Every time I tell people that I eat fried pumpkin and squash blossoms I get A LOT of weird looks. Trust me, I thought the same thing when I first heard that these stunning bright yellow blossoms are actually edible! I threw together a simple six ingredient batter, added a few handfuls of blossoms, fried them, and was stunned to find that they tasted like… cheese sticks! Paired with some… Keep Reading
After creating and writing up this particular post, I’m realizing that I should probably grow sweet potatoes in this year’s garden. Not only do I enjoy creating recipes with them, but each time I’ve gone to the store they seem to be just as scarce to find as toilet paper is! Weird world we’re living in right now… This particular recipe is a spin off from my Roasted Sweet Potato… Keep Reading
I’ve been on a roll with making soups lately and can you blame me? Once the cold weather hits, all you want is something delicious that warms your bones and this Spicy Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Soup does just the trick. This is also one of the easiest soup that I’ve made to date. The sweet potato, onion, and red bell pepper get roasted to perfection in the oven while… Keep Reading
We’re in the season of all things pumpkin (not to worry.. this hummus isn’t pumpkin spice flavored) and I couldn’t think of a better fall snack than this Garlic Rosemary Pumpkin Hummus! Made with pumpkin puree, goat cheese, fresh garlic, and rosemary.. it’s extra smooth, rich, and loaded with fall flavors. I topped mine off with extra olive oil, goat cheese crumbles, and toasted pumpkin seeds for a little crunch…. Keep Reading
Sometimes you want your burger to be a little bit extra, but rather than pay for a jazzed up version from a restaurant, there’s a few simple elements you can add for a different take on the traditional hamburger. There’s also no need to own a grill to make these sliders since they cook up in a cast iron skillet in a matter of minutes. Although that smoky grill flavor… Keep Reading
Last year I grew tomatillos for the first time and was quite surprised at how many just one plant can produce. Not knowing that before I planted though, I had started FIVE plants. I made tons of salsa verde and used them in chilis, but I was starting to run out of recipes. Everyone always raves about fried green tomatoes so I thought, why not fried green tomatillos? I made… Keep Reading
A few years back I did a cookbook review for Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious Cookbook and I recently rediscovered it while I was packing. I had dog-eared the pages of tons of recipes I wanted to cook and decided to revisit a few of them for inspiration. One was for a simple appetizer of cranberry-brie tartlets where they used pre-made refrigerated crescent rolls. Since my days off have… Keep Reading
If you haven’t embraced cauliflower into your life yet maybe this will be the post that makes you do it! I never used to be a fan of it myself, but after learning how to make it taste like hot wings.. I was sold! For a good throwback recipe you can see what I’m talking about here. I decided to challenge myself with THREE new flavor variations and the best… Keep Reading
Beets will forever be on that fine line of you either love them or hate them and if you hate them… this recipe is NOT for you. I like to channel my inner Dwight Schrute and fully embrace beets and their earthy flavor. This time I went even further by using their greens in this salad and pickled the stems to use in other dishes, putting every bit of them… Keep Reading
When you think of nachos, you usually picture the version that’s served at a sporting event.. A pile of chips in a plastic container, loaded with liquidy cheese that you pump out of a dispenser, and topped with canned jalapeno rings. I mean, those are still pretty amazing when washed down with a big over priced beer, but if you’re looking for something a little healthier, a little more filling,… Keep Reading
This is always my favorite season to come up with new soup and chili recipes to help warm the bones after a particularly shitty (whoops.. I meant chilly) winter day. If you checked out the last couple of posts then you know I have an abundance of pumpkins and squash leftover from this summer’s garden that I’m trying to put to good use and now I’m wishing I had more!… Keep Reading
Yesterday I shared how to make Simple Homemade Pumpkin Puree, so today I thought I would share a round up of some of my favorite recipes using pumpkin. Some of these posts are from my first year of blogging, which means cringe-worthy lighting, angles, and composition with the photos, but the recipe itself is something I wouldn’t change at all. They’re tried and true recipes that I use often, especially… Keep Reading
