Author Archives: Laura Youngquist

We recently committed to a vegan diet for about 2 weeks and have to admit, it was delicious!  We had done this once before, but enough time had passed that we wanted to try some different foods and see how we could handle meals without any meat, once again.  We both lost weight, our bodies felt great, and we enjoyed creating recipes. It might be surprising, but some types of food you already eat are vegan, like pasta, if you skip the cheese and use a red sauce.  If you’re up for the challenge, I recommend starting with a week of vegan eating.  If it works out well, try for another week.  Baby step your way into it!  We don’t plan on going vegan by any means.  We love food too much and would miss some of our favorite meals!  BUT… we do plan on incorporating more vegan meals into … Continue reading

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French Toast Bake combines all your favorite French Toast flavors in one baking dish that is easy to make and delicious to eat!  It’s a favorite make-ahead breakfast dish in my household.  You prep the French Toast Bake the night before, refrigerate overnight, and bake and enjoy in the morning.  Super easy with no fuss! The recipe can be found here. Start by cutting the bread into 1-inch pieces.  I like to use either sourdough or French bread.  You can buy pre-sliced bread or whole bread.  Then place the bread pieces in a greased 9×13 pan.  You want the bread to be layered pretty evenly. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla.  Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, making sure to coat every piece. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the … Continue reading

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Homemade crepes are perfect for any occasion!  They are thin, tender, and easier to make than you think 🙂  You only need 6 ingredients to make these French-style homemade crepes.  No blender or special pan required (although it does help). The recipe can be found here. Start by combining the eggs, milk, flour, butter, vanilla, and salt in a mixing bowl.  Whisk together until smooth – you don’t want any chunks in the liquid!  Then let the batter rest for about 10 minutes. I have a crepe pan that I like to use but you don’t need a special pan to make crepes, you just need a flat-bottomed non-stick skillet.  You want to heat the pan over medium heat. Add ½ Tbsp butter to the pan and let it melt.  Then add ¼ cup of the batter to the pan.  Use a wooden crepe râteau to spread the batter into … Continue reading

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Mexican Chicken and Rice is incredible!  It has the best mesquite BBQ flavor, which is slightly sweet and smoky, and it pairs perfectly with Instant Pot Mexican Rice.  Both the chicken and rice are pretty simple to assemble so this is a great go-to meal for any day of the week! The Mexican Chicken recipe can be found here. The Instant Pot Mexican Rice recipe can be found here. Start by placing the (thawed) boneless skinless chicken breasts in a large Ziploc bag.  Then pour the entire bottle of Lowry’s marinade into the bag and toss to coat.  Make sure the bag is completely seals and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes, but ideally up to 2 hours. Once the chicken has finished marinating, heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-low heat.  Add the chicken and cook on each side for 7-8 minutes, or … Continue reading

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Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl combines the delicious flavors of your favorite Chinese restaurant appetizer in a one pan!  It’s a delicious spin on a classic egg roll.  This dish is quick to make, healthy to eat, and will change the way you eat egg rolls 🙂 The recipe can be found here. Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the ground chicken and heat until completely cooked.  You can also substitute ground turkey or ground pork, if preferred. Next, add the garlic powder, fresh ginger, green onion, and soy sauce to the skillet.  Stir to combine and heat slightly. Next, add the coleslaw to the pan and stir to combine.  Make sure to heat the coleslaw through. That’s it!  Serve warm with additional soy sauce to taste. The recipe can be found here. It’s completely optional, but I like to cut wonton wrappers into thin … Continue reading

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Lentil Sloppy Joe’s are a plant-based twist on a classic sandwich.  They are packed with flavor and protein and loved by vegans and meat eaters alike!  If you are a meat eater, don’t be hesitant to try this recipe!  The word “vegan” can be daunting but these are delicious, and you won’t know you aren’t eating meat.  The lentils are hearty, and the sauce has a very similar taste to traditional Sloppy Joe’s. Lentil Sloppy Joe’s are an easy, filling, and inexpensive meal.  Plus, they taste pretty good as leftover the next day…. if you have any leftover 🙂 The recipe can be found here. In a small saucepan, add 2 cups of water along with the rinsed lentils.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes or until the lentils are tender.  Drain and set aside. While the lentils are … Continue reading

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Sheet Pan Roasted Gnocchi & Veggies is a great one-pan meal the whole family will love!  It’s full of toasted gnocchi (store bought but still delicious), roasted fresh veggies, herbs, and a dusting of Parmesan cheese.  It’s easy to throw together on a busy weeknight and is a meal that can be enjoyed year-round. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Chop the bell peppers and onion.  You can use any color of bell pepper – it just makes the dish more colorful!  You don’t need to slice the tomatoes. Peel the garlic cloves and place on a cutting board.  Lay a knife sideways on top of the garlic and use the palm of your hand to press down and “smash” the garlic.  If you would prefer to use minced garlic that is fine too! Add … Continue reading

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Just when you thought breakfast couldn’t get any better, along comes Pancake Breakfast Tacos! All your favorite breakfast foods are combined in a pancake shell to create these breakfast tacos; piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, etc.  Super yummy and easy to make, so start your morning right with Pancake Breakfast Tacos! The recipe can be found here. Start by making the pancake mixture according to package instructions.  Heat a flat-bottomed skillet or griddle.  Once hot, add the pancake batter and cook the pancakes according to package instructions.  I made 6 large pancakes but make however many batches necessary to feed your family or guests. If you are making multiple batches, I recommend preheating the oven to 200 degrees and placing the cooked pancakes on a baking sheet in the oven to stay warm while the rest of the pancakes are cooking.  You can always place the cooked pancakes … Continue reading

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Baking is one of my favorite things to do but baking Christmas cookies is extra meaningful to me.  I used to spend a few days with my mom in the kitchen before the holidays baking her traditional cookies.  It was always so much fun…and something I looked forward to helping with every year.  Nowadays, I help when I can, but also like to bake a few batches of my own. I like to create new recipes or put a holiday spin on an existing recipe.  It’s fun to be creative and I love hearing reactions to the different goodies.  It doesn’t hurt that I have a sweet tooth so if no one else wants the cookies, I sure do!  This year, I’m making 5 different holiday treats to share with friends and family. Christmas Cookie “Charcuterie” Board No Bake Mint Oreo Truffles No Bake Butterscotch Clusters Holly Ginger Cookies Homemade … Continue reading

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Apple Cider Chicken & Apples is the ultimate fall dish!  Think juicy chicken, tender apple slices, the crisp taste of apple cider……my mouth is watering just thinking about it 🙂  Your whole kitchen will smell like fall with this dish.  It’s a healthy and simple fall meal. The recipe can be found here. Start by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the olive oil and onions and cook until soft and translucent. Then add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the chicken is about 80% done.  You only want to cook the chicken about 80% of the way because it will continue to cook while you prepare the rest of the dish.  Make sure to stir frequently so all sides of the chicken heat evenly. Add garlic to the skillet and cook for another minute. In a small bowl, combine the apple cider and … Continue reading

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