Roast Chicken Halves with Lemon Garlic Butter

Chicken. (Insert long sigh.) I just love chicken. There are so many things you can do with it that it's virtually impossible to get bored with it. I have so many ideas running through my head that I just can't keep up!

This roast chicken is my latest chicken recipe creation. And let me tell you...it is delicious. I tried something new with this one and the result was the best ever. What did I do differently? Well, this chicken was halved. I've never tried to tackle it before but I'm seriously doing it this way from now on. Not only does it cook faster than when it's whole, but it cooks more evenly leaving you with super moist and perfectly cooked meat.

Mango Salsa (with Apples) for Canning

I think I've finally made my best fruit salsa yet. My Apple Peach Salsa - which was pretty darn tasty - has nothing on this one. Nothing I tell you!

Roasted Golden Potatoes with Onions and Herbs

I love roasting potatoes. It brings out so much flavor and cooks them perfectly! I'm always trying to come up with different combinations of flavors and ingredients for roasting but usually end up sticking around the same core of ingredients. Hey, when you find something that works, you have to go for it!

Spiced Plum Martini

Quite a few years ago, I used to have Martini Mondays. Then I added Martini Tuesdays. Then Martini Wednesdays. I know that sounds like I was a total lush, but I promise I wasn't. I just really enjoyed a martini after work. And it was only one. That little habit only lasted for about a month anyways and then it just...fizzled. I recently remembered those days and decided I should go back to having a martini every now and then. Since I revisited them I've only made a couple over the past few months but they've been some of the best martinis I've ever had.

Classic Vodka Tonic

I just don't take very good pictures of drinks. I've come to terms with it. I don't have the great set-up, or lights, or even patience for that matter. I make the drink, I take the picture. It's usually quite a few before I settle on one that's 'good enough' to post, but at least it still looks like the actual drink I make. It's just that there isn't any pretty additions or beautiful sunlight shining down or a choir singing or anything like that. But rest assured, if the drink wasn't delicious, I wouldn't post it.

Chicken Breasts with Roasted Tomatoes and Balsamic Glaze

We eat chicken pretty often around here so I'm always looking for new ways to serve it up. It's a good thing it's one of those meats that goes with pretty much anything because there's so many different things you can do with it!

Pasta Carbonara - The Ham Way

I've finally made a ham category on here. It's been a long time coming considering I have so many recipes on here that use it! I just love it so much and love finding new and creative uses for it. This may not be the most creative use, but it's definitely one of the tastiest!

Stuffed Zucchini - Mexican Style

I had my first 'real' harvest from my garden last week and I ended up with two pretty large zucchini. When I have zucchini that large, stuffing them is the first thing that comes to mind. They're the perfect size for that because the seeds are larger and a lot of people don't like to eat them. I don't mind, but, it's a great excuse for me to come up with new ideas.

Fried Green Tomatoes - No, Not the Movie Kind

The movie was good, but the food is even better. And what else are you supposed to do when you have a whole bunch of green tomatoes growing in your garden?

Grilled Honey Cider Glazed Pork Chops

I am on fire this grilling season! Well, not literally. That would be a bad thing. Although I did get pretty warm the last time I was out there...

I have so many ideas and my brain is getting overloaded with thoughts of meat and vegetables getting a nice char. From pork to chicken to steak, I've done them all already! They've all been great but these chops were the biggest hit with the boys so far. When first coming up with the recipe, I was trying to think of something slightly sweet. After reviewing some pantry items, I whipped up a little glaze.

Canned Marinated Roasted Red Peppers

When red peppers are on sale at the grocery store, I like to stock up and roast them for canning. Roasting peppers is so easy and when you do it in bulk, you'll save some money and always have some on hand!

Spicy Citrus Oven 'Poached' Cod

I've made it a mission to eat more fish around here. It hasn't really been easy since my husband hates it, but I don't want my son to dislike it because of that. My plan: have it on nights when my husband is working! The grocery store a couple blocks away gets fresh fish in on Mondays and Wednesdays so every couple weeks (yes, I know it needs to be more and we're working on it) I'll pick up some cod*. It's my fish of choice for the moment because it's very mild, sturdy, and easy to cook. So far, my son has loved it every time I'm made it, too. This makes me so very happy.

Creamy Cheddar Polenta

I had the biggest craving for polenta the other day. I'm not sure why, but a creamy polenta just sounded so good. We grilled up some steaks so I had my chance! Polenta goes really well with meat and my hubby suggested adding some cheddar cheese to it for a little variation. Why the heck not, right?

Grilled Honey Lemon Chicken Kabobs

The post for this recipe will be short, sweet and to the point. Partly because there isn't much to say other than these little chicken bites were deliciously moist and subtly sweet, but mostly because it's very difficult to type when your good hand is bandaged up. If you follow me on Facebook, you may know that I got some lovely second degree burns from a pan on the stove. Yep, put my hand right on the bottom of a pan that was next to a boiling pot of water. And of course, the part I touched was in the flames. Oh boy, right? Pretty careless on my part so I'm now paying the consequences.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

I bought a blueberry bush today. Couldn't resist with my new-found green thumb.

And, well, I thought it might be a good idea since my son and I love them so much and they're just so expensive. The plant was only eight bucks so why not give it a go, right?

Blueberries don't usually stick around very long here, but if by chance there are any sitting around after a few days, I'll use them up in a recipe before they go bad. I love to use blueberries in cooking and baking soone day, a coffee cake sounded good. I was also looking for something easy so I thought I'd use the crescent dough can that had been lingering in the fridge. It seemed like it would work really well since it bakes up nice and flaky so I worked out a couple ideas and ended up with this super easy, super yummy dessert.

