Thursday, November 5, 2015

Pumpkin Biscuits with Spicy Honey Butter

Perfect Pairing: Soup

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Are you tired of pumpkin recipes yet?  Nah, of course not!!  That is a silly question.  If you like pumpkin recipes you really can’t get enough of them in the fall.

These biscuits are tasty on their own, but they are next level good when combined with spicy honey butter.  The pumpkin flavor is not overpowering, just a nice subtle background flavor.  It also makes them a lovely color!

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When I was in college I was lucky enough to go on an incentive trip with my parents to Maui.  My mom extended in Honolulu for some meetings with her team, so I was on my own with my dad and brother.  One of the nights we went to a generic BBQ restaurant in our hotel.  I don’t remember anything other than the cornbread and spicy honey butter.  It was so good.  

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That was many years ago and I still remember it fondly.  I recreated it and have used this simple butter recipe many times and it is great with cornbread, biscuits, toast, etc. 

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While spilling flour (purposefully) all over your counter and rolling out dough may seem annoying and not worth the work, it is actually pretty cathartic and enjoyable!  This 7-Up biscuit recipe requires flour on your counter, but no rolling pin.  Equally delish!

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These biscuits are perfect alongside a bowl of yummy soup on a cool fall day.  We had it with our favorite, Cheeseburger Soup

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Friday, October 23, 2015

Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

Perfect Pairing:  Candy corn topping

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Growing up we didn’t have store bought treats in the house.  When my brothers or I were offered a Little Debbie at a friend’s house, we were all over it.  

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What we did have at home were amazing homemade desserts every so often, and those most definitely trumped any Little Debbie treat.  One of my all-time favorites were Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcakes. 

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Oh gracious, are these fantastic.  My mom got the recipe from a cookbook created by a Sunday school class at our church, called the Circuit Rider’s Cookbook.  

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As a little background, a Circuit Rider was a Methodist minister that would ride on horseback from rural church to rural church to preach the good news. 

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Well if you know anything about church ladies, you know they can cook, so this little well-loved cookbook has some real gems in it.  You know you have a jackpot recipe when there are stains all over it!

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So what we have here are scrumptious from scratch chocolate cupcakes that are piped full of creamy deliciousness and then iced with chocolate fudge icing.  Little Debbie would be ashamed to stand next to them. 

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We always seem to make them in the fall and top them off with a candy corn. 

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They are a surefire family favorite!  

One year ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Sloppy Joe Dip




Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Roasted Vegetable Dip and Chicken Pizza

Perfect Pairing:  Golden Home Pizza Crust

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One of my all-time favorite recipes on my blog is this Roasted Vegetable Dip.  I have made it countless times. 


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A healthy mix of red peppers, red onion, eggplant, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings are roasted then processed with tomato paste and red pepper flakes.  It is ridiculously delicious and guilt-free. I have used it as a dip for crackers, vegetables, or as a spread on crostini or on a grilled cheese sandwich.  It is so versatile.


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My new favorite use is using it as a pizza sauce.  Start with a pre-baked pizza crust, top it with a generous spread of the Roasted Vegetable Dip, cooked chicken, red onion or shallot, cheese, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.  It is great as a main course or cut into smaller pieces for an appetizer.


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I just discovered these Golden Home Pizza Crusts.  They are super thin and crispy.  If you have a pizza stone, use it with these crusts.  The nutritional stats are pretty great too, especially when you compare it to Chicago deep dish pizza.  Egads.  I am not being sponsored in any way by this company, in fact, I have not been able to find them in my local store so I have to ask my mom to stock up for me at her grocery.


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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Simple Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Perfect Pairing: Seeded cucumbers (spoon method)

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If you are lucky enough to have a garden, or perhaps are just lucky to know someone with a garden who likes to share, you probably have a lot of cucumbers.  In honor of the last day of summer (waaaa!), here is a super simple cucumber salad.

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I made this all summer long to serve with anything off the grill, or alongside of my favorite Tomato Pie.  I always use fresh dill, but will throw in fresh basil and mint if I have access to it.

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Garden cucumbers often have a thick, sometimes bitter, skin and lots of seeds.  I like to peel the cucumber, slice it lengthwise and scrape out the seeds using a teaspoon.  If you are feeling motivated and have the time you can salt the cucumbers in a strainer for 30-45 minutes to drain off excess water before making the salad, but this is not necessary.

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Soak up the last day of summer!





