Easy Veggie Spread

Easy Veggie Spread is gluten free, vegetarian, and super fast to mix together for a party or weekday snack! {Brittany's Pantry}I feel as though I would be remiss in my duties as a blogger if I didn’t share this recipe with you.  Is there some kind of foodie law enforcement that makes sure bloggers share the good stuff instead of keeping it to themselves?  Just to be safe, I will disclose all here.  I have been living off of it for several weeks now and I still can’t get enough. *phew*  Glad I got that off my chest.  I figured I could’t hoard the recipe forever… So simple.  And sometimes the best things are the simple things, right?

I always see veggie spreads in the store and just kind of skip over them.  I guess I like stuff either sweet, or at least dip-able.  I like to dunk and scoop my crackers and veggies.  But I have been on this kind of color kick with my cooking lately and I decided to experiment and come up with a pretty, veggie flecked spread that I loved equally on a cracker or a bagel.  A recipe that I could just throw together when I had company coming and not even give it a second thought.  A reliable, go-to version with minimal ingredients.  Min-i-mal.  This was actually a tall order and a bit of a challenge for myself as generally I like things like jam, honey, jelly, sweet butter, flavored cream cheese, or cinnamon-sugar on my bagels.  You may notice the sweet trend there.  What can I say?  I’m a ‘sweet’ kind of gal.  Heh heh.

But seriously.  Friends.  I haven’t even touched the sugary crap since I started making this.  Who knew so few ingredients could taste so glorious?  Love love love it.  And here it is, just in time for you to put out on New Years Eve.  A great snack to munch on while playing Scattergories, working on a puzzle, watching movies, or whatever it is that you do when you party down.  Just be sure to make another batch for latter, too.  Because who knows what the new year may bring!  Veggie spread instead of jam on my bagel is a good start.
Easy Veggie Spread is gluten free, vegetarian, and super fast to mix together for a party or weekday snack! {Brittany's Pantry}Easy Veggie Spread is gluten free, vegetarian, and super fast to mix together for a party or weekday snack! {Brittany's Pantry}Easy Veggie Spread is gluten free, vegetarian, and super fast to mix together for a party or weekday snack! {Brittany's Pantry}Easy Veggie Spread
The good things you can do with this stuff is endless.  It is down right awesome on a whole grain cracker, pretzels, or bagel.  But it is great spread on toast, layered thin on a tortilla with fresh cucumbers then rolled up, dolloped on top of an omelette just before serving, spread on a roast beef sandwich, filled into celery sticks, and OH so much more!  Be sure to share in the comments below how YOU are enjoying this recipe!  As for the hot sauce, my test subjects were split 50/50 on wether or not to leave it in.  Everyone love the tiny bit of kick though, so you be the judge.

1 (8 oz) block  softened cream cheese (I use Neufchatel)
4 T (1/2 stick) room temperature butter
1 T freshly snipped chives
1 medium carrot, scrapped and grated
1 heaping T freshly chopped parsley
big pinch of salt and lots of black pepper, or to taste
1 tsp hot sauce, optional

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, adding hot sauce if desired and tasting for seasoning.  Let the flavors sit together to meld for an hour or so if possible.  Taste again and add more salt, pepper, or hot sauce if needed.

Holiday Shepherd’s Pie

Holiday Shepherd's Pie is made completely from the leftovers of your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal! {Brittany's Pantry}Shepherd’s Pie is kind of a funny thing.

I have posted about it before with this non-traditional version and I have to say that I stick to my original thoughts about this: If it is covered in mashed potatoes, it is a good thing.  But today’s recipe wasn’t my brilliant idea and it is still, I have to say, ‘non’ traditional shepherd’s pie.  I’ll explain.

Years ago, when all six of us siblings still lived at home, we used to travel to my Aunt Mary’s house on New Years Day to celebrate the holidays with her and my Grandmother.  With such a big family, we knew how exhausting it could be to cook for us.  My Aunt solved that problem by making a big turkey dinner earlier in the week, then assembling this casserole with the leftovers.  Then all she had to do on the day was to heat up this big pan in the oven and it would feed everyone, with almost no effort from her.  Genius, right?!  She was free to play and visit and catch up with us.  Now, mind you, my family is not full of picky eaters and we will generally devour anything you put in front of us.

But the first year she made this version of shepherd’s pie, I began to look forward to those holidays at my Aunt Mary’s house for the food, just as much for the company.  What is not to love?  It is all the wonderful parts of a holiday meal rolled into one dish.  Meat?  Good.  Veggies?  Good.  Stuffing?  Gooooooood.  It is like home and family and comfort and love all wrapped up right there and topped with potatoes.  I am sure Aunt Mary has no idea that I remember what she used to serve us all those years ago, but really.  Is it all that surprising that food is at the center of my memories?  I didn’t think so.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can make it with whatever you have.  Beef?  That is perfect.  No stuffing?  Fine.  Sweet potatoes instead of mashed potatoes?  Great.  It is ALL good.  The point is that you are just layering in the different categories of your leftovers, wrapping it up, and tossing it in the oven whenever you have need of it.  Heck!  Freeze the darn thing and enjoy it later if you like!  You have already gone to the trouble of making all these individual dishes, and now you can use them up in one perfect meal.  No matter if you have a little or a lot of any one thing, it all works.  My favorite part?  All those little leftover containers that you end up having to find a place for in your fridge?  Gone.  One casserole and you are done.  And then you can take that one casserole and feed whoever you are getting together with the next weekend and you don’t have to lift a finger.  Nice, huh?  I told you my Aunt Mary is a genius.
Holiday Shepherd's Pie is made completely from the leftovers of your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal! {Brittany's Pantry}Holiday Shepherd’s Pie
Remember.  The key to this is the process, not the specific ingredients.  Every version you make will be different based on your leftovers so just embrace the spontaneity.  Also, feel free to make each layer as big or little as you like.  No stuffing?  Just skip it.  If you are vegetarian, just omit the first layer of meat.  Customize it to whatever you have on hand.

leftover meat-turkey, chicken, beef, or ham chunked or shredded into bit sized pieces
leftover vegetables-steamed, candied, or even green bean casserole
leftover stuffing
leftover mashed white or sweet ptoatoes
Gravy (optional)

In a large casserole dish (or even just a small one, depending on who you are feeding), spray or butter the dish lightly.  Spread the cooked, leftover meat in the bottom of the dish.  Layer on vegetables or spoon on leftover gratin or casseroles.  Whatever works.  Evenly top with stuffing, or dressing, and top with a layer of mashed potatoes.  Cover well and chill or wrap well and freeze.  When ready to serve it, put the dish, uncovered, into a cold oven and turn it on to 350.  Heat the casserole through until it is hot in the middle and potatoes are lightly browned, about 45 minutes if thawed.  Serve with a side of gravy to pour over the top if you like.  Leftover cranberries and rolls are good too!

