Once Upon a Recipe

Get Excited About Salad!

February 27, 2013 By Amanda 42 Comments

So I have this pet peeve. Something that really irks me. You wanna know what it is?

I’m going to tell you anyways. I mean, that’s why you’re here right? You allow me to talk incessantly about the crap that runs through my brain 18 hours per day and I reward you at the end of it all with a tasty recipe. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship we’ve got going on here. Capiche?

Back to the pet peeve. Restaurants that serve you a bowl of lettuce with a sprinkle of shredded carrots and call it a side salad. Dude, that’s not a salad. That’s lettuce with some shredded carrots on it.

In fact, I blame restaurants that make fake salads for turning people off of salads. Giving them a bad rep. Lettuce with shredded carrots on it isn’t exciting! It’s rabbit food!

But adding fun toppings like nuts, cheese, veggies, dried fruit, and a delicious dressing? Now that’s something to get excited about. Take the salad you see here, for instance. A bed of mixed greens is totally more exciting than plain ol’ lettuce. Toasted walnuts – yes. Dried cranberries – wicked. Creamy goat cheese – yes siree. Crumbled bacon – heck yeah. Top it off with a homemade vinaigrette and a hardboiled egg or two for some added protein and that right there is a complete and fantastic meal.

Dudes will like this salad too! (I credit the bacon for that one) I took this salad to a dinner party to serve as its own course (minus the hardboiled egg). It was a HUGE hit with the ladies and the dudes. The flavors work really well together and the whole thing is just so darn satisfying. I also included halved cherry tomatoes, but didn’t have any on hand when I made it again last weekend. I highly recommend that you add them as they provide a sweet little juicy pop.

Feel free to play around too! Think of this recipe as a guideline for creating a really well-balanced and flavorful salad. If you don’t like walnuts, try almonds or pecans. Not a fan of goat cheese? Try feta or parmesan cheese. Want to make this vegetarian? Omit the bacon. If you’re making a meal out of it, trying adding grilled chicken in place of the egg. Or grilled tofu! Tuna or salmon! The possibilities are endless. Get into it!

The Get Excited About Salad Salad (adapted from Oprah.com)

The cherry tomatoes aren’t shown here, but please add them if you can. As mentioned, if you’re making this as a side salad or for a salad course, the hardboiled egg or added protein can be left out. But if you’re making this salad into a meal, definitely add your protein of choice to ensure hunger satisfaction. The dressing is wonderful and could really be used on any salad. It will make more than you need for this recipe, so store any leftovers in a tightly sealed jar in the fridge and use on other salads throughout the week.

For the dressing:

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

For the salad (serves 2 as a meal, 4 as a side):

1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
3 cups mixed greens
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 ounce of goat cheese, crumbled
4 strips of thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 eggs, hardboiled (optional)

To toast the walnuts, spread them out onto a baking sheet and toast them in the oven at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes. Combine all of the dressing ingredients, minus the olive oil, in a small bowl. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking constantly as you do so. Set aside.

Combine the mixed greens, toasted walnuts, cherry tomatoes, and dried cranberries in a large bowl. Add the dressing (to taste – you will not need all of it) and toss to coat. Split the salad onto 2 (or 4) plates and then evenly sprinkle with the goat cheese and bacon. Slice the hardboiled egg and add one egg to each salad. Enjoy!

PS. I totally just made this again for dinner last night and added a fried egg. It was mega!

PPS. What makes a salad great for you?

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Filed Under: Salads Tagged With: dinner, flavor, goat cheese, nuts, salad, vegetables

Stuffed to the Gills | Salmon Stuffed with Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Feta

February 21, 2013 By Amanda 43 Comments

Da-dun-tss. I’m not sure what is more hilarious – my lame pun (stuffed to the gills) or the fact that da-dun-tss is actually defined by Urban Dictionary and my name is totally used in the example. Check it. Anyways…

Want to know how to really impress someone? Anyone…a family member? A friend? A member of the opposite sex (or same sex, if that’s your thing)? (whether or not you’re trying to woo said person is totally optional, but preferred)

…cook for them! And don’t just cook anything. Cook something that totally looks and tastes like you put way more effort into it than you actually did!

