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Holly Clegg’s Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

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Holly Clegg was one of Baton Rouge Family Fun’s greatest supporters. She shared many recipes and resources with Baton Rouge Family Fun. We hope they will continue to be enjoyed by families in Baton Rouge and beyond for years to come. Below is one of her posts from 2018; it’s a community favorite, and it’s so darn good!! We hope you enjoy it.

Even if you’re limited on time, I promise my crescent roll Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake recipe will be worth the 15 minutes it takes to make it.  No time-consuming yeast dough but all the richness of the best king cake you have ever put in your mouth!

I know I made an impression with this easy king cake recipe when my five-year-old grandson gave me a stack of cut-out king cake newspaper ads and told me he knew I would want them.  You probably have seen, Clegg, on my Facebook Live videos cooking with me. I realized cooking with him has become a teaching moment too.

Who doesn’t like king cakes?  We are so fortunate in Baton Rouge to have some of the best king cakes, but I have been told my crescent roll king cake recipe is “just as good (if not better) than at the bakeries!” With reduced-fat crescent rolls, reduced-fat cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar, and a little icing, this is a lighter trim and terrific king cake recipe that can be made wherever you live.  However, all the rage is my new savory, and sensational Crawfish King Cake with a scrumptious creamy crawfish filling topped with Mardi Gras colored Parmesan cheese. Sweet or savory, this king cake recipe will be your go-to recipe this carnival season! Having company—check out my easy Mardi Gras Menu filled with recipes and tips.

Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

How To Make My Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe:  Fun Cooking!

Cooking With Kids:

  • Teaches you to follow directions
  • Measurements teach you math
  • Learn your colors + red and blue make purple
  • Instant gratification with finished recipe
  • Cooking gives kid’s confidence

Easy King Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Cinnamon Filling from Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook

My most popular king cake recipe known as a crescent roll king cake! You can leave out the cream cheese filling if you have picky eaters or sometimes I put half with cream cheese filling and half plain.  Here are photos of the steps of how to make a king cake.

Makes 16 servings

2 (8-ounce) cans of reduced-fat crescent rolls
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Mardi Gras Icing (see recipe below)

  1. Preheat oven 350°F. Coat 10-inch round pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray.
    2. Separate crescent rolls at perforations, into 16 slices. Place slices around the prepared pan with points in the center. About halfway down from points, press seams together.
    3. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Spread on dough in the center where seams have been pressed together.
    4. In another small bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over cream cheese. Fold dough points over filling and then fold the bottom of the triangle over points forming a circular roll like a king cake.
    5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and drizzle with colored Mardi Gras Icing.

Mardi Gras Icing:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1-2 tablespoons skim milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Yellow, green, red, and blue food coloring.

  1. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, except food color. Divide mixture into three bowls
    2. In the first bowl, add a few drops of yellow food coloring and in the second bowl, add a few drops of green food coloring. In third bowl, add equal amounts of drops of red and blue food coloring (to create purple). Drizzle over baked cake.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 184 Calories from fat 36% Fat 7 g Saturated Fat 3 g Cholesterol 9 mg Sodium 275 mg Carbohydrate 26 g Dietary Fiber 0 g Sugars 16 g Protein 3 g Diabetic Exchanges 11/2 carbohydrate 11/2 fat

SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL RECIPE NEWSLETTERS ON MY BLOG: The Healthy Cooking Blog FOLLOW ME: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTubeVisit The Healthy Cooking Blog by #TeamHolly here.

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Be sure to check out Baton Rouge Family Fun’s 2023 King Cake Guide here!

Check out our full Mardi Gras Guide for more Mardi Gras Family Fun, King Cake Guides, and more!

Family Friendly Mardi Gras

Copeland’s of New Orleans Family Thanksgiving Feast

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Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather, feast, and enjoy being together. Cheesecake Bistro wants to get you out of the kitchen to enjoy more well-deserved family time this year by offering Copeland’s of New Orleans special Thanksgiving Feast a la carte menu and the convenience of a complete Thanksgiving Feast Family Meal to-go. Copeland’s famous Cajun fried turkey is at the center of the Thanksgiving Feast Menu offerings coming to Cheesecake Bistro this year.

“As a local family company, Cheesecake Bistro understands that giving loved ones a way to get out of the kitchen to spend more precious moments together is priceless,” said Al Copeland, Jr.  “We hope that our Copeland’s Thanksgiving Feast Family Meal and individual holiday selections can create a holiday filled with delicious New Orleans classic holiday flavors and time to create new memories while enjoying family moments.”

