Archive for the ‘Kid Eats’ Category

10 Minute Fish Tacos

Friday, February 21st, 2020

10 Minute Fish Tacos Recipe header

This quick fish taco recipe is the perfect recipe to get dinner on the table in under 15 minutes. Customize these baked fish tacos with my list of fun toppings. This is a quick and easy dinner that your whole family will love.

Looking for a recipe that you can prepare in ten minutes ? Today I’m sharing one of my tried-and-true weeknight dishes that has become a regular part of our menu rotation.

Are you a big fan of fish tacos?

After having some delicious fish tacos, in California, I wanted to enjoy this fish taco treat at home.

These tacos can be created from any white fish, depending on your family’s preference.

Personally, we are a big fans of tilapia that can be found over in the frozen foods aisle.

Not only is tilapia a mild white fish, it also comes with an affordable price tag.

You can also find some additional white fish ideas in the frequently asked questions below.

This weeknight meal is one that I regularly rely on for a meat-free taco night that our whole family loves.

10 Minute Fish Tacos Recipe

10 Minute Fish Tacos Recipe

To prepare the fish quickly and easily, dice up the fish and put it in a medium bowl.

Toss the fish with your favorite spice blend with olive oil.

Spread the fish on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and then cook it at the suggested temperature for 4-6 minutes.

While the fish is cooking, you can prepare a variety of fun toppings.

10 Minute Fish Tacos Topping Ideas

Fun Taco Toppings To Try

Traditional toppings for tacos are fun, but sometimes the taco night needs a little switch up. Try these topping suggestions to make taco nights more fun!

  • Salsa- Add a combination of black beans, tomato, corn, chopped jalapeno chile peppers, and cilantro.
  • Traditional- Toss shredded cabbage with a little olive oil and lime juice.
  • Asian-  Add broccoli slaw, toasted sliced almonds, and bottled Asian vinaigrette.
  • Fruity- Add fresh fruit salsa made with kiwi, red onion, strawberries, and mango.
  • BLT- Add shredded lettuce, bacon, tomato, and mayo.
  • Caprese- Add basil, cubed tomato, cubed mozzarella cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette.
  • Other Fun Toppings- Add Greek yogurt, jarred salsa, guacamole, limes, hot sauce, freshly cracked black pepper, cheese, thinly sliced radishes, fresh cilantro, and shredded lettuce to your taco condiment bar.
  • Fish Taco Sauce Recipe- Looking for a sauce to add to your tacos? Mix together a 1/2 cup sour cream 1/3 cup Mayo, juice from one lime, and a teaspoon of garlic powder. To spice it up, add a little Sriracha sauce or a generous shake of Old Bay seasoning in your sauce.

Here a few other commonly asked questions about this recipe!

10 Minute Fish Tacos With Lettuce

10 Minute Fish Tacos With Lettuce and Tomatoes

If my family doesn’t like tilapia, what are some other mild white fish options for my tacos?

Flounder, hake and tilapia are all white fish with mild taste.

Looking for other options? Snapper, mahi mahi, grouper, flounder, halibut, or cod are also excellent inexpensive options.

If you want to skip the white fish altogether, salmon can also be a great option. I recommend this easy method for broiling salmon for tacos.

I don’t want to bake my fish. Can you tell me how to prepare fish tacos on the stove top?

You can prepare fish tacos in a skillet, if this works better for your family. Spice up your fish, just as you would for the baked version. Make sure that you pat your fish, with a paper towel, before cooking so that it gets a nice crust. Over medium high heat, cook for 4-5 minutes on each side.

Homemade Tilapia Nuggets for Fish Tacos on Sheet Pan

Can I substitute with frozen fish sticks for my tacos?

Baking the fish, as prepared in this recipe, is healthier and takes a lot less time than preparing fish sticks.

If you prefer to use these, preheat your oven to 475ºF.

Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange the fish sticks on baking sheet.

Sprinkle with the seasonings recommended below and bake for 11-13 minutes.

You can also make your own fish nuggets for taco stuffing. This is our family’s favorite panko crusted tilapia nuggets recipe.

How do I remove the fish odor from my home after baking?

Simmer a small pot of water with a few cut lemons to cut the smell.

I’m also a huge fan of this citrus oil for my diffuser

I use it for kitchen scents AND diffuse it in my office in the mornings to wake me up!

Roasted Corn Salsa

What sides are good with fish tacos?

Personally, we are fans of tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole.

Looking for a fresh spin for dipping?

Try my roasted corn salsa as a chip dip or as a topping for your fish tacos.

If you are looking for other fish taco sides, check out this list of 20 quick and easy sides for fish tacos.

 

10 Minute Fish Tacos
 
Recipe Type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This quick fish taco recipe is the perfect recipe to get dinner on the table in under 15 minutes. Customize these baked fish tacos with my list of fun toppings. This is a quick and easy dinner that your whole family will love.
Ingredients
  • 1- 16 ounce bag of frozen tilapia (or your favorite white fish), thawed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (found over by the seafood counter)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1½ cups shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, lime, or salsa (optional)
  • Taco shell, flour tortillas, or corn tortillas (warmed)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  2. Rinse fish, pat dry with paper towels.
  3. Cut fish crosswise into ¾ inch slices and place them in a mixing bowl.
  4. Combine the fish with the olive oil and seasonings, tossing gently. Make sure the fish is throughly coated with the spices and oil.
  5. Dump the prepared fish on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, adjusting the pieces of fish so that none are overlapping. 6. Bake for 4-6 minutes or until fish begins to flake when tested with a fork.
  6. To serve, spoon lettuce and tomato into each taco shell, add fish slices, and top with salsa or your favorite toppings.
 

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Love this recipe? Check out our other favorite meat-free and seafood dinner ideas!

Shrimp Scampi Recipe Header shrimp scampi recipe (can be made gluten-free)

5-ingredient salmon sheet pan meal 5-ingredient salmon sheet pan meal

Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers from MomAdvice.com mexican quinoa stuffed bell peppers (dairy-free and gluten-free)

Herb Baked Tilapia Sheet Pan Meal from MomAdvice.com herb baked tilapia sheet pan meal

Happy cooking!

10 Minute Fish Tacos Recipe Header

How to Cook Corn on the Cob

Tuesday, February 18th, 2020

The Best Way to Cook Corn on the Cob Header

Corn doesn’t even need to be in season, to taste good, thanks to this surprising kitchen hack. This favorite side dish recipe gets a little added sweetness with milk, butter, and brown sugar. Try my tried-and-true method for boiling corn.

You know you grew up in the Midwest if corn was a favorite family side dish.

Not only has it always been a favorite side, it also is easy to prepare for a crowd.

If you are on the hunt for some new ways to cook corn, you will want to check out my corn on the cob on the grill recipe that allows you to cook your corn right in the husk, saving you loads of time and tin foil.

Have you been curious about boiling corn on the stove top though? This method is traditionally done with boiling salted water in a large pot.

Butttt, I’d love to switch it up today and share my idea to help out-of-season corn taste like a summer day!

How to Cook Corn on the Cob

Just as I love to infuse delicious flavors in my shrimp boil, this same method can be applied to corn that isn’t in season.

I will also openly admit that I don’t always buy the best quality corn that I could buy, relying on whatever is on sale at my grocer.

Maybe that is why I am more open to splurging on these additional ingredients to achieve a better tasting vegetable.

I discovered, many years ago, that adding milk, butter, and brown sugar add so much flavor to the traditional hot water bath.

Since you are adding butter to the water, you can skip the buttering at the end. This milky buttered combination coats the corn cobs and gives you all the buttery flavor without the messy butter drips.

Love the taste of fresh sweet corn?

The addition of milk and sugar adds the sweet taste to the corn that is sweet, but not too sweet. This recipe is MADE for those spring days when you are craving this staple side dish.

