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No Bake Éclair Cake

No Bake Éclair Cake

Boston Cream donuts and chocolate eclair’s are a treat I often cannot resist. This is a lightened up version that is just as delicious. The best part is you can whip this up in minutes, let it set in the fridge, and serve when you 

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

I know chicken noodle soup is a common favorite; however, I find it too boring to enjoy. This chicken soup has a little spice (you can adjust this) and puts a new twist on a common favorite that can warm you up on a cool 

Western Omelet Stuffed Peppers

Western Omelet Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are a favorite meal of mine. These peppers are filling enough to make an entire meal and easy to customize depending on how much spice you prefer as well as how you like your eggs cooked. Half of my family enjoyed their pepper with eggs sunny side up and the other half paired it with scrambled eggs.

Note: You can add sliced ham lunchmeat or diced ham steaks to these too if desired.

Ingredients:

3 large bell peppers halved sideways with seeds removed

1 tablespoon taco seasoning

1 pound ground pork (I found ground pork steaks)

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1/2 red onion diced

3 scallions diced

1 cup shredded cheddar

6-8 large eggs

Optional: salsa, queso, avocado, plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

  1. Spray a 9×13 pan with olive oil spray. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Arrange peppers in the dish and sprinkle with taco seasoning.
  3. Bake peppers for 15 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile cook the ground pork on medium heat. Sprinkle with fennel seeds.
  5. Divide the pork into 6 “steaks”. Cook for 3-4 minutes and then flip over and cook the other side.
  6. In a separate nonstick pan heat the red onion and any remaining pepper. I usually chop up the pepper tops to mix with the onion. Heat on medium for 5 minutes to soften.
  7. Remove peppers from the oven.
  8. Place a pork steak in each pepper.
  9. Top with onions, scallions, and shredded cheese.
  10. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
  11. Bake 30 minutes if cooking immediately. If cooking after prepping and refrigerating bake for 45 minutes.
  12. While the peppers cook prepare the eggs: scrambled or sunny side up.
  13. To serve place peppers on plates and top with eggs.
  14. Add any desired toppings: salsa, queso, avocado, yogurt, etc…
  15. Enjoy!
Tex-Mex Shrimp and Grits

Tex-Mex Shrimp and Grits

Before moving to North Carolina I had never tasted grits. I have to admit I am hooked. Why did I go 40 years of my life without discovering how tasty these can be. This dish is the perfect mix of spice and creaminess! Yum! We 

Chickpea Blondies

Chickpea Blondies

If you know me, then you know I am obsessed with dessert. However; I do try to make “healthy” desserts sometimes so I can satisfy cravings without blowing all the time I spend exercising. These “blondies” are peanut buttery and sweet. I used a mixture 

Tortilla Smash Burgers

Tortilla Smash Burgers

We saw this idea on Facebook and just had to try it. These are the quickest and easiest burgers to make. You can use any seasoning or topping you want to adjust the flavor and enjoy these over and over without ever getting bored.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

4 tortillas

4 slices of cheese

1 tablespoon seasoning (We used a chili lime seasoning for these)

Toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, pickles, salsa, etc…

Directions:

  1. Mash up ground beef in a bowl with seasoning. Divide into 4 balls.
  2. Pre-heat a flat nonstick skillet/pan over medium heat.
  3. Place each ball of meat on the skillet and top with the tortilla. Gently push down to “smash” the meat filling the tortilla.
  4. Cook 3-4 minutes.
  5. Flip the burger over and allow to cook for 2 minutes.
  6. Top with a slice of cheese and cook for an additional minute while the cheese melts.
  7. Remove from heat and transfer each tortilla burger to a plate.
  8. Add desired toppings.
  9. Enjoy!!
Roasted Veggie and Meatball Lasagna

Roasted Veggie and Meatball Lasagna

This “pasta” dish is packed with roasted broccoli and cauliflower over a layer of zucchini noodles with Italian meatballs and a ricotta cheese filling mixed throughout. If you are trying to eat more vegetables then this is the dinner for you. Ingredients: 1 head broccoli 

Veggie Chili

Veggie Chili

I try to fill up with veggies as often as possible. This simple crock pot chili is literally bursting with vegetables. Ingredients: 1 zucchini sliced and quartered 1 yellow squash sliced and quartered 1 bell pepper diced 1/2 sweet onion diced 2 garlic cloves minced 

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are heaven in and of themselves, but with the addition of brown butter these take on an even more memorable flavor profile. We added extra chocolate chips, but you can substitute one cup of chocolate chips for walnuts if you prefer.

Ingredients:

Browned Butter-

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter

1/4 cup dry milk powder

Cookies-

1 cup browned sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 egg yolk

1 1/2 cups cake flour

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cornstarch

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Browned Butter

  1. In a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium-low heat.
  2. Whisk in the milk powder and cook for 3 minutes or until the milk solids become a golden brown color. Stir constantly.
  3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and transfer to a heatproof bowl. Allow to cool at room temperature 0or refrigerate to quicken the cooling process.

Cookies-

  1. Preheat the oven to 415 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Add browned butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract to a stand mixer and mix on medium with a paddle attachment for 4 minutes.
  3. Add the eggs and egg yolk one at a time beating after each addition.
  4. In a separate bowl whisk the cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda.
  5. Reduce heat to low and add the dry ingredients 1/2 cup at a time.
  6. Add the chocolate chips and mix on low to combine.
  7. Use a medium cookie scooper to form balls. Place two inches apart on a baking sheet.
  8. Bake 8-9 minutes until cookies are golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for two minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
  9. Enjoy these cookies while they are warm!
Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash

Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash

Funny Story: The night I served this I told my family mac and cheese was for dinner. They kept asking, “Just macaroni and cheese? Nothing else, no veggies?” I replied that it was just mac and cheese for dinner. As we were eating my oldest