Mediterranean Chicken & Veggie Kebabs

Summer is winding down so I'm squeezing in all the grilling I can.  But let's be honest, I'm one of those crazy people grilling outside in the cold in the winter, because, well, I love it!

Today's recipe is brought to you by my love for macro counting. I started Macros 101 in January of 2020 and lost 15 lbs in 8 weeks and have kept it off since. I've been building more muscle since and still eating all the things I love! #bestthingever .... I've joined up with my amazing Macros coach, Amber, from Biceps After Babies to share macro friendly recipes every Thursday. I'm super excited about this. 

https://www.bicepsafterbabies.com/mediterranean-chicken-kebabs/

Today I shared a recipe over at www.bicepsafterbabies.com for these Kebabs! I'll be sharing recipes weekly over there every Thursday! Hope you'll check it out and enjoy!

FIND RECIPE HERE

Macros for one serving of Chicken Kebabs (~100 g)

Cal 120   P 31.4 g   C 0.4 g   F 1.8 g

Macros for one serving of Veggie Kebabs (~200 g)

Cal 54 P 2.7 g   C 9.2 g  F 1.3 g

Jayna's Chocolate Chip Cookies AND A SWEET DEAL on a Di Oro Baking Mat

 

Recently I emailed family to ask for their favorite recipes to compile in our own food family history book.  I love food and how it brings our family together. I mean every time we get together we eat - so we know it brings us together. But really, I love the memories that come with food and the times of  year we eat it, etc.  

And since we love food and family and friends!  We've teamed up with DiOro Living for another deal! They are just amazing to reach out to us with these great deals! We aren't getting paid to share this, we actually reached out to them for the spatula giveaway from a few years back, when they offered Leesh & Lu's Recipe box readers, followers and friends, their amazing seamless silicone spatulas for $1. And you guys loved that!  So they are back with the launch of a new product, and love our readers. We're so excited!  These silicone baking mats!  They'll be only $3.75 - with free shipping * and ship through amazon. So free shipping for you * amazon prime members*.  What a steal!  

Here is the PAGE TO GO TO FOR THE PRODUCT AND COUPON CODE. It'll direct you to Shop Otter Deals, which is Di Oro's Facebook Fan Page where they do promotions for their products - and that will lead you to Amazon.com - then you'll just use the coupon code they provide to purchase it for $3.75.

I love how the mat has the cut corners so it will fit completely flat on an 11x17 baking sheet. And I think the color and "BAKE IT" is so good looking!  It also helps get an even bake and no sticking to the pan. Which I love.  And bonus - you don't have to wash the cookie sheet!  It keeps the sheet clean underneath.  

It also comes with a free storage snap-wrap. I thought it was a slap braclet at first - haha! But I love that it keeps the mat rolled up for storage! How convienent!  So no need to save the box for storing it! And it also has a lifetime warranty. They make great products and stand by them. 

Back to the recipe: 

So my family is sending me lots of recipes to try and photograph (which is something I love to do) and then create a book and also post the recipes so we have them digitally.  So I think it's going to be a fun project.  This is my first official family history recipe for my husband's side of the family. 

My sister-in-law, Jayna, send me this cookie recipe this week and I just had to make them.  They are seriously good! I don't usually cook with crisco--I'm a butter girl! But I know some people just rave about it in cookies. And I was seriously happy with the results. It's still got butter - and more butter than crisco. But crisco gives it this slight crisp that butter can't.  So I think these are the best of both worlds.  

Jayna said this recipe comes from Preston City's Centennial Cookbook.  That's where her husband's family lives.  So I think this is a great first recipe of my family food history series. Because chocolate chip cookies are a big thing in our family and they are acceptable anytime of the year (everyday????).  

Anyhow I hope you love these are much as we do!

  

PS. there is a secret ingredient.  My husband didn't detect it - but my 4 year old could taste it in the dough.  Cinnamon!  And of course you can leave it out if you want.

Jayna’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Printable Version

Ingredients

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3 cups flour (*see note)

1 ¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon cinnamon

¾ cup butter

½ cup crisco

2 ounces cream cheese, softened

¾ cup granulated sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

¾ teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

Directions:

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Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter, sugars, cream cheese, and crisco until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix to combine. Add dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon) and mix until uniform.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  

Notes:

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*Depending on your altitude you may need more or less flour.  At high altitude you may need 3 ¼ cups of flour, and closer to sea level 2 ¾ should be plenty.  After the flour is incorporated, the dough should be soft, slightly tacky, but easy to roll into balls.