I can’t recommend this recipe enough and hope you can give it a try this summer.

Here are a few commonly asked questions about preparing corn!

When is corn in season?

Are you buying corn for this recipe?

You might be wondering when corn is in season.

Even though this method makes the most of out-of-season corn, peak corn season lasts from May until September.

Corn is grown in all 50 states (even though I have some Hoosier pride about Indiana corn) so you can find corn just about anywhere!

That means, this method might not be necessary for in-season corn, but I do love it for the later Fall & Spring months.

How to Shuck Corn Quickly Header

What Is the Easiest Way to Shuck Corn?

I am a big fan of the recipe tips and tricks that America’s Test Kitchen provides. They call this shucking method their, “nuke and shake.”

They recommend cutting off the stalk end of your cob, about 1″ above the last row of kernels.

Then place these in your microwave and cook them for 2-4 minutes.

Remove the corn from the microwave and prepare it for this recipe.

The microwave creates enough steam to loosen the silk and husk so when you pick it up, you can just shake your corn out from the husk.

The best part is that the silk will just fall out with it.

No need to buy any gadgets, thanks to this smart kitchen hack.

You can see a demonstration of their corn shucking method here.

How Long Does it Take to Boil Corn?

I’ve read tutorials that say anywhere between 15 minutes to 30 minutes (roughly the same length of time as it would be to bring water to a boil)

Personally, I like a bit of a bite to my corn so I prefer to boil corn for 7-8 minutes instead.

I Don’t Have Time to Boil Corn. How Long Do I Microwave Corn On the Cob Instead?

As a busy mom, I get it!

Place the prepared corn on a plate and cover it with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will help develop the steam needed for your corn to cook.

Microwave corn for 5 minutes.

Can You Over Boil Corn?

Um, yes.

Have you ever eaten cafeteria food corn or ate at a buffet where the corn has been on display just a tad too long?

Overcooked corn is mushy and doesn’t retain its sweet flavor.

Using this recipe though, with recommended cooking times, should yield a deliciously sweet ear of corn with bite.

How Can I Prepare Corn for My Grill?

Lucky for you, grilling corn on the cob is one of my favorite ways to prepare it.

This grilling method is done by soaking the corn, in its husk, and then placing it on the grill.

This tutorial also offers some extra tips and tips if you prefer to clean your corn before placing it on the grill too.

Can You Share Any Corn on the Cob Topping Ideas?

Thanks to the flavor infusion, in your pot of water, this corn doesn’t require a lot from you.

I love this list though of 12 surprising 1-topping ingredients for your corn.

The good news?

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Shaving Grilled Corn for Salad

What Can I Do With Leftover Corn on the Cob?

It never fails that we have a few ears of corn leftover from a cookout.

Lucky for me, I ended up going to a fancy restaurant that topped their house salads with shaved corn.

It is my new favorite way to dress up any green salad.

Looking for a unique salad combination? This Edamame & Corn Salad is always a cookout winner.

Shaved corn can also be made into a delicious roasted corn salsa, as a fun appetizer to munch on with your leftovers.

Admittedly, shaving corn can be a messy affair, but these tips are genius for keeping the corn mess to a minimum.

Don’t feel like making the effort to shave corn?

Another simple way you can use up those ears of corn are to reserve them for a shrimp boil on another night.

Just add the already cooked corn cobs, at the end of your boiling time, to warm.

Milk Boiled Corn on the Cob
Recipe Type: Side
Author: MomAdvice.com
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8 servings
Corn doesn’t even need to be in season, to taste good, thanks to this surprising kitchen hack. This favorite side dish recipe gets a little added sweetness with milk, butter, and brown sugar. Try my tried-and-true method for boiling corn.
Ingredients
  • 6-8 ears corn, husks and silk removed
  • water
  • 1 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter (optional and to add to the water)
Instructions
  1. Begin by removing the husk and removing the silks from the corn.
  2. Fill a large stock pot half full with water (use a large enough pot to hold all the corn).
  3. Add in the milk, sugar, and butter. If you prefer the sweet and salty combination, add salt to the water bath too. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil.
  4. Add the corn and return to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat to a simmer and allow corn to cook for 7-8 minutes or until just tender, depending on size of corn try not to over cook the corn as it will become tough.
  6. Using long tongs remove the corn and place on a plate or in a bowl, then cover with foil until ready to serve. Serve with butter, salt, and pepper (optional as I think this has the perfect flavor).

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Love this side dish?

Be sure to check out these sides for your next meal too!

Corn on the Cob on the Grill Header learn how to grill corn on the cob

Caprese Pasta Salad caprese pasta salad

Grilled brussels sprouts grilled brussel sprouts

quinoa jar salads

Grilled Tomato Bread With Prosciutto grilled tomato bread with prosciutto 

Happy cooking!

The Best Way to Cook Corn on the Cob Header

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3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs Recipe

Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs Recipe from MomAdvice.com

With just 3-ingredients, you can have fall-off-the-bone ribs in minutes using your pressure cooker. 

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I remember feeling the same way when I got mine and now that I’ve been enjoying it for the last few months, I can honestly say that it has saved us a bundle on dining out thanks to its speedy cooking.

In fact, it has helped me feel more confident taking on dishes that I normally would never try, whether it is because of time constraints or complete intimidation, allowing for a lot more variety in our rather tired menu plan that had I had been executing month after month.

Of all the dishes that we have made in our pressure cooker, I must say that the biggest hit has been these easy 3-ingredient ribs that you can make in your Instant Pot.

That’s right, you can cook pork ribs right in your Instant Pot.

Can you believe it?

Ribs are something I have often thought of adding to our menu plan, but I just didn’t think they could ever taste as good as what we would get out in restaurants especially on a busy weeknight.

I must say though,  these ribs are BETTER than many restaurants we have been to and are fall-off-the-bone tender every single time.

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs from MomAdvice.com

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs from MomAdvice.com

I have done a rack of Baby Back Ribs in my 6-quart Instant Pot and I have even been able to fit up to two racks in this size cooker without any trouble, although it is a much tighter squeeze than a single rack.

 

 

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs Recipe

First, remove the membrane (or the silverskin, as the fancy folks like to call it!)  from the meat. 

Here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking ribs in your pressure cooker.

How do I Remove the Membrane From Pork Ribs?

Haven’t done this before?

Well, I hadn’t either.

I actually had NO IDEA that you were supposed to do this. 

At some point, I will go back and fix the error of my ways, on these images, but for now you can imagine the pork without this on it.

Looking for a tutorial on this? 

You weren’t the only one!

Here is a great tutorial to help you learn how to do this, easily and safely.

How Can I Fit a Rack of Pork Ribs in My Instant Pot?

Cut your ribs into thirds so you can fit them in comfortably. 

Add a cup of beef broth in your cooker and put your steaming rack inside (that little rack that came with your cooker!).

Can I Fit Two Racks of Pork Ribs in My Instant Pot?

I have only attempted this one time and had no issues adding two racks of ribs in my pressure cooker. Some people say you can fit three racks of ribs in the Instant Pot, but I find two is challenging enough.

Were you good at Tetris?

Maybe you can pull it off!

How Do I Spice Up Pressure Cooked Ribs?

Season your ribs generously with salt and pepper and place these on top of the steaming rack.

Want to add another layer of flavor to these to spice them up even more? Consider adding your favorite spice rub. You can find a lot of fun dry rubs here.

Of course that would be four ingredients (one more than showcased here!)

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Lock that baby up, press the meat button on the front of the pressure cooker, and adjust the timer to 30 minutes of high pressure.

If you don’t have a Meat button on your pressure cooker, just cook ribs on HIGH Manual Pressure.

While the ribs are cooking, line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, pour in your favorite barbecue sauce for brushing.

This barbecue sauce is always a Clark favorite from the supermarket, but I’d love to hear if you think there are any others we should try!

