I have been craving grilled cheese sandwiches lately so I put this one together with a few twists. First off I never thought I’d be consuming a grilled cheese that had green apples or purple cheese on it, but holy cow.. I don’t want them any other way now! I diced up some jalapeño and mashed up blackberries into the goat cheese to create this purple-people-eater concoction of cheese. It’s… Keep Reading
I’m always mystified at the new coffee drink flavor combinations that they come up with and some that customers come up with… “I’d like a non-fat caramel macchiato unicorn blood crunch drizzle.. ” Or at least that’s what their orders sound like to me when I’m grumpy and uncaffeinated in the morning. To each their own, but about as crazy as I get is switching from a vanilla latte to… Keep Reading
Every holiday season I look forward to making Hot Apple Jerrys to enjoy with friends and family after our big Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. This year I was craving a bit of a twist on my classic and made a big batch of Spiced Slow Cooker Pear Cider to use instead. In addition to the cider and rum I added a splash of sparkling pomegranate juice, an orange wedge, and pomegranate… Keep Reading
The last few days I’ve had a craving for a hot mug of cider and some much needed time at home and I was lucky enough to make both happen. I had several recipes I wanted to create so to make it easy on myself I made my cider in a crock pot while I worked on everything else. I threw some fresh pears, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and a… Keep Reading
My days off seem to pass by within the blink of an eye so I’ve been taking them a bit slower to savor every minute of them. Cooking is the best way that I know how to do that as it involves all of my senses. It forces you to focus, be present, and be patient. And of course I purposely made sure the recipe called for some wine so… Keep Reading
If you’re looking for a Halloween sangria as black as your soul then you’ve come to the right place. This potent mixture calls for only the darkest fruits and spirits. Fresh blackberries, plums, grapes, dark rum, and Apothic Dark wine. This full bodied sangria is the perfect libation to enjoy while conjuring the dark forces… or just having a Halloween movie marathon at home if that’s more up your alley.
I imagine that if the Evil Queen ran into Snow White at a cocktail party she would serve up one of these instead of handing over a plain old apple in the woods. The difference with mine is that I chose vodka as my “poison” and unless you take down too many, you won’t slip into a magical sleeping spell. They’re seductively sweet, crisp, and smooth with not a trace… Keep Reading
When September hits, we all lose our minds over Halloween decorations, scary movie marathons, and of course PUMPKIN SPICE EVERYTHING. I fall into the hysteria just as much as the next person, but where I really go ham on pumpkin flavored goods is in the beer aisle. I love trying all the new pumpkin ales and Octoberfest beers that hit the shelves this time of year and finding new favorites,… Keep Reading
After one last gasp from summer in the form of a 3 day heat wave in the 90’s.. we’re finally into fall with gloom, rain, and falling leaves. I don’t know about anyone else, but it makes me want to snuggle up with Punk (my 17lb cat), marathon the last season of Game of Thrones (again), and make a big pot of spicy chili. With my garden still producing a… Keep Reading
I’m still making tons of pickles out of all the cucumbers I harvest from my plant each week, but I whipped up a new recipe to use them in a different way. Head over to Dream A Little Bigger to get my recipe for this zesty and spicy Cucumber Mint Greek Yogurt Dip made with fresh cucumbers, mint, and serrano peppers!
Last month I shared a recipe for some basil simple syrup on my Instagram and now I’m sharing the perfect cocktail for you to use it in! Freshly juiced watermelon, citrusy lime, and the fragrant and sweet flavors of basil blend together in one delicious thirst quenching summer drink. And for my non-drinkers or soon-to-be-moms.. I’ve got you covered with tips on how to make a booze-free version as well!
As we finish out this last week of August and head into the cooler fall months, I wanted to end my summer recipes with one that pulls together some of my favorite seasonal ingredients. And since I’ve had a craving for something sweet I thought a cupcake would be perfect for the occasion! Now I know some people can’t get behind the idea of using lavender in cooking or baking,… 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
If you’ve ever grown mint before then you know that once it starts growing it takes off like a weed. When it was overgrowing the pallet planter box it was in I decided it was time to take action and put it to good use in some recipes. Aside from mojitos and garnishing my other favorite cocktails I never utilized mint as the starring hero in my recipes, especially not… Keep Reading
Maybe I’m a bit of a plant nerd, but I think one of the coolest things is to pluck ingredients straight out of nature and use them in your every day meals. Tomatoes from the vine in a homemade red sauce, fresh salad greens snipped right from the ground, and mulberries plucked from the trees to make anything from jam to martinis. And as you can see, I chose the… Keep Reading
Garden Party may be in the title, but it’s not the fancy garden party you may be thinking of nor is this cocktail. We’re literally talking about Bloody Mary’s in shot glasses and it can be a store bought mix that you add vodka to or you can use one of the awesome recipes I’ve got on my blog! It’s the extreme garnishing and vessel it’s in that makes this… 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
It’s been tough trying to make time to cook and create new blog recipes, so when I do, I make sure they count. And not to toot my own horn, but this is a damn good one! I originally set out to make a simple pasta bake with tomatoes and basil, but when I saw my cilantro just sitting in the windowsill on the verge of wilting, I made a… Keep Reading
I love simple, zesty, and healthy dips for snacking so I put together this Roasted Red Pepper and Black Bean Hummus that I shared at Dream A Little Bigger today! Sweet, smokey, and just a hint of spice makes this an instant hit at any party!
If you grew up in Iowa then you’ve no doubt visited the Amana Colonies and all the lovely little shops throughout Amana. I went once as a kid and remember the famous giant rocking chair, watched someone weave a basket, and loaded up on a bag of cool colored stones. Not exactly Disneyworld or anything too exciting, but an experience nonetheless. I decided to visit again now that I’m older… Keep Reading
Clearly the weather is all over the place here in the Midwest because yesterday I was outside digging the beginnings of my garden in a lightweight flannel and now it’s in the 30’s and we’re anticipating snow over the next few days! Regardless of the weather I find myself always craving this soup, but it’s really perfect for those extra chilly days! This was an adaptation of my slow cooker… Keep Reading
While grocery shopping the other day I realized two things: 1. I needed a drink. 2. I needed a vacation. Seeing as that a vacation requires a bit more planning and money, I opted for the drink instead. I was torn between making a mojito or a moscow mule, so I sort of combined the two! I started by infusing the silver rum with a habanero for some heat and… Keep Reading
Iowa’s “heat wave” will be coming to an end this week, but you can stay warm with this sweet and spicy Tropical Heat Fruit Salsa I shared at Dream A Little Bigger!
I’m going to begin by saying that Valentine’s Day is not really my favorite. I’d much rather celebrate Galentine’s Day or a Treat Yo Self Day (can you tell I still marathon Parks & Rec on a regular basis?), but I suppose I can get behind the whole chocolate and dessert splurging that comes along with the day. Since I rarely celebrate it I decided this year I would go… Keep Reading