Five Brown Kids

 Recipe from here. So delicious! Ingredients 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 can (15 ounces) red kidney beans or black eyes peas, drained and rinsed 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cucumber, diced ½ red onion, thinly sliced ½ cup Kalamata olives, halved ½ cup crumbled feta cheese ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 1 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp Dijon mustard 3 garlic cloves, pressed ½ teaspoon dried oregano Salt, to taste Black pepper, to taste Instructions In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, red kidney beans, and black beans. Add the cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, and Kalamata olives. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Pour the dressing over the bean mixture and gently toss until everything is evenl...

This salad is my new favorite!   No legit recipe here, just tossing yummy things in a bowl.  1 can of chick peas, drained and rinsed 2 cucumbers, diced  1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese As much fresh dill as you want, chopped Juice from one lemon Shake of olive oil Shake of garlic salt Kalamata olives if you want

 This is a Mark specialty and I love it!   8 ounces smoked trout (flake with a fork) 5 tablespoons creme fraiche 2 tablespoons dice shallot 2 teaspoons lemon zest 2 tablespoons freshly squeeze lemon juice Salt and Pepper to Taste Chives for garnish Mix all ingredients in a bowl and chill to improve flavor. Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.  ( Recipe )

The girls and I have started eating this new dinner that is an absolute favorite for me!  We warm up some Trader Joes naan bread and then add lots of toppings.  So delicious!  Toppings: Trader Joes Eggplant Curry (so delicious) Diced Marinated Chicken Sliced Tomatoes Chopped Lettuce Cilantro Dressing Greek Yogurt Chicken: Add 2.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs to a large bowl. Trim off excess fat.  Process 1 medium yellow onion in a food processor. Add it to the chicken. This is going to add a ton of flavor and tenderize the chicken. Add the juice of 1 large lemon, 3 tbsp tomato paste and  2 tbsp plain greek yogurt. Now, a few easy spices: add 3-4 pinches salt, fresh cracked pepper, 1.5 tbsp thyme, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp red pepper flakes Mix really well, and ideally let this marinate for 2-6 hrs, but even better overnight. You can also make it right away if you like. When you're ready to eat, preheat your oven to 425F. Remove chicken from the fridge a...

  The tastiest way to consume a bunch of kale.   Ingredients: one large serving bowl of bite size kale pieces one lemon golden raisins shelled pistachios fresh parmesan olive oil  garlic salt Directions: I don't know where I saw the recipe so I can't send you to the real thing.  But it's a Ripple favorite now... Add a glug of olive oil and a good shake of garlic salt to the kale and massage the kale with your clean hands for a good minute.  Add in the juice and zest of one lemon, and a good handful of raisins and pistachios.  Sprinkle with parmesan.   Add in more of whatever you need...   It's so good! 

We tested a "recipe" and it's a new favorite. 

Oh my goodness!  I made cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving and saw this recipe on the back of the bag.  I had just enough cranberries left to whip these up and if you love coconut and cranberries as much as me you will love these! 

Courtney’s fave!  Sauce: 1 cup mayo 1/4 cup white vinegar 2 1/2 tbsp mustard 2/3 cup sugar 1 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper Mix in with noodles, hard boiled eggs, green onions and celery. 

Mix: 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla 2 eggs 3 tbsp butter 5 sweet potatoes, baked, peeled and mashed

This new chicken recipe is so yummy and so easy!

Last weekend we had a little birthday party for Tryone and me.  I purchased fresh Pink Lady apples from the farmers market.  (My favorite apple any time of year, but fresh off a tree, into a basket and for sale the next day is to die for!) I sliced a bunch up and served with this caramel dip and it was a hit.  The favorite food of the party by far.  I ended up replenishing the apple plate several times. Caramel Dip 1 cup brown sugar 1 stick butter 1 cup corn syrup 1 can sweetened condensed milk Bring to a boil, stir for two minutes. Pour over popcorn (no seeds) for yummy caramel popcorn or into a serving bowl and let cool for apple dipping.

These enchiladas are amazing.  The homemade sauce is the best.  I never think to get a picture before they are half gone.   Recipe from Best Bites Ingredients 4 tablespoons butter 5 tablespoons flour 2 15-ounce cans chicken broth 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon coriander 1 tablespoon chili powder 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1/3 cup sour cream 2-3 shakes Tabasco (or similar hot sauce), Optional kosher salt, to taste 4 ounces (1/2 block) cream cheese  1 7-oz can mild green chilis 3 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken  4 cups shredded Monterey Jack, divided 8-10 medium flour or corn tortillas Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray and set aside. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Wen butter is melted and bubbly, add flour and stir to combine. Continue cooking, whisking continuously ...

I made this dinner the other night and it was so good. I had to hide the ramen noodles so the kids didn't eat them first.  The flavor of the sauce was amazing. And I loved all the veggies (an entire head of cabbage). I doubled it all with no problem. I did not garnish.  INGREDIENTS PREPARATION Servings 5  Marinade ⅓ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon ginger, minced 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon sugar ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes Pepper, to taste 2 chicken breasts, cubed ½ onion, julienned 3 stalks celery, sliced 4 carrots, julienned 3 cups cabbage, shredded 2 packages ramen noodles (without the seasoning packets) 1½ cups chicken broth Garnish Scallions 1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, ginger, garlic, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, red pepper flakes, and pepper. 2. Place chicken cubes into a re-sealable plastic bag pour half of the marinade into the bag and save the res...

