May
2026

Lemon Olive Oil Cake

categories: Cakes, Desserts
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Lemon Olive Oil Cake is easy to prepare, light and fluffy in texture, full of flavor and it’s absolutely DELICIOUS! Recipe makes 8 servings.
Lemon Olive Oil Cake is easy to prepare, light and fluffy in texture, full of flavor and it's absolutely DELICIOUS! Recipe makes 8 servings.

Lemons And More Lemons!

Recently my dear friend (of over 60 years) Lenita sent me three homegrown Meyer lemons from her very own tree in Southern California. They are gorgeous and I was determined to use them in some new, lemon-inspired recipes!

She has sent me her lemons before and I have used them for other recipes, so it seemed fitting to make something “grand” to celebrate her generous gift. This recipe for lemon olive oil cake fits the bill perfectly because it tastes fabulous!

I’ve been looking at different recipes for Lemon Olive Oil Cake for a couple years now, especially since our son married a Portuguese woman and moved to Portugal. My daughter-in-law’s family grows lots of food, including lemons and olives and even produce their own olive oil each year!

This recipe uses extra virgin olive oil AND a fresh lemon. For THIS recipe you will use lemon zest AND fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon); you can use regular lemons or Meyer lemons.

I’m confident you will LOVE this simple dessert! Here’s how to make Lemon Olive Oil Cake.

Three home-grown Meyer lemons given to me from a friend, and I used one for this recipe.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of the Page

A Little Prep First!

Preheat your oven to 350°F. so it is ready to go as soon as the batter is ready. Grease an 8″ round cake pan with non-stick baking spray.

Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper that has been cut to fit. Lightly spray the parchment paper with non-stick baking spray.

Parchment paper is put in the bottom of a greased 8" cake pan.

Prepare The Cake Batter

Beat two large (room temperature) eggs in a large mixing bowl for 3 minutes on HIGH speed. Slowly add the granulated sugar to the egg mixture, while continuing to beat the eggs.

Continue beating the sugar into the eggs until you see the mixture has thickened slightly. 

Two eggs are beaten well, then granulated sugar is added and beat in.

With the mixer still running, slowly add in extra virgin olive oil, a little at a time. Once the oil is fully incorporated, beat in milk, lemon zest and fresh lemon juice.

Continue beating until ingredients are fully combined.

Olive oil is beaten into egg mixture, then milk, lemon juice and zest is also beaten in.

In a SEPARATE bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt. FOLD the dry ingredients into the egg batter until fully combined.

Prepared cake pan, plus bowls of dry ingredients and wet ingredients.

Bake The Cake

Pour all of the batter into the prepared cake pan, making sure to spread it out evenly in the cake pan.

Bake the lemon olive oil cake at 350°F. for 30-35 minutes. When done, a toothpick that is inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean (batter-free).

Oven temperatures can vary quite a bit, so I recommend checking it first at the 30-minute mark. When done, remove the cake from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack.

Batter for the lemon olive oil cake in cake pan, ready to bake.

Cool Cake Then Remove From Pan

Let the cake cool on the wire rack (STILL IN THE PAN) for 15 minutes for BEST results. The cake should pull away from the edges of the pan a bit.

Run a butter knife around the inside edges of the pan to help separate the cake from the pan. *Invert the cake* onto the wire rack so the bottom of the cake (with parchment paper) is on the top!

*HOW TO INVERT THE CAKE*: Do this by putting the wire rack ON TOP of the baked cake pan, then holding on to both the wire rack and the cake pan, carefully flip it over.

The cake should release (upside down) onto the wire rack (as shown below in the first photo). Carefully remove the parchment paper from the cake (shown in second photo below).

Inverted cake with parchment paper still on the top after baking.The parchment paper is removed revealing the baked cake underneath.

“Dust” The Top Of the Cake

Now carefully turn the lemon olive oil cake back over so the top of the cake is on TOP! Let the cake cool completely to room temperature.

Once the cake has completely cooled, sift powdered sugar lightly over the top surface of the cake. It won’t take much powdered sugar to do this!

Lemon olive oil cake is flipped over so it is right side up on a wire rack.Powdered sugar is lightly sifted over the surface of the cake before serving.

Serve The Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Before serving the lemon olive oil cake, garnish the top with a couple lemon slices. This is an optional step, but it looks good for presentation and gives a hint at what flavor the cake is!

Lemon olive oil cake, dusted with powdered sugar and decorated with lemon slices.

Slice the cake into 8 pie-shaped wedges and serve! The cake has a light texture with great lemon flavor. It is not overly sweet (which we love) and the mild olive oil pairs very well with the tart lemon flavor.

I am confident you are going to love this easy to make, absolutely delicious lemon olive oil cake! Grab a fork and take a big bite because it’s THAT GOOD!

A slice of the lemon olive oil cake with a lemon slice on a white plate.

I hope you have the opportunity to make this yummy Mediterranean-inspired lemon olive oil cake, and trust that you and those you love will enjoy it as much as we do!

Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day!

Looking For More CAKE Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of delicious cake recipes to choose from, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Original Recipe Source, and with thanks to: Nicole Gackowski, at: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lemon-olive-oil-cake/

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Lemon Olive Oil Cake
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

Lemon Olive Oil Cake is easy to prepare, light and fluffy in texture, full of flavor and it's absolutely DELICIOUS! Recipe makes 8 servings.

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: All Cuisines, Mediterranean
Keyword: Lemon olive oil cake
Servings: 8 slices
Calories Per Serving: 265 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 large eggs* *At room temperature
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ⅓ cup 2% milk
  • 1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest yellow peel only
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar) for dusting top of cake
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8" round cake pan with non-stick baking spray. Line bottom pan with parchment paper (cut to fit). Spray paper, as well.

  2. Beat eggs in a large bowl for 3 minutes on HIGH speed. Slowly add sugar while continuing to beat eggs. Continue beating until mixture has thickened slightly.  Slowly beat in extra virgin olive oil, a little at a time. Once oil is incorporated, beat in milk, lemon zest and fresh lemon juice until combined.

  3. In SEPARATE bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. FOLD this into the egg batter until combined. Pour batter in cake pan, spreading evenly.

  4. Bake at 350°F. for 30-35 minutes. When done, a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean (batter-free). Oven temperatures can vary, so I recommend checking it at the 30-minute mark. When done, remove cake from oven, place pan on a wire rack.

  5. Let cake cool (STILL IN THE PAN) for 15 minutes. Run a butter knife around the inside edges of pan to separate cake from the pan. Invert cake onto wire rack so bottom of cake (with parchment paper) is on top! Do this by putting wire rack ON TOP of the cake pan, then holding on to both the wire rack and the cake pan, flip it over. Cake should release (upside down) onto the wire rack. Remove parchment.

  6. Turn cake over so top of the cake is on TOP! Let cool to room temperature. Once cake has completely cooled, sift powdered sugar over top of the cake. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired. Slice, serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Lemon Olive Oil Cake
Amount Per Serving (1 slice (1/8 of total))
Calories 265 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.01g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 47mg16%
Sodium 96mg4%
Potassium 106mg3%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 78IU2%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 44mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards! Lemon Olive Oil Cake is easy to prepare, light and fluffy in texture, full of flavor and it's absolutely DELICIOUS! Recipe makes 8 servings.


Apr
2026

Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs

categories: Instant Pot Recipes
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Want to make Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs? Using this kitchen appliance makes it very easy to hard-boil eggs to eat or use in other dishes. 
Want to make Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs? Using this kitchen appliance makes it very easy to hard-boil eggs to eat or use in other dishes.

If you’re looking for a new way to cook hard-boiled eggs, have you considered cooking them in an Instant Pot? It’s a pretty easy way to do this, especially if your stove top is full of other cooking pans, etc.

Today I want to share this alternative method (as opposed to boiling them) for making beautiful, Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs! Here’s how to do it.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Containers For Cooking Eggs In An Instant Pot

There are several ways to contain the eggs inside the Instant Pot. If desired (and they fit), you can use the small trivet that comes with the appliance.

If you have a metal steamer basket that will fit in the Instant Pot this will work for holding the eggs in place while cooking them.

Wire mesh steamer basket can be used to hard-boil eggs in an Instant Pot.

I have also used an unfolding little steamer rack for cooking eggs in the Instant Pot.

A metal steamer can also be used to hard-boil eggs in the Instant Pot.

My favorite way is to use a silicone “sling” basket I purchased fairly cheaply online. It is okay for the high temps and lifts out very easily.

Eggs can be hard-boiled in a heat-proof sling type basket in the Instant Pot.

Cooking Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs

Place the Instant Pot trivet on the bottom of the inner pot. Fill the pot with water until it reaches a depth of 1″. Carefully place the eggs on the trivet OR put the eggs in a steamer basket on top of the trivet.

Plug in the Instant Pot and lock the lid in place. Flip the steam valve to SEALING. Press the MANUAL (high pressure) button and set the timer for 5 minutes.

Once the Instant Pot has reached full internal pressure (in about 10 minutes), the cooking program will begin, and the pressure gauge button will pop up.

When finished cooking, allow the pressure to NATURALLY RELEASE (do nothing) for 5 minutes, then flip the steam valve to VENTING. This will allow all the steam to escape the Instant Pot.

When all the internal pressure has been released, the pressure gauge will drop back down, indicating it is now safe to open the lid.

Using an Instant Pot to hard-boil eggs is very easy.

Remove Eggs And Put Them In An Ice Water Bath

Lift the basket or sling up and out of the Instant Pot being careful not to drop the hard-boiled eggs.

Eggs can also be cooked in the Instant Pot using a heat-proof sling for easy lifting.

After removing the eggs from the Instant Pot, immediately place them in an ice bath for 4-5 minutes. An ice bath is simply a large bowl of water filled with ice cubes.

The shock of the ice-cold water to the hot eggs is used to stop the eggs from continuing to cook.

Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs are plunged into an ice bath after cooking.

Peel And Enjoy!

