Toasted Cheese Ravioli

These toasted ravioli are my new favorite thing! They’re crispy, and delicious with a warm cheese filling… perfect for an appetizer or snack. We enjoyed these so much that I made them two days in a row. The second time I served these toasted ravioli with tomato soup, as a fun alternative to grilled cheese! I’ve seen a simple toasted ravioli recipe bouncing around on Pinterest for quite some time. Vague directions are written under the pin, and the pin doesn’t actually link to the recipe. I decided to wing it and try using Buitoni ravioli from the refrigerated section. … Continue reading Toasted Cheese Ravioli

Parmesan Crusted Baked Potatoes

I’ve just found my new favorite potato recipe! I’m honestly not much of a potato fan, but I do try to make them frequently for my husband. I came across this recipe (here) and had to give it a try. We both loved it! When they come out of the oven, these potatoes are soft and buttery, topped with a deliciously crispy parmesan crust. Serve these Parmesan Crusted Potatoes as a side dish or an appetizer! Parmesan Crusted Baked Potatoes 6 small potatoes 1/4 cup butter grated parmesan cheese garlic salt freshly ground pepper Preheat oven to 400F. Scrub potatoes … Continue reading Parmesan Crusted Baked Potatoes

Tex-Mex Roasted Stuffed Peppers

I can’t get enough of roasted peppers! I love how roasted peppers are crispy charred, and yet soft and juicy. I used to be under the assumption that I couldn’t get a good charred pepper without a gas stove or grill, but I’ve discovered that an oven broiler is a great way to cook peppers! Roasted bell peppers are a tasty and healthier alternative to tortillas for Mexican dishes (or try a sandwich bread or bun swap with my Roast Beef Stuffed Peppers!). These Tex-Mex Roasted Stuffed Peppers are a great way for turning leftovers into a fresh new dish! Use … Continue reading Tex-Mex Roasted Stuffed Peppers

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

I love smoothies! You can toss just about any combination of fruit into a blender and turn it into a refreshing treat. Smoothies are a quick breakfast option or a delicious morning or afternoon snack. I love the tropical sweetness from the pineapple and mangos in this smoothie, it’s easy to forget that this drink is actually healthy! I used frozen pineapple chunks for this recipe to get the icy coldness of a smoothie without adding ice. I’m a little addicted to vanilla almond milk, but you could use the unsweetened kind or regular milk instead! Pineapple Mango Smoothie 1 … Continue reading Pineapple Mango Smoothie

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Sauce

Pasta is my favorite comfort food… macaroni and cheese… fettuccine alfredo… lasagna! What I really love is a good sauce. Honestly, pasta is just plain boring without it! This Roasted Red Pepper Sauce is rich, creamy, and cheesy, balanced with the flavors of fresh basil and red peppers. Roasting peppers couldn’t be simpler but it adds great flavor to sauces (and dips, like my Roasted Red Pepper Hummus). If you’ve never roasted peppers (or if it’s your favorite thing ever) you should give this recipe a try! Roasted Red Pepper Sauce 4 servings 2 large red bell peppers 2 large … Continue reading Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Sauce

Crockpot Tex-Mex Black Beans

You’ve probably heard about the pros of cooking dry beans: it’s cheaper than buying canned beans and they’re healthier (because you can decide what goes into them!). But cooking dry beans is also so easy! Cooking beans in chicken broth really gives them an extra meaty flavor (but you could use water or vegetable stock instead). The chicken broth thickens with the spices to make a rich and flavorful chili sauce! Serve these tasty beans as a side dish, in burritos, or on top of nachos! Crockpot Tex-Mex Black Beans                        … Continue reading Crockpot Tex-Mex Black Beans

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

I’ve been on a little hummus kick recently. Roasted red pepper hummus was the first hummus flavor that I ever tried. It was the single-serving kind that came with pita chips in the same package. In case you haven’t already guessed, homemade is way better! I love the flavor that fresh roasted peppers add to this hummus. Try it as a simple and healthy snack the next time you’re craving something salty! Roasted Red Pepper Hummus 2 red bell peppers  1  16oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) 1/4 cup lime (or lemon) juice  2 tbsp olive oil 1/4 tsp garlic powder … Continue reading Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Crispy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage

