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Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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This Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich is everything that you want on a pizza in grilled cheese form! It’s the ultimate pizza sandwich recipe! 

Growing up we had a bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich at least once a week. As a mom now, I get that it was a cheap meal. Because of the frequency of this meal, it became something I have fond memories of now. I love making grilled cheese sandwiches for my girls, even though we don’t have them as often as I did growing up.

After we created a peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese, Andrew and I had an idea to create a series about gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. This pizza grilled cheese is the first in a series of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches we’ll be doing and we guarantee that by the end of the week, you’ll discover one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches you’ve ever had.

How to Make a Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese

This pizza grilled cheese sandwich has all of your favorite supreme pizza toppings. There’s sausage, pepperoni, and ham for meats. Then, for toppings, we included red onions, 5 types of peppers, spinach and mushrooms. Of course, there’s cheddar and mozzarella cheese, as well as marinara sauce.

We start by buttering up two skinny sandwich rounds and browning them in a skillet. Next, we layer all our ingredients and then put the grilled cheese in the oven until the cheese is melted. It cooks up beautifully and is so much fun.

The reason we cook the pizza grilled cheese in the oven versus all on the stove is because of the amount of ingredients.  It would be hard to get them all warm in a skillet before the bread burns, even when cooking on a low setting, so grilled cheese in the oven is the best option.

What sides to serve with a pizza grilled cheese sandwich?

This is a large sandwich by itself, but we know you’d love some side dish ideas for this grilled cheese recipe.

Any of these will pair perfectly with this pizza grilled cheese sandwich!

Pizza Grilled Cheese Recipe

5 from 2 votes
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Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

This Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich is everything that you want on a pizza in grilled cheese form! It's the ultimate pizza sandwich recipe! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Calories: 805 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 skinny sandwhich rounds
  • 1 italian sausage, cooked
  • 2 oz pepperoni, sliced thick or thin
  • 1/8 cup spinach
  • 1/8 cup mushroom slices
  • 1/4 red pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/4 green pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/4 yellow pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/4 orange pepper, sliced into two rounds
  • 1/8 cup banana peppers
  • 4 slices Mozzarella cheese
  • 4 slices Cheddar cheese
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees

  2. Cut cooked sausage in half lengthwise and then in half again. Set aside. 

  3. Spread butter on one side of each of the skinny sandwich rounds.

  4. Heat a skillet over medium and brown the sandwich rounds butter side down until a golden brown is reached (2-3 minutes). Remove from here

  5. On the none buttered side, layer all your ingredients. 

  6. Repeat with remaining sandwich. 

  7. Place both sandwiches on an oven safe baking sheet and cook for 7-10 minutes or until cheese has completely melted and ingredients are warmed. 

  8. Remove and serve. 

Recipe Notes

*This recipe uses raw peppers and mushrooms for the sandwich, feel free to cook before hand if desired. 

*Nutritional values are estimates. Please double check your own products before using. 

Nutrition Facts
Supreme Pizza Grilled Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)
Calories 805 Calories from Fat 603
% Daily Value*
Fat 67g103%
Saturated Fat 33g206%
Cholesterol 191mg64%
Sodium 1625mg71%
Potassium 477mg14%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 42g84%
Vitamin A 2340IU47%
Vitamin C 85.3mg103%
Calcium 706mg71%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas

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These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they’ll have you forgetting that you’re even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ProgressIsPerfection #CBias #CollectiveBias

Even though I loved dairy, when we had our first baby, Larisha had to go dairy free. Obviously, she wasn’t going to cook multiple meals when it was just her, I and a tiny newborn, so subsequently I went dairy free also. I was surprised how easy this little switch could be. I thought it was going to be miserable, but it was really quite simple. One of our favorite meals quickly became chicken, bean, and avocado quesadillas. Surprisingly, the avocado actually binds the tortilla shells together like cheese would do and it’s absolutely delicious!

How to make a dairy free baked chicken quesadilla?

First, we start by soaking the chicken in Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk for 30 minutes.  After that, we dredge the chicken in a combination of flour, bread crumbs, and taco seasoning. We then baked the chicken for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Then, it’s time to put the quesadilla together. The topping possibilities are endless, but the basic of this recipe is a 10″ tortilla, avocado, chicken, and black beans. Other toppings may include: salsa or tomatoes, jalapeños, corn, cilantro, onions, and more.

This one dairy-free recipe seriously made my transition to a healthier lifestyle of much easier! It’s a must have recipe. If you are also gluten-free, you can try this on a corn tortilla, but just be extra careful when flipping since corn tortillas never hold up as well as flour.

