Of all the ways to transform a boring piece of chicken breast, Monterey style is a surefire move towards flavor wow!

I mean…chicken, bbq sauce, bacon, cheese, diced tomato, and your favorite aromatics. Quintessential ‘Layers of Flavor.”

The original Cobb Salad was born one late night in the kitchen of Hollywood’s Brown Derby restaurant. Back in in 1937, owner Robert Cobb had a late-night hankering for a satisfying meal. He began pulling readily available ingredients into a bowl. This kitchen sink salad was promptly added to the menu and became a runaway hit!

EAT COBB:  Eggs, Avocado, Tomato, Chicken, Onion, Bacon, Blue Cheese.

There are so many wonderful adaptations to the original Cobb Salad version. Here’s how I build a Monterey Chicken Cobb Salad!

Clearly we’ve transformed boring chicken breasts with all these wonderful toppings.

Now let’s transform the salad! This is your chance to add your favorite ingredients. The Cobb Salad is a great way to use up leftovers.

At the same time the Cobb Salad was gaining in popularity, so was the table-side preparation. This type of dining experience was catching on quickly. It’s what we fondly refer to as dinner and a show. Today, as we find ourselves eating in vs. dining out, any opportunity to serve a meal family-style is welcomed in this house.

Monterey Chicken Cobb Salad is a family favorite that even your most challenging eaters will enjoy!!

Love the Monterey flavors check out Monterey Loaded Nachos Fries and the Monterey Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Monterey Chicken Cobb Salad

Monterey Chicken Cobb Salad is a family favorite that even your most challenging eaters will enjoy!!

Course Main Course

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Monterey Chicken

• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 2 pounds
• 6 Tablespoons hickory bbq sauce or favorite
• 6 slices bacon cooked crispy
• 3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 Roma tomato diced
• 1 scallion thinly sliced
• 1 jalepeno finely diced

For the Salad

• 8-10 cups lettuce chopped
• 3 hardboiled eggs quartered
• 2 avocado diced
• 2-3 Roma tomatoes diced
• 3 scallions thinly sliced
• 2 corn on the cobb roasted, kernels removed from cobb
• 6 strips bacon cooked crisp, chopped
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

For the Chili Ranch Dressing

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup mayonaise
• 2 Tablespoons fresh chives (or parsley) minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• pinch black pepper

Instructions

For the Monterey Chicken

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grill chicken breasts until almost done (about 155 degrees).
• Top each grilled chicken breasts with a schmear of bbq sauce, two slices of crispy bacon and a handful of shredded cheese. Place in oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly and chicken registers 165 degrees.
• Remove from oven and sprinkle with diced tomato, jalapeno and scallion. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

For the Chili Ranch Dressing

• Combine all ingredients. Chill until ready to serve.

For the Salad

• Place all salad ingredients on large platter. Top with sliced Monterey Chicken and drizzle with Chili Ranch Dressing.

The post Monterey Chicken Cobb Salad appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Deliciously sweet apples with cranberries and pecans give this salad wonderful crunch. Tangy feta cheese is the perfect balance.

And let us not overlook the Maple Cider Vinaigrette! So simple to make, yet bursting with bright flavor!

Have you pinned down your holiday meals? We’ll be having an assortment of heavy hors d’oeuvres on Christmas Eve for sure. But I haven’t decided about Christmas Dinner quite yet! I’m pretty certain it will include this salad though.

Honey Crisp Apples are in season between September and December. So be sure to make them the star of your Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday Salads.

Cranberries and Sugared Pecans also sing of late autumn. They impart a nice sweetness that pairs perfectly with briny feta cheese.

Homemade Sugared Pecans are easy to make at home and are also wonderful in Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing and Festive Pear Pomegranate Salad.

This Honey Crisp Holiday Salad comes together quickly and is lovely as part of a festive buffet or as a starter for a special sit down dinner.

However there’s no reason not to make this for a weeknight lunch or dinner! Your tastebuds will thank you!

