Ella’s Kitchen

Ella’s Kitchen I’m Ella! A self-taught cook sharing my favorite recipes one dish at a time. Let’s make something delicious together!

12/17/2025

🐟🧀🌿 OVEN COD IN VELVETY CHEESE CREAM
What you need

4 cod fillets

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

Garlic powder, onion powder

Lemon juice

Cream sauce

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

1½ cups milk

½ cup grated cheese

Black pepper

Nutmeg (optional)

Fresh herbs

How to make it

1. Fish prep
Heat oven to 190°C. Season cod and arrange in oiled baking dish.

2. Sauce
Make a roux with butter and flour, whisk in milk, then melt in cheese and seasoning.

3. Bake
Pour sauce over fish and bake 20–25 minutes until bubbling and tender.

4. Finish
Sprinkle herbs and serve hot.

⏱ 35 minutes | 🍽 Serves 4

Extra ideas:
Works beautifully with haddock or any white fish.

12/17/2025

🍗🧄🌿 BUTTER-ROASTED HERB CHICKEN FROM THE OVEN
What you need

6 chicken thighs or breasts, skin-on

4 tbsp melted butter

3 tbsp olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

Dried oregano, thyme, basil

Paprika

Salt & pepper

Fresh parsley

Lemon juice (optional)

How to make it

1. Flavor mix
Stir butter, oil, garlic, herbs, paprika, salt, and pepper.

2. Season chicken
Heat oven to 200°C. Coat chicken thoroughly, including under the skin.

3. Roast
Bake uncovered 35–40 minutes, basting once, until golden and juicy.

4. Serve
Finish with parsley and lemon juice.

⏱ 50 minutes | 🍽 Serves 4–6

Extra ideas:
Serve with yogurt garlic sauce or roasted vegetables.

12/17/2025

🍮 GOLDEN TOASTED COCONUT SILK PIE
What you need

Crust

200 g crushed biscuits

90 g melted butter

1 tbsp sugar (optional)

Coconut filling

2 cups milk

1 cup coconut milk

½ cup sugar

¼ cup cornstarch

¼ tsp salt

4 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup shredded coconut

Top

Whipped cream

Toasted coconut

How to make it

1. Crust
Combine crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press into pie dish. Chill or bake briefly for crunch.

2. Cream filling
Cook milk, coconut milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt until thick. Temper yolks, return to pot, and cook until silky. Stir in vanilla and coconut. Pour into crust and chill 4 hours.

3. Finish
Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut.

⏱ 4 h 25 min | 🍽 Serves 8

Extra ideas:
Drizzle honey or serve with pineapple compote.

12/17/2025

🥔🧀🥩 OVEN-BAKED POTATO & BEEF CHEESE LAYERS
What you need

Beef layer

500 g minced beef

1 small onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

Salt & pepper

Chopped parsley

Potato layer

4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

3 tbsp butter

120 ml milk

Salt & pepper

Top

1½ cups shredded cheese

Fresh herbs

How to make it

1. Beef base
Cook onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add beef and brown well. Season, stir in parsley, set aside.

2. Creamy mash
Boil potatoes until tender. Mash with butter, warm milk, salt, and pepper.

3. Assemble
Heat oven to 190°C. Spread beef in a baking dish, cover with mashed potatoes, and top with cheese.

4. Bake
Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbling and golden. Rest briefly before cutting.

⏱ 55 minutes | 🍽 Serves 4–6

Extra ideas:
Swap potatoes for sweet potatoes or beef for lentils.

12/17/2025

🌰🍰 NO-OVEN CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CLOUD CHEESECAKE
What you need

Base

200 g crushed digestive biscuits

100 g melted butter

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Filling

400 g cream cheese, soft

250 g chocolate hazelnut spread

200 ml cold whipping cream

2 tbsp powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Top

150 g chocolate, chopped

100 ml cream

Decoration

Crushed hazelnuts

Chocolate shavings

How to make it

1. Build the base
Mix biscuit crumbs with cocoa and butter. Press firmly into a lined springform pan. Chill 20 minutes.

2. Make the filling
Beat cream cheese smooth. Blend in hazelnut spread, sugar, and vanilla. Whip cream separately until stiff, then gently fold into the mixture. Spread over the crust and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

3. Chocolate topping
Heat cream until hot, pour over chocolate, wait one minute, then stir smooth. Cool slightly and pour over cheesecake.