Monday, September 14, 2015

Grilled Sweet Miso Salmon

Perfect Pairing:  Foil


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About a year ago I started noticing miso recipes all over the internets.  I knew I liked miso.  What is not to like about miso soup?  It is salty and savory and all sorts of umami.  My knowledge of miso pretty much ended there.  I made a special trip to Whole Foods to find miso.  I was too proud to ask where it was, so I had a great tour of the store.  I did not find it on the shelf with other Asian foods which is where I was SURE it was going to be.  I found random packets of miso soup mix.  I stood in front of those googling trying to figure out if that was, in fact, miso paste.  It was not.  During the search I saw something about the refrigerated section and headed there.  At my Whole Foods it was chilling with the tofu and cheese. 

So I found miso paste….. red miso, white miso, mellow white miso.  Eh?  I JUST WANT MISO PASTE.  I decided to go with white.  That seemed innocuous enough.  It was a big tub and I had no idea how I would ever make a dent in it.  Guess what folks?  I just bought my second large tub of miso paste.  This stuff is the NUTS!

The first thing I made with it was this simple Miso Coconut Chicken and Rice dish.  It was fabulous.  I started using it in salad dressings, and mixing it with a little cream cheese to spread on toast for breakfast.  I also combined miso with butter and sautĆ©ed fresh corn in it with a little lime juice.  This was based on a dish my brother told me he had at a local restaurant.  Amazing. 


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One of my favorite uses has been in this Grilled Sweet Miso Salmon.  Miso is mixed with brown sugar, mustard and rice vinegar and then basted on grilled salmon.  I grilled the salmon on foil so it is easy cleanup and dinner is ready in minutes.  


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I served it with these super simple grilled seasoned potatoes and brussels sprouts.

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Embrace the miso!




Thursday, August 20, 2015

Year Four in Review

What a year it has been!  Since my Year Three in Review post I got engaged and married, gained a cute new roommate, and pretty much had the most incredible year ever.  Admittedly, Perfecting the Pairing took a backseat to wedding planning and my husband, and the number of posts went way down.  I still love this little blog and love getting new recipes posted.  I am cooking all the time, now I just need to do the rest of it!

Thank you thank you thank you to all my readers and for all of the positive feedback, encouragement, and sweet comments.  I said it last year, and I will say it again, I truly appreciate every single view this site gets. 

Without further ado…

Top ten most viewed posts from year four


MY Perfect Pairing – There is no recipe here, but there is a really sweet story about my now husband surprising me with the most amazing proposal.  Ahh!  I love that man and I loved that proposal! 


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Impossibly Light Pineapple Whip – There are only three ingredients in this crazy delicious, healthy dessert.  It was the perfect sweet treat during my pre-wedding diet!  It is a dead ringer for the Dole Pineapple Whip from Disney World.


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Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole – All the flavor of pizza, none of the guilt.  This freezes well and is great to have on hand for a quick dinner. 


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#LamsInLove – Part 2 – Pretty much a recap of our wedding.  Again, no recipe…. Man, I was slacking!


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Sloppy Joe Dip – Not very pretty, but so so tasty.  I find that men tend to love this one.  Actually, everyone loves it.


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Menu Post #1, Huli Huli Chicken – Remember last year when I said my goal was to have a new section all about menus?  That was a cute idea.  I did it twice.  Ok, goal for year 5!  This menu was repeated again multiple times this summer.  It is a crowd pleaser every time!


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Wheat Berry Chicken Salad – If you have not tried Wheat Berries, you are missing out! 


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#LamsInLove – The Wedding Favor/Escort Card at our wedding was handmade Sriracha Salt and Citrus Pepper.  This post provides some recipes and tips on how to use it.  I think the Sriracha Salt was everyone’s favorite! 


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Apple Cider Sangria – This will be happening again in a couple months.  Perfect for autumn!


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Cheeseburger Soup – Comfort food to the max! 

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I can hardly believe I am kicking off year five!  #PairingForLife.  xoxo



Monday, August 10, 2015

Un-Recipe Files: Warm Mini Pesto Sandwiches

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One of my favorite summer traditions are TGIF dinner cruises.  On Friday evenings we will pull together an easy meal of sandwiches, veggies/chips with hummus/dip, Bing cherries, and an easy portable dessert.  Oh, and wine.  You must have wine on TGIF cruises!  All of this needs to be pulled together in time for sunset on the lake.  Add in some good cruising music from Joshua Radin, Amos Lee, Iron and Wine, or Norah Jones and you pretty much have perfection.  On a boat.


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We usually make these simple, but deceptively delicious, sandwiches.  Start with a small, soft roll.  We usually get them straight from the grocery store bakery.  Add your favorite deli meat, half a slice of cheese (provolone, cheddar, pepper jack, etc.).  Now for the special sauce.  Mix up a quick pesto aioli using equal parts of pesto (store-bought is fine) and mayo.  Wrap up the sandwiches in a square of foil and bake in a 300 degree oven until the cheese is melty. 


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