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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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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…
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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…
