Late Girl's Guide: Pan Seared Lamb Chops & Veggies

A one pan meal that's easier than it looks

I haven't shared a recipe with you all in a while, and that's because, quite simply, I haven't been cooking as much as I'd like. With my new job, though, I have a true lunch hour.  Now, I get to unwind and enjoy something I've made for myself as opposed to a quick grab n' go from the corner shop.

One of my first meals back in the kitchen was this one-pan comfort meal. It's a great meat-and-potatoes recipe that is filling and flavorful. I felt quite accomplished when I opened this in our break cafe and got a few compliments.

Ingredients

Lamb Chops
Potatoes
Carrots
Butter
Garlic + Onion + Thyme
Seasoned Salt + Pepper

Steps

1. Clean and chop veggies. Season with spice blend.
2. In pan, put butter, garlic, onion and thyme. As it begins to sizzle, throw in potatoes, followed by carrots. Cook on high heat until veggies are easily speared and edges start browning. 

3. Lower heat and push veggies to outer edges of the pan. Place chops in the center and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes or as desired.
4. Plate when everything in the pan  seared and caramelized. Enjoy!

Tip: To speed up cooking time, steam veggies in the microwave until half cooked. Then, finish the cooking searing process in the pan.

This recipe is about managing cook time. Potatoes will take the longest to cook, and the lamb the least, so throw them in the pan accordingly. 

THE LATE GIRL'S GUIDE IS A SERIES OF QUICK, SIMPLE RECIPES AND HOW-TOS FOR THE GIRL WISHING SHE HAD JUST 15 MORE MINUTES.

Late Girl's Guide: Italian Roasted Veggies & Sausage

I have never wanted to eat my veggies as much as I do now

January has come and gone, and I'm still holding onto my resolve to eat better. That includes making sure most of my meals have a huge helping of fresh vegetables. In an attempt to make veggies exciting and flavorful, I tried my hand at roasting some of my favorites.

Roasting them in a light seasoning intensified their flavor, without much work on my part. If any of you are vegetarian, vegan or whatever else is out there these days, the sausage is totally optional, but the flavor payoff is still there.

Ingredients

Mushrooms
Bell Peppers
Grape Tomatoes
Olive Oil + Salt + Pepper + Parsley
Sweet Italian Sausage

Steps

1. Clean and prep veggies. Season with spice blend. 

2. Bake peppers and tomatoes for 35-45 minutes at 450 degrees. With 20 minutes left, place mushrooms to bake, flipping the other veggies for an even roast.
3. Pan sear sausage until edges are brown.
4. Plate your veggies, top with sausage and enjoy!

The LATE GIRL'S GUIDE IS A SERIES OF QUICK, SIMPLE RECIPES AND HOW-TOS FOR THE GIRL WISHING SHE HAD JUST 15 MORE MINUTES.

Late Girl's Guide: Spinach & Parmesan Salmon

Quick, healthy and definitely not your basic salmon

Whenever I'm in the mood for a lighter meal, my first thought is seafood. Salmon, in particular, is a favorite. I wanted to update my regular baked salmon for something more interesting, and by stuffing it with fresh spinach and parmesan, I definitely accomplished that. 

The great thing is the cook time is the same as classic baked salmon, but the outcome is much tastier. I served it on a simple spinach salad with dried cranberries, but it would pair well with any of your favorite sides. 

Ingredients

Salmon 
Spinach
Fresh Parmesan
Salt + Pepper

Steps

1. Clean and prep salmon. Season with salt +  pepper.

2. Cut a slit into the salmon for the spinach and  parmesan stuffing.
3. Bake salmon at 375 degrees F in foil-covered pan for 35- 45 minutes until flaky.

The LATE GIRL'S GUIDE IS A SERIES OF QUICK, SIMPLE RECIPES AND HOW-TOS FOR THE GIRL WISHING SHE HAD JUST 15 MORE MINUTES.

Late Girl's Guide: Easy Chicken Fajitas

When I cook on the lighter side, I always make sure that I don't end up sacrificing flavor. Seasonings, spices and marinades are always on hand. Fajitas are a great way to make a quick, light meal that brings the flavor. I ditched the flour tortillas for an even lighter option, but paired with my favorite side ever, guacamole, I didn't even miss the carbs.

Ingredients

Chicken Breasts + Bell Peppers + Onions +Fajita Marinade + Spices

1) Prep and season chicken. Cut into strips. Allow it to marinate for at least an hour.

2) Coat pan in oil and pan sear chicken. 4) Chop peppers and onions.
5) When chicken is almost finished, put peppers and onions in pan to sautée.
6) Serve with your favorite sides. 

The Late Girl's Guide is a series of quick, simple recipes and how-tos for the girl wishing she had just 15 more minutes.

Late Girl's Guide: Raspberry Lemonade Sweet Tea

Summertime in the south is all about a good pitcher of sweet tea. Since you can't really take a pitcher around with you, Sweet Leaf Tea has bottled that goodness—and it's good. 

If you're looking for a way to update your classic sweet tea, my favorite way is to add fruit for a light, sweet and fresh summer drink. And P.S. today is National Tea Day, so you kinda have to sip some tea.

1. Crush raspberries in a pitcher with lemon juice.

2. Pour Sweet Leaf Lemonade Tea over the mix. Stir, chill & serve!  

If you enjoy Sweet Leaf Tea this summer, use their #toast2goodness hashtag to share your sip or toast to someone who deserves one. 