The Maple Cider Vinaigrette is so simple to make. Add apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, a touch of Dijon mustard and olive oil to a glass jar with a lid. Shake like crazy, then season with salt & pepper to taste.

I hope you’ll give this delicious salad a try! And if you do, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Honey Crisp Holiday Salad with Maple Cider Vinaigrette

Honey Crisp Holiday Salad with Maple Cider Vinaigrette is the ideal salad to pair with a special meal or holiday feast. Deliciously sweet apples with cranberries and pecans give this salad wonderful crunch. Tangy feta cheese is the perfect balance.

Course Salad

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

For the Maple Cider Vinaigrette

• 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2/3 cup olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

For the Honey Crisp Holiday Salad

• 5 ounces mixed salad greens
• 2 Honey Crisp apples sliced
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup sugared pecans recipe link in post
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

For the Maple Cider Vinaigrette

• Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a glass jar with lid. Shake well to combine. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Store any unused portion in refrigerator for up to a week.

For the Honey Crisp Holiday Salad

• Arrange mixed greens on a serving platter. Add sliced apples, sugared pecans, dried cranberries and crumbled feta. Drizzle with Maple Cider Vinaigrette.

The post Honey Crisp Holiday Salad with Maple Cider Vinaigrette appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

The first up is this festive Pear, Pomegranate & Pecan Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Maple Vinaigrette!

You see, I was somewhere between planning our Family Thanksgiving menu and scheduling an upcoming Holiday Luncheon when I realized a serious void on Lemony Thyme. I’m really slacking in the festive salad category.

That was then, this is now!

That beauty shot screams holiday to me! But the truth is, this salad is so quick & easy to make that we don’t have to wait for a special occasion. Make it today!

A simple google search delivered the pomegranate pear one-two punch.

This combo has been done many times which told me it was worth recreating. This holiday-worthy salad has a base of baby spinach, topped with sliced pears, sugared pecans, tangy goat cheese and gorgeous pomegranate arils.

I find the easiest way to free the pomegranate seeds is the ‘bowl of water’ method. Envision that the pomegranate is hexagon in shape. Cut a small section off the bottom, then score the fruit at each of the ridges and pull it apart in sections.

Submerging in water does two things. It keeps your hands and cutting board from becoming stained with red juice. But also, as you free the arils from their membrane, they will sink and the membrane will float.

Or you can now buy a container of pomegranate seeds. You choose.

I decided to pair these beautiful fruits with spinach, but baby greens would be lovely too. I added goat cheese which nicely balances the sweet pear and sugared pecans.

But what really ties this Pear Pomegranate & Pecan Spinach Salad up with a bow is the Pomegranate Maple Vinaigrette.

If you’ve ever made Muhammara Dip before you likely have Pomegranate Molasses on hand. But no worries it’s now widely available and brings big flavor to this salad dressing.

If you need to sign up for a dish to bring to that holiday pot luck…make this salad. I promise it will be a hit!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Pear Pomegranate & Pecan Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Maple Vinaigrette

This festive Pear Pomegranate & Pecan Spinach Salad with a Pomegranate Maple Vinaigrette is holiday menu worthy! And it's quick and easy to prepare.

Course Salad

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Pomegranate Maple Vinaigrette

• 3 Tablespoons pomegranate molasses
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2/3 cup olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

For the Salad

• 5 ounces baby spinach
• 2 pears thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup sugared pecans
• 1 cup goat cheese crumbles

Instructions

For the Pomegranate Maple Vinaigrette

• Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a glass jar with lid. Shake well to combine. Store any unused portion in refrigerator for up to a week.

For the Salad

• Arrange spinach on a serving platter. Add sliced pears, sugared pecans, pomegranate seeds and crumbled goat cheese. Drizzle with Pomegranate Maple Vinaigrette.

The post Festive Pear Pomegranate & Pecan Spinach Salad appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I know that’s a bold statement for someone who spends hours and hours in the kitchen. However, of all the food groups (and yes stuffing is a food group), stuffing is the one! It evokes emotion.

