quick yellow cake

Easy One Bowl Yellow Cake

I usually frost the cake right in the pan but you can double this recipe using two cake pans for a double-layer cake. Only line the pan with parchment if you plan to remove the cake from the pan. It’s best to have all your ingredients at room temperature and I highly recommend using a cake strip. Be sure to aerate your flour before measuring.- Jenny Jones

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar (the recipe also works using 2/3 cup sugar) (150 g)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 
  
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup milk (low fat or whole milk)
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (150 g)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Grease an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan.
3. With an electric mixer on high, beat sugar, eggs, & vanilla for one minute to thicken.
4. On low speed add remaining ingredients (in the order listed) but do not over-mix. This should take less than a minute.
5. Pour into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I like to frost it with my 2-minute chocolate frosting.

Note: Based on some comments, if the cake seems bland feel free to add a little salt, although I prefer it the original way.

A cake strip will keep the edges from over baking and will keep the cake from being domed or rounded in the center. For info on cake strips click here.

For more on this recipe in my blog click here.

Spicy Oven Baked Salmon

Oven Baked Salmon

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

25 mins

 

Oven Baked Salmon – moist and flaky highly seasoned salmon fillets with a lemony and spicy kick. A perfect easy weeknight meal for busy folks or as a low-carb go-to Lenten meal. Spicy, lemony, and moist – everything you want a salmon dinner to be!

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Servings: - 5 slices

Calories: 450 kcal

Author: Immaculate Bites

Ingredients

• 2 pounds (907.18 g) Salmon fillets
• 3-4 tablespoons (42.53 - 56.70 g) unsalted butter
• 2-3 teaspoons (5.60 - 8.40 g) minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon (6.90 g) onion powder
• 1 tablespoon (6.80 g) paprika
• 1/2 -1 teaspoon (1.80 g) cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2-3 tablespoon (5.30 - 15.90 g) fresh parsley, basil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon (15 g) or more lemon juice

Instructions

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil or baking paper, like I did, spray with cooking spray or lightly oil. Set aside.
2. Using a sharp knife, make about 4-5 slits on salmon. Dab both sides of salmon dry with paper towels, season both sides with salt and pepper.
3. In a small pan set over medium low heat butter,  minced garlic, Paprika, onion powder cayenne pepper and parsley or basil. Stir for about 30 seconds or 1 minute. Let this mixture sit for a little bit about 5 minute. Add lemon juice to mixture.
4. Brush salmon with spice mixture, making sure every inch is covered with spice .
5. Bake until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish and your preference of doneness. When the thickest part of the salmon is easily flaked with a fork, the salmon is perfectly cooked.
   
   
6. 
   Garnish immediately with lemon slices. 

vegetable bake

Ingredients

for 6 servings

• 2 medium zucchinis, washed
• 3 medium potatoes, washed and peeled
• 5 medium carrots, washed and peeled
• 4 medium eggs
• ⅓ cup
  butter, melted
• ⅔ cup
  milk
• ⅛ teaspoon
  nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon
  dried basil
• ½ teaspoon
  dried thyme
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1 cup
  all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups
  shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Line a 10-inch (25-cm) springform pan with parchment paper.
2. Carefully slice the zucchini, potatoes, and carrots very thinly with a mandoline or a sharp knife. Use spiralizer or julienne peeler!
3. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, melted butter, and milk, and whisk until combined.
4. Add the nutmeg, basil, thyme, salt, pepper, and flour, and whisk well.
5. Add the sliced veggies to the batter and stir well until the slices are well-coated.
6. Add half of the vegetables slices to the prepared pan and flatten with a spoon.
7. Sprinkle the cheese over the vegetables.
8. Top with the rest of the vegetables and cover the pan with aluminum foil.
9. Bake for about 1½ hours, until the vegetables are fully cooked and tender.
10. Let cool for at least 10 minutes, and release the springform, slice, and serve.

turkey burger

per lb of 85% turkey meat

1 egg
1-2 T grated onion
1 T parsley
1 T worcestershire
breadcrumbs equal to onion?

1 t salt
pepper

will be quite juicy
poke holes so burgers do not inflate
cook over medium in skillet
cover sometimes to retain juice and help innards cook

Beef Barley soup

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Beef Barley Soup

Serves Serves 8    

Ingredients

• 2 pounds stew meat (nicely marbled beef chunks)
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 10 cups water
• 3 mounded tablespoons good quality beef base*
• 3 stalks celery (about 2 cups), chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large potato, peeled and shredded, about 2 cups
• 3-4 large carrots, peeled and shredded, about 2 cups
• 1 cup pearl barley*** rinsed

Instructions

1. Generously salt and pepper the beef. In a large stockpot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
2. When it is very hot, add about 1/3 of the meat. Brown for about 1-2 minutes, then turn to brown the other side. Remove to a plate when it is browned on all sides.
3. Repeat with remaining meat in 2 more batches. (If you add it all at once it will steam the meat instead of browning it--not what you want.)
4. When all the meat is browned, add all the meat back to the pot with 10 cups of water. Add 3 healthy tablespoons beef stock concentrate.
5. Add the chopped celery, onions, and garlic. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 2 hours with the lid on.
6. When the meat is tender and you can break it apart easily with a wooden spoon, add the shredded potato and carrots. Bring to a boil, then continue to simmer on low for another 30-45 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.
7. Add 1 cup of barley. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low. Cook for another half hour, or until barley is tender and the soup tastes...like home.

