maple

Maple Walnut Vinaigrette

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

Now that we’ve closed the door on Halloween, it’s comfort food season.

You totally thought I was going to make some joke regarding Christmas.

Nope!

There won’t be a hint of Christmas (well, except for getting a start on my Christmas gift shopping) happening in my house until after Thanksgiving! That’s right people, there’s another holiday (at least in the US) before putting up that tree. (You hear me, Mom?!)

Sorry for that little rant there….

Back to salad.

Salad? What?

Yes. Salad.

Even amid the sea of hearty baked casseroles, you still need to eat something a bright and fresh and a salad with hints of fall is the perfect way to break up your weekly menu.

I served this walnut dressing over a salad of Brussels sprouts, spinach, and romaine lettuce. The “mix-ins” included walnuts, bacon, and apple. Dried cranberries or cooked chicken would work great, too!

Maple Walnut Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 C maple syrup
  • 1/2 C walnuts
  • 1/4 C apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp canola oil

Steps:

  1. Place all ingredients except oils into a blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. With the blender running, pour in the oils. Add a little water, if needed.

*This recipe is adapted from Monica at http://www.theyummylife.com/recipes/38*

Maple Walnut Vinaigrette | Sew You Think You Can Cook | http://sewyouthinkyoucancook.com

#SundaySupper: Sleepover Foods

~ lk529 ~ 14 Comments

You guys, guess what?

You know this super awesome theme for today’s Sunday Supper? Sleepover Foods? Yeah, it was mine!

If you have some super epic ideas, you can easily submit them here.

A big thank you to Marion of Life Tastes Good for hosting the event. I’m so excited to see what everyone has to offer for our virtual sleepover!

Originally, I’d have loved to share a fun popcorn recipe perfect for watching movies late at night. But the reality of doing so had me switching gears to a different salty snack.

Why couldn’t I share popcorn? Well, because I have two little boys, who, while awake ensure I will burn the popcorn every time. They’re also not of popcorn-eating-age, so when I make popcorn I have to wait until after bedtime. But by then, there is zero light by which to take a drool-worthy photograph. And let’s be real, there wouldn’t be any leftover to try shooting some stale-popcorn pictures.

I started thinking about party mixes and thought it’d be fun to make one out of all Goldfish. (No, I am not sponsored by Pepperidge Farm – I WISH!) I thought about my favorite popcorn flavor – salted honey – and knew I wouldn’t be able to transform that to my fishy mix because Treat isn’t yet one year old and can’t have honey. Agave wouldn’t lend enough flavor, so I decided on real maple syrup!

Firecracker was more than happy to be my little model. I put him into a pile of pillows and blankets on the floor and handed him of cup of my Maple Fish Party Mix.

An Original Recipe

Maple Fish Party Mix

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp real maple syrup
  • 2 C cinnamon graham cracker goldfish
  • 2 C pretzel goldfish
  • 2 C whole grain cheddar goldfish
  • 2 C original goldfish

Steps:

  1. Melt butter and syrup. You can do this in a small pot on the stove or in a microwave safe bowl.
  2. In a large microwave safe bowl, toss together all of the goldfish. Pour the melted butter and syrup over the top and toss to coat. Microwave 1:30min, toss, and microwave another 1:30min.
  3. Spread the goldfish mix onto a baking sheet and allow to cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. The goldfish will keep up to 2 weeks.

Maple Fish Party Mix for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Breakfast

Snacks

Desserts

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out ourPinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

#SundaySupper: Recipes with Bacon

~ lk529 ~ 22 Comments

I often find myself sitting on recipes waiting for the perfect time to share them. I simply leave un-blogged dishes on my camera and look through my pictures when I plan out my schedule. It’s very rare that I’ll have something raring and ready to go for a blogging event before the event is announced. Such is not the case with today’s Sunday Supper! As soon as I saw the theme of Bacon announced I was prepared! Gasp! Feeling prepared is something that comes very infrequently now that I’m mothering two small boys – the youngest of whom just started solo standing and trying desperately to take those first steps and the oldest who is embracing those terrible twos at least three days a week.