This is one of my go-to meals that I make all of the time. We often have all of the ingredients for this recipe on hand and it’s one that my husband loves. Meat and potatoes are the base for this recipe, add any veggie that you have on hand to give it some variety! I don’t like kitchen clean up, so I absolutely love the fact that this is a one dish meal! The ingredient quantities in this recipe are easily adjusted for making any amount of food that you need. Crispy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage             … Continue reading Crispy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage

Spicy & Sweet Baked Beans

Recently we were served a Mexican meal that came with a side of baked beans. The beans were spicy and sweet, with bacon, jalapenos, and cilantro. I’d never considered combining baked beans and Mexican black beans but it was so good, I couldn’t wait to try to duplicate the recipe! I feel like what I came up with is pretty close, though I did choose to use black beans instead of navy beans. Spicy Baked Beans                                    6 servings 5 strips of bacon 1 cup … Continue reading Spicy & Sweet Baked Beans

Chicken Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

I’ve wanted to make homemade macaroni and cheese for quite a while, it’s one of my favorite things to try at restaurants. This creamy homemade macaroni and cheese recipe is made with only fresh ingredients, no processed cheese! I’m not going to lie, macaroni with velveeta cheese is still one of my favorites, but fancy macaroni and cheese is a great treat. I really wanted to use white cheddar for this recipe, but couldn’t find any at the store that I went to. I used mild cheddar instead and it gave this dish a good, rich flavor. This recipe is … Continue reading Chicken Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies

I’ve made quite a few iced caramel macchiatos with the caramel that I made earlier this week. So good! But I did reserve some of the caramel for these sandwich cookies. These salted caramel shortbread cookies are a new creation that I’d never tried before, I love the way they turned out! The caramel in these cookies gives the crispy shortbread a delicious flaky texture. You can find my easy homemade caramel recipe here. Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies Needed:                                   makes 16-20 sandwich cookies 2 … Continue reading Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies

I’ve made quite a few iced caramel macchiatos with the caramel that I made earlier this week. So good! But I did reserve some of the caramel for these sandwich cookies. These salted caramel shortbread cookies are a new creation that I’d never tried before, I love the way they turned out! The caramel in these cookies gives the crispy shortbread a delicious flaky texture. You can find my easy homemade caramel recipe here. Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies Needed:                                   makes 16-20 sandwich cookies 2 … Continue reading Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

This salsa has such a fresh and flavorful taste, it’s perfect for summer! All of the ingredients in this simple recipe are easily kept on hand, great for a last minute appetizer or side dish. Corn and Black Bean Salsa 1 cup rotel 1 cup corn 1 cup black beans 1/4 cup onion (chopped) fresh cilantro corn chips 1 lime Stir together rotel, corn, beans, and onion. Add lime juice to taste. Top with chopped cilantro. This salsa is best if chilled before serving. Serve with corn chips. Enjoy this salsa with a tasty Mexican meal or at your next … Continue reading Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Vanilla Coffee Syrup

I love all things vanilla! How could you not like vanilla? It’s the flavor that I choose most often when it comes to making scones, cake, cookies, pudding, and coffee! If you frequently use vanilla beans for baking, save the empty pods for this easy coffee syrup recipe! Vanilla Coffee Syrup Needed: 2 cups water 2 cups sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 vanilla bean pod (or 1 tsp vanilla extract) glass dispenser bottle To sterilize your dispenser bottle, wash it with soap and hot water. In a saucepan, add water, sugar, and the vanilla bean pod (if you’re using vanilla extract, … Continue reading Vanilla Coffee Syrup

Chicken Stir Fry // Spicy Honey Sauce

This Asian inspired Chicken Stir Fry is an easy and healthy dinner that you can put together in 20 minutes. It’s a meal that I always fall back on when trying to use up a mix of fresh veggies. Choose any variety of vegetables and this recipe will never get old! The spicy honey sauce reminds me of sweet and spicy Asian food, and I love how simple it is! Chicken Stir Fry Needed: veggies of your choice (carrots, bell pepper, onion, brocoli, snow peas) pineapple chunks breaded chicken nuggets (homemade or frozen) rice olive oil 1/4 tsp garlic powder … Continue reading Chicken Stir Fry // Spicy Honey Sauce