Food
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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…
