tostadas are made with corn tortillas baked crispy with refried beans, seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, red onion, fresh tomatoes and avocados piled on top with a drizzle of crema and plenty of crumbled queso fresco cheese. 
Course dinner, Entree
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Tacos, Tostadas
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Author Amber

Ingredients

Spicy Ground Beef

  • 1 pound ground beef lean
  • olive oil
  • 1/2 white onion diced
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup water
  • red pepper flakes optional

Totstada

  • olive oil
  • 8-10 corn tortillas
  • salt

Crema

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice

Toppings

  • 16 ounces refried beans
  • 1 cup lettuce shredded
  • 1 tomato diced
  • 1/4 red onion diced
  • 1 avocado peeled, pitted and sliced
  • 1 cup queso fresco cheese shredded

Instructions

Crema

  • Begin with crema. Ideally you make this a few hours to a day prior. Whisk together 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 Tablespoon lime juice. Cover and place in fridge to store before serving. 

Toastadas

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees. 
  • Spread out the corn tortillas on a large baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Rub the olive oil all over the tortillas on each side. 
  • Bake in 4 minute increments flipping between each. Bake until the tortillas are crispy and a golden brown color. This should take 2 flips or 12 minutes. 
  • Let cool. 

Spicy Ground Beef

  • Heat a nonstick skillet on the stove top on a medium-high heat. Drizzle the pan with olive and drop in the diced white onion. Let cook 1 minute and then add the ground beef. Break up the ground beef into equal pieces until browned. 
  • Drain the meat if needed. If using a really lean meat, you may not need to. Put the meat back in the pan and add 1/2 cup water and the seasonings. Red pepper flakes are optional if you just want a little extra kick. Bring to a simmer, lower heat and cover for 15 minutes. Stir a few times to ensure the meat isn't sticking. 

Ground Beef Tostadas

  • Heat up the refried beans as the meat finishes cooking and assemble your tostadas. 
  • Start with a layer of refried beans on the crispy corn tortilla, add some spicy ground beef, top with shredded lettuce, diced red onion, diced tomato, and sliced avocado. Sprinkle with queso fresco and then drizzle with the crema to finish. 

Fries with Garlic Aioli

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of McCain Foods. The opinions and text are all mine. #MyMcCainPotatoes #CollectiveBias

Fries with Garlic Aioli is winning game day snack time with a delicious dip made with mayo, roasted garlic cloves and lemon juice that goes perfect with McCain® Seasoned Curly Fries Seasoned Potato Fries. 

This time of year is crazy busy in my household between holiday gatherings, Birthday parties, end of year school functions and game day hang outs with friends. Of course, I love hosting our game day events and one of my go-to spreads are fries with dips. So simple, so delicious and there is something for everyone. One of my favorite fry and dip pairings happens to be McCain Seasoned Curly Fries Seasoned Potato Fries with a homemade aioli. McCain® products are great for dipping and can be found at your local Walmart in the freezer section. 

You can get $1.50 off when you purchase 2 participating McCain products at Walmart. You can submit your rebate & learn more details HERE. 

Valid until 5/31/19

McCain Foods is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products established in Canada and is on the path to be a household name here in the United States. Let McCain products help you easily create a tasty game day spread with the variety of fries all made with real potatoes with crispy exteriors for a satisfying crunch with every bite. Also try McCain® Smiles® Mashed Potato Shapes for super fun shapes that both kids and grow ups will enjoy. 

 

Hosting Game Day Tips

Hosting game day doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are my TOP 5 TIPS to make hosting a snap. 

  1. Use disposable plates, napkins, utensils and cups for easy clean up. 
  2. Have plenty of drinks and keep them cold so remember extra ice. 
  3. Finger foods will help you win big with your guests and give you easy party prep and cleanup. 
  4. Make sure the game viewing area is comfortable and has plenty of seating. 
  5. Are kids attending? Make sure there are snacks and drinks that are kid friendly. Also, set up a safe play area for the kids to run and jump. 