Making Life Easier

Another thing that has made parenting easier recently is learning about Walmart’s online grocery pick up. It’s completely free as long as you purchase at least $30 in groceries. I was able to easily choose everything I needed and schedule a time and day for my pickup. It’s available everyday from 8am-8pm at my location (check your location to verify hours). Once I arrived at Wal-mart, I found the large orange pick-up sign and pulled into a parking spot designated for pick-up. Once there, I was able to call and say that I was there and they brought all my items out to my car for me.

For our Dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas, we use Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk. It’s both dairy-free and lactose-free and has a great wholesome taste that our whole family loves. Feeling and eating healthier doesn’t have to be hard, and Silk’s Progress to Perfection helps along the way.  We’ve always touted our “semicruchyish” journey, where we believe everyone can make small steps towards a better, healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle and that’s just what this Silk program aims to accomplish.  That small victories are still victories. So start by swapping out your milk and you’re one step closer!

For our Wal-mart Online Grocery Pick-up we were able to get unsweetened almondmilk for our quesadilla recipe, along with dark chocolate almondmilk and Silk Vanilla Almond Dairy – Free Yogurt Alternative, which pairs great with fresh fruit on top!

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Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they'll have you forgetting that you're even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 quesadillas
Calories: 501 kcal
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp homemade taco seasoning
  • 4 10" flour tortillas
  • 2 avocados
  • 1 cup black beans
Optional Toppings
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1/2 cup red onions, diced
  • 1/2 cup salsa (or diced tomatoes)
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced thin
Instructions

  1. Soak cubed chicken in almond milk for 30 minutes. 

  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

  3. In a bowl, mix together the flour, breadcrumbs, and taco seasoning. 

  4. Drain any remaining almondmilk from the bowl after 30 minutes. Dredge the chicken cubes in the flour mixture and placed on a lightly greased baking sheet. 

  5. Baked chicken for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. 

  6. Remove from oven. 

  7. Using a fork, smash the avocados until no large chunks remain. 

  8. On one tortilla, spread 1/4 of the smashed avocados across the entire tortilla. 

  9. Add 1/4 of the baked chicken and 1/4 of the beans onto one side of the tortilla. 

  10. Add any optional toppings you may want. 

  11. Fold tortilla in half. 

  12. Place tortilla in a large skillet over medium low heat. 

  13. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Or until golden brown. 

  14. Remove and repeat the process with remaining ingredients. 

  15. Serve alongside a side of salsa. 

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are only estimates and do not include any optional toppings. 

Nutrition Facts
Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Amount Per Serving (1 quesadilla)
Calories 501 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 593mg26%
Potassium 938mg27%
Carbohydrates 56g19%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 225IU5%
Vitamin C 11.1mg13%
Calcium 233mg23%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this delicious Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadilla for later!  

Ultimate Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly

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The ultimate grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich will blow your mind.  Combining the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with grilled cheese using perfectly melting gouda cheese and adding in bacon for the ultimate decadent peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

grilled peanut butter and jelly

Sandwiches were a huge part of my childhood. They were really basic though. Grilled cheese. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ham and cheese.  You get it. Basic. As I grew up, and explored more in the kitchen, I decided to get more creative.  I used to creative these really random things that somehow just always went together.  One was a grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

peanut butter and jelly sandwich ideas

I know what you’re thinking. Peanut Butter and jelly sandwich with cheese doesn’t go together. But what’s the old saying, “Don’t knock it til you try it!” If you’ve never tried a grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly sandwich then you must. But wait. It gets better. Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich with cheese ANDDDD bacon. I promise it’s delicious.  Plus, it’s a great alternative to making your kids the same thing over and over again.

grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly

Does Peanut Butter and Cheese Go Together?

Absolutely peanut butter and cheese go together.  I’ve found it best to use a honey roasted or honey added peanut butter.  My favorite cheese to use is gouda, however, a sharp cheddar or brie is great too depending on what kind of cheese you like.

grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich

How do you make a Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly?

Luckily, it’s insanely easy to make with grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich with cheese and bacon. Take two slices of your desired bread. Spread peanut butter on one side and jelly on one side of second slice. Then, add sliced cheese and cooked bacon. Put two slices of bread together. Next, spread softened, unsalted butter on one outside side of the sandwich. Lay sandwich, butter side down, on a skillet over medium low heat. Now, butter the non-buttered side that is facing up.  When the bottom side gets golden brown, flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until that side is also golden brown.  Serve immediately.