I have found that Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs are very easy to crack, roll and peel, once I remove them from the ice water bath. Now they are ready to be used and enjoyed!

A hard-boiled egg peels easily after cooking in the Instant Pot.

Use the Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs to eat (as is) or add them to salads or other recipes, as desired. They can be used to make egg salad to keep in the refrigerator for sandwiches!

Hard-boiled eggs, cut in half after cooking and cooling.

I hope you find this method for cooking hard-boiled eggs easy to use for your own family. I love that it is pretty “hands off” cooking and sometimes that’s very convenient!

Thanks for stopping by today, and I invite you to come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Looking For More INSTANT POT Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of Instant Pot recipes to choose from, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

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Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Want to make Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs? Using this kitchen appliance makes it very easy to hard-boil eggs to eat or use in other dishes.

Category: Appetizer/Snack, Breakfast
Cuisine: All Cuisines
Keyword: Instant Pot, hard-boiled eggs
Servings: 6 eggs
Calories Per Serving: 72 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 large eggs
  • water for Instant Pot to a depth of 1-inch
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Place the Instant Pot trivet on the bottom of the inner pot. Fill the pot with water until the water reaches a depth of 1".

  2. Carefully place eggs on the trivet OR put the eggs in a steamer basket on top of the trivet.

  3. Plug in the Instant Pot; lock the lid in place. Flip the steam valve to SEALING. Press the MANUAL (high pressure) button and set the timer for 5 minutes. Once the Instant Pot has reached full internal pressure (about 10 minutes), the cooking program will begin, and the pressure gauge button will pop up. When finished cooking, allow pressure to NATURALLY RELEASE (do nothing) for 5 minutes, then flip the steam valve to VENTING. This lets all the steam escape the Instant Pot. When all internal pressure has been released, the pressure gauge button will drop back down, indicating it is now safe to open the lid.

  4. Lift eggs out of the pot; immediately place them in an ice bath for 4-5 minutes. An ice bath is a large bowl of water filled with ice cubes. Once done, remove eggs from ice bath. Use and enjoy, as desired.

Recipe Notes

NOTE: Many pressure cookers have an EGG button setting. I wrote these directions based on NOT having that button, so this option is available for all readers.

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
Amount Per Serving (1 egg)
Calories 72 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 186mg62%
Sodium 71mg3%
Potassium 69mg2%
Carbohydrates 0.4g0%
Sugar 0.2g0%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 270IU5%
Calcium 28mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!  Want to make Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs? Using this kitchen appliance makes it very easy to hard-boil eggs to eat or use in other dishes.

 


Apr
2026

Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits

categories: Main Dishes, Seafood
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Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits are a delicious meal for 4! Cheesy grits are topped with Cajun-seasoned, pan-seared shrimp and creamy sauce.
Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits are a delicious meal for 4! Cheesy grits are topped with Cajun-seasoned, pan-seared shrimp and creamy sauce.

If you’re looking for a great looking and tasting meal to serve to family or friends, may I suggest you check out this recipe for Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits?

A few years ago, my husband and I enjoyed a vacation in Franklin, Tennessee. We had the opportunity to try several regional foods while in the area and one of the dishes tried was shrimp and grits!

Last year I decided to come up with a recipe that is slightly similar but has its own flavor profile and this really yummy recipe is the result. We really love it. I cook grits with two kinds of cheese (sharp cheddar cheese and a small amount of goat cheese).

The grits, the shrimp and the sauce are all flavored with Cajun spices, which give the overall dish a wonderful, cohesive flavor! If you don’t have this spice mix available, you might be interested in using my recipe for Homemade Cajun Seasoning. 

I really think you will enjoy this delicious and decadent meal. Here’s my recipe to make Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Cheese Grits

Cook 1 cup of grits with water and salt, according to the package directions. Please note that the time needed to cook the grits will depend on the type of grits you use.

TIP: Use either stone-ground grits or fast-cooking grits, according to your own personal preference or convenience. Stone-ground grits take between 30-45 minutes to cook, and Quick grits take about 5 minutes.

Grits are cooked in water and salt according to the package directions.

When the grits are fully cooked, add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and ¼ cup of crumbled goat cheese. Stir until the two cheeses melt and are fully incorporated.

Sharp cheddar cheese and goat cheese are stirred into the hot grits.

Add ½ teaspoon of Cajun (or Creole) spice mix and stir until combined. Season the cheesy grits with enough salt and black pepper to suit your personal taste.

Now you have made the creamy cheesy grits that will serve as the base layer for the cooked shrimp. Cover the pan and keep the grits hot while you quickly finish the dish.

Cajun spices are stirred into the cheesy grits.Grits are seasoned to taste with salt and black pepper.

Cook The Shrimp

Sprinkle peeled and deveined shrimp with 2 teaspoons of Cajun (or Creole) spice mix. Toss the shrimp gently until all of them are lightly seasoned.

De-veined shrimp are seasoned with Cajun spice mix before cooking.

In a large skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter, then stir in 2 cloves of minced garlic. Cook the butter and garlic for about 1 minute, stirring constantly so the garlic does not burn.

Butter and garlic are heated in a large skillet before cooking the shrimp.

Add the seasoned shrimp and cook them for about 2-3 minutes per side and they are cooked through. Do not overcook the shrimp or they may become “rubbery” in texture.

Seasoned shrimp are pan-seared in the butter and minced garlic.

Cook The Sauce Topping

Making the sauce topping for the shrimp and grits is easy. This sauce will be spooned over the bowls of shrimp and grits right before serving and provide another layer of flavor!

TIP: To save time, you might want to make this sauce BEFORE cooking the shrimp and grits. Simply reheat it at the last minute to spoon over the shrimp and grits.

In a large skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons butter on medium-low heat. Stir in ¾ cup of milk, ½ cup of chicken broth, ½ cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon of Cajun (or Creole) spice mix.

Heat the sauce until it is fully hot and lump-free (it will be a fairly thin sauce). Remember, you can reheat it right before serving if you want to make it a little bit ahead of time.

A sauce is made in a skillet and will be spooned over the cooked shrimp and grits.

Serve Cajun Shrimp And Cheese Grits

When all the components are hot, fully cooked and are ready to serve, this is how to plate the finished shrimp and cheese grits.

Spoon the cheese grits onto the bottom of each serving bowl (or plate). Add shrimp on top of the grits, then sprinkle the top with chopped green onions or chives.

Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits are garnished with chopped green onions for serving.

Spoon some of the sauce over the top of the dish. It is a fairly thin sauce, so it will coat the shrimp and then run down the sides of the bowl and encircle the grits (shown in the photo below).

All the flavors in the cheese grits, on the shrimp and in the sauce come together in every single bite of this delicious main dish!

Sauce is spooned over the Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits then it is served.

I hope you have the opportunity to make this yummy dish for yourself and those you love. I am confident you will all love it!

Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Looking for More SHRIMP Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of delicious shrimp recipes to choose from, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

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Cajun Shrimp and Grits
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits are a delicious meal for 4! Cheesy grits are topped with Cajun-seasoned, pan-seared shrimp and creamy sauce.

Category: Entree-Seafood, Main Dish
Cuisine: Cajun
Keyword: Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 475 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Cheese Grits:
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup Quick Cooking Grits *OR stone-ground grits
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
  • ¼ cup goat cheese (crumbled)
  • ½ teaspoon Cajun spice mix
  • salt and black pepper enough to season to taste
For Shrimp:
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun spice mix to season shrimp
  • 1 pound shrimp peeled/ deveined
For Sauce:
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • ¾ cup low-fat milk
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun spice mix
Garnish dish with chopped green onions or chives, if desired (optional)
    US Customary - Metric
    Instructions
    Cook Cheese Grits:

    1. Cook grits with water and salt, according to pkg. directions. Note: cooking time depends on which kind of grits you use. **Stone Ground Grits take approx. 30-45 minutes, while Quick Grits take about 5 minutes. Use "Stone-Ground Grits" OR "Quick Grits", according to your own personal preference.

    2. Add grated cheddar cheese and crumbled goat cheese. Heat on medium-low stirring often until cheeses melt and are fully incorporated. Add ½ tsp. of Cajun spice mix; stir until combined. Season grits to taste with salt and black pepper. Set aside, cover pan and keep hot. If using Quick Grits, time them so they are done when the shrimp is done, to save time!

    Prepare/Cook The Shrimp:

    1. Sprinkle shrimp with 2 tsp. of Cajun spice mix; toss gently to distribute spices.

    2. Melt butter in large skillet; stir in minced garlic. Cook butter/garlic for about 1 minute, stirring often. Add shrimp; cook 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked through and pink (do not overcook!). Remove from heat.

    Make The Sauce:

    1. Melt butter in a large skillet on medium-low heat. Stir in milk, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese and 1 tsp. Cajun spice mix. Heat sauce through. TIP: To save time, you may want to make the sauce BEFORE cooking shrimp/grits. Reheat it right before serving.

    For Each Serving:

    1. Spoon hot cheese grits (divide evenly) into the bottom of serving bowls. Arrange shrimp on top, then sprinkle with chopped green onions (optional garnish). Spoon sauce over the shrimp; it will run down the sides and encircle the grits. Serve hot and enjoy!

    Recipe Notes

    Cook time shown is for using "quick grits". If using stone-ground grits, the cooking time for the grits will increase considerably (per pkg. directions).

    Nutrition Facts
    Cajun Shrimp and Grits
    Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
    Calories 475 Calories from Fat 270
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 30g46%
    Saturated Fat 17g106%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 7g
    Cholesterol 262mg87%
    Sodium 1306mg57%
    Potassium 498mg14%
    Carbohydrates 15g5%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 39g78%
    Vitamin A 1795IU36%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 475mg48%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards! Cajun Shrimp and Cheese Grits are a delicious meal for 4! Cheesy grits are topped with Cajun-seasoned, pan-seared shrimp and creamy sauce.

     

     


    Apr
    2026

    Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones

    categories: Breads, Scones
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    Enjoy delicious Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with coffee or tea! The recipe makes 8 yummy scones!
    Enjoy delicious Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with coffee or tea! The recipe makes 8 yummy scones!

