ZUCCHINI BREAD ANYONE?!?This is 1 recipe that truthfully I'm not sure I will ever share... sorry not sorry! Or at least not until it is in a cookbook of mine one of these days! I have this recipe on lockdown! It is top secret! I've tasted zucchini bread made by various people and bakeries. I've even tried to make other recipes before I got this one but none compare to this one. I cherish this recipe that I got from my Grandma Ybarra years ago. I never use to like zucchini bread before this one. It was either because 1 flavor was overpowering the other or it lacked something. This one didn't need any tweaking whatsoever. How did I know? Truthfully you could eat it straight up. But who doesn't like some extra fun flavors or toppings? So eventually I added any of the following in combos: chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, or raisins. It made it taste great but it never took away from the original flavor it only added to it. You've never had zucchini bread?!?!I got ecstatic when I saw my zucchinis coming in. I'm like yasss! I can make zucchini bread for the everyone! So I started asking friends and family if they wanted any. Then I was shocked when 99% of my friends have never had zucchini bread. Me: Wait, what? You've never had zucchini bread?!?! Friends: No. Me: Seriously, you've never had zucchini bread?!?! (Acting like somehow the answer was going to change) Friends: The answer is still No. Me: What the heck??? Friends: What not everyone is extra like you Kat! Me: ... true... So I had to make them some, because I can't allow them to be deprived of an oh so amazing tasting bakery dessert! At first many of them were hesitant! Which I can't blame them, I was so anti zucchini bread at first too! Like you are telling me that something from a garden can be made into a sweet flavor dessert? Yes that is exactly what I am telling you! But also if you don't like it, I am by no means offended ever! It just might not be your cup of tea and that is certainly okay by me! Mini Zucchini BreadsWell if I am having people try it for the very first time I minus well make a boat load of mini breads! That way incase they don't like it, at least we aren't wasting much of my zucchini batter. And truthfully I love making mini desserts. A couple of months ago I bought a 24 mini muffin pan and an 8 mini loaf pan. Which I couldn't wait to use. It worked perfectly! I loved it! And they looked soo cute while holding their loaf shape. I probably made about 60+ mini loaves and 4 large loaves. I was able to make way more than expected for my first round! I'm Proud of What I MakeI am beyond happy with how these turned out! I'm proud of the things I create! I never let anything but the best come out of my kitchen! It has my name on it so it must come out looking and tasting the best that it can! Chef Kt Oslen has been at work in her kitchen! I've been spending my paychecks on ingredients, supplies, and new equipment to continue to challenge myself in my creativity. Look forward to seeing more creations on my culinary blog, and instagram account! Love being in my kitchen! -Chef Kt Oslen-
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PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA!![]() Pizza Night is always 1 of my absolute favorite nights. Well I have shared 2 pizza recipes before but this time I decided to try a new recipe. COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH! I’ve tried years ago but either didn’t like the taste or it was an epic fail! But let me tell you, this recipe was a huge SUCCESS! And whenever my Dad says this hit the spot then I have hit the spot. I can officially add this recipe among the Recipes of Champions! I am always looking to challenge myself & to learn new techniques. This recipe taught me just that! I tweaked a few things in the recipe! Enjoy! And as always if you ever try this recipe, Let me know how it turned out! Make Pizza Night – Family Night! Involve the kids in the pizza making process! It's Fun! Recipe Courtesy of: TASTY!DAY 1Step 1:
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My tweak here was that I added 1-2 tbsp. of water. Only add if needed. If your mix looks to dry add the water little by little. Step 3:
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DAY 2Step 1:
<While the dough is rising... gather your toppings! Get your pizza sauce, & mushrooms, pepperonis, etc! Check out video for how you want to make your sauce! I used the whole tomatoes but I didn't add any salt! When I added the salt, it was wayyyy too salty for my family. Luckily I bought another can of whole tomatoes & it was perfect! If you do the whole tomatoes. Just crush them with your hands in a bowl. Forewarning: this part is messy! Try to keep the tomato juice & sauce in the bowl. Crush all whole tomatoes until it's saucy! The whole tomatoes like the video says, has the absolute best taste!> Step 2:
