find a recipe!

A Life From Scratch.

A Life You Adore Around A Table You Love.

Archives for May 2016

Slow cooker marinara.

/ By / 1 Comment

IMG_8165-2It was one of those days were I felt stuck in the unknown. It happens a lot around here, with so much of the boys sports dependent on weather, at times it can feel we are living day to day and even at times, hour by hour. As a rigid serious planner, at times it can stress me out. I like to know what I’m doing and to have a plan and to control it all because I am a virgo to a faulty fault.

This particular night the forecast was pretty grim. 50’s and all rain. Yet no email. The day kept going on, bus time almost approaching and the game which, by the way, was over an hour away on a school night (hold me) was still on.

And then we got the email: cancelled.

HAPPY! DANCE!

I immediately threw the baseball bag in the mudroom, proceeded to climb into my flannel pj’s, poured myself a glass of wine, and sent the boys to play in the (not yet raining yard).

It was glorious.

Even more so because I had a homemade marinara sauce slow cooking away all day. And it smelled good. 

Did you know you could do that? Make a marinara sauce in the slow cooker? I would have never thought of that but got the tip from my super smart mom. Come dinner time you stir in tortellini of your choice, top with mozzarella and parmesan, serve in deep bowls on the couch and call it a night.

There are times when really the best of things aren’t quite planned at all, don’t you think? 

Slow cooker tortellini casserole.
Hearty and satisfying - this delicious sauce and pasta can all be made in your slow cooker!
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
7 hr
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
7 hr
Ingredients
  1. 1 lbs ground beef
  2. olive oil
  3. 1 small onion, diced
  4. 1 zucchini, diced
  5. salt & pepper
  6. red pepper flakes
  7. 1 tsp or so of freshly chopped oregano
  8. 1 14 oz can stewed tomatoes
  9. 1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce
  10. 1 package fresh tortellini , your choice
  11. mozzarella & parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground beef, onion, and zucchini together on the stove over medium heat and a little evoo. Stir in salt, pepper, oregano, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
  2. Pour into slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes and sauce and cook on low for 7 hours (or high for 4).
  3. When there are 15 minutes left or so, stir in tortellini and top with handfuls of mozzarella and parmsean. Cook for 15 and enjoy!
A Life From Scratch. https://a-life-from-scratch.com/

C’s picks – week of May 15th.

/ By / 3 Comments

c's picks 5:15Yippee! Another week another kitchen line up. Lots of new crock pot meals on the agenda because, when you’re at a baseball field most nights from 5:00-8:00 it really is the only answer. Can’t wait to try these out! Let’s do it.

On Sunday we are having my in-laws over and making the most delicious recipe EVER. Chicken shawarma. Complete with all the fixings and homemade hummus, of course.

Monday let’s go with some delicious philly cheesesteak sandwiches courtesy of the old slow cooker. Delicious!

Tried this out last week and totally making it again Tuesday night as we gobbled it up!

Heard a tip that a whole chicken can be roasted in a crock pot. Veggies, too. When you pull in late at night on a Wednesday all you need to add is some fresh rolls and a super hearty and homey dinner is done! 

Thursday night we are home. Celebrating with fresh margaritas and fish tacos. OLE! 

And that brings us to Friday and to a road trip together to the farm in Ohio to celebrate Nana’s 95th birthday. WOOHOO! Can’t wait.

That’s our week – tell me about yours! Making anything good?
C

 

Sweet & spicy (baseball) thighs.

/ By / 1 Comment

IMG_8098So, as I’m sure you all know by now we are in the thick of travel baseball season and that means a lot of random week night games in a lot of random towns and a lot of arriving home later at night than generally preferred.

A few weeks ago we had a weeknight away game in a town that I actually didn’t even really knew existed. We carpooled home tired, dusty, and hungry. Earlier in the day I had flung some chicken thighs in the slow cooker with some go to ingredients (think ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, chili sauce), switched the knob to low and called it a day. When we tumbled into the mudroom that late night covered in bags and empty water bottles and sweatshirts I can’t even begin to tell you what the smell did to us.

It was like a seriously warm hug welcoming us home. Huge exhale. 

We peeled off the dusty clothes and slid into pajamas on the couch with deep bowls of this over Trader Joes zapped brown rice and we ate. It was the kind of meal where no one was really talking because we were so hungry and simply put, these chicken thighs just hit. the. spot.

