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Peach Cobbler
Autumn is easily my favorite season, I love the cooler temperatures and the sweater weather. I also love all of the fresh ingredients that are usually available in the fall, peaches, pears, apples, squash, pumpkins, corn, etc. As soon as peaches start becoming available, I am baking up a storm with recipes where peaches are the star of the show. This Autumn Peach Cobbler is no different. There is a local orchard in the northern part of Las Vegas, Gilcrease Orchard. We frequent there often and my boys love to do the you-pick. If you live in Vegas, or are visiting Vegas, Gilcrease Orchard is a must do activity, especially…
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Fire Roasted Corn Pasta
I spent a good portion of my childhood and youth living in the Midwest. I was born in Nebraska and my dad was stationed at Offutt AFB twice before I was old enough to attend high school. Like the University of Nebraska’s Mascot the Cornhusker implies…the Midwest is filled with corn fields as far as the eye can see. But, it wasn’t until I moved to the Southwest where i discovered the tastiness of fire roasted corn. And how well it pairs in a variety of dishes. A few nights ago, my third oldest, YoYo, exclaimed that he only liked his corn fixed certain ways…creamy pasta dishes were not one…
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Perfect Peach Pie
I love pie, it is one of my most favorite desserts. Pies can be sweet or savory, filled with fruit or cream, sometimes they are sweet and savory. They are very versatile and can be altered to the baker’s tastes. Apple pie is easily in my top 3 favorite pies, but this year peach pie has been edging its way to number 1. While I prefer peach pie made with freshly harvested peaches, this recipe is perfect for fresh or frozen peaches. This recipe also has my perfected pie crust. I have been working on this for a LONG time. Pie crust is supposed to be light and flaky. I…
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Apple Cider Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is easily one of my most favorite ways to prepare meat. It is versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, and if you have the time for it to cook, it is a super easy hands off way to cook a roast or tenderloin. It takes very little prep time. Sometimes I make a big batch of pulled pork and then use it in a variety of ways. Pulled pork tacos are especially a favorite of my kiddos. However, this recipe topped them all in their books. I made sliders out of the pulled pork, but it is just as tasty by itself with some…
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Homemade Pumpkin Puree
I am a lover of all things decorating with pumpkins this time of year. My favorite ones are the ugly ones, the warty, misshapen, weird pumpkins. I just love the perfect imperfectness of them. Each year, I end up purchasing these outcast pumpkins and squash every time I go to the grocery store. In my area, Sprouts has by far the best ugly pumpkin selection. But when Autumn winds down, what do you do with these extra pumpkins and squash? I hate just throwing them away or composting them. I finally decided to try my hand at making pumpkin puree. And guess what? I should’ve done it years ago. It…
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New Project: Grand Opening
It is probably quite obvious that I have been MIA for several…well more than several…months. Unintentional, I assure you. While there are a handful of reasons I took an unscheduled leave, one major one was a new project I’ve been working on. One of my major hobbies behind the scenes is all things planning and journaling. Over the years I have noticed a lack of planner inserts and spreads that include specific nutritional tracking. Most often, I’ve encountered individuals who do track various health things, have to create or draw out their own nutrition inserts for their journals and planners. I decided to jump on this untapped niche. I took…
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Roasted Acorn Squash Soup
Right now I am spending time in Western Idaho with my parents. Autumn is in full force here, the leaves are changing from greens to beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds. The temperature has fallen and we have the heater on. It has been a decade since I spent quality time in an area where Autumn is a real season. Las Vegas Autumn pretty much just means that you have to begin wearing a sweater in the mornings and swim season is over. I have been enjoying this cooler weather and took full advantage of it with this recipe. My parents’ garden was super productive this year and dad ended up…
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A Wrinkle In Time
A Wrinkle In Time has had a special place in my heart for nearly two decades. I first read it in 6th grade and absolutely fell in love with Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace. It was the first semi-grown up book I read. Before that I had mainly stuck to chapter books that didn’t have deep and meaningful themes. The American Girl books, Boxcar Children, and all things Judy Blume were my favorites when visiting the library. A Wrinkle In Time introduced me to the Sci-Fi genre and forced me to critically think about the characters and various themes of the book. A Wrinkle In Time begins with Meg Murry,…
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Spicy Tomato Soup
Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches are the quintessential cold, rainy day foods. While heating a can of tomato soup or Spaghetti-os is quick and easy, sometimes something a little more elegant is necessary. While this soup can easily be made from scratch with oven roasted tomatoes, garlic, and onion; on busy weeknights, shortcuts are a must. Using canned fire roasted tomatoes, or marinara can give you very similar flavors and quality and a fraction of the time. Additionally, if you need a vegetarian or vegan version omit the sausage and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. I’ve made this with diced portobello mushrooms instead of sausage as a…
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Dutch Baby Pancakes
Dutch Baby, or commonly known as German Pancakes, have been a staple in my life since I was a tot. It is one several breakfasts my dad would make on the weekends. We’ve always called it Dutch Baby, mostly due to this cookbook… Both of my parents are from Oregon and this cookbook has been a primary go-to all of my life. An aunt gifted me my own copy when I married and started my own family. While this cookbook does have a Dutch Baby recipe, I have formed my own over the years. The Dutch Baby was born in Bismarck, ND and has been called a variety of names…
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Pumpkin Alfredo-One Pot Pasta
I know, I know…it is not the time of year for all things pumpkin. I was cleaning out my pantry and noticed I had a can of pumpkin puree that would expire next month. That’s when this pasta recipe began to percolate deep in my brain. Channeling my inner autumn season, I decided I wanted to do more than many a sweet treat or dessert with this particular can of pumpkin puree. I thought…well, pumpkins are a squash food…and nearly everything tastes better with cheese…so Pumpkin Alfredo was born. Then I wanted to attempt to make it in one single pot. There isn’t anything much more satisfying when dinner is…
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Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
After perfecting my Better Than Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls, I of course, had to revamp it. As I was brainstorming the various recipes I could attempt for Valentine’s Day this month, I decided to try my hand a red velvet cinnamon rolls. As I was writing out how I might go about this feat, I kept mumbling “this is either going to be epic, or a major disaster”. Either way, I knew that if I could figure out red velvet cinnamon rolls, it could possibly be even better than my original cinnamon roll recipe. While I did accomplish a successful red velvet cinnamon roll recipe, I will let you be the…
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Beef Stroganoff
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Philly Cheesesteak Crunch Wraps
If you have ever eaten at a Taco Bell since 2005 then you most definitely know about the crunch wraps. The crunch wrap is like a tostada incased in a flour tortilla which makes the tostada portable and easy to consume with your hands. The crunch wrap is a food we have on regular rotation because it is just as easy to make as tacos or burritos, but gives a twist on Mexican food. Make-your-own crunch wrap bars are a great go-to food for parties and potlucks. However the traditional Mexican food flavors can be challenged for other equally tasty flavors in the crunch wrap. This last week I decided…
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Caribbean Jerk Risotto
Risotto has been a food I’ve wanted to master for years, ever since watching Giada religiously before my third child was born. Even though Giada made risotto look super easy, I have been intimated for a while now. Finally, I just decided to go for it last year. Turns out it is just as easy as Giada made it look. Risotto is typically made with white rice, but can also be made with short length pasta such as orzo or couscous pasta. My family likes risotto made with orzo pasta more than with rice. Also, when I make risotto with pasta instead of rice, the creaminess of the consistency tends…
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The Giver by Lois Lowery: Book Review and Comprehension Questions
As a homeschool parent, I have the freedom to pick and choose programs for various subjects when teaching my children. While a majority of their schooling is online, I have been adamant that they have daily routine reading and comprehension questions for books that expand their reading horizons. I have a child who doesn’t like to read at all, and is rather self conscience about his ability to read. While he is currently at grade level, that hasn’t always been the case. At one time, reading time with him was worse than enduring dentist appointments with all four children at once. Another one of my boys reads anything he can…
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Copy Cat Cafe Zupas Chicken Enchilada Soup
I am a sucker for just about any creamy soup, combine that with Mexican food flavors and I would do just about anything for a taste. Cafe Zupas just has yummy food in general. If I had to absolutely pick between Panera Bread and Cafe Zupas, I wouldn’t even bat an eye saying goodbye to Panera. Their Chicken Enchilada Soup is definitely in my top 3 faves…and even though a new location opened up less than 5 miles away, I just cannot justify eating there every other day…so…of course I had to figure out how to make it at home. Besides, there are plenty of poor souls who either haven’t…
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Everything Bagel Dip
I’m constantly looking for quick recipes that are easy to share at a party, potluck, or any sort of get together with friends and family. Homemade dip is always a crowd pleasing go-to, whether it is sweet and served with wafers and fruit, or it is savory and served with crackers and vegetables. The everything bagel seasoning is very versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. I like to especially use it to make my own spread. The everything bagel dip can be used solely for a cracker and vegetable dip, or it can be used as a spread for sandwiches, bagels, or wraps. While the everything…
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Baked Ziti
Throughout the years, I have both provided many meals for families and friends and received many meals from family and friends in times of need. While it is always nice to help another, if you are anything like me you tell someone you are going to bring them dinner and then forget until the day of, you suddenly remember and your kitchen doesn’t have anything that when combined would even be remotely edible. This is where baked ziti comes in. I almost always have the ingredients for baked ziti. Not only is it the perfect dish to provide a family a meal for, but it is one of my kids’…
