Easy and delicious cream of mushroom wild rice soup! This recipe only takes 30 minutes to cook and is a great way to use leftover rice. I am undoubtedly a soup person. One of the first things I do at a restaurant is ask for the soup of the day. I’m even a soup person …
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When life gives you a boatload of bananas, you make mini banana bread loaves! This recipe only takes 30 minutes to bake and leaves delicious and moist mini quick-bread. I don’t know how much you cook or bake, but you can guess how much I do by the sheer number of posts that I put up …
Transform your Moscow Mule into a Blarney Stone cocktail just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Use your favorite whiskey for a this fun drink. St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and here in Chicago, people tend to make a weekend of it. The Chicago river gets dyed a neon green that reminds …
Chocolate caramel chip marshmallow cupcakes is quite a mouthful but every bit of that goodness is packed into these delicious cupcakes. I am a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies. If you are a beginner baker, they are a great starting point because they are pretty easy to make. If you over mix them, you are …
A recipe for garlic chive mashed potatoes and a story about my favorite mashed potato moment ever! My parents divorced when I was nine and I think it kind of threw them for a loop for a little while. I was so young that I was more aware of how I felt and I spent …
White chocolate covered blueberries are easy to make and perfect for dessert or a quick snack. These white chocolate covered blueberries are fantastic, and easy to make. Sometimes the easy recipes are the best recipes. But before I get to this easy recipe, I wanted to talk about something really quick. Cooking. More specifically, beginning …
This fire chicken recipe is the perfect blend of Szechuan peppercorns and dried habanero peppers! Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the launch party for CookGirl. It was a fantastic, very intimate event held in the event space of Little Goat. If you are familiar with the dining scene in Chicago, then you …
Ricotta beef dip – a cross between pizza and lasagna without the carbs! Ricotta and pizza sauce are combined with ground beef for this easy appetizer. I went to the gym yesterday! This wouldn’t seem that momentous or deserving of an exclamation point except for the fact that I haven’t gone to the gym in a …
Celebrate National Margarita Day or Cinco de Mayo with a Meyer lemon pomegranate margarita. Margaritas make me think of warm weather, more than any other drink. Also, it’s the only way I drink tequila now – I put away my tequila shots once I left college. I know I have been sharing a lot of cocktails with you …
These mini pepper poppers are a great alternative to my jalapeño popper recipe. They pack all of the flavor without the spice! Do you ever have a recipe that you really, really like but you can’t eat it anymore? That’s how I feel about my jalapeño poppers. They are deliciously spicy and I can’t stop …
This easy breakfast quesadilla is a great way to start your day – full of eggs, black beans and cheese! Only 10 minutes to cook. I have been having some trouble with cooking. Every blog I look at, every cookbook or cooking magazine I open, every time I turn around… I see shellfish recipes. I …
Looking for an easy lunch sandwich? This hummus and veggie sammie is the answer to your lunch problems! I have a confession to make. Cue the Foo Fighters… I do not like avocado. I may have actually talked about this already – I’m not sure. Unfortunately (fortunately?) I talk a lot, even here, and some …
Buffalo sauce chili is hearty and the perfect use for leftover buffalo sauce. Great for tailgating parties and large crowds! At the end of football season, I feel the urge to eat food fit for a tailgate. It’s my way to lament the end of football season. Usually, football ends and then it gets cold …
S’mores chocolate covered strawberries are the perfect dessert for Valentine’s Day or treat for any day. Easy to make your own at home! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Mr. B and I don’t really celebrate the holiday, but we do celebrate dessert often. And these s’mores chocolate covered strawberries are so easy to …
I was provided with a sample of Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon to create this Bourbon Honey cocktail. It’s bright red color makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day! I don’t usually name the cocktails I share on here. I don’t like naming them, really, but today’s bourbon honey cocktail needs to be called something. I’ve decided …
This 30-minute cheesy tomato pasta skillet is perfect for dinner. (Secret ingredient – arugula!) If you’re looking for game day recipes, this is the perfect dinner! Well, we had a blizzard in Chicago. It snowed a lot, as it does when you have a blizzard. I shoveled a lot too. I really wanted to finish putting this recipe up …
This rum orange carrot cocktail will give a splash of color to any party spread! I am a Blogtender for Blue Chair Bay Rum and a member of their Blogtender Nation. This means two things. One, I get to sample and review delicious rum from Blue Chair Bay. And two, I get to share a …
Fans of buffalo wings will love this dinner recipe! Buffalo sauce meatloaf, stuffed with blue cheese and glazed with buffalo sauce. I was taking a peak through my recipe index and realized that most of my dinner recipes are made in a slow cooker. I own a couple of the 6 quart ones (like this …
Start your day off a little healthier with this tasty blackberry apple smoothie. Made with almond milk and sweetened with agave nectar. Make it vegan using one of the variations included! The year is zipping by, and by now, many of us have embarked, and maybe failed, our new year’s resolutions to eat healthier. But let’s …
This Shrimp and Potato Chowder recipe is easy to make. A creamy combination of shrimp, bacon, hearty potatoes, and aromatic spices creates a satisfying bowl perfect for any cozy mealtime. When I made this recipe, it was the very last time I ate or cooked with shrimp. Unfortunately, just before I planned to make this, …
This red fruit salad is full of raspberries, currant berries and pomegranate – perfect for lunch or an afternoon snack! I have finally caved and decided I should get on the healthier-eating train for 2015. I word it “healthier” because I am not quite able to stop myself from the occasional sweet or snack. And …
