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Delicious Air Fryer Salsa Verde Recipe

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It’s official tomato season! All over social media I’m seeing photos of friends reaping their harvest of tomatoes, tomatillos, squash, and zucchini! Our recent harvests have been very plentiful! So why not put some of these garden veggies to use with making a super easy and super delicious air fryer salsa verde recipe!

Air Fryer Salsa Verde recipe

What you’ll need

I know that air fryers have recently soared in popularity, but it doesn’t have to be a standalone appliance. In fact, I despise standalone kitchen appliances. They take up so much space! If you’re in the market for an air fryer please consider getting the Breville Convection and Air Fryer (it’s currently on sale right now!). We had an older version of this Breville Convection Toaster Oven, and when it came time to replace it, we went with this exact model. I know, I know… it’s not the most inexpensive option out there. But we get daily use out of it. More than a few times a day, in fact!

Delicious Air Fryer Salsa Verde Recipe

But you’ll also need tomatillos! Tomatillos, or husk tomatoes, can be grown across North America. So if you’re looking for something to grow in next years backyard garden, look no further! You’ll likely be able to find tomatillo seeds in your local garden store, but if not be sure to check a website like Seeds Now! Hurry! It’s time to start planning next year’s garden, now!

But why air fry?

Air frying is such a good alternative to traditional frying. It’s a way healthier option! Air frying doesn’t use any oil, so no need to worry about unneeded cholesterol spikes!

And why this recipe?

Because it is SIMPLE and delicious! And who doesn’t like those two things!? Besides a pound of tomatillos, it calls for a jalapeno, half of a white onion, a teeny pinch of salt, and cilantro (if that’s your jam — PS. it IS my jam!). How easy is that, right?! I am basically obsessed.

The Air Fryer Salsa Verde Recipe

Yield: 16 ounces

Air Fryer Salsa Verde

Air Fryer Salsa Verde

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. tomatillos, peeled and rinsed
  • 1 large jalapeno (or 2 serranos for spicier salsa)
  • ½ small white onion 
  • salt to taste
  • cilantro, handful
  • water (optional)

Instructions

  1. Air Fryer Salsa Verde
    Place the tomatillos and onion into the air fryer basket, depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to do this in batches. Close the machine and set temperature to 390F for 5 minutes.
  2. Air Fryer Salsa VerdeCarefully open the air fryer and very gently remove the tomatillos, place them on a small bowl. If the jalapeno has also softened and browned a bit remove it from the air fryer as well.
    Air Fryer Salsa Verde
  3. Leave the onion in the air fryer but flip it over. Set temperature to 390F and time to 3 minutes. Once time is up check on the onion, it should be softened and a bit browned on the edges.
    Air Fryer Salsa Verde
  4. Allow the ingredients to cool before placing them in a Vitamix or blender. Add the salt and the cilantro on top. Any liquid that was released by the tomatillos while they cooled should also be added.
    Air Fryer Salsa Verde
  5. Blend until you have a smooth salsa. If desired, add water to thin it down some more. Taste for salt and add as needed!
    Delicious Air Fryer Salsa Verde Recipe
  6. ENJOY!
© Rachel

Easy peasy, am I right?! Just pair with your favorite tortilla chip and you’re DONE! Tell me — what’s your favorite way to use an air fryer?

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The Bratsgiving Polish Boy : A Cleveland Twist

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As a foodie, I’m always on the lookout for the daily ‘national food holiday’. It’s a fun and exciting way to switch up meals and meal plan. So I was excited to see that this month we are celebrating National Bratwurst Day (or, as we call it, Johnsonville Bratsgiving) on August 16th. I grew up in the Midwest. And, here in Ohio, we LOVE a sandwich called the Polish Boy. A traditional Polish Boy is made up of kielbasa, topped with french fries, cole slaw, and barbecue sauce, in the middle of a hoagie roll. So why not put a Cleveland twist on Bratsgiving with the Bratsgiving Polish Boy?

