Month: November 2019


Nov
2019

Banana Nut Pound Cake

categories: Cakes, Desserts
441 Shares
Pin441
Share
Tweet
Yum
Email

Ten minutes prep time is all you need to make this simple, scrumptious Banana Nut Pound Cake, drizzled with a simple glaze. Easy recipe serves 12!
Ten minutes prep time is all you need to make this simple, scrumptious Banana Nut Pound Cake, drizzled with a simple glaze. Easy recipe serves 12!

Years and years ago I received this recipe for banana nut pound cake from my younger sister, Julie. It is written out on an old 3×5 index card, and I re-discovered it recently in an old recipe box. I have NO IDEA where she got the recipe years ago, but I recently made it again (and took photos this time) and decided to put the recipe on my blog! It’s SO GOOD!

Making this pound cake is a cinch, with minimal prep time! To put it simply, all you need to do is mix the ingredients, bake, flip the finished cake over, drizzle with icing, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic tasting cake!

It really is THAT easy, especially by using two shortcuts to a quick recipe with lots of flavor: yellow cake mix, and banana pudding mix! Yep! If you enjoy banana nut bread or banana cake, you will enjoy this dessert, too! Here’s how to make this yummy cake:

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

Prepare The Batter

Place all the cake ingredients into a large mixing bowl. The ingredients are yellow cake mix, banana pudding mix, oil, water, eggs, bananas and chopped pecans (or walnuts). Stir very well, until these ingredients are completely combined.

All ingredients for the pound cake are mixed in a large bowl.Batter for the pound cake is ready to pour into a tube pan for baking.

Generously grease a tube pan with non-stick spray, oil, or shortening. Make sure the bottom, sides, and center tube are coated well. I cannot stress this enough, because you do NOT want the cake to stick to the pan when it is flipped upside down later!

Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly, to disperse all the batter.

The batter is evenly dispersed in a tube pan before baking.

Bake The Banana Nut Pound Cake

Bake the pound cake in a preheated 350° F. oven for 45-55 minutes (mine took 55 minutes total). Because oven temps can vary quite a bit, I recommend checking it at the 45 minute mark, and then continue baking, if not fully done.

To check the cake for done-ness, simply insert a toothpick into the top middle of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. If not, let it bake a few more minutes, then check again, until done. Here is the fully cooked cake, after being removed from the oven.

This is what the banana nut pound cake looks like straight from the oven.

Invert The Banana Nut Pound Cake After Cooling

Let the cake cool for 20 minutes while still in the tube pan.  Run a butter knife carefully around the edges and the middle tube, to loosen the cake from the pan.

Place a dinner plate or platter over the top of the tube pan, and using both hands to hold the plate and tube pan securely together, quickly flip the cake over.  The pound cake should release from the pan onto the plate. Transfer the cake from the plate to a wire rack, to finish cooling completely.

TIP: If it does not EASILY come out of the pan on to the plate on the first try, don’t freak out! Simply flip it back over, and re-run the knife around the edges, let it cool a couple more minutes, then try again.

After cooling, the banana nut pound cake is inverted onto a wire rack.

Drizzle Cooled Cake With Icing

While the banana nut pound cake is cooling, you can make the super easy icing! Mix powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl, until smooth and non-lumpy. The icing needs to be thin enough to drizzle over the cake.

HELPFUL TIP: Place a sheet of aluminum foil or wax paper UNDER the wire rack. This will make your cleanup much easier, after icing the cake!

Once the cake has COMPLETELY cooled, drizzle the icing over the surface of the cake. I like to make sure it goes all the way to the edges, so it can run down the sides of the cake, too! Once done, let the icing firm up for awhile before slicing and serving!

A simple glaze is made to drizzle on the finished cake.Icing is drizzled over the top of the cooled cake.The banana nut pound cake is covered with a simple icing before serving.

Time To EAT!

Once the icing on the banana nut pound cake has firmed up, this yummy cake is ready to slice and eat! YUMMO!  You should be able to get 12 servings from the cake. Cut the cake into quarters, then slice 3 pieces per quarter!

This moist pound cake has wonderful banana flavor, and is filled with the crunch of chopped pecans (or walnuts, if using)! Cut yourself a slice, pour a big cup of coffee or tea, sit back, and enjoy this delicious treat!

A close up peek at the inside of the pound cake, with a slice removed.A single slice of banana nut pound cake, served on a white plate.

I really hope you will consider trying this yummy cake recipe! It’s the perfect size for a crowd, or to ensure lots of leftovers for YOU and those you love! Have a blessed day!

Looking For More CAKE Recipes?

You can find all of my cake recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few delicious cake recipes published, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original recipe source: My younger sister, Julie

5 from 1 vote
PRINT
Banana Nut Pound Cake
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

Ten minutes prep time is all you need to make this simple, scrumptious Banana Nut Pound Cake, drizzled with a simple glaze. Easy recipe serves 12!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana nut pound cake, pound cake
Servings: 12
Calories Per Serving: 388 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Cake
  • 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 ounces)
  • 1 box banana pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup water
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 bananas (very ripe) (mashed)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
For Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F . GENEROUSLY grease a tube pan on the bottom, sides, and center tube.

  2. Place all cake ingredients in a large bowl. Stir well, until these ingredients are completely combined. Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly, to disperse batter.

  3. Bake at 350° F. for 45-55 minutes (mine took 55). Because oven temps vary, I recommend checking it at the 45 minute mark, and then continue baking, if not fully done. To check cake for done-ness, insert a toothpick into the top middle of cake. If toothpick comes out clean, cake is done. If not, let it bake a few more minutes, then check again, until done. When done, remove cake from oven, and let cake cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes (still in the tube pan).

  4. To Invert The Cake: Once cake has cooled for 20 minutes, run a butter knife carefully around edges and middle tube, to loosen cake from pan. Place a dinner plate (plate side down)over the top of the tube pan. Using both hands to hold the plate and tube pan securely together, quickly flip cake over.  The pound cake should release from the pan onto the plate. Transfer cake to a wire rack, to finish cooling completely.

    TIP: If it does not EASILY come out of the pan on to the plate on the first try, don't freak out! Simply flip it back over, and re-run the knife around the edges, let it cool a couple more minutes, then try again.

  5. While cake is cooling, make the icing! Mix powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl, until smooth. The icing needs to be thin enough to drizzle over the cake. Once cake has COMPLETELY cooled, drizzle icing over top of the cake. Once done, let icing firm up before slicing and serving! Serve, and enjoy!

    HELPFUL TIP: Place a sheet of aluminum foil or wax paper UNDER the wire rack. This will make your cleanup much easier, after icing the cake!