Slow cooker instructions:

1. In a large pan, brown the meat according to the instructions. Remove the browned meat to a large crockpot.
2. Add 2 cups of the water to the pan and bring to a boil. Stir up all the browned bits. Add this and the remaining 8 cups of water to the crock pot.
3. Add the beef base, celery, onions, and garlic to the slow cooker and stir.
4. Cook on low for about 6 hours. Add the potatoes and carrots and cook for another hour.
5. Add the barley and simmer for another hour or so, until it is tender.

Recipe Notes

*I suggest Better than Bouillon Beef Base.

The simmer times on this soup are pretty rough. I let mine simmer all morning because I was feeling a lazy-soup-day. The best kind of day for October.

If your meat is not marbled well, you might want to add a bit of worcestershire sauce toward the end, to boost the flavor.

If your soup has boiled down to become more stew-like, simply add more water and beef base.

** I've had some questions about the green garnish I used for these photos. It's basil, but that's just what was growing in my garden when I made this. No garnish is necessary, but I would recommend parsley or chives if you want a fresh kick.

***UPDATE December 2016: I just made this over Christmas for my family in the crock pot using QUICK barley. I used the same amount. I left it in for maybe 15-30 minutes, but check the package instructions. You could do this on stove top too!

Source: This one is from Nana, Kris' mom.

All images and text © The Food Charlatan

Fish taco

Tilapia

1.5 t paprika
1.5 t brown sugar
1 t oregano
3/4 t garlic
1/2 t salt
1/2 t cumin
1/4 t red pepper

3 min over MH each side

vanilla cupcake

Print

Perfect Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 14 minutes

Total Time: 24 minutes

This is the only vanilla cupcake recipe you need! They are perfectly soft, rise evenly and go well with just about any cupcake frosting. The best cupcakes!

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $6

Servings: 15 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups cake flour or Canadian all-purpose flour  (150g)
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or plain kefir

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cupcake/muffin pan with cupcake liners.

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cups cake flour (or Canadian flour), 1 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt. Set flour mix aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 2 eggs with the whisk attachment on medium speed (15-20 seconds).
3. Add 3/4 cup sugar and continue to beat on medium speed (30 seconds).
4. Add vanilla and oil and beat on medium speed (1 minute)
5. Reduce mixer speed to medium/low and slowly add about half of the flour mixture, mixing until incorporated. Add half of the buttermilk and mix until incorporated. Repeat with remaining flour and buttermilk. Beat until just combined and smooth, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed. The batter will be thin.
6. Pour batter into a lined muffin pan. Fill to about 1/2 full (Do-Not overfill)
7. Bake for 12 -14 minutes at 350 °F or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the pan for a couple minutes, then remove. Once the cupcakes are cooled to room temp, pipe on the frosting.

Recipe Notes

A note about the flour: all-purpose works, it just doesn't produce a cupcake quite as soft as cake flour or Canadian Flour.

Copyright © 2018 Natasha's Kitchen

flatbread pesto

425 degrees

naan
pesto
mozzarella slices/shredded
spinach & arugula
crushed red pepper
cherry tomato halved

10-13 minutes

sesame crused tuna or tofu

1/4 c soy sauce
1 T mirin
1 T honey/maple syrup
2 T sesame oil
1 T rice vinegar (for dip half only)
1/2 c sesame seeds
1 T oil

half liquid and use half for marinade and other for dip (+vinegar)

sear tuna 30 sec per side on hot pan/grill
sear tofu 30 sec

tempura batter thick

good for veggies or sweet sour pork

0.5 c potato starch or cornstarch
0.5 c flour
0.33 c panko
0.33 c sesame seeds roasted
0.5 t baking powder
0.5 c water
0.5 c vodka

gyros

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

A simple and delicious Mediterranean inspired vegetarian roasted chickpea wrap with refreshing tzatziki sauce.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 331 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 15 oz can chickpeas 425 g, 1 ½ cup soaked chickpeas if starting from dry, drained and rinsed
• or strips of chicken. Saute instead of roast
• 1 Tbsp olive oil 15 mL
• 1 Tbsp paprika* 7 g
• 1 tsp ground black pepper 3 g
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1.5 g
• 1/4 tsp salt 1.5 g
• 4 pita flatbreads
• 1 cup tzatziki 
• 1/4 red onion cut into strips
• 2 lettuce leaves roughly chopped
• 1 tomato sliced

Instructions

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Pat dry chickpeas with paper towel, removing any skins that may come off. Gently toss chickpeas with oil, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt.
2. Roast: Spread chickpeas onto a greased rimmed baking sheet and roast for about 20 minutes, until lightly browned but not hard.
3. Assemble: Spread some tzatziki onto one side of the pita, then sprinkle in ¼ of the chickpeas and add veggies. Fold in half and enjoy!

