Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Feb 07 2019

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Potatoes Recipe just like my grandma used to make! They’re so creamy because they’re made with Cream of Mushroom Soup! My family declares this their favorite homemade cheesy casserole!

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

First thing, these Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are:
Creamy
Cheesy
Easy to Make
Family Friendly – Kids and Adults will both love them!

So they’re kinda the best!

We’ll be having our first Friendsgiving dinner this Friday and I’m so excited to see friends and eat all their yummy casseroles, side dishes and dessert. I’m also pretty excited to share this Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes casserole with them (and you!) as it’s a family favorite!

To me holidays are all about side dishes. I absolutely love them! Sure, during the holidays turkey is nice, but those potatoes, green beans, stuffing, rolls and pumpkin pie… load me up! Those are my favorites!

Feb 05 2019

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How to Make Apple Juice with a Juicer! Easy step by step instructions on how to make fresh, healthy apple juice with 1 ingredient. Save this recipe for when you go apple picking! Also includes how to freeze juice!

Apple Juice Recipe

I thought about doing this post and thought it might be too simple, but simple recipes are always the best right? So I decided to do it, so here I am. Hello.

I love fresh apple juice bought from the farmers market stands. Last year I got my hands on a juicer (thanks Dad!) and ever since then I’ve been livin la vida juicing! When we went apple picking last year I spent hours making cider over the stove, simmering it and adding spices, and yes it was delicious – but it was a long process.

Feb 01 2019

104

EASY SLOW COOKER Kielbasa and Cabbage recipe! Throw Beef Kielbasa, Cabbage, Onions and Potatoes in a crockpot and dinner will be ready in 6 hours! I serve this healthy dish over egg noodles with rolls – my family LOVES this comfort food meal!

Kielbasa and Cabbage

I am back with another slow cooker meal! Even though it’s not even Fall yet, I’ve been loving my slow cooker this Summer! It’s been a life safer to have a delicious dinner ready when time management isn’t on my side!

With a beautiful cabbage picked from the garden, I was contemplating what I should do with it. Recently we’ve been loving Slow Cooker Green Beans, so I decided to throw the cabbage to in the slow cooker too! Boom – this Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Cabbage dish was created!

Crockpot Cabbage

Besides cabbage, throw in potatoes and onions to your slow cooker, alongside some beef kielbasa. I’ve made this kielbasa and cabbage slow cooker recipe a few times in the last month and we love adding carrots in it too! The ingredients are incredibly simple, you might already have everything in your kitchen!

Jan 27 2019

We use a heat mat and thermometer to germinate our vegetable garden seeds. Find out how we use these tools to get a 100% germination rate. This saves time and ensures reliable sprouting.

How to Germinate Seeds

With garden season approaching, our seed order just arrived in the mail. Even though we’ve had a few near record low temperature days in NYC, that doesn’t mean we can’t be starting our Spring garden indoors. The first step is germinating our seeds.

After just 3 days of planting our seeds, we have a full tray of seedlings that have already broke through the soil!

To save time and money, we find that with just a little extra work you can have nearly perfect germination rate with the right tools. With our heat mat, thermometer and grow lights, let’s start the 2019 garden season and plant broccoli, cauliflower, kale and bok choy seeds.

Jan 23 2019

BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe that my family loves! Throw these boneless chicken thighs in the crockpot for 2 and a half hours and then serve over rice for a easy complete meal! Keto and low carb recipe.

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

You guys! These BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs are SO GOOD! They’re lick your fingers good! You know how I know that? Because my toddler was licking her fingers after clearing her entire plate!

Why else do I love this meal?

It’s easy! Throw it in the crockpot – aka, my favorite kitchen invention ever.
It’s delicious! Soy sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup and brown sugar make one heck of a delicious sauce.
It’s fast! This meal cooks in 2 and a half hours.
… and did I mention it’s delicious?

Jan 18 2019

Learn how to cook PERFECT Basmati Indian Rice Recipe in under 30 minutes! This easy basmati rice uses fragrant spices to create authentic tasting Indian rice. Pair it with roasted vegetables to make a healthy, vegan meal for dinner!

I love Indian food. The problem is that I don’t have any experience with Indian cooking, or traditional Indian spices so I was always scared to try cooking it in my own kitchen. Instead I forked over the money for Indian take-out, wishing I could make my own!

Indian Rice Recipe

Finally, I decided I was going to learn how to make Indian Basmati Rice! And I’m so glad I did!

Basmati Rice Recipe

How authentic is this recipe? It tastes so much like our favorite Indian restaurant that Matthew thought I bought it from there! And here’s the best part – it’s so easy to make! You can be a total Indian food cooking newbie and totally nail this basmati rice recipe!

Jan 13 2019

German Chicken Schnitzel recipe. This is a grandma recipe so you know it’s going to be good. This easy meal only takes 15 minutes! Make sure to serve with classic German sides like potato salad, sauerkraut and spaetzle.