Nutrition Facts
Banana Nut Pound Cake
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 388 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 70mg23%
Sodium 411mg18%
Potassium 154mg4%
Carbohydrates 53g18%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 34g38%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 125IU3%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 97mg10%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Ten minutes prep time is all you need to make this simple, scrumptious Banana Nut Pound Cake, drizzled with a simple glaze. Easy recipe serves 12!


Nov
2019

Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes
27 Shares
Pin27
Share
Tweet
Yum
Email

Need an easy, yummy entree? Try Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs! Chicken is dry-rubbed with spices, marinated in a sweet soy & garlic sauce, and baked.
Need an easy, yummy entree? Try Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs! Chicken is dry-rubbed w/ spices, marinated in a sweet soy & garlic sauce, and baked.

Easy and delicious is the way I would describe this recipe for Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs! I you’re looking for a new chicken recipe, may I suggest this one? It’s yummy, and ridiculously EASY to prepare!

You can season the chicken thighs with the spice rub and let it marinate in the fridge early in the day, and then all you’ll need to do is throw it in the oven before dinner! Easy Peasy! Here’s how to make this dish:

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

Make A Dry Rub for The Chicken Thighs

Measure smoked or sweet paprika, dried rosemary, thyme, and basil into a small bowl. Mix these ingredients together. This is the dry rub spice mixture that will be used to season the chicken. See how easy that was?

Paprika, thyme, basil, salt, pepper and rosemary are crushed for chicken seasoning mix.

Rub the spice mixture over the chicken thighs, until well coated on all sides. Sprinkle the chicken very lightly with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in a single layer in a 9×13″ baking dish, and set aside. NOTE: Please note that this recipe is written using 6 chicken thighs, but I only used 4 when I took these photos.

Four chicken thighs are rubbed on all sides with dry seasoning mix.

Make The Marinade For The Chicken

Now it’s time to make the marinade for the chicken! Measure soy sauce, maple syrup, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and minced garlic into a small bowl. Whisk the ingredients until the oil is fully incorporated into the marinade. Ta Da! It’s done, and you hardly broke into a sweat, right?

A sweet soy and garlic sauce is whisked together for marinating chicken thighs.

Marinate The Chicken Thighs

Pour the marinade sauce over the chicken thighs in the baking dish. Cover the dish, and place it in the refrigerator for one hour, to marinate the chicken. TIP: The chicken can be marinated for up to 8 hours, so if it’s more convenient to marinate chicken early in the day, it’ll be ready to bake later!

The chicken thighs are marinated in the sauce before baking.

Cooking The Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs

When you are ready to cook the marinated baked chicken thighs, preheat the oven to 425° F. While the oven preheats, remove the chicken from the refrigerator, to take the chill off before baking.

Bake the chicken thighs (uncovered) for 35 minutes, or until they reach a safe internal temp. of 165° F. HALFWAY through the baking time, spoon some sauce (in the dish) over the top of the chicken. Once the chicken bakes for 35 minutes or reaches an internal temperature of 165° F, it’s done.

TIP: If you want to brown the chicken more, turn on the oven broiler and let it cook 5-6 inches under the broiler for a couple more minutes. Keep an eye on it, though, so it doesn’t burn.

Time To Eat The Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs

Remove the chicken from the oven, and let it rest for 4-5 minutes before serving. Transfer the marinated baked chicken thighs to the serving plates. Spoon a little sauce over the top, and then sprinkle with sliced green onions. Serve, and enjoy! Doesn’t it look good?

Two pieces of marinated baked chicken thighs, served with rice, bread and broccoli.

I really hope you enjoy this simple, yet delicious recipe! The chicken is juicy and full of flavor, and hardly takes any effort to make! That’s a win-win, in my book. Have a great day!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find ALL of my chicken recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a LOT of them including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original recipe source: Katrina, at: https://diethood.com/oven-baked-chicken-thighs/

0 from 0 votes
PRINT
Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Marinating Time (inactive time)
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
 

Need an easy, yummy entree? Try Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs! Chicken is dry-rubbed w/ spices, marinated in a sweet soy & garlic sauce, and baked.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: marinated baked chicken thighs
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 202 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 chicken thighs (skinless, bone-in)
  • salt and pepper , to season chicken to taste
For Dry Rub
  • ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
For Marinade
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup (regular or sugar-free)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced
  • green onions (scallions)- OPTIONAL , sliced for garnish
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Measure paprika, dried rosemary, thyme, and basil into a small bowl. Mix these ingredients together. Rub the spice mixture over the chicken thighs, until well coated on all sides. Sprinkle the chicken very lightly with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in a single layer in a 9x13" baking dish, and set aside.

  2. Measure soy sauce, maple syrup, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and minced garlic into a small bowl. Whisk until the oil is fully incorporated into the marinade. Pour marinade over the chicken. Cover dish, and place in the refrigerator for one hour, to marinate. TIP: If necessary, the chicken can be marinated for up to 8 hours, so if it's more convenient to marinate the chicken early in the day, it will be ready to bake later!

  3. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 425° F. While the oven preheats, remove chicken from refrigerator, and let it sit on the counter (to take the chill off). Bake the chicken (uncovered) for 35 minutes, or until the thighs reach a safe internal temp. of 165° F. If you want to brown the chicken more, turn on the oven broiler and let it cook for a couple more minutes. Keep an eye on it, though, so it won't burn.

    NOTE: HALFWAY through baking time, spoon sauce from dish over the top of the chicken.

  4. Once done, remove chicken from oven, and let it rest 4-5 minutes before serving. Transfer chicken to plates, spoon a little sauce over the top, and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs
Amount Per Serving (1 thigh)
Calories 202 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 97mg32%
Sodium 474mg21%
Potassium 322mg9%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 107IU2%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 30mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Need an easy, yummy entree? Try Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs! Chicken is dry-rubbed w/ spices, marinated in a sweet soy & garlic sauce, and baked.


Nov
2019

Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies

categories: Cookies, Desserts
3.2K Shares
Pin3.2K
Share
Tweet
Yum
Email

Make 3 dozen, yummy Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies (easily), using only 5 ingredients, including a spice cake mix as a shortcut!
Make 3 dozen, super yummy Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies very easily, using only 5 ingredients, including a boxed spice cake mix as a shortcut!

If you’re looking for a delicious cookie that is absolutely EASY to make, keep reading! This recipe today, for cinnamon spice crinkle cookies couldn’t be any easier, and wow, are they good!

The cookie dough is made by mixing 4 ingredients, which takes only a couple of minutes. Once the cookie dough is mixed, it is refrigerated for one hour, then shaped into balls, coated in powdered sugar and baked!