After the Instant Pot beeps, do a quick release on that valve on the top.

Don’t know what a quick release is?

No problem!

This just means that you are going to move your valve from Sealed to Venting and allow all that steam to come out quickly instead of letting it release pressure on its own.

It is going to REALLY steam so make sure you are prepared for that and keep it away from your cabinets, face, and hands.

Also don’t scream because you will want to the first time.

It’s terrifying.

Ain't Nobody Got Time For That

 

Almost all the recipes I do usually say to do this Quick Release pressure cook method, rather than a natural release. 

The big difference between natural and quick release?

Natural Release is when you sit around just waiting and letting that pressure to come down on its own which can take up to 25 minutes!

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

We already had to wait for the pressure to build, people, we can’t sit around waiting for the pressure in this gadget to subside.

We are BUSY!

After the pressure has released, remove the lid and carefully take out those ribs with a pair of tongs and place them on your lined cookie sheet.

Starting with the back of the rib, brush them each generously with sauce.

Turn on your broiler on your oven and slide the ribs in for 3-4 minutes, watching them carefully so they don’t burn.

Flip them over, and repeat with the other side of the ribs.

Finish by cutting them into sections and serving with additional barbecue sauce.

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs Recipe from MomAdvice.com

HELLO, HEAVEN! These are SUCH A HIT at our house and I’m guessing they will be a hit at yours too.

Keep in mind, if you are new to the Instant Pot cult (totally a thing!), that it takes awhile for these to come to pressure so give yourself a 20-25 minute allowance before that stated 30-minute cooking time I’m sharing.

We have loved these so much that they have become the new birthday request and we even took a couple of racks of these and my Instant Pot on vacation so we could enjoy this yummy treat while we were renting our beach house on break.

I now make it a regular habit to keep my eyes peeled in our grocery flier for any sales on racks of ribs to keep stocked in our freezer.

I hope to share many more recipes in the upcoming weeks with you! If you are on the hunt for great cookbooks to make the most of your Instant Pot this one, this one, and this one are all excellent books for a newbie Instant Pot cult member (totally a thing- I’m serious!).

I can’t wait to hear what you think of these 3-ingredient Instant Pot Ribs!

Be sure to SCROLL DOWN for more Instant Pot recipes. I have you covered!!


3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs Recipe from MomAdvice.com

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs
 
Recipe Type: Instant Pot
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-6 servings
These ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender and can be prepared with your favorite barbecue sauce. These are just one (of many) reasons to get an Instant Pot.
Ingredients
  • 1 or 2 racks of pork baby back ribs
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • Barbecue Sauce
Instructions
  1. Cut the racks of ribs into thirds and season generously with salt and pepper. (Note- if you prefer to add a rub on your ribs, this is where you would do that!)
  2. Pour beef broth in the bottom of the pot, place the steaming rack inside, and put the seasoned ribs on top.
  3. Lock the lid, select the Meat function, and set timer for 30 minutes.
  4. Quick release your valve after the timer beeps and remove the ribs from the cooker. Place on a foil-lined cookie sheet (prepared with cooking spray) and brush on your barbecue sauce on the back side of the ribs.
  5. Broil the ribs for 3-4 minutes (watching carefully to prevent charring), flip the ribs over and brush the other side with barbecue sauce. Broil that side again for 3-4 minutes. Place on platter and serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side.
 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post contains affiliate links! 

Looking for more Instant Pot meal ideas? Check these posts out!

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe from MomAdvice.com best instant pot wings recipe

The Best Instant Pot Risotto Step By Step the best instant pot risotto recipe (step-by-step)

 

Instant Pot Indian Vegetable Rice from MomAdvice.com instant pot indian vegetable rice

pressure cooker korean street tacos instant pot korean street tacos

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken instant pot shredded chicken (for meal prep)

 

 What is your favorite thing to create in your Instant Pot?

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though.

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs Recipe from MomAdvice.com

 

 

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Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe

Monday, November 4th, 2019

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

 Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookie recipe can be made into beautiful sugar cookie rolls with just a few simple ingredients. This easy freezer recipe for gluten-free cookies is such a great item to keep stocked for the perfect hostess gift or for a friend in need. Tied with ribbon, you have the perfect gift for any occasion!

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Do you ever have a really hard time with a recipe and then later wonder if it had ever been tested?

That was the case with this project from start to finish.

These cookies were supposed to be simple and straightforward, but the recipe ended up being written completely wrong.

Thankfully for you, I spent a whole day figuring out what went wrong with this one and how we can fix it so that you can have an awesome baking day!

Please read this post carefully, I am offering you a load of tips for a successful baking day!

Are M&M’s Gluten-Free?

Let’s begin with the question, are M&M’s gluten-free?

The answer is that most M&M’s are gluten-free.

In fact, most of the varieties they typically carry, other than their pretzel variety, are gluten-free.

What I found with the Red Velvet M&M’s though are that they are gluten-free, but in high times of production, like Halloween & Valentine’s Day, Mars uses alternative facilities to make its candy and some of those may introduce cross-contamination risks.

These Red Velvet M&M’s are ones that could have been cross-contaminated.

If this is of high concern, look for the plain M&M’s, preferably mini-M&M’s to help your dough hold up better. 

It is always important to read your labels carefully and know that Mars Chocolate always promises to call out any wheat, barley, and rye ingredients by name, as well as any cross-contamination risks on their labels.

I recommend this information page for finding which candies are safe to eat.

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Tips for a Successful Dough

As, I am a big fan of the Betty Crocker cake mixes, I used this mix to create my cookies.

As you can see when I mixed the ingredients together, this dough is very crumbly.

To help make this dough really hold and stick together, add 3-4 teaspoons of water to the dough, until it really comes together. This will help when slicing your sugar cookie rolls.

The recipe that was written did not add this to the dough and so when I sliced them, the cookie dough crumbled. I had to add my water later and chill them again for another three hours.

Once I sliced with the liquid addition, the dough held much better.

If you need these cookies to be dairy-free as well as gluten-free, please read the notes in the recipe on how you can create these without the butter.

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com


Tips for a Successful Sugar Cookie Log

One more thing, I learned while creating this cookies is that it is better to make your sugar cookie roll WITHOUT the M&M’s in it and then add them to your cookies after so you can get beautifully clean slices.

Trying to cut through these Red Velvet M&M’s was a real challenge so I would encourage adding them after or just doing these cookies as a drop cookie.

To do a sugar cookie roll, as pictured above with M&M’s, seek the mini varieties.

Again, read the packaging carefully to insure that they are safe for eating.

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Wrap your sugar cookie roll in wax paper and chill for three hours or more.

Once you are ready to bake off your cookies, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and then slice them and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet or a well-greased cookie sheet.

I prefer parchment paper squares (like these), both for the ease of clean-up and how beautifully these cookies will set up.

Allow these to cool and then transfer.

These cookies are very delicate in texture so you will want to give them plenty of time to set up. 

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

What Do They Taste Like?

These cookies are so delicious that you will NEVER know that they are gluten-free.

The dough is so flavorful and the healthy dose of vanilla in the batter makes these taste like a cookie dough that you truly slaved over.

The addition of the candies adds that yummy chocolate flavor that I think every good cookie should have.

With these helpful tips, I hope you will have a successful baking day and hope that this easy treat idea will help as you plan your own holiday treats this year!

Can I Freeze These?

Cookies can be frozen!

It is recommended that you wrap them in aluminum foil or in a resealable plastic bag for up to one month.

Let the cookies thaw on the kitchen counters overnight before serving.

What Other Ways Can I Spice Up These Cookies?

If you can’t have chocolate, there are many other ways you can spice these easy cookies up.

Add Sprinkles– Lightly beat one egg white and brush the tops of your cookies with it, then sprinkle with gluten-free sugar sprinkles.

