I've made this recipe so many times over the past year! Have I mentioned before that one of Cub's favorite meals is chicken and rice? Every week, I work to add some different kind of version of chicken and rice to our menu, which isn't actually that hard. I've kind of been enjoying the challenge, and because of that I have another chicken and rice recipe coming at ya soon...

This recipe is so simple. It's literally one pot. I'm not joking! I make it in my dutch oven, but you could also just use a large pot. I don't know what it is, exactly, but there is something about using my dutch oven that makes me feel so homestead-y... 😆 Which I love of course - so I use my dutch oven as often as I can!

Things I love about this recipe.
1. Did I mention that it's a one-pot recipe?
2. I like to add extra veggies to it. This recipe already calls for onion, garlic, and onion. But I also like to add celery and lemon zest for extra brightness. Feel free to add peas or chopped bell peppers. Both would be excellent!
3. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work beautifully.
4. Want to add more flavor? Use chicken broth instead of water. Bump up the protein with bone broth.
5. This is a gluten-free meal! It's always nice to have one of those recipes in your back pocket.

So many reasons to love this recipe and try it out. This is also a healthy dinner - not only is it lower in calories, but it is high in protein, which like I mentioned above will bump up the protein number, but also gives you lots of those good-for-you nutrients that can be hard to get otherwise.

If you used to read my weekly menu (before I had to give that up!), you may recall that my life had gotten a bit busier with some extra-curricular activities my kids are doing (cello + violin + taekwondo lessons). This is a meal I could still make during my regular school week and not worry about getting dinner on the table late. So much of the meal happens at the beginning that other than chopping some veggies, there isn't a ton to do. I love that! I love that I can make a meal like this, it won't stress me out, it's a bit different than your usual baked chicken and rice, and we can still gather around the table in the evening and talk about our day.

Plus, leftovers (if there are any...) are a dream. We usually don't have leftovers, but when we do, they don't last long in the fridge.

That's a good thing!

If you make this meal, let me know what changes you've made. I know my readers and I would love to hear how you've made it your own.

One-Pot Turmeric Chicken & Rice

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Easy one-pot turmeric chicken and rice: gluten-free, family-friendly dinner with warm spices, tender chicken & fluffy rice—all in one pan!

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Ingredients

• 3 cups water/broth
• 1 ½ lb. boneless, skinless, chicken breast or thighs
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups basmati rice
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 medium stalks celery, chopped
• 1 lemon zested
• 3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Add water or broth, chicken, onion, garlic, turmeric, salt, and pepper to a 4- to 6- t pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, covered for 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and registers on an instant-read thermometer at 165 degrees F. Transfer chicken to a plate.
2. Rinse rice in a sieve to remove excess starch. Add rice, carrot, and celery. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until rice is tender. I would check this often. The rice for me has cooked quickly every time, so I would begin checking at 7 minutes, but could cook anywhere from 12-18 minutes long. While rice is cooking, shred chicken.
3. Fluff rice with fork. Add chicken, lemon zest and juice. Stir gently to combine and sprinkle parsley over top.

Notes

Slightly adapted from Allrecipes.com

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 129Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 446mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 7g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

The post One-Pot Turmeric Chicken & Rice appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

While I do love to be in the kitchen and take my time creating a scrumptious meal for my family, I also love the ease of a simpler dinner that takes 30 minutes to prepare and cook. This Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry is just that - easy, filling, and delicious, not to mention perfect for a busy weeknight.

I like to make meals with rice about once a week for Cub. He really likes rice and chicken together and stir-fry seems to be a perfect choice...which makes me think that he would probably love fried rice, don't you think?

We've made this dinner a bunch of times - always during the work week. Josh has been known to bust out this dinner when I'm on the way home from Taekwondo with Christian and when we walk in the house, it smells so good and it's so fresh and healthy. You just can't go wrong with it!

You could make this a spicier stir-fry if you're into that kind of thing. We're not, or at least, the kids and I aren't. Josh would probably enjoy it, but ya know, cook for the people you live with. You could add some spicy peppers to the skillet or wok or chili paste, or even chili pepper flakes.

Whenever I make stir-fry I always find myself missing the crunchy texture, so I like to add cashews and toasted sesame seeds as a topping. But feel free to top this stir-fry with whatever you like.

If you have a rice cooker, that will really be a time saver. Just make sure you start it first before actually getting the chicken going. Rice just always seems to take forever and by starting it first, you will probably have everything finish around the same cooking time. I hear Costco even has the microwavable bowls of rice - I've never tried them, but I've heard great things, so if you're pinched for time, maybe consider something like that.

Another time saving tip is using frozen stir-fry vegetables. I usually prep my broccoli when I get it home from the grocery store, but if you're really pressed for time a bag of those frozen veggies will be great in something like this.

See, stir-fry has so many possibilities! I do want to say, I think this a kid-friendly meal as long as you don't make it too spicy. All of my kids love it and oftentimes are back for seconds. I hope that it is a meal your family enjoys as well and helps to keep your dinnertimes less stressful and more relaxing so you can enjoy that time around the table with your family.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

You need some easy, healthy, fresh weeknight dinners in your recipe rotation for sure, and this chicken and broccoli stir-fry is just that!

