Caesar Brussels Sprouts

My side dishes tend to be really supporting characters rather than the blog-worthy item. Until now! I saw a recipe for caesar green beans and thought it would be even better for brussels spouts since the leaves would hold the sauce so well.
The Three Bite Rule - Caesar Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

2 cups brussels sprouts, shredded
1 tbs butter
1/4 cup creamy Caesar dressing
1 tsp grated Parmesan

Directions:

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter while chopping the brussels sprouts.
Sear the brussels spouts to gently brown, stirring well. Cook for 2-3 minutes over medium.
Add in the caesar dressing reducing the heat to low.
The Three Bite Rule - Caesar Brussels Sprouts
Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
The Three Bite Rule - Caesar Brussels Sprouts
Sprinkle with Parmesan then serve & enjoy!
The Three Bite Rule - Caesar Brussels Sprouts
These were really addictive. We served them with some marinated grilled chicken.

Brie & Cranberry Burger

We had some super warm days here in New England which seemed like perfect timing for a burger. This burger had dried cranberries mixed into it, brie on top, and a lemon-y aoli. Jazzing up the aoli or ketchup definitely makes a burger feel more special. Lemon pepper aoli spread is so easy and I used some leftovers for egg salad.

The Three Bite Rule - Burger with Brie & Cranberries

Ingredients:

ground beef/turkey/chicken/pork
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 tsp garlic, minced
brie cheese
2 tbs mayo
1 tsp lemon juice
ground pepper
hamburger rolls

Directions:

Mix together the ground meat, cranberries, garlic, and salt & pepper.
The Three Bite Rule - Burger with Brie & Cranberries
Then form into patties and grill until cooked through.
The Three Bite Rule - Burger with Brie & Cranberries
Mix together the mayo, lemon juice, and pepper.
When the burgers are mostly cooked, top with brie until melted.
The Three Bite Rule - Burger with Brie & Cranberries
Serve with some dijon mustard and lemon/pepper aoli.

These were great. I liked the chewy and tartness the cranberries added with the creamy brie. So good. The zing of the aoli kept it from being too rich. These were good burgers and seemingly appropriate for winter burgers!

Puff Pastry Cups with Spinach & Eggs

I’m on a bfast quest for some weekly fun not sweet breakfasts. I used my all-time-fav freezer ingredient: creamed spinach! These breakfast cups are so flavorful, full of texture, and couldn’t be easier. Easy like 3 ingredients easy. Puff pastry, eggs, frozen creamed spinach. Easy peasy!

The Three Bite Rule - Puff Pastry Cups with Eggs and Spinach

Ingredients:

1 sheet of frozen puff pastry
1 package creamed spinach
3 eggs

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375-degrees.
Scramble eggs until cooked through, but not over cooked.
The Three Bite Rule - Puff Pastry Cups with Eggs and Spinach
Warm the creamed spinach according to the package.
Roll the puff pastry out until even. Cut into 6 squares. Lay each square into a muffin tin.
The Three Bite Rule - Puff Pastry Cups with Eggs and Spinach
Divide the egg into each cup, and spoon the spinach on top.
The Three Bite Rule - Puff Pastry Cups with Eggs and Spinach
Pinch together opposite corners.
The Three Bite Rule - Puff Pastry Cups with Eggs and Spinach
Bake for 15-20 minutes until puffed up and golden brown.
The Three Bite Rule - Puff Pastry Cups with Eggs and Spinach
Enjoy!

I was making them in advance so I took them out of the oven on the earlier side. I toasted them in the toaster oven for breakfast time. I loooved these guys. How cute are they? The creamed spinach was so perfect in these functioning as sauce. The puff pastry is crispy and buttery.

Lentils with Carrots, Spinach Topped with Chicken Sausage

I had never cooked lentils before but this was the perfect dinner for winter-y comfort, a balanced dinner, and for speed! The lentils were so fast in the pressure cooker, or would be an easy one to prep the night before and the chicken sausage was fully cooked so they just needed a quick sear. Voila!

