BLT with Avocado Salad

Credit: Jen Cochran
Recipe:
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
- 1 Yellow Bell Pepper
- 1 Salad Tomato
- 1 Avocado
- 1 head of Red Leaf Lettuce
- 1 Romaine Heart Lettuce
- 1/2 lb of thick sliced bacon, chopped

Dressing
- 2 Tbsp Dijon
- 3 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup of olive oil

Croutons
- 4 slices of whole wheat bread
- fresh grated Romano cheese to coat
- Olive oil to coat
- salt and pepper to taste
- Garlic, minced, to taste (I used 1 clove)

Put 1/2 pound of bacon (about 6-8 slices) in freezer for 15 mins... it's easier to cut when slightly chilled. Slice bacon. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil into a pan and cook bacon until crispy. While bacon is cooking, follow instructions below. When fully cooked, remove bacon and set to side on to cool and drain grease.

Slice bread in cubes. Put in a bowl or zip lock bag. Add olive oil to make moist, but not completely dampen. You just want enough to help seasoning stick and make bread brown. Add cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic. Mix thoroughly. Lay on a greased cookie sheet or an oven mat in a single layer. Cook until desired crispiness in the oven at 350 degrees. I cooked ours about 20 mins.

Dice bell peppers, tomato, avocado, and clean and pull apart lettuce. In your serving bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients: Dijon, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Add lettuce to dressing and mix well. Next top with bell peppers, avocado, and bacon. Serve croutons on the side. And enjoy! This meal came together so fast and was a much healthier alternative to the traditional BLT, as it has mayo and we would've had much more bread.

Extras
- Keep dressing, bell peppers, tomato, and avocado to the side if you think you will have extra for leftovers so your lettuce doesn't get soggy.
- I'm not a huge fan of having salad as the main course. This salad was hearty enough that I found it satisfying as a meal.
- More pics:

Oatmeal Pancake Cupcakes

Recipe: Donnie Cochran (my husband), cooking instructions by Gwaltney Foods

Gwaltney Foods Link: http://www.gwaltneyfoods.com/food-fun/?fun=sausage_pancake_bites

Recipe/Cochran Review: My husband is the true morning chef in our house. He's been tweaking and perfecting his pancake mix for quite awhile now. I found a fun way to make pancakes through Pinterest. The Gwaltney Foods link said to mix pancakes as instructed and provided a unique cooking method for pancake bites... or as we like to call them, pancake cupcakes. Call anything shaped like a cupcake just that and our toddler will gobble it up! Parent trickery!

So, here it is. Donnie's recipe combined with Gwaltney Foods cooking method. Enjoy!

Oatmeal Pancake Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease mini or full size muffin pans, your choice.

- 1 & 1/4 cup of oatmeal (ground in food processor or blender finely)

- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

- 3 Tbsp of Greek yogurt or 1/4 cup of oil (we prefer yogurt)

- 1 tsp of baking soda

- 1 tsp of baking powder

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 1 & 1/4 cup of milk

- 1 tsp of apple cider

- 1 egg

- Extras desired: Turkey sausage crumbles, fruit, nuts, syrup, etc

In a small bowl, mix 1 & 1/4 cup of milk with 1 tsp of apple cider. Let this mixture stand for a minimum of 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, blend ground oatmeal, flour, Greek yogurt, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, vanilla, and egg. After milk & apple cider mixture has sat at least 5 minutes, combine in large bowl with other ingredients. If the mixture appears too runny, adjust by mixing in small amounts of additional flour.

Pour mixture into greased muffin pans. Add extras. For example, we like turkey sausage crumbles, strawberry & banana, strawberry & chocolate chip, toasted almond & syrup, etc. We even made one with apples, cinnamon, & nutmeg, like an apple pie! Yum! This is where you can get creative and personalize the pancakes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes.

This baking method is great for several reasons:

- the cook can socialize with a cup of coffee instead of slaving over the stove

- little hands love to gobble the cupcakes up

- fun dipping into syrup or fruit compote, if you choose

- they freeze well; so, make a large batch during the weekend, and breakfast is quick with a reheat

- these travel well for breakfast on the go

- for those who struggle eating oatmeal, you'll never know you did

- And last, but not least... Toddler approved!



Hope you enjoy!

~ The Cochrans

Pumpkin Cookies

Credit: Cookies and Cups
Recipe: http://cookiesandcups.com/2-ingredient-pumpkin-cookies/

Cochran Review: These are so easy and so yummy! They'll satisfy your cookie and cake craving. Fair warning, they expand while baking. So, make the cookies slightly smaller than you want them to be when putting them on the cookie sheet before baking. We decided not to do the icing and throw some chocolate chips in them. Yum! Enjoy!

