Jen's Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon with Feta, Craisins, Candied Pecans, and a Balsamic Drizzle

jenniferguerrero1 February 14, 2020

Every time I see huge Brussels sprouts they make their way into the grocery cart, regardless of what was on that list. Costco has ginormous ones right now! Earthiness from the sprouts. Bacony bacon. Tang from the feta. Tartness from the craisins. A pop of sweet nuttiness from the candied pecans. And an acid pop from the balsamic glaze. Perfection. It’s so darn delicious, easy, and it happens to be fabulously nutritious, so I make it all the time. It makes a great stand-alone breakfast because of the bacon. It’s a fabulous dinner. And it’s a killer bbq sidekick. I hope you love it, too!

Jen’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon with Feta, Craisins, Candied Pecans, and a Balsamic Drizzle

12 ounces bacon
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Line the bacon on in a single layer. Put it into a cold oven. Turn the oven to 400 degrees F, and set the timer to 25 minutes for fairly crisp, adjusting as needed for your optimal bacon doneness. When it’s done, move the bacon to paper towel to get rid of any excess bacon fat. <If you barbecue or grill with wood or coal, that bacon grease parchment and paper towel is killer for getting it started! And you saved it from the landfill, you Earth-saving cook, you!> Coarsely chop.

2 pounds Brussels sprouts, halved
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil – You can sub in any or all of the oil with rendered bacon fat if you’re so inclined. Because yum! And you already paid for it. And no waste.
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Toss and spread out on a baking sheet. Roast at 400 degrees F for about 35 minutes, turning once. A little browning and crisping here and there is really lovely for taste and texture. Toss in a bowl with the crisp bacon.

1/2 cup craisins or dried blueberries
3/4 cup feta cheese – queso fresco, cojita, and farmer’s cheese all work, too.
3/4 cup candied pecans – I love the ones from Trader Joe’s
about 2 Tablespoons balsamic drizzle – I buy it, but you can reduce it yourself. Just keep an eye on it because it goes from perfectly drizzly to gross in no time…
Sprinkle, lightly toss, drizzle, and serve.

Resolutions for foodies! Texas Brisket Chili recipe (Instant Pot or slow cooker) and cookbook review: The Defined Dish by Alex Snodgrass

jenniferguerrero1 January 18, 2020

#Alex Snodgrass @AlexSnodgrass #TheDefinedDish #Kristen Kilpatrick #resolutions #Whole30 #hmhco @hmhco

I found a resolution book for foodies! First and foremost, everything in The Defined Dish is delicious! This fabulous book filled with very tempting and nutritious fare also happens to be healthy and easy. Nothing tastes like you’re behaving. But this paired up with a little running helped me shed a dress size. Yay! Energy addicts will love it because it’s all feel-good food. Perfect! We LOVE this book and everything we’ve made in it!

It’s Whole30 endorsed, but the dishes aren’t all Whole30. You can make modifications if you’re strict, or not so strict. 😉

Books for lit lovers, dog people, mythology fans, and wine enthusiasts!

jenniferguerrero1 December 14, 2019

#MargaretAtwood #TheTestaments #SalmanRushdie #Quichotte #VincentMusi #TheYearOfTheDogs #ElizabethSchneider #WineForNormalPeople #StephenFry #Mythos

I usually just tell you about the cream of the crop cookbooks I review, but there were a few other books that came across my desk in the past year that are outstanding and totally giftable for the right person. Truly special pieces.

Need a gift for a lit lover, dog person, mythology fan, or wine enthusiast? I’ve got you!

Baked Ricotta and Roasted Grapes with Balsamic Drizzle (savory cheesecake!) recipe and cookbook review: Rachael Ray 50

jenniferguerrero1 November 22, 2019

#RachaelRay @RachaelRay #RachaelRayShow @RachaelRayShow

Rachael Ray. That’s one polarizing name.

When my husband handed me a gift on our first Christmas together, I unwrapped it to find a cookbook, looked up and glared at him, and he ducked a little, laughing, “No! Open it up!” Tickets to Phantom of the Opera. Five years later, when our baby was tiny, and we decided I’d stay home with her, I was suddenly responsible for all things domestic with absolutely zero interest in cooking or cleaning anything. None. Then everyone in the playgroup started watching Rachael Ray’s 30 Minute Meals. She made everything look fun, doable, and yummy, and suddenly we were all cooking and doing a nice job of it. I’m so grateful that we all had her. I stumbled across this book and ordered it in a rush of nostalgia. I don’t watch daytime tv anymore so I had no idea what she’s been up to or what to expect. But now I can help you with that!