Grilled Sausage W/Apple-Cabbage Saute

Grilled Sausage W/Apple-Cabbage Saute | Brittany's PantryJust a quick post to share one of our favorite autumnal dinners!  Believe me when I say that this recipe is a winner.  I mean, you should always believe me (I am very trustworthy) but for SERIOUS, you should believe me now.

It is fast to throw together, full of flavor, and inexpensive to make; three points that make this a great fall dish and perfect for this time of year.  As our days get busier as we get closer to the holidays, I love being able to make this in a matter of minutes.  This meal is one of those things that I just kind of make without a lot of thought and that means that it is virtually fool proof.  Handy when I am in and out of the house between ballet, church, playdates, meetings, book club, and appointments.  You can practically just throw it in the pan.  Like, take a pan, and throw it in.  Throw it.

These flavors are a natural fit for my family, seeing as how we have quite a streak of German blood.  It is very much inspired by dishes of my youth.  Cabbage and sausage is rather prevalent in Minnesota cuisine and this reminds my husband and I of home.  A little warm, Northern comfort food here in South Carolina!

Grilled Sausage W/Apple-Cabbage Saute
This is great served with extra applesauce on the side and a huge hunk of whole grain bread with salty butter.

1 whole beef sausage, such as Hillshire Farms

1 onion, sliced
4 T butter
salt and pepper
1/2 c applesauce, preferably chunky
2 T brown sugar
2 T apple cider vinegar
1/4 c apple cider or juice
1 small green cabbage, outer leaves removed and sliced to shreds, or one large bag pre-shredded cabbage

Grill the sausage over medium high heat until it has nice color.  Alternatively, sear it in a tiny bit of oil in a cast-iron pan.
While the sausage is grilling, melt the butter over medium heat in a large sauté pan and toss the onions in.  Season with salt and pepper.  When onions are soft, add the remaining ingredients.  Stir to combine and keep the heat good and hot to wilt the cabbage and thicken the liquid a bit.  When the cabbage is just wilted but still has some crunch to it, remove the pan from the heat and taste for seasoning.  Serve with the grilled sausage.

Crustless Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche

Crustless Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche | Brittany's PantryI grew up with big breakfasts.

My Dad always liked to make the works on the weekends and he was good at it.  Fried potatoes with onions, a big platter of fried eggs, sausage patties, toast-everything a good breakfast purist would want.  And you wouldn’t believe how perfect my Dad can make an egg over-easy.  The best I have ever seen, using a tiny cast iron frying pan that makes a perfectly sized egg.  Gorgeous.  My husband loves the tradition of a big breakfast just as much and we have a good time going all out on a saturday morning; taking our time and making a huge menu.

I almost always serve an egg dish because…well because I love them.  I always have.  In college I would microwave beaten eggs in a mug and spoon it over toast.  It was cheap, fast, and SO good at 1 in the morning!  Now, you can always find a hardboiled egg or two in my refrigerator, and my children proudly know what it means to order eggs scrambled, sunny side up, over-easy, over-hard, or poached.

Which is why, if you are a guest at my house on a weekend or holiday and it is before 11:00 am, there is a very good chance that you will be served this egg recipe.  Why?  It satisfies everyone!  Its healthy, gluten-free, and vegetarian.  But most importantly, it is an incredibly tasty dish that is ridiculously easy.  Two things we are always looking for in breakfast food, right?  I put sun-dried tomatoes in it, people.  SUN DRIED TOMATOES!  Little chewy bites of exploding flavor that you will want to mix in to every egg dish hereafter- which you totally have my permission to do, but the way.

Unlike a lot of quiche recipes, this one isn’t overly loaded down with ingredients.  No big chunks of vegetables, but certainly no less appealing.  It isn’t made in a tiny cast iron frying pan, but I am fairly certain my Dad would allow this on the table on a Saturday morning.  Being the breakfast expert that he is, he knows a good thing when he sees it.

Crustless Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche | Brittany's Pantry
**This recipe was created in collaboration with the Casper.  Check out their mattress here to learn more about how they are creating ‘The Mattress Reimagined.” Also, don’t forget to check out the Casper Mattress Twitter page! As always, all opinions and content are my own.

Crustless Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche
In addition to breakfast or brunch, I love to serve this alongside a salad and crusty bread for a light dinner.

1/4 c sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and roughly chopped
1/2 c Vermont white cheddar
1 scant T snipped fresh chives
pinch of salt
ground black pepper to taste
8 large eggs, beaten
1/3 c milk

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Spray a glass or ceramic deep dish pie dish.  Evenly sprinkle the bottom of the pie plate with the tomatoes, then the cheese, then the chives.  Beat the remaining ingredients together until uniform and fluffy and slowly pour the egg mixture into the pie plate.  Gently slide the dish into the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes or until puffed and JUST SET in the middle.  Remove dish and let sit at room temperature for a full  five minutes before slicing and serving.  Can be enjoyed hot, warm, or room temperature. Leftovers are great the following day, slightly warmed in the microwave and eaten on toast like a breakfast sandwich!

Cheesy Bread

Easy Cheesy Bread | Brittany's PantryMmm.  Cheesy Bread.  Just absorb that thought for a second.

It is spectacularly comforting which is why I am posting my favorite, easy version of this now.  It is the perfect food for the cozy theme I am following during the duration of my Pine Tree Goods Giveaway!  Melted cheese on chewy bread paired with a green salad or bowl of soup?  Yeah baby!!

As you may have guessed from my previous postings of Garlic Toast and Herbed Garlic Bread, I like having a carbohydrate to dip in my food.  I may or may not make noises like a crane on a construction site when I scoop with tools of bread.  One of my favorite hot lunches when I was a kid was the dunkers; big slabs of bread with melted mozzarella on top served with a scoop of spaghetti sauce.  Scrumptious.  Essentially, that is what I make this bread for.  The salad just makes me feel less guilty about eating a dinner centered around bread.