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Ingredients

• 6 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
• ⅓ cup sliced green onions
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 6 tablespoon tamari soy sauce
• 5 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 3 tablespoon low-sodium chicken broth
• 8 cups chopped broccoli florets
• 3 cups hot cooked rice, for serving
• Cashews and sesame seeds for topping

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken, green onion, and garlic; cook , stirring until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 5-7 minutes.
2. Stir in hoisin sauce, tamari, brown sugar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper into skillet. Add chicken broth and broccoli until crisp-tender 3-5 minutes, or until your desired doneness. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions, cashews, and sesame seeds.

Notes

Recipe slightly adapted from AllRecipes.com

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 781Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 2016mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 9gSugar: 10gProtein: 81g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

The post Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

Well, somehow, it took me a year to get this post up! I've sat down several times to write it, and life has simply always gotten in the way. Ironically, as I write this, I'm sitting in Denver airport delayed due to thunderstorms, waiting to get home to PDX. It's a far cry from getting off the Eurostar at Gare du Nord in Paris, let alone reveling in the superb Corsican fare at L'Eysée Saint Honoré, but here we are.

Last summer, I wrote a post about spending five nights in London with our family of seven and my intention, of course, was to immediately follow it up with a post about the next five nights of that trip, which we spent in Paris. While this is much less timely, it's still a post I want to write, so here goes...

We've attempted to add a clickable table of contents below, so if you're interested in a particular destination, feel free to click through to the topic that interests you!

For my ramblings about baby travel gear, strategies for booking international travel with points, frequent flyer programs, and hotel perks, please see the prior post about our five nights in London - I certainly wouldn't want to put you through all of that again here!

Much as with London, our original plan had been to book a less expensive hotel outside the city, and then take the train in everyday. As you can read about in the previous post, when Covid cancelled all of our travel plans, subsequently pushing them back four years, our new travel plans included a one-year-old, little Cadáin! We knew putting the little guy through multiple hours of train rides everyday wasn't going to work out too well, and we also knew he would need a nap. Given that reality, we nixed our prior plans and looked for a centrally-located hotel in the city, and ideally one that would be able to help us take care of any needs we had along the way.

We settled on the Hôtel de Berri Champs-Élysées, a small luxury hotel in the fashionable 8th arrondissement, a block or two off the Champs-Élysées and a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe. The Hôtel de Berri had a good corporate rate with my company, as well as the option to book a suite for the kids and use our upgrade nights with Marriott to get a larger room for Chels and me and baby boy to share. The decor was a little eclectic for my tastes, but the service was impeccable throughout our stay.

We took the Eurostar train from London to Paris, roughly a two and half hour trip, thoroughly enjoyed by all our crew. This will surprise exactly no one, but we just don't have trains like this in the United States! Upon arrival at Gare du Nord in Paris, we were greeted by a chauffeured Mercedes van, arranged by the hotel, which quickly whisked our (at this point rather exhausted) crew of seven to the hotel. I'm sorry to say that upon arrival, Cadáin, who was sans nap for the day after refusing to sleep on the train, absolutely lost his ever-loving mind, throwing himself on the floor and making quite a first impression on our French hosts. They were exceedingly gracious, and the concierge, Gregory, made it his personal mission to demonstrate how nonplussed they were by the antics of an overly tired one-year-old American tourist.

After we were all situated in our rooms, Gregory took me aside and asked what our plans were for dinner. I admitted I hadn't the foggiest idea. He told me to take our crew and head down the street to L'Eysée Saint Honoré, a local Corsican restaurant, and tell them he sent us. I didn't know if this was some kickback scheme Gregory and the owner of the restaurant had going, but at this point, I didn't care. We gladly took the tip, setup Cadáin's indefatigable Zoe Traveler stroller, and got on our way.

We hesitated in front of the restaurant, as it was clearly much more upscale than we had expected or were prepared to visit. As we discovered often happens in Paris, the host saw us outside and quickly came out to meet us on the sidewalk, ushering us in, whether we were ready or not (in America, we would have been asking how long the wait was for a group of seven, no?).

The restaurant was lively and busy, but when I mentioned who had sent us, they immediately prepared a private, white cloth-covered table in the back of the restaurant and seated us right away. Little Cadáin was a bit of a wreck, but this situation was short-lived. Our waitress was a lovely young Parisian, likely in her early twenties, and she scooped up our little boy and proceeded to carry him around the restaurant on her hip for quite some time, introducing him to the various patrons and giving us some completely unexpected but exceedingly welcome relief. And Cadáin? He was enchanted. We joke that he had his first date (or at least crush) that night in Paris.

Oh, and the food was phenomenal. We visited again before our trip was over.

There was one more magical moment that first evening. After dinner, everyone now much more relaxed (and full), we decided to take the longer route back to our hotel, up to the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Élysées. The Arc was beautiful, I would say ethereal, to see for the first time at night, bathed in the warm hues of the City of Light. But as we made our way across the giant traffic circle that surrounds the Arc (of Mission Impossible: Fallout fame, among so many others...), we caught a sight that took the breath of my daughters and wife away immediately - La Tour Eiffel, shimmering in the midst of its iconic evening light show. Cliché or no, our American girls had grown up with so many stylized, romanticized images of the Eiffel Tower over the years, it was impossible for them to not feel the first glimpse was something out of a dream. There were tears.

As I mention in the London post, we knew with the little ones (6 and 1) we needed to take it slow. One planned activity per day was plenty, and then we could fill in the extra time with walking around the city, restaurants, cafes, and anything else from our long list of potential time-filling activity wish list.

