Thursday, May 30, 2013

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!)

Friday, May 24, 2013

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.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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.

Friday, May 17, 2013

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.

Friday, May 10, 2013

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.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

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!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

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.