Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

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Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

I bake a lot of sweets. That’s probably immediately clear to anyone who spends half a second on this site because I have a ton of dessert recipes. I do sell or give away a lot of what I make, so other than the necessary taste test here or there, I’m not actually eating too much of what I bake.

Let me be clear, though: I do have a killer sweet tooth. If things like nutrition and calories didn’t matter, I would live on desserts. But they do, so I make sure to whip up recipes like this Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette. It only takes a few minutes to put together, and it features some of my favorite vegetables.

Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

Cucumbers don’t get enough credit. I can see why they may come across as slimy or flavorless, but I love them. They’re the perfect vegetable to carry this salad, and they’re a wonderful complement to the juicy tomatoes and the strong onions. Throw in a chunks of mild avocado, toss the whole thing in a tart homemade dressing, and you’ve got yourself an easy side dish that pairs well with just about any entree.

Loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed in a from-scratch dressing, Cucumber Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light side to accompany any main dish.

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Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip

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Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic. You’ll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic favorite. You'll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

I first made this dip years ago, back when we still lived in Oregon. I don’t even remember now what I made it for, but I remember it was the first time I’d ever made caramelized onions. It was the first time I’d roasted my own garlic, too, and I felt like quite the successful cook afterward.

I went several years before making this Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip again, but, in true foodie fashion, I thought longingly about it quite a few times. As a proud lover of both garlic and onions, I dream about this stuff. Don’t worry, though, if not all the people in your life are as fond of those ingredients as I am; the process of caramelizing the onions and roasting the garlic develops the flavors into sweeter, smoother, toned-down versions of themselves.

You can rest easy making this recipe for just about anyone.

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic favorite. You'll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

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Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

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Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

I’m not sure if this is normal, or if it’s a foodie thing, or if I’m just weird, but I sometimes obsess over leftover food. Not boring leftover meals, but fun or unique ingredients sitting in the fridge or cupboards. In this particular instance, I’m referring to the Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions I made a few weeks back.

I made that batch so I could make Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip. That was a solid decision, but I ended up with a container of leftover onions in the fridge. Sure, that’s a good thing, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d make with them. I mulled over and discarded several ideas before landing on Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese.

The last amazing hot sandwich I made was a Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese. Y’all, I still dream about that sandwich, and I can’t believe I haven’t made it again recently. Now it’s got competition, though, in the form of this Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese. I used American cheese for that classic grilled cheese ooze, plus pepper jack for a little boost of heat. Everything was layered on white sandwich bread, which I only buy especially for making kick ass grilled cheese sandwiches.

The star of the sandwich show, though, was definitely the caramelized onions. If you’ve not tried them, even if you don’t usually care for onions, you’re missing out. They aren’t your typical harsh, overwhelmingly-strong onions. Instead, they’re cooked down to a deep brown. The sugars are caramelized, leaving you with tender, sweet onions that are perfect for everything from French onion soup to topping burgers to stuffing inside this over-the-top grilled cheese sandwich.

Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

 

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How to Make Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions

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With their deep color and they’re surprisingly sweet and appealing taste, you really need to know how to make slow cooker caramelized onions!

With their deep color and they're surprisingly sweet and appealing taste, you really need to know how to make slow cooker caramelized onions!

I distinctly remember the first time I tried onions. My brothers and I were spending the summer at my grandparents house in Mississippi and, like a lot of nights, we were gathered around their large table eating supper. Like any self-respecting southern woman, Granny had prepared cornbread. I remember Gramps using his to scoop up onions; I turned my nose up at the combo.

He gave me the same response I’ve now given my own children a few hundred thousand times: “How do you know you don’t like it if you’ve never tried it?” I wasn’t a particularly adventurous eater as a kid (okay, fine, I was ridiculously picky), but for some reason I grabbed myself a serving of diced onions and ate a bite. Yup, just onion. No cornbread. I was surprised to discover I actually liked them.

It wasn’t until years later, though, that I first tried caramelized onions. They’re surprisingly sweet and mild, the opposite of the sometimes harshness onions are known for. That unexpected flavor is the perfect way to win over the onion haters in your life.

With their deep color and they're surprisingly sweet and appealing taste, you really need to know how to make slow cooker caramelized onions!

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Hashbrown Crust Breakfast Pizza

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With a crispy crust, tender veggies, fluffy scrambled eggs, and plenty of melted cheese, this Hashbrown Crust Breakfast Pizza is perfect any time of day.

With a crispy crust, tender veggies, fluffy scrambled eggs, and plenty of melted cheese, this Hashbrown Crust Breakfast Pizza is perfect any time of day.

I first shared this Hashbrown Crust Breakfast Pizza on my friend Kayla’s blog. She’s since refocused to share about all things Disney, so she gave me the go-ahead to share this recipe here.

It’s no secret that I love breakfast foods (see here or here), and I also love pizza (here and here). Combining the two was a natural step, and the results were everything I’d hoped they would be. In fact, this breakfast pizza is so outstanding, it even made it to a Buzzfeed post.