Other than waiting for the dough to chill for an hour (paint the house or crochet a scarf… ha ha), there is nothing hard at all involved in making these cinnamon spiced cookies! Here’s how to make them:

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

Prepare The Batter For The Crinkle Cookies

Place the cake mix, eggs, cinnamon, and oil in a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer and mix, until the ingredients are fully combined.

Ingredients for the cookies are mixed together in a large bowl.

Once the dough is made for the crinkle cookies, it needs to be well chilled. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for one hour. Don’t skip this step! This refrigeration time is necessary to firm up the batter, so that it can be shaped into dough balls easier.

After mixing the dough, it is refrigerated for one hour.

When the dough is fully chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F. You will also want to line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Okay- now it’s time to shape the cookies!

Roll The Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies Into Balls

Measure out the powdered sugar into a small bowl. This will be used to coat the cookie dough balls, before they are baked.

To form the cookies, place a small Tablespoon of dough into the palm of your hand. Roll the dough between your palms until it forms a ball. NOTE: As you work, the dough will begin to warm up a bit. Your hands will get a bit messy (as you can see in the 2nd photo below!). No biggie!

Drop the balls of cookie dough (a couple at a time) into the powdered sugar. Turn them, to fully coat on all sides with the powdered sugar. TIP: The important thing is to not make the cookies too big, AND to get them coated very well in the powdered sugar.

The chilled dough is shaped into balls and coated in powdered sugar.Dough is shaped into balls in the palm of your hands, leaving them a bit messy!

Time To Bake The Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies!

Place the coated cinnamon spice crinkle cookies onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Leave about 2″ of space between each cookie, because they will spread as they bake!

Bake the cookies at 350° F. for 7-8 minutes, or until done. Mine usually take about 8 minutes, but check them around 7 minutes, since oven temps can vary.

The cinnamon spice crinkle cookies are ready to bake.

When done, remove the baking sheets from the oven, and let the cookies rest for about a minute, then transfer them with a spatula to a wire rack. Once they have cooled completely, they are ready to eat!

Once baked, the crinkle cookies are cracked on the tops.

I love the look of these yummy cookies! Nice and crackled looking on the top, and soft and wonderfully cinnamon-spice flavored on the inside! The cookies are perfect to enjoy any time of the year! The warm cinnamon and spices flavoring the cookies are especially perfect for the Fall season. YUM!

A small plate with several of the cookies on it, ready to eat.Here is a close up of the inside of one of the cinnamon spice crinkle cookies.

I really hope you will give this recipe for delicious cinnamon spice crinkle cookies a try! They taste REALLY good, and honestly are a cinch to make! Have a wonderful day, and thank you for visiting. I hope you will come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Enjoy the cookies! 

Looking For More COOKIE Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few delicious cookie recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original recipe source: Heidi, at: thefrugalgirls.com/2018/10/cinnamon-crinkle-cookies-recipe.html

0 from 0 votes
PRINT
Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
7 mins
Time Included For Chilling Dough (inactive)
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 22 mins
 

Make 3 dozen, super yummy Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies very easily, using only 5 ingredients, including a boxed spice cake mix as a shortcut!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cinnamon spice crinkle cookies, crinkle cookies
Servings: 36 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 103 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 box Betty Crocker Spice Cake Mix (15.25 ounce box)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup vegetable oil (or canola)
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Place cake mix, eggs, cinnamon, and oil in a large mixing bowl. Mix well, (with electric beaters or by hand) until ingredients are fully combined. Cover bowl and place in refrigerator for one hour. Don't skip the refrigeration step, because you want the dough really cold before you shape the dough balls.

  2. When the dough is fully chilled, preheat oven to 350°F, and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.

  3. Measure powdered sugar into a small bowl. To form cookies, place a small Tablespoon of dough into the palm of your hand. Roll dough between your palms until it forms a ball. Drop the balls of cookie dough (a couple at a time) into the powdered sugar. Turn them, to fully coat on all sides with powdered sugar. TIP: The important thing is to not make the cookies too big, AND to get them coated very well in powdered sugar.

  4. Place coated dough balls on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Leave 2" of space between each cookie. Bake at 350° F. for 7-8 minutes, or until done. Remove from oven, and let cookies rest for a minute, then transfer them with a spatula to a wire rack. Once cooled completely, they are ready to eat! Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
Calories 103 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 12mg4%
Sodium 99mg4%
Potassium 53mg2%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 17IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Make 3 dozen, super yummy Cinnamon Spice Crinkle Cookies very easily, using only 5 ingredients, including a boxed spice cake mix as a shortcut!


Nov
2019

Thanksgiving Salad

categories: Holidays!, Salads, Side Dishes
34 Shares
Pin34
Share
Tweet
Yum
Email

Thanksgiving Salad is a delicious dish, with pearl couscous, roasted butternut squash, cranberries, pecans, spinach & red onion in a citrus dijon vinaigrette.
Thanksgiving Salad is a delicious dish, w/ pearl couscous, roasted butternut squash, cranberries, pecans, spinach & red onion in a citrus vinaigrette.

How I Came Up With This Salad’s Name

When I first made this delicious salad, my husband and I LOVED it! I knew I HAD to share the recipe on this blog, but really struggled to come up with a blog title for it. Pretty sure I didn’t want to call it a “Pearl Couscous Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, in a Citrus Vinaigrette”. That was more of a mouthful than a bite of this yummy salad! Hmmm.

Both my husband and I agreed that THIS beautiful salad would be absolutely PERFECT to serve for Thanksgiving! We both said it would be a perfect Thanksgiving salad. That is exactly how the easy to remember name “Thanksgiving Salad” came into existence!

The colors, ingredients, and flavors… everything about this salad screams Fall, and would wonderfully compliment any Thanksgiving feast. So… guess what? This salad will be served proudly at our family Thanksgiving dinner this year, along with all of our traditional dishes! By the way- this is an absolutely delicious salad that can be served all year long, as a side dish, or a main dish salad! Here’s how to make it:

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

Roast The Butternut Squash

The first thing you will need to do is get the butternut squash roasted! The process is fairly simple. You can multi-task and get the prep work done on the other ingredients while the squash is roasting in the oven! Preheat your oven to 425° F.

Use a vegetable peeler, and peel the skin off the squash. Cut a thin slice off both ends of the squash. Next, slice the squash in half, lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Cut the butternut squash into bite-sized cubes, trying to get them all about the same size.

Put the squash cubes on a large baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Spread the squash cubes out into a single layer, and then roast the squash at 425° F. for 20-25 minutes. Flip the squash over, half way through the roasting time.

A butternut squash is peeled, sliced, and cubed before roasting.

Prepare Pearl Couscous And Toasted Pecans While Squash Bakes

While the butternut squash is roasting, prepare the pearl couscous. Follow package directions, omitting any butter if called for. The couscous will take between 8-10 minutes to finish cooking. When done, remove pan from the heat, and set couscous aside to cool down, for later.

