It’s only September 2nd (Happy Birthday Tracy!) but I’m already seeing the early signs of fall and couldn’t be more excited! It’s been gloomy and rainy the past several days which just makes me want to snuggle into one of my crazy cat lady/grandma sweaters, grab a book, and sip on a glass of this sangria. Fresh red apples, plums, and pears makes this as sweet and crisp as an… 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
It’s the most wonderful time of year… National Rum Day! If you’ve been a reader for awhile, then you know I’ve got no shortage of rum recipes and cocktails for you to choose from, but I thought I would share a few of my favorites to spark your appetites and help you celebrate! Rum Spiked Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes A prime example of it never being too early to crack… Keep Reading
One of my favorite spots in Portland serves up this Hot Fuzz cocktail using vodka, fresh jalapeño, peach bitters, & lemon juice that I can never get enough of, so I thought I would make my own version right at home! The jalapeño I chose was packing some major heat, because all it took was an hour to create some of the spiciest jalapeño infused vodka I’ve ever made. I… Keep Reading
With busy schedules and a lot of moving pieces in my life right now, I’ve been feeling very disconnected from cooking. My dinners have been about what’s quick and economical, which doesn’t provide a lot of variety or creativity. Rather than watch one of my passions slip down the drain and become just another chore I said.. SCREW THAT. I have the ability to take affordable ingredients and elevate them… Keep Reading
Portland has warmed up this week and I couldn’t be more grateful that I made this ice cream the other day! Crunchy toasted coconut, chocolate chips, and a blend of cream and coconut milk made this a simple and satisfying summer treat. And no ice cream maker required!
A few weeks ago I came across a recipe for a spicy Mexican coleslaw and the wheels in my head got turning. I recalled my recipe for Cilantro Lime Dressing and knew that the same ingredients would be perfect. It was so good that I doubled the batch and made it again to pair with barbecued chicken later in the week. In fact I’m having a Pavlov’s dog-like reaction at… Keep Reading
I’ve had one of the limited edition Sailor Jerry bottles sitting underneath my bar for weeks just begging to be cracked open and after picking up a bag of these juicy cherries, I knew I had the perfect excuse to do so. I tossed a handful into a glass and took out the week’s frustrations by smashing them to bits. All that deliciously sweet cherry juice mixed with a healthy… Keep Reading
I typically use rosemary in a lot of recipes and cocktails throughout the winter, but never thought to incorporate it into my spring and summer dishes. Using a homemade rosemary simple syrup, I mixed up a a sweet and smooth Rosemary Lemonade Gin Fizz! The rosemary flavor is subtle, but provides an invigorating aromatic element to the drink. My favorite part of this is that you don’t have to make… 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
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