And then Skylar and I went for a walk around the neighborhood. Here’s our street and the hibiscus flowers in front of our house. We wandered into Cohabitat Home. We smelled incense, looked at Ganesh statues and Indian home accessories. It was fun. Skylar likes them as the “bread” of her Peanut Butter “Sandwiches”. Here’s one of many snack plates from today. Moving On… Remember these 8-Ball Squash I found at the Farmer’s Market?...

It’s hard to even call this a “recipe, and no one will ever suspect you didn’t hand slice and dice all your spices. I’ve mentioned my guacamole recipe and called it “Cheater’s” Guac before, but figured the photo quality could use some sprucing up. Plus, I had avocados to use up. [print_this] “Cheater’s” Guacamole 1 ripe avocado 1 tbsp lime juice (or lemon if that’s what you have on hand) 1 tbsp Mrs....

Healthy Chicken, Avocado and Bean Salad This Mexican-inspired black bean salad is sure to be a hit. Who can say no to tender chicken, black beans, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, and fresh cilantro? Certainly not me. You definitely won’t miss the lettuce in this awesome lettuce-less salad that’s perfect for your next lunch, healthy and naturally gluten-free dinner, or for a casual backyard get-together. The avocado chicken salad is easy, ready in 20 minutes, and has so much flavor thanks to cumin, chili powder, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, and more....

Flavorful Chicken Tinga Tacos Craving authentic-tasting Mexican food but you’re nowhere near Mexico? This recipe for chicken tinga tacos is just the thing to satisfy your craving. The tacos are easy, ready in 20 minutes, and jam packed with smoky and fresh flavors all in one. The ingredients are all readily available in most any grocery store so that you can literally be eating tacos in 20 minutes! In order to keep this a very fast, easy, and weeknight-friendly meal, I recommend using rotisserie chicken....

comment icon 28 more comments Once upon a different time, I made smoky and spicy chipotle turkey burgers and loved it. But my love wasn’t pure because I was still dreaming of the Nectarine Basil Salsa. So I played matchmaker, and (as you might have noticed from picture number one with the giant bite) I am superhappy with the results! You should be happy too, because this burger is low fat, high protein, and max flavor....

And I have a thing for chocolate-covered pretzels. Give me a bag and watch them all disappear. I’ve made Salted Caramel Pretzel-Topped Fudgy Brownies, Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies, and in keeping with the pretzel theme, I did it again. This time I used chocolate-covered pretzels and used my current favorite brownie base. It’s a fast, easy, one-bowl, no mixer recipe that’s as easy as using a mix. The brownies are ultra fudgy, not at all cakey, ridiculously rich, and boldly chocolaty....

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Chocolate Martini Recipe Whether you’re looking for a festive and romantic-looking drink for Valentine’s Day at home, an anniversary drink, a date-night-in drink, or a girls-night-in, this chocolate-covered strawberry chocolate martini recipe is absolutely perfect. It’s fast, easy, full of smooth chocolaty flavor, and who can resist chocolate-covered strawberries! I would categorize this cocktail in the “dessert drink” or “dessert martini” categories and one is probably all you need....

Decadent Mud Pie Dessert This is such an easy dessert, and aside from the cookie dough layer —which is baked for 10 minutes — the rest of this layered chocolate pudding dessert is no-bake. Music to my ears. Because I slightly underbaked the chocolate cookie layer, it’s so fudgy and rich, and the chocolate pudding makes it even more indulgent-tasting. The tangy-sweet cream cheese is a great counterbalance to the richness of all that chocolate....

May as well keep the coconut recipes coming while in the Caribbean. And I always like white chocolate, but I had mentioned that when I’m in Aruba, there’s something about it that I’m especially drawn to, even more so than usual. For all the white chocolate fans, consider these part three (part one and part two) of my installment plan of white chocolate recipes on this trip, and I’m not done yet....

Addicting Cowboy Cookies Recipe You don’t have to be a cowboy or cowgirl to love these cookies. I’m neither and couldn’t get enough of them. I’m not exactly sure why they’re named Cowboy Cookies. Maybe because they’re so hearty and full of texture that after eating them you’ll be ready to go to work out on the ranch for a few hours. I’ve seen many recipes for them over the years, including Laura Bush’s recipe, and merged various recipes into one for this version....

