You probably know by now that I grew up in Wisconsin. I was raised on all things dairy. I love cheese, ice cream, fresh whipped cream, and yogurt. I love all dairy products except for one. Milk. You heard me. I hate milk. It is pure evil. I can’t even smell it without gagging. The only way I can enjoy milk is if it is heavily seasoned as the base of a soup or in hot chocolate. A couple years ago I discovered store-bought almond milk. It still wasn’t my favorite drink, but it was tolerable. I … [Read more...]
3-Seed Gluten Free Crackers
Don’t we all enjoy a crispy, salty, buttery cracker with a piece of cheese or a dip? Usually those crackers aren’t very nutritious or filling, leaving you unsatisfied. Plus most of them are laced with a ton of salt, preservatives, unnecessary fats, and contain a ton of other crazy ingredients you can’t pronounce. Seriously, read the label; do you know what half of that stuff is? And they are heavy on the gluten and carbs. Moral of the story: store-bought crackers really are not a healthy … [Read more...]
DIY Mint Extract
I am in love with all things minty. I love mint gum, breath mints, mint tea, and hello! Of course, the mint and chocolate combo! Due to my mint obsession I planted two different kinds of mint this spring. Despite all my efforts to regularly make a fresh cup of mint tea and use mint in recipes whenever possible, my mint is growing like crazy. Then, I thought of a brilliant way to use up my mint. DIY Mint Extract. It couldn’t be any easier. Just two ingredients, 5 minutes of prep time, and … [Read more...]
Greek Watermelon Salad
When I think of summertime, I think of eating big bright juicy slices of red watermelon outside. The juice from the watermelon usually runs down my chin and makes its way to my arm at some point. All while trying to fish for the black seeds in my mouth so that I can spit them out. Watermelon is the ultimate refreshing fruit to enjoy during the summer. It is delicious and fun to eat a slice all by itself. But sometimes it’s fun to play around with fruit. Let’s take watermelon to a new and … [Read more...]
Roasted Red Pepper White Bean Hummus
I am in love with hummus. Hummus is a staple in our household. I make some kind of hummus at least once a week, maybe twice, or three times. What is not to love? It is smooth, creamy, and robust. You can eat it with a variety of veggies, pita chips, pita bread, tortilla chips, crackers, or smear it onto a sandwich. Did I mention that hummus is good for you? It contains fiber and protein from the beans. The olive oil and tahini paste add healthy fats. Plus the garlic; did you know that … [Read more...]
Salsa Verde
Recently Paul and I found a delicious Mexican restaurant. After just one meal there it will be our go-to Mexican restaurant. I ordered a pork quesadilla that had a tomatillo salsa generously served on top. The salsa was incredibly good. So, I set out to make my own version at home. This salsa verde is reminiscent of tangy green apples with a juicy spice and hint of cilantro. Most of the time jarred salsa verde is cooked. If I had to guess the salsa verde at the Mexican restaurant was raw … [Read more...]
Mixed Nuts with Thyme and Rosemary
This July I am going on two separate week-long trips that are back-to-back. I am super excited! First is a trip to Canada with Paul’s family and the second trip is my annual family vacation in South Carolina. Two very different trips with a tight schedule. I am only back in the Midwest for one day and I am not even coming home to Iowa. I am transferring cars at a rendezvous point in Illinois and going to my parent’s house in Wisconsin to fly out with them for our family vacation. I will need to … [Read more...]
Orange and Jicama Guacamole
I am a huge fan of my basic guacamole. It is a dish that I am constantly making during the summer. It’s such a cinch to whip up and it is always tasty. It doesn’t last very long around here. Sometimes we need to mix it up. Sometimes we need to experiment. I mean no disrespect to my trusty basic guacamole but once in a while we need to leave the tomatoes behind. So, I came up a guacamole that is a little unexpected, and maybe a little crazy. I promise that it is scrumptious, and that’s all … [Read more...]
Roasted Chickpeas with Indian Spices
If you’re like me, or pretty much anyone else in the world, then you love crunchy, salty snacks. Such as crackers, chips, popcorn…the list goes on. We know these snacks aren’t healthy for us, yet it’s so hard to stop eating, especially once you start. The crunch is so satisfying, the saltiness is so addicting. Your hand just keeps reaching for that tasty, crunchy snack. Am I making you hungry for a bag of potato chips yet? Don’t reach for them, don’t do it! Instead make these crunchy, salty, … [Read more...]
Almond Joy Raw Energy Balls
Happy Monday friends, I have some exciting news to share with you! Paul and I bought our very first house. Goodbye apartment that won't let us use our grill anymore; hello to our very own house with a large backyard so that we can grill whenever we want! Yes, being able to grill again is one of the things I am most looking forward to. I have missed out on some serious grill time so far this summer, I will be playing catch-up shortly. Anyways, we are moving in as you are reading this. We … [Read more...]
