February 2014 - Alida's Kitchen

Easy Raspberry Cheesecake Crostini

February 24, 2014 ·

Easy Raspberry Cheesecake Crostini is a creamy, fruity snack (or appetizer) that is as tasty as it is simple to make.

Disclosure: I received free product and compensation for this post by Smucker’s® as part of the Mom it Forward Blogger Network. All opinions are my own.

This winter has been one of the snowiest I can remember. As if we didn’t already have enough snow, a few days ago, we were blessed with another 12 inches in less than 12 hours. By now, I am yearning for the abundance of fruits, vegetables and sunshine of summer. While we still have a several months to go, I am turning toward other ways to satisfy those summer cravings. Easy Raspberry Cheesecake Crostini unites traditional ingredients, such as light cream cheese and Smucker’s® Natural Fruit Spread, to create the perfect pairing to spread a little sunshine on top of mini toasts. These are great for a light lunch or an after school snack, yet they are pretty enough to make for company….

Filed Under: appetizers, bread, breakfast, giveaway, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes, vegetarian Tagged With: #MakeLifeFruitful

30 Healthy Greek Yogurt Recipes #AetnaMyHealthy | alidaskitchen.com

30 Healthy Recipes using Greek Yogurt #AetnaMyHealthy

February 20, 2014 ·

A collection of 30 Healthy Recipes using Greek Yogurt, plus healthy eating tips.

Recently, AETNA posed the question to me – ‘What’s your Healthy?’ While I share recipes ranging from healthy to splurges, I am actually a health and fitness fanatic. I am often running, at the gym, or chasing my kids. When not exercising (or baking up delicious desserts to share with you!), I am trying to figure out ways to make our every day foods healthier.

One of my favorite healthy food secret ingredients is Greek yogurt. It is high in protein and calcium, is delicious plain and also works great in lightening up recipes without sacrificing taste. From dips and pastas to smoothies and desserts, there are so many way recipes can be made healthier using Greek yogurt. Here I gathered some delicious recipes using Greek yogurt from my favorite food blogger friends….

Filed Under: Recipes, round-up

Mushroom Bolognese Kale Lasagna | alidaskitchen.com #SundaySupper

Mushroom Bolognese Kale Lasagna #SundaySupper

February 16, 2014 ·

Mushroom Bolognese Kale Lasagna is filled with layers of three cheeses, kale and a hearty mushroom Bolognese sauce, creating a rustic, earthy pasta dish perfect for a special occasion!

This week the Sunday Supper Movement is joining Gallo Family Vineyards to celebrate an incredible milestone. Their Hearty Burgundy wine is celebrating its 50^th birthday this year! Today we are sharing ways to pair, cook and entertain with Hearty Burgundy. For this celebration, I wanted to create something extra special. While the Hearty Burgundy pairs well with chili, Italian meat sauces and grilled sausages, I thought mushrooms would also pair beautifully with this flavorful wine.

The inspiration for Mushroom Bolognese Kale Lasagna started with a mushroom Bolognese sauce. It is a chunky sauce made with dried porcini and baby bella mushrooms, carrots, red peppers, red wine and rounded out with mascarpone cheese. The sauce is wonderful simply served over pasta, but I wanted use it to create something fit for a special celebration. Something special, like Mushroom Bolognese Kale Lasagna! This lasagna is filled with layers of ricotta and Parmesan cheeses mixed with kale, mozzarella and the rustic, earthy mushroom Bolognese. A little extra work goes into making this dish, but it is a labor of love and a delightful way to celebrate the Hearty Burgundy….

Filed Under: healthy, main dishes, Recipes, vegetarian Tagged With: cheese, dinner, entertaining, holiday, kale, lasagna, make ahead, mushroom, pasta, sundaysupper

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes

February 10, 2014 ·

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes are a hearty oatmeal buttermilk pancake studded with chocolate chips!

Every Valentine’s Day, I like to make something special for my family, whether it’s a breakfast treat or a special dessert. These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes combine the two – they taste like a chewy, oatmeal chocolate chip cookie in pancake form. This recipe is adapted from my Oatmeal Raisin Pancake recipe, so they are a bit healthier, with a little decadence from the chocolate chips. For the ultimate indulgence, I used Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips (60% Cacao). The smooth, rich bites of chocolate studded throughout the oatmeal buttermilk pancakes really made them delicious! In fact, I used these same baking chips in my Chocolate Malt Bread Pudding recipe, and they really add such a deep, wonderful chocolate flavor. …

Filed Under: breakfast, kid-friendly, Recipes, vegetarian Tagged With: #BakeWithGhirardelli, brunch, buttermilk, chocolate, easy, ghirardelli, oats, pancakes

Chocolate Malt Bread Pudding for Two | alidaskitchen.com

Chocolate Malt Bread Pudding #SundaySupper

February 9, 2014 ·

Chocolate Malt Bread Pudding is studded with chopped Whoppers candies, chocolate chips, drizzled with chocolate syrup and drenched in a light custard. This fun dessert for two takes minutes to mix together and then bakes for about 30 minutes.

One of Mike’s favorite treats are Triple Chocolate Malted Cookies. He also loves Whoppers candies. Actually, he is pretty much crazy for anything chocolate malt, so I thought it would be fun to make a special dessert with this favorite in mind. I wanted to make a dessert for two, and Chocolate Malt Bread Pudding jumped to the top of the list…for obvious reasons….

Filed Under: dessert, Recipes Tagged With: candy, chocolate, cream cheese, easy, holiday, make ahead, malt, quick, valentine's

Chipotle Quinoa Chili | alidaskitchen.com

Chipotle Quinoa Chili #WeekdaySupper

February 6, 2014 ·

Chipotle Quinoa Chili is packed with heart-healthy proteins from quinoa and beans, and a smokiness from the chipotle chiles. Made in 30 minutes, perfect for a weekday supper! {vegan, gluten free}

This winter has been exceptionally cold and snowy, with weather extremes everywhere it seems. For me, nothing combats these winter chills quite like a tasty bowl of chili. This Chipotle Quinoa Chili is healthy comfort food that will warm you up from the inside out. There is a little heat from some green chiles, a subtle smokiness from the chipotle chiles and all around goodness from the protein-packed beans and quinoa. I had never had quinoa in chili until this recipe, and it is a delicious addition! Quinoa adds a wonderful texture, adds some protein and fiber, and makes the chili seem especially hearty….

Filed Under: gluten free, healthy, main dishes, Recipes, soup, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: black beans, chili, dinner, easy, quick, quinoa, spicy, vegan, vegetable

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna Cups | alidaskitchen.com

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna Cups #SundaySupper

February 2, 2014 ·

After making the Spinach Lasagna Cups recipe for last Sunday, I had another tasty idea pop into my head that I had to make right away – Buffalo Chicken Lasagna Cups. I don’t typically like to share similar recipes back-to-back, but these were so good, they simply could not wait.

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna Cups are made with layers of cheese, veggies, spicy, buffalo-sauce soaked shredded chicken and more cheese. In other words, they combine some of the most delicious game day foods (or any day foods, duh!) into a wonderful, bite-sized lasagna. The concept is the same as the Spinach Lasagna Cups, with lasagna-style layering, using wonton wrappers in place of noodles. They are quick and easy to make, and bake up in a snap!…