This salmon is a fine example. I mean, look at it. Two thick salmon fillets, perfectly cooked, and sandwiched around a ridiculously delicious filling of spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese. It’s beautiful! And totally looks and tastes gour-met. I’m confident enough in the wow-factor of this salmon that I’m prepared to give you a money-back guarantee. If you make this for someone and they don’t like love it, I will have a batch of freshly baked cookies couriered to your doorstep. Call it a cookie-back guarantee. (But play nice and refrain from testing my theory on someone who is opposed to fish, ’cause obviously that ain’t gonna work).

Seriously. My Dad makes a mean grilled salmon, but this comes in at a very close second. And it’s as easy as can be! The inspiration came from a dinner I had at a friend’s place (hi Bev!), where she made a similar stuffed salmon, but with goat cheese. I never got her recipe but tried to recreate it at home and decided to use feta, since that’s what I had on hand. The feta is a little bit less overpowering than goat cheese, which worked really well here, since some of the other flavors (like the sweetness of the sun-dried tomatoes) were able to shine through. Serve the salmon with Orzo with Parmesan and Basil, and a steamed green like broccoli or asparagus, and you’ve got yourself an incredible, yet supremely easy meal. Sure to win over the hearts of many.

Please take me up on my offer. I like being right.

Salmon Stuffed with Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Feta

Serves 2-3 generously. If feeding a larger group, increase the size of the salmon fillets and double or triple the filling ingredients. Also be prepared to adjust the baking time. Make sure that your fillets are very similar in size and have a relatively even thickness throughout. If the fillets are thick in the centre and thin at the ends, you will end up with cooked ends and an uncooked centre, or a cooked centre and overcooked ends, which would be a real shame.

2 fresh salmon fillets (skinless), about 1/2 pound each and 1 inch thick

1 TBSP. olive oil

2 heaping cups of fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped

1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil (drained and roughly chopped)

1/3 cup + 2 TBSP. crumbled feta cheese

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 lemon, halved

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a shallow casserole dish or baking sheet with non-stick spray. Lay one of the fillets down in the baking dish. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat and saute the spinach until just wilted, about 1 minute. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and the garlic, and stir for another minute. Remove from heat and stir in 1/3 cup of feta cheese.

Spread the mixture evenly on top of the fillet. Squeeze half of the lemon over top of the filling. Lay the second fillet over top of the first, lining it up as evenly as possible. Squeeze the other half of the lemon over top, and then liberally sprinkle with salt, pepper, and the remaining feta cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the salmon is just cooked through. Please note that the baking time will vary greatly depending on the size and thickness of your salmon fillets, so adjust accordingly. I suggest keeping a close eye on it after the first 20 minutes.

Now get to that woo-ing.

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Filed Under: Main Dishes Tagged With: easy, feta, gourmet, spinach, stuffed salmon, sun-dried tomatoes

Weekend Favorites

February 17, 2013 By Amanda 12 Comments

Hi friends!

Happy weekend! It’s a long weekend around these parts, and I am so excited to have an extra day to relax and enjoy. I have a few new recipes that I’m hoping to make and photograph to share with you in the next couple of weeks.

I’m also going to try a little something new around here. A few of my fellow bloggers have started doing weekly posts to share their favorite finds from around the web, chat about what they’re loving lately, and so on. I find these kinds of posts really fun to read and thought I might give it a shot myself. At this point I don’t plan on making it a weekly feature, but rather something that I will try to do once a month.

So with that said, here are some of favorite finds from around the Internets lately! Have a fantastic weekend!

