Favorite Recipes || Fresh Cod with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Hi friends! I wanted to share a new recipe that I tried last night for dinner and it was SO delicious.  Cod is one of my favorite types of seafood and even Olivia likes it so it's a win! This recipe could not be easier and its a great, healthy (ok without the cream) meal that tastes like it came directly from a restaurant. 

Here's what you'll need:

Fresh cod (enough for your family)

12 oz. jar of roasted red peppers, drained

1 garlic clove

Basil (I used frozen cubes)

1 1/4 cups of cream or half & half

Zucchini

Two carrots

1/2 red onion

Fresh parsley

Salt + pepper

I used my Dutch oven, but anything oven safe would work. 

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut veggies into matchstick pieces and set aside.

2.  Roughly chop roasted red peppers and sauté with garlic, basil and olive oil until warmed through.  Puree the mixture and return to the Dutch oven.  Add cream and veggies and stir together.  Layer the cod over the mixture and put in the oven.

3.  Cook at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until fish is flaky and cooked through.

I served ours over jasmine rice and it would certainly work over pasta or egg noodles.  Even alone with some crusty bread...so yummy!  

What are some of your favorite fish recipes?  I love to try new ones! 

Yummy Thanksgiving Sides

I looooove Thanksgiving!  I can't wait for all of the yummy food, and of course seeing our family.  Thanksgiving has always been at my parent's house and we gather together with all of our cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends.  As the family is growing, it's been so much easier to serve everything buffet style.  There's turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, creamed onions,  cranberry sauce, green bean casserole...so many yummy dishes!! (I almost just drooled #preggoproblems)  Last year, I made green bean casserole and used this recipe for fresh cranberry sauce.  This year I've been looking for something equally yummy and I'll pass off the green bean casserole for my sister to make.

{Photo via: Damn Delicious}

This slow cooker creamed corn sounds SO good!  I love that it can be made in the slow cooker then transferred to Thanksgiving dinner.  It's gotten great reviews and let's face it, anything from Damn Delicious is, well, delicious!

{Photo via: The Local Vegan}

I'm also going to make these brussel sprouts with cranberries, pecans, and balsamic drizzle.  I've made a version in the past, but adding the balsamic drizzle will undoubtedly make this a delicious side.  Also, perfect to take as a side dish because you'll be roasting them at home...leaving the brussel sprout aroma there when you leave instead of at your host's house ;)

What are some of your favorite sides?!  I would love for you to share!

P.S. - Check back on Tuesday for a fun giveaway!!

Some of Our Favorite Quick Recipes

Hi! I love reading about food (who doesn't?!)...whether it's recipes, meal planning, or other families go-to meals.  Today I wanted to share some of our favorite quick meals that can be prepared the night before, in the slow cooker or prepared quickly after a busy day. Some are my own and others I've used from my Pinterest - where I have 4928375 recipes pinned ready to go;).  Here's to giving you some yummy ideas! All recipes are linked below. 

Breakfast:

Easy Banana Streusel Muffins

Cream Cheese Filled Banana Bread

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Scones

Overnight Oats

Snacks: 

Garden Fresh Salsa 

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Coconut Oil Kettle Popcorn

Three-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Dinner: 

Amazing Lemon Butter Chicken

Slow Cooker Tikka Masala

Cast Iron Skillet BBQ Chicken Pizza

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Tom Kha Gai Soup

Creamy Meatball Casserole

Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Bowls

Burrito Bowls

Roasted Salmon Salad over Steamed Green Beans

Ok, now I'm hungry! I really enjoy cooking and trying new things, so please feel free to share your favorites in the comments as well! For more recipes, follow along with my Instagram [@thebirdsnestblog] as I share them frequently! Have a great weekend! XO 

Cast Iron Skillet BBQ Chicken Pizza || Recipe

Hello friends!  I wanted to share the recipe that I used for our homemade pizza we had this weekend. It was amazing!  Using a cast iron skillet created a super crispy crust on the bottom, while leaving airy dough on top = highly recommend! This recipe is also very quick and easy, perfect for a weeknight or to throw together during a busy weekend.

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough (I used fresh from the grocery store)
Honey BBQ sauce
Sliced cooked chicken
Red onion
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Fresh Cilantro

- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place cast iron skillet in oven to heat up until oven is preheated. (If you're using a baking sheet or pizza pan, I'd do the same to ensure a crispy crust)
- Roll out pizza dough and shape into skillet, slightly forming up the sides.
- Cook dough for 10 minutes
- After dough has cooked for 10 minutes, remove from oven and spread dough with bbq sauce (I loved the slight sweetness of honey BBQ in contrast to the red onions)
- Layer with cheddar cheese,  sliced chicken, and red onion.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Sprinkle with fresh cilantro & enjoy!