Rachael Ray 50 is filled with Rachael’s essays, a memoir of her life so far, and those are dotted with 125 recipes that mean something to her. Some of them are quick, but she’s not limiting herself to speed meals here. The pasta puttanesca was the only one that I remember from her early days. I flagged so many that I need to order more post-it notes! I’m really glad she made this one a hardcover, because it’s special.

The book is broken into three sections: Family, Friends, and Work.

I’m going to share her recipe for Baked Ricotta and Roasted Grapes with a Balsamic Drizzle. It’s like a savory cheesecake. It’s easy, delicious, and beautiful – perfect for all the upcoming holidays! Please note that there are two asterisked sub-recipes after the recipe that you’re going to want to deal with first, so that you’re just ready to go!

Beef, Orange and Olive Stew recipe and cookbook review: Milk Street: The New Rules

jenniferguerrero1 November 6, 2019

#MilkStreet @Milk Street #ChristopherKimball @ChristopherKimball #LittleBrown @LittleBrown

Do you watch Milk Street? Their book, Milk Street: Tuesday Nights, was in my top three cookbooks released last year, and now I see that it got a James Beard Award. Great pick! I try very hard not to say things like best, because my best may very well not be your best. So I will tell you why I love them, and you’ll get a better idea if it sounds like a fit for you. Flavor. They are really strong flavorists. There’s never an apologetic bite to be had. Minimalists. They really do a great job of getting where they’re going on the easiest road available. The recipes are global. For me, that’s great but also the only disappointment I have. As we travel the globe in their books, I’d like to see a little American food represented, too. We’ve got some great stuff!

They have a new book out, Milk Street: The New Rules, and it’s fantastic! Four days and 11 recipes in, and I think 3 of them are the best I’ve ever had. The lentils (I know! Lentils! Promise they’re an addictive bite!), the beef, orange, and olive stew, and the Turkish poached eggs with garlicky yogurt are the best. I said it again and although I think it sounds obnoxious, it’s sincere, and I’m leaving it there.

Giant Cinnamon Roll recipe and cookbook review: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier

jenniferguerrero1 October 27, 2019

#ReeDrummond @ReeDrummond #ThePioneerWoman #ThePioneerWoman #TheNewFrontier @TheNewFrontier

If you love Ree’s other books, you’ll love The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier, too! It has a great mix of comfort food and healthy fare, frequently with thoughtful ideas of how to make subs to suit to your eating style. She’s got some recipes for everybody’s favorite personal appliances like the Instant Pots and slow-cookers, but also gives instructions on how to cook it if you’d rather stick with the oven. For the most part, she uses economical ingredients, but there’s a special surf and turf dinner with lobster tails and beef tenderloin. I love this one! But I’m most definitely already a big fan. 😊

Amazon affiliate link #CommissionEarned (I get a tiny percentage if you use my link to purchase.)

It was tough to decide which recipe to ask permission for. The Giant Cinnamon Roll is so good that it’s replacing the monkey bread I normally make on Christmas morning with Jacque Pepin’s quiche, bacon, and fruit salad, so I finally picked that one! And, you can make a lot of it ahead of time (Yeah, I marked it. Through step 8!) so it’s a great one for an easier morning! I love Scandinavian flavors at Christmas, so I may play with a little cardamom and orange in the icing then. Anyway, go make this and brighten your weekend! If you’re an espresso head like me, use espresso instead of coffee. Sooo good! A huge thanks to Ree Drummond for letting me share the recipe with you!

Pork Chili Verde recipe and cookbook review: Whole30 Friends & Family

jenniferguerrero1 October 22, 2019

#hmhco @hmhco #Whole30 @Whole30 #MelissaHartwig_ @MelissaHartwig_

You love get-togethers and delicious food, but you don’t want to eat a bunch of tomorrow’s regrets? I’ve got you! If you love the line of Whole30 books, you are going to adore Whole30 Friends & Family! It’s a book filled with Whole30 party food, and it covers everything from parties with kids, game night food, and grown-ups only fare. Everything we’ve tried has been delicious, and it’s at the easier end of the entertaining spectrum, so you can focus on friends, family, and delicious food. Great book! She has a light hand with salt, so I salted to taste.