Warm and fuzzy emotion!

For as far back as I can remember, all of my Thanksgiving memories, include this glorious side dish. Turkey, I can take it or leave it. But it’s just not Thanksgiving to me without stuffing!

I do believe where you grew up has something to do with it! I grew up in New England and our Thanksgiving dinner included the following:

• Roast Turkey with Stuffing (inside the bird)
• Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
• Creamed Onions
• Maple Brown Sugar Baked Acorn Squash
• Mashed Turnips
• Gruyere Cabbage
• Deviled Eggs
• Black Olives & Celery
• Cranberry Sauce
• Sometimes we’d also have Scalloped Corn, green peas or glazed carrots.

Flash forward to the early 90s when I moved from New Hampshire to Georgia. Thanksgiving Dinner took on a new look.

• Roast Turkey (sometimes deep fried) and Baked Ham
• Cornbread Dressing (plus I always made a side of stuffing too)
• Baked Mac ‘n’ Cheese
• Summer Squash Casserole
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Mashed Potato Casserole
• Green Bean Casserole
• Corn Casserole
• Buttermilk Biscuits
• Deviled Eggs
• Cranberry Sauce

My current-day menu is now a wonderful blend of my New England childhood favorites with some delicious Southern comfort food classics!

Herb Browned Butter Stuffing however, will remain the sentimental favorite! It’s the one holiday side dish that my Shelby requests each year. Here’s how I add the LOVE to this heavenly dish!

The Stuffing Ingredients

Bread Cubes

Bread cubes are the foundation of this recipe and you’ll want a nice variety. You’ll want about 1 1/2 – 2 pounds of bread or about 12 cups of cubes. I find whole French or Italian Loaves, Ciabatta, Brioche, or even dinner rolls or bagels cut or torn into bite-sized pieces work well. Try for at least two different types of bread.

Here’s How To Make Bread Cubes for Stuffing.

The Herbs & Aromatics

When it comes to herbs & aromatics, the list of ‘add-in’ possibilities are abundant. For this recipe I begin with butter and fresh herbs. Lots of butter and chopped herbs that are slowly sautéed until the most fragrant rich browned butter aromas begin to dance around your kitchen.

As with the fresh herbs, a nice variety of diced veggies really gives your stuffing texture and personality. Traditionally onion and celery are the base of classic stuffing recipes. I use a large onion and a whole head of celery, about 3 cups diced of each. They are cooked down in the herb butter until tender.

For this recipe I also include leeks, mushrooms and garlic. All of that herb butter flavor is building throughout each layer.

Optional Veggie/Fruit/Meat Add-Ins

You can also add apple, fennel, carrots, dried cranberries or apricots, roasted chestnuts, water chestnuts, toasted pine nuts, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or olives.

Sometimes I add sausage or diced bacon. I also love Oyster Dressing where fresh shucked oysters are added before baking.

There are so many flavor combinations and directions you can take this stuffing.

The Broth

I traditionally use a nice rich chicken broth for my stuffing. However, you could certainly use veggie broth for a vegetarian stuffing.

You’ll want 4- 5 cups of broth, start with 4 and add more if needed. Once you add the broth to the sautéed aromatics, bring the mixture to a boil. This further incorporates all that buttery herb love.

The last step before baking is to gently fold in the dried bread cubes. The mixture should be quite moist. Transfer to a 3 quart or 9×13 baking dish and bake at 350 degrees F. for about 45 minutes or until the top and edges are nicely browned and crispy.

