World's Easiest Chocolate Mousse

 Do you need a last minute dessert?

Ingredients:

1 - 4 serving size instant chocolate pudding mix 

2 cups heavy whipping cream 

(That's it!)

Whip the 2 ingredients together until stiff peaks form, 1-2 minutes and spoon into jars or serving dishes. 

Makes 6 servings 

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Cranberry Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Soft and chewy and studded with dried cranberries and chocolate in every bite! 

Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups oats

1 1 /2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda 

1/2 tsp salt 

1 1/4 cups dried cranberries

2/3 cup chocolate chips (or hearts like these Chipits shapes, recipe from the package)

Coloured sugar for rolling (optional)

Beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, then add the eggs. In a separate bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet in three additions, then add the cranberries and fold in the chocolate.

Take heaping teaspoons and roll into balls. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet, press down slightly and top with another chocolate heart. If you like press the top into some coloured sugar. I used pink...Valentine's Day is coming up 💑

Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes

Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen 2-bite cookies

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Foccacia Thick Crust Pizza

If you like a Sicilian-style pizza then this crust with an airy, chewy crumb is the one for you!

4 cups flour

2 tsp salt

2 tsp instant yeast

2 cups lukewarm water (1/2 cup boiling/ 1 1/2 cups cold)

4-6 tbsps olive oil (divided)

1/3 - 1/2 cup pizza sauce 

2 cups shredded mozzarella

Toppings: pepperoni, chopped onion, sliced red pepper, black olives, diced roasted red pepper, fresh greens like spinach or arugula

To start the dough whisk the flour, salt and yeast together. Add the water and mix until it forms a nice, sticky ball. Roll the ball in olive oil and place in an oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp dishtowel and place the bowl in a big plastic bag and seal. Refrigerate for 12 hours or up to 3 days. 

When ready take the ball of dough and fold it over itself 2 times, then stretch it out to form a rectangle in a parchment lined 12 X 9" baking pan that has been brushed with olive oil. Make sure there is a good overhang of parchment. Brush the entire thing with olive oil and place the pan in that plastic bag you already had in the fridge.

Bring the extra sides of the parchment up so the bag does not touch the dough. Leave this out at room temperature for 3-4 hours.

Once the dough has become pillowy soft, poke your fingertips into it all over like a regular foccacia. Spoon or brush the sauce over top. I like it light on the sauce so only used 1/3 cup but use what you like. Top with most, but not all, of the cheese and add your favourite toppings. Then finish with the remaining cheese and maybe a drizzle of olive oil.

Into a 450°F oven for 50-60 minutes or until golden and delicious! Sprinkle the fresh greens on top and cut into squares.

Look at that crumb!!! 😍

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Blueberry Coconut Baked Oatmeal

Give yourself a healthy start to your day with this delicious baked oatmeal. And you can always switch it up by swapping out blueberries for your favourite seasonal fruit.

Ingredients:

Coconut oil

2 bananas

3/4 cup oats

1 1/4 cups milk

1 tbsp chia (and other mixed seeds optional)

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Coat an 8" cast iron pan or baking dish with coconut oil, then mash 2 bananas right in the pan. Sprinkle with the oats and pour the milk on top.

Add 1 tbsp seeds. I used mostly chia but had a mix of super seeds as well. Stir everything together.

Top with berries, wild or cultivated or a mix of both like this one has and add the coconut to top everything off.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 25 minutes or until lightly golden.

Serve in bowls with a good dollop of Greek yogurt.

Makes 2-4 servings.

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Asian Sweet Chili Chicken Nuggets

Sweet and crispy nuggets of chicken ... definitely better than take-out!  Happy Lunar New Year of the Tiger!

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 tsp salt

1/4 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp cornstarch

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups Panko

spray oil

sesame seeds (optional)

1/2 cup (or more) Asian sweet chili sauce, homemade or store bought

Here's a link to my Asian Sweet Chili Sauce recipe:

https://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2019/02/asian-sweet-chili-sauce.html

Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel then cut into 1" cubes. Combine the salt, pepper, paprika, cornstarch and flour in a plastic bag. Add the chicken a few at a time, and shake to coat. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Then, in a shallow bowl, beat the eggs. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg then shake in another bag with Panko. Once all the chicken is floured, egged and Pankoed give them a little spray of cooking oil.

Bake in a 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes. Cut one in half to see that it's cooked.

Now, in a large bowl, toss the chicken with the Asian sweet chili sauce.

You can add more chili sauce to taste and top with sesame seeds if you like. Serves 4

And for these easy Soya Sauce Noodles go to:

https://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2022/02/soya-sauce-noodles.html

Follow hotandcoldrunningmom on Pinterest. You can scan the pincode seen here with your phone if you're on a desktop. If you're on a phone just screenshot it, go to the Pinterest app, click camera. Then instead of taking a pic use the option to use one of your photos. Click on the screenshot you just took and go right to my Pinterest profile where you can follow me 🙂

Soya Sauce Noodles

Just a really simple noodle dish with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

Ingredients:

12 oz egg noodles or spaghetti

3 cups bagged coleslaw mix

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1-2 tbsps avocado oil

1/4 cup frozen green peas

2 tbsps soya sauce

2 tsps brown sugar

1/2 tsp sesame oil

salt and pepper to taste

garnish with cashews and sesame seeds

Cook noodles as directed on package. While they cook heat oil in wok and add onion slices. Sauté 2 minutes. Then add the coleslaw mix and peas and cook another 3-4 minutes. Combine the soya sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, salt and pepper. When noodles are ready drain and toss with the sauce and sautéed vegetables in the wok. Heat through then serve garnished with cashews and sesame seeds.

Serves 4

And for the Asian Sweet Chili Chicken Nuggets pictured here go to:

https://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2022/02/asian-sweet-chili-chicken-nuggets.html

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Sweet Potato Sausage Patties

Sweet potato, mushrooms, roasted red peppers... no boring breakfast patties here!

Ingredients:

1/2 lb pork breakfast sausage (loose meat or 6 sausages with casings removed)

1/2 tsp dry sage or savory

2 tsp dry chives

2 tbsps finely chopped button mushrooms

2 tbsps finely chopped roasted red peppers, with liquid squeezed out

1/2 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato (leftovers work here)

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce

sea salt and pepper (or Mrs. Dash) to taste

3 tbsps olive oil

Combine the sausage meat, sage, chives, mushrooms, sweet potato, red pepper, onion powder, worcestershire, salt and pepper. Line a pan with parchment paper, then scoop out portions to form patties. You might want to oil your hands before shaping each scoop into patties then place them on the pan. This will make 7-8 patties 1/2" thick. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Heat a skillet large enough for patties and add the olive oil. Pan fry each side 3-4 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

I like mine with caesar dressing, others like them with srirracha sauce. Maybe maple syrup,eh? What will you try them with?

Follow hotandcoldrunningmom on Pinterest. You can scan the pincode seen here with your phone if you're on a desktop. If you're on a phone just screenshot it, go to the Pinterest app, click camera. Then instead of taking a pic use the option to use one of your photos. Click on the screenshot you just took and go right to my Pinterest profile where you can follow me 🙂