Black Bean, Corn & Pepperjack Quesadillas

These black bean and corn quesadillas are cheesy, a bit spicy, and oh so delicious. 

Trust me when I say, the whole family will be asking for these again and again!

We all know I have a deep love for quesadillas, and so do my kids. From bean and cheese to steak to apples and cheese, there are a million different ways to make em'. My current obsession is this new vegetarian version - black bean, corn and pepperjack cheese. Yum, yum, and YUM! They are a breeze to make and perfect for a weeknight meal or even for lunch. They are packed full of flavor as well as fiber and protein to give you all the energy you need for a long night of homework, baseball games, or whatever else you might have going on.

Sweet Potato and Brown Rice Bowls

These Sweet Potato and Brown Rice Bowls are hearty, nutritious, and bursting with flavor! 

It's definitely comfort food in a bowl, plus they are so easy to make!

I've always been a big fan of Mexican food. Like, an I could eat it every night of the week type of fan. Tacos, enchiladas, nachos, burritos...you name it and I love it. One of my new favorite meals is a burrito bowl. It's everything you love in a burrito, but without the tortilla and in a bowl instead. I love piling mine high with rice, beans, chicken, lots of different veggies, salsa and sour cream. The thing is huge by the time I'm done with it! My boys have really gotten into these bowls too, and enjoy building their own with their favorite toppings.

Recently I decided to do a riff on that burrito bowl by making it a bit lighter and going vegetarian style. I adore sweet potatoes, especially roasted, and thought they would be perfect to star in their own creation. That's when these Sweet Potato and Brown Rice Bowls were born! 

Cherry Filled Crepes

These delicate and delicious crepes are filled with a homemade cherry sauce and come together quickly 

for the most fabulous weekend breakfast!

I'm beginning to think I should turn this blog into a breakfast blog. I mean, my obsession with breakfast is off the hook right now! Don't you agree? I hope you are cool with this, because I really love creating new breakfast recipes and sharing them with you. And I promise, I'll blog about other stuff too. Like desserts. And quick weeknight meals. But I've got to keep doing this breakfast thing, too. Do we have a deal?

For now, let's talk about these Cherry Filled Crepes. Probably one of my favorite weekend breakfasts right now. Who can go wrong with thin, delicious crepes and a luscious homemade cherry sauce? It's seriously the bomb. My kids agree too!

Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes

There's nothing quite like a stack of homemade pancakes, and these Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes 

are no exception! Light, fluffy, and filled with fresh juicy blueberries, these pancakes 

are perfect to wake up to any day of the week!

I'm back on my breakfast kick again, but this time it's all about pancakes! It's no secret I love pancakes, and on the weekends I love making a batch of homemade pancakes {or waffles} for me and the boys. I usually make a double batch of whatever it is, then freeze the extra for the week ahead. There's nothing like having a homemade pancake or waffle during the week before work or school. It totally beats the ones from a box!

These Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes are light, fluffy, and deliciously healthy. Buckwheat flour is a good source of protein and calcium, and it contains a significant amount of fiber. It has a nice nutty flavor which is perfect in these pancakes. I also made these pancakes lactose free.

Sweet Potato & Crab Chowder

Sweet potatoes are the star of this simple dish, and the crab adds a rich, delicious flavor. 

It hits the spot and warms you up on a cold day. Plus, it's budget friendly!

I love a big bowl of hot soup this time of year. Nothing warms me up on a cold day quite like it. Living in Michigan, we have a few cold days during the winter (HA!), so I make soups, stews and chilies quite often. Sometimes I use the slow cooker, other times I just make it on the stove. One thing is for sure though, these meals are typically easy to make, they feed a crowd, and they can be budget friendly!

This Sweet Potato & Crab Chowder is ready in less than 30 minutes, cost around $10 to make, and feeds a family of four! How awesome is that?! It can easily be made on a weeknight when you get home from work, and it's perfect to serve on a cold night. Add some rolls or biscuits to go alongside the chowder and voila! Dinner is served.

Cheesy Turkey Enchiladas

You would never know these deliciously cheesy turkey enchiladas are lightened up and healthy because

they are filled with amazing spices and flavors! Plus, they're budget friendly!

Like most other families, weekday dinners during the school year can be stressful. Between work, homework for the kids, sports practices and games, and other extracurricular activities, there isn't a lot of time! Just because you're short on time doesn't mean you can't have a delicious and healthy meal. And one that's budget friendly is even better!