In Iowa we’re known for our endless fields of corn and endless creations of all things fried on a stick at the Iowa State Fair (including a deep fat fried stick of butter). I’m more into the sweet corn versus the artery clogging creations from the fair, so I picked some up while it was on sale and set about making some Mexican street corn. That same day I had… Keep Reading
Our spring was off to a really slow start, but now that everything is slowly budding and turning lovely shades of green I wanted to put together a roundup of some of my favorite spring-inspired recipes from the blog! First up are these scrumptious Spring Fruit and Basil Bruschetta appetizers. Toasted baguette slices, rich goat cheese, sweet fruits, and honey make for a delectable combination. Click here for the full… Keep Reading
I’ve been trying to get back into exploring the creative aspect of everything in my life and that includes recipes. We’ve had such a lack of greenery and spring blooms with the never ending winter so I wanted to recreate spring on a plate. A salad isn’t the most exciting culinary meal that I’ve ever produced, but I still had fun putting it all together and damn it if this… Keep Reading
I’ve got boatloads of cucumbers growing in the garden, taking up space in the refrigerator, and even more packed into canning jars undergoing the delicious transformation into pickles. I’ve scoured dozens of recipes and methods online and finally arrived at my own adaptation. The pickling spice ingredients are simple, yet affordable because we can’t always splurge on gourmet spices (especially when you’re making enough pickles to feed an army) and… Keep Reading
It seems like when I host a big get together my main course goes a little (or a lot) past the time I thought it was supposed to get done. My guests don’t seem to notice or mind, but that’s because I make sure to keep a steady flow of cocktails and snacks going in the meantime. One of those appetizer standbys is bruschetta. It’s simple, quick, and as long… Keep Reading
This week my Instagram and Pinterest feeds are full of things about the Super Bowl and recipes for game day, but while most are excited for the big game, I’m going to be totally honest with you.. I only get excited over the opportunity to snack and drink beer all day! Whatever your motivation is on Sunday, a good dip recipe is always essential to the party. I love crab… Keep Reading
I write this from the comfort of a warm bed after work was cancelled today. Iowa roads are a treacherous ice skating rink from freezing rain so here’s a hearty and comforting soup recipe to help warm you all up! This particular one is a combination between a bacon cheddar soup and my spicy butternut squash soup. Big chunks of bacon, zesty onion, and a blend of aged white cheddar… Keep Reading
After every Thanksgiving meal I do the classic belly pat and proclaim that now I’M a stuffed turkey and yet I still find myself going in for a second or third helping of mashed potatoes. I will ALWAYS have room for more mashed potatoes! Normally I keep my spuds pretty simple, but it’s amazing what a few changes can do to elevate these to being more than just a plain… Keep Reading
Can we take a moment to appreciate wontons? They’ve become my go-to for quick meals and appetizers creating chicken, beef, and shrimp taco cups, crab rangoons, pizza rolls, wonton mozzarella bites, and even breakfast sausage and egg cups. They’re extremely versatile and make the perfect vessel for a number of different ingredients. This particular recipe is one of my favorites when I’m craving pizza rolls, but feeling a bit lazy… Keep Reading
In the past I was never a big fan of cornbread because I always found it a bit dry and flavorless, but after whipping up this version, I practically want it with every meal! Zesty green onion, a kick of heat from jalapeños, and cheddar cheese keeps this bread from being too dry. Baked in a bit of bacon grease in a cast iron skillet gives the bottom a crisp… Keep Reading
We’re hitting the end of summer and everyone’s gardens are overflowing with zucchini. Our neighbors and a friend have loaded us up with some monster sized ones and I knew I needed to put them to good use. One of my favorites is baked zucchini sticks. They’re way healthier (and tastier) than French fries and it’s a great way to utilize all of that summer squash. Breaded and baked to… Keep Reading
I’m very deliberate about my grocery shopping and if it’s not on the list, I’m not buying it. Okay.. maybe Ben & Jerry’s is never “officially” on the list, but it’s sort of a given that it will make it’s way into the cart. Guilty pleasures aside, I started to walk past these cherries and stopped dead in my tracks. They were far too vibrant, plump, and juicy looking to… Keep Reading