With this little bit of extra time on my hands this weekend, I am going to use my not-at-all-new-but-barely-used-doughnut-pan to make these. I have a very good feeling about this.

I read this post about love a while ago, and well, I loved it. Very well said, Emma.

You must watch this video. OMG, beyond hilarious. The road goes both ways, boys!

Amy made my Chewy Almond Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. You should too!

I had big plans to travel to Italy this Spring. For financial + other reasons, I’ve had to postpone those plans for the time being. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to blow this popsicle stand for a couple of weeks in the near future. I just booked a trip friends! Guess where I’m going? Hint: I just ordered 3 new bikinis. And I’m gonna get lei’d.

So how about that meteoroid that broke up over Russia on Friday? What the? Apparently it was too small to be detected in advance (150 feet in diameter), and NASA limits its watch to objects larger than 140 meters in diameter, as that is the size deemed to have the ability to be “regionally devastating.” Does anyone else find this a bit disconcerting?

I want to stick my face in this. And these. And this. In that order. And then repeat.

One of my favorite things about the blogging world is the sense of community and support that I feel from connecting with other bloggers. I remember starting Once Upon a Recipe with absolutely no idea what I was doing, and no followers, except for a few family members and friends. It’s so important to support one another! One of my readers recently contacted me about some advice for starting a new blog. Her name is Lindsi and she blogs over at Every Day Sugar High. Lindsi has recently posted some seriously delicious-looking treats. Why don’t you all pop on over to say hi to Lindsi and show her some love? xo.

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Filed Under: Chatter Tagged With: favorites, links, weekend

Be My Schmalentine | Quick Sticky Chocolate Cake for One (or Two)

February 13, 2013 By Amanda 24 Comments

Here we are again. It’s almost February 14. Schmalentine’s Day. Hooray.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Valentine’s Day just ain’t my jam. It kind of makes me want to gag. I am a big believer in giving and receiving love every damn day of the year, and therefore I fail to see the point of devoting an entire day to over-the-top demonstrations of love when it’s much nicer to spread it around all year. Flowers? Yes, I’d like to receive them a little more regularly, please and thank you. Chocolate? I already eat it nearly every day. A nice dinner out? Let’s do it. Weekly. Jewelry? I’m not really into it. Jewelry makes my body feel…cluttered.

Simple acts of love? Now we’re talking. Slip a sweet note into my coat pocket. Make me a simple dinner at home. Pick up a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner. And don’t wait for February 14 to do it.

Whether or not you have a significant other to celebrate with this Valentine’s Day, you’re probably looking for a sweet treat to enjoy. If nothing else, V-day is a total excuse to eat as much chocolate as your little heart desires. How about this quick and dirty chocolate cake? I came across this recipe for chocolate cake for one in the beautiful cookbook “Home Made Winter” by Yvette van Boven. The recipe is described as a 3-minute chocolate mug cake.

Cringe. Friends, I don’t do mug cakes. The microwave, while useful for many things, does not cook cakes very well. Have you ever tried it? The texture is just…ugh. Gummy. Spongy. Yuck. But what intrigued me about this recipe is the fact that Yvette suggested that the cake could be baked in the oven for those who find microwave cakes to be off-putting. For the record, I tried the cake both ways. And I maintain my sentiments about microwave cakes. But you may wish to give it a try, especially if you’re in a pinch for time.

For me, this cake serves a particular purpose. Either you’re having a mad craving for chocolate cake and you don’t want to go to the trouble of making a big cake, and then be left with an entire cake to entice you until it’s gone. Or, you’re in a pinch for a quick dessert for one or two. The cake batter comes together in a flash, and even if you choose to bake it in the oven, it will be ready within 20 minutes. Go the microwave route, and you’ll be taking your first bite in just over 3 minutes. The best part? No leftovers!