Notes

• *If you don't like spicy foods, halve the amount paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Taste a chickpea before baking and adjust flavors as needed.
• If your pita breads crack when you fold them, cover them with a moist paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Assemble your sandwich immediately after microwaving.
• Wanna bring these to lunch? Try them in meal prep-able form!

Stir fry

Spring Veggie Stir-Fry

• Author: Cookie and Kate
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 side servings
• Category: Side dish
• Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

• ¼ cup Fusia Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce (regular soy sauce is too salty!)
• 2 tablespoons SimplyNature Organic Wildflower Honey or maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons arrowroot starch or corn starch
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 large clove garlic, pressed or minced
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper (scale back or omit completely if you’re sensitive to spice)
• 1 tablespoon SimplyNature Organic Coconut Oil or your cooking oil of choice
• 1 small red onion, root and tip ends removed and cut into ¼-inch thick wedges
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into very thin rounds
• Pinch of salt
• ½ bunch (½ pound) thin asparagus, tough ends removed and cut into 2-inch long pieces

Instructions

1. In a liquid measuring cup, combine the soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes. Whisk until blended and set aside.
2. Warm the oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and carrots and a pinch of salt. Raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring every 30 seconds or so, until the onions have softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. (If at any point you catch a whiff of something burning while making this stir-fry, dial back the heat a bit.)
3. Add the asparagus and cook, stirring every 30 seconds, until the carrots are starting to caramelize on the edges and are easily pierced by a fork, about 3 minutes.
4. Pour in the prepared sauce and cook, while stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened to your liking, about 30 to 60 seconds. Remove from heat and serve as a side dish as-is, or turn it into a main dish by serving it with rice, fried eggs or tofu.

Notes

Make it gluten free: Use gluten-free reduced-sodium tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
Make it vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey

Sugar Snap Pea and Carrot Soba Noodles

Sugar Snap Pea and Carrot Soba Noodles

• Author: Cookie and Kate
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6
• Category: Main
• Cuisine: Asian
• 
  

Soba

• 6 ounces soba noodles or spaghetti noodles of choice
• 2 cups frozen organic edamame
• 10 ounces (about 3 cups) sugar snap peas or snow peas
• 6 medium-sized carrots, peeled
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (about 2 handfuls)
• ¼ cup sesame seeds

Ginger-sesame sauce

• ¼ cup reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons quality peanut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small lime, juiced
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon white miso*
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce or sriracha

Instructions

1. To prepare the vegetables: Use a chef’s knife to slice the peas in half lengthwise (or just roughly chop them). Slice the carrots into long, thin strips with a julienne peeler, or slice them into ribbons with a vegetable peeler.
2. To make the sauce: whisk together the ingredients in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside.
3. Bring two big pots of water to a boil. In the meantime, toast the sesame seeds: Pour the sesame seeds into a small pan. Toast for about 4 to 5 minutes over medium-low heat, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning, until the seeds are turning golden and starting to make popping noises.
4. Once the pots of water are boiling: In one pot, cook the soba noodles just until al dente, according to package directions (probably about 5 minutes), then drain and briefly rinse under cool water. Cook the frozen edamame in the other pot until warmed through (about 4 to 6 minutes) but before draining, toss the halved peas into the boiling edamame water and cook for an additional 20 seconds. Drain.
5. Combine the soba noodles, edamame, snap peas and carrots in a large serving bowl. Pour in the dressing and toss with salad servers. Toss in the chopped cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. Serve.

Notes

*I used Miso Master brand’s reduced-sodium sweet white miso. It’s in the refrigerated section near the tofu. Omit if you can’t find it, but it provides a nice boost of flavor.
Make it vegan: Sub agave nectar for the honey.
Make it gluten free: Buy certified gluten-free, all buckwheat soba noodles (or gluten-free spaghetti) and use tamari instead of regular soy sauce. Make sure your miso is gluten free, if using.
Storage suggestions: This dish keeps decently well, covered and refrigerated, for a couple of days, BUT here’s a better way, courtesy of Janet: make a batch, store the salad and dressing separately until ready to eat, and then grab one or two portions and add some dressing. Either way, you can serve leftovers chilled or gently rewarmed. Wake up leftovers with a dash of additional tamari or lime juice and fresh cilantro leaves.
Change it up: Feel free to substitute other seasonal produce for the sugar snap peas, or skip them altogether for less prep work. Chopped, raw bell pepper would be a nice addition this summer.

beef with broccoli

Prep Time:10 min Cook Time:5 hr

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. sirloin steak or boneless beef chuck roast, sliced thin
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 Tablespoons water
• 1 (12 oz.) bag frozen broccoli florets
• White rice, cooked

Instructions

• In the insert of the crockpot, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic.
• Place slices of beef in the liquid and toss to coat. Cover with lid and cook on low heat for 5 hours.
• When done, whisk together cornstarch and water in small bowl. Pour into crock pot and stir to mix well. Add the frozen broccoli over the beef and sauce. Gently stir to combine. Cover with lid and cook 30 minutes to cook broccoli and thicken sauce.
• Serve over warm white rice. Enjoy!

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