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Thumb Print Cookies
One holiday baked good I remember my mom making often was the thumb print cookie. She would vary in the jam flavors from year to year, but the dough and technique was always the same. Whenever I make thumb print cookies, I always think of the first time my mom taught me how to make them. I was not an easy child to convince to learn the art of cooking and baking. I just wanted to eat the food, I didn’t want to put forth the work. Little did I know how much I would later enjoy the culinary arts. This year I knew I needed to recreate the thumb…
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Lefse
Every holiday season as far back as I can remember, making lefse has been a family tradition. It wasn’t until I became an adult and moved away that I realized just how many steps it takes to create it. The first year I tried my hand at lefse making without parental supervision, I made too large of a batch and it took me several hours four nights in a row to finish baking the batch. I have seriously wised up, and I now have many willing helpers so I don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen. This year was especially fun having these two nerds helping me. I don’t…
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Hot Cocoa Dip
With all of the baking, sometimes I just want to make something that requires less than 5 ingredients and doesn’t take any baking at all. With all of the holiday parties, it can become tiring having to provide a treat to share. This dip was developed out of desperation and tiredness of baking. Sometimes the best ideas come from desperation. This dip doesn’t need to be limited to the holidays, and for that matter, it is a tasty treat to have year round. It can be served with graham crackers, Nilla Wafers, but personally I think it is most tasty with fruit. Strawberries, blackberries, and apple slices are some of…
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Mint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate crinkle cookies are a common staple among families’ holiday baking traditions. This year though, I wanted to put a little spin on it. I thought adding in chopped Andes Mints would be a good addition. Chocolate crinkle cookies are traditionally a chewy, fudgey texture, so I knew I needed to make mine trying to keep true to the typical chocolate crinkle cookie. Chocolate crinkle cookies are a drop cookie that has been rolled in powdered sugar. The texture contrast of the powdered sugar with the fudgey cookie is definitely pleasant to the taste buds. These crinkle cookies are chocolate version of sugar cookies. The chocolate crinkle cookies actually originated…
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S’more Brookies
I don’t know who decided brownie batter and cookie dough needed to be put together, but whoever did is a genius…especially when using premade cookie dough and box brownie batter. Sometimes though, even a genius idea can be spruced up a tad. Marshmallows, caramel, and peanut butter are all additional flavors that can add to the brookie. When I decided I wanted to make a quick and tasty holiday baked good, I knew I wanted to add in some of these flavors. That’s when the s’more brookie idea came to me. I also decided I needed to go big with this treat. I used my large muffin pan, but this…
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Aebleskivers – Scandinavian Pastry
Growing up, Aebleskivers were a staple on Christmas morning. We’d have Aebleskivers, scrambled eggs, and either sausage or bacon. Since I became an adult and am now responsible for Christmas morning breakfast, I quickly realized just how time consuming Aebleskivers are. So we’ve changed this Norwegian family tradition to suit our timeline. We have them for Christmas Eve breakfast and then again for New Year’s Eve breakfast. Aebleskivers are essentially pancake balls made in a semi-odd shaped cast iron skillet. Some times people like to fill the pastry balls with fresh fruit or fruit jam, we like to keep it simple; plain Aebleskivers served with a sprinkling of powdered sugar…
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Cutout Sugar Cookies – Minimal Spread
One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard about making cutout sugar cookies is that the dough spreads as it bakes. This is always due to the leavening ingredient – ie: baking soda, baking powder, eggs; these are all examples of types of leavening agents. While I have attempted MANY times to create an edible sugar cookie recipe without any leavening ingredient at all; but I have not been successful. Thus, I have a cutout sugar cookie recipe for you that has very minimal spread. The dough doesn’t spread out, it only slightly puffs up and rounds the edges. Also, these sugar cookie cutouts are actually tasty and soft, but not…
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EGGLESS – Royal Icing
Developing an eggless royal icing was never on my to-do list, but I thought I had some meringue powder in my baking supplies. Turns out I didn’t, and I couldn’t run to the store when I had planned on icing the sugar cookies I had baked the day before. Thus the science experiment of creating eggless royal icing. Royal icing is typically used for detailed designs, I also use it when we make gingerbread houses because it also dries quickly and is a great edible glue. When I decided to try my hand at eggless royal icing, I knew I would need to be able to create a binding agent…
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Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Salty and sweet is definitely one of my favorite flavor combinations and this recipe is possibly the easiest ever, three ingredients, no mixing, and only 2 minutes baking. With how easy this recipe is, I’m not entirely sure it can be called a recipe. Still, it is super tasty and festive for the holiday season. If you want to make these any other time than around the holidays, just substitute the m&ms for pecan halves. If you are not a fan of caramel, you can total substitute the Rolos for another chocolate candy, a Hershey Kiss or a mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. The key with these pretzel turtles is…
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Hot Cocoa Cake Pops
I have been wanting to add to the collection of cakepop recipes already on this blog, and I knew holiday baking would be a perfect time do to so. When trying to decide on the cake pop flavor, I knew I wanted to have chocolate and marshmallow, so that’s when hot cocoa cake pops popped into my head. One major thing about cake pops is that they look A LOT more complicated than they actually are. If you want to really impress people with your holiday baking, then cake pops are the one. While there are cake pop silicone baking gadgets, I’ve always just used a good o’le cookie scoop.…
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Julekake – Norwegian Fruitcake.
It’s no secret that I have plenty of Scandinavian heritage in my family tree. Lefse and aeblskeivers have been typical meals in my family since I can remember. This Christmas though, I wanted to branch out with other holiday type foods…explore some more of the food aspect of a part of my heritage. That’s when I came across julekake, Scandinavian version of fruitcake. Now I know…traditional fruitcake is in the same category as cilantro…either you love it, or you loath it. I am definitely of the loath it persuasion. That being said, when I came across julekake, I realized the only thing it has in common with the well known…
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Holiday Spritz Cookies
I am back at you all with 12 Days of Holiday Baking. Last year was my first year of taking on the project, 12 different recipes, 12 different blog posts, 12 different baked goodies, and lots…lots…LOTS of kitchen messes, flour, sugar, and fun with my kiddos. One request I had for this year’s holiday baking was to add in some recipes that are simple and quick, so here is my first baked goodie that falls into that category. Spritz cookies are like if sugar cut out cookies and shortbread cookies had a baby. They have the flavors of both, and they are in fun shapes; BUT the hassle of making…
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Copycat Olive Garden Creamy Gnocchi Soup
Can I tell you a secret? The day that Olive Garden came out with their soup, salad, and breadsticks combo I just about died and went to heaven. There are very few things that are more comforting and fulfilling during the fall season than a tasty soup, garlicky carbs, and a salad on the side. One of my favorite’s has to be hands down OG’s Chicken Gnocchi soup. The creamy texture combined with fresh vegetables and the pillowy goodness of the gnocchi, just the perfect combination of flavors and textures. I’ve been wanted to create my version if this soup for a long while now, but was stuck on feeling…
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Harvest Peach Freezer Jam
I love this time of year with all of the colors and the many tasty fruits and vegetables that are ready for harvest. Not only do I love eating all the fresh produce, but I love to find ways to preserve the fruits and vegetables for consumption during the winter months. Canning, dehydrating, freeze drying, etc. all of these are wonderful ways to preserve foods from harvest for use later on in the year. One of my most favorite ways to preserve fresh fruits is to make freezer jam. It doesn’t require any special equipment, like a pressure cooker for canning, and only needs 3 to 4 ingredients to make.…
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Harvest Maple Peach Cake
There are specific flavors in my mind that I associate with autumn. Of course, apple, caramel, pumpkin, cinnamon, and pecan…but some of my favorites have to be maple and peach flavors, especially when they are combined in a delicious dessert. Since I dove head first into adding myself into a massive peach delivery from an orchard out of state, and decided I needed 40lbs of peaches in my life all at once, I knew I needed to be prepared for all sorts of recipe ideas before the peaches became too ripe. My first recipe was this sheet cake. It’s super easy to create and a crowd pleaser for sure. A…
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Cran-Apple Harvest Salad
Fall season maybe just around the corner, but here in Las Vegas the 100º+ weather doesn’t agree. Finding recipes that fill my need for harvest season foods while not overheating myself spending too much time in front of a hot stove. This quinoa fruit and vegetable filled salad definitely fits that harvest food spot. Add in some grilled chicken and it goes from being a side salad to a main dish. If you aren’t a fan of some of the fruits or vegetables I have added to my salad, then exchange them for some in-season produce that you love. Orange slices, dried apricots, raisins, pears, carrots…all of these would be…
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Meatloaf Zucchini Melts
As much as I love to create healthy, yet tasty foods, zucchini is definitely not one of my favorite vegetables. Just like Brussels sprouts, I have to force myself to create food with zucchini. While I do love the flavor of zucchini, it is the texture I have a hard time with. However I prepare it, it must always have a crisp bite to it. If it is mushy in any way, I cannot eat it. That being said, I have snuck zucchini in many recipes, grated into the ground meat or into the sauce. For this recipe though, I thought it would be fun to add one of my…
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Coconut Chicken Curry Kabobs
Cooking with curry is still a somewhat new experience for me. It has always intimidated me until recently, but when my kiddos asked if we could have kabobs for dinner one night last week, I knew exactly what flavors I wanted to have in the marinade. Cooking kabobs has been a long process for me. Burning the kabob sticks was a regular occurrence in the beginning. Then I saw a tip on Food Network that if you have wooden kabobs, to soak them in water for an hour or so before the assembling of the kabobs. The wood soaks up just enough water to keep from catching on fire, and…