You can also dry toast the pecans while the squash (and couscous) are cooking.  Place the pecans in a dry skillet, and “toast” them over medium heat, stirring often. Toast the pecans for 3-5 minutes, and then remove pecans from the skillet. Set the toasted pecans aside to cool down, for later.

Pearl couscous is cooked according to package instructions.Pecans are lightly toasted in a dry skillet on medium heat.

Once the butternut squash has finished roasting, remove the pan from the oven, and transfer the squash to a plate or bowl to cool. Set the squash aside to cool down, for later.

The roasted butternut squash is baked, then set aside to cool.

Make A Simple Vinaigrette For The Thanksgiving Salad

Making the citrus and dijon vinaigrette is so easy!  Place orange juice, honey, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and garlic powder in a bowl. Season lightly with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Whisk these salad dressing ingredients together until fully blended. The dressing goes PERFECTLY with this salad, and adds another layer of flavor! TIP: You can also mix the dressing up in a canning jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake the jar well, until the ingredients are fully mixed together.

A citrus dijon vinaigrette is made for the Thanksgiving salad.

Time To Create Your Thanksgiving Salad!

Okay… now the prep work is done and you are ready to build a delicious Thanksgiving salad! Gather all the ingredients together. You will have (clockwise) roasted squash, cooked couscous, dried cranberries, baby spinach, toasted pecans, thinly sliced red onions, and the citrus Dijon vinaigrette.

TIP FOR MAKING SALAD AHEAD OF TIME: If you wish to make the salad several hours BEFORE serving time, cover everything at this point with plastic wrap… and wait! All the work is now done, and you can EASILY put the salad together right before serving.

All the ingredients for the salad are prepped and ready to.

Time To Serve This Delicious Salad

Right before serving, place all of the salad ingredients into a large bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over the Thanksgiving salad, and toss the salad well, to fully combine everything. Isn’t it beautiful with all the pretty Fall colors?

Vinaigrette is poured over the Thanksgiving salad, and salad is tossed before serving.

Once fully combined, arrange the salad on a pretty serving platter, or into a salad bowl for serving! (P.S. Only part of the salad is shown in the photo below). This is one pretty good looking Thanksgiving salad, right?  YUM!

You’re gonna enjoy the sweet chewy cranberries, the crunchy pecans, the soft (and creamy) roasted butternut squash, and that pearl couscous, all covered in a flavor-filled citrus vinaigrette!

A pretty platter is the backdrop for yummy Thanksgiving salad.This is a closeup photo of the pretty Thanksgiving salad, ready for serving.

I really hope you enjoy this gorgeous and DELICIOUS Thanksgiving salad. Even though it has an unusual name, this pearl couscous salad can be prepared and enjoyed any time of the year. The leftovers hold up really well, also. Place any leftovers in a well-sealed container, and the salad will keep for 2-3 more days! That’s a win-win, in my book!

If you’re looking for more recipes for Thanksgiving be sure to check out my blog post for “9 Easy Recipes For Thanksgiving Day”. Hopefully you’ll find a delicious recipe or two there to make for those you love. ENJOY, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More SALAD Recipes?

You can find all of my salad recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorites include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original recipe source: https://littlespicejar.com/autumn-pearl-couscous-salad-with-roasted-butternut-squash/

0 from 0 votes
PRINT
Thanksgiving Salad
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Thanksgiving Salad is a delicious dish, w/ pearl couscous, roasted butternut squash, cranberries, pecans, spinach & red onion in a citrus vinaigrette.

Category: Salad/Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: thanksgiving salad
Servings: 7 small servings
Calories Per Serving: 430 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Salad
  • 1 butternut squash , peeled and cubed
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper, to lightly season squash
  • 1½ cups dry pearl couscous , cooked according to pkg. directions
  • 4 cups baby spinach leaves (heaping cups)
  • ½ cup pecans , lightly toasted
  • ½ cup red onion , thinly sliced
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
For Vinaigrette
  • 3 Tablespoons orange juice
  • 3 Tablespoons honey
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425° F. Use a vegetable peeler to peel squash. Cut a thin slice off both ends. Slice squash in half, lengthwise, and remove seeds. Cut squash into slices, then into bite-sized cubes, trying to keep them about the same size. Put the squash cubes on a large baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season lightly with salt/pepper. Spread squash out in a single layer; roast at 425° F. for 20-25 minutes. Flip squash over, half way through roasting . When squash is done, remove from oven; transfer squash to a plate or bowl to cool. Set aside.

  2. Make Couscous: While squash cooks, prepare the pearl couscous. Follow package directions, omitting any butter (if called for). Couscous will take 8-10 minutes to cook. When done, remove pan from heat, and set couscous aside to cool.

  3. Toast Pecans: Toast the pecans while squash (and couscous) are cooking.  Place pecans in a dry skillet, and "toast" them over medium heat, stirring often. Toast for 3-5 minutes, and then remove pecans from skillet. Set pecans aside to cool.

  4. Make Vinaigrette: Place orange juice, honey, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and garlic powder in a bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk until fully blended.

  5. Right before serving, place the salad ingredients into a large bowl. Pour vinaigrette over the salad, and toss the salad well, to fully combine everything. Serve, and enjoy! (Any leftovers can be stored for 2-3 days in covered container in refrigerator).

Nutrition Facts
Thanksgiving Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 430 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Sodium 53mg2%
Potassium 594mg17%
Carbohydrates 59g20%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 13011IU260%
Vitamin C 32mg39%
Calcium 85mg9%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Thanksgiving Salad is a delicious dish, w/ pearl couscous, roasted butternut squash, cranberries, pecans, spinach & red onion in a citrus vinaigrette.


Nov
2019

Simple Szechuan Shrimp

categories: Asian, Main Dishes, Seafood
262 Shares
Pin262
Share
Tweet
Yum
Email

Need dinner quick? Try delicious, Simple Szechuan Shrimp! This EASY, Asian-inspired meal can be cooked and on the table in about 15 minutes total!
Need dinner quick? Try delicious, Simple Szechuan Shrimp! This EASY, Asian-inspired meal can be cooked and on the table in about 15 minutes total!

My mom is downsizing, and preparing to move into a senior community on the other side of the country (Georgia). One of my sisters already lives in NW Florida, and my other sister is moving to the same town in Georgia as my mom next month.

I am sad she’s moving so far away, but happy to know she will be near more family members, and glad she’s looking forward to her new, smaller place. Our family is really gonna miss having her only a 2 hour plane ride away, here on the West Coast!  She mailed me some of her old cookbooks recently to add to my collection, including one from a church my husband had formerly worked at over 25 years ago.