Bratwurst in pan

Well that’s exactly what I did.

Why Johnsonville Brats?

I personally love the flavor of Johnsonville Bratwurst. The Beer Brats and Original Brats are staples in our house. They don’t take long to grill (or cook on the stovetop) and our whole family will eat them up!

Cleveland twist - Polish Boy Brat

Why the Cleveland twist?

Cleveland is a foodie haven. What was once a rundown city in the rustbelt has turned into a bustling foodie travel destination. We have world renowned chefs, like Michael Symon and Dante Boccuzzi. But we also have critically acclaimed restaurants all over the place. It’s truly an incredible place to live. So why not “Cleveland”-up the Bratwurst?!

The Bratsgiving Polish Boy

What makes it a “Polish Boy”?

A traditional polish boy is on a hoagie bun and topped with coleslaw, french fries, and barbecue sauce. The french fries are a DEAD giveaway to this Cleveland twist. And, in this case, I ended up using both traditional coleslaw and a beet-sauerkraut.

The Bratsgiving Polish Boy

I opted for fresh cut fries, using this knife. While it does make it slightly more labor intensive, it makes the Polish Boys 100x more delicious. My kids, however, are ‘weird’ about crinkle cut fries — so I sliced some string thing fries for them.

How to make your own Cleveland Bratsgiving Polish Boy Sandwich

Yield: 5

Cleveland Bratsgiving Polish Boy Sandwich

Cleveland Bratsgiving Polish Boy Sandwich
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 (5-count) package of Johnsonville Bratwurst 
  • 5 large yukon gold potatoes
  • Cleveland Kraut, Gnar Gnar or Beet Red
  • 5 hoagie rolls
  • Coleslaw
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Clean potatoes well. Using the crinkle cut knife, cut 5 large potatoes into fries.
  3. Line a baking sheet with the cut french fries. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt on potatoes. Bake for 45 minutes.
  4. Prepare Johnsonville Brats according to the package instructions.
    Bratwurst in pan
    Cleveland twist - Polish Boy Brat
  5. Once Johnsonville Bratwursts are cooked thoroughly, remove and place in hoagie rolls.
    Grilled bratwurst
  6. Remove baked fries from oven. Add on top of bratwurst.
  7. Add your choice of slaw or sauerkraut.
    The Bratsgiving Polish Boy
  8. ENJOY!
© Rachel

Vote for your favorite Midwest Cities #Bratsgiving Creation!

Here’s what I need you to do. Head to the Johnsonville website and choose which Midwest city has the best Bratsgiving recipe creation. Vote for your favorite chef-inspired recipe and Johnsonville will donate $5,000 to the winning chef’s charity of choice. How great is that?! I love when a company gives back!

Tell me — What’s your favorite type of Johnsonville Brat!?

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Bento Box Sweet Potato + Salmon Bites

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Yesterday I shared our plan to transition to homeschooling. It’s been a difficult year on everyone. Despite the challenges, I’m doing my best to make our transition to back-to-school (no matter what it looks like) consistent. One thing I know for sure is that kids love creative back-to-school lunchbox ideas. I, for one, still plan on making creative and fun lunches for my kids. Because, guess what? The more creative I get with lunches, the more my kids want to eat it! If you find yourself thinking that your kid would never eat bento box sweet potato salmon bites, let me tell you — even the pickiest of eaters will eat something when it’s pretty!

Sweet Potato Salmon Bites

The Power of Snack Trays

Kids aren’t the only ones who are intrigued by bento box lunches. I mean, I could basically live on charcuterie boards and that’s practically the same thing. But why keep buying those Lunchables week after week when, with a tiny bit of prep, you can make your own!