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Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly with Bacon
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

The ultimate grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich will blow your mind.  Combining the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with grilled cheese using perfectly melting gouda cheese and adding in bacon for the ultimate decadent peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

Course: Lunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 sandwich
Calories: 844 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2 slice cinnamon raisin bread
  • 2 tbsp grape jam
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 slice cooked bacon broken in half
  • 1 slice gouda cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
Instructions

  1. Take two slices of your desired bread. Spread peanut butter on one side and jelly on one side of second slice. 

  2. Then, add sliced cheese and cooked bacon. Put two slices of bread together. 

  3. Next, spread 1 tbsp butter on one outside side of the sandwich.

  4.  Lay sandwich, butter side down, on a skillet over medium low heat. 

  5. Use remaining butter and spread on the non-buttered side that is facing up. 

  6. Cook 2-3 minutes. 

  7. When the bottom side gets golden brown, flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until that side is also golden brown. 

  8. Serve immediately. 

Nutrition Facts
Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly with Bacon
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 844 Calories from Fat 522
% Daily Value*
Fat 58g89%
Saturated Fat 26g163%
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 734mg32%
Potassium 405mg12%
Carbohydrates 61g20%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 880IU18%
Vitamin C 3.5mg4%
Calcium 258mg26%
Iron 2.3mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich with Bacon today! 

peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese with bacon

The Best Homemade French Fries

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If you’ve ever wondered how do you make homemade french fries, the wait is over. Try out easy homemade french fries recipe in the air fryer or oven, including a homemade french fry seasoning blend.  

best french fries recipe

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. You shop the same but we earn a small commission from sales. 

I really can’t believe that it took me more than 25 years to figure out, but since making homemade french fries for the first times, I’ve made them dozens of times since.  We actually prefer this homemade french fries recipe over store-bought fries. Our whole family devours them every time we make them!

Since we’ve began trying to make more and more of our foods from scratch, these easy homemade french fries are one of our favorite recipes.  Not only does it save me a ton of money overall, but I know exactly what ingredients are in my food, which for me feeding two growing kids, this is very important to me.  I’m determined to make better choices for our family on a daily basis with each day being better than the day before.

how to make homemade french fries

How do you to make homemade french fries?

Homemade french fries are incredible easy, almost too easy.  It’s a great recipe to make with kids in the kitchen to learn their way around too. To make the best homemade french fries recipe, you need to simply slice potatoes into your desired size.  Smaller for shoestring french fries and larger for steak fries.  The key is that you want to get them all the same size so they cook evenly.

We make our homemade french fries in the air fryer; however, if you want to make know how to make homemade french fries in the oven we’ll explain that below as well. We prefer the air fryer for the best homemade french fries because there’s no preheating oven, no greasy mess, you have the crispiest, most delicious french fries ever.

french fry seasoning

What is the best homemade french fry seasoning?

We have a delicious all-purpose seasoning that started out as a homemade chicken spice rub, but has morphed itself into an everything seasoning.  This seasoning blend combo is the best homemade french fry seasoning you’ll find around!

how to make french fries in an air fryer

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Best Homemade French Fries
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

If you've ever wondered how do you make homemade french fries, the wait is over. Try out easy homemade french fries recipe in the air fryer or oven, including a homemade french fry seasoning blend.  

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 87 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
Instructions

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into strips approximately 1/4 inch wide (size depends on how large you want your fries - fatter fries take longer to bake).

  2. Add potatoes, olive oil, and seasoning mix to a bowl and stir until well combined.

  3. Add your seasoned potatoes to the basket of an Air Fryer*.

  4. Cook for 30-35 mins at 392 degrees F, flipping every 10 mins.

Recipe Notes

Larger cut fries will need additional time.

**If you do not have an Avalon Bay Air Fryer - you can cook these in a single layer on an oven sheet following the same directions above.  

Nutrition Facts
Best Homemade French Fries
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 87
% Daily Value*
Sodium 57mg2%
Potassium 464mg13%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 3g13%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Vitamin C 12.1mg15%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 3.5mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

We hope you love this easy homemade french fries recipe just as much as we do! While you are making the best homemade french fries recipe, don’t forget that you can work on zero waste! Instead of throwing away the peels from the potatoes, throw them into a skillet about an inch high with vegetable oil over medium heat.  Fry them for approximately 7 minutes.  Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with some course salt. Delish crisp “potato chips” skins! The kids go crazy over this!

zero waste potato skins

What is the best French Fry Dipping Sauce?

