Raspberry and White Chocolate RollsBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodRaspberry and white chocolate. What’s a better combination? Certain foods simply pair well with one another and this one stands the test of time. Raspberry jam and white chocolate chips wrapped around a delicate enriched dough and smothered in thick, creamy, cream cheese frosting. Yes please! This recipe was adapted from a cinnamon roll recipe made by Ambitious Kitchen. Every time I make the dough it comes out plump, light and tasty so sticking with the original dough recipe was easy. This recipe can be paired with any filling you prefer. I chose this one and it took quite few recipe trial and errors before I got it right. The raspberry jam works best when you put it cold directly on the dough in a thin layer. Too much jam and everything will come out when you try and roll the dough and cut it into rounds. I found this out the hard way and was disappointed when all my filling was left halfway hanging off the counter. Nevertheless we succeeded and this recipe won’t disappoint. Pair the roll with a cup of Joe or hot tea and enjoy!Cherry, Orange and Thyme SconesBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodSpring has officially arrived in the desert of AZ and with it comes the bountiful harvest of citrus. Oranges, lemons, and grapefruit galore are everywhere on fruit trees and in the grocery stores. This scone recipe uses seasonal ingredients such as fresh oranges. I paired it with thyme and dried cherries to help bring out a savory and tart flavor to melt in your mouth. If the dried cherries are out of your budget, feel free to use dried cranberries as a more affordable option. Scones are probably one of my favorite baked goodie. You can add whatever your heart desires to the flour mixture and 9/10 it comes out delicious. They’re crispy on the outside and buttery on the inside. What’s not to love? These scones are tasty by themselves but they pair nicely with a hot breakfast such as bacon and eggs for additional protein. So give them a go and let me know what you think in the comments below!Honey Sriracha Stir FryBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodSo far 2021 has been a bit of a blur. January 2021, felt like 2020 lingered on. I guess what did we all expect? That somehow the new year would be magical and all of our woos would go away? Being a pessimist in an optimist world I never imagined anything different. This blog and recipe development were put on a standstill when most of my family got diagnosed with covid in January. We’re all doing well and slowly recouping back into society. Alex is usually my taste and spice master. He comes up with nectarous concoctions that I swear can rival any pro chef in the biz. However, he’s lost his sense of smell. Something you don’t realize you miss until all of a sudden you can’t smell life’s precious moments such as the crisp air after rainfall, the cut of freshly mowed grass, or the kitchen radiating with a home-cooked meal all throughout the house. Thankfully, his sense of taste is still top notch. This honey sriracha stir fry is a dish we’ve done multiple times before and finally decided to piece it all together. We’ve done it with vegetables by themselves as a vegan option and with chicken and pork to give it more meat. We decided to go with a combination of freshly cut veggies smothered in sauce and topped with a fried egg. The egg helps cut some of the spiciness from the sauce and provide an additional sweetness to the mix. You can technically use any vegetables you like and that’s the beauty of stir fries. Don’t have broccoli but cauliflower. Swap it out! Do you prefer snap peas vs. water chestnuts or simply want to use both? Go for it! No matter what combination of vegetables or protein you use, once it’s coated in sauce, it’s tasty all the same. So give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments below!
Nutrition Tip*
Eggs are an excellent source of choline. Choline is an essential nutrient that has many functions. It helps create fats that are vital for the structure and integrity of cell membranes. It is needed to make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter necessary for mood, memory, muscle control and focus. Choline helps contribute to methylation which helps repair and produce your DNA. There’s also been research that shows choline is important for early fetal brain development. A majority of choline in eggs is found in the yolk. For years, people were afraid to eat eggs and some stopped them all together. However, we now know that they can be included in a balanced diet due to their benefits and essential nutrients such as choline. So go ahead and incorporate 1-2 eggs into your daily routine and enjoy!African Peanut StewBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodMost people do black eyed peas with collard greens to help bring on good luck in the new year. This year, we did one of our favorite recipes, African Peanut Stew with collard greens. We tried this recipe a couple years back after thinking we wanted to try out more African cuisine. We love trying foods from other cultures and it's a great way to enjoy new flavor combinations that you would never imagine before. Peanuts and ginger in a stew? Lets do this! This stew is hearty, delicious, comforting and tasty, which is the most important part. We typically pair it with white or brown rice and top it with peanuts to add an additional protein and crunch to the mix. So get out your apron, grab a cooking buddy, and start 2021 with a bang by cooking this spicy, simple stew that everyone will enjoy.