Fries with Garlic Aioli

Garlic Aioli may sound a little fancy but is quite easy to throw together and adds so much flavor to McCain Seasoned Curly Fries Seasoned Potato Fries or any other McCain fries. You start by roasting a bulb of garlic in the oven with just a little olive oil. The garlic becomes soft so you can easily squeeze the garlic out of the cloves to add to a little mayonnaise, lemon juice and more olive oil to create a yummy dip. 

More Dips

Make all your guests happy with a variety of dipping sauces. You can quickly toss together these other sauces for your fun party spread. 

  • Mix equal parts of your favorite tangy BBQ sauce with mayonnaise that is perfect for dunking fries. 
  • Honey Mustard is always a crowd pleaser made with equal parts honey, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. 
  • Spice things up with a touch of sriracha in mayonnaise for those hot sauce fans. 
  • Add the classics: ketchup, mustard and ranch. 

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Fries with Garlic Aioli

Fries with Garlic Aioli is winning game day snack with a delicious dip made with mayo, roasted garlic cloves and lemon juice that goes perfect with McCain® Seasoned Curly Fries Seasoned Potato Fries. 
Course snacks
Keyword aioli, fries, sauces, snacks
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Roasting Garlic 40 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings 9 servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

Fries with Garlic Aioli

  • 26 ounces McCain® Seasoned Curly Fries Seasoned Potato Fries

Roasted Garlic

  • 1 garlic bulb
  • olive oil

Garlic Aioli

  • 2 roasted garlic cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice fresh

Instructions

Roasted Garlic

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees. 
  • Cut the top off a head of garlic to expose the cloves slightly. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap in foil. 
  • Roast for 40 minutes and remove from oven to cool. 

Garlic Aioli

  • Squeeze the garlic out of two roasted garlic cloves and mash in small bowl using a fork. 
  • Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 Tablespoons olive oil and 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Mash together well and then stir in the mayo. 
  • Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Fries with Garlic Aioli

  • Cook your McCain® Seasoned Curly Fries Seasoned Potato Fries according to instructions on the bag. I cooked mine in the oven at 425 degrees for a total of 22 minutes. 
  • Serve with Garlic Aioli. 

What’s your favorite dip to pair with McCain Seasoned Curly Fries Seasoned Potato Fries? Let me know in the comments below! 

 

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie is made with fresh avocado, cucumber, kiwis and plain yogurt for a healthy breakfast or lunch that isn’t too sweet. 

Typically, I am all about those super fruity and sweet smoothies like the Triple Berry Smoothie, but sometimes I just want something nutrient dense and makes me feel good and full for a long time. I love this smoothie because it does those things. Here is a breakdown on what the ingredients are doing for our body!

Avocado

Low in sugar, high in fiber with 20 vitamins and minerals. Avocado may be high in calories and fat but it is monounsaturated fatty acids that are healthy and your body needs! 

Kiwi

Kiwis are always tasty and healthy with loads of Vitamin C. Your immune system will thank you. 

Cucumber

Cucumber has a mild taste and is super refreshing known to help with hydration. 

Yogurt

The benefits of yogurt can differ from brand to brand. Look for a high calcium yogurt that is fortified with Vitamin D for bone health. Yogurt also has probiotics to help with your gut health. 

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie is smooth and creamy with a strong avocado flavor and just a hint of tangy kiwi. The cucumber and yogurt is added for health benefits and to also thicken the smoothie into a really nice consistency. A great smoothie to start your day with! 

