Chicken, Corn and Potato Chowder

This chowder contains so many of our favorite flavors. Smoky bacon and good ol' Iowa sweet corn take it to the next level.  Won't you join me for a bowl...or two?

Chicken Corn Potato Chowder

olive oil
salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or tenders
2 cups chopped Yukon gold potatoes (skin on)
6 slices bacon, chopped
1/3 cup diced onion
2 jalapenos, diced

2 cups chicken broth
2 cups sweet corn with juice or 1 can creamed corn
1/2 cup milk
3 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour (for GF use oat flour)
salt and pepper to taste

Boil and drain potatoes. Set aside.

Drizzle some olive oil on the chicken breast to lightly coat.  Sprinkle with salt (pepper if desired.)  Grill chicken breasts until no longer pink.  Chop and set aside.

In large pot, cook bacon until done.  Remove bacon and dump out all but about 1 tablespoon grease.  

Add onions and jalapenos and cook, stirring constantly until onions are translucent.  Do not walk off or it will burn.

Add chicken broth, corn, cooked potatoes and heat. Let cook for a bit to let the flavors mingle.  

 Add chicken and allow to reheat. Stir in milk.

In small saucepan melt butter. Add flour and whisk smooth.  Cook for about a minute to get rid of the raw flour taste. This is called a roux.  

Whisk roux into hot soup to thicken.

Ladle into soup cups or bowls.  Top with extra bacon if you like!

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

Homemade applesauce will taste so much better than anything you've ever eaten from a store.  My family doesn't mind a little bit of tart so we don't add any sugar at all. If you prefer a sweeter sauce find a sweet variety or you can use a little bit of sugar.   

We have found that if you see an apple tree, ask the owner if you can pick their apples.  Most time we find they will give them to you rather than have to mow over them or keep picking them off after they fall.  

Many times people don't know what kind of apple tree they have.  They may have moved in and it was already there.  Not every apples makes good sauce.  I usually take a box and test them out first.  Some have no flavor, some have a weird texture.  Once we know we like them we sauce them.  If we don't we press them for cider.  Still no waste!

If you are ready to make your own applesauce with no additives, no preservatives, no sugar and most likely no chemicals..scroll on down!

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

Wash your apples well, especially ones that have hit the ground. 

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #115

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Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

The only thing that would be better than a tall glass of milk is sandwiching a little bit of ice cream in the middle of two of these and making an ice cream sandwich!

Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies                                     Printable Recipe  

1-1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1-1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups mini semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Apple Pecan Bundt Cake with Apple Cider Glaze

Fall has arrived and I'm ringing it in with this beautiful bundt cake.  I love cakes made in this pan.  So simple and the pan does most of the work. All I did was drizzle on some glaze and sprinkle on the pecans. And viola...one gorgeous cake!

Apple Pecan Bundt Cake with Apple Cider Glaze                      Printable Recipe

1-3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used French Vanilla)

1-1/2 cup canola oil

3 cups all purpose flour

1-1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

3 medium Granny Smith apples

1 cup chopped pecans

Glaze and Topping:

2 Tablespoons apple cider

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tablespoons chopped pecans

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #114

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Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

Cut the carbs (and gluten!) by ditching the noodles and using zucchini and yellow squash instead.

Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

1-2 small zucchini
1-2 small yellow squash
1 jar or 4 cups marinara sauce
1 pound ground beef (optional)
6 ounces ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
grated Parmesan

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy

One day I had lunch out with my husband.  Chicken fried steak was their special of the day. I thought to myself that I need to figure out how to make this at home.  My fried steak is crunchy and the gravy is over the top.  It reminds me of the milk gravy my mom made when she fried chicken. Little crunchy breading bits speckled throughout. 

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy (with Gluten Free Options*)      Printable Recipe

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4-6 (4 ounce) cube steaks (or tenderized round and cut your own pieces like I did)

30 wheat saltine crackers, crushed

1 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon pepper (and optional, we prefer not so much black pepper)

few dashes cayenne pepper

3/4 cup milk

2 eggs

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #113

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Pizza Zucchini Boats

I have to give credit to my husband for this one.  He came up with the idea on his own.  I helped him carry it out.  We used small zucchini here but you can use larger ones.  You will need to cook them longer to get them soft.  Change up all the toppings as you like them.   I will give you a guide as to how we put our tasty dish together.

