Have you ever made your own pancake syrup? If not, I highly recommend it...and you could start with this one. (But be warned, you may never go back to the bottled kind.) Ever since my little sugar-free stint in August of 2011 (or was it 2012?), I've made it a point to squeeze harder in other places of the grocery budget, so that I can buy maple syrup. It's my pancake and hot … [Read more...]
Juicy Salsa Burger
My boys love burgers. It's generally what they order off the kids' menu when we go out for dinner, and what they would request if I asked them what they wanted to grill for dinner. When Hellmann's asked us to give this new recipe for the Juicy Salsa Burger a try, I hoped it would be a hit with the family. I knew the burger part would be a hit...but I wasn't so sure about the … [Read more...]
Seven Layer Tostadas
This is one of those "it just came together" meals... A few weeks back, we took the kids downtown during Fiesta week to go to the River Parade. They were serving some delicious tex-mex options in the section where our seats were located. They had fajitas, as well as bean and cheese tostadas. The kids had never had a tostada before, as I rarely made them in Ohio because the … [Read more...]
Strawberry Spinach Quinoa Salad
Hello lovely. Yes, this is a lovely, lovely salad. It's lovely because it combines a few of my favorite flavors (strawberry, spinach and almonds). It's lovely because it tasted light, but the quinoa made the me feel full. And it's even lovelier because it is made of "ingredients I had on hand." Otherwise known as "popular ingredients that most people have"...because I don't … [Read more...]
Sweet Potato Zucchini Frittata
I like frittatas. My family likes frittatas. But for different reasons. I like frittatas because they are the breakfast version of stone soup. And I like them because I've never tried one that I didn't like. Pretty much any veggie and/or veggie combination works in a frittata, and this one proves that point. Spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, potatoes....all great … [Read more...]
Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
There was a lot of buzz at the start of 2011 about "your word for the year"...and if I had to pick a word then, and a word now, I'd say simplicity. I've been reading the book Abundant Simplicity, and in doing so, thinking a lot about our time in the Dominican Republic, the slower pace of life and the simpler way of life. Simplicity...I long for it, I need it...it keeps me … [Read more...]
Grilled Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Mashed potatoes with grilled potatoes. Delish! I'd like to introduce you all to the Klondike Rose potato. I'm sure you are familiar with Russet potatoes, baby red potatoes...what they look like, how to cook with them. But don't pass these guys up in the produce department. I love that you don't have to peel them because their skin is really thin (and also gives … [Read more...]
Fried Egg Caesar Salad
I adore a good salad and in the past have enjoyed chopped, boiled eggs on a Caesar salad, and decided to spin off of that idea! Using a well-fried egg on top of a Caesar salad. So simple, but different. Result: Scrumptious. The fried egg with the salt and pepper...on top of a pepper-y salad with a salty dressing...a great complement. (But don't fret...it wasn't "too … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Peach Glazed Pork Roast
So I happened upon some $1.49/lb pork roast recently. I bought 2 roasts last month...one to use that week I bought them and another for the freezer. I got to talking to the butcher at the store while she was weighing and packaging up the roasts. I told her that I was surprised at the price, as I hadn't seen that great of a price in a long while. She, too, was … [Read more...]
Black Beans with Mango & Cilantro
As promised, more cilantro recipes! We love love love these black beans. I've made them here and there over the years, and have "rediscovered" them...now that we live in the land of really inexpensive cilantro and super delicious mangoes. My oldest son isn't the biggest fan of beans, but he seemed to enjoy these. I'm not sure if it was the added flavor from the cilantro, or … [Read more...]