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie is made with fresh avocado, cucumber, kiwis and plain yogurt for a healthy breakfast or lunch that isn’t too sweet | smoothie recipes | avocado recipes | healthy smoothies | breakfast ideas
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Avocado Kiwi Smoothie

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie is made with fresh avocado, cucumber, kiwis and plain yogurt for a healthy breakfast or lunch that isn't too sweet. 
Course Smoothie
Keyword breakfast, drink, Smoothies
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 avocado Pit removed and peeled
  • 4 kiwis peeled
  • 1 cucumber peeled
  • 2 cups plain yogurt
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 Tablespoon honey optional

Instructions

  • Wash and peel all the fruit. Rough chop them and add to blender. 
  • Add plain yogurt and ice. You can add honey if you want a sweetener. 
  • Blend until smooth and creamy. 

 

Birthday Funfetti Waffles

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Birthday Funfetti Waffles are a deliciously fun Birthday morning treat made with some basic baking ingredients and rainbow sprinkles with a glaze drizzle and topped with whipped cream and more sprinkles! 

April is a big month for Birthdays among my family and friends so Birthday treats are on the mind! These Birthday Funfetti Waffles are exactly the the kind of breakfast I would have loved to wake up to in the morning as a little girl… okay, I still would love these for my Birthday! 

Birthday Funfetti Waffles

Birthday Funfetti Waffles come from a delicious Belgium waffle recipe base with added rainbow sprinkles. The real fun comes in with the buttery sweet glaze drizzled over the top and a dollop of whipped cream. Add a little something special with some sort of banner like this “yay” banner and light a candle. 


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Birthday Funfetti Waffles

Birthday Funfetti Waffles are a deliciously fun Birthday morning treat made with some basic baking ingredients and rainbow sprinkles with a glaze drizzle and topped with whipped cream and more sprinkles! 
Course Breakfast
Keyword Birthday
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 8 minutes
Servings 6 Waffles
Author Amber

Ingredients

Waffles

  • 2¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 3 Tablespoons confectioners sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 egg whites
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles plus for topping
  • whipped cream

Glaze

  • 1 1/4 cup confectioners sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons whole milk
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • salt

Instructions

  • In a small mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat 2 egg whites to a soft peak or until they are white and fluffy. Set to the side.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add all other waffle ingredients: flour, baking powder, 3 Tablespoons confectioners sugar, salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, vegetable oil and milk. Whisk until blended.
  • Fold in the egg whites and 1/4 cup sprinkles.
  • Read instructions of your Belgium waffle maker before you get started because each will have a slightly different cook time or amount of batter that should be used. Warm up the waffle maker and add 1/2 cup batter. Cook 3-4 minutes or as per your waffle makers instructions.
  • In a small bowl, make the glaze. Whisk together 1 1/4 cup confectioners sugar, 3 Tablespoons confectioner sugar, 4 Tablespoons of melted butter and just a pinch of salt. Drizzle over waffles. 
  • Top the waffles with a little whipped cream and more sprinkles. 

Do you do anything fun for breakfast for your children’s Birthday or do you have a childhood memory of something that was done for you?? Let me know in the comments below. 

Avocado Breakfast Boats

This post has been sponsored by Sargento. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
 

Avocado Breakfast Boats are a beautiful yet quick meal made with fresh avocado, scrambled eggs, crispy pieces of bacon, diced tomato and Sargento Shreds​® Reserve Series™ 18 month aged Cheddar. 

 
 
A great breakfast starts with fresh ingredients, has amazing flavor, and can be cooked up quickly for busy mornings. Avocado Breakfast Boats are all of those things PLUS they are gorgeous! Gorgeous enough that I would feed these to guests staying over or for a brunch party because although simple, these avocado boats are impressive on taste and appealing as they are bursting in color. 
 
 

Meijer is my favorite grocer to shop at for everything from fresh produce to affordable beauty products. This cutting board photographed is even a Meijer find. I enjoy my weekly shopping trip at Meijer because I can pick up whatever my family needs in one stop and the prices are unbeatable! Not to mention, Meijer is always on top of what is new, like these Sargento Shredded Cheese packs. 

Save $.75 off 1 Sargento Shredded Cheese Package with mPerks! 