I was reading a recipe by Pioneer Woman recently and she mentioned that she freezes hers.  This never once occurred to me, but you can bet I am going to be doing that from now on!  Smear on the cheese mixture, wrap it up tightly, and pull out to thaw and toast whenever it is needed.  Genius.  And speaking of smart ideas, whoever paired bread and cheese together the first time (probably someone French…) and warmed it up and called it a meal, well they are my forever friend.

Here in South Carolina, I am learning about Southern Caviar (aka Pimento Cheese) and all its versions, uses, and adaptations.  In some ways this recipe is a simpler version of that.  I have been holding out on making my own pimento cheese but since it is everywhere down here, I am sure I won’t be able to resist for long.  Then, of course, I may just have to smear it on bread and toast it up.  That recipe and this recipe can be buddies.  Hehe!

Oy vey…I really shouldn’t blog when I’m tired….
Easy Cheesy Bread | Brittany's PantryEasy Cheesy Bread | Brittany's PantryEasy Cheesy Bread | Brittany's Pantry***Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win some one of a kind accessories from the top rated Etsy Shop, Pine Tree Goods!  FREE STUFF FOR THE WIN!!!  There are still a few days left to get your name in and it is just so darn easy, there is no excuse!!  Want to get your Christmas shopping done early?  Hannah, the artisan behind the goods, is offering a free shipping code just for Brittany’s Pantry readers!  Simple enter BPGIVEAWAY14 to get your items shipped free!  She does special orders too, so be sure to contact her if you want something specific!  Click here to zip over to the post to enter and see official rules.  Good luck!!***

Simple Cheesy Bread

1 large loaf french bread (not baguette-you want it softer than that)
8 oz grated colby-jack cheese
1/2 c good mayonnaise
1 stick (1/2 c) softened butter

Combine the cheese, mayo, and butter in a small bowl.  Set aside.  Cut the bread in half down the side lengthwise and open like a book.  I cut it in half crosswise as well so that the pieces fit on my pan butter, but whatever works for you is fine!  Divide the mixture evenly between the pieces of bread and smear evenly all the way out to the edges! Don’t forget the edges!  **If you are freezing this for later, gently sandwich the bread together, wrap well in plastic wrap, and then again in foil, or place in a zip top freezer bag.  Defrost in the fridge and proceed with recipe.**  Preheat the oven to 375.  Place the bread cheese side up on a parchment or foil lined sheet pan (because burnt cheese is a major bummer to clean off of metal) and toast for 10 minutes.  Check the bread to see how it is melting and proceed at 5 minute intervals until it is toasted to your preference.  Some like their cheese barely melted, other like it to be bubbling and turning brown.  Your choice!  Pull it out and let it set for a minute-if you can wait that long-before slicing and enjoying!

Basic Chicken Stock | Brittany's Pantry I feel like chicken stock (or chicken broth) is one of those things that scare people.  The whole business of a DIY process for something you can buy very easily in a can at the store is, I am sure, absurd to some people.  Like making your own corn flakes or churning your own butter.  It just isn’t necessary.  I would like to convince you otherwise.

Why?  Because it is just so darn easy.  There is MUCH less of a science to it than say, baking, and the payoff is tenfold.  It takes so very little effort and can be simmering away while you do something else.  No babysitting.  Also, as my Mother would say, its good for what ails you.  Seriously good eats when the sniffles set in.

Technically, stock like we are talking about today, tends to be made from the bones of an animal; chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, pork.  Often, the flavor is much richer.  Chicken broth, which I confess is really the only kind I ever make (lamb broth is SO not my specialty), usually is much more subtle in taste and made with the whole bird, meat and all.  Ultimately, I make them the same and have never noticed much of a difference in flavor.  I am sure there are some chefs somewhere shaking their heads and emphatically disagreeing with me, but I am willing to risk that as I doubt many of them are spending their spare time reading this blog. 🙂

For purposes of ease and the fact that I am just not that fancy, you can call this broth or stock-whatever floats your boat.  K?  K.

Now.  This post is really more about the tips of making good chicken stock than a recipe.  No rocket science involved.  Ultimately, you should know that stock can-and should-be made from the leftover ingredients that you don’t want to throw away.  Waste not, want not.  So read on and be confident!
Keep Calm and Make Chicken StockThe Ingredients 

1. Chicken

Today I used the leftover carcass of a rotisserie chicken from the local deli.  You can use the bones of any chicken you eat, or use a whole, raw chicken.  The process is the same, you would just add more water.  I have a hard time tossing our perfectly good chicken so when I am separating a whole chicken into parts, I usually cut out the back and neck pieces and then toss them in a freezer bag in the freezer.  Over time, I keep adding miscellaneous raw chicken pieces to it and when I have a good sized amount, I make chicken stock.  If I know that I am going to roast a chicken or be picking up a roasted chicken, I usually plan for soup later in the week because I will have a carcass to use to make the stock.  If soup isn’t on the agenda, I just freeze the stock after I make it.

2.  Vegetables

In general, I like to keep things simple when making stock and broth.  I stick to the items that give great flavor, but that I am most likely to have on hand.  That means carrots, celery, and onions.  Garlic if you are feeling fancy.  They are basics that are always around so I never have to worry about making sure I have the ingredients available.  What I suggest (because I do this and it works well 🙂 ) is that when you have some carrots or celery that you didn’t use up and are about to go kinda rubbery on you, is to toss them in a gallon zip top bag.  Just like the chicken parts, they can sit in the freezer until you are ready for them.  Then you have veggies that are maybe a smidge past their prime for munching on, but perfect to add flavor to your stock.

3.  Herbs & Spices

Here is where you can go crazy if you like.  Me?  I add a pinch of whole peppercorns, a few dried bay leaves, and a large clump of fresh thyme.  If I don’t have fresh thyme, I add 1 tsp of dried, mainly because thyme and chicken just go so darn well together.  And that is it!  If I have parsley stems leftover, I will add those, but generally, I like the flavor to be simple and true.  You want your chicken stock (broth) to be flavorful, but multipurpose and not overpowering.  If I am immediately turning the broth into soup, I may add something specific to that recipe.  Otherwise, I keep it simple.  If you are a major fan of sage, add a clump of fresh or a pinch of dried.  A bit of dill would be yummy too.  As long as you have some base flavors, you can jazz it up to your liking.

4.  Water

Ummm…thats it.  Add water.  Fancy, huh?