Herb Browned Butter Stuffing of Love is the perfect balance of buttery crispy edges with an herby soft center. It’s delicious and you’ll want to include this dish on your Thanksgiving menu!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Herb Browned Butter Stuffing of Love

Herb Browned Butter Stuffing of Love is the perfect balance of buttery crispy edges with an herby soft center. It’s delicious

Course Side Dish

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Bread Cubes

• 2 pounds or about 12 cups crusty bread cut into bite-sized cubes (french or Italian loaf bread works great, as does Ciabatta, Brioche, dinner rolls or bagels). fully dried

For the Stuffing

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped fresh herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme)
• 1 large diced onion about 3 cups
• 1 head diced celery about 3 cups
• 1 stalk sliced and rinsed leek about 1 1/2 cups
• 1 pound sliced button mushrooms about 3 cups
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 5 cups chicken broth
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

For the Bread Cubes

• Cut or tear bread into bite-sized pieces. Spread onto baking sheets and either air dry for 1-2 days, loosely covered with a clean tea towel. Or oven dry at 275° F. for 45-60 minutes until very hard and dry, but not browned. Can be done up to 2 days in advance (or can freeze bread cubes for 2-3 months).

For the Stuffing

• Grease 3 quart or 9×13 casserole with butter. In a large stock pot or dutch oven, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add in chopped fresh herbs and sauté until butter is golden brown and very fragrant, about 8-10 minutes.
• Add in the diced onions, sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add diced celery, sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add in sliced leeks (be sure to clean well first by soaking in water) and mushrooms, sauté for another 8-10 minutes or until all veggies are cooked through and tender. Add minced garlic and cook 1 additional minute. Stir in 4 cups of chicken broth (reserve 1 cup) increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
• Gently fold in dry bread cubes and continue to stir until all are coated well. Bread cubes should be soaked with broth (without broth pooling in bottom of pan). Add additional cup of reserved broth if needed. I always go for more moist than dry.
• Transfer stuffing to greased baking dish. Bake at 350° F. for 45 minutes or until edges and top are crispy deep golden brown and center is hot. If making ahead, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Allow to come to rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.

The post Herb Browned Butter Stuffing of Love appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Whenever I bring up favorite Thanksgiving sides in conversation, Green Bean Casserole always rises near the top. Even though Stuffing seems to be the emotional favorite.

Hello carbs!

Before we get too far in, this may or may not be the time to share that before now, I’ve never been a big fan of green bean casserole.

Inevitably, every Thanksgiving luncheon or dinner I’ve attended has included at least one of this hallowed dish. I want to like it.

I love green beans and I love casseroles. But over the years I’ve been disappointed with the lack of…..flavor.

I’m not going to hate on canned “cream of” soups. In fact, I embrace them at times. But I’m just going to suggest that the classic recipe could enjoy a flavor boost by including fresh ingredients.

Several years ago, when I and every other food blogger were deconstructing dishes, I came up with this recipe. It was actually really good.

So it is with that sentiment in mind that I’ve freshened up this holiday favorite and made a proper casserole.

The Casserole Ingredients

• Fresh green beans
• Fresh mushrooms
• Homemade parmesan cream sauce
• Crispy shallots
• Shaved parmesan cheese
• Finished with a little lemon zest for bright flavor

The Preparation

Blanch or steam green beans until just tender and bright green. I steam mine 8 minutes over a pan of boiling water. Alternately you can blanch them in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Place in ice bath to stop cooking, then transfer to a 3 quart casserole dish.

The mushrooms are pan browned first, giving them their wonderful golden color and rich flavor.

Add the browned mushrooms to the casserole dish on top of the green beans.

Prepare a basic white sauce, then add parmesan cheese. The result is a luxurious sauce that single handedly turns this dish into comfort food!

The green beans and mushrooms are blanketed with the luxurious parmesan cream sauce.

The casserole is baked covered for 35 minutes, then uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes until lightly browned around the edges.

While the casserole is baking, prepare the crispy shallots. Thinly slice shallots then gently fry in batches in vegetable oil until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Top casserole with the crispy shallots and bake an additional 5 minutes. Garnish with shaved parmesan cheese and lemon zest.

Fresh Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole with Crispy Shallots has all the comfort you want with the beautiful fresh ingredients you deserve.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Fresh Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole with Crispy Shallots

Fresh Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole with Crispy Shallots has all the comfort you want with the beautiful fresh ingredients you deserve.

