Recipe Girl

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna Roll Ups

Lori Lange — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:25:12 +0000

I was cleaning out my pantry like a madwoman recently and found some lasagna noodles- EIGHT, to be exact. It wasn’t enough to make a full-blown, proper lasagna, so I set to work thinking up something else to do with these pesky leftover noodles. I thought maybe I could break them apart and use them as pasta pieces in soup, but since it’s a few days away from summer… that wasn’t the best idea. Roll ups with a lasagna-like filling was the perfect option since it would be a good amount of food for dinner for my family of three, and there would be leftovers too: Roasted Vegetable Lasagna Roll Ups

My family loves a good, creamy sauce. This one is an easy, homemade creamy sauce.

I snuck some roasted veggies into my lasagna filling because I had some random vegetables lurking in my vegetable drawer. They’re pretty easy to sneak in there since the sauce covers everything up. The roasted lends a sweetness to the veggies, which really bumps up the flavor in the dish. Use whatever veggies your family will eat. In my recipe here, I used carrots, red bell peppers, red onion, zucchini and corn. The veggies roast for about 40 minutes, so it’s nice to roast them in the morning (before the day gets too warm), and then just let them cool and refrigerate them until dinnertime.

How to assemble: Lay out your cooked noodles.

Spread the filling on top (a mix of ricotta, egg, Parmesan and the roasted veggies).

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Stuff I’ve Gotta Share and You’ve Gotta See

Lori Lange — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:00:51 +0000

Here ya go… this week’s gossip on Stuff I’ve Gotta Share and You’ve Gotta See…

Here’s the delicious and summery recipe I shared on Parade Magazine’s blog this week: Cherry- Limeade Popsicles. I guess you could say that I’m a little enamored with Cherry Limeade this week since I shared that Cherry Limeade Sangria recipe too! What can I say… it’s good stuff!

I went to Austin, Texas last weekend- yee hah! I love that city so much… even though it’s sticky and miserably hot in the summer. I stopped by Allen’s Boots on South Congress (boot HEAVEN). I must admit that I was tempted… but I managed to keep $600 in my pocket instead of splurging on a single pair of boots (yes, most of them are that expensive!) I hit my usual favorite eateries: Moonshine and Parkside and had a lovely lunch with Cathy from Noble Pig at Annie’s. And I sampled breakfast tacos at Guero’s Taco Bar too. Austin has the best food ever.

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Cherry- Limeade Sangria

Lori Lange — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:00:37 +0000

Summer is almost here, and it’s starting to get nice and warm in San Diego. I’ve put lighter blankets on the beds and I’m opening the windows at night. Flip flops and shorts are pretty much daily wear at this point, and the beach is beckoning us for a visit. Our neighborhood has begun having its outdoor Happy Hour gatherings in the late sunny afternoons- where we share friendship, cheese & crackers, gossip and wine. Sangria sometimes makes an appearance too- most recently this Cherry- Limeade Sangria.

We live in an area of San Diego where the houses are very much Spanish-style, and the landscape is more desert-like than lush. My pet ceramic snake sits on my porch (my attempt to scare off the many rattlesnakes in our area). Sangria always seems like the perfect cocktail to serve in our house. It has Spanish origins itself, and it’s a refreshing beverage in our dry climate.

For this simple sangria recipe, I used limeade and cherry juice as the anchor flavors. Sauvignon Blanc and vodka are added in to turn it into a cocktail.

In true sangria-fashion, fresh fruit is added in too. It’s always a nice idea to serve your sangria with a spoon because those cherries are awfully tempting (and quite delicious) to eat. The neighbors must have enjoyed my creation… since there were only a few pieces of fruit sitting in the bottom of the jug.