These extra cheesy turkey enchiladas have quickly become a favorite meal in my house. I love to use ground turkey instead of ground beef because it's lighter in calories and healthier, plus I can get a pound of it for around $2.00. Ground beef is so expensive right now! I also love making my own enchilada sauce. It's so simple to make and costs less than buying a can at the store. Most of the ingredients you need for this entire dish should be in your pantry, which keeps the cost down!

Spinach Gruyere Turnovers

Beautiful green spinach and nutty Gruyere cheese come together inside of 

flaky puff pastry for a delicious, savory dinner!

I have a funny story to tell you. Funny, albeit embarrassing. I've been working on a new recipe for a few weeks now. It was something I developed, but it turned out to be a flop. Not a tiny flop either, a big flop. I made a spinach and Gruyere souffle. I take that back, I made THREE souffles. The first two were failures. The first one didn't rise at all, and the second raised just a bit. Finally, on the third try, I had perfected the recipe and it was puffed up just like a souffle was supposed to be. And it tasted delicious! The bad part was that the pictures were awful. When I say awful, I mean AWFUL. I just couldn't post it and share with you because it looked hideous!

Fast forward a bit, and I decided to give up on my souffle. We needed a break from each other. So instead of making and sharing that souffle, I made spinach Gruyere turnovers instead. Let me just say, this is a very good thing for you. These turnovers are the bomb, if I may say so myself. Beautiful spinach and nutty Gruyere cheese baked into a puff pastry crust. YES please!

Mini Pumpkin Almond Cheesecakes

 These mini pumpkin cheesecakes are the perfect light, bite sized dessert!

I  know most people reserve their pumpkin recipes for the Fall only, but I'm one of the few that love to cook with it and eat it all year long. Maybe not so much in the summer, but the rest of the year for sure. Whether I'm using it in a sweet or savory recipe, pumkin is an extremely versatile ingredient. And it's healthy, too!

These adorable Mini Pumpkin Almond Cheesecakes are the perfect portable dessert for any occassion. A  holiday gathering, a NYE party, even just a special dessert for Sunday dinner! Made in a mini muffin tin, they are tiny bites of heaven.

Chicken & Buttermilk Biscuits

This comforting and delicious chicken casserole is topped with simple homemade buttermilk biscuits 

and can be on your dinner table in no time!

It's a pretty well known fact that I am not a big fan of winter. I say it every year as the temps drop and the snow starts to fall. But I've lived in Michigan my whole life, my family is here, and really there isn't anywhere else I'd rather be. So I sort of hibernate during the winter, staying inside baking and cooking and watching my favorite sports in favor of going out in the cold.

One of my favorite things about winter though is definitely the food. I love comfort food, and there isn't much that's better than a big bowl of soup or a hearty casserole for dinner on a cold night. Chicken pot pie is a dish I dearly love. It reminds me so much of my childhood, and this Chicken and Buttermilk Biscuits is my new spin on that beloved dish. 

Ziti with Eggplant, Sausage and Parmesan

Italian sausage, eggplant, and Parmesan cheese come together in this quick and easy hearty pasta dish!

We all know how much I love pasta, and it's been quite awhile since I shared a new pasta recipe. Well, it's about time I change that! I've been experimenting with different combinations and flavors, and this Ziti with Eggplant, Sausage and Parmesan is my new favorite.

Other than traditional eggplant parm, I've never cooked eggplant in a pasta dish before. Once I tried this dish, I realized I had really been missing out! The cubes of eggplant turn soft and tender, and the their flavor pairs perfectly with the Italian sausage.

Spiced White Hot Chocolate

Rich, creamy and decadent, this Spiced White Hot Chocolate is the perfect treat to sip on when it's cold outside!

As the weather starts to cool down I find myself craving warm drinks. Coffee is always my number one, but I love hot apple cider, hot chocolate, and even hot tea. During the fall and winter especially, I find myself drinking a lot of these hot, comforting treats.

I love good ole' fashioned hot chocolate, but I also love to change things up a bit and try something new. I've made many different versions before, but this Spiced White Hot Chocolate is definitely my new favorite. It's rich and creamy and has the perfect amount of spice to it. In fact, the first time I made it, I drank two full mugs in the blink of an eye! What can I say, it was super delicious.

Cheese and Kale Manicotti

Whip up this meatless manicotti filled with cheese and kale for a delicious and healthy vegetarian meal!

With the weather cooling down lately, I've been all about making comfort food! Whether it's a pot of chili or soup, or a warm casserole, Fall is the best time to start making your favorite comfort food dishes. I'm a big fan of Italian food, and stuffed shells and manicotti are right up at the top of my favorites. Instead of going with the traditional meat filling, I decided to go all cheesy and veggie with it. Because cheese. Cheese is life.