We are obsessed with dipping our homemade french fries in our homemade honey mustard BBQ sauce.

french fry dipping sauce

We also love regular homemade bbq sauce.

french fry dipping sauce

For a spicy kick and non-traditional alternative, this homemade avocado dip is delish with fries!

french fry dip

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easy french fries recipe

This post was originally posted on 3/4/2015. Same great recipe, but our photography has greatly improved. Old images below!

homemade french frieshomemade fries

Hatfield Calzones

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These Hatfield ham and sausage calzones are delicious homemade calzones perfect for any time of day! Endless possibilities with this calzone recipe!

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HatfieldEaster #CollectiveBias

ham and sausage calzones

Growing up, pizza wasn’t really a staple in our home. Curry, jerk, exotic to Americans fruit…those were the staples.  We didn’t have sausage and ham often, and homemade pizzas never happened. Rarely, we maybe had pizza take-out. Growing up Jamaican, we didn’t have a lot of traditional American foods. When I went away to college at West Virginia University, I didn’t have anyone to cook for me.  American styled foods were the norm. Between dorm food and fast food, it’s pretty much all I had.

College is also where I tried my first calzone.  It was great because I could walk and eat it without worrying about toppings falling off.  When I met Larisha and she knew how to make these from scratch, I didn’t believe her. Then, she showed me and we’ve made endless varieties since then.

Homemade calzones are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, after school snack, and quick dinners on the road! You get the point. There’s really not a time that a calzone wouldn’t be good ever.

how to make a calzone

What is a calzone?

A calzone is pizza dough that has been folded over and baked after ingredients have been put inside of it. Typically, it’s filled with meat and cheese. Sauce is always served on the side of calzones and never inside of it.

These particular ham and sausage calzones are combined with peppers, garlic powder, and cheese. The flavor impact from these few ingredients is insanely delicious. It makes for an amazing recipe after Easter if you have leftover ham!

We make our ham and sausage calzones with Hatfield Recipe Essentials Sweet Italian Ground Sausage and leftover Hatfield Original Ham. Hatfield Recipe Essentials are simple, flavorful, pork that add flavor to your dishes. The Hatfield brand character is high quality, trustworthy, knowledgeable, family oriented, American-owned, value-based company.

ham and sausage calzone recipes

How do you make a calzone?

If you are wondering how to make a calzone, you’ve come to the right place.  The first step is to make homemade pizza dough or grab some store bought.  Separate it into equal pieces and then rolls into a ball.  Once you have balls, you want to roll them out into approximately 6″ circles.  Note: calzones can be any size but 6″ is the perfect handheld size for on the go. It’s vital that your dough is even and not thin in any one place or you risk your dough breaking.

Then, places your ingredients on one side of your circle. Afterwards, fold the empty side over and using a fork, seal the edges together.  Next, brush with butter and bake in an oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve alongside sauce.

ham calzones after easter recipes

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Hatfield Ham and Sausage Calzones
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

These ham and sausage calzones are delicious homemade calzones perfect for any time of day! Endless possibilities with this calzone recipe! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 8 calzones
Calories: 435 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 pizza dough
  • 3/4 lb Hatfield Sweet Italian Ground Sausage, cooked
  • 3/4 lb Hatfield Original uncured ham, diced
  • 1 cup bell peppers, mixed colors
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

  2. In a bowl, combine sausage, ham, peppers, garlic powder, and pepper. 

  3. Separate pizza dough into 8 equal balls. 

  4. Roll out one ball into a 6" circle. 

  5. Place 1/8 of the mixture on one side of the circle. 

  6. Fold empty side over and using a fork seal the edges of the calzone. 

  7. Place on a baking sheet and repeat with remaining ingredients.

  8. Once all calzones have been made up, brush melted butter across all of them.

  9. Place in oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. 

  10. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. 

  11. Serve alongside honey mustard bbq sauce.

Recipe Notes

Do not roll out more than one ball at a time or the dough will stick to the surface. Make one at a time.

Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce is not included in nutritional facts.

