Happy Birthday, Here's Some Goo.

PHOEBE: Ok, here are the birthday candles. Where's the birthday cake?
MONICA: Ok, we're not having birthday cake, we're having birthday flan.
CHANDLER: Excuse me?
MONICA: It's a traditional Mexican custard dessert.
JOEY: Oh that's nice. "Happy birthday Rachel, here's some goo."

But seriously, flan is delicious. One of my friends told me about the Nutella Flan she enjoyed at a restaurant about 2 hours away. I needed to have some without making the trip so I made my own by modifying my favorite flan recipe.

Nutella Flan
(Printable recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Sugar 
• 1 5 oz can Evaporated milk 
• 2 Eggs 
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract 
• 1/3 cup Nutella

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350.
2) In a small saucepan, melt the sugar over medium-high heat until lightly browned.

3) Coat the bottoms of 4 1/2 c ramekins with that caramel.

4) Beat the eggs and add the Nutella, vanilla, and evaporated milk.  Mix well; it will be thin.

5) Arrange the ramekins in a large baking dish and add enough water to the baking dish around the ramekins for it to come half way up the ramekins.

6) Divide the flan mixture between the ramekins.

7) Place in oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

8) Let cool then place in refrigerator until chilled and ready to serve.

9) To serve, run a knife around the outside of the ramekins, cover  with serving dish and turn over quickly, taking care that caramel does not spill.

10) Shake until flan slides out of ramekin and serve.

That Time I Glazed Some Salmon

I got this recipe is adapted from Giada DiLaurentiis' Weeknights with Giada cookbook. It was really easy but looked gourmet and was delicious! This works great in a toaster oven if you're making just a couple of servings. Make sure to give it a try!

Salmon with a Balsamic Glaze
(Printable recipe)

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 1/2 Tbsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 clove garlic
• 2 4-oz salmon fillets, skin optional
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions
1) Preheat oven to 400º
2) Combine vinegar, syrup, mustard and garlic in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.

3) Reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes until thick.

4) Meanwhile, spray a small baking sheet with cooking spray and place salmon in a single layer.

 5) Brush top and sides of salmon with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

 6) Roast for 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned and flesh flakes easily when scraped with a fork.

7) Transfer to a plate and use a spoon to drizzle the balsamic glaze over top.

Nutrition information per serving: 

Buffalo Chicken Dilla

I threw this together for a "pantry raid" challenge which involved making something using what already exists in my fridge and pantry. It was delicious and I know I will be making many more in my future so I wanted to share the recipe here as well.



Buffalo Chicken 'Dilla
[Printable recipe] 

Ingredients:

• 1 flour tortilla
• 1/3 c grilled chicken cubed or in strips
• 1 1/2 c part-skim mozarella cheese shredded
• 1 Tbsp buffalo sauce
• 1 Tbsp fat free ranch dressing

Directions:
1) Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray.

2) Add tortilla and spread cheese over it in an even layer.

3)  Mix buffalo and ranch together in a small bowl.

 4) Drizzle about half of the sauce mixture over half of the tortilla.

 5) Add chicken and let cook until cheese starts to bubble.

 6) Fold tortilla in half and gently push down over the surface to stick the sides together.

7) Cut into 3-4 slices using a pizza cutter and serve remaining sauce for dipping.

 8) Enjoy!


Nutrition information:

On-The-Go Fruit Cups

On-The-Go Fruit Cups
All you need is fruit and that extra travel coffee mug in your cabinet. Make these ahead of time and have cheaper, healthier, and more sustainable (zero waste!) fruit cups ready for a moment's notice.



Step 1: Prepare or cut up strawberries, apples, grapes, melon, pineapple, etc. (I only used pineapple obviously)
Step 2: Combine fruits in a large container. Use a large seal-able one so that you can store the additional servings in the fridge. 
Step 3: Put one serving in a travel coffee mug.
Step 4: Refrigerate until ready to eat. 
Step 5: Your homemade fruit cup will conveniently fit in your car's cup-holder to enjoy on-the-go!

Remember to grab a fork on the way out!

10-Minute Pesto Mac 'n Cheese

 When you're in a hurry, here's a quick single-serving meal!





10-Minute Pesto Mac n' Cheese
[Printable recipe]

Ingredients:

• 1 c water 
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup penne pasta
• 1.5 Tbsp milk
• 1/4 c shredded white cheddar cheese
• 1/2 Tbsp pesto sauce

Directions:
1) Bring water with olive oil to a boil in a small pot.

2) Add penne and cook for  7-8 minutes.

3) Once cooked al dente (slightly firm still when you bit into it), strain into a coffee mug and add milk and cheese.
4) Stir pasta, milk, and cheese together.
5) Microwave for one minute, stir and microwave for additional 30 seconds.
6) Stir in pesto and enjoy!



Optional: Add some grilled chicken breast or double recipe for a more hearty snack.

Nutrition information:

Four Ingredient Homemade Pizza Bites

Two Ingredient Dough Toaster Oven Pizza Bites





Ingredients:
Equal parts:

• Self rising flour
• Greek yogurt
• Shredded mozarella cheese
• Pizza sauce
• Toppings optional
(I used just one tablespoons of each for one serving).

Make ahead:
Make dough using 1 cup each of flour and yogurt, roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter to cut out crusts. Bake at 450º for 5 minutes then freeze for future use!

Pizza assembly:
Flatten out small pieces of dough on a piece of parchment paper. Use 1Tbsp each of sauce and cheese. Bake at 400º for 6-8 mins, preferably in a toaster oven.

Guac and Roll

I once worked in a Mexican restaurant that had guacamole on the menu that was prepared at the table by the servers. So now I know how to make guacamole. This is must-have for your Cinco de Mayo celebrations!




Guacamole
Printable recipe

• 1 avocado
• 1 Tbsp diced tomato
• 1 Tbsp diced onion
• 1/4 tsp chopped cilantro
• Juice from 1/2 lime
• 1-2 tsp finely chopped jalapeno
• Pinch salt
• Pinch pepper

Directions:
1) Cut avocado in half length-wise.

2) Using a sharp, heavy knife, whack the pit so the knife sticks in it. Twist knife to remove pit.

2) Use a medium spoon to scoop the avocado out of the skin.

3) Mash avocado with a fork to desired level of smoothness.

4) Add in tomatos, lime juice, jalapeño, cilantro, salt and pepper.

5) Serve with tortilla chips and margaritas!