A serious glass of pinot noir on the side didn’t hurt mom and dad either. Come on, rush hour traffic with a bunch of boys in the back seat? Wine my friend. You’re answer is wine.

Sweet & Spicy chicken thighs
Serves 6
A flavorful slow cooker chicken thigh recipe with minimal ingredients!
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Ingredients
  1. 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
  2. 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast (you can use all thighs, but, I like the mix!)
  3. 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  4. 1 TBS brown sugar
  5. 1/4 cup Asian garlic chili paste
  6. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  7. 1 TBS fresh ginger, minced
Instructions
  1. Stir together the soy sauce, brown sugar, chili garlic paste, garlic, and ginger in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chicken and stir to coat the chicken completely.
  2. Cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken is fully cooked. Shred using two forks.
  3. Optional but highly recommended: Add the liquid from the slow cooker into a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil and boil for 8-10 minutes until it reduces by half and thickens. Toss chicken in this sauce or drizzle on top.
  4. You can serve this over brown rice with cilantro on top (yum). Or make it carb free by rolling up in butter lettuce as wraps (which mom loves to do!).
Adapted from Slender Kitchen
Adapted from Slender Kitchen
A Life From Scratch. https://a-life-from-scratch.com/

Spring quinoa.

/ By / 2 Comments

IMG_7902Oh my heavens. 

I made this spring quinoa for cooking club recently and it was a hit all around.

I could eat stuff like this for days, you know? And I 100% proceeded to do precisely that with the leftovers. Full of fresh peas, chopped up herbs, feta, almonds, bacon (ahem) all tossed together with a lemon honey vinaigrette? Well, it slides down pretty darn easily and oh so tasty.

The is one of those rockstar dishes you could totally put your own stamp on. Swap out the feta for goat cheese. Leave out the bacon to make it vegetarian, if you must. Add in roasted red peppers. Mint. Chives. Seriously, anything goes.

And the best part is it’s totally short cut worthy. Those Trader Joe frozen quinoa packets are a staple around here. Just one less step to get this dish out of your kitchen and onto the patio table.

Just in time for a perfect spring evening. Fingers crossed.

Enjoy! 

Spring Quinoa
A delicious spring side (or entree!) filled with fresh herbs, peas, bacon, and feta.
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Prep Time
15 min
Prep Time
15 min
For the salad
  1. 2 cups cooked quinoa
  2. 2 cups peas
  3. 1/2 cup feta
  4. 6 slices bacon, cooked and drained
  5. 1/2 cup basil, freshly chopped
  6. 1/2 cup cilantro, freshly chopped
  7. 1/2 cup sliced up almonds
For the dressing
  1. Juice of 2 large lemons
  2. 1/3 cup olive oil
  3. 1/4 tsp salt
  4. 3 large TBS honey
For the salad
  1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Toss together remaining items.
For the dressing
  1. Mix all together and pour over the quinoa. I only used about half the dressing or so, as I like things a bit lighter. Seasons everything with salt & pepper.
Adapted from Pinch of Yum
Adapted from Pinch of Yum
A Life From Scratch. https://a-life-from-scratch.com/

C’s Picks – week of May 8th.

/ By / 1 Comment

c's icks 5:8

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! What a special day to celebrate the important women in your life. And if you’re a mom, I hope you are getting the A+ treatment you deserve! 

I have a very delicious line up for our kitchen this week. I so hope you can find something that sounds great for your own family. Let’s do this!

Tonight, well, mama is off duty. Mike, what do you have planned….?

Monday we have a game so our slow cooker comes to the rescue with this delicious chicken tikki masala. Have you tried this one yet? Please say yet.

Tuesday let’s fire up the grill with some delicious skirt steak tacos. We love skirt steak in this house, even better when it’s piled high with salsa and homemade guac.

Trying a new one tray chicken bake this week. How lovely does this one look? Love all those flavors.

Sometimes for dinner you just need a delicious and hearty sandwich. That’s where our summer sandwiches come into play. Oh so good.

And we are to Friday! These brie-rugula burgers are an oldie but goodie. Mine get topped with blue cheese, but the man in my life can’t stand it so we use brie as well. Over the top good.

That’s a wrap! Tell, what’s in your line up this week? Happy cooking!
C

Top