If you need a good ice breaker, pick up a kiwano melon (also known as a horned melon). Their orange, spiked exterior is what really grabs people’s attention. It certainly did at my house. I had one sitting on the counter during one of the Sunday’s we hosted our church group. After a variety…
Category: Breakfast
Oatmeal with Goat Cheese & Dates
Last weekend I enjoyed a special, Mother’s Day treat. I managed to get away for a gal’s only trip to Napa with my mom and sister. It was a much needed break, and the trip was the perfect blend of relaxation, girl’s time, and food & wine touring. The grapes were just beginning…
Cheesy Chorizo Steel Cut Oat “Grits”
Part of my enjoyment from cooking comes from developing something new, especially for a contest. Last year I experimented with steel cut oats, which was a key ingredient in the Spar for the Spurtle recipe contest. The recipe I entered was a Creole “grits” which I have had on my list to tinker with…
Chocolate-Banana Trifle (a.k.a. Banana Swirl)
Last week my daughter proclaimed that we should have Banana Swirl for dessert. Typical of most preschooler conversations, I asked her what was in that dish. She then mentioned it was bananas and bread mixed together. Hmmm. It sounds like she just came up with another installment of what I’m going to call…
Prep Ahead Hash Browns – An Experiment
My husband is on a hash brown kick for his breakfast, choosing to start the day with a big meal to make sure he has the energy to keep up with our children. Store bought hash browns are convenient, but can get pricy, so I was determined to find a method of prepping…
Healthy Solutions Spice Bends Challenge: Steak & Mushroom Frittata
The first recipe contest I have entered this year is the Healthy Solutions Spice Blends Recipe Challenge. As a busy, working mom I love the added time-saving feature of premixed spice blends. With over 15 spice blends to chose from, you are sure to find something your family will enjoy – even those…
Asparagus Frittata
This week my husband and I split the grocery shopping in preparation for our Thanksgiving meal. As you can imagine, we ended up with some overlap – in this case asparagus. This wouldn’t have been so bad, except our holiday guests have had to cancel at the last minute due to an everlasting…
Berry Good Finds – Triple Berry Parfait
Last week I was so excited when I received an email from the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) that they were open for raspberry picking the next day (one day only!), which happened to fall on my Friday off from work. I had never picked raspberries and I thought it would be a…
Classic Banana Bread with Elvis Presley Frosting
I started collecting recipes long before I actually had the opportunity to get in the kitchen everyday and tinker. One of my early acquisitions was my grandma’s Joy of Cooking Cookbook. An odd momento for an 18 year-old to keep, but at the time it seemed such a true representation of her and…
Cappuccino Chia Seed Pudding
I know, I know, chia seed pudding is an “in” thing right now, but have you tried it? It is definitely worth the hype, since it has the trifecta of great taste, easy prep, and good-for-you benefits. Chia seeds are a power house of nutrition, with a high fiber content, protein, calcium, and…
Key Lime Bites
Key Lime Pie is one of the decadent treats my husband loves and can’t resist when he sees it on a menu. I think it reminds him of sea & sand filled vacations, and all the great associated memories. Despite his adoration for this dessert, I can’t remember the last time I made it…
Blueberry Basil Compote with Orange Cheesecake Drizzle over Blueberry Waffles
Did you know that July is national blueberry month? I wasn’t aware of this until recently, but I’ll happily celebrate an excuse to consume more blueberries. Blueberries are high in fiber and vitamin C, as well as contain phytonutrients that are touted for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Combined with the perfectly sweet…
