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3 Ingredient Cinnamon Simple Syrup

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We love to use simple syrup in our cocktails and tea! Then the other day I thought “I might like to infuse some simple syrup with a little cinnamon” …as we are currently obsessed with cocktails flavored with cinnamon! This recipe for Cinnamon Simple Syrup is so tasty and warm. You just need three ingredients to make Cinnamon Simple Syrup; water, sugar and cinnamon sticks.

Cinnamon Simple Syrup in a jar with cinnamon sticks to the side

The cinnamon flavor is excellent paired with Aรฑejo tequila, like in this Cinnamon Lemon Drop Cocktail! Can be used in place of the honey in this Tequila Hot Toddy. Or exchange the agave syrup in this Grilled Lemon and Reposado Tequila cocktail (our favorite!!!).

Ingredients

Sugar: White granulated sugar is what you are looking for when making this cinnamon infused simple syrup.

Water: Just water from your tap will do, no need for anything fancy here!

Cinnamon Sticks: You can buy whole cinnamon sticks in the spice aisle at your grocery store. Some stores like Sprouts or Whole Foods may even have them in bulk so you can just buy 3 at a time.

raw cinnamon sticks

Ideas for Using Cinnamon Simple Syrup

Lemonade: Great to sub in this Lemonade Recipe!

Cinnamon Spiced Coffee: Add a splash of cinnamon simple syrup to your morning coffee for a delightful spiced flavor. It’s a cozy twist to your regular cup of joe.

Cocktail Mixer: Use cinnamon simple syrup as a sweetener in cocktails. It pairs well with tequila, whiskey, rum, or vodka-based drinks, adding a warm and aromatic touch.

Tequila Lemon Drop made with cinnamon Simple syrup in a stemmed glass with a cinnamon stick on the side

Baking Enhancer: Brush cinnamon simple syrup onto cakes, muffins, or pastries to add sweetness and a hint of cinnamon flavor. It also helps keep baked goods moist.

Fruit Salad Dressing: Drizzle cinnamon simple syrup over fresh fruit salads for a touch of sweetness and warmth. It complements fruits like apples, pears, and oranges beautifully.

Mocktail Ingredient: Create non-alcoholic beverages by mixing cinnamon simple syrup with sparkling water or soda. Garnish with a cinnamon stick for an extra touch of flavor and aroma.

hot toddy made with tequila in a stemmed glass

Ice Cream Topping: Pour warm cinnamon simple syrup over vanilla ice cream for a simple yet indulgent dessert. It adds a lovely contrast of temperatures and flavors.

Flavoring for Yogurt or Oatmeal: Stir cinnamon simple syrup into plain yogurt or oatmeal for a sweet and spiced breakfast treat. It’s a quick and easy way to elevate your morning meal.

Dipping Sauce for Churros: Serve cinnamon simple syrup alongside freshly fried churros for dipping. The combination of warm syrup and crispy dough creates a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.

More Simple Syrup Recipes

Cinnamon Simple Syrup in a jar with cinnamon sticks to the side

Cinnamon Simple Syrup Recipe

A super easy recipe for Cinnamon Infused Simple Syrup. Great to use in coffee, lattes, cocktails, teas and even food! Just 3 Ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
steeping and cooling: 2 hours
Servings: 1 cup
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • jar with a lid or container for storage

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 3-4 cinnamon sticks

Instructions
 

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat add the sugar and water. Stir and heat through until the sugar is melted.
    1 cup sugar, 1 cup water
  • Crack the cinnamon sticks in half, allowing more flavor to infuse the simply syrup. Drop into the simple syrup and very lightly simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
    3-4 cinnamon sticks
  • Remove from the heat and allow to cool and steep for 2-4 hours. Stir occasionally if possible.
  • Remove the cinnamon sticks and pour into a bottle or jar with a lid and refrigerate for up to 3 months.

Using Cinnamon Simple Syrup

  • Use in drinks, cocktails, teas, and even with food like drizzled over fruits or granola and yogurt!
  • Make this Tequila Cinnamon Lemon Drop right away!

Recipe Tips and Notes:

ย 
Classic Simple Syrup recipe
1 Minute Microwave Simple Syrup
ย 
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Chocolate Chip Protein Balls

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This is a super easy, no-bake protein ball snack filled with healthy ingredients, that still taste good when all combined! Old fashioned oats, hemp hearts, ground flax seed and chocolate chips are mixed with creamy peanut butter and honey. The mixture can be rolled into delicious little balls that tastes like chocolate chip oatmeal cookie dough!

protein balls on a piece of parchment paper

I love having these in the fridge. It is a great go-to sweet treat after lunch or dinner, that isn’t overly sweet or bad for you!

RELATED: CARAMEL APPLE NACHOS and MONSTER TRAIL MIX

Ingredients

Hemp Hearts- I love hemp hearts they are chewy and good for you. I will add them to yogurt and fruit sometimes too. Keep them in your fridge and they will last a long time!

Oats- Old fashioned oats (not quick cooking oats) is what you want for this protein ball recipe.

Mini Chocolate Chips- I think that mini chocolate chips work better than traditional sized chocolate morsels in these small bite sized snacks.

chocolate chip protein ball dough in a bowl

Creamy Peanut Butter- Use any nut butter that you family loves. We happened to have Jif peanut butter when I made these, but anything should work.

Ground Flaxseed- This not only helps bind the protein balls together, ground flax is really good for you. And if you have kids (or adults) with potty troubles, this will get things moving.

Keep in your fridge and add to smoothies too!

Honey- Adds a little sweetness and helps stick everything together.

Vanilla- A little flavor enhancer.

More Snacks

Chocolate Chip Protein Ball in a bowl

Chocolate Chip Protein Ball Recipe

A delicious little snack ball that is filled with protein and healthy ingredients. It tastes like chocolate chip oatmeal cookie dough.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Refrigerate: 30 minutes
Servings: 15 protein balls
Calories: 173kcal
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Place all the ingredients in a bowl and stir to mix and completely combine.
    1 cup old fashioned oats, ยผ cup hemp hearts, ยฝ cup creamy peanut butter, ยฝ cup ground flaxseed, ยฝ cup mini chocolate chips, โ…“ cup honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, pinch ground cinnamon
    chocolate chip protein ball dough in a bowl
  • Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Scoop about tablespoon size balls using spoons or melon baller/cookie scoop. Compress together with the palms of your hand, then lightly roll into smooth ping pong sized balls.
    protein balls on a piece of parchment paper
  • Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
    Can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temp for about an hour or so.
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Serving: 1protein ball | Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg

Aperol Tequila Spritz Cocktail

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I love an Aperol Spritz but I also love tequila… So this Aperol Tequila Spritz Cocktail is the perfect compromise for Happy Hour. It is a blend of just three ingredients; Aรฑejo tequila, Aperol, and soda water. The Aรฑejo tequila flavor blends perfectly with the orange bitter sweetness of the Aperol… and of course the soda water keeps things nice and bubbly.

Aperol Tequila Spritz in a stemmed glass with an orange slice

This is a great Spring and Summer cocktail. Serve it up in a stemmed glass, over ice, garnished with an orange slice.

Ingredients

You only need 3 ingredients to put this Aperol Tequila cocktail together:

Aperol, Anejo tequila, orange and soda water

Aรฑejo Tequila- this is an aged tequila that is dark in color- looks like whiskey. It also has really deep flavors of vanilla and caramel. It pairs PERFECTLY with orange flavors (Aperol).

