Strawberry Frosting

 via: https://sugarspunrun.com/strawberry-buttercream-frosting/#recipe

Approximately for me. Adjust when it's hot and ingredients are dry etc. I sift the powdered sugar, and beat the crap out of the butter on high speed with my paddle for the kitchen aid. 

• 1 cup (16g) freeze-dried strawberries (just blitz a packet from the dollar store in the vitamin cup)
• ▢ 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened
• ▢ 4 cups (500 g) powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, see note)
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 2-4 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk 
• 1. Whip the butter till almost white
• 2. Add half the powdered sugar and salt
• 3. Add strawberry powder
• 4. Add heavy cream, vanilla and beat till fluffy again
• 5. Add rest of powdered sugar, adjust as needed

Steamed Mussels (Ina)

 Found some really cheap mussels at Costco and wanted to try a fun new recipe. This was TO DIE FOR! 

 3-4 pounds mussels

handful of flour

2 TBSP butter

2 TBSP olive oil

1/2 finely chopped red onion and about 1-2 TBSP minced garlic (could also do a cup of shallots but I'm not that fancy)(Also would need 5-6 cloves of smashed garlic in not minced)

1/2 chopped cherry tomatoes or canned plum tomatoes

1 TBSP dried parsley 

handful fresh thyme

1 cup cooking wine (white marsala was what I had)

2 tsp. kosher salt

lots of fresh ground pepper

Directions here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mussels-in-white-wine-recipe-1937316

But basically you soak the mussels in cold water and the flour, discard opened or cracked ones. Heat oils, add aromatics until transparent, add tomatoes, add wine and salt and pepper and add rinsed and de-bearded mussels. Cover pot and cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes until mussels have opened. Had with crab and homemade Mac and cheese. 

Zucchini Alfredo

 Zucchini spiraled

jar of alfredo

peas 

sun dried tomatoes

parmesan

1 package of microwaved noodles to be quick or half a box cooked

shrimp

old bay seasoning

fresh cracked pepper

This is stupid easy but it I don't write it down I'll forget. 

Basically you spiralize a bunch of zucchini and cook it in the cast iron on medium high heat until cooked with some olive oil and garlic salt and pepper. I keep it warm in the oven. I thaw some frozen peas, cut up sun dried tomatoes and cook half an onion in jarred Alfredo sauce. When zoodles are done I cook the thawed shrimp in the cast iron sprinkled with old bay seasoning. We serve it with the toppings on the side so everyone can have what they want. Extra large portions because... zucchini. We also had squeakers from our local cheese place and called it Squeaky Alfredo. It was very very good!

Sushi Bake

 These seem to be a trend lately. We had a Lion King roll at a Sushi place in Hughson recently and it was everything! All I ever want is to order THAT! It's a crab, avocado sushi smothered in a yummy creamy sauce with salmon baked on top. A tiny bit of wasabi and pickled ginger... drool!  I thought maybe I'd try and recreate it for a dinner at a fraction of the cost and it turned out really good. It's been a couple weeks since I made it so I'll have to tweak it next time I make it. 

2 cups Sushi Rice (used about 2 3/4 cups water and cooked in instant pot for about 12 minutes and and did rinse the rice)

Once cooked mix in a tiny sprinkle of sugar and some rice vinegar

2-3 snack packages of seaweed

1 package imitation crab

Green onions diced (just about 1-2)

Rice vinegar (1-2TBSP)

Mayo (about 1/2 cup) add what you like to desired creaminess) you can also add a little bit of cream cheese if you'd like

soy sauce (2 TBSP or so)

sesame oil (1 TBSP)

squirt of sriracha (depending on desired spice level)

paprika (sprinkle in a decent amount)

celery salt ( light sprinkle)

pepper

Mix sauce up in a bowl and stir in with imitation crab and green onions. 

Place rice in bottom of 9x13 pan. Put seaweed sheets to cover the rice. Put crab mixture on top and broil the whole thing until bubbly for about 10 minutes. 

Top with

Sesame seeds

Green onions

sliced baby cucumbers

julienned red, orange or yellow peppers

julienne carrots

sliced avocado

sriracha 

pickled ginger

wasabi

Salsa Verde (Tomatillo Salsa)

From my favorite Latin Lady Growing Sarita! This is SO good!!!! 

This is approximate. I started making it off what I remember and don't really check anymore. Changes on levels or spicy and size of veggies etc. 

10-12 tomatillos

2 garlic cloves (optional)

2 jalapeños

1 handful cilantro (half a bunch)

1/2 onion

kosher salt

Dry roast tomatillos, jalapeños, onions in a hot skillet rotating until mostly soft/ blackened. Add garlic cloves and just warm up a bit. Place in blender, add salt and blend everything until smooth. 

You can flash fry it in a little drizzle of olive oil to get it to last a bit longer but it's optional. 

Green Cheesy Beefy Enchiladas

Found this recipe from Half Baked Harvest, but modified for how many I was feeding and ingredients I had. Ended up being absolutely delicious! Her version is made in the skillet but feeds less people but I could do if it was just for my family. 

via https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/green-chile-enchilada-bake/

1lb ground beef

1 yellow onion, diced

1/2-1 diced green bell pepper (would love to try poblano)

1/2-1 TBSP minced garlic

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper

2 cups homemade salsa verde (@growingupsarita)

1 large can mild green enchilada sauce

14 corn tortillas

shredded cheese (used Colby jack/ mozzarella) about 2 cups

fresh chopped cilantro 

avocado, limes, greek yoghurt, for serving 

In large skillet brown onions, peppers and ground beef until cooked/ softened. Add garlic and spices and combine, add in salsa verde and can of enchilada sauce. Dump sauce into sprayed 9x13. Warm tortillas and place 1/3 cup or so of shredded cheese in tortillas, roll and tuck into sauce. Place shredded cheese on top and bake in oven for about 15-30 minutes. Serve with toppings. Can enjoy with fresh beans and rice or just as is. 

Adult Butter Noodles

This one comes from A Life From Scratch on instagram. Courtney is so talented and great at super simple and delicious family meals. My kids are realizing that plain noodles are boring and this is the perfect sauce to bridge them over to hopefully more sauces in the near future!

10 oz pasta cooked and drained (we liked angel hair)

a couple pads of butter

generous handful of grated parmesan

just a small pour of garlic expressions dressing (a staple in our house now! SO good!)

Mix together and serve with meatballs and a side salad or whatever works 

I sprinkled a little bit of garlic salt on top