B's Dairy-Free Creamy Creole

I was craving a spicy creamy creole dish last night, but I could not find one single recipe online that didn't use heavy cream! So I came up with my own and it was soooo yummy! Here's what I did… Ing. - 1 med. onion - 2-3 bells peppers, one red, one yellow and/or orange - 3 garlic cloves - Almond milk - Chicken broth - Tomato paste (I like to use the one with italian seasoning for more flavor) - Creole seasoning (like Tonys) - Shrimp - Hot italian sausage - Fusilini brown rice pasta - *red pepper flakes - *sour cream - *parmesan cheese Chop onion and saute in a pan with olive oil (can use butter for a richer flavor). When soft, add julienned peppers (remember they will cook down so add a lot). Add 2 t. creole seasoning and some pepper and continue to cook veggies a...

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Heaven in a cup

Okay, so lately my new obsession is iced coffee. like REAL iced coffee. The kind that is cold brewed. It really is the best way to make coffee. When you cold brew coffee you can really taste all the delicious rich, bold flavors of the coffee and prevents the bitterness you get when brewing coffee hot. Here is my recipe for the perfect cup of iced coffee.. 3 cups ground coffee. The darkest and boldest roast you can find. 9 cups cold water. Add ground coffee to a large airtight container. Pour water over coffee grounds. Secure lid onto container and let coffee sit at room temperature 12 hours or overnight. When time is up strain coffee...

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A Must Make!!

Nothing satisfies my craving like these Pioneer Woman Enchiladas! I have made them multiple times and I can't get enough! I feel like I could eat them every day.  For the red sauce I used a simple tomato sauce (the kind you find in a can without all the extra Italian seasonings) because it's all I had. But normally you would use the red sauce you would find in the Mexican food section of your grocery store. If using the simple tomato sauce like I did, add about a tablespoon of any hot sauce to give it more of a Mexican flare. The first time I made the enchiladas I added the black olives like in the recipe. I...

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Baking Day Plan: Butterhorns,"Snow Balls", and Carrot Cake Cookies

For the year before I was pregnant, I was baking pretty much everything from scratch...bread, bagels, rolls, pizza dough, English muffins, soft pretzels, pita bread, muffins, granola, granola bars, and more, I'm sure. I was a baking MACHINE! And it was really fun, frugal, easy, satisfying, and everything tasted SO much better than store bought. It's so great knowing and controlling everything that's going into your baked goods..and scary when you realize how basic everything should be and all the junk added to everything in the stores! But with a toddler running around now, baking just seems incredibly daunting. I know I need to just...

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Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Yes, that's right. Pumpkin Mac and Cheese. I saw this recipe and thought, "I HAVE to try that!" Friends of ours are having a "Pumpkin Party" this Saturday and everyone is to bring a pumpkin food or beverage (I'm going to be so pumpkined out after this month! I think I've had something pumpkiny like everyday! :) So I figured everyone will probably bring something sweet because there aren't too many savory pumpkin recipes that come to mind. I was searching through recipes for something different to bring to the table, and I came across this Rachel Ray recipe: Pumpkin Cheddar Mac & Cheese I did a test run last night and cut the recipe...

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Orgain

I'm usually a little afraid to try "healthy" pre-made protein drinks or other health drinks. But Mom bought me one of these to try so I figured I'd give it a shot. I mean, with all the healthy stuff that is packed into the 11oz. container, I figured I could at least force it down to get some nutrients into my body. I took one sip and couldn't believe how good it was! I keep a few of these in our fridge for mornings when we are running late and don't have time to make breakfast or when I know it's going to be awhile before my next meal. I know they are a little pricey, but the convenience of just being able to grab it on the run, and all the...