I glanced through this little cookbook, and came across a recipe for Szechuan Shrimp a sweet friend of mine had in the book. The recipe sounded good, so I made it! Wow… it was very simple to make, and took under 15 minutes, from start to finish!

It was soooo good, I wanted to get it onto my blog, for others to enjoy! The original recipe (below) calls for 1 pound of large shrimp and serves 4. NOTE: I used a 3/4 pound bag of shrimp, which made 3 servings, since I cooked this meal only for my husband and myself. My photos reflect the smaller quantity. Let me tell you, this shrimp dish is ridiculously QUICK n’ EASY to make! Here’s how:

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

Make The Asian-Inspired Sauce

This is a TOTALLY simple sauce to prepare! Measure dry sherry, soy sauce, sugar, salt, catsup, sweet chili sauce, and red pepper flakes into a small bowl. Use a whisk to mix all the Szechuan shrimp sauce ingredients together, until mixture is smooth, and the sugar has dissolved. Set the sauce aside while you stir-fry the shrimp.

Ingredients for the Asian-inspired sauce are measured into bowl for mixing.Sauce ingredients are whisked together until fully blended.

Prep The Shrimp

Pat the peeled and de-veined shrimp dry, using paper towels. Get as much moisture off the shrimp as possible. I used frozen, peeled and de-veined shrimp, and let them thaw before I pulled the little shell off the tails! Quick and easy!

Peeled, de-veined shrimp are patted dry on paper towels before cooking.

Cooking Simple Szechuan Shrimp Is Easy And FAST!

Heat peanut oil (or olive oil) on medium-high in a heavy skillet. Once the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the shrimp, minced garlic, chopped green onions, and minced fresh ginger to the skillet.

Stir-fry the shrimp, ginger, garlic and green onions on medium-high, stirring often, and turning to cook all sides of the shrimp. This will only take 3-4 minutes at most. Cook until the shrimp have turned pink in color.

The shrimp are cooked in hot oil, with garlic, green onion, and ginger.Cooking the shrimp only takes about 3-4 minutes.

As soon as they are cooked through, give the reserved sauce a stir, and then pour it into the skillet. Stir well, to cover everything with the sauce. Cook for one minute, stirring often, so the sauce and shrimp are heated through. Remove the pan from the heat, because it’s DONE! Time To serve this yummy dish!

Asian sauce is added to the cooked shrimp, and heated through before serving.

Serve The Szechuan Shrimp

Now you’re ready to serve the simple Szechuan shrimp!  Place a portion of white rice onto your serving plates or bowls. Place some of the shrimp on top of the rice, and then spoon extra sauce over the shrimp.

Garnish the dish with a few extra chopped green onions, and some white sesame seeds, if desired. Grab a fork (or your favorite pair of chopsticks), and dig in!

Once heated through, simple Szechuan shrimp dish is served on top of rice.

Ooh… yummy! These shrimp taste so good! Can you even believe how fast it is to make this dish? You’re gonna enjoy it, for sure!

A close-up of the simple Szechuan shrimp, on top of white, steamed rice.

I really hope you enjoy this simple, but absolutely delicious meal! It’s just as good as takeout (if not better!). Have a fantastic day, friends. God Bless You.

Looking For More SHRIMP Recipes?

You can find all of my shrimp recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. They include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original Recipe Source: my friend, Lanita Moen, in “Cooking With Love”, published by Chapel Ladies Fellowship, 1988, pages 146-147.

0 from 0 votes
PRINT
Simple Szechuan Shrimp
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Need dinner quick? Try delicious, Simple Szechuan Shrimp! This EASY, Asian-inspired meal can be cooked and on the table in about 15 minutes total!

Category: Entree-Seafood
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: simple szechuan shrimp
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 231 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Asian Sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons dry sherry
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2½ Tablespoons catsup
  • 2 Tablespoons sweet chili sauce (I used Mae Ploy)
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
For Shrimp
  • 1 pound large shrimp (fresh, or frozen & thawed) (peeled, and de-veined)
  • 2 Tablespoons peanut or olive oil
  • ¼ cup green onion (thinly sliced) , bulb and green stem
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh ginger (finely minced)
  • 3 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • OPTIONAL: sesame seeds/ additional green onions , for garnish
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
Make Asian Sauce

  1. Measure sherry, soy sauce, sugar, salt, catsup, sweet chili sauce, and red pepper flakes into a small bowl. Whisk the ingredients together, until mixture is smooth, and sugar has dissolved. Set sauce aside while you stir-fry the shrimp.

Prepare Shrimp

  1. Pat peeled and de-veined shrimp dry, using paper towels. Get as much moisture off shrimp as possible. Heat peanut oil (or olive oil) on medium-high in a heavy skillet. Once oil is hot, but not smoking, add shrimp, garlic, green onions, and minced ginger to skillet. Stir-fry on medium-high, stirring often to cook all sides of the shrimp until they turn pink and are cooked through. This only takes 3-4 minutes.

  2. As soon as shrimp are cooked through, give the reserved sauce a stir, and then pour it into the skillet. Stir well, to cover everything with sauce. Cook for one minute, stirring often, so the sauce and shrimp are fully heated through. Remove pan from heat. Serve immediately on top of rice, garnished with sesame seeds and additional green onions, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Simple Szechuan Shrimp
Amount Per Serving (1 serving (1/4 of total))
Calories 231 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 286mg95%
Sodium 1619mg70%
Potassium 185mg5%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 259IU5%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 173mg17%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Need dinner quick? Try delicious, Simple Szechuan Shrimp! This EASY, Asian-inspired meal can be cooked and on the table in about 15 minutes total!


Nov
2019

Cranberry Orange Cake

categories: Cakes, Desserts
228 Shares
Pin228
Share
Tweet
Yum
Email

You’ll love the flavors in this easy, delicious, glazed cranberry orange cake, bursting with fresh cranberries and citrus zest (makes 12 servings)!
You'll love the flavors in this easy, delicious, glazed cranberry orange cake, bursting with fresh cranberries and citrus zest (makes 12 servings)!

If you enjoy the flavor combination of cranberries and oranges, then you will most likely LOVE this delicious cranberry orange cake! It is really easy to make, and I am confident you will enjoy it, like we did! I tweaked the original recipe just a smidge, and added a simple glaze, which enhanced the cake wonderfully!

I love this time of year, when fresh cranberries appear in the grocery stores. It is always fun to experiment with new recipes using cranberries (and oranges) each year.

In the past I’ve used this combo to make scones, bread, bagels, cookies, muffins, salads, and even homemade cranberry orange sauce for our Thanksgiving table! So much flavor!

