Cinnamon Apple Pear Sauce

Look, you guys

It’s here. My most favorite, beautiful, scenic time of year. I told the kids it was supposed to snow this week so we had to ask Alexa when the first technical day of winter is. Do you want to know what she said? December 21st. Yet we have snow in the forecast for today, November 6. You try explaining all of this to a 4 year old. Why oh why can’t crispy, cool autumn fulfill its assigned 3 full months?! Winter is so dang greedy and aggressive around here🙄

But we certainly won’t stop celebrating autumn in this house until that far away day in December…and this yummy Cinnamon Apple Pear Sauce will certainly be a constant in our fridge. I’m addicted. My kids could take down an entire batch in one sitting. I even got a “I want to eat this every day of my life!” from Jude. Winning.

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Baby Food: Savory Lentil and Veggie Purée 


Ok mamas, papas and caregivers…can we talk baby food super briefly?

Man am I learning that sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go the store bought food route which I’m totally ok with..I love all of the healthful options they make these days and it’s so convenient. But here’s my beef…why do these companies feel the need to make everything taste sweet?! Even if those jars have spinach, green beans or peas in them they often times still wind up putting pears or apples in the bulk of the ingredients. I love that my baby is getting veggies “snuck in” to these varieties because of the nutrients. But I also want him to taste savory…and learn how delicious veggies can be in savory form. 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

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

Simple Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

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Heres the deal, you guys.  I’m going to be frank with you.  I am getting lazy.  Like LAAAAZZZZYYYY.  Yes, you can still count on me to get a decent dinner on the table most nights…but man, I’ll find a shortcut.  Now don’t get me wrong..I love a good Sunday spent in the kitchen…but these weeknights are all about saving time.

I feel like life has progressively taken me to this place of minimal effort.  And yes, the weather these days must have something to  do with it, too.  But it used to be, you know, pre-kids, I was putting hours into dinner.  Hours.  Meticulously dicing, pureeing, grinding, whatever it took to make the food absolutely delicious.  Then one kid…two kids..came along and it has gradually shifted from hours of effort to literally strategizing how I can get this meal on the table as quickly as possible.  What shortcuts can I take that wont sacrifice taste?  How can I make this easier, not only for myself, but for you, my NP people…because Lord knows you don’t have the time either, friends.   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