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June 10, 2023
Fruity Summer Martinis
Do you consider yourself outdoorsy? If you interpret that to mean “outdoorsy” in, you like to sit on a patio with a cocktail in hand then you’ve come to the right place 😊 It’s that time of year – patio season! And most definitely cocktail season. Well, cocktails are really a year-round thing but there’s something about the start of summer, all the sunshine, and the opportunity to be outside with a drink in hand that calls to most Minnesotans. I’ve been on a martini kick lately and thought it would be fun to try my hand at some fruity flavors, which is what I want to share with you today. I tend to stay away from martinis because I think the alcohol flavor is too strong and overpowering but if you play around with different ingredients and flavor profiles, you can create some really yummy concoctions. Here are the recipes: Blood Orange Martini Lemon Drop Martini Grapefruit Martini Strawberry Basil Martini … Continue reading
June 7, 2023
Camp Cuisine
We recently went on a camping trip, and it was HOT. Hotter than normal this time of year which was both pleasant and unfortunate. Pleasant because it was nicer than cold, rainy days but unfortunate because we didn’t have AC 😊 The only way to beat the heat was to make homemade ice cream. Yes, you read that correctly. We made ice cream, from scratch, while camping. And it’s actually quite easy. First, you need to purchase an Ice Cream Ball. The one we have is YayLabs! Soft Shell Ice Cream Ball. You can find it at your local sporting goods store or online by doing a simple Google search. They are reasonably priced and very fun to use. The ball has 2 sides that twist open. You add heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla to one side, and ice and ice cream salt to the other side. Roll around for 10 minutes, stir the ingredients and scrape down the sides, add additional salt, and roll … Continue reading
June 5, 2023
Mexican Street Corn Soup
You’re in for a treat with my recipe for Mexican Street Corn Soup! It has all the flavors of Mexican Street Corn but in soup form. It’s a bit sweet and savory with a slight heat kick. It’s hard to explain the explosion of flavors but if you’ve had it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, I highly recommend trying it. It’s popular as corn on the cob, a cold salad, or dip. The recipe can be found here. The very first thing I recommend doing is prepare ALL ingredients. You want to be ready to assemble the soup and not slow down to chop veggies while it cooks so do the prep work first. Chop the onion, celery, cilantro, and pepper. Mince the garlic. Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes. Crumble the cotija cheese. Even measure out your spices. I like to place each in its own bowl so I can dump into contents into the pot … Continue reading
May 30, 2023
Key Lime Life
Three words that come to mind when I think of key lime are citrus, sweet, and tart. Key limes have a distinct lime flavor that can be hard to explain. It’s tart without being overly acidic, very aromatic, has an elevated sense of flavor (more so than a standard lime), citrusy, and has a very subtle sweetness. If you know, you know 😊 The flavor pairs well with many desserts, which is what I plan on sharing with you today. Even better, it’s such a refreshing flavor that it’s perfect for this time of year! These are the recipes I have for you: Key Lime Pie Rice Krispie Bars Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Key Lime Cheesecake Parfait Key Lime Pie Martini Key Lime Pie Rice Krispie Bars are a great combination of traditional Rice Krispie Bars loaded with key lime flavor. They are sweet and slightly tart and everything you want in a Rice Krispie … Continue reading
May 25, 2023
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is my newest weeknight recipe that your family will love! It’s a filling and delicious pasta that comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s rich, creamy, a little spicy, and packed with wonderful ingredients. I will admit…when I was originally working on this recipe it was going to be soup, not pasta, but plans changed, and soup just wasn’t in the cards that night. I blame the noodles for absorbing so much of the liquid that would have been yummy soup, but the recipe still turned into something great, and we had a lovely pasta dinner. One thing I love to do is play around with recipes so even though my original plan didn’t work out, I was able to recover and still serve dinner. Has that ever happened to you? The recipe can be found here. Start by seasoning both sides of the chicken tenders with Cajun seasoning. I like to use tenders because … Continue reading
May 20, 2023
Plenty of Pistachio