Sargento Shredded Cheese

Sargento has some new cheese cuts available at Meijer. Sargento Shreds​® Reserve Series includes a 14 month aged Parmesan, 6 month aged Gouda, an Italian blend, and 18 month aged Cheddar. All these Sargento cheeses are aged, adding more intense flavor to any dish with that extra punch of cheese. Everything is just a little better with one of these delicious Sargento Shredded Cheese varieties. 

Avocado Breakfast Boats

Avocado Breakfast Boats provide a healthy, balanced breakfast that is fresh and delicious. You get a buttery texture with the avocado, something creamy with perfectly scrambled eggs, a crispness with bacon, a pop of color with the tomato, and a sharpness with the Sargento Shredded Cheese. A combination that will make your taste buds do a happy dance. 
 

Tips & Tricks

Ripe Avocado

These tips and tricks can help determine if your avocado is ready to eat! Be aware that avocados have a small window of that perfect ripeness, so ripe today may mean overripe tomorrow. 

Color

A dull, dark brown-purplish color is an indication that your avocado is ripe. Bright green is an indication it is not quite there yet. I typically buy my avocados with a vibrant green tint so they will be ripe in a couple days when I plan to eat them. Note that this color rule doesn’t always apply and all three tips of picking the best avocado should be used. 

Feel

Rock hard avocados are not yet ripe while mushy are overripe. You want something in between. The avocado should be firm but have a little give when gently squeezed. 

Flick The Stem

Flicking the stem off the avocado is, in my opinion, the best way to determine the ripeness of an avocado. By removing the little stem attached to the fruit, you get to see the color your avocado is. You want to see a beautiful green color once that stem is removed. Brown is an indication that the avocado is overripe. 

How to Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled eggs should be light, moist, and creamy, seasoned with minimal seasoning of salt and pepper. Sargento Shredded Cheese adds richness and texture. 

Non-stick 

Cook with a non-stick skillet. This makes cooking and clean up easy peasy. Butter also helps the eggs not to stick and adds flavor. Let the butter melt completely, then add the egg. Then, use a spatula to turn the egg. 

Low Heat

A low to medium-low heat is just right. Cooking on a high temperature can burn the eggs or cook them too quickly. 

Whisk It Good

Use a whisk to beat the eggs in a small bowl before cooking. Beat the eggs until yolk and whites are fully combined and there is consistency.    

Cook Time

Even on a low heat, scrambled eggs only take about a minute to cook. The eggs should look slightly runny when removed from the heat because they will continue to cook. Over-cooked eggs can taste rubbery and dry oppose to creamy and soft. 

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Avocado Breakfast Boats

Avocado Breakfast Boats are a beautiful, yet quick meal made with fresh avocado, scrambled eggs, crispy pieces of bacon, diced tomato and Sargento Shreds​® Reserve Series 18 month aged Cheddar. 
Course Breakfast
Keyword avocado, bacon, breakfast, brunch, egg
Prep Time 6 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 3-4 Tablespoons Sargento Shreds​® Reserve Series 18 month aged Cheddar
  • 2 Avocados
  • 2 slices Bacon diced
  • 4 Eggs large
  • 1 Tomato diced
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Parsley optional garnish

Instructions

  • Wash outside of the avocados. Cut the avocados in half and dispose of the pit. Scoop out a little bit of the avocado with a spoon and dice the part you removed. Place to the side. The section with the shell will be your avocado boat.
  • Wash and chop the tomato. Place to the side. 
  • Dice the bacon. Cook bacon pieces on a medium-high heat in a non-stick pan for 3 minutes or until at your desired crispness. 
  • Remove bacon from and place on a paper towel. Place to the side while you cook the eggs. Wipe the non stick pan out clean with a paper towel to remove bacon grease.
  • Place the pan back on stove on a low-medium heat. Add 1 Tablespoon butter . 
  • Beat your eggs in a small bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add eggs pan once the butter has melted. Use a spatula to mix the eggs until they become silky and slightly runny. This should take about one minute. Remove from heat and add 2 Tablespoons Sargento Shreds​® Reserve Series 18 month aged Cheddar and the crispy bacon pieces. Mix together and spoon into the avocado boats. 
  • Add a little more salt and pepper, a pinch more Sargento Shreds​® Reserve Series 18 month aged Cheddar, the diced tomato and avocado, any leftover bacon crumbles all on top. 
  • Serve with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. 
 
