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weekly specialsAuthor Archives: Laura Youngquist
May 2, 2018
Cinco de Mayo
How much Mexican food do I plan to eat this Cinco de Mayo, you ask? That’s nacho business! Break out the margaritas! Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with some delicious food and refreshing cocktails. I have a handful of recipes that are full of flavor and easy to throw together for a last-minute party. Here’s what’s on the menu: Chunky Guacamole with Tortilla Chips White Queso Dip with Tortilla Chips Mexican Corn Tostadas Chicken Taquitos Mexican Pasta Salad with Chipotle Lime Dressing Cubano Style Tacos Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars Tequila Sunrise Not only are these great recipes for Cinco de Mayo, but they are light and refreshing options for any summer dinner. Plus, you can make them as mild or spicy as you like by adjusting the amount of seasoning you add. First up is Chunky Guacamole. This is … Continue reading
March 18, 2018
Chicken Chili Cook-Off
Winter is the best time of year to have chili! It’s hearty, delicious, keeps you warm on a cold day, and is super easy to make. One thing I love about chili is the “set it and forget it” mentality. Once you combine the ingredients and set the timer, the slow cooker does all the work and you have a wonderful meal 4-8 hours later. I personally like this on busy weekends because we don’t have to worry about dinner, spend time planning and cooking, etc. but still get to enjoy a nice meal. I have two different chicken chili options to share with you. I like a bit of heat/spice in my chili and think both recipes have the perfect amount. You get an amazing combination of chicken, veggies, and spices without it being too overwhelming. If you are anything like Andrew and love spicy food, you can always … Continue reading
February 11, 2018
Celebrating Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and I’m feeling the love. Our house is decorated with everything red and pink, I’ve picked out the perfect Valentine for my sweethearts (yes, I’m including the dog 😊), and we have a wonderful menu planned. A lot of people like to go out to eat on Valentine’s Day and there is nothing wrong with that, but we usually opt to stay in and prepare a nice meal together. It takes away from the rushed atmosphere you often feel at a restaurant on a busy day and allows you to really spend time together and do something fun together. We both love to cook so it’s the perfect option for us! The menu we prepared has a few new items, but everything is easy to make. We’ll start with a Caprese Salad appetizer and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make the … Continue reading
December 15, 2017
Christmas Dinner
Christmas is my favorite holiday to host. I think it’s due to my love of Christmas lights and decorations, so our house is always over the top! Plus, there are so many festive serveware options available that you can change up your table display as often as you like. (New Christmas plates…hint hint, Andrew 😊) Sometimes I like to go all out with appetizers and the main course but there isn’t anything wrong with keeping it simple if you prefer. I truly enjoy cooking for others and putting on a big spread but also want to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. So, I decided to keep my menu simple this year. I’ll be serving a few appetizers with some of the drinks from my Christmas Cocktails blog post. The first appetizer I’m going to make is Ricotta and Prosciutto Crackers. This is a light appetizer because it’s not … Continue reading
December 14, 2017
Christmas Cocktails
The holidays are upon us and Christmas is fast approaching. It’s a busy time of year for most; decorating the house, buying a tree, wrapping gifts, finalizing plans with family, etc. so I want to offer a few drink options you can serve at your get-togethers this year. I have 4 recipes below, 2 are adults only (sorry kids) and 2 can be for either adults or kids, so there is something for everyone. I mean, it is the most wonderful (and booziest) time of year! Grinch Punch 2 – 13oz. Packets Unsweetened Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid 2 Cups Sugar 1 – 12oz. Can Pineapple Juice 1 – 12oz. Frozen Lemonade Concentrate, thawed 1 – 2 Liter Sprite Ice Red Rim Sugar, add red food coloring to white sugar and mix together in a bowl Pour 2 quarts of water in a 2-gallon pitcher. Add the Kool-Aid packets and sugar, and … Continue reading
December 13, 2017
Decadent Holiday Treats
Decadent Holiday Treats I have a huge sweet tooth and love to bake. I often refer to myself as a “Cookie Connoisseur” because that’s how much I love a good cookie. The holidays are a great time for baking because the options are endless. And I think people judge the amount of sweets you consume a bit less around the holidays because they also get to enjoy the sugary goodness 😊 Below I have four recipes I think you’ll want to try this year. Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars “Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day” -Dr Seuss 1 – 17.5 oz. Pouch Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix, plus the ingredients needed to make the packet Whipped Vanilla Frosting (or homemade) Green Food Coloring Red Frosting or Red Heart Sprinkles Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking … Continue reading
November 11, 2017
A Thanksgiving Feast
I look forward to Thanksgiving every year. Not just for the delicious feast, but because it’s a time to get together with family and friends. For some it’s also about football and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which I too enjoy. I’ve put together a handful of my favorite recipes and ideas you can use to host the perfect Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving. What’s a party without some appetizers? Two of my favorite appetizers for Thanksgiving are Cranberry Crescent Bites and Brie and Apple Crostinis. I think they are sweet and savory but also a little salty. Both fit the holiday theme, are easy to make, and can feed a crowd. The recipes can be found below. Cranberry Crescent Bites Brie and Apple Crostini I’m a huge fan of sangria so I like to make a big batch of Cranberry Sangria to … Continue reading
October 29, 2017
‘Tis the Season for Pumpkin
If you’re anything like me, you love pumpkin spice! I know, I know, a lot of people are over the pumpkin spice craze but with so many recipes to try how can you not be intrigued by its deliciousness? I personally think it should be a year-round item and not just seasonal, but it’s not up to me. To fulfill my need for pumpkin I decided to have ‘pumpkin weekend’ at our house to hopefully get it out of my system (between us, it will never be out of my system 😊). The first item on the menu was Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting. These are life changing and I don’t know if I’ll ever make cinnamon rolls without pumpkin again! The smell of pumpkin and cinnamon fills your house as the rolls bake and for me it brought back some childhood memories because my mom liked to … Continue reading
October 16, 2017
Creepy Cocktails
You can’t throw a Halloween party without some themed drinks, right? Or maybe you want to enjoy the spirit of Halloween by sipping on a cocktail. Either way, I’ve got you covered! Below are 4 cocktail recipes that will be a hit this Halloween. Your friends and family will really appreciate the creativity and effort you put into making these festive drinks! Even better, one of the drinks is actually alcohol free so it’s something your kids can enjoy but have no fear; you can make an adult version for yourself 🙂 Poison Green Apple 2 oz Vodka 1 oz Orange Liqueur 1 oz Apple Liqueur Green Apple Slices Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and then pour into a short glass that is also filled with ice. Add an apple slice as garnish. Vampire Blood 1 oz Mango Vodka or Pineapple Vodka … Continue reading
Halloween might be Andrew’s favorite holiday and it’s a close second for me. Temperatures are dropping, you have to pick out your Halloween costume, decorate your house, get ready for trick-or-treaters, and the list goes on. I particularly like all the spooky food you can make for a Halloween party or just for fun! Below are a few new recipes and ideas you can try out to make the most of Halloween. Cutout Cheese and Crackers This is probably the easiest snack you can make. All you need is sliced cheese, crackers, and Halloween shaped cookie cutters. Use cookie cutters to cut different shapes out of the cheese slices. I picked Colby Jack and Cheddar cheese but you can use any flavor of sliced cheese. Pair with crackers and you have a quick snack that is still Halloween themed. Cheesy Breadstick Bones Find the recipe here! I had fun making … Continue reading
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