Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread

Fall is coming! I am absolutely in love with this season! I’ve already been overwhelming my husband with Autumn candle scents, and talk of pumpkins and Fall decor. I can hardly wait for cooler and cozy weather after the nearly unbearable Texas summer heat. In fact, the first couple of days of September were some of our hottest yet this year. In spite of the 105º+ temperatures, I turned on the oven and heated up the house in order to make this Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make. Enjoy this quick sweet bread … Continue reading Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread

Garlic Asparagus

Lately I’ve really been attempting to make healthier, less processed, food for us. I’m not going to lie, my favorite meals are the unhealthy ones… dishes that are loaded with pasta and cheese… cheeseburgers have really been my thing recently… and, of course, pizza is always acceptable. I’m not completely cutting out these foods, but I’m trying to get as many vegetables into our diet as possible. Garlic salt makes amazing garlic bread (another unhealthy favorite), so I decided to try it on baked asparagus. We loved it! This way of cooking vegetables is definitely a keeper (try this flavoring method … Continue reading Garlic Asparagus

Mexican Street Corn

This recipe is so quick and easy… do I always say that?? Well, this recipe really is almost effortless (adapted from here). I’ve really been wanting to try Mexican Street Style Corn and I finally found some really good-looking corn last week. This recipe was such a hit! It has so many layers of flavor with the sweetness of the corn, the salty spiciness of the mayo, and the tartness of the lime. I love this spicy mayo, it’s such an excellent compliment to sweet and juicy corn (it would be great over grilled corn)! Mexican Street Corn 4 ears sweet corn olive oil … Continue reading Mexican Street Corn

Mocha Sugar Scrub

I love sugar scrubs, and they’re really so easy to make at home (like my Cookie Dough Sugar Scrub)! This Mocha Scrub is one that I’ve been wanting to make for quite some time. I saved the coffee grounds from my morning coffee to use in this sweet smelling scrub! Do a quick online search for the skin benefits of coffee grounds and you’ll find claims that it helps to minimize everything from cellulite to stretch marks. I can’t guarantee that this coffee scrub will change your life, but you really can’t go wrong with a skin care product that smells … Continue reading Mocha Sugar Scrub

Blueberry Mango Smoothie

Today I’m in the kitchen, whipping up some Pesto from my basil plant (which is growing out of control!) and working on some recipes that will be on the blog soon. But I’m taking a break to share another easy recipe for smoothies with you! This Blueberry Mango Smoothie totally reminds me of a blueberry muffin! Blueberries, along with the sweetness of mango and the richness of almond milk, make up this satisfying and healthy treat. Blueberry Mango Smoothie                                 1 serving 1/2 mango 1/2 cup blueberries 1 … Continue reading Blueberry Mango Smoothie

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

Bacon Wrapped Sausages

This appetizer brings back so many memories! As I was growing up, we had these bacon wrapped sausages at almost every family celebration that I can remember. We still make these sausages every Christmas, along with all of our other favorite finger foods. Everyone loves them, they’re just so addicting! The brown sugar caramelizes over the bacon, creating an amazing sweet and savory treat! These Bacon Wrapped Sausages are such an easy party food and they’ll be a hit at your next gathering! Bacon Wrapped Sausages 6-8 servings beef little smokies sausages (1 package) bacon (1 package) 2 cups brown sugar … Continue reading Bacon Wrapped Sausages

Fresh Tomato Sauce

I wasn’t a big fan of tomato soup until I tasted fresh tomato soup (served at a local restaurant) and fell in love. It was so rich and creamy, I was surprised and even skeptical when I was told that there wasn’t actually any cream in the soup at all. It’s true, this recipe isn’t actually for tomato soup, but this sauce features that same unbelievably rich creaminess (even without adding any dairy!). I love this sauce because it can be served on several different levels, from hearty and rustic to smooth and velvety (my favorite)! Fresh Tomato Sauce 2 … Continue reading Fresh Tomato Sauce

Salsa Verde Casserole

It’s been a busy few weeks since opening my Etsy shop (if you haven’t already checked it out, you can find the Hello Homebody Etsy shop here). I’ve been attempting to fill orders, create new items for the shop, and keep up with recipe planning and blogging. My goal is to create a good schedule so that I’m not jumping from project to project all day long, but I haven’t found that happy balance of organization quite yet. In the middle of my scattered-ness, I’ve been falling back on our favorite dishes for dinner, simple recipes that I know by … Continue reading Salsa Verde Casserole

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

Peanut Butter Bars (Reese’s copycat)

That’s right, today’s recipe is all about making homemade candy bars! Looking for a quick no-bake dessert? Look no further, these peanut butter bars are just the thing to satisfy your sweet tooth! I made these PB bars with my husband in mind… but I have to be honest, I’ve definitely eaten my fair share! Drew did love these. After his first taste, he even told me that “these are the single best thing you’ve ever made in your entire life”. If you love Reese’s, you should try these addicting bars for yourself! My recipe was slightly altered from here. Peanut … Continue reading Peanut Butter Bars (Reese’s copycat)

Chile Rellenos Casserole

This just might be the very first “new” recipe that I tried out right after Drew and I were married. I’d loved to cook for years before that, but cooking for my new husband was just so much fun! Casseroles. I love them for so many reason: they’re so tasty (I really don’t know if I’ve ever met a casserole that I didn’t like), they’re great leftover, and one-dish dinners make clean-up easy! But so many of the casseroles that I make are loaded with pasta or tortillas. This dish is light on carbs but still filling and easy! Green … Continue reading Chile Rellenos Casserole

Smoked Chipotle Ketchup

Ketchup is the condiment of Summer! We use it to top hamburgers and hot dogs, french fries and corn dogs. I’d never even thought about making ketchup from scratch before but, after trying a smoky chipotle ketchup at Twisted Root, I became inspired to try it! I loved the thought of playing with flavors to make my own ketchup. When I started researching ketchup-making recipes I discovered that there are lots of different methods, ranging from recipes that start with fresh tomatoes, to recipes that require no cooking at all. I settled for an in-between method that’s quick and simple, … Continue reading Smoked Chipotle Ketchup

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