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Summer Lemon Chicken & Asparagus
Asparagus is a vegetable that is easily misunderstood. Just like Brussels sprouts and artichokes, there is a specific way to prepare asparagus. It isn’t like green beans, peas, or corn where you can boil or steam then serve. While some people do love asparagus from a can, I will only eat it if it is roasted or grilled. Additionally, preparing asparagus is important. The thicker the asparagus stock, the more fibrous. It is difficult to figure out what part to trim and what to eat. The way I prepare asparagus is I hold each end of the stock. Then I bend it until it snaps. The stock naturally snaps in…
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Oven Baked Nachos
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is so nice to have a handful of recipes that are quick, easy, and a crowd pleaser. I meal plan weekly, but life happens and sometimes the meal I originally planned…just doesn’t happen. BUT…oven baked nachos is a recipe I almost ALWAYS have the ingredients for. I’ve made oven baked nachos with chicken, steak, vegetarian style, and ground beef. The best part of oven baked nachos is you use pretty much whatever ingredients you have in your kitchen. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, cheese, queso, grilled corn, salsa, beans…whatever you love on your nachos will work on these oven baked nachos. This…
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Fresh Balsamic Summer Salad
Sometimes preparing dinner is just plain too much, especially during the hot summer months. Who wants to spend time in front of a stove or heat their thoroughly a/c’ed kitchen with their oven? I most definitely don’t. I am always on the hunt for a delicious dinner that doesn’t require a ton of prep or for me to stand in a stifling kitchen while the temperature outside soars to unbearable numbers. This fresh balsamic summer salad is the ticket! It can easily be eaten alone, or paired with some grilled chicken or steak. I also like to eat the leftovers with rotisserie chicken for lunch. The best part about this…
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Red, White, and Blueberry Bundt Cake
Independence Day is by far one of my most favorite holidays. Good food, great company, amazing fun. My love of country and patriotism runs deep. Home of the free, because of the brave. So I knew I needed to make a dessert that would be just as spectacular as any fireworks display, but also keep it so simple that I wouldn’t be spending all day in the kitchen. Summertime is the perfect time for fresh fruits and fresh flavors. Lemon and almost any berry flavor is just the perfect pairing for flavors. So I went over the top adding blueberry, strawberry, lemon, and fresh thyme herbs all together. To achieve…
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Summer Corn Fettuccini
Here in Las Vegas, we are approaching our triple digit weather season; and when it is that hot, I try to create fresh, easy, and quick recipes that don’t require the oven. This particular recipe is definitely one of them. With the fresh vegetables and herbs mixed into the pasta, this version of fettuccini is perfect for summertime. Additionally, it can easily be a side dish, or add in some grilled chicken and it becomes the main course. I like to make this when corn is in season and slightly char the corn kernels, but it is still extremely tasty with steamed corn. If you have never heard of mascarpone…
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Salted Caramel Bar Cookie
I’m back at ya with another bar cookie recipe. This one has quickly become a go-to this summer. The key to this recipe is to use Lily’s Salted Caramel Baking Chips. They are chocolate salted caramel chips and they are sweetened with stevia instead of sugar. Not only is this perfect for individuals who struggle with maintaining glucose levels, but it is the perfect chip for a bar cookie that already has sugar in the recipe. I usually buy Lily’s Baking Chips from my local Walmart, but of course, Amazon comes through with these as well. Lily’s has other flavors of baking chips as well, and they are all sweetened…
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Instapot Unstuffed Italian Shells
I just love Italian type casseroles like lasagna and manicotti, but the preparation and time it takes is just not something I enjoy. I am all for a meal with multi steps, but if I have to use multiple pots and pans, I just can’t get on board. So, attempting to create this Italian goodness in the Instapot was something I knew I had to do. The sauté, pour, stir, and let pressure cook is my kind of meal. When I took a look in my pantry the other day, I realized I had a couple boxes of large pasta shells. It was then I decided I wanted to make…
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Chocolate Orange Bars
Happy summer y’all! I am already in full swing with summer adventures, BBQs, and a lot of swimming with family and friends. If your summers are like mine, you are constantly in need of tasty foods to share. While I love to just cut up a fresh and juicy watermelon to share, summer is the perfect time to share tasty and refreshing desserts. Bar desserts are my favorite. They are easy and make a lot to share. These Chocolate Orange Bars definitely hit the spot at the last BBQ I attended. If you love those chocolate oranges at Christmas time, then you will love these bar cookies; soft sugar cookie…
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Beef Stroganoff
I have always loved homemade noodles, but I have never loved the prep to making them. When I found Reames homemade egg noodles in the freezer section several years ago, my life was forever changed. Now these noodles are a staple in my deep freezer. I always have a few bags of them so I can whip up a quick batch of homemade chicken noodle soup. Or I can use them in brown noodles or beef stroganoff. Have you tried Reames homemade egg noodles yet? When I did my bi-yearly inventory of my freezers, I saw I had a couple of pounds of beef round chunks that needed to be…
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Mexican Street Corn Dip
If you’ve never had Mexican street corn, you have not lived! It is SO heavenly, but since corn on the cob can be difficult to find at times, I decided to fill my need for Mexican street corn by creating a dip that is nearly as good. The best part about this dip is that it is extremely easy to double or triple this recipe to make for a crowd. This dip is all of the flavors of Mexican street corn, but totally gringo friendly in the kitchen. I like to make this with frozen corn, but it can easily be made with canned corn as well. Have you ever…
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Turkey & Cheese Crescent Rolls
Sometimes I just have to see what is in my fridge, throw random ingredients together and pray it turns out. These turkey and cheese crescent rolls were one such endeavor. Thankfully, my husband talked me down when I said I wanted to add asparagus to the center. Although, I still think that could have been rather tasty. I’ve made stuffed crescent rolls before, like pigs in a blanket. But on this particular night, we had lunch meat, sliced cheese, and no bread…and my boys said they wanted sandwiches. So this was the product. I’m sure there are endless possibilities to stuffed crescent rolls, like right now I’m thinking Thanksgiving crescent…
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Healthier No-Bake Cookies
A few months ago, I went to my monthly book club get together and a friend had brought some no-bake cookies. As a general rule, I am not a huge fan of no-bake cookies. If I am going to consume a cookie with chocolate and oatmeal, I want a traditional oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips. BUT…these cookies my friend made changed my mind. Then when she informed me that they were a healthier version I was blown away. Of course, I asked for the recipe…and then I promptly changed it. This recipe is not only healthier, but it is high in protein and good fats. It is keto friendly, heart…
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Huli Huli Ramen Chicken
I have come a long way since the packaged ramen noodles days. At one point, in Junior High, my friends and I would eat ramen raw right out of the bag. I don’t know if that is something y’all have done before, but I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread at the time. I’ve since learned how hillbilly that is. Now though, I only have the prepackaged ramen for when a stomach bug tears through the household and kiddos refuse to eat anything. As soon as I realized I could purchase ramen noodles by itself without the packaging and seasoning, my life was changed. Huli Huli chicken…
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Chicken Stroganoff
Typically stroganoff is made with beef, but that isn’t the culinary rule. Stroganoff is just a cream sauce with meat, onions, and mushrooms. Knowing this, when I meal planned to make beef stroganoff and then did not in fact get beef for the said stroganoff…I improvised and made it with chicken. As much as I love the beef stroganoff, the chicken version was just as tasty and my children ended up loving it more. If you are not a mushroom lover, but want the true flavors of stroganoff, instead of using fresh mushrooms you can substitute cream of mushroom soup. Additionally, I love making stroganoff with pappardelle pasta, which is…
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Instapot Philly Cheesesteak
Have I mentioned how much I love Instapot recipes? All of the ease of the crockpot, but in a fraction of the time. I’ve made Philly Cheesesteaks in the crockpot before, but I knew I wanted to shorten the time significantly and try it in my Instapot. Additionally, I like to braise the beef, peppers, and onions for a few minutes before I placed them in the crockpot. With the Instapot having a sautéing feature, I also cut down on dishes. If you love Cheesesteak sandwiches, then you have to try this recipe. You could totally swap out the beef for thinly sliced chicken breast, or use red, yellow, or…
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York Peppermint Cookie
There are certain ingredients that I just always have in my pantry, instant pudding mix is one such ingredient. Not only can the pudding mix be for making pudding, but I mostly use pudding mixes for cookies and adding them into cake mixes. Pudding cookies are one recipe in my arsenal that I can whip out quickly and easily. Husband says he needs a dessert to serve after youth group…pudding cookies, I forgot to make a treat for our homeschool science club…pudding cookies. They truly are super easy and versatile. When I saw that Walmart was selling York Peppermint Pudding, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.…
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Instapot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
I have a child who is very vocal about his likes and dislikes when it comes to food. I decided I was tired of hearing out of his mouth ‘Ewww, I don’t like that.’ So he now helps me meal plan, as well as is my sous chef most nights. If you have a super picky child, let them help in the meal planning, grocery shopping, and then meal preparing. Sometimes the child resists, but most often they really get into helping out and seeing the start to finish. They are also more likely to at least try what they prepared because there aren’t any surprises for them. On this…
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Green Chili and Chicken Enchiladas
Enchiladas are easily one of my most favorite Mexican meals. I have so many variations of enchiladas in my meal arsenal that I could easily make a different type every night for a whole month. So it was surprising to me when I realized I had never done a green chili version. I almost always used red enchilada sauce, but when I realized I had a bunch of green enchilada sauce in my pantry, I knew I needed to make a green chili version. I have to say, that this recipe is easily one of my top favorites. I love the slightly spicy flavors and the prominence of the green…