    Today I want to share a recipe for cherry chocolate chip scones that I created using some of my other scone recipes for inspiration!

    I had wanted to try making a chocolate chip and cherry scone combination for quite a while. When my husband came home from the grocery store with a LOT of fresh cherries last year, I KNEW the time had come!

    We enjoy having scones occasionally for breakfast (with coffee) and we also love to have them around for a quick and delicious afternoon snack, too.

    They are simple to make, and so I want to share with you my recipe showing you how to make them for yourself and for those you love!

    Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

    Make The Dough

    Before making the dough, preheat your oven to 425°F. You’ll save time by doing this because your oven will be ready to go once the scones are ready for baking!

    Okay… now let’s make the dough for the scones! Place all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined.

    Use a pastry blender to cut in a stick (½ cup) of very COLD butter (in small chunks) into the flour mixture until the butter has been reduced to the size of peas.

    NOTE: You can also do this step using a food processor, if desired. Simply pulse chunks of COLD butter into the dry ingredient mixture until it’s reduced to the size of peas.

    Flour, sugar, baking powder and salt are combined in a large bowl.Cold butter chunks are cut into the flour mixture until small, using a pastry blender.

    Add two eggs and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir them very well, until they have been fully incorporated into the flour/butter mixture and then set the bowl aside.

    Two large eggs and vanilla extract is combined with dry ingredients for the dough.

    Add Cherries And Chocolate Chips

    De-stem, remove the pit and then chop approximately 15 Bing cherries (the dark red skinned ones). I use fresh cherries whenever they are available.

    Fresh cherries are pitted and then chopped into smaller pieces.

    Add the chopped cherries and semi-sweet chocolate chips to the dough mixture. Gently stir, until the chocolate chips and cherries have been incorporated into the dough.

    The cherries will cause part of the dough to turn a “pinkish” color, but that is normal. Now the dough for the scones will become very thick and “tacky” in texture. 

    Chocolate chips and chopped cherries are added to the dough mixture.

    Shape The Dough

    With lightly floured hands, shape the thick dough into a ball and place it on a floured work surface. Add a bit more flour to your hands to prevent sticking.

    Sprinkle the dough with additional flour (to prevent sticking) and knead the dough slightly with your floured hands until it comes together in a cohesive dough ball.

    Add additional flour as necessary so the dough is not sticky. Shape the dough into an 8″ circle, about 1 inch high. Do this by lightly flattening the dough ball and shaping the outside edges with the palms of your hands.

    Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the circle of dough into 8, equal-sized, pie-shaped wedges.

    Cherry chocolate chip scone dough is shaped into an 8" circle.

    Bake The Scones

    Transfer the scones onto an ungreased baking sheet. Arrange the wedges in a circle shape with pointed tip toward the middle as shown below.

    When you put the scones on the baking sheet, make sure to leave about ½” between each wedge so the scones can rise and expand while they bake.

    Bake the cherry chocolate chip scones at 425°F. for 18-20 minutes. When done, the cherry chocolate chip scones should be beautifully golden brown on top and set.

    Scone dough is sliced into 8 wedges and placed on a baking sheet.

    Remove the scones from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheet for about 4-5 minutes, then separate the scones from each other using a knife to make a clean cut.

    After baking, the cherry chocolate chip scones are golden brown on top and set.

    Prepare To Glaze The Scones

    Use a spatula to transfer the scones to a wire rack to finish cooling. Now you should have eight cherry chocolate chip scones on a wire rack (with a little bit of space between each one).

    Be sure to put paper towels, foil or parchment paper UNDER the wire rack because this will help catch any drips when you glaze the scones. Trust me, this will make your cleanup much easier.

    Eight baked cherry chocolate chip scones cooling on a wire rack before glazing.

    Glaze The Scones

    While the scones cool, make the glaze. It is SIMPLE! First, stir together powdered sugar and vanilla in a small bowl.

    Add 3-4 teaspoons of water (one teaspoon at a time), stirring often until the glaze is lump-free and thin enough to be “painted or brushed” onto the scones. You may not need all of the water!

    You don’t want the glaze to be thin and runny, but you do want it to be about the same consistency as honey, so it can be brushed onto the scones easily.

    Use a pastry brush to “paint” the glaze over the top of the scones, covering as much of the surface as possible. Divide the glaze evenly so there is enough for all 8 scones.

    NOTE: If you have a tiny bit of extra glaze, go back and add it to the scones (use it all).

    A simple glaze is made, and it is brushed onto the surface of the scones until covered.

    When I glaze scones, I brush the glaze onto all visible surfaces and even let it run down the back and sides (shown below). That’s why I recommend having something under the rack to catch any drips.

    Once the scones are glazed, let them rest on the rack to continue to cool. Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones are at their very best when served at room temperature.

    Glazed scones cool until the glaze has become firm.

    Enjoy The Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones

    The glaze will harden slightly as they rest and cool more, and once it has “hardened”, the cherry chocolate chip scones are ready to be served and enjoyed.

    A wire rack holds eight cherry chocolate chip scones, ready to be served.

    These scones are really quite tasty and are packed with the chopped cherries and chocolate chips, so there is lots of flavor in each and every bite.

    A side view of a scone, filled with chopped cherries and chocolate chips.

    I hope you have the opportunity to make (and enjoy) these delicious scones for your family and/or friends and trust you will enjoy them as much as we do.

    Thanks for stopping by and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

    Looking For More SCONE Recipes?

    You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of yummy scone recipes to choose from, including:

    Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

    I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
    Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

    There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
    You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

    Find Me On Social Media:

    Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Pinterest:     The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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    Author's signature

    ↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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    Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones
    Prep Time
    20 mins
    Cook Time
    20 mins
    Total Time
    40 mins
     

    Enjoy delicious Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with coffee or tea! The recipe makes 8 yummy scones!

    Category: Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine: All Cuisines
    Keyword: cherry chocolate chip scones
    Servings: 8 scones
    Calories Per Serving: 463 kcal
    Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Ingredients
    For Scones:
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup COLD Butter = 1 stick or 8 Tablespoons
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 15 Bing cherries each pitted, chopped
    For Glaze Topping:
    • 1½ cups powdered sugar (i.e. confectioner's sugar)
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 3-4 teaspoons water until thin enough to brush on scones
    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

    2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until combined. Use a pastry blender to cut in chunks of COLD butter until butter is the size of peas. NOTE: You can also do this in a food processor. Pulse chunks of COLD butter into flour mixture until butter is the size of peas. Now add eggs and vanilla to the bowl. Stir until they're fully incorporated.

    3. Add chopped cherries and chocolate chips to dough. Gently stir until they're mixed into the dough. Dough will be thick and sticky. 

    4. With floured hands, shape dough into a ball; transfer it to a floured work surface. Sprinkle dough with flour as needed (it's sticky). Add flour to your hands as needed to prevent sticking. Knead dough until it comes together in a cohesive ball. Sprinkle dough with more flour (as needed) until dough is not sticky. Shape dough into an 8" circle, about 1" high.

    5. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut dough into 8 pie-shaped wedges. Place wedges on an ungreased baking sheet. Arrange wedges in a circle (pointed tip toward the middle), leaving ½" between wedges.

    6. Bake scones at 425°F. for 18-20 minutes. Scones should be golden brown on top and set. Remove from oven; let cool 4-5 minutes, then separate scones with a knife. Transfer scones to a wire rack to finish cooling. TIP: Put paper towels, foil or parchment paper UNDER rack to catch drips while glazing scones.

    Make Glaze for Scones:

    1. Combine powdered sugar and vanilla in a small bowl. Add 3-4 tsp. water (one tsp. at a time), stirring until glaze is lump-free/thin enough (consistency of honey) to be "brushed" onto scones (may not need all the water). Use a pastry brush to brush glaze on scones, covering as much surface as possible, letting it run down the back and sides. Divide glaze evenly, using ALL the glaze.

    2. Let glazed scones rest/continue to cool until glaze hardens. They taste best served at room temperature. Serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition Facts
    Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones
    Amount Per Serving (1 scone + glaze)
    Calories 463 Calories from Fat 180
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 20g31%
    Saturated Fat 11g69%
    Trans Fat 0.5g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 78mg26%
    Sodium 258mg11%
    Potassium 286mg8%
    Carbohydrates 66g22%
    Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 39g43%
    Protein 6g12%
    Vitamin A 440IU9%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 71mg7%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards! Enjoy delicious Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with coffee or tea! The recipe makes 8 yummy scones!


    Apr
    2026

    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

    categories: Canning And Preserving, Tip Of The Day
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    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is a “small batch” recipe (no pectin/no canning). Make 1 pint or 2 half-pint jars of yummy jam in a saucepan!
    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is a "small batch" recipe (no pectin/no canning). Make 1 pint or 2 half-pint jars of yummy jam in a saucepan!

    Today I want to share a recipe for a small batch of strawberry rhubarb jam that tastes fabulous. This jam requires no special canning experience or equipment, because it’s made in a large saucepan (instead of using a water bath canner).

    How’s that for a simple way to make only a jar or two of delicious homemade jam? I made this recipe because I’d picked a small amount of strawberries and rhubarb from our backyard garden and wanted to make a little bit of jam!

    This jam does not need pectin to thicken it, because the cooking process used will achieve that on its own! That’s why I made this particular recipe, because I was out of pectin!

    When done, the amount of jam produced is enough to fill a one-pint jar (2 cups) or you two smaller half-pint jars (1 cup each). Here’s how to make it.

    Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

    Cooking The Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

    NOTE: Before you begin cooking, place two small plates in your freezer (they will be needed later to test the jam for readiness). Don’t skip this step!

    Measure sliced strawberries and rhubarb into a large saucepan (I use my Dutch Oven). Add granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt.

    Stir these ingredients until they have been fully combined. Turn the heat on to Medium High heat and cook this for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a large pan.

