Posts made in January, 2019
Hearty Low Carb Chili
Two major things are happening this week: in Chicago we are seeing record setting low temperatures and the Superbowl is on Sunday. What do these two occasions have in common? Both call for a hearty bowl of chili! Now, here at Mama Jess, we understand that chili is a highly contested meal. To bean or not to bean, that is one of the questions. Today we chose not to bean, and went for a super low carb chili dish! This is perfect for all of our keto friends out there, or anyone who is just looking for a great chili recipe. The best part? You could always add beans! The thing that takes the longest is the prep. The chopping, dicing, blanching, more chopping, slicing…but...
Read MoreThe Perfect Crispy Baked Steak Fries
Everyone has a vice. For some people it’s a glass of wine with dinner, for others it’s a bit of chocolate after lunch. For me? French fries. Anytime of the day. Anywhere in the world. I don’t have a type either. Waffle fries, shoestring, crunchy, soft, salty, parmesan, drizzled with truffle oil…it doesn’t matter. In honor of my vice, I have created a salty blend of spices with a kick to top the perfect crispy, thick cut steak fries! The beauty of this recipe is in a tip I found online (bless you, Pinterest): after slicing the potato wedges, microwave them for 5 minutes, uncovered. This will not only get some of the water out, but also give you that soft inside...
Read MoreOne Pan Balsamic Pork Chops and Brussels
I am so proud of this recipe! I was going through things I had in my freezer (pork chops) and things I needed to get rid of in my fridge (an incredible amount of brussels sprouts that I bought on sale). Everything else I had in my fridge or pantry and it all just worked together! The subtle sweetness of the honey with the touch of spice from the Dijon was just the most delicious compliment to the pork chops. They were so juicy and tender too, thanks to the pan searing! Not to mention, the brussels sprouts were smothered in the sauce as well and were the perfect compliment. I also considered adding in diced butternut squash and even sweet potatoes! If you’re feeding a...
Read MoreGuilt Free Deep Dish Pizza
It turns out that here at Mama Jess, we have been in a pizza mood lately. While last week we focused on this lovely puff pastry pizza (sort of like a fancy hot pocket), this week, we are showing a much more guilt free version of our famous, local Chicago Deep Dish Pizza! The process, while a bit timely, is very easy. I was able to pop this dish in the oven, check some emails, take it out and prep before popping it back into the oven, read my book (currently can’t put down One Day in December by Josie Silver), and then served it to my family! Definitely got a mouths full, thumbs up: the ultimate compliment. Here is how to make the Mama Jess Pizza Pie! First, preheat...
Read MorePuff Pastry Pizza
Happy New Year, Mamas! As I am writing this, I’m realizing I should have written a post about all of the healthy food I am eating as my new year’s resolution…but alas…I’m more worried about what to prepare for the crowd we are having over on Sunday afternoon to watch the Chicago Bears in the NFL Playoffs! I already know that today’s recipe is going to be a crowd favorite: Puff Pastry Pizza or, “Triple P”, as I have been calling it. It is simple, beautiful, quick to bake, and even quicker to eat. Only a few ingredients, a few minutes in the oven, and you will have your football fans fed and ready to cheer on their boys (hopefully those boys are the...
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