“Every year our guests ask if they can order Copeland’s of New Orleans Thanksgiving Feast Menu items at Cheesecake Bistro and this year, we are excited to say yes.  Our guests can not only spend more time with their families, but they can now add Copeland’s made from scratch New Orleans holiday classics on to their tables,” said Brandon Creel, General Manager, Cheesecake Bistro.

Copeland’s of New Orleans Family Thanksgiving Feast & Meal To-Go

Copeland’s of New Orleans Thanksgiving Feast Menu items coming to Cheesecake Bistro this year are perfect for office celebrations, Friendsgiving, and family gatherings. Pick up pre-orders curbside and enjoy the Pilgrim Platter on Thanksgiving Day in our dining room or to-go.

The Thanksgiving Family Feast Meal ($129), which feeds 6 – 8 people, includes 4 lbs. of Cajun fried turkey breast, a quart of turkey gravy, one dozen buttermilk biscuits, a choice of two of the following sides: mashed sweet potatoes with pecan amaretto cream sauce, butter creamed potatoes, smothered ham and bacon green beans, Cajun corn maque choux, homemade cranberry compote, and cornbread.

All the items on the Thanksgiving Feast Family Meal can be ordered individually, in addition to Louisiana oyster dressing, plus a selection of Copeland’s soups, salads, entrees, sides, and desserts, including Copeland’s signature cheesecake with a variety of toppings, pumpkin bread pudding, and pumpkin pecan cheesecake (while supplies last).  Pre-orders begin on October 1st and will be ready for pick up between November 11th – 30th and require 48-hours advanced notice.  All meals include reheat instructions.

On Thanksgiving Day Cheesecake Bistro is offering Copeland’s of New Orleans Thanksgiving Pilgrim Platter which includes all the Feast offerings.  Adult platters ($18.99) and Children’s platters for ages 12 and under ($9.99), along with select Cheesecake Bistro’s menu items and our new apple caramel cobbler dessert, are available for pickup or dine-in between 11 am-5 pm. Thanksgiving Feast Menu, Thanksgiving Feast Family Meal, and select a la carte Cheesecake Bistro’s catering items are also available with a 48-hour pre-order for pickup between 8 am-4 pm on Thanksgiving Day.

All Thanksgiving offerings may be pre-ordered online at www.CopelandsFeast.com or by visiting our Baton Rouge Cheesecake Bistro location.

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company that sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

 

50 Need-to-Know Ingredient Substitutions

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We’ve all been there! You’ve just returned from the grocery store, and you’re getting ready to make dinner, bake or whip something up on a whim, and you’re missing a crucial ingredient. But, of course, the last thing you want to do is go back to the grocery store for one item. Especially with the holidays upon us! No worries! We have 50 Need-to-Know Ingredient Substitutions for you! Take into account that the substitution could change the taste, texture, and or consistency, but it will do when you’re in a pinch.

50 Need-to-Know Ingredient Substitutions

Healthy Recipe Substitutions

Unsweetened applesauce for oil, butter, or sugar

Using applesauce in place of sugar can give the necessary sweetness without the calories. You can sub sugar for apple sauce in a 1:1 ratio, but for every cup of applesauce, you use, reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup.

Mashed bananas for fats

The creamy, thickening power of ripe mashed banana is perfect for replacing fat in baking recipes. One cup of mashed banana works perfectly in place of 1 cup of butter or oil!
Grated steamed cauliflower for rice

Cut both calories and carbs with this simple switch. The texture is virtually the same, as is the taste.

Spaghetti squash for pasta

Roast or bake your squash and scrape with a fork for a healthy low-carb spaghetti squash substitute for pasta. One squash will make between two and three servings.

Two egg whites for one whole egg

Trade out the yolk for a second white to cut cholesterol and double the protein.

Greek yogurt for sour cream or mayo

Nonfat Greek yogurt has far fewer calories and fat than mayonnaise or sour cream, but its consistency is quite similarSo nextxt time a recipe calls for either of those fattening ingredients, try using the yogurt instead.