A Note About Getting Around in Paris

In London, we mostly took black cabs anywhere we couldn't walk, which worked out great! In Paris, on the other hand, we found the taxi situation to be somewhat chaotic - it certainly is not the uniform, well-regulated transportation environment London has created with their network of cabbies! I'm sure it's fine with one or two people, but for our crew, it was lacking. Luckily, we found the Parisian Métro easy to navigate. Well, we did have one scary incident at the beginning when we didn't realize how quickly and aggressively the doors shut on the trains! Poor Christian (11) got his backpack stuck in the doors as they were closing - thanks to the help a quick-moving Frenchman next to me, we got him out of that jam without any permanent damage. The man took me aside after that and explained, as best he could with the language barrier - "get on fast!" Lesson learned! Otherwise, we bought tickets as we needed them, found them to be reasonably priced and the trains themselves reliable and easy to navigate (A note for 2025: we've since returned to Paris, and the metro ticket situation has changed a bit this year - you now purchase a reloadable metro card, instead of individual tickets. This is not quite as convenient for a large family, but it likely only adds perhaps €2 per traveler for the length of your stay.).

Arc de Triomphe

Our first morning in Paris, we had tickets to visit the top of the Arc de Triomphe. I think I may have been the only family member who was truly excited about this stop - I've read so much of Napoleonic history, and am a total architecture nerd besides, so I was stoked. The height alone captured my imagination - at 164 feet, it was about half the height of the Statue of Liberty, which we had just visited in New York City a week prior.

As it happened, the whole experience was wonderful - the tunnel underneath the Arc's traffic circle, complete with live music from a talented street musician, the journey up the stairs, the incredible views of the Parisian skyline from the top - I would recommend it to anyone as a great way to begin by getting your bearings! It was also our crew's first daytime view of the Eiffel Tower, which again captured everyone's attention, as you might expect from us American tourists!

I'll add a coda here - we had attempted to book a Seine River cruise for that afternoon. This did not go well - very long lines there was no way baby was going to wait through. We ended up scrapping that idea. Instead, we walked down to the Trocadéro for another phenomenal view of the Eiffel Tower, albeit with a bit of rain thrown in. Somehow the rain seemed distinctly Parisian as well. Perhaps our spirits were just undampenable.

The Louvre

For our second morning in Paris, we had tickets to visit the Musée du Louvre, which everyone was incredibly excited about. Unfortunately, several of us had come down with a cold during the days prior, and our 11-year-old son, Christian, woke up with a mild fever this morning. Chels elected to stay back at the hotel with Christian and Cadáin, and I took the three girls, Grace (19), Eden (15), and Ruby (6) with me to the storied museum. We decided to walk it, weaving our way down to the Place de la Concorde and on past the Jardin des Tuileries. Once inside the infamous glass pyramid, we did our best to navigate the decidedly overwhelming interior of the museum at a fairly rapid pace. The reality is that the museum left us with a mixture of emotions - seeing the Mona Lisa in person was, of course, surreal, as I imagine it must be for anyone who visits for the first time. The Egyptian and Persian artifacts were especially entrancing to this history buff, and all of us couldn't help but be astounded by the sheer size and grandeur of the many oil paintings gracing the halls we passed through. The architecture buff in me found the exterior as fascinating as the interior. But one distinct emotion was certainly a bit of claustrophobia. The museum was cavernous, and at the same time, a bit suffocating with the sheer volume of tourists. I would, and God-willing will, visit again, but that sensation will be hard to overcome. The best advice I could give at this point would be to either know what you want to see and map out a plan to get there, or give yourself LOTS of time.

Luckily, everyone was feeling better that afternoon. We went out for an afternoon stroll around the city and had an absolutely wonderful time. Among the stops we made were the legendary bookstore Shakespeare & Co and Notre Dame - nearing completion of her restoration from fire damage at that time (since reopened, of course).

Eiffel Tower

Our third day in Paris, we had tickets (tip: get them as early as you can - they sell out fast) to ascend the Eiffel Tower...all the way to the very top, a thousand feet above the city, over three times as tall as the Statue of Liberty and some six times the height of the Arc de Triomphe. Indeed, it's hard to understand the scope and scale of this magnificent piece of engineering until you stand beneath it. It's only a little shorter than the Empire State Building, but the openness and grace of the structure, the fact that you can stand in the middle and look up through it very nearly defies description.

We had a bit more luck this day - everyone was feeling better and the sun was shining. It was by far our most beautiful weather day in Paris. Precious little Ruby was dreadfully nervous about going to the top, and, frankly, that's understandable! It's roughly the same height as the observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State, but instead of a stone wall with a fence around it, you're perched precariously atop this wiry marvel of 19th century riveting work. Once we ascended the various elevators and stairs, however (including the fascinating diagonal elevators that ascend the legs), and emerged at the top, she was, to reuse my already overused phrase...enchanted.

At the top, we happily paid out for overpriced macarons and champagne (Grace, a few days away from 20, was old enough to partake in France, where the drinking age is 18, so she got to enjoy a very special glass of bubbly at the top of the tower - something I imagine she'll never forget, and well worth the hit to her daddy's pocketbook). One-year-old Cadáin, in rare form, zoomed about the top of the tower, seemingly unaware of the breathtaking height, happily munching away on his macaron (macarons, as it turned out, became his Parisian food of choice - shocker).