Nutrition Facts
Hatfield Ham and Sausage Calzones
Amount Per Serving (1 calzone)
Calories 435 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 85mg28%
Sodium 1361mg59%
Potassium 290mg8%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 955IU19%
Vitamin C 24.1mg29%
Calcium 217mg22%
Iron 2.7mg15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Hatfield Recipe Essentials come in the following varieties: Hot Italian Ground Sausage, Sweet Italian Ground Sausage, Ground Pork, Chorizo Ground Sausage and Country Ground Sausage, Tex-Mex Pork Strips and Simply Pork Strips. Grab them at your local store today!

hatfield recipe essentials

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easy calzones recipe

How to Make Mango Salsa

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If you’ve ever wondered how to make mango salsa, this easy mango salsa recipe is for you! We use all fresh ingredients for the best mango salsa recipe you’ll find! 

how to make mango salsa

Growing up, all our salsa came in a jar. It was always mild, even though everyone in the house that ate salsa, would have preferred a bit more heat. My mom thinks black pepper is too spicy, so nothing “too spicy” was ever allowed in our house.  True story: Whenever we went to a Mexican restaurant growing up, she ordered pizza and french fries off the kids menu because everything else was too spicy. ::insert eye roll::

mango salsa recipe

It actually took me going to college before I would really be able to venture out on my own and try new things, flavor combinations, and ethnic cuisines.  I learned things I did and did not like during this time. Thankfully, all this prepared me for the wonderful and amazing dishes that I would become accustom to eating with Andrew’s family. Delicious recipes like jerk chicken, oxtail, and curry goat became the norm for me. One day Andrew’s mom made salmon with mango salsa. It was amazing. I couldn’t get enough of it. Since then, I’ve put mango on a ridiculous amount of things and every time I wonder why I don’t make it more often.

best mango salsa recipe

What Is Mango Salsa?

Mango Salsa is similar to a traditional easy salsa recipe, but swapping the tomatoes for mangoes.  In this fresh mango salsa recipe we combined diced mangoes, red onion, jalapeños, cilantro, red peppers, and lime juice. It is the perfect mango salsa recipe for fish, including our own fish tacos with mango salsa and avocado lime sauce. 

fresh mango salsa recipe

How Do You Make Mango Salsa?

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How to Make Mango Salsa
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

If you've ever wondered how to make mango salsa, this easy mango salsa recipe is for you! We use all fresh ingredients for the best mango salsa recipe you'll find! 

Course: Condiments, Sauces
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 16
Calories: 21 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 3 cups mangoes, diced (~2 whole mangoes)
  • 1/2 red onion, diced finely
  • 1 jalapeño, deseed and diced finely
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (just the leaves)
  • 1 juice of lime
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced finely
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Stir until very well combined.
  3. Place in fridge until needed.
Nutrition Facts
How to Make Mango Salsa
Amount Per Serving (0.25 cup)
Calories 21
% Daily Value*
Potassium 69mg2%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Sugar 4g4%
Vitamin A 495IU10%
Vitamin C 18.3mg22%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Ready to try this recipe? Grab our Fish Tacos Recipe with Mango Salsa and Avocado Lime Sauce 

fish tacos with mango salsa

 Pin this Mango Salsa Recipe for later!

mango salsa easy recipe

Chicken Quinoa Bowl

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This Chicken Quinoa Bowl is a healthy alternative to rice bowls and a great, protein packed dinner option!

Disclosure: This Chicken Quinoa Bowl shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Mazola® Corn Oil. All opinions are mine alone. #SimpleSwap #CollectiveBias

chicken quinoa bowl

Since having kids, our life has been all “semicrunchyish”. It’s where we are working to make small changes one at a time to live a better and healthier life. This lifestyle is also teaching our children to make healthier choices from the start. One easy swap we made was to stop deep frying things and using butter so often. When cooking chicken like in this chicken quinoa bowl, we use an oil, like Mazola® Corn Oil, for grilling indoors. You only need a small amount. A clinical study showed Mazola Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, see Mazola.com.

Another easy swap came a few years ago when Larisha told me she was making quinoa for dinner. Keen-What? She was all, “Don’t worry, it’s fine.” Whenever she says that, I know to worry. Dinner is usually going to end up being eggs or a smoothie because she’s experimenting and well, I don’t like experiments. Surprisingly, this “keen-wha” turned out delicious.

We’ve been eating quinoa for awhile now since then and we actually prefer it to other starches. It was one of the first changes that we made to living a less indulgent life and it’s completely stuck with us. What we’ve found works best is to make small changes and swaps one by one instead of drastic shifts. This helps to get used to things gradually instead of suddenly so much and it becoming overwhelming.

cooking healthier meals

How Long Does It Take To Cook Quinoa?

