Matcha and Margs

recipes

Buffalo Chicken Game Day Sliders

appetizers, dinner, game day, recipes, snacks

There doesn’t have to be a sports game on for me to enjoy all things buffalo, but its always fun when the two coincide! I took my love of buffalo and created these cute, delicious buffalo chicken sliders. They pair perfectly with a ripe avocado, some ranch, and the 7 Grain Sprouted Dinner Rolls from Angelic Bakehouse. I tried their sprouted grain products about a year ago and become obsessed. Not only do they taste wonderful, but they have amazingly clean ingredients. I knew I had to create something fun with these dinner rolls, and I sure do love a slider!

The buffalo chicken sliders are packed with flavor, spice, and even a little cheese for good measure. I use a goats milk cheese in the recipe, but you can definitely use blue cheese if you are a fan. The toppings are customizable and the recipe itself could not be easier to whip up. My recommended toppings are avocado, extra buffalo sauce, ranch (I like Sir Kensington’s brand), coleslaw, tomatoes, etc.

If you just want to make the meat patties and not the sliders as a whole, that works too! The mixture can be rolled into meatballs to enjoy. I love pairing them as meatballs with spaghetti squash, ranch, and broccoli. You can also leave out the cheese if you cannot tolerate dairy; they will still taste great! I love a customizable recipe and want to be sure that I always share options with you guys.

If you decide to make the recipe, let me know! If you post it to Instagram, be sure to tag me @matcha_and_margs so I can send the love right back. I’d love to see how you decide to enjoy them!

Recipe:

Buffalo Chicken Game Day Sliders

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Prep Time 10 mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 3/4 cup almond flour
  • 1/3 cup green onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/3 cup buffalo sauce + extra for drizzling
  • 1 tbsp chopped yellow onion
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • pinch red pepper flake
  • pinch sea salt
  • 1/3 cup goat cheese crumbles can use blue cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 package Angelic Bakehouse 7 Grain Sprouted Dinner Rolls

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.
  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
  • Form into small, 1 1/2 inch sliders and place on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
  • Place in the oven and cook for around 16-17 minutes.
  • Let cool, coat with more buffalo sauce and serve on the Angelic Bakehouse dinner rolls!
  • Top with toppings of your choosing. I like ranch, avocado, more cheese, coleslaw, tomatoes, etc. Have fun with it!
Keyword Buffalo Chicken, Chicken, Game Day Food, Sliders

This post has been sponsored by Angelic Bakehouse, but all of the opinions are wholeheartedly my own. Thank you so much for supporting me and my sponsored content, it truly means a lot! I only affiliate my brand with other brands that align directly and meaningfully with my own. Because of this, I am able to continue sharing mostly free content with all of you. I hope that you enjoy, friends!

xo,

Cori

One Skillet Paella (Gf, Df)

dinner, recipes

Paella has always been a dish that I looked forward to ordering in restaurants. I thought it was an impossible dish to master at home. Recently, I discovered that it is really not all that difficult! The key to making a paella dish at home is to use a good cast iron skillet and high quality saffron.

The first batch of saffron I used, my parents brought me back from Barcelona. Have no fear, that definitely is not necessary! I ended up buying the saffron on Amazon that had the highest ratings, and it performed really well in the recipe. For the cast iron skillet, you can also get those on Amazon. Here is the link for the skillet I use. Here is the link to the saffron I purchased.

The rice that I used in this recipe is from Right Rice. You can purchase the original flavor here or at your local Kroger store! The rice is made from a base of legumes like chickpeas, lentils, etc. and is a really filling option. If you are looking to make this paella with regular rice, you definitely can! Unfortunately, I have not tested the exact measurements for how much rice you would need. There is about a cup and a half of cooked rice that comes out of the bag from Right Rice, and you could totally play around with the seasonings provided.

The Recipe:

One Skillet Paella (Gf, Df)

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Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine Spanish

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
  • 3-4 cloves minced garlic
  • 3 links chicken sausage Can use any type of sausage/chorizo. I like Bilinski's sausage.
  • ~20-25 pieces shrimp Tails off
  • 1 package Right Rice Original Vegetable Rice Can use another rice, but I have not tested the exact amount.
  • 1 1/2 diced tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp saffron
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1 1/3 cups bone broth For cooking the rice. I like Bonafide Provisions.
  • 2 tbsp bone broth Save this for the final steps
  • juice of half of a lemon
  • parsley for garnish Optional