Yes, this visit to the Eiffel Tower took 3+ hours. Yes, it was packed with thousands of eager tourists. Yes, parts of the experience were overpriced. Yes, it was worth every moment and every penny.

Versailles

On our last full day in Paris, we had tickets to visit the Palace of Versailles. In fact, we didn't just have tickets to visit, we had tickets to have brunch in the palace, at Ore, a restaurant by Alain Ducasse, offering brunch followed by direct (or "secret entrance") access to the château. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, this was a miserable night for baby Cadáin, who was up every hour or so. Chels and I woke quite ready to cancel all of our plans for the day.

While thankfully we did not cancel our plans, we did decide that we did not have the energy to navigate the train system out to Versailles, and instead had the hotel call us a van. The day was cloudy and cold, not at all like the warm and sunny day prior. Brunch, while wonderfully thought out and something we would wholeheartedly recommend, was a bit of a challenge as little Cadáin was simply out of sorts - feeling his night, if you will. If, however, you were not traveling with a tired one-year-old (and maybe even if you were!), this was a great way to get started at Versailles in the morning. First, you're literally having breakfast in a French palace. So there's that. Secondly, when you're finished, they usher you past the line of tourists waiting to get in, which is always nice. I felt the pricing was reasonable, given that it included your ticket and breakfast.

Despite these challenges - the sleepless night, the cranky baby, the cold weather - Versailles was magnificent. The château, as I'm sure the original inhabitant intended, is simply overwhelming in its grandeur and opulence. The oil paintings and royal chambers, the gardens and the hall of mirrors, all were charming and fascinating in their own way.

In the Hall of Mirrors, I couldn't help, despite the crowds and kids, taking a moment to think of all the history that had taken place inside those walls. Of course, Louis XIV held court there, hosting sultans and kings from around the world, but even into the more modern era - events preceding some of the great conflicts of the twentieth century happened in that room, from von Bismark crowning William I emperor of Germany to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I. John and Jackie Kennedy were received there by the President of France later in the century, among many others. I always find walking the ground where history happened brings it to life for me in a special way, and I hope the same is true for my children.

Like the Louvre, there was a definitely an element of claustrophobia setting in as you got into the inner chambers (which are amazing, to be sure). But it's a LOT of people in what begins to feel like a fairly compact space, especially when you're trying to move with seven people and a stroller.

Two last notes on Versailles - first, I was surprised and a little disappointed to learn that there was a separate, significant entrance fee to visit the famed gardens surrounding the palace. We paid it, and they certainly live up to the hype, although sadly the weather was not conducive to a lengthly visit. Second, we did take the train back to Paris, and it couldn't have been easier.

Other Places We Enjoyed While Walking Around Paris

I mentioned a few of these earlier as detours and side quests that we took while navigating the main "activity" we had planned for each day. None of these are "finds" per se - most are well-documented by "travel influencers" and the like, and of course when it comes to restaurants in Paris there are thousands of wonderful places to go, but I'll mention a few thoughts on our experiences.

L'Eysée Saint Honoré

I mentioned this delightful Corsican restaurant earlier in the post as the one our concierge recommended the first night we were there - it's in the 8th arrondissement, just far enough from the Arc de Triomphe not to be a tourist trap (we encountered locals grabbing an after work meal and socializing - always a good sign). The gnocchi was life changing.

Place du Trocadero

Could this be the most Instagrammed location on earth? Or at least the one where the most selfies are taken? It certainly seems possible...but you should go anyway, once during the day and once at night! The view of the Eiffel Tower is unmatched (despite all of the travel influencers trying to find little street corners with better ones) and somehow it's just so huge that we could always find room to take great photos, even with the crowds. The vibe at night is totally different - it's a bit more of a party atmosphere, the street vendors and musicians are out in full force, and everyone's living for the moment at the top of the hour when the tower glitters for five minutes. It's a bucket list item. I can't imagine a local would be caught dead there.

There's a metro station (the Trocadero, simply enough) right at the plaza, so you can jump on a train from almost anywhere in the city and get there quickly. If the crowds leaving the plaza to catch the metro are overwhelming, you can walk a block further up Av. Kléber or Av. du Président Wilson and find a less crowded one in a matter of minutes. (2025 Note: When Chels and I went back, we grabbed a simple dinner at the Café du Trocadéro, a restaurant across the square with views of the tower through the trees. While we would normally avoid a place that so obviously caters to the tourists, the spot is lovely and the service and food - we ordered a cheese board, a caprese salad, and tiramisu - were both quite good.)

Shakespeare and Company

This bookstore on the left bank is on many a book lover's bucket list! You might recognize it from Julie & Julia or Midnight in Paris. They meter the line coming in so that the store is never overly crowded, but it still moves quickly. The neighborhood around it is delightful, with a completely different character than the areas we walked on the right bank. After you buy your books, while you should obviously cross the Seine and admire the marvelous cathedral of Notre Dame, do yourself a favor and wander one block south, where the Église Saint-Séverin has stood for something like 800 years, both quieter and less crowded, while still spectacularly beautiful inside.

La Belle Ferronnière

This delightful café sits a long block off the Champs-Élysées, and I have no idea if it's well-known or not (I assume it must be?), but Chels and I came to love wandering down to this restaurant during Cadáin's naps (the older girls would stay at the hotel), grabbing a table on the street, ordering a cappuccino and a simple crêpe, and just people watching for a bit. Oh, and across the street is La Maison du Chocolat, a wonderful place for upscale edible souvenirs.

