Smoky Cornbread Chex Mix

Snacks snacks snacks! October for Mr. J’s year of snacks/treats was themed: “homemade.” I tweaked a Chex Mix recipe to play more on the cornbread-smoke flavors rather than how muddy-buddy/powder-y the original recipe was. I added potato sticks, almonds, and corn chips.

The Three Bite Rule - Smokey Cornbread Chex Mix

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons corn syrup
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons liquid smoke
4 cups Chex cereal (I used Rice Chex)
1 cup almonds
1 package potato sticks
~1 cup cornbread mix
1 cup corn chips

Directions:

Melt the butter and stir in corn syrup, sugar, and liquid smoke.
The Three Bite Rule - Smokey Cornbread Chex Mix

Mix together the cereal, almonds, and potato sticks.
The Three Bite Rule - Smokey Cornbread Chex Mix
Stir the sugary sauce into the cereal then add in the cornbread mix and the chips.
The Three Bite Rule - Smokey Cornbread Chex Mix
Pour onto wax paper to cool/dry for at least 20 minutes.
Enjoy!

This one was subtly addictive. I liked the smokiness and the chips are the perfect salty touch. It got a bit soggy a few days later so I’m not sure how to change that. Eat quickly! Next month’s theme is chewy!

Broccoli & Cheddar Risotto

Some of the most delicious things are not photogenic. This broccoli & cheddar risotto was so good but totally looks like rice-a-roni or something. I have looooved the pressure cooker and it is so great for risotto. It simmers opened for 4 minutes, then cooks for 6 minutes. Add a few minutes for getting to pressure and releasing the pressure. Done! Or, you could always make rice chop up some broccoli and add some cheese. Whatever works for you!

The Three Bite Rule - Broccoli & Cheddar Risotto

Ingredients:

1 cup arborio rice
1/2 white onion
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
3/4 cup water or white wine
salt & pepper
2 cups broccoli florets
2 cups shredded cheddar

Directions:

Cook the risotto in a pot or in a pressure cooker, as you normally would: (Here’s my method via pressure cooker) or (Here’s my method in a pot).
I added in the broccoli to cook with the rice.
The Three Bite Rule - Broccoli & Cheddar Risotto
While is it hot, stir in the cheese.
The Three Bite Rule - Broccoli & Cheddar Risotto
Enjoy!

At first I was disappointed the broccoli came apart, but then it was pretty great for a very evenly creamy bite. The texture was in the rice, and it was so unbelievably creamy. The little one was into it and it is still pretty addicting as leftovers!

The Three Bite Rule - Broccoli & Cheddar Risotto

Fall Flavors Burger with Pork, Pear, & Sage

This fall burger is so fun with diced pear & sage in a ground pork burger. I thought about a grilled cheese with pear and sage and then I decided to make it in to a burger and figured pork would be perfect. It was so perfect for a fall evening.

The Three Bite Rule - Fall Pork Burger with Pear & Sage

Ingredients:

1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pear
5-6 sage leaves
ground black pepper & salt

Directions:

Mix together the pork, pear, and sage.
The Three Bite Rule - Fall Pork Burger with Pear & Sage
Form into patties and grill or pan-sear.
The Three Bite Rule - Fall Pork Burger with Pear & Sage
Be sure took cook through. Then top with lettuce, mustard, mayo, and lettuce.
The Three Bite Rule - Fall Pork Burger with Pear & Sage
Enjoy!

I wanted to be sure not to over do it on the sage. It is a strong flavor to me. I loved the raw pear that cooks slightly for a softness. I liked this one and might still make the grilled cheese version too!

 

BBQ Chicken Pizza Transformed

BBQ Chicken Pizza isn’t new or different BUT barbecue sauce in the tomato sauce woke this up! It was so flavorful with a sense of mystery. Where’s all that smokey sweetness coming from? Boom! I’ve made barbecue chicken pizza before but this new one is better!

