Savory Apricot Coeur a la Creme

Savory Apricot Coeur a la creme by The Mommy Games

Happy Tuesday! We are finally home and just now getting back into the swing of things after being gone all last week. It’s so hard coming out of vacation mode! I’ve been doing minimal cooking, and am pretty sure our suitcases might not get unpacked for a few more days. With this heat, I’m not super excited about turning on the oven either, which is why I’m sharing this delicious, no-bake appetizer option. When I was making this dish the other day, I remembered I had a jar of apricot jam in the pantry (leftover from these apricot almond crumb bars). I’m on a huge apricot kick right now, so it was the obvious choice. The sweetness of the jam was the perfect compliment to the tang of the cream cheese in this spread. This did not last long. In fact, everyone filled up on so much of this that they could hardly eat dinner. This has become one of my staple appetizer options since it’s super easy to put together, and is a real crowd pleaser. You could change it up with whatever jam sounds good to you, or even do a spicy chutney if that’s more your speed. Also, if you don’t have a cheesecloth, you could use a few sheets of paper towel instead. It won’t be as pretty (as you can tell from the unevenness in the picture), but works in a pinch.

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Tri-Color Orzo Salad

Tri-Color Orzo Salad

In need of an awesome side dish to serve for the 4th? This is the perfect pasta salad for any barbecue or party. I’ve been making it for years and am continually asked for the recipe. It’s barely even a recipe, since all you have to do is cook some pasta and stir in a few other ingredients. It’s more refined than your classic pasta salad, and is equally good served chilled or slightly warmed (so it’s great even if it’s been sitting on a table outside for an hour). The dried cherries offer a refreshing burst of flavor that is complemented nicely by the spicy arugula and salty cheese. You can find a bowl of this in our refrigerator practically all summer long.

We are down in the south celebrating the 4th with family and taking a little time to relax. I love NYC, but it’s nice not to get looked at sideways every time I let a “y’all” slip (usually after too many Makers Mark and ginger ales). It’s also entirely possible that I might have to buy a whole new wardrobe when we get back because all we seem to do down here is eat. Not to mention I’ve probably drunk my weight in sweet tea. Does everyone indulge like this when they go back to home?? Dangerous stuff.

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Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Peppers

Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Peppers by The Mommy Games

I love my slow cooker just as much as anyone, but it doesn’t tend to get a lot of use in the summer. Heavy roasts and soups just aren’t appealing when it’s hot out.  The convenience of being able to get out and enjoy time outside, then come home to an already cooked dinner is too good to pass up though. That’s why I’ve been in major experimental mode with all kinds of slow cooker recipes that are warm weather approved. So far, anything involving chicken has been too dried out, but this one, using ground beef, is a winner. Best of all, there’s hardly 10 minutes of prep time, and you don’t even have to turn on the stove. These peppers practically scream to be paired with a big bowl of guacamole and a cold Corona. The kids loved eating the filling (they weren’t going near the actual pepper) on top of tortilla chips. These will definitely be appearing on our table many times this summer.

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Apricot Almond Crumb Bars

Apricot Almond Crumb Bars by The Mommy Games

I’m in a bit of denial about the fact that we are already halfway through June. The weather here has been topsy turvy, and until very recently, it’s felt more like fall than summer. As a Floridian living in the North, I crave hot summer months. While everyone else is complaining about the heat, I am happily soaking it all up. My running friends want to push our runs earlier and my mommy friends want to move our playdates inside to avoid the heat. I, however, love to get out there and get my share of the hot weather because I know it will gone all to quickly. Unfortunately, my kids seem to have inherited my husband’s Canadian blood because they become totally flushed and uncomfortable the minute the temp goes above 70. There go my visions of summer picnics!

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Classic Roast Chicken

Classic Roast Chicken

There are a few dishes that every girl should have in her back pocket. Roast chicken is most decidedly one of them. The ingredients are few, the recipe is simple, and the presentation is so stunning your family/guests/future husband (remember the craze over engagement chicken?) will be all too convinced of your culinary awesomeness. Everyone has their own spin on what qualifies as the perfect roast chicken, but I tend to keep it classic and unadorned. Making sure the skin is brown and crisp is key, as is getting the meat to stay tender and flavorful.

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Homemade Ice Cream Cake

Homemade Ice Cream Cake by The Mommy Games

Ice cream cakes are now officially my favorite desserts to make. Nearly zero effort or time involved, endless flavor and mix-in possibilities (think frozen yogurt toppings endless), and ridiculous deliciousness. And you don’t have to turn on the oven, which is a major plus in the summer. I actually made this particular cake a few weeks ago for my brother-in-law’s birthday. He doesn’t like traditional cake (I know, I know) so I was racking my brain to come up with something different that we could still stick a candle in. Et Voila. Make this. Then, when you’ve eaten it all a day later, make another one with whatever ingredients your mind can dream up. You won’t think of buying one from DQ ever again. Make whatever alterations to the ice cream and fillings you want – there is no going wrong here!

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Cheese and Bean Enchiladas

Cheese & Bean Enchiladas by The Mommy Games

Mexican is my default “I’ve had a rough day” cuisine choice. Cheesy, hot goodness without any fuss is exactly what I need on days when things just aren’t going right. A good margarita (with extra salt!) or michelada doesn’t hurt either. Sometimes we do tacos, but what I really love are these been and cheese enchiladas. They’re originally adapted from something I saw in Cooking Light (don’t get too excited, they lost their “light” status as soon as I got my hands on them), and you can tell how often they frequent our table my the many markings and splattered blots all over the now very altered recipe. What makes this recipe extra grand is that the ingredients are basic pantry staples, so these could easily be dinner tonight. Just the thing to cure the Monday blues. Tequila is also strongly encouraged.

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Copycat Alice Springs Chicken

Copycat Alice Springs Chicken by The Mommy Games

Living in NYC, we have a plethora of delivery food options. Ranging from fancy steak & lobster to greasy Mexican, practically anything you want can be delivered right to your door in this fabulous city. In one of our old apartments, we lived just blocks from an Outback Steakhouse and would have that delivered at least a couple of times a month. I’m slightly obsessed with their Alice Springs Chicken dish. Chicken, cheese, bacon, mushrooms – what’s not to love? This recipe is darn near identical to what you get in the restaurant and it’s simple to boot. I always serve it along with a pile of spiced fries and extra honey mustard sauce. De-freakin-licious.

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