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Perfect Instapot Pot Roast
Pot roast is something my husband grew up on, almost every Sunday dinner was pot roast. Whereas it was definitely not a common meal in my family, we would have beef stew and the roast or pot roast probably once every other month, but it has quickly become a go-to for me since I have been preparing it in the Instapot. It took several tries, I had to figure out how to not drench the potatoes and carrots so they wouldn’t end up overly soft. The secret…use the steaming basket that comes with most electric pressure cookers. With being a family of 6, two of which are teenage boys, I…
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Raspberry White Chocolate Bundt Cake
I’m rounding out this Valentine’s Day 14 days of baking with my piece de resistance. Not to brag, but I think this bundt cake is even better than Nothing Bundt Cakes version. Using the pudding mix and the greek yogurt gives the batter a soft yet light texture. Also, the pudding mix MUST be the Godiva White Chocolate flavor. No substitutions! OK, it isn’t a must, but it amps up the white chocolate flavor without overpowering it. Have you tried the Nothing Bundt Cake version of raspberry white chocolate? Please tell me if you make this and you still prefer the Nothing Bundt Cake kind or if you’ve been converted…
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Marshmallow Buttercream
My favorite part of just about any cake or cupcake is the frosting. But after working as a cake decorator for my pivotal high school years, I’ve become EXTREMELY picky with buttercream flavors. I cannot stand buttercream where the main flavor is butter, or sugar. The flavors need to blend nicely. That is why marshmallow buttercream is my go to whenever I am decorating cakes or cupcakes. It is also super easy to add flavoring so the marshmallow flavor isn’t that detectible. But the base of my buttercream frosting is the marshmallow flavor. This buttercream is seriously loved by all. My child who LOATHES any sort of frosting or icing…
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Red Velvet Whoopie Pie
When I was asked by my 8-year-old what treat I was talking about today and I told him Whoopie Pies, he made a face and told me that sounded naughty. Then when I told him that they are kind of like homemade Oreos, he had to add “Mom, why are you messing around with a good thing?” Well…I showed him, he loves these red velvet whoopie pies. Especially because the frosting I used for the middle is the same marshmallow buttercream I used on my Black Forest Cupcakes. Definitely my top favorite buttercream. Have you tried whoopie pies before? I love them, they can be time consuming, but they are…
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Black Forest Cupcake
I love making cupcakes, they are just so fun and I love decorating them. It gives me all of the feels of decorating a cake on a much smaller level. I knew I wanted to create a black forest cupcake for this Valentine’s Day 14 days of baking. When I was planning out the concept of these cupcakes I knew I wanted to use real maraschino cherries and I wanted to make marshmallow buttercream for the frosting. I also knew I wanted to make it easier on myself and not make every single thing from scratch. So I did use a box cake mix. But if you are ambitious then…
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Chocolate Strawberry Hand Pies
I love chocolate covered strawberries. It is always a treat when my husband or my dad give me some as a gift. I love strawberries SO much that when I was a toddler I refused to eat strawberries unless I picked them directly off the plant. So of course, I just had to create a dessert that involved fresh strawberries and a yummy chocolate hazelnut spread. The combination of strawberries and chocolate hazelnut spread is just a match made in heaven and the perfect combination for any dessert, but most especially for any Valentine’s dessert. How much do you love chocolate and strawberries together? Have you tried strawberries with a…
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Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake Pops
I just can’t seem to get enough of the chocolate cherry flavors. I knew they needed to be made into a cake pop, especially when I found cherry cake mix at my local Albertson’s. I toyed with the idea of making these with a maraschino cherry in the center, but not everyone actually likes cherries, just the cherry flavor. If you love maraschinos then by all means, add one to the center of these cake pops. Do you like maraschino cherries or only the cherry flavor? I love both. These cake pops definitely hit the chocolate cherry flavors spot. Even my child that doesn’t like cherries loved these cake pops.…
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Chocolate Strawberry Truffle
There are many gifts that are given for Valentine’s Day, and chocolate covered strawberries are definitely a popular one. I decided I wanted to put a spin on the classic chocolate covered strawberry. While this takes more time than just dipping fresh strawberries in melted chocolate, it does have an element of whimsy. My boys love these truffles and watching them smile over the taste, brings so much joy to my heart. Additionally, if you are not a strawberry lover, you can definitely use raspberries or even blueberries instead. Do you love chocolate and strawberries together? You could experiment with the chocolate and use milk or white chocolate instead of…
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Raspberry White Chocolate Scones
Scones are like the sophisticated older sister of the donut. Just as tasty, but it’s not tacky to serve a scone at a tea time with the Queen of England…but I’m not so sure she would appreciate donuts during tea time. Scones can be intimidating, but this recipe is super easy. While I am not the inventor of this particular recipe, I do love it and it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day breakfast or brunch. This recipe would be equally tasty with fresh blueberries. Have you ever made scones from scratch? These scones are a definitely must in your near future. Hope y’all have an amazing week. Stay safe,…
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Cherry Cake Batter m&m Cookies
The best cookies are cookies with very little ingredients and still taste amazing. Cake batter cookies tend to be one of those. Using a cake mix as a base for the cookie gives flavor as well as moisture to the cookie without having to follow a recipe with a lot of ingredients. Adding to that, I LOVE cherry and chocolate together. My favorite candy bar is the Cherry Mash, which unfortunately is not that easy to find. But when I decide I need cherry and chocolate in my life, I usually just jump right in and create some sort of dessert. After I made Cupid’s Chow this last week, (go…
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Baked Love Donuts
Donuts are arguably one of the best breakfast foods ever! I am always in the mood for a donut. I especially love a donut that is on the healthier side, and this one is definitely one of those. No added sodium, low fat, and real strawberries. Additionally, the base recipe for the donuts can be used for just about any flavor. Change the icing flavors and you have a whole new type of donut. Switch the extract flavors and the dough has a completely different flavor. Baking donuts for my family for Valentine’s Day breakfast has become a tradition over the last couple of years. I knew this year I…
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Valentine’s Day: Red Velvet Cake Pops
Red velvet is a popular flavor with cakes and cookies. Now that cake pops are a popular and common baked good, I had to make a red velvet version. I wanted to make sure that I kept the integrity of the typical flavors of the red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. I also knew I wanted to make the pops look festive for Valentine’s Day. I decided to find some Valentine’s sprinkles for the top of the pops. The colors of the sprinkles in contrast to the white chocolate shell is particularly pretty. These are a huge hit at parties and gifting to friends and neighbors. The biggest plus…
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Cupid Chow-Valentine’s Puppy Chow
If you’ve ever had puppy chow Chex mix, you know just how addicting it is to the taste buds. You can be eating it and the next thing you know, you’ve eaten the whole bowl. Chex has even begun manufacturing and selling their own types of puppy chow. I knew it would be equally tasty and addicting if I did a spin on the puppy chow for Valentine’s Day. Now hear me out, you say you don’t like cherry flavors…well I am here to tell you that you will love this. I had numerous taste testers when I created this and ALL of them loved it! So…I know you will…
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Valentine’s Berry and Chocolate Shortbread
I know I’ve mentioned before that I have a few roommates (aka: children) who aren’t too keen on chocolate. So when I was trying to come up with a list of tasty Valentine’s desserts, I decided I would need to throw some in that contain berries. This is one such recipe. The best part about this recipe is that you can change it to your heart’s desire. You can use strawberry, raspberry, blueberry jam, or even orange marmalade. My family is mostly partial to strawberry and raspberry jams. If you decide to use orange marmalade, white chocolate chips would be amazing with it instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips. What is…
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Valentine’s PB Blossom Cookies
Have I mentioned before how much I love peanut butter and chocolate together? So when I was deciding what desserts to make for Valentine’s Day I knew I had to include the combo. I mean peanut butter and chocolate are one of the great matches made in heaven…which means that including the combination in every major holiday baking is a must! When I was trying to decide which desserts to bake, I knew red velvet would also have to be on my list. Red velvet is just chocolate dyed red. That’s when I landed on red velvet cookies with peanut butter chocolate tops…and the Valentine’s PB Blossom was born. Did…
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Honey Lemon Chicken Ramen
Like many other children, mine love Top Ramen. Attempting to keep them healthy and well nourished, I only let them consume Top Ramen when they are sick or when it is really cold and they are begging for soup. In an attempt to create a more nutritious ramen, I decided to try my hand at a homemade version. Needless to say, they loved this version a whole lot more…and to my detriment they now beg for this instead of the quick microwave Top Ramen. I will definitely be attempting more homemade ramen in the very near future. Have you ever made homemade ramen? What do you use in your recipe?…
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Instapot Funeral Potatoes-Cajun Style
GUYS!!! I upgraded my pressure cooker! My old one was falling apart, and I had definitely used it to it’s fullest potential. So this last Christmas, I decided to ask for a new Instapot with wi-fi potential. Several years ago, I received a wi-fi slow cooker and it changed the game of slow cooking! So when I knew I would be in need of a new pressure cooker, I decided to see if there was one with wi-fi… AND…there is! I have the Chef iQ pressure cooker and I don’t think I could love any appliance more. This baby not only does what my old pressure cooker did: steam, saute,…
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Candy Bar Monster Cookies
I love a loaded cookie, filled with various ingredients such as nuts, candy, nut butters. Monster cookies are the perfect treat for multiple flavors. I’ve tried and attempted several monster cookie recipes, and while each recipe was definitely full of flavor and variety, every single one was crumbly and dry. There isn’t anything worse than a dry cookie. So I’ve been trying to perfect the monster cookie for a few years. Thankfully I think I have mastered the recipe. With this recipe I also decided not only should I load it with flavors, but it also needed to be a monster size. I used an ice cream scoop to drop…