Nutrition Tip*
Greens, such as collard greens are an excellent source of vitamin K. Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that helps aid in blood clotting and bone health. Since vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin it absorbs better when taken with a meal that incorporates healthy fats. In this stew, there is olive oil and peanut butter which are providing the fats to help boost vitamin K absorption. People who are taking certain medications such as, Warfarin should be conscious of how much vitamin K they're taking in due to the risk of vitamin-medication interaction. Baked Brie with Cinnamon ApplesBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodDon't you just love the smell of cinnamon apples in the kitchen? I know I do and it happens to be one of my favorite fruits during this holiday season. This delicious recipe will be the center of attention and a tasty appetizer at any get together, small or large. The baked brie oozes in your mouth with each bite and when you pair it with the hot cinnamon apples it will without a doubt tickle your taste buds. We could all use some holiday cheer and guilt free fun this Christmas so why not give it a try. This baked brie recipe pairs well with crackers, a toasted baguette, crostini or even mixed nuts. Let me know what you think in the comments below!Chicken Tortilla CasseroleBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodBeing born and raised in the southwest means almost everyone I know has their own version of chicken tortilla casserole. My mother has her own version and so does my grandmother. No matter how it's made, it always turns out delicious and by the end of the meal the whole casserole dish is licked clean. This is an easy casserole dish to make primarily because it uses a lot of ready to eat canned goods such as canned green chilies, canned jalapenos, canned cream of mushroom and canned cream of chicken soup. However, because of this the sodium content is a bit high. I have to be honest and say that I personally did not know how high in sodium it was until I did the nutrition facts after I already downed a couple servings. No wonder it's so tasty and full of flavor. Am I right? Anyways, if you're conscious about your sodium intake an easy fix would be to use 1-2 fresh hatch green chilies, 1 fresh jalapeno and low sodium canned cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup. At the end of the day, this casserole will still be delicious and have a nice spicy kick to make you feel good and full. So give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments below.Holiday Stuffed Acorn SquashBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodAre you tired of those same old traditional holiday recipes? If yes or if you simply just enjoy squash such as myself then you should try out this delicious acorn squash recipe. Stuffed with a mixture of apple, oats, pecans, maple syrup and spices, it's the perfect blend of holiday cheer. Acorn squash is packed with nutrients such as potassium, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, vitamin C and magnesium. This tasty winter squash will soothe the soul and pair nicely with your choice of turkey, honey baked ham or even my vegetarian Butternut Squash Soup. Pumpkin Spice PieBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodAs I start to write this excerpt the US elections are coming to an end. I'm stressed and what helps with stress? Puppies, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and pumpkin pie. Obviously. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and my family typically has about 8-10 pies for about 30 people. Needless to say, there's still never enough pie. I started making this pumpkin pie recipe a couple years ago. I follow the standard Libby's pie recipe but I like to add some additional spices to help kick it up a notch. The pie is also placed in a graham cracker crust which pairs well with the pumpkin pie mixture to give it a nice soft texture. This also helps get rid of the stressful and difficult task of making crust. I'm all about de-stressing right now and making simple, tasty, holiday recipes. So give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments below!Grandma’s Rocky RoadBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodI'm pretty sure most people relate rocky road to rocky road ice cream. However, my family and myself all relate it to my grandma's annual rocky road candy. She makes a batch of this tasty sweet treat every holiday season. It's usually gone within a couple of days and I'm always eager for more. For years she simply had this recipe memorized. Recently she wrote it down for us in her beautiful cursive writing and I was shocked at how easy it was to make. Within 10 minutes your done with the prep/cook process and all you have to do is let it chill before you cut it into delicate little squares. This sweet treat is the perfect start to the holiday season. It's okay to indulge yourself every once in a while so get out your kitchen apron and start cookin' up a batch of this tasty rocky road!
(Visited 860 times, 1 visits today)