Maison Lucie

Delightful little boulangerie that was across the street from our hotel - as with so many of these little cafés around Paris, they're perfect for grabbing a quick lunch on the go or a cappuccino. While Paris is renowned for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, I never failed to be shocked by the ability to walk into one of these shops, let all of the kids pick out lunch, get something for Chels and I, and have a bill of less than €40.

Conclusion

Our five nights in Paris were not without their challenges - everyone came down with a cold when we first got there, leaving me rummaging through a pharmacie off the Champs-Élysées trying to make sense of French-language medicine labels. That sleepless night with baby before Versailles was special. Almost losing another diaper bag on the metro...let's just say losing one diaper bag per trip is plenty (I don't think I told that story in the London post, but we started this adventure by losing Cadáin's diaper bag on the airport train at DFW and then spending the next two days in New York City trying to rebuild the contents).

But even with a few challenges, we had a wonderful experience and can't wait to go back. Everyone was accommodating and welcoming to our large (by Parisian standards) family, all the way down to the airport staff at CDG opening a special family security lane for us so we could take our time without holding up the other travelers. Our daughters were just as charmed by Paris as they had hoped to be, and now that we've knocked off a handful of the big "bucket list" items, we'd love to return and explore more food, museums, and art galleries (I mean...mostly food...)...we'll see what the future holds.

The post Catz on the Move: 5 Nights in Paris with 5 Kids appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

I've talked before about how much I love to make carry-over breakfasts that will last for a few days in the week. I don't really buy cereal anymore, but I do "buy" oatmeal packets from Bob's Red Mill and such for the kiddos and they love it. But it is nice to make a big batch of something and then just have it ready to go on school mornings. These baked oats are perfect for that. I can get three breakfasts easily for the kiddos in the week. I can make it Monday morning and I won't have to worry again about breakfast for them till Thursday.

This is not a dish I would make every week for the kids, though. For that I would make this overnight oatmeal for them, which they love. But for something a bit more indulgent and special that is still familiar, I like this option.

This recipe for simple baked oats is a bit more custard-y and rich. It's made with heavy cream, eggs, and a bit of sugar...which also makes it perfect to share for a brunch or some sort of event brunch like a bridal/baby shower. This would even be great for a holiday breakfast/brunch too.

One of the things I love about this recipe is that you can dress it up with whatever fruit or berry you like. I've used pomegranate seeds here because they were what was in season, but blueberries, raspberries, or even strawberries would be great here...or maybe even a combo??

If you love oatmeal and you're looking for an easy, but more exciting way of eating it or serving it to your kids, then definitely try this recipe out, because I think you will love it!

Simple Baked Oats

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

This recipe for simple baked oats is an easy "carry over" recipe that you can make once and serve for multiple mornings!

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Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 5 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds or berry of choice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 3-qt baking with with 1 tablespoon butter. In a large combine oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, lightly beat eggs. Whisk in cream, melted butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, maple syrup, and honey. Add to oat mixture and stir to combine. Spoon into prepared baking dish.
2. Bake, uncovered, 45 - 50 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.

Notes

Recipe slightly adapted from Magnolia Journal Magazine

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 567Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 605mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 4gSugar: 35gProtein: 8g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

The post Simple Baked Oats appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

My love for cakes has evolved over the years. When I was a teenager I adored those single layer white cakes from the grocery store. You know the ones with white frosting, minimally decorated and just you know, like ten bucks? Okay, please don't go ew! I mean, you can, I do agree, but I loved cake so much then, and, well, it was a treat occasionally! But just for the record, I do not eat this kind of cake anymore...in fact most cakes with frosting I can't really tolerate today due to the artificial, super-sugary taste.

And this is why I make homemade cakes and frosting. I don't say that to put myself on a pedestal of some kind for making homemade baked goods. I think it's just because once you stop eating premade foods with bad / artificial ingredients, your tastebuds adapt and you can't go back (or at least can't go back without maybe feeling a little sick later!).

Which brings me to this beautiful, single layer unfrosted cake! This cake is a simple little masterpiece...if I do say so myself.

Why is this cake so incredible? I think the first reason is because it truly isn't like other cakes. As you can tell from the title of the recipe, the cake has ricotta cheese in it. Not just a little bit, but quite a bit. That's what gives this cake its unusually soft and pillowy texture, not to mention the moisture a cake like this needs since there isn't any frosting. Nor does it need any! I promise you won't miss it.

Another fun little bit to this cake is the sliced almond topping. It compliments the almond extract perfectly and adds that little crunchy texture the cake needs. So, so delightful!

Another reason this cake is so incredible is because it is a one-bowl cake! Yes, you make it all in one bowl and then transfer it to a springform pan. You could make this in a cake pan, but honestly, the springform pan works better for this cake because of the removable bottom. With this cake's light and delicate texture, I fear it may not escape the removal of the pan otherwise. That's why the springform pan works best for this application.

This would be a perfect cake for Easter or Mother's Day. Light and airy. Simple and not heavy. It's for those kinds of holidays when you want something special but also low-pressure and that everyone will feel good about instead of...not so good about...later.

Enjoy, friends!

Almond Ricotta Cake

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Light, airy, simple - this almond ricotta cake recipe is perfect anytime, but especially as a lightly sweet treat for Easter or Mother's Day!