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Vodka-Less Penne
I am not someone who drinks…for many reasons. Other than personal values, I am SO easily affected by medication. I take Sudafed and I become loopy. I take hydrocodone and I can’t remember my own name. I can’t remember my own name if I don’t get at least 7 hours of sleep consecutively on a regular basis. I just don’t possess the mental capacity to add anything to my body. So when my younger brother came to me and asked if I’d take a look at his vodka-less penne recipe, I jumped in. Honestly, my first reaction to his request was ‘just buy the vodka and the alcohol cooks out’.…
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Cacio e Pepe Pasta
Some nights I just don’t want to put forth much effort for a meal, but I also don’t want to just throw some chicken nuggets in the oven. That is when quick pasta recipes come in handy. This pasta recipe has five ingredients, including the pasta…that’s it. I especially love this recipe because it can be served alone, or you can use it as a side for your meal. Grilled chicken is espeically tasty with this pasta. Also…cacio e pepe literally translates to cheese and pepper. You guessed it, this pasta sauce is freshly cracked black pepper and cheese. Personally, I love this sauce, but if you aren’t a huge…
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Candy Cane Cookie
My boys like to help make cookies, but they aren’t too keen on the decorating sugar cookies…which is perfectly fine with me, because I’m not too keen on the mess clean up after decorating sugar cookies. So instead of cookie cutting, frosting, sprinkling; we like to make candy cane sugar cookies. It still allows them to be involved, but it isn’t nearly as messy. Between you and me, I think they prefer the candy cane cookies because rolling out and shaping the dough is quite a bit like playing with playdoh. These cookies can easily be decorated as well with sprinkling of powdered sugar or addition of crushed candy canes…
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Microwave Peanut Brittle
I am on a microwaving candy kick at the moment. After mastering fudge in the microwave, I decided peanut brittle was the next only choice. Anything with toffee flavors is a love in my book. So peanut brittle has always been a must during the holiday baking season. No candy thermometer, no stirring like crazy while the sugar and corn syrup boil on the stove top. This recipe takes less than 20 minutes. If you love peanut brittle and want to try your hand at making it in the microwave, then check this recipe out. Do you love peanut brittle too? Have you ever tried making it in the microwave?…
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Amaretto Fudge
I LOVE the combination of chocolate and cherry flavors. Any dessert I can create with these flavors is a win. While chocolate fudge is typically a staple for most holiday baking, I knew I wanted to create a twist. The best part of this recipe is it is all made in the microwave. No double boilers on the stove, no candy thermometers. It is seriously the easiest fudge ever. Also, if you aren’t a fan of amaretto or cherry flavoring, you can totally omit the amaretto flavoring, or even switch it out for a different flavoring like peppermint. What are some of your favorite fudge flavor combinations? Have you ever…
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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Any time peanut butter and chocolate are thrown together mouths become VERY happy, my mouth included. I grew up calling these cookies peanut butter blossom cookies. To which I never knew why, and whenever I chat with someone about these cookies their face forms a confused look and don’t know what I am talking about. Does anyone else called these peanut butter blossom cookies? While I make these cookies throughout the year, for some reason I grew up with them on the holiday baking lineup. Which is a tradition I have continued with my children. The basics of the peanut butter kiss cookies are peanut butter cookie batter and Hershey…
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Norwegian Krumkake
Holiday baking continues in my house, and now I am on to a treat that my family almost always made around this time of year as I was growing up. Krumkake (pronounced kroom-kah-kuh or kruhm-keyk), is a thin wafer-like cookie that is immediately rolled into a cone or cylinder as soon as it comes off the iron. You can eat it plain, or fill it with fresh whipped cream or custard. I’ve also dipped one opening in melted chocolate. Essentially krumkake is the Scandinavian version or the cannoli. Personally, though, I prefer them plain so I can dip them in a creamy mug full of hot cocoa. A special iron…
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Hot Chocolate Bombs
Hot chocolate bombs are all the rage right now on social media. I think the craze began on TikTok, but it’s spread far and wide in just a few short months. AND…Of course, I had to dive in and try it out for myself. While I do love me some candy making/art, I do not have the patience to create perfect pieces. If you search, there are some truly beautiful hot chocolate bombs that have been created. Making the hot chocolate bombs isn’t difficult at all, it is just time-consuming with having to wait between some steps. HUGE TIP: Use an electric griddle to not only melt the edges of…
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Holiday Baking: Christmas Crack
Before moving to Las Vegas, I had never in my life heard about Christmas Crack…and to be completely honest the name makes me cringe. Several years ago, I was on a mission to try to change the name to Christmas Chex Mix, but to no avail. Whatever you call this yummy goodness, it is definitely a crowd pleaser. It can easily make a lot for a crowd and it takes less than 30 minutes to make, start to finish. Be careful though, it is addicting…which is probably why it is called Christmas Crack. Have you ever tried this recipe before? Have you already been woke to what Christmas Crack is…or…
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Scottish Shortbread
My family usually celebrates our Norwegian heritage during the holidays through baking various goodies such as lefse (potato tortilla served with butter and sugar), krumkake (Norwegian version of a cannoli), and aebleskievers (pancake balls sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with jam). My husband’s heritage is rich in Scottish and Irish roots. So to honor and celebrate his ancestors, I like to make Scottish Shortbread. There are many recipes available for shortbread, but each recipe’s main ingredients are butter, sugar, and flour. Shortbread is a crisp cookie with a sweet buttery flavor. With this recipe, I like to add a little something special not normally found in shortbread recipes, maple…
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Hidden Kiss Meringues
Holiday baking is in full swing right now and my kitchen has exploded with all things of tasty goodness. Hidden kiss meringues have been a holiday favorite of my family’s for decades. While working with meringue can be intimating, this recipe is nearly foolproof. To top it off, this recipe has 5 ingredients, including the Hershey Kiss center. This recipe is super quick and easy. Bonus is that it is a crowd pleaser and extremely easy to mass produce for a party or to give as a holiday goodie. Have you ever made meringue candy before? Do you find it easy or difficult to create? Stay tuned for more holiday…
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Meatless Monday: Mushroom Stroganoff
I’ve really been on a roll with making meatless meals. I decided to take a stab at mushroom stroganoff and see what the boys thought. Even Matthew decided it was just as tasty as beef stroganoff. Stroganoff is typically made with large pasta, like egg noodles. I prefer pappardelle pasta. They are still egg noodles, but on steriods. It makes for more fun eating the meal. An added benefit with this meal is that it is cheap to create. Cutting out the beef causes the price per serving to be below $1.25. Using the beef consommé instead of beef stock also gives it the beefy flavor without the meat. Plus…
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Holiday Craft: Paper Bag Snowflakes
One of my most favorite activities are ones that are cheap, easy to do for almost all ages, and look pretty when finished. When I saw someone else do this paper bag snowflake craft, I knew I would be inflicting my crafty side on the boys. I also knew that if the snowflakes turned out, I would be using them in our holiday decor this year. In all, it took the amigos and I less than a hour from start to finish. I manned the hot glue gun and honestly the gluing of the paper bags together is what took the longest. Once the bundles were each glued together, it…
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How To: Brining A Turkey
Turkey is something that we only do on Thanksgiving, so we make sure we do it right. While turkey is tasty any time of the year, we like to mix it up for other holidays. Typically we end up cooking two turkeys…roasting one and deep frying one, and this year was no different. This year though, I wanted to perfect my brining game. If you aren’t aware of what brining is and what it does to meat…then keep reading. Brining meat involves submerging it in a liquid-filled with salt that has been dissolved. Doing this not only adds flavor, but it changes the composition of the meat over time and…
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Coconut Pineapple Curry
I had a special request to make a curry dish. I have to be honest, curry has always intimidated me. When I’ve eaten it in restaurants, it ended up not being a particular favorite. It wasn’t that it was too spicy in the heat index sense…it was that it was too spice-y as in A LOT of flavors my tongue couldn’t comprehend. Not to mention, this scene from Along Came Polly has always stuck in my mind. Still, when a very close friend makes a request, you listen. As I began researching curry, I soon realized curry isn’t necessarily a dish. It is a blend of spices added to dishes.…
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Copy Cat: Pei Wei Chicken Wraps
I don’t eat at Pei Wei’s often, but when I do, I always have to have their chicken wraps. They are SO tasty, but since I don’t get to go to Pei Wei’s as much as I’d like, I decided I needed to figure out how to recreate them at home. I’ve also been on a kick lately of tricking my family into trying new things. I had some left over cremini mushrooms in the fridge and decided to add them into this recipe instead of only having ground chicken. If you are most decidedly not a fan of mushrooms, just exchange the mushrooms for another pound of ground chicken.…
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Meatless Meal: Veggie Lo Mein
I’ve been on a no meat meal kick as of late. While I know this is a rather unpopular statement, some might even say controversial…I LOVE MUSHROOMS. And…of course, I married a man who loathes them, or at least the texture of them. Mushrooms are very much a hated vegetable. Typically it is a texture thing because most mushrooms take on the flavor of whatever you add them to. So I have made it my mission to sneak mushrooms in as many meals as I can and see which of my boys’ notices. When I am adding mushrooms to something, I prefer cremini or the white button mushrooms as opposed…
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Loaded Mexican Cornbread
Cornbread wasn’t something I knew about until my teens. In the Midwest, or at least Nebraska, cornbread wasn’t typically consumed with chili. I know…Cornhuskers…cornbread…it should be a given. But I grew up consuming cinnamon rolls with chili. Now I know what you are thinking, cinnamon rolls with chili…GROSS! Don’t knock it til you try it, it is actually really tasty. That being said, I didn’t know the goodness of cornbread until my teenage years. Since then, I have tried cornbread in many different ways, and a whole host of variety of types and brands. Personally, I think cornbread should be on the sweeter side and have more of a cake-like…
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Homeschool 101: Sight Words