Course Side Dish

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 12

Ingredients

For the Green Beans & Mushrooms

• 2 pounds fresh green beans ends trimmed
• 1 pound cremini (button) mushrooms sliced
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 4 Tablespoons butter divided
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil divided

For the Parmesan Cream Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 2 cups half & half
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

For the Crispy Shallots

• 3 large shallots thinly sliced
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying

For the Garnish

• 1/4 cup shaved parmesan cheese for garnish
• 1 zest of lemon for garnish

Instructions

For the Green Beans & Mushrooms

• Place a steamer basket over a large pot of boiling water. Add green beans and steam for 8 minutes or until just tender and bright green. Alternately you can blanch the green beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until just tender. Transfer cooked beans to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
• Add 2 Tbl. butter, 1 Tbl. olive oil and 2 sprigs fresh thyme to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the sliced mushrooms in a single layer and brown on one side without turning, about 4-5 minutes. Turn over mushrooms and brown on the other side, about 3 minutes. Remove from pan and reserve. Melt remaining 2 Tbl. butter, 1 Tbl. olive oil and thyme sprigs. Add remaining mushrooms and brown on both sides. Remove from pan and reserve.

For the Parmesan Cream Sauce

• In a medium sauce pan, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat until hot and bubbly. Add flour and whisk to combine. Continue cooking until lightly golden brown, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in half & half. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and add minced garlic and grated parmesan cheese. Whisk until cheese is melted. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

For the Crispy Shallots

• In a medium sauce pan bring 2 cups of vegetable oil over medium-high heat to 375° F. Working in batches, fry sliced shallots until deep golden brown. Remove with a mesh strainer and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Continue with remaining shallots.

To Assemble Casserole

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Arrange green beans in a 3 quart casserole dish. Top with browned mushrooms and parmesan cream sauce. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake covered 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until sauce is bubbling and lightly browned around edges. Add Crispy Shallots and bake an additional 5 minutes. Garnish with shaved parmesan cheese and lemon zest.

The post Fresh Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole with Crispy Shallots appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

This recipe is the perfect make-ahead side dish that can be reheated in the oven or the microwave.

These creamy potatoes are fluffy with a nice buttery flavor.

Perfect if you ask me!

The Potatoes

For this recipe you’ll need 5 pounds of russet potatoes, or about 6 bakers. I find this variety of potato to yield the perfect smooth and creamy consistency.

No gritty or gluey mashed potatoes here. Please tell me you know what I’m referring to :)

The Cooking Method

Peel and cut potatoes into about 6-8 pieces each and place in large pot of salted cold water. Add a bay leaf, a few sprigs of fresh thyme, a couple garlic cloves and salt to the water. Thank you to the Kitchn for this recipe tip!

We’re going to take advantage of any opportunity to infuse flavor into our potatoes. If you don’t want flecks of thyme leaves in your potatoes you can place the fresh herbs in a cheese cloth bundle, then discard after boiling.

Cook potatoes just until *fork tender, then drain and return to the hot cooking pot to dry. Remove and discard the thyme and bay leaf before mashing.

*the ideal way to achieve fork tender potatoes is when you can insert a fork easily but still lift the potato from the water before it falls off. Not scientific, but tried and true.

I still use a good old fashioned potato masher but have heard of great results when using a potato ricer as well. For best results, please resist the urge to use an electric mixer which tends to deliver a gluey mash.

Add the following ingredients to the mashed potatoes:

• butter (1/2 cup)
• cream cheese (8 ounces)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• salt & pepper to taste

Continue to mash until well combined. Transfer potatoes to a 9×13 baking dish. Add dollops of butter to top, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

The beauty of this recipe is it can be made up to 2 days in advance of serving. And you can reheat in the oven or microwave.

