CRANBERRY ORANGE BREAD

With the seasonal citrus and cranberries filling the produce section of the grocery store, I picked up a couple extra oranges and cranberries on my last trip to make some yummy bread for friends and neighbors before the hustle and bustle of the season begins. While this was baking, the house was filled with the wonderful smell of warm orange, which was welcomed on a chilly afternoon. I love giving these mini loaves as gifts, because it is the perfect amount for a few slices with hot cocoa in the morning, or a toasted piece with butter for an afternoon snack. Tis the season to be jolly, and this yummy and festive bread is sure to bring a smile to any face!

COCONUT ACAI BOWL

Around two years ago, I was out and about with my little buddy Lexi, after a morning at Sea World. We were just meandering around the Mission Beach area, and stumbled upon a smoothie shop that sold acai bowls. We were in need of a mid morning snack, and at the time, Lexi loved smoothies. I purchased a yummy strawberry banana blend for her, and settled on trying my first acai bowl, with fresh granola & coconut on top. From that moment, I was hooked on this delicious and tart treat. I have spent time to re-create the most delicious and yummy bowl I can make at home, for days when I want a change from my normal protein smoothie in the morning. It took a while, but I have completely converted Derek into this trend. On busy days, we like to whip one of these up, and share it on the couch, dreaming of a tropical location and beach. We are ready for a vacation, and to kick these years of residency behind us! 

You can see where to purchase the Sambazon packets in your area here!

CHICKEN TACOS

I grew up on homemade ground beef and chicken tacos. Salsa & Tabasco basically run through my veins. It was, and still is, one of my favorite dinners. There is just something about a freshly fried & crispy shell, lightly salted and filled with everything good in life that makes me happy! Growing up with ample amounts of incredible Mexican food close by (Southern CA for the win!), and living in San Diego, a short 8 minute drive from Old Town, I definitely appreciate a good taco. When I read about a new fad, The Taco Cleanse, I thought I was dreaming! Although this taco isn't nearly close to being healthy or in this diet, it was still funny to read up on. I served these tacos with my first batch of homemade refried beans, which were fantastic! I used this recipe, and they definitely passed my challenging test. (I am really picky about my beans. Again, let's chalk it up to my refined Mexican Food palate). So, gear up for the Super Bowl with this taco spread. I guarantee your guests will be thrilled, whoever does win.

HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT

Back in early October, when our days were getting cool, and the AC unit wasn't constantly running, my friend Janelle mentioned the idea of making homemade vanilla extract for gifts this holiday season. I jumped at the idea, because it sounded really fun and I am always up for a ladies night of fun and food! We all decided how much vanilla we were wanting to make, and purchased the beans, booze, and bottles! The actual mixing process takes no time at all, so we spent the majority of the night at my house eating and chatting. Now, ten weeks later, the extract has brewed and is ready for use! Bottled in these darling little bottles, with these fun labels, this vanilla extract makes the perfect holiday gift!

CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE BARS & A TABLE FOR TWO

 Derek and I have had our fair shares of Thanksgivings with family and friends, surrounded by delicious food and loud laughter. We have also had a fair share just the two of us, in our little home, feasting on our favorites like cornbread stuffing and rolls. (We clearly are a pro-carb family here, folks). This year, we are dining just the two of us. Although we miss our families, and the camaraderie of the day, we do enjoy years when we can spend an entire day together. This, my friends, is a rarity unto itself. Using simple items from around the house, our table for two this year will also consist of turkey, cornbread stuffing (this year I used sage sausage instead of bacon!), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, green beans & gravy. For dessert, Derek requested his favorite chocolate cream pie, while I prefer a twist on the classic, pecan pie. These chocolate drizzled pecan bars are ooey and gooey, and going to make anyone you serve them to a very full, and happy camper. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

LIGHTENED UP ZUPPA TOSCANA

On weekends Derek is on call, I like to have easy and hearty meals for him to eat in the few moments he is able to come home between cases and his pager going off. This past weekend, I made one of his favorite soups, along with some pumpkin muffins, while listening to General Conference on Saturday morning. I so enjoyed being busy in the kitchen, while hearing uplifting messages echoing in my kitchen and hearing the trees rustling outside from the open windows. This soup is traditionally made with heavy whipping cream, which is so decadent, but often too heavy on our stomachs. This version is lighter, not only by using half & half, but also by taking the time to remove the spicy sausage to drain (when you see the paper towel after it drains, you will want to faint). This is one of my favorites for the Fall/Winter season, and is a major crowd pleaser, especially with hungry missionaries. After a busy weekend, this soup was a welcome meal for Derek on Sunday evening served with some crusty bread & a muffin before crawling into a deep slumber.