We also love the Aรฑejo Orange combo in an Orange Tequila Smash, Aรฑejo Old Fashioned and Aรฑejo Soda.

Aรฑejo Tequila Brands

Most tequila brands will have an Aรฑejo. But here are some of the brands we love:

Believe it or not… Costco Kirkland Aรฑejo Tequila is AMAZING!

Casamigos

Patron

Aperol- It is an Italian bitter aperitif made of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, among other ingredients. It has a vibrant red hue.ย It tastes like a cross between orange and grapefruit.

It is most popularly used in an Aperol Spritz and Paper Plane

Soda Water- this Aperol and Tequila cocktail is a spritz so it needs some bubbles. A little soda water is perfect to top it all off.

More Amazing Tequila Cocktails

Aperol and Tequila in a glass with ice and topped with soda water, garnished with an orange

Aperol Tequila Spritz Cocktail

A super refreshing Aperol and Tequila cocktail served over ice and garnished with an orange slice. Perfect Summer and Spring cocktail. Like an Aperol Spritz, but made with Aรฑejo tequila instead of Prosecco.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Aรฑejo tequila
  • 1 oz Aperol
  • 3 oz soda water
  • garnish with an orange slice

Instructions
 

  • In a stemmed glass add some ice.
  • Pour in the tequila, aperol and then stir.
    1.5 oz Aรฑejo tequila, 1 oz Aperol
    pouring aperol in a stemmed glass
  • Top with soda water.
    3 oz soda water
    pouring soda water into aperol and tequila
  • Garnish with an orange slice.
  • Cheers!
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Amazing Red Skin Mashed Potatoes

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These are the best Red Skin Mashed Potatoes you will ever have! You can stop looking for a recipe right now. These are PACKED with flavor!! The recipe starts with diced shallots and garlic sauteed in butter. That mixture gets added to tender skin-on red potatoes, along with sour cream, half and half, and salt/pepper. It is all blended together for an AMAZING red skin potato side dish.

A bowl of red skin mashed potatoes with salt and pepper to the side

We don’t mess around with our mashed potato recipes. Potatoes on their own are pretty bland. They are a perfect canvas to add a TON of flavor like sour cream, cream cheese, garlic, butter, etc…

We make sure our mashed potatoes are PACKED with flavor; like this cult favorite Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Ingredients

Red Skin Potatoes- Also called new potatoes, these are smaller potatoes that have red skins. They are more tender and less starchy than a russet potato.

Make sure you cut out any parts that look bad on the outside, but you don’t need to peel these potatoes. The red skins are super thin and totally edible.

Butter- Salted butter is a great option.

Ingredients for red skin mashed potatoes on a table
Ingredients Shown Clockwise: Half and half, shallot, butter, red skin potatoes, sour cream, garlic, kosher salt and black pepper.

Shallots and Garlic- a shallot is like a mild, tender onion and is the perfect option for these potatoes. You need about โ…“-1/2 cup shallots, which will be about 1 large shallot.

The shallots and garlic get sautรฉed lightly in the butter. The flavor of the two infuse the butter… which in turn infuses the potatoes. YUM!

Half & Half- This is the milk that we use to whip up the red skin mashed potatoes. You can also use whole milk if that is what you have.

Sour Cream + mashed red skin potatoes is a match made in heaven! The sour cream adds a TON of flavor to the mashed potatoes.

Kosher Salt & Black Pepper– Mashed potatoes need more salt than you would think!

Watch How TO Make Red Skin Mashed Potatoes

Step By Step

  1. Boil Potatoes

    2. Quarter the potatoes (or cut into 1-2 inch pieces). Place in a large pot of water, covering the potatoes by 1-2 inches. Add kosher salt and place over medium high heat. Once the pot boils, turn the heat down to medium and simmer/boil for 10-15 minutes.

    START POTATOES IN COOL WATER! You specifically want to start your red skin potatoes in COOL tap water.

    By starting them in cool tap water you allow the water and the potato to rise together in temperature, ensuring an even cook all the way to the center of the potato.

    If you bring the water to a boil first it will result in a potato that has the first layer boiled to death and falling apart by the time the middle is done!

  2. Sautรฉ Shallots and Garlic

    3. Place a skillet over medium low heat and sautรฉ the shallots and garlic for about 3 minutes. Then set aside to cool.

    shallots and garlic sautรฉing in butter
  3. Dry Potatoes

    4. Drain the potatoes and then return to the pot, place over low heat and stir for about a minute. This removes some of the excess moisture from the potatoes.

    boiled potatoes in a pot drying over low heat
  4. Mash The Potatoes.

    5. Place all the ingredients in a bowl for mixing (or leave in the pot if it works for mashing); potatoes, butter/shallot mixture, sour cream, half and half, kosher salt and pepper.

    red skin mashed potatoes in a pot

    With a hand held mixer blend the potatoes on medium speed until they are mashed perfectly. These red skin mashed potatoes are meant to be slightly chunky because of the skins, so don’t try to get them perfectly silky.

More Delish Mashed Potato Recipes

Red Skin Mashed Potatoes in a bowl with a spoon to the side

Red Skin Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Shallots and garlic are sauteed in butter, then red skin potatoes are boiled to tender perfection with the skins on. The two are blended together with sour cream and half and half added. These are SUPER FLAVORFUL mashed red skin potatoes.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Mashing: 5 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs. red-skinned potatoes - cut into 1-2 inch pieces
  • โ…“ - ยฝ cup very finely diced shallots - this is about 1 large shallot
  • 1 large garlic clove - minced
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 teaspoon Kosher salt - divided
  • ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
  • Chopped parsley - optional

Instructions
 

  • Sautรฉ the shallots and garlic in the 4 Tbsp. butter over medium heat until softened (about 2-3 minutes). Then set aside.
    โ…“ - ยฝ cup very finely diced shallots, 1 large garlic clove, 4 Tbsp. butter
    shallots and garlic sautรฉing in butter
  • Wash and cut the potatoes into 1-2 inch pieces, cut out any sketchy looking parts of the potato.
    Place in a large pot of room temp water, the water should be about 1 inch above the potatoes. Set over medium-high heat and add 2 teaspoon kosher salt to the pot.
    Once the water comes to a boil (may take up to 15 minutes), let the potatoes boil for about 10-12 minutes.
    Pro Tip: We start the potatoes in room temp water so that they cook through evenly.
    4 lbs. red-skinned potatoes
  • Make sure the potatoes are fork tender, then drain and return them to the pot.
    Place the pot of potatoes over low heat and cook, while stirring, for 1-2 minutes to remove the excess moisture.
    boiled potatoes in a pot drying over low heat
  • Remove potatoes from the heat and add in the butter/garlic/shallot mixture, half and half, sour cream, 1 tsp. kosher salt and ยฝ tsp. black pepper.
    1 cup half and half, 1 cup sour cream
    boiled red skin potatoes with sour cream, half and half, butter, shallots and garlic in a bowl
  • Mash with a handheld mixer until combined (these potatoes will not be completely smooth, they are meant to have a lot of texture with the skins etc.).
    red skin mashed potatoes in a pot
  • Taste the potatoes to see if they need more salt at this point (possibly another ยฝ – 1 tsp) and if using, add in the chopped parsley at this point.
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Ice Cold Chelada Cocktail

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When you want a drink, it doesn’t get easier than a Chelada! You just need three things to put a Chelada together; Mexican Lager, kosher salt (a little Tajin for extra flavor if you want!), and fresh limes. It is a refreshing beer drink, yet has layers of flavors to enjoy. It’s time to sit back, relax and sip on an ice cold Chelada!

a beer being poured into a prepared glass with salt rim, limes and ice

We also love a Michelada, which is ice cold beer mixed with spices and seasonings and a little tomato juice. And a Beermosa, which is a mimosa made with beer! You can’t go wrong with either drink.

This fresh lime salt mixture would also be amazing on the rim of the Chelada glass.

Mexican Style Lager Beer

Just like in the Michelada Cocktail you want to use a Mexican Style Lager Beer that is light in flavor. It will make for the most refreshing Chelada. We like to use:

  • Corona Light
  • Sol
  • Modelo Light
  • Pacifico
  • In a jam a Bud Light Lime works too!

More Super Refreshing Mexican Style Cocktails

Susie leaning on the kitchen counter

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I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

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chelada cocktail being poured into a glass

Chelada Recipe

A refreshing ice cold beer cocktail. Made with Mexican Lager Beer, a little kosher salt and lime juice.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • Tall drinking glass

Ingredients

  • 12 oz Mexican Lager Style Beer
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt - -with Tajin is optional
  • 2 lime wedges
  • ice

Instructions
 

  • Pour the kosher salt on a flat plate ( add some Tajin for a hint of flavor!)
    Could also use this lime salt mixture recipe for the rim of the glass.
    1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and then dip it in the salt so it adheres.
  • Squeeze a couple lime wedges in the glass and add a few ice cubes.
    2 lime wedges, 12 oz Mexican Lager Style Beer
  • Slowly pour the beer over top of the ice, careful to stop short of the salty rim so the beer doesn't bubble over.
    chelada cocktail being poured into a glass
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Boneless Pork Roast Recipe

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This Pork Shoulder Roast slices up into the most tender pieces of melt-in-your-mouth pork covered in a rich pork gravy and served up with tender veggies that cook right alongside the pork. This will be an amazing weekend dinner or Sunday Family Dinner that you will come to make again and again.

a pork shoulder roast on a plate with cooked carrots, celery, mushrooms and herbs

Why You’ll Love this Recipe for Pork Roast

A pork roast is actually part of the whole bone-in pork butt or shoulder, also known as a Boston Butt. It is cut down and deboned into a roast. It comes from the upper part of the shoulder, from the front leg.

When you are looking for it in the grocery store it will be called a Boneless Pork Butt Roast or Boneless Shoulder Pork Butt Roast and it will generally be between 2-4 lbs. They usually come tied in a netting, as you can see in the photo above.

Boneless pork butt roast in packaging

A pork shoulder butt roast in packaging.

Boneless Pork Butt Roast out of the packaging and the netting removed

A pork roast with the netting removed.

I like to remove the netting and tie it for cooking (see the video below for a tutorial on tying your pork roast).

You don’t want a pork loin or pork tenderloin (although if that is what you already have there are two recipes linked there for you!).

You also want to make sure you are buying a boneless pork shoulder. A bone in pork shoulder or pork butt is better suited to make pulled pork.

How to Tie a Pork Should Roast

You will want to remove the netting from the roast if it came tied up already. The netting that comes on the roast is too thick and doesn’t allow enough surface area to be exposed to seasoning or browning.

a pork shoulder roast tied completely with kitchen twine

Using some good kitchen twine you will tie the roast up so that it will hold its shape during roasting.

Tips for Tying

Tie the twine around the end of the pork, pull the string forward and hold it with your finger, bring the loose end around the pork and up through the string you are holding with your finger. Pull the string tight and then bring it down another inch and repeat. Once you are to the end, bring the loose string around and tie it off.

There is a video in the post showing how this is done.

Making the first tie on a pork shoulder roast
Showing how to pull the string forward when tying a roast

Boneless Pork Roast Ingredients

Pork Shoulder: We talked about this in the Pork Roast Section above, but you want to make sure you get a boneless pork shoulder roast or pork butt roast. What you do not want is a pork tenderloin or pork loin.

Dijon Mustard: This will be used to adhere the seasonings to the pork. It works perfectly and adds a nice layer of flavor too!

Italian Dressing Dry Packet: We always use the Good Seasonings Zesty Italian packets! We have tried other brands and they just don’t hold up in flavor to the Good Seasonings brand. This is an easy way to get a ton of flavor on the outside of the pork shoulder roast, not to mention in the gravy.

A Good Seasonings Zesty Italian Dressing Packet

Chicken Broth: This helps braise the pork shoulder so it comes out impossibly tender and juicy. It also is the liquid base for your gravy at the end of cooking.

Onion and Garlic: Flavors the gravy and roast while braising. These are not necessarily for serving, more just for flavor.

Rosemary and Thyme: Flavors the gravy and roast while braising. These are not necessarily for serving, more just for flavor.

Carrots, Celery, Mushroom: These veggies are perfect to serve along side the sliced pork shoulder roast. You only cook them in the last half of the cooking time so they don’t over-cook.

Roasted pork shoulder with veggies

Boneless Pork Roast Recipe Tips

Make sure you remove the netting from the roast and re-tie it so that there is more surface area exposed for flavor and browning.

Add the veggies (carrots, celery and mushrooms) for the last 1.5 hours of roasting so they don’t get overcooked.

After roasting let the pork shoulder roast rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

Remove the twine before slicing!

Use a really sharp knife to slice, and use a back and forth sawing motion to cut slices. This helps ensure the slices stay together.

Taste the gravy before serving, adjust as needed. see gravy flavor troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Gravy

Make sure you taste the gravy before serving. Below are a few troubleshooting ideas for flavor and texture.

gravy being poured over a pork roast

Too thin? add another round of cornstarch slurry, but just do 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water.

Too thick? add a little chicken broth, water or even milk or half and half to thin it out.

Too Salty? add some water to the mix. You may need to rethicken it with another round of cornstarch slurry.

Too Bland? (I doubt this will happen… but) add a couple dashes of Worcestershire sauce, maybe even a glug of red wine, add some whole sprigs of rosemary and thyme and maybe a couple dashes of poultry seasoning, black pepper and kosher salt. Let it simmer over low heat, then remove the herb sprigs and taste again.

Lumps? Since you are using a cornstarch slurry it is unlikely that you will have lumps. But if you do, whisk the daylights out of your gravy. If that doesn’t work then you can pulse it in the blender or use an immersion blender.

Serving

A roasted pork shoulder is a traditional dinner that takes time to make, just like a lasagna or pot roast. So you want to serve it family style with some yummy side dishes.

Instant Pot Recipe for Pork Roast

If you love your Instant Pot, there is a very similar recipe to this Pork Shoulder Roast on Mom’s Dinner, but made in your Instant Pot! Check it out below:

Instant Pot Pork Roast with Vegetables & Gravy

More Amazing Pork Dinner Recipes

a pork shoulder roast on a plate with veggies

Boneless Pork Roast Recipe (Oven)

A super impressive dinner! Boneless Pork Shoulder Roast is seasoned and braised low and slow to tender perfection. Make a savory gravy from the cooking liquid and drippings, then cut the pork into tender slices and serve it up drizzled with the pork gravy.
4.67 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

Ingredients

Pork Roast

Vegetables

  • 3-4 carrotsย  - cut into large chunks
  • 5 cremini mushroomsย whole
  • 3 celery ribs - (individual stalks)ย cut into large chunks-

Gravy

  • 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • reserved liquid from the bottom of the panย strained of solids - (2 cups)

Instructions
 

  • If you have time to remove your roast from the fridge and let sit at room temp for about 30 minutes, do so. This is called tempering and will help your roast to cook more evenly to the middle.
  • Preheat your oven to 350โ„‰

Prep The Pork Shoulder

  • If your pork shoulder roast came tied up in netting, cut that off and discard. Don't be worried if it seems to "fall apart" when you take the netting off. When they de-bone the pork shoulder it can seem like it is in multiple pieces.
    Pro Tip: We take off that netting and re-tie the roast with less string. The netting that comes on the roast doesn't let enough of the surface be exposed to browning or seasonings.
    3-4 lb Boneless Pork Shoulder Roast
  • Pat the pork roast dry with paper towels. Then using kitchen twine tie the roast so that it stays in a nice round "roast" shape.
    Tie the twine around the end of the pork, pull the string forward and hold it with your finger, bring the loose end around the pork and up through the string you are holding with your finger. Pull the string tight and then bring it down another inch and repeat. Once you are to the end, bring the loose string around and tie it off.
    There is a video in the post showing how this is done.
  • Brush the Dijon mustard on all sides of the pork shoulder. Sprinkle on the Italian Seasonings packet on all sides.
    1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, .7 oz packet Italian dressing seasoning and mix
  • Place a large Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add the oil. Once it is hot add the pork roast and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the browned pork roast to a plate.
    2 tablespoon olive oil
    browning a pork shoulder roast
  • In the now empty pot add the chicken broth, scrape up all the browned bits on the bottom of the pot. This is called deglazing and is adding flavor to the braising liquid!
    Now add the onions, garlic, thyme, rosemary and Worcestershire.
    2 cups chicken broth or stock, 1 yellow onion, 5 garlic cloves, 2 small rosemary sprig, 4 sprigs of thyme, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Place the pork on top of the onions.
    pork shoulder roast with onions, garlic, broth and herbs in a Dutch Oven

Braising – Baking – Veggies

  • Pop the lid on the Dutch Oven and transfer to the 350โ„‰ oven. Bake for 1.5 hours.
  • Remove the Dutch Oven from the oven and nestle the carrots, celery and mushrooms around the pork shoulder roast.
    3-4 carrotsย , 5 cremini mushroomsย whole, 3 celery ribs
    Roasted pork shoulder with veggies
  • Place the lid on and put back in the oven for another 1.5 hours.

Gravy

  • Remove the pork roast and veggies that you plan to eat (carrots, celery, mushrooms) from the Dutch Oven.
    Let the pork roast rest for about 10-15 minutes before slicing
  • Place a mesh sieve over a bowl and strain the solids from the liquid in the bottom of the pot. You should have around 2+ cups of liquid. If you are short on liquid add some chicken broth or red wine so that you have 2 cups.
    Discard the solids and return the liquid to the Dutch Oven.
  • Place the Dutch Oven over medium heat.
  • Mix the corn starch and water into a slurry. Once the reserved liquid simmers, pour in the slurry and whisk. The gravy should thicken pretty quickly.
    2 tablespoon Cornstarch, 2 tablespoon water

Serving

  • Cut the string from the roasted pork shoulder and carefully cut it into ยฝ inch thick slices.
    If the roast is made with many pieces or is super tender it may fall into pieces a little bit, that is ok, it is still going to be super delicious!
  • Serve 2 slices or pieces per person with some veggies and gravy. This Pork Roast is also excellent with mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls with butter.
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Sauteed Steakhouse Mushrooms

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You know how at the best steakhouses, think Ruth's Chris or Capital Grille, you can order those amazing ร  la carte sides? We ALWAYS order the steakhouse mushrooms. But at home, that side was always missing from our steak nights. So I set out to recreate it. Voilร โ€ฆ this Steakhouse Mushroom Recipe was born. Now you can have those savory, buttery, garlicky mushrooms at home. Fire up the grill, pour a good glass of red, and enjoy the full steakhouse experience for half the price!

a plate of steakhouse mushrooms garnished with parsley

These Steakhouse Mushrooms not only make an amazing side dish for anything grilled, they also make a great appetizer! Pair them with things like Baked Feta and/or Garlic Steak Bites.

For an amazing surf and turf steakhouse appetizer combo, add these two recipes to your menu.

  1. Garlic Butter Shrimp
  2. Garlic Butter Steak Bites
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Why You’ll Love This Sauteed Mushroom Recipe

They bring steakhouse-flavor right to your home kitchen: Think deeply browned baby Bella mushrooms sautรฉed in butter, garlic, and red wine, giving you that indulgent, rich side dish you normally only get when dining out.

They're quick and easy to pull together: Just a few minutes of prep followed by a hot skillet makes these mushrooms ready in about 15 minutes.

They're versatile: perfect alongside grilled steaks, pork tenderloin, or even as an appetizer with crusty bread.

They are a restaurant-style upgrade for less: You get the taste of a high-end side dish without the steakhouse price tag.

Ingredients Needed for Steakhouse Mushrooms

Baby Bella Mushrooms: These are a super flavorful mushroom, brown in color and varying in size from ยฝ inch to 2 inches. They are also called cremini mushrooms or brown mushrooms.

A bowl of baby bella mushrooms

Cleaning Baby Bella Mushrooms

When you prep your mushrooms do not submerge them in water. Use a paper towel or damp paper towel and brush the mushrooms clean. Then trim the bottom of any stems that look especially dirty or craggy.

Butter and Olive Oil: I recommend using salted butter and extra virgin olive oil for the most flavor.

Worcestershire: This lends complex savory/saltiness to your mushrooms. You can sub soy sauce if you do not have Worcestershire.

Ingredients for making Steak House Mushrooms on a table
Ingredients Shown Clockwise: Baby Bella Mushrooms, parsley, oil, butter, garlic, onion powder, kosher salt, pepper, Worcestershire.

Onion Powder, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Crucial ingredients to season the mushrooms. You may want to taste the mushrooms before serving and add more salt/pepper as needed.

Garlic: The recipe calls for 2 chopped garlic cloves, but add as many as you like! Make sure you chop the garlic and do not mince it. The minced garlic has a better chance of burning and becoming bitter on the mushrooms.

Red Wine: Chances are if you are having a steak night then you are also sipping on some red wine. Save 2 tablespoon out of the bottle to deglaze the pan in the last step. If you don’t drink or don’t have red wine you can use beef broth in this step.

Parley: This is a garnish, but also adds a nice fresh flavor and scent to the mushrooms.

How to Sautee Mushrooms

Before you get started.

This recipe comes together really, really quickly! I recommend getting all the ingredients ready and then reading through the recipe before starting!

  1. Clean and cut mushrooms.

    2. Clean the mushrooms with a paper towel. Trim any craggy looking stems. Half the mushrooms, or quarter the really large ones.

    baby bella (cremini) mushrooms on a cutting board
  2. Pre-heat the pan.

    3. Place the skillet over high heat. Preheat without any butter or oil for 1-2 minutes.

  3. Sautรฉ mushrooms.

    4. Add the butter and oil to the hot skillet and let the butter melt (the oil should sizzle a little). Add the mushrooms and toss to coat. Then let the mushrooms sit undisturbed for 2 minutes.

    Give them a stir and let them sautรฉ another 2 minutes.

    Turn the heat to medium-low. If the mushrooms have release a lot of juice let them sautรฉ another minute or two for the juice evaporate a little before moving on.

    mushrooms sauteing in a cast iron skillet
  4. Add seasonings.

