Perfect Popcorn

Popcorn is literally (and I mean literally) one of my favorite foods in the whole world. I'm one of those people who takes the popcorn bag home from the theater rather than waste a single precious piece of popcorn.

I've always really loved homemade popcorn as well, but it usually required some kind of bulky, frivolous contraption. Then I discovered a super easy way to make the most delicious popcorn ever. While this hasn't helped my popcorn addiction at all, it has helped me make some new friends – not to mention the cupboard space it has freed up.

Perfect Popcorn

½ c popcorn kernels

¼ c canola oil

2-3 tbsp. butter

salt, to taste

Large (6 qt) pot, with lid

Put kernels, oil, and butter in the pot & place on the stove. Turn temperature to high, and shake the pot back and forth continually while oil heats up & butter melts. Once the kernels start to pop, make sure to continue shaking the pot as the rest of the kernels pop. You will know the popcorn is done when the pot is nearly full and the popping begins to slow down. Remove from heat and let sit until kernels have stopped popping. Remove lid & pour popcorn into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with salt and mix with a spoon. Taste & add more salt until desired saltiness is achieved (I usually do 2-3 rounds of salt). 

Just for the record – I can eat this much popcorn by myself. You may want to make at least two batches if you're sharing.  

Adapted from original recipe here

Deviled Eggs: Three Ways

One of my favorite Easter-time foods has always been deviled eggs - my grandma's recipe, of course. (It's normal to eat 10-15 in one sitting, right?)

However, with the help of Pinterest, other peoples' creative ideas, and binging on Chopped episodes, I have discovered a whole new world of deviled eggs. Apparently, deviled eggs can be whatever you want them to be. 

I was a little nervous to venture outside of my comfort zone, but these following recipes were a good different (much like Elsa). Enjoy these glamorized deviled egg recipes - though I can't promise they will be able to create beautiful ice castles and adorable snowmen (sorry, I can find a way to connect anything to Frozen).

Oh, and in case you're needing an easy way to get perfectly hard-boiled eggs, check this out.

Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs

(find original recipe here)

12 eggs, hard boiled

2 tbsp mayonnaise

1/4 c Frank's hot sauce

1/2 c shredded chicken

1/4 c carrot, finely diced

1/4 c celery, finely diced

2 tbsp onion, diced

1/4 c bleu cheese, crumbled

Salt & pepper, to taste

Cut each egg in half, and set aside whites. Mix together yolks, mayonnaise, hot sauce, chicken, carrots, celery, and onions. Scoop a heaping spoonful of the filling into each egg half. Sprinkle each egg half with bleu cheese & drizzle with extra hot sauce.

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs

12 eggs, hard boiled

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp mustard

1/4 c sharp cheddar

6 slices bacon, chopped

Salt & pepper, to taste

Start by frying the bacon until it's crispy (save the bacon drippings). Cut each egg in half, and set aside the whites. Leaving a handful of the bacon out to sprinkle over the top, mix together egg yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, cheese, bacon, and some of the bacon drippings. Mix in some of the bacon drippings to the filling.  Scoop a heaping spoonful of the filling into each egg half, and then sprinkle bacon over the top. 

Red Curry Deviled Eggs

(find original recipe here*)

12 eggs, hard boiled

1/2 c mayonnaise

1 tsp champagne or white wine vinegar

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tbsp red curry paste

Salt & pepper to taste

1/4 c fresh parsley or chives, chopped

Paprika

Cut each egg in half and set aside whites. Mix together the rest of the ingredients until throughly combined and smooth. Scoop into a pastry bag or large Ziploc bag, and pipe filling into each egg half. Sprinkle with paprika for extra color.

*This recipe was discovered during a Chopped-watching marathon. In Season 6, Episode 6, Lisa Garza spends all her time on a perfect deviled egg recipe. She literally gets no other basket ingredients on the plate, but the judges are so impressed by her deviled egg that she almost moves on. I thought, "That's a deviled egg recipe I'm gonna need to try."

Perfectly Hard-Boiled Eggs [the EASY way]

I've searched the Internet so many times for a simple way to get perfect hard-boiled eggs. I've read a lot of articles that included several complicated steps and dishes, and I thought, "Surely, there's a better way."

I'm not going to lie, I never attempted any of the complicated methods. My grandma taught me how to boil eggs, so I do it her way. Three simple steps, one dish.

1. Place eggs in a pot and cover with water (make sure no part of any egg is out of the water).

2. Bring water to a boil, and let boil for 10 minutes.

3. Cool the eggs (THIS is the most important step). I've found that the best way is to cool it down with water first (pour out hot water & fill pot with cold water & ice). Transport the eggs to the fridge & let sit in fridge for at least half an hour.

