Coffee Garlic Chicken

Roasting a chicken is one of my go-to meals every week.  They are super easy to prepare and makes enough leftovers for lunch the next day.  I came across this recipe in a 5 Ingredient Cookbook that I checked out from the library.  Not sure if this is known, but I LOVE coffee!!!  So, when I can flavor something with coffee I know it is going to be delicious.  This was so yummy!   

Coffee Garlic Chicken

1 whole chicken

1 T. grapeseed oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 t. dark roast ground coffee

salt/pepper

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  Mix oil, garlic, coffee grounds.  Rub over chicken.  Bake at 350º for 1 hour 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  Enjoy!

Pepper-Sausage Burgers and Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potato Fries

My husband was out of town when I made this meal, so I invited my good friend over to test out my new recipes.  (I like having people over who are willing to try out new recipes!  Thanks Tracee!)  Both were so very tasty!  I just love how easy burgers are to make and this recipe is no exception.  My friend, Emily, suggested I try the bacon-wrapped sweet potato fries (The Foodee Project) and I am so glad she did!  They were so good and the sauce was the perfect amount of spice to go along with the fries.  I used a different pepper than the recipe called for and I am sure it tasted just as delicious the original.  I would have to say this dinner was a success (hoping Tracee felt the same). 

Pepper-Sausage Burgers
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 pound Italian Sausage
10 1" pieces bottled roasted red sweet peppers
salt/pepper
Mix beef and sausage in bowl.  Shape into 10 patties.  Place peppers onto 5 of the patties.  Top each patty with another of the remaining 5 patties.  Press edges gently to seal.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Grill over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until desired doneness.  Enjoy!


Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potato Fries with Serrano-Lime Dip
2 sweet potatoes, cut into thick matchsticks
1 package bacon, not thick cut
1/2 c. olive oil mayo
2 serrano peppers (I used canned peppers)
1 lime, juiced
Preheat oven to 425º.  Soak sweet potato matchsticks in a bowl of cold water for up to 6 hours.  This removes a lot of the starch from the potato.  Drain water from the potatoes and pat dry.  Slice each piece of bacon in half, lengthwise.  Wrap 1 strip of bacon around 1 matchstick sweet potato.  Lay on a baking sheet.  Repeat until all bacon is gone.  If you have leftover sweet potatoes, toss them on the same pan, too.  Bake fries for about 25 minutes on one side.  Use tongs to flip fries over and bake for another 10 minutes, or until bacon is browned.


For the dip
In food processor, pulse up serranos and lime juice into the mayo until peppers are all chopped up and mix is smooth.   


Serve hot with dip.

Chocolate-covered Bacon

I have been wanting to try chocolate-covered bacon for some time now.  I was invited to a Super Bowl party and needed to bring a sweet treat.  I figured this was my perfect opportunity.  My daughter ended up getting sick, so we weren't able to go.  :(  The bright side of that situation was that my husband and I got to eat all of the bacon ourselves (and no, we didn't eat it all in one night :)).  It was sooo good!  

Chocolate-covered Bacon
1 package bacon, sliced in half
1/2 bag of Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips 
Preheat oven to 400º.  Cover baking sheet with foil.  Lay bacon down on foil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until browned.  Allow to cool on paper towel - gives it time to get crispy.  Warm chocolate chips in small bowl in microwave for about 2 minutes or until melted.  Spoon chocolate onto bacon.  Place chocolate-covered bacon on parchment paper.  Allow to cool in refrigerator. Enjoy!  

Apple sandwiches

One night while I was at the gym, Dean decided to make an apple a little more exciting for the girls.  He cored it, sliced it and called it an "apple donut."  The girls loved that it was called a donut!  I decided to make it even more of a treat for me and Dean.  Very filling and very satisfying.  Yum!


Apple sandwiches
1 apple, cored and sliced
Almond butter
Sunbutter
Shredded, unsweetened coconut
Raisins


Spread desired amount of either the almond or sunbutter on the apple slices.  Add raisins and coconut.  Top with another apple slice or eat it open-faced.  Enjoy!