Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

 

Ingredients

• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp lemon zest (about 3-4 lemons)
• 8 oz unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 tbsp poppy seeds

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

• 12 oz cream cheese, block style
• 8 oz unsalted butter, slightly softened but still cold
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 and spray the cooking pans.
2. Whisk together 3 cups of flour, baking powder, and salt. Add lemon zest and whisk again. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine milk and lemon juice. Stir to combine and set aside for milk to curdle. This is similar to making homemade buttermilk.
4. In a bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium-high. Beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
5. With the mixer on low, add eggs one at a time. Mix well after each egg. 
6. Add vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
7. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Do not over mix.
8. Add poppy seeds and mix to combine. Batter will be thick and fluffy.
9. Divide batter evenly between the pans. 
10. Bake for 25-27 minutes.
11. Let cool in pans for 10-15 minutes and then remove from the pan to completely cool.
12. Mix butter and cream cheese until smooth.
13. Add vanilla, lemon zest and juice and mix until combines.
14. Gradually add powdered sugar. Whip on medium until smooth and slightly fluffy. 
15. Add the cream cheese frosting onto the cake. Decorate the cake with lemon slices and sprinkle poppy seeds.

Pumpkin Spice Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 15oz can pure pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp pumpkin spice
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix oil and sugar for 4 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix for 1 minute longer. Stir in pumpkin puree.
2. Fold in flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin spice, and salt.
3. Prepare the cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Evenly pour the cake batter into each pan.
4. Bake for 18-23 minutes. 
5. Let cool and remove the cake from the pan. 
6. In a mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and cream cheese for 2-3 minutes. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla.
7. Once the cake layers have cooled, spread each layer with cream cheese frosting.

Cranberry Cake

 

Ingredients

• 3 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups salted butter, room temperature
• 3 eggs
• 2 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup milk
• 3 cups fresh cranberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake pans with baking spray.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add butter, eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream and milk and mix on medium speed just until smooth. Do not over mix.
4. Gently stir in cranberries.
5. Spread batter evenly between the three cake pans.
6. Bake 35-40 minutes.
7. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Chicken & Rice

 

Ingredients

Marinade

• 2 lemons, juiced & zested
• 2 tsp dijon mustard
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Rice

• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Add all of the marinade ingredients to a bowl and stir together.
2. Place chicken thighs in a glass dish, pour marinade over the chicken, and turn each piece to coat. Cover dish and marinate chicken in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight. 
3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil on medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook until skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes. 
4. Flip the chicken and cook another 5 minutes. Remove chicken thighs from skillet and set aside. 
5. Use your tongs to scrape and remove any browned bits and bunch up to a couple of paper towels to soak up some fat from the pan, but not all. 
6. Add the diced onions and stir for 1-2 minutes or until they start to become translucent. 
7. Add the chopped spinach, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir for another 30 seconds or until the spinach starts to wilt. 
8. Add the rice to the skillet and stir well to coat the rice with the oil. 
9. Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and stir well. Bring this to a simmer on the stove. 
10. Place the rice in an oven safe dish. 
11. Arrange chicken thighs on top of the rice, then cover the pan and place in the preheated oven. Bake 35 minutes. Remove the lid, return the pan to the oven, and bake until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender, about 10 minutes. 
12. Let the chicken and rice set for 5 to 10 minutes. 

Paleo Lemon Bread

 

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tbsp lemon zest
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 2/3 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, beat eggs with maple syrup until smooth. Add coconut oil, lemon juice and lemon zest until smooth. 
3. Sift in baking powder, almond flour, coconut flour, and salt. Stir until well combined with no lumps. 
4. Transfer batter to loaf pan. Bake for 43 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven & cool for at least 30 minutes to set.

Salad Wedge

 

Ingredients

• 2 - 3 head iceberg lettuce
• crumbled bacon
• minced red onion
• finely chopped cucumber
• croutons
• chopped cherry tomatoes
• sliced olives

Dressing

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 ounces soft Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tbsp milk
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Put the dressing ingredients together in a small food processor and process briefly until combined, but still lumpy. Add salt and pepper to taste. 
2. Add more milk if you want a thinner dressing.
3. Wash and dry your head of lettuce. Remove any loose or browned leaves.
4. Slice the head in half, through the core. Then slice each one in half again. 
5. Place the wedges on a plate, drizzle the dressing, and add all of your favorite toppings.

Red Velvet Cake

 

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 oz red liquid food color (not gel)
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk, well shaken
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 1/4 tsp baking soda

For the Icing

• 12 oz cream cheese, room temp
• 12 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp
• 24 oz powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and combine 8 inch cake pans; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing just until the yolk disappears.
3. In a small bowl whisk together the red food coloring, cocoa, salt and vanilla until well blended. Add the cocoa mixture to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Blend on a medium-low until combined, scraping the bowl as needed.
4. Add 1/3 of the buttermilk and blend on low until well incorporated. Next add 1/3 of the flour and mix on low. Repeat until all the buttermilk and flour are mixed well.
5. In a small cup stir together the vinegar and baking soda, until completely dissolved. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the vinegar mixture into the cake batter.
6. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
7. Bake for about 18-20 minutes

Prepare the Icing

1. Combine the cream cheese and butter and beat until blended. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy. And the vanilla and mix on low until smooth and creamy.
2. Assemble the cake and add the buttercream between each layer.
3. Have fun and decorate the cake.