Quick Sticky Chocolate Cake for One (or Two) ~ adapted from Home Made Winter

3 TBSP. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. baking power

Pinch of salt

3 TBSP. sugar

2 TBSP. cocoa powder

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 TBSP. milk

3 TBSP. vegetable oil

3 TBSP. dark chocolate chips

If using the oven, preheat it to 350°F and spray your baking dish with non-stick spray (I used a large ramekin dish). If using the microwave, pick a large microwave safe mug. Use a separate bowl to mix together all of the ingredients and pour into the baking dish. If using a mug, you can simply add everything into the mug and mix it together. No clean-up! However, with the microwave technique, you can omit the baking powder and salt. Bake your cake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If using the microwave, pop your mug into the microwave and cook on high for 3 minutes. The cake will rise over the rim of the mug, but don’t sweat it.

Enjoy the cake while still warm, and definitely feel free to add a scoop of ice cream on top. I’m a bit of a chocolate cake purist and prefer to eat it straight up.

______________________________________

Need some other Valentine’s Day ideas? I suggest that you start your day with Banana Bread Oatmeal Pancakes or my Nana’s Cinnamon Buns. If you’re in the mood for a love day beverage, I highly recommend a Red Lotus Martini (or two) or a big glass of Red Wine Sangria.

Cooking together is so romantic (in my opinion). Get in the kitchen with your significant other or your friends and make some heart-shaped pizzas with this Whole Wheat Pizza Dough. For a festively colored side dish, try this creamy and dreamy Beet Risotto.

Sweet treats? These Red Velvet Sandwiches are delicious and easy. If you’ve got a little more time on your hands, make some decadent Rice Pudding. Or Homemade Snickers Bars. Or Bourbon Pecan Pie Brownies. For something a little lighter, try Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips. And diving into this Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie might just be the most delicious thing you can do on February 14.

Happy love day, my friends. And remember to share some love, each and every day of the year. <3

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Filed Under: Holidays, Sweet Treats Tagged With: cake, chocolate, for one, love, quick, Valentine's Day

I Like Cookies | Chewy Almond Butter Oatmeal & Dark Chocolate Cookies

February 1, 2013 By Amanda 55 Comments

I’m a bit of a cookie snob. I mean, not all cookies are created equal. You know?

For me, a good cookie has three requirements. First of all, and most importantly, a good cookie has to be chewy. Not hard, not cake-y, not crispy, but chewy. Secondly, I like cookies that have some heft. Don’t get me wrong, a good buttery chocolate chip cookie can easily win my heart. But most often, I love a cookie that’s got substance – oatmeal, coconut, raisins, chocolate – you know, good mix-ins! And finally, I really prefer cookies that are thick as opposed to thin. Thickness matters.

We’re still talking about cookies. Don’t get distracted!

And if the cookies can maybe possibly be considered healthy…even better. Now, I’m going to use the term “healthy” quite loosely here. These cookies do have plenty of sugar. BUT! They are filled with many good-for-you ingredients like oats, flax, almond butter, coconut oil, and dark chocolate. If you use gluten-free oats, you can call these gluten-free. And if you use vegan chocolate (most good-quality dark chocolate is considered vegan), then they become vegan too. Which means we can share these cookies with all of our gluten-free and vegan friends! Bonus!

This is really good news for me because when I make a batch of cookies this good, I need to get them out of my house, like, immediately. Otherwise I will eat more than the daily recommended intake of cookies. Unless that number is somewhere in the double digits. In that case, I’m doing fine.

These cookies are so darn chewy and so freaking good. Seriously. But please don’t take my word for it. Mix up a batch for yourself and then invite me over to help you eat them. I’m real considerate like that.

Chewy Almond Butter Oatmeal & Dark Chocolate Cookies (adapted from Eat Live Run)

You have the option of making these cookies gluten-free, if desired. Just use gluten-free oats! If you want to make them vegan-friendly, just be sure to use vegan chocolate. Makes about 30 cookies.