One of the reasons we love this chicken quinoa bowl we’re sharing with you today is because you can cook it fast. Traditionally, rice takes upwards of 40 minutes. However, quinoa can be ready in as little as 15 minutes. You always want to rinse quinoa to remove the coating. The coating can make quinoa taste soapy or sometimes bitter depending on your taste buds and no one wants that. Then, you have two options:

how to make a quinoa bowl

  1. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa to 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Then, let cook for 15-20 minutes (until no liquid is remaining).
  2. Our preferred method is to toast the quinoa and add some flavor. Using a bit of oil, like Mazola Corn Oil, sauté onions and garlic for 2 minutes. Add in the rinsed quinoa and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Then, add chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. And let cook for 15-20 minutes (until no liquid is remaining).

easy chicken quinoa bowl

Chicken Quinoa Bowl

This recipe is a great way to make a better-for-you dish this New Year. Perfectly cooked quinoa is topped with chicken seasoned and grilled in corn oil. Paired alongside are black beans, your favorite fresh slaw recipe, corn salsa, avocado, and cilantro. To top it off, a few fresh squeezes of lime juice to have the absolutely perfect dish. Quinoa boosts higher dietary fiber and protein than white or brown rice making it healthier for you. Using a low-sodium chicken broth to cook the quinoa adds in flavor with the added salt content.   Additionally, cooking the chicken in a bit of corn oil versus butter or another fat and grilling instead of frying yields a healthier meal all around.

simple chicken quinoa bowl recipe

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Chicken Quinoa Bowl
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp Mazola® Corn Oil divided
  • 1/2 cup sweet onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 lb chicken breasts cubed or small slices
  • 1 tbsp chicken rub seasoning
  • Optional Toppings: corn salsa fresh slaw, avocado slices, black beans, chopped red pepper, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, lime wedges, corn vinaigrette or dressing
Instructions
  1. In a sauce pan, add 1 tbsp corn oil on medium heat.
  2. Add in the onion and garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
  3. Add in the rinsed quinoa and stir constantly to toast for 2 more minutes.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
  5. Add lid and reduce heat to simmer for 15-20 minutes until no cooking liquid remains.
  6. While quinoa is cooking, season cut chicken breasts with chicken rub seasoning.
  7. In a grill pan, heat remaining tbsp of corn oil on medium heat.
  8. Add chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes or until chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165.
To Assemble Your Chicken Quinoa Bowl
  1. First layer quinoa on the bottom of your bowl.
  2. Then, add your chicken.
  3. Next, add your desired toppings. In the photos shown, we used a fresh broccoli slaw, corn salsa, black beans, cilantro, avocado slices, and topped with lime juice and a sweet corn vinaigrette.

Mazola® Corn Oil can be found nationwide. It’s made of 100% pure oil with no additives. It’s also cholesterol free making it better-for-you. One of the best things about using a cooking oil is that its smoke point is 450°F. This mean that it’s great for high heat applications like stir-fry or sautéing. The 40 oz. bottle can be found in most major grocery stores, so head to your local store and grab a bottle today.

chicken quinoa bowl with mazola

Easy Alaska Salmon Burgers Recipe

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This Easy Salmon Burgers Recipe will have you feeling like it’s summer outside all year round.  Super simple and easy salmon recipe that’s sure to impress. 

This post was sponsored by Alaska Seafood as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Salmon Burgers Recipe

We eat Alaska salmon weekly around here.  Admittedly, sometimes it’s been more than once a week.  We just love the lightness of salmon and the versatility of the meat to be transformed in so many ways. Plus, it’s recommended that the average Americans consumes 8 ounces of seafood per week. However, we typically tend to fall back on a handful of recipes, like our Honey Citrus Salmon.

It’s really important that you get Alaska salmon. Why? Because all Alaska salmon is wild-caught.  You want to make sure that you are not buying farmed salmon. Don’t worry, this isn’t difficult. We’ve found frozen Alaska salmon everywhere from Aldi to Target, but a quality fish market will have Alaska salmon too!

how to shred salmon

We’ve been wanting to switch up some dishes for the new year and what better way than to make it into a burger. Salmon Burgers are easy to make and not something to be fearful off.  If you successfully make other burgers, than you can make this too.

salmon burgers    alaska salmon recipes

How do you cook salmon burgers?

Just like any other burger, with salmon burgers you want to flavor the meat with a variety of seasonings, as well as eggs and breadcrumbs for your binding. This easy salmon burgers recipe has just 10 ingredients, so it’s super fast to make and combine together.

Once your mixture is combined, you separate into equal portion sizes.  These would be so fun as mini sliders too! Then you toss on the grill or a skillet on the stove and bake them for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side.  As with all fish, you are going to an internal temperature of 145 degrees.

salmon burger sauce

While this easy salmon burgers recipe is very easy to make, you do want to be mindful of cooking.  Exposing salmon burgers to unnecessary heat for an extended amount of time could cause the burger to actually be dry.  And no one likes a dry burger. 

how do you cook salmon burgers

What do you eat on a salmon burger?