Add Zest– Add 1 teaspoon of grated lemon, orange, or key lime zest

Switch Your Extract– Try a different extract in your dough like almond or butter

Make It Spicy– Add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or dust the tops with the egg white & a cinnamon & sugar combo.

Check out the recipe below! Love this project? Here are a few other gift ideas I think you will like!

diy your own chai tea mix

diy vanilla chai mix

diy orange sugar scrub

how to make knitted wine hats and scarves diy knitted wine hats & scarves

diy mojito bath salts

DIY Grilling Seasoning Mixes for Father's Day with printable labels diy grilling seasoning mixes

How to Make a Knitted Coffee Sweater

knitted coffee cozies

 

 

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Cookies
 
Author: Amy Clark
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 3 dozen
Cake mix cookies that can be gluten-free and dairy-free for a fun treat to share for any holiday.
Ingredients
  • 1 package (15 ounces) yellow gluten-free cake mix
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter- if dairy-free replace with vegetable shortening, MELTED
  • 1 large egg
  • 3-4 teaspoons warm water, just until you see your dough pull together
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup M&M’s or read the post for other ways to spice up these cookies
Instructions
  1. Place the cake mix, butter (or vegetable shortening), egg, water, and vanilla in your mixing bowl and beat on low speed until well-combined.
  2. Using a spatula fold in the M&M’s (if mini-sized) or reserve to press these into each cookie after they have been cut (if large-sized)
  3. Place the cookie dough on a sheet of wax paper and then press with your hands to form a long,approximately 12 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Tightly roll the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least three hours or overnight.
  4. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease two cookie sheets well or cover these in parchment paper.
  5. Unwrap the dough and transfer to a cutting board and slice them in 1/4-3/8″ slices.
  6. Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake until the cookies are lightly browned on the edges,7-10 minutes.
  7. Let the cookies fully cool before transferring.
 

 

Have you ever made gluten-free cake mix sugar cookies? Do you have any tips for beginning gluten-free bakers on ways to increase success with cake mix cookies?

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

This post contains affiliate links.

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com

 

 

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How to Make Glow in the Dark JELL-O

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

This easy recipe for Glow-in-the-Dark Jell-O is perfect for kids to make for Halloween! Mix science and spookiness for an edible experiment any budding (mad) scientist will love!

 

Halloween is just around the corner and today we wanted to showcase a fun and easy craft you could do with your kids.

Today’s recipe offering is how to make glow in the dark JELL-O in jars for a spooktacular Halloween dessert.

Glow in the Dark JELL-O is a recipe that your kids can easily mix up and gives you a fun opportunity to talk a little bit about the science behind it in the process.

 

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

 

How Does it Glow?

Did you know that tonic water can glow under a black light?

My kids were in awe of this bubbly drink and how it could glow under the black light.

The glowing comes from the fluorescence of the quinine in the tonic water.

Quinine also gives tonic water a distinctive bitter flavor which is why it is best mixed with other sweeter ingredients.

As you can see, the quinine glows blue-white when placed under a black light which makes it the perfect ingredient for a spooky JELL-O treat.

 

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

 

Do All Colors of JELL-O Glow the Same?

Hypothesis…yes.

Answer…no!

All of the colors of JELL-O will definitely not glow the same.

We tested two colors (green and orange) and found brilliant results with the green JELL-O and dull results with the orange JELL-O.

Although our tutorial below shows the orange, we recommend the green variety for a truly great glow!

Here is the light we used to achieve our glow with great success (affiliate link).  

Other readers have stated that a black bulb does not achieve the glowing results so please keep that in mind when purchasing your bulb. 

 

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

 

So It Glows…How Does it Taste?

As we mentioned before, the quinine in the tonic water makes the tonic water glow, but it also yields a bitter taste.

We tried to cut the bitterness by using half water and half tonic water.

I also topped each jar of JELL-O with whipped cream and sprinkles which would add another layer of sweetness.

Try adding more sugar to the concoction to help cut some of the bitterness.

The kids loved the glow, but said they were, “spicy,” which is what they say about all sodas and bubbly drinks.

If your kids have a sensitive palate like mine, they might not love them, but they still ate the whipped cream and loved doing the experiment.

I still call this experiment a win for creativity, cool science factoids, and fun.

 

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

 

I had a great helper in the kitchen for this project.

Emily was excited to show you all just how easy it is to make this JELL-O and you can find the recipe below along with her picture tutorial on how to recreate this fun experiment in your kitchen.

You can totally steal the experiment, but I am keeping my sous chef for myself!

  Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

Glow in the Dark JELL-O
 
Author: Inspired by American Girl Magazine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Glow in the dark JELL-O is not only a fun science project, but a super fun Halloween treat. Pick up a black light at your local Halloween shop to show off it’s glow!
Ingredients
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup tonic water
  • 1 package of JELL-O
  • Whipped Cream and Sprinkles for topping (optional)
  • Additional Sugar (to help cut the bitterness)
  • Jars
  • Black Light
Instructions
  1. Bring one cup of water to a boil.
  2. Pour JELL-O packet into a large bowl.
  3. Have a grown-up help you add your boiling water.
  4. Stir for two minutes with a wire whisk.
  5. Have a grown-up pour one cup of tonic water into a measuring cup.
  6. Slowly whisk while adding the tonic water. The mixture will be very bubbly. Give it a couple of minutes to rest.
  7. Pour it into four clean jars.
  8. Place in the refrigerator for two to three hours to set.
  9. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles.
  10. Place under a black light and watch it glow. Happy Halloween! EDITORS NOTE: See notes above for taste and ideas for improving flavor.
 

 

 

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

 

 

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

 

 

 

Glow in the Dark Jello from MomAdvice.com

 

 

Love this idea for Halloween? Can I make a few other fun fall recommendations?

 

 

doughnut hole ghost cake (no baking necessary!!)

 

 

pumpkin chili (perfect for Halloween night)

 

 

diy blanket scarf (perfect for bundling up on Halloween night)

 

 

dollar store thumbtack pumpkins

 

 

diy minecraft costume ideas

 

 

DIY_Halloween_Costumes diy halloween costume ideas

 

 

autumn burlap wreath tutorial

 

 

candy apple martini recipe

 

 

caramel apple sangria recipe

 

 

painted pumpkins tutorial

 

This post contains affiliate links

 

 

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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken (meal prep)

Thursday, October 10th, 2019

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken from MomAdvice.com

 

Did you know that you can make enough shredded chicken for a week of recipes with your pressure cooker? This Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe can be meal prepped for your week or frozen for future meals. Don’t miss this post filled with ideas for ways to put pressure cooked chicken to work in your kitchen!

I hope you all are as in love with your Instant Pot as much as me. Our pressure cooker continues to be my favorite gadget and I’m excited to share more family recipes with you.

Today I wanted to show you how to meal prep shredded chicken in your Instant Pot.

This technique is super simple and straightforward.

In your pressure cooker, you will add one cup of chicken stock to the bottom of your pressure cooker. Add your chicken breasts and season well with salt and pepper.

Cook your chicken on High Pressure for 10 minutes (for small chicken breasts) or 12 minutes (for large chicken breasts).

These chicken breasts, for example, required fifteen minutes to fully cook.

Allow your pressure to release naturally (instead of quick releasing the valve). A good amount of time is ten minutes!

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken from MomAdvice.com

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken from MomAdvice.com

Once the chicken is cooked, you can shred it with two forks. If you are feeling fancy, break out your hand mixer to make quick work of this task.

Reserve half the liquid in the pot for storage and to reduce the chances of your chicken drying out.

I looked up some frequently asked questions, on pressure cooked chicken, and thought I would share more about my technique here.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken from MomAdvice.com

Do I need to add more chicken broth (or stock) if I decide to cook more than four chicken breasts?

