If you feel the same way, then you’re in luck! We’re here to help. We’ve been teaming up with some of our favorite local influencers on Instagram to bring you a delicious Summer Influencer Recipe Exchange. Below you’ll find the seven delicious recipes each of the influencers shared with Midwest Kitchens to try. We’ve been busy in the kitchen and we don’t hate it! Special thanks to Lacey Spallitta, Natalie Fieleke, Chioma Atanmo, Brianne Cunningham, Anna Huff, , Kallie Flexman and Kathryn Snellen for participating!

Tex-Mex Shakshuka – Mediterranean Breakfast by Chioma Atanmo

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder (OR paprika)
• 1 can (14.5oz) diced or roasted tomatoes (SUBSTITUTE: 2 Roma tomato, diced)
• 1/2 can (7oz) tomato sauce, no-salt-added
• Pinch of sea salt & pepper
• 4 whole eggs
• For garnish: fresh chopped parsley OR cilantro

Directions:

• Set oven to 400F/204C.
• Set a skillet on medium heat. Once hot, add olive oil, garlic, onion, bell pepper, coriander, cumin and chili powder. Sauté for a few minutes until fragrant, about 3 to 5 minutes
• Add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Reduce heat to medium, stir and bring to a light simmer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Make 4 holes in the skillet and crack an egg inside each hole.
• Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the egg is cooked to your desired readiness.
• Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy with whole grain toast.

Indoor S’mores by Brianna Cunningham

Ingredients:

• 8 cups (13oz box) graham cracker cereal
• 6 cups miniature marshmallows – divided 5:1
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 5 tbsp butter or margarine, cut into pieces
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

• Grease 13x9x2in baking pan. Pour cereal into large bowl.
• Heat 5 cups marshmallows, morsels, butter and corn syrup in medium, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract.
• Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal; stir until well coated. Add in remaining marshmallows. Press mixture into prepared pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Cut into bars.

Chicken Tequila Burgers with Chimichurri Sauce by Natalie Fieleke

Ingredients:

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• ½-1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 chicken breasts (about 1 lb. total)
• 3-4 tbsp. cilantro
• Zest of ½ a lime
• 1 oz. tequila
• Dash of soy sauce
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper
• ½ cup panko bread crumbs

For Serving:

• Burger buns
• Sautéed bell pepper and onion
• Lettuce

Chimichurri Sauce

• 1 shallot roughly chopped
• 2 cups fresh cilantro, stems removed
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbl red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp salt

Pre-heat broilder. Line a baking sheet with foil and brush lightly with olive oil. Combine the garlic, jalapeno, chicken, cilantro & lime zest in the bowl. Mix in the tequila, soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste, and panko bread crumbs. Mix until well blended.

Form the mixture into 4-5 patties and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Broil the burgers for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook until brown on both sides. Check for doneness before serving. Serve on buns with sauteed bell pepper and onion, and lettuce as desired.

Grapefruit Margaritas by Kallie Flexman

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup grapefruit juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 cup Good Tequila
• 1/4 cup Cointreau
• 1 tsp egg whites
• 1/4 cup simple syrup
• Optional: tajin for serving

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until well-combined. Serve over ice and sprinkle with tajin. Enjoy!

Homemade Guacamole by Anna Huff

Ingredients:

• 3 Avocados
• 1 Tomato
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• Lemon + Lime juice
• Salt

Directions:

• Halve avocados and mash in a bowl.
• Add in lemon & lime juice.
• Add in onion and garlic.
• Add in tomato
• Mix and serve!

Summer Orzo Salad by Kathryn Snellen

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 12 oz dried orzo pasta (about 2 cups)
• 1 (12oz) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
• 1 (12oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 large English cucumber
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup loosely packed, coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 6 oz feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 1/2 cup)

Directions:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, vinegar, oregano, salt and black pepper together in a large bowl; set aside.
• Add the orzo to the water and cook until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and run briefly under cool water to cool orzo down. Then drain again.
• Add the orzo, artichoke hearts, peppers, cucumbers, red onion and olives to the bowl of dressing. Toss thoroughly to combine. Add the parsley and feta and toss again. Let sit 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed.