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BAILEYS Dessert Recipes to share

Lori Lange — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:03:49 +0000

I’m excited to share that I’ve partnered with BAILEYS® Coffee Creamers to create some dessert recipes. The folks at BAILEYS have three new flavors of their creamers that they debuted recently, and they asked me to come up with a dessert recipe inspired be each of the new flavors. I’m sharing those recipes with you today! Here are the goodies…

(pictured left to right): BAILEYS® Vanilla- Brown Sugar Cookie Bars, BAILEYS® Chocolate- Espresso Brownie Bites, and BAILEYS® White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Sandwich Cookies

Here are the three new flavors (you’ve probably already spotted them in stores!): Vanilla Brown Sugar (my husband’s favorite), Mudslide and White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl (my current obsession). We always have these in our fridge for adding to coffee, but I’m showing you how you can use them in recipes too!

To showcase the Vanilla Brown Sugar flavor, I created BAILEYS® Vanilla Brown Sugar Cookie Bars. These are a sturdy, little handheld treat- a sugar cookie bar topped with a generous layer of Vanilla Brown Sugar Icing. They freeze well. They were a big hit in my neighborhood with both kids and adults alike. The recipe can be found here: BAILEYS® Vanilla Brown Sugar Cookie Bars A recipe how-to video follows:

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Stuff I’ve Gotta Share and You’ve Gotta See

Lori Lange — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:00:11 +0000

Hey you! Here’s this week’s Stuff I’ve Gotta Share and You’ve Gotta See!

Here’s what I did for Parade Magazine this week: I was recently informed that McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets are actually only 50% chicken (the other 50% you just kind of don’t want to know). I don’t go to McDonalds unless I’m driving across country and it’s the only place around for miles, but I know some kids really dig those nuggets. Homemade is such a better, more healthy option for your kids! Here’s a collection of SIX healthy, homemade chicken nugget recipes I’m sharing with you. All are very different, and they all look delicious! The photo and recipe above are from the blog A Farmgirl Dabbles: Baked Chicken Nuggets with Dilly Ranch Dip

New on my son’s blog: RecipeBoy. He is very, very excited to be sharing a review and giveaway for UNREAL candy- a candy that is exactly like some of the main brand favorites out there but it’s made from all real stuff (no corn syrup, GMO’s, artificials, hydrogenateds, no chemicals and no sugar overload). Check out his post about this candy and enter his giveaway > HERE. My husband and I tasted all of the candy, and it might be interesting to note that we both agreed after taste-testing that if we saw this brand with the more popular name brand side-by-side on a store shelf, we’d definitely grab this one. The price point is similar and it just doesn’t make any sense to buy the brand with all of the added crud.

I love this post from my friend Carrie Minns on her blog: La Pomme de Portland. ”Why You Should Start Your Day With a Simple Glass of Lemon Water.” I love lemon water- both cold and hot. Carrie explains why it’s so good for you!
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Strawberry Shortcake Skillet Cobbler

Lori Lange — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 03:57:14 +0000

Driscoll’s Berries contacted me recently to see if I’d like to explore the idea of coming up with a unique recipe for strawberry shortcake. Since this is a product that I buy at my market often, and since I love strawberries more than any other berry option, I was totally and completely on board for this task. I shared a story with Driscoll’s about my background with strawberry shortcake, and I created a recipe that was a takeoff from something that my grandmother used to make me: Strawberry Shortcake Skillet Cobbler

This is strawberry shortcake made all at once- in a cast-iron skillet. The strawberries are piled onto the bottom, and the shortcake cobbler is dabbled on top and baked until golden brown. Sweetened whipped cream is dolloped on top. Here’s how you make it:

Look for the brightest, sweetest, most-beautiful strawberries you can find (I recommend Driscoll’s Berries- Driscoll’s has been growing strawberries for over 100 years. Each berry is hand-picked and must meet quality standards for sweetness, size and color… so they tend to be pretty awesome berries!)

Hull the berries (take the green tops off and carve out some of the tough, woody white part, if your berries have that).

Add a squeeze of lemon juice.

Pile on a good dose of sugar.
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Stuff I’ve Gotta Share and You’ve Gotta See

Lori Lange — Fri, 31 May 2013 04:19:02 +0000

I have a bunch of random Stuff I’ve Gotta Share with you today, and you should probably see it! Here ya go!