    Now turn the heat down to Medium Low and simmer the jam, stirring it often until the strawberries and rhubarb begin to break down a bit.

    I use a potato masher to “help” break down the fruit slightly. You will want to have some nice chunks of fruit, so don’t go crazy with the masher… ha ha!

    A potato masher is used to help break down the fruit as it cooks.

    Continue Cooking The Jam

    Simmer the jam for about 15 minutes, stirring it often. The fruit will continue to break down, and the jam will continue to thicken as it cooks. Just keep stirring!

    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam continues to thicken and break down as it cooks.

    After the jam has cooked for the 15 minutes, test the jam to see if it is ready by performing the PLATE TEST (see below). This simple test will show you if the jam is ready or if it needs to cook a bit more.

    Since there is no pectin used in one jar strawberry rhubarb jam, this is the best way to know if the correct thickness for the jam has been achieved.

    When done cooking the jam, move the pan off of the heat source. The mixture might look like it still has too much liquid, but as it cools the jam mixture will thicken even more.

    The jam will thicken quite a bit as it continues to cook and then is cooled.

    How To Know If The Jam Is Ready- The Plate Test!

    Make sure you have removed the pan from the heat source. To test the jam to see if it is ready, remove one of the chilled plates from your freezer.

    Place a small spoonful of the jam onto the COLD plate (photo on the left below). Run a finger down through the jam. If a clear trail is left and the jam holds its shape (photo on the right below), it is ready!

    If it is NOT ready (“finger path” fills in with liquid or runs because of too much liquid), put the pan back on the Medium Low heat and simmer the jam a couple minutes more. Try plate test again using the second chilled plate from the freezer.

    A plate test is done to determine if the jam is done cooking,

    When The Jam Is Ready

    When done, let the jam sit (still in the pan) and off of the heat for about 5 minutes to cool slightly. Transfer the jam into 1 pint-sized jar (holds 2 cups) or into 2 half-pint jars (each holds 1 cup).

    Let the jam cool completely before you put a lid on the jar(s). This typically takes between 35-45 minutes on average and is inactive prep time.

    Attach a lid (or the flat lids and screw bands if using) and refrigerate the jam until it has fully chilled. As the jam is refrigerated it will thicken a bit more, resulting in a fabulous, dense jam ready to be enjoyed.

    NOTE: If you decide to can this jam (for long time storage) rather than eating it right away, you can find my canning notes at the bottom of the printable recipe card below).

    A close up of a spoonful of one jar strawberry rhubarb jam, ready to be eaten.

    Serve The One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam tastes amazing on toast, English muffins, biscuits, etc. It is even delicious used as a topping for pancakes and PB & J sandwiches, if desired.

    Open your jar of jam and spread it on your choice of toast, etc. and enjoy its sweet and tangy flavor. It tastes wonderful, and because of that I am confident you’ll love it, too!

    A piece of sourdough toast, covered with the strawberry rhubarb jam.Enjoying one jar strawberry rhubarb jam on toast with yogurt and coffee outside!

    I hope you have the opportunity to make this delicious jam! Enjoy the convenience of making a jar of homemade jam without any special canning equipment or pectin!

    However, if you already enjoy canning your jam using a traditional canning recipe, please check out my other recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Jam (yields 9 half-pint jars using pectin, water bath canner, etc.).

    Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

    Looking For More JAM Recipes?

    You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of jam recipes to choose from, including:

    Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

    I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
    Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

    There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
    You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

    Find Me On Social Media:

    Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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    Author's signature

    Original recipe source: Afton, at Simple Small-Batch Strawberry Rhubarb Jam – The Reader’s Kitchen

    ↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
    Prep Time
    15 mins
    Cook Time
    30 mins
    Cooling Time (inactive prep)
    45 mins
    Total Time
    1 hr 30 mins
     

    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is a "small batch" recipe (no pectin/no canning). Make 1 pint or 2 half-pint jars of yummy jam in a saucepan!

    Category: Jam / Canning and Preserving
    Cuisine: All Cuisines
    Keyword: one jar strawberry rhubarb jam
    Servings: 32 Tablespoons (1 pint or 2 half pints)
    Calories Per Serving: 28 kcal
    Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Ingredients
    • 2 cups sliced strawberries
    • 1½ cups sliced rhubarb
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 pinch table salt
    US Customary - Metric
    Instructions

    1. NOTE: Before beginning, place two small plates in your freezer (needed later to test jam for readiness). Don't skip this step!

    Cook The Jam:

    1. Measure strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice and salt into a large saucepan. Stir until they are fully combined. Cook this mixture for 3-5 minutes on Medium High heat, stirring occasionally.

    2. Turn the heat down to Medium Low and cook (simmer) the jam, stirring often until strawberries and rhubarb begin to break down and soften. Use a potato masher to "help" break down the fruit slightly if desired. Simmer the jam for about 15 minutes, stirring often. The fruit will continue to break down, and the jam will continue to thicken as it cooks. Just keep stirring!

    3. After the jam has cooked for 15 minutes, test the jam to see if it is done by performing the PLATE TEST (see below). This simple test will show you if the jam is ready or if it needs to cook a bit more.

    THE PLATE TEST:

    1. Take pan off the heat. Remove one chilled plate from the freezer. Place a small spoonful of jam onto the COLD plate. Run a finger through the jam. If a clear trail is left and the jam holds its shape, it is ready! NOTE: If it is NOT ready (still too much liquid), put the pan back on Medium Low heat; simmer it for 2 more minutes, then try again using the second cold plate from the freezer.

    Jar The Jam And Refrigerate:

    1. When done, let the jam rest (still in the pan and off the heat) for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Transfer jam into 1 pint-sized jar (holds 2 cups) or into 2 half-pint jars (each holds one cup). Let the jam cool completely before covering the jar. Attach a lid (or flat lids/screw bands if using). Refrigerate jam until fully chilled. Serve and enjoy!

    Recipe Notes

    CANNING INSTRUCTIONS: Use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh lemon juice. Leave 1/8-inch headspace in each jar. Follow manufacturers water bath canning instructions for your individual canner. Process pint jars for 15 minutes. Process half-pint jars for 10 minutes.

    Nutrition Facts
    One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
    Amount Per Serving (1 Tablespoon)
    Calories 28 Calories from Fat 1
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 0.1g0%
    Saturated Fat 0.005g0%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.02g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0.01g
    Sodium 2mg0%
    Potassium 31mg1%
    Carbohydrates 7g2%
    Fiber 0.3g1%
    Sugar 7g8%
    Protein 0.1g0%
    Vitamin A 7IU0%
    Vitamin C 6mg7%
    Calcium 6mg1%
    Iron 0.1mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!  One Jar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is a "small batch" recipe (no pectin/no canning). Make 1 pint or 2 half-pint jars of yummy jam in a saucepan!


    Mar
    2026

    Ground Beef Empanadas

    categories: Beef, Main Dishes
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    Make a dozen delicious Ground Beef Empanadas with meat, potatoes, Mexican spices and peas stuffed inside a fried, flaky pastry dough crust.
    Make a dozen delicious Ground Beef Empanadas with meat, potatoes, Mexican spices and peas stuffed inside a fried, flaky pastry dough crust.

    Today I want to share a great recipe for ground beef empanadas with you. This recipe will yield 12 beautiful empanadas, perfect for lunch or dinner!

    I found this recipe online a while ago and decided to give it a try. I have made fruit empanadas quite a few times but decided to make some with ground beef and Mexican-inspired spices.

    My husband and I both LOVED them! We froze several of the empanadas and then reheated them in our air fryer a couple weeks later. They were still just as amazing!

    I hope you enjoy trying these ground beef empanadas, too! Here’s how to make them.

    Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

    Prepare The Pastry Dough

    Put a blade attachment on a food processor, then add all-purpose flour, salt and chunks of very cold butter. Pulse these ingredients several times until the butter has been reduced to about the size of peas in the flour.

    Add one large egg and cold water into the food processor. Pulse these ingredients again, continuing only until everything comes together into a cohesive ball of dough.

    Remove the dough ball from the processor and shape it with your hands into a flat round circle. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for one hour (at least!).

    Dry ingredients and cold butter are processed until crumbly, then dough is refrigerated.

    Make The Ground Beef Filling

    While the dough chills, make the meat filling. Heat olive oil on medium in a large skillet. Once the oil is hot, add chopped red onion, chopped jalapeños and chopped green chiles.

    Sauté them for a couple of minutes until they have softened slightly. Stir in salt, chili powder, paprika and ground cumin and stir to combine.

    The next thing you will do is stir tomato paste into this veggie/spice mixture until it has been incorporated. Sauté these ingredients for another couple of minutes.

    Add ground beef to the spice mixture and cook the beef until it is no longer pink. Break up the meat as it browns. This usually takes about 4-5 minutes.

    When the meat is done cooking, take the skillet off of the heat and let the ground beef filling cool slightly.

    Chopped veggies and spices are cooked with ground beef in this 4-photo collage.

    After the filling has had the chance to cool a bit, add pre-cooked potato cubes, frozen peas, fresh chopped green onion and parsley to the meat filling.

    Stir until all of these filling ingredients are well-combined. Now let’s make some ground beef empanadas!

    Cubed boiled potatoes, peas and herbs are added to the ground beef filling.

    Cut Out Pastry Dough

    Remove and unwrap the refrigerated pastry dough and place it on a floured work surface. Roll the dough out until it is about ¼” thick.

    Use a biscuit cutter, small bowl or a ring cutter that is approximately 4½”- 5″ in diameter. I ended up using a 4½” plastic jar lid for my empanadas, which worked great!

    Cut out 12 circles of dough, approximately 5″ in diameter. Gather and re-roll leftover dough and cut out additional circles, until you have 12 total.

    Chilled empanada dough is rolled out and then cut into 5" circles.

    Fill The Empanadas

    Use a rolling pin to roll the dough circles out just a little bit more to make them slightly larger (shown below). Spoon about ¼ cup of the filling in the center of each pastry round.

