Thai Chopped Salad with Peanut Dressing

SONY DSCOh Lordy.  Meet my new best friend, you guys.  And I’ve got one lousy photo to prove it…ugh, a food bloggers worst nightmare.  I contemplated waiting to take more photos and post this recipe after the next time we have it but you know what?  I don’t really think its a good idea for me to wait any longer than necessary to hand this one over to you.  It’s a weeknight game changer and it tastes like a giant bowl of happiness.   Continue reading

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus + Goat Cheese Bundles

SONY DSCWell guys, we made it.  Happy spring!  Yay!  You know what this means, right?  Warmer days ahead, lots of grilling, playtime at the parks, more daylight, fresh produce starting to make it’s way, and….baby!  WHOA BABY!

Any ideas or explanations as to how this pregnancy could possibly be going this quickly are completely welcomed, friends, because I am mind-blown at the whole deal.  We are finally getting going on bedroom moving, bunking, storage room cleaning, baby gear inventory-ing…you know, all of that good stuff…we are in the home stretch!  Which seems a bit crazy, actually a lot crazy, because I swear I just shared the news yesterday, didn’t I?  My gosh we can’t wait to meet this little one…all four of us.   Continue reading

Cherry Pie Pastry Hearts

SONY DSCHappy Saturday, friends!  More specifically, the Saturday before Valentines Day.  So I thought I just must leave you with a super fun recipe for you to hammer out this weekend…Cherry Pie Pastry Hearts! Continue reading

Smokey Pork and Citrus Kale Salad

SONY DSCCan you believe it’s February already?  How is this happening, you guys?  It seems like just yesterday we were in the midst of Thanksgiving preparation, and now, we are full blown into winter and darn near our decent into Spring.  Spring!  I mean I know I’m jumping the gun a bit here…but it will be here before we know it, no?

And that pretty much makes me feel all sorts of crazy emotions.  Because spring equals baby’s arrival…eek!  I can’t even begin to tell you how insanely fast this pregnancy has gone..wow.  I mean we have two trimesters under our belt and one to go; I swear I blinked and here we are.   And while I have seen so incredibly many changes in myself/my body during these last several months, there is positively one thing that has remained constant throughout this entire journey….CITRUS FRUIT.     Continue reading

One-Pot Salmon Pasta with Cream Sauce

SONY DSCFriends!  Hello!  How are we?  We’ve nearly made it through January, the most grey month of the year, in my opinion…so the rest is all downhill from here, right?  We just returned home from a vacation with my entire side of the family you guys….what a way to break up the month.  We had such a great time and enjoyed the warm weather of the Bahamas so incredibly much.  And now…back to good old reality.  But gosh I have to admit, a solid routine and well rested kids feels pretty dang good.

So to go with this grey month, how about a rich, gooey, comforting pasta dish that you can get on the table in 20 minutes?  Yes?  Yes.  Let’s do it!  Continue reading

Weeknight Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup

SONY DSCHappy New Year!  It’s  been a while, friends, and while I have thought about you so very often, I have just been way too busy eating to check in with you.  I mean this pregnancy thing really couldn’t have come at a better time.  Christmas.  New Years.  Holiday gatherings galore.  It all amounted to more yummy food than I can explain.  And then there’s the fact my oven was broken for nearly  a month.  You guys, ONE MONTH.  Do you know how long that is?  I mean I get it, be grateful for what you have, I try so hard.  But my oven?!  Take my hot water.  My coffee.  My contact lenses.  But for the love, don’t take my oven! I’m happy to report we are back up and running around here..and we were so very happy to have this Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup at home for dinner last night.   Continue reading

Honey Garlic Meatballs + Other Easy Holiday Appetizers

What are the chances that you are either hosting a gathering in the next few weeks or that you are responsible to take a “dish to share” to someone elses home?  Pretty good, I would assume.  Tis the season for cocktails, appetizers and gorgeous, festive finger food and friends, I’ve got the hookup right smack dab here.

So, without further ado, I present to you the most merry, yummy, gorgeous little ditties south of the North Pole.  Happy App’ing!   Continue reading

Sheet Pan Chicken + Veggie Ranch Wraps

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So really, dinners have been about as quick and effortless as ever around here for the last few weeks.  You too?    Getting back into a school routine can be challenging for everyone involved so easy breezy meals help out a ton while trying to get everything else in order.  So heres a quick success from this week:  Sheet Pan Chicken + Veggie Ranch Wraps. Continue reading

Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs with Chive Cream Sauce

img_6592Boy oh boy it’s been a while.  How was your long weekend?  As I told you last time we chatted, we took a little road trip to visit my family down in Iowa and Nebraska and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out the summer.  It was time so well spent…with my parents, my siblings and their families.  Late nights, early mornings, donuts, happy kiddo giggles, mama’s homecooking, pool parties, coffee, pedicures…I mean it was just plain wonderful.  And now…school begins!  What a way to head into a new year, hearts full as all get out.

And as you may know, somehow, magically, each year as summer begins to slip away my seasonal cooking-brain goes right with it.  It’s incredible how it happens so organically.  Suddenly I begin craving warm food….my tummy just begins to tire a bit of all of the cool, crisp, fresh fare.  So this dish right here is just a lovely way to begin the transition….it’s warm and comforting, yet still light and fresh. Continue reading

Spinach and Pancetta Salad with Fried Egg

SONY DSCThis salad has been happening since my husband and I were dating.  It very well could be the reason he asked me to marry him.  And if it is, I am totally okay with that.  I will keep feeding him this for better or worse, as long as we both shall live.  Of course, as long as he shares with me.   Continue reading