Month

There’s No Better Time For This Cake Than NOW

I’m pretty proud of my apple trees in the backyard. Wow – that kind of sounded like I had a huge orchard back there, with an overload of shiny, red apples… Haha! I assure you that’s not how it is at all! I have two (that’s right, 2) tiny apple trees that I’ve planted with my own hands, and I’ve watched them grow, year by year, as if they were my babies. One of them is smaller than the other one – the story behind it makes me laugh now, but it wasn’t funny back then!

When I planted those trees, I did everything by the book. Believe me when I tell you, not even a professional gardener could have done a better job! I added supporting sticks, I watered them, I did everything I could to make those little baby trees grow. And then the rabbit came.

That one sneaky rabbit destroyed one of my trees overnight, and I was so mad I swore I would make stew out of it, if I ever caught it in action. Well, I never did, and the next year I planted a new tree (which is why the other one is now smaller).

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Quick Tip: Serve with vanilla cream or ice cream!

The Fastest Disappearing Side Dish You’ll Ever See!

Don’t you just hate throwing food to waste? I really do. I grew up watching my grandmother make use of every ingredient she had on hand, whether it was leftovers or something from her backyard garden. She never threw anything away, unless for some strange reason she had missed something and it had gone bad already. Even then, she always shook her head, as if she thought she should have been more careful.

I understand why she did this; she lived through some hard times when she was young, when money was tight and they didn’t always know if they’d have anything to eat the next day. Even when she got older and could have bought all the food she could eat, she never changed her ways.

Which was also a great thing for the environment, you know! There’s all this talk about food going to waste and how we should pay attention to what and how we are consuming. That’s why I love recipes like this vegetable fried rice from The Woks Of Life! That leftover rice in your fridge? It’s perfect for this, and you don’t have to throw anything away!

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Quick Tip: This dish is perfect for those days when you have plenty of leftover rice from last night’s dinner!

The BESTEST Dessert Invention On The Planet

I think I have died and gone to dessert heaven! It’s the only way I can explain what just happened to me when I took my first bite of these pumpkin whoopie pies.

No, it wasn’t the first whoopie pie ever for me, but it sure was the first pumpkin one. And I don’t think I can go back anymore! If you haven’t tried these yet, you’ve been seriously missing out.

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with pumpkin. I love pumpkin soup and all kinds of savory pumpkin dishes. But I haven’t always been a fan of pumpkin desserts. I had my doubts when my sister said she found an awesome recipe – to be honest with you, I almost skipped this one.

I’m so happy, though, that I decided to give it a go after all. I think I’m going to have to make another batch tomorrow – I doubt there will be any left after my kids get home!

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Quick Tip: A cookie scoop with a release mechanism will help you work with the soft cake batter.

Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You – These Are Addictive!

I had a very special guest this summer, when one of my childhood friends called me and asked if I was around. She lives in Spain and I don’t get to see her very often, but when we do meet up, the days are always filled with laughter, endless conversations, huge meals and good wine. She has shared so many amazing recipes with me and I love how they are a bit different from those I usually make.

This time she brought along all the ingredients for spicy chicken meatballs. Apparently, there is a small farm right next to her home in her village in Spain, and she has become friends with the couple who are running it. She said they are great cooks, as well, and that she hasn’t used beef for meatballs since she got this recipe.

After trying these, I wouldn’t be surprised if I never made beef meatballs again, either! These are so scrumptious – just the right amount of spiciness to amp up the flavor of the mild chicken. And these are very lean, too, so they’re great for anyone trying to get rid of extra calories!

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Quick Tip: Try adding some red pepper flakes!

Bacon Makes Good Things Even Better

I know I said Tailgate Touchdown in the headline but I might as well have said Morning Routine Touchdown! These egg and bacon muffins have saved my life on so many occasions, I’ve lost count. We all know what it’s like now that the kids are back to school and you’re trying to get them out of bed, comb their hair (or at least brush their teeth) and eat a little something before you rush them out the door. It’s not always easy, or fun, but these guys are here to help you!

These muffins are so easy to make ahead for those crazy times, and even if you’re not making them ahead, they’ll be ready in 30 minutes. Now, that’s what I call fast food! These are not only great for breakfast, but also awesome for anyone who needs to quickly grab a snack or lunch for work.

You can hide all kinds of yummy things inside these muffins! Little bits of cheese, broccoli, grated carrots, you name it! I usually just add mushrooms but the kids love these with spinach.

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Quick Tip: Use turkey bacon for a leaner option.

This Became An Instant Favorite At Our House!

Some days I feel very inspired when it comes to cooking and baking. Fall is usually that kind of time for me; when the air gets fresh and crispy, I am filled with this new energy that makes me want to try and learn all kinds of new things. This morning I woke up with that feeling and I decided that I would whip up something I had never tried before!

Now, quiche isn’t a completely new thing for me – and I bet most of you have made one or two of them over the years, too. But this combination of ingredients was something I probably wouldn’t have thought of trying. Fortunately, my sister had tried this recipe and said it was amazing, so I decided to give it a go, too.

I love taking shortcuts when it comes to pie crusts… I mean, ain’t nobody got time for making your own, right? Ok, I have to admit homemade pie crusts are awesome, but this quiche is absolutely divine even if you’re using store-bought. Give yourself a break, just like I did!

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Quick Tip: Use your favorite sausage for this, if you can’t find maple sausage.

Up your mac and cheese game with a few awesome tweaks!

I feel blessed today. Actually, I feel blessed most days of my life but today especially. Here I was, working in my home office and suddenly waking up to the noise coming from our kitchen. Maybe I shouldn’t refer it to as “noise”, since it was one of my favorite sounds in the world. My husband talking to himself while cooking something that smelled really good!

I hadn’t even asked him if he could cook today but the sweet guy had realized I was really busy, and decided to surprise me. I asked him what he was making in there but he refused to tell me. All I knew was that it involved mini meatballs!

Just a short while later I heard him shout; “It’s ready!” and I could have beaten Usain Bolt when I rushed to the kitchen. What was it that smelled so heavenly? It was the yummiest mac and cheese ever! Apparently he had come across a tasty-looking recipe and wanted to make his own version of it. Did I already mention I feel blessed?

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Quick Tip: Use your favorite cheese for this recipe.