    Avoid overfilling the empanada or it will make it a little bit harder to fully enclose and seal the filling with the pastry dough.

    The empanada dough is rolled out more, then beef filling is added.

    Seal The Empanadas

    After filling the dough, fold each empanada in half by bringing one edge of the dough up and over the filling until it reaches the other edge. The empanadas should be in a half-moon shape now.

    Pinch the edges together to lightly seal the edges, then crimp the outer edges of the dough with the tines of a fork (shown below), to tightly seal the filling inside the pastry dough.

    Be careful not to puncture the dough with the fork and make sure the empanadas are fully sealed to prevent the filling from leaking out while frying them. 

    Empanada dough is sealed over the filling, then edges are crimped with a fork.

    Fry The Empanadas

    Fill an electric skillet OR a large, deep skillet or a large saucepan with enough vegetable oil until it is about 1″ in depth. Heat the oil until it registers between 360°-375°F. on a digital thermometer.

    For best results do NOT add the empanadas to the hot oil until it has reached that temperature or level of heat.

    Once the oil is at temperature, add 2-3 empanadas to the skillet at a time. Fry them for about 2-3 minutes, then carefully turn them over and cook the other side for the same amount of time.

    When done, they should be lightly browned and crispy on both sides. Transfer them out of the skillet and onto a wire rack (on top of paper towels to absorb any dripping oil).

    IMPORTANT: After cooking a batch, it is really important to let the oil come back again to the correct temperature before frying the next batch!

    Ground beef empanadas fry in oil, then are cooled on a wire rack.

    Let the hot empanadas cool slightly on the wire rack (for a minute or two) before you serve them. See how pretty and golden brown they are on the outside?

    When they come out of the hot oil in the fryer the pastry crust is nice and flaky, too! Now it’s almost time to serve and enjoy them.

    A dozen ground beef empanadas cooling on a wire rack.Close up of a few of the golden-brown beef empanadas on a wire rack cooling.

    Serve The Ground Beef Empanadas

    Serve the ground beef empanadas while they are hot. We serve them with sour cream and salsa on the side to dip each bite in, because they add even more flavor!

    Taco sauce and guacamole are two more delicious toppings or dips for the empanadas, so serve them with whatever toppings you prefer.

    Two ground beef empanadas on a white plate, with sour cream and salsa for dipping.A couple of the empanadas, ready to be eaten.

    Dip or spoon some sour cream and salsa on the empanadas and take a big bite. YUM! We think these ground beef empanadas are amazing!

    The empanadas freeze very well (after they have cooled completely) if wrapped well. We reheat them (thawed) in our air fryer at 340°F. for about 3-4 minutes.

    An inside peek at one of the ground beef empanadas with salsa and sour cream on it.

    I hope you have the opportunity to make this delicious recipe and trust you and those you love will enjoy these empanadas as much as we do.

    Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

    Looking For More Recipes Using GROUND BEEF?

    You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of ground beef recipes to choose from, including:

    Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

    I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
    Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

    There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
    You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

    Find Me On Social Media:

    Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Pinterest:     The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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    Author's signature

    Original recipe source and with thanks to: Alyssa Rivers at: https://therecipecritic.com/empanadas

    ↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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    Ground Beef Empanadas
    Prep Time
    30 mins
    Cook Time
    20 mins
    Resting Time (dough chilling)
    1 hr
    Total Time
    1 hr 50 mins
     

    Make a dozen delicious Ground Beef Empanadas with meat, potatoes, Mexican spices and peas stuffed inside a fried, flaky pastry dough crust.

    Category: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Spanish
    Keyword: ground beef empanadas
    Servings: 12 empanadas
    Calories Per Serving: 278 kcal
    Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Ingredients
    For The Dough:
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup COLD butter cubed (=one stick or 8 Tbl.)
    • 1 large egg
    • ¾ cup cold water
    For The Beef Filling:
    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ cup chopped red onion* *finely chopped
    • 1 Tablespoon fresh jalapeño pepper seeded/finely chopped
    • 1 Tablespoon diced green chiles
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
    • 12 ounces ground beef (90% lean)
    • 6 ounces russet potato (pre-boiled and diced)
    • ¼ cup frozen peas (do not thaw)
    • 1 Tablespoon chopped green onions
    • 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
    • OIL, for frying empanadas enough for a 1" depth in skillet
    US Customary - Metric
    Instructions
    Make Dough:

    1. Put blade attachment on food processor. Add flour, salt and cold butter chunks. Pulse several times until butter is reduced to the size of peas, then add egg and cold water. Pulse again, continuing only until mixture comes together in a cohesive ball of dough. Remove dough; shape it with your hands into a flat round circle. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; refrigerate dough one hour (at least!).

    Make Beef Filling (while dough is refrigerated):

    1. Heat olive oil on medium in a large skillet. Once hot, add red onion, jalapeños and green chiles. Sauté until they've softened slightly (2-3 minutes). Stir in salt, chili powder, paprika and cumin. Add tomato paste; stir until combined. Sauté 2 more minutes. Add ground beef. Cook until meat is browned/fully cooked, breaking up the meat as it cooks (about 4-5 minutes). When done, take skillet off the heat; let the filling cool slightly (3-4 minutes). Stir in cooked diced potato, frozen peas, green onion and parsley until combined.

    Make and Fill Empanadas:

    1. Unwrap cold pastry dough; put dough on floured work surface. Roll dough out until it is about ¼" thick. Use a biscuit cutter, small bowl or ring cutter that is approx. 5" in diameter. Cut dough into 12 circles, approximately 5" in diameter. Gather/re-roll leftover dough; cut additional circles until you have 12 total. Roll dough circles out just a little bit more to make them slightly larger.

    2. Spoon about ¼ cup of the filling in the center of each dough round. Avoid overfilling or it will be harder to fully enclose and seal in the filling. Fold empanadas in half by bringing one half of the dough up and over the filling until it reaches the other edge (half-moon shape). Pinch edges together to seal, then carefully crimp edges with the tines of a fork to tightly seal filling inside. Make sure empanadas are fully sealed to prevent filling from leaking out while cooking. 

    Cooking The Empanadas:

    1. Fill an electric skillet OR a large skillet or large saucepan with vegetable oil until oil reaches 1" in depth. Heat oil until it registers between 360°-375°F. on a digital thermometer. Do NOT add empanadas to the oil until it has reached the correct temp. (for best results). Once oil is at temp, add 2-3 empanadas to the oil at a time. Fry for 2-3 minutes, then turn them over; cook the other side 2-3 minutes. When done, both sides should be lightly browned and crispy. Transfer them from the oil onto a wire rack (over paper towels to absorb any oil drips). IMPORTANT: After cooking a batch, it is really important to let oil re-heat to the correct temperature again before frying the next batch!

    2. Let empanadas cool slightly before serving. Serve with favorite condiments (guacamole/sour cream/salsa, etc.). Enjoy!

    Nutrition Facts
    Ground Beef Empanadas
    Amount Per Serving (1 empanada)
    Calories 278 Calories from Fat 126
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 14g22%
    Saturated Fat 7g44%
    Trans Fat 0.5g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 54mg18%
    Sodium 301mg13%
    Potassium 239mg7%
    Carbohydrates 28g9%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 10g20%
    Vitamin A 483IU10%
    Vitamin C 5mg6%
    Calcium 21mg2%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards! Make a dozen delicious Ground Beef Empanadas with meat, potatoes, Mexican spices and peas stuffed inside a fried, flaky pastry dough crust.

     

     


    Mar
    2026

    Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread

    categories: Breads
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    Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread is a large, no-knead savory loaf filled and flavored with chives and sharp cheddar cheese. It is delicious!
    Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread is a large, no-knead savory loaf filled and flavored with chives and sharp cheddar cheese. It is delicious!

    Today I want to share with you a delicious recipe for cheddar chive no-knead bread. I modified a couple recipes I use for no-knead bread and added cheese and chives to try this flavor combination.

    The result is a great loaf of bread! Crispy and golden-brown on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside, just the way we love it!

    I am confident you are going to love it, too. Here’s how to make a beautiful loaf of cheddar chive no-knead bread.

    Make The Bread Dough

    Combine flour, salt and instant yeast in a large mixing bowl. Add lukewarm water (about 80°F.) to the dry ingredients and then stir very well, until it comes together and forms a “shaggy” mound of dough. 

    Flour, salt, yeast and warm water are combined in a large bowl.

    When the dough has come together, add grated sharp cheddar cheese and chopped chives and stir well to fully incorporate them into the dough.

    Grated cheese and chopped chives are stirred into the bread dough.

    Let The Dough Rise

    Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap; let the dough rest in a warm place (free from drafts) at room temperature for 8-12 hours. I usually let mine sit about 12 hours (overnight).

    Bread dough is a slightly "shaggy or tacky" textured dough before rising.

    This lengthy rising time helps develop a nice sourdough flavor for the bread. After this rising time, the “tacky” dough should have doubled in size.

    Bread dough has doubled in size after resting 8-12 hours in a warm spot.

    Shape the Dough Into A Loaf

    Lay a large piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet and sprinkle it with flour. Turn the dough out of the bowl onto the floured parchment paper.

    NOTE: The parchment paper should be larger than the loaf on ALL sides, to make it easier to lift the loaf out of the pan after baking.

    Gently shape the dough into a round loaf, sprinkling the dough with additional flour, if necessary, to prevent sticking. In the first photo below, I shaped the loaf on a floured surface, then transferred the loaf to parchment paper for baking (both methods work).

    Cover the dough loosely (again) with plastic wrap. Let it rest in a warm place while you pre-heat the pan used to bake the bread.

    Round loaf is shaped and extra flour is used to make it non-sticky.

    Preheat Dutch Oven And Then Bake Bread

    Place a Dutch oven (with oven-safe lid and handles) in your oven on a middle rack. Turn the heat to 450°F. and let the oven pre-heat (with the pan in there the entire time).

    Once the oven has reached 450°F., keep the covered Dutch oven in there for 30 more minutes.

