recipe | Mommie Cooks!

Family Friendly Fridays: Cherry Almond White Chocolate Scones

April 8, 2011 By Julie 21 Comments

Is it just me, or has Family Friendly Fridays turned into a weekly display of rich and decadent “gotta have it now” desserts? Just thinking back off hand, I can recall a caramel apple cake that threatened to not only put apples back on the map, but permanently launch them to the top of the charts. And then there was the pretzel toffee crusted chocolate cake. Mamma Mia, bring out the milk cuz a second slice of that beauty was inevitable. And let’s not forget the chocolate churros. And I know I wasn’t the only convert to those. My friend Mari over at Mari’s cakes reported back to me that she made them a whopping six times! Seriously sweet.

Not that I’m complaining. I never meet a sweet I don’t like and am quite talented when it comes to engineering an excuse to bake up a meal-ending confection. Especially if it’s a treat like this one.

Now I know that scones are typically a breakfast food, but honestly, who made that rule up anyway. Certainly not me. And with the creation of this recipe, you can bring on the dessert. And hey, if you want to have it for breakfast. I’m all for that too.

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The Rice Krispie Challenge Part 1: Easter and a $100 Visa Card Giveaway

April 4, 2011 By Julie 171 Comments

Ok guys. It’s time to have a little fun around here. I am participating in a year long competition sponsored by Rice Krispies where four teams of four bloggers each, get together once a quarter and create a rice krispie treat and centerpiece based on a given theme. The submissions are then voted on by you and judged by the folks at Kelloggs. The winning team has their recipe featured and after all four competitions have been completed, an overall grand prize winner is announced.

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Family Friendly Fridays: Chicken Fajitas

April 1, 2011 By Julie 26 Comments

Having resided in Dallas, Texas for six years before moving to North Carolina, I can most definitely appreciate great TexMex fare. With so many enticing options to grab a pleasing plate of authentic grub right at your fingertips, it’s hard to know where to go first. I definitely have my favorites: Mi Cocina (Margarita anyone?), Via Real (their chicken Monterey is UNREAL) and Blue Mesa Grill ( Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips. Enough said.) to name a few. But if a sizzling fresh plate of fajitas is what you crave, then Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth is your place. Best darn fajitas I’ve every put my mouth to. Period. Let me break it down and show what I mean. The dinner menu is a total of three items. Chicken Fajitas, beef fajitas, and a family sized dinner with enchiladas, tacos, and cheese nachos. That’s it. You better believe they do ’em right.

Missing these beauties the way I do, I had to try and recreate my own “go-to” fajita platter. Joe T’s is a pretty big commute these days and we’re not planning to move back anytime soon. I’m sure my version doesn’t do the original justice, but it still fills that ever present craving I always seem to have for a pepper and onion loaded, guacamole topped, cheese and salsa filled, flippin’ delicious chicken fajita. Oh, and remember that salsa verde we whipped up a couple days ago? Throw a spoonful or two on these beauties and watch them sing.

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Veggie Ricotta Pasta

March 30, 2011 By Julie 37 Comments

Whether the temperature outside registers it or not, it’s officially springtime across the country. Down here in the South the beginnings of foliage are starting to show and the first flowers of the season are in full bloom.

Spring is my favorite time of year. I love watching life blossom back into view and bring the promise of warmer days. Leaves make themselves visible, flowers open their petals to drink in the springtime sunshine and birds start to look for the perfect nesting area to expand their family. I feel as though we wake up a bit too. We shed our extra layers, spend more time outside enjoying the warming days, and begin to put away our hearty soups and stews in exchange for lighter fare.

This dish was inspired by my adoration of the changing season. With fresh basil, spinach, and tomatoes all present and swirled around the pleasurable taste of ricotta cheese, a bite of this meal makes me instantly blithe to say goodbye to winter and hello to the warmer months ahead.

There are only a few steps involved in making this pasta; another reason I find a smile creeping onto my face when I make it. Start off by dropping in a smattering of ingredients and spices. Think garlic, white wine, lemon juice, and chicken broth to name a few.

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Salsa Verde

March 28, 2011 By Julie 33 Comments

Our family ~~is addicted to~~ loves salsa. Take my kids to a Mexican restaurant and we might as well save the money on the meals because they’ll scrape the dishes of salsa clean and ask for more before the drinks even arrive at the table. My husband practically inhales the stuff. And for him, the hotter the better. He’s the one asking for the “muy caliente” batch sitting in the back of the kitchen. You know the one; it’s usually deemed to have a little too much kick for American Gringos. Well not my husband. He relishes in the deliciousness of a good salsa induced sweat.

It can be said that salsa is the Mexican version of ketchup and I believe it. It tastes good on (and in!) just about everything. Give me a bowl of salsa, some chips and a beer and I’m as happy as a girl can be. Recently, I’ve really been getting into salsa verde. It has a real “limey” flavor that you just don’t get from regular salsa. And the best part about about this green nectar of the Gods is how truly easy it is to make.

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Family Friendly Fridays: Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

March 25, 2011 By Julie 39 Comments

I was supposed to be making a tart with my brand new tart pan. At least that was the original intention. In the end it turned out more like a bar made in a tart pan. This is the second time that my attempts at “tart creation” have been thwarted. The first time involved rhubarb and wouldn’t you guess, cream cheese. It was a sloppy finish and in the end I had to mix the whole concoction together, throw it in a pie crust and freeze it. The pie was delicious, but it definitely didn’t qualify for tart status. I swear, one of these days I’m going to set out to make a tart and succeed. Until that day comes though, this bar definitely suffices and serves to calm my ever nagging sweet tooth.

Think cookie crust with just a hint of lemon zest meets smooth as silk almondy cream cheese middle and hug it all together with a slightly tart red raspberry sauce that serves to balance the overall sweetness of the confection. Combine this melody of flavors and what do you have? One harmoniously empty plate, that’s what.

I’m assuming you can’t get to the kitchen fast enough to whip a plate up for yourself, so let me end the suspense and show you how it’s done.

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