Need-to-Know Ingredient Substitutions

50 Need-to-Know Ingredient Substitutions

Ingredient Amount Substitution
Allspice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves
Baking mix 1 cup 1 cup pancake mix OR 1 cup Easy Biscuit Mixture
Baking powder 1 teaspoon 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup)
Baking soda 1 teaspoon 2 teaspoon double-acting baking powder + replace acidic liquid ingredient in recipe with non-acidic liquid
Balsamic Vinegar 1 cup Equal amount of sherry or cider vinegar
Broth: beef or chicken 1 cup 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1 cup boiling water OR1 teaspoon powdered broth base dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
Brown sugar 1 cup, packed 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup OR 1 cup white sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
Butter 1 cup 7/8 to 1 cup hydrogenated fat (shortening) and 1/2 teaspoon salt OR7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR

1 cup margarine OR 7/8 cup oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup oil OR To reduce fat and calories – applesauce or prune puree for half of the butter in the recipe OR ¾ coconut oil in place of a cup of butter.
Buttermilk 1 cup 1 cup yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup
Cajun Spice 1 tablespoon 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Chocolate(semisweet) 1 ounce 1 (1-ounce) square of unsweetened chocolate plus 4 teaspoons sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon shortening
Chocolate (unsweetened) 1 ounce 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening or vegetable oil
Cocoa 1/4 cup 1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
Corn syrup 1 cup 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey OR 1 cup light treacle syrup
Cottage cheese 1 cup 1 cup farmer’s cheese OR 1 cup ricotta cheese
Cracker crumbs 1 cup 1 cup bread crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats
Cream (half and half) 1 cup 7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter
Cream (heavy) 1 cup 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter
Cream (light) 1 cup 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter
Cream (whipped) 1 cup 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Cream cheese 1 cup 1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR 1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth
Crème fraiche 1 cup Combine 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Let stand for 6 hours at room temperature
Egg 1 whole (3 tablespoons or 1.7 oz) 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water OR 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute OR 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Evaporated milk 1 cup 1 cup light cream
Fats for baking 1 cup 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree
Flour–Bread 1 cup 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten (available at health food stores & some supermarkets)
Flour–Cake 1 cup 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons
Flour–Self-Rising 1 cup 7/8 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt
Garlic 1 clove 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic OR 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt–reduce salt in recipe
Green onion 1/2 cup , chopped 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped shallots
Herbs–fresh 1 tablespoon chopped fresh 1 teaspoon (chopped or whole leaf) dried herbs
Honey 1 cup 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrup OR 1 cup light treacle syrup
Ketchup 1 cup 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1 teaspoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar
Lard 1 cup 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 1 cup butter
Lemon grass 2 fresh stalks 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Lemon juice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice
Lemon zest 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract OR 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Lime juice 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Margarine 1 cup 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 1 cup butter OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mayonnaise 1 cup 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt
Milk–whole 1 cup 1 cup soy milk OR 1 cup rice milk OR 1 cup water or juice OR 1/4 cup dry milk powder plus 1 cup water OR 2/3 cup evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup water
Onion 1 cup, chopped 1 cup chopped green onions OR 1 cup chopped shallots OR 1 cup chopped leeks OR 1/4 cup dried minced onion OR 1/4 cup onion powder
Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup, grated 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese OR 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
Raisin 1 cup 1 cup dried currants OR 1 cup dried cranberries OR 1 cup chopped pitted prunes
Ricotta 1 cup 1 cup dry cottage cheese OR 1 cup silken tofu
Semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup 1 cup chocolate candies OR 1 cup peanut butter or other flavored chips OR 1 cup chopped nuts OR 1 cup chopped dried fruit
Shallots, chopped 1/2 cup 1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped green onion
Shortening 1 cup 1 cup butter OR 1 cup margarine minus 1/2 teaspoon salt from recipe
Sour cream 1 cup 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough cream to make 1 cup OR 3/4 cup buttermilk mixed with 1/3 cup butter
Soy sauce 1/2 cup 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon water
Stock–beef or chicken 1 cup 1 cube beef or chicken bouillon dissolved in 1 cup water
Sweetened condensed milk 1 (14-ounce) can 3/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1/2 cup water and 1 1/8 cups dry powdered milk: Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes
Vegetable oil–for baking 1 cup 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree
Vegetable oil–for frying 1 cup 1 cup lard OR 1 cup vegetable shortening
Vinegar 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice OR 2 teaspoons white wine
White sugar 1 cup 1 cup brown sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar OR 3/4 cup honey OR 3/4 cup corn syrup
Wine 1 cup 1 cup chicken or beef broth OR 1 cup fruit juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar OR 1 cup water
Yogurt 1 cup 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup sour milk

We hope these 50 Need-to-Know Ingredient Substitutions help when you’re in a pinch and save you some time and even money!