Instructions
 

  • Cook the Right Rice according to the package. Instead of using water, cook in the chicken broth! Set the cooked rice aside.
  • Heat the oil, onions, and garlic in your cast iron skillet and saute until translucent and fragrant.
  • Add the sausage in and cook for about a minute. Be sure to double check that your sausage is pre-cooked. If it is not, cook the sausage until it is about half way through cooking.
  • Add the shrimp in and cook for about a couple minutes. They will not be fully cooked, but you do not want your shrimp to overcook and become rubbery throughout the rest of the cooking process.
  • Add in the paprika and the salt and stir everything together. Turn the heat down to medium, medium-low.
  • Add in the rice and the diced tomatoes and mix everything together.
  • Add the remaining 2 tbsp of bone broth, the saffron, and the lemon juice. Let everything simmer for a few minutes.
  • Add in the frozen peas and let everything simmer for a few more minutes. The rice will absorb the bone broth. Make sure your proteins are fully cooked at this point!
  • You can garnish the paella with parsley, a little more salt and enjoy!
Keyword Paella, Rice, Rice Dish, Spanish Food

I am thinking that the next batch I make of this is definitely going to need to be paired with a homemade Sangria recipe. Who wants to join me?!

If you make the recipe, remember to tag me on Instagram @matcha_and_margs so that I can send you the love and support right back! I hope you all enjoy this festive and flavorful recipe. Adios amigos!

xo,

Cori

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Miso Ginger Chicken Thighs (Paleo)

dinner, recipes

Has anyone else experienced a rut with chicken? This happens to me all the time. This protein has the tendency to be overcooked easily, and I am not a fan of dried out chicken. Enter my new favorite chicken product, chicken thighs. They are packed with flavor, healthy fats, and are a lot more satisfying to me than chicken breasts. Incorporating the thighs into my diet always help me get me back on the chicken loving train.

Chicken thighs are great on their own cooked with olive oil and minimal spices. You probably know I have been obsessing over all of the Asian-inspired recipes lately if you follow me on Instagram. It was only a matter of time before I came up with an Asian marinade! The chicken thighs are baked in the oven which makes for quick and easy clean up. The baking method also helps make the chicken thighs extremely crispy.

The flavor of the miso and the ginger comes from the Ginger Bou Miso Broth cubes. All of their broth cubes are great for cooking soups, stews, and so on. You can make sauces or pastes with them, which is how I created this recipe. You’ll need 1/4 cup of hot water to dissolve the cubes in. The mix will turn into a delicious, thick miso paste after mixing the water thoroughly. This paste is complimented by sesame oil, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, rice wine vinegar and date syrup. It makes a delicious chicken thigh marinade.

Recipe:

Miso Ginger Chicken Thighs (Paleo)

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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 44 mins
Total Time 54 mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine Asian-inspired

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cubes Bou Miso Ginger
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 3 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce can sub coconut aminos or tamari
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes can add more if you like it spicier!
  • 1 tbsp date syrup

Instructions
 

  • Dissolve and mix the Bou Miso Ginger cubes into 1/4 cup of hot water. Make sure everything is combined and that there are no clumps. It should resemble a sauce or paste. 
  • In a bowl, mix together the miso and water sauce combination, the soy sauce, the sesame oil, salt, red pepper flakes, rice vinegar and date syrup.
  • Put the chicken in a container or bag to marinade in the sauce. Make sure the sauce covers all of the pieces of chicken. 
  • Marinate the chicken in the sauce overnight in the refrigerator. If you do not have enough time, you can marinate in the refrigerator for an hour, but I do not recommend doing it for much shorter. 
  • When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 425F. 
  • Place your chicken on an oven rack stacked on top of your oven-safe pan. The oven rack will help the chicken get crispier.
  • Top the chicken thoroughly with sesame seeds. 
  • Bake the chicken for 22 minutes, flip, and bake for an additional 22 minutes. 
  • Top the chicken with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Taste great over rice or on its own! 

The recipe suggest that you leave the chicken thighs marinating in the sauce overnight so that the chicken can truly pick up all of the flavors. If you don’t have enough time, you can marinade them for an hour in the fridge. I do not recommend going much shorter than that. Once they are done, I love topping them with more sesame seeds and lots of chopped green onion!

Lastly, let me know if you decide to make the Miso Ginger chicken thighs and I would absolutely love to hear what you think! If you remake them on Instagram, remember to tag me at @matcha_and_margs so I can send the love and support right back. Enjoy! 

xo,

Cori

“Cheesy” Paleo Egg Muffins (Gf, Df)

breakfast, recipes

I’m definitely more of a savory girl when it comes to breakfast. Give me all of the eggs, bacon, potatoes; you name it. When it comes to bringing breakfast on the go, it definitely can be easier to throw in a yogurt or a bar. I do this more often than I’d like to, which is why I created these delicious, Paleo egg muffins with a hint of “cheesiness”!