What clever ways will you use new Sargento Shreds​® Reserve Series 18 month aged Cheddar in your breakfast? A delicious omelette? A hearty breakfast casserole? Let me know in the comments below and tell me why you love shopping at Meijer. 
 
 

Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Blueberry French Toast Casserole is made with day old French bread, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, milk and fresh blueberries topped with some powdered sugar, syrup and more fresh blueberries. 

Brunch time this spring is looking extra tasty with this delicious casserole with fresh berries. French toast casseroles are great for feeding guests or just for a nice weekend brunch with the family. They are really easy to toss together and are affordable. The blueberries add a nice pop of color to make a dish that typically looks little bleh, look really appetizing! Plus, the blueberries are sweet and add extra flavor. 

Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Blueberry French Toast Casserole has a crunchy outside layer and a really soft inside. You get a hint of cinnamon and juicy bites of berry. The perfect dish to wake up to! 

Tips & Tricks

Crusty Bread

Day old, crusty bread works best. You can buy a fresh loaf, cube it and then have it sit out for a couple hours or until it becomes slightly stale. 

Eggs

You can certainly whisk your egg mixture but I find that beating the eggs with hand mixer work best for a really nice consistency and texture in the casserole. 

Let it Rest

Go ahead and prep this casserole the night before! Let the egg mixture soak into the bread before baking for best results. 

Blueberry French Toast Casserole | brunch ideas | recipes with fresh blueberries | how to make french toast casserole | Easter brunch | breakfast recipe
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Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Blueberry French Toast Casserole is made with day old French bread, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, milk and fresh blueberries topped with some powdered sugar, syrup and more fresh blueberries. 
Course Breakfast
Keyword brunch, French Toast
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Cool 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 12 Servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Loaf French bread day old
  • 8 Eggs large
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons Cinnamon ground
  • 2 cups Whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups Blueberries
  • Confectioners sugar
  • Maple Syrup

Instructions

  • Cut or tear the day old loaf of bread into bite sized pieces. Place into a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. 
  • Wash the blueberries and add one cup worth into casserole dish. 
  • In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs. then, add brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and milk and beat again. Pour into the casserole dish over the bread. 
  • Cover with aluminum foil and store in refrigerator until ready to bake. Overnight recommended. 
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • Uncover casserole and bake 45-55 minutes. 55 minutes with allow the top to get a nice crust. 
  • Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. 
  • Top with the remaining fresh blueberries, a little bit of confectioners sugar and serve with maple syrup. 

Mustard Glazed Ham

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Mustard Glazed Ham is a bone-in, spiral cut ham baked with glaze made from honey, brown sugar, ham drippings and stone ground mustard. 

After that Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze from last week, I decided that a similar recipe for ham needed to be done with the upcoming Easter holiday around the corner. I wanted the glaze to have great mustard flavor with a touch of sweetness that roasted up beautifully. This Mustard Glazed Ham really works and makes a gorgeous main course on your holiday table. We pair this ham with Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, gravy and Roasted Asparagus.  Simple, traditional, gorgeous food- that’s what it’s all about. 

Mustard Glazed Ham

I really focused on pulling that mustard flavor out with this Mustard Glazed Ham. Expect that little mustard kick with each glazed bite! It is really delicious. My ten-year-old asked if I could just give him “end” pieces because it was tasty. He just wanted to eat the glaze and I can’t even blame him. 

