Spinach Artichoke Pull-Apart Bread

This post is sponsored by ALDI! This spinach artichoke bread is incredible! A loaf of buttery bread sliced and stuffed with melty, cheese spinach artichoke dip and then baked to perfect. It’s a dreamy snack or appetizer that everyone loves! The only way to make spinach artichoke dip better? Put it in bread! Oh yes. […]

The post Spinach Artichoke Pull-Apart Bread appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

This post is sponsored by ALDI! This spinach artichoke bread is incredible! A loaf of buttery bread sliced and stuffed with melty, cheese spinach artichoke dip and then baked to perfect. It’s a dreamy snack or appetizer that everyone loves!

The only way to make spinach artichoke dip better? Put it in bread!

spinach artichoke pull apart bread

Oh yes. It’s time to stuff your favorite party dip inside some bread and bake it. The end result is a cheesy dip melting over golden toasty bread for all your snacking needs. This is the ultimate party food and you won’t be able to resist!

spinach, artichoke, cheese, sour cream

I love a good pull apart bread. I’ve made them with yeasted dough recipes from scratch and with bread loaves. Both are divine! I mean, anytime there is a pull-apart bread creation served with a meal, it’s the most talked about and most devoured. BecauseI love experimenting with different flavors and ingredients here and today, we’re going with a classic favorite dip.

ingredients from ALDI

I am so excited to be partnering with ALDI again this holiday season, bringing you this simple yet incredible dish that you can throw together for the holidays. Whether you’re planning for your holiday meal, a festive gathering with friends, Christmas morning brunch or even a fun family movie night, ALDI has everything you need to make the magic happen.

And by magic, of course I mean the food. Of course!

spinach artichoke mixture

Let me just tell you that ALDI is jam-packed with the most delicious, high-quality ingredients this season. They have all the things – abundant seasonal produce, top-of-the-line meats, all the crackers and cheese you may need for your cheese board and every baking ingredient you need to make the perfect holiday treat box. Better yet, you can find all of these items at incredible, affordable prices.

bread sliced and stuffed with spinach artichoke dip

I hit up the bread aisle and grabbed our favorite Specially Selected Italian Bread to make this spinach artichoke pull-apart bread. I LOVE making a dish like this – it is so, so easy and always a huge hit at any party – with adults and kids both. 

spinach artichoke pull apart bread ready for the oven

Here’s what you need for the spinach artichoke pull-apart bread:

  • A bread loaf, of course! I use the Specially Selected Italian Bread. You can also use their Sourdough Round! The key is to cut a checkerboard pattern into the bread, never slicing the entire way through.
  • I make a classic-ish spinach artichoke dip. This includes cream cheese and sour cream, along with the star ingredients like Simply Nature Organic Baby Spinach, Tuscan Garden Artichoke Hearts, Emporium Selection Aged Reserve White Cheddar and Parmesan Cheese. 
  • To bring this together, you make the dip and literally stuff it into the crevices in the bread. There is no right or wrong here, no perfection. I like to use a knife to help push the dip down as far as I can into the slices. Some little pieces of bread may fall out – just stick them right back in! The bread will look messy and that’s okay!
  • Brush the entire thing with melted butter and bake it. The bread gets golden and toasty, the dip melts into it. Some of the cheese will get golden and crisp and the burnt edges are the best part. 

spinach artichoke pull apart bread

I can’t even explain how much everyone LOVES this dish. They go absolutely crazy over it. Think about filling delicious crusty Italian bread with a super cheesy dip and baking it. I mean… oh my gosh. It’s the BEST. (more…)

The post Spinach Artichoke Pull-Apart Bread appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Drunken Mussels

These Drunken Mussels cook in a quick and easy, garlicky white wine-broth sauce with anchovies for ultimate flavor. Drunken Mussels I love these mussels, especially when prepared with lots of garlic and white wine. Serve it with toasted or grilled bread for dunking into that glorious broth. The anchovies add a complex, salty flavor that […]

The post Drunken Mussels appeared first on Skinnytaste.

These Drunken Mussels cook in a quick and easy, garlicky white wine-broth sauce with anchovies for ultimate flavor.

