• Food

    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…

  • Food

    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…

  • Food

    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…

  • Food

    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.…

  • Food

    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…

  • Food

    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…

  • Food

    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…

  • Food

    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…

  • Food

    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…

  • Food

    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?…