I bought a few Bento Boxes off of Amazon so that I can prep a few days worth of meals at a time. And then I bought a few extra from the Target Dollar Spot so that I could duplicate these fun lunches for the little ones. Seriously, if you haven’t tried feeding your kids from a bento box or a muffin tin, TRY it. They, miraculously, will eat whatever is in there!

Sweet Potato Salmon Bites

Sweet Potato + Salmon Bites!

In a house full of picky kids, we’re always trying to sneak foods in that are nutrient-rich. The good news is that they will never know that these Bento Box Sweet Potato Salmon Bites are full of the good stuff. They taste just that good!

Bento Box Sweet Potato Salmon Bites

The Recipe

Yield: 12 bites

Kids Bento Box - Sweet Potato + Salmon Bites

Sweet Potato Salmon Bites
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 23 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes

Ingredients

  • 7 oz fresh salmon fillets
  • 3.5 oz sweet potato
  • 1 small onion
  • 1/8 cup of ground almonds
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • salt + pepper to taste
  • olive oil

Instructions

    1. Peel the sweet potato and chop into large chunks. Microwave* or steam until soft and mashable. Let cool.
    2. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
    3. Dice the onion.
    4. Chop salmon fillets into chunks.
    5. In the Vitamix or food processor, add all the ingredients except olive oil.
    6. Blitz until everything is broken up and comes together. Don’t overblend, you still have some chunks.
    7. Lay out a parchment paper onto an oven tray. Wet your hands. Shape the mixture into balls (about 1.5 inches in size)
    8. Spray with olive oil.
      Sweet Potato Salmon Bites
    9. Cook for 20 minutes.
    10. ENJOY!

Notes

Notes on microwaving sweet potato: Place sweet potato chunks in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Poke 3-4 holes and microwave on high for 3 minutes, checking after 3 minutes to see if it is tender. If it's not, microwave in 30-second increments until it is. 

Bites can be eaten hot or cold!

© Rachel

So tell me — what tricks are you planning on using for lunches this school year?

Sweet Potato Salmon Bites

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Salted Caramel Crumble Cheesecakes

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The build up of anxiety over the last several months have been nothing but anxiety inducing. My anxiety baking has taken on a personality of its own, with its greatest feat being these Salted Caramel Crumble Cheesecakes. The recipe itself is of moderate difficulty. The cheesecake combines traditional baking and candy-making. But it’s not overly difficult!

crumble cheesecakes

Why have I been anxiety baking?

First, I need to vent about something. I’ve watched countless friends and acquaintances share their photos of parties and get togethers on social media. And it’s exhausting. For those of us who have stayed on the sidelines, distancing, taking every possible precaution? We’re utterly spent and emotionally drained.

I desperately want to see my friends and family. And I long for the days of going out for a drink or a cup of coffee. But the reality is that we are living in a pandemic. And those times should look very different than ‘normal’ life. And, for me and many others, it has. But that doesn’t change the fact that here in the United States, we cannot seem to get our Covid cases under control. The complete distrust in health officials and partisan politics have led us into a horrible place.

What our family life has looked like lately

For those who aren’t familiar with our day-to-day in this house, we have gone very few places since March. When schools shut down, I decided to do everything in my power to help flatten the curve. My kids and I spend most of our time doing arts and crafts, watching movies, playing games, cooking, baking, and playing in the yard. There have been no playdates. There have been no outdoor dinners. And they have only seen the inside of a store once (Target, with my two littlest in a wagon and my oldest walking beside me as I picked up a couple of ‘musts’).

So, for now, my reality looks like this: Expect a lot more anxiety baking. You can also expect to see us transitioning to full-time distance learning (perhaps even full-on homeschooling). We will continue to do our best to avoid being a statistic — for ours and your health.

salted caramel crumble cupcakes

But now, Salted Caramel Crumble Cheesecake!

My anxiety is your reward, friends! Here are my ‘tips’ for this delectable dessert: Instead of making your own caramel sauce, grab this one from Amazon.