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Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes, By: Shauna Niequist. "Cooking as in life there are some non-negotiables but not as many as you would think. Learning to cook is about learning all those non-negotiables and then playing around with the rest. Recipes are how we learn all the rules, and Cooking is knowing how to break them to suit our tastes or preferences." I have enjoyed this audible more than you will know. Shauna said all the words and thoughts that flow through my brain continuously as I'm cooking and baking. She was able to share in just the right words what I tend to stumble on when speaking about the importance of cooking, baking, and all that it brings to the table. There is truly something special that happens from the moment you plan a meal to the first bite of the dish. When I am in my kitchen making and creating dishes to share, it gives me an unbelievable amount of joy. It became my go to happy place. I could bake and cook from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. Honestly that is what I do some days, and I love every second of it. I don't just cook and bake because it needs to be done. I don't see it as a "chore" like some people do. I see it as an honor and privilege. The amazing gift to be able to prepare a meal for somebody else to enjoy. The feeling you get when you see the expression on their face as they take their first bite. The joy of seeing how your food is satisfying their tastebuds. When I cook, it's not just for those who will consume it, it is for me too. It allows me to be at complete and utter peace until the meal is completed. Which is great because I now get to add the most important ingredient of all which is LOVE. I know you may see that as a cliche but I don't. Which is why when I could have a terrible day, I walk into my kitchen and leave whatever just happened at the door. Almost instantly I can feel at peace. Why? Well, the kitchen is the place where God & I meet. Cooking and baking time becomes our place to communicate. Which is why when I am in my kitchen late you can find me in tears letting it all out to Him. Or you can find me for some reason smiling even though my day could've been everything less than perfect. There is just something that happens to me when I am in the kitchen. "The table is the great equalizer, level playing field many of us have been looking everywhere for. The table is the place where the doing stops, the trying stops, the masks are removed and we allow ourselves to be nourished like children. We allow someone else to meet our need in a world that prides people on not having needs... The table is a place of safety and rest and humanity. Where we are allowed to be as fragile as we feel. If the home is a body, the table is the heart, the beating center, the sustainer of life and health. Come To The Table!" I love this quote above because of how much truth these words speak. It is real and 100% relatable in every way. It makes you think of times where you came back home to the table to eat with your family as a whole again because that is when you felt safe. When you take off the masks of having it all together and allow yourself to be comforted by the food and your loved ones. Where the table gets your heart beating and pumping for joy again, right when you need it. I have for years made meals to give to families in times of need. Whether they just had a loss in the family, post-surgery, need a pick me up, just had a baby, moved to a new house, etc. I do this not because I am expected to do anything but solely for the fact that I know how I have felt in many of those areas. Just like the quote said is what I am hoping to bring to them in one simple meal. I remember when we had lost my grandpa and aunt within a year of one another. We had lost it and with it we had forgotten to eat. Eating and nourishing our bodies had been the last thing on our minds. Friends and family would bring us food or homemade meals enough for our entire family to eat. We hadn't asked for it but they knew in those moments that we needed it whether we wanted to admit it or not. The table is like Shauna said, it's truly the heart, the beating center and sustainer of life and health. I believe it to be true because our family had practically every meal together from the moment we heard the news to the funeral. There was something powerful about all of us joining each other at the table. We didn't need to say a word, but it was just all of us being comforted together in food and unity as a family. The healing began at the table. It was where our hearts began to beat and keep going even when we didn't know how. Where our broken hearts started to mend. The healing came when we were sitting at the safe zone. That no matter what else may come our way, we were together. I hope the table is where your healing is able to take place too. I just know how valuable it has been for me and my family. "The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It's about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment." What this quote says above is why I think our house tends to be the hangout spot amongst our friends and at times family. It doesn't matter to them how small our house may be. They don't see that and honestly they could care less how small or big our house is. What they love about our house is that we have created a safe place, where everyone is welcomed. My siblings and I would have friends over practically every weekend or