Sweet Leaf Tea provided samples for review. As always, all opinions are my own.

LATE GIRL'S GUIDE   The Late Girl's Guide is a series of quick, simple recipes and how-tos for the girl wishing she had just 15 more minutes. more late girl's guide here

Late Girl's Guide: Lemon Butter Shrimp

Ever since I discovered The Spiralizer, I've been trying make "voodles" (vegetable noodles) out of everything. My favorite are "zoodles," and combined with fresh summer flavors of lemony, buttery, garlicky seafood, this has to be my favorite recipe. 

1. Clean shrimp, season with garlic salt, seafood seasoning, or any seasoning of your preference.

2. Sautè shrimp in pan with a generous amount of butter and lemon juice. 

3. While the shrimp cooks, turn your zucchinis into zoodles (zucchini noodles) with a spiralizer. See the magic happen here here. 

4. As the shrimp are nearing a  completion, throw the zucchini noodles on top to cook. Add more seasoning & butter as desired to coat the noodles.

5. I like to drain the excess water that the zoodles produce and put it back on the stove, add more seasoning and let it cook for a final 3 minutes.  

Note: 1 large zucchini is about a serving of noodles.

LATE GIRL'S GUIDE   The Late Girl's Guide is a series of quick, simple recipes and how-to's for the girl wishing she had just 15 more minutes. more late girl's guide here

Late Girl's Guide: Honey Mint Lemonade

When it starts warming up, I look forward to getting a fresh bunch of mint and a few bright lemons to make Honey Mint Lemonade. It's refreshing, tart, and subtly sweet.  

If you want a little more oomph, all it takes is a splash of your favorite liquor and you've got a party.

1. Cut & squeeze lemons, making sure to remove seeds. On the side, boil enough water to fill 1/4 of your pitcher.

2. Pour honey (I eyeballed the amount), lemon juice, and hot water over the mint leaves. Use a wooden spoon to mix & crush leaves. 

3. After making the lemonade concentrate, fill the pitcher with cold water & ice. Stir and enjoy!

LATE GIRL'S GUIDE   The Late Girl's Guide is a series of quick, simple recipes and how-to's for the girl wishing she had just 15 more minutes. SEE MORE HERE

late girl's guide | cheddar garlic bread

I think I've established that I go carb crazy this time of year (you should see my last recipe). Yes to comfort foods.

This quick recipe for garlic bread is a guilty pleasure. I'd be lying if I said I didn't pop them like potato chips, but they also add a burst of flavor to a meal --I love them with soups.

1. Slice the bread and spread with butter. Sprinkle with garlic powder. 

2. Layer sliced or shredded cheddar and sprinkle just a little more garlic powder. 

3. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or until  bread is crispy on the edges.

late girl's guide | kale & sausage pasta alfredo

I know a fair share of people who started the new year with diets in mind -- diets not including pasta. For me, when the weather is cold and gray, I crave comfort food, diet or not. 

This recipe includes some great fresh ingredients (hello, kale), lighter meat (turkey sausage), is easy to make and cures the winter blues. Well, mine anyway.

1. Prep - Slice the sausage. Wash and cut the kale bunches. 

2. Pan sear the sausage, seasoned with Italian seasoning and fresh garlic. Boil pasta on the side. 

3. Five minutes before the sausage is done, put the kale in the pan to cook lightly. 

4. When the kale, sausage and pasta are done, mix together in a bowl with alfredo sauce. 

late girl's guide | holiday sugar cookies

Christmas time is the perfect excuse to overindulge. I am a lover of cookies (among other things), and with my set of skills, my go-to are sugar cookies. Well, elevated sugar cookies.  

By adding a mix of candies and sweet flavors, the sugar cookies feel more special and homemade.  

1. Slice cookie dough 1/2 inch thick ( I followed the directions according to Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough). 

2. Smash candy canes into bits and roll caramels into smaller balls. Top cookies with candies.  

3. Bake at 350°F for 11-15 minutes until golden brown. Cool and enjoy with a glass of milk or wrap for a quick, sweet Christmas treat!

late girl's guide | tex-mex pinto bean soup

Steam rising from a hot bowl of soup just warms the soul during the colder months, doesn't it?  This recipe has been on repeat because it is so easy. Seriously, I mean really easy, but it tastes so hearty and homemade. Plus, soups are a fantastic way to use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey. 

1. Cook meatballs (or use shredded turkey or any other meat) fully. Set aside for later.

2. Heat soup following product directions. Add chilli powder and other spices to taste. 

3. Add meat to soup and let simmer for a few minutes.

4. Serve topped with avocado, shredded cheese and sour cream. 

Customizing a ready-to-serve soup is so easy, but the payoff is huge. It's an impressive, easy and flavorful fall meal. 

late girl's guide | pumpkin pie parfait

I am one of the few members of my family with a sweet tooth, so come holiday season desserts are an afterthought. After years of disappointment, I decided to take sweets into my own hands.

Aside from being delicious and easy to make, it's a little bit healthier than a slice of pie because of the secret ingredient (shh, it's greek yogurt). 

1. Mix yogurt, pumpkin, condensed milk and cinnamon together until smooth. 

The yogurt gives it the creamy, tart taste, similar to cheesecake. 

2. Put mixture in fridge to solidify for at least an hour. 

3. Layer crumbled shortbread cookies, whipped cream and pumpkin mixture. Keep in fridge until ready to serve. 

 4. Before serving, top with more whipped cream and cookie crumbs.