Oven Heating Method

Oven heating is my preferred method because we love the buttery golden top.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove potatoes from refrigerator and allow to rest at room temperature
• Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes or lightly browned and heated through
• Heating times will vary depending on oven and if multiple dishes are being heated together
• Tent with foil If casserole begins to brown too quickly

Microwave Heating Method

Reheating in the microwave comes in very handy, especially during the holidays when oven space is in high demand.

• Microwave potatoes uncovered on high in one minute increments
• Stir after each minute, until hot

Family Favorite Side Dishes

If you’re planning your Thanksgiving or Holiday menu, here are a few our our family’s favorite side dishes.

• Three Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar & Pecans
• Summer Squash Casserole
• Herb Browned Butter Stuffing
• Fresh Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole with Crispy Shallots

Everyone loves mashed potatoes. When you’re planning a big meal, go ahead and make this side dish in advance. One less thing to worry about as you’re enjoying the company of friends and family.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

The post Easy Creamy Mashed Potato Casserole appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Separating this process into a separate blog post is a way for me to more efficiently explain my stuffing-making-method.

And considering stuffing itself is considered a food group in my house…it deserves all the love and attention I can provide.

The Bread

I find whole French or Italian Loaves, Ciabatta, Brioche, or even dinner rolls or bagels cut or torn into bite-sized pieces work well. I’ve even used flavored artisan breads like rosemary garlic or sourdough. Shoot for at least two varieties when making stuffing.

Recipe Tip – a few days or even weeks in advance of making stuffing – watch the day old bread shelf at your local market. You can often find high quality artisan loaves reduced from $4.99 to $0.99. Just pop them in the freezer until ready to make cubes. Or go ahead and cut and dry the bread as outlined below and then freeze. This is a great time saver!

The MOST IMPORTANT thing is to dry the cubes thoroughly before assembling the stuffing. The bread must be very dry in order to absorb the buttery herby broth.

Air Dry Method

Once you have either cut or torn your bread into bite-sized cubes, spread onto baking sheets. Air dry them on the kitchen counter for a day or two (loosely covered with a clean tea towel).

Oven Dry Method

Spread cut or torn bread cubes onto baking sheets and bake in a low oven (275 deg. F.) for about 45 – 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want hard, crunchy, very dry bread cubes but not browned.

Storing Bread Cubes

Once dry, it’s best to use the bread cubes within two days or seal tightly in plastic bags and pop in the freezer. Bread cubes can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Then when you’re ready to make heavenly Herb Browned Butter Stuffing you just pull the prepared cubes out of the freezer, allow them to come to room temperature, and prepare for stuffing love!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

The post How To Make Bread Cubes for Stuffing appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Super cheesy, ultra creamy, with a little something special to make them go hmmmm.

Macaroni & Cheese Basics

The “Macaroni” Pasta

I LOVE Cavatappi (translated to “corkscrew” in English) or Cellantani (“whirl” in English).

These whirling twirling double elbow hollow pastas are THE BEST at holding on to cheese sauce. And isn’t that what makes a great macaroni and cheese?!!

The White Sauce

For those of us who took home economics in Middle School you’ll remember learning how to make this, the most basic of the five mother sauces.

I always start my cheese sauce by making a white sauce, also known as Béchamel Sauce.

Classically a white sauce is made with the following ratio:

• 2 Tablespoons of butter
• 2 Tablespoons of flour
• 1 cup of whole milk
• salt & pepper to taste

For this recipe, I finish my white sauce with a little seasoning of dry mustard and cayenne. Do not over salt the sauce as the cheeses bring that nice saltiness to the finished dish.

The Cheese

As the title of this post declares – we’ll use three cheeses in this recipe.

• Sharp Cheddar – great melting cheese that brings a deeper flavor profile than the milder varieties
• Gruyere – super creamy, excellent melting cheese with a slightly nutty flavor
• American or better yet, White Queso Dip – that’s right! American cheese gives this cheese sauce it’s incredibly creamy consistency and if your Queso has a little jalapeño kick, even better!