Pizza Zucchini Boats

Small Zucchini
Pizza or Marinara sauce
Ground Beef
Pepperoni Slices
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese or Italian Blend Cheese

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #112

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Grilled Corn on the Cob with Parmesan Cheese

If you are already grilling other foods you might as well throw some corn on while you are at it and save heating up your kitchen. Now let's talk cheese.  I saw a chef on TV once put Parmesan on his corn and I thought he was nuts.  Turns out the saltiness of the Parmesan is just what this corn needs.  Try it, you won't be disappointed. 

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Parmesan Cheese                            Printable Recipe

Sweet Corn (Husk On)
Butter
Grated Parmesan cheese
Black Pepper (optional)

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Freezing Sweet Corn

Freezing sweet corn is easy to do and the best way, in my opinion, to preserve it.  There are many who can it in jars but the cooking method for that I think takes away from the freshness.  My mom shucks and removes the silks from hers and freezes them on the cob.  I don't have space to do that so I remove mine from the cob to freeze.  This is my method.  There are some who add extra ingredients to their corn, like sugar, but if your corn is sweet it doesn't need it.

Freezing Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn

Water

Salt

Large pot

Sharp knife or a kernel cutter tool

two large bowls that nest in each other

measuring cup

zip shut quart freezer bags

jelly roll pan

basket

GIVEAWAY - Personalized Sterling Silver Stamped Necklace and Team Colors Sports Bracelet

Sports Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, Sisters, Girlfriends!

No kids in sports?  Support your favorite pro team!

Don't follow sports?  There are great mom and grandma options too!

Nykole is a "sports mom" herself and she is from IOWA!

Nykole's Boutique has as design for everyone. There are just a few of what she offers. She has almost any sport or cheer/dance and everything color your can think of.  

Personalized Sterling Silver Stamped Necklaces

Team Colors Sports Bracelets

For my celebration of 20,000 likes on Facebook Nykole has graciously offered one of EACH to give to one of my fans! (Drawing ends Sunday at midnight!)

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #110

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Dehydrating Tomato Skins to Make Tomato Powder

Waste not, want not!

So you've made some Roasted Marinara Sauce and have some extra bits of skins, seeds, and other goodies that didn't make the cut? It's really simple to make tomato powder.  The uses are endless. Mix even amounts of powdered tomato and water to make your own tomato paste.  Add the powder to soups and stews for some added tomato flavor. I thought this would also be good added to meatloaf mixtures.  I am sure you can come up with even more ideas!

Dehydrating Tomato Skins to Make Tomato Powder

Roasted Marinara Sauce Leftover Bits
OR
Tomato skins removed during your canning process.

Roasted Marinara Sauce

Some of you have asked for my roasted marinara recipe and so I will offer a guide on how I make it. There are no exact measurement as each batch can be different depending on the intensity of the flavor of your tomatoes, onions, and peppers.  I make each batch and taste it until I am satisfied. 

You'll notice no garlic in my recipe.  Italian ladies everywhere are shaking their heads.  You are welcome to add it to your sauce.  My husband cannot have garlic so I do not use it and it is still very tasty.

Roasted Marinara Sauce

Red and Yellow Tomatoes (need to be mostly reds due to acid level needed)
Green  or Yellow Peppers (1-2 per baking dish)
Sweet Yellow Onions (1-2 per baking dish)
Olive Oil
Fresh Basil (good handful if using 3 baking dishes)
Fresh Oregano (small handful if using 3 baking dishes)
Fresh Parsley (optional) (small handful if using 3 baking dishes)
Salt
Sugar
Cayenne Pepper (few dashes per batch)

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Grilled Honey Rosemary Glazed Pork

Grilled Honey Rosemary Glazed Pork 

1/4 cup honey
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2-3 teaspoons finely chopped fresh Rosemary
1-1/2 pound pork tenderloin
olive oil
salt and pepper

Mix together honey, 1 T olive oil and Rosemary in a small sauce pan.  Use the 3 teaspoon measure if you like more Rosemary flavor.

 Bring to boil and cook for 30 seconds.  

Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Pat pork dry and brush with olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.

Grill over medium-hot fire for about 15 minutes turning every few minutes so all sides get time on the grates.   Brush on honey Rosemary glaze, continue to turn and glaze for another 5 minutes or until meat thermometer reads at least 145 degrees.  This is pork's new safety standard.  This cut of meat can go a little higher and will still be tender. 

Rest your meat under a foil tent for 3-5 minutes. Slice.  As you can see mine was still juicy so I poured the juices back over the meat when I served it. 

Use this glaze on other cuts of pork (change the cooking times) or even chicken!