4. Finish
Chill 30 minutes more. Decorate before serving.

⏱ 4 h 55 min | 🍽 Serves 8

Extra ideas:
Add berries or date syrup on top.
Sprinkle flaky salt to boost chocolate flavor.

12/16/2025

🥩🧄🥔 SKILLET STEAK NUGGETS IN GARLIC BUTTER WITH CRISPY OVEN POTATOES
What you need

Steak

500 g beef sirloin, chopped into small chunks

3 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp real butter

5 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Salt & coarse black pepper

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp sweet paprika

1 tsp onion powder

Fresh parsley, chopped

Potatoes

3 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and sliced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic powder

Salt & pepper

Fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)

How to make it

1. Roast the potatoes
Heat oven to 200°C. Toss potato slices with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on a tray and bake 25–30 minutes, turning once, until deeply golden and crisp. Finish with herbs if using.

2. Cook the steak pieces
Mix steak chunks with olive oil, soy sauce, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Heat a heavy pan over high heat and sear the beef in batches until browned and juicy. Remove and keep warm.

3. Garlic butter finish
Lower heat, melt butter in the same pan, add garlic, and cook briefly until fragrant. Return steak to the pan and toss until coated in glossy garlic butter.

4. Serve
Serve steak bites next to the potatoes, spooning extra butter sauce over everything. Sprinkle with parsley.

⏱ 40 minutes | 🍽 Serves 4

Extra ideas:
Great with cucumber yogurt sauce or herbed tahini.
Use tamari for gluten-free, or olive oil instead of butter if needed.

12/16/2025

🐟 CREAMY GARLIC BUTTER SALMON
Ingredients

4 salmon fillets

Olive oil & butter

Salt, pepper, paprika, lemon juice

Sauce

Garlic

Butter & olive oil

Heavy cream

Parmesan

Chili flakes (optional)

Lemon & parsley

Method

1️⃣ Cook salmon
Season fillets. Sear in butter and oil until golden. Remove.

2️⃣ Sauce
Sauté garlic, add cream, cheese, seasoning. Simmer until thick. Finish with lemon and parsley.

3️⃣ Finish
Return salmon to sauce briefly, spooning over the top.

⏱ Prep: 10 min | Cook: 15 min | Serves: 4

12/16/2025

🍫🍯🍰 CHOCOLATE CARAMEL FUDGE SQUARES
Ingredients

Cake base

Flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt

Butter, sugar

Eggs, vanilla

Milk

Caramel

Sugar, water

Cream, butter, salt

Ganache

Dark chocolate

Heavy cream

Steps

1️⃣ Bake base
Mix batter, pour into lined pan, bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20–25 min. Cool fully.

2️⃣ Caramel layer
Cook sugar to amber, add cream, butter, salt. Cool slightly, pour over cake, chill.

3️⃣ Ganache
Pour hot cream over chocolate, stir smooth, spread on top.

4️⃣ Chill & cut
Refrigerate 2 hours before slicing.

⏱ Prep: 30 min | Chill: 2 hrs | Serves: 9–12

12/16/2025

🧀🥩 CHEESE-FILLED BEEF ROLL ROAST
Ingredients

1.5 kg beef flank or top round

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

Garlic powder, smoked paprika, oregano

Cheese center

1½ cups shredded cheese

½ cup cream cheese

1 egg yolk

Black pepper

Chopped parsley

Glaze

¼ cup soy sauce

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp Dijon

1 tsp garlic

1 tbsp olive oil

Directions

1️⃣ Prepare beef
Pound beef evenly and season generously.

2️⃣ Mix filling
Combine all cheese filling ingredients until thick and smooth.

3️⃣ Roll
Spread filling, roll tightly, and secure with twine.

4️⃣ Brown
Sear roast on all sides in hot oil.