Sources: http://greatist.com

Sweet & Savory Picnic Potato Salad Recipe #RescuedMoments

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Never could I have imagined the reality of a growing boys escalating appetite until I was faced with feeding two teens and two preteens. We are officially in that season where our boys are eating us out of house and home, proclaiming that they are hungry 20 minutes after their last meal. I’m always in search of quick, protein packed meals and healthy high protein snacks. My boys are active, with high metabolisms, they need the protein and healthy carbs to sustain them while fiber keeps them feeling full. This summer, I concocted the perfect, boy approved, picnic potato salad with the perfect potatoes.

Loaded Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

Tasteful Selections potatoes have a very unique flavor, the ruby sensation potatoes are sweet with a creamy texture and tender skins. The bite size potatoes make the perfect option for kids and they’re mom friendly too. They are easy to eat and easy to cook as they are pre-washed and have an especially fast cook time. My picnic potato salad was not only easy to make but quick, allowing me to spend less time in the kitchen while still making a healthy, robust meal for my family. This is how Tasteful Selections is helping moms in the kitchen reclaim time to enjoy more family moments, rescued moments!  As moms, we often feel guilty when work, house chores, and or cooking take us away from the family. I popped the potatoes in the oven for twenty minutes while I prepped the rest of the ingredients and just like that I prepared a twenty minute meal. And save the leftovers for a future meal I could just heat in a microwave or other appliance since I had many I got from reading at sites like Zozanga.com and others.

Loaded Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

Sweet & Savory Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

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Whether you’re cooking for the family or serving your favorite guests, you want to “Make Every Meal Simply Amazing,” the kind of meal people will talk about long after the plates have been cleared.

 Loaded Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

To learn more about Tasteful Selections simply amazing potatoes, or to find cooking and kitchen tips and hacks and a plethora of quick and easy recipes be sure to visit http://www.tastefulselections.com/rescuedmoments/

Tasteful Selections #RescuedMoments

#RescuedMoments SWEEPSTAKES!

With all the amazing time saving tips and recipes that Tasteful Selections has to offer, there may just be one thing that will really save you time–an updated kitchen! Enter to win the #RescuedMoments Sweepstakes for your chance to win a kitchen makeover that is sure to Rescue your Moments.

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Mooyah Burgers Fries & Shakes – Baton Rouge

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Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The companies who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Have you tried Mooyah Burgers Fries & Shakes in Baton Rouge?  If you have, than you know it’s an experience, a cheerful throwback to a 50s “burger and fries” joint with a doodle board for the kiddos and a bell that rings out your satisfaction of a great burger and fries.

MOOYAH-Jennie-O-BurgerJust in time for summer, Mooyah is offering the Jalapeño Jack Turkey Burger – created by Jennie-O, a brand on a mission to make it easy to eat well – provides yet another mouthwatering option for burger fans who want a healthy kick with the ideal amount of spice.

I have to say, the Turkey burger is something I could go for every time, it’s not only a healthier option but it’s just as tasty as the regular beef burgers. The Jalapeno Jack Turkey was a perfect blend of flavors.

Baton Rouge Burger

MOOYAH Guests can also choose from a variety of bread options, such as baked in-house artisan white or multigrain wheat buns and hand-crafted lettuce wraps to compliment the delicious JENNIE-O® turkey patty and other mouthwatering burger options. Each gourmet burger creation comes with a selection of unlimited veggies and a choice of nine delicious sauces.

Mooyah Burgers Fries & Shakes

 GIVEAWAY: Enter our Facebook Giveaway HERE to win one of two $20 MOOYAH Gift Cards.

For more information on MOOYAH, connect through the brand’s Facebook Fan page or follow MOOYAH on Twitter @MooyahBurger.

To learn more about Jennie-O and its selection of delicious turkey products, visit www.JennieO.com.

mooyah

Strawberry & Feta Salad with Re: Greek Vinaigrette

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We love everything about this salad, and this is a perfect time of year for for it, with strawberries just coming into season. This salad makes a beautiful presentation with the various color of the spring greens, strawberries, and feta. It’s also a delight for the palate with the  sweet and savory flavors of the feta and the strawberries.