I have now had the chore privilege of helping three of my children master sight words, and I still have one more. Each of my children had very different experiences and struggles, and every trick I had tried previously didn’t work with the next child. From one child with a significant speech delay, which then caused a reading delay, to another child who’s IQ is borderline genius…and he knows it, every child has some sort of struggle when it comes to sight words. Fortunately, there are a plethora of materials available online. My initial go-to was flashcards. Drilling the words into the amigos’ minds in constant repetition, worked well at…
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Beef Barley Stew
We had a few days last week that were chilly, for Vegas. Autumn is a finicky season in the Southwest. We will dip down into the 50s for a few days and then temperatures will rise back up to the high 70s and low 80s. On the sporadic days of lower temperatures, I embrace the cold and plan for a cozy meal. The cooler days seem slower and more at ease. It gives me time to prepare a meal that may take longer than 30 minutes, and beef barley stew is a perfect meal for those kind of days. Actual prep doesn’t take too much time at all, but there…
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15-Minute Meal: Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo
Sometimes meals are planned and food is prepped…other times winging it is the key. I always have certain ingredients in my kitchen, at least one jar of roasted red peppers is definitely one of those ingredients. One of my favorite ways to use roasted red peppers is pureed in sauces. This particular recipe is a not only a family favorite, it takes 15 minutes to make…start to finish. The sauce is another one of my quick sauces made in the blender. I like to make it when the pasta is cooking. When the most time consuming step in a recipe is waiting for the water to boil and then cook…
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Amazon: Homeschool Must-Haves
Contains affiliate links We’ve been a homeschool family for over 18 months now. While I am by no means an expert, I have found some amazing products that I seriously couldn’t live without while on this homeschooling journey. I love these finds so much I decided I absolutely must share with y’all. Our school desk is a table I found in the clearance section at our local furniture store. It is perfect because it fits up to 8 people, has 3 pull-out drawers on each of the long sides of the table, and it has been super durable. Still, I didn’t want the boys to scratch the tabletop with pens…
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Maple Roasted Beets and Carrots
Contains affiliate links My dad loves beets. I mean he LOVES beets. We always dreaded the dinners where beets were a side dish. It didn’t matter if they were canned, boiled, baked…I always thought they tasted like dirt. After a while, my parents gave up forcing their children to like beets. I hadn’t consumed beets since then, but I always wanted to try my hand a roasting them. Visiting my parents this last week, I knew I would find several pounds of fresh beets sitting in the refrigerator waiting to be consumed. Remember when I said my dad LOVES beets? He eats them as a snack if they are available.…
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Homeschool 101: Exploration of Germs
Contains affiliate links Somehow I have been accepted into a homeschool science group with three other moms…who I might add, are all amazing ladies. We have children that are all similar in ages and we’ve been wanting to add more to our curriculum as well as give our children more interaction with their friends. One of the moms and I had already been doing various science experiments with our kiddos together. It helps because she has her degree in secondary education emphasis in science. I’ve come up with quite a few primitive science experiments for our children, but this mom has created a whole science homeschool curriculum for our kiddos…
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Southwest Spaghetti Squash Casserole
My children have all gone through picky eater stages. Some lasted longer than others, but inevitably, I’ve pretty much forced them out of the pickiness. I decided a long, LONG time ago I would not be a tall-order chef (unless I had a child who had food intolerances or some sort of chronic illness that required a special diet). Believe me, my twins were SO terrible with trying new foods they would throw up just looking at a new food they thought they wouldn’t like. I KNOW the picky factor. In fact my twins ended up going through occupational therapy to help them overcome their food aversion. Keegs gag reflex…
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Baked Apple Pie Donuts
Contains affiliate links My autumn candles are lit, my sweaters are ready for wear, and I am cooking/baking up a storm of recipes filled with fresh ingredients of the season. Last autumn, I was obsessed with creating the perfect apple cider donut. I became frustrated that I couldn’t figure out how to accentuate the apple flavor. While the recipe I settled on was very tasty, I still was bothered by it. This season, I decided to up my game. I realized I wasn’t just searching for that apple flavor, but instead all of the taste of the apple pie, except in a donut. Well…this recipe has 3 types of apples…
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Homeschool 101: History…What do I teach?
I asked you answered…several friends have been hounding me for how I teach social studies and what I use. In their defense, they’ve had to hound me because I’ve been super lax in getting back to them. I am SO the type of person who will write an email or type out a text and then save it as a draft instead of sending it. There are so many topics under the umbrella of social studies/history. You can be extremely focused and learn about one part of history, such as deciding to only learn about the Civil War for an entire year. You could only learn about early civilizations such…
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Instapot Artichokes
Contains affiliate links Artichokes are one vegetable that had intimidated me for years. I can easily add canned artichoke hearts to a recipe, but taking a full head of artichoke and cooking it properly, that’s where the intimidation lies. It wasn’t until I saw them prepared on the Food Network Channel when I realized I was over analyzing it. I knew I could easily cook them in my Instapot. From start to finish, it typically takes me 30 minutes or less. AND…if I was only cooking for myself, I would totally have this as my dinner. If cooking artichokes have scared you, or if you have failed time and time…
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Instapot: Creamy Italian Chicken Soup
Contains affiliate links I am desperate for cooler weather. I love autumn, it is my favorite season. I like to call it soup season. I LOVE soup, but I cannot consume it when the temperature outside is scorching. Soup just makes my body all cozy from the inside out, so when it is 100°F+ outside I just can’t eat soup…or anything else liquidy warm that will cause me to overheat. While the rest of the northern hemisphere is experiencing leaves changing and cooler temperatures, Las Vegas is entering the fall season…in its own way. We are finally down to the 90s, the sun is rising later and setting earlier, …and…
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Oven-Baked Nachos
Contains affiliate links I’ve always loved nachos, but could never figure out how to make them and keep the toppings warm while at the same time not also destroying the kitchen and running around like a crazy person. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that oven-baked nachos was the way to go. Oven-baked nachos are seriously the easiest thing ever. And you can cater them to your tastes as well as if you have any dietary restrictions, it is super easy to add or take away ingredients. Another aspect is how easy oven-baked nachos feeds a large crowd. I typically make a large half-sheet cake…
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Homeschool 101: Teacher Pay Teacher
This school 20-21 school year is definitely one for the books. Quite a lot of us are teaching our children in ways we’ve never had to before. Some are stuck at home most of the day monitoring children while they are online distance learning, others are sending their children to school possibly worrying about their health, and yet some have found the strength and decided to go at it all at home by homeschooling. There is no right or wrong way to educate your children, as long as you are doing your best. Some children thrive attending public/charter/private schooling. They need the time away from home and the social interaction.…
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Autumn Peach Cobbler
Every year toward the end of summer beginning of autumn, we make a trip to the local orchard for fresh apples, peaches, and pears. This year with how crazy 2020 has been, I decided instead to pick up a bushel of peaches from someone who picked them from the orchard already. While we missed doing our own picking, the peaches were amazing. Last night, I realized that we are down to our last dozen peaches and decided we needed some peach cobbler in our lives. Homemade peach cobbler is a must every year around this time. What are some of your favorite peach recipes? Do you absolutely love autumn and…
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2nd Grade Checklist
School has begun for most families, and every state/county is doing something different with their education. The county I currently reside in is full speed completely online. Parents are struggling at times, teachers are struggling, students are already sick of screen time. If you are one of those parents, you may be asking yourself why you aren’t just homeschooling your children yourself instead. Either way, being sure your child is meeting/passing their milestones for their age and grade can be daunting on any normal day. While I already compiled a list for kindergarten and 1st grade, I wanted to continue the lists for the rest of the elementary grades. So…
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Creamy Pesto Alfredo Pasta
Contains affiliate links Pasta is definitely one of my easy go-to’s for dinner. Typically I whip out the premade meatballs and marinara or frozen cheesy tortellini, but occasionally I make a quick homemade sauce, especially when I can do the sauce in less than 10 minutes, requires no cooking, and can be thrown into the blender. And…pesto is one of those sauces. Pesto, do you know what pesto is? It is the Italian green sauce. It is fresh herbs and spices and is typically served over pasta, but is also extremely tasty on toasted Italian bread. While you can use typical pasta, I have been loving Banza pasta lately. It…
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Stripping Laundry
Contains affiliate links Stripping laundry, not to be confused with ‘stripping’ laundry, is stripping the chemical buildup of detergent and fabric softener overtime, as well as stubborn bacteria that lingers in clothing and linens. I’ve heard about this from friends in the past. I had seen their before and after photos, and I still did not believe. It was kind of like a similar denial where a storm is coming and you know you need to get to the store to stock up on water and other essentials, but you keep telling yourself it won’t be that bad. All of the excuses ran through my head…we aren’t dirty people, I…
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Lemon Bar Blondies
Contains affiliate links I am all for a good brownie, but lately, blondies have had my heart. Honestly, anything with fresh lemon flavoring is where my taste buds have been leaning toward all summer. There is just something so refreshing about lemons in the midst of a massive heatwave. We’ve been above 100°F for most of July and all of August thus far. The worst part right now is we have the heat, and we’ve been increasing in humidity as well with monsoon season starting up. Between the humidity and the smoke traveling from California, I am DYING for a good downpour. Growing up in the Midwest, whenever the weather…
