Jacque Made: a place to share my creative side.

Ladies and Gents, this recipe is seriously amazing. With each bite, I kept singing its praises... saying, "Oh my goodness.. wow, this is... wow, mmm..." I guarantee you, too will love it. It's from my girl Kelsey Nixon. (She's not technically my girl, or my girl friend even, but I like to think she and I would be great friends if we ever met. I love her cooking style, and her personality is adorable. And, she is always stylin'.) What made this recipe taste even better was that I made it with my twin sis, Jaime. She and I love to cook together, and we had a great time making this meal.  So, here's the printable recipe . Pork and Peach BBQ Sauce : 4 cups peaches, peeled and sliced (we used frozen peaches) 1 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup ketchup 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 Tbsp. garlic, minced 2 Tbsp. ginger, minced 2 1/2 pound boneless pork loin roast kosher salt and cracked black pepper 1/4 cup low sodium chicken stock Smashed Potatoes :  1 ...

This steak is one of my favorite "fancy" meals to make. It is so easy and so flavorful. You can eat it in a quesadilla, taco, on top of a salad, or on its own. Whenever I make dinner for a family, this is one of my go to meals. I either make it with the Pioneer Woman's Mac n Cheese or with a potato  side of some sort. (Below I made it with the Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes .) Oh, and I always make it with this yummy green salad . So delicious!  Marinated Flank Steak Ingredients : 1.5 - 2.5 lb. flank steak unseasoned meat tenderizer 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 packet of Good Seasons brand Italian dressing mix (I've also used lime juice in this recipe and a combination of lime and lemon juice, and both those options are tasty, too. The lime juice gives it a nice zing.) Directions : I like to line a cookie sheet with foil and place my steak on it, so I don't dirty a tray for this process. Liberally sprinkle...

I've been doing the Jillian Michaels' exercise DVD's for months now. I thought I'd give her recipes a try to that came with the DVD's. This recipe was so tasty. I really loved it and will definitely make it again. Ingredients : Spinach & Ricotta filling: 1 C. part-skim ricotta cheese 1/3 C. reduced fat organic Parmesan cheese 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper 1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry 1 large egg Chicken: 6 (6 oz.) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 1/2 cup dry white wine (I just used chicken broth) Directions : Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To prepare filling, combine all filling ingredients. To prepare chicken, place each chicken breast between two sheets of heavy duty plastic wrap, pound to 1/4 inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Divide and spread filling evenly over chicken breasts. Roll up jelly-roll fashion. Tuck in sides. Place chicken, s...

It is no secret that I LOVE potatoes. And well, potato skins, come on. I cannot resist them! So, when I had a hankering for these babies recently, I knew I wanted to find a healthier version than the kind you'd find at a restaurant.  Ellie Krieger is an amazing chef. She makes healthy food so delicious!  This recipe did not disappoint at all. In fact, I like this version of potato skins so much more than the restaurant type. It didn't taste greasy or oily at all, and the avocado cream on top was to die for! My mouth waters every time I think of these babies.  Here's the printable recipe .  Ingredients : 8 small potatoes (I used Yukon Gold, because they are my fave - about 2 1/2 pounds total, scrubbed and dried) 4 tsp. canola oil 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz. broccoli florets, coarsely chopped (about 4 cups) cooking spray 3 pieces Canadian bacon, finely diced (about 3 oz.) (I didn't have Canadian bacon on hand, so I used regular bacon.) 3/4 cu...

This is one of those dishes that is magical, because it is appealing to adults, and children, too! (In my house that is a miracle.) It does take some time to prepare, but it's so worth it. The flavors and textures are divine, I say. This recipe comes from one of my favorite chefs and TV personalities, Kelsey Nixon . This is a great dish for summer barbeques or potlucks. I've made it a few times for get togethers with friends, and it's always a hit. Here's the printable recipe . Ingredients : Salsa: 6 cups chopped mixed stone fruit (apricots, cherries, peaches, plums - I used what I could find at my local store and added in strawberries and blueberries, too) 2 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp. minced fresh basil 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. ground cinnamon pinch kosher salt Chips: 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 6 (8 inch) flour tortillas 4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted Directions : For the salsa: In a large mixing bowl, combine the mixed stone...