    After the additional 30 minutes of pre-heating, pick up the loaf using the parchment paper to lift it up and place it in the VERY HOT Dutch oven. Make sure all the parchment paper is INSIDE the pan, then put the cover back on the Dutch oven

    Bake the cheddar chive no-knead bread for 30 minutes (at 450°F.). After 30 minutes, remove the lid from the pan and continue baking for 5 more minutes (uncovered).

    Round loaf on parchment paper is added to a very hot Dutch oven for baking.

    Remove the pan from the oven and carefully lift the parchment paper and the loaf up and out of the HOT pan. Place the hot bread on a wire rack to cool.

    The cheddar chive no-knead bread should be beautifully golden browned on all sides and should smell really good!

    A golden-brown loaf of cheddar chive no-knead bread after baking.

    Slice And Serve Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread

    This bread will slice the easiest when the bread has had the chance to cool a bit. While it cools, use a pastry brush to remove any excess flour from the bread.

    The no-knead bread cools slightly on wire rack before being sliced.

    Use a serrated knife to slice the cheddar chive no-knead bread into thin slices and serve warm with soft butter for a de3licious treat!

    You can see in the photo below the cheddar cheese and chives distributed throughout each slice. We always love a warm slice with melted butter on it. YUM!

    Slices of cheddar chive no-knead bread, ready to be enjoyed warm.

    The bread can also be broiled (or toasted) for a nice crispy slice, too! Shown below is a broiled piece of cheddar chive no-knead bread, served with BBQ ribs and baked beans!

    Toasted or broiled bread slice served along with BBQ ribs and baked beans.

    I hope you have the opportunity to make a loaf of this tasty no-knead bread and trust you (and those you love) will enjoy it as much as we do!

    Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

    Looking for More BREAD Recipes?

    You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of bread recipes (savory and sweet) to choose from, including:

    Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

    I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
    Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

    There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
    You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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    Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread
    Prep Time
    10 mins
    Cook Time
    35 mins
    Rising/Dutch oven preheat (inactive)
    8 hrs
    Total Time
    8 hrs 45 mins
     

    Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread is a large, no-knead savory loaf filled and flavored with chives and sharp cheddar cheese. It is delicious!

    Category: Bread, Side Dish
    Cuisine: All Cuisines
    Keyword: cheddar chive no-knead bread
    Servings: 16 half slices
    Calories Per Serving: 158 kcal
    Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Ingredients
    • 4½ cups all-purpose flour + more for dusting
    • 1½ teaspoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon instant yeast* *or same amount of active dry yeast
    • 2 cups lukewarm water (about 80℉.)
    • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
    • ⅓ cup chopped chives
    US Customary - Metric
    Instructions

    1. Combine flour, salt and instant yeast in a large mixing bowl. Add lukewarm water to the dry ingredients and then stir very well, until it comes together and forms a "shaggy" mound of dough. Add grated cheese and chopped chives and stir well, to incorporate them into the dough.

    2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap; let the dough rest in a warm place (free from drafts) at room temperature for 8-12 hours. The dough should double in size.

    3. Lay a large piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet. The paper should be larger than the loaf on all sides. Lightly dust the paper with additional flour, then turn the dough out of the bowl onto the floured paper. Gently shape the dough into a round loaf, dusting with extra flour, if necessary, to prevent sticking. Cover the bread dough loosely with plastic wrap.

    4. Place a Dutch oven (with oven-safe lid/handles) in the oven. Set the heat for 450℉. Once the oven reaches the temperature (450℉.), keep the Dutch oven in there for 30 more minutes before adding the bread.

    5. Carefully pick up the parchment paper (with loaf) and place it into the VERY HOT DUTCH OVEN. Make sure all the parchment paper fits inside the Dutch oven and put the lid back on. Bake the bread at 450℉. for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the lid and continue baking 5 more minutes (uncovered).

    6. Remove the pan from the oven. Carefully lift paper (and loaf) out of the hot pan and onto a wire rack to cool. Use a pastry brush to dust off any excess flour remaining on loaf. Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread slices best when it has cooled a bit before cutting and serving. TIP: Try slicing it in thin slices, then cut each large piece in half for the most servings. Enjoy.

    Nutrition Facts
    Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread
    Amount Per Serving (1 half slice)
    Calories 158 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 7mg2%
    Sodium 267mg12%
    Potassium 49mg1%
    Carbohydrates 27g9%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 0.1g0%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 107IU2%
    Vitamin C 0.5mg1%
    Calcium 57mg6%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!  Cheddar Chive No-Knead Bread is a large, no-knead savory loaf filled and flavored with chives and sharp cheddar cheese. It is delicious!


    Mar
    2026

    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin And Gravy

    categories: Instant Pot Recipes, Main Dishes, Pork
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    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (and gravy) is a delicious dish that serves 4! Juicy pork slices are drizzled with a maple syrup and Dijon gravy.
    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (and gravy) is a delicious dish that serves 4! Juicy pork slices are drizzled with a maple syrup and Dijon gravy.

    Today I want to share with you a great recipe for Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin and Gravy (4 servings). I found the original recipe on Pinterest a while ago, tried it, and it was a hit!

    So, I decided to post the recipe here on the old blog in the hopes that others out there would enjoy making it, as well.

    All in all, this is not a difficult recipe, and the result is wonderfully tender pork slices, coated in a delicious and flavorful gravy. It is delicious! Here’s how to make it.

    Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

    A Little Bit Of Prep

    In a small bowl, whisk together dried garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, onion powder, salt and black pepper until they have been fully combined.

    These dry ingredients are the spice mixture that will be used to season the pork tenderloin. Set the spices aside once combined.

    A variety of dried spices are measured into a small bowl.The dried spices form a spice rub which is used to season a pork tenderloin.

    In a separate bowl, whisk chicken broth, low sodium soy sauce, pure maple syrup (or honey) and Dijon mustard together until smooth.

    Broth, soy sauce, maple syrup and Dijon are whisked together in a bowl.

    Pan-Sear The Seasoned Pork Tenderloin

    Prepare the tenderloin by patting it dry with paper towels, then cutting away and discarding any extra silver skin on the meat.

    Brush or rub all sides of the pork with ½ Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle both sides of a pork tenderloin with the dry spices, pressing them into the meat so they adhere.

    The recipe (as written) calls for using a 1½ to 2-pound pork tenderloin, but I have included cooking times for a smaller sized tenderloin further below.

    Pork tenderloin is seasoned on all sides with a dry spice rub.

    Press the SAUTÉ button on the Instant Pot and let the machine heat up for 1 minute. Add ½ Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and let it get hot.

    Place the seasoned pork tenderloin in the hot oil and sauté it only until it is lightly browned on ALL sides. Do NOT cook it all the way through!

    Once the tenderloin has been pan-seared and browned on all sides, take it out of the Instant Pot and let it rest onto a plate for a couple minutes.

    Seasoned pork tenderloin is seared on all sides in oil in the Instant Pot.

    Time To Cook The Pork Tenderloin

    Pour the broth mixture into the Instant Pot inner cannister. The Instant Pot should still be on the SAUTÉ setting.

    As the broth begins to heat up, use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze it as it cooks.

    Continue heating and scraping until no browned bits of food are left stuck to the bottom of the pot. This will help prevent the Instant Pot from giving you the dreaded BURN warning later!

    Scraping up the little browned bits from the bottom of the pot that are left over after sautéing the tenderloin will also add more flavor to this dish.

    Tenderloin is removed and the Instant Pot is deglazed.

    Cook The Pork Tenderloin

    Press the CANCEL button to stop the sauté feature. Place the browned pork tenderloin on top of the broth mixture in the Instant Pot.

    You may find you will need to curve or coil the meat slightly in the pot to help it fit comfortably on top of the broth. Lock the Instant Pot lid in place. Flip the toggle switch to SEALING.

    Press the MANUAL (High pressure) button and cook the pork tenderloin for 3 minutes. If your pork tenderloin is smaller, you may find that less cooking time is necessary (see below).

    NOTE: Cook a tenderloin with a weight between 1½-2 pounds for 3 minutes (then 12-minute Natural release time). If the tenderloin weighs 1¼ pounds or less, cook it for 1 minute (then 12-minute Natural release time)

    The Instant Pot will gradually begin to heat and build pressure inside (about 10 minutes). Once it has reached full pressure, the pressure gauge on top of the machine will pop up, and the cooking program timer will begin.

    The tenderloin is added to the broth and cooked in the Instant Pot until done.

    Once The Pork Tenderloin Is Done Cooking

    When done, let the pressure release NATURALLY (do nothing) for 12 minutes. The timer on the Instant Pot will begin counting the time and will show it on the display panel.

    Once the internal pressure has been fully released, the pressure gauge (on top) will drop down, indicating it is now safe to open the lid.

    Check the internal temperature of the pork using an instant-read digital thermometer. It should have a safe internal temperature of 145°F. (See below for instructions on what to do if the meat is at least 10 degrees or more below 145°F).

    If you find it needs only a little more heat to reach 145°F, re-lock the lid and let the meat rest for 2-3 minutes in the residual heat remaining inside the Instant Pot. Unlock the lid and check the temp again.

    What If Pork Hasn’t Reached The Correct Temperature?

    NOTE: If the meat (after cooking and Natural 12-minute release) is more than 10 degrees less than 145°F., re-lock the lid and cook the meat for one more minute on HIGH PRESSURE, then do a quick release.of the remaining pressure.

    Try not to over-cook the pork because that can make it dry! Transfer the pork tenderloin onto a plate, cover it tightly with foil, and let the meat rest for about 8-10 minutes.

    After it's cooked, the tenderloin is removed from the Instant Pot.

    Make The Gravy

    While the meat rests, make the gravy using the liquid remaining in the Instant Pot. First, press the CANCEL button, then press the SAUTÉ button.

    Whisk together 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 Tablespoon of water until it is lump-free. This is called a “slurry”, and it is used to thicken the broth.

    Pour the slurry into the hot broth, and bring this liquid mixture to a simmer, stirring it often with a wooden spoon until it begins to thicken slightly.