If I’m meal prepping for my family, I always double our recipes. I have doubled this successfully by doubling the chicken stock and keeping everything else, like cooking time, the same. It will take a bit longer to come to pressure, but the duration you set will remain the same.

Can I use this pressure cooker shredded chicken technique with frozen chicken breasts?

Cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot can be a real budget-saver and help you avoid ordering takeout.

Once again, cooking time on frozen chicken varies, based on the size of the breast. If the chicken breasts are small, 12 minutes of high pressure works great. Average size chicken breasts will take about 14 minutes. Large pieces are best at 16 minutes.

Can I Use this Shredded Chicken Recipe for Chicken Thighs Instead of Chicken Breasts?

Personally, I prefer thigh meat over chicken breasts because they don’t easily dry out and get overcooked.

I’ve had great success with cooking chicken thighs for 15 minutes on high pressure.

I love to toss my thigh meat with salsa and a little chicken broth for taco night or burrito bowls.

My Shredded Chicken Didn’t Fully Cook, Can I Restart My Instant Pot?

Do you find that your dishes seem inconsistent with cooking times? I discovered a really important solution…getting a new Instant Pot seal. If the seal is stretched out, it will take much longer to come to pressure.

For chicken to be fully cooked, you want to make sure it has come to 165 degrees. Since the size of the breasts is so different, it is hard to always nail the length of time.

If you find that your chicken is not fully cooked, simply cook it for 2 more minutes of High Pressure.

Since the liquid is already hot, it won’t take that long to come to pressure again.

What Other Seasoning Can I Use on My Shredded Chicken?

I try to really map out what I’m making with it before deciding on seasoning. This basic idea of just salt & pepper is always appealing to me though because it can be used in any recipe.

Free Spice Label Printables

That said, you can always make your own flavor combo! This Mrs. Dash seasoning, for example, is a family favorite. I also love to season my chicken with oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, or dried rosemary.

Feeling inspired to get your pantry organized? Here are some free printable pantry labels to get you started.

I Don’t Have a Pressure Cooker. How Do I Make This Shredded Chicken In My Slow Cooker Instead?

For many years, I just did the shredded chicken in my slow cooker. You will follow the exact same recipe, but you will cook the chicken in your slow cooker for six hours instead.

I hate dry chicken though so I usually do the six hours of cooking time with frozen breasts instead.

I find today’s slow cookers are so much faster than they used to be.

For me, six hours is as long as I’m willing to let my chicken cook in one of those.

If you are on the hunt for a new slow cooker, I can’t recommend this model enough. I use it weekly and love that I can brown our meat before slow cooking it.

Are There Any Other Ways to Prepare Chicken For My Week?

I can’t recommend this roasted chicken technique enough.

In fact, I got stopped three times at a family cookout to ask how I prepared my meat.

It is perfectly seasoned, tastes like it has been grilled, and is perfectly tender.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Meal Prep From MomAdvice.com

What Recipes Can I Make With Shredded Chicken?

Shredded chicken can be stuffed into wraps with spinach, tomatoes, and ranch.

Shredded chicken can be tossed with salsa, and reserved liquid, to make chicken tacos.

Shredded chicken can be added to a delicious frittata, like this one.

Shredded chicken can be made into chicken salad. I love to skip the mayo and toss it with pesto and a little creamy Greek Yogurt.

Shredded chicken makes the perfect pizza topper with a pesto base, spinach, and tomatoes.

Shredded chicken is a great addition to any salad (here is one of my faves!).

Shredded chicken can be tossed with barbecue sauce and stuffed in sweet potatoes or in buns.

Shredded chicken can be added to soup or chili.

Shredded chicken be made into delicious enchiladas (this is our family’s favorite recipe).

Shredded chicken is great in homemade lo mein, fried rice, or stir fry.

You get the idea.

There is SO much you can do with this. Just think of how you can use shredded chicken in your favorite casseroles, pasta dishes, or rice bowls.

What if I Can’t Eat All This Shredded Chicken?

One of the best things about having this prepared is that you can freeze it. Freeze your pressure cooked chicken in freezer bags, with a little of the reserved broth. Make sure to take out as much air as possible and label. This should keep for 3-6 months in your freezer.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken (meal prep)

 

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken (meal prep)

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken (meal prep)

Yield: 4-6 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes

Did you know that you can make enough shredded chicken for a week of recipes with your pressure cooker? This Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe can be meal prepped for your week or frozen for future meals. Don’t miss this post filled with ideas for ways to put pressure cooked chicken to work in your kitchen!

Ingredients

  • 4 Chicken Breasts
  • 1 cup chicken broth or stock
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Pour one cup of chicken broth or stock in the bottom of your Instant Pot.
  2. Add fresh chicken breasts to Instant Pot, seasoned with salt and pepper.
  3. Put the lid on your Instant Pot and cook your chicken on High Pressure for 10 minutes (for small chicken breasts) or 12 minutes (for large chicken breasts).  
  4. Once the Instant Pot beeps, make sure your instant pot turns off (and doesn't start the, "keep warm," setting. Allow it to naturally release for ten minutes.
  5. Remove the chicken from the pressure cooker and shred with two forks or a hand mixer.
  6. Add half the liquid from the pot to your shredded chicken and toss to make sure it is fully incorporated.
  7. Use the chicken right away for your recipes (see post for fun ways to put this to work in your kitchen) or freeze for 3-6 months in an airtight freezer bag with a little additional liquid.Instant Pot Shredded Chicken from MomAdvice.com

Notes

Doubling the chicken? I have doubled this successfully by doubling the chicken stock and keeping everything else, like cooking time, the same. It will take a bit longer to come to pressure, but the duration you set will remain the same. 

Using frozen chicken breasts? Cooking time on frozen chicken varies, based on the size of the breast. If the chicken breasts are small, 12 minutes of high pressure works great. Average size chicken breasts will take about 14 minutes. Large pieces are best at 16 minutes. Still follow the steps above for natural releasing the pressure. 

This post contains affiliate links


Love this recipe? Here are three other great pressure cooker recipes to check out!

3 Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs from MomAdvice.com 3 ingredient instant pot ribs

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Pulled Pork from MomAdvice.com 3-ingredient instant pot pulled pork

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe from MomAdvice.com 3 ingredient instant pot wings

Let us know what you think about today’s recipe in the comments below!

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

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Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe

Tuesday, September 24th, 2019

 

Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

These freezer-friendly sandwiches are the perfect item to keep on hand for busy mornings. Although this recipe contains bacon, this can easily be omitted for a vegetarian freezer dish too. If you ask me, you just can’t go wrong with eggs and cheese on a toasted english muffin. Follow this easy tutorial for a healthy breakfast that is ready in minutes!

I’ll be honest, freezer cooking has saved our family tons of money over the years. The freezer breakfast sandwiches I am sharing today are my new secret weapon for busy mornings (or evenings) at our house.

I started to really become a fan of freezer recipes for breakfast when I put together my favorite make-ahead breakfast burrito recipe. These were filled with scrambled eggs, cheese, and bell pepper and are a cinch to whip up.

I loved them so much, in fact, that I hosted a sleepover buffet for my daughter with a make-your-own breakfast breakfast burrito bar.

In case you were wondering, it was a total hit!

Today’s breakfast sandwich preparation is a little different than the way we prepared our breakfast burritos. Instead of scrambling our eggs, we will be baking a sheet pan of our egg mixture and cutting them into circles for our breakfast sandwiches. With the addition of bacon (totally optional!!) and a slice of cheese you have the PERFECT frugal ingredients for a breakfast that your whole family will love.

How to Make Breakfast Sandwiches

The eggs are scrambled together with milk, salt, and peper and are poured into a prepared pan (sprayed with cooking spray) for baking.

Please don’t think you have to stop at just eggs though. This is a great recipe to add in other ingredients, like spinach or cooked veggies that you might want to put to work.

