Category: Savory

Recipes, Savory5 Comments

Spicy & Sweet Baked Beans

Shae | Hello Homebody

Recently we were served a Mexican meal that came with a side of baked beans. The beans were spicy and sweet, with bacon, jalapenos, and cilantro. I’d never considered combining baked beans and Mexican black beans but it was so good, I couldn’t wait to try to duplicate the recipe! I feel like what I came up with is pretty close, though I did choose to use black beans instead of navy beans. Spicy Baked Beans                                    6 servings 5 strips of bacon 1 cup … Continue reading Spicy & Sweet Baked Beans

Recipes, Savory6 Comments

Chicken Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Shae | Hello Homebody

I’ve wanted to make homemade macaroni and cheese for quite a while, it’s one of my favorite things to try at restaurants. This creamy homemade macaroni and cheese recipe is made with only fresh ingredients, no processed cheese! I’m not going to lie, macaroni with velveeta cheese is still one of my favorites, but fancy macaroni and cheese is a great treat. I really wanted to use white cheddar for this recipe, but couldn’t find any at the store that I went to. I used mild cheddar instead and it gave this dish a good, rich flavor. This recipe is … Continue reading Chicken Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Recipes, Savory2 Comments

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Shae | Hello Homebody

This salsa has such a fresh and flavorful taste, it’s perfect for summer! All of the ingredients in this simple recipe are easily kept on hand, great for a last minute appetizer or side dish. Corn and Black Bean Salsa 1 cup rotel 1 cup corn 1 cup black beans 1/4 cup onion (chopped) fresh cilantro corn chips 1 lime Stir together rotel, corn, beans, and onion. Add lime juice to taste. Top with chopped cilantro. This salsa is best if chilled before serving. Serve with corn chips. Enjoy this salsa with a tasty Mexican meal or at your next … Continue reading Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Recipes, Savory5 Comments

Herb Tips // Favorites

Shae | Hello Homebody

I love cooking with fresh herbs, but they can be expensive and don’t have a very long shelf life. Here are a couple of quick tips to extend the life of your herbs! If you’ve purchased way too many fresh herbs, or if your garden is full of them, chop herbs and place into an ice cube tray. Pour olive oil over the herbs and freeze. I’ve used this trick with cilantro and basil, two of my favorites! I pull the cubes out of the freezer and toss them into a skillet when cooking meat, beans, or sauces! Cilantro is … Continue reading Herb Tips // Favorites

Recipes, Savory2 Comments

Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza

Shae | Hello Homebody

We love pizza around here (we may or may not have had pizza three times last week). We’re also big fans of cheese! You’ll find both in this cheese stuffed crust recipe! It’s definitely worth taking the time to make your own pizza dough (I love that fresh dough smell!). You can find my recipe for crusty pizza dough here. Choose whatever toppings you’d like for your pizza, I chose turkey pepperoni (which tastes just as good as “regular” pepperoni!) and grilled onions, two of our favorites. Needed: pizza dough 8oz marinara sauce 6 mozzarella sticks 8oz mozzarella cheese pizza … Continue reading Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza

Recipes, Savory1 Comment

Chicken Stir Fry // Spicy Honey Sauce

Shae | Hello Homebody

This Asian inspired Chicken Stir Fry is an easy and healthy dinner that you can put together in 20 minutes. It’s a meal that I always fall back on when trying to use up a mix of fresh veggies. Choose any variety of vegetables and this recipe will never get old! The spicy honey sauce reminds me of sweet and spicy Asian food, and I love how simple it is! Chicken Stir Fry Needed: veggies of your choice (carrots, bell pepper, onion, brocoli, snow peas) pineapple chunks breaded chicken nuggets (homemade or frozen) rice olive oil 1/4 tsp garlic powder … Continue reading Chicken Stir Fry // Spicy Honey Sauce

Recipes, Savory3 Comments

Crusty Pizza Dough // Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Shae | Hello Homebody

This was my first attempt at making pizza dough from scratch, I chose this recipe because it’s a thick crust that doesn’t need to rise for hours (or days!). The pizza crust came out perfectly, soft without getting soggy from the sauce, with a nice crispy bottom layer. This pizza crust recipe is adapted from a recipe found in the Kitchenaid mixer recipe book. Crusty Pizza Dough makes 1 pizza 1 package active dry yeast 1 cup warm water 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp olive oil 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups flour Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed … Continue reading Crusty Pizza Dough // Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Recipes, Savory15 Comments

Fancy Grilled Cheese // BBQ Mac and Cheese

Shae | Hello Homebody

We first experienced this BBQ – macaroni and cheese – grilled cheese sandwich at Fort Worth’s food truck park. The combination of macaroni and cheese with barbecue is amazing. Granted, you wouldn’t want to eat these every day but, if you’re ready to splurge, it’s a great treat that you can easily make at home! BBQ Macaroni and Cheese Grilled Cheese Needed: french bread barbecue meat macaroni and cheese cheddar cheese butter Make macaroni and cheese, I simply cooked pasta and added velveeta cheese (don’t add milk, you don’t want the cheese to be too runny). Heat up barbecue meat. You can … Continue reading Fancy Grilled Cheese // BBQ Mac and Cheese