    Press the CANCEL button to turn off the heat and continue to stir as this gravy thickens. Once done, it is time to serve the Instant Pot pork tenderloin and gravy!

    A cornstarch slurry is added to the remaining broth to help it to thicken.Gravy is cooked until it slightly thickens in the Instant Pot.

    Serve The Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin And Gravy

    Unwrap the pork tenderloin and place it on a cutting board. Cut it into ½” slices and then transfer those slices to a serving platter (shown below).

    Spoon the hot gravy over the top, making sure each slice is covered with the hot gravy. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired and serve immediately.

    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin and Gravy is sliced and served on a platter.

    My husband and I enjoyed the Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin and Gravy served with peas and homemade Duchess Potatoes on the side. It was a wonderful meal!

    Duchess potatoes and peas are served along with Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin and Gravy.

    I hope you have the opportunity to make this delicious Instant Pot recipe and trust you and those you love will enjoy it, too! It’s DELICIOUS!

    Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

    Looking for More INSTANT POT Recipes?

    You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of Instant Pot recipes to choose from, including:

    Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

    I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
    Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

    There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
    You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

    Find Me On Social Media:

    Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Pinterest:     The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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    Author's signature

    Original recipe source: Erin Clarke (wellplated.com): Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

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    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (and gravy)
    Prep Time
    15 mins
    Cook Time
    20 mins
    Total Time
    45 mins
     

    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (and gravy) is a delicious dish that serves 4! Juicy pork slices are drizzled with a maple syrup and Dijon gravy.

    Category: Main Dish
    Cuisine: All Cuisines
    Keyword: instant pot pork tenderloin
    Servings: 4
    Calories Per Serving: 295 kcal
    Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Ingredients
    • 1½ pounds pork tenderloin 1½ - 2 pounds can be used
    • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil ** **DIVIDED USE
    Seasoning Mix:
    • 2 teaspoons dried crushed rosemary
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    For Gravy:
    • ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth
    • 2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup (or honey)
    • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
    For Gravy "Slurry":
    • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
    • 2 Tablespoons water
    US Customary - Metric
    Instructions

    1. In a small bowl, whisk garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, onion powder, salt and pepper until combined. Set aside.

    2. In a separate bowl, whisk chicken broth, soy sauce, maple syrup (or honey) and Dijon together until smooth.

    3. Pat tenderloin dry. Cut away (and discard) silver skin on the meat. Brush or rub all sides of the pork with ½ Tablespoon. olive oil. Season all sides of the pork with spice mix, pressing them into the meat to adhere.

    4. Press SAUTÉ button; let Instant Pot heat for 1 minute. Add ½ Tablespoon of olive oil; let it get hot. Add tenderloin; sauté on all sides until browned Do NOT cook it all the way through! Transfer pork to a plate; let it rest.

    5. Put broth, soy sauce, maple syrup and Dijon into the Instant Pot. Instant Pot should still be on SAUTÉ setting. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot often to deglaze it as it cooks. Continue until no browned bits are left stuck to the bottom of the pot (to avoid the BURN warning later).

    6. Press CANCEL button. Put the tenderloin back in the Instant Pot. If needed, curve the meat slightly in the pot to help it fit. Lock the lid in place. Flip the toggle switch to SEALING. Press MANUAL (High pressure) button; set cook timer for 4 minutes. It should take about 10 minutes to reach full pressure (gauge will pop up) and the cooking program begins. (See NOTE section below cook time for smaller tenderloins).

    7. When done, let pressure release NATURALLY (do nothing) for 12 minutes. Once the internal pressure has been fully released, the pressure gauge (on top) will drop down, indicating it is safe to open the lid. Check the internal temperature of the tenderloin using a digital thermometer. It should be 145°F. If you find it needs just a tiny bit more time to reach 145℉, re-lock the lid; let it "rest" for 2-3 minutes in the residual heat remaining inside the Instant Pot. Check the temp again. Try not to over-cook the pork because that makes it dry! Transfer the pork tenderloin onto a plate, cover tightly with foil; let meat rest for 7-8 minutes.

    8. While meat rests, make gravy with liquid remaining in the Instant Pot. Press CANCEL button, then press SAUTÉ button. Whisk 2 Tablespoons cornstarch and 2 Tablespoon of water until smooth. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the hot broth. Heat liquid to a simmer, stirring often with a wooden spoon until it begins to thicken. Press CANCEL button to turn off heat; continue to stir until a thickened gravy forms.

    9. Place tenderloin on a cutting board. Cut it into ½" slices, transfer slices to a serving platter. Spoon gravy over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley (optional). Serve immediately.

    Recipe Notes

    NOTE: If tenderloin weighs 1¼ pounds or less, cook it for only 1 minute (then do the regular 12-minute Natural release time)

    Nutrition Facts
    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (and gravy)
    Amount Per Serving (4 g)
    Calories 295 Calories from Fat 90
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 10g15%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 111mg37%
    Sodium 1001mg44%
    Potassium 778mg22%
    Carbohydrates 13g4%
    Fiber 0.5g2%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 37g74%
    Vitamin A 18IU0%
    Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
    Calcium 36mg4%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (and gravy) is a delicious dish that serves 4! Juicy pork slices are drizzled with a maple syrup and Dijon gravy.


    Mar
    2026

    Baked Homemade Tortilla Chips

    categories: Appetizers
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    Baked homemade tortilla chips are simple to make in under 15 minutes, using only 3 ingredients. They are crispy and delicious! 
    Baked homemade tortilla chips are simple to make in under 15 minutes, using only 3 ingredients. They are crispy and delicious!

    Today I want to show you how easy it is to make your own homemade tortilla chips, right in the comfort of your own kitchen!

    This simple recipe is very budget friendly. It’s also an EASY way to make a quick snack to gobble up OR to enjoy the chips served with salsa or other dips.

    This recipe for baked homemade tortilla chips only requires corn tortillas, oil and salt to create crispy lightly salted homemade tortilla chips. Here’s how to make them.

    Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

    Prepare The Corn Tortillas

    Before beginning, preheat your oven to 400°F. This will save you time, because your oven will be hot as soon as you finish preparing the tortillas.

    To make a batch of these crunchy chips, begin with 6 corn tortillas. The recipe as written below will yield 48 tortilla chips, but it is very easy to double or triple the recipe to meet your needs.

    Lay the tortillas out on paper towels. Brush one side of each tortilla lightly with vegetable oil. I find that using a pastry brush works well for this.

    A pastry brush is used to brush each tortilla with oil.

    Once each tortilla is brushed with oil, lightly sprinkle each tortilla with salt (oiled side only).

    Lightly coated with oil and sprinkled with salt, the tortillas are ready to be sliced.

    Slice The Tortillas Into Wedges

    Once the tortillas have been brushed with oil and salted (on 1 side only), stack 3 of the tortillas together on top of each other.

    Use a sharp knife (or a pizza cutter) to slice through the stack, cutting the tortillas into 8, “pie-shaped” wedges.

    Repeat this “stacking and slicing” with the remaining 3 tortillas. Now you should have a final total of 48 tortilla wedges.

    The tortillas are stacked together, then cut into 8 wedges each.

    Lay the tortilla pieces in a single layer on top of a parchment paper-lined large baking sheet. Position them so all of the tortilla wedges fit in the pan.

    Once they are all positioned on the baking sheet, they’re ready to be baked in your preheated 400°F. oven.

    Tortilla wedges are placed on parchment paper in a single layer for baking.

    Bake The Tortilla Chips

    Bake the tortilla chips on a middle rack in the oven at 400°F. for about 4 minutes. Open the oven and rotate the pan to ensure even distribution of heat for best crispness.

    After rotating the baking sheet, continue to bake the tortilla chips for about 4-5 more minutes OR until they are lightly browned around the edges and CRISP!

    Oven temperatures can vary quite a bit, so try to keep an eye on the tortilla chips during the second part of the baking time.

    When they’re done baking, transfer the parchment paper and chips off of the hot baking sheet, and let them cool to room temperature. They will crisp up a bit more as they cool.

    After baking, the homemade tortilla chips are lightly browned and very crispy.

    Serve The Baked Homemade Tortilla Chips

    The baked homemade tortilla chips can be enjoyed as tortilla chips, or they can be used to scoop up copious amounts of salsa or dip!

    They are wonderful when served as a side with a big bowl of chili because they are sturdy enough to scoop up big old bites. YUM!

    The baked homemade tortilla chips can be used for dipping up chili.

    I also like to use them as a garnish for bowls of chili, as shown below. Doesn’t that bowl of chili look nice with the tortilla chip and sour cream garnish?

    Baked homemade tortilla chips not only taste good, but they also look good, too (who knew?). Store any leftover chips in a resealable, airtight storage bag to maintain their crunch.

    Baked Homemade Tortilla Chips served as a garnish in a bowl of chili.

    I hope you have the opportunity to make some baked homemade tortilla chips for yourself and for those you love. I’m confident you will enjoy them.

    Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

    Looking For Some More CRUNCHY SNACK Recipes?

    You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of crunchy snack recipes to choose from, including:

    Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

    I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
    Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

    There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
    You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

    Find Me On Social Media:

    Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Pinterest:     The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Instagram:     jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

    Author's signature

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    Baked Homemade Tortilla Chips
    Prep Time
    5 mins
    Cook Time
    9 mins
    Total Time
    14 mins
     

    Baked homemade tortilla chips are simple to make in under 15 minutes, using only 3 ingredients. They are crispy and delicious!

    Category: Snack
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: baked homemade tortilla chips
    Servings: 48 chips
    Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Ingredients
    • 6 corn tortillas
    • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon salt** **(or more-season lightly to taste)
    US Customary - Metric
    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

    2. Lay tortillas in single layer on paper towels. Brush 1 side only of the tortillas with oil (cover surface lightly) using a pastry brush. Lightly sprinkle tortillas with salt (oiled side only). NOTE: Amount of oil/salt may vary slightly for each user.

    3. Stack 3 oiled/salted tortillas together directly on top of each other. Use a sharp knife (or a pizza cutter) to cleanly slice through the stack, cutting the tortillas into 8 "pie-shaped" wedges. Repeat the "stacking and slicing" with the remaining 3 tortillas. Now you should have a total of 48 tortilla wedges.

    4. Lay the tortilla pieces in a single layer on top of the prepared baking sheet. Position them so all tortilla wedges fit in the pan.

    5. Bake on a middle rack in the oven at 400°F. for 4 minutes. Open oven; rotate the pan to ensure even chip crispness. Continue baking the tortilla chips for 4-5 more minutes OR until they're lightly browned around the edges and CRISP! NOTE: Oven temperatures can vary, so keep an eye on the chips during the last 5 minutes. When done, transfer parchment paper and chips off the hot baking sheet; let them cool to room temp. They will crisp up a bit more as they cool.

    6. Serve at room temperature and enjoy! Store chips in an airtight, re-sealable bag.

    Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!  Baked homemade tortilla chips are simple to make in under 15 minutes, using only 3 ingredients. They are crispy and delicious!


    Feb
    2026

    Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast

    categories: Air Fryer Recipes, Breakfast
    3 Shares
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    Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast is a decadent breakfast featuring sliced Challah bread coated in egg, cinnamon, vanilla and a crispy topping! 
    Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast is a decadent breakfast featuring sliced Challah bread coated in egg, cinnamon, vanilla and a crispy topping!

    Last year my husband and I went out for breakfast for the first time in months. We went to a favorite local restaurant that had just begun offering breakfast and I was intrigued by a French Toast recipe that was on the menu.

    The French toast had an Irish whiskey batter and a crunchy cereal topping, and they offered Irish whisky syrup to top it with, if desired. Well, I ordered the maple syrup instead and loved this strange new twist on French toast (see picture below).

    I came home after enjoying this meal and decided to try and make it as a “family-friendly” breakfast months later. This recipe for Crunchy air Fryer French Toast is the result.

    My biggest question was how to get that crunchy topping… and once I figured it out, I make some for myself and my husband. It tasted GREAT! So, here’s my version of how to make Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast (without the whiskey!).

    The inspiration for this recipe is shown from the restaurant where I ordered it.

    Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

    Prepare The Challah Bread

    I use challah bread to make this recipe, but you can use French bread, Brioche or Texas Toast if desired. Slice FOUR 1″ thick slices from the loaf.

    This recipe (as written below) will require 4 one-inch slices of bread, which will be enough for two servings (two slices per serving).

    Challah bread can easily be found in most grocery stores, however if you are interested in making your own, check out my recipe for classic challah bread.

    Once you cut the bread into slices, set the four pieces aside while you make the egg batter.

    Four slices of Challah bread are used for this French toast recipe.

    Make The Egg Batter

    Place two large eggs, milk, ground cinnamon and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl. Make sure the bowl is large or wide enough to lay a piece of the challah bread in it flat.

    Use a whisk or a fork to fully combine these four ingredients into a wet batter. You may find the cinnamon doesn’t fully incorporate. Simply keep it mixed in as you dredge the bread in it (later).

    Once the wet batter is made, set it aside while you make the crunchy topping for the French toast.

    Two large eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla are combined in a bowl.A fork is used to whisk the wet ingredients together in the bowl.

    Prepare The Crunchy Topping

    The easiest way to make the topping is to place 1½ cups of Raisin Bran Crunch (REMOVE THE RAISINS) into a food processor and pulse it until you are left with much smaller flakes.

    I discovered how the crunch from this type of cereal kept its crunch even after cooking and that is why I used it. NOTE: There may be other cereals that hold a crunch as well, but this is the one I will consistently use.

    If you don’t have access to a food processor, place the cereal flakes in a large plastic storage bag. Seal the bag, then lightly pound on it with a rolling pin or meat mallet until you have “pounded” the flakes manually into much smaller pieces.

    The crunchy cereal is pulverized in a food processor until smaller pieces form.A bowl of small crunchy bran cereal pieces, ready to use as topping for the French toast.

    Coating The French Toast Slices

    Place the two bowls (one with egg batter on the left and the other one with the crunch topping) on your kitchen counter side by side. This will be your French toast “dipping” station!

    One bowl of wet ingredients and one bowl of crunchy topping.

    Using one slice of challah bread at a time, place it into the egg batter. Once the bottom side is coated, carefully flip the bread over to cover the other side with the egg batter.

    Gently press the bread into the batter, to ensure it is fully covered. Lift the bread up and let any excess batter drip back down into the bowl.

    Immediately place the batter-coated bread into the crunchy topping and repeat the process. Cover one side of the bread, then turn and cover the other side with the crunchy topping.

    NOTE: The actual size/thickness of the bread you choose to use “may” require a bit more egg batter than called for. This has never been the case for me, but since there are so many different sizes of bread available nowadays, I add this as a tip!

    A slice of challah bread is soaked in the wet ingredients first (both sides).Egg-soaked bread slice is then dipped and covered in crunchy cereal topping.

    Repeat this process until all slices are covered on both sides with batter and the topping. I find it helpful to lay each piece (once covered) on a piece of parchment paper or foil while coating the other slices.

    Four slices of Crunchy air Fryer French toast ready to be cooked.

    Air Fry The French Toast

    Preheat your air fryer as the manufacturer suggests. Place the four slices of French toast in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave a bit of space between each slice (for better hot air circulation).

    Cook the French toast at 370°F. for 5 minutes, then check it. The French toast (once done) should be lightly browned on top, cooked through, and should also be very crispy on the outside.

    The crunchy air fryer French toast in the basket of the air fryer.After air-frying for 5 minutes, the French toast is done, crispy and golden brown.

    Serve The Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast

    Use a spatula to transfer the crunchy air fryer French toast out of the air fryer and onto serving plates. Serve immediately while the French toast is hot.

    Top the French toast with your favorite toppings such as butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, fruit, etc. Use whatever you would normally enjoy on your French toast!

    Crunchy air fryer French toast, served with butter and maple syrup.

    All that is left to do is grab a fork and dig into this delicious breakfast treat! The topping is crispy and crunch, yet the inside is gloriously soft!

    I am confident you and those you love are going to enjoy this yummy breakfast! For us, it is an occasional breakfast treat, not an “all the time” treat.

    The recipe can be doubled or tripled to suit your needs, but you will need to prepare it in batches, so the air fryer basket isn’t overcrowded.

    A fork holds a bite of the crunchy French toast.

    I hope you have the opportunity to make Crunch Air Fryer French Toast for your family or friends and trust you will enjoy it as much as we do.

    Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

    Looking For More BREAKFAST Recipes?

    You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a variety of delicious BREAKFAST recipes to choose from, including:

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    I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
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    ↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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    Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast
    Prep Time
    10 mins
    Cook Time
    5 mins
    Total Time
    15 mins
     

    Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast is a decadent breakfast featuring sliced Challah bread coated in egg, cinnamon, vanilla and a crispy topping!

    Category: Breakfast
    Cuisine: All Cuisines
    Keyword: air fryer French toast
    Servings: 2 (2 slices per serving)
    Calories Per Serving: 538 kcal
    Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
    Ingredients
    • 4 slices Challah bread slices (each 1" thick)
    • 1½ cups Raisin Bran Crunch cereal* REMOVE THE RAISINS (don't use)
    • 2 large eggs
    • ¼ cup low-fat milk (1%)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    Optional Toppings For Cooked French Toast: butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar (as desired)
      US Customary - Metric
      Instructions

      1. Slice FOUR 1" thick slices of challah bread. Set slices aside.

      2. Put eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a shallow bowl (large/wide enough to lay a bread slice in it flat. Use whisk or fork to mix into a wet batter. Set aside.

      3. Put Raisin Bran Crunch (REMOVE RAISINS) in a food processor; pulse until they become much smaller flakes. No food processor? Put cereal in a large plastic storage bag. Seal bag, lightly pound cereal with rolling pin or meat mallet until flakes are crushed into smaller pieces.

      4. Place bowls (egg batter on the left/crunchy topping on the right) on kitchen counter, side by side.

      5. Place 1 bread slice into egg batter. Once bottom side is coated, flip bread over, coat other side. Gently press bread into the batter, to ensure it's fully covered. Lift bread up; let excess batter drip down into the bowl. Immediately place bread into the crunchy topping Cover one side of the bread; flip and cover other side with topping. Repeat until all slices are covered (both sides) with batter and topping. Lay slices on parchment paper (or wax paper) while coating other slices.

      6. Preheat air fryer to 370℉. Lay bread slices in the inner basket in single layer, leaving space in between each slice (for best air circulation). Cook at 370°F. for 5 minutes. Once done (5-6 minutes) the French toast should be lightly browned on top, cooked through, and crispy on the outside.

      7. Use a spatula to transfer French Toast out of the air fryer onto serving plates. Serve immediately, garnished with favorite toppings (butter, syrup, powdered sugar, fruit, etc.). Enjoy!

      Recipe Notes

      NOTE: The size/thickness of the bread you use "may" require more egg batter than called for, because there are so many different sizes of bread available nowadays!

      Nutrition Facts
      Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast
      Amount Per Serving (2 slices (w/out add'l. toppings))
      Calories 538 Calories from Fat 99
      % Daily Value*
      Fat 11g17%
      Saturated Fat 3g19%
      Trans Fat 0.02g
      Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
      Monounsaturated Fat 4g
      Cholesterol 242mg81%
      Sodium 636mg28%
      Potassium 453mg13%
      Carbohydrates 88g29%
      Fiber 6g25%
      Sugar 18g20%
      Protein 20g40%
      Vitamin A 553IU11%
      Vitamin C 0.02mg0%
      Calcium 184mg18%
      Iron 5mg28%
      * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

      Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Crunchy Air Fryer French Toast is a decadent breakfast featuring sliced Challah bread coated in egg, cinnamon, vanilla and a crispy topping!