Oh yes, I'm going there! Basically the second it was officially Autumn, I grabbed a can of pumpkin and my apron. Call me "basic", see if I care! While I wouldn't say the weather is exactly screaming "FALL!", the mornings have been cooler, the days slightly crisper, and the harsh heat seems to have at least taken a break for the time being. In Southern California, that's really all you can ask for! So on Sunday morning, I decided it was time to whip up a batch of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. I feel like we all[...]
Category
Recipes
Hello friends! I am back after an unwarranted break from blogging. Call it a rut, call it writer's (or recipe maker's) block, whatever it was, I have no legit excuse. But that is the past, and I wanted to come back with a delicious meal plan to kick off a new week. I usually have a "theme" or a mindset as I am writing out my menu for the week, and this one is no different! I actually had a couple of things in mind as I sat down to meal plan. First off, Travis will be out of town this week, which means I can make[...]
Howdy, friends! It's been a little while since I've shared a meal plan, and since it is my number 1 secret to success, I feel it is something I should share more often! Seriously, I've said it before and I'll say it again, but if I could offer people trying to eat more home-cooked, healthy meals ONE piece of advice, it would be to meal plan. The most common reason for failure that I hear (and have experienced first hand, might I add!) is that people are TIRED when they get home from work/a long day and the last thing t[...]
There is something about the summertime that just naturally makes me crave lighter food. I am always reaching for fruit for snacks, and dinners tend to be much lighter as well. I could easily have a salad for dinner every night, but since I can't quite get away with that (husbands) I still try to make more "summery" dinners when the temperatures peak. I can't be alone in this, right? It seems only natural to go for lots of fruits, veggies, and lighter foods when its hot and then crave the denser, heavier meals come winter[...]
These Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Bell Peppers check all of the boxes when it comes to weeknight dinners. First off, they are absolutely delicious (even after eating them as leftovers for the 3rd time!), they have a pretty short ingredient list and are easy to throw together, and they are nice and light/low carb and healthy! You just can't go wrong here! I can't say with certainty that I've ever actually eaten a Philly Cheesesteak? But regardless, I had the hankering to make this lighter, healthier, veggie packed version.[...]
First of all, I want to start by saying how grateful I am for all of the encouraging messages/comments/texts I received about my post on Monday. It just exemplifies what I mean about having such an amazing support system, both near and far! It's not easy opening up about such a personal topic, but I think it is important to be open when the time is right. So again, THANK YOU all! Today I have a super simple recipe for you that is a perfect way to use up your summer garden tomatoes! I have to say, there is nothing qui[...]
With summer in full swing, I am all about the entree salads! My husband has different thoughts, but I like the challenge of creating filling, delicious, and complex salads that will satisfy even the pickiest of salad eaters! Especially in the summer, but really year round, I could probably live off the notorious "Big A$$ Salads" I have in my repertoire. I just love the variety of flavors and textures they offer, plus they fill you up without making you feel TOO full. And also, vinegar. I've always been a big fan of vine[...]
It's summertime, and in our house, that means "just say no" to turning on the oven! But that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy a decadent dessert! These "Healthier" Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are absolutely delicious and would be perfect to bring to a 4th of July Party for everyone to enjoy! Now, I know similar versions of these cookies have been around for a long time. Who has memories of eating them during their childhood? I sure do! I very specifically remember savoring every bite of one of these cookies for d[...]
With the 4th of July just around the corner, I have the perfect summer get-together recipe for you! I know some people can have some pretty strong feelings when it comes to what kind of BBQ sauce they prefer. There's Kansas City Style, Texan, North Carolinian, and many more I'm sure. Me? I really don't care either way as long as it's tasty and there isn't high fructose corn syrup and maltodextrin in the ingredient list! (Sounds snooty, I know...what can I say?) I am a bit of an ingredient snob, but I do care what goes[...]
I feel like I just stopped talking about how hot it was (I think that went on well into December), but just like that, we find ourselves back in the season of Summer! Yes, it is great being able to go to the beach or play in a pool, enjoy long summer nights, and BBQ any night of the week. But gosh, I just realllllly don't like being hot. I shouldn't complain too much-this morning the news was presenting a "high heat advisory" because we were reaching the high 80's. It could be worse! Anyway, in "celebration" of the c[...]