The Process

If you have the bones of one chicken, use:

1 chicken carcass, picked clean of meat
2 carrots, or the equivalent, rinsed (peeling is unnecessary)
2-3 stalks of celery, or the equivalent, rinsed of any dirt
1 onion, quartered
2 cloves garlic, smashed (optional)
5 whole pepper corns
2 dried bay leaves
2 sprigs of fresh thyme, or 1 large pinch dried
two big pinches of salt-Don’t overdo this because you can’t take it back out again.
4-6 quarts of water
Basic Chicken Stock | Brittany's Pantry Ok.  Put what you are using in a large pot and pour in 4-6 quarts of water.  I always just fill up the pot until the ingredients are covered and it always comes out about the same.  If you have an extra big carcass from something like a turkey or maybe even from two chickens, you will need to add more water and more veggies.  If you are using a whole raw chicken, add more water to allow for the extra volume.
Basic Chicken Stock | Brittany's Pantry Put the pot, uncovered, over medium heat and let the stock simmer.  DO NOT LET IT BOIL!  When it bubbles vigorously, it tosses the ingredients around and makes for a rather cloudy, and not as nice looking broth.  Simmer for an hour, hour and half or so, until the ingredients are all cooked, and it smells AMAZING!  Cool slightly and use a tongs to remove and discard the large pieces of bone and vegetables.  Being VERY careful, pour the stock through a fine mesh sieve.  If you want a very clear broth, line the sieve with cheesecloth.  Let the stock cool, preferably overnight in the fridge, and skim the solidified fat off the top and either discard, or save to use for frying!  Freeze the broth in airtight containers labeled well, or use within the week!
Basic Chicken Stock | Brittany's Pantry A few quick tips:

If I have some store-bought broth leftover from something, I mix it in before I freeze it.

I go light on the salt.  Depending on your chicken carcass, it can add a lot of salt already to the broth if you aren’t careful.  You can always add it to the recipe you are using the broth for, but salty chicken stock is NOT good eats.

You do NOT have to strain the broth through anything finer than a colander.  Sometimes the bits of veggie and meat in there is what you want in your soup and that rustic look is just fine.  Its up to you.

Freeze your stock in quart containers, but maybe a few 1 c containers as well.  Its nice to have a smaller quantity when you need just a bit to deglaze a pan.

TASTE IT!  Be sure to taste your broth so that you know what it is you like in your recipe.  Adjust accordingly.

Don’t fret about the color.  The shade and clarity of your stock will depend on your chicken, your bones, your veggies, etc.  Just check the taste.  That is most important!

Enjoy!

 

Gluten-Free Honey Oat Protein Bites | Brittany's PantryAbout a year ago, when I still lived in central Illinois, I was given this recipe from a friend and fellow Mommy.  She was on a mission to get more fit and make some long lasting, healthy changes in her life.  One of her discoveries was this recipe that she got off Pinterest.  As a rockstar mom of boys, she was looking for a quick, homemade snack that she could make ahead and share with the whole family and this fit the bill.  (Personally, I think she just needed a quick bite of something that would keep her on the move.  Why are boys so exhausting?)  She was so surprised at how delicious they were, she made sure to share it with everyone she knew!  I recently started experimenting with all variations of no bake, granola-type, snack bite kind of recipes and thought I would start with this one.

Score!  I am a huge peanut butter and chocolate fan so this was one of the flavors that was top on my list.  Man, are they good!  I have several family members and friends that are gluten-free due to celiacs disease or other health issues so I am psyched to be able to pass this on to them!  My Mom used to make something similar to this when I was a kid so I can’t help but feel like these are kind of a retro snack making a comeback as a food fad.   There are so many recipes similar to this that are floating around the internet, I am glad to have narrowed them down to just one!  I am still working on another version; different flavors so that we all get some variety, but I’ll leave that for another day.  For now, know that these awesome little bombs of heart healthy flax and oats are a powerhouse of good things for your bod!

My initial taste testers of this recipe, who coincidentally eat GF and include at least one health professional, all gave a full stamp of approval.  They liked that you can really taste the ingredients, which in my opinion, makes them that much more scrumptious.  My kids went crazy for them and have requested they be tucked in their lunches, sent for snack, or both!  My husband is a runner and even though he has had them as a boost before and after his runs, the rest of the time I need to physically separate him from the container.  While they are healthy and full of good things, too many would really up your calorie intake.  So don’t eat them like popcorn!

Ultimately, they are just a smart, easy, kid and adult friendly food that is a good idea.  They are a faster, more simple recipe than making a full batch of granola bars and easy enough for your kids to make by themselves!  They last for quite awhile stored properly in the fridge and can be frozen too.  Very convenient if you are little, grown, single, married, new parents, old parents…or a rockstar mom of boys.
Gluten-Free Honey Oat Protein Bites | Brittany's Pantry**This recipe is fourth in the healthy eating series I am featuring over on the J Rose Fitness Facebook page!  It is a great resource for healthy living tips, ideas, motivation, and the occasional challenge!  Check it out and ‘like’ it to get your daily dose of information and humor.  I guarantee it will make your day!  Jessica, the brain behind the page is ready to answer questions, give support, and keep you going!  I am loving being a contributor and you can see all my submitted recipes on her site.  I don’t receive any compensation for contributing-I just really love her page!  Check it out!

Gluten-Free Honey Oat Protein Bites
Recipe via Danielle (friend of BP) via Pinterest
These can be altered a bit depending on your tastes.  I have specified substitutions where applicable.

1 c peanut butter or almond butter
1 c ground flax seeds
2 c rolled oats, gluten free if desired
1/2 c mini chocolate chips or 1 c raisins or dried cranberries
2/3 c honey, preferably raw

Combine all ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon.  Cover and chill until the mixture firms up.  Scoop by level tablespoonfuls and roll between the palms of your hands until they are smooth and round.  Chill.  Enjoy!  Can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for…I don’t know! We always eat them too fast! 🙂  I like to freeze them in bags of six to pull out later and make them last longer.

Roast Chicken Waldorf Salad | Brittany's PantryI will be the first one to admit that I have not always been a Waldorf salad fan.

The Waldorf salads of the 70’s and 80’s usually contained WAY too much celery (not my fav), nuts (which I generally avoided unless it was in a dessert), and were often completely tasteless.  A mayonnaise-y covered fruit blob.  If any of you have been to a church, neighborhood, or sport team pot luck dinner, then you know ex-ACTLY what I am talking about.  You could usually find it right next to the lime green jello with the carrots shredded on the top and beside the macaroni salad.  Mm mmm, right?

*shudder*  Not always good eats.