This recipe for cranberry orange cake is wonderful! It was so good I KNEW it would be dangerous to have around the kitchen, because I “might” be tempted to shove the entire cake into my mouth.

To avoid that little problem, I wrapped up and delivered plates with a couple pieces on them to 4 of our neighbors, so they could enjoy it, too! Here’s how to make it:

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

Make The Batter For The Cranberry Orange Cake

Before you start on the cake batter, preheat your oven to 350° F. Since it doesn’t take too long until the batter is ready to bake, you will want to have your oven ready to go! 

Generously grease or spray a 9×9″  or 8×10″ baking pan (bottom and sides). You can use butter or a non-stick baking spray to do this.

Place room temperature butter, orange zest (finely grated peel), and 1 cup of the granulated sugar into a large mixing bowl (or a stand mixer bowl). Cream the ingredients together with a mixer, until they become fully blended and fluffy (a couple minutes).

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, and beat until they have been fully incorporated.

Butter, sugar and orange zest are creamed together for cake batter mixture.An egg and vanilla are added to creamed cake batter mixture.

Mixing The DRY Ingredients

Measure 2 Tablespoons of all purpose flour out into a small dish and set aside. You will use this later. Place the remaining flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl, and whisk the ingredients together, to combine.

Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the butter mixture, a little at a time, alternating between the flour and buttermilk, and mixing on low speed after each addition.

Flour, salt, and baking powder are whisked together for cake batter mix.The cake batter is now creamed together and is ready for cranberries to be added.

Remember the 2 Tablespoons of flour you previously set aside? Okay… now you need to add the fresh cranberries to the flour. Gently stir until the cranberries are completely coated with flour! Doing this helps prevent the cranberries from “bleeding color” into the cake batter!

Once the cranberries are coated in flour, add them to the cranberry orange cake batter. Gently fold the floured cranberries into the batter.

The batter for the cranberry orange cake is ready for the baking dish!

Baking The Cranberry Orange Cake

Evenly spread the cake batter into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the batter with the remaining Tablespoon of granulated sugar.  Bake the cranberry orange cake at 350° F. for 35-40 minutes, then test for done-ness.

When done, the cake should be golden brown on top. Test for done-ness by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.

If cake needs a little more time (oven temps. vary), put it back in the oven and check on it every 4-5 minutes, until done. Mine ended up taking 40 minutes to be done, but yours may take a few minutes more or less, depending on the heat of your oven. Just keep an eye on it from the 35 minute on.

Once done, remove the cake from the oven, and transfer the baking dish to a wire rack. While it is still hot, use a toothpick to poke holes all over the top of the cake.

Cake in pan, before baking and after baking.

Making A Glaze For The Cranberry Orange Cake Is A Cinch!

While the cake is baking, make the glaze. Place powdered sugar into a small bowl, and add 1 teaspoon orange juice. Stir well. 

Continue to add a few drops of water at a time to the glaze, stirring after each addition, until the glaze is thin enough to drizzle over the cake, but not too thick OR too thin. You want it to drizzle in a thin stream.

Use a spoon and drizzle the glaze over the entire surface of the cake while it is still hot. All the glaze will run over the cake and into all of those holes you poked with the toothpick! Once you’ve drizzled all of the glaze evenly over the top, let the cranberry orange cake cool completely!

A simple powdered sugar glaze is mixed to drizzle on the finished cake.An up close photo of the glazed cranberry orange cake.

The glaze will firm up as the cake cools, and once the cake has cooled completely, it is ready to serve! Cut the cranberry orange cake into 12 small pieces, serve and enjoy this delicious treat!

See all those colorful cranberries peeking out everywhere in this cake? Yum. Lots of FLAVOR, and the finished cake is nice and moist!

Glazed cake is cut into 12 pieces, and served!A piece of the glazed cranberry orange cake on a white plate, with orange slice.

Sure do hope you will try this yummy cake, and trust you will enjoy it as much as we did! Have a fantastic day, and please come back again soon for more recipes!

Looking For More CAKE Recipes?

You can find all of my cake recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. This variety of cake recipes includes (among others):

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

Original source for cake (no icing): https://alexandracooks.com/2011/12/16/cranberry-buttermilk-breakfast-cake/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
PRINT
Cranberry Orange Cake
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

You'll love the flavors in this easy, delicious, glazed cranberry orange cake, bursting with fresh cranberries and citrus zest (makes 12 servings)!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberry orange cake
Servings: 12
Calories Per Serving: 290 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Cake Batter
  • ½ cup butter (1 stick) , room temperature
  • 1 orange (ZEST ONLY) (reserve juice for glaze)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (+ 1 Tablespoon set aside for later)
  • 1 large egg , room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour , divided use
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • ½ cup buttermilk
For Glaze
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon orange juice (can substitute water)
  • water (as needed)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Generously grease or spray a 9x9 " baking pan (bottom and sides). Use butter or non-stick baking spray.

  2. Place butter, orange zest (finely grated peel), and 1 cup of granulated sugar into a large mixing bowl (or a stand mixer bowl). Cream ingredients together with electric mixer, until fully blended and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add egg and vanilla extract to the mixture; beat until fully incorporated.

  3. Measure 2 Tablespoons of all purpose flour into a small dish and set aside (you will use this later). Place remaining flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl, and whisk together, to combine. Add flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, a little at a time, alternating between flour and buttermilk, mixing on low speed after each addition.

  4. In a small bowl, add fresh cranberries to reserved 2 Tablespoons of flour. Gently stir until cranberries are completely coated with flour. Doing this prevents cranberries from "bleeding color" into cake batter! Once coated, gently fold them into the cake batter. Evenly spread cake batter into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the batter with remaining Tablespoon of granulated sugar. 

  5. Bake cake at 350° F. for 35-40 minutes, then test for done-ness. When done, cake should be golden brown on top. Test for done-ness by inserting a toothpick into middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, cake is done. If cake needs more time (oven temps. vary), put it back in the oven and check on it every 4-5 minutes, until done. Once done, remove cake from oven, and transfer dish to a wire rack. While still hot, use a toothpick to poke holes all over the top of the cake.

  6. Place powdered sugar into a small bowl. Add 1 teaspoon orange juice. Stir well.  Continue to add a few drops of water at a time to this glaze, stirring after each addition, until glaze is thin enough to drizzle over the cake. You want it to drizzle in a thin stream. Use a spoon to drizzle glaze over the top of the cake while it is still hot. The glaze will run over the cake and into all of the holes you poked with the toothpick! Once you've drizzled all of the glaze evenly over the top, let the cranberry orange cake cool completely! Once cooled completely (and glaze has firmed up), slice cake into 12 pieces, serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Orange Cake
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 290 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 39mg13%
Sodium 280mg12%
Potassium 124mg4%
Carbohydrates 51g17%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 33g37%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 293IU6%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 51mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You'll love the flavors in this easy, delicious, glazed cranberry orange cake, bursting with fresh cranberries and citrus zest (makes 12 servings)!

