spicy baked falafel

Y'all know how much I love falafel. I ate it more times than is remotely acceptable on our trip to Paris last summer, and ever since then I get it whenever possible. I hesitated to make it at home because 1) my fear of frying and 2) my fear that I wouldn't be able to replicate its goodness.

But! I saw this baked recipe that sounded fabulous, so I had to go ahead and try it out. And y'all -- it was soooo good. The spices are just perfect, it couldn't be easier to make, and it totally exceeded my expectations.

Serve it on its own, over a salad, in a pita... try it out!

Spicy Baked Falafel (adapted from How Sweet Eats)
serves 2-4

you'll need:
2 (14 oz.) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 garlic cloves, chopped
4 green onions, sliced
1 egg
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
dash of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
tzatziki, for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients (except tzatziki) in a food processor or blender. Pulse until crumbly and combined.

Scoop about 2 tablespoons worth and form a small patty with your hands. Place falafel on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until slightly crisp on top. Serve with tzatziki sprinkled with parsley and red pepper flakes.

You can also pan-fry these if you'd like! Just heat a bit of olive oil in a skillet and cook each patty until browned on both sides.

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slow cooker balsamic cherry pork over parmesan polenta

Before you tuck away your slow cooker for the warmer months ahead, let's get at least one more good, cozy meal out of it. This lovely meal takes mayyybe two minutes to prep and turns into such a satisfying dinner. I prepped ours the night before so that the next day all I had to do was plug it in and go on with my day. Weeknight win!

The balsamic and cherry flavors are magical together, and over that creamy, dreamy polenta... well, you know.

Balsamic Cherry Pork over Parmesan Polenta (adapted from Ladies' Home Journal)
serves 4-6

you'll need:
1 (10-12 oz.) jar of cherry preserves
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 onion, diced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 lb. boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup polenta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
chopped fresh basil, for serving

Combine the cherry preserves, balsamic, onion, garlic powder, and basil in the slow cooker. Rub pork with salt and add to slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 8-10 hours.

When pork is finished cooking, remove from the slow cooker and slice or shred with two forks. Prepare the polenta according to the package instructions. Stir in the Parmesan and pepper.

To serve, spoon polenta into bowls and top with pork. Garnish with fresh basil.

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kale & chicken quesadillas

Is everyone as obsessed with quesadillas as we are? There's just something about that cheesy goodness in a crisped-up tortilla that makes my heart sing.

These quesadillas are kinda weird and extremely delicious. Make a kale dip, spread it on tortillas, then pile on mozzarella, chicken, and avocado. Just trust me on this one.

This makes a quick, fabulous weeknight dinner, but it would also be a great addition to your Superbowl spread! Dip IN the quesadillas = two birds, one stone.

Kale & Chicken Quesadillas (adapted from Take a Megabite)

makes 2 quesadillas

you'll need:

2 cooked chicken breasts, sliced into strips

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cups kale, coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 oz. goat cheese

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

4 tablespoons shredded parmesan

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

4 tortillas (I used corn, but use whatever you like!)

1/3 cup shredded mozzarella

1 avocado, halved, pitted, and sliced

sliced green onions and lime wedges, for serving

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add kale and cook and stir until it's wilted, about 3-4 minutes.

Mix the cooked kale, goat cheese, Greek yogurt, parmesan, red pepper, salt and pepper in a bowl. To assemble quesadillas, divide kale dip, chicken, avocado, and mozzarella between 2 tortillas. Top each one with the remaining tortillas.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook quesadillas on both sides until they are browned and crispy. Serve with scallions and a squeeze of lime.

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sriracha lime salmon

Love her (me!) or hate her, Gwynnie has got to be your BFF when the new year rolls around and you kick it into high clean-eating gear. Gal's got some seriously great recipes (evidence) that are also healthy and simple. What's not to love?

This salmon is too delicious. It's got a perfect balance of flavors and couldn't be easier to throw together. Paired with the best brussels sprouts ever, this is pretty much all I want to eat from now on.