Notes:

Make Ahead: The pasta salad can be made a day ahead and refrigerated overnight. Let sit at room temperature for 30min to take the chill off before serving.

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Grilled Veggie Summer Salad by Lacey Spallitta

Produce:

• 2 cups Arugula
• 2 cups Corn (2 large corn on the cob)
• 1/2 Lemon, juice of
• 1 large or 2 small Zucchini
• 1/2 large Red Onion

Baking & Spices:

• 1 Salt and Pepper

Oils & Vinegars

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

Dairy

• 1 cup Feta Cheese

Directions:

1. Prepare the zucchini, corn, and onion: Slice fresh zucchini and red onion into thick slices. Clean corn on the cob. Drizzle all with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Wrap corn cobs in foil. Heat an outdoor grill or grill pan over high heat. Grill the zucchini and onions until golden brown on both sides with grill marks. Grill Corn until tender.
2. Assemble the salad: Cut zucchini and onions into bite sizes. Cut corn off cob then add all veggies into bowl, crumbled feta cheese (you can use DF Feta too) and fresh arugula.
3. Dress simply with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and serve.

Note: This can be a side dish or add Grilled Chicken, steak or shrimp for an entree salad!

The post Summer Influencer Recipe Exchange appeared first on Midwest Kitchens.

Below you’ll find the five delicious recipes each of the influencers shared with us to try. We were busy in the kitchen for a few days! Each influencer did a fabulous job making our recipes and also sharing a recipe with Midwest Kitchens. Special thanks to Natalie Fieleke, Anna Huff, Lacey Spallitta, Kallie Flexman and Molly Kuplen for participating! We can’t wait to do another recipe exchange.

No Bake Powerball Cookies by Natalie Fieleke

1 c. all natural peanut butter or almond butter
3/4 c. honey
3 c. old fashioned oats
1/2 c. ground flax seed
1 c. dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)
1 c. any combination of these add-ins:
-chopped pecans or almonds
-unsweetened shredded coconut
-chia seeds
-soft dried fruits (raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, etc.)

Directions:
-In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the peanut butter and honey until smooth. (Tip: you may want to warm them in the microwave first for easy mixing.)
-Stir in oats & flax seeds; mix in dried fruits.
-Using wet hands or a wet cookie scoop, shape the mixture into approx. 30 balls. Use a heaping tablespoon of mixture per cookie. Enjoy!

Monster Cookies by Anna Huff

1 1/2 c. creamy or chunky peanut butter
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. granulated white sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
3 large eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
4 1/2 c. rolled oats
2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. M&M’s (plain)

Directions:
-Pre-heat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
-In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter with the sugars and butter. Use an electric mixer to mix until well combined.
-Add eggs & vanilla; mix in oats & baking soda.
-Stir in chocolate chips & M&M’s.
-Drop the cookies by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
-If you’d like your cookies to look pretty like the photos, dot a few extra M&M’s on each mound of dough before baking.
-Bake 10-12 minutes, less for convection ovens. Do not overbake. Cool on a wire rack & enjoy!

Protein Pancakes by Kallie Flexman

1 c. raw oats
1 c. cottage cheese
1 c. egg whites (can use carton egg whites)
cinnamon to taste

Directions:
Blend ingredients together in a blender. Use a non-stick pan & coat with EVOO. Pour batter in pan, cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes per side. Serve with peanut butter, maple syrup fruit, or the topping of your choice!

Hamburger Vegetable Soup by Molly Kuplen

2 lb lean hamburger
1 yellow onion, chopped
1/2 stick butter
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
3 cans of water
1 large potato, diced
1 small bag frozen peas
1 small bag frozen mixed vegetables (or fresh)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Brown hamburger meat in large pot. Do not drain. Place onion & garlic & a separate pan & saute until onions are translucent. Add salt & pepper. Combine with hamburger meat and add remaining ingredients except vegetables. Bring to low boil & simmer until potatoes are soft. Then add frozen or fresh vegetables. Simmer until vegetables are cooked.