With a crispy crust, tender veggies, fluffy scrambled eggs, and plenty of melted cheese, this Hashbrown Crust Breakfast Pizza is perfect any time of day.

So what’s all the hype about? To start, you toss pre-made hashbrowns with melted butter and bake to form a crispy crust. The crust is topped with tender veggies and fluffy scrambled eggs (plus any other toppings you can dream up), sprinkled with plenty of shredded cheese, and baked until the whole thing is one delightful dish of crispy, melty, whole family-pleasing goodness.

With a crispy crust, tender veggies, fluffy scrambled eggs, and plenty of melted cheese, this Hashbrown Crust Breakfast Pizza is perfect any time of day.

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Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas

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They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

My local grocery stores don’t always have a large variety of peppers to choose from so, when I saw the crate of poblanos the other day, I grabbed a few without giving any thought to what I’d make with them.

I immediately roasted most of the peppers because I knew I’d want them that way for pretty much anything I would make. I ate some in a potatoes-and-eggs breakfast bowl and added a little more to a sandwich.

And then I made Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas. The idea wasn’t original, since I make fajita quesadillas all the time. I decided to keep these a little simpler, though, to let the veggies shine. Now I’ve made them three times in the last week. Okay, fine. Four times.

I just.can’t.resist. Poblanos aren’t spicy; sometimes they carry a little heat, but mostly they’re just full of flavor. In addition, onions are probably one of my favorite vegetables. Add in a little cheese, plus the crispiness of the corn tortilla, and I could eat these things all day long.

They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

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Easy Weeknight Sausage and Potato Skillet

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Hearty sausage and potatoes come together with the vegetables of your choice to make an easy, crowd-pleasing weeknight meal. Plus, you’ve got to check out the mouthwatering breakfast-for-dinner recipe you can make with this leftover sausage and potato skillet.

Hearty sausage and potatoes come together with the vegetables of your choice to make an easy, crowd-pleasing weeknight meal. Plus, you've got to check out the mouthwatering breakfast-for-dinner recipe you can make with this leftover sausage and potato skillet.

When I’m looking for or brainstorming easy dinner recipes to make for my family, there are few different things that will make me stop and take notice. First and foremost, I’m always on the lookout for easy weeknight meals. I don’t want complicated ingredients or dozens of steps. Sure, there are times I enjoy more involved recipes, but weeknights aren’t one of those times.

If a recipe can be made using one pot only, I’ll definitely give it a second look. I hate making a twenty minute meal and then spending just as long on clean-up. If the process can be streamlined by using the fewest pots and utensils, I’m much more likely to consider trying it.

Lastly, I love when leftovers lend themselves to a recipe redo. For example, I almost use leftover chicken and salsa from easy weeknight chicken tacos to make nachos or quesadillas. The ingredients may be similar, but the flavors and textures are different enough to feel like a new meal. What I especially love about this recipe is how a hearty dinner becomes an easy, filling breakfast.

As you might can imagine, this sausage and potato skillet recipe checked off all the above boxes for me. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes, and it requires only one pot. You could easily speed up the prep process by using two skillets and cooking the sausage and potatoes at the same time, but I prefer to use the cooking time of one ingredient to prep the next.

Hearty sausage and potatoes come together with the vegetables of your choice to make an easy, crowd-pleasing weeknight meal. Plus, you've got to check out the mouthwatering breakfast-for-dinner recipe you can make with this leftover sausage and potato skillet.

The round two sausage and potato skillet recipe is super simple. Just add salsa, a little shredded cheese, and a fried egg to a serving of the original recipe and you’re good to go! This would obviously make a quick and filling breakfast, but it’d also me a crowd-pleasing way to serve these leftovers for supper. Basically, when you take a recipe that was delicious to begin with, add the trifecta of cheese, salsa, and an oozing egg, you can’t go wrong.

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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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Quick and Easy Fresh Salsa

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Quick and easy fresh salsa is ready in minutes. It’s perfect for tacos, nachos, or just with tortilla chips.

Quick and easy fresh salsa is ready in minutes. It's perfect for tacos, nachos, or just with tortilla chips.

I did not expect to like this salsa.

I don’t care for tomatoes and I typically prefer smooth restaurant-style salsas to chunky ones. But I love this stuff.

The tomatoes are diced, so you aren’t getting huge chunks of them. The red onion adds a full flavor and crisp crunch, and the jalapeño gives the whole thing the perfect amount of heat.

When you toss the whole mixture with lime juice and salt and pepper, the flavors meld together for a quick and easy fresh salsa that tastes like it took hours to make.

Since first making this recipe, I’ve made it another half dozen times at least. I’ve enjoyed it on quesadillas and taquitos, on nachos and chimichangas. I’ve eaten more than my share of tortilla chips because I just want to shovel it in.

For those who love chunky salsa, this stuff is a no-brainer. For those who profess their love of the puréed version, I beg you to try this. I bet my quick and easy fresh salsa will be your new go-to condiment.

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