Superbowl S'mores Brownies

No matter if your team wins or loses on Sunday, this dessert is sure to deliver a happy ending to your Superbowl party: 

S'mores Brownies

These brownies are exactly what they seem: a rich and fudgy chocolate brownie layered with graham crackers and topped with toasted marshmallows. It might be my favorite brownie of all time. I'll definitely be making it this weekend. 

PC: Williams Sonoma

Recipe after the jump:

Breaking Good

Spending Friday nights at home gives me the perfect reason to thin out the mile high recipe pile on my desk. It's also the best way to wind down from a long week and connect with my family over a good meal.  This weekend I made the most awesome pizza and pasta that was a total home run.

Pizza with Charred Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto & Orecchiette with Squash, Chiles, and Hazelnuts

Believe it or not, this restaurant quality meal is easy to make. I honestly didn't spend more than 45 minutes in the kitchen which isn't usually the case for a gourmet meal. Pairing it with Breaking Bad episodes is priceless. (For adults, not kids).

Shape your pizza crust like a heart and call it Valentine's Day. 

Pizza with Charred Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto

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Orecchiette with Squash, Chiles, and Hazelnuts

Recipes after the jump:

PC: Marcus Nilsson & Bon Appetit

The Perfect Winter Pizza

There's nothing I love more than a mouthwatering pizza baked in my own oven. I found this beaut on Pinterest and it's the jam! Figuratively and literally. 

Fig, Caramelized Onion and Chicken Sausage Whole Wheat Pizza

Here are links to some of my other favorite pizza combinations:

Eggplant, Pesto, and Goat Cheese Pizza

Sun-Dried Tomato and Arugula Pizza

Sausage Lovers Grilled Pizza

Recipe after the jump:

Chef of the Week

Today was Jack and Wyatt's turn to be 'chef of the week' at preschool, so I brought this awesome recipe that is healthy, easy to prepare, and well-received by toddlers:

Berry Banana Vanilla Jello Salad

What's so great about this jello pudding yogurt 'salad' is that you can doctor it up with all kinds of fun ingredients depending on what your child likes.  I used strawberries, blueberries, and banana and threw in some Nilla wafers that served as spoons.  The class went bananas over it! And to be honest, I'm pretty crazy about it too. 

Recipe after the jump: 

Smitten by Fig, Olive Oil, and Sea Salt Challah

On a recent Friday I took the plunge and made Smitten Kitchen's Fig, Olive Oil and Sea Salt Challah. This delightful Jewish bread was by far the most gratifying recipe I've ever made since it turned out gorgeous, delicious, and special since I could break it with my family on a Friday night. It's not called Smitten by accident. My family is hooked. 

It also makes for the best challah french toast on a Saturday morning.   

Recipe after the jump:

Chicken Burgers with Garlic-Rosemary Mayonnaise

I don't know how it's humanly possible that I haven't posted my favorite burger of all time given the fact that I make it at least once a week and I recommend it to anyone (and everyone) looking for an easy and tasty week night meal:

Chicken Burgers with Garlic-Rosemary Mayonnaise

I serve mine like all my burgers: with baked sweet potato fries and roasted asparagus.  It's by far my favorite weeknight meal. 

Even if you're one 'those' who pretend to hate mayonnaise, I promise that this dish is still for you. You see, when mayo is mixed with rosemary, garlic, and ground chicken it results in a burger that is juicy, flavorful, and believe it or not healthy-if you use low fat mayo. Trust me, it'll become one of your staples. 

Recipe after the jump: 

Puppy Chow Cookies

If you're from the Midwest, I'd venture to guess that your favorite snack from your childhood is Puppy Chow. For those of you in the dark, I'm not talking about dog food but rather the most delicious snack imaginable made from chex mix, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar. It's a party mix that literally melts in your mouth (and hand).  

When I came across Puppy Chow Cookies on Pinterest I thought it was only fair to make them. (To my kids of course). To say that they were a hit would be an extreme understatement. 

Recipe after the jump:

Soul Food

With temperatures dropping to an all-time low, it's the perfect time to heat things up in the kitchen.  Here is a wonderful menu for a cozy night at home in front the fire or even Valentine's Day.  Its cross-cultural flavors like curry, masala, cumin, coriander, and pistachio really keep things interesting while the cayenne pepper gives it the perfect amount of heat to make it memorable. 

Don't let the fancy names deter you. This meal isn't as hard to prepare as it sounds.  In fact, the lamb chops can be made in 15 minutes flat.  I was feeling extra ambitious when I made this so I served it on a Friday night with a Fig, Olive oil, and Sea Salt Challah.  Recipe to come. The meal was divine. 

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Pistachio Masala Lamb Chops with Cucumber Mint Raita

Couscous with spiced Zucchini

Recipes after the jump