Salted Caramel Crumble Cheesecake

cheesecakes

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

  • ¾ Cup of graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 ½ tablespoon sugar
  • ¼ cup of unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling

  • 2 - 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup of sugar
  • ½ cup of sour cream
  • ¾ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon of salted caramel sauce

Crumble Topping Ingredients

  • ½ cup light brown sugar, tightly packed
  • ¼ cup of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
  • ½ cup of unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 ¼ cup of flour
  • Salted caramel sauce for drizzle

Instructions

For the crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
  2. Using a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until combined.
  3. Using a tablespoon, scoop the crust into the cupcake liners.
  4. Using a flat bottomed round cup, press the cup into the crust to make a firm crust.
  5. Set aside.


For the cheesecake:

  1. Using a hand mixer, beat together the sugar and cream cheese until combined and smooth.
  2. Beat in the sour cream, salted caramel sauce, vanilla and salt until combined.
  3. Beat in 1 egg at a time until combined.
  4. Scoop 2 ½  tbsp of the cheesecake mixture into the crust.
  5. Bake in the oven for 17-22 minutes or until the edges are firm and a really light golden brown starts to form.
  6. Allow the cheesecakes to cool for a few hours in the fridge.
    salted caramel crumble cupcakes

For the topping:

  1. Combine all ingredients into a medium bowl.
  2. Using your fingers, mix ingredients together until combined and crumble like topping the cupcake.
  3. Top the cheesecake with the crumble.
  4. Drizzle the caramel sauce on top.
  5. Enjoy!
    crumble cheesecakes



      © Rachel

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      Delicious Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe

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      I’m in full on back-to-school mode over here. I’m trying not to be, but the deadline of school/homeschool start is quickly approaching. This year I’m getting creative with lunches and snacks. The past few months have given me a new confidence in the kitchen. And, despite how strange this school year may look, I’m ready to tackle lunches and snacks like a pro with these Copycat Cosmic Brownies recipe!

      Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe

      I have to admit — my guiltiest of guilty pleasures are the Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies. I don’t know what is so glorious about them. Nostalgia, maybe? I’m not certain what it is — but these Copycat Cosmic Brownies contain all of that same magic!

      Make school snacks fun

      As we all know, this will be an unprecedented school year. No one really knows what it will look like for our kids — or us. Although I have decided to keep my kids home full-time and do distance learning, my plan is to still keep the school day structure. Before the pandemic started, I saw the writing on the wall. I watched what was happening in other countries, and I knew schools would be shut down in the US. So I stocked up on snacks and craft supplies. Those lasted approximately two weeks. Ha!

      spatula with dessert

      Now that I have a bit more time to prep for what’s to come, I was able to prepare in other ways. I bought a few sets of bento boxes from Amazon. My goal is to still make ‘school lunches’ for the kids. That way they aren’t trying to snack all day.

      Cosmic Brownies or Bust

      Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe

      My love for Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies is apparently a trait I passed on to all three of my kids. And I can’t blame them! Fun fact — I’m not a big fan of chocolate, especially in candy. But these copycat cosmic brownies?! OMG — SO good!

      spatula

      You’ll have most of the items you need to make this recipe. The one ‘specialty’ item would be the rainbow chips. If you’ve ever eaten a cosmic brownie, you know those aren’t just regular chocolate chips on top! Nope! Those are candy coated chocolate chips. I bought a bag here off Amazon and it was the best priced per ounce.