This is the recipe I wrote for Parade Magazine this week- Easy Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Chicken. It’s for those nights when you have to run around and take one kid to baseball and then another kid to lacrosse, and then no one is home until it’s too late to make any sort of great dinner. The kids will enjoy this one since it’s tender chicken with a peanut buttery sauce! Check out the recipe > HERE.

Last week was my big national TV debut on QVC- I had the opportunity to share my book- The Recipe Girl Cookbook- with the world! I was on David Venable’s “In the Kitchen With David” show. He couldn’t have been nicer and more genuine. I loved every minute of my experience there. It’s such a well run organization, I met SO many neat folks there who were selling other products. The products they choose to feature on the show are ones that they truly stand behind and believe in. As I was leaving, I apparently walked right by rapper Fifty Cent and his entourage and was completely clueless… didn’t even notice. He was there to sell his headphones. If you watched my show, thank you for the support! And if you missed it, you can still view it HERE on the QVC site (just click the video link). I’m getting such positive feedback from all who have purchased The Recipe Girl Cookbook, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about that!

My neighbor flagged me down the other day to tell me about her FIT BIT. Do you know what these are and what they do??? From their website: This slim, stylish device is with you all the time. During the day, it tracks steps, distance, and calories burned. At night, it tracks your sleep cycle and wakes you silently in the morning. Just check out the lights to see how you stack up against your personal goal. It’s the motivation you need to get out and be more active. I’m pretty much obsessed with the idea of getting one of these now!! They are currently running $99.95. If you have one, I’d love to know how you like it, and what your experience has been with it!
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Chocolate Chip- Toffee Strip Cookies {Cookbook Giveaway}

Lori Lange — Tue, 28 May 2013 22:00:49 +0000

I’ve never been one to pass up a cookbook full of cookie recipes. I love cookies of every kind, and they’re definitely my favorite thing to bake. But I suppose the real reason is that I’m terrified that I’ll miss something if I don’t pick up a newly released cookie cookbook. What if they’ve done something with Snickerdoodles that I’ve never heard of before, what if they’re sharing a chocolate cookie recipe that people will oohh and ahhh over, or what if there’s a chocolate chip cookie recipe that is unique and fabulous and must be tried? I can’t stand the thought of missing out on something. Plus, I eagerly read cookie cookbooks like they’re a delicious new novel. Here’s a can’t-be-missed recipe that I found in the just-released All the Good Cookies Cookbook: Chocolate Chip- Toffee Strip Cookies

The dough is addicting on this one. It’s chocolate chip and toffee all wrapped into one cookie. The dough is divided out into four sections- each rolled between waxed paper, then they’re baked as giant cookies. Just out the oven, they’re cut into cookie strips.

The recipe comes from the 2nd Cookies for Kids Cancer book: All the Good Cookies by Gretchen Holt- Witt. From the back cover:
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was founded on the simple belief that no one can resist the allure of a cookie or the desire to help a worthy cause. This people-powered charity has used community bake sales to raise millions of dollars to help fund new therapies for pediatric cancer. The first Cookies for Kids’ Cancer cookbook introduced the cause to tens of thousands of new supporters with a collection of delicious recipes perfect for a bake sale or anytime. Now, in All the Good Cookies, this all-new cookie compendium, you’ll find a wealth of mouthwatering recipes that will satisfy any cookie craving, from Raspberry Thumbprints to Boston Cream Whoopie Pies. And since all of the author’s royalties go to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, every copy of All the Good Cookies you buy will help kids fighting cancer.

