SimpleSolutionsDiva.com

Month: November 2016

Keep Holiday Lights Safe From Rain!

ssd-holiday-lightsDuring the holidays, have you ever come home one rainy night to see your holiday lights are out? When water gets into those electrical connections (like where extension cords connect to holiday lights), it can create a short which trips the circuit breaker – causing all your outdoor lights associated with that breaker to go out!

This Simple Holiday Survival tip is sure to help prevent that from happening!

SimpleSolutionsDiva.com's tip to keep outdoor lights from blowing out!
SimpleSolutionsDiva.com’s tip to keep outdoor lights from blowing out!

A New Way To Serve Stuffing

Tired of serving stuffing out of a bird’s behind? Try presenting your stuffing in a creative way (plus, you don’t have to worry about undercooking and getting salmonella!).

Make your stuffing in a bundt pan! It is not only healthy, but it presents the stuffing in a unique form! The key is to add eggs to your favorite recipe so it will hold together when you take it out of the bundt pan. Look how pretty it looks!

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You can use your own, favorite recipe, just be sure to add 3-4 eggs to your mixture (mix it in with the chicken broth you use in your recipe). Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until it is lightly browned.

If you are in need of a recipe, try this one:

Bacon (or Sausage) Stuffing
 
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Cook this recipe separately from your turkey and be sure to cook it in a bundt pan for a nice presentation!
Author:
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Serves: 10 servings
Ingredients
  • 4 slices thick cut bacon (or ½ cup ground pork sausage), cooked, drained and copped into small pieces (keep the fat in the pan)
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped, fresh sage
  • ½ cup fresh chopped parsley
  • ½ teaspoon (or more) minced garlic
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 1 loaf of french bread, cubed and dried in a 200 degree oven until lightly toasted - about 20 minutes.
  • 2-3 cups chicken broth
  • 3-4 eggs, beaten
Instructions
  1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Using the pan with the bacon (or pork sausage) grease, sauté the sage, garlic, parsley together for 30-40 seconds. Add the chopped bacon (or sausage) and stir.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the beaten eggs into the chicken broth.
  4. In a large bowl, place the bread cubes, the herb mixture, and mix together.
  5. Slowly add the chicken broth mixture, tossing the bread cubes to coat.
  6. Press mixture into a lightly greased bundt pan.
  7. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
  8. Allow to rest for 20 minutes.
  9. Invert onto a serving platter.

Have a VERY Happy Holiday!

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Sweet Potato Stackers

 

My family LOVES sweet potatoes! I served these and they were a BIG hit, so I believe I will serve them for Thanksgiving this year. Buttery layers of sweet potatoes with rosemary and garlic and fresh parmesan cheese – my mouth is watering just thinking about them!

These are a different way to serve those delectable, spuds of the South! And best part? No mini marshmallows!

 

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Sweet Potato Stackers
 
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Buttery layers of sweet potatoes, paired with rosemary, garlic and fresh parmesan - these Sweet Potato Stackers are sure to be a hit at the next family gathering!
Author:
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 4-5 sweet potatoes, washed, peeled and sliced into thin slices.
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon freshly chopped rosemary (plus another teaspoon for topping at end)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2-4 Tablespoons fresh grated parmesan cheese (plus 2 TBS for topping at end)
  • salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine in a large bowl the melted butter, olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and whisk until they ingredients are blended.
  3. Add freshly grated parmesan cheese and lightly wish.
  4. Add sliced sweet potatoes to the bowl and mix until all slices are coated in the oil mixture.
  5. In a light greased muffing tin, layer the sweet potatoes until each tin is filled to the top. These will shrink down while they cook.
  6. Cook for 45-55 minutes, or until the potatoes are lightly browned and are tender.
  7. Place on a plate and top with more parmesan cheese and fresh chopped rosemary. Serve immediately.

Sweet Potato Stacker – So Simple & So GOOD!

 

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Easy Cheesy Zucchini Bites

 

One of my favorite vegetables, second only to broccoli, is zucchini! It is a very versatile veggie! So speaking as a Zucchini Lover, this recipe is fantastic! You can almost convince yourself it is healthy because it is mostly zucchini, with a little bit of cheese!

Seriously, how can you not want to devour these right out of the oven?!
Seriously, how can you not want to devour these right out of the oven?! Easy Cheesy Zucchini by SimpleSolutionsDiva.com.

I suggest you double the recipe – I made a single batch and literally, all of the pieces were devoured in minutes. And this recipe has my little vegetarian’s stamp of approval!

Easy Cheesy Zucchini Bites
 
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These easy, cheesy zucchini bites will have carnivores, and vegetarians alike, devouring them!
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Serves: 2 dozen
Ingredients
  • 3-4 zucchini, cleaned & shredded (yields approximately 1.5-2 cups shredded)
  • 1 egg beaten
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (you can also use shredded mozzarella and add in parmesan!)
  • ¼ cup panko or Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat over to 425 degrees.
  2. After shredding the zucchini, place it into a clean, dry paper towel and squeeze out the excess water and place the zucchini in a large bowl.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
  4. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet (I placed parchment paper on the cookie sheet and then greased that.)
  5. Bake in the oven for 14-20 minutes until lightly browned on the edges.
  6. Eat plain or with ranch dressing for dipping (but they really don't need the dressing!)

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