4 bone in pork chops (any size or style of course) 2 tbsp oil 2 cups sliced onions 1 cup beef broth 1/8 tsp pepper 1/3 cup sour cream 2 tbsp flour 2 tbsp milk 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce 1. Place oil in large sauce pan.  Place the pork chops in the pan and cook on low to medium heat until browned on both sides. Remove the pork chops from the pan to a plate. 2. Add onions to the pan, cook until softened. Stir in the beef broth and pepper, return the pork chops to the pan including any juices.  Spoon onions over pork chops, cover and simmer about 12 minutes or until no longer pink in the middle. Remove pork chops and onions from the sauce pan to a plate. 3. In a medium bowl stir the sour cream and flour together. Add to the broth in the pan, whisk until well incorporated. Add the Worcestershire sauce to the gravy, stir in. If the gravy is too thick, thin it with milk. Place the pork chops and onions back into the pan and cook until pork chops are heated back up. ...

Scotia has whipped this up three times in the last month and it is so good!  Perfect dip for company.  1/2 cup olive oil 1/3 cup sugar (start with a little less and add the rest if needed) 1/3 cup white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced 1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (11 ounce) can super sweet corn, drained  1 red onion, diced 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper 1 cup chopped cilantro I n a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sugar, white wine vinegar, chili powder, and salt. Add tomatoes, black-eyed peas, beans, corn, red onion, and bell peppers. Stir to combine. Stir in cilantro. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or overnight to blend flavors. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Taye's swim team has a program where they are each matched with another swimmer to keep track of each other.  Taye hit the jackpot!  His partner brings homemade bread and homemade power bars and fabulous handmade cards wishing Taye luck and telling him that he doesn't really need it because he's trained so hard. Taye tries hard to return the favor, usually with these yummy cinnamon buns - no sweet notes attached. Recipe straight outta here. Gooey Cinnamon Rolls Baker’s Note If you like, add 1/3 cup raisins or toasted chopped pecans to the filling. (I would love this - no one else does!) For the dough: 1 package active dry yeast 3/4 cup milk, warmed (110°F) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 4 eggs 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into chunks For the filling: 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into chunks 2/3 cup fi...

Taye's first summer visit to the farmers market the other day.  We were on the hunt for peaches but he couldn't leave without some okra.   He washed and sliced the okra and then dipped it in this batter.  1 whole egg 1 egg white 1 cup flour 2/3 cup cold water salt and pepper to taste He just puts a cup of vegetable oil in a small saucepan, brings it to a boil and then cooks a few pieces at a time until it's toasty brown.  So tasty!

Recipe from Our Best Bites.   I've modified the cooking a little bit.  This is a new family favorite!   Green Chili Chicken boneless skinless chicken thighs salt and pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and chopped  1 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon ground cumin 14 oz green enchilada sauce  1 cup water  1 cup long-grain rice 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional, sprinkled on top after it's cooked) 1.  Salt and pepper chicken. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. When very hot, add the chicken thighs and cook for about 5 minutes or until golden and crispy on one side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.  2.  Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and allow to heat for about a minute. Add the chopped onions and peppers and cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and cumin ...

I had a Peter Ripple overdose of pea soup in my childhood.  But some time in my mid-thirties it started to sound really good again.  Time cures everything.  I love, love, love it now.  Smooth and creamy, and a little salty.  Delicious. I use this recipe from Word of Wisdom Living . Ingredients: 1# ham bone with a little meat attached 4-6 cups water, or enough to cover ham bone 1-2 bay leaves 1 cup split peas, rinsed ½ tsp thyme, dried 1 T olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped 1 T butter 1 garlic clove, minced  1 new potato, cubed 1/2 tsp salt (but taste first as the ham contains salt) 1/2 tsp pepper, freshly ground 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes Tabasco sauce (optional) Directions: 1.  Place the bones with meat in a suitable pot with water and bay leaves.  Bring to boil and simmer 2-1/2 hours.  Basically, in this step you're making stock. 2.  Remove the bone from...

Taye loves scouting.  But I'm not sure that he will ever earn his Eagle Scout.  Swimming + school keeps him really busy.  He makes pasta and pies and cheesecake and bruchetta and he doesn't have a cooking badge.  He's a ranked swimmer and he doesn't have a swimming badge.  In my book he's already a well rounded and accomplished Eagle and he's not just doing it for the badges! Taye makes the pasta and I make the sauce. Housemade Noodles 2 cups flour 1 tsp salt 3 eggs 1 tsp olive oil Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients and knead until you have a nice smooth ball. Tear it apart into four small balls, wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate for 30 mins. Roll each ball through the pasta machine (or use a pie crust roller by hand) starting at the thickest level and repeating until you get to the thinnest level.  Then send each strip through the cutters or cut into thin strips with a sharp knife.  Let the noodles dry until it's time to eat a...