 


Nov
2019

Traeger Chili Smoked Chicken Breasts

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Traeger Grill Recipes
1.4K Shares
Pin1.4K
Share
Tweet
Yum3
Email

Cook delicious chili smoked chicken breasts on a Traeger or pellet grill. Chicken is basted with a simple seasoning, then smoked and grilled to finish!
Cook delicious chili smoked chicken breasts on a Traeger or pellet grill. Chicken is basted w/ a simple seasoning, then smoked and grilled to finish!

Here’s another easy smoked and then grilled chicken breast recipe for the ol’ pellet grill. We love to try new recipes on our Traeger, and really enjoyed this one, that uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts!

This past summer we enjoyed making Smoked Chili Rib-Eye Steaks, and so I decided to use the same chili-flavored basting sauce on boneless skinless chicken breasts. The result? Some really good tasting chicken! Here’s how easy this recipe is to make!

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

Make The Chili Basting Sauce

It’s very easy (and quick) to make the chili basting sauce that will be applied to the chicken. The ingredients are chili powder, worcestershire sauce, olive oil, brown sugar, ground cumin, minced garlic and salt (I used sea salt).

The ingredients used to make the chili rub seasoning.

Start by placing finely chopped fresh garlic and the salt into a small bowl. Use a fork, and mash these two ingredients together until it forms a thick, paste-like mixture.

Garlic and salt are mashed together into a paste for the spice rub.

Add the other chili sauce ingredients to the bowl of garlic and salt mixture, and stir well, to fully combine. That’s it… your basting sauce is now ready. See? That’s how quick the sauce comes together!

The chili basting sauce for chicken breasts is mixed together in a bowl.

Prepare The Chicken

Brush the chili sauce over all sides of the boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Use all of that tasty seasoning sauce!  Once done, cover the chicken and let it refrigerate for 1 hour. NOTE: The chicken can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours, if necessary. Remove chicken from the fridge about 30 minutes before putting it on the grill, to take the chill off of the meat.

Sauce is brushed onto the chicken breasts before putting them in the smoker.

Time To SMOKE The Chicken Breasts!

Okay… now it is time to smoke the chicken! Set the Traeger grill to the SMOKE setting. Keep the lid open and let it go for about 4-5 minutes, until the fire is established and the grill is smoking. We used mesquite pellets in the hopper, but use whatever you have on hand!

Now turn the temperature gauge to 225°F, and preheat (lid closed), for about 10-15 minutes (or until it reaches temperature). Once the grill is at 225°F., you’re ready to smoke the chicken! Place the chicken breasts directly on the grill grate, and let them smoke (lid closed) for 25 minutes.

Chili smoked chicken breasts on the Traeger grill.

Once the chili smoked chicken breasts are done “smoking”, remove them from the grill (and wrap to keep them warm). Turn the temperature setting on the grill to HIGH (450°F), and preheat for about 10 minutes (or until it reaches temperature).

The Traeger chili smoked chicken breasts are removed after smoking and before grilling.

Time To GRILL The Chili Smoked Chicken Breasts!

Once the grill is at the HIGH grill setting (450°F), place the chili smoked chicken breasts back onto the grill.  Grill the chicken for 5 minutes on High, then flip the pieces over, and grill the other side for 5 minutes. This will help sear the chili basting sauce to the chicken.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since pellet grills often vary quite a bit temperature-wise and have fluctuating heat levels, it is best to check the internal temperature of the chicken breasts once you flip them. Place the temperature probe into the thickest part of the chicken. Remove the chicken once it reaches 165°F  (it will continue to cook a bit as it rests off the heat).

Let Chicken Rest Before Serving

Let the chili smoked chicken breasts rest for 3-4 minutes before serving, to let the juices redistribute inside the meat. I think we can all agree that juicy chicken is perfect!

After grilling, the chili smoked chicken breasts rest before they are served.

I hope you enjoy this simple, but delicious recipe for chili smoked chicken breasts. We sure did! They are not too spicy, but have a great depth of flavor from the mesquite pellet smoking, and the chili basting sauce.

Any leftover chicken will keep for a few days in the refrigerator. The leftover smoked chicken tastes great sliced and added to the top of a mixed green salad or added into quesadillas! Yum! Hope you enjoy this recipe, and trust you will have a good day!

Looking For More TRAEGER Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorite Traeger recipes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

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

Author's signature

Original recipe source for chili seasoning sauce: https://www.traegergrills.com/recipes/beef/chili-rib-eye-steaks

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
PRINT
Traeger Chili Smoked Chicken Breasts
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Refrigeration (included in total time, but inactive time)
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
 

Cook delicious chili smoked chicken breasts on a Traeger or pellet grill. Chicken is basted w/ a simple seasoning, then smoked and grilled to finish!

Category: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chili smoked chicken breasts
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 220.06 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts , fairly thin (approx. 5 ounces per piece)
For Chili Seasoning:
  • 2 large garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 Tablespoons worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Place finely chopped garlic and salt into a small bowl. Use a fork to mash these ingredients together until it forms a paste-like mixture. Add remaining chili sauce ingredients to mixture, and stir well, to combine. Brush sauce over all sides of chicken. Cover chicken and refrigerate for 1 hour.  NOTE: Chicken can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours, if necessary. Remove chicken from fridge about 1/2 an hour before putting on grill, to take the chill off the meat.

  2. Set temperature gauge to SMOKE setting. Keep lid open and let it go for about 4-5 minutes, until fire is established and grill is smoking. Now turn temperature to 225°F, and preheat (lid closed), for 10-15 minutes (or until it reaches temperature). Once grill is at 225°F., you're ready to smoke the chicken! Place chicken breasts directly on grate, and let them smoke (lid closed) for 25 minutes.

  3. Once done "smoking", remove chicken from grill (and wrap to keep them warm). Turn temperature setting on the grill to HIGH (450°F), and preheat for 10 minutes (or until it reaches temperature). Once grill is at 450°F, place chicken back onto grill.  Grill for 5 minutes, then flip over, and grill other side for approx. 5 minutes. This helps sear the chili basting sauce to the chicken.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Since pellet grills often vary quite a bit temperature-wise and at times have fluctuating heat levels, it is best to check the internal temperature of the chicken breasts once you flip them. Place the temperature probe into the thickest part of the chicken. Remove chicken from grill once it reaches 165°F  (it will continue to cook a bit as it rests off heat).