It’s a burger! You top it with whatever you want! But in all seriousness, we went for really simple but impactful ingredient toppings for our salmon burgers.  Tomato, lettuce, and a cool lime sauce (recipe below). Truth moment: my kid asked for ketchup on it and I obliged b/c no one has time for arguing with a tiny dictator.  

what do you eat on a salmon burger

I’d also recommend red onions, mashed avocado, or cabbage. There are so many possibilities.

Pin it for later! Just hover over the Easy Salmon Burgers recipe image below and click Pin!

easy way to make salmon burgers

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Easy Salmon Burgers Recipe
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Alaska salmon
  • 3/4 cup Panko crumbs
  • 1/2 cup red pepper finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • * 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • salt pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 burger buns
  • Optional toppings: lettuce tomato, red onion, avocado, lime sauce (1/4 cup plain greek yogurt + 1 lime - recipe below)
Instructions
  1. Remove skin, if any, from salmon.
  2. Using two forks, shred the salmon apart into pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, add salmon pieces, panko crumbs, red pepper, parmesan cheese, egg, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  4. Combine really well.
  5. Separate the mixture into 4 equal parts and form into patty shape.
  6. Let patties sit for 10 minutes.
  7. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium low heat.
  8. Depending on skillet size, add burgers all at once or in batches, making sure not to overcrowd burgers.
  9. Cook for 4 minutes on each side.
  10. Remove and add desired toppings to patties.
  11. For lime sauce - combine 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt with zest and juice of one lime. Stir until combined. Use immediately or store in air tight container for up to 3 days.

These products may help you with this recipe:


VISIT WWW.WILDALASKASEAFOOD.COM FOR EVEN MORE RECIPES! 

Then head out to the store and look for Alaska on your packaging!

where to find wild caught salmon

Visit Alaska Seafood Online:

Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad

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This Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad is a delicious and light salad meal that pear well with a Citrus Vinaigrette.

Disclosure: This Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DonVictorHoney #HappyHealthyHoney #CollectiveBias

pear pomegranate and honeycomb salad

My biggest goal in life is showing my girls how to live a great life. How to make the best choices and always feel a sense of pride when you complete your goals. Shortly before we had our first daughter, I was diagnosed with pre-hypertension. I felt at first like I was doomed. Then, we had our daughter and I knew I had to fight harder than I ever had before. I was prescribed a medication for my condition, but I knew pretty early on in this journey, that I wanted to come off that medication. I was advised that weight loss, exercise, and better eating habits could all aid in that dream becoming reality.

Fast forward, and we now have a five and a two year old. I’m no longer on that medication. At the start of 2016, I vowed to do even better. Get even healthier. Show my girls what great exercise and eating habits looked like.

Turning a New Page

We’re heading into 2018 and I’m determined to live an even more amazing lifestyle. Larisha and I’s journey has always been about small changes to get to a healthier life versus drastic all at once.  We know that we are more likely to maintain our goals if we accomplish them this way. I’m successfully at a point where I’m happy with the way I look and feel and now it’s just about maintaining my current lifestyle while implementing more small changes to get even healthier.

Looking for small, better-for-me changes

One thing that I started doing about mid-year is eating a salad for dinner one night a week.  Typically, I’ve always just done lettuce, cheese, sunflower seeds, and croutons. It’s not really unhealthy, but it’s not really providing me with any benefits either.  Larisha and I began playing around with flavor combinations and I’m loving this Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad. It’s delicious and wholesome, as well as the crunch that I’d typically search for from croutons.

how do you use honeycomb

We’ve been using raw, natural honey for a while now, but never actually eaten the honeycomb. Now, it’s easily available at your local Walmart with Don Victor® Orange Blossom Comb Honey Globe Jar. Honeycomb is a guilt-free sweet and with Don Victor® Honey, you can get the superior taste at a cost affordable price.

spring salad ideas

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Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

This Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad is a delicious vegetarian main dish salad recipe. It uniquely features honeycomb for an added crunch. 

