Manila Spoon

Jan 15, 2014

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Chicken and bacon, you simply can't go wrong with this delicious combination! But how about adding spinach and ricotta cheese to the mix? Even better, I'd say and this dish has it all! Stuffed with a delicious spinach and ricotta filling and then wrapped in bacon for extra flavor, these perfectly baked, moist and succulent chicken breasts are simply mouth-wateringly good! Are you hungry yet?

Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Juicy berries, crunchy walnuts plus yummy cream cheese and warmed up maple syrup make this a fantastic breakfast or brunch dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day!

It is an established fact that my family loves French Toast (or eggy bread as my British hubby would say) for breakfast and especially for brunch. I have a few versions of it including 3 in this blog! We surely cannot get enough of it. I have tried many variations of this delicious American-style stuffed French toast but the blueberry version is one of our favorites. It is just so wonderful to bite into this warm overnight-soaked baked bread and then into your mouth suddenly burst delicious juices from the berries! But that's not all - the almost melted cream cheese provides a delightful contrast of texture and flavor which makes your palate truly dance with joy! As if that's not enough, make it even better by drizzling your freshly baked french toast with warmed up pure Maple syrup and then help yourself with a generous dusting of powdered sugar on top to add extra sweetness and love! Aren't you hungry yet?

Meatballs and Mushroom Soup

Well, with the Polar Vortex descending on the Midwest this week and causing record high temps, I thought it fitting to make a recipe that will help fight the arctic cold and keep all of us warm. While the weather may get warmer in the next few days, sadly, we are still very much in the midst of winter and truly need something deliciously comforting to help us fight the winter blues! This soup did it for us.

Gluten-free Waffles

My family loves breakfast! We consider it one of the most important meals of the day. While we often don't have the luxury of having a hot and prepared breakfast everyday, on weekends I make it a point to make something that my kids love and the whole family enjoys. While pancakes are a great favorite, my kids last year began clamoring for some waffles. I told them I had to find some waffle maker first. Off we went to the thrift store - I didn't want to immediately buy a new one until I actually knew how to make a waffle. I have been wanting to buy this all-clad gorgeous Belgian waffle makers but oh-boy they are way to expensive and beyond my budget even when they are on sale so I thought, I'll have to check out the second hand store first. Thankfully, we found one that looks like new and hardly used if at all - though I must say, beside it was a gross-looking waffle maker that looks like it was never ever cleaned properly as grease and stain was all over it. I wondered why they were selling that one. We passed on that and quickly grabbed the unused and almost brand-new looking one. We came at the right time!