homemade not store-bought

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Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips

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Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips

One thing I actually do really miss about the States are Trader Joe's snacks. They have the best snacks!! One of my favorites are Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips!! TJ's and Stacy's make them, and now you can make them at home for much less :) I can inhale an entire bag of these, which can definitely get expensive lol! Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips are so easy to make and taste just like the store-bought ones. All you got to do is brush fresh pita (or tortillas) with butter or coconut oil, and sprinkle them with cinnamon-sugar. Bake them for 10 minutes, and you're in holiday snack heaven. These are amazing on their own, or served with other sweets like ice cream, yogurt, or baked fruit. Watch the recipe video below and let's get baking! 

Baked Spinach and Artichoke Phyllo Bites

Baked Spinach and Artichoke Phyllo Bites

Happy Holidays!! I’m so excited for Thanksgiving - it’s one of my favorite holidays. Today’s recipe is great for potlucks or hosting your own holiday event. Spinach artichoke dip is one of those classics that are just so comforting and indulgent. Best served when piping hot and topped with tons of cheese…I’ve only really had store-bought or dip from a restaurant. I figured it might be nice to whip up a homemade recipe to cut down on unnecessary preservatives/ingredients. Crisp, delicate phyllo dough is spinach and artichoke dip’s bff. Phyllo seems difficult to work with, but actually turned out to be really therapeutic. You can also use pre-made phyllo cups, available in the frozen aisle. I’ll show you how easy it is to make mini phyllo cups filled with this delicious dip! This recipe is as simple as mixing all the ingredients, spooning the dip into phyllo cups, and throwing them in the oven to get warm and golden! Let’s get baking :) 

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Quinoa Crusted Chicken Nuggets

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Quinoa Crusted Chicken Nuggets

One of my favorite "junk food" indulgences has always been chicken nuggets. The options out there aren't that healthy; most of them are deep-fried, and heavily breaded. Sometimes we don't even know if the nuggets are made of actual chicken! Chicken nuggets are easy to make at home, and with this recipe, I'll show you how you can replace extra breading with yummy quinoa!

Quinoa is actually a seed that is very high in protein, fiber, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and more. It's also gluten free. Quinoa has a sweet, nutty flavor and is delicate in texture. In recent times, it's been known as a substitute, but quinoa is so versatile, it can easily be a main! 

Making Quinoa Crusted Chicken Nuggets is as easy as a 3 step breading process and throwing them in the oven! They're baked, not fried. I love putting a twist on classic junk food by simplifying the ingredients and making them more straightforward. It's important to know what you're putting in your body. These nuggets get a little superfood boost from quinoa, while tasting just as good as your favorite fast food joint. Let's get cookin :) 

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Perfect Fried Chicken

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Perfect Fried Chicken

Crispy, seasoned skin, and tender, flavorful meat. One of my favorite indulgences is simple fried chicken. However, I find that sometimes fried chicken has really yummy skin, but is dry and flavorless inside. So I set out to come up with the perfect recipe for flawless homemade fried chicken with the following criteria in mind: easy, not too time-consuming, and yielding a great golden crust with well seasoned meat. I’ve been experimenting with different recipes and techniques and have come up with a recipe that I’m really happy with. The steps are simple and there’s little hands-on time in the kitchen. I learned the secret of using Old Bay Seasoning from Melissa Gilbert of what else but Little House On The Prairie, and incorporated a really important step - brining the chicken overnight. 
The other night I used the same recipe on lil nuggets of chicken and tossed them in Chinese white pepper right out of the frying oil. Fantastic. I love a good base recipe that makes it easy to doctor up and experiment with. Read on to find out how to make the best fried chicken you’ll ever make. 

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Classic Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

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Classic Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

I love experimenting with fun, seasonal ingredients, but sometimes learning to make a classic is just as great. Pesto can be made with tons of different ingredients; it’s a game of mix and match. A great pesto only requires a few fresh ingredients. The most important part is using fresh basil (or your favorite herbs) and good quality extra virgin olive oil. 

This recipe is simple and delicious. Pesto is incredibly versatile - once you have a fresh batch, you can use it on way more than pasta! Make homemade pizza, eat it with eggs, spread it on bread or a sandwich, or use it as a salad dressing. This recipe is for a classic basil pesto. A quick pulse in a food processor and you have a fresh, garlicky sauce that is way better than a jar from the store. Let’s get cookin :)

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

This month’s #MISSDISH is a fun one. Growing up, fruit roll-ups and fruit snacks were some of my favorite snacks at lunchtime. One pack was never enough, and I always saved the strawberry ones for last. Over the years I’ve learned about what types of ingredients make these type of snacks so yummy. Tons of sugar, corn syrup, and other GMOs. One roll of Fruit by the Foot contains 2 tsp of sugar. Often fruit roll-ups don’t even contain real fruit. I decided to experiment with different ways to make snacks that were just as delicious but much more health conscious. 
Making homemade fruit roll-ups is way easier than you think. You can use this recipe with any fruit! It’s delicious with strawberries, mango, any blend of berries, even apples and watermelon. With two organic ingredients, you know exactly what’s going into these snacks. These are great for everyone in the family - perfect for kids and great to pack for work. Let’s get cookin!