Jessica's Joyful Kitchen

  Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes Servings: 8 Category: Dressing Notes After Making Add Ingredients ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt, regular yogurt, or buttermilk 3 tablespoons mayonnaise (or more yogurt or buttermilk, if preferred) 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 clove garlic, finely minced ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon salt Instructions Add all ingredients to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Seal the jar and shake vigorously. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Jessica’s Notes Best Served With Caesar salads Grilled chicken salads Pasta salad Roasted vegetables Fresh vegetable platters Chicken wraps and sandwiches Prep Ahead Prepare up to 5 days in advance. Stir or shake before serving if separation occurs. Stor...

  Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Servings: 8 Category: Breakfast Notes After Making Add Ingredients Frangipane ½ cup unsalted butter, softened ½ cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup almond flour 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon almond extract Pinch of salt Mimosa Syrup ½ cup orange juice 2 tablespoons sugar ¼ cup champagne or sparkling wine Zest of 1 orange Optional Non-Alcoholic Swap Replace the champagne with an additional ¼ cup orange juice (for a total of ¾ cup orange juice) Add 1–2 teaspoons lemon juice, if desired, for brightness Assembly 1 loaf brioche, cut into thick slices ½–¾ cup orange marmalade Powdered sugar, for finishing Sliced almonds, optional Instructions Make the Frangipane Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the almond flour, a...

Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Chill Time: 6 hours Total Time: 6 hours 25 minutes Servings: 12 Category: Dessert Notes After Making Variation:  Chocolate Cream Cheese Icebox Cake Ingredients 2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced 2 sleeves graham crackers (about 18 sheets) Filling 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 2 small boxes (3.4 ounces each) cream cheese instant pudding mix 3 cups cold milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold Instructions Prepare the Pan Line a 9×13-inch dish with a layer of graham crackers (about 9 full sheets), breaking them as needed to fit. Make the Filling In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined. Add the cream cheese instant pudding mix and 3 cups of cold milk. Beat until smooth and thickened. In a separate bowl, beat...

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 15–20 minutes Total Time: 35–40 minutes Servings: 6-12 Category: Breakfast ⸻ Notes After Making Half per person plus sausage and sunny side up egg was the perfect amount.  ⸻ Ingredients Pecan Cream (Frangipane-Style) ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar 1½ large eggs (about 85g beaten egg) 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract 1⅛ cups (113g) finely chopped pecans 3 tablespoons (24g) all-purpose flour Pinch of salt Bourbon Syrup 6 tablespoons (120g) maple syrup (or 6 T  (75g) brown sugar mixed with 3 T (45g) water 3 tablespoons (45ml) bourbon or amaretto ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of salt Assembly 6 large day-old croissants, sliced in half (Costco or Sam’s Club great value) ¾ cup (about 240g) peach jam ¾ cup (about 83g) chopped pecans, for topping Powdered sugar, for finishing, optional  ⸻ Instructions Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Warm the maple s...

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes Servings: 6 Category: Main Dish Notes After Making Add Ingredients Chicken 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1½ pounds total) ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil Lemon Thyme Sauce 1½ cups chicken broth (reduced sodium recommended) ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons) 1 tablespoon lemon zest ⅓ cup finely chopped onion (about ⅓ medium onion) 2 cloves garlic, minced 2½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1½ teaspoons dried) ⅓ cup heavy cream, room temperature 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and at room temperature For Serving Fresh thyme sprigs, optional 1½ cups dry rice (¼ cup dry rice per serving) Instructions Prepare the Chicken If the chicken breasts are uneven in thickness, pound them to an even thickness for more consistent cooking. Season both sides with the salt and pepper. Bro...

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 Category: Breakfast Notes After Making Add Ingredients 6 tablespoons butter, cut into portions 3 tablespoons brown sugar (about ½ tablespoon per butter portion) 4 tablespoons cream cheese, cut into 1-tablespoon portions Optional: dollop of jam (raspberry, strawberry, or apricot) 1 sheet store-bought puff pastry, thawed Confectioners’ Sugar Glaze ½ cup confectioners’ sugar 1–2 teaspoons milk (or water) Splash of vanilla extract Instructions Prepare the Oven Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare the Puff Pastry Lightly roll out the puff pastry. Cut into 4 equal squares and set aside. Assemble the Base Place butter portions (2 per serving) onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle each with brown sugar. Add cream cheese portions over half of the butter-brown sugar bases. Add jam if using. Top and Seal Place a puff pastry...

Prep Time: 15 minutes Chill Time: 30 minutes (or overnight) Cook Time: — Total Time: 45 minutes (plus optional overnight chill) Servings: 1 tart shell (10-inch) Category: Dessert Notes After Making Variation:  Brown Butter Short Crust Pastry (great tips in video!) Ingredients ½ cup butter, room temperature ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract 1 egg 1 egg yolk 1½ cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup almond flour (or additional all-purpose flour) ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt Instructions Make the Dough In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Mix in the almond or vanilla extract, whole egg, and egg yolk until fully combined. Add the all-purpose flour, almond flour (or extra all-purpose flour), baking powder, and salt. Stir until the dough comes together. Shape the Tart Shell Lightly grease a 10-inch removable-bottom tart pan (or pie plate). Press the dough evenly into the bottom and up t...

Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes Servings: 10 Category: Side Dish Notes After Making Add Ingredients Sauce ¼ cup salted butter 1 medium white onion, finely diced ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup chicken broth 1 cup heavy cream or half and half 1 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon salt Potato Casserole 6 large russet potatoes, peeled and shredded (about 3 pounds) 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and divided 1 cup corn flakes, crushed (or 1 cup breadcrumbs as an alternative) 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted Instructions Make the Sauce In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir continuously for 2–3 minutes, until smooth and golden. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth. Stir in the heavy cream and sour crea...