NAAN FLATBREAD PIZZA

This summer, Derek and I have become slightly obsessed with Naan bread. I have always had a fond taste for it, but it wasn't until this last year or so when I converted Derek to the pro hummus team (he previously would make fun of me for eating hummus, and now he begs for me to put it on the grocery list each week!) that his interested peaked. This flat, oven baked bread hails from India and is so versatile! You can dip it in hummus or curry, or use it as a bread for sandwiches. The other night, we used Naan to create individualized flat bread pizzas and they were delicious! This was the perfect easy dinner to enjoy during this last summer month, with the doors and windows finally wide open & enjoying the breeze.

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

I have fond memories of homemade ice cream as a child. It always involved pulling out our old ice cream maker from the fridge, setting it up on the back patio, and making sure the extremely salty rock salt pieces stayed on top of the mixture while it churned. That creamy and cold treat is the epitome of summer in my eyes. Since we don't have an ice cream maker, I settled with this no churn recipe I found online, and jazzed it up with some fresh strawberries and a hint of sea salt, to keep with my childhood memories. Served on a cone & topped with sprinkles, this was the perfect way to cool down after an extremely hot weekend here in Sacramento. 

CHICKEN COBB SALAD

In the warm summer months, we tend to live off of simple salads with fridge staples. I love a good Cobb salad, so this has become almost a weekly rotation for us. The chicken in this salad couldn't be easier; I purchase a big flat of chicken breasts, bake them in the oven or crock pot, and then use my handy stand mixer to shred the hot chicken. I then split it in half, throw one half in the freezer for another week, and place the other half in the fridge to use during the week. From chicken tacos, BBQ chicken pizza, and this Cobb salad, it's the perfect staple for easy summer dinners. Besides the chicken, anything with avocado & bacon is my good friend, making this salad a favorite of both myself and Derek!

PATRIOTIC FRUIT PIZZA

One of my first ever memories of fruit pizza is as an eight year old girl, attending our church's activity days, which was then known as achievement days. As boys enter the scouting program, our church mandated a program for girls ages 8-11. We did everything from learning basic recipes, to how to take care of our bodies and proper diet exercise, along with gospel principles. For this particular activity, we learned to make individual fruit pizzas. Ever since that day, I have loved this concept. I whipped this one up for a BBQ, and it is the perfect thing to take to any 4th of July party this coming weekend. The best part about this dessert is how simple, yet pretty it is. It's always fun to customize the pizza (note ours doesn't have raspberries because I absolutely LOATH them!) as well, making it colorful and delicious with all the fresh fruits of the summer season! 

GREEK FRITTATA

I have shared my love for frittatas on the blog before, but I feel like it’s a valid expression. Frittatas are one of those meals that fall in the category of “always delicious”. You can put any vegetable, meat, cheese, mix it with some eggs and milk, bake it in the oven, and have dinner on the table in less than 45 minutes. I recently served this Greek version at my bouquets & brunch, and it was a major hit with the ladies! I adore Greek food, and knew this would make a delicious savory item on our menu. We also like this for dinner with a side salad of mixed baby greens and a light vinaigrette dressing. Time to jump on the frittata band wagon, these bad boys aren't going anywhere.

FISH TACOS

Growing up, my family & I had the immense privilege of traveling to the islands of Hawaii. To this day, we all love the island vibe of relaxation, beauty, and the memories we made through the years. One of our favorite things while visiting Maui, is walking to Whaler’s Village in Kaanapali in the evening for dinner on the water and to watch the sunset. (This is where Derek and I also went on our honeymoon!) To this day, I still crave the delicious fish tacos and nachos on the patio of Leilani’s. For weeks after each trip, other fish tacos cannot compare. Something about the breeze, sunset, and gentle ukulele music playing, perhaps? Last weekend, I tried my hand at making our own fish tacos for dinner, and I was not disappointed! This easy & short cut recipe is sure to please any fish taco fan & jazz up your weeknight dinner routine a little. Now, if only my patio had an ocean view, I would be in paradise! 

BLUEBERRY COBBLER

Spring decided to grant us a weekend of 90 degree weather and copious amounts of Sunshine pretty early into March. Normally, when the weather gets like this, I refuse to run my oven. I made an exception on Sunday for blueberry cobbler. This summer dessert couldn't be easier due to the fact it is only 5 ingredients and essentially one of those recipes you literally just throw in a dish. Topped with cold vanilla ice cream, this summer time staple will have you thinking of all the other possibilities you could dazzle your guests with. 

FIG & GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

Over the weekend, I was able to help host and attend a baby shower for my darling friend, Brittany. She and her husband were recently blessed with a beautiful baby girl via adoption, and all of us are over the moon excited for this new family of three. Ten of us friends all teamed up to throw a beautiful shower for this deserving mama and sweet angel. I helped by bringing these delicious crostini, which were a huge hit at a Hostess with the Mostest activity in September 2013. I decided to try the recipe myself and it was simply divine. If crusty bread slathered in delicious and rich fig butter doesn't tickle your fancy, the caramelized onion and goat cheese crumbles on top will win you over. This is an easy, yummy, and pretty appetizer to bring to any party that will definitely be a major crowd pleaser & make you seem like a seasoned chef (even if you only are in your dreams about being on Foot Network).