Drunken Mussels in white wine
Drunken Mussels

I love these mussels, especially when prepared with lots of garlic and white wine. Serve it with toasted or grilled bread for dunking into that glorious broth. The anchovies add a complex, salty flavor that is not fishy – so don’t omit them! The best part, this dish cooks in under 20 minutes. If you love mussels, here are some more easy mussels recipes I love, Steamed Mussels with Piri Piri and Mussels Fra Diavolo.

(more…)

The post Drunken Mussels appeared first on Skinnytaste.

Easy Monkey Bread Muffins with Brown Butter Glaze

Experience the deliciousness of monkey bread in a whole new way with … Read more
The post Easy Monkey Bread Muffins with Brown Butter Glaze appeared first on Sugar and Charm.

Experience the deliciousness of monkey bread in a whole new way with ... Read more

The post Easy Monkey Bread Muffins with Brown Butter Glaze appeared first on Sugar and Charm.

How to Make Potato Pancakes

Learn how to make potato pancakes, then serve them with a dollop of sour cream, a light dusting of salt, and even some diced green onions. In this post, I will walk you through how to successfully make potato pancakes from scratch! Potato pancakes are …

Learn how to make potato pancakes, then serve them with a dollop of sour cream, a light dusting of salt, and even some diced green onions. In this post, I will walk you through how to successfully make potato pancakes from scratch! Potato pancakes are a great side dish, appetizer, or snack to whip up....

Read More

This article was written and published by Oh My Veggies. It may not be reproduce or republished without permission of the author. The original article can be found here: How to Make Potato Pancakes.

The Ultimate Homemade Hot Chocolate

This homemade hot chocolate is extra rich and delicious, has two types of chocolate, and you can add other flavor add-ins for fun!

The post The Ultimate Homemade Hot Chocolate appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Fun fact: the number of times people searched the internet for hot chocolate in December 2020 was twice that of previous years. Why? Probably because we all needed that extra comfort after a hard year. I don’t know about you, but I still need the creamy, cozy comfort of a mug full of hot chocolate. 😅 Thankfully, homemade hot cocoa is super fast to make, you can make one mug at a time or in a big batch, and I’ve got a bunch of fun ideas for add-ins so you can make a new flavor every time. :) Keep scrolling for delicious, chocolatey goodness!

overhead view of four mugs of hot chocolate with different toppings

What Makes this Hot Chocolate Extra Good

I went all out with this hot chocolate. To make it extra creamy and extra chocolatey I used a 50/50 mix of milk and half and half, semi-sweet chocolate, and unsweetened cocoa powder for a one-two chocolate punch. I added just enough sugar to keep it sweet, but not so much that it’s hard to finish your mug (you can always add more to taste). The result is a perfectly balanced rich, sweet, and chocolatey mug that will give you all the warm and fuzzy cozy winter vibes.

What Type of Chocolate to Use

I used Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate because that’s what I had on hand, but you can definitely use semi-sweet chocolate chips to make this hot chocolate more affordable. You can also experiment with using either milk chocolate or dark chocolate depending on how sweet or bitter you like your hot cocoa. Semi-sweet is right in the middle, which fits my flavor preferences.

Can I Use a Different Type of Milk?

Technically, you can use different types of milk or non-dairy milk substitutes for your hot chocolate, just keep in mind that the type of milk you use will directly impact the creaminess and sweetness of your hot chocolate. The recipe below is designed for a combination of whole milk and half and half, which I found to be rich and creamy without being too heavy.

Half and half is a 50/50 mix of whole milk and heavy cream, so if you don’t have half and half you can change the ingredients below to be 3 cups whole milk and one cup heavy cream for the same result.

What Else Can I Add to Hot Chocolate?

This is where homemade hot chocolate gets fun. There are so many extra ingredients that you can add to make new flavors. Here are a few things you can add to hot chocolate to give it more flavor:

  • Instant coffee or espresso powder
  • Almond extract
  • Peppermint extract
  • Crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
  • Cinnamon
  • Cardamom
  • Cayenne pepper (see my Spicy Hot Cocoa)
  • Nutella
  • Caramel sauce
  • Malted milk powder
  • Maple syrup
  • Almond butter
  • White chocolate
  • Bailey’s Irish cream ;)
Side view of four mugs of hot chocolate with different toppings
close up overhead view of a single mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and chocolate syrup