If your eggs are cooled enough, the shells will come off easily without damaging the egg white at all. To crack the shell (another trick my grandma taught me) - wrap the egg in a paper bowl or napkin, roll on a hard countertop until the egg is softly cracked all over, then peel - the shell will come off easily.

Whole Grain Peach-Banana Muffins

It's about time this special ingredient debuted on my blog. 

That's right.

It's banana time.

In order to honor my blog's title, as well as my lifelong compulsory epithet, I'm going to be doing more banana recipes. After all, bananas are the fruit of life. (That statement may or may not be true, but it sounds cool.)

Whole Grain Peach-Banana Muffins
(adapted from recipe)

Muffins
1/2 c brown sugar

1/4 c real maple syrup
3/4 c peach yogurt 

2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 c melted butter
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c steel cut oats
1 c flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 c ripe peach, chopped 

Topping
1/2 c chopped pecans
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c butter, melted
1 pinch ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat muffin pan with non-stick baking spray, or use muffin liners. 

2. Mix together brown sugar, maple syrup, peach yogurt, bananas, butter, eggs, & oats until well blended. Allow mixture to sit so that the oats will soften - about 10-20 minutes. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then add to banana mixture, along with the peaches, until just combined. Fill each muffin cup about 3/4 of the way full. 

3. Mix together topping ingredients. Sprinkle over the top of each muffin until it is used up (you can be generous). Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. 

[Grandma's] Deviled Eggs

This is Part I of my Deviled Eggs series… stay tuned for some serious fun (think bacon, curry, hot sauce).

However, before I share any non-traditional recipes, I have to share the recipe that is near and dear to my heart. Some people like pickles in their deviled eggs. Some like olives. In my family, we like sugar. My grandma is notorious for this - she used to add sugar to the sugar-free Kool-Aid mixes (and let me tell you, that's a real rush).

Grandma's Deviled Eggs

8 eggs, hard boiled*
1/2 cup Miracle Whip (if you're doing it Grandma's way, you won't use mayo)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp mustard
1/8 tsp pepper
Paprika

Peel eggs & cut in half. Scoop yolks into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the rest of the ingredients, and mix until smooth. Scoop or pipe into eggs, and sprinkle with paprika.

*There are a lot of articles with very specific and complicated ways to boil eggs, but I just do it my mom's way: put eggs in cold water, bring to a boil, boil for 10 minutes, take off heat & submerge in cold water. Once cool, you can peel them (you can put them in the fridge to help with the cooling process).

Tzatziki

Greek food and I are really great friends. I remember the first time I tried tzatziki; despite my inability to pronounce it, I found it extremely delightful. And because I've since learned to speak its name with confidence, I decided it was about time to learn how to make it.

This fresh, cucumber-y spread is good on everything - crackers, pitas, sandwiches, vegetables, your fingers, etc. - and is healthier than its counterparts.

Tzatziki (adapted from recipe)

Ingredients:
-1 (32-oz) container plain Greek yogurt
-1 cucumber
-1/2 clove garlic, diced
-1 1/4 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
-1 tbsp. olive oil
-1/2 tbsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. pepper
-2 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped


1. Start by straining the yogurt. Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, and place it over a bowl. Scoop yogurt on top, and allow to sit for about an hour to drain all the liquid into the bowl (the warmer the yogurt is, the faster it will strain).

NOTE: I have made this without straining the yogurt & it tastes fine - it just gets really watery after sitting.

2. While yogurt is straining, wash cucumber & chop off both ends. Use a cheese grater to grate the cucumber, and place on a paper towel. Using your hands, squeeze the excess water out of the grated cucumber while holding over the sink. Throw a bit of salt on top & wrap in a paper towel until ready to mix into the yogurt.

3. Once yogurt is done straining, put in a bowl & whisk until smooth. Add remaining ingredients, including the cucumber, and mix thoroughly. Eat immediately, or refrigerate. It's delicious right away, but gets even better as it sits.

Bomb-Diggity Bacon Salsa

The other day I was watching the Food Network (shocker), and saw that my old friend Trisha Yearwood now has a cooking show (coincidentally, she also does Zumba). I already had an appreciation for Trisha, but this knowledge brought it to a whole new level. Turns out she's a pretty bomb cook too, and makes her salsa with...

wait for it...

bacon.

I've been dying to try the recipe ever since. Needless to say, I finished off my bag of chips (I'm going to need to start looking for something else to put this salsa on).

Below is a slightly modified version of her "Salsa Ranchera" (see original recipe here). Salsa Ranchera just didn't quite capture the greatness of the recipe... so I also modified the title.