The Three Bite Rule - Lentils with Carrots & Spinach topped with Chicken Sausage

Ingredients:

8 oz lentils
2 cups water (I used half water, half chicken stock)
2 cloves garlic
salt & pepper (I used Krazy Pepper)
3 carrots
2 small potatoes
2 cups fresh spinach
chicken sausage

Directions:

Chop the potatoes, carrots, and garlic. Add to a pressure cooker with the lentils, water, salt & pepper. (See below for stovetop directions)
Cook according to your machine. Mine cooked for 10 minutes.
Bring a skillet to medium heat and sear the sausage in a drizzle of olive oil.
When the lentils are cooked and tender to the bite, stir well. Add in a splash more water if most of the moisture has evaporated.
The Three Bite Rule - Lentils with Carrots & Spinach topped with Chicken Sausage
Add in the spinach and stir again just until it wilts from the heat.
Serve a scoop of the lentil & veggies onto the plate.
The Three Bite Rule - Lentils with Carrots & Spinach topped with Chicken Sausage
Slice the sausage and serve over the top.
The Three Bite Rule - Lentils with Carrots & Spinach topped with Chicken Sausage
For stovetop lentils:
Bring lentils & water to a boil in a heavy pot. Then reduce the heat to medium low for 20-30 minutes. Here’s a good lentil tutorial.

This hit the spot. It was so fast and was such a great side dish that got to be the star of the plate! The little one enjoyed the lentils and I have another stash for a rainy day. It made plenty for 2 of us to have for dinner, Mr. J to take for lunch, and for the little guy to have some the next night for dinner…so 4 servings.

Lentils are speedy in the pressure cooker but since they reheat well, if you’re making them on the stove: put the pot on the night before and store them in the fridge once they’ve cooked. Then you just warm them and add the spinach before serving. They don’t need a ton of stirring or babysitting so you can catch up on The Bachelor, or whatever you do before bed.

January 2016 Recap

It is official. I have a 1-year old. I think it went by sooo fast. Mr. J feels like since the little one has changed so much that it seems about right. T is so funny right now. He LOVED the cake…mashing it, eating it, and having frosting hands. The Little Man Party was fun and he’s one lucky guy. WE are a lucky family.

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January is off to a good start. I’ve used the pasta attachment 2x and the pressure cooker at least 2x…maybe 3? I love that thing. Dinner has to be super fast, or prepped in advance. That’s the only way it can happen after getting home from work, the little one wanting to eat ASAP, tub time, and bedtime. For now, the babe eats with me and then sits with us while we eat for a few minutes….that point of his patience is low. He’s onto drinking whole milk and pretty soon we’ll be off bottles. Woohoo!

This super quick Greek Flatbread with hummus, chicken sausage, feta, and arugula was one of my favorite things this month. It would work well as a wrap too, depending on your preference!
The Three Bite Rule - Greek Hummus Flatbreads
I’ve been on this bfast quest for weekday savory breakfasts. I had hoped to sneak one more in this week, but alas, I had a cold this weekend and didn’t cook a ton. These breakfast bowls have cracked wheat, bacon, egg, and everything-bagel seasoning. So fun! You could use rice, beans, lentils, barley, oatmeal? or whatever strikes your fancy.
The Three Bite Rule - Breakfast Bowls
My other fav this month was a Mexican-inspired BLT with a smear of refried beans and taco-spiced aioli. Sooo good. I served these guys with Mexican Street Corn that I made in the morning before work. Then I used the leftover beans to make bean & cheese quesadillas for the little one. He loved them!
The Three Bite Rule - Mexican BLTs

I’ll keep the savory breakfast going…I have a few more ideas I didn’t get to yet! 

2016 Goals:
The Year of the: Seasonal Decor I got the birthday string, thank you Target Dollar Section! and this awesome tree…so perfect for some “winter” decor versus Christmas.
do something a different way: ehh. I’m not sure where I was going with this, but switching the little one to a big-guy carseat and to milk means we definitely aren’t stuck in old ways of doing things!
drink more water: I’m tracking it, which at least makes me aware, and I’m making sure to get 10 oz in before coffee. #winning
make more interesting side dishes: yes! This risotto was so great!
cook more soups & sauces: I made broccoli & cheddar soup while it was snowing…that seemed appropriate.
watch more movies: we went to the movies 200% more than the last few months! I saw Mocking Jay and Spotlight in the theatres. We watched Foxcatcher, Inside Out, and 22 Jump Street, at home too.
make working out a higher priority: ehh. Not succeeding here but I got all into some fitbit daily challenges which got me moving a bit more.