Hooked On Re:’s new Greek Vinaigrette is bright and vibrant with lemon and white wine vinegar, and really compliments the flavors in this salad.

Also, most of the ingredients can be found at the farmers market right now. There is an abundance of beautiful fresh lettuces at the local farmers markets, however with strawberries, it’s still a little early in the season, so you have to get to the market early to pick up strawberries before they are gone. At the Baton Rouge Farmers Market, Rocking R Dairy has an amazing feta cheese, and Hooked On Re: is there most weekends with their original Re: Garlicky Vinaigrette Dressing & Marinade and their brand new Re: Greek Vinaigrette.

Strawberry & Feta Salad with Re: Greek Vinaigrette

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Hooked on Re: LLC, a local company known for their wildly popular Garlicky Vinaigrette Salad Dressing & Marinade packaged in a beer bottle, is set to release their second flavor, Greek Vinaigrette, to local stores in February 2015.

Hooked on Re: LLC was founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, out of the company’s love of friends, food, and fresh ingredients. With production beginning in October 2012, the company continues to produce at the LSU AgCenter’s Food Incubator and currently have their Garlicky Vinaigrette flavor in over 80 stores in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette areas.

The new Greek Vinaigrette introduces herbs, lemon juice, and white wine vinegar into their garlic flavor profile. Because of the versatility, it provides another opportunity to invent (or Re:invent) your meal. It is perfect on a green salad as well as a great pairing with anything from seafood to seasonal vegetables. It is bright, fresh and delicious!

Look for it on your local store’s shelves soon and get hooked!

You can find Hooked on Re: online on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Weeknight Pepper Steak

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I am forever looking for new, quick and easy, meals to make for my family of four boys and a man. The “what’s for dinner” dilemma is ever present at our home. My growing boys are slowly but surely eating me sweet-peppersout of house and home and I’m finding it difficult to feed them hearty meals on the go. I recently came across this recipe and it had me at sweet mini peppers! While my boys and I don’t really enjoy the taste of regular bell peppers, we love sweet mini peppers. These are so good you can eat them raw, great snack! In this Weeknight Pepper Steak recipe the peppers add sweetness and a bit of tang but they aren’t bitter.

Your kids will love them!

(null)I’m usually short on time and don’t have a lot of it to prep my meals as I would like, so I take short cuts wherever I can. I always use a store bought Cajun Trinity mixture for recipes that call for onions and  I use  Organic Squeeze Minced Garlic instead of fresh minced garlic. Works like a charm and adds even more flavor.

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  I like to serve this dish over Jasmine or Basmati rice, however, it will go well with regular rice or quinoa.

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20 Sweet & Savory King Cake Inspired Treats

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Our stores are overflowing with the goodness of King Cake and this year it seems we can find menagerie of King Cake flavors and styles, including Bouudin! The King Cake has evolved from its humble roots, inspiring a plethora of savory foods, sweets and treats… making this the ultimate Mardi Gras food! Below we are featuring our favorites from Mardi Gras 2015!

king cake parfait

The King Cake parfait can be found at Dessert Lounge. (Photo: Indulge Desserts)

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the above doesn’t have your mouth watering or at least feeling a virtual sugar rush…nothing will! Enjoy the last days of the Mardi Gras season and go get you some King Cake before it’s too late!

Here is a Baton Rouge King Cake Guide: Interact with a video map to find your Mardi Gras fix!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

BatonRougeCuisine

Traditional Thanksgiving Meal Plan – Gluten Free

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I’ll be really candid here. Though I have hosted Thanksgiving Dinner, I’ve never actually hosted a traditional Holiday Dinner. If we go traditional with Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s because we’ve driven the 24 hours home to Canada to be with family.

Last year we had our good friends for Thanksgiving. We smoked some salmon and had about a billion appetizers and tons of desserts. Not the traditional Turkey. (Though we got traditionally stuffed.) And because we must be terrible parents, my five year old thinks Chocolate Chip Pancakes is what everyone has for Christmas Dinner. We’re just going to go with that.

Fun Fact: The traditional Christmas Dinner I grew up with in Canada, is the exact same as the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in the USA.

This year, I’m planning to actually do a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, totally gluten free. My parents are coming to visit and our college age daughters will be coming home on break, so it seems like a good time to become the house that does Thanksgiving.