However, several weeks ago, I started thinking about those traditional Waldorf salads of my youth and imagined it as more of a really good chicken salad with all the Waldorf elements.  I took to the kitchen and this recipe was the result.  My first attempt came out so well I didn’t change anything and it was so darn good, I couldn’t keep my hands out of the bowl.  The second time I made it I served it to company, hoping to use them as my test subjects and glean some sort of constructive criticism from them.  I was not prepared for the first clean plates and shouts for seconds to come from the kids table.  They inhaled it.  I knew it was good, but I was trying to be objective.  No need.  The only complaint was that I didn’t make enough.

And so, our new favorite summer dish was born!  My aversion to celery has faded over the years and the added crunch of walnuts is no longer something I avoid, so both have modest but suitable amounts in this dish.  The tangy and slightly sweet dressing is light and meant to just coat the ingredients, not overload or weigh them down.  The addition of some plain yogurt, an ingredient I always have in my kitchen and a natural addition for me to add to this salad, lightens up the richness of the mayo and pairs OH so well with the fruit!  As a one dish summer dinner, it just can’t be beat.
Roast Chicken Waldorf Salad | Brittany's PantryREMEMBER!!  This post is the third recipe in the continuing series of healthy recipes that are being featured over at the J Rose Fitness Facebook page!  Check it out for fitness tips and inspiration, along with the occasional healthy recipe from yours truly!!

Roast Chicken Waldorf Salad
Feel free to use lemon juice in place of the vinegar in this recipe.  Both acids work well.  Personally, I prefer the more round taste of the vinegar with this combination of ingredients as opposed to the more bright flavor of lemon juice, but its your call!

2 large roasted chicken breast, boned and skinned, and cubed into bite sized pieces
2 c of grapes (red or green) halved
2 stalks celery, sliced thin
2 large apples, cored and cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 c plain yogurt (I use fat free or low fat)
1/3 c good mayonnaise
1 heaping T of raw honey
1 T of red wine vinegar
pinch of salt
black pepper to taste
1/2 c chopped walnuts, optional
Spring greens

In a large serving bowl, add the first four ingredients and let sit covered in the fridge until the dressing is made.  If you are concerned about the apples oxidizing, just wait until the end to add them at the last minute.  Combine the mayo, yogurt, honey, vinegar, and seasoning.  Pour over salad ingredients and gently toss until evenly coated.  Serve over a bed of greens and garnish with a heavy pinch of walnuts, if desired.

Quick & Easy Pita Chips

Pita ChipsJust popping in to post a quick recipe for an easy snack!

We really love crunchy pita chips at our house.  However, the five of us can easily finish off a whole bag in one sitting so generally, it just makes more sense for me to make them myself.   Very easy and much cheaper to do.  In addition, I can control the level of crunchiness and get them a toasty as we prefer them.  My husband likes things VERY crunchy and just one head scratch away from burnt so I always leave a handful or two on the pan a bit longer for him.  For those of you that prefer your food toasted, but not cooked to ashes, just a few minutes is all you need.
Pita ChipsAbove, these beauties are all set and ready to pop in the oven!  Below?  Toasted and perfect to dip in some hummus!
Pita ChipsQuick & Easy Pita Chips 
These do lose their crunch after a day or so.  My advice is to make them fresh when you need them so you can finish them off while perfect and toasty!  If you have access to different flavors of pita bread or even flavored oils, this would be a good application for that.  These are pretty basic so please experiment with herbs and spices to customize your chips!

Pita Bread-homemade or store-bought (I usually buy it whole wheat and fresh from the bakery.  Then I tuck them in the freezer for whenever I need them!)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Cut your pita bread like a pizza, into 8 or even 16 pieces, depending on what kind of dippers you like.  Spread them out in a single layer on a dry sheet pan and spray or lightly drizzle evenly with olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper and pop in the oven for 10 minutes.  Check on the chips and continue to toast until desired crispiness.  How long it will take will depend on your oven, your individual tastes, and the moisture content of your bread.  Just keep and eye on them so they don’t burn.  You can turn them over halfway through if you like, but it isn’t necessary.  Cool slightly and enjoy!

Loaded Roasted Pepper SandwichIt is hard for me to convey just how spectacular the combination of these flavors are.  The only thing I have been able to come up with is, thats so good, you will want to eat it even when you are pregnant and so sick the though of a sip of water makes you want to hurl.

Because really, that is what I associate with this sandwich.  Three times over (baby 1,2, and 3), I was sick the entire 9 months of my pregnancy. As in, I threw up in the delivery room bathroom a few hours before my daughter was born because even then, I was still puking.

In an effort to make me ANYTHING that I could keep down, my husband handed me this sandwich when I was still in the early stages of pregnancy #1.  Needless to say I was skeptical.  I will spare you the details of what happened when I was finished with it, but I will never forget how amazing it tasted.  Fresh, creamy, tangy, crunchy-it was outstanding.  Once I was my non-pregnant self again, I made sure to make the sandwich the exact same way to try and replicate that joy.  It was even better than I imagined!  And when I was prego again, it was often the only thing that sounded good, regardless of wether I could keep it down or  not.  I mean, just LOOK at that sandwich!  Does it not make your mouth water??
Loaded Roasted Pepper SandwichNow, I make them for my kids.  I have tried changing a few things-adding cucumber, skipping the step to toast the bread, or even using plain hummus-and all changes were good.  But not this good.  Something about these particular ingredients just go so great together.  The hubby knew what he was doing when he built this one!  I feel like I should mention that ripe tomatoes are key.  Don’t bother making this without them.  Loaded up with fresh spinach and avocado, it is chock full of good for you foods!  Which we all need, wether you are expecting a baby or not.
Loaded Roasted Pepper SandwichLoaded Roasted Pepper Hummus Sandwich

Whole Grain Bread-toasted
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus- homemade or store bought
Fresh Spinach
Avocados, pitted and sliced thin
Sliced Tomatoes
Thinly Sliced Cheese-CoJack is GREAT on this sandwich!

Assemble your sandwich in whatever fashion allows it to stay together the best. 🙂  Enjoy!

Roasted Pepper Hummus

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is incredibly easy and way better for you than the store-bought stuff! {Brittany's Pantry}Roasted pepper hummus is one of the most common things I find in the refrigerators of my friends.  Well, that and red wine.

Whenever I talk to someone who has made hummus for the first time, they always mention how incredibly good it is.  As yummy as store bought hummus is, there is nothing like the flavor of a batch you made yourself.  Making it specially flavored is just that much better.