Chicken Schnitzel

This is a German grandma recipe so you know it’s going to be good. Make sure to serve with classic German side dishes – preferably potato salad, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut.

And you need to add a squirt of fresh lemon on top! You know that quote, if a tree falls in the forest does anyone hear it? Well did you even eat schnitzel if you don’t add lemon on top?

But first….

Jan 07 2019

DIRECTIONS on How to Dry Mint Leaves for Mint Tea! These DIY How to Make Mint Tea instructions shows how easy it is to dry mint leaves so you can make your own homemade mint tea. I store this dried mint tea for months so I can enjoy the health benefits year round!

How to Make Mint Tea

I start everyday with a cup of tea. Do you?

It can be warm or cold, it doesn’t really matter. Most green and black teas have enough caffeine for that morning boost. My morning always starts with a yawn. Then I waddle out of the bedroom with my comfiest bed shirt on and make myself a cup of tea.

I then continue to have a few cups of tea throughout the day. The kind of tea depends on the season and my mood. In Winter I might start with English Breakfast or Earl Grey. In the Spring it’s all about Green Jasmine. A nice spiced tea is great for autumn.

Homemade Mint Tea

But the Summer is dedicated to Mint tea. And drying mint is so easy!

Jan 04 2019

329

The BEST Half Sour Pickles recipe there is! These easy homemade pickles taste just like New York Crunchy pickles. No canning is needed to make these delicious pickles, just throw them in the refrigerator for a few days! Make them to find out why they’re so popular!

Half Sour Pickles

If I could stand on top of a mountain I would yell “I love pickles!”. I really do. They’re pretty, they’re crunchy, they’re full of flavor, they hit the right spot in the afternoon when you need a snack, they’re great on a burger, they’re great at 4AM standing in front of the refrigerator.

Jan 02 2019

Authentic Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe! This easy to make tortilla soup is made with a handful of ingredients that you already have in your kitchen! I based this recipe on my favorite NYC Mexican restaurant – now I can make it healthy at home!

I love chicken tortilla soup – love, love love.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I used to get tortilla soup all the time from a local Mexican restaurant but one day I got some near closing time and it was a big disappointment It was like they gave me the entire bottom of the pot that was sitting all day long with every ingredient soggy.

I was very upset. That night I told myself I would match their tortilla soup with my own. I would set up a table outside their restaurant serving small cups of my own soup and compare it to theirs.

The neighborhood would love mine. They would put me on their shoulders, parading me down the streets while chanting “tortilla soup, tortilla soup!”. Well one of those things came true, I came up with a tortilla soup recipe that is better than theirs. *High Fives*

Dec 27 2018

Healthy Roasted Cantaloupe Salad recipe made in 30 minutes. It’s an easy savory and sweet melon tomato salad! I love this recipe for our garden Summer fruit! This salad is vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.

It’s Winter but I’m craving Summer food. Maybe it’s the cold, or maybe it’s the post holiday slump, but I am dreaming of garden fresh fruits and vegetables right now!

It doesn’t matter if it’s Winter or Summer where you are right now – you want this Roasted Cantaloupe Salad! Since it’s Winter in NYC, I’ll have to settle for store bought melon and tomatoes, but the greens will still come from our garden!

Dec 18 2018

Recipe for easy to make Sugar Puff Cookies. These cookies are so soft and light! These are one of my family’s favorite Christmas cookies!

These cookies taste like clouds because they are that light and fluffy. You will throw one in your mouth and it will melt away with sweet flavor. Oh these cookies guys.

Soft Sugar Puff Cookies

These cookies taste like if a sugar cookie got cozy with a butter cookie. They have the taste of a sugar cookie, but the melt away in your mouth affect that a butter cookie has. To me this is pretty much a match made in cookie heaven.

Dec 12 2018

Easy to make Christmas Cookies to make with kids! This classic sugar cookies recipe only has 6 ingredients. I loved baking them with my 1 year old daughter!

Do you know what memory I hold most dear when I look back at my childhood? It’s baking sugar cookies around Christmas time with my Mom. We poured flour all over the kitchen table, the oven was on full blast, and Mom had this beautiful wooden rolling pin (which now lives in my kitchen!).

Christmas Cookies to Make With Kids

With a 1 year old, I decided it was never too early to start creating baking memories so we decided to bake some Christmas cookies.

Yes, that’s right. You can bake with a 1 year old. My advise? Take a deep breath and go with the flow. Yes, there will be spills. Yes, there might be egg shells in the batter. Yes, she might wear the bowl on her head. But all of that is ok.

Dec 08 2018

I have a picky toddler and she loves this puree, so trust me – your baby is going to love this Butternut Squash Baby Food Recipe made with fruits and vegetables! And even better, it’s easy to make! This is a nutritious Stage 2 and Stage 3 puree for baby, or to serve to toddlers in pouches.