Traditional Thanksgiving Meal Plan - Gluten Free

So, I’m going to share with you what we’re going to have and a few more recipes to give you some options for your table. Give me your suggestions in the comments as well, I’m flexible! If you’ve got a great recipe, I’d love to try it! The links below all go to gluten free recipes.

If you’re looking for more gluten free Thanksgiving recipes, check out THIS awesome Pinterest board. I’ve invited some of my favorite Gluten Free bloggers to pin their recipes, and there’s tons to choose from.

Traditional Thanksgiving Meal Plan
Gluten Free Style

 

The Turkey

Not exactly sure how to cook that bird? Butterball has great “how to cook a turkey” info on their site with instructions for deep-fried, roasted, grilled and smoked turkey. Click HERE to get to the Butterball site

Gluten Free Black Olive and Feta Appetizer Puffs from knowgluten.me

Gluten Free Appetizers:

Olive and Feta Cheese Appetizer Puffs

These little savory puffs are fast and easy to make and you can top them with whatever strikes your fancy. Sometimes we do olives, sometimes pizza sauce and pepperoni. They’re made with tapioca starch, I buy mine really cheap at an Asian Market.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Helen’s Amazing Layer Dip

This easy dip is a crowd pleaser. It’s got a sour cream and cream cheese base topped with chopped fresh salsa and cheese. Make twice as much as you think you’ll need and serve it with gluten free tortilla chips.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Spiced Nuts

These look seriously amazing and super easy to make. And they store well, so you could whip some up a couple of days before! (And then eat them all and make them again!)
Click HERE for the recipe.
spiced-nuts-tablefortwoblog-3

Chex Mix

My mom always made some sort of cereal based snack mix for special occasions when we were kids. Chex has taken the cereal mix concept to the moon. Here’s a link to some great gluten free Chex Mix recipes (there are other gluten free recipes mixed in, but the Chex site doesn’t give you an option of choosing Gluten Free AND Chex Mix).
Click HERE for the recipes.

Artichoke and Roasted Garlic Dip

This dip sounds amazing. You could serve it with gluten free crackers or tortilla chips or try your hand at making your own gluten free baguettes (it’s way easier than it sounds!!)
Click HERE for the dip recipe
Click HERE for the gluten free baguette recipe

Gluten Free Sides, Salads and Dressings:

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

This is my fellow Baton Rouge Mom Blogger Harmony’s favorite Thanksgiving Side. I really want to try it. But I’m a little afraid I’ll eat it all.
Click HERE for the recipe.

garlic herb mashed potatoes

Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

This is a great dish if you have multiple food issues. It looks like it’s really flavorful even without the dairy or high fat content. Even though the recipe is dairy free, you can use regular milk if you want.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Ultimate Mashed Potatoes

This recipe looks super creamy with sour cream, butter and cream cheese. This is probably the recipe I’m going to use.
Click HERE for the recipe

Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin

Are you more of a Scalloped Potatoes fan? (I like them with ham. Maybe we’ll have ham and scalloped potatoes for Christmas! You know, with our chocolate chip pancakes.)
Click HERE for the recipe.

A Lighter Green Bean Casserole

This recipe cuts down the calories of a traditional green bean casserole, but don’t worry, you can make up for it at dessert.
Click HERE for the recipe.

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Mashed Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow Gravy

You had me at Marshmallow Gravy.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Broccoli and Bacon Salad

Okay, everyone should have a broccoli salad on their Thanksgiving table. It’s a rule. And I’m pretty sure that with the bacon, raisins and cheese in this one, everyone will actually eat it. Yum!!
Click HERE for the recipe.

Gluten Free Watergate Salad from knowgluten.me

Watergate Salad

This is traditional fare in our house, we always serve this for Thanksgiving, even when we’re not having a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Alternatively we call it Green Fluff Salad or Grandma Dot’s Salad. It has Cool Whip, pudding and marshmallows. It’s dessert. Really. But some genius called it salad so you can eat it with the turkey.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Holiday Stuffed Pumpkin

How cute is this idea? Stuffed Pumpkin!! The stuffing looks tasty, but I might do this with a gluten free bread stuffing. Too cute. And you get a seasoned slice of pumpkin to eat with your stuffing.

Click HERE for the recipe.

