A few weeks ago we stopped at a great Southern-style cooking restaurant for some food after the big move. The food was phenomenal, but I wished I would have ordered another side of collard greens! I’ll admit that I was a little hesitant to try them in the beginning.. it just looked like soggy cooked lettuce to me, but I’m so happy I got over that! To satisfy my craving… Keep Reading
I feel like salads get a bad reputation of being weak, light, and unfulfilling, but this salad is anything but! I’ve been craving a hearty summer salad for a few weeks and this definitely hit the spot! Juicy grilled chicken breasts on a bed of green leaf lettuce, cherry tomatoes, dried cranberries, freshly cooked crumbled bacon, and avocado. I topped the whole thing off with homemade honey mustard dressing that… Keep Reading
I think I’m having blogger withdrawals. I took a day and a half off to move into our new place, but it feels like a week! I missed you guys! Anyway, before we moved I made one last decadent dessert.. chocolate covered fruit kabobs! These are great when you want to indulge your sweet tooth without going overboard and devouring an entire box of chocolates… yep.. I’ve been there! They’re… Keep Reading
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted any juice recipes, so I thought I would share my favorite summer juice! It’s light and citrusy with a refreshing twist from fresh ginger!
Since I’m originally from Iowa, I’ve avoided putting a corn recipe on the blog in fear of confirming everyone’s stereotype that Iowans are just corn-fed Midwesterners who have acres of farmland and hogs in their backyard. I assure you this is not the case… for most! Despite the ‘Children of the Corn’ stereotype, they do have some of the best sweet corn in the world and aside from friends and… Keep Reading
Last fall I made stuffed peppers using ground beef and rice that were delicious, but also pretty heavy. After just one I felt pretty stuffed myself! I recreated them using quinoa instead of rice and black beans instead of ground beef to make a healthy and light combination that’s also vegetarian friendly! You can swap the cheese on top for avocado slices to make it vegan as well! In today’s… Keep Reading
I think the moment you realize you’re an adult is when you find yourself completely giddy about receiving a food processor for Christmas (thank you once again Mom!). One of the main reasons I even wanted one was just to make a basil pesto. Never-mind the fact that this food processor has a million and one different functions and items that it can make, I just wanted pesto! It’s simple… Keep Reading
I’m not really a fan of blog recipes with long stories that have nothing to do with the recipe itself, but this is too good not to talk about and it does have a little to do with the recipe.. When I set out to find a nice goat cheese with herbs in it I came across Cypress Grove’s Purple Haze goat cheese. I asked the man working at the… Keep Reading
I’m a self-proclaimed pizza-addict so you will never see me going carb free or anything, but I must say that this was one delicious and HEALTHY way to enjoy pizza without the added carbs! I’ve seen a few different versions of these floating around on Pinterest, but I put together my own and couldn’t be happier with the results! Not only did I get my pizza-fix in, but I didn’t… Keep Reading
Usually starting with Memorial Day going on until Labor Day its picnic season. The most common side dishes you see are pasta salads, potato salads, and coleslaw, so surprise your guests by putting a twist on a classic! This creamy coleslaw mix has a subtle sweetness from a mango and a much needed kick from the habanero! You can enjoy it as a side dish or even top your burger… Keep Reading
It’s grilling season and I’m taking full advantage of it! I don’t know if it’s the sizzle of food hitting the grill or the fact that everything just seems to taste better when cooked on a grill, but if you need an excuse, these shrimp skewers are definitely it! After marinating the shrimp in fresh lime juice I smothered them with honey barbecue sauce on the grill, creating a sweet… Keep Reading
Hummus has become one of my favorite snacks because it’s much healthier than regular store bought dips and I can make a ton of it at a fraction of the cost! This zesty roasted red pepper hummus is definitely one of the best I’ve made so far! It has just the right amount of spice for even the mildest of taste buds to enjoy and great natural flavor from… Keep Reading
My favorite salads are always a combination of sweet and tangy with a bit of a crunch. This particular medley was a perfect blend of all three! So dress up a boring salad with a homemade apple cider vinaigrette and candied walnuts that take only 5 minutes to make!
Snazz up any sandwich, pasta dish, or chicken with this easy and zesty cilantro pesto!
I’m not going to lie.. every time someone mentions beets I think of Dwight Shrute from The Office! I immediately want to yell out, “Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica!” My obsession with The Office aside, I’ve actually really come to love juicing beets. If you’ve never tasted one, the flavor is very earthy, which is just a nice way of me saying they taste like dirt.. in a good way! I paired this… Keep Reading
Almonds are one of my favorite snacks and Sriracha is one of my favorite condiments to add to… well… EVERYTHING! Combine those two?! Now I don’t want to eat them any other way! These are great to make for cocktail parties, but you better double up the recipe because they are wonderfully addicting!
Ever since I received a food processor for Christmas (thanks Momma Goose!!), I have been dying to make some homemade hummus! I figured on my first attempt it may not come out right or it would taste weird, but I was dead wrong! Making hummus is incredibly easy! The cilantro and jalapeño complement each other perfectly and I have to say, this is better than any hummus I’ve had in a restaurant!
Last week I said I was going to make these and boy am I glad that I did! They’re crisp, zesty, and fulfilling! Definitely my new favorite snack! See for yourself!
When I decided to try vegetarianism for a month, I really opened myself up to trying a lot of new things that I once deemed as gross, like mushrooms for instance! As a kid I hated them so much that if they were on a pizza I refused to eat the pizza at all, even if they were picked off! Now I absolutely love them! It’s just all on how… Keep Reading
Spicy Garlic Brussels Sprouts I can honestly say that I had not tried brussels sprouts until just this year! I think I just always had it in my head that they were gross or hard to cook. Was I ever wrong! Not only are these extremely beneficial health-wise, they’re extremely flavorful and delicious!
We’re heading into grilling season and I wanted to start it off with something new! Kabobs are always a favorite of mine, so I thought I’d give this recipe a whirl! I can tell you that the sizzle of the chicken hitting the grill and the aroma of garlic and rosemary cooking into the chicken will make all of your neighbors wish they were at YOUR dinner table tonight!
Zesty Purple Potato Salad We’re heading into picnic season and I wanted to put a spicy spin on a classic! I also thought it would be fun to use purple potatoes (which are packed with tons of antioxidants!) instead of regular for a fun punch in color! This will quickly become your new favorite picnic and pot-luck side dish!
Tuscan Kale and Balsamic Plum Salad I get bored with eating salads pretty quickly, so I love finding new ways to transform a plain one into a zesty and hearty main course. Adding fresh plums and ricotta did just that!
Hangover Juice I used to call hangover juice a Bloody Mary, but when I decided to drink more rum than a pirate last week.. I needed something different! Now, at first glance this juice looks like something you would throw up when you’re hungover.. I was skeptical myself, but it’s light and citrus-y and I felt worlds better after drinking it! Whether you’re feeling a cold coming on or you’re… Keep Reading