Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Chocolate Covered Apricots

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Learn how to make this easy, healthy 2 ingredient Chocolate Covered Apricot recipe! In this cooking video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you step-by-step how to make Chocolate Covered Apricots! This is a super easy, delicious, healthy chocolate and dried fruit dessert or snack recipe. All you need is chocolate and dried apricots to make this chocolaty delicious recipe that everyone will love.

This recipe is so impressive and delicious that it would make a perfect food gift for you to share. You can get even more creative with this chocolate fruit recipe and add different toppings like chopped nuts, coconut, sprinkles and other tasty toppings. Kids and adults will both love this easy, healthy chocolate fruit recipe. Looking for a new easy healthy chocolate dessert recipe? You found it! I think this will be your new favorite healthy chocolate dessert or snack recipe. Watch this cooking video and try these Chocolate Covered Apricots today!

Yield: Varies

Chocolate Covered Apricots

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried apricots (or amount as desired)
  • 1 cup chocolate pieces, chunks or chips (dark, milk, semi-sweet, or white) (or amount as needed)
  • Decorations like chopped nuts, coconut, candy sprinkles, if desired for decorating

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet or tray with parchment or wax paper.
  2. Microwave chocolate in glass cup or dish on high until melted. Start with 1 minute and stir. If needed, microwave a little longer (about 30 seconds) and stir again. Repeat until melted and smooth.
  3. Dip about 3/4 of the apricot into the melted chocolate. Pull out the apricot and allow excess chocolate to drip back in the bowl. Set on prepared tray to dry.
  4. If decorating with chopped nuts, sprinkles, coconut or other decorations do this now. Dip the wet chocolate dipped apricots in the decorations or sprinkle/drizzle them on.
  5. Dry the chocolate covered apricots at room temperature until the chocolate is hard.
  6. Optional: If you are going to double dip or drizzle the apricots with another layer of chocolate (like white on dark), wait until the first layer of chocolate has cooled completely and hardened. You can also dip the second layer of chocolate in additional decorations while the chocolate is still wet.
  7. Store the dried Chocolate Covered Apricots in an airtight container.

Notes

Make sure there are no water drops on the dish or spoon that is coming in contact with the chocolate. Any water can make the chocolate hard and lumpy.

I have used both chocolate chips and bars. You may also mix chocolate types if you want. If you use chocolate chunks or bars, break them into small pieces before melting. You can also use chocolate specially made for dipping and drizzling (like chocolate melts).

You can save the leftover chocolate and re-melt it later. Cover it and store it at room temperature until you are ready to melt and re-use it.

See a cooking demonstration of this Chocolate Covered Apricots recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Roasted Vegetable Medley

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Learn how to make the best, easy, oven roasted vegetable recipe ever! In this cooking video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you how to make this delicious Roasted Vegetable Medley. I think this roasted vegetable recipe will be your favorite new healthy veggie recipe! If you are a beginner cook and trying to eat healthy I think this will be a perfect veggie recipe for you to try!

This Roasted Vegetable Medley is just right for an easy, healthy side dish that goes with almost any meal. Got some vegetables on hand? Make these roasted veggies in your oven! Looking for new healthy food ideas? Here is your chance to make an amazing easy, healthy vegetable recipe that everyone will love.

If you haven’t tried roasting vegetables yet, watch this cooking video and try this easy, healthy, delicious oven Roasted Vegetable Medley recipe for dinner tonight!

Yield: 6 servings

Roasted Vegetable Medley

Ingredients

  • 4 - 5 cups cauliflower florets
  • 4 - 5 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 - 1/2 cups bell pepper (yellow or red)
  • 1 cup carrots, sliced (1/4 inch)
  • 1 1/2 cup red onion, sliced in long wedges
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground (or to taste)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan and Romano cheese, grated or shredded

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, carrots, onions and garlic with the olive oil.
  3. Spread the vegetables in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
  4. Roast the vegetables in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes until they are tender and browned on the edges. Stir them every 10 minutes or so while they are cooking.
  5. When the roasted vegetables are done sprinkle them with Parmesan and Romano cheese. Serve.

