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Amazing Eggplant!!
This is one of my favorite ways to cook eggplant, if not my absolute favorite. It is for sure my hubs favorite way that I make eggplant. Here is actually sort of a mash up of two classic dishes. I love eggplant rollatini which is a classic Italian dish with eggplant that is rolled up with ricotta and has marinara sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese. Then there is stuffed eggplant which is eggplant stuffed with ground beef and marinara and sometimes eggs and then topped with cheese and baked. My mother in law bakes it on top of potatoes, which I absolutely love! It makes the most amazing potatoes. This is a…
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The BEST pizza dough
This pizza dough is awesome and simple. This dough is a “young” dough and perfect if you do not have a long time to ferment your dough. It is the best dough for individual pizzas that you make in a “wood oven” or on a stone. Also, this is perfect to roll out and make a sheet pan pizza. This is a light, crispy chewy dough. It is easy enough that the older kids can make it themselves and the younger kids can make it with you. It rises in about an hour, to an hour and a half so you are not taking forever. Why are homemade pizzas so great at home?…
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Grilled pizza- homemade or frozen?
So, we live in a house that is two working parents and two little girls 2 and 1 years old! We are busy, busy, busy! We are also not alone… I know that most of you out there are in our same shoes. However, right now, I am not working, I am just hanging with the girls. Now, when I say, just hanging with the girls, we all know that means I am still busy, busy, busy!!! This is for all of you, whether you are all working, stay at home or single parents. This is about making what works for you! Pizza is a great weeknight meal and we know that most…
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The Fluffiest pancakes ever!
Last Sunday for Breakfast with the Monti’s I made homemade pancakes for breakfast. I made them in the shape of Emoji pancakes, because, why not and how cute!! Yet, they would have been amazing as regularly shaped pancakes as well. I switched up my regular recipe just a bit and they were amazingly fluffy!! These were the fluffiest pancakes I have ever made! They are perfect for the kiddos to make and/or help you make! These pancakes would be amazing with some add ins as well. Let the kiddos get creative. They would be awesome with blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas or strawberries. They would be great with peanut butter or nutella or just…
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Chinese Take out at home
I love eating Chinese food and I really enjoy making it at home. It is great if you have your favorite take out place or go to restaurant that you love. Trust me, we definitely do! Yet, on a weeknight, it is a quick and easy meal if you are ready to go. A couple little tips below will help get you ready and make this a really fast and healthy option even on a week night. I love making fried rice. I mainly make a veggie version when I am making it for a side dish. Also, the girls will for sure eat it when it is just the veggie version and…
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Creamy Chicken and Dumplings
We are all hoping for a little warm up, at least over here! Since we are inside all day and night, it would be great if we could at least get outside in the back yard and run around a bit. Yet, in the meantime, we will take advantage of the chill in the air and make some awesome comforting soups. Here is the perfect one for a day that you have some time on your hands and there is a chill in the air! I love this recipe on a chilly day. It takes a little time, but who doe not have time now! Right! Let us take advantage and make…
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Picnic Sandwiches
Here are some awesome sandwiches to pack for a summer picnic or beach day. Or even just a Tuesday! These are classic sandwich flavor combos flipped on their heads and made with a more modern and/or upscale feel. Summer isn’t over yet, so pack up those baskets and get out there and enjoy the warm weather, some great company and some awesome sandwiches!! This is a super easy, two part sandwich that holds up and travels well. The slaw on this sandwich is stupid good and the chicken just melts in your mouth. All topped off with a buttery brioche roll... how can you go wrong! Chef’s tip-Marking the chicken on the grill…
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Grilling season is coming soon!!
Last night, the clouds parted and the rain lifted and it was like, AHHHHH…. SUNSHINE!!! If you are in the Chicago area you completely understand what I mean!! That being said, I was more than anxious to get outside and fire up the girl!! I absolutely love Fall and winter comfort foods, do not mistake that. However, when you live somewhere like Chicago and you only get a short amount of time to be cooking outdoors, you need to take advantage of it. Also, when you have been cooped up all winter and it has been raining like you live somewhere that gets a monsoon season… you are ready for sunshine!! As we…
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Mmmm… Noodle soup…!?!
If you know me, you know that I am a huge Friends fan!! I feel that almost everything in life can be related back to some quote from that show! And when I think of soup I always think of the episode where Joey and Ben,(Ross’ son), are both up for a commercial audition and Joey doesn’t get it because he cannot say the correct line which is, “Mmmm, soup!” and instead he keeps saying, “Mmmm, noodle soup!!”. I forever love Friends!! With all of that said, I also love soup too and it is still the perfect soup weather in Chicago! I could give you about 100 different soup recipes and I…
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Hearty Fall Recipes
I absolutely love the fall for cooking, eating, entertaining and just the sheer beauty of all of the colors changing. Also I love just being able to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket or sweater and smell the crispness in the air. I have fondness for all of the seasons as I love Spring because it is finally starting to get warm after the winter freeze here in Chicago. I love Summer because there is so much we get to go outside and enjoy; especially since it has been so fun bringing my daughter outside to play at the park and in the pool. I love winter because it is…
