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
Mojitos have come to be my favorite summer drink for many reasons. They’re sweet, citrusy, and bubbly making them incredibly enticing when you need relief from the unrelenting summer heat. You typically have most of the ingredients on hand already and there’s endless variations of this classic cocktail, so you can make something unique to your taste buds. I chose blackberries since their flavor is usually best this time of… Keep Reading
This Fourth of July, you’ll no doubt be invited to a picnic or get-together of some sort and asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Make things easy on yourself and keep it simple with White Chocolate and Sprinkle Covered Strawberries! No baking required, they can be made the night before, and you don’t have to be a pastry chef to decorate them!
While I was back in Iowa this past February visiting family, I made this salmon dish for my parents and it was quickly requested again the very next night! I shared the recipe with my mom, who said they’ve made it about 3 more times since then and that she doesn’t think they’ll eat salmon any other way! She has now made multiple demands that I publish the recipe here,… Keep Reading
I am fully aware that I’m a grown woman and have the right to choose whether I consume fruits and vegetables, but sometimes I find that I have to resort to my mom’s old trick of “hiding” them or presenting them in a way that’s more appetizing to me. This smoothie is a prime example of that maternal trickery and hidden away in that beautifully bright green layer is two… Keep Reading
I hesitated even doing this as a blog post because I thought the last thing this world needs is ANOTHER chicken salad recipe. I took photos anyway in case I changed my mind and then finally went in for a taste test.. I immediately realized I couldn’t deny you all something so delicious and promptly photographed the final product to share with you! The simple twist of adding lemon juice… Keep Reading
Call it nostalgia or just my need to always go back and critique, but I found myself perusing some of my old recipes the other day and was left with an intense craving for my Skinny Jalapeno Poppers and Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. I opted for innovation and efficiency and combined the two, bringing you these scrumptious little nuggets! I used baby bella mushrooms which makes them perfectly bite-sized and… Keep Reading
I feel that naturally my mind is always focused on the future and it became that way even more so when I began blogging. You have to anticipate trends, plan for upcoming holidays, and always have your content ready to go at the right moment. Of course that’s extremely frustrating when you work with seasonal ingredients.. for instance; peaches. So to say that I’ve waiting all winter and spring to… Keep Reading
Last week I found myself wide awake at 3am brainstorming recipes and blog ideas. It’s an infuriating curse at times, but some of my best ideas occur then. These summer-inspired cupcakes are one such product of my insomnia and sacrificing a bit of beauty sleep was completely worth it! Basil and lemon are some of my favorite ingredients to work with, but I was concerned about the flavors overpowering each… Keep Reading
We have a joke around here about “drunk quesadillas.” It’s a specialty I make after a long night out that uses only the rarest and most expensive ingredients. A soft tortilla shell is folded in half and then stuffed with a handful of shredded cheese. Throw a healthy dash of cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper into the mix and microwave it for 22 seconds (apparently I’m very adamant that… Keep Reading
I’m sorry, but what month is it?! It’s a little unbelievable that five whole months have already passed, and I’m starting to feel the metaphorical fire under my bum to get moving on this year’s goals before I find myself writing about how I can’t believe it’s 2017. As much as I want to deny that summer is happening now, I will admit that I miss sitting out on our… Keep Reading
Mules are simple to make, refreshing no matter what season it is, and much like a real mule.. they can knock you on your ass if you’re not careful! I wanted to add a bit more zing to mine so I went with an old classic, Sriracha! The spice from this tried and true rooster sauce pairs wonderfully with the crisp ginger beer and fresh squeezed lime juice. Try this… Keep Reading
Biscuits and gravy will always remind me of home and waking up on the weekends to the most enticing and delicious smells coming from the kitchen where my mom was preparing a huge breakfast for us. I was craving a batch of her famous biscuits and gravy, but with her being 1800 miles away, it makes it a wee bit difficult! Since I don’t workout regularly I try to watch… Keep Reading
King Arthur Flour must have been reading my mind because the other day I woke up to make biscuits and gravy and outside my door was a lovely care package from them! I quickly put the ingredients to use to make some scrumptious whole wheat biscuits for my healthy version of biscuits and gravy.. don’t worry that recipe will be going up tomorrow, but you can catch a sneak peek… Keep Reading
A while back I found myself in a dinner rut and consuming the same 3-4 meals on rotation for weeks. I finally broke the pattern by throwing together some of my favorite ingredients in a completely new way. Tender juicy chicken smothered in a rich basil cream sauce and topped off with roasted tomatoes and bits of garlic… holy goodness! This is one meal that I wouldn’t mind eating on… Keep Reading
We’re heading into summer, but you wouldn’t know that around here with our temperatures in the 60’s, gloomy rainy days, and I may or may not be wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, over-sized flannel, and sipping pumpkin spice coffee. What can I say? I’m currently living in a deep state of denial that it’s not October right now. To try and wrap brain around the concept that the seasons are… Keep Reading
Pita pizzas are my go-to when I’m pressed for time and not wanting to wait 2+ hours for homemade dough. I thought I would try out a sweet and savory combination to switch it up a bit and I think I found my new summer pizza! Fresh basil, sweet strawberries, and rich goat cheese get topped off with a simple balsamic reduction making this quick, easy, and delicious!
I love making cocktails with infused liquors, but when I’m needing that happy hour drink NOW and not 24-48 hours after my liquor has infused, I have to get a bit creative on drawing out the same flavor profiles in a short amount of time. On one such occasion I whipped up a batch of jalapeno cilantro infused vodka in just an hour for this deliciously refreshing (and STRONG) cocktail…. Keep Reading
I’ve never been a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but I am a fan of the chocolate covered cherries and strawberries that seem to be in abundance this time of year! They sparked the idea to use an old recipe of mine for chocolate ale cupcakes, but this time I upped the chocolate factor by using a delicious chocolate porter from Three Creeks Brewing Co. The cake came out rich,… Keep Reading
Anytime I’m sick or just craving something to warm me up on a cold winter day I go for pho. If you haven’t yet tried this phenomenal Vietnamese noodle soup, then make that your goal for the weekend. Ask around, read reviews, and find yourself the best pho spot you can! Since I’m a DIY person through and through, I of course wanted to try a homemade version. The only… Keep Reading
I made this cocktail a few days ago, but it’s quite ironic that I chose today of all days to publish it, being that it’s Wilbur Scoville’s, an American chemist who helped develop a scale to measure the hotness of peppers, 151st birthday. So this one is for you Wilbur! One of our friends took a trip to New Mexico and came back with a bag of dried spicy chiles… Keep Reading
A bourbon cocktail recipe? I know what you guys are thinking.. I’m normally a rum drinker, but a few weeks ago the wonderful people at Maker’s Mark reached out to me with their #GetCozyCocktail challenge to create a delicious eggnog cocktail using Maker’s 46. With strong notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak and a smooth finish, I had no problem making the switch for this recipe. Oh and guess what?… Keep Reading
The holidays are always a great time to gather your loved ones to sit down for a huge home-cooked meal, but it does place a tremendous amount of pressure on you to come up with a menu that will appease everyone, including those with dietary restrictions. Let’s start with one of the staples like stuffing. Typically made with bread cubes and sausage or turkey, and then cooked inside of the… Keep Reading
With Thanksgiving approaching we’re all starting to plan our menus, figure out how to squeeze 20+ friends and family members into our tiny homes, how to keep said friends and family members from feuding, and of course trying to keep ourselves sane through all of it! I’m here to help! A few weeks ago when I made my Mini Pecan Pies, I doubled my pie crust recipe in case I had… Keep Reading