While it will take you a few minutes longer, grate your own cheese. The pre-packed shredded cheese is coated with preservatives like potato starch to keep it from sticking together. This coating changes the consistency and melting qualities.

Plus you get far more for your money when you invest a little elbow grease and grate your own!

Recipe Note: each 8 ounce block of cheese will yield about 3 cups of shredded cheese.

The Crumb Topping

Melted butter, panko breadcrumbs, and shredded parmesan cheese combine to make the most heavenly crumb topping!

Yes, I am squarely on team Crumb Topping. I love a good buttery crispy layer on top of my mac ‘n’ cheese. And my squash casserole. And my cassoulets.

However, for this recipe, if crumbs aren’t your thing (or your kids aren’t fans) then by all means replace the crumb with a little more shredded cheese on top before baking!

Things that make you go hmmm

I’ll never forget the first time I added queso dip to my macaroni & cheese. We were having a family dinner with the kids, a few significant others, and my sister Sarah.

Slowly as everyone began to take bites of the various dishes on their plates I could see a little mac ‘n’ cheese lovefest beginning to brew.

“This is really good mac ‘n’ cheese”

“It’s so creamy and cheesy….I love it”

“Omgeee is there queso in this? It’s sooo good!”

“Mom, this is the best mac ‘n’ cheese you’ve ever made.”

The truth is I’ve never made two the same in my life. Sure, there are certain similarities but I always manage to change it up.

Yesterday I had a neighbor ask for the recipe. Insert the emoji with big wide eyes.

So nearly 10 years after creating Lemony Thyme I’m finally putting the recipe in print! Wishing you a little mac ‘n’ cheese lovefest at your house!!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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The Best Three Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese

If you want to deliver comfort, bring them The Best Three Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese. It's super cheesy and ultra creamy, with a little extra love.

Course Entree, Side Dish

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Three Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese

• 1 pound dried Cavatappi or Cellentani pasta
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt to taste
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated, divided
• 4 ounces gruyere cheese freshly grated
• 16 ounces White Queso Dip or sub small cubed white American cheese

For the Crumb Topping

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Instructions

For the Three Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
• Prepare the pasta according to package instructions. Drain.
• Meanwhile, prepare the white sauce by melting butter in a medium heavy bottom pan over medium heat. Once melted and bubbly, whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Mixture should be smooth and bubbly. Gradually whisk in milk. Continue whisking for another minute until fully incorporated and smooth. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently. Continue cooking until mixture has thickened, about 5-7 minutes. Season with mustard powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
• Reduce heat to low and begin adding grated cheeses and queso, reserving 1/2 cup grated cheddar for assembly. Whisk to combine after each addition, until all cheese is melted and smooth. Pour cheese sauce over cooked pasta and stir well to fully combine.
• Pour half of macaroni mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese. Top with remaining macaroni.

For the Crumb Topping

• Melt butter in microwave or in small pan on stovetop. Remove from heat. Stir in panko and parmesan and mix to combine. Sprinkle crumb topping over mac 'n' cheese. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.

Notes

Recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator and bake at 350° F. for 30 minutes or until heated through.
Remove baking sheet from refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to baking for more even baking/heating.

The post The Best Three Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

The ingredients in this salad are simple and colorful and fresh. Tangy feta, with blistered tomatoes and crisp corn pair perfectly with creamy avocado and fresh cucumber and greens.

Then there’s the Sherry Vinaigrette. Just the right balance of vinegar to honey to aromatic shallot and garlic.

I recently had the opportunity to prepare a Tailgate Luncheon for a very special Birthday Party!

When I sat down with my neighbor to plan the menu we got stuck on what type of salad to include.

Should we do a pasta salad like Italian Tortellini – decided on Three Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese instead.

Perhaps a great big Greek Salad with grilled chicken – we’ve already agreed on Mardi Gras Chicken Wings.