    5. Add in the Worcestershire, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic. Toss continuously for 2 minutes. ( if the pan is very dry at this point add a splash of olive oil)

    Steakhouse mushrooms in a cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon
  5. Deglaze with wine.

    6. Pour in the red wine and scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Sautรฉ another 2 minutes, stirring often.

    Steak House Mushrooms garnished with parsley in a skillet

Variations

  • Herb & Butter Mushrooms Finish with a generous handful of chopped fresh thyme, rosemary, or a little sage and an extra pat of butter for a glossy finish.
  • Bacon Mushrooms Crisp 2 to 3 slices of bacon first, remove the bacon, then sautรฉ the mushrooms in the bacon drippings. Crumble bacon over the top at the end.
  • Garlic Lover's Version Add an extra clove or two of minced garlic, added near the end so it doesn't burn and has a more pronounced flavor.
  • Blue Cheese Finish Crumble a little blue cheese over the hot mushrooms right before serving for a steakhouse topping vibe.
  • Balsamic Glazed Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of good balsamic vinegar at the end to bring brightness and a touch of sweetness.

Tips for Making the Best Steakhouse Mushrooms

  1. Pan Size is crucial to making good Steakhouse Mushrooms. If you use a pan that is too small the mushrooms will steam instead of brown and caramelize. We find that a 12 inch cast iron skillet is perfect.
  2. You have to start this recipe with a really hot pre-heated pan! That ensures that the mushrooms will brown and stay “meaty”. If you don’t pre-heat the pan the mushrooms will absorb the oil and become mushy and greasy.
  3. Sautรฉing these mushrooms in 2 minute increments is the perfect timing so they brown in the hot pan and yet they still have an al dente bite to them when it’s time to eat.
  4. Cut the mushrooms so they are roughly the same size. This allows the mushrooms to cook at about the same rate.
  5. When you clean the mushrooms do not submerge them in water. The mushrooms will absorb the water and cook up mushy instead of meaty. Use a damp or dry paper towel to brush them clean.
  6. Garlic, Red Wine and Butter are the most delicious things you can add to mushrooms!!!!

Serving Suggestions for Steakhouse Mushrooms

Grill up some ribeye steaks and make these Steakhouse Mushrooms with a couple more side dishes from this list and you will have an amazing steakhouse experience at home. Not to mention for half the price!

Don’t forget to open a good bottle of red wine. One of our favorites is Bonanza, it is a red wine (Cabernet) that is under $30. It is made by the Wagner family that also makes Caymus, which is around $100 per bottle. We also love Justin, it tastes like a very expensive red, but is also under $30.

Storing

Leftover steakhouse mushrooms keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store them in an airtight container. When you're ready to enjoy them again, skip the microwave and reheat them in a hot skillet with a little butter and a tiny splash of broth or water. This brings back their glossy finish and helps them stay nicely browned instead of getting soggy.

More Steakhouse Sides

Next time you grill steaks, add these steakhouse mushrooms and a couple of these side dishes!

Susie leaning on the kitchen counter

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Rate This Recipeโ†’
a plate of Steak House Mushrooms with a fork

Best Steakhouse Mushroom Recipe

Delicious savory mushrooms sautรฉed and browned in a skillet and seasoned with garlic, Worcestershire, butter and red wine. Perfect side dish for a steak! You will feel like you are at a fancy steakhouse!
Can also be served as an appetizer.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • 12 inch cast iron skillet

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • This recipe goes fast. I recommend measuring and chopping the ingredients first, then read through the recipe and then start.
    Also for perfectly golden brown sauteed mushrooms it is important that you use a large enough pan so that the mushrooms brown and sautรฉ (12 inch skillet). If the pan is too small the mushrooms will steam and look grey.
    It is also crucial that the pan is properly PREHEATED, otherwise the mushrooms will absorb the oil and become soggy.
  • Brush mushrooms clean and cut them in half, if you have some really large ones you can quarter them, or if you have tiny ones leave them whole.
    1 lb baby bella mushrooms
  • Pre-heat the pan WITHOUT any oil/butter over high heat for about 1-2 minutes
    Once the pan is very hot, add the olive oil and butter and swirl while the butter melts.
    2 Tbsp. salted butter, 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • As soon as the butter has melted add the sliced mushrooms. Toss the mushrooms in the butter and oil until coated, then allow to sautรฉ, undisturbed, for 2 minutes so that they can start to release their liquid and brown.
    mushrooms sauteing in a cast iron skillet
  • Then stir and continue to sautรฉ another 2 minutes.
    Once the liquid has almost entirely evaporated lower the heat to medium-low.
  • Then add in the onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to sautรฉing for 2 minutes while tossing constantly so that the garlic does not burn. If the pan is really dry you can add a dash of oil.
    2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 2 garlic cloves, ยฝ tsp. onion powder, ยผ tsp. kosher salt, โ…› tsp. black pepper
    Steakhouse mushrooms in a cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon
  • Finally add 2 tablespoon red wine and deglaze the pan. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes while tossing constantly.
    2 tablespoon red wine
  • Remove from the heat. Taste a mushroom for additional seasoning.
  • Garnish with chopped parsley, let cool for a few minutes and then serve.
    1 Tbsp. chopped parsley
    Steak House Mushrooms garnished with parsley in a skillet

Recipe Tips and Notes:

ย 
APPETIZER TRIO: for an amazing surf and turf steakhouse appetizer combo, add these two recipes to your menu.
  1. Garlic Butter Shrimp
  2. Garlic Butter Steak Bites
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Bloody Maria Cocktail

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A Bloody Maria is basically the Tequila version of a Bloody Mary. Tomato juice is mixed with lime juice, spices, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and a little olive juice, served over ice. Makes a great brunch cocktail or party cocktial when you want a savory cocktail instead of sweet.

Bloody Maria in a glass garnished with peppers, olives and limes

We really love a tomato based cocktail like this Bloody Maria. Not to mention tequila is our favorite spirit! Another killer tomato based cocktail (that is our go-to game day drink) is the Michelada. It is similar to this Bloody Maria, but instead of tequila, the tomato is mixed with beer!

Ingredients

Tomato Juice- use whichever type of tomato beverage you like; plain tomato juice, V-8 or even Clamato. It is the base of this drink, so make sure you use a quality product.

Tequila- silver tequila works best in this Bloody Maria. You can probably get away with using a reposado tequila too, but I wouldn’t recommend using an Aรฑejo tequila. This is a heavily flavored cocktail so there is no need to use a super expensive tequila!

Inexpensive Silver Tequila (that is still delish)

  • Jose Cuervo Tradicional
  • Espolon
  • Cazadores

Use a Jalapeno Infused Tequila if you like your cocktails a little on the spicy side!

Lime- fresh lime juice is key here. It brightens up the tomato juice. Make sure to use fresh lime juice, not bottled.

Worcestershire- adds a complex saltiness to the drink.

Horseradish- just a small pinch of prepared horseradish is all you need. prepared horseradish has been “pickled” with a little vinegar. Don’t opt for a creamy horseradish or fresh horseradish.

Ingredients for making a Bloody Maria

Tajin- is a chili and lime seasoning used in Mexican cuisine and cocktails. It is really tangy and savory. In this Bloody Maria Tajin is used in the drink as well as on the rim of the glass. For the rim you can also opt for this Homemade Lime Salt.