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Decadent Chocolate Souffle for Two

Hi! I'm back! It's been a busy couple of weeks. I've been wanting to post on here for awhile but haven't had the time to sit down and put the time into it. Something I've been wanting to share is this Chocolate Souffle for Two recipe that I made on Valentine's Day. They were heavenly! They were light and airy yet rich and decadent. Satisfies your sweet tooth but won't make you feel like you want to die because you are so stuffed. Which is good, especially if your meal was on the heavy side which ours was. (I made this Brown Butter Risotto with Lobster recipe and it was excellent. Try it out if you are looking for something a little different...

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Recipe: Chocolate Butterhorns

I'm having some girlfriends over for a "Book Club" meeting this week. We call it a book club, and select a book each month, but usually nobody reads it and we don't really discuss it...it's just a great excuse to get together and visit over coffee/tea and snacks. I'd highly recommend starting one yourself! I thought I'd make this amazing Chocolate Butterhorns recipe from LifeAsMom. I made some last Summer, but it was one of those things where I ate half of them before they even cooled...and the rest the next day, so I've been a little afraid to make a batch to eat alone again! And, best of all, if you double the recipe and leave out...

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Recipe: Chocolate Chip "Un-Cookies"

I've been telling everyone about this absolutely amazing recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies for awhile now, so wanted to finally share.  It's the strangest things, but since going through my pregnancy my body has completely changed the type of food it craves and tolerates. Before, I used to crave anything heavy in carbs, cheese, meat, and sugar. Now, those things don't appeal to me at all. Many things I used to eat actually make me sick even. I think the main difference is that I'm more in tune with my body now and what my body is actually craving..not my mind. Deep, huh? The problem is...I don't want to and...

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Best Chocolate Cake Ever. Period.

Austin and I are celebrating Valentine's Day tonight because he won't be around on February 14th. I wanted to make a really decadent chocolate dessert. I wouldn't say my favorite dessert is cake so I rarely make them. And I definitely have never made one from scratch before. But there is something fancy about cake so I thought it would be a good thing to make for a fancy dinner at home. Out of all cakes chocolate is probably my least favorite (gasp! I know). But this one might very well change all that! It is so moist, rich, chocolaty and just incredible! I kinda wanted to cry a little the first bite I took. I couldn't believe I...

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Great Winter Dish

Turkey Osso Bucco with Gremolata - Recipe I was looking for something really different to make for dinner. I was starting to feel like I was cooking the same things over and over. I was watching the Foodnetwork (of course) and saw Giada De Laurentiis make this Osso Bucco. I really wasn't sure what Osso Bucco was but I did know that this dish look super yummy and comforting. Perfect for a winters night. And boy talk about an aromatic meal! This might very well be the best smelling dish I ever made. The aroma that filled the house was like a big hug! The Gremolata sounded weird but I had all the ingredients...

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Healthy Chocolate Muffins

Tiffany's post about baking made me want to share this awesome recipe again. I made these Healthy Double Chocolate Muffins the other day and they were soooo good. Even better than the first time I made them. The recipe is from Tiffany's blog HERE. I love this recipe because it's almost impossible to mess up as long as you follow the basic guidelines. I will put the recipe below and tell you what changes I made in red at the bottom 1 1/2 cup almond meal (finely ground almonds) •1/4 cup spelt flour •1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder •1 T baking powder •1/4 tsp Sea Salt •1/2 cup agave nectar (or other form of sugar) • 2 whole mashed bananas...

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Baking Day: Introduction

                                       I'm going to use this blog to help me get motivated to do Baking Days again. Helps with accountability.  I've gone over the Freezing Cooking basics here already and how it helps me with preparing regular, homecooked meals and keeping our grocery budget to around $40/week. Freezer Cooking is only one part of this strategy, which also involves regular Baking Days as well as Menu Planning....

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Recipe: Peppermint Mocha Cookies

So I was sitting around the other day dreaming about Starbucks Peppermint Mochas (as I tend to do all holiday season), and suddenly (as if divinely inspired) I thought, "If only I could make these... at home...in cookie form!" I was inspired by the Mint Chocolate Cookies Brittany posted the other day. But with a baby at home, just the thought of making the different layers was exhausting. So I spent half a morning searching for the perfect recipe for Peppermint Mochas in cookie form, that met the following criteria: 1. Chocolate + Coffee + Peppermint.  I found a lot with 2/3 but I needed all 3 2. Quick...