Change up your parties with this easy green onion dip recipe! Easy to make and full of flavor, serve it with crusty bread or tortilla chips. Are you tired of serving the same old dips at your gatherings? It’s time to shake things up at your next party with this creamy green onion dip recipe! …
This coffee tequila cream cocktail includes coffee flavored tequila, Irish cream and homemade cinnamon whipped cream! I have been looking at a bottle of Patron XO Cafe the past few months. In case you are wondering, Patron XO Cafe is coffee flavored tequila. My bottle has been sitting on my home bar, looking all seductive. So …
If you have a ton of leftover ham after Christmas or Easter dinner (or any dinner for that matter!), make this ham and white bean soup! Sunday I shared a delicious quesadilla recipe, filled with leftover ham chunks, jalapeno and green onions! Head over there if you want to see a picture of the ham …
This ham jalapeño green onion quesadilla is perfect if you have a ton of leftover ham after Easter or Christmas dinner. A few weeks ago I made a ham in the slow cooker. We don’t normally eat hams here, mainly because it’s just the two of us. And a ham equates to A LOT of …
This black bean cake breakfast sandwich is great served open faced! Add it to your next brunch plan for a great vegetarian breakfast option. This is a doozy of a post. It’s jammed packed with goodness and goodies. And then a recipe for an open face black bean cake breakfast sandwich. Let’s get started. Black …
Vegetarian black bean enchiladas with jalapeno crema – spicy and full of protein thanks to the double dose of black beans! I love going grocery shopping. All those options give me so many ideas! I see a rutabaga, and I want to cook it. I don’t even know what to do with a rutabaga!! But …
Butterscotch spice cookies are a great alternative to traditional holiday cookies like gingersnaps. They still have the spice but are softer and delicious! After my crazy pomegranate cake last week, Mr. B’s sweet tooth had a hankering for cookies. I thought he would eat the bag of Halloween candy that is still sitting on the …
Roasted red pepper white bean hummus is a great alternative to traditional hummus. Serve it with chips or vegetables – perfect party food! I hinted at this roasted red pepper and white bean hummus recipe on my olive oil review/giveaway post and it’s not the week to disappoint people. But it is the week for …
Looking for a holiday cake? Try this vanilla bean bundt cake with a sweet pomegranate glaze! I am participating in the Food Blogger Cookie Swap again and sent out my cookies last week. The big recipe reveal is coming up on the 15th so keep an eye out – I can’t wait to share with …
This sweet endive salad is perfect for the end of fall. It’s full of fall apples and winter pomegranate! One of my favorite blogger perks are free products. Sometimes its kitchen appliances to review, sometimes kitchen tools. Other times, its food or wine. Those boxes are usually my favorite. Last month, I was sent a …
Turkey breakfast sausage and apple dressing – full of flavor and crunch! Whether you call it dressing or stuffing, it is perfect for Thanksgiving and holiday dinners! There has been a debate in my house the last few days. Is the magical Thanksgiving side dish full of bread and herbs and other delicious things called …
Duck fat paprika popcorn is savory and spicy – a perfect snack! My love affair with duck fat is continuing. It is a savory love, accented by spicy nights and the occasional sweetness. Especially when I decided to make duck fat chocolate chip cookies or buttermilk duck fat cornbread. Chicagoans lost the opportunity for one …
The flavors in this quick bread recipe are perfect for fall! Make this apple almond cranberry quick bread for chilly autumn mornings or to bring to Thanksgiving dinner! I just realized that we are only 3 weeks away from Thanksgiving. Yes, it is time for you and I to both freak out. For the holidays, …
This mandarin orange beef stir fry recipe is not only delicious, it is also dairy free! Try it out for dinner tonight! Last year, Mr. B and I had to go on a dairy-free diet for 2 months – doctors orders. It was not easy for us cheese lovin’ freaks. Mostly we just ate vegetables …
This spice cake has an apple curd filling and is topped with cinnamon marscapone frosting. It is perfect for fall and Thanksgiving – just the right amount of sweetness paired with just the right amount of spice. It’s a cake! !!! This is the very first cake recipe I am sharing on this blog, and …
This recipe for baked graham cracker chicken tenders is perfect for a kids’ dinner or an adult snack! Easy and delicious! The first time I had a chicken tender was probably at a fast-food restaurant with golden arches (you know which one I’m talking about.) I probably loved it too. That was a very long …
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared a DIY or craft here. I guess I got all wrapped up in the food blogging but can you blame me? Food blogging results in a lot of delicious food! Well, crafting also results in something pretty awesome – in today’s case, some awesome string art for my kitchen!
Take your favorite brownie recipe (or mine!) and make these s’mores brownies! You won’t be able to eat just one! Lately, I have found myself with an over abundance of a few ingredients. First, it was a ridiculous amount of mushrooms. Now, it’s cups and cups of crumbled graham crackers. The same day Mr. …
If you are a food blogger, or want to be one, you probably have the cooking part down. But how are your food photography skills? One of the easiest ways to attract people to your recipes (and your blog) is to take appealing and appetizing photos. Your eyes are the window to your soul but …
Get dinner on the table for your family with this easy recipe for slow cooker bruschetta chicken! I received a slow cooker to review, all opinions are my own. Having a rough week at work? A busy week in general? Not sure if you’ll get the chance to get a warm meal on the table …
My version of the shopska salad! Cucumbers, green peppers and tomatoes with a healthy portion of feta cheese! Two weeks ago my friend Emma and I went out to lunch. I love my weird schedule because it means I have the opportunity to still hang out with restaurant friends (who work a lot of nights …