Caramelized Onion, Brussel's Sprouts, and Potato Pizza with Balsamic Reduction

This is one of those posts where I'm just going to boast a bit.  I'm not even going to bother with typing out a recipe here for you all.  We are just going to sit back and enjoy the food photos. K? K.

It all starts with a balsamic reduction.  I used probably 1/2-1 cup of balsamic and reduced it down to this spectacular syrup.

I caramelized some onions and Brussel's sprouts and placed them atop thinly sliced potatoes.  All toppings got covered in mozzarella cheese.

Give that whole pie a healthy splattering of balsamic reduction when it's all done cooking.

Eat up!

Chef Help on Demand

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*This post is sponsored by TalkToChef (ACK! My First EVER sponsored post!)

Brie, Apple, and Apple Butter Grilled Cheese

I CAN'T EVEN HANDLE HOW DELICIOUS THIS SANDWICH WAS.

THAT'S WHY I'M WRITING IN ALL CAPS.

SO GOOD.

SERIOUSLY.

Brie, Apple, and Apple Butter Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

Italian bread

brie

thin sliced apples

apple butter

butter

1. Butter both sliced of bread.  Place one slice, butter side down in a skillet. Top with apple butter, apples, and brie. Top with buttered bread.

2. Cook until golden brown on both sides.  I used a cast iron press to mash my sandwich down, you could stick it in a panini press or weigh it down with a plate and a heavy can.

This is one classy grilled cheese, y'all.

Red Velvet Oreo Cookie Dough Brownies

Seriously you guys. I baked up brownies from scratch.  Then topped them with cookie dough frosting filled with red velvet Oreos!

Whaaatttt???

Yes, it's true. And it's delicious.

Red Velvet Oreo Cookie Dough Brownies

Ingredients

For the brownies:
1 4oz package Baker's unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla

For the frosting:
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
10 Red Velvet Oreos, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 13x9 pan.  In a microwave safe bowl, heat butter and chocolate for 2 minutes.  Stir until chocolate is melted.  Add sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla.  Mix until combined. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

2. Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add milk, flour, and vanilla until frosting becomes a spreadable consistency. Stir in Oreos.  Spread frosting onto cooled brownies.

Side note- look how ridiculously tiny this package of Oreos is. 10 oz!! The package is no longer a rectangle, it's square.  Also, as exciting as the name sounds regular Oreos still reign supreme.

They do a great job with the filling though.  It really does taste like cream cheese frosting.

These brownies would be the perfect ultimate indulgence for Valentine's Day or a Monday. 

You decide.

Savory Noodle Kugel

I don't know why egg noodles aren't more a part of my life.  This side dish is so freaking delicious and simple it's a wonder how all the flavor got packed in there with just 5 ingredients!

Savory Noodle Kugel
From Cook's Country Magazine

Ingredients
6 eggs
3 tbsp olive oil
3 onions, chopped fine
salt and pepper
2 tbsp minced parsley
1 pound egg noodles

1. Heat oven to 350. Grease a broiler safe 13x9 baking dish. Heat a skillet with oil on medium heat.
2. Cook onions in skillet until caramelized. Transfer to a bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.  Whisk in eggs, parsley, salt and pepper.
3. Cook noodles according to package directions. Reserve 3 tbsp cooking water.
4. Whisk water into onion-egg mixture, add cooked noodles. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Cook for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and heat broiler.  Broil kugel until top noodles are browned and crisp, 1-3 minutes.

I served mine alongside some chicken cordon bleu, see recipe in previous post.

I was really tempted to add to this recipe because it just seemed too simple.  Do not succumb to the temptation! This recipe is simply perfection.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

I just wanted to get in a Super Bowl snack before kickoff tonight.  This recipe takes cauliflower and transforms it into a game day snack.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Adapted from The Lean Clean Eating Machine

Ingredients
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup water*
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 package frozen cauliflower florets, defrosted and patted dry
1 tbsp butter
1/2 cup hot sauce
blue cheese dressing for serving

1. Preheat oven to 450. Grease a large sheet pan.
2. Mix flour, water, garlic, and salt in a bowl. Dip cauliflower into batter and place on prepared pan.
3. Cook 10 minutes then flip florets and cook 5 minutes more. Cauliflower should be browned.
4. Melt butter in a bowl or measuring cup.  Mix in hot sauce.  Dip cauliflower into sauce and return to the pan.  Cook for 10 minutes more.
5.  Serve with blue cheese dressing.

*Note: When I used this ratio the batter was very thick, I added a little more water until it reached my desired consistency. You might end up adding 1/4 more water.

I have made these twice already!  They just might be my new favorite appetizer.  So totally healthy too!