Hot Sauce- you just need a couple dashes of hot sauce. We love using Tabasco because it has a strong vinegar tang. If you like a spicy Bloody Maria opt for a really spicy hot sauce.

Olive Juice- a little brine from the olive jar adds a saltiness that is perfect. You could also choose to use brine from a pickle jar or pepperoncini.

Celery Salt- just a small dash of celery salt adds an iconic flavor to this cocktail. If you only have celery seed, crush it between your fingers with a little kosher salt.

Garnishes- use any garnish you like… all the way from olives and celery to bacon and shrimp! It can be a small edible garnish or almost a complete meal!

Step By Step

  1. Prep the glass.

    2. Run a lime around the rim of a tall glass. Dip into Tajin/kosher salt on a flat plate so that it sticks to the rim of the glass. Fill with ice and then set aside.

    Tajin being poured on a plate
  2. Mix the Bloody Maria.

    3. In a cocktail mixing glass or a shaker, combine; tequila, tomato juice, lime, Worcestershire, horseradish, Tajin, Tabasco, olive juice, and celery salt. Stir or shake everything together.

  3. Pour over ice.

    4. Pour the mixed cocktail over the ice in the prepared glass. Garnish with your favorite savory garnishes. Cheers!

    pouring a bloody maria over ice

More Tequila Cocktails

Bloody Maria in a tall glass garnished with peppers and olives

Bloody Maria Recipe

A delicious homemade Bloody Maria Cocktail that is super flavorful and a little spicy. Made with silver tequila, tomato juice, Tajin, lime juice, spices and herbs.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Prepare a tall glass by running a lime around the edge of the glass, dip in tajin mixed with a little kosher salt on a flat plate so that it adheres to the rim of the glass.
  • Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
  • In a cocktail mixing glass, shaker or jar, add the tomato juice, tequila, lime juice, Worcestershire, horseradish, Tajin, tobacco, olive juice and celery salt. Stir or shake thouroughly so the ingredients are completely combined.
    5 oz tomato juice, 2 oz silver tequila, ยฝ oz fresh lime juice, ยผ oz Worcestershire, pinch prepared horseradish, 3-4 dashes Tajin, 2-4 dashes Tabasco, splash olive juice, Pinch celery salt
  • Pour into the prepared glass and garnish with olives, celery, pickles, peppers, ect…

Recipe Tips and Notes:

ย 
SUBSTITUTES
Olive Juice: can use a pickle juice or pepperoncini juice instead.ย 
Tajin: can sub in kosher salt with a few Mexican spices added (chili powder, cumin, kosher salt, oregano and a little smoked paprika)
Celery Salt: use a mix of celery seed and kosher salt. Be sure to rub the celery seed between your fingers to break them up before adding.
Tabasco: use a couple dashes of your favorite hot sauce!ย 
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6 Classic Tequila Cocktails You Should Know How To Make

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Whether you have been loving tequila for a long time, or you are new to the tequila scene, there are six super classic tequila cocktails you should master. Especially if you like to entertain at home or like to be the designated bartender at any party. If you have these 6 tequila cocktail recipes in your back-pocket you can whip up really delicious tequila cocktails for your friends at a moments notice.

a bottle of casamigos anejo tequila, two glasses stacked, limes and a shot jigger

The 6 Classic Tequila Cocktails

There are 3 main types of tequila to use with the classic tequila cocktails; Silver/Blanco, Reposado, and Aรฑejo.

Tequila Brands We Love

  • Jose Cuervo Tradicional $
  • Costco Kirkland Brand $ (one of our faves)
  • Espolon $$
  • Patron $$$
  • Casamigos $$$
  • Clase Azul $$$$

Silver/Blanco is the youngest and freshest tequila. It is clear in color and has an earthy, salty, and limey flavor. It is used in citrusy cocktails like margaritas and palomas. It is somewhat interchangeable with Reposado, but not with Aรฑejo.

Aรฑejo is the aged tequila that is darker in color. It has amazing flavor of caramel and vanilla. It is best served on the rocks or with minimal mixers. It is not really interchangeable with Reposado Tequila and definitely not interchangeable with Silver Tequila.

Reposado is a mix of Silver and Aรฑejo Tequilas. It is a very light brown in color and mild in flavor.

a salt rimmed glass with a classic margarita garnished with a lime

Classic Margarita

There are two main ingredients you need to make a really good margarita; fresh limes and a good silver tequila.

Get the Margarita recipe โ†’

Frozen Margarita in a glass with a kosher salt rim and a lime wedge

Frozen Margarita

Believe it or not, a Frozen Margarita is not just a regular Margarita blended up. There is a little adjusting to do to compensate for all the ice!

Frozen Margarita recipe โ†’

a cocktail glass filled with ice, tequila, and soda water, topped off with two lime wedges

Tequila Soda

When you need a tequila cocktail that is simple to make and has few ingredients, the Tequila Soda is it! Serve with lemon, lime or orange wedge to change up the flavor.

Tequila Soda recipe โ†’

two grapefruit palomas with a bottle of grapefruit soda and silver tequila in the back

Classic Paloma

A real traditional Paloma is super easy to make. Just make sure to grab some grapefruit soda and a fresh grapefruit or lime for a garnish.

Get the Paloma recipe โ†’

ranch Water cocktail in a mason jar with a bottle of Topo Chico

Ranch Water

Not sure this is a “classic” recipe, but a Ranch Water is super popular now, they even come in a can! But you just need 3 ingredients; silver tequila, a bottle of Topo Chico, and a lime.

Ranch Water recipe โ†’

a glass of Aรฑejo tequila on the rocks

Tequila On The Rocks

If you get really into tequila cocktails you may even want to try sipping it on the rocks. We like to do this Aรฑejo (aged) Tequila.

Get the recipe โ†’

More Tequila Cocktail Recipes…

Once you have mastered the six classic Tequila Cocktails above, you can move on to something more complex. Here are a few of my favorites.

Lemon Pie Bars

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Lemon Pie Bars are a really delicious, lemony, old fashioned dessert. If you love lemon desserts, this is going to be amazing for you! They are not a traditional “lemon bar”. They are made with an almond flavored cake base, topped with a tart lemon pie filling. Then the top is dotted with more cake and it is baked to golden perfection. When it is served you drizzle on a homemade lemon glaze.

lemon pie bars on a piece of parchment paper, being drizzled with lemon glaze

Slices of Lemon Pie Bars are perfect served with vanilla beans ice cream or homemade whipped cream.

RELATED: Apple Pie Bars & Cherry Pie Bars

Ingredients

Grab a can of your favorite lemon pie filling, and I bet you have the rest of the ingredients in your baking cabinet and fridge!

Lemon Pie Filling: If you have a recipe for lemon pie filling by all means use that!! Last time I made this I used store-bough lemon pie filling and it was still amazing. I had a 22 oz can of Lucky Leaf lemon pie filling.

I have not tested the recipe with lemon curd, but I would think that could work as well!

baked lemon pie bars, cooling

Butter, Sugar, Flour, Baking Powder: the usual suspects when you make a cake. If you have a well stocked baking cabinet, you will have most of these things.

Eggs: Yes, you need 4 eggs. That is not a misprint. LOL!

Almond Extract: you could put almond extract on just about any dessert and I will love it. The almond extract flavors the cake and pairs perfectly with the lemon pie filling.

