Bacon, eggs, and toast are always a classic breakfast combination, so what happens when you throw them all together? Muffin sized deliciousness that the whole family will love! They’re surprisingly filling and simple to make! Try them out for brunch this weekend and see what you think!
Every time we hit Trader Vic’s for happy hour I order their lamb sliders. I had never really tried lamb before and was actually surprised at how much I liked it! I was inspired to try out my own version of them and they turned out far better than what I expected! The sweet and spicy tomato chutney and cool cucumber mint raita make the perfect compliments to the burgers!… Keep Reading
I was craving apple pie, but I wanted to make individual sized portions that would be ideal for a party. I combined my crunchy buttery mini tart crust recipe with warm cinnamon and sugar baked apples, homemade whipped cream and caramel rum sauce for a crowd pleasing decadent dessert!
On Wednesday I showed you how to make your own jalapeño infused vodka which is the perfect way to spice up Bloody Marys, but I wanted to show you another delicious way to use it! This sweet and spicy combo is guaranteed to be a hit with your guests! The jalapeño gives it just the right amount of heat without becoming overpowering!
Summer is coming to a close and if you kept a garden this year, you might be wondering what to make with your last harvest. Look no further than this simple hummus recipe made with roasted tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil leaves!
I love to change up my original Bloody Mary recipe by trying out different hot sauces, but this time I decided to kick up the heat with the vodka instead! Cut a jalapeño in half and drop into a large canning jar. Add 2-3 cups of vodka and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours. My jalapeño wasn’t too hot so I actually let mine go for 48 hours, but… Keep Reading
Salmon tends to be the easiest fish to cook, but it can be a bit boring. To liven it up I encrusted it with flaked coconut, lime zest, and spices and topped it off with a sweet mango rum sauce! It’s a restaurant-style meal, but on a home-cook’s budget and schedule!
When I think of two flavors that really sum up summer for me, its strawberry and basil. They’re fragrant, sweet, and pair perfectly with one another! I wanted to do one last summer cupcake before launching into fall and all of its pumpkin spice-goodness, so these seemed perfect! Fresh pureed strawberries make the cake moist and light and freshly snipped basil makes the frosting aromatic and sweet. I have a… Keep Reading
I’ve always felt that sparkling wines were reserved for special occasions only, but why wait?! Celebrate the last few weeks of Summer with Ruffino’s Prosecco in this citrus infused sparkling cocktail!
The day I made these I had mentioned something about it on Facebook and immediately the response was, “WASABI? WASABI MASHED POTATOES?!” I get it.. it’s an unlikely combination, but by no means a displeasing one! I tried them at a restaurant nearly a year ago and I’ve wanted to make my own ever since. They turned out to be just as delicious and much easier to make than I thought!… Keep Reading
A few weeks ago my fiancé and I ate at Delta Café, where (in my opinion) you can get some of the best Southern food in the Pacific Northwest. Not more than a day after having dinner there, I found myself craving collard greens and po-boys again! I decided I had to come up with my own versions of both and I’m so happy that I did! If you’re ever… Keep Reading
I recently started buying a lot of my spices in bulk and it’s already saved me quite a bit of money! I save my old containers and just refill them when needed. It’s great for making large quantities of BBQ rubs, taco, and most recently..Cajun seasoning ahead of time. See how easy it is to make your own!
I know, I know.. I just did banana bread muffins last weekend, but anything involving candied bacon completely changes the game! To honor Elvis Presley’s memory (his passing was August 16th, 1977), I thought I would bake a dish fit for The King himself! Whole wheat banana bread, slathered with creamy peanut butter, and topped with a tower of candied bacon! The flavors work perfectly with one another and you… Keep Reading
After a particularly long and stressful day I decided it was time for a drink! I threw together this cocktail and sat down to watch the sunset when I couldn’t help notice that my drink was the same color as the sky! And the Sailor Sunset was born! It’s refreshing, sweet, strong, and exactly what you need to wind down after a tough day!
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
For years I’ve used store-bought vegetable, chicken, and pork stock that were lackluster in flavor and packed full of sodium and preservatives. I decided to try out the old-fashioned way and make my own! Not only is the stock much tastier than store-bought, but I wound up with 15 cups of it! That’s more than enough to last me through an entire year of recipes!
Banana bread was one of the first things my mother taught me how to bake and it was my first recipe post on the blog, so it definitely holds a sweet spot (no pun intended) in my heart. I love that its extremely easy to alter and add new ingredients to make it unique! My favorite variation so far is adding candied walnuts to the top! The banana, chocolate, and… 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’m completely addicted to Master Chef.. to the point where I had a horrible dream with Gordon Ramsay in it. The next day I cooked this dish, imagining that Gordon Ramsay was screaming at me the whole time. The result was one of the best meals I’ve cooked! Haha so I guess there is a method to his madness! I was a little nervous about cooking scallops for the first… 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
After trying these, I don’t think you’ll be able to have pineapple upside-down cake any other way! Warm fluffy cake topped with Sailor Jerry Rum infused pineapple chunks with caramelized butter and brown sugar. They make the perfect addition to any summer party or BBQ! So crack open that bottle of rum and get baking!