Recent Posts

<strong>Key Lime Cheesecake Bars</strong>

Key Lime Cheesecake Bars

I love key lime pie and since we weren’t able to travel this spring break I decided to bring the tropical flavors to us.  Ingredients: Crust- 18 cinnamon sugar graham crackers 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted Filling- 3 eight ounce reduced fat cream cheese at 

<strong>Curry Egg Salad</strong>

Curry Egg Salad

I love the flavor of curry, so I thought why not make a curry egg salad.  Ingredients: 4 hard-boiled eggs  ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt 3 scallions diced 1 celery stalk finely diced 1-2 teaspoons yellow curry paste Serve on bread or wraps with 

<strong>Pop It Candy</strong>

Pop It Candy

My 6 year and 3-year-old sons love to play with pop its.  One day my 6-year-old decided he wanted to make pop it candy, so I took his lead and we made candy using his pop its.  We used M&Ms and chocolate and vanilla candy melts, both were surprisingly delicious. 

Ingredients:

M&Ms

Chocolate or vanilla candy melts

Pop its

Directions:

  1. Set pop its on a baking sheet.
  2. Place M&Ms (chocolate chips or other candy) in the holes of the pop it.
  3. Pour candy melts into a microwavable safe bowl.  Heat for one minute increments at 50% power stirring after heating until the melts form a liquid. 
  4. Pour the melted chocolate/candy over the molds and use a spatula to spread it out in an even layer.
  5. Transfer pop its to the refrigerator to set for at least an hour.
  6. Flip pop its over and carefully peel the pop it off the candy.
  7. Enjoy!
My three year old assistant
Yellow vanilla candy melts
<strong>Cheesy Skillet Chicken and Cauliflower Rice</strong>

Cheesy Skillet Chicken and Cauliflower Rice

My kids gave this dinner two thumbs up! It is loaded with veggies and bursting with flavor.  This is a quick weeknight meal if you prepare the marinade and dice the onions ahead of time. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Juice of 1 lemon 

<strong>My Grandpa’s Cheesecake Recipe</strong>

My Grandpa’s Cheesecake Recipe

I grew up eating my grandfather’s cheesecake and his recipe remains my favorite!  I made a few slight changes from his recipe to lighten it up a little, but this remains my all-time favorite cheesecake.  I feel like I am sitting with my grandfather with 

<strong>Chai, Apple, and Pecan Muffins</strong>

Chai, Apple, and Pecan Muffins

The chai flavor in these healthy muffins will help perk you up in the morning especially when added to the sweet apples and crunchy pecans. Note: This recipe made 18 muffins versus the 12 most of my recipes make. 

Ingredients:

2 apples peeled and diced

¼ teaspoon cardamon

1 cup toasted pecans lightly chopped

½ cup light brown sugar

2 scoops (1/2 cup) chai latte mix

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup almond flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup low fat buttermilk

2-4 packets sugar in the raw

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray muffin tins with baking spray.
  2. Place peeled and chopped apples in a microwavable safe bowl.  Sprinkle with cardamom.  Cook for 3 minutes.  Let cool.
  3. Toast the pecans at 350 for 5 minutes.  Then lightly chop in a food processor or by hand.
  4. Add flours, chai latte mix, protein powder, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  5. Add eggs, applesauce, vanilla extract, and buttermilk and gently mix to combine.
  6. Fold in the pecans and apples.
  7. Use a large cookie scooper to fill the muffin tins.
  8. Sprinkle a little sugar in the raw over each muffin.
  9. Bake 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  10. Let cool in muffin tins for at least 10 minutes.
  11. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely then transfer to an air-tight container. 
  12. Refrigerate leftovers after 24 hours.
  13. Enjoy!
<strong>Hot Ranch Crab Dip</strong>

Hot Ranch Crab Dip

I often make crab dip when we have large family gatherings.  I still haven’t decided which version is my favorite, so I decided to try a new recipe for my husband’s birthday. Ingredients: 4 ounces reduced fat cream cheese at room temperature ½ cup plain 

<strong>Sausage Gravy</strong>

Sausage Gravy

My husband and children love sausage gravy with biscuits.  I haven’t been able to find the sausage gravy I used to buy at the store in months, so I was thrilled when I found a recipe online.  If you like sausage gravy this is easy 

<strong>Baked Crunchy and Sweet Salmon</strong>

Baked Crunchy and Sweet Salmon

I love salmon regardless of how it is cooked.  This salmon was packed with flavor and the crunchy topping made you keep going back for more.

Ingredients:

2 pounds salon filet

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1 teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper

¼ cup panko breadcrumbs

2-4 tablespoons fresh parsley

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a 9×13 glass baking dish with aluminum foil. Spray foil with olive oil spray.
  2. Place the salmon skin side down in the baking dish.
  3. Spread Dijon mustard all over fish.
  4. Mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
  5. Mix the breadcrumbs, parsley, and olive oil in a separate bowl.
  6. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture all over the fish and gently press it down.
  7. Top with the breadcrumb’s mixture.
  8. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the salmon is firm and flakes when pressed.
  9. Enjoy!
<strong>Cheesy Tator Tot and Veggie Casserole</strong>

Cheesy Tator Tot and Veggie Casserole

I remember eating tator tot casserole on a regular basis growing up.  As busy as our spring has been with activities and sports I needed a dinner I could throw in the oven and serve after I ran around town and picked kids up.  I