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Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 carton (15 oz.) whole-milk ricotta cheese
• ¾ cup sliced almonds
• Powdered sugar, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with ricotta. Spread the mixuture into a greased 9-in. springform pan and sprinkle with almonds.
2. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Loosen side from pan with a knife; remove rim from the pan. Allow cake to cool completely. if desired dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

Recipe Source: Taste of Home

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 307Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 133mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 1gSugar: 28gProtein: 6g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

The post Almond Ricotta Cake appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

These are not my grandmother's molasses cookies. I know some people say that and they mean it as they are better than their grandmother's fill-in-the-blank recipe. But I do not mean that. These are really, really good cookies, but they're not my grandmother's. I have scoured the internet. Asked my family for her recipe. I've come up empty-handed. My grandmother Ruth did not follow a recipe card. She made them from memory every time...and therefore her recipe is lost with her. That doesn't mean I'll stop hunting for it, though!

Molasses cookies, for some reason that I don't really understand, have a tendency to be dubbed a holiday cookie. Maybe it's the flavor of ginger that makes people think of Christmas trees, deep snowbanks, and crackling fires....that, for me, is not the case, though. When I was a very little girl (my grandmother died when I was still in elementary school), we used to go over to her house often. My memories of her involve her always holding a tissue in her hand or stuffed in a pocket. The red retro booster chair in the corner of her kitchen. Her basement that was fitted with couches and an old bar and a million odds and ends (I used to play shop down there). Her beautiful backyard with its green grass, rock wall, and shady trees. The beaded bell ornaments she put on her Christmas tree every year. Her creamy potatoes and peas. The children's book by the couch that featured a bulldozer going through a city. And of course, her molasses cookies that held up when dunked in a glass of milk...for a few seconds, at least.

The flavor, the look, and the predictability of always having one of her cookies when I came over to her house has stayed with me through to adulthood. So, whenever I see or eat a molasses cookie (I do realize a lot of people call them ginger cookies...that is NOT what we called them growing up), not only do I compare the cookie to hers, but I think of her, too.

Which is why I am featuring this cookie on the blog! This isn't her recipe, but the flavor is just about right. But the appearance is wrong! These beautiful molasses cookies have those lovely crackles all over the front, which my family kind of loves. Hers were solid. These are soft in the middle, a good uniformed thickness, not too thin, not too thick. Hers were thicker and almost had a bit of a dome over the top. These are soft in the middle with that delightful hint of crispness on the edge. Hers were soft all over. Soft center and soft edges. Both cookies are just sweet enough with the right amount of spice extracted from the ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

These are the ideal lunchbox cookie, the most delightful cookie and coffee combo, and the little sweet fix you want after dinner. And everybody loves them! I've made these cookies a ton of times and they rarely last 24 hours.

The bonus is that they don't take long to make or bake. These can be whipped up in as little as 30 minutes. Truly, a wonderful little cookie!

If you love gingersnaps (those are the harder, smaller version of these), or maybe you have some nostalgia around a ginger/molasses cookie, whip up a batch of these. Serve them to your kids, your grandkids, your neighbor's kids, your spouse, or just because. You never know - maybe this cookie will become a core memory for someone in your life, too!

Molasses Cookies

Yield: 2 dozen

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

These molasses cookies are the ideal lunchbox cookie, the most delightful cookie and coffee combo, and the sweet fix you want after dinner!

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Ingredients

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar + extra for rolling
• 1 large egg, room temp
• ¼ cup molasses
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and molasses. Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
2. Roll into 1 ½ -in. balls, then roll in additional sugar. Place 2 in. apart on a cookie sheet with a silpat or parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes until puffy and lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Notes

Recipe Slightly Adapted from Taste of Home

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 140Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 82mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

The post Molasses Cookies appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

I'm not going to lie. I love a good charcuterie board, a good cheese plate, a good appetizer. Our family has been known to many times make a beautiful charcuterie or cheese board for our family game nights. I have a post here for you in case you want some ideas on what to serve for a very informal cheese board that will go along with any game night.

I also like to make these kinds of boards, plates, or meals...whatever you want to call them...for lunch, too. Just yesterday, my 16-year-old daughter was craving a cheese board and I'll just say, the pickings were slim with what I had on hand to make it work. But she pulled a rabbit out of hat and presented a lovely little array of food for all the kids to enjoy during our read aloud time in school. Her creativity and determination blesses me!

I've made this baked brie with berry jam a few times for lunch, too, and it is a hit every time! And I guess one of the reasons I'm sharing some of these ways we like to enjoy meals like this is to showcase that it doesn't have to be made in advance for some fancy meal at home. It sure could, if you wanted. You could make this in advance while you're cooking up steak, or fish, or even a chicken dish. But my favorite way to enjoy something like this is casually because it is fairly simple to prepare, feeds a lot of hungry people at once, and it can be surprisingly filling and therefore take the spot of another meal entirely.

You could bake this in a pie plate like I've done or if you have a brie cheese warmer, that would work, too...but the lid might get messy due to the jam and almonds resting on top. I've tried it both ways and I personally prefer the pie plate method because you can add the crackers and fruit to surround the brie that's all warm and gooey in the middle.