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Amazon: Kitchen Must-Haves
Contains affiliate links I am ALWAYS on the hunt for the kitchen tool oddball. Nowadays with shopping at our fingertips, it is so easy and convenient to just click ‘add to cart’. Kitchen and household items are constantly being reinvented and I am a sucker for anything that eases cooking/baking. It doesn’t help that Matthew also likes to send me the weird tool that will make me scratch my head, but also intrigue me enough to purchase it. I have to admit, it was rather difficult to narrow down the top five items I am loving this month; but I was successful. So here are my top five kitchen favorites…
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Chicken Enchilada Chili
Contains affiliate links Chili is one of my go-to’s whenever I am not entirely sure what to make for dinner. I always have canned beans and some sort of protein in my food storage. Last week, I was in a major meal planning rut. The average temperature here in Las Vegas has been over 110°F. I don’t know about you, but when temperatures reach an ungodly high, I have absolutely no desire to turn on my oven or stove. That’s when my instapot comes in handy. Like most of my other chili recipes, this one is made in the instapot, or pressure cooker; but can just as easily be created…
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Southern Biscuits and Gravy
Contains affiliate links Until Matthew joined the military, I had spent most of my life between the Northwest and the Midwest. While my family did a lot of traveling and road-tripping, we never made it to the south; which means, unfortunately, I had never experienced the pleasure of biscuits and gravy. In fact, I didn’t even know there was such thing as a breakfast-type gravy. The first time I tasted biscuits and gravy was in Alabama while I was visiting Matthew for his officer training graduation. I ended up eating them just about every morning for a week. When we moved to Mississippi, right after training, creating biscuits and gravy…
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First Grade Check List
You did it! You made it! You successful, maybe sort of successfully helped your kindergartner through their first official year of school. (Especially if your child’s kindergarten year was during the COVID-19 pandemic). Now you are facing first grade. Some of you may be thinking that you ‘totally got this’, while others of you may be feeling anxiety over first grade. Maybe your child went to half-day kindergarten and you are worried about your child attempting full-day first grade. Maybe you’ve heard about sight words and are already feeling overwhelmed. Whatever it may be, transitioning from kindergarten to first grade can cause anxiety and unrest. If you are anything like…
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Maple Glazed Rosemary Pork
I am back at you with another recipe using fresh herbs. This time rosemary is the star. Rosemary is very common here in southern Nevada, it is a popular plant to grow in your yard. Although that type of rosemary isn’t for consumption; the fragrance can be found all around. Rosemary is a hearty evergreen herb and comes from the mint family, oddly enough. It is a cousin to basil, lavender, thyme, and oregano. It is also a great source of calcium, iron, and vitamin B-6. Rosemary is also an herb that tends to not go bad in the refrigerator as quickly as other herbs such as chives and basil.…
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Lemon Strawberry Trifle
Contains affiliate links There are some flavors that are just meant for each other, lemon and strawberry are one such combination…especially during the hot months of the year. A tall glass of iced strawberry lemonade, mmmmmmmmmmm! I had decided that I needed to do something special for dessert on the 4th of July. When I saw the beautiful strawberries at the grocery store, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. Side note, if you want to make this dessert and have it look more patriotic, add in blueberries along with the strawberries. When it comes to a trifle, one major characteristic is the layering of the ingredients.…
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Creamy Sage Chicken
Contains affiliate links I absolutely love fresh herbs. I am constantly looking for ways to incorporate fresh herbs into recipes. I’m so obsessed with fresh herbs that I’m currently trying to convince Matthew to buy me an indoor hydroponic herb garden machine thingy. I’ve always had a dream of having a full, vibrant garden with a decent portion of it full of herbs. The best thing about fresh herbs is they add major flavor and dimension to food without adding extra fat, sugar, carbohydrates, or anything else not necessarily good for our bodies. Sage is an herb that pairs well with summer time foods, particularly chicken, pork, and salmon. Most…
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Summer Chicken Salad
I’m back with yet another salad favorite of mine. If you already don’t know, I live in Las Vegas, NV. Here in Vegas, the month of July goes one of two ways. The first is the rare early monsoon season where it dumps rain at random times, is super humid and occasionally hot. The second is the excruciating triple digit temperatures nonstop. This week it is suppose to get above 110°F for a majority of the week. So when it is SO hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk, I loath turning on the stove or oven. Creating meals that require little to no cooking is my main…
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Best Potato Salad Ever
I LOVE potato salad! It is possibly my most favorite summer side dish. BUT…there are certain flavors that DO NOT belong in a potato salad. Raw onion flavor, tomatoes, sour cream…big fat NOPE. Potato salad has potatoes, eggs, pickles, and maybe a few extras. I knew when I began dating Matthew and tasted his mother’s potato salad, that I would have to marry him so I could have her potato salad til the day I died. Her potato salad is seriously the best. It is simple but full of flavor. I committed a cardinal sin and tweaked her recipe. Don’t get me wrong, her original recipe is still the best,…
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How To: Clean & Sanitize a Front Load Washer
Front loader washers, you either love them or you hate them. I’ve only used a front loader washer for the past 12 or so years. Because I am 5’5″ and my husband is 6′, front loaders work for us because when they are on a pedestal they are high enough for him to reach into, but not too high for me. Top loaders, especially the new versions, are so deep that I either need to practically climb inside to reach the clothes at the bottom or use this handy dandy tool. If you have a front loader, you probably already know that they can go south, in the way of…
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Mexican Haystacks
If you have ever consumed Hawaiian Haystacks, then you have definitely either lived/visited Utah, or have a friendship with someone who has ties to Utah. Hawaiian Haystacks, are indeed not Hawaiian. They are called such because typical toppings include pineapple and coconut. I have a child who is OBSESSED with Hawaiian Haystacks. Honestly though, I have never been fond of them. The flavors are either bland or too sweet to my taste buds. So, Mexican Haystacks were born. Ask anyone who has known me a long while, and they will tell you that I would eat chips and guacamole or queso over just about any other snack. I absolutely adore…
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Summer Fettuccine Alfredo
Fettuccine Alfredo is definitely a family favorite. It is also a very easy recipe to change up. Adding in season vegetables can completely change the flavor and cause your children to think you are a genius in the kitchen. In the summer, I like to add in fresh vegetables such as bell peppers and corn. Fresh baby spinach is equally tasty. Fettuccine Alfredo is also a recipe that is hearty enough to hold up against adding a protein; while at the same time flavorful enough to not need a protein. In the summer, if I add a protein, it is usually chicken. I’ve added grilled steak slices over top as…
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Reese’s Pieces PB Cookies
Peanut butter is easily in my top 5 favorite flavors, could even possibly make the top 3. Our family goes through a large jar of peanut butter in just a few weeks. Several weeks ago…during quarantine…my tribe and I decided we needed to acquire some Crumbl cookies, sit in lawn chairs (6ft apart), and catch up with life. At the time Crumbl had their giant Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies. One bite and I knew I would have to recreate the cookie so I could have the amazing yumminess all of the time. I make these as a giant batch and use an ice cream scoop to make sure the…
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Homeschool 101: The Water Cycle Experiment
It’s been hot here in Vegas; not triple-digits hot, thankfully. Still hot, hot enough to feel like I’m doing laundry constantly from swim attire and towels. If the amigos aren’t out in the backyard swimming, they are complaining about the heat and attempting to veg in front of an electronic. Deciding to create our own rain was definitely a time consumer for an hour. A lot of times kiddos learn about the basics of the water cycle beginning in kindergarten, and continue to learn the details as they grow. This particular experiment is super easy and only requires 3 things. The water is the air, the shaving cream is the…
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Stone Ground Honey Mustard Chicken
My love of honey mustard began when I lived in Mississippi, fifteen years ago. I have always enjoyed the sharp flavors of mustard but never knew the heaven my mouth could experience with combining mustard and honey. Ever since I’ve been somewhat obsessed with this flavor combination and have attempted several variations with both chicken and pork. This recipe stemmed from two particular condiments; stone ground mustard and Mike’s Hot Honey. I know I’ve talked about Mike’s Hot Honey before, but I’m telling you, if you haven’t listened to me yet, you HAVE to try it! Stone ground mustard is different from regular yellow mustard, as well as Dijon mustard.…
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Homeschool 101: Lemon Volcano Experiment
Since becoming a homeschool parent last fall, I decided I needed to make sure my boys still participated in STEM activities. Upping my science experiment game (which was non-existent before), was something I wanted to push myself with. It helps that I have a sister who has gone to school for Nuclear Medical Physics and always has suggestions for experiments. This last week, I wanted to talk to the amigos about acids and bases. They have done the Mentos in Coke before and they have built multiple volcanoes with my mom; but we’ve never talked in-depth about the chemical reactions between acids and bases, the pH scale, and why not…
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Homeschool 101: Kindergarten Checklist
When I became a mom with children in school, my biggest concern was making sure they never fell too far behind for their age and development. Honestly, with my oldest (my twins), that was something I worried about pretty much from 12 months on when they both qualified for speech therapy. In the early years, both my twins went through years of various types of therapy…speech to rid the twin talk. Occupational for twin A because he was diagnosed with a minor sensory processing disorder and for twin B because he had GERD as a baby with then resulted in a VERY picky palate and throwing up when trying anything…
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Scooby Snack Bowl
Last Christmas, my mother-in-law gifted me a waffle bowl maker. Let me tell you, I didn’t think I would get as much use out of it as I have. I’ve used it for traditional waffle bowls, cornbread waffle bowls for chili, savory waffle bowls for soup…the possibilities seem endless. When Matthew came to me and said he wanted to have a family movie night and watch Scoob!, I knew we could do something fun for dessert. I’ve seen these Scooby Graham Cracker Snacks around the stores before and he suggested we do some sort of sundae with them. Matthew found some at Target and when I realized they have a…