Homemade Baby Food Recipe

I love making homemade baby food for my daughter. In the beginning our favorite was Apple, Pear and Banana baby food. Then she loved these Sweet Potato Baby Cookies. Now it’s her new favorite snack – Butternut Squash puree mixed with lots of fruits and vegetables!

Butternut Squash Baby Food

So there I was in the kitchen, eyeing up a beautiful butternut squash that a friend gave me. Sure, I could make butternut squash casserole, or a creamy soup, but instead I decided I was going to chop it up and make baby food with it. How’s that for a Mama loving their baby first?

Dec 07 2018

GLUTEN-FREE White Chocolate Dipped Pistachio Cookies are the BEST for CHRISTMAS baking! This easy gluten-free recipe makes 48 spiced pistachio cookies that are dipped in melted white chocolate! They are made with almond flour and teff flour, making a perfectly formed cookie! They are one of my favorite Christmas cookies, perfect for family eating and holiday gifts!

Gluten Free Christmas Cookies

These Gluten-Free White Chocolate Dipped Pistachio Cookies need to become a must-have on your holiday baking list! I made them last weekend and they were gone by Monday morning! They have the taste of a spiced cookie but they’re dipped in white chocolate adding a touch of sweetness to every bite! Add some festive sprinkles on each one and you have some of the prettiest cookies you’ll bake all season long!

Pistachio cookies are one of my favorites, but they’re even more irresistible when you add in cardamom, cinnamon, and allspice to give more of a holiday taste (and smell!) to them. These cookies are not overly nutty tasting, but just perfect so everyone loves them.

Dec 05 2018

Easy Ground Beef Chili Recipe served inside bread bowls! This quick dinner is ready in 20 minutes and your family will love it! This post is sponsored by Red Gold® and SheKnows Media.

Easy Chili Recipe

If you live in the Northeast, you’re likely feeling the fall season. The temperature changed quickly, suddenly calling for heavy jackets and hats. To warm you up, I wanted to share this Easy Ground Beef Chili Recipe with you; it’s a simple meal that the entire family will enjoy!

If you’re a parent, you probably have an endless list of activities to do every day. Between your career, your children’s school, and their extracurricular activities, it’s probably difficult to carve out an hour to make dinner once everyone is home.

I’m excited to share a homemade chili recipe that doesn’t require a slow cooker or an hour in the kitchen – this dish only takes 20 minutes and it’s sure to warm everyone’s hearts (and tummies!) on the busiest nights.

Dec 03 2018

Organic gardening tips on how to switch your garden to full organic. Compost, seeds, watering and testing the soil are all great steps to take. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield® FIELDS Initiative.

Tips On Making Your Garden Organic

Snacks and parks go together pretty nicely if you ask me. Think of all your favorite times at a park, it probably also involved some friends, a blanket and endless sandwiches and chips. Think of all your favorite times with your child at a park, it also probably involved snacks because goodness – kids love snacks! Within a year of becoming a parent, I’ve learned to always be stocked with snacks!

That’s why I’ve been so happy to team up with Stonyfield since they’re the perfect mission first brand to tie together snacks and parks. How so? Well first read this post, then this post… and now let me tell you a little more about the StonyFIELDS Initiative.

Nov 30 2018

Easy to make Cinnamon Sugar Pistachios recipe! These are perfect for healthy snacking! I love gifting these in mason jars for the holidays too!

Cinnamon Sugar Pistachios

Pistachios are something of a necessity for the holidays in our house. As a kid Santa would always leave me a bag of red pistachios in my stocking that I would eat right up with my pistachio red stained fingers. As a adult I still get pistachios at Christmas time, but now I like adding some cinnamon sugar spice to them.

There is something about the smell of cinnamon that really gets me in the holiday spirit and has me humming Christmas songs!

Nov 27 2018

Easy to make Beef Chorizo Stuffing recipe, one of my family’s favorite holiday side dishes to serve alongside chicken or turkey. This classic simple stuffing is made with white bread cubes and chorizo. Your entire family is going to be asking you for this recipe! Thank you Cacique® for sponsoring this post. Visit your local grocery store to pick up your fave Cacique® product for a delicious dinner tonight!

Beef Chorizo Stuffing

Maybe you don’t think Mexican spices when you think holiday recipes, but I’m here to change that. A little bit of Mexican taste is going to transform your usual stuffing recipe into something bursting with flavor. Say hi to Beef Chorizo Stuffing …. this side dish is delicious!

This stuffing recipe is a family favorite, not just because of how tasty it is, but because of how easy it is to make! The holidays are about spending time with your family, so with this stuffing you don’t need to be stressed out!

I often serve this stuffing alongside chicken or turkey, but I also love it next to pork chops too!

Nov 24 2018

Please everyone admire our Christmas tree because with a 1 year old and 4 cats, the bottom third of the tree probably won’t stay decorated for long!

To be honest, we had our tree up and decorated BEFORE Thanksgiving, but I didn’t want you guys to think I was crazy so I waited 2 days after Thanksgiving to post it. Hah.
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