1/4 cup coconut oil, room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. salt

3 1/2 cups regular oats (or gluten-free, if desired)

1 cup dark chocolate chips (or chopped dark chocolate)

1 cup almond butter

2 TBSP. ground flax mixed with 6 TBSP. warm water (aka. a flax “egg”)

2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare your cookie sheet(s) by lining them with a Silpat or parchment paper.

Cream together the coconut oil, almond butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until well blended. Add the vanilla and ground flax + water mixture. Mix well.

In a separate bowl, combine the oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add to the wet ingredients along with the dark chocolate chips. Mix until just combined.

Roll the dough into small balls (golf ball size) and place three inches apart on the cookie sheets (12 per sheet). Do not flatten the dough balls. Bake for 10-12 minutes until puffy and just barely beginning to brown around the edges. Let cool for 5-10 minutes (or until set) on the cookie sheet before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container with wax paper between each layer. I imagine these would freeze well too, but they were eaten too quickly for me to need to do such a thing!

Have a great weekend friends!

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Filed Under: Sweet Treats Tagged With: almond butter, chewy, cookies, dark chocolate, gluten-free, oatmeal

The Mystery of the Two-Ingredient Pancake

January 28, 2013 By Amanda 14 Comments

Two-ingredient pancakes. Yep, you read that right. And if you’ve been hanging out on the internets lately, you’ve probably seen this phrase creeping around. Banana + egg = pancake. I know what you’re thinking.

Come on now, don’t pee in my eye and tell me it’s raining. An egg and a banana coming together to taste like a delicious, fluffy, buttery pancake? Not possible.

Because I thought it too. And after thorough testing, I have confirmed that it is, in fact, a big, fat lie. The two-ingredient pancake does not taste anything like a real pancake. I know, I almost fell over in my chair too. (Not).

However, let me explain a little bit more. While the two-ingredient pancake does not taste like an actual pancake, it does have a few things going for it. First of all, it does taste…good. I was a bit worried that it was going to taste like a banana-flavored omelette (which did not sound at all appealing to my taste buds), but thankfully that was not the case. It tastes more like a thin eggy…pancake. I made my pancake a three-ingredient pancake and added a teaspoon of ground flax seed, which may have helped a little bit with the texture. I topped it with peanut butter, sliced apple, sliced almonds, and hemp hearts, but the topping possibilities are really quite endless. The banana provides so much sweetness that I did not feel the need to add syrup or honey.

Secondly, I felt surprisingly satisfied afterwards. Mind you, I did make two pancakes. I wake up ravenous every morning and an egg and a banana ain’t going to tame this hungry beast. I’m not one of those girls who can eat like a bird and be a happy camper. I get hangry (which in case you’re behind with the times, is the equivalent of hunger-fueled anger). Anyways, my two pancakes left me feeling full for a few hours afterwards. Two pancakes paired with a piece of fruit made a really great breakfast to start the day.

Thirdly, these “pancakes” are a great option for anyone looking for gluten-free breakfast meals. Whether you’re on a gluten-free diet, or are trying to change things up a bit, these pancakes would be a great option to throw into the breakfast rotation. Here is the nutritional information for one pancake (with 1 tsp. ground flax).

And finally, if you’re like me and have more ripe bananas hanging out in your freezer than you know what to do with, these pancakes will help you work through your supply. Oh, and if you start your day off with these pancakes, you can totally not feel bad about eating cookies for the rest of the day. Kidding. (sort of)

Two-Ingredient Pancakes

1 small (very) ripe banana, mashed

1 large egg

1 tsp. ground flax (optional)

Toppings: Nut butter, hemp hearts, fruit, coconut, nuts, agave, whatever your little heart desires!

Mix the egg and banana together well. Add the ground flax, if desired. Heat a skillet over medium heat and spray with non-stick spray. Pour the mixture into the skillet. Allow the pancake to cook for a few minutes. Once it is easy to flip, do so and allow to cook for another few minutes. Serve immediately with the toppings of your choice!

