Mystery Rolls - Pinterest Pick #3

Our newest Pinterest Pick is one of the simplest recipes you can make.  Seriously.  It's 3 ingredients, requires very little time and involvement.  AND it's pretty darn delicious.  Plus, you can vary this recipe extremely easily.  To make it sweet, add cinnamon and sugar instead of blue cheese.  Instead of blue cheese use goat cheese or pepper jack or cheddar.  Make it your own!
The original pin for this recipe I found HERE. This is a Pioneer Woman recipe and you can get the recipe directly from her WEBSITE.  
Plus, you can follow me on Pinterest anytime by clicking HERE.

Mystery Rolls

Ingredients:

• 1 can biscuits (I used Grands by Pillsbury which includes 8 rolls)
• 1 stick butter
• 4 oz blue cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Place stick of butter on baking sheet and top with blue cheese.  Place in oven for about 5 minutes until butter is melting.  While butter is melting, cut each biscuit into 4 pieces.
Take baking sheet out of oven and toss biscuit pieces in melted butter and blue cheese until evenly coated. Bake for 15-20 minutes until biscuits are cooked and a lovely golden brown.  
Enjoy!

Salsa - Home Cooked Recipe 61

Who doesn't love salsa??? You can get it in any form of heat, from no spice at all to blow your head off hot.  It is fresh, low in fat and calories, and a great condiment for many things.  Plus add some chips and you have a great snack.  
I have never made my own salsa before.  There are so many great jarred varieties out there that I never really thought about it.  I have made my own pico de gallo before, but it is different than a salsa.  So now that I decided it was time, I looked up some recipes online, got inspired, and made my own.  You can adjust the heat level to your specific taste.  I made this version at a medium heat level.

Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 14.5 oz can diced petite tomatoes
• 2 jalapenos, 1 deseeded
• 3 garlic cloves (preferably minced)
• 1/4 of a red onion, diced
• 1 handful cilantro
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• dash of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
• pinch of sugar

***All of these ingredients can be adjusted to taste

Directions:
In a food processor or mini chopper combine all ingredients (I had to do it in two batches in my mini food processor).  Pulse for a minute then let stay on for another 30 seconds.  Refrigerate for an hour to let flavors blend.  Serve with tortilla chips.
Enjoy!

Previous Pinterest Picks - Pinterest Pick #2

As part of this category, I thought I would link you to the recipes from Pinterest I have already made and blogged about, so that you get the full realm of my Pinterest obsession.  You can follow me on Pinterest anytime HERE.

1. Mayo Chocolate Cake - click HERE

2. Baked Beans - click HERE

3. Shrimp Creole - click HERE

4. Mexican Quinoa - click HERE

5. Gluten Free Magic Bars - click HERE

6. Blueberry Cream Cheese Cake - click HERE

7. Egg White Muffins - click HERE

8. Oreo Pie - click HERE

9. Apple Pie Cheesecake Bites - click HERE

10. Easy Salisbury Steak - click HERE

11. Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels - click HERE

12. Asian Ground Beef - click HERE

13. Crock*Pot Asian Chicken - click HERE

14. Baked Chimichangas - click HERE

15. Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars - click HERE

Wow!!! I have probably made more than 15 Pinterest recipes, but it is super surprising I have already blogged about 15 of them.  All of these I would (and have!) make again, so don't be afraid to try them because they have my endorsement.  It looks like we have a good variety of main dishes, side dishes, and desserts here too! I am having so much fun with this new category, and can't wait to get back to Pinterest to try more!

Simply Sides 15 - Black Eyed Peas

Every New Year's Day I make black-eyed peas, along with other dishes that are supposed to bring you good luck in the New year.  Call me superstitious, but I need all the good fortune I can get!  I realized I have never shared my black eyed pea recipe on this blog, and decided now is a good time to do so.  You don't have to just make this on New Year's, it's a great side dish all year long!!!