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A Different Kind of Cookie

I saw Barefoot Contessa make these on her show and thought they looked pretty good. I was looking for a cookie that was a little different. These are like fruit cake but in cookie form. To be honest I've never even tried fruit cake before. I know it gets a bad wrap but it definitely is festive and from the reviews I read everyone seemed to love these, and they were a great alternative to fruitcake. They were flaky and crispy from the butter and chewy from the fruit and not too sweet. Worth a try if you are looking for something a little different and fun. A few comments: - I'm not a fan of cherries so I used cranberries instead, I think...

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Freezer Cooking: Getting Started

So speaking of getting back on track..I know I've been promising to give you guys some tips on my freezer cooking for months now. Well, the thing is, I did such a good job of stocking up before the baby was born, I'm just now, 5 months later, needing to do some cooking again! I got the idea from MoneySavingMom and it's one of those things that really changed my life for the better. It is so great to be able to have hot, homemade meals every night with hardly any prep time. And it's not just for dinners..also works great for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and desserts. It also is one of my tricks for keeping our grocery budget around $40/week. ...

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B's Secrets to Easy Entertaining

So I'm having what is really my first girls night. I've had my girlfriends over before of course, but I've never had an official "girls night party". And there are a few new girls coming that I've recently become friends with. I'm really looking forward to it! I plan to make it super Christmasy!  I got stressed for a matter of a second, trying to think of what to make for food and wanting to impress everyone. But I quickly realized that the food isn't what it's all about. It is about getting the girls together and enjoying eachothers company! If I got stressed about what I would make every time I wanted to have people over I would probably never have company!  So I think I found the secret to easy entertaining. Taking very simple ingredients and recipes and making it fancy!...

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Best Chocolate Chip Cookies of All Time!!

Ok you guys have got to try these cookies! Guaranteed best chocolate chip cookies you've ever had! They are a Paula Deen recipe in my Betty Crocker cookie booklet.  Double Chocolate Chip Cookies 1 C. butter 1 1/2 C. creamy peanut butter 2 1/2 C. packed brown sugar 2 whole eggs 1 egg white 1/2 C. sour cream 2 t. vanilla 3 1/2 C. Better for Bread flour (* I used all-purpose flour and they came out awesome) 3 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt 1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips 1 C. mini semisweet chocolate chips 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter & peanut butter until creamy. Add brown sugar, beat until creamy. Beat in eggs, egg white, sour cream, and vanilla. gradually beat in salt, baking soda, and flour. Stir in chocolate chips. 2. On ungreased...

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Yummy Cookies!

Chocolate-Mint Layered Cookies 3/4 C. butter 3/4 C. sugar 1 egg 1 t. vanilla 2 1/4  C. all-purpose flour 1/4 t. baking powder 1/4 t. salt 9 oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips 1 T. all-purpose flour 9 drops green food color 1 t. mint extract 1 t shortening or canola oil 1. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed, beat in baking powder, salt, and 2 1/4 C. flour until dough forms. Divide dough in half (about 1 1/4 C. each) place 1 portion in medium bowl. 2. In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/2 C. of the chocolate chips on High 30-60...

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Great Crowd Pleaser

Last night my group of high school friends got together for a girls night at my friend Lauren's house. We all brought an appetizer to share and what we wanted to drink. I went through a TON of recipes trying to find something that would be tasty, satisfying, not too weird, and easy enough to make. Its hard making something for a group that you think everyone will like. Since I've known my friends forever I know that they don't like to be super adventurous with their food, so I thought, what is something everyone loves? Pizza of course! So I found this Giada recipe that was a hit and it's super easy to make. I followed the recipe exactly and...

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