The Ultimate Homemade Hot Chocolate

This homemade hot chocolate is extra rich and delicious, has two types of chocolate, and you can add other flavor add-ins for fun!
Course Beverage, Drinks
Cuisine General
Total Cost $3.96 recipe / $0.99 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 1 cup each
Calories 377kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder $0.14
  • 2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate $1.75
  • 1/4 cup sugar $0.04
  • 1/8 tsp salt $0.01
  • 2 cups whole milk $0.84
  • 2 cups half and half $0.90
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract $0.28

Instructions

  • Add the cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate, sugar, and salt to a medium saucepot. Pour the milk and half and half over top.
  • Place the saucepot over medium heat. Heat the ingredients over medium while whisking until the chocolate has fully melted into the milk and the milk is beginning to steam (but not simmering).
  • Once the chocolate is fully melted into the milk and the milk is has begun to steam, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Taste and adjust the sugar or chocolate to your liking.
  • Serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Notes

This recipe scales up or down easily. Just change the number in the box next to “servings” at the top of the recipe and the ingredient amounts will adjust for you.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 24g | Sodium: 178mg | Fiber: 3g
close up overhead view of a single mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and chocolate syrup

How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate – Step by Step Photos

Milk being poured into a sauce pot with chocolate sugar and salt

Add ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, ¼ cup sugar, and ⅛ tsp salt to a saucepot. Pour 2 cups whole milk and 2 cups half and half over top.

Finished hot chocolate

Heat the mixture over medium while whisking. The cocoa powder will sit on top at first while the milk is cold, but will begin to incorporate as the milk heats up. The semi-sweet chocolate will begin to melt as you heat, but will not fully incorporate into the milk until the milk gets so hot that it begins to steam. Once steaming, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

four mugs of hot chocolate with different toppings

Taste the hot chocolate and adjust the sweetness or other ingredients before serving and adding your favorite toppings! If you want it to be extra, EXTRA special, try topping it with some homemade whipped cream!

The post The Ultimate Homemade Hot Chocolate appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Truffle Mac and Cheese

This truffle mac and cheese pairs a rich white cheddar with just the right hint of truffle oil. It’s an…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This truffle mac and cheese pairs a rich white cheddar with just the right hint of truffle oil. It’s an indulgent dish that makes a splash!

Truffle mac and cheese

Here’s a decadent dish that will win hearts and minds: Truffle Mac and Cheese! This cozy pan mixes a rich, creamy white cheddar sauce with just the right hint of earthy truffle oil. The truffle adds an irresistible nuance (not overpowering as some truffle dishes can be!). This recipe is ideal for a dinner party where you’re looking to impress. For us black truffle lovers, we couldn’t get enough of it!

Ingredients in truffle mac and cheese

This truffle mac and cheese has massive flavor with a relatively short ingredient list! The heavy hitters are the sharp cheddar cheese, which brings in salty, robust flavor, and the truffle oil that adds an earthy flair. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Pasta: Any short shape works! You can branch out of the typical macaroni: we like shells, fusilli, penne, etc
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Onion powder and garlic powder
  • White cheddar cheese
  • Natural truffle oil
  • Panko or bread crumbs (optional)
Truffle oil

Important: find natural truffle oil

Many chefs have turned up their noses at truffle oil in recent years, because many available to consumers are synthetic. They mimic flavors found in real truffles and are often extremely strong. But good news: there are finally some all natural truffle oils on the market!

  • Many truffle oils in grocery stores are synthetic. Look on the back of the bottle at the ingredient list. If real black truffles are not listed, it is not natural truffle oil.
  • Natural truffle oil is made with pieces of actual truffles and is not synthetic. The flavor is much gentler and tastes “real.”
  • What if all you can find is synthetic truffle oil? We don’t recommend using it. But if you must, use half (or less!) than the amount of natural oil specified in this recipe.

Another way to add truffle flavor

Another way to add truffle flavor to this truffle mac and cheese? Canned truffles and mushrooms. Alex and I found a product in our grocery store made by the brand Urbani: it’s a small can of mushrooms that are flavored with real truffles. The flavor is intense and irresistible.

We use this when we want to add big flavor and have pieces of actual mushrooms! It’s great in this mac and cheese or on a pizza. Try these Canned Truffles & Mushrooms.