We went through this exercise for a few minutes before I posed this question….. What is your favorite salad? With a smile on her face she said there’s a salad at From The Earth that I love.

Bingo! We shall recreate that salad. Because with all that fun (and indulgent) Game Day food, it’s nice to have a great big salad!

I made multiple FTE visits, each time ordering THE salad. I quickly became a fan too!

I’m just now noticing I should have halved my cherry tomatoes ;-)

This salad makes a wonderful lunch or light meal. AND you can easily make a big batch to serve at your next family gathering or potluck!

What’s your favorite salad? The one that puts a smile on your face. I’d love for you to share in the comments below :)

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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From The Earth Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette

The ingredients in this salad are simple and colorful and fresh. Tangy feta, with blistered tomatoes and crisp corn pair perfectly with creamy avocado and fresh cucumber and greens.

Course Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author From The Earth Brewery

Ingredients

Sherry Vinaigrette

• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 shallot
• 1/4 cup sherry vinegar or substitute white balsamic
• 2 Tablespoons honey or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

From The Earth Salad

• 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes blistered
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 10 ounces Mixed Greens
• 2 Fresh Corn on Cob blanched for 2 minutes, kernels removed from cobs
• 1 English Cucumbers sliced
• 1 Avocado sliced
• 1/4 cup Red Onion thinly sliced
• 4 ounces Crumbled Feta Cheese

Instructions

Sherry Vinaigrette

• In the bowl of a food processor, add garlic, shallot, vinegar, honey, and dijon. Puree mixture. With processor running drizzle in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Store in a jar with tight fitting lid for up to one week in refrigerator.

From The Earth Salad

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Toss cherry tomatoes with 1 Tablespoon olive oil, spread in single layer on rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or just until starting to soften and blister.
• Meanwhile, place salad greens in a large bowl or platter. Sprinkle with corn kernels, sliced red onion, cucumber, avocado and crumbled feta cheese. Add blistered tomatoes. Drizzle with Sherry Vinaigrette and enjoy!

The post From The Earth Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

The ingredients are simple yet the sour cream & fresh dill dressing brings a lovely full flavor to this chilled salad. This salad, also known as Gurkensalat is fresh and light and makes a perfect side dish.

The Sour Cream & Fresh Dill Dressing

For the creamy dressing start with a base of sour cream. Add vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper & lots of fresh dill.

We use white distilled vinegar but have seen variations of this recipe using cider vinegar. I’m certain that would give a refreshingly different taste.

For the German Cucumber Salad

I like to use English cucumbers because the seeds are very small and have less moisture. There’s no need to peel them either which makes this salad that much easier. We used a mandolin to thinly slice them and added a little white and red onion.

Once the dressing is added I like to chill the salad for a couple hours before serving. The cucumbers really take on the nice tart dill flavor.

Creamy German Cucumber-Dill Salad is best enjoyed within a few hours of dressing, but will keep in the refrigerator a couple days if needed.

Check out a few of our other Oktoberfest inspired recipes.

• Wienerschnitzel
• Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage
• Warm German Potato Salad
• Sauerkraut
• Simple Sage Brown Butter Spaetzle

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Creamy German Cucumber-Dill Salad (Gurkensalat)

This simple Creamy German Cucumber-Dill salad, also known as Gurkensalat, is fresh and light and makes a perfect side dish.

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine German/Austrian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Resting Time 2 hours hours

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Cucumber Salad

• 2 English cucumbers sliced very thin
• 1/4 cup or more to taste red or white onion sliced very thin

For the Dill Dressing

• 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
• 2 Tablespoons, plus more for garnish fresh dill chopped
• 2 Tablespoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

For Cucumber Salad

• Thinly slice cucumbers and onion using a mandolin or very sharp knife.

For the Dill Dressing

• Combine all dressing ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the sliced cucumbers and onions 2 hours before serving. Adjust salt & pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh dill to serve.

The post Creamy German Cucumber-Dill Salad (Gurkensalat) appeared first on Lemony Thyme.