Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip

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Loaded with three cheeses, shredded chicken, and pops of roasted poblano peppers, Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip is the perfect crowd-pleaser for any get-together.

Loaded with three cheeses, shredded chicken, and pops of roasted poblano peppers, Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip is the perfect crowd-pleaser for any get-together.

My love affair with poblano peppers continues. It began with Roasted and Poblano and Onion Quesadillas, and then it heightened with Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce. Now things are really ramping up with this Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip. Let’s be real here: you just cannot go wrong with a good dip recipe, especially as college football season heats up. But when that dip comes packed with three kinds of cheese, hearty shredded chicken, and the mild flavor of roasted poblanos? Then it becomes irresistible.

The dip is baked, which results in a dish of creamy, melty goodness. Once the dip is warmed through, you fire up the broiler to get the cheese on top especially gooey and golden. It’s awesome served warm immediately after baking, but you can also refrigerate it, either before or after baking. Whether you’re preparing it in advance or baking immediately, this Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip will be the recipe your friends and family can’t get enough of.

Loaded with three cheeses, shredded chicken, and pops of roasted poblano peppers, Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip is the perfect crowd-pleaser for any get-together.

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Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw

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Skip the oil and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead! You’ll get the crunch you love without all the grease and calories.

Skip the oil and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead! You'll get the crunch you love without all the grease and calories.

I have a tried and true crispy fish taco recipe that we love. It calls for frying the fish in a fluffy batter that is pretty much irresistible, even to J, who has mixed feelings when it comes to fish. Those fish tacos are perfect for special occasions, but since we don’t make it a habit of having fried food for dinner, I don’t make them often. I knew we needed a go-to crispy baked fish tacos recipe, but I also knew it would have to be pretty awesome to compete with the fried version we love.

This particular recipe has been cooking for a while. I tried a couple variations, all designed to maximize crispiness, but this is by far the best. I’m a sucker for panko bread crumbs, and I love a good spicy mayonnaise. The fish bakes up plenty crispy, but the cabbage takes it all the way. Ditch the messy oil and the extra calories and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead.

Skip the oil and make Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Sriracha Lime Slaw instead! You'll get the crunch you love without all the grease and calories.

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Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs

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An easy, crowd-pleasing meal for any night of the week, baked spaghetti and meatballs is cooked all in one dish for big flavors and little cleanup.

An easy, crowd-pleasing meal for any night of the week, baked spaghetti and meatballs is cooked all in one dish for big flavors and little cleanup.

At this point, it might seem like all we eat is pasta dishes, Mexican food, and breakfast-for-dinner. That really isn’t too far off the mark if I’m being honest.

But we like what we like and, even though I do occasionally mix things up, I’m currently liking meals that are easy prep and easy cleanup. That’s exactly why, when I came across a spaghetti and meatballs recipe that was baked, didn’t require precooking of the pasta, and could be cooked all in one dish, I knew I had to make it.

This baked spaghetti and meatballs recipe sat on my to-make list for way too long, mainly because I had to wait to get my hands on lean ground beef. My tiny local grocery store doesn’t carry it, but I knew using any other kind would leave this dish greasy and unappealing. When I finally did buy lean ground beef, I wasted no time in whipping this up.

It was definitely a hit. I prepare meatless meals a few days a week, so anything with meat is an immediate favorite for J. It doesn’t hurt that these meatballs were tender, not dry (sorry, moist), and full of flavor. The pasta was perfectly cooked and coated in sauce. The whole thing was topped off with melted cheese- the kind that’s just starting to turn golden. Mmm.

The recipe was so fast to put together. Like, the whole thing was ready to be baked in the time it took the oven to preheat. The bake time itself is slightly longer than most of my easy weeknight meals, but I don’t mind that when the time is mostly hands-off. In fact, the baking time would be the perfect window to whip up a tasty vegetable side dish or a few slices of garlic bread.

The recipe makes enough to feed three to four people, depending on appetites and side dishes.

An easy, crowd-pleasing meal for any night of the week, baked spaghetti and meatballs is cooked all in one dish for big flavors and little cleanup.

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Maple Frosted Baked Donuts

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Who needs the calorie-packed fried version when these maple frosted baked donuts are perfectly moist, sweet, and flavorful?

Who needs the calorie-packed fried version when these maple frosted baked donuts are perfectly moist, sweet, and flavorful?

 

If you’re from the Pacific Northwest, you likely know the heaven that is a maple bar. If that’s the case, go ahead and skip ahead to the recipe.

If you’re unlucky enough to have never had a maple bar, let me enlighten you. A maple bar is a donut: The fluffy fried kind, coated with a generous layer of rich, flavorful maple frosting. There aren’t even adequate words to describe how perfect they are. Unfortunately, now that we live in Mississippi, I’m forced to eat my annual allotment during the few weeks out of the year we’re in Oregon.

Who needs the calorie-packed fried version when these maple frosted baked donuts are perfectly moist, sweet, and flavorful?

Because I spend a good portion of my time pining for all things maple, I’ve taken to using it in baked goods. Last year, I made chocolate chip pumpkin scones with maple glaze. This year, it’s these maple frosted baked donuts. While they aren’t quite like eating a genuine maple bar, they’re a pretty darn good substitute.

Who needs the calorie-packed fried version when these maple frosted baked donuts are perfectly moist, sweet, and flavorful?

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Baked Onion Rings

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It seems too good to be true, but it isn’t. Baked onion rings are just as crunchy, just as flavorful, and just as craving-inducing as the restaurant kind. The only thing missing is the guilt.

It seems too good to be true, but it isn't. Baked onion rings are just as crunchy, just as flavorful, and just as craving-inducing as the restaurant kind. The only thing missing is the guilt.

This recipe sat in my mental “to make” file for far too long. I love onion rings- I love any kind of onion dish, really- but I just couldn’t imagine the baked version living up to the fried goodness I’m accustomed to. I finally gave in and tried the recipe because I knew it would be worth it if the recipe was even half as good as the “real” thing.

In reality, these baked onion rings were so much better than I expected them to be. The bread crumb coating crisped up to a beautiful crunchy bite. The onion on the inside was tender, but not overcooked. The Créole seasoning- because you can’t go wrong with Tony’s- lends just the right amount of zing.

I know this next part is going to sound like an exaggeration, but I swear it’s not. I think these baked onion rings might beat the fried version for me. I know, I know, big talk. But hear me out.

First, it’s tough to find a restaurant that does onion rings well. Most fast food restaurants just can’t hack it. Second, even decent restaurant onion rings tend to leave your mouth feeling coated in oil. It’s not pleasant. Lastly, let’s not forget the part where, inevitably, the hot onion slides out of its breading tunnel and slaps against your chin. That’s my favorite.

The only thing missing was a great sauce. Ketchup got the job done, but I kept wishing for some homemade ranch or a little comeback sauce.

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