Truffle Mac and Cheese

Tips for making a roux

The technique you need for homemade truffle mac and cheese is making a roux. A “roux” (pronounced “Roo“) is flour and butter cooked together and used to thicken sauces. It’s usually made from equal parts of flour and butter. This is what makes the gooey sauce: cheese by its would be too sticky. Here are a few tips for making a roux:

  • Measure out your ingredients in advance (mise en place). The cooking process goes fast, so you don’t want to be distracted by measuring. The French call it mise en place, which means “everything in its place.”
  • Don’t leave the stove, and watch closely. The flour and butter can burn easily! Stand by the stove and start adding milk right when the flour turns golden brown.
  • Add the milk gradually. Pour in the milk and constantly whisk, adding it little by little, until it forms a smooth sauce. Add the spices and cook about 4 minutes until the sauce is thickened. Add the cheese and you’re go to go!

Tip: how to reheat truffle mac and cheese!

Lastly: let’s talk about storing this truffle mac and cheese recipe! You can refrigerate leftovers, but know this: the truffle flavor does fade over time. If you’re planning to reheat it, here’s what to do:

  • Place it in a skillet and add a splash of milk. Use a ratio of about 1 cup noodles to 1 tablespoon milk.
  • Heat over medium heat and stir until the sauce becomes creamy again!
  • Add a few drops of truffle oil and a pinch of salt to revive the flavors. Taste and adjust flavors as desired.
Truffle Mac and Cheese

More mac and cheese recipes

Love a great mac and cheese? Us too. Here are our top mac and cheese recipes to try at home:

This truffle mac and cheese recipe is…

Vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free noodles.

Print
Truffle mac and cheese

Truffle Mac and Cheese


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 pound short pasta (shells, macaroni, fusilli, or penne)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 ¾ cups milk
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 12 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 teaspoons natural truffle oil (avoid synthetic truffle oil or use 1 teaspoon)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup panko or Italian breadcrumbs, optional

Instructions

  1. Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just al dente (cook until just tender but still a bit firm). Drain the pasta and add to the cheese sauce once it is ready (if the pasta finishes first, toss it with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking).
  2. Make the cheese sauce: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the butter over medium heat; when it melts, stir in the flour. Heat the mixture for several minutes, stirring constantly. Immediately when the color starts to turn light brown, reduce the heat to low. Start to add the milk very slowly, whisking constantly until the mixture is completely smooth, then adding more milk. Add the onion powder and garlic powder and continue cooking on medium low heat for 4 minutes until slightly thickened. Turn the heat to low then add the grated cheddar cheese (in a few handfuls at a time) and keep stirring until it is melted and a smooth, thick sauce forms. Stir in the truffle oil and remove from the heat.
  3. Finish the dish: Add the cooked and drained pasta to cheese sauce. Season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and stir to combine.
  4. Broil: If desired, top with panko or Italian breadcrumbs and broil broil it for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly browned, turning the pan to even out the browning as necessary. Serve immediately. (Leftovers save refrigerated, but the truffle flavor does diminish over time. To reheat, heat on the stovetop with a splash of milk, and add a drop of truffle oil and/or salt to revive the flavors.)
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Truffle mac and cheese

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Overnight Croissant Breakfast Bake.

This overnight breakfast bake is made with toasted, buttery croissants, spinach, mushrooms, eggs and freshly gruyere cheese. It’s prepped the day before and enjoyed the next morning! This breakfast will make your Christmas morning magical.  I promise! It’s toasty and buttery and satisfying and one of the most delicious things you will EVER eat. See, […]

The post Overnight Croissant Breakfast Bake. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

This overnight breakfast bake is made with toasted, buttery croissants, spinach, mushrooms, eggs and freshly gruyere cheese. It’s prepped the day before and enjoyed the next morning!

This breakfast will make your Christmas morning magical. 

overnight breakfast bake

I promise!

It’s toasty and buttery and satisfying and one of the most delicious things you will EVER eat.

toasted croissants

See, this croissant bake was one of the great things to come out of 2020 for us. 

I discovered this about a week before Christmas. We get speciality sourdough and bread products through a local baker, and he did croissants for Christmas! I ordered them with this in mind knowing that we probably wouldn’t eat the croissants otherwise.

