I’ve seen recipes for pumpkin mac and cheese floating around for awhile, but I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical on the flavor aspect of it. I felt like I was in a cooking rut anyway so I decided to just go for it and I am so glad that I did! I wanted something slightly more grown up tasting than the traditional boxed macaroni and cheese, so I chose… Keep Reading
There’s nothing I love more than homemade liquor infusions. They’re easy and far more delicious than the fake-flavored store bought stuff. I polled some of you guys on Instagram and Twitter after sharing a photo of this Blackberry Infused Vodka that was in the works and you had some great flavor combinations and ideas that I’m looking forward to making in the future! This is just a really simple blackberry… Keep Reading
Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday of the year. I typically start my decorating for it in August.. that’s how much I love it! That also means I start watching all of the classics like Beetlejuice, Nightmare Before Christmas, and of course: Hocus Pocus! I channeled my inner Sanderson sister and brewed up a sweet and potent concoction I dubbed the Hocus Pocus Rum Cocktail that’s perfect for a… Keep Reading
I’m not exactly sure why I’m trying to stuff all of my food lately, so I do apologize for my second recipe in a row where it involves “stuffing” of some sort. Maybe because it’s getting colder and all I want to do is stuff my face? Regardless, I love making stuffed peppers, but I decided to forgo the traditional ground beef route and instead chose roasted sweet potatoes and… Keep Reading
Heading into the chilly winter months, I’m always craving warm comfort food and squash is a great and healthy way to satisfy that. I took roasted acorn squash and combined it with my apple and sausage stuffing recipe to create a fall flavored dish the whole family can enjoy!
I’ve held off on doing too many pumpkin recipes this season because it seems like every drink, dish, or dessert right now is pumpkin spice something or other, but now it’s time to unleash the pumpkin amazingness! If I could name this something else I would call it Dangerous Decadence, because that’s exactly what it is! It begins with a fluffy spiced pumpkin base and crunchy pecans baked right into… Keep Reading
Can we take a moment to appreciate wontons? They’ve become my go-to for quick meals and appetizers creating chicken, beef, and shrimp taco cups, crab rangoons, pizza rolls, wonton mozzarella bites, and even breakfast sausage and egg cups. They’re extremely versatile and make the perfect vessel for a number of different ingredients. This particular recipe is one of my favorites when I’m craving pizza rolls, but feeling a bit lazy… Keep Reading
Beer bread and hard apple cider breads are among my favorite things to bake during fall, but I wanted to make some on-the-go versions. I adapted my cider bread recipe to create these muffins and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the result. They’re not too sweet, extremely fluffy, and you get fresh baked apples in every bite. An added bonus is that your entire house will smell of fresh… Keep Reading
When I first moved out of the house as a broke 18 year old, I knew about 3 meals: Tacos, spaghetti, and broke girl pizzas consisting of tortilla shells as the crust. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?! Even though my skills and palate have expanded quite a bit since then, I still find myself craving my broke girl pizzas when I need a quick meal. I use homemade… Keep Reading
Typically when I make a big batch of chili, it lasts about a week around here.. this chili lasted 2 days! Surprisingly simple to make, affordable ingredients, and it’s vegetarian, which no one seemed to notice until they were down to the last few spoonfuls. It’s spicy, zesty, hearty, and pairs perfectly with tortilla chips or my Jalapeño Cheddar Skillet Cornbread I shared yesterday!
In the past I was never a big fan of cornbread because I always found it a bit dry and flavorless, but after whipping up this version, I practically want it with every meal! Zesty green onion, a kick of heat from jalapeños, and cheddar cheese keeps this bread from being too dry. Baked in a bit of bacon grease in a cast iron skillet gives the bottom a crisp… Keep Reading
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