every other. We would have party night and it was always at our house. We would all help to cook or bake together, and those who didn't still joined us in the kitchen. They would help in anyway they could or just keep us company. Our parties would consist of eating, playing games, watching movies, go bowling, or who knows what else. It didn't matter to us what we did. What mattered to us was who we did it with. One thing all of our friends have said to us one way or another was that they love our house. They knew they could relax and be real with us. We are able to cry on one another's shoulders and we are able to celebrate with each other. There is laughter, happiness, and authenticity here. There is a love that resonates in our house as a family, and we are glad that those who enter can feel it. Where we gather is in our living room around our coffee table aka our dining table. As a family we gather around it to enjoy our meals. Our friends do the same, and we love it. Everyone who gathers there is loved and valued. We are each others greatest encouragers and biggest fans. Life should happen around the table! Allow authenticity in! Add most importantly add the most sacred ingredient to every recipe of life... LOVE! I hope you will either pick up the book or buy the audible. It's definitely worth a listen, read or both. Also, the author reads the audible which just adds so much more to the story. I hope this makes you see the importance of eating together as friends and family. And how vital that these small moments are that seem to pass by us. My challenge to you all is that this week you find and make the time at least twice to have dinner as a family, or even with your friends. Yes I know that we all work, have dance, have sports, events to attend, and performances to help prepare for. I get that & I understand that but it is so important. Find time! Make time! Looking forward to see or hear about what happened when you gathered around the table. Hope you enjoyed this blog post!
#LifeAroundTheTable Chef Katarina 5/21/18 - Monday Night: We love having Breakfast for dinner! The only time we are able to have a full blown breakfast buffet is normally evenings or weekends. Well I have been enjoying some of my own vacation, which is why I have been able to cook & bake all day & night. Some days I literally start cooking around 12 or 1 until dinner time. And honestly there is no other way I would want to spend my days. Menu: I made Overnight French Toast, Eggs, Beans, & Homemade Tortillas. Our dinner was absolutely delicious! I got the Overnight French Toast recipe from The Magnolia Table! I will be posting many pictures and posts of recipes that I use from Joanna Gaines. *Add your own toppings to the Overnight French Toast! Like: powdered sugar, strawberry or apple filling, etc.* 5/31/18 - Thursday Morning: My sister loves making pancakes and we figured why not try Joanna's pancake recipe. We heard at the bookstore by all the workers and practically all the customers how much everyone loves her pancakes. That families came together on Mother's day weekend to prepare brunch for the family with her recipes. That the pancakes were a huge hit and they had to come back to Barnes & Noble to buy more cookbooks for the rest of women in their families, I'm not a huge pancake person. Maybe because I had them so often as a kid or maybe because when I have the option of French Toast or Pancakes. French Toast is always a winner. Yet this recipe gave Pancakes the upper hand. I loved these pancakes! They are simply perfect, and this is officially our new favorite pancake recipe! Happy National Culinary Arts Month! If you haven't already you really need to get her cookbook! Everything in it is amazing! I have been cooking/baking recipes out of there left and right! Highly recommend!
-Chef Kt Oslen Oreo Pudding Pie
Serves 6-8 people Enjoy!
Chef Kt Oslen Sunday night was pizza night! My mom & I wanted taco pizza while the rest of my family wanted regular pizza. And we weren't complaining more for us! This was my first try at making taco pizza & it turned out delicious! Another easy & fun recipe! Glad I bought ingredients to double the recipe! Which was great for lunch for the week!
I've realized within the last year how much I love food covered in barbecue sauce. The first time I tried ribs was last year in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida! We bought tickets to The Jungle Boat where we got a tour, dinner & show. The dinner was an endless buffet & they had BBQ Ribs. I didn't want them but my brother convinced me, and said he would finish the rest of I truly didn't like them. To be honest I never was a fan of barbecue which is why I thought I wouldn't like it. But I was hungry, and I gave it a go. Well, I loved them! They tasted absolutely amazing & I wanted more. I was upset because my brother hadn't convinced me to try them sooner. I've been missing out. Lately, I've been craving BBQ Ribs but didn't feel like paying for them from a restaurant. My mom said my Tia Anna has made them before in the crockpot. So I asked her what what steps she took & started prepping. Who knows we may have ribs again, before I leave for Kentucky this weekend. Enjoy!