Lemony Chicken Patties by Lacey Spallitta

1 lb. ground chicken breast
1-2 Tbsp. non-dairy milk
1 tsp. freshly chopped rosemary
1 tsp. chopped thyme
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. finely minced garlic
zest of 1 medium lemon
2 Tbsp. chopped chives or green onion
2-3 Tbsp. avocado oil

Directions:
Gently combine all ingredients in a bowl and gently mix until everything is combined. (Do not overwork or your patties will have a rubbery texture.) Heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and divide the chicken mixture into four segments. Flatten to form patties and sear for 5-8 min on each side, or until internal temperature reaches 160F. You can serve the patties with roasted broccoli. For a more filliing option, serve with mashed root vegetables or cauliflower.

The post Quarantine Recipe Exchange, Part II: Influencer Recipes appeared first on Midwest Kitchens.

The first part of the exchange involved us sharing a recipe with each of the five influencers to try out. To see each of those recipes, check out our blog post here. After that, each of the influencers shared a special recipe with us to try. We kept very busy in the kitchen!

We were fortunate enough that In Kansas City Magazine caught wind of our exchange and featured one of the influencers and the recipe she shared with us. Check out the wonderful write up they did featuring Lacey Spallitta and her delicious Lemony Chicken Patties recipe.

Recipe Feature:

Right now more than ever, a lot of us are feeling pressure. Pressure to be a great teacher, parent, activity coordinator, chef and employee. While the extra time with family is nice, it’s also exhausting. It’s no wonder parents are feeling burnt out, guilty and like there’s no end in sight. Midwest Kitchens in InKansasCity Magazine recipe feature can hopefully provide a little escape to test out a new dish.

Like many tough phases in life, remember that this too shall pass. This is a unique time and no one is expecting you to juggle everything and juggle it well. Take time for yourself when you can and just do your best.

This article from The Every Mom touches on the importance of seeking alone time and little, clever ways to achieve it. We’ve found that spending more time in the kitchen, both involving the kids and not, provides a great escape from the stress and pressure during this time.

Just like on an airplane when putting on an oxygen mask, you have to take care of yourself first before assisting others. We hope you’re finding time to do things just for yourself and that it continues on well after this pandemic passes! Midwest Kitchens in InKansasCity Magazine provides a great recipe if you’re needing a break from the monotony.

The post Midwest Kitchens in InKansasCity Magazine appeared first on Midwest Kitchens.

Below you’ll find the five delicious recipes we shared with each respective influencer for the quarantine recipe exchange. Each lady did a fabulous job making these and and also sharing a recipe with Midwest Kitchens. Check back soon for the five recipes we received and tested from each of the ladies! Special thanks to Natalie Fieleke, Anna Huff, Lacey Spallitta, Kallie Flexman and Molly Kuplen for participating!

Lemon Squares:

Melt 2 sticks butter;
Add 2 c. flour &
1/2 c. powdered sugar.
Mix together & spread flat in greased 9×13 pan.
Bake at 325 for 25 min.

While baking, beat 4 whole eggs;
Add 2 c. sugar
1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. fresh lemon juice

Pour over crust and bake another 25 min at 325.

When cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar & cut into squares.

Seven Layer Bars:

Crust:
1 stick butter, melted
2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/4 c. sugar
Combine ingredients and press on to 9×13 pan

Add one layer at a time:
1 c. coconut
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips*
1 c. chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
1 1/2 cans sweetened condensed milk
Add each ingredient evenly on to the pan; pour sweetened condensed milk all over.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
*(For the chips, can use a variety like butterscotch, peanut butter or milk chocolate.)

Ethel’s Chocolate Cake

2 c. flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. canola or vegetable oil
1/2 c. melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. buttermilk (or add 2 tsp vinegar to regular milk)
1 c. hot strong coffee

Mix all dry ingredients well & then make a well in the center. Add the wet ingredients, with hot coffee last. Stir well. Batter will be thin.
Use 9×13 pan; Bake at 350 for 35-40 min.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 stick butter at room temperature
3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Use electric beater to mix the frosting until very smooth.
Once the cake has cooled, spread with this delicious frosting.