Make sure you buy an 8 oz round of brie cheese and not a wedge. Trust me, as cute as a wedge is, if you're serving more than two people, it won't go very far. I think a lot of people believe a specialty cheese like this to be expensive, but honestly, it's not. You can find brie in virtually any American grocery store, certainly at Trader Joe's or Costco. You can buy higher quality or lower quality, though honestly imported French brie just isn't that expensive, amazingly (generally speaking). Just get the most affordable - it will be fine. An 8 oz round of brie will probably run you anywhere from $6.99 and up.

To make this dish even more delightful, flavorful, and filling, we're adding nuts - specifically sliced almonds. It just gives that perfect crunch factor without being an overwhelming bite in your mouth. Just don't forget the berries! Not only do the vibrant colors just look beautiful, but fruit and cheese go together like PB&J! I don't think you should have one without the other.

If you are indeed looking for a fun and exciting appetizer for whatever soiree you're throwing, this is perfect. It virtually makes itself. But if you want an easy and whimsy lunch for the kids to enjoy instead of oh let's say, PB&J - this is it! They will love it and think it is such a fun change from the ordinary. Enjoy!

Baked Brie with Berry Jam

Yield: Serves 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Looking to take your snack, lunch, or game night food up a notch without putting in extra work? This baked brie with berry jam is the answer!

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Ingredients

• 1 round (8 oz) Brie cheese
• ½ cup mixed berry jam
• ¼ cup sliced almonds
• Assorted crackers and berries for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cheese in a 9-in. pie plate. Top with jam and almonds. Bake until cheese is softned, 15-20 minutes. Serve with crackers and berries.

Notes

Recipe Source: Taste of Home

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 56Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 28mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

The post Baked Brie with Berry Jam appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

Happy St. Patrick's Day week everyone! How do you guys celebrate? Obviously, you have to wear green. Do green eyes count? I have green eyes and I was happy to pass those on to three of my five kiddos. I always tell them that they don't have to wear green because of their eyes. But Christian is always telling me that it doesn't count and that it is cheating. And of course, we eat something Irish.

I'm going to share my Irish Beef Stew down below, but if you're looking for other ideas to celebrate, I have to mention our Ultimate Guinness Sliders (they are so so good!) and these Minty Espresso Brownie Cupcakes! They will be a hit with your group!

Here's what is on the menu this week!

Crispy Fish Sandwich

Avoid the fast food drive thru with this buttery, flakey, and crispy fish sandwich. You’ll be surprised at how much healthier and better tasting this is and you’ll be wanting to make this at copycat version all the time.

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Sweet Potato Nachos with the Works

This fantastic, craveable sweet potato nachos recipe is absolutely bursting with flavor. You can dial the heat up or down, but make these!

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Slow-Cooker Irish Stew

This delicious and hearty stew slow cooker Irish stew recipe will (maybe?) have you imagining that you're sitting in an Irish Pub with the locals.

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Tex-Mex Taco Pasta

On the table in 30 minutes or less, this cheesy pasta is full of zesty spices and your favorite tex-mex ingredients!

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One Pan Roasted Rosemary Mustard Chicken

This easy, pantry-friendly recipe for One Pan Roasted Rosemary Mustard Chicken is tasty, affordable, and comes together quickly!

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Cherry Peach Smoothie

Looking for a yummy, pretty way to get some extra vitamins and maybe a little protein, too? Try this easy cherry peach smoothie recipe!

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Green Chile & Cheddar Cheese Scones

This easy recipe for Green Chile & Cheddar Cheese Scones is a perfect accompaniment to soups, chilis, and so many other warm, southwestern dishes!

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Irish Whiskey Mug Brownies

Whether you actually include the whiskey or not, these Irish Whiskey Mug Brownies are an easy, quick, and delightful microwave treat!

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If you need a few more St. Patrick's Day ideas, I have my Pinterest board for you to glance at again - so so many food options!

Have a great week, everyone!

The post Weekly Menu for the Week of Mar 10 appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

We've been making this recipe on repeat for probably over a month now. Every Wednesday night has somehow become salmon night! It is probably (without a doubt?) one of the fastest meals to prepare on my blog, but tastes like it took much longer to prepare.

I like dependable meals. Meals that you know are going to turn out perfectly every time you make them. Meals that have fairly straightforward, no fuss ingredients that are staples on hand. That's one of the reasons this recipe is perfect for us. I always have these ingredients on hand (except for the fresh thyme). And that actually has a pretty decent shelf-life, and so I can get away with buying it every two weeks... But I have actually started to have it on hand lately because we're always using it and it's good on everything!

Where do we buy our salmon? We almost always buy sockeye salmon from Costco. Typically, I buy two packages at a time, freeze one, and make the other one within one to two days of buying it. I find that buying salmon that way for our family of seven is way more cost effective than buying it weekly. If I can find a fillet that is almost two pounds, I snatch it up. Other salmon varieties I would recommend are Coho and Chinook salmon (though some Chinook is farm-raised, so you might keep an eye on that). You might also come across Copper River Salmon, from the eponymous river in Alaska. That's likely going to be some great sockeye, but could also be king or coho (also great!). But if you're at the store and you see any one of those names and wild-caught next to it, snatch those fishies up! I don't worry about fresh vs frozen - it takes a long time for frozen salmon to really begin to lose its flavor.

SKIP ATLANTIC SALMON. Just don't even buy it. It's farm-raised and while that sounds kind of nice, it's not. Farm-raised fish are raised on controlled diets of not great ingredients. They don't roam wild and they generally have a higher fat content and injections that give it a more appealing color.