A good way to think about it is, if you would add it to a frittata, it is probably a delicious addition to these sandwiches.

Whatever combo you pick, just remember that salt and pepper are key to great flavor.

Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

As you can see with my first pan, the darker nonstick yielded a browner crust on the bottom.

If you have a dark nonstick pan too, keep an eye on it. I also adjusted the cooking time and length on my second batch so I could make sure I nailed the right length of time. 

Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

As these eggs are baking, it is time to prepare your bacon for baking.

Have you baked bacon before? Personally, I think it is the only way to go because it cuts down a lot on the mess and cleanup that can be required with stove top preparation.

For this recipe, all you will need to do is to line a cookie sheet with tin foil. On top of your tin foil, you will place your cooling rack. A cooling rack really helps the bacon gets crispy on all sides. 

As you know, crispy bacon is just what we are looking for, amiright?

Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Once the eggs are done cooking, remove them to cool while you slide in your bacon. Once cool enough to handle, cut them into circles for your muffins.

I didn’t have a biscuit cutter, but you don’t need one for this recipe. I found a cup that cut these perfectly for our sandwiches.

Don’t worry, the cup isn’t dusty (well….it *could* be) and is just filled with a little steam from our warm eggs.

Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Do you have a lot of egg scraps from your sandwiches? The frugal chef in me encourages you to find a way to repurpose those. For our family, I just plan to mix them into our shrimp fried rice and save a tiny bit of effort on the scrambling.

Once your eggs are cut, split your english muffins for toasting. Toasting insures that they don’t get soggy rolls, especially since we plan to reheat these for another day.

Are you gluten-free? They do make gluten-free English muffins that are available in the freezer section of many stores.

Udi’s and Glutino, for example, are two well-known brands that offer this as an option.

As with all things gluten-free though, these can be quite a bit more expensive.

With that in mind, if you really want to keep this recipe frugal, this gluten-free english muffin recipe looks like it is a winner!

Meal Prep Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Meal Prep Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Meal Prep Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

How Do I Store My Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches?

Wrap each breakfast sandwich in a square of tin foil and then place these inside a freezer bag. I don’t add a layer of plastic wrap because they seem to hold up well with just the foil and freezer bag combination.


Now that you have your sandwiches, here are some tips for preparing them.

Meal Prep Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Bake and Eat Your Breakfast Sandwiches Right Away or Save Them For Up to 5 Days in the Refrigerator

By the way, don’t you think these would make a great breakfast for tailgating?

If you are making and preparing them for a crowd, wrap them in tin foil and cook them at 425 for 8-10 minutes.

I think they are awfully delicious topped with a little pesto or siracha to brighten up those flavors. These can be refrigerated overnight for the morning or even kept in your fridge for up to 5 days.

As fast as these went at my house, I’m not sure freezing them ended up even being worth it! 

Meal Prep Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe from MomAdvice.com

How to Reheat Your Breakfast Sandwiches In the Microwave Right From the Freezer

If you are planning to reheat right from the freezer, remove the tin foil and microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds. I do like to flip these halfway through and find that they benefit from being wrapped in a paper towel to help the muffin keep its consistency and absorb the moisture.

How to Reheat Your Breakfast Sandwiches in the Toaster Oven Right From the Freezer

Do you have a toaster oven? This is a wonderful avenue for reheating your sandwiches. Keep your sandwich in the tin foil and toast for 10-15 minutes or until the filling is warm and the cheese is melted.

Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches Step-By-Step Picture Tutorial from MomAdvice.com

 

 

 

Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe
 
Meal Prep: Breakfast Sandwiches Recipe Recipe Type : Breakfast Author: MomAdvice.com Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 40 mins Total time: 55 mins Serves: 6 breakfast sandwiches These freezer-friendly sandwiches are the perfect item to keep on hand for busy mornings. Although this recipe contains bacon, this can easily be omitted for a vegetarian freezer dish too. If you ask me, you just can’t go wrong with eggs and cheese on a toasted english muffin (regular or gluten-free). Follow this easy tutorial for a healthy breakfast that is ready in minutes!
Ingredients
  • 10 large eggs
  • 1 cup skim or low-fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 6 slices of bacon (optional)
  • 6 slices of cheese
  • 6 english muffins
  • sriracha or pesto for topping (optional)
  • cooking spray
  • biscuit cutter, glass, or mason jar lid for cutting the egg rounds
  • 9×13 pan
  • 2 cookie sheets
  • metal cooling rack
  • mixing bowl & whisk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare your 9×13 with some cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and cook for approximately 15 minutes. Be sure to keep your eye on it to make sure the bottom does not get dark.
  3. While the eggs cook, prepare your bacon and english muffins. Split your muffins and place them on a cookie sheet (see picture above). Set aside. Cover the bottom of another cookie sheet with tin foil. Place metal cooling rack on top and spread the bacon, making sure there is space around each piece so the bacon is properly crisp.
  4. Once the eggs are done, remove and set aside to cool. Raise the temperature on the oven to 400 degrees and slide your tray of bacon in. Cook the bacon for 15 minutes. Set aside.
  5. Using a biscuit cutter (or glass), cut out circles of egg. Set aside scraps for another recipe.
  6. Next, slide in your sliced english muffins for toasting for 8-10 minutes.
  7. Make an assembly line and assemble the sandwiches: muffin, egg, bacon, and cheese. Wrap in tin foil and and then store the sandwiches in a freezer bag.
  8. Follow instructions for warming, in the notes section of this recipe card
 
Notes
Bake and Eat Your Breakfast Sandwiches Right Away or Save Them For Up to 5 Days in the Refrigerator[br]If you are making and preparing them for a crowd, wrap them in tin foil and cook them at 425 for 8-10 minutes. These can be refrigerated overnight for the morning or even kept in your fridge for up to 5 days.[br]How to Reheat Your Breakfast Sandwiches In the Microwave Right From the Freezer[br]If you are planning to reheat right from the freezer, remove the tin foil and microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds. I do like to flip these halfway through and find that they benefit from being wrapped in a paper towel to help the muffin keep its consistency and absorb the moisture.[br][br]How to Reheat Your Breakfast Sandwiches in the Toaster Oven Right From the Freezer[br]Do you have a toaster oven? This is a wonderful avenue for reheating your sandwiches. Keep your sandwich in the tin foil and toast for 10-15 minutes or until the filling is warm and the cheese is melted.

Love this breakfast recipe? Here are a few other breakfast dishe we love at our house!

Slow Cooked Honeycrisp Apple Oatmeal from MomAdvice.com

slow cooked honeycrisp apple oatmeal

Easy Sausage & Vegetable Frittata from MomAdvice.com easy sausage and vegetable frittata (dairy free/gluten free)

Make-Ahead Smoothie Packs for Your Freezer from MomAdvice.com

make ahead smoothie packets for your freezer

this post contains affiliate links

 

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast

Tuesday, September 17th, 2019

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast

No need to break out your slow cooker for a great chuck roast. This Instant Pot recipe is ready in a fraction of the time, compared to a slow cooker roast. Dressed with a simple marinara sauce, this shredded beef recipe is perfect to serve over pasta or to stuff in a sub bun for an italian beef sandwich. Let me show you how with this pressure cooker recipe.

I am back again with another family meal idea that you can create in your pressure cooker.

Those of you that have my book may recognize this easy recipe that I had originally made for my crock pot. This pot roast recipe was formerly known as my, “Pot Roast Italiano,” and I thought it would be a fun one to adapt for the pressure cooker.

The exciting news is that this recipe DOES NOT DISAPPOINT AT ALL. I have a feeling that this might be in your regular recipe rotation.

If you haven’t used the sauté function on your pressure cooker, you are going to love the ability to brown your meats before you pressure cook them. 


Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

A three pound chuck roast can be difficult to flip so feel free to cut your roast in half, like I have demonstrated in the photo.