If almond extract flavor is not your jam, simply sub vanilla extract.

lemon pie bars being served out of a 9x13 pan

For the glaze you just need powdered sugar and a lemon. You will use both the lemon zest and the juice. Make sure you zest the lemon before you juice it.

More Fruit Pie Bar Recipes

overhead view of lemon pie bars cut into squares and drizzled with lemon glaze

Lemon Pie Bar Recipe

Delicious almond flavored cake batter is topped with a lemon pie filling, then the top is dotted with the remaining cake batter. It is baked to golden perfection and then it is served drizzled with a lemon glaze.
Perfect lemon dessert for lemon lovers!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cooling: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 16 slices
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

Ingredients

Lemon Pie Bars

Lemon Glaze

  • ยฝ cup powdered sugar
  • zest from ยฝ a lemon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

Instructions
 

Lemon Pie Bars

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease or spray a 9ร—13 baking pan.
    non-stick spray
  • In a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer or a stand mixer, cream the butter, 1 tsp. almond extract, and sugar for about 2 minutes.
    If you don't like almond extract flavor you can sub vanilla.
    1 cup butter, 1ยฝ cups white sugar, 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • Mix in the eggs, one at a time.
    4 eggs
  • Add the flour and baking powder into the batter, mix until it is completely incorporated.
    Pro Tip: I like to measure the dry ingredients onto a piece of parchment paper and then pick it up like a funnel, makes easy work of getting the dry ingredients into the bowl.
    3 cups all purpose flour, 1 ยฝ teaspoon baking powder
  • Spread โ…” of the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
    It will be very sticky!! An offset spatula sprayed with non-stick spray can make this task easier.
    almond cake batter spread in the bottom of a 9x13 pan
  • Now top the cake batter with the lemon pie filling, spreading it edge to edge.
    21 oz can lemon pie filling
    lemon pie filling on top of cake batter in a 9x13 pan
  • With the remaining cake batter, dot the top of the pie filling.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes.
  • Let the bars cool for at least 20 minutes for the pie filling to cool and set.
    baked lemon pie bars, cooling

Lemon Glaze

  • While the Lemon Pie Bars bake make the lemon glaze for serving.
  • In a small bowl add the powdered sugar. Zest ยฝ the lemon into the bowl
    ยฝ cup powdered sugar, zest from ยฝ a lemon
  • Juice the lemon and add 1 tablespoon to the powder sugar.
    1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • Stir or whisk together. It should be a drizzle consistency. Add more lemon juice as needed.

Serving

  • Cut the cooled bars into 12 or 16 squares.
  • Drizzle each square with the lemon glaze.
  • Serve with vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

ย 
MORE FRUIT PIE BAR RECIPES:ย 
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Cilantro Rice (Chipotle Dupe)

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Just like you would order at Chipotle, this Cilantro Rice is perfectly cooked and full of chopped cilantro, fresh squeezed lime and a hint of garlic. It is the perfect filler for a burrito or base for a burrito bowl or rice bowl. And last but not least a perfect side dish for any Mexican dinner, like enchiladas.

Cilantro Rice in a large bowl with lime and cilantro on top

A traditional side dish duo for Mexican food is rice and beans. Pair this Cilantro Rice with Instant Pot Refried Beans or 15 Minute Refried Beans for the best side dish combo.

RELATED: Mexican Rice and Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Ingredients

Basmati Rice: This is the perfect rice to make Cilantro Rice Side Dish. I will also use a Texmati rice, which is Texas style basmati rice.

You can also use a long grain white rice, just follow the adjusted cooking time on the package.

Basmati Rice

Garlic: Adds a layer of flavor to your Cilantro Rice.

Oil: Just use a flavorless cooking oil, whatever you prefer. We either use olive oil or canola oil.

Cilantro: Along with the rice and lime, the cilantro is the star of the show here. It has such a wonderful flavor. But, if you don’t like cilantro this recipe will not be for you, sorry. Head over to this Mexican Rice recipe instead.

Texmati rice cooked with lime juice and cilantro on top

Lime: Fresh squeezed lime juice and lime zest add a bright note to the cilantro rice recipe, just like you would get at Chipotle.

Kosher Salt: enhances all the flavors. Make sure you use kosher salt and not iodized table salt.

Basmati Rice Prep

There is a little prep required to make sure you have fluffy basmati rice, and not sticky or creamy rice (reserve that texture for risotto!).

You want to rinse away the rice starch that is clinging to the outside of the rice. There are two methods to choose from to prep your rice:

  1. Soak Method: Place a large bowl in the sink and pour in your rice. Fill the bowl with cool water and swish the rice around. Drain most of the water and then repeat by filling the bowl again. Continue repeating until the water runs clear from the rice.
  2. Sieve Method: Place the rice in a fine mesh sieve. Run cool water over the rice and stir with clean hands. Continue this until the water runs clear from the rice.

Cilantro Rice Side Dish

Cilantro Rice is a great side dish for just about any Mexican dinner; Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas. Here are a few of our favorites:

Susie leaning on the kitchen counter

Did you make this recipe?

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I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

Rate This Recipeโ†’
Cilantro Rice in a bowl with limes and a wooden spoon

Cilantro Rice Recipe

Just like at Chipotle, basmati rice is cooked up perfectly with garlic, lime zest, lime juice and some fresh chopped cilantro. Makes a great side dish for Mexican or Asian cuisines.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • saucepan with a lid

Ingredients

Instructions
 

Rice Prep

  • With a fine mesh colander or large bowl, thoroughly rinse the basmati rice until the water runs pretty much clean/clear. About 2 minutes.
    *this removes some of the extra starch and makes fluffier rice.
    1 ยฝ cups Basmati rice

Cilantro Rice

  • Add the oil to a medium saucepan (with a lid) over medium-low heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
    2 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
  • Add the garlic and sautรฉ for 1 minute.
    3 cloves garlic
  • Zest the lime right into the pot, then add the kosher salt and pepper.
    1 tsp. kosher salt, zest of 1 lime, ยผ teaspoon pepper
  • Pour in the water and give everything a stir. Turn the heat to medium high and bring to a boil.
    2 ยฝ cups water
    Texmati rice with lime zest and water
  • Once it boils reduce the heat to low and pop the lid on the pot. Cook (without peeking) for 18 minutes.
    Then remove from the heat, still covered, and let sit for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and fluff the rice. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice.
    1 ยฝ Tbsp. fresh squeezed lime juice, โ…“ cup fresh cilantro
    Texmati rice cooked with lime juice and cilantro on top
  • Taste for additional seasoning (extra lime juice, extra cilantro or kosher salt) and then serve hot!
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Homemade Meatloaf Recipe

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Growing up in the Midwest, Meatloaf was a staple on our family dinner table. Pair it with some really good mashed potatoes and peasโ€ฆ doesn't that just scream comfort food!? I am so excited to share this Homemade Meatloaf Recipe, just like my Mom and Grandma made. Instead of reinventing something that is perfect as is, I focused on perfecting the details; a blend of beef and pork for perfect texture, a cracker panade that keeps it juicy, and just the right seasonings to flavor the meatloaf all the way through. The finishing touch is a ketchup, brown sugar glaze, baked until it's caramelized on top.

a meatloaf on a platter with two slices cut. green beans and mashed potatoes in the background

This recipe uses a panade and onions to keep the meatloaf super juicy and tender. It will melt in your mouth!

When you serve this meatloaf dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans or peas this will for sure be a five star dinner for your family!

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Meatloaf Recipe

The meatloaf doesn't dry out, thanks to the panade that starts the recipe. It helps keep everything juicy and tender.