How To Keep Your Ham Moist

Ham is one of those foods that can very easily be dried out when cooking. This can be because it is over-cooked or not properly prepped before cooking. I kept this recipe really simple today and if followed correctly, you will get a very moist ham. Here are the main three things to pay attention to while cooking this ham: 

WATER

Instead of having the ham baste in its juice, we are cooking it in a roasting pan. This means we will need to count on steam to keep moisture inside the ham. Steam comes from water so put 1/2 cup of water in the bottom of your roasting pan and you can go ahead and add any extra ham juices leftover from the packaging. 

FOIL

You can’t steam well in an open area. Right? Think of a hot shower in a small bathroom. When the door is closed, their is crazy steam. When the door is open, there is virtually no steam. We all know this. Same applies in the oven. Create a small area to steam the ham like a closed door while showering. That aluminum foil over the top of the ham needs to be fitted tightly with the roasting pan. 

COOK TIME

Be mindful not to over-cook the ham. Most hams are already cooked meaning we just need to re-heat. Pick a bone-in, pre-cooked, spiral-cut ham in the 8-10 pound range. Now, bake 10 minutes for every pound. An 8 pound ham would cook for 80 minutes and a 10 pound ham would cook for 100 minutes. Once the ham is cooked, you crank the heat, remove the foil and pour the glaze on to roast. 

Note that you can cook a larger ham if needed. Adjust your cook time accordingly using the 10 minutes per pound calculation. 



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Mustard Glazed Ham

Mustard Glazed Ham is a bone-in, spiral cut ham baked with glaze made from honey, brown sugar, ham drippings and stone ground mustard. 
Course dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword Easter, Ham, Holiday
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 8-10 Pound Spiral Cut Ham Bone-In, pre-cooked
  • 1/2 Cup Honey
  • 1/2 Cup Stone Ground Mustard
  • 1 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Ham Drippings
  • 1/2 Cup Water

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 325 degrees. 
  • Place the ham onto the rack in a roasting pan. 
  • Add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of the pan. I also like to add in extra ham juices from the bag the ham came in. 
  • Wrap the the top in aluminum foil. Make sure you have a tight wrap where the ham can steam inside. 
  • Bake for 10 minutes per pound. My ham was 8 pounds so I cooked it 80 minutes. 
  • When there is 20 minutes left for your ham to cook, begin the glaze. 
  • Using a basting syringe, pull 1/2 cup worth of ham drippings and put the liquid in a non-stick pan on the stove-top. Make sure to cover the ham back up well. 
  • Along with the ham drippings, add honey, stone ground mustard and brown sugar. Bring the glaze to a low simmer and let simmer for 5 minutes. Set to the side. 
  • After the ham has cooked, take it out of the oven and raise the oven temperature to 425 degrees. 
  • Remove the foil and pour half the glaze over top of the ham. 
  • Return to the oven for 10 minutes. Leave the foil off. 
  • Pour the rest of the glaze over top and cook another 5 minutes. 
  • Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving. 

Notes

You may substitute butter for pan drippings to create your glaze. 

 

Chocolate Poke Cake

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Chocolate Poke Cake is a delicious dessert made with a simple box cake mix, pudding, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips and a chocolate whipped cream frosting. 

I know I have been posting A LOT of desserts lately but I cannot help it. Spring is here, Easter is coming and we are planning so many warmer weather activities already like grill outs and gatherings. This Chocolate Poke Cake is perfect to make for all these events and also a big hit. 

What is a “poke” cake? 

A poke cake is typically a box cake mix baked in a 13 x 9 inch pan. Once cooled, you poke holes in the cake using the back of a wooden spoon. Whip up a batch of pudding or jello, then pour that over the top of the cake. Let cool and set up and then do a layer of frosting. Voilà. You just made a yourself a truly delicious cake. This chocolate version is so decadent and moist that any chocolate lover will be in love. 