The following recipe is my standard, quick hummus that I make all the time, with simply some roasted red peppers added!  Easy, huh?  The smell is fantastic and it is incredibly hard to stop eating it.  Smooth and creamy, this hummus is outrageous on a sandwich (recipe coming soon) but is also a handy recipe to have in the fridge.  It makes it SO much easier to get your daily veggies in if you have this stuff to dip your celery, cucumbers, carrots, and whole grain pita chips in!  Because, seriously!  Isn’t that color gorgeous?  I love the colors of food…

Speaking of recipes, I often like to share what I call my BONUS RECIPES on social media.  Occasionally, I post a recipe exclusively to Brittany’s Pantry Twitter feed (brittanyspantry), Instagram (@brittanyspantry), Google+ , and the Facebook page.  Why?  Because I like to reward those who spend excessive time on their phone whilst in the grocery line!  Today was one of those bonus days so be sure to follow BP and get every tasty recipe you can!  Here is the link to my favorite Double Chocolate Recovery Drink! Enjoy!Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is incredibly easy and way better for you than the store-bought stuff! {Brittany's Pantry}Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is incredibly easy and way better for you than the store-bought stuff! {Brittany's Pantry} Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

2 cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas) rinsed and drained
3 T tahini
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T lemon juice
3/4 tsp cumin
1/3 c water
1/3 c extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 of a 1 lb jar of roasted red peppers, drained (about 2)

Pulse all ingredients in a food processor, adding more evoo or water to achieve desired consistency.  Continue to puree until smooth.  Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator.

Simple Grilled Venison Burgers

Grilled Venison BurgersOh my stars.  It is a very good thing that you are behind your computer/iPad/iPhone device and not sitting next to me as I type this because I would embarrass my self my drooling in front of you.  Buuuuuurgeeeeeers are gooooooooood.

A good friend of mine back in IL shared some venison with me late last winter and I had a fantastic time working it into my meal plans.  I ate plenty of venison growing up in MN but it wasn’t easy to come by in the middle of farm country.  So we thoroughly enjoyed (and devoured) venison steaks, chops, and ground venison.  We grilled everything.  And it was good.  Mouthwateringly good.  I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with the ground venison, and then when winter ended, my affinity for burgers hit full force.  Spring had arrived and as my overwhelming love of burgers fresh off the grill was sitting just below the surface during the snowy months, I was ready once April hit.

I have made venison burgers many times but never really kept track of what I put in them.  Results varied so I figured I should actually pay attention and write it down this time in an effort to yield consistent results.  It took a few tries (bummer) and we had to make venison burgers several times (shoot) and we had to be sure to try each of them loaded with ripe tomatoes, melted cheese, and fresh bakery buns (darn).  It was tough.

But now, thank goodness, I have my master recipe.  The fact that I have been a South Carolinian for exact four weeks has made me start to wonder if they hunt deer down here and if so, who can I make friends with ASAP so as to procure my venison supply for the foreseeable future!  I will pay you in Double Chocolate Banana Bread and Spiced Peach Jam!  Any takers?
Grilled Venison BurgersTwo Years Ago: The Ultimate Snickerdoodle Recipe & Sour Cream Cherry Bars
Three Years Ago: Sweet & Tangy Ribs & Cobb Potato Salad

Simple Grilled Venison Burgers 
Recipe adapted from Leite’s Culinaria
If you are unsure about the taste of venison, these burgers are a wonderful way to try it out.  The gamey taste is limited but you still get the wonderful flavor of the meat.  Venison is usually quite lean so in order to make sure these burgers aren’t too dry, the egg yolks and olive oil give it a bit of help.  If you are one of those lovely people who save their drippings when frying bacon, a big ‘ol spoonful of that would be stellar in here.  Just be sure to be careful with how much additional salt you are adding.

1 lb ground venison
2 egg yolks
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 T worcestershire sauce
fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste

Gently combine all ingredients in a large bowl with a fork.  You don’t want to overwork the meat too much or it will give you very tough burgers.  Shape into four large patties and grill over medium high heat until medium well, about 3 minutes on each side depending on thickness and the heat of your grill.  These are absolutely perfect topped with a slice of colby jack cheese and fresh tomatoes. *drool drool drool*

Cucumber StackersYes, I am sharing a recipe of sorts, but that isn’t what this blog post is really about.  This blog post is about two things: The magic of what you can come up with when faced with limited kitchen utensils, and what you should pack so that you at least have those few limited kitchen utensils.

Before the movers packed up our house in IL, I needed to separate out the items that I didn’t mind being without, and those I really wanted to bring along to our rental apartment in South Carolina.  We had planned on staying there until our house was done being built, which should happen sometime around Christmas.  The apartment was furnished with the basics.  In the kitchen, this included a full set of dishes, glasses, and flatware, a knife set in a block on the counter, a can opener, a basic set of pots and pans, one large plastic colander, a toaster, coffee maker, a set of plastic mixing bowls, and several other random, everyday items that although cheaply made, would serve their purpose.  Often these are the same items in your run of the mill hotel kitchenette or home/condo rental.  I wanted to mention my situation as we are full into vacation season and there is a good chance that you will be faced with my same dilemma.  The only exception is for those of you flying to your destination.  I do not recommend you take your Santoku chefs knife with you in your carry on.  They may frown on that.

I realize that ‘kitchen essentials’ is a broad term, as everyone had a different view of what those are.  Some people can’t live without a garlic press or George Foreman Grill.  I am not one of those people.  I do, however, like to have items that can be used as multipurpose tools as much as possible.  My Kitchen Aid mixer, while one of my favorite and most used appliances, was hard to justify packing for our temporary rental home, being large, awkward, and heavier than all three of my children combined.  I knew that space would be a factor so I was brutal and sparing during the selection process.  Sorry, favorite wooden cutting board I got at a garage sale in college and have brought with me through 9 homes and 6 states.  I can’t cut meat on you so you don’t fit the whole ‘multipurpose’ requirement.  Into the box with the popover pans you go.  Vegetable peeler?  Nope.  A plain old pairing knife will do fine, thank you.

So what did come along?  A group of items that I quite simply use on a regular enough basis that I can’t be without them.  And ooooooh boy were my choices tested.  Little did I know, I would be moving out of our little rental apartment and into a little-and oh so empty-rental home mere days after arriving.  Turns out there was a crazy man living below us who liked to pound on our door and scream obscenities at us when we did wild things like laundry at noon on a Tuesday.  Very uncool with three small children.  Sooooo…I unpacked, with the unfailing help of my Mother-In-Law (who also bravely yelled at said Crazy Man to, and I quote, “Watch your language!  There are children present in this apartment!!” 🙂 and then the following day, repacked again.  The majority of our household goods are in storage, but our clothing and all items we would have need for for the next 6 months are with us.  We threw our belongings in our truck and hauled them to a rental house that, by the grace of God, we discovered was immediately available.  The bummer?  It was completely empty.  Noth.  Ing.  No dishes.  No colander.  No can opener.  And the microwave was broken.  Boo.

