Pinterest Success: Recipes

I've been obsessing over playing on Pinterest for a while now, and I think it's time to return and report. It's easy to get lost in all of the ideas without actually doing anything with them, but I'm happy to say that I've actually tried many of these ideas....with great results. (This was something I was actually worried about when I joined Pinterest....I was a little skeptical about the quality control.)

I've tried lots of recipes I found there----way more than I thought (certainly more than I can include here...if I ever want you to come back.) Here are my reviews of some of my favorites:

Mango Slaw with Cashews and Mint (link)
via Smitten Kitchen

To be fair, I didn't find this on Pinterest...but I did pin it. Right away. It's that good. It's just the right mix between sweet and savory--and I have yet to serve it to someone who didn't like it, my kids included. My tweaks? I omitted the red pepper flakes, doubled the mint, and added about 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the vinaigrette. (I am very suspect of a vinaigrette that doesn't involve something sweet.) My rating: 9 out of 10.

Confetti Salad Black Bean and Rice Salad (link)
via Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Deeeeeeeeeee-licious. It reminds me a lot of the mango slaw above, but with a more Southwestern kick. This is my go-to for potlucks and church events. If they tell me to bring a salad, this is what comes with me. Usually. My rating: A+.

Crock Pot Minestrone (link)
via Skinnytaste

To be completely honest, I didn't use a crock pot for this. I just cooked it on the stove top.....so I can't be particularly relied upon to give an authentic opinion about this soup based upon the given recipe. That being said, the stove top version was a hit with my family, which always bodes well for a recipe. If two small children eat it with gusto, it must be good. We've had some cold days as of late, and this one hit the spot on a particularly chilly Sunday. My Rating: 5 stars.

Cornmeal Waffles with Spicy Chili (link)
via Paula Deen

The minute I saw this, I knew I needed to try it. Wouldn't you? I mean, come on. Chili on a waffle? It seemed like I would not only score major husband points on this one, but possibly even kid points, too. Food-made-fun is always a winner around here, and Ian has yet to meet a waffle he doesn't like. And really, it was a hit. That said, I didn't use Paula's chili recipe. I opted to hedge my bets by using my favorite chili recipe hoping that, if all else failed, at least the chili would  be delicious, right? (I should note here that I use ground chicken breast instead of ground beef when I make chili....I think it's a big upgrade, but I know there are beef fans among us who might beg to differ.) If I were to do this again, I'd probably add a little more sugar to the waffle recipe...but that's a common thread you'll see running through my cooking. Don't tell Dr. Oz. Overall, I love the IDEA of it all (and we'll do it again), but the recipe for the waffles needs some tweaking and I'm going to stick with Mel's chili. My rating: 75% approval.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Herbs (link)
via Martha Stewart

I knew this would be a hard sell with our resident kindergartner. He's a great eater, but there are a few foods where he draws his line in the sand, and I really don't want squash to be one of them. And to be honest, I was on pins and needles all afternoon wondering if I could pull this off. The plan was to explain to Ian that this was a special squash that turned into special squash noodles after it's cooked. Good, right? Well it worked. I really love spaghetti squash and I really want my kids to love spaghetti squash. This particular recipe was delicious--the fresh herbs made all the difference. I'm quite certain that I am far more enthusiastic about it than the rest of my family, but since it was eaten, I'm going to assume their nod of approval. My rating: Two thumbs up.

Lemon Chicken Breasts (link)
via Ina Garten

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. We don't eat a lot of meat at home, so whenever it's included with dinner, Ian's eyes get really large and he says, "Oooooooooooooooooooh, meeeeeeeeeeeeat." It's quite entertaining. I had prepared this about three-quarters of the way before I had to leave for the dentist, so Joe should really be acknowledged for closing on this one. Everything about this recipe was divine. Bonus: it's beautiful from beginning to end. I didn't use skin-on chicken breasts, and if you don't either, I'd suggest covering the pan with aluminum foil for at least half of the baking time so they don't dry out. To be frank, the only reason I didn't lick my plate was because I couldn't feel the left side of my face. (True story.) My rating: Gold Medal Champion