I love this time of year because all things pistachio start to appear in grocery stores 😊 Pistachio is a flavor I can’t get enough of. It’s mildly sweet and has a slight almond flavor. Sometimes they are salted but can be enjoyed raw, and they have this lovely pastel green color when used in recipes. Most commonly, pistachios (or pistachio flavoring) are used in breakfast/brunch or dessert type dishes. You can however use them on top of salads or perhaps in a pasta dish like Pistachio Fettuccine. Pistachios can be on the expensive side, but I think they are worth the cost and make you appreciate cooking with them that much more! I have a handful of pistachio themed recipes to share with you today: Pistachio Bread Pistachio Pudding Bars Pistachio Cookies Pistachio Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting Pistachio Bread is the perfect breakfast item because it can be enjoyed at home or … Continue reading
May 15, 2023
Simple Summer Bruschetta Recipes
We recently had dinner at a local Italian restaurant and ordered a variety of Bruschetta as an appetizer. I’ve been thinking about the Bruschetta ever since and couldn’t resist the attempt to recreate it at home. Who doesn’t love a crunchy Bruschetta appetizer? And who doesn’t love options? That’s what I have for you today! Four vastly different yet incredibly satisfying Bruschetta recipes. When I think of Bruschetta, I typically think baguette with fresh tomatoes and maybe some basil or balsamic dressing. These are not your traditional Bruschetta recipes by any means, but I think you’ll like them just as much 😊 They are perfect as an appetizer or snack for any gathering and would be great for brunch, a bridal shower, girls’ night in, etc. Here’s what I have for you: Smoked Salmon Fig & Apple Blueberry, Basil & Ricotta Tomato Aioli & Bacon Smoked Salmon Bruschetta is surprisingly simple to make. Don’t worry, you don’t have to … Continue reading
May 10, 2023
Mediterranean Brown Rice Bowl
If you love salad, grains, or any type of “bowl” style meal, you are going to love these Mediterranean Brown Rice Bowls! Its rice topped with plenty of veggies and a lovely lemon-olive oil style dressing. It’s easy to make, healthy, has limited cooking requirements (only cook the rice) and tastes great…that checks off every box on my list. You can also customize the flavors within the salad and dressing. For example, if you don’t like roasted red peppers, use fresh bell peppers, or substitute edamame for the cucumber…you get the idea. Make each bowl your own! The recipe can be found here. Start by cooking the rice according to package instructions. Set aside to cool. I suggest using brown rice in this recipe, but you can use white rice or even quinoa if you prefer. Next, prepare the toppings. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Drain and chop the artichokes and roasted red peppers. Halve the tomatoes and olives. Chop the … Continue reading
May 4, 2023
May the Fourth Be with You
Star Wars Day is upon us! If you aren’t familiar, it’s an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4th to celebrate all things Star Wars. It’s not an official holiday by any means but any diehard fan is aware as observance of the day has spread quickly. The title of this blog, May the Fourth Be with You, is a play on the popular catchphrase May the Force Be with You. It you’ve watched the movies, you know what I’m referring to 😊 It’s a popular day for franchise fans and whether you plan on celebrating at home or in a galaxy far, far away, I hope you enjoy the recipes I’m going to share with you. As expected, all are Star Wars themed. Here is a list of the recipe: Copycat Blue Milk Copycat Green Milk Stormtrooper Cheeseball Rebellion Pizza Chocolate Covered Pretzel Lightsabers Copycat Blue Milk and Copycat Green Milk are beverages popular to … Continue reading
May 1, 2023
Taco ‘bout a good time!
Cinco de Mayo is coming soon – it’s Friday, May 5th. Cinco de Mayo quite literally means the 5th of May in Spanish so it’s easy to keep track of the date 😊 If you aren’t familiar, here are 3 fun facts about Cinco de Mayo, 1) it’s not Mexico’s Independence Day, 2) it’s not a national holiday in Mexico, 3) it celebrates Mexico’s victory against Imperial France. As you can see, it’s a relatively minor holiday that is celebrated regionally in Mexico….and pretty much everywhere in the United States. In Puebla, Mexico it is celebrated with parades, parties, music, folk dancing, and traditional foods. In the United States, it’s celebrated with Mexican food. Are you sensing a theme to my blog post? I’m going to share fun Mexican fares to enjoy for Cinco de Mayo or anytime you are craving Mexican food. Here’s my lineup: Homemade Flour Tortillas Slow Cooker Shredded Salsa Chicken Spicy Grilled Queso Chunky Guacamole Mexican Fried … Continue reading
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