I find it fitting that the bacon theme follows closely behind the corn themed Sunday Supper. Was it coincidental or planned? I don’t know, you’d have to ask the masterminds behind Sunday Supper to find out. But did you notice how many glorious corn recipes included bacon? I know mine did! And I’ve paired bacon and corn together before, too in stuffed shells. Double yum. I wonder how many of today’s recipes feature corn! You’ll have to scroll past my recipe to find out. Thanks to Erica of The Crumby Cupcake for hosting this weekend.

The cinnamon rolls I’m sharing today are a play off my favorite recipe that we make every Christmas. Instead of cranberries… bacon! And for the frosting, I used leftover glaze from my 3rd anniversary cupcakes.

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Glaze

Ingredients for rolls:

  • 1 C warm water (105-110 deg F)
  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 3 tbsp butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 3 1/2 C flour

Ingredients for filling:

  • 6 slices center cut bacon, chopped and cooked
  • 1/2 stick softened butter
  • 3/4 C brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon

Ingredients for glaze:

  • 1 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • 1/2 C milk
  • 1/2 C canola oil
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. Stir yeast into the warm water. Let bloom for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat butter, sugar, and salt. Add the egg, beating until combined. Slowly pour in the yeast and water. Beat until combined. Add the flour about one cup at a time, beating until combined after each addition. Once the dough starts to form switch to the dough hook attachment. After all the flour has been added knead the dough for 3 minutes.
  3. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand until smooth.
  4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise to double in size (about 30-60 minutes) in a warm place. (In the microwave or turned off oven)
  5. Roll dough out on a floured surface into a rectangle. Spread the dough evenly with the butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and cooked bacon. (Reserve some bacon for garnish, if desired.) Roll the dough into a log, lengthwise. Cut the dough into 2″ cinnamon rolls. Place cut side down in a 9×13 casserole dish.
  6. Cover dough with a towel and let rise for 30 minutes before baking. The rolls should have doubled in size again. (Other options: Freeze the rolls and after thawing let rise until doubled in size or place in refrigerator overnight after rising, bring to room temperature before baking.)
  7. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake another 7 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool, slightly.
  8. Meanwhile, make glaze. Whisk together all of the ingredients for the frosting. Pour over the cinnamon rolls! Garnish with extra bacon.

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Glaze for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook
Bacon in Appetizers

Bacon in Beverages

Bacon for Breakfast

Bacon for Lunch

Bacon for Dinner

Bacon as a Side Dish

Bacon for Dessert

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

 

Blog-iversary 3

~ lk529 ~ 20 Comments

3 yrsSew You Think You Can Cook is 3 years old!

This past year has been a whirlwind in my personal life between welcoming a second baby boy to our family and moving across the country.

Blogging-wise I have continued to grow. I have 43 more followers by e-mail and 270 more Facebook fans. I’ve become more active on Twitter and Instagram with a total following of 423 and 530, respectively.

In this fourth year I hope to find the time to delve into monetizing the blog and gaining some sponsored posts. That’s if my two busy boys allow me to do so! I did however, finally pay to own my domain name! As my “birthday gift,” take a look up at the top of your browser and you’ll notice something a little different. The “dot wordpress” is no longer there! I hope your finger memory (and mine!) adjusts quickly when you type in sewyouthinkyoucancook.com.

For Mother’s Day 2016 my husband got me a macro lens for my camera and I have enjoyed taking photos even more! I’m even breaking out the tripod these days. Now when I recreate a recipe from my blog for dinner, I try and reshoot the photos. Updated photographs can be found on Balsamic Glazed Beef Roast, Baby Baked Beef Burritos, and Sweet Potato Waffles.

I hope you’ll continue to follow along with my journey here on the internet.

It has become my tradition to share something new to me on this milestone. For my 1st year, I baked with olive oil. For my second, I made marshmallow for a cheesecake. Keeping with the sweet side of experimentation, this year I’m sharing a vegan cupcake!

Why vegan?

We have friends here in California that we knew in Ohio as well who follow a vegan lifestyle. They have a daughter who is 4, a son who is only 2 weeks younger than Firecracker, and are expecting a third child in a month-ish. We did a play date with them and Firecracker was insistent about wanting to bake cupcakes with “Emmer.” I found a recipe that didn’t require any strange ingredients (borrowing almond milk from them) or coconut. The kids did a fabulous job making these cupcakes and the dozen didn’t last long. Icing didn’t come to fruition though and instead I ended up with a glaze. But it’s a glaze that was fantastic! No one felt bummed or cheated by not having a beautiful frosting peaked top.