Disclaimer: The only way I would choose these pancakes over real pancakes would be if the world was ending and the only way to save it would be to never eat real pancakes again, but…in the name of health, these are a pretty great option. Try ‘em!

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Filed Under: Breakfast Tagged With: bananas, breakfast, gluten-free, healthy, pancakes, two-ingredient

When Life Gives You Tomatoes | Fire-Roasted Tomato Bisque

January 23, 2013 By Amanda 26 Comments

Have you ever eaten something at a restaurant that is just so damn good that you cannot stop thinking about it? And so then you ~~create excuses~~ find good reasons to go back to that same restaurant to enjoy that same thing over and over again? And then, after the tenth time going to that same restaurant and eating that same thing, you start to wonder if maybe you could make the thing at home, saving yourself some cash and also freeing yourself up to possibly eat out elsewhere and discover new obsessions?

Cool. I’m glad we understand each other. That’s totally what happened with this soup!

There is a great little pizzeria franchise here in Alberta, BC, and Ontario called Famoso, which specializes in authentic Neapolitan pizza. The pizza is totally killer. Now, I have to preface the rest of this story by telling you that I rarely order soup in restaurants. I’m just not really a soup girl. Plus, when up against something like pizza (hello cheesy, carby goodness), the soup is going to play second fiddle every time. A friend recommended that I try the fire-roasted tomato bisque and when she claimed that it was something along the lines of “best ever,” I decided to put it to the test.

And then I proceeded to go back to Famoso to eat this soup more times than I would like to admit over the couple of months that followed. (Don’t worry, I still ordered a small pizza alongside it!)

This soup. Well, it’s a bisque really, and I must confess that I did not know the difference between a soup and a bisque until about 29 seconds ago when I turned to Google for help. Apparently, a bisque is a type of rich, thick, creamy soup that has been pureed so that it has an even texture. Although, according to Wikipedia, a traditional bisque is “a smooth, creamy, highly-seasoned soup of French origin, classically based on a strained broth (coulis) of crustaceans.” Well excuse me, fancy pants.

Whether this is truly a soup or a bisque, I have no idea. But what I do know is…it’s freaking delicious. After scouring the Internets for recipes that seemed to resemble the taste of the soup from Famoso that I had essentially committed to memory, I found one that, coupled with a few little tweaks, seems to be pretty darn close. It’s not quite as creamy and dreamy as the restaurant version, but I am rather certain that Famoso uses a much more generous amount of half & half, or likely even cream in their soup. So let’s just call this the lighter and tighter cousin to Famoso’s soup. Bisque. Whatever. Just make it! ‘Tis the season for soup, after all.

Fire-Roasted Tomato Bisque (adapted from The Novice Chef)

This bisque packs a flavorful punch. The use of fire-roasted tomatoes is key – don’t go trying to sub in regular ‘ol tomatoes. They just won’t cut it here. I found fire-roasted tomatoes alongside the other canned tomatoes in my local grocery store, but any Italian grocer should carry them. Also, fresh basil will make this bisque even more fantastic, so if it’s available to you, go ahead and use it. The fresh basil at my local grocer was looking rather sad and pathetic. And finally, the generous serving of crumbled feta cheese really takes this soup over the top, so please don’t leave it out.

1/4 cup herb-infused olive oil (or EVOO)

1 onion, diced

8 garlic cloves, minced

3 (14 oz.) cans of fire-roasted tomatoes (ie. Scarpone’s)

2 cups stock (chicken or vegetable)

1/2 cup half & half

2 tsp. dried basil

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper, to taste

Crumbled feta cheese, for topping

In a heavy pot over medium high heat, heat the olive oil and saute the onion until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook with the onion for a few minutes. Add the cans of fire roasted tomatoes (juice included) and cover for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes.