Chocolate Poke Cake

Chocolate Poke Cake is so super chocolatey (that’s a word, right?) with multiple layers of chocolate goodness. My favorite layer is the light whipped cream frosting. Although, still made with chocolate, this frosting layer makes the entire dessert a fluffier and airy. 

How to make the chocolate whipped cream frosting

It only takes 3 ingredients to make this luscious frosting : heavy whipping cream, cocoa powder and confectioners sugar. Before beginning, place the beaters and mixing bowl into the freezer to get nice and cool. Once cooled, remove from freezer and put together your hand or stand mixer with the chilled beaters. Combine all your ingredients into the cold bowl and beat fro 3-5 minutes. The frosting is done when you reach that firm peak where the frosting will stand straight up with a slight curl when the beaters are lifted. 

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Chocolate Poke Cake

Chocolate Poke Cake is a delicious dessert made with a simple box cake mix, pudding, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips and a chocolate whipped cream frosting. 
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword chocolate
Servings 12 servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened

Chocolate Pudding

  • 3.9 ounce chocolate pudding powder
  • 2 cups cold whole milk

Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Garnish

  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • chocolate syrup

Instructions

Chocolate Cake

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • Use a hand or stand mixer to beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the remaining cake ingredients (milk, cake mix and eggs) and lightly beat until you have a nice, consistent batter. 
  • Spray the 13 x 9 inch pan with non-stick spray and pour batter into it. 
  • Bake for 28- 30 minutes. 
  • Remove from oven and let cool. 
  • Once cooled,  use the bottom of a wooden spoon to gently poke holes throughout the cake. 
  • Make your pudding. Add a box of chocolate pudding powder to cold milk and stir until it begin to set up. Immediately pour the pudding over cake. Smooth out the top. 
  • Set the cake in fridge for at least 30 minutes to chill. 

Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting

  • As the cake is chilling, place the beaters and a mixing bowl into freezer. 
  • Once the beaters and bowl are chilled, assemble the hand or stand mixer and start the frosting. Beat the heavy whipping cream, cocoa powder and confectioners sugar for 3-5 minutes. You want a stiff peak to form where when you lift the beaters, the frosting will stand straight up with a slight curl. 

Finishing Touch

  • Frost the cake. 
  • Decorate the top with chocolate syrup and mini chocolate chips. 
  • Cut into 12 portions and serve. Note that you can get more portions out of this to serve more people. 

Notes

You can follow the instructions on your cake box to make the chocolate cake batter if you prefer. 

A family gathering? A birthday party? A pot luck at work? What will you be bringing this decadent Chocolate Poke Cake dessert to this season? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

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Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze is sweet and really simple way to enjoy a family dinner with salmon in under 20 minutes.

This Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze is only 5 ingredients and one of the easiest dishes you can make but still has loads of flavor. The brown sugar adds a lovely sweetness and a crispy caramelized texture in some spots from that sugar reacting to heat that is pretty darn good.

Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

There isn’t even a whole bunch to talk about with this Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze recipe- it’s just easy peasy and delicious. I do recommend buying a good piece of salmon. Look for a wild caught King Chinook if you are on the West Coast or Sockeye if on season with great marbling. The coloring should be a vibrant pink tone and when poked, it should bounce back and not leave a finger indention behind.




Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze, how to cook salmon in the air fryer, healthy family dinners, air fryer recipe, brown sugar glazed salmon
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Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

Air Fryer Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze is sweet and really simple way to enjoy a family dinner with salmon in under 20 minutes. 
Course dinner
Keyword air fryer, salmon
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon fillet wild caught
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • parsley optional garnish

Instructions

  • Remove the bones from your salmon fillet and cup into 4 equal portions. 
  • Salt and pepper each side (even the skin side). 
  • In a small bowl, add brown sugar and Dijon. Mix and brush onto salmon. 
  • Place salmon into air fryer and cook on 355 degrees for 14-16 minutes. We like it right at 14 minutes but if you like it well done, cook a little longer. 
  • Sprinkle with parsley and serve. 

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