I must say that I really love the way these cookies are created. It’s different than your typical chocolate chip cookie, and that makes it appealing. They’re a delicious chocolate chip cookie with hints of toffee here and there.
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Barbecue Chicken and Bacon Pizza

Lori Lange — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:38 +0000

There are some things in life that you should totally be allowed to eat with a spoon. A really good, thick and smoky barbecue sauce is one of them. Not all BBQ sauce meets that criteria, but when you find one that is completely awesome… a nice big spoonful is awfully tempting. So go get your favorite barbecue sauce and make this recipe that the whole family will love: Barbecue Chicken and Bacon Pizza

Sure, there might be a thing or two that the kids might want to pick around. You can customize it how you like, but we liked this one just as I wrote the recipe below. In fact, I made my son overlook the tomatoes (something he despises) and just take a big bite to see if he liked the pizza. He complied, he took a great big bite, and he agreed that it was delicious. The barbecue sauce and the gouda cheese take over the starring role in the pizza, and the other tidbits just add a little something extra here and there.

You can use a store-bought pizza dough if you’d like. I don’t like the stuff in the can, but Trader Joe’s and other specialty stores sell a ball of dough that is usually pretty decent. ALSO… a little secret: pop into your local pizza place and ask them if they’ll sell you a pound of dough. You might be surprised that they will! For this recipe, I made homemade- my favorite: Easy Pizza Dough Recipe. It’s easy to make- just mix and knead a little bit, let it rest and rise for 30 minutes, then roll it out.

Brush it lightly with olive oil. Then bake it for 7 to 8 minutes, just until the top is a little bit golden brown.

Spread barbecue sauce on top of the partially baked crust (acting as your pizza sauce).

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©2013 Recipe Girl | Permalink | 42 comments

Stuff I’ve Gotta Share and You’ve Gotta See

Lori Lange — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:47 +0000

My thoughts are with the folks of Oklahoma today. I can’t even imagine what they’re all going through. And every time I see one of those teachers talking on camera and hugging their students, it brings me to tears since I was once a teacher myself. Sending big hugs and the strength to get through it all to everyone affected.

Here are a few things this week that I’ve just gotta share and you’ve gotta see…

What I’m sharing over on Parade Magazine’s Food Blog this week: 10 Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipes (including the Campfire Cake shown above!)

I’m sure I’m not the only one addicted to Pinterest. Besides the fun of just pinning favorite things I see on the internet, I’m finding that I actually USE Pinterest and go back into my boards many times and make recipes or look for decorating ideas, etc. Here are some of my favorite Pinterest boards! As much as I want to add scantily clad, sexy cowboys to my Everything Cowboys board, it’s mostly filled with recipes like Cowboy Cookies and Cowboy Chili and adorable cowboy boots, etc. Sweet Strawberries is another one that I love- beautiful recipes with fresh strawberries. My Red, White and Blue board is a rather large collection of recipes that are red/white and blue! And I adore my Bacon Bacon BACON board and my Avocado Obsession board too. Oh and then there’s my COOKIE MONSTER board!! Do you have a fun Pinterest board I should know about?

Today is my son’s birthday! He’s 12 today. In other words, he’s 4 years away from begging us to drive one of our cars and 6 years away from the serious financial obligation of college! His blog turns two today too- please go wish him a Happy Birthday on the birthday post I wrote for him – he loves the attention

Here’s what’s new on my other food blog: Culinary Covers- Salmon Burgers with Yogurt Dill Sauce, Pimiento Mac and Cheese, Chicken- Mango Tacos, and Simple Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting. If you are interested in getting email updates for new posts on Culinary Covers, you can subscribe HERE.

Here’s a recipe I found on Pinterest that I made for my family last weekend. It was super easy, and my family devoured it: Crockpot Italian Chicken with Tomatoes by The Comfort of Cooking blog.

And here’s a sweet post that my friend Sandy of Reluctant Entertainer wrote about coming and staying with me and my house in San Diego and what I served for dinner (one of our family’s favorite meals of all time!)

And FINALLY!!!! Tomorrow is the big, BIG day. I’m on my way to Pennsylvania today, where QVC headquarters are located. I’ll be on tomorrow- Wednesday, May 22nd- In the Kitchen with David show- somewhere in the 5 to 7 PST range, and 8 to 10 EST. I hope you’ll watch and cheer me on and buy a book or two or three. It’s all so exciting and I can’t wait!

Have a great rest of the week

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