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

After mixing these seasonings, you can spoon them on and press them into both sides of your roast, while you wait for your Instant Pot to warm up.

Not sure when it is warm? Your Instant Pot will say HOT when it is ready to go and also will sound a little beep so you can get your meat started.

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

 

Add olive oil to the bottom of the pan and then brown the roast beef on both sides, approximately 2-3 minutes each.

Once you have this done, pull the beef out of the Instant Pot and cancel the sauté function.

Using a whisk, whisk in your tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine vinegar, and salt. Don’t put in the tomato paste- we aren’t ready for that thickener just yet.

Be sure to use the whisk to lift up an of those delicious brown bits, that may have been left behind by your roast, and any of those italian seasonings that may be resting on the bottom.

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

Set your Instant Pot to high pressure and program it for 80 minutes cooking time. I usually just press the meat button on the IP since I have that set to MORE on the settings. 

Once it is done, try to give it some time to come to a natural release (maybe ten minutes or so), but if you are in a rush a quick release won’t hurt it either.

If you are unclear about the difference between the natural release pressure and the quick release pressure, be sure to check out my post with a diagram that explains this more fully.

After releasing the lid, remove the meat from the pressure cooker and shred the meat. Thanks to the effectiveness of the Instant Pot, this should be an absolute breeze.

Your final step, to complete the accompanying sauce, is to whisk in a can of tomato paste. Be sure to give your sauce a taste and sprinkle in additional salt, onion powder, or garlic powder (as needed).

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

This meat can be placed into a sub roll with a layer of sauce and melted provolone cheese. If you are wanting a more formal meal, this pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes or spooned over a big pile of pasta and sprinkled with a healthy grate of parmesan cheese.

Unlike the traditional shredded beef recipe with pepperoncini peppers and beef broth, this recipe is always a bit of a surprise to our guests with the uniqueness of the sauce and the delicious Italian flavors.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of this recipe and look forward to sharing even more pressure cooker recipes with you this month.

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast Recipe

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast
 
Recipe Type: Main
Author: MomAdvice.com
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6 servings
No need to break out your slow cooker for a great chuck roast. This Instant Pot recipe is ready in a fraction of the time, compared to a slow cooker roast. Dressed with a simple marinara sauce, this shredded beef recipe is perfect to serve over pasta or to stuff in a sub bun for an italian beef sandwich. Let me show you how with this pressure cooker recipe.
Ingredients
  • 3 pounds beef chuck roast
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 can petite diced tomatoes (with their juice)
  • 1 can tomato sauce – 16 oz
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons basil
  • 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • Salt and pepper
  • Grated Cheese (optional)
Instructions
  1. Cut your beef chuck roast into two or three pieces so that it can fit and be flipped in your pressure cooker.
  2. Turn on your pressure cooker and set it to the sauté function on HIGH.
  3. On a piece of wax paper, take a paper towel and dry out the meat on both sides so that you can get a nice sear on your roast.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and basil.
  5. Sprinkle the seasoning on both sides of your roast and push the seasoning in with your hands to make sure that it sticks well.
  6. Add your olive oil to the hot pan and then sear the roast on both sides for two to three minutes, until your roast has developed a nice crust. Be sure to do this in batches so you get a nice sear on your roast. Set your roast aside.
  7. Turn off the Instant Pot and then add your diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine vinegar, and more salt & pepper. Whisk this in and use your whisk to loosen any of the browned bits on the bottom into your sauce. Give it a taste and make sure you have the right amount of seasoning.
  8. Lock your lid and set it to HIGH pressure for 80 minutes (you can also use your Meat setting if you just want to press a button).
  9. Once it is done, allow it to come to Natural Release Pressure (or if you are in a hurry, you can just do a Quick Release- it won’t hurt it!)
  10. Transfer your meat to a cutting board to shred.
  11. Meanwhile, whisk tomato paste into your gravy and check your seasonings one more time.
  12. Spoon a bit of the sauce on your roast and mix it well.
  13. Serve the additional sauce in a bowl or gravy boat. Serve the roast with mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice. Leftovers can be packaged and used later in Italian beef sandwiches, toasted with sauce and provolone.
 

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

This post contains affiliate links.

Love this recipe? Here are a few more meal ideas for your Instant Pot!

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe from MomAdvice.com

best instant pot wings

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Pulled Pork from MomAdvice.com 3-ingredient pulled pork recipe

3-ingredient instant pot ribs 3-ingredient instant pot ribs (the most popular and viral recipe on the blog)

 

 

Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Roast from MomAdvice.com

Let us know what you think about today’s recipe in the comments below! 

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe

Tuesday, September 10th, 2019

 

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe from MomAdvice.com

These Instant Pot chicken wings only require three ingredients and five minutes of pressure cooking until they are fall-off-the-bone tender. Try this Instant Pot Recipe today!

I am so excited to start showcasing more recipes on the site and one BIG request I got from readers was for more easy Instant Pot recipes. 

It seems I talked many of you into buying one of these appliances on a Black Friday sale and then dropped the ball on giving you ideas for ways to use it. 

That’s really nice, huh?

In all honesty, three ingredient recipes have been on repeat in our house especially these easy ribs (one of our most pinned recipes on the site) and these pulled pork sandwiches

It seems when I get a formula down, with my cooking, I just keep repeating it. 

As tailgating season is approaching, I wanted to show how you can cook the chicken wings in your Instant Pot in just about 30 minutes or so. 

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe

Best Steamer Basket for the Instant Pot

xoxo steamer basket for instant pot shop this steamer basket for your Instant Pot- you will love the handle on this for removal!

Although I don’t get sucked into the gadget game very often, I have found this steamer basket to be invaluable for cooking both my meat and my eggs. The basket fully holds what is inside and then can be lifted out by the center handle. I use it about once a week so I can confidently recommend this is a great addition to your kitchen arsenal.

When I first started blogging, I created a Honey Bourbon Chicken Wing recipe that I prepared in my slow cooker and I was so proud of my styling.


It was after this photo was posted that someone commented that they were surprised I didn’t, “trim my chicken wings.” 

How do I Trim Chicken Wings for My Instant Pot?

Trim the wings? 

I had no clue what that even meant. 

Wings weren’t something we ate in our house and I’m not the kind of girl who eats wings at a restaurant. It’s because I had no experience eating these that I didn’t know how to trim them for our family or what the wing was supposed to look like.

If you are still learning in the kitchen, I just want you to know that I’ve been learning right along with you. This wasn’t the first time I was wrong about the best way to prepare a dish and I really doubt that it will be the last. 

If you are looking for guidance on how to trim your wings for cooking, I found this tutorial very helpful for getting started. 

Best Instant Pot Wings from MomAdvice.com

Once you have trimmed your wings, you are ready to toss them with salt and pepper. 

Next, you will add one cup of water to the bottom of your Instant Pot and rest your rack on top. Although I used water, I have also used chicken stock that has been leftover in my fridge. 

If you don’t have my rack, you can also use the rack that your pressure cooker came with. 

Rest the seasoned chicken on top of the rack, seal your Instant Pot, and then set the Instant Pot for High Pressure for 5 minutes. You will allow the Instant Pot to do a Natural Release for 5-10 minutes. 

natural pressure versus quick release diagram

What the Heck is Natural Release?

Not sure what the difference is between Natural Release and Quick Release? That’s okay! This appliance definitely comes with a learning curve. 

I found this diagram that should help visually explain the big differences between these two types of venting. 

When we are told to Quick Release our pressure cooker, that just means that you are going to turn that steam release handle (located on your lid) to the Vent position on top. This allows all the steam to come out fast and at once. 

When we do Natural Release though, we just allow our pot to cool a bit on its own and then after 10 minutes, the steam that is released will be much less and the float valve will drop naturally over time.