This salad is delectable. The flavors are so robust and the textures are incredible together. It was delicious in every way. Kelsey Nixon is a master chef. Every recipe of hers I try makes me love her even more.  Here's the printable recipe . Ingredients : 1 loaf french bread, cut or torn into 1 inch cubes (about 6 cups) extra-virgin olive oil kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 inch dice 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 inch dice 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, grated or pressed 1/2 cup olive oil 8 oz. smoked mozzarella, cut into 1/3 inch dice 8 oz. sugar snap peas, trimmed and sliced into thirds on the bias 8 oz. cherry heirloom tomatoes, halved 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn Directions : Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, toss the cubed bread with enough extra-virgin olive oil to coat liberally, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the...

These little babies will change your life for good. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating. They are perfect in every way. The candied bacon, the dill, the whole grain mustard... it all works in complete harmony and is like a party in your mouth. Beware when you do make them that they will disappear fast, so make sure to serve yourself first. This is a Kelsey Nixon recipe. You shouldn't be surprised. I love her, and her recipes are amazing. Here's the printable .  Ingredients : 1 1/2 Tbsp. light brown sugar cayenne pepper pinch ground cinnamon 1/8 pound thick cut bacon (about 3 strips) 8 large eggs, straight from the refrigerator 1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tsp. whole grain mustard 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 scallions, minced 1/2 tsp. kosher salt paprika for garnish Directions : Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar...

Ladies and Gents, this recipe is seriously amazing. With each bite, I kept singing its praises... saying, "Oh my goodness.. wow, this is... wow, mmm..." I guarantee you, too will love it. It's from my girl Kelsey Nixon. (She's not technically my girl, or my girl friend even, but I like to think she and I would be great friends if we ever met. I love her cooking style, and her personality is adorable. And, she is always stylin'.) What made this recipe taste even better was that I made it with Jaime. She and I love to cook together, and we had a great time making this meal.  So, here's the printable recipe . Pork and Peach BBQ Sauce : 4 cups peaches, peeled and sliced (we used frozen peaches) 1 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup ketchup 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 Tbsp. garlic, minced 2 Tbsp. ginger, minced 2 1/2 pound boneless pork loin roast kosher salt and cracked black pepper 1/4 cup low sodium chicken stock Smashed Potatoes :  ...

I have to say this is one of my very favorite things to eat: chips and salsa. It is my dear friend, Betsy's recipe. She made it for my family a few years back for a Christmas neighbor gift, and I had to ask for the recipe, because it was that good. (Not to mention it was completely refreshing to have a non sweet goodie gift for the holidays. I didn't feel like I was gaining a ton of weight by eating this. And you won't either!) I made it for our neighbors, and I thought it turned out so cute with the red/green chips and cute polka dot ribbon... and it doesn't hurt that the salsa itself is red and green! Betsy's Salsa Ingredients : 1 lg. can of crushed tomatoes 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1/2 bunch cilantro 1 small can diced green chilies garlic salt, to taste Directions : Blend all ingredients except garlic salt in a blender or food processor. Add garlic salt to taste. (Don't be shy with the garlic salt.) Serve with your favorite...

These are Giada DeLaurentiis recipes that are so tasty! I always make them together, (the way she suggests), as they compliment each other so well and they both bake for the same amount of time at the same degrees. If you have people in your family who are weary of eating chicken off the bone and with skin, I suggest making the chicken as directed, then pulling the chicken from the bone, removing the skin, and serving it that way. (I've tried marinating boneless, skinless breasts and cooking them, but it doesn't taste as good.) Isn't this meal pretty? The food is just as delicious as it looks! ROASTED CHICKEN WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 (4-pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces (giblets, neck and backbone reserved for another use) 1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 tablespoon chopped ...