So what, you ask, have I been cooking and cooking with these last three weeks?
In no particular order, and with very bad photography as I was packing well past midnight and it was obviously dark, here are the items I make sure are ALWAYS in my kitchen.
IMG_1027Up first, my microplane.  Not the utensil you were expecting?  Let me explain.

I use my microplane almost daily, especially in the summer.  I cook and bake with fresh citrus and fresh ginger so often during the warmer months, I really didn’t want to leave it behind.  Of all the items, this is the one I could have skipped, but it takes up almost no space, so into the laundry basket of necessities it went.

Honorable Mention: The stone pot that it is leaning against is actually an old fashioned bread pan.  I got it from my Aunt years ago and it does indeed make a great loaf of bread.  These days, it stands on our bookshelves as a decorative piece and we use it to hold our loose change.  Making it to the bank to cash all the coins inside did NOT happen in the last frantic days before the move so it ended up coming with us.  Is it weird that I am comforted by that familiar sight in the midst of all kinds of moving chaos?
IMG_1026My blender and slow cooker.  My blender was a no brainer, due to the fact that we eat smoothies almost daily.  In addition, I use it to make no cook sauces like this one (pesto too) and refreshing drinks, like these margaritas.  The slow cooker was a last minute decision which I am SO glad I made.  I moved to South Carolina, a state known for sun and sand and heat.  I wanted to make sure I had access to an appliance that wouldn’t heat the whole house during our summer of acclimation.  🙂  It is getting a TON of use, which you will see more evidence of as the weeks continue.
IMG_1025Yes, this is a lime green rubber scraper and really ugly spatula.  Before you judge, hear me out.

The green one is silicone so I can use it with hot pans to stir scrambled eggs, toss sautéed shrimp, and stir sauces or soups etc, without melting it.  The fact that is it just a great bowl scraper is nice, as well as the slight bowl that allows me to scoop, divide, and serve using one utensil.  The nasty looking 1.99$ spatula on the right I have had since I got it at the dollar store in college some 16 years ago.  Why do I still have it, you ask?  It is the thinnest spatula I have ever found.  And let me tell ya, I have been looking!  It gets under the edge of a cookie, pancake, fillet of fish, or slice of fruit with no problem.  The edge is uber skinny and for some reason, every time I try to replace it, all the new ones are super thick and squash my pancakes instead of sliding underneath them to flip.  It is discolored and half melted and stands out like a sore thumb in the utensil bucket on my counter, but I can’t seem to part with it.  It also makes a great scepter when your kids are reenacting the movie The Princess Diaries.
IMG_1023No, I did not bring my whole knife block, but I did bring my favorite 6 inch Santoku Chefs knife.  I use it for everything and wrapped in a thick towel, it was one of the first things I packed to come with me.  It is the perfect size and weight for my small hands and I use it to chop, slice, mince, carve, and a myriad of other things.  Not pictured is a super sharp pairing knife that is a tiny bit bigger than average and has a nice tight guard that fits over the blade.  It also happens to be neon green and I am always tossing it into our picnic basket.  I packed it as well because the color makes it easy to find in a bag full of random things and the guard keeps it safe from my searching fingers.  It is small enough to peel potatoes, scrape carrots, and cut up an apple but large enough to cut sandwiches in half for little hands, slice small amounts of meat, and divide a loaf of bread.  It has become an invaluable traveling tool (again, not on an airplane) with children.  This knife is similar to what I have.
IMG_1022Of course, I brought along two restaurant grade, half sheet pans, and a large plastic cutting board.  The sheet pans are for roasting, baking, toasting, and broiling.  The cutting board is indestructible and just big enough to handle any job, but not so huge that it is a nuisance to tuck in a small kitchen.
IMG_1330Lastly, I made sure to add all my older kitchen towels.  They are super soft, but well worn and can be used as actual towels or rags.  I have a lot of them I need to replace so I just figured I would wear them out entirely until the house was built and then finally buckle down and purchase some new ones to go with my new kitchen.  Pot holders are obvious.  I brought my dark ones because they hide stains better and are a bit thicker.  I use them as trivets too.

Also not pictured: an 8 inch, nonstick saute pan, a 10 inch high sided fry pan that is oven proof, and a 1 quart glass measuring cup.

So thats it!  I have NOTHING else in my kitchen!  It has been a rough few weeks and after a quick trip to Target, we nabbed disposable silverware, bowls and plates and I did grab a can opener.  Other than that, I have been VERY creative.  If you are driving to your own rental place for vacation this summer, think about these items and what you can get the most use out of if you will be cooking your own food.  There is nothing worse than getting somewhere, only to find out there are no pots and pans or that the only knife is good for only slicing bananas.

Speaking of creative, I felt like my kids and I were consuming WAY too many bread products, as they are easy snacks when you have little to cook with.  In the interest of cleaning out what limited items were in the fridge before spoiling, I made these for lunch a few days last week.  So fun, the kids helped build them, and we goofed around with the ingredients based on what we had available.  Not much of a recipe, but a neat idea for the summer!
Cucumber StackersCucumber StackersOne Year Ago: Classic Potato Salad & Chocolate Cherry Almond Clusters
Two Years Ago: Yogurt Salads
Three Years Ago: Rum Raisin Rice Pudding & Garden Salsa & Guacamole

Cucumber Stackers
Inspired by my leftovers.

sliced cucumbers-I like the thin skins of English cucumbers but use whatever you want
sliced tomatoes
sliced cheese
ranch (optional)
whatever else you think would be good

We just stacked and ate.  I had some pre-grated carrot leftover from making this salad and used that too, but it was harder to eat that way.  The kids didn’t mind though!  What would you put in your stackers?

Roast Salmon & Veggies W/Mustard SauceAnd my obsession with all things salmon continues…

I admit I have been staring at the above picture for several minutes.  It contains so many foods I love, it could actually be called Brittany’s Salmon Dish.  I suppose I could have named it that but it seems a bit narcissistic.  It is right up my alley and the more I look at it, the more I want to eat it again.  And again.  And then again. Soooo me.