Bomb-Diggity Bacon Salsa

6 slices thick-sliced bacon, cut into strips

4 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced 

1 serrano pepper (see note below), de-stemmed, de-seeded, and finely diced

1/2 tsp cumin

1 1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp salt

In a large saucepan, cook the bacon until it gets brown, but before it gets crispy. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic, pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for ten minutes. Serve warm or cold. Probably warm, since you're not going to want to wait (I prefer it warm anyway).

Note: I know everyone's spiciness preference is different, so you will want to adjust this recipe to your taste. I thought two peppers made it just a little too spicy (my lips were burning). If you don't like any heat at all, I would probably just replace the serrano pepper with a green bell pepper. If you're not as much of a pansy as I am, go for two. 

Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip

Did I ever mention that I'm not a huge fan of vegetables? I've definitely learned to love them more as I've gotten older, but I still don't just get excited about them. Unless they're drenched in something like cheese, butter, or ranch dressing. So, today, I tried out a new snack. Instead of pulling out the bottled ranch dressing, I mixed a little bit of ranch dressing mix with plain Greek yogurt & a little bit of skim milk. The result? Awesome. I'm never using "real" ranch again.

Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cup skim milk

Mix together in a storable container - and eat with whatever you would like! For a creamier dressing, use less milk.

Roasted Garlic & Lemon Broccoli

So, I've never been a big vegetable eater. I know I'm supposed to eat them, so I do, but I have a hard time enjoying them. I've really never been a broccoli fan. Until now. I found this recipe at The Amateur Gourmet, and it is AAA-MAZ-ING. I've also seen it called "The Best Broccoli of Your Life." I guess you'll just have to find out for yourself.

Roasted Garlic & Lemon Broccoli
1 lb. broccoli crowns
5-6 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 lemon
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Start by washing the broccoli, then chopping off the broccoli heads and arranging them on a cookie sheet covered in foil. Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle the diced garlic over the top of the broccoli. Add salt and pepper. Cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops of the broccoli start to turn brown. Take out of the oven, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Zest the lemon over the top of the broccoli, then squeeze the lemon juice over the top as well. You won't be disappointed.

Apples & Peanut Butter

Okay, I don't know about you... but I am a snacking fiend. I think it's because I love eating... all the time. I've had my share of potato chips, candy, baked goods, etc. - but we all know what that kind of snacking leads to. In my quest for a variety of delicious, healthy snacks, I've decided to start a new series called "Zero Guilt Snacks." Along with my regular recipes, I'll post about healthy snack ideas every Monday.

The first is one of my favorite snacks of all time: apples and peanut butter. To make this snack especially healthy, I use natural peanut butter. I prefer Smart Balance (either creamy or chunky - both are delicious).  When I'm feeling especially crazy, I'll even add a tiny bit of stevia to sweeten the peanut butter a little bit. Or a few chocolate chips, to get that "chocolate-covered apple" taste. Just make sure you don't go too crazy on the peanut butter... I usually have to measure it out to make sure I don't eat too much (it's just so yummy).

Hummus

I don't know about you, but I love me some delicious hummus. However, I feel it's kind of hit-and-miss with store-bought hummus - so I decided it was about time to make my own. It was actually super easy... especially if you have a nice food processor (which I decided I need to invest in).

Ingredients:
2 cans garbanzo beans, drained
1/4 cup tahini (aka sesame seed paste... you might have to go to a specialty store for this one)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced
1 pinch paprika

Stick everything but the olive oil, parsley, and paprika in a food processor or blender (as long as it's a really good blender... my little magic bullet didn't quite do the trick). Mix until smooth. Scoop into a bowl, then drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the paprika & parsley over the top. You won't be disappointed. I like hummus with pita bread, pita chips, or veggies--but do what you like with it!

Black Bean & Avocado Salsa

This recipe is almost... embarrassingly easy. I get so many requests for the recipe, though, so I decided it would be a great addition to my blog.

You will need:
3 ripe avocados
1 red onion
3-4 tomatoes
juice of 4 limes
1 bunch of cilantro
4 ears of fresh corn (or 1 can of golden corn)
1 can black beans, rinsed
Fresh jalapeno or serrano pepper for an extra kick (optional)
Italian dressing seasoning packet
Salt & pepper to taste

Okay so the instructions are as follows... chop the tomatoes, onion, cilantro & avocado and put into a bowl. Add the corn, black beans, & lime juice. Use Italian dressing seasoning packet and salt and pepper to taste... and that's it! If you let it sit in the fridge for about an hour, it allows the flavor to come out better.


For this batch of salsa, I was especially lucky to be able to use mostly produce that was in season:

Delicious, red tomatoes


Fresh corn on the cob


Crisp red onion...


All locally grown!

And then there was the fresh cilantro, lime, and avocado from the grocery store... I guess everything can't be in season at once.







MOST. DELICIOUS. SALSA. EVER.