Balsamic Chicken

This easy chicken recipe can also be referred to as one-pot chicken, it’s that simple! It has a delicious and thick balsamic sauce with pungent smell mixed with garlic. Enjoy with a side of brussel sprouts, green beans, or other vegetable side of your choice!

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The chicken I decided to use for this recipe was chicken thighs, not only because I personally like dark meat over white, since it is darker, it is usually moister, and boneless thighs are usually thinner than boneless chicken breast.

I also am going to start posting a poem per post from now on, so here’s the next one: (if you hate poetry, skip to recipe below)

This poem is actually food related in some sense, as it is an unrealistic and humorous account of the ‘danger’ of microwaves:

 

Microwaves Are Harmful POEM

By Michael Metzler Jr.

.

Microwaves are harmful,

Don’t let anyone fool you,

They are full of electricity,

And worst of all; the flu

.

But more than anything else

Microwaves are inactive

In good consumer reports

And also radioactive

.

So if you dare put food

In this hazardous box of metal

You may as well try something different

Perhaps munch on a rose petal

.

For if you use this thing

And from it hot food eat,

You are as good as dead

As an unused brown golf cleat.

.

So if you own a microwave

If you bought it from a store

Please just throw it away at once

And we won’t bug you more.

.

So for your information,

In case you want to clap,

Please try our new product:

A brand new Food-o-Zap!

 

End.

 

Recipe below:

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Protein Sandwich

Hello all, thanks for tuning in on today’s recipe! This one is a really really awesome sandwich that you can make at home–it is full of healthy good protein and offers a healthy lunch.

You also have the option to make-ahead if that’s how you like doing things. The protein in here is simple: Boiled eggs and meat. (In this recipe I use pastrami, but you can use whatever meat you so desire.)

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This method of eating is important for those of you who, admittedly, rarely eat wholesome foods because (like me) you are picky, or are constantly on the go and simply grab whatever is within reach.

A tip for those who like throwing things together quickly: Boil lots of eggs and slice them ahead of time. This way, you can simply throw everything on your sandwich when it’s time to consume.

OK, now for a bit of NEWS. As you might know, not only do I like making food, but I like writing, so I decided to shake things up a bit on my food blog and and start including not only a recipe but also a poem I wrote before I give the recipe (below):

Ok here it goes: (if you hate poetry you can skip down to my recipe)

 

The Seasons by Michael Metzler JR

 

Spring grows most plants in rocky soil,

It takes new life to withered things.

Death defying through turmoil,

And to new life it spreads and clings.

 

Summer swathes the world in heat

It drapes the land around in glow

It bakes the clay and warms the feet

It is not spring and is not snow.

 

Autumn brings a yellow air,

It scatters orange like the sand.

Sprinkling leaves as though to share.

It is most glorious and grand.

 

Winter veers around the bow

With clutching hands and stale breath

It swarms the earth in clear-white snow

It brings no warmth and sometimes death.

End.


 

Here’s the recipe for my PROTEIN SANDWICH:

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Breakfast Quiche

​Looking for a quick, healthy, and easy make-ahead breakfast recipe?

Among other things, eggs are an awesome way to go, and if you are tired of simply making scrambled or fried or poached eggs every single morning, then quiche is an amazing use of eggs. Quiche is easy to whip up, and works great as a make-ahead breakfast. This means you can freeze it at least a month ahead of time. Because of this, you have the option of making a few quiches and storing them in the freezer, bringing one out each time you need one. Plus, it tastes delicious!

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This particular quiche recipe isn’t anything fancy; merely a whipping up of eggs, milk and spices, and then poured over a couple essentials: ham and cheese. But this recipe can give you a base to build off of. You can improvise and add spinach and/or broccoli, and certainly bacon, or turkey, you name it. There are countless ways to tweak quiche to your taste.

So try this quiche recipe and let me know how you like it!

Breakfast Quiche Recipe   —-   PRINT

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Christmas Sugar Cookies

For the Christmas season, sugar cookies are one of the most popular desserts to bake. This recipe was one my grandma used to make; it is slightly different from other sugar cookies because it uses powdered sugar, anise, and baking soda. It has a perfect texture, and the dough has perfect consistency for rolling out on a floured surface. Enjoy!

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Easy Corn Bread

Easy to make and a great side to most American meals is this quick and simple Corn Bread recipe. Serve warm with butter and enjoy with other comfort foods such as potato soup or macaroni and cheese.

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I’ve tried a few corn breads in the past, but the ones I liked the best were the sweeter and moister ones. The basic dry & sweetness-free corn bread wasn’t enough for me, so I decided to make my own corn bread recipe that balanced corn and sugar perfectly. I encourage you to try this own, and let me know if you like it!

 

Easy Cornbread Recipe   – – –   PRINT

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10 Thanksgiving DESSERTS

Thanksgiving Desserts Collage

With the holidays just around the corner (and Halloween already behind us) now comes the time for planning how you are going to celebrate Thanksgiving, and then Christmas… Though most people plan Christmas first…

Anyhow, I’ve compiled some great Thanksgiving DESSERT ideas from around the web to get you thinking about what you can start preparing to bake!