Black Eyed Peas

Ingredients:

• 2 cans black eyed peas (I just use a store brand, super cheap, and you can't tell the difference)
• 1 ham hock (this is pretty essential)
• 2 ounces pork jowl, diced - fry this up ahead of time, just like bacon.  Save the drippings!
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 cups of broth (chicken or beef or veg, use your favorite)
• 1 tbs cajun spice
• 1 tsp (or more to taste) hot sauce (your favorite kind)
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Directions:
Rinse and drain black eyed peas.
In jowl (or bacon) drippings, saute onion and bell pepper for five or so minutes over medium heat, or until onion is translucent.  Add in garlic and cook for another minute. Add in black eyed peas and saute for 1 minute.  Place ham hock in pot.  Pour in 1 cup of broth, then add cajun spice.  Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce to a simmer.  Let beans simmer for 30 minutes (or longer). Add more both if necessary.  Stir in hot sauce, diced jowl, and vinegar.  You can serve it over rice, or as a side dish with your pork and greens and cornbread on New Year's Day.
Enjoy!

Miso Cucumber Salad - Pinterest Pick #1

This is the first post of our new category for 2015, Pinterest Picks!  This year, I am going to make lots of recipes that I find while perusing Pinterest, and post them here, with what I like, don't like, adaptations to the recipe, and hints of things I would add or take away.  I am so excited about this category as if you are a regular reader, you know how much I love me some Pinterest.

I love Asian flavors, and am a big fan of Miso, which is a soybean paste.  There are several varieties of miso.  I get my miso at Trader Joe's, but I am fairly certain you can find it in the Asian section of your local grocery store now.  I also know you can get it at places like Whole Foods Market or Fresh Market. Miso basically adds a salty, umami flavor that is super savory.

I found the pin for this cucumber salad HERE.  I love a refreshing cucumber dish, whether it's a simple salad of tomato and cucumbers in a vinaigrette or a creamy, vinegary side of cucumbers with a mayo/vinegar dressing.  

The only thing I changed about the original RECIPE was to halve the amount of sesame oil.  I just think a tablespoon was too much, as sesame oil is very pungent (although delicious!) and too many calories for what could be halved.  

This was a delicious side dish, very refreshing and packed with flavor.  Try it as a side to you next Asian inspired meal, a quick snack, or a light lunch with say a cooked chicken breast.  Plus, you can use this as a dressing for ANY veggies or salad.  It doesn't just have to be cucumbers.  This was a Pinterest hit!  

Oh and if you want to follow me on Pinterest, click HERE!

Miso Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, sliced
• 2 tbs miso (recipe calls for brown or white miso, I used yellow miso)
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tbs honey
• 1 1/2 tbs rice vinegar
• 1 tbs hot water (I used water from my hottest tap setting)
• 1/2 tbs sesame oil
• 1 tbs sesame seeds

Directions:
Mix all ingredients except cucumbers together.  Blend well.  Fold in cucumbers.  
Enjoy!

NRFD 2014 In Review

Whew!  Another year of No Room For Dessert, and another success!  I am proud to still be doing this blog and bringing you lots of recipes.

In 2014 I posted 48 times, whereas in 2013 I only posted 36 times.  That's a 12 post improvement!  This year we brought you FORTY recipes, 18 more than in 2013! In 2015 I hope to improve upon those numbers even more.

Fries from Shake Shack

We had a new category, Crock*Pot Cafe, and while there were only 4 recipes in that category, I'll be bringing you more this coming year.  And in 2015 we will have a new category... Drumroll please... Pinterest Picks!  This will be a category where I take a recipe that I have found while searching Pinterest, and make it at home.  I'll tell you whether I followed the recipe exactly or adapted it to my household's needs.  And I will tell you if it's a keeper or not.  While I certainly hope we get a lot of keepers, I know not everything will be perfect, but I do think it's important that I'm honest with you.  As a home cook, it's hard to know sometimes just by reading a recipe if it will be suitable and delicious.  But I will be able to tell you that!

At the end of 2012 this blog had 7,000 views, at the end of 2013 it had 16,000 views, and this year we ended with over 27,000!  I am so excited about that!  A growth of 9,000 views between 2012 and 2013, and a growth of 11,000 views between 2013 and 2014.  Amazing!  Social media really has helped the growth of this blog, with Pinterest and Facebook being my main traffic sources.  Thank you to all my friends and readers who come back regularly!  And thank you for the great comments you have given me this year!!!

I hope everyone has a safe and healthy 2015, and keep coming back every week to see what's new on No Room For Dessert!