Today I went to the Dentist and got my teeth cleaned. My last dental cleaning experience in Phoenix was a doosie due to a really wacky dental office and a comedy of errors, so it was great being back with the dentist I’ve had since 2004. I go every four months to have my teeth cleaned and have never had a cavity, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it....
Skylar went to a Valentine’s Day party with her friends and came home with a stash of cute things. Handmade Valentines she was given and a Valentine’s Day “Purse” that she made Earlier in the day, Scott had given me some cards. My favorite was the “Mommy” one “from” Skylar. Thanks, Skylar. Great penmanship for a newly minted 4 year old. Wink-wink. I gave Skylar this little box of chocolates...
Mother’s Day is coming up and I’m thinking about this a lot because I am that friend. The one who lost a baby. I am probably the friend who you’re tiptoeing around. I might be the friend who has become a major social weirdo and cancels plans last-minute. I am the friend who you’re not sure about inviting to a baby shower. I’m the friend who might have unfollowed you on social media when you announced that you were pregnant (read: I did....
Easy Healthy Breakfast Smoothies Whether you’re trying to eat healthier in the New Year or you’re finding this roundup of healthy smoothie ideas in the midst of a summer heat wave, I promise this list of smoothie recipes will not disappoint. When prepping my healthy morning smoothies, I want them to tick a few key boxes. They need to be tasty, easy to prepare, healthy, and filling. I don’t like the type of smoothies that leave you feeling hungry an hour later....
Your friendly neighborhood ALDI lover! I love several things about ALDI, all of which you’ve heard me talk about before. affordability and accessibility;quality of products;organic options galore;amazing pantry essentials;but also great snacks and seasonal stuff;and just generally always something new and fun to try. I’m not a huge in-store shopper in general, so most of my ALDI purchases happen online / via grocery pickup or delivery (I use the Instacart app)....
Thai Coconut Curry Soup … with Chicken! This easy coconut curry soup is a spinoff of this Thai Chicken Coconut Curry, which has been in the top 5 most popular recipes on my entire website for the past year and it has nearly one hundred 5-star reviews. Since you all love that recipe so much, I made you a soup version, essentially just doubling the coconut milk and adding some chicken stock....
Mediterranean Chicken and Vegetable Soup Recipe This Mediterranean chicken soup is hearty, filling, naturally gluten-free, and will keep you warm from the inside out on chilly days without adding an ounce of guilt (hello, Italian sausage and pasta). You could easily omit the chicken to keep the soup vegan. If you’re looking for another great vegan soup recipe that’s loaded with vegetables, try my Weight Loss Vegetable Soup. Even if you’re not trying to lose weight, it’s one of my favorite vegetable soups!...
comment icon 34 more comments Our 7 layers: Truffle ricotta. Massaged kale. Beets. Oranges. Pistachios Shallots. Mint. It’s fresh in just the right kind of way for January – like when you want that revitalized feeling that comes from actually eating and truly enjoying vegetables, but you also need it to be absolutely substantial and satisfying. Maybe we CAN have it all? You can plate this salad up individually and swipe through it with a piece of soft focaccia – which is what I’m often having for a throw-it-together lunch these days....
Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken If I’m walking by the food court in the mall and I can snag a free sample of sticky chicken, I do a little happy dance inside. But I don’t order it because I know it’s greasy and loaded with calories and fat that I don’t need. Enter this homemade non-fried version of Asian sticky chicken that’s made in one skillet and ready in 15 minutes. No fuss, hassle-free, and perfect for busy weeknights....
comment icon 37 more comments How can a salad with soft pinks and light greens and the most cooling, refreshing flavors not make you feel like the most beautiful thing alive? Apparently avocados, cucumbers, grapefruit (or gorgeously pink pomelo for us here in Asia), smoked almonds, fresh chives and mint, and a honey vinaigrette can make it happen with just one bite. Magic, for sure. Just to be clear, this is not an I’m-really-hungry dinner salad....
comment icon 129 more comments Can you even believe we are coming to the end of summer? I can’t. If I were still teaching (common refrain of my life) I would be in my last week of “free summer time,” which means probably starting to shop for some classroom materials and stress-dream about the start of the new school year. Which means I would also be panicking about meal prep again....
And I am thankful, even though I didn’t say so on this blog exactly on Thanksgiving Day. Last week I made my first and pray-to-God last trip to the hospital here in the Philippines. That sounds more dramatic than it needs to, but can’t a girl just play the drama card for at least a few days after? Just between us, the drama factor was actually pretty low. I didn’t stay overnight....
In an ironic twist of timing, Monday August 27 is National Banana Lovers Day. Guess this recipe was worth the wait because it happens to be the best banana bread I’ve ever made or eaten and after I made it, I began experimenting with other banana bread versions and recipes and have come up with at least three more that I will be posting over next month, one per week, in something I’m calling Banana Bread Fest....
Basic Smoothie Recipe Using Frozen Fruit I love smoothies. They’re fast, easy, healthy, and refreshing. This one has just three ingredients but you’d never know it based on how creamy, smooth, and satisfying it is. Between the naturally sweet fruit and the strawberry yogurt, I didn’t need to add a sweetener to the smoothie. Love it when that happens! The recipe as written will serve two, and you can freeze the second portion for later....
comment icon 138 more comments I make a lot of garlic butter tomato sauce and put it on mostly everything. What else do you wanna know? It’s funny how this works, isn’t it? The week I made this tomato sauce for the first (and second) (and third) time, I had at least 500 neighbors and friends and relatives reach out to me and ask if I wanted some of their overflow garden tomatoes, knowing completely nothing of my new tomato sauce obsession....
Looking for more special occasion meals? Try Prime Rib, Baked Salmon, Rack of Lamb, Seared Scallops, or Baked Ham. Why I love this recipe: FAST and EASY – This whole Beef Tenderloin is my go-to because it’s the easiest “fancy” meal to cook. It gets seared in a hot pan for a few minutes, then cooks in the oven for just a few more minutes. So easy. Impressive – it’s perfect for special occasions and it tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant....
comment icon 78 more comments My love for this biscuits and gravy egg bake is borderline over-the-top. There are zero things not to love about a casserole-style dish of fluffy eggs and cheddar baked up with little bites of tender flaky biscuit pieces poking out the top, and buried under a blanket of creamy, savory, mildly spicy green chile sausage gravy. It is THE brunch dish of 2020 for me because:...
I was craving that rich, deep, almost nutty flavor that it lends and knew it would be perfect in a pan of blondies. For these very soft, gooey, slightly chewy, brown buttery blondies that are loaded with chocolate chips, I called upon my trusty blondie base. When I want an easy, fuss-free, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that I know everyone will love, it’s my go-to. With 25+ versions and counting, it never lets me down....
I have been wanting a doughnut pan for ages and finally picked one up last night. I got the regular size (yellow) which is still not going to make “huge” doughnuts. I didn’t need the mini size because I personally don’t have the patience to fill up all those little holes and be all neat and tidy about it. Plus, I got something else… I have been coveting the Babycakes products for years and decided to go for it....
Hi friends! We’re hooooome! Said with a long Minnesota o. This little post today is going to include a quick trip recap of the California road trip, snacks by NatureBox, a giveaway for a year’s worth of NatureBox snacks (omg get it), a smorgasbord of vacation pictures, and a list of ten must-see places near or on Highway One in California. So with that intro, let me just say wow....
