Pin Tested: Baked "Fried" Pickles

Recipe Link

Inspiration:

Recipe Link 

Ingredients: 

• 1/3  jar pickle slices (10ish slices)
• 1 egg
• Splash of milk
• Dash of hot sauce
• Shake of garlic powder
• Shake of pepper
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• Shake of bread crumbs
• Ranch dressing + hot sauce for dipping

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

2. Mix egg, milk, and hot sauce in bowl

3. Mix all bread crumbs and seasoning in another bowl

4. Dry pickle slices with paper towel

5. Dip pickle slices in egg mixture then breading mixture

6. Place breaded pickles on cookie sheet and bake for 7-10 min

7. Dip and Enjoy! 

Results:

Yum! I ate mine right away! It may have been because I was super hungry about not eating much for lunch, but I think it was more related to the taste. 

FYI these do not taste like the fried pickles you would get at a restaurant. They are much lighter and not greasy which I think makes them better, but they may be in need of a bit more seasoning because of the lack of grease. The panko bread crumbs give the pickles the perfect amount of crunch! 

Rachel Approved? Any improvements?: 

Yes! I will make them again for sure (for a larger group now that I know they are yummy), but I might add a bit more hot sauce or maybe a dash of ranch seasoning to give them a bit more flavor. 

(I guess I really wanted to make these because I pinned two similar recipes)

I decided to combine to recipes to make my test (aka single-serving) version. 

Turkey Meatloaf Burger

Original Pin:

(Disclaimer: I saw this in Rachael Ray's Look and Cook before I saw it on Pinterest)

Ingredients:

· 4 tablespoons butter
· 1 small mcintosh apple (I didn't see any mcintosh at my grocery store so I bought a lady allice instead), peeled and finely chopped
· 1 small onion (I prefer red so that is what I used), finely chopped
· 1 small rib celery, finely chopped
· Salt and pepper
· 1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
· 1 pound ground dark-meat turkey
· 1 large egg
· 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
· 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
· 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning (about 2/3 palmful)
· Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
· Sliced sharp white cheddar, for topping
· 1/3 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
· 3 tablespoons sour cream
· 2 tablespoons chopped chives
· 4 large sandwich-size sourdough English muffins, split and toasted
· 4 thin slices red onion (I forgot this…)
· 4 leaves red-leaf or red romaine lettuce (I forgot this, but it would be delicious)

Directions:
(from Rachael Ray's Website)

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter to melt, then add the apple, onion and celery; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. 

2. Stir in the breadcrumbs, then transfer to a bowl to cool; reserve the skillet. 
3. Mix in the turkey, egg, parsley, mustard and poultry seasoning; season with salt and pepper. 
4. Form into four (I made 6 smaller (but still good sized) patties instead, well I had seven but one fell apart) 4-inch patties.

5. Wipe out the reserved skillet and add a liberal drizzle of EVOO. Warm over medium-high heat, add the patties and cook, turning once, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Top with the cheddar during the last minute.

6. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the cranberry sauce, sour cream and chives.

7. Serve the patties on the English muffins with the onion, lettuce and cranberry-sour cream sauce.

Rachel Approved?: YES! This was probably the most delicious burger I've ever eaten. It combines my two favorite foods: Burgers and Thanksgiving. (Yes, "Thanksgiving" is a food). 
I definitely overuse phrases like "the best day ever", but I think cooking this was "the proudest I've felt after cooking something ever."

You don't even notice the missing lettuce and red onion slice

Anything that could make it better?: Having my sweet potato fries done cooking at the same time as my burger...

Check out that ranch and BBQ sauce mixture!

But seriously, I should have used a little less apple - I had a little trouble keeping my burgers together. 

What is the best burger you've ever made? Was the recipe from Pinterest?

Pin Tested: Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie

Inspiration/Original Pin:

Mug recipes are everywhere! I LOVE chocolate chip cookies, but I don't love making a whole batch for myself so I thought I would try this mug recipe. 

I followed directions from Domesticated Duchess

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of butter 
1 tablespoon of white sugar
1 tablespoon of packed brown sugar
3 drops of vanilla extract
1 dash of salt
1 egg yolk
scant 1/4 cup of flour (a bit less than 1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons of chocolate chips (I mixed regular and mini semi-sweet chips)

Instructions:
1. Melt butter in a mug (I used a large mug, but a normal sized mug would work well too) using the microwave
2. Add sugars, vanilla and salt. Stir. 

3. Separate your egg and add only the yolk. Stir.

4. Add flour, and stir again (now it will look like dough)

5. Add chocolate chips and give a final stir
6. Cook in microwave for 45 seconds

Ready for the microwave!

Results:

Pin Tested?: YUM!! Oh my goodness - this cookie was delicious! The texture of this cookie is great. It is easy to make and turned out much better than my Banana Bread in a Mug. I also enjoyed the short list of ingredients (only seven!). 
It is a perfect late night snack or afternoon pick-up. 

Improvements: This cookie was a bit bland. I may add a little extra vanilla, sugar, or butter next time. 

