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Archives for February 2020

SUPER MOIST & FLUFFY CORNBREAD

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I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but lately I’ve been on a big comfort food kick. One Pot Vegetarian Chili. Semi Homemade Pot Pie. Orange Spiced Monkey Bread. Guess what? The trend is not ending just yet. While we’ve had some random, gorgeous, warm days here in San Antonio, we’re mostly still experiencing colder temperatures. After spending six years living in Buffalo, NY and another 3 years living in picturesque Colorado, I’ve done my time in cold weather and truly prefer warmer days throughout most of the year. My coping mechanism for dealing with cold temperatures is cozy comfort food. Anyone surprised by this? I didn’t think so, lol.

I’ve been working hard to fine tune my corn bread recipe and I finally have it down. This definitely wasn’t one of those recipes that came together on the first or even second try for me. But let me tell you, it was worth all the trial and error! Just as it says in the name, this corn bread is super moist and fluffy. Most importantly, it is also incredibly easy to make. Say goodbye to dry, crumbly, bland cornbread forever – this is the only recipe you need.

Super Moist & Fluffy Cornbread

Sarah Baade
Say goodbye to dry, crumbly, bland cornbread forever – this is the only recipe you need.
 
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup corn meal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line an 8x8baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, stir together milk and vinegar. Stir honey and egg into milk mixture. Slowly pour in melted butter while constantly stirring quickly.  
  • Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients.
  • Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake 45 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
Keyword Cornbread, Easy Cornbread, Fluffy Cornbread, Homemade Cornbread, Moist Cornbread

SEMI HOMEMADE POT PIE (TWO WAYS)

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Comfort Food

Let’s talk comfort food. When I think about some of my favorite comfort foods, the recipes are often quite lengthy. These are perfect for special occasions, holiday meals, celebration meals of one sort or another. They are worth the effort when you have the time but a lot of us don’t have an extra few hours to spend on a single dish. But what do you do when you want, no, NEED comfort food but don’t have the time or energy for one of those special, hours to prepare dishes? I’ve got you covered with these semi homemade pot pie recipes. I’m just going to throw it out there that this is also a perfect dish to take to someone who needs a meal. Perhaps someone just had a baby, or just had surgery, or is just going through a difficult time in life. Cook this up and take it to them! These comfort food recipes are practically a hug you serve up in a pie dish.

Two Versions

I’ve been making the original version of this chicken pot pie for about 15 years and, to be forthcoming, it is not my recipe. The OG version comes from a collaborative recipe book put together by employees from some random company. In other words, I don’t know the exact source but wish I did so that I could give the person full credit on this one. However, I have updated it to literally double the filling. This means, you can feed more people without having to make a second pie. When I started eating a more plant based diet, I also created a vegetarian version of this pot pie. Both versions are semi homemade which means you can put them together in about five minutes and then relax while they bake into sheer comfort food. I guarantee you’re going to want second helpings on this one. Oh, and if you happen to have leftovers, this also tastes fantastic reheated.

Vegetable Pot Pie (Semi Homemade)

Sarah Baade
This pot pie comes together quickly and serves up pure comfort food.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 9" unbaked pie crusts
  • 2 16oz bags frozen mixed vegetables (blend of carrots, corn, peas & green beans)
  • 1 cup frozen diced potatoes
  • 2 10oz cans cream of celery condensed soup

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Unroll one unbaked pie crust and place in a 9” pie dish.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together frozen vegetables, potatoes and condensed soup.
  • Spread mixture into pie crust and top with remaining unbaked pie crust.
  • Pinch edges of crusts together to create a seal.
  • Cut several slits into top pie crust.
  • Bake 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Notes

If you prefer a shiny crust, whisk together 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water then brush the mixture over the top pie crust before baking.
Keyword Easy Pot Pie, Pot Pie, Semi Homemade Pot Pie, Vegetarian Pot Pie

Chicken Pot Pie (Semi Homemade)

Sarah Baade
This pot pie comes together quickly and serves up pure comfort food.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 9" unbaked pie crusts
  • 2 16oz bags frozen mixed vegetables (blend of carrots, corn, peas & green beans)
  • 2 12oz cans premium white chicken
  • 2 10oz cans cream of chicken condensed soup

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Unroll one unbaked pie crust and place in a 9” pie dish.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together vegetables, chicken and condensed soup.
  • Spread mixture into pie crust and top with remaining unbaked pie crust. (You're going to feel like you can't fit all of the filling in there but trust me, it will work. Just pile it high!)
  • Pinch edges of crusts together to create a seal.
  • Cut several slits into top pie crust.
  • Bake 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Notes

If you prefer a shiny crust, whisk together 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water then brush the mixture over the top pie crust before baking.
Keyword Chicken Pot Pie, Easy Chicken Pot Pie, Pot Pie, Semi Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Looking for more comfort food recipes? Try this Tot Topped Shepherd’s Pie or my One Pot Vegetarian Chili.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

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A friend of mine was commenting on my Peanut Butter Cut-Out Cookie recipe the other day and said she plans to make those for her kid’s class party this week. First and foremost, I was thrilled that she wanted to use my recipe. However, my second thought was complete shock. I was shocked that any kind of peanut product was allowed in her daughter’s classroom. I was also shocked that homemade treats were allowed. Here in San Antonio, I don’t know of any schools that allow nut products of homemade treats in the classrooms. This is true even at the daycare level. I understand the risks to those with nut allergies, and I’m not necessarily complaining here. I think it just makes me realize how much things have changed since I was a kid. Most people brought homemade cupcakes or cookies to class when we had parties back in the day. There is a part of me that is sad I’ll never be able to bring my daughter’s favorite homemade treat to her class. But you know what? Part of me is also relieved. There will never be that pressure to create some fancy homemade treat at the 11th hour the night before a class party.

When my daughter’s current classroom has parties, they ask us to sign up to bring something off of a premade list of foods. This week, our contribution is Valentine colored m&m’s. Perfect. Easy. Done. But for home, I still wanted my daughter to have a fun treat made by mom. Inspired by pink m&m’s, and my daughter’s love for chocolate chip cookies, I’ve created these chocolate chip cookie bars. Mixing up the dough is easy and adding m&m’s along with sprinkles adds a festive flare. I also love that you end up with two dozen servings all done at once. No scooping. No swapping out baking sheets. It is all in one pan and then you simply cut it as you’re ready to serve.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Sarah Baade
The all-American classic chocolate chip cookie turned into a bar.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips (whichever you prefer – you just want variety from the semisweet you'll be adding in)
  • 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • Optional toppings: 1/4 cup candy coated chocolates such as m&m's, 1 Tablespoon jimmie sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat brown sugar and granulated sugar with butter.
  • Add eggs and vanilla.
  • Mix in dry ingredients 1 cup at a time, until all ingredients are fully combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Press cookie dough into pan. If adding candies and sprinkles, spread them evenly and press into the top of cookie dough.
  • Bake 35-38 minutes or until a test toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely before cutting.
Keyword Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookies, Dessert Recipe, Easy Cookies, Easy Recipe, Homemade Cookies, Valentine’s Treat