 


  1. PUMPKIN PIE    on Michael’s Test Kitchen

First and foremost, of course is our PUMPKIN PIE, the most popular thanksgiving dessert, and most popular pumpkin dessert all around. For this one, I actually have a quick and easy recipe on my blog for pumpkin pie, check it out here:

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Pumpkin Pie on Michael’s Test Kitchen

   2. PUMPKIN ROLL      on Taste of Home

taste of home pumpkin rollAnother favorite of mine, pertaining to Thanksgiving and pumpkins, is the Pumpkin Roll. Basically a layer of pumpkin cake rolled around cream cheese frosting–very sweet and delicious! Check this great recipe out on Taste of Home.

 

 

 

 

    3. PUMPKIN BREAD  on Michael’s Test Kitchen

pumpkin bread mainAnother awesome and quick way to use pumpkins in your next thanksgiving baking project. Pumpkin bread is easy, takes hardly any time to make, and makes a very moist and sweet quick-bread. Slice and enjoy with butter or cream cheese. Check this Pumpkin Bread recipe out on my blog:

 

4. “Apple Pie by Grandma Ople”   from allrecipes

apple pie allrecipesYes, apple pie seems to be the most universally used pie for holidays or even birthdays. It is probably the most popular pie, and yes, of course can be used perfectly well for Thanksgiving. Unless you are already planning on making apple pie for Christmas, Apple pie is a great dessert to bake on Thanksgiving.  Check out this amazing recipe on allrecipes.

 

 

5. Candy Corn Cupcakes   on Michael’s Test Kitchen

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Candy Corn Cupcakes

These cupcakes are a great way to make a dessert based of the traditional Candy Corn. Check out this Thanksgiving dessert on my blog:

6. Pecan Pie    on Epicurious

OLD-FASHIONED-PECAN-PIE-07092017Speaking of traditional pies, Pecan Pie is one of those popular traditional desserts usually served on Thanksgiving or Christmas. It is incredibly simple, and if you haven’t tried it before, there’s always a first time for everything. Check out this great recipe for Pecan Pie on Epicurious:

 

7. Apple Cake    on Michael’s Test Kitchen

FLQQ8RJJ98R8570This Apple Cake is a great festive dessert with an awesome use of apples to create a quick & easy moist and spice-filled bread. Check it out on my blog:

 

 

 

8. Pumpkin Pie Bars    on Delish

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These pumpkin bars are a small version of pumpkin pie, reducing it into little bites, a very creative idea! Easy to make and of course great for the holiday baking season.

Check out this great recipe on Delish.

 

 

 

9. Molasses Marble Cheesecake    on Michael’s Test Kitchen

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Marbled Cheesecake

This cheesecake is great for the holidays, and has enough cheese in it for any cheese eater. Molasses is marbled into the filling to achieve the festive splash of brown, and the crust is made by crushing / processing molasses cookies.

Check out this amazing recipe on my blog!

 

 

10. Apple & Blueberry Layered Pie   on Michael’s Test Kitchen

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This apple & blueberry layered pie is an awesome twist on the classic apple pie, and is another amazing pie to put on your holiday-baking to-do list.

Check out this recipe on my blog!

 

 

 


 

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out additional recipes on my blog!

Apple Cake

The holidays are just around the corner, and this simple sheet cake is a great way to celebrate with baking. It doesn’t need much apples, and besides slicing, coring, and peeling the apples, the rest is easy and the result is a perfectly moist cake full of apples and cinnamon flavor.

 

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Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin season is here, so why not celebrate the upcoming holidays with a simple PUMPKIN bread recipe? This recipe is easy to follow and allows the option to make your own pumpkin puree, the recipe you can find on my blog.

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This pumpkin bread is a simple quick bread recipe full of pumpkin and rich with the spices of cinnamon and ground cloves.

I usually make my pumpkin recipes now with Homemade Pumpkin puree, and recommend you do, too. It makes it so that this major ingredient is fresh, and just pureed at home. Not that I have that much against canned pumpkin; the store-bought stuff is great if you are pressed on time and want to quickly and easily make a pumpkin dessert. Honestly, the taste isn’t compromised all that much–but it is cool (and maybe healthier?) to make your own pumpkin puree, which you can then use for all sorts of things including this wonderful fall Pumpkin Bread recipe.

Feel free to add different things to the finished batter of this bread before baking it: Chocolate chips, maybe some hazelnuts? Depending on your tastes. Either or both work well. Perhaps some dried fruit wouldn’t be wasted here, but I’ve never tried it.

If you decide to bake this for the holidays this year, feel free to let me know how it goes! Also be sure to check out some other great recipes on my blog.

-Michael

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Breakfast Egg Muffins

These Egg Muffins are an awesome way to have a quick and healthy breakfast. You can also make these ahead of time, and plan out a few mornings worth.

They are relatively easy and quick to make and require basic ingredients like hash browns, lots of eggs, cheese, and sausage.

Enjoy!

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