This week is Spring Break for me but we’re not going anywhere.  Plans were made, then cancelled, and we’re finding other ways to enjoy our staycation.  I’m thankful we have a healthy household and even more thankful to have time to work on recipes! This blog is about a variety of Snack Mixes, or Trail Mix as some people call it.  I was going to make a variety of Snack Mixes to bring on our road trip but just because the trip was postponed doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy those snacks at home 🙂 Snack Mixes are great for a variety of reasons; they are easy to make, are a great on-the-go snack, can be customized to different tastes, they make a TON, and hold up quite well in a Ziploc bag.  So…they make the perfect snack for a road trip.  Since most of the country is missing spring break, … Continue reading

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Greek Lemon Rice with Chickpeas is an amazing one-pot dish!  It is full of great Mediterranean flavors and is packed with so many herbs and veggies.  You’ll think you’re somewhere warm and sunny when eating this dish 🙂 The recipe can be found here. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Make sure you have a large ovenproof skillet to use.  You will start by heating ingredients on the stove and will eventually move the skillet into the oven, so you want to make sure you are using something rated for oven use.  I used a large cast iron skillet, but a Dutch Oven would also work well. Prep all of your ingredients.  Chop the onion, mince the garlic, drain and rinse the chickpeas, chop the sun-dried tomatoes, chop the dill, slice the lemon, slice the olives, and slice the tomatoes.  Whew!  I think that covers it all!  Set all the … Continue reading

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Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts.  I love the crumbly crush, the sweet and creamy filling, and the variety of toppings you can use.  It’s such a customizable dessert!  I recently tried my hand at cheesecake bites made in an Instant Pot and let me tell you, they did not disappoint.  They had the perfect texture, were just the right size to satisfy a craving, and took very little time to make. Please note, you will need not only an Instant Pot but also an Instant Pot Silicone Egg Bites Mold to make either of these recipes. My first batch was Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake Bites.  This is the easiest cookies and cream dessert you will ever make.  The “crust” is one Oreo and the filling has crushed Oreos mixed in.  I could eat each and every cheesecake bite from this recipe in one sitting.  Delicious! The recipe can … Continue reading

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Can you believe it?  Easter is right around the corner.  With all that is going on in the world these days I’m starting to lose track of time.  What is typically a day of family and friends gathering together will most likely be spend apart or perhaps in very small groups.  This puts quite the strain on menu planning when you won’t be hosting, won’t be attending the usual get-together, or are just trying to maintain social distance. Not to worry – I won’t let you know down!  I have created a menu of simple items you can make at home.  Some can be modified depending on the ingredients in your pantry, some can be reduced in size or doubled depending on the number of people in your household, and some make great leftovers 🙂 I’m going to start the morning with Peeps Pancakes and Hash Brown & Bacon Egg … Continue reading

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St Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday for everyone!  You can usually find some type of celebration around town whether it be a parade, green beer at your favorite bar or specials on Irish food at restaurants.  Even if you aren’t Irish, it’s fun to participate in the festivities. We like to watch the parade and enjoy an adult beverage with the dressed-up crowds (the people watching is phenomenal), then head home for a feast!  Some years we like to enjoy traditional Irish food but other years we like to take a favorite dish and add and Irish twist.  It really depends on what we feel like cooking that day!  This year, we are going to enjoy the following menu with friends and family: Reuben Dip Guinness Cheddar Mac & Cheese Guinness Glazed Chicken Sandwich Irish Mule Guinness Brownies   The Reuben Dip is our appetizer and something to much … Continue reading

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Spicy Chicken Rigatoni is hands down one of my top 5 favorite pasta dishes!  It has large pieces of tender chicken, perfectly cooked noodles, and a lot of heat (in a good way).  Should I go on?  There is as little or as much garlic as you would like, alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, and butter…. yes, butter…. for a wonderfully creamy sauce. This dish is so simple to make and tastes amazing.  You’ll think you’re eating at a fancy Italian restaurant.  Perfetto! The recipe can be found here. In a large skillet or deep pot, heat oil over medium heat.  You want the skillet or pot to be large enough to fit the sauce and noodles so you can toss everything together at the end. Add the crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, and garlic.  Sauté just long enough for the garlic to caramelize and red pepper to release flavor … Continue reading

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Air Fryer Vegetable Egg Rolls are incredibly delicious!  They are essentially baked, not fried, creating the perfect crispy and crunchy crust in every bite!  These are made in a fraction of the time and taste just like the Egg Rolls you would get at a restaurant.  Perfect for an appetizer, snack, or side dish! The recipe can be found here. I always start by prepping my ingredients, so they are ready to go when needed.  Slice the red bell pepper and green onions.  Then combine the cabbage slaw, green onion, red bell pepper, flaxseed, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl.  Make sure to mix well.  If you like heat, you can always add additional red pepper flakes. You can play around with the vegetables a bit, if there is something else you would like.  Perhaps you add some chopped mushrooms to the mixture or a few … Continue reading

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Fresh Vegetable Soup is vibrant, hearty, and full of fresh, wholesome flavors.  It’s perfect for lunches, cold winter nights, rainy nights, or anytime you are looking for a delicious homemade meal!  This soup will fill you up without the “heavy, too full” feeling. The recipe can be found here. I like to use frozen corn because I think it tastes better than canned corn, but you can use either.  If you are using frozen corn, start by cooking the corn according to package instructions.  If you are using canned corn, drain and set aside. Next, chop the onion, carrot, tomato, bell peppers, and zucchini.  Peel and chop the potato.  Mince the garlic.  I like to do all my prep work before I start cooking so it doesn’t slow me down once ready to assemble! Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.  You will be … Continue reading

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I.  Love. Sweets.  Candy, cake, cupcakes, pie, cookies, you name it!  I would rather skip dinner and go right to dessert, then go back and have dinner.  That’s how much I like sweets. I recently made some homemade candy bars as a treat to bring to work for Valentine’s Day.  These can be treats for any time of year, no special occasion needed, it just happened to be around Valentine’s Day for me 🙂  If you like to treat your coworkers (or family or friends) from time to time, I would highly recommend trying any of these recipes! First up is Homemade Snickers Bars.  These taste so similar to a Snickers bar you won’t be able to tell the different!  The nougat is soft and chewy, the chocolate is rich and melts in your mouth, and the caramel so smooth. The recipe can be found here. Start by lining a … Continue reading

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Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 25th this year.  Traditionally, the days leading up to Lent, people would binge on rich/fatty foods in anticipation of fasting or limiting intake of certain foods.  Mardi Gras translates to Fat Tuesday and is celebrate the day before Ash Wednesday, making it quite the celebration! New Orleans is famous for its Mardi Gras parties.  I’ve been to New Orleans and enjoyed some awesome food but have never participated in the Mardi Gras festivities…maybe someday I’ll get back!  I want to celebrate Mardi Gras this year with a delicious feast.  I’m thinking traditional New Orleans foods with a little twist!  I’ll be making Muffuletta Dip and Chicken and Sausage Gumbo. I got my inspiration for Muffuletta Dip from a traditional, and signature, New Orleans sandwich that features olive salad, salami, and cheese.  This is essentially a Muffuletta sandwich in dip form.  It’s bold, tangy, and … Continue reading

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