Easy Meal Planning Calendar

How is your weekly meal planning going? At this time of year we tend to feel overwhelmed with all the holidays coming up trying to plan out all of our meals and thinking about all we have to do. I have a system to share with you that I've been using for over a year now and can highly recommend for it's easiness and flexibility.

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Hello all! Show of hands anyone have an Instant Pot? Or interested in getting one but hesitating? I have the easiest, healthy recipe that will put you over the edge. You make your whole dinner in the pot at the same time! And from cutting board to plate the whole thing only takes about 45 minutes.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ahhhh pumpkin season is here at last! I know technically I could bake with pumpkin year round, but pumpkin cookies in the spring just aren't as magical. These cookies are deliciously moist and cakey with a lovely pumpkin spice flavor. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Back to Work Sack Lunches for Grown-Ups

I've heard that the kids are back in school and parents everywhere are rejoicing. Hopefully by now you have your game plan in place for making the kids lunches. But what about for you? Do you have something yummy and healthy to eat for lunch? I want to share with you what Ben and I always love making for our lunches.

Chickpea Curry and Rice Recipe

I have another example for you of a meatless dish that I first chose to make for my vegetarian friends and then fell so much in love with that I have made it several times for just our family! Some people are choosing to skip eating meat one day a week either for cost saving measures or for health, we do it because we love our friends and honestly vegetarian food is very yummy!

Veggie Mexican Quinoa Soup

Oh my word I made this the other day and it was so good I just had to share it with you! I make a lot of vegetarian/vegan friendly meals because I have several friends who are vegetarian and one who is lactose intolerant. This dinner fits the bill for all of them! Ben and I eat meat but we love this dish so much, I hope you do too!

Vegetarian Sheppard's Pie

I have several vegetarian friends and I love making meals that they can enjoy as non-meat eaters. St. Patrick's Day is one of those meat eaters holidays where the main course is definitely not for them, but not anymore!  I have discovered the best vegetarian Sheppard's Pie!

Santa Hat Snack Mix

Here's a fun recipe for a cute holiday snack mix, complete with Santa hats!  I gave these to all the staff I work with at my school, Ben's coworkers and our neighbors.

Quinoa Salad Recipe

At Costco they sell a delicious Quinoa Salad for around $8; I decided to try my hand at making it myself and it couldn't be easier and cheaper too!

Fruit and Pudding Parfait Recipe

I knew going into the baby shower that not everyone would want to eat a cupcake, so I wanted to have a healthy dessert option for those who were thus inclined.  Enter my version of a fruit parfait!

Easy Truffles

We served up these yummy truffles at the Oscar Party with Movie Food.  They were the Miracle Pill from "The Princess Bride."

Gourmet Cookie Favors Recipe

When you have a coed party it is difficult to find a suitable coed favor/gift for everyone.  Enter the chocolate chip cookie.  Who doesn't love a tasty, gourmet cookie?  I've served these before at the Italian Bridal Shower and because they were such a big hit I knew I needed to serve them again for the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

Mashed Potato Bar

Here's a fun treat for when you're having a party!  Everyone thinks mashed potatoes are only a side dish, but here they are the main appetizer!

Brownie Caramel Madness!

My friend Meghan made this amazing dessert for us the other day, we named it Brownie Caramel Madness! It is so good, you have to try it!

Elf on the Shelf - Baking White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Tinsel decided that he wanted to help me with the baking, so he pulled out his apron and was waiting for me in the kitchen!
We made my favorite holiday cookies: white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies and it's you're lucky day we're even going to share the recipe with you!

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

This Saturday was my mom's cousin Julie's annual Christmas Cookie Party.  Every year I try to bake a new recipe, this year I came across a delicious recipe for Peppermint Crunch Brownie Cookies at Six Sisters' Stuff.

Black Berry Pie Recipe

Our wonderful friend Mikey (ok Mike, sorry can't break childhood habits with old friends) baked us this AMAZING black berry pie!  He was very generous and offered to share the recipe with you lucky folks!  Mikey also has his own cooking blog, you should go check it out here!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownies

Had enough pumpkin yet?  Me neither!  So here is another totally awesome recipe that everyone loved!  I found this recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownies over at Pennies on a Platter.

And the best part is, they are even (a little bit) healthier because you are baking with PUMPKIN!!!!

Healthy Individual Pumpkin Cheesecakes

More pumpkin, that right folks, I just can't get enough of it!  This is a recipe I found on a blog that I love to follow: http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/2012/09/mini-pumpkin-swirl-cheesecakes.html
I highly recommend it, these were low fat and tasty!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

Fall is near and I couldn't wait any longer, I had to make something with pumpkin in it!  I have been pinning up a storm and found this recipe for Pumpkin Snicker Doodle Cookies - MUST HAVE NOW!