With the lid off the pot, add the broth and half & half and bring the soup to a simmer. The mixture should start to thicken as it reduces (~10-15 minutes). Once slightly thickened, season to taste with salt and pepper. Lower the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes more.

Time to puree! Using either an immersion blender (if you’re lucky), or a regular blender, puree the soup until smooth. Be careful if using a regular blender as the soup is (obviously) hot! You may need to puree the soup in several batches.

Serve with a generous mound of crumbled feta cheese (and fresh basil if you’ve got it), and stir it into your soup as you eat. Buon appetito!

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Filed Under: Soups and Stews, Vegetarian Tagged With: basil, bisque, feta, fire-roasted, soup, tomatoes

How To Beat The Winter Blues | Lemon Blueberry Walnut Bread

January 17, 2013 By Amanda 16 Comments

Do you ever have days where you just can’t, and I mean CANNOT, muster up the energy to do something that you really need to do? As in, even if someone offered you $100 to complete this task, you still just couldn’t do it?

For example, today I just CANNOT do the dishes. The sink is full of them. Dirty pots and pans, crusty bowls, cups, even things that I really just should have put in the dishwasher, but even the idea of opening up the dishwasher door, pulling out the rack, and placing these items in their proper place was just too much for this old gal.

Friends, I haven’t done the dishes in 3 days. THREE. Eww. They’re even starting to…smell. (I can’t believe I just admitted that.)

And you know who is to blame? Winter. Cold, dreary, let’s-get-dark-at-five-o’clock-just-when-everyone-is-getting-off-work-so-they-get-zero-vitamin-D-cause-that’s-fun (not) winter. It is during these months that it takes practically all I’ve got to not change into my sweatpants, wrap myself in a snuggie (yes, I own a snuggie), and watch TV/surf Pinterest all night long with a bottle of wine and a plate of leftover Christmas cookies at my side. Hmm…that’s a frightening visual. My apologies.

Don’t worry, I’ve figured out a few ways to beat those winter blues. Running, yoga, and the thought of not being able to fit into any of my clothes come May, to name a few. Oh, and bread! Bright, summery, delicious bread!

Lemon Blueberry Walnut Bread | Once Upon a Recipe

A trick from Joy…rub the zest into the sugar to release the essential oils in the zest = flavor town.

Let’s take a break from hot soups and casseroles and other wintery things, mmm-k? Let’s smack winter in the face and enjoy the flavors of summer!

Real talk: I first made this bread back in September, when it was technically still summer. Blueberries were at their seasonal prime. BUT! I have seen fresh blueberries pop up at my local supermarket on more than one occasion as of late. And if all else fails, use frozen blueberries.

Don’t be discouraged! We’re all going to get through this together. Just make yourself a loaf of this bread, enjoy a slice or two with your morning tea or coffee, and let’s start plotting all of the fun we’re going to have this summer. It’ll be here before we know it!

Lemon Blueberry Walnut Bread (adapted from allrecipes.com)

It’s no secret that lemon and blueberries are a match made in heaven. The walnuts in this bread add a nice little twist, and the glaze adds some extra moisture and tartness. If this bread won’t get you out of bed on a cold, dark morning, I’m not sure what will!

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 cup sugar

Zest from 2 lemons

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 TBSP. butter, melted

2 TBSP. vegetable oil

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

For the glaze:

Juice from 2 lemons

3 TBSP. sugar

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a dry skillet, toast the walnuts over medium-high heat for a few minutes or until just fragrant. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, lemon zest, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, melted butter and oil. Whisk to combine.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the liquid mixture and stir gently until just combined; do not over-mix. Gently fold in the walnuts and blueberries.

Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan (8″x4″). Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on rack for 20 minutes; remove from pan.

For the glaze, combine the lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and continue stirring until the sugar dissolves. Pour the glaze over the bread while still warm. Slice and enjoy! Wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and consume within a few days.