    Let the chili smoked chicken breasts rest for 3-4 minutes before serving, to let the juices redistribute inside the meat. Serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: If using large chicken breasts (thick), you may need to adjust the grilling time (cook longer) to bring to internal temperature of 165° F.

Nutrition Facts
Traeger Chili Smoked Chicken Breasts
Amount Per Serving (1 piece)
Calories 220.06 Calories from Fat 79
% Daily Value*
Fat 8.8g14%
Saturated Fat 1.52g10%
Cholesterol 90.72mg30%
Sodium 652.28mg28%
Potassium 627.76mg18%
Carbohydrates 3.56g1%
Fiber 0.93g4%
Sugar 1.43g2%
Protein 30.58g61%
Vitamin A 833.19IU17%
Vitamin C 2.75mg3%
Calcium 26.86mg3%
Iron 1.51mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Cook delicious chili smoked chicken breasts on a Traeger or pellet grill. Chicken is basted w/ a simple seasoning, then smoked and grilled to finish!


Nov
2019

Garlic Parmesan Rockfish

categories: Main Dishes, Seafood
6.0K Shares
Pin5.8K
Share
Tweet
Yum121
Email

You will enjoy these delicious Garlic Parmesan Rockfish fillets, coated in well-seasoned bread crumbs & baked until flaky. Only 10 minutes prep time!
You will enjoy these delicious Garlic Parmesan Rockfish fillets, coated in well-seasoned bread crumbs & baked until flaky. Only 10 minutes prep time!

A couple years ago, my husband and I discovered rockfish, also known as Pacific Snapper. My husband brought some fillets home from the fish counter at our local grocery store. Since neither of us had tried rockfish before, I had to figure out WHAT to do with it.

Long story short… I found a great recipe, made it, and we loved it! Since that time, I’ve used this mild tasting fish in several recipes, including a few which are mentioned at the bottom of this post. NOTE: The recipe as written makes 4 servings. I cut the recipe in half (for myself and my hubby), so my photos will reflect that!

The recipe I am sharing today is one I found on the internet, and it does not disappoint! This rockfish recipe is really easy to prepare, and tastes delicious! It’s a perfect meal on a busy day, because it has minimal prep, and then into the oven it goes! Here’s how to make it!

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

Prepare The Rockfish Fillets

Season the rockfish fillets on both sides with a little bit of salt and pepper. **Don’t forget to preheat your oven to 425° F. at the same time!

The fish fillets are lightly seasoned with salt and pepper.

Prepare Bread Crumb Coating For Garlic Parmesan Rockfish

The next thing you need to do is prepare the seasoned bread crumb topping that will cover the fish. This step is quick and EASY! I was able to use some of my homemade bread crumbs in this recipe, but any plain bread crumbs will do.

Place grated Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, minced garlic, and lemon zest, and a pinch or two of salt and pepper onto a large plate. Combine these ingredients well, and then you’ll have seasoned bread crumbs, ready for the rockfish. Spread them out evenly on the plate.

Bread crumbs, lemon zest, garlic, and Parmesan cheese are combined to make topping for fish.

Cover Fish Fillets With The Bread Crumb Coating

Place one fillet at a time on top of the bread crumb topping, and coat the bottom with crumbs, then turn and coat the other side. This is called “dredging” the fish. Use your fingers to help press the bread crumb coating onto the fish.

When done, repeat with the other pieces of fish. If there is any of the bread crumb mixture remaining, press it onto the fish fillets.

Rockfish fillets are coated in the bread crumb topping before baking.

Drizzle 2 Tablespoons of olive oil onto a baking sheet. Place the crumb-coated garlic parmesan rockfish onto the oiled surface. Leave a little space between each of the fillets. Drizzle each fillet with the remaining olive oil, and the lemon juice. Once that step is completed, the garlic parmesan rockfish fillets are ready to bake!

Olive oil and lemon juice are drizzled over crumb-topped fish fillets before baking.

Bake The Garlic Parmesan Rockfish

Bake the garlic parmesan rockfish at 425° F. for approximately 20 minutes. When done, the fish should be golden brown, and should flake easily (with a fork). Remove from the oven, and transfer the fish with a spatula to each plate, for serving.

When done baking, garlic parmesan rockfish are golden brown and flaky.

If desired, garnish the fish with parsley and a thin lemon slice, and serve! We enjoyed our garlic parmesan rockfish served on top of rice, with sautéed green beans (from our garden), fresh corn, and a slice of sweet, cold watermelon on the side! YUM!

Garlic parmesan rockfish fillet on rice, with green beans, corn, and watermelon on the side.

We really did enjoy this meal, featuring garlic parmesan rockfish. My hope is that maybe you will be inspired to try this simple dish, and make it for those you love! Have a blessed day!

Looking For More ROCKFISH Recipes?

You can find all of my seafood recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few rockfish recipes you might be interested in include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Original recipe source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a26595710/garlic-parmesan-baked-flounder-recipe/

Author's signature

5 from 8 votes
PRINT
Garlic Parmesan Rockfish
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

You will enjoy these delicious Garlic Parmesan Rockfish fillets, coated in well-seasoned bread crumbs & baked until flaky. Only 10 minutes prep time!

Category: Entree-Seafood
Cuisine: American
Keyword: garlic parmesan rockfish
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 303 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil , divided use
  • 4 rockfish fillets , approx. 5 ounces each
  • salt and pepper , to season fish
  • ½ cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup bread crumbs
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 lemon (juice and zest)
  • parsley and lemon slices (optional) , for garnish
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425° F. Drizzle 2 Tablespoons of olive oil onto a baking sheet, and set aside.

  2. Season the rockfish fillets on both sides with a little bit of salt and pepper.

  3. Place Parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic, lemon zest, and a pinch or two of salt and pepper onto a large plate. Combine ingredients, and spread them out evenly on the plate. Place one fillet at a time on top of the mixture, and coat the bottom with crumbs, then flip and coat the other side. Use your fingers to help press coating onto fish. When done, repeat with other pieces, using all the crumb mixture.

  4. Place rockfish onto oiled baking sheet., leaving space between each fillet. Drizzle each piece with remaining olive oil, and the lemon juice.

  5. Bake fish at 425° F. for approx. 20 minutes. When done, the fish should be golden brown, and flake easily with a fork. Remove from oven; transfer fish with a spatula to plates, for serving. Garnish each fillet with parsley and a lemon wedge, if desired. Serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Garlic Parmesan Rockfish
Amount Per Serving (1 fillet)
Calories 303 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 65mg22%
Sodium 334mg15%
Potassium 474mg14%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 115IU2%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 182mg18%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You will enjoy these delicious Garlic Parmesan Rockfish fillets, coated in well-seasoned bread crumbs & baked until flaky. Only 10 minutes prep time!