Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Easy Cranberry Relish

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A few years ago I shared a recipe for my favorite cranberry sauce that my Aunt has made for years! It's a Thanksgiving, or Christmas side dish I look forward to all year round, it's so good! But, my Mom made this tasty cranberry relish for our immediate family for years as well. It's so dang easy that I often got the job of making it as a kid. This cranberry relish is a fun alternative to a more traditional cranberry sauce. It's fresh, bright, tart, and sweet, and super crunchy. It's also … [Read more...]

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

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Are you ready for this?!?! PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES!!! Sorry to yell at you, but these cuties are not to be missed. Also, I am a little excited about this recipe!!! You know snickerdoodle cookies, right?! Basically, they're sugar cookies that are rolled in a cinnamon sugar mixture. They have a delightful soft center, that has crunchy cinnamon sugar on the outside. They're so, so good! I even included them in  my three Christmas cookies, from one simple dough, last … [Read more...]

Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip

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Show me a person who doesn't go nuts for a good spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer?! No one, ever.   I mean, hello creamy sauce, and loads of cheese! Grab some chips, some toasty bread, or some celery, and dig in with friends. I have many memories of ordering a spinach artichoke dip at various restaurants, with friends and family. Everyone sharing the dip was infatuated with just how good it was.  Creating a recipe for spinach artichoke dip has been on my list for … [Read more...]

Healthy Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

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Raise your hand if you're ready for a super comforting fall breakfast?!?! Pumpkin spice style?! Now that it finally feels like fall, I am ALWAYS READY for a comforting breakfast.  The best part about this pumpkin baked oatmeal is that it's great for serving at brunch, or to any overnight guests you have...but, it's also perfect for meal prep. Hello, easy weekday mornings!!! Now we're talking! If you've never had baked oatmeal before, it's essentially oatmeal that's baked up into … [Read more...]

Healthy Apple Butter Muffins

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Last week I shared a recipe for slow cooker apple butter. It's easy to make, bursting with rich apple flavor, perfectly spiced, and ideal for spreading onto toast, English muffins, or biscuits.  Today, we are using some of that apple butter to bake with. We are making apple butter muffins!!!  OMG THEY ARE SO, SO GOOD! YES, ALL CAPS ARE NECESSARY FOR EXCITMENT!!! Soft, moist, muffins that are fluffy, perfectly sweet, and bursting with intense cinnamon, and apple flavor. We … [Read more...]

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

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Happy first official day of fall everyone!!! What better way to celebrate than with homemade apple butter?! SO GOOOD! This slow cooker apple butter is bursting with apple flavor and warming spices. It's perfectly sweet, it's smooth, and creamy, and nice and thick. IT'S FALL TIME PERFECTION!!! And it's all made in the slow cooker!!! Is there really any other way to let something simmer for so long? I mean, yes, there is the old-fashioned stove top method, which may be done a little … [Read more...]

Microwave Paper Bag Popcorn (No Oil)

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What's the ultimate snack time snack?! POPCORN!!!! For me, at least, it has always been a nice buttery, salty bowl of popcorn. I never really have craved a bag of potato chips, or Cheetos in my adulthood, but a bowl of popcorn? Yes please! Growing up, my parents and I had a lot of movie nights. And more often then not, my dad would microwave a bag of popcorn. Such a fun treat for movie night. I bet my dad is going to love this recipe. It's microwave paper bag popcorn - and it's his … [Read more...]

Mexican Street Corn Salad

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Mexican street corn salad!!! The flavors of a cob of Mexican street corn, all in a bowl.  August in Iowa means one thing: sweet corn season! Our sweet corn is THE BEST! So sweet, crunchy, and flavorful. Perfection on it's own. But, have you ever had Mexican street corn?! It's pretty much sweet corn on steroids! Sweet corn is so good, all you need is a little butter and salt, maybe some pepper. But, if you want to try an unusual spin on things, then try Mexican street … [Read more...]

Instant Pot Cheesecake with Cherry Topping

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Wow!! It's been a minute.  We just moved into our new house this past Friday. As I am writing this post, it is the first day that I have been working in my new office. We are officially moved in, but still in the process of unpacking. Due to the rush of packing up our old house so that we could be moved out on time, and then moving into our new house - I took a somewhat longer then expected break from blogging. Never fear, I AM BACK!  And I have so many delicious … [Read more...]

Healthier Scotcharoos (Without Corn Syrup)

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If you're from the Midwest I am sure the title of this post got you super excited! And if you're not from the Midwest, then you might be wondering what the heck are scotcharoos?!?! Let me introduce you to a true Midwest treat! Trust me, once you take a bite, you will be hooked. What are scotcharoos? Scotcharoos are essentially a peanut butter rice crispy treat that's topped with a melted layer of chocolate and butterscotch chips. The result is a delicious crunchy, chewy, treat with a … [Read more...]