Even though I love looking up and researching recipes, sometimes figuring out what to make for dinner is SO hard. I wish more people would share what they’re making day-to-day, so this is my effort to do the same for others – while documenting what I’m making for future reference, too. This week’s theme was definitely cozy – think soup, bread, and slow cooker dishes.
Here’s a roundup of recipes I’ve made recently! Enjoy!
1. Butternut Squash Cheddar Soup – Skinnytaste
7/10
This savory style butternut squash soup is a great mix-up from traditional sweeter versions. It tastes hearty because of the cheddar and beer, but is still pretty light thanks to the veggie-based base. Healthy and fairly filling for a vegetarian soup! I’m still team no immersion blender and was able to blend with my Vitamix in 2.5 batches. This recipe makes a lot so I recommend freezing a few portions (I use these to freeze soup). I love getting to pull an already-made soup out to pair with a sandwich or salad in the future. Definitely fits the cold weather, and will make again for sure.
The roll brings me to my next WINNER of a recipe:
2. Sourdough Texas Roadhouse Rolls
9/10
Soft, slightly sweet, warm, fresh, brushed with melted butter! These sourdough Texas Roadhouse rolls turned out SO good, I ended up making a second batch for Thanksgiving. My second batch (not pictured) came out even fluffier and puffier thanks to letting them proof a little longer on top of the warm oven while I was baking other things that morning. Seriously – amazing! I will note that they taste best fresh/day of, or if eaten as leftovers, warmed up first. The recipe needs 12 hours to sit overnight, then shaped, then 3-4 hours to proof before baking. So definitely a start the night before type of recipe, but well worth it (and is pretty hands off compared to traditional sourdough). She also has a recipe for the Texas Roadhouse cinnamon butter, but I didn’t even let myself go there.
If you’re not a sourdough person, I’m sure there are several non-sourdough copycat recipes, too!
3. Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches – Ambitious Kitchen
9/10
These Italian chicken sandwiches taste like they’re from a local sports bar in the best way. I used thighs as the recipe recommended (even though I always think I don’t like thighs), and I would definitely recommend it. The chicken falls apart, it’s so tender and juicy, and the mix of the banana and gardinere peppers is so different from the flavors we usually have at home that it makes it feel like eating out (if that makes sense). We put it on toasted hoagie buns, loaded the chicken on, topped it with provolone, then broiled and OMG, the melty cheese on top of the chicken is just amazing! So amazing that I forgot to take a picture. However, I did take a picture of the leftover chicken when we used it for nachos with mozzarella cheese. Also elite.
4. Sourdough English Muffins – Farmhouse on Boone
8/10
I’ve made homemade sourdough English muffins before, and they were such a pain. This recipe inspired me to give it another go because they seemed much more casual – no shaping sticky dough, no cooking on the stovetop with messy cornmeal, then dirtying a baking sheet to bake. I recommend watching/using the video recipe she has posted, as it is a little different (and easier) than the written version and gives you confidence that it’s really not that hard (sometimes written recipes make things sound more technical than they are). The video shows just dolloping the dough into the pan instead of rolling out and shaping. Also, I was worried about using coconut oil as she does, as I didn’t want my biscuits tasting like coconut, but it didn’t affect the taste at all. I’ve made this recipe twice now – the second time I let it proof in the fridge way too long, and they weren’t as fluffy, so something to keep an eye on! I think I let it proof in the fridge for over a day…so, don’t do that and you should be fine.
Favorite WINE GLASSES + dishes
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