My mom made manicotti with spinach when I was growing up, which I've seen most often, but I wanted to be different. I wanted to think outside the box! When I came across frozen kale in the freezer section of my local grocery store recently, I knew it would make the perfect filling for my manicotti. I do love me some kale!

Creamy Herb Chicken Tetrazinni

An easy homemade Parmesan cream sauce, shredded chicken and pasta will make this

 Creamy Herb Chicken Tetrazinni one of your new favorite go-to meals!

Now that the weather is cooling off I'm all about comfort food again. Spring and summer it's all about eating light and fresh, but fall and winter I'm ready for my favorite soups, stews and casseroles. Are you with me on this? I think so far I've already made two batches of chili, meatloaf, and creamy tomato basil soup, and it's just mid-October! Clearly I'm welcoming fall with arms wide open.

This creamy dreamy herby chicken tetrazzini is the epitome of comfort food. An easy homemade cream sauce full of fresh Parmesan cheese, delicious shredded chicken (from a rotisserie which makes it so simple!), and pasta. Three of my favorite things in one dish! AND the whole meal can be made it less than an hour. What's better than that?!?

Mini Ham and Cheese Frittatas

Whip up a batch of these bite sized ham and cheese frittatas on the weekend and you've got breakfast 

ready to go for the week!

In my quest for quicker, and healthier, breakfast options for my family, I came up with these super delicious mini ham and cheese frittatas. Made in a mini muffin tin, they seriously couldn't be any easier! Mix the ingredients up in one bowl, bake them in your tin, and voila! In less than 30 minutes you've got a batch of these bite sized beauties ready to go for the week. I love to make them on the weekend, that way when you're pressed for time those weekday mornings, you can pop a few in the microwave for a fast and portable breakfast.

These little frittatas aren't just for breakfast either. They are great cold, or at room temperature, and my kids love eating them for lunch, too. I pack four of them along with some fruit, and veggie sticks and dip for a nutritious lunch!

PB & J Yogurt Smoothie

This simple smoothie recipe is healthy, creamy and delicious, and tastes just like my favorite 

childhood sandwich, a peanut butter and jelly!

Now that the kids are back in school, I'm back to planning quick and easy breakfasts for them during the week. The biggest problem I have is that my kids aren't hungry first thing in the morning. They don't feel like eating until mid-morning and, in fact, on the weekends we probably don't have breakfast until 10:30 or 11:00. This presents a problem when I'm pushing for them to eat at 7:00 am!

Lucky for me, I found a way around this issue. I get them to drink their breakfast! I've been making smoothies for a long time, so I decided to create some fun versions for quick breakfasts. This PB & J Yogurt Smoothie is definitely a favorite, and currently the most requested in our house every week.

Grilled Tandoori Chicken

Cool, tangy yogurt and lots of spices give these grilled chicken thighs plenty of irresistible flavor!

School is right around the corner. Literally right around the corner for my kids (like this week!), but I'm not giving up on summer yet. I mean even though school is starting, it's technically summer for another month. Which means I'll be grilling anything and everything, enjoying all the fresh fruits and veggies that I can, and eating lots and lots of ice cream.

Speaking of grilling, let's talk about this tandoori chicken. I've had tandoori chicken at restaurants before, but never tried making it at home. I didn't realize just how easy it is to make! Using creamy, tangy Greek yogurt and delicious Indian spices as a marinade, these chicken thighs came out tender and juicy and full of amazing flavor.

Grilled Vegetable Tostadas with Feta and Fresh Tomato Salsa

Crisp tortillas are piled high with grilled vegetables then topped with feta cheese and a fresh tomato salsa. 

Dinner is served!

One of my favorite places to spend time during the summer is on my back deck. Whether I'm just lounging around, reading a book, or grilling out, it's such a peaceful place. I technically don't live out in the country, but I'm not in the city either. I'm in between. I tell people I have the beauty and peacefulness of the country with city amenities. I have lots of wildlife in my yard from many varieties of birds, to geese, to bunnies, and of course, deer. We've been in our house for three years this month and I absolutely love it. Prior to this house, I've always lived right in the city. I honestly don't think I could go back now, that's how much I love it here.

Anyway, now that I've told you all about my love for outdoor life, let's get back to the part where I mentioned grilling. You may remember that my sons surprised me with a brand new beautiful grill for Mother's Day. Let's just say, that baby has gotten a ton of use this summer! I would guess I've been grilling three to four times a week this summer. I just absolutely love it! Everything from burgers to brats to chicken, I've been cookin' it. But grills aren't just for meat. Fresh veggies are also perfect for the grill. Which brings me to this delicious new