Sugar Cookies - Plain, with Icing, or with Frosting

My grandma used to make some of the best sugar cookies in the entire world. No, I'm not being biased. I swear. When we were little, my sister, my cousins and I would look forward to these cookies every Christmas Eve. They were sweet, crunchy, and perfectly sized for little kids and adults alike. I used to get jealous because my sister would be the one who helped my grandma make them and that meant I never got to taste them until our family dinner. And, unfortunately, it also means that I have no idea how to make them. My grandma is gone now so it's been a very long time since those cookies have been around. I used to try really hard to duplicate pretty much everything she used to make, but I've realized that it just isn't possible. She was a Polish grandma. And like pretty much every other grandma out there, she had her own measuring techniques and her own ingredients and I'll never be able to go back in time to figure out what those were. I've finally come to terms with that. So the only thing I can do at this point is do my best to make an updated, albeit different, version to her classics.

Mediterranean Quinoa Stuffed Avocado

I'm on a quinoa kick. And I'm always looking for new things to do with avocados, so why not combine the two! This one was inspired by a recipe a friend shared on Facebook. You can find it here: http://theleancleaneatingmachine.com/2014/01/17/quinoa-stuffed-avocados/

The original was more of a Mexican-flavored meal so I decided to change it up and bring on some completely different flavors. The only way to go, of course, was Mediterranean style!

Naked Jalapeño Poppers

My husband and I are big fans of jalapeño poppers. It's been quite awhile since we had them though because the fried goodness just isn't good for you. Tasty? Oh yeah. But to eat a lot of them is just soooo not gonna happen around here.

Zucchini Pineapple Muffins

These. Oh boy. These are some good muffins. It's almost like a little zucchini bread for one. But better. These muffins are good and good for you. You can be very happy while eating them.

We've really been focusing on the healthy lifestyle over here, but that doesn't mean we're not going to enjoy food. I mean, come on...food is delicious! Why would you deny yourself the good stuff? You just have to make sure the good stuff is good for you. And these muffins totally are. They're so moist and there's just enough sweetness to make you feel like you're getting a great little dessert. Or breakfast. Yeah...I think I may have one for breakfast...

**Update**
I have tweaked the recipe slightly by removing baking soda, lemon juice, and some of the sugar. I have also increased the baking powder by 1 tsp. The muffins have a better texture and taste just as good!

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?

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.

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...

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

My latest pumpkin idea had me going in a simple cookie direction. It was between Pumpkin Sugar Cookies and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies so I reached out to my Facebook community to see which one I should make. It was unanimous...everyone wanted the sugar cookies!

Pumpkin Crescent Roll-Ups

Continuing my 'Pumpkin Event' is so much fun. And what's more fun than little pumpkin-flavored bites that are super easy to make and super tasty?

Spinachy Garlic Dip

Love garlic? Love spinach dip? Then you'll love this super easy and extremely tasty dip! Pair it with some of that Hawaiian bread and you're in for a real treat.

Peanut Butter Banana Bites

My kid is weird. I think I may have inadvertently made him skip loving 'kid food' and go straight to the stuff that kids don't usually eat. My sister and I did it when we were little though and I honestly don't really think it impacted anything so it probably doesn't matter in his case either.

Tropical Banana Muffins

I've had the idea for some tropical-inspired muffins in my head for a bit and I finally wrote a recipe last week. Two versions later, I had the best-tasting banana muffins with a hint of tropical flare.

Beef 'Empanada' Pockets

I've had a few crescent roll cans in my fridge that were about to expire so I brainstormed and decided to make something similar to empanadas. I can't really call them authentic empanadas because I used the crescent rolls for the dough instead of an empanada dough, but my version is just as good in flavor and style and took much less time. I think I'll try out a actual empanada dough at some point, but crescent rolls just make life so easy sometimes!

Caprese Skewers

Elegant appetizers can be so much fun but they don't surface very often. They just bring such a different feel to a party than chips and salsa or pigs in a blanket. And the cost doesn't have to be out of control if you find the right combination of ingredients. This post happens to be about my sister's creation and it fits the bill for being easy to prepare and it's not too shabby on the budget either. 

Potato 'Chips' with Baked Potato Dip

Do you love baked potatoes with all the trimmings but wish they were in snack form? Well, if so, look no further! (Hmmm...sounds like the beginning of a commercial.)

I put these little munchies together based on some potatoes I made for dinner the other night. Those dinner potatoes were similar to the following recipe, but more like a side dish rather than a snack. They were also served plain while these snack-size bites come with a dip.

Quick and Easy Appetizer Ideas

Think the holidays are over? Think again!

There are only four more days until New Year's Eve and more parties so I've compiled a quick list of some super simple appetizer and finger food ideas that are great for serving a crowd. A lot of these can also be partly or fully prepared ahead of time so you aren't spending the whole day in the kitchen.

Loaded Mashed Potato Bites

Who can resist a mashed potato in finger food form? In my experience, mashed potatoes are one of the best parts of any meal. I got the idea for these Mashed Potato Bites because I was in the mood for the double baked potatoes I make but they weren't fitting for the occasion. We were having our weekly movie night at home and I usually make dinner that is good for eating on the floor picnic-style while we watch the movie. Having a mashed potato in bite-sized pieces seemed like a great idea and would be super easy to eat on the floor, so I whipped up this recipe. They were a big hit!

Jalapeño Bites

I haven't met a person yet who doesn't like poppers. They're so tasty with all that cream cheesy goodness mixed with the hint of spice. I took that idea and formed it into small bites that are perfect for those get togethers when finger foods are a must. These can also be suited for your tastes by adding more jalapeño or less depending on the spice levels you like.