-Rachel 
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S'more Bites

Inspiration/Original Pin:

S'more on a Stick from Two Parts Sweet

Ingredients:

• Bag of Large marshmallows
• 4-5 Graham Crackers (I used low fat to make this a "healthy" dessert)
• Chocolate Chips (I used a mix of semi-sweet (1/3 cup) and milk (1/2 cup) chocolate)
• Splash of milk (I used 1% since that is what i normally drink)
• (This picture shows the marshmallows in pop form - I decided to forgo the sticks and make them s'more bites)

Directions:
I used Two Parts Sweet's directions as inspiration for mine.

Assembly line is ready to go!

1. Melt approx 1/2 cup milk; 1/3 cup semi-sweet chips; and splash of milk in microwave (I microwaved in 5-10 sec intervals - I once had a terrible chocolate melting experience with my best friend in 5th grade - chocolate popcorn is amazing, but burning the chocolate will only prolong the time until you get to try it - it may also make your dad upset for ruining a 'microwave safe' container) 
2. Crush graham crackers (with an empty wine bottle preferably - see below)
3. Dip the marshmallow in melted chocolate then graham crackers
4. Allow for chocolate to harden
5. Enjoy!

Step #3a

Step #3b

Pin Approved?: Yes! These are delicious! And easy/quick to prepare. I love that they are a twist on a common comfort food and have few ingredients. A bonus is that they use few dishes so clean up is easy. 

S'more bites would be great to bring as a dessert to a party, trivia night, birthday, or holiday. 



I taste-tested these with six 3rd grade boys, my parents, and my college/middle school sisters: all declared them a winner!

Troubleshooting: I had to re-microwave my chocolate a few times. Maybe using a double boiler would make things easier if you make a larger batch.

All done!

Bonus Project: Pinterest has SO many ideas for empty wine bottles. Seriously, search it. They all seem a little ridiculous so I take mine back in for a deposit. 
Unfortunately, I do not have a rolling pin. (I really have little need for one so why buy it?) This project required crushing graham crackers (I could have used my mini food processor, but I didn't want to get it out of the cupboard). 
At this time, I created the empty wine bottle rolling pin. Try it. Very Effective.

Pin On, 
Rachel 

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Pin Tested: Smoothie Short-Cuts

Project 1: Frozen Spinach Cubes

Inspiration/Original Pin:

Instructions: 

1. Blend spinach and a bit of water in blender

2. Poor in ice cube tray

3. Freeze

4. Add to smoothie

Pin Approved?: Yes! These are perfect for smoothies and avoid having to throw out spinach when I don't get it eaten quick enough. The spinach cubes also replace ice in smoothie. 

Kitchen Mess

Problems/Changes: I had no major problems with this (it is pretty hard to mess up two ingredients, right?). 

Warning: Be careful that your blender is tightly sealed - mine was not so the spinach-y liquid spilled all over my kitchen... At least it is St. Patrick's Day so a green kitchen is actually festive. 

Project 2: Yogurt Cubes

(P)Inspiration/Original Pin:

Instructions: 

1. Spoon yogurt (I used light vanilla) into ice cube tray

2. Freeze

3. Add to a smoothie (or even eat like a Popsicle) 

Pin Approved?: Yes! These are perfect for smoothies and avoid having to throw out yogurt (I like to buy the big containers for smoothies, but my mornings always seem to be busy after I open it and I don't eat it quick enough). Having the yogurt frozen prevents me from having to add ice to smoothies. 

Problems/Changes: I had no problems completing this pin. And recommend it to anyone that enjoys making smoothies. 

Pin On, 

Rachel 

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CrockPot Meatballs

Inspiration/Original Pin:

I used Canadian Family's Recipe as the basis of mine.

Ingredients

• 2 cans whole plum tomatoes - I used 2 traditional-size cans
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
• ¼ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 pounds ground turkey (the recipe used ground beef and pork)
• ¼ cup freshly grated Romano cheese
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1¼ cups breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• Salt and Pepper
• 3/4 (ish) cup jar pasta sauce

Directions

1. Add tomatoes to slow cooker and crush using potato masher. Add tomato paste, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon chopped garlic, red pepper flakes and bay leaf. Stir, cover with lid and cook high until sauce is bubbling and beginning to thicken about 3 hours. 
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix ground turkey, 2 tablespoons Romano cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Gently form mixture into 25 (ish) meatballs. Transfer meatballs to a rimmed sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
3. I cooked the meatballs in a skillet with a bit of olive oil for about 10 minutes (browning all sides). Once sauce has cooked to bubbling, submerge meatballs into tomato sauce, cover with lid and cook until cooked through, about 2 hours more. Discard bay leaf.
4. Add 3/4 cup of pasta sauce and let cook for 15-30 min (I added this step because I wanted a bit more sauce with my meatballs)
5. Top with extra shredded Romano (I used Parm and Romano) and serve. 