PS. For the health of all those involved, my sink of dirty dishes has been taken care of. No need to send help.

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Filed Under: Bread, Breakfast Tagged With: blueberries, bread, breakfast, lemon, walnuts

Just Call Me Fancy Pants | Tequila Shrimp

January 8, 2013 By Amanda 31 Comments

Despite the fact that all of the holiday parties are over, it is important to have a few recipes on the ready so that you’re always in a position to entertain your friends. (Happy bellies = happy friends). It’s kind of a shame that we smush all of these wonderful parties/gatherings into the weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s Eve, no? I mean, it makes for a lot of partying and eating and drinking to do in a short amount of time. Forget the Freshman Fifteen. Hello Christmas Fifteen. Why not spread it out a little?

Friends, I propose that we create a new holiday. Something to get us through the rest of the winter. January and February are such dreary months! Post-holiday lows combined with cold, dark days. It’s all a bit depressing if you ask me. What shall we call our new holiday?

…I am drawing a blank, but one thing I can be sure of is that it must involve lots of good food and beverages. Presents can be optional.

And these tequila shrimp will be a must-serve item. I mean, come on – jumbo shrimp combined with tequila, lime, and cilantro? It’s like a shrimp marrying a margarita and having delicious babies. It’s super simple to create too. Sauté your shrimp with some onion, garlic, and tequila – all of which can be done in advance, no less – and then serve with cilantro, lime, and salt. In a jumbo martini glass (optional – see below). I made these tequila shrimp for a holiday party I hosted a few weeks ago and they were completely annihilated. Fancy pants without being finicky or stressful. Winning! Happy…Partymus!

Tequila Shrimp

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and tails on (~40 large shrimp)

1/4 cup tequila

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

1/8-1/4 tsp. salt (to taste)

2 TBSP. cilantro, chopped

Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add the tequila and the shrimp. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered for 3-5 minutes, or until the shrimp are just pink. Refrigerate for at least two hours, or until ready to serve (up to 24 hours).

For the presentation: Combine the shrimp with the lime juice, salt, and cilantro. Toss together and serve over ice, preferably in an over-sized martini glass. Serve with cocktail sauce for dipping, if desired.

PS. While I’ve never tried it, I happen to think that this recipe could be turned into a rather amazing entrée. Add the lime juice, salt, and cilantro while the shrimp are still warm, and serve over freshly cooked angel hair pasta. Throw in some asparagus (or your favorite vegetable) to round out the meal. Does that sound lip-smacking good or what?

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Filed Under: Appetizers Tagged With: appetizer, cilantro, lime, shrimp, tequila

Welcome Friends!

January 4, 2013 By Amanda 12 Comments

Hello dear friends! And welcome to the new Once Upon a Recipe! I am so excited that this day is finally here…waiting to show you my new little space has been downright torturous! But here we are.

First and foremost, I must give a big thank-you to Kendra over at Smitten Blog Designs for her wonderful design. If you are looking to create a new design for your blog, I highly recommend the work of these amazing ladies. Thank you, Kendra!

Secondly, this whole self-hosting thing is new to me and the learning curve has been rather steep. Please bear with me as I iron out any kinks, and certainly feel free to email me if you notice any problems, missing links, etcetera. Contact info can be found on the menu above. Look around, get comfortable! As previously mentioned, I was not able to transfer over my subscribers and followers from the old site, so if you wish to keep following along, please update your readers to http://www.onceuponarecipeblog.com or subscribe for email updates via the “Subscribe” button on the sidebar.

Last week, I promised you a fancy pants appetizer recipe, and I always keep my promises. Keep your eyes open for it next week. But for now, here is a little peek into my holidays via my iPhone (and primarily through Instagram). I hope you all had a fabulous New Year’s Eve, and are ready for all that 2013 holds. Happy New Year!

Holiday bucket list item: Watch It’s a Wonderful Life – check. (PS. What a great story).