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Chocolate Balsamic Vinaigrette

Chocolate Balsamic Vinaigrette

This vinaigrette goes well with an arugula based salad. For my salad I added pomegranate seeds, blueberry goat cheese, carrots, roasted pecans, and dried cherries. Once you make this keep it at room temperature. I only made enough for 2-3 servings so you may need 

Crab Lasagna

Crab Lasagna

Yes crab lasagna! I know the title made me look twice, but let me tell you this lasagna is insanely delicious. The sauce is a tomato sauce with a Cajun spice blend which really brings out the flavor of the crab. Normally when I make 

Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Meat loafs are an easy meal to prep ahead of time and pop in the oven when you are ready to eat. This meatloaf tasted just like a cheeseburger and is one I will definitely make again. This was adapted from a recipe on Beachbody, so it is as healthy as a meatloaf can be.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1/4 cup plain bread crumbs

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1 large egg

2 tablespoons dill pickle relish

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2-4 tablespoons ketchup

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

  1. Cook onion and carrots in a nonstick pan over medium heat for 10 minutes to soften.
  2. Spray a bread pan with nonstick spray.
  3. Add ground beef, carrots and onions, and bread crumbs to a large bowl. Gently break up the meat and mix together.
  4. Mix the Worcestershire sauce, dill pickle relish, mustard, egg, salt, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
  5. Add the wet ingredients and mix just to incorporate.
  6. Press the mixture into the bread pan.
  7. Spread the ketchup over the meat mixture.
  8. Top with shredded cheese.
  9. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
  10. Bake for 45 minutes if cooking now or until the meat loaf reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher. If prepping ahead of time and refrigerating bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.
Maple and Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Maple and Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

I enjoy baking a ham a few times a year. This was a recipe from Bodi that I decided to try after Thanksgiving. I normally bake spiral hams, this was a basic cooked ham, but with the glaze it was fantastic. Ingredients: 6-8 pound cooked 

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Anytime I make a baked ham I always have a lot of leftovers. This casserole could be served for breakfast or dinner and works well with ham. You could also brown and break up breakfast sausage to use if you want to add a little 

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with a Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust and Maple Infused Cream Cheese Frosting

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with a Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust and Maple Infused Cream Cheese Frosting

I won’t lie these cupcakes are insanely delicious!! The graham cracker crust, browned butter, and touch of maple in the icing make these cupcakes you won’t be able to resist. I made 24 mini cupcakes, but you can make these full size cupcakes if you prefer.

Ingredients:

Crust-

1 cup cinnamon graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

1 tablespoon brown sugar

pinch of salt

Cupcake

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 large eggs (I used one full egg and 1 egg white)

8 1/2 ounces sweet potato puree (roasted/mashed sweet potatoes)

1/2 teaspoon maple or vanilla extract

Icing-

8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon maple extract

3 cups confectioners sugar

Directions:

Crust-

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spray muffin or mini muffin tins with nonstick spray.
  3. In a small mixing bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, coconut oil, granulated sugar, and salt and mix well with a fork.
  4. Drop a tablespoon of the mixture into the base of each muffin tin. Then gently press down.
  5. Bake for 5 minutes.

Cupcake-

  1. In a saucepan over medium low heat melt the butter. Continue to cook swirling until the butter turns golden brown. Remove the butter from the heat and pour into a bowl. Allow browned butter to cool to room temperature.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a stand mixer cream together the brown sugar and browned butter until light and fluffy.
  4. Beat in the eggs and scrape down the bowl.
  5. Add the sweet potato puree and extract beating on low.
  6. Gradually add the flour and scrape down the bowl.
  7. Use a medium cookie scooper to fill muffin tins.
  8. Bake 15-20 minutes until cupcakes are set.
  9. Allow cupcakes to cool before removing from the muffin tins.
  10. Transfer to a wire rack or container and arrange in a single layer.

Icing-

  1. Add cream cheese, butter, maple syrup, and extract to a stand mixer and whisk together.
  2. Gradually add in the powdered sugar until you get the desired consistency.
  3. Use a piping bag/tool to frost the cupcakes.
  4. Enjoy!
Meatball Sub Casserole

Meatball Sub Casserole

My children loves meatball subs, meatballs and spaghetti, and meatballs in general. This easy to prep casserole is a tasty weeknight meal that is sure to warm you up and keep you satisfied. Ingredients: 1/2 onion diced 2 bell peppers diced 2 cloves garlic 1 

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This is a perfect soup dish to enjoy on a cool day when you are craving something tasty and satisfying. My children devour baked potatoes and gave this soup recipe five stars. Ingredients: 5 russet potatoes 6-8 slices thick cut bacon 1/2 cup all purpose 

Vanilla Whoopie Pies with Chocolate Buttercream

Vanilla Whoopie Pies with Chocolate Buttercream

Whoopie pies are one of my favorite bite size treats. These feature a soft vanilla cookie with a delectable chocolate buttercream in the center. If you want to make these truly indulgent you can add a little peanut butter on one of the cookies before you sandwich them together or roll them in sprinkles to add color and texture.

Ingredients:

Cookies-

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup vanilla protein powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg

2/3 cup buttermilk

Buttercream Filling-

1 1/2 pounds confectioners’ sugar

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-6 tablespoons milk

Directions:

  1. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together the flour, protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Beat the granulated sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the egg and beat until combined.
  5. Reduce the speed to low and alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk in small batches.
  6. Scrape the sides of the bowl and cover to refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Use a small cookie scooper to form balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.
  8. Bake 7-9 minutes until cookies are set and beginning to brown.
  9. Slide parchment paper off the baking sheet and allow cookies to cool.
  10. Add the confectioner’s sugar and butter to the stand mixer and whisk beginning on low and increasing speed once the powder is mixed in.
  11. Add the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and milk.
  12. Whisk and add more milk or powdered sugar if needed to get the desired consistency.
  13. Flip over half of the cookies.
  14. Use an icing tool to pipe the buttercream on half of the cookies.
  15. Gently press another cookie on top to assemble the whoopie pies.
  16. Store in an air-tight container.
  17. Enjoy!
Cookies and Cream Popcorn

Cookies and Cream Popcorn

This was a dessert I made for a soccer party for my son. I was looking for a tasty treat that featured colors black and white that would appeal to preteen boys. Confession- This dessert was so good I didn’t think there would be enough