I love me some roasted broccolini. I love any type of roasted vegetable actually, but this one is my favorite. Broccolini is tossed with olive oil, garlic, red pepper, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and roasted until crispy and tender. It's SO good! I roast vegetables every night. It's usually whatever is on sale at the store, but I often roast broccoli or broccolini because we love it and so do my kiddos. I prefer broccolini...I like the flavor and the stems are not nearly as woodsy … [Read more...]
The Easiest Summer Sausage and Vegetable Salad
When it comes to making a simple side dish, this recipe for Summer Sausage and Vegetable Salad comes to mind. It's quick and easy to make, tastes amazing and is so colorful! We are huge fans of quick and easy salads in our house. Because I cook and bake, we eat quite a bit at home and this includes lunch. My husband brings lunch to work every day so I often try to make salads like this Summer Sausage and Vegetable Salad that are easy to make and accessible straight from the … [Read more...]
Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad with Chicken and Bacon
Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad with Chicken and Bacon. I don't know how else to title this other than this salad is amazing! Shaved Brussels sprouts are mixed with cubed chicken, crunchy bacon, salty parmesan cheese that all gets tossed in an asiago peppercorn dressing. Or you could use a Caesar dressing, but have you ever had Marie's Asiago Peppercorn dressing? If not, you have to try it. It's one of my favorites. I use it in my Chicken Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Pasta, too. It's … [Read more...]
Sweet Potato Casserole
What's your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Is it sweet potato casserole? Ok good. Because you're going to love this post then! I have to admit, I haven't been the biggest fan of sweet potato casserole - I just didn't grow up with it. We were the cheesy potato side dish kind of family. BUT, I got married and celebrated Thanksgiving with my husband's side of the family a few times and his Aunt made a mean sweet potato casserole. I asked her for the recipe and it of course was one of the great … [Read more...]
Festive Fall Farro Salad with Kale, Cranberries, Pecans & Goat Cheese
Do you need to take a break? The day after Thanksgiving can be quite overwhelming sometimes. We typically stuff our faces until we are uncomfortable. I think Vin said "I need to stop" 48 times yesterday. I however, felt perfectly full. I have no idea how that happened - perhaps the 16 month old toddler running around helped. There are usually leftovers and we typically eat them around noon the next day and do the same thing over again leaving us grouchy full, but totally satisfied. … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Stuffing
Holidays = stuffing. Stuffing = holidays. It's just part of the deal. There's no getting away from it. Stuffing is just as important as the Turkey or the ham or the roast. It's what I go back for seconds for and it's what compliments every other dish on the plate. It needs to be good. And pretty! Yes, I think stuffing it pretty. It's a casserole which isn't always the most eye appealing dish, but with herbs, spices, and pretty ingredients like cherries, stuffing can look beautiful. I … [Read more...]
Homemade Applesauce (chunky style) & a Giveaway!
Just like Grandma used to make. Who's grandma makes or made homemade applesauce? Mine did! Mine did! Mine did! Let's be honest...she made everything homemade. That's just how they do it up in Sibley Iowa. My grandma grew up on a farm and raised her family on a farm so she KNOWS how to cook. Like really knows. So I have two things to talk about today. 1.) Homemade applesauce 2.) World Vision Please stick around to hear about both of them because they deserve your undivided … [Read more...]
Green Bean Casserole
With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm thinking you may need some side dish ideas. Am I right? I know I know. It's not even Halloween yet but the holiday talk is already happening in our family. We go back to Iowa to visit my parents for Thanksgiving and now that we are older, we try to all help in the kitchen instead of leaving the daunting cooking task on just my mom. It only makes sense for me to help cook and bake, right? I love to cook in my parent's kitchen because it was the first … [Read more...]
Mexican Street Corn
Once you try Mexican Sweet Corn, you will never go back. Doesn't it just look appetizing? This recipe is to die for...it's nothing fancy, just the right flavor combos and CORN. Corn season has arrived which means grilled corn every.single.night. You agree? We make corn all the time in the Summer...my husband even brings it cold to work...the love for corn is so real around here. We grill corn, butter it and salt and pepper it. It's freaking amazing just like that, but I had to switch … [Read more...]
Best Guacamole Recipe
This is the best recipe ever for Traditional Guacamole. It's got all the goodies like fresh tomatoes, cilantro, spicy red onion, tons of lime juice and a little salt and pepper to bring out the flavors. Add a little jalapeno for a kick and you have a simple, yet delicious appetizer dip for a partaaay or for Mexican night at home! Oh yes! It's also garnished with a little queso fresco...ya know...just because. Everyone needs a good guacamole recipe in their life. Am I right or am I right? I … [Read more...]
Roasted Butternut Squash with Candied Pecans and Ricotta
Talk about warm and cozy food! It's 60 degrees here! I'm freaking out. I am so ready for boots, but not ready for COLD weather. It went from 80 degrees to 60 degrees in like a day. A DAY. What about 74 degrees and sunny? Waaahh! Anyway...it's definitely time to starting making warm and cozy food. How else are we going to stay warm besides stuffing our faces with chili, soup, hot cheesy dip and everything butternut squash? hehe. Butternut Squash is IN SEASON like no other (duh) and … [Read more...]
Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad
Summer is almost over, BUT it's not too late to make this salad! We love corn around our house, especially grilled corn. It's the perfect compliment to almost any meal and makes a great cold salad like this grilled corn and zucchini salad. Zucchini is also delicious during the Summer months. I'm sure you've seen all of the yummy zucchini recipes on Pinterest...especially the dessert ones...chocolate zucchini bread? umm yes! Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad is incredibly easy to … [Read more...]