Much like this pasta dish, this meal can be customized to the vegetables that are in season at your specific geographic location. The veggies listed here go particularly well with the sauce, but are certainly not written in stone. Later in the season I would omit the asparagus or up the number of potatoes toward the end of summer, but otherwise I have found my favorite formula and haven’t been able to stray very far from it!
Roast Salmon & Veggies W/Mustard SauceThis is such a great summer dish because it is the caliber of something you would order at a little sidewalk bistro. Fortunately, you can skip the tip for your garçon and make it yourself instead. Heck! Make it for everyone! It’s low fat, heart healthy, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, and darn delicious!

It is the savoriness that gets ya.  The punch of the mustard is tempered by the vegetables, the creaminess of the potatoes, and the freshness of the fish.  You get a bite and zing of the sauce, and then you kinda go “Ooooooooooooo.”  And then you eat some more.  All together, it is pretty much just what you want on a summer day.  Add a big bowl of berries as the final course and maybe a sunset if you can swing it, and gaah.  Bonus points if there is a body of water nearby to gaze at as well.  Awesome.
Roast Salmon & Veggies W/Mustard Sauce Roast Salmon & Veggies W/Mustard SauceRoast Salmon & Veggies W/Mustard Sauce One Year Ago: Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, Cherry Gallette, Oatmeal & Brown Sugar Scones & Carrot & Ginger Rice W/Lime
Two Years Ago: Marshmallow Buttercream, Homemade Granola Bars, Flank Steak W/Tangy Sauce, Far Eastern Salad, Strawberry Lemonade & Baked Oatmeal
Three Years Ago: Strawberry Watermelon Cooler, Fried Corn, Mocha Chocolate Chip Scones, How To: Freeze Berries, Cheeze-It Chicken, Strawberry Sauce, Chocolate Chip Blonde Brownies, Pan Fried Tilapia & How To: Roast Asparagus

Roasted Salmon & Vegetables W/Mustard Sauce
This serves about 6 people, but it really depends on how much you plan on eating.  My kids can tuck away an adult sized plate of this stuff so we rarely have all that much as leftovers.  Ultimately, adjust the quantities to suit your family’s needs.

2 lbs of wild salmon, skin on (about 4-6 oz per person, give or take)

1 lb asparagus, rinsed, woody ends trimmed and the stalks cut into 1 inch pieces
2 lbs small red potatoes, rinsed and cut in half or into quarters if large
1 lb green beans, trimmed, rinsed and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 medium zucchini or summer squash (or both) cut into bite sized pieces

Sauce:
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
2 heaping T of dijon mustard
pinch of salt
heavy pinch of ground black pepper
2 tsp honey

Combine all sauce ingredients and set aside.
Toss the potatoes with a bit of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper and spread in a single layer on a sheet pan.  Roast the potatoes for 15 minutes at 425 degrees or until just starting to brown.  Using a spatula, toss the potatoes so that they roast evenly and slide them all down to one end of the pan.  Toss the remaining vegetables in a small drizzle of olive oil and a bit of salt and pepper.  Spread in a single layer on the remaining end of the sheet pan.  Use a second pan if the veggies are too crowded-you want them to roast and brown, not steam.  Put all the veggies back in the oven and continue to roast for another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through, but not mushy, and the vegetables are crisp tender.  While the veggies are doing their final roasting, slide the salmon in next to them on a foil lined pan, skin side down, and drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.  This is all VERY simply done.  The vegetables and fish should be done about the same time, but you will have to judge that individually based on the thickness of your salmon.  It should flake easily, but be just barely pink in the center still.  Combine all the vegetables on a large serving platter and drizzle sparingly with the mustard sauce.  Taste for seasoning and add more sauce until you reach your preferred strength.  Remove the skin from the fish and flake the salmon into large chunks over the veggies.  Serve immediately.

Whole Wheat Cheese & Chocolate Snack RollsRight around this time of year I start to feel like this is my life.  Make no mistake, I know it will only get worse as my kids get older, but preparing for a move across the country, trying to sell our house and buy a different one in a different time zone, transitioning insurance (…and doctors and ballet studios and karate dojos and playgrounds and pharmacies…) I am just barely hanging in there.  It is only slight exaggeration when I say that this little snack saved my life about a month ago.

Sometimes, when I am just. so. bored. with what is in my fridge and I just can’t make myself make/eat another peanut butter sandwich or ham and cheese roll-up for me OR my kids, I tend to kinda loose it.  I am not a creature of habit.  No no.  I need variety.  I know you know this already, but it bears repeating so that you understand the full reasons behind the chocolate chips.

I was desperate.

Truthfully (and this is a safe place so I feel as though I can be honest here), I wanted some cheesecake.  Badly.  I wanted the thick, rich, toothiness that comes with a super cold slice of New York style cheese cake.  The ‘clog your arteries with one bite’ kind.  Of course, living in the heartland of the midwest and surrounded by cornfields, I would have to make it myself.  Unfortunately, my kitchen contained exactly zero of the elements that make a cheesecake as I am in the middle of trying to empty my cupboards, freezer, and fridge.

This little snack was my compromise and I have been dishing them out as a part of lunches, snacks, and late breakfasts ever since.  I usually add honey to just about anything that I smear with cream cheese, but in this case, I um…well…I forgot.  That was  my intention, as I stood at the fridge and blankly decided to add chocolate to cream cheese, and then I spaced it.  Turns out, that was a smooth move because it doesn’t need that added blast of sweetness.  Whole wheat tortillas are a staple in our house and if you make them from scratch yourself, all the better!  Smeared with low fat cream cheese and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips, this snack is not really sweet at all, but is actually quite satisfying.  I have been passing them off to the kids as we struggle to the end of the school year, and even whipping them up as a quick, protein snack to keep me from crashing after a workout.  And lets face it; mini chocolate chips make everyone happy.  Especially when you are just days away from summer vacation.

*deep breath*  I’m ready.
Whole Wheat Cheese & Chocolate Snack RollsWhole Wheat Cheese & Chocolate Snack RollsWhole Wheat Cheese & Chocolate Snack RollsTwo Years AgoTofu Chocolate Pudding
Three Years Ago: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream & Lemon Thyme Orzo

Whole Wheat Cheese & Chocolate Snack Rolls

whole wheat tortillas
low-fat whipped cream cheese
mini chocolate chips, dark if you can find them

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on the tortilla, sprinkle with mini chips, roll and eat or slice into bit sized pieces.