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 242 kcal
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Pull the honeycomb out of the Don Victor® honey jar.
  2. Chop 1/2 of the honeycomb into pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, chopped honeycomb, pomegranate, feta and pears.
  4. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of honey.
  5. Store leftover Don Victor® honey in a cool, dry place.
  6. Serve alongside a citrus vinaigrette or your other favorite dressing.
Nutrition Facts
Pear Pomegranate and Honeycomb Salad
Amount Per Serving (3.5 cups)
Calories 242 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 33mg11%
Sodium 466mg20%
Potassium 439mg13%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 32g36%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 5785IU116%
Vitamin C 19.9mg24%
Calcium 251mg25%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

summer salad recipes

Don Victor® Honey is raw, filtered honey, and not heated or processed in any other way. Learn more by following along on Facebook and Pinterest.

can you eat honeycomb

In addition to our salad, you can spread honeycomb on toast, pancakes, biscuits and more. Heating will make it soft to spread along the bread even though it doesn’t melt. You will love the aroma from the honey. Don Victor® honey is the perfect complement to new and more conscious recipes for the New Year. Buy one for yourself and buy one for someone else. Don Victor® Honey is found at Walmart in the Hispanic aisle. Head to your local store to grab today. We look forward to creating a more wholesome journey with you in the New Year!

Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki Sauce

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Disclosure: This Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki Sauce shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeasonYourHolidays #CollectiveBias

Contrary to what Larisha might tell you, I’m actually the better of us in the kitchen. Just because I don’t do it often, I blame work, I can actually make my way around the kitchen really well.  And just an aside, the kids think my cooking is better too, but hey, we don’t have to agree or anything on that either.  Let me stop before I have to sleep on the couch for the next few nights.

We were recently discussing what to take to our holiday get together in a few weeks and decided that we would make Coconut Shrimp with sweet teriyaki sauce.  Whenever we see family for the holidays, there’s always an abundance of food for dinner, but when you get there a few hours early, some appetizers are nice to have on hand. I mean, a man is hungry and the smell of dinner has my belly making flips. Feed me!

A spin on coconut shrimp. 

Typically, we’re always given a pina colada sauce with coconut shrimp, but one time at a restaurant, Larisha accidentally dipped her coconut shrimp in the teriyaki sauce and fell in love.  Ever sense, she loves the combination together. The deep soy sauce flavor with garlic mixed in with the sweet bits of coconut just add a great flavor combination. Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki sauce is the perfect dish for whatever the occasion.

For this recipe, we start by heading to our local Walmart and grabbing Kikkoman® Less Sodium soy sauce for a healthier recipe and Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumbs (Japanese Style).  These are a must if you are making this recipe. Don’t worry the Less Sodium variety doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor, it’s still amazing.  Kikkoman® also has a variety of Gluten-Free products certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). You’ll be able to find the Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumbs in the breading aisle (usually next to the spices) rather than an Asian section that your store may have.

Once we’re home, it’s time to put everything together.  The sweet coconut fried with the crunch of the bread crumbs and then dipped in the sweet teriyaki sauce is just enough to make my mouth water thinking about the holidays coming up when I can have them again.  They are the perfect appetizer to take with your or even a great dish for a brunch this holiday season.  Grab the recipe below!

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Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Teriyaki Sauce
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
For Shrimp
  • 2-3 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 cup Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumb
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 20 large shrimp pre-cooked
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Pinch pink salt
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs beaten
For Sweet Teriyaki Sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp ginger minced
  • 1/2 cup Kikkoman® Less Sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tea cornstarch mixed w/ 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp ACV
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
Instructions
For Shrimp
  1. In a flat baking dish, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and pink salt. Stir to combine.
  2. In another flat baking dish, combine Kikkoman® Panko Bread Crumbs and coconut.
  3. In a third dish or bowl, beat the eggs.
  4. One at a time, dredge shrimp first in the flour mixture, then into the beaten eggs, and lastly into the coconut mixture.
  5. Place on a plate. Repeat with each shrimp.
  6. Place the vegetable oil In a medium size pot, over medium high heat.
  7. Once it's hot enough to fry, add shrimp and fry until evenly golden brown. 2-4 minutes.
  8. Transfer to a plate lined with a towel to soak up any remaining grease.
  9. Repeat until all the shrimp have been cooking.
For Sauce
  1. Add all sauce ingredients to a small pot.
  2. Bring to boil.
  3. Turn to low and simmer for 8 minutes.
  4. Add cornstarch and water mixture and stir to combine.
  5. Let heat through for 1-2 minutes and then remove from heat.
  6. Serve with finished coconut shrimp.

For all your holiday entertaining needs, keep Kikkoman® in mind.  There are currently Ibotta deals for $.50 of Kikkoman® Soy Sauce or Kikkoman® Panko bread crumbs available now.  Love our coconut shrimp with sweet teriyaki sauce and now need even more holiday inspiration?  Check our other Kikkoman® inspired holiday creations.

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