The hidden stars of the show in these Paleo egg muffins are the coconut milk and nutritional yeast. They add an amazing layer of creamy, “cheesiness” behind the scenes. Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that adds a delicious flavor of cheese to dishes without adding dairy. It is extremely popular in vegan dishes and products. Although this dish is not vegan, it still adds an incredible flavor that you won’t want to miss!

There are an abundance of veggies included which helps round these muffins out to be a great balanced breakfast option. They’re packed with all the healthy fats to keep you full throughout the morning. That is definitely a required quality for my breakfast choices each morning. My favorite part about the muffins are that they are extremely customizable. If you don’t like chicken sausage, leave it out. Love tomatoes? You can add those in too! The base of this recipe is a great vehicle for you to make your own version of breakfast in the size of a muffin.

Recipe:

“Cheesy” Paleo Egg Muffins (Gf, Df)

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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 10 pasture raised eggs I use Vital Farms
  • 1/3 cup coconut milk
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 cup mushrooms chopped
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
  • 2 handfuls baby kale
  • 2 links chicken sausage I used Applegate brand pre cooked Chicken & Apple sausage
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil I use Chosen Foods
  • 1 clove garlic

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.
  • Heat a pan with the avocado oil. Add the garlic and onions and saute until translucent. Add in the mushrooms and cook for about 4 minutes. Then, add in the kale and cook until wilted.
  • In a large mixing bowl, crack in the eggs and whisk until combined. Add in the coconut milk and nutritional yeast and whisk again. Then, add in the cooked vegetables and chopped chicken sausage links.
  • Add salt and pepper to the mix to preference. I used about 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of black pepper, roughly. Make sure everything is mixed together.
  • Place the mix into silicone baking liners in a muffin pan and fill the liners about 3/4 of the way. Bake on 400F for 20 minutes. The recipe makes around 15 muffins, so you will have to fill and bake twice. If you want less, half the recipe! This recipe serves two for the week. Enjoy!
Keyword Breakfast, Dairy Free, Egg, Egg Muffins, Gluten Free, Healthy breakfast, Meal prep, Paleo

To note, I made these using silicone baking liners, which I have linked here. I highly recommend using these as they make clean up so much easier. Anything to help simplify my time in the kitchen is always a win for me.

Let me know if you decide to make the Paleo egg muffins and I would absolutely love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below if you add anything, as I would love to hear how it turns out for you. If you remake it on Instagram, remember to tag me at @matcha_and_margs so I can send the love and support right back. Enjoy 🙂

xo,

Cori

Pumpkin Seed and Arugula Vegan Pesto (Nut Free)

dinner, lunch, recipes

When I first started eating “healthy”, nutritional labels ruled me. In my head, pestos were a no go being that it had over twenty plus grams of fat. This is definitely a longer story that has a happy ending which I will save it for a blog post of its own. I ended up teaching myself all about nutrition, the important of ingredients, and the significance of healthy fats in our bodies. It was not something I learned over night, but I am so relieved I am at the point I am at today. I value ingredients and food quality, not numbers. Personally, my body now thrives off of all the healthy fats. This vegan pesto is one of my favorite ways to incorporate them.

If pesto was a food group, it would definitely be my favorite one. I am obsessed with the fresh flavor it adds to a variety dishes. The ingredients come together so well and truly add a whole extra layer of flavor. It is an extremely versatile sauce and can be made using many different ingredients. Noodles are my favorite vehicle to enjoy them on, but it is also great cooked on top of salmon.

The vegan pesto on Banza chickpea pasta Cavatappi noodles

I love to experiment with different pesto recipes while using nutritional yeast as a replacement for cheese, making it a dairy free pesto. This version of vegan pesto is nut free, as it uses Bob’s Red Mill’s pumpkin seeds. Many arugula based pesto recipes use the arugula as a replacement for basil, but I love the combination of the two. Basil is one of my favorite herbs, so I definitely did not want to eliminate it here.

Recipe:

Pumpkin Seed and Arugula Vegan Pesto

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Cook Time 3 mins
Course Dinner, Sauce
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup basil tightly packed
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds I use Bob’s Red Mill
  • 1 cup arugula tightly packed
  • 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 3-5 tbsp water

Instructions
 

  • Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until it reaches your desired consistency. You can add less water if you like it thicker and more creamy.
  • You can enjoy on pastas, on your eggs, on toast, etc! 
Keyword Arugula, Pasta, Pesto, Vegan, Vegan Pasta

Let me know if you decide to make the vegan pesto and I would absolutely love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below if you add anything, as I would love to hear how it turns out for you. If you remake it on Instagram, remember to tag me at @matcha_and_margs so I can send the love and support right back. Enjoy 🙂

xo,

Cori