Pecan Butter Ball Cookies

Mix together:
1 c. softened butter
2 tsp. vanilla
Add dry ingredients:
2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. lightly toasted chopped pecans

Form the dough into small balls; place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 325 for approx. 25 min or until pale brown.
Once cooled, sprinkle powdered sugar on top

Arabian Squash Casserole

2 medium-large butternut or acorn squash
1 heaping c. chopped onion
1 heaping c. mixed colorful peppers, chopped
2-3 cloves chopped garlic
3 Tbsp. olive oil for saute
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. plain yogurt (Greek or traditional)
1 c. crumbled Feta cheese
1/4 c. sunflower seeds or chopped nuts for topping

Directions:
-Cut squash down the middle, length wise. Scoop out seeds & place it face down in an oiled pan. Bake at 375 about 35 min, or until soft. Let cool & scoop out & mash.
-Saute the onion and garlic. When onion is translucent, add the chopped peppers. Saute until peppers are just under-done.
-Beat eggs with yogurt. Crumble in the feta cheese. Combine everything and mix well. Add salt, black & red pepper to taste.
-Spread into buttered casserole or baking pan. Top with seeds or nuts. Cover. Bake at 375 for 25 min.

The post Quarantine Recipe Exchange appeared first on Midwest Kitchens.

Ingredients:

• 1 large can of salmon
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil for skillet

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and then form into individual salmon patties. Mixture should be soft but able to form patties with your hands. If it’s too soft/wet, then add more flour.

Add olive oil to a skillet and cook patties over medium heat. Once one side is golden brown, flip each patty over to cook on the other side until golden brown. Enjoy as a healthy snack or quick weeknight meal!

Check out this helpful video to see our quarantine salmon patty recipe cooking in action!

We hope that you enjoy our quarantine salmon patty recipe! Please stay safe and stay healthy during this crazy time, and try out some new recipes while at home.

We make our best memories in the kitchen! For more kitchen inspiration, please check out our Instagram and Facebook pages! We recently teamed up with five local bloggers and influencers for a recipe exchange. You will find several delicious recipes and hopefully more inspo. During this time of COVID-19, we think it is important to have fun with your kids and experiment in your kitchen.

Finally, Midwest Kitchens is open for business as an essential service during quarantine, and is conducting virtual consultations for your convenience. When it comes to the heart of your home, Midwest Kitchens has you covered.

The post Quarantine Salmon Patty Recipe appeared first on Midwest Kitchens.

When is the Best Time to Consume Detox Juice?

We all know how important it is to consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day for a healthy diet. A great way to incorporate fruits and veggies into your diet is with fresh detox juice made in a juicer.

We have found that fresh detox juice is best when consumed on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before a meal. This allows your body to absorb all the nutrients. The best time of day for us to drink this delicious beverage is first thing in the morning. You may even find that you don’t need your typical morning cup of coffee afterwards!

A green drink is like a shot of vitamins into the veins – its effects are immediate. However, it is beneficial to squeeze this delicious drink into your day any time you can.

What Does the Doctor Say?

According to WebMD, Green juice helps to detox the body, flush out toxins, and improve your energy, digestion, and overall health. Juices are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds that may boost the immune system.

WebMD also states that when you juice, you don’t get the fiber that’s in whole fruits and vegetables. Juicing machines extract the juice and leave behind the pulp, which has fiber. Once your juice is ready, it’s best to drink it the same day you make it, for food safety. Wash your blender or juice machine thoroughly, so it’s ready for your next batch.

A Fun Family Activity

The juicing process can be a fun family activity, as there are several steps in the process. Consider sharing the juicing tasks with your children for an overall sensory experience. For example, you will need to wash and peel the fruits and vegetables, cut large vegetables into smaller pieces, and insert the pieces into the juicer. Plus there is always the clean-up!

What are your favorite fresh juice recipes? We would love for you to share them here. Enjoy!

The post Freshly Squeezed Detox Juice appeared first on Midwest Kitchens.