August 30, 2017

Yellow squash and apple bread

Finished loaf of yellow squash and apple bread on a cutting board.

The summer to autumn transition can be made a little sweeter with a loaf of this lightly spiced quick bread made with yellow summer squash and apples. 

August 24, 2017

Balsamic chicken caprese pasta

Pan of finished Balsamic chicken caprese pasta.

A delicious summertime pasta dinner made with garden fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella, and balsamic glazed chicken! This pasta dish can be enjoyed hot, warm, or cold straight out of the fridge. 

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It's a lovely dish for a late summer evening, especially if you are lucky enough to have garden fresh grape or cherry tomatoes and basil. Our basil plant is one of the few things doing really well in our garden this year and while we have been getting a few grape tomatoes, I still had to buy some of those for this dish. 

Hopefully next year's garden is more successful, though a lot of it has to do with the crazy weather we've been having here this summer, so who knows.

Balsamic chicken caprese pasta topped with fresh basil.

August 21, 2017

Baked zucchini bread oatmeal

Baking dish of baked zucchini oatmeal.

The flavors of zucchini bread baked into your morning oatmeal! I am on a bit of a baked oatmeal kick lately. It started with the peanut butter one that I posted on a couple of weeks ago and now we are onto zucchini. With fall coming, I see many more versions (pumpkin! sweet potato! apple!) making an appearance in our kitchen and in our bellies in the near future. This time of year, many people are trying to find ways to use up their zucchinis. We love zucchini bread, and I figured that it would make a delicious baked oatmeal as well. Also, as I've mentioned before, we are always looking for meals that our twins can easily feel themselves. This method makes it easier for them to get the oatmeal into their mouths all by themselves (because they aren't fans of being spoon fed anymore). This zucchini version was a hit with all of us! We like to serve ours scooped into a bowl with a little milk, or just cut into a square for the little ones.

Serving baked zucchini bread oatmeal.

August 14, 2017

Cheesy zucchini & turkey casserole

Cheesy zucchini and turkey casserole in a baking pan.

Zucchini season is upon us. In this dish, zucchini is used to make a cheesy base for the casserole topped with ground turkey, spaghetti sauce, vegetables, and more cheese. 

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You will see similar versions called a Zucchini Pizza Casserole, but to me there is nothing pizza-ish about this casserole. My version uses the same base idea, but the toppings are different. Maybe more like a spaghetti bake? I don't know. So I'm just calling this version a Cheesy Zucchini & Turkey Casserole. Naming dishes can be tricky sometimes. Too wordy? Not an adequate description? I don't know. 

I do know that this dish was a huge hit in our family and was even completely gobbled up by two one year olds, so that's a win for me! Whatever you call it, it's delicious! It's definitely a keeper and a way to use up some of your garden's zucchini. This recipe will serve about four to five people as a main dish. Serve with a loaf of crusty bread and/or a side salad to stretch it a bit more.

We are usually inundated with zucchini at this time of year, but the odd weather has left many in our area with gardens that aren't producing as well as they usually do. So, I actually *gasp* bought zucchini from a farm stand. It almost didn't feel right!

Scooping cheesy turkey and zucchini casserole.

August 7, 2017

Applesauce barley infant cereal mini muffins

Stack of baked applesauce barley infant cereal mini muffins.

Don't toss an opened container of baby food cereal - use it to make these mini muffins that are a soft and delicious toddler finger food. 

August 1, 2017

Baked peanut butter oatmeal

Baked peanut butter oatmeal in a serving bowl topped with blueberries.

Creamy peanut butter, oats, brown sugar, and a touch of cinnamon baking in the morning will make your whole house smell wonderful. Lately I've been on a quest for easy and nutritious breakfasts that my twins (and my husband and I) will eat. They love scrambled eggs with vegetables, pancakes, and cut up fruit, but they've recently become resistant to being fed from a spoon and don't have much interest in learning it for themselves yet. So oatmeal, cream of wheat, and other hot cereals they used to eat are becoming harder. They will still take yogurt though - they love yogurt! I decided to try out baked oatmeal with them so that they are still eating the oats, but can pick it up themselves. This peanut butter one is a hit with the whole family. The peanut butter flavor is perfect with the lightly sweetened oats. The twins ate theirs cut into a square with some halved blueberries and my husband and I ate it scooped into a bowl with blueberries and milk. We ate it cold cut into squares again the next day. It's slightly crumbly, but also very soft so it's great for toddlers. This recipe will serve about 4-6 people, depending on age and hunger level.

Baking dish of baked peanut butter oatmeal.