Outcome/Results: 

Ignore the slightly messy bowl - I thought it was okay since I was not in a cooking competition

Pin Approved?: Yes! This was a delicious dinner. The meatballs were simple and affordable to make. They would be great as a sandwich, with pasta, or alone as an appetizer. I also put a few servings in the freezer so I'll see how they hold up after being frozen. 

The best way to enjoy this meal is probably while watching Mad Men (my new Netflix addiction). 

Problems/Issues: I had no problems with this recipe, but I did increase the cooking time a bit. 

CrockPot recipes are very popular on Pinterest - Have you tried any? 

Your Favorite Pintester, 

Rachel 

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Pin Tested: Ranch Oyster Crackers

I made Ranch Oyster Crackers for the holidays and again for a trivia night I participated in last night.

This is a super easy recipe:

1.      Preheat oven to 250 degrees

2.      In large mixing bowl, combine:

o    1 package (1oz) ranch dressing/dip mix

o    1/2 c. canola or veggie oil (I had a canola/veggie oil mix so I used that)

o    1/2 t. garlic powder

o    1 t. dried dill weed (I didn’t have any so I didn’t add it)

o    salt to taste (my generic oyster crackers were pretty salty so I didn't add any)

3.      Stir in oyster crackers and mix to coat

4.      Pour crackers onto large cooking sheet

5.      Bake 15 min - stirring about every 5 min

6.      Cool and store in covered container

I had read in some comments on the Examinar website (the recipe I followed) about using pretzel nuggets. I tried this for the trivia night and it was a wonderful variation! The only real change I made to the recipe was that I cooked them for about 30 min and stirred them every 10-15 min.

I brought home an empty bowl and heard lots of praise so the pretzels must have been enjoyed!

(I forgot to take a before picture - When I make them again, I'll add a picture in this post)

Pin Tested: Skinny Taco Dip

In my most recent post, I mentioned attending a Pinterest Party where we each brought a dish to share based on a recipe we found on Pinterest. For the party (and my family Christmas Eve celebration), I made Skinny Taco Dip. I used Gina from Skinny Taste's recipe:

Skinny Taco Dip

• 8 oz 1/3 less fat Philadelphia cream cheese
• 8 oz reduced fat sour cream
• 16 oz jar mild salsa (I didn't add this because I forgot it at the store and I don't think I would add it when I make the dip again - it was wonderful without it and I don't love chunks of peppers)
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
• 2.25 oz black olives (I didn't add these because I don't like olives)

I added:

• Green onions - thinly sliced
• Approx 1 1/2 cups frozen corn (cooked and then cooled)
• Guacamole (for the Pinterest party version - I added a layer on top of the sour cream/cream cheese mixture)

 In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning and mix well with an electric mixer. Spread on the bottom of a large shallow glass dish. Top with corn, (guac), shredded lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, and green onions. Serve with tortilla chips.

Rachel Approved?: Yes! This recipe was a huge hit with my co-workers at our Pinterest party as well as with my family on Christmas Eve. Everyone loved it and it was very easy to make. This recipe is great to bring to a party because of it's ease and crowd-pleasing nature. I've thought about adding beans to the recipe so I might do that (as long as I'm not making it for my family (which does not have many bean fans)
I will definitely be making this recipe again! I'd love to hear your thoughts about the recipe after you try it!

Pin Tested: Banana Bread in Mug

Yesterday, I found a recipe for banana bread in a mug and decided that today would be the perfect day to try it. I followed Kita's recipe.

As I assembled my ingredients, I realized that I did not have any baking powder so I did some research on backing powder replacements. A few websites said that baking powder could be made by mixing baking soda and cream of tartar, but alas, I had no cream of tartar either. I decided that I would use just a little more baking soda since the recipe only called for 1/8 tsp. of each anyway. I did make a few other additions: chopped walnuts and mini chocolate chips! (Also, check out that new whisk! The real reason I wanted to make this: to use a Christmas gift! Thanks Grandma!)

I followed all other directions from the original recipe. While cooking, the banana bread in a cup passed the smell test, but the taste and site tests were not as clear. I think the flavors of the bread were okay (but I might add a little cinnamon if I made it again), but I was not a fan of the texture. One of my favorite things about banana bread is it's browned, slightly-crusty top and it's slightly dry nature. Using a microwave (and the steam that occurs inside), caused my favorite qualities to be lost in this banana bread. It was a bit more cake-like than I enjoy. The bread not being my ideal texture, will prevent me from making this banana bread in a mug again, but I will continue to enjoy traditional banana bread. I'm also planning on trying some other (cake) mug recipes in the future.

Notice another popular pin? I created a Sharpie-d Mug a few weeks ago. I made it at a Pinterest Party with my co-workers. (We all brought a snack made with a recipe we found on Pinterest as well as materials to make a craft from Pinterest) The hostess provided traditional black Sharpie markers and these plain mugs to make as favors. I've been carefully hand washing mine, but I still lost a little of the black off of my handle. I've read in other posts containing a mix of successes and failures, but oil-based markers seem to have a better success rate. I'm going to love mine a lot and if the paint comes off, I'll be happy to troubleshoot and try again.