P.S. I've blogged a few recipes from It's All Goodbut that doesn't begin to scratch the surface on how much I've made and LOVED from it. So, I want to give you guys one! I promise you, the recipes in here are awesome and are perfect for starting the new year off right. All you have to do is like Little Kitchie on Facebook, then leave me a comment letting me know you did (or that you already do, which if so, thanks!). You can also follow on Twitter or Pinterest  for extra entries, just comment and let me know. I'll choose a winner at random next Friday, January 31. Good luck! xo

Sriracha Lime Salmon (slightly adapted from It's All Good. Actually the only difference here is not making my own sriracha because sanity.)
serves 2

you'll need:
zest of 1/2 a lime
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha
1 tablespoon maple syrup
kosher salt
2 pieces of salmon (mine were about 6 oz. each)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Whisk together the lime zest, juice, sriracha, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, place salmon on top, and pour the mixture over it.

Roast salmon for 12-15 minutes. Serve sprinkled with cilantro. Enjoy!

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lemon rosemary shrimp scampi

Hey, hey y'all! Thanks for all your sweet words and encouragement as we moved into our first home last week. I'm happy to say that we are feeling settled and -- as of about 5 minutes ago -- actually have working internet again!

I'm curious - what are you cooking for Christmas dinner? Do you always do the same meal, or change it up every year? We never do the same menu twice, and I love it that way. Every year my mom picks a food theme and we create the menu together around it. We've done Italian, French, Spanish, etc., and this year all of our recipes are coming from my dearly beloved Jerusalem cookbook. So. excited.

Beyond actual Christmas dinner, there is Christmas Eve to think about, and New Year's Eve and Day just down the line. For those meals, I like something super simple and quick that still feels special and festive. Enter Campbell's Skillet Sauces! Y'all know I love these, and this Scampi variety is absolutely fabulous for an elegant holiday dinner that comes together in 15 minutes!

I'm thinking this is just perfect for New Year's Eve because it would go brilliantly with a glass of champagne!

Lemon Rosemary Shrimp Scampi
serves 2

you'll need:
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, minced
1/2 lb. peeled and deveined shrimp, tails on
1 (9 oz.) package of Campbell's Scampi Skillet Sauce
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
juice of 1 lemon
zest of 1 lemon
for serving: lemon wedges, fresh rosemary

Preheat broiler.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt well, then cook orzo according to the package directions. Drain when done.

While the orzo is cooking, heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot and cook until translucent. Add shrimp and cook until just beginning to turn pink. Add Skillet Sauce and bring to a boil. Bring heat to low and simmer until shrimp are completely cooked through. Remove from heat.

In a small bowl, mix butter, panko, rosemary, red pepper, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Top each shrimp with a bit of the butter mixture. Transfer skillet to the oven and broil until the butter has melted and the breadcrumbs are beginning to brown (this took about 2 minutes in my broiler).

Spoon shrimp and sauce over cooked orzo. Serve with lemon wedges and chopped rosemary.

Happy holidays, y'all!

This post brought to you by Campbell’s Dinner Sauces. Weekend-worthy dinners with only weekday-level effort needed! Learn more at http://www.campbellsauces.com/

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black bean and corn enchilada stack

Happy Monday, y'all! I'm home again today from school (not complaining) because of this crazy, icy weather we've been having. I know that those of you who live up north are probably laughing at us right now, but just remember that here in Texas we get over 50 days of 100+ degree weather every year... so we get a pass when the cold finally hits. :)

As promised, here's another fast, easy supper for you guys. This one is a total no-brainer that I just made up on the fly as I was trying to use up what's left in our pantry and fridge. I knew I'd like it because I love all the ingredients, but it turned out even better than I expected! We absolutely loved this, and it made great leftovers for dinner the next day as well. During this hectic season, doesn't a delicious, no-brainer dinner sound just right?

Black Bean and Corn Enchilada Stack
4-6 servings

you'll need:
2 (15 oz.) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz.) can of red enchilada sauce
1 cup frozen corn
4 jalapenos, seeded and diced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
dash of cayenne pepper
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
12 corn tortillas
sliced green onions, for garnish

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine black beans, 1 cup enchilada sauce, corn, jalapenos, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and 1/2 cup cheese.

Pour a bit of enchilada sauce into the bottom of your baking dish, swirling to coat. Place a layer of 4 corn tortillas on top. Add 1/2 of the black bean and corn mixture on top. Repeat. Add a final layer of tortillas, then top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Allow to stand for about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions if desired.