Notes

The carrots look nice cut at an angle.

You can be flexible with the amount of vegetables you add to this Roasted Vegetable Medley. You can add more of some and less of others if you want.

I like to use extra-virgin olive oil.

Roast the vegetables to your desired doneness.

You can use other cheeses if you like.

See a cooking demonstration of this Roasted Vegetable Medley recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Spanish Rice in a Rice Cooker

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Learn how to make Spanish Rice in a Rice Cooker! In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make delicious Spanish Rice in a Rice Cooker. This is the easiest way to make delicious, healthy Spanish Rice!

If you have been looking for easy, healthy rice recipes you will want to add this Easy Spanish Rice recipe to your recipe collection. It is so easy to make in a rice cooker! You just add the ingredients, stir and turn on your rice cooker! Before you know it you will have delicious, healthy Spanish Rice for dinner. I am always looking for healthy dinner ideas and I think this rice recipe is a winner!

If you are trying to eat more healthy food, this is a perfect side dish with plenty of flavor. This Spanish Rice recipe uses brown rice and other healthy ingredients that are easy to find. Try cooking this delicious Spanish Rice in a Rice Cooker and find that this is your best Spanish Rice recipe and rice cooker recipe! Watch this video and try this Easy Spanish Rice recipe today!

Yield: 6 servings

Spanish Rice in a Rice Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups (2 rice cooker cups) brown rice
  • 3 cups (or up to the water line) water
  • 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies (including juice)
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
  • 3 - 4 teaspoons chicken style broth/seasoning, instant
  • 2 tablespoons onion, minced (dried)
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Add rice and water to the rice cooker.
  2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
  3. Cook according to your rice cookers instructions for brown rice.
  4. Fluff and serve.

Notes

I usually use long grain brown rice for this recipe.

I often use a popular brand of diced tomatoes with zesty mild green chilies but you can use any similar variation of these tomatoes.

I use a vegetarian instant chicken broth/seasoning that has no MSG or preservatives. It has a great flavor.

You can use regular liquid chicken broth in place of the chicken seasoning and water.

Just pour the chicken broth up to the appropriate water line in the rice cooker.

© Karen Breyer

 

Healthy Strawberry Jam

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In this video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you step-by-step how to make amazing Healthy Strawberry Jam with only two ingredients! This homemade strawberry jam is so sweet, delicious, healthy and easy to make too! If you thought making jam or preserves was hard you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to make this homemade jam recipe.This is even easier than strawberry freezer jam! This is a delicious, healthy jam that adults and kids will love! Serve this strawberry jam at your next family breakfast or brunch!

You will be surprised how fruity, sweet, and delicious this Strawberry Jam tastes. Try this Healthy Strawberry Jam on toast, pancakes, French toast, shortcake, ice cream, in a sandwich and more. Use your imagination and you will come up with more foods to put this Healthy Strawberry Jam on. What helps to make this Strawberry Jam recipe so amazing is that it is much healthier than other jams or jellies since it does not have any added sugar.

Our family loves to put this Strawberry Jam on toast with peanut or almond butter for an easy breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is also good in a peanut butter sandwich. We keep a container of this Healthy Strawberry Jam in the refrigerator and it helps to make a quick, easy meal or snack. I expect that this Healthy Strawberry Jam will be one of your favorite easy, healthy recipes. Watch this video and try this delicious Healthy Strawberry Jam today!

Yield: About 2 1/2 cups

Healthy Strawberry Jam

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) strawberries
  • 1/2 cup pineapple, dried

Instructions

  1. Add strawberries and pineapple to a blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. Pour strawberry mixture in a container with a lid and chill until thickened. Stir briefly and serve.

Notes

Store this jam in the refrigerator.

For a thicker strawberry jam you can substitute dates for the dried pineapple. The dates make a thicker jam. The dried pineapple makes a sweeter jam.

© Karen Breyer

 

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