Cooking Up Cottage

16
Apr
2015

Easy Marinara Sauce with Basil

Have you started planning your garden yet? I have and my plans definitely include a container herb garden. I had a garden by my back door last summer. I planted thyme, basil, oregano, chives, rosemary, mint, parsley and cilantro. I mixed three to four plants in each planter. Then I enjoyed watching them grow. They were easy to cut for recipes and it is was very convenient having them close to my back door. I was enjoying my garden so much last year that I included it in a post for Caprese Salad and my cat Mr. Big was even getting into the photo shoot .

This year I will be adding basil to my garden again. It is such a wonderful herb and it adds so much flavor to this Easy Marinara with Basil recipe.

And the other ingredients that this recipe includes are so healthy that you will have the energy to keep planning your garden. So stop dreaming about your herb garden for a second and get out the ingredients to make this great pasta dish.

First start by cooking the linguine pasta according to the package directions. Making sure to salt the water as directed by the package.

Then take two cloves of garlic, remove the skins and dice them.

Now heat the garlic in a pan for a few minutes with 1/4 cup of olive oil.

Add one (28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes and their juice to the pan crushing them with your hand as you add them.

Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 3-4 sprigs of fresh basil chopped and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Now simmer the sauce over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes so that it can thicken. When the sauce has thickened, serve over linguine and garnish it with extra basil and ricotta or mozzarella cheese. Now you can enjoy your dish of pasta while you plan your garden. Enjoy!

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Easy Marinara Sauce with Basil

Ingredients

1/2 lb. of linguine pasta
1/4 cup of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic diced
1 (28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
3-4 sprigs of basil chopped
1/2 cup of ricotta cheese or mozzarella cheese for garnish
basil for garnish

Instructions

First start by cooking the linguine pasta according to the package directions. Making sure to salt the water as directed by the package.
Then take two cloves of garlic, remove the skins and dice them.
Now heat the garlic in a pan for a few minutes with 1/4 cup of olive oil.
Add one (28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes and their juice to the pan crushing them with your hand as you add them.
Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 3-4 sprigs of fresh basil chopped and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Now simmer the sauce over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes so that it can thicken. When the sauce has thickened, serve over linguine and garnish it with extra basil and ricotta or mozzarella cheese.

https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/04/16/easy-marinara-sauce-with-basil/

09
Apr
2015

Cheesy Chicken Avocado Melt

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

Who can ever say no to anything involving avocado? I can’t and when I found this recipe in my cookbook (The Treasury of Creative Cooking) I knew I was onboard. This chicken breast recipe features a crispy, cornmeal breading. And when you add the cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, onions, and most importantly the avocado, the flavors go through the roof. I have never used cornmeal before to bread my chicken. Boy, was I surprised! The cornmeal gives the exterior of the chicken a great crunchy texture and keeps the interior of the chicken moist. A nice change from what I usually use… Rice Krispies in my Easy Rice Krispies Chicken.

So if you are an avocado lover like me, you need to try this recipe.

So let’s get started by rinsing and patting dry the boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Pound the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap to a 1/4-inch thickness.

Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1 teaspoon garlic salt in a bowl.

Dip chicken in spices covering each piece.

Combine the egg and water in a bowl and dip the chicken in the mixture.

Now cover the chicken with the remaining 1/3 cup of yellow cornmeal.

Heat the chicken in a pan with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. Cooking around 2 minutes per side.

Remove chicken and arrange it in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 1/2 cups of shredded Mexican blend or Monterey Jack cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and top with sour cream, sliced avocado, green onions, and tomatoes.

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Cheesy Chicken Avocado Melt

Ingredients

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons cornstarch (for the spice mixture)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 beaten egg
1 tablespoon water
1/3 cup of yellow cornmeal
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ripe avocado peeled and sliced
1 1/2 cups of shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Mexican blend cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup green onions diced
1 tomato diced

Instructions

Start by rinsing and patting dry the boneless skinless chicken breasts. Pound the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap to a 1/4-inch thickness. Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1 teaspoon garlic salt in a bowl. Dip chicken in spices covering each piece. Combine the egg and water in a bowl and dip the chicken in the mixture. Now cover the chicken with the remaining 1/3 cup of yellow cornmeal. Heat the chicken in a pan with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. Cooking around 2 minutes per side. Remove chicken and arrange it in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 1/2 cups of shredded Mexican blend or Monterey Jack cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and top with sour cream, sliced avocado, green onions, and tomatoes.

https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/04/09/cheesy-chicken-avocado-melt/

03
Apr
2015

Free Printable Easter Place Cards

categories: Printables

Today I have a cute, quick and free printable that will make your Easter table more festive. This place card features a cute bunny and bunting design that will brighten up your table and let your guests know where to sit. It can also be a fun craft for kids. They will enjoy printing them out, cutting them apart, and adding the names.

Below are the place cards I have designed. Print them out on white cardstock, cut them out, fold them, and then write your names on them with a pen.

Easter cards are a weakness of all online casino players. As you know, gamblers appreciate order and like to sign and number things in the house. They do it even at the Easter table – they print cute greeting cards with the names of guests and put them in their places. Guests of bezpieczne miejsce online casino players do not object to such a ritual, besides, greeting cards simplify the division of seats at the festive table. This is just one of the habits that is inherent in those who like to play online casinos. Thanks to such subtleties and tricks, these people achieve real success both in their personal lives and careers.

You can print them out with a pink or white background.

Click here to print pink place card.

Click here to print place card with a white background.

Now you are ready to set your table for your Easter celebration. Happy Easter!

27
Mar
2015

Banana Muffins with Streusel Topping

categories: Breads and Muffins, Recipes

If you’re like me, every week you buy bananas and by the end of the week you see this on your counter…..

Last year I was complaining about this same issue when I made Banana Bars. So this is an ongoing problem at my house. But when you have a recipe this good it’s not really a problem. This muffin is so moist and light with just the right amount of crumb topping to complement the banana taste. You will find yourself letting a few bananas brown just to make this recipe.

And with Easter quickly approaching you may want to make this muffin for your Easter brunch. So let’s embrace the brown bananas and get started on this wonderful muffin recipe.

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Then mix the 3/4 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.

Smash the bananas on a plate with a fork.

Then in a bowl mix the 2 smashed bananas, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 egg, and 3 tablespoons of melted butter.

Slowly mix the banana mixture into the flour mixture stirring until everything is combined.

Spoon the batter into a greased muffin pan equally. This recipe makes 6 full-sized muffins.

Now you need to make the streusel topping. Start by combining 1 tablespoon of flour, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar. Then cut in 1 tablespoon of slightly softened butter.

Add streusel to the top of each muffin.

Bake in the 350 degree oven for 25-27 minutes.

So now you have a great recipe to use up those brown bananas. Enjoy.

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Banana Muffins with Streusel Topping

Ingredients

3/4 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 ripe bananas
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg
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Streusel Topping
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1 tablespoon flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon slighty soft butter

Instructions

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Then mix the 3/4 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.
Smash the bananas on a plate with a fork. Then in a bowl mix the 2 smashed bananas, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 egg, and 3 tablespoons of melted butter.
Slowly mix the banana mixture into the flour mixture stirring until everything is combined.
Spoon the batter into a greased muffin pan equally. This recipe makes 6 full-sized muffins.
Now you need to make the streusel topping. Start by combining 1 tablespoon of flour, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar. Then cut in 1 tablespoon of slightly softened butter.
Add streusel to the top of each muffin.
Bake in the 350 degree oven for 25-27 minutes.

https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/03/27/banana-muffins-with-streusel-topping/

Adapted from Brooklyn Farm Girl