Here's a picture of our cookies:

Braised Chicken Pumpkin

Credit: Michael Symon, The Chew
Recipe: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Braised-Chicken-Pumpkin-Michael-Symon

Cochran Review: I was a little nervous my husband would weird out about pumpkin. So I used half pumpkin & half sweet potato. It wasn't weird at all. Very flavorful & yummy! Also, I substituted sweet peas for collard greens. I think next time I'll use kale. Fair warning, this makes a ton! So make for a large group or plan to freeze. Enjoy!

Pic from our meal:



Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip No Dairy Ice Cream

Credit: Disney Jr
Recipe: I didn't look up the recipe exactly. I just saw a commercial for it and made it up as I went along. I cut up 4 bananas in 1/2 inch slices and freeze. Once frozen, place bananas in food processor or blender and mix till smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. I used natural peanut butter. Then add a handful of chocolate chips. Mix until ice cream consistency.

Cochran Review: This is so yummy, and totally satisfies an ice cream fix without added sugar or dairy. Enjoy!

Fall Party Food & Decorating

A month or so ago I was watching The Chew, and Clinton Kelly had such a cute idea for a cheese selection display. I looked and can't find the idea online, so I don't have a link to share. However, I hosted two parties last month and made my own version. It was a huge hit with my guests, and I want to share with all of you. So easy, too!

First, I went shopping for fresh fruit, dry fruit, various cheeses, and crackers. Then I asked for paper bags from my local grocery. I cut the large rectangular sides out and taped them together with the grocer's name on bottom. Then I cut small pieces of wax/parchment paper to place on top of the bag, but under my cheeses. From there I cut the cheeses and fresh fruit. Then I arranged my snacks on the paper bags, labeling all of them with a sharpie marker right on the taped bags. Ta dah! I very approachable and casual cheese and fruit spread!

 

 

I decorated the tables with gourds drilled with candle size holes in them. I then placed candles in the holes and lite them. So cheap, easy, festive, and pretty! Careful to only to this a day in advance... they molded very fast. 

 

 

Caramel-Apple Pork Chops

Credit: Taste of Home - Simple & Delicious
Recipe: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Caramel-Apple-Pork-Chops?Login=JoinLogIn

Cochran Review: I had pork steaks in the freezer already, so I substituted. The whole meal can together in under an hour. It was very easy to make, and was very tasty! Not too sweet, but sweet enough my husband said he didn't have as much a need for dessert after. Notice his use of need instead of want. LOL! Enjoy!

Leftover news.... I'm a big fan of cooking enough for leftovers, but I didn't enjoy this meal as a leftover. The flavors and textures seemed to just mush together over night. So, the next day it was just one blah flavor instead of the enjoyable layed flavor and texture we experienced the day before. I would still like to have this meal again, but I won't make enough for leftovers.

Mixed Greens & Fruit Salad with Hoisin Dressing

Credit: Lee Kum Kee
Recipe: http://us.lkk.com/en/Kitchen/Recipe/Occasions/mixed-greens-and-fruit-salad-hoisin-dressing-3135

Cochran Review: This salad really made up quick and it is sweet, tangy, light, filling, and delicious!! You definitely want to give this one a try!!! I used the Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce from my prize basket, and I really enjoyed it! I used sesame oil I had on hand, since I didn't have LKK's. Also, I used Rice Vinegar. Enjoy!!!!

Apple-Balsamic Pork Chops

No picture available online, sorry. I'll take a pic next time I make it.

Credit: Taste of Home Simple & Delicious
Recipe: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Apple-Balsamic-Pork-Chops

Cochran Review: This was really juicy and good. We enjoyed these! I followed the recipe as is. Then I also sliced some apples and put them in a small pan to the side as the pork chops cooked. I served the warm apples on top and we really enjoyed the extra touch. Another true 20 min meal! Enjoy!

Cranberry Sweet-and-Sour Pork

Credit: Taste of Home Simple & Delicious
Recipe: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Cranberry-Sweet-and-Sour-Pork

Cochran Review: This meal was literally simple and delicious! I made it in about 20 mins! It is really full of flavor! We served it with Jasmine rice that I made in the rice cooker (another one of my fav kitchen toys)! I cooked it as the recipe calls for except I used olive oil instead of canola oil. Enjoy!

Oatmeal Bars with Strawberries, Bananas, & Chocolate Chips

Last Week's Treat

Credit: Inspired Taste
Recipe: http://www.inspiredtaste.net/9928/baked-oatmeal-with-strawberries-banana-and-chocolate-recipe/

Cochran Review: This is AH-MAZING!!!! I made this as a treat instead of breakfast. We warmed it and served it w/ natural vanilla ice cream! Yum! I used Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Chips and pecan bits instead, because I had them already. Try this one for sure!!!!