1. Use cooking spray or a slow cooker liner (easier clean up) in your crockpot. 2. Season the ribs to your preference. I kept mine plain & simple for my first try. There are definitely many other ways to season them. It's up to you & your preference. I added salt & pepper over the ribs on both sides. 3. Place them in your crockpot & add some water at the bottom. This is so they won't dry out. 4. I let the ribs cook for about 2hrs. 5. Add the barbecue sauce & make sure that they are covered. 6. Let them cook for another 2-4hrs 7. Take them out & if you still feel like you need more barbecue sauce. You can spread more on them or leave a bottle at the table for dipping. 8. Cut them in sections for serving. 9. Finally, serve them with the scalloped potatoes. And... Bon Appetite! Serves 5 peopleLook forward to more recipes or pictures of culinary masterpieces! Love getting back to doing what I love! New Recipes this week! Check back again very soon! Chicken is a favorite in our household if we could eat everyday, we would. (And sometimes we do.) There are so many ways to eat chicken, you can season it up & bake it. You can even fry it or grill it. There are endless ways to make Chicken taste amazing! Which is why I am constantly looking for new recipes to incorporate chicken. Chicken Cordon Bleu is a favorite of my parents & I. The chicken, the ham or broccoli, and the cheese just taste great together. I've seen different recipes for it but none stood out to me. So I used them as guidance, and watched to see the steps to making them. Then I created my own little recipe. Honestly, It's simple & easy! Enjoy!
Chicken Cordon Bleu 1. Make sure the Chicken Breasts are thawed before using. Then season each chicken breast with salt, pepper, and paprika. 2. Place the Chicken Breast on cling wrap, and lay another piece of cling wrap on top. Then pound the chicken until it's about 1/2in thick or to your preference. 3. Take off the top cling wrap layer. Place two slices of ham & two slices of cheese on top of the chicken. Roll up the chicken & wrap it in cling wrap. Repeat this for as many chicken breast as you want. 4. Put them all in a pan, and refrigerate for about an hour to chill. 5. After it has chilled, spread the bread crumbs all over the chicken. Then cook it in the oven at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Scalloped Potatoes 1. While the chicken is chilling in the fridge, you can start working on the potatoes. 2. Follow the instructions on the boxes & cook for about 25-30min. Serves a family of 5-6 people
Tuesday night for dinner we had Chicken Fajita Tacos for the first time as a home cooked meal. This was my first time cooking it. Our family loves chicken so I have been searching for new ways to incorporate chicken into any and all of our meals. So finally I decided to give fajitas a try in our house even though peppers are not a huge fan in our house. If this is a similar problem in your house, still cook with the peppers. Just when you serve it for your family, only serve chicken to those who are not pepper fans. This is actually a very simple recipe & I wish I would have made more of this. My family ate it all up with absolutely nothing left. They actually wanted more but when I make new recipes, I tend to make just enough incase not everyone is a fan. I hope you or your family enjoy it as much as we did. Chicken Fajita Tacos
We served them on flour tortillas. You can either buy them at the store or make them homemade. Maybe I will share our family tortilla recipe in the future. We were able to make about ten tacos. This has became my current favorite dinner meal. Next time I will actually make my seasoning as well as make more, so we can have more than two tacos. I hope y'all enjoy it. Add your own extra toppings like sour cream, cheese, taco sauce, salsa, etc. Also you can use this recipe and turn it into quesadillas if you would like. If you want a specific recipe be sure to let me know in the comments, or contact me on my Welcome Page. Chef Katarina
Last night for dinner our family had: Broccoli Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Enjoy the following recipe
Alfredo Sauce: -In a small pot turn the stove top on low to medium. First add the butter to the pot and wait until all of the butter is melted. Then add the milk and water to the pot. Finally add the packets of alfredo sauce to the pan. Stir it until the alfredo sauce is smooth and creamy. Add some salt and pepper if you would like to add some flavor. Once the fettuccine noodles and alfredo sauce is done, mix them together. Then serve and top them off with broccoli and chicken. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do. Chef Katarina
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Chef KatarinaI am a chef in the making. I will be going to school soon for culinary arts. I will be posting my creations & my love for all things food here. Archives
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