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one-pot spicy sausage pasta

Hello dears! How has your week been? I've been all over the map this week, hence the lack of posting. But, I'm back today with a seriously delicious recipe that you will absolutely love. It's spicy, hearty, and cheesy, and - maybe best of all - only dirties one pot! This makes a perfect weeknight dinner, but I'll take it any old night of the week.

One-Pot Spicy Sausage Pasta (adapted from Kevin & Amanda)
serves 4

you'll need:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb. spicy Italian sausage (I used turkey), casings removed
1 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz.) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles (I used the Hot variety)
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz. rigatoni pasta
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
1/3 cup chopped scallions

Preheat the broiler.

Add olive oil to a Dutch oven or large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and onions and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking up with the back of a fork as it cooks. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

Stir in broth, Ro-Tel, cream, pasta, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. Broil until cheesed is browned and bubbly.

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braised greek pot roast linguine

Oh, y'all. This meal. It's my favorite thing to come out of this kitchen in I don't know how long. I know I go on and on all the time on here about food, but every now and then there's a meal that extra special and deserves a serious spotlight... and this is one of them. It's decadent and out-of-this-world delicious. It's special occasion-worthy, but still comforting as can be.

One of the best things about this meal is the hours it just simmers away on your stove... your house will smell INSANE. So, so good. This is the kind of meal that's just meant to be shared with the people you love... and when they taste this, oh how they will love you back.

Braised Greek Pot Roast Linguine (adapted from Heather Christo)
serves 4-6

you'll need:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 1/2 lbs. beef loin tri tip, cut into 4 pieces
salt and pepper
all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 (14 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup red wine
3 tablespoons minced Italian parsley, plus more for serving
1/2 lb. linguine
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
shredded Parmesan, for serving

Melt the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Rub the meat with salt and pepper generously. Coat lightly with flour and shake off the excess.

Sear the meat on all sides until golden brown (3-4 minutes per side). Once browned, remove from the pot and set aside.

Add 4 tablespoons olive oil and the onions to the pot and cook 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and saute 1 more minute.

Transfer the meat back to the pot and add tomatoes, red wine, and parsley. Cover and simmer on lowest heat for 4 hours, or until the meat is falling apart. Remove from the heat and let sit for 10-15 minutes uncovered. (The fat will come to the surface while the meat is resting; skim and discard.)

While the meat is resting, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add a generous amount of salt and pasta to the water. Cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before you drain. Add pasta back into the pot you cooked it in, then add 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and salt and pepper as necessary. Stir to coat.

Serve the braised pot roast and sauce over linguine. Garnish with Parmesan and parsley. Grab a fork and prepare to fall in love!

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toasted sesame turkey joes with #campbellsauces

Happy Monday, friends! Can y'all believe it's already November? I honestly feel like New Year's was, like, a month ago. But here we are, headed straight into holiday season! November has always been my favorite month - the weather in Texas is fantastic, and it's busy and festive but not too hectic yet. Plus - duh- THANKSGIVING. Favorite holiday, hands down.

But before we get into all things holiday meal, we still need to make dinner! And it should be quick, easy, and healthy! Enter Campbell's Skillet Sauces. Have you guys tried these out yet? They're super flavorful sauces that create an instant meal when you add them to your meat or veggies. So, so simple, and a total lifesaver for a weeknight dinner during this busy time of year.

I used the Toasted Sesame Skillet Sauce to whip up these yummy sammies in about 15 minutes. 15 minutes! The Toasted Sesame sauce gave the turkey a slightly sweet, spicy, nutty goodness that we couldn't get enough of. Fast, simple, delicious - what's better than that?

Toasted Sesame Turkey Joes
yields 4 sandwiches

you'll need:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 lb. ground turkey breast
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you like it!)
1 (9 oz.) package Campbell's Toasted Sesame Skillet Sauce
4 Pepperidge Farm Sesame Topped Hamburger Buns
coleslaw, for serving (optional)

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add turkey, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the turkey is completely done, breaking up with the back of a fork to separate meat.

Stir in Skillet Sauce and simmer until the sauce is absorbed and the mixture is bubbling, 5-7 minutes.

To serve, spoon the mixture onto hamburger buns and top with coleslaw if desired.


This post brought to you by Campbell’s Dinner Sauces. Weekend-worthy dinners with only weekday-level effort needed! Learn more at http://www.campbellsauces.com/.

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