Keep in mind, this does not adjust cook times, but only the length of time you are waiting to start working on the next step in the recipe (our broiler finish!).

Remove wings from the pressure cooker and place them on a baking sheet that has been lined with tin foil and has a baking rack on top to allow the circulate underneath. 

With a basting brush, you can apply your favorite barbecue sauce or you can really spice them up with buffalo sauce or hot sauce. Since our family is wimpy-wimpy-wimpy, we stick to our Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Since the chicken wings are fully cooked, you will not need to bake chicken wings ahead of time. Instead of deep frying these, we rely on the less messy and lower calorie option of just broiling the wings for about five minutes on each side.

I also love any dish that doesn’t require me to shred the chicken for preparation. Once you slide these out of the broiler, you are ready for dipping and eating these.

Please do keep your eyes on the oven though because they can burn on top if they aren’t carefully watched and may need adjusting during the broiling.  

Best Instant Pot Wings from MomAdvice.com

Best Instant Pot Wings from MomAdvice.com

 

Once these are done, slide them into a serving bowl and pair with your favorite dipping sauce. 

I hope you love this recipe as much as I do and I’m thinking it is going to be the perfect recipe to tailgate with. I can imagine preparing a batch of these in my pressure cooker and then throwing them into my slow cooker to keep warm for game days.  

This isn’t the only Instant Pot recipe that I’ll be sharing this month though. I’m also looking forward to sharing a pot roast pressure cooker recipe that I perfected that I just know you will want to add it to your menu planner too. 

Best Instant Pot Wings from MomAdvice.com

 

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe

Best Instant Pot Wings Recipe
 
Recipe Type: Appetizer
Author: MomAdvice.com
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 pounds
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds chicken wings
  • 1 cup water (or chicken broth)
  • Barbecue Sauce
  • Salt & Pepper
Instructions
  1. Trim your chicken wings by following the instructions that I linked to above. Once trimmed, toss with salt and pepper.
  2. Pour water (or chicken broth) in the bottom, place the steaming rack inside, and finish by putting your chicken wings within the rack.
  3. Lock the lid, select High Pressure and adjust to 5 minutes.
  4. While the wings are cooking, prepare a baking sheet with tin foil and a baking rack that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Pour your sauce you will be using into a bowl, to baste on your chicken.
  5. Allow the pressure cooker to come to a natural release (I give it about 10 minutes) after the timer beeps, release the steam valve and then place the wings on foil-lined baking sheet.
  6. Broil the wings for 4-5 minutes (watching carefully to prevent charring). Flip the chicken wings over and brush the other side with barbecue sauce. Broil that side again for 3-4 minutes. Place on platter and serve with your favorite dipping sauce or additional barbecue sauce.
 

 

 

This post contains affiliate links.

Looking for more fun tailgate ideas? Check these posts out!

Gluten-Free Meatball Sub Bites from MomAdvice.com try these gluten-free meatball sub bites

this slow cooker pumpkin chili is always a tailgate winner

you can’t go wrong with these sweet potato fries with a lemon meringue dipping sauce

this diy bar cart was made from a tool cart and a coat of spray paint. go, team!

 

 

 

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Herb Baked Tilapia Sheet Pan Meal

Wednesday, March 20th, 2019

 

Try this easy sheet pan meal for your next family dinner! This herb baked tilapia & asparagus bakes in under 15 minutes!

I don’t know about you, but I can never get enough sheet pan meal recipes! Today I wanted to share one of our tried-and-true family favorites  that I think you will love as much as I do. This herb baked tilapia sheet pan meal is gluten-free and can be prepared with a side of asparagus, all on one pan. This is an affordable meal that can serve a crowd and is simple enough that you could even get your kids in the kitchen to help you assemble these cheesy and crunchy toppings.

The preparation is pretty similar to my 5-Ingredient Salmon Sheet Pan recipe, but this time we will be preparing a crunchy gluten-free topping for the fish instead of a simple seasoning. If you don’t need to watch the gluten, you can substitute this ingredient with your favorite Panko or breadcrumb topping.  After trying several brands of crunchy coating, this is my favorite recommendation, if you end up needing the gluten-free version (like me!).

I also recommend splurging for the fresh tilapia, if you can swing it, because the fish is typically thicker than the frozen variety. It helps the fish to retain its moisture, while it is baking, and is also a little more filling.

If you have teenagers, you know that filling these kids up is a full-time job! #mamaisbroke

If you are trying to stay under budget though, the frozen fish does well, but will just cook up a bit quicker in your oven!

Here is what the dish looks like when it is prepared on the sheet pan. I lined my pan with nonstick foil, to help make clean-up a little easier! Underneath that layer of herbs & panko, you will find a cheesy layer that is prepared with just cheese and mayo.

Have issues with mayo?

I bet you will get over it when you mix that with cheese.

I mean, it is CHEESE!

You can also use your own substitution for mayo that works for your diet plan.

I have heard great things about this one!

Although, I know you aren’t here for my TED talk on this recipe, I have a pretty funny story about this dish.

When I was working for Kenmore, they asked me to share some of my favorite family recipes and they had them all printed up on gorgeous recipe cards to hand out at the Chicago Baby Show. Not only did they want to hand them out, but they told me that they wanted these dishes prepared for the attendees so people could eat samples as they walked through the different booths.

When I read how many people normally attend the Chicago Baby Show, I started to get spicy armpits.

I pride myself on my ability to feed many people, but what was this going to look like feeding THOUSANDS.

Also, why exactly did that think I was capable to cater this event?

The weeks leading up to the event were agonizing, but I couldn’t tell them that I couldn’t possibly do this. Our family was on the struggle bus financially so I had to do my best with this incredible job that I had been tasked with.

When I showed up, I put on my apron and was ready to go, spicy armpits and all!

That’s when they told me that the food was being prepared by someone else and I was just supposed to hand out my recipe cards.

Moral of the story?

Get the specifics on your jobs before you agree to do them and get ready to fake it until you make it!

I hope you enjoyed my TED talk on this fabulous dish.

In the end, I would prepare it for you, but not for thousands.

I hope you can give this one a spin at your house and can’t wait to hear what you think!

Herb Baked Tilapia Sheet Pan Meal
Recipe Type: Main Course
Author: MomAdvice.com
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-6 servings
Try this easy sheet pan meal for your next family dinner! This herb baked tilapia & asparagus bakes in under 15 minutes! If you are using a thicker cut of tilapia, you can double the topping for double the crunch!
Ingredients
  • 4 (4 to 6 ounce) tilapia fillets
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup [url href=”https://amzn.to/2Ju9l38″ target=”_blank”]gluten-free panko crumbs[/url]
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
  • 1 pound asparagus
  • olive oil (for drizzingling on vegetables)
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Adjust your oven rack to the second one from the top.
  2. Using a paper towel, blot the tilapia to soak up any moisture. Place tilapia on a sheet pan lined with nonstick foil.
  3. In a small bowl, combine cheese and mayonnaise. Spread evenly over fish.
  4. In another bowl, combine panko, Italian seasoning mix, salt, & pepper. Sprinkle over fish.
  5. Trim the asparagus ends. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and season with salt. Arrange the asparagus next to the tilapia.
  6. Bake 12-15 minutes
  7. Turn your broiler on high and finish with 2 minutes of broiling to get a pretty golden hue on your fish and to make sure the cheese coating is cooked all the way through. Make sure you keep an eye on it so your topping does not burn.
  8. Serve immediately with a little chopped parsley on top.

Looking for more easy dinner ideas? Here are a few of our favorites!

5-ingredient sheet pan salmon meal

5-ingredient caprese pork chops

gluten-free orange chicken

3-ingredient instant pot ribs

3-ingredient instant pot pulled pork

one pot gluten-free mac & cheese

5-ingredient gluten-free pizza crust recipe

This post contains affiliate links! Thank you!