Want to try more muffin recipes? Try these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, Healthy Banana Muffins, Snickerdoodle Muffins, or Lemon Raspberry Muffins! Why I love them: Easy – Only 10 minutes of prep and just a few steps, this homemade cranberry orange muffins recipe is great for a child to help with. Freezer Friendly – Make a double batch and freeze the rest for an even quicker grab-and-go breakfast or snack....

Easy Baileys Cocktail Recipe Irish cream and Frangelico are two of my favorites. They’re a match made in creamy martini heaven. And things only get better when Nutella is involved. Combining Irish Cream with Frangelico is a natural pairing. Frangelico is a liqueur made with toasted hazelnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, cocoa and vanilla extract. Those are some of my favorite flavors and ingredients, and Frangelico lends a rich hazelnut flavor to the drink....

comment icon 58 more comments I almost didn’t share it because I was too, um, shy. I mean, shy about how it looks. As I blissfully ate every last bite from the big bowl sitting on my lap on the couch in front of the TV (<— we have a personal rule against that, but we do it sometimes anyways and it’s just the most cozy-nice thing), I started to realize that, in fact, the shapes and colors and general vibe of this whole dish just says Weirdo Person....

If you’re looking for a classic winter comfort food soup recipe, with a nod to spring (hello, leeks), then this easy potato leek soup recipe is the perfect solution. Made in one pot on your stovetop and ready in just 30 minutes, this is a lovely potato soup recipe with leeks that’s traditional, super flavorful, and easy to make. Potato leek soup is a classic French soup but unlike many traditional French recipes, this one is very forgiving!...

The highlight of the food day was the dinner raw veggies, but I admit, I had to force down what little I ate today. Tonight’s medley included: *Greens *Broc *B.S. (Brussels’s Sprouts, not to be confused with all the B.S. that preceded them today) *Cukes *Creminis *Sun-Dried tomatoes that photographed really dark and almost look like dark red leaf *Carrots *Standard dressing recipe of juice of 1/2 orange, agave, and crack black A couple different times, here and here, I’ve mentioned the homemade vegan GF granola that I really enjoy....

A couple evenings ago when it wasn’t raining, we walked over to the Radisson Hotel for their 2-for-1 Happy Hour at their beach bar. Scott and I got a pair of Sex on the Beaches for $12 bucks. Not super cheap, but better than $24! Good, but not the best drink ever. That’s what happens when they use well liquor, i.e. the cheap crap. On our way out, Skylar wanted to check out the parrots and birdsthey have on the property Remember when we went out for drinksthe other night last week?...

Dip recipes are guaranteed party pleasers, like our Buffalo Chicken Dip, Whipped Goat Cheese, Spinach Artichoke Dip, or Easy Homemade Salsa. How to Make 7-Layer Bean Dip: Flavor Beans: if using canned refried beans, it’s crucial to give them some extra flavor. We season them with cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder. My mom always used to squirt a little of this green sauce in there too. There are no strong rules here – just make them taste good!...

Easy Carne Asada Tacos If you’re craving carne asada tacos, look no further than this easy recipe for carne asada. The meat is tender, juicy, full of authentic flavor, and finger-licking good. I served the carne asada in Ortega® Whole Wheat Tortillas that I lightly charred in a couple of seconds each over my indoor gas stove burner. Optional but a nice touch. The tortillas are perfect for tacos, burritos, fajitas, wraps, and quesadillas....

Looking for more salads? You need to try my Burrata Salad, Caprese Salad, or Brussels Sprouts Salad! Why I love this recipe: Fresh and Simple – With only a few ingredients and 3 easy steps, this is the salad of summer! The fresh cool cucumbers are perfectly complimented with the sweet onion and simple vinegar dressing.Make Ahead – I love that I can throw this salad together hours before a party....

Easy Slow Cooked Green Bean Casserole Green bean casserole is always a family favorite over the holidays, and people who like the classic version are going to adore this cheesy slow cooked version! And do I ever mean cheesy since there are three types of cheeses, including Colby Jack, cheddar, and Parmesan in this casserole. The green beans are tender without being mushy, the bacon adds depth of flavor you just can’t help but love, and the cheese lovers among us will adore the cheese sauce that smothers it all....