#1
The new McCormick Recipe Inspirations. Have you seen these in the grocery store? I finally decided to try one not just to try a new taste but also because I am so sick of having a cupboard full of herbs and spices that I use for one or two recipes and then eventually have to toss out. This little doo-dad comes with multiple pre-measured spices to get you through one meal. This week I used the Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes pack. It came with paprika, garlic rosemary, and black pepper. It was pretty simple. Dump them all in a bowl with some oil and salt and then toss in your chicken and potatoes to coat. Roast. Enjoy.
My potatoes were not close to done after the recommended thirty minutes so I had to almost double that.
I was skeptical of the paprika and rosemary combo. But, we really liked it. It's definitely going to appear on the dinner table again. I don't know about any of the other packs, but I would recommend this one. I paid $1.50 for the pack (for one dinner) so if I end up making it once or twice a month for a while it might be alright to just invest in full bottles of the ingredients. But, I liked the option to try it once and then invest in extra spices and herbs after I know if I like it.
#2
Granola Bars. I know, I just made granola last week and it's not even almost gone, but I was curious. I will start by saying if you have in your mind the store-bought deliciousness, pass on this. But what did you expect? Have you read those ingredient labels? Making them my self I was able to avoid a lot of those things I didn't want to eat. I have no picture, but here's the recipe:
2 cups oats
1 cup brown sugar (too much, I'll have it next time)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup honey
Any dried fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc.
Mix all ingredients and press into greased pan, 11x13. Dough will be very dry and crumbly, but press until dough forms with pan. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until edges are browned. Take out and let cool entirely. Cut into strips and store in snack size bags.
My advice-- when it says it will be dry and crumbly, it really means dry and crumbly. I thought surely I got a bad recipe with some ingredient omitted. And after baking it, I still thought that. But, I followed the recipe and did let it cool completely and when I cut them into strips it worked.
Also, I divided mine into three sections so I could make three flavors, peanut butter, butterscotch chips, and dried fruit, but I put them all side by side in the baking dish. Next time (and they were good enough that there will be a next time) I will stick to keeping the batch together and just using one "flavor." I think they would have turned out more consistent.
#3
Yogurt Smoothie Pops. This year I feel like everywhere I go I am seeing those popsicle molds and makers and today when I was walking through my local Target I picked up a four pack popsicle mold. I had a recipe to follow but it turned out I was missing some ingredients so I made up my own (how hard can it be, right?). I used one banana, a small handful of frozen blueberries, a handful of fresh blueberries, about 8 strawberries, a small pour of pomegranate juice, and a small pour of milk. I haven't actually had one yet because they are still freezing, but I tried the leftover yogurt smoothie and it was good so I am optimistic.
Until next week.
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