Next time, I may try caramelized onions and chopped bacon as different toppings.  If you're not a huge cilantro fan, try fresh parsley.  It was so good and so quick...Olivia loved it as well! I'd love to hear if you try it!

Spiralized Greek Salad || Recipe

Have you all felt the healthy eating itch lately?  After indulging in a good share of Christmas cookies, cakes, and chocolates I'm currently craving healthier foods.  Now, as a side note, I did text my sister this exact message last night: "Everyone is like lets get in shape! I'm over here like that chocolate Santa was goooood!" So lets be honest...it's all about moderation ;)

That being said, this salad was so fresh and so easy to make that I had to share it with you!  If you don't have a spiralizer (thanks Mom!) you can use a julienne peeler to create similar, but straight ribbons of cucumber.  Spiralizing the cucumbers made the salad so fun to eat!

SPIRALIZED GREEK SALAD 

Ingredients: 

Cucumber

Tomatoes

Red Onion

Feta Cheese

Kalamata Olives

Olive Oil 

Red Wine Vinegar

Lemon

Oregano 

Thyme

Salt & Pepper

Spiralize the cucumbers and dress with olive oil, vinegar,  oregano, thyme, salt and pepper.  

Top with your favorite Greek salad toppings.  My favorites are tomatoes, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and red onions.  Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon. I served mine with lemon-thyme chicken.  

Enjoy! 

Sunday Supper || Creamy Meatball Casserole

After a busy day, it's always nice to have an easy dinner recipe that can be thrown together quickly and tastes delicious.  I adapted this recipe from different recipes on Pinterest and it was so good!  I used homemade meatballs and sauce, but you can certainly use frozen meatballs and jarred sauce to save even more time!

Ingredients:

1 loaf of crusty bread cut into cubes(I used Italian)

1 lb (or more) of cooked meatballs

1 jar, or about 4 cups of homemade sauce

1 block of cream cheese

1/2 cup of mayonnaise

1/2 cup of Greek yogurt

2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

1 tsp. of Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together the cream cheese, yogurt, mayo and about 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.  Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and set to the side.  Place bread cubes in the bottom of a casserole dish and place in the oven to toast slightly for a few minutes.  After bread cubes have toasted, spread the cream cheese mixture over the bread and then layer with meatballs.  Spread sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with shredded cheese.  Cook for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly. 

Easy, right?  I served mine with a green salad.  It was a quick and easy recipe that my whole family loved.  Here is how I make my meatballs, if you'd like to try with homemade meatballs:

1 lb. of ground beef (I use certified Angus)

1 egg

1 slice of bread soaked in milk

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Fresh parsley

Parmesan cheese

Salt & Pepper

Mix together milk soaked bread (squeeze excess milk out if needed), bread crumbs, salt, pepper, cheese.  Add egg and ground beef, mix together until all ingredients are incorporated.  Add fresh chopped parsley.  Form meat mixture into small meatballs - I use a mini cookie scoop for even sizes. Bake at 350 for about 35-45 minutes depending on size, or until golden brown and cooked through.  

I hope you enjoy this recipe!  Let me know if you try it! 

**Don't forget to enter the current giveaway to BYOImagination going on here: Wooden Toy Giveaway!

Sunday Supper || Delicious & Easy Tom Kha Gai Soup

You guys, this is the most delicious and easiest soup ever! I have a serious love affair with Tom Kha Gai (Thai coconut soup), like serious.  I've been dying to make it at home and my husband hates soup.  With a passion.  The other night, he had gone to work so I whipped this up and it was delicious!  My sister came over and both babies devoured it as well.  Definitely a keeper!  I strayed from the authentic way slightly to make it a little more hearty and the result was seriously yummy.

Ingredients:

1 carton of Swanson Thai Infused Broth
1 carton of low sodium chicken stock (I always use organic)
2 cans of coconut milk (not light style)
1-2 cups of carrots (cut matchstick style)
Carton of mushrooms
Shredded chicken
1 package of Ramen noodles (noodles only, not season packet)
Lime wedges

Directions:
- Combine the Thai broth and chicken stock and heat over medium high heat.
- Add carrots and mushrooms
- Cook until carrots have softened, add shredded chicken and Ramen noodles. (I broke the noodles up slightly)
- Add two cans of coconut milk and stir until combined.
- Heat through until warm and bubbly

Serve with lime wedges.   The squirt of lime really brightens it up!

Easy, right?!  If you prefer not to use the Thai broth, you can use vegetable broth or chicken stock and add your own Thai ingredients (lemongrass, lime, ginger, etc) You could also throw this in the crockpot on low for a few hours, adding the mushrooms and coconut milk towards the last half hour or so. It is so good! Let me know if you try it!

Have a wonderful Sunday.