Shortcut "Baked" Sweet Potato

There is nothing wrong with saving a little time now and then - especially when life seems so hectic these days! That's why it's okay to have a sweet potato that was 'baked' in the microwave. If you feel you must judge, then that's okay. But some days time just isn't on my side and I may want a nice, yummy sweet potato with my dinner. And, well, when it's 85 degrees outside, having the oven on for an hour doesn't sound very pleasant.

So if you're wanting a sweet potato of the 'baked' variety, give the microwave a shot. Or your slow cooker. Or go the good old oven route. Any way you cook it, it will be delicious. I promise. (Bonus: Sweet potatoes are a super food so they're very healthy and good for you!)

Spiked Tropical Colada

I'm always super excited when my drink recipes turn out awesome on the first try. Usually I have to add a bit more of the hard stuff, but this time was good. As you may know from previous drink posts, I'm a coconut-aholic when it comes to mixed drinks. I might also be a little heavy handed with the bottle at times. But hey, I figure if I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it right. Besides, you can always tweak any drink recipe to suit your own specific tastes when it comes to alcohol and how much you use. This one is perfect for me though. Just perfect. Not too sweet, not too coconut-ty (is there such a thing?) and not too strong. Just right for a Friday night when you've been working too hard all day and need a little break.

And yes, I'm using my stylish Chicago Bears glass because, well, it's Friday night and I've been working too hard all day. I needed a big glass.

Classic Potato Gnocchi

If you've never had potato gnocchi, you're missing out. It's a dish that seems like it would bog you down, but it doesn't. They're just light, fluffy little pieces of goodness. They are a bit filling, but they don't have that heaviness associated with them.

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.

Denver Breakfast Cups

Sometimes the tastiest of recipes happen on a whim. That's precisely how this one came about. I had some leftover baked ham and I've been trying to think of ways to use it up. A little egg-type breakfast muffin sounded interesting so I just threw some things together in a bowl. 20 minutes later I had a great, little breakfast bite!

A Peachy (Hard) Drink

I'm in love with this drink. Is that weird? Should I not be in love with a drink? If you taste it though, you'll know what I mean and you'll feel the same way.

I had never had peach-flavored vodka before the bottle of Ciroc that appeared at my house not too long ago. I just had to taste it and oh my, was it delicious. My immediate thought was that I could either drink it right out of the bottle or, more appropriately, make the best damn hard lemonade ever. I chose the latter. But by all means, if your choice is to drink it out of the bottle, you will not be judged here, my friend. Drink the tasty vodka however you please. I'd highly suggest giving this mix a try though. I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed. The vodka itself is amazingly fresh and smooth and the addition of club soda and fresh lemon juice elevates it to a new level that is perfect.

Pink Lemonade Cookies

It's so hard to say no to my little guy when he asks if we can make cookies. If he asked more often I could, but it's usually only every couple months or so. I think I can let the boy splurge on cookies every two months...

Pureed Sweet Potato Soup with Candied Bacon

Not too long ago, I was sick with a nasty cold. This was one of those colds when a nice, warm soup is just the thing to get you all cozy and feeling better. And before you ask, I'm weird and love to cook when I'm sick. Always have. Probably always will.

Chinese Beef with Vegetables

Oh man. I've inadvertently gone a month(!) without a new post. This was not intentional. Every once in awhile, my work life just takes over and I get pretty busy. This is the case right now. In fact, this whole year has been crazy. I love it though. If I wasn't busy, I'd go crazy myself. But, there's probably a little crazy in there already...

Anyways, I come back to the blog world with this easy dinner. I have to admit that the picture doesn't really do it justice. It was one tasty meal and my lighting didn't really like the rice enough to make it drool-worthy. Trust me though, this is some serious good eating.

Roasted Garlic Hummus (and the benefits of eating it)

Hummus. Yum.

It's easy, it's healthy, it's tasty. What more can I say?

Oh...how about adding roasted garlic to bring that hummus to a new level. Oh yeah, now we're talkin'.

Or the fact that it's actually healthy. Yep, we're talkin' even more now!

Tropical Ham Roll-Ups

I have a problem. If I don't make up something new each day, I feel weird. It's to the point where I'll just come up with something on the fly sometimes just so I can blog about it. I know, I know...it's just that I'm a creative person and that creativity has to come out in so many ways! The kitchen is my studio and food is a canvas. Does that even make sense or am I just full of it? Either way, I wanted a snack and I got to thinking...

Growing Up (A Little Too) Fast

Photo Source: Shutterstock

We hit a milestone over here last week. My little man started school for the very first time. Granted, it's just preschool, but it's school regardless. I was definitely ready, but at the same time, I'm not ready for my little boy to be big enough for school. I mean, he's still in a carseat for cryin' out loud! How did this happen!? He seems to have grown up way too fast over the past couple months and I don't like it one bit.

Tri-Pepper Ranch Pasta Salad

I have finally found a pasta salad that everyone loves. That's the thing with pasta salads, you either like it or hate it and it's hard to find one that pleases even the pickiest eaters. This one does the trick though!

Grown Up Grilled Cheese: A Meaty Brie

I had a little fascination with Brie not too long ago. I felt the need to broaden my love for cheese so I thought I'd grab some at the grocery store and make whatever my mind could create. What did I come up with? Grilled cheese, of course! Well, also a quesadilla but that's another story... Anyways, if you've been following my posts, you know that I like to make 'grown up' grilled cheese sandwiches every now and then that aren't part of the normal 'american cheese' variety. It's a little ongoing project of mine...