Slow-Cooked Barbacoa Beef

This is one of those staples we all need for busy nights, guys! Get it going in the slow cooker in the morning and by dinner time you’re left with tender, savory, perfectly seasoned shredded beef that is just waiting to be devoured! Honestly, it’s giving Chipotle a solid run for their money:)

Use it for salads, tacos, nachos, burritos, or our favorite: piled high on a tostada with queso fresco, pickled red onion, hot sauce and guacamole. So stinking yum! Continue reading

Authentic Gyros (without the spit)

If you know even the slightest thing about me, you know I am a darn sucker for a gyro sandwich. Whether it’s in line at 1am after too much wine in my much younger, more hip days or takeout from our favorite hole in the wall local gas station, I am a proud, obsessed supporter of that perfectly flavored, juices running down your arm, all wrapped up in a pita bundle of goodness. And fortunately, my hubs and kiddos are equally on board. Continue reading

Blackened Steak Lettuce Wraps with Chipotle Lime Sour Cream

SONY DSCYou guys, the weather around here has been straight up INSANE…and I mean that in the best way possible!  It’s February.  And we have gone to the park nearly every day for the last week, no joke.  Almost every bit of the snow is melted, the sun has been working overtime and there are literally birds chirping.  Can I get allllll the virtual high fives and happy dances from you!?  So let’s  celebrate this spring-like feeling by eating spring-like…at least until we get hit with that snow storm thats in the forecast for this week. Only in Minnesota, my dear friends.  The land that I love ;)

These lettuce wraps are pretty much the whole shebang.  The flavors are so bright and fresh.  So much, that you wont even miss the tortilla one bit; it would just take away from all of the goodies inside!   Continue reading

Roasted Cabbage Ruben Stacks

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Now what in the heck was I supposed to call these things, you guys?  They are the most random twist on one of my all-time favorite sandwiches and this name was all that my tired, pregnant brain could come up with.  If you can come up with a better one, please do share.

Now heres the deal.  If you love a good reuben sandwich and you love cabbage you might go wack-a-doodle over this combination.  It’s a reuben gone healthful and light…but you won’t for one second miss that bread and cheese, I promise.   Continue reading

Quick-Chili Loaded Baked Potatoes

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You guys, this weather we are having around here!  It’s COLD!  Gorgeous, but man does that change in temp feel like a chill or what?  It’s pretty much the best kind of weather.  You know, the kind of weather where it’s not too cold to sleep with your windows open…but them when you wake up in the morning you can’t possibly seem to peel yourself out of those perfectly warm, cozy covers because your room has an insane chill going through it.

We have been comfort-fooding around here like crazy people lately.  It must be the weather.  And these Quick-Chili Loaded Baked Potatoes made the roster.  I feel like I say this a lot, mostly because I only tend to share the recipes that get my family’s stamp of approval, but these are definitely a favorite among the kiddos. Continue reading

The Maverick Blended Burger

SONY DSCA couple of months ago I had the honor of attending the launch of the James Beard Foundations Blended Burger Project here in Minneapolis.  The blended burger initiative aims to influence chefs to incorporate mushrooms into burger recipes, both for sustainability and health benefits.  Makes perfect sense to me.  And the coolest part is that this movement is being welcomed and respected to no end.   From elite restaurants to classic burger joints, these blends are showing up on menus all around the world.  And get this, schools throughout the country have incorporated blended burgers into their menus.  Can you imagine?  It’s time for change, friends, and I suppose we could start one household at a time.   Continue reading

Steak Balsamic Summer Panzanella

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Well now if this doesn’t scream my husbands name, I’m not sure what does.  This, right here, is one of his very favorite meals…and I have to admit, he has pretty darn good taste.

Lets just start this party immediately, guys.  There’s a lot of celebrating to do, no sense in wasting anyones time.

First, we’ve got grilled bread.  No, wait.  Glazed with olive oil, grilled, crunchy on the outside slightly crisp on the inside bread.  And you know, I don’t eat much bread on the regular.  But this bread right here?  ALWAYS an exception for this girl.  Continue reading