Recipes, Savory21 Comments

Brisket Barbecue // Crockpot Recipe

Shae | Hello Homebody

I grew up in the midwest, where we always ate pork barbecue. After moving to Texas, I was introduced to brisket (it’s all about the beef here). After marrying a Texan, I decided that I should try to tackle the beef BBQ thing myself. The crockpot really makes cooking brisket so easy! For best results, use a small brisket. I have found that larger pieces of meat overwhelm the crockpot and don’t cook down as well. Also, fat around the meat is good (it will help the meat to become tender and it will peel off easily after cooking) but … Continue reading Brisket Barbecue // Crockpot Recipe

Recipes, Savory11 Comments

Fancy Grilled Cheese // Tomato Mozzarella

Shae | Hello Homebody

I absolutely LOVE fresh mozzarella with tomato and basil. You can find that perfect combination in this fresh version of a classic comfort food! Tomato Mozzarella Grilled Cheese Needed: french bread fresh mozzarella  tomatoes  pesto butter Slice bread, mozzarella, and tomatoes. Spread a thin layer of pesto on bread (you can find my recipe for Basil Pesto here). If you’d rather, you could layer on a few fresh basil leaves instead of pesto. Top with tomato and cheese. Lightly butter the outside of sandwiches. Heat skillet or panini press. Toast sandwich on both sides. Enjoy that goodness! And if you’re looking for … Continue reading Fancy Grilled Cheese // Tomato Mozzarella

Recipes, Savory2 Comments

Bruschetta with Fresh Mozzarella

Shae | Hello Homebody

My first bruschetta experience was at a local Italian restaurant while on a date with my (now) husband. We decided to try something new, we chose their bruschetta. I enjoyed it so much, I couldn’t wait to try to duplicate it! This is such a fast and tasty recipe. It’s a great appetizer, an alternative to garlic bread, or it can stand on its own! Bruschetta Needed:  loaf of fresh bread (I used french bread) 1 can (fire roasted) diced tomatoes fresh basil fresh mozzarella olive oil garlic salt cracked black pepper Slice loaf of bread and lay slices onto a … Continue reading Bruschetta with Fresh Mozzarella

Recipes, Savory5 Comments

Fancy Grilled Cheese // Jalapeno Popper

Shae | Hello Homebody

We love grilled cheese sandwiches around here. Gourmet grilled cheeses are a popular food trend right now, and I’m all about it! This is my first in a set of good ol’ grilled cheese sandwich recipes with a twist. Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese                                Needed: french bread bacon cheddar cheese cream cheese jalapeno butter Turn oven broiler on to high. While bacon is cooking (with whatever method you prefer), slice bread and cut jalapeños in half (remove seeds). Place jalapeños, skin side up, on a baking … Continue reading Fancy Grilled Cheese // Jalapeno Popper

Recipes, Savory4 Comments

Fresh Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil

Shae | Hello Homebody

This creamy tomato soup is my favorite. It’s perfect for chilly evenings. We love to eat this soup along with grilled cheese sandwiches! Fresh Creamy Tomato Soup                                 4 Servings Needed:                                                                              4 fresh tomatoes (chopped) 1 cup (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 cup (8 oz) vegetable or chicken stock  … Continue reading Fresh Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil

Recipes, Savory6 Comments

Fresh Basil Pesto // Pasta

Shae | Hello Homebody

Needed: 1 cup fresh basil 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper 1/2 cup olive oil 2 garlic cloves (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder) Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender. Pulse until ingredients are blended but still have a rough texture. Scrape sides of processor in between blending to make sure that everything is mixed well. Serve on fresh bread or over pasta (I love topping cheese raviolis with basil pesto!). Or use this pesto for making my Tomato and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese Sandwich or Bruschetta with Fresh Mozzarella! Facebook // Etsy // Pinterest // Instagram // Twitter Continue reading Fresh Basil Pesto // Pasta

Recipes, Savory6 Comments

Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajitas

Shae | Hello Homebody

These fajitas are the perfect blend of sweet and spicy! This is one of the very first recipes that I created, it’s one of my favorites. I love to make these fajitas in the summertime! This recipe can easily be adapted for the grill or it can be tossed into the crockpot (no marinating time necessary!). Fajitas: 3 chicken breasts 1 small onion 2 bell peppers tortillas sour cream cheddar cheese Marinade: 3 limes (juiced) small bunch of cilantro (chopped) 3 tbs olive oil 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp … Continue reading Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajitas