August is tomato season here in my little corner of Northern California. When the tomatoes come on, they do so all at once and it forces me to find different uses and recipes to create so we can enjoy them for the short 6-8 week time they are available. Roasted Cherry Tomato Jam is a family favorite! My Tomato Jam is a wonderful accompaniment for many dishes. My favorite way to enjoy it is over fresh Burrata cheese with crackers as shown in the photo. If you’re not familiar with Burrata cheese, think soft, creamy, stringy cheese curd with a firm mozzarella shell. It’s like a mozzarella water balloon filled…
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Georgia Pom-Pom Cocktail
My husband enjoys creating new cocktails for me to enjoy and he certainly hit the mark on this one! I prefer my cocktails sweet and I do not prefer to taste the alcohol so give me juice and spike it with vodka and I’m good to go! Kevin’s Georgia Pom-Pom Cocktail is the perfect mix of sweet and tart with a kick! What’s In It Pomegranate Juice Here’s the deal, I like to use pomegranate juice in a lot of my recipes, like my Solar Sauce (healthy alternative to 1000 Island) so we usually always have it on hand. Pomegranate juice is a very healthy juice that has more antioxidants…
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Maple Pecan Scones
This post contains affiliate links where I earn a small commission if you purchase through my website. This income helps me provide great content so I appreciate your thoughtfulness and purchase. If you don’t know by now, I am all about anything semi-homemade. When I found Sticky Finger’s Bakeries Original Scone Mix, I knew it was heaven sent. Here’s a mix you literally just add water to and get a simple scone, perfect for any occasion. Add any ingredients you like and you’ll have a personal creation that makes you feel like a Master Baker. My Maple Pecan Scones have the warmth of cinnamon, the sweet of maple syrup, and…
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Whole30 Peach Barbecue Chicken
This post includes affiliate links of which I would earn a small commission should you choose to purchase the item. I’m always on the look out for delicious recipes that I can adapt to fall under Whole30 criteria. Originally created by Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, as Peach-Whiskey Barbecue Chicken, this sweet, tangy comfort food recipe caught my eye! With just a few adaptations, I could take her recipe and create my take as Whole30 Peach Barbecue Chicken; A clean, healthy meal that my family and I could enjoy. Whole30 Substitutions On Ree’s original recipe, there are only 3 items that could not be used. For those and all…
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Simple Semi-Homemade Lemon Scones
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. Scones are my weakness. Give me a warm scone and a creamy espresso drink, and I am one happy girl. I don’t care to take the time to measure and weigh out baking dough. I’ve found a scone mix that gives me the ease and simplicity I long for with the taste and texture of a scone I dream about. Sticky Fingers Bakeries Original Scone Mix is the base I use to create my simple and semi-homemade lemon scones. I love to entertain, and I love providing tasty options for my family and guests to munch on. Sticky Fingers Bakeries Scone…
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Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Pesto Aioli
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. Bacon-wrapped Shrimp with Pesto Aioli is a 5-ingredient appetizer that goes way back in my recipe archives and is resurrecting itself with a Whole30 spin! Not on Whole30? No problem, substitute products you know and love. I hope you enjoy this simple, yet impressive, Whole30 quick and easy 5 ingredient appetizer. I use large-sized shrimp labeled as 16-20. This label indicates there are 16-20 shrimp allocated per pound. If the shrimp do not already come cleaned, remove the shell leaving the tail on and clean the shrimp by deveining it. For a video on how best to do that, click here.…
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Simple Whole30 Cucumber & Lox Bites
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. You cannot go wrong with these simple Whole30 Cucumber and Lox Bites. The five healthy ingredients are quick and easy to work with, making this recipe an appetizer that hits all the marks. Besides the fresh, creamy, salty, and crunchy bite you get, it’s healthy, does not require much skill, and it sure looks classy when presented to guests. Being dairy & sugar-free is a big bonus. For Whole30 and Paleo diets, I used Kitehill chive flavored almond milk cream cheese. I also found smoked salmon at Trader Joes without sugar in its ingredient list. Not on Whole30 or follow a Paleo…
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Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. Using all clean ingredients, this dairy-free, healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe has become a household favorite. This is nothing like the national favorite you’ll find at your local Starbucks which contains 380 calories, 14 grams of fat, 52 carbs, and 50 grams of sugar. My homemade version cuts those values down to 175 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 carbs, and 2 grams of sugar. Being a clean and healthy recipe, this Pumpkin Spice Latte contains no dairy, no soy, and no gluten. Using 100% real pumpkin puree adds fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Also, should you choose to omit…
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Staying Organized When Hosting Thanksgiving
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. The holidays are stressful enough when you consider the social side of family and friends gathering, but throw in being the host and that’s a completely different scenario. Whether hosting or a guest, here are some tips on how to stay organized during the days and weeks leading up to Thanksgiving day. First let me start by saying, it has taken me YEARS to get this organized. There were many Thanksgivings where I felt like I had epic failures. I’ve botched gravy, burnt dinner rolls, and I even forgot a whole side dish in the extra refrigerator located in the…
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Dear Me: Age 49, A Letter to my Midlife Self
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here. September 22, 2019 Dear Me, So today you turn age 49 and start your 50th year of existence. I remember when you thought this age was “old”! This letter covers some questions for you to consider today and throughout your year as you ponder the changes to your midlife self. Now that you’re a “mid-lifer”, do you feel old now? I bet some days you do, given all the hormone imbalances your body is adjusting to. They have brought on weight gain, joint pain, sleepless nights (cue exhaustion), anxiety, foggy brain, dry skin, minor hot flashes, and the ability to…