Wild-Caught = YES
Farm-Raised = NO

Speaking of ounces. Did you know that in a 6 oz serving of sockeye salmon, there is about 34-36 grams of protein? And that's off of only about 200 or so calories! Hard to beat that exchange. Not only is that good for us adults as we age, but really good for our kids, too. Salmon packs a nutrient punch when you add to that amazing protein content all of those vitamins, minerals, and omega 3-fatty acids. I guess that's why they call it a super food!

To round out a delicious, slightly sweet and savory meal with this particular salmon recipe, you might ask what do I fix on the side to go with it? I'll tell you. I make huge sheet pans of vegetables. I've been buying a lot of broccoli lately, so there is usually a bunch of broccoli, potatoes (last night I used up the sweet potato and Yukons I had in the pantry), and carrots. I absolutely adore carrots as a side dish because they're so affordable and take on a lot of flavor without a lot of work. I roast the potatoes first at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes, sometimes I'll add the carrots to that pan. I drop the heat down to 400 degrees for the fish and I add the broccoli and cook the fish at 400 degrees for another 10-15 minutes.

Dinner is done! A whole, nutritious meal with sides in under 40 minutes!

If I can prep the vegetables ahead of time so I'm not rushing around at dinner time, I will. I usually already have the broccoli chopped (it lasts longer in the fridge if chopped). Potatoes...well, you kind of have to do potatoes at the last minute.

All of my kids really love this salmon - even Grace, who is not a fish lover, enjoys this recipe! It is a bit savory with the stone-ground mustard and thyme. But the maple syrup adds the tiniest hint of sweetness. Cadáin, our two-year-old, also loves this meal!

Give it a try the next time you buy salmon and let me know how you like it! Which...I promise you will! It's a fantastic weeknight meal!

Maple Mustard Salmon

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

If you're looking for an easy weeknight meal with 30+ grams of protein and some quick, healthy sides, try this maple mustard salmon recipe!

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Ingredients

• 2 ½ tablespoon stone-ground mustard
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2-3 cloves minced garlic
• ¼ teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 ½ lb. Sockeye Salmon Fillet, rinsed and pat dry
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Set aside.
2. Whisk together mustard, maple syrup, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme in a small bowl.
3. Season salmon on both sides with salt and pepper and brush with oil. Arrange salmon on prepared baking sheet (skin side down if fillet has skin.) Brush with mustard mixture. Bake until salmon flakes easily with a fork, 10-15 minutes.

Notes

Sockeye Salmon is the salmon we have the most readily available, but this recipe will work with any kind of salmon. I would highly recommend avoiding Atlantic Salmon as it is farmed seafood and the unhealthiest variety of salmon.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 222Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 315mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 31g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

The post Maple Mustard Salmon appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.

You guys, we had the most beautiful, briefest few days of spring. The temperature was in the mid-60's and we had blue skies and sun. I spent about an hour or so one day just working in the backyard, piling all of the dead leaves into our compost bin and weeding the areas that needed it. I had forgotten how much working in the yard can feel like therapy. We even grilled salmon and burgers over the weekend, which was the most perfect thing. We're back to clouds and rain this week, but I'm already anticipating more days like that in my future!

Since the weather is back to its usual self, my menu is back to its usual self. I'm retesting two different soups at home again this week, as well as a frittata dish I've been working on for the past few weeks. I'll link similar recipes for ya.

Here's what's on the menu this week:

Tuscan Tomato White Bean Soup

This flavorful, creamy Tuscan Tomato White Bean Soup recipe elevates traditional tomato soup in every way, and is perfect for the fall season!

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Chive & Goat Cheese Soufflé

Try something "gourmet" with this chive & goat cheese soufflé! You'll love the flavors...and having something different for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

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Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup

This easy slow-cooker split pea soup recipe is just the thing for a cold winter's night. It's warm, filling, and rustic, but doesn't pack on the calories.

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Irish Shepherd’s Pie

This Irish Shepherd's Pie uses the classic deep, rich flavor of Guinness to elevate this simple dish into a mouthwatering casserole recipe.

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Irish Mac & Cheese

What makes this creamy, flavorful Irish Mac & Cheese recipe Irish? Irish butter, two different Irish cheeses, and earthy, homey spices!

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Sweet Cream Pancakes

Fluffy & light, with a touch of sugar, vanilla, & creaminess in each bite, these sweet cream pancakes are a level up from traditional buttermilk flapjacks.

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Drop Biscuits

Buttery and flaky, these easy drop biscuits are not only quick to make but compliment just about any meal, too.

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Chocolate Guinness Cake

This Chocolate Guinness Cake is a rich, creamy dessert recipe infused with classic Irish stout. Try it this St. Patrick's Day!

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Did you notice I added a few Irish recipes into the menu? Our family happens to love these Irish recipes. I fully stand behind enjoying them the whole month, so of course I'll share my St. Patrick's Day Pinterest board but I also highly recommend you try this Irish Apple Butter Coffee Cake recipe out. It is beyond yum! Perfect to make if you're a homeschooler or a weekend breakfast. But if you're looking for dessert, I do love this Irish Apple Pie too. I don't know how "authentic" these recipes are, but I'm also of the opinion that...who cares? They're just fun to make and better to eat!

Have a great week, everyone! Daylight Savings is coming soon and so I'm going to trust that spring is also right around the corner!

The post Weekly Menu for the Week of Mar 3 appeared first on Catz in the Kitchen.