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Asian Pulled Pork
I am a huge fan of Asian food. Attempting to recreate it at home use to heavily intimidate me; but when you live in an area that doesn’t provide decent take-out you suck it up. Almost another lifetime ago, we lived in Mississippi. Backwoods, podunk, BBQ, and fried filled lifestyle. No Asian restaurants to be seen for 60+ miles. A girl can’t live without some of her favorite foods. This particular recipe was born after I tasted the yummy goodness that is Pei Wei’s Lettuce Wraps. I could eat those every day, all day! While this recipe is definitely not a dupe for Pei Wei’s, it gives a gentle nod…
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Strawberry Lemon Bundt Cake
Lemon is one of my favorite flavors in desserts. Cakes, cookies, pies…I do not discriminate when it comes to lemon. When added with other fresh flavors such as strawberry or mint, it’s a flavor explosion. I knew I wanted to have these flavors for our Easter dinner dessert. When it comes to baking anything lemon, creating the lemon flavoring can be achieved in several ways. First fresh lemon juice and lemon zest is a quick and easy way. If lemons are in short supply or expensive, lemon extract or lemon oil can also be used for the full lemon flavor. To really pack the lemon flavor punch, combine lemon juice…
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How To: Ultimate Lego Organization
I am a momma to four boys. I am also an older sister of three brothers. Legos have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even before I had any brothers, my sister and I had Duplos and would build with them regularly. I distinctly remember when we lived in Spokane, WA just about every morning my sister and I would wake up to some amazing creation my dad made the night before with the Duplos while we were in bed. We would take it apart and try our best to recreate what my dad had made. My little 4-year-old heart just thought my…
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Hostess Cup ‘Sheet’ Cake
Do you remember when Hostess went bankrupt and no one could get their tasty, completely unhealthy pastries? I.WAS.DEVASTATED! Hostess Cupcakes are my absolute favorite quick pastry. I knew I had to find those flavors in a homemade DIY edition…thus the Hostess Cup ‘Sheet’ Cake was born. This was out of laziness as well as desperation. While it is fun to eat a cupcake, I wasn’t about to make a bunch of cupcakes that required filling. I just cannot make those types of commitments to food. I knew I could easily add the same flavors to a sheet cake. Devil’s food cake, marshmallow flavored filling, chocolate ganache on top…these were my…
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DIY: Bouncy Balls
It is truly amazing the types of activities you can do that completely blow kids’ minds. Homemade bouncy balls is exactly one of those activities. With social distancing currently being the norm, I challenged myself to be a little bit more hands on with our homeschooling routine. So we’ve been doing some sort of craft or science experiment every week. This week was bouncy balls. It was super fun and took no more than an hour. In that time we were able to set up, make several bouncy balls, and then clean up. This activity is definitely a fun one, and the perfect thing to do with your kiddos on…
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Easiest Sticky Rice
Sticky rice is something that I could eat all day long! It’s also something that typically takes a day or two to perfect. Who has time, or the mental capacity to make rice the day before? I don’t! Well, if you are like me, then you will need this recipe in your life. When boiling any type of grain you typically use the 1:2 ratio. This works for white rice, brown rice, multigrain rice, quinoa, couscous…The 1:2 ration means that for every serving of grain you are going to boil, you need to add in double that in liquid. For example, if you are cooking 1 cup of rice then…
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DIY: Chalk Puff Paint
Now that the weather is beginning to warm up, I am just itching to soak up as much vitamin D as I can get. Still with the social distancing it can prove difficult. I know my amigos have been going stir crazy and so I’ve had do come up with some creative and somewhat wild activities to keep them occupied and not upset that they have to stay 6 feet away from their friends. Lemme tell you, I have heard every possible way that hide-and-seek could be played while social distancing. Chalk puff paint is exactly one of those hair-brained ideas that flourished out of desperation. This little craft is…
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Easy Instapot Scalloped Potatoes
I spent my high school years living in Western Idaho. While Idaho is the land of potatoes, I did not see my first potato field until my freshman year of college. A majority of the potato fields are in Southeastern Idaho. Still, my love of potatoes (in all forms) began LONG before I lived in the potato state…and to this day, French Fries are still at the top of my potato loving list. When potatoes and cheese are combined, though…that is a match made in heaven. So when I made scalloped potatoes a few weekends ago, my boys couldn’t get enough or stop thanking me for making them. While this…
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Soft Molasses Cookies
Molasses cookies are more popular in my little family than chocolate chip cookies. While I do have a couple of kiddos who are chocolate lovers, molasses cookies are definitely loved by all. The spices and flavors bring me to a younger time and back into my mom’s kitchen. My kid brother insisted we call them Gopher Bottom Cookies instead because molasses has a swear word in it. Then my dad would tell a dad joke that went something like this… A family moles were out for a walk and they came upon a hole. One went in to check it out, then another, and another. The last mole came out…
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Homeschool 101: Educational Subscription Boxes
Just like with everything else when it comes to education, and as professional educators can attest to, coming up with creative ways to teach and engage your students/children is one of the most effective ways for them to learn. With all of us social distancing at the moment, and most school districts distance learning in the country; coming up with any way possible to teach and/or reinforce learning and education is a HUGE must. Since I am a homeschool mom, I thought I’d continue this Homeschool 101: tricks and tips. To see my other posts about education at home, see below This week, I want to highlight my top favorite…
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Easy Monkey Bread
I’ve been told quite often, ‘I wish I could make cinnamon rolls, but I am too intimidated to try.’ The answer to that anxiety is monkey bread. If you have never heard of monkey bread, then let me tell you all about this tasty goodness. Monkey bread does not have bananas, or any other type of foods monkeys typically consume. It is called monkey bread because to eat it you pull it apart and it is so easy even a monkey could do it. It has all of the flavors of cinnamon rolls with a fraction of the prep or time. This is also a recipe that has only 5…
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Homeschooling 101: Educational YouTube Channels
As a homeschooling parent, utilizing resources any way you can definitely makes the process a lot smoother. While I have a whole host of educational online games that I love, I use educational YouTube videos more often in lessons and teaching. Sometimes children just respond better to someone on the screen than their own parents. While there is plenty of mind-numbing, useless, hilarious content on YouTube… Like this one…for example… There is also PLENTY of educational, entertaining videos and channels that cater to all ages…from preschool to high school. Below are some of my favorite YouTube Channels. Beginning with the younger ages, Have Fun Teaching is perfect for Pre-K through…
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Mexican Hot Chocolate Cake Pops
My absolute favorite hot chocolate flavor is Mexican Hot Chocolate. The juxtaposition of the chocolate with the cinnamon and a tiny bit of heat with cayenne pepper. Because of my not-so-secret love affair with these flavor combinations, I just knew I had to create a cake pop that paid homage to the tasty hot drink. Also…I somehow ended up with 50 million boxes of Red Hots in my pantry. Neither Matthew or I know exactly how I ended up with SO.MANY.BOXES of Red Hots. So when I was figuring out the details of these cake pops, I knew topping them with smashed Red Hots would provide the perfect heat for…
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Homeschooling: Free Online Educational Games
Now that homeschooling is a thing nationwide, I thought it would be helpful to share the online educational games that my boys enjoy on a regular basis. While I definitely don’t yet classify myself as a homeschooling veteran, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks since starting homeschool last August. I have many age groups so I need online games that can cater to many grade levels. The amigos’ current favorite site is Kahoot! It is a fun-filled site with games, quizzes, and beginner coding programs. Topics range from science, math, media, Disney, superhero, apps, and more. Kids can also create their own games and quizzes. Kahoot!…
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Banana Walnut Bread
Bananas are a food that doesn’t last terribly long in this house. They are consumed quickly, on average we go through 3 bunches of bananas a week. It’s like I never feed these boys. With this social distancing going on, I may have stocked up on bananas more than usual, so this week I had enough to make a couple of loaves of banana walnut bread. There are many versions of banana bread, some use pecans, others add in chocolate chips. This good o’le version is definitely my favorite. While pecans are tasty, I prefer walnuts. I think this recipe is my favorite because it is relatively lactose-free with no…
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Almond Joy Chia Pudding
If my husband could replace me with an Almond Joy candy bar, I’m fairly certain he would. The combination of chocolate, coconut, and almond is just his jam. When I created the PB Chocolate Chia Pudding a while ago I knew I would have to figure out an Almond Joy version. I know the PB Chocolate version was a huge hit and tastes WAY more decadent than it actually is. So is this one, it ticks all of the tasty boxes and also is low in fat, carbs, and sugar. This is definitely a healthier, just as tasty alternative to the candy bar. Do you have a go-to chia pudding…
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What If…Semicolon Movement
What if Goob wakes up and I don’t get enough sleep. What if I don’t get the boys to school on time. What if I look fat in the yoga pants I chose for the gym. What if I don’t have as good of a workout as I hope. What if I don’t have the motivation to clean the house like I planned to. What if I don’t finish my master’s degree. What if no one reads my blog. What if I never live up to the expectations of my husband. What if Mr. Man deploys soon. What if we can’t sell our house. What if I never lose the baby…
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Pumpkin Molasses Cookies
Molasses cookies are a family favorite. When I announced I was going to make a pumpkin version of them I received quite a few whines and a couple of “why mess with a good thing?” But I was not deterred. I was on a cookie making mission and could not be swayed one way or the other. And boy was I glad I didn’t listen to anyone’s negative comments, because this recipe ended up being another family favorite. They are a little more fluffy than my original molasses cookies, but still just as good. This recipe only uses about half of a pumpkin puree can, so if you need ideas…