5️⃣ Bake
Brush with glaze and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30–40 minutes, basting once or twice. Rest before slicing.

⏱ Prep: 30 min | Cook: 40 min | Serves: 6

12/16/2025

🥩🥔🧀 SLOW-BRAISED BEEF WITH CHEESY MASH
Ingredients

Beef

1.5 kg chuck roast

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, sliced

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups beef stock

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp Worcestershire or soy sauce

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp dried thyme

Salt & pepper

Mashed potatoes

1.5 kg potatoes

100 g butter

½ cup warm milk

Salt

1 cup shredded cheese

Fresh herbs

Instructions

1️⃣ Sear
Brown beef on all sides in hot oil. Remove. Sauté onion and garlic, then add tomato paste, spices, stock, and seasoning.

2️⃣ Slow cook
Transfer everything to slow cooker. Cook low 8 hrs or high 5 hrs until falling apart. Shred and mix back into juices.

3️⃣ Mash
Boil potatoes until tender. Mash with butter, milk, and salt until creamy.

4️⃣ Serve
Plate mash, top with beef and gravy, sprinkle cheese, finish with herbs.

⏱ Prep: 25 min | Cook: 8 hrs | Serves: 6

12/16/2025

🍮🍰 CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CREAM SLICE
Ingredients

Biscuit base

200 g chocolate biscuits

100 g butter, melted

Cream filling

400 ml cold whipping cream

250 g cream cheese

½ cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Caramel layer

1 cup sugar

¼ cup water

100 ml heavy cream

2 tbsp butter

Pinch salt

Chocolate topping

200 g dark chocolate

200 ml heavy cream

Finish

Chocolate shards or curls

Method

1️⃣ Base
Crush biscuits finely and mix with butter. Press firmly into a lined pan and chill 20 minutes.

2️⃣ Cream layer
Beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until smooth. Whip cream to stiff peaks and gently fold together. Spread over base and refrigerate.

3️⃣ Caramel
Cook sugar and water without stirring until amber. Carefully whisk in cream, butter, and salt. Cool slightly, then pour over cream. Chill 30 minutes.

4️⃣ Ganache
Heat cream until steaming. Pour over chocolate and stir smooth. Cool slightly, then pour on top.

5️⃣ Chill
Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Slice cold with a warm knife.

⏱ Prep: 45 min | Chill: 4 hrs | Serves: 9–12

12/16/2025

🍲🧀🍁 OVEN-BAKED BEEF MOUSSAKA BAKE
What you’ll need

Savory beef base

2 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, finely diced

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

500 g minced beef

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp tomato concentrate

400 g crushed tomatoes

1 bay leaf

Fresh parsley, chopped

Creamy béchamel topping

4 tbsp butter or olive oil

4 tbsp plain flour

3 cups warm milk

Salt and white pepper

Pinch nutmeg

½ cup grated mozzarella or kasseri

2 eggs, lightly whisked

Final layer

½ cup grated melting cheese

Fresh parsley or oregano

How to make it

1️⃣ Build the beef layer
Warm olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft and lightly golden, then add garlic. Stir in the beef, breaking it apart, and cook until fully browned. Season with spices, salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste and crushed tomatoes, drop in the bay leaf, and simmer gently for 20–25 minutes until rich and thick. Remove bay leaf, fold in parsley, and set aside.

2️⃣ Prepare the béchamel
Melt butter or heat oil in a saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook briefly until smooth. Slowly add warm milk, whisking constantly, until thick and creamy. Season with salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Remove from heat, stir in cheese, then quickly whisk in eggs.

3️⃣ Assemble
Heat oven to 180°C (350°F). Spread beef evenly in a baking dish. Pour béchamel over the top and smooth. Sprinkle with cheese.

4️⃣ Bake
Bake for 35–40 minutes until bubbling and golden. Rest 15 minutes before slicing.

Serve warm with fresh herbs on top.

⏱ Prep: 30 min | Cook: 40 min | Serves: 6
Tips: Use cornstarch for gluten-free | Plant milk + dairy-free cheese for dairy-free

Address

Buckeye, AZ

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