Combining ground beef and ground pork create the best flavor and texture.

The mix of Worcestershire, fresh garlic, onions, onion powder, and seasoned salt flavor the meatloaf all the way through.

The special ketchup brown sugar glaze is SO good. It caramelizes to a tangy sweet flavor on top.

Free forming the meatloaf and cooking on a rimmed baking sheet, instead of in a loaf pan, ensures that you don't have a greasy meatloaf.

Classic Meatloaf Recipe Ingredients

Ground Beef: Use an 85/15 ground beef. It will have enough fat to be flavorful but not so much that you’ll have a greasy meatloaf.

Ground Pork: Make sure you buy ground pork, not sausage. It will be a very light pink in color and is super economical.

ingredients for meatloaf on a table
Ingredients Shown Clockwise: parsley, ketchup, milk, ground pork, ground beef, garlic, onion, kosher salt, pepper and spices, Worcestershire, saltine crackers, eggs, oil.

Onions and Garlic: These are the aromatics that lend a ton of flavor. The onions also help to keep your meatloaf tender and juicy.

Saltine Crackers, Milk and Eggs: These three ingredients make a panade for your meatloaf, keeping it juicy and tender. We use a panade in all our meatloaf, meatball and burger recipes here at Mom’s Dinner!

What Is a Panade?

A panade is a mixture of a starch, (usually bread, panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers) and a liquid ( traditionally milk, water, or broth) to keep a ground meat recipe tender and juicy.

Ketchup: This is a classic ingredient for the top of a meatloaf, but we are also using it inside to add flavor and moisture.

Worcestershire: I would put Worcestershire in every recipe if it made sense! I love the deep spiced flavor that it lends to any recipe, especially meatloaf!

Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Onion Powder & Lawry’s: Spices and seasonings to add a ton of flavor.

Parsley: A little verdant fresh note to a very savory recipe. Use the extra chopped parsley to garnish the top.

How to Make This Old Fashioned Meatloaf Recipe

  1. Mix Ketchup Topping

    2. Stir together the ketchup topping ingredients and then set aside.

  2. Sautรฉ Onions and Garlic

    3. Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat, once hot, add the onions, salt, pepper and Lawry’s. Sautรฉ for about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and sautรฉ 1 minute.

    Remove from the heat and add the Worcestershire, onion powder, parsley and ketchup. Stir again and then let cool for 5 minutes.

    onion mixture for meatloaf
  3. Mix Panade

    4. In a large bowl whisk together the milk and eggs, then add the crumbled saltine crackers. Give it a good stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

  4. Make Meatloaf Mixture

    5. To the cracker panade add the cooled onion mixture, both the ground beef and ground pork. Mix everything so it is well combined.

    all the ingredients for meatloaf in a bowl, ready to be mixed
  5. Form Meatloaf

    6. Turn the meatloaf mixture out onto a prepared rimmed baking sheet (covered in foil or parchment, sprayed with non-stick spray). Form into a classic meatloaf shape, about 11″x 4″ in size.

    raw meatloaf formed on a foil lined pan.

    Pour about ยฝ of the ketchup topping over the meatloaf and spread out evenly. Reserve the rest of the ketchup topping for serving.

    raw meatloaf formed with ketchup topping spread on
  6. Bake

    7. Bake the meatloaf at 350ยฐF for about 50 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches at least 160ยฐF.

    beef and pork meatloaf cooked and plated on a platter

To Make The Special Ketchup Topping

We keep the topping super simple on these Meatloaf Muffin Cups, just ketchup, nothing else. But, for this big Classic Meatloaf recipe we wanted to make the ketchup topping a little more special.

ketchup, dry mustard, brown sugar and tabasco in a bowl

Ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard and tabasco.

ketchup topping for classic meatloaf in a bowl

Meatloaf ketchup topping.

This topping is a mixture of ketchup, dry mustard, brown sugar, and a little tabasco. Stir it all together and it bakes up perfectly on top of the Meatloaf.

What to Serve With The Best Meatloaf Recipe

Classic Meatloaf is a great Traditional Family Dinner recipe! Make sure you have some classic side dishes that match up; like mashed potatoes and green beans . Here are some we love:

How To Store Beef Meatloaf Leftovers

Keep any leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge. It will be good in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can reheat slices in the microwave or pan fry them in a skillet (meatloaf sandwiches are amazing).

To reheat a larger portion pop it in a 350ยฐF oven for 15-20 minutes until it is warmed through. If you have a large piece left you may want to cut it in half when warming in the oven so it will reheat faster.

meatloaf dinner on a table with mashed potatoes and green beans

More Meatloaf Recipes To Try

meatloaf with a ketchup topping, on a platter with two slices cut

Beef Meatloaf Recipe

This is a classic meatloaf recipe, just like your Grandma made! Ground beef and ground pork are mixed with onions, garlic and seasonings then topped with a delicious Ketchup mixture. Slice the meatloaf up thick for an amazing dinner.
4 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Cooling: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion - finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic - - minced
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • ยพ tsp. seasoned salt - (Lawry's)
  • ยฝ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 Tbsp. ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • โ…“ cup flat leaf parsley finely chopped
  • 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 3 Tbsp. milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 17 saltine crackers - very finely crushed - think breadcrumb texture

Ketchup Topping

  • 1 cup Ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 ยฝ tablespoon brown sugar
  • ยฝ teaspoon Tabasco - (up to 1 tsp)

Instructions
 

Ketchup Topping

  • In a bowl mix together the topping and set aside.
    1 cup Ketchup, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1 ยฝ tablespoon brown sugar, ยฝ teaspoon Tabasco

Meatloaf

  • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐ. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spray with non stick spray.
  • In a skillet over medium heat add the olive oil and once hot add the onions kosher salt, seasoned salt and black pepper. Sautรฉ and soften for about 4-6 minutes.
    2 Tbsp. Olive oil, 1 large yellow onion, 1 tsp. kosher salt, ยพ tsp. seasoned salt, ยฝ tsp. black pepper
  • Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and parsley. Set aside to cool.
    4 cloves garlic, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 Tbsp. ketchup, 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, โ…“ cup flat leaf parsley finely chopped
    onion mixture for meatloaf
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together the 3 Tbsp. milk and eggs. Add the crushed saltines and stir to combine. Let sit for about 5 minutes for the crackers to absorb some of the liquid.
    3 Tbsp. milk, 2 large eggs, 17 saltine crackers - very finely crushed
    egg and cracker panade in a bowl
  • To the cracker and egg mixture, add the ground beef, ground pork and the onion mixture. Mix lightly with your hands or a fork until just combined
    Pro Tip: mix it enough so that the pork and beef and distributed and not in large clumps, but do not overmix or the meatloaf will be compact and tougher.
    1 pound 85% lean ground beef, 1 pound ground pork
  • Turn the meatloaf mixture out onto the prepared baking sheet, shape the meat mixture into a loaf form that is approximately 11"x4" in size.
    Generously spread about ยฝ – ยพ of the sauce evenly over the top of the meatloaf. (reserve the rest of the sauce for serving)
    raw meatloaf formed with ketchup topping spread on

Baking

  • Bake for 45-50 minutes until the internal temperature of the meatloaf registers 160 degrees.
  • Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Serving

  • Slice into 1 inch thick slices, serve with the remaining sauce on the side.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

ย 
SIDE DISHES: Meatloaf is amazing served with traditional side dishes, like:
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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