Recipe Source:

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Jayna Moser, originally from Preston City’s Centennial Cookbook

Strawberry Lime Slushie

Today we are sharing a warm-weather favorite with you! This strawberry lime slushie is sure to cool you off and please your family--and it takes 5 minutes and only 5 simple ingredients to throw together!

Head to OSSS to get the recipe.

Instant Pot BBQ Pork

Have you jumped on the pressure cooker bandwagon yet?  We have really loved using ours and saving time in the kitchen.  This bbq pulled pork was some of the best meat we have made in our pressure cooker!  If you are still on team slow cooker, don't fear, we have adaptations for you too!

We've cooked several different cuts of pork and found that pork shoulder works best here because it shreds so easily.  Start this recipe by searing your roast on all sides and seasoning it with salt and pepper.  Place your meat, along with some bbq sauce and a little cooking liquid into either a pressure cooker or slow cooker and follow the instructions for cooking time. Prepare your favorite Rhodes rolls for serving by baking or warming and slicing them open.  We also sometimes like to split and butter them and toast them under the broiler for a few minutes before piling the pork on.    

This recipe is a simple one with just a few ingredients.  It takes just a few minutes of hands-on work to prepare, but it tastes like you slaved all day making it!  Give it a try and let us know what you think! 

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches - Pressure or Slow Cooker

Printable Version

Ingredients:

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1 – 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 lbs. boneless pork shoulder, cut in two pieces - this particular cut works best here!
2 cups barbecue sauce, divided
1/2 cup water

Salt and pepper, to taste

12 Rhodes Warm-N-Serve Wheat Rolls

Directions:

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Start by searing your pork. In pressure cooker, or skillet on stovetop, heat vegetable oil.  Season meat on all sides with salt and pepper. When oil is hot, brown pork on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Brown each half of the roast separately. Remove to a platter when browned.

Add 1 cup barbecue sauce and 1/2 cup water to the cooking pot (pressure cooker or slow cooker). Stir to combine. Add browned pork and any accumulated juices to the pot also.

For slow cooker, cook on low for 6-8 hours.  

For pressure cooker, cook on high pressure for 75 minutes, and allow pressure to release naturally (about 20 minutes).  When valve drops carefully remove lid. Carefully remove the meat from the pressure cooker and shred with two forks, discard excess fat as you shred.

Strain cooking liquid, reserving 1/2 cup.

Place shredded pork in the cooking pot with remaining 1 cup barbecue sauce and reserved 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Stir to combine.  If using pressure cooker, bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. If using slow cooker, add reserved cooking liquid only if needed.  Turn slow cooker to high and heat for 20-30 minutes.

Serve on toasted Rhodes Wheat Warm N Serve rolls with additional barbecue sauce if desired.  

Recipe Source:

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Adapted from Pressure Cooking Today

Lemon Blueberry No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes

It’s no secret that we love cheesecake!  And we think this frozen, mini, no-bake version is just lovely for spring and summer! How about for Easter dessert?  This blueberry lemon version is cool, light, refreshing, and pretty much everything you could ask for in a dessert. Plus is't a cinch to throw together and can be made several days ahead! We love these kind of recipes!

We are sharing the RECIPE HERE! 

Pizzanini's

Are you a fan or Panini's? We are! If you 'aren't familiar with what a panini is - I'll shed some light.  It's basically a loaded sandwich (on of my favorite kinds is: arisan bread, turkey, thin sliced parmesan or asiago cheese, bacon, thin slices of apple, and spinach.) The outsides of the bread are buttered and then pressed in a panini press (or george forman type electric grill). It's all melty and hot on the inside and nice and buttery and crispy on the outside! 

Anyhow, we love to make pizza. We usually do once a week or so. And we like to find ways to mix it up.  

Our families enjoy: 

Our Favorite Pizza

Pizza Bites

Pizza Monkey Bread

and more

And this was another fun one. We used Rhodes ready to go dough, to save a little time. And the results were delicious! Hope you'll try! And be sure to come back and let us know what you think!

FIND THE RECIPE HERE!

Chicken & Cottage Cheese Enchiladas

Have you ever heard of cottage cheese enchiladas?  We certaniliy hadn't. But the rave reviews were convincing enough to give it a shot! And boy were they delicioius.  We made a few adaptations to the original recipe - to meet our tastes. Like less cheese, etc....since there is plenty of cottage cheese.  We made a double batch and froze one.  And frozen enchiladas are always great to have on hand when dinner is seemingly impossible. Please tell me I'm not the only one that happens to! 

Get the RECIPE HERE