We will be having a joint birthday celebration for the 2 year olds next week and I’ll be remaking the cupcake base. Now to find an actual frosting – if you have a recipe for coconut free vegan frosting please share it with me in the comments!

This recipe makes 1 dozen cupcakes.

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 C flour
  • 1 C sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 C almond milk
  • 1/3 C olive oil
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake tin with liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the almond milk, olive oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Mix until just combined.
  3. Divide batter in cupcake tin. Bake 18-20 minutes. Allow cupcakes too cool in the pan for 1 minute before removing to a cooling rack.

*This recipe is adapted from Alison at http://lovingitvegan.com/vegan-vanilla-cake/*

Vegan Maple Glaze

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • 1/2 C almond milk
  • 1/2 C canola oil
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. Using a hand mixer, whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Poor over cooled cupcakes.

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes with Vegan Maple Glaze Sew You Think You Can Cook

Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

It’s no secret we like Brussels sprouts in this house and I love finding new ways to prepare them. Today’s version is one that is perfect for Christmas. Yesterday was all about last minute holiday recipes and this is the recipe that I was originally going to share with the Sunday Supper crew. The red bell pepper, red onion, and green Brussels sprouts look like Christmas and the glaze tastes like the holidays making it the perfect side dish to your ham or turkey this weekend.

I prepared these Brussels sprouts when my mom was here last month. She declared them her favorite sprouts recipe. (We actually cooked pork chops in the same pan from the Brussels sprouts – delicious!) She snapped a picture of the recipe on her cell phone and after her first grocery trip upon getting back home she messaged me saying she’d already bought the real maple syrup. That was her subtle way of informing me that I’d be making these again for Christmas. I will have to triple or quadruple the amount of Brussels sprouts and double the amount of glaze.

This recipe makes 3 servings.

Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

  • 2 C halved Brussels sprouts
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 C real maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Steps:

  1. Cook Brussels sprouts in a pot of boiling salted water for 2 minutes. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
  2. In a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat saute the peppers and onions until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook another 4 minutes.
  3. In a small bowl whisk together the syrup, soy sauce, and Dijon. Add to the skillet and coat the vegetable. Cook until glaze has thickened slightly.

*This recipe is adapted from Jeff at http://relish.com/recipes/maple-glazed-brussels-sprouts-video/*

Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts Sew You Think You Can Cook

Thankful for Friends and Bloggers

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

Last month my wonderful friend Tara of Tara’s Multicultural Table threw me a surprise virtual baby shower for my baby boy. The theme behind this blogging event was Thanksgiving.

Lauren-Shower

With a Fall baby, I couldn’t have picked a more perfect theme. Especially when Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I definitely have so much to be thankful for this year.

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Tara gathered together a wonderful group of bloggers willing to share a Thanksgiving recipe in honor of my baby boy.

Thank you again to all of the bloggers who came to my shower and a huge thank you to Tara for hosting. I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love.

Maple Blueberry Pancakes

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

Do you know what today is?

It’s National Pancake Day!

I didn’t know that until yesterday. When an email from Yummly showed up in my inbox. (Honestly, I have tried to unsubscribe from their emails for way too long now. But I guess today I was thankful to have received it.) I immediately rushed to the computer to start typing up this post. I already had pictures of pancakes on my camera patiently waiting for the perfect day to be transformed into a blog post.

That day is today.

Maple Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 2 C whole wheat flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 C yogurt (I used vanilla)
  • 1 1/4 C milk
  • 1/4 C real maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 1/2 C frozen blueberries

Steps:

  1. In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  2. In another bowl whisk together eggs, yogurt, milk, syrup, and vanilla. Whisk in the melted butter.
  3. Combine the wet ingredients into the dry. Fold in the blueberries. (You can also add blueberries individually to your pancakes when you drop the batter onto the griddle.)
  4. On a hot buttered griddle drop 1/4 C of batter into pancakes. Flip pancakes when batter starts to set and bubbles form in the center of the pancake. Cook until both sides are golden brown.

*This recipe is adapted from Sally at http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2015/01/16/whole-wheat-blueberry-pancakes/*

Maple Blueberry Pancakes | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Yes, that’s my quilt Blueberry Pickin’ used in the photograph of these blueberry pancakes. 😉