      The full Copycat Cosmic Brownies recipe

      Copycat Cosmic Brownies

      Copycat Cosmic Brownies
      Prep Time 15 minutes
      Cook Time 35 minutes
      Total Time 50 minutes

      Ingredients

      Brownies

      • 1 cup granulated sugar 
      • 1 cup brown sugar 
      • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
      • 1/2 teaspoon salt 
      • 2 large eggs plus 2 yolks 
      • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted 
      • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips 
      • 1/2 cup vegetable oil 
      • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
      • 1/4 cup cocoa powder

      Glaze

      • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
      • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
      • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

      Topping

      • ¼ cup Rainbow Chocolate Chips

      Instructions

        1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
        2. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
        3. Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, whole eggs and yolks in a large bowl.
        4. Melt the butter and chocolate in a double boiler, then whisk together until fully combined.
        5. Whisk in the vegetable oil.
        6. Pour the chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture and mix until fully combined. Gently fold in the flour and cocoa.
        7. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
        8. Meanwhile make the glaze.
        9. Place chopped or grated chocolate into a medium-sized, heatproof bowl and set aside.
        10. In a large heatproof bowl combine your sweetened condensed milk and butter.
        11. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir.  Microwave another 30 seconds.
        12. When the butter is melted carefully add your chocolate chips and stir in until melted.  You can also microwave for 15 seconds more until chips are all melted and ganache is smooth.
        13. Pour the ganache over the brownies and immediately sprinkle with the rainbow chips. 
        14. Let cool completely before slicing.
        15. ENJOY!
      © Rachel

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      Summertime Rainbow Garden Veggie Pizza

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      This was our first year trying to grow our own vegetables in our backyard garden. We have quite a bit of space, but decided to start small with just two raised garden beds. I went a bit crazy with seeds, thinking very few would take. But I was really wrong and now we have an abundance of veggies! What’s a mom to do with all the veggies?! Make the perfect Summertime Rainbow Garden Veggie Pizza, of course!

      rainbow veggie pizza

      This is one of those recipes that the kids can be really involved in. In fact, my kids have been super involved in the whole gardening process! They helped me plant the seeds and starters and they help me water every day. You should have seen the reactions they all gave to our first teeny veggie!

      I figured that this would be our summer “lesson” in unschooling. And thus far, it has worked! My oldest (almost 8), has had so many questions about how and why plants grow. I do my best to communicate the science behind it, but truthfully, YouTube has been much better at it!

      rainbow garden veggie pizza

      Rainbow Garden Veggie Pizza

      This pizza is as easy as it gets. Instead of traditional pizza dough, I opted for something easier — and perhaps even tastier — pita bread! Another great alternatives to traditional pizza crust would be naan.

      As far as veggies are concerned, we used most of the items we could find in our garden. Yellow and red bell peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, and tomatoes! As far as veggies are concerned, the possibilities are endless!

      rainbow garden veggie pizza

      The pita bread (or naan) is just the perfect size for kids. They can put on whichever veggies they want, and leave off what they don’t! My middle daughter, for one, wanted her rainbow veggie pizza to consist of nothing but cucumbers and broccoli! No arguments from me, that’s for sure.

      RAINBOW GARDEN VEGGIE PIZZA

      Getting the kids involved in the process just increases the odds of them actually eating it. So my advice to you would be this: clean and cut the veggies and place them in separate containers. Ahead of time, mix the cream cheese mixture together. Set out the pita or naan on individual plates. And let them go for it! The worst thing that could happen is that they eat even more veggies!

      Rainbow Veggie Pizza

      Rainbow Veggie Pizza

      Ingredients

      • 1 cup sliced cucumbers
      • 1/2 cup cauliflower
      • 1/2 cup broccoli
      • 1/4 cup sliced rainbow carrots
      • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
      • 1/2 cup of red / yellow bell peppers (cut into chunks)
      • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
      • 4 ounces of cream cheese
      • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
      • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
      • 1 tsp salt
      • 1 tsp pepper
      • 4 pieces of pita bread (or naan)

      Instructions

        1. Wash and cut vegetables
        2. Using a 9x13 pan, add pita bread to cover the bottom of the pan.
        3. In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, and
          salt and pepper together well.
        4. Spread mixture onto pita bread
        5. Evenly spread vegetables and cheese atop pita
        6. Enjoy!
      © Rachel

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