The Three Bite Rule - BBQ Chicken Pizza Transformed

Ingredients:

pizza dough
2 chicken thighs
1 cup tomato sauce
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar
1/4 red onion

Directions:

Preheat the oven (and pizza stone, if using one) to 400-degrees and grill the chicken.
Roll out the dough and stretch it onto the pizza stone (or pan sprayed with non-stick spray) and slice a few slits to prevent bubbles. Bake for 15-minutes until lightly browned.
Warm tomato sauce with most of the BBQ sauce, reserving about 3 tablespoons for the topping. Stir well.
The Three Bite Rule - BBQ Chicken Pizza Transformed
Over medium heat, saute red onion for about 3 minutes to soften slightly but maintain a slight crunch.
Spoon the sauce onto the dough and top with shredded cheese.
The Three Bite Rule - BBQ Chicken Pizza Transformed
Slice the chicken and add on top of the pizza with the onion.
The Three Bite Rule - BBQ Chicken Pizza Transformed
Bake for 5-10 minutes to melt the cheese and finish crisping the crust.
Swirl the remaining BBQ sauce over the top.
The Three Bite Rule - BBQ Chicken Pizza Transformed
Slice and enjoy!

It is definitely a sweet one from the BBQ sauce but with a nice smokey flavor from the sauce and the grilled chicken. I especially like these flavors as prime grilling season sort of wraps up. Plus the leftovers are so good.

The Three Bite Rule - BBQ Chicken Pizza Transformed

September 2016 Recap

It’s the most wonderful time, of the year… I truly love fall and the minute it wasn’t hot and humid anymore I was so happy. We all were. My fam does not like to be hot. One day I changed the babe into shorts and out of socks & sneakers and he was so much happier! Yeah, maybe we were all just hot. Phew! I’m rejuvenated to cook again! I love the crisp in the air.

September was busy. We had a weekend in Maine to see some family and a long weekend away for our 5th anniversary to Rockland & Camden Maine. It was so wonderful and getting away was JUST what we needed.

My fav dish I cooked this month was definitely the Pad Thai. I can’t get over how easy it was! I’m glad to know those flavors can be mixed up so quickly!
Shrimp Pad Thai - The Three Bite Rule

Also, it is so stinking easy, but the Dunkaroo Dip was just so fun. Sprinkles! Funfetti! Yay!
Dunkaroo Dip - The Three Bite Rule
Ooo yes. Let’s talk about the Chicken Marsala Pizza. I loved this on the pizza and don’t think it at all trashed up what should be a nicer dish. Make all the expected flavors in unexpected platforms. Now I want Chicken Marsala Risotto or maybe a Croque Monsieur flatbread. Wait for it!!!
The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Marsala Pizza
September was a really good month in the kitchen for me! I also was proud of the Tailgater Burger because who doesn’t need Cheetos dust in their life?

The Little One: 
He’s such a little person now. He has a lot of thoughts, though admittedly, sometimes we cannot tell what he’s saying. I think he gets the concepts of “more” versus “all done”. He’s funny with identifying whose items are whose around the house and I was shocked that he knew where different pieces of his laundry belonged. The words are totally flowing and it cracks us up. My fav recent one is horse: “harsss”. He had a fun weekend while Mr. J and I went away. The day we were coming back, I couldn’t wait to see him.

This Year’s Goals: 
The Year of the: Seasonal Decor: I’m falling behind on the decor but I’ve got this for Halloween.
do something a different way: I’m doing “chores” during the week instead of having to do them on the weekends. Laundry & bathroom cleaning seems better suited for a nothing-special-Tuesday rather than hitting my radar on Saturdays!
drink more water: ehh, I’m on it. I feel like I drink less when it isn’t hot!
make more interesting side dishes: maybe simple is still good? The babe loved orzo with a herby grilled chicken
cook more soups & sauces: I made Chicken Marsala Pizza which involved a sauce
watch more movies: Joy & The Revenant…quite diverse!
make working out a higher priority: I’ve kept running a bit and morning workouts have definitely become a habit.