Oh.My.GOSH.

egg and cheese

This overnight bake is not only the best I’ve ever tried, it’s the only one I’ve ever truly LOVED. 

I’ve made stratas before and those are good. I’ve tried some of those farmer breakfast casseroles. Meh. I’ve done hash brown things. Eh. 

THIS is the best overnight breakfast bake and the only one you really need.

toasted croissants

Now here’s the deal. It’s super decadent. Very rich. It’s filling and hearty. A little bit goes a long way, and you definitely want to make this for a crowd. Even better if it’s a special occasion or a holiday, but of course it doesn’t have to be.

This is out of this world.

I realize that I sound like an exaggerating crazy dramatic person (which I am) but it is super true.

overnight breakfast bake ready for the oven

The original recipe is from the NY times. That one calls for sausage, and that’s how I made it last year for Christmas – completely as written. The thing is that I don’t love sausage at all. It’s not the sausage as much as the fennel seeds, but I rarely cook with sausage. In fact, so many of you ask all the time where all my recipes with sausage can be found!

I don’t love it so I don’t have many recipes with it.

Eddie likes it though, so I tried the recipe as is. 

Even with the sausage, I still thought the croissant bake was outstanding. I mostly ate around the sausage though?. So after making it a few more times and putting a few twists on it, I did away with the sausage.

I KNOW.

overnight breakfast bake

This probably sounds ridiculous to some of you and I assure you that you can add the sausage in. But for me? I love this with straight up vegetables.

2009 me is seriously freaking out over 2021 me.

YEP.

I used a mix of onions, mushrooms, spinach and garlic to bring this to life. A classic veggie combo. These taste SO delicious against the crispy croissants, melty gruyere cheese, eggs and herbs. So freaking good. (more…)

The post Overnight Croissant Breakfast Bake. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Gratin (GF)

Cauliflower isn’t winning quite as many popularity contests lately, but we aren’t over it, and we assure you this cauliflower gratin will reignite your inner cauli-lover too! Imagine perfectly tender cauliflower with a rich, salty, cheesy sauce. …

Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Gratin (GF)

Cauliflower isn’t winning quite as many popularity contests lately, but we aren’t over it, and we assure you this cauliflower gratin will reignite your inner cauli-lover too! Imagine perfectly tender cauliflower with a rich, salty, cheesy sauce. It’s worthy of a holiday feast yet wholesome enough for everyday!

Have a head of cauliflower laying around that you just haven’t used yet? (Guilty!) This creamy plant-based and gluten-free side is the solution!

Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Gratin (GF) from Minimalist Baker →

Stuffed Shells

These stuffed shells are saucy, cheesy comfort food at its best. I love the contrast of the chewy pasta with the creamy ricotta filling, and marinara – store-bought or homemade – is the perfect tangy accent for both. After I eat one helping…


These stuffed shells are saucy, cheesy comfort food at its best. I love the contrast of the chewy pasta with the creamy ricotta filling, and marinara – store-bought or homemade – is the perfect tangy accent for both. After I eat one helping, I always find myself back in the kitchen, unable to resist the allure of seconds. These stuffed shells are just that good! This stuffed shells recipe is easy to make (and make ahead!), and it’s great for serving a group. If you’re hosting a dinner party or get-together this season, it would be a fantastic dish to […]

Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas

This is the BEST Baked Oatmeal recipe with Blueberries and Bananas. It’s perfect to serve guests for breakfast, brunch, or make it ahead for the week for easy meal prep! Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas This is my favorite oatmeal recipe to make ahead or serve for company! It’s also great for the holidays, […]

The post Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas appeared first on Skinnytaste.

This is the BEST Baked Oatmeal recipe with Blueberries and Bananas. It’s perfect to serve guests for breakfast, brunch, or make it ahead for the week for easy meal prep!

Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas
Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas

This is my favorite oatmeal recipe to make ahead or serve for company! It’s also great for the holidays, or you need a potluck breakfast dish. It’s a warm, satisfying, heart-healthy breakfast your whole family will love. It feels like you’re eating dessert, only it’s loaded with fiber. Other baked oatmeal recipes I love are Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal and Pumpkin and Banana Baked Oatmeal.

(more…)

The post Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas appeared first on Skinnytaste.