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Cornbread Stuffing

An easy gluten free fix to Cornbread Stuffing. I’ve never actually had cornbread stuffing, but I might try this recipe this year.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Stewart’s Traditional Gluten Free White Bread Stuffing

This is our traditional family stuffing. It has loads of butter, onions and poultry seasoning. We use gluten free bread so everyone can eat it, and stuff our turkey with it.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Easy Gluten Free Baguette

Everyone loves fresh bread. Here’s a sneak peek baguette recipe from Gluten Free Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day. Since I got the cook book, I’ve been making my own fantastic homemade bread every couple of days. It’s super easy. (Easy enough for me to make before anyone else is out of bed. I feel so Little House on the Prairie. Seriously, if I can do this on one cup of coffee, you could make it in your sleep.)
Click HERE for the recipe.

photo credit Stephen Scott Gross

photo credit Stephen Scott Gross

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

This cranberry sauce has a hint of ginger and cinnamon and it tastes even better if you make it a few days ahead and store it in the fridge. I’ll make it during the year to have with pork or chicken. This is really easy to make, you just boil things on the stove, and very impressive, but the canned sauce from Ocean Spray (and any other brand I can think of right now, but check labels!!) is just as gluten free, so you don’t have to stress about this one.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Gluten Free Dessert

Gluten Free Pumpkin Desserts

I’ve put together a whole bunch of gluten free pumpkin based desserts (pies, custards, cheesecake, squares, etc) right here because this time of year, we must eat as much pumpkin as humanly possible. It’s something to do with winter hibernation, or something.

Click HERE to go to the Pumpkin Recipe Post.

Pumpkin Spice Steamed Milk

Totally full? This Pumpkin Spice Steamed Milk might be just what you need (before you dig into the pumpkin pie, that is.)
Click HERE for the recipe.

chex scoterchoos

Chex Scotcheroos

Okay, I’d never even heard of these until today, but they’re now on my menu. Thanks Pinterest Fairies!! Apparently you can also make them with Gluten Free Rice Krispies. I think I might do a test run. Or two. Just to make sure they’re okay.
Click HERE for the recipe.

Gluten Free Hello Dolly Magic Bars

Some people call these Hello Dollys, some people call them Magic Bars. Magic because you layer stuff in a cake pan, pour over a can of sweetened condensed milk, and bake, and Voila! Magic!
Click HERE for the recipe.

No Bake Marshmallow Bars

These are seriously addictive. And totally easy to make. These are what you whip up when you just remembered that you were supposed to bring a dessert. Melted chocolate chips, peanut butter and marshmallows.
Click HERE for the recipe.

gluten-free-nut-free-hello-dolly-bars-from-knowgluten-me-black-background
Okay guys, before I go into a food coma just from writing this, I’ll turn it over to you. Do you have a favorite gluten free Thanksgiving Dish? Or a recipe that you’ve turned gluten free? Leave a comment, I’d love to read about it! Any questions? I’ll be around to answer them.

 

Louisiana Chicken With Creole Couscous Recipe {Video}

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The base for many hearty one pot meals, includes a healthy carb that can be made in 5 minutes or less. Couscous (pronounced “KOOS-koos”) is a dish made from tiny granules of durum wheat. The couscous grains are then prepared by steaming them until they have a light, fluffy consistency.

Couscous originated in North Africa, where it is traditionally prepared as part of a meat or vegetable stew seasoned with cumin. Today, couscous is found in many cuisines, including much of the Middle East and various Mediterranean cuisines, as well as the United States and western European countries such as France and the U.K. It goes well with just about anything you’d eat rice or potatoes with, from a nice grilled salmon to your moms meatloaf recipe to a Louisiana-style chicken breast.

A 1 cup serving of couscous provides 6g of protein and only 176 calories, far fewer calories than a cup of rice or quinoa.

Today we have a tried and true recipe that is truly quick and easy when your in a pinch for time but want to serve your family a healthy meal. This meal can be made in under 6 minutes {see video below} and you can easily add or subtract veggies and spices to make this unique for your family.
Louisiana Chicken With Creole Couscous

[yumprint-recipe id=’31’]This guy seems to be a real ninja in the kitchen, we suggest making in this in 10 minutes and saving your fingers…

More one pot Couscous recipes:

Squash, Chicken & Couscous

Squash, chicken & couscous one-pot
Chicken Raisin Couscous
Chicken Raisin Couscous

Orange Chicken With Couscous and Feta
Orange Chicken With Couscous and Feta

Thanks to Near East for the great Louisiana Chicken With Creole Couscous recipe!