Ham and Pineapple Quesadilla with Roasted Red Pepper Spread

Another ham post? Yes. Yes it is. And there will be more after this one. I can't help it that I love it so much! I currently have three in my freezer. (I may have forgotten that I had two in there when I bought two more, but I just can't pass up sales that have them for $.70/lb!) You can just do so much with leftovers that I will bake up a ham whenever the craving strikes because, well, I guess I consider it a pantry staple.

Mini Veggie Pizza Bites

I love little food. (Let's be real though...is there anyone who doesn't?) So when I came across some little pizza bites one day, I just knew I had to make them for a party we were going to.

Spice-Rubbed Grilled Chicken

Chicken is one of those things that is so easy to adapt to your mood of the day. Whether you want some elaborate dinner or something that cooks up in just a few easy, quick steps, you're almost always sure to find what you're looking for.

Since the weather is finally warming up, my mood turned to grilling a few days ago. I didn't feel like having anything heavy, so I went with a spice rub. Not only was it really easy and quick to put together, but I can honestly say this is one of the best grilled chicken dishes I've ever had. Seriously. All the flavors melded wonderfully together and they were all balanced very well. There was a tint of sweetness with a little saltiness and a whole lot of flavor!

DIY Raised Garden Bed

I've been pretty busy around here with various life events and I've, regrettably, neglected my posts here. Between work, a preschool graduation (ah!) and prep work for my first garden, I've become a tad behind in pretty much everything lately. Things have seemed like they've been in fast-forward around here and I just need to chill. But, when you're a stay at home/work-aholic, it's hard to take a breather...

So what do I do when I need some down time? Well, usually cook. But this time I decided the down time for yesterday (while my husband is still on vacation) would be setting up a garden. I've been wanting one for a few years now and have always just put it off. This year though, there is motivation. And I'm determined to make it awesome.

Stir-Fry Veggie Pita Melt

I sometimes get in a 'spur-of-the-moment' type of mood when it comes to food. I see something sitting around (in this case it was a pita) and it just spins into a quick dish. Today I saw that pita and immediately thought: veggie pita. This idea took me back to the days when I used to work at a fast food restaurant where one of the menu items was a veggie pita melt. I considered doing a take on that, but I didn't have all the ingredients needed and if I'm going to duplicate, then it must be spot on. It was one of my favorite things and I just can't do a 'fake' version.

Anyways, that thought sparked another similar pita idea. I did a quick veggie stir-fry with some teriyaki sauce and then I was in pita melt heaven.

Baked Chicken Flautas

My husband loves Mexican food. He actually said he could eat it every day if possible. Well, in this house, that isn't going to happen unless he starts cooking. It's not that I don't like the food, it's just that I can't eat a lot of it. It's not my favorite thing. In moderation though, I'm good.

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore - the Healthier Way!

Here's a little secret: I have never made chicken cacciatore before. My dad used to make the dish quite often when I was younger, but it just wasn't one of those things that I'd go running for. It was good, but just not my thing.

Ever since I started whipping up my crock pot meals though, I've found myself trying new things and reinventing some old classics. One of them happens to be this chicken cacciatore. There were a couple tests and versions before I was finally happy with the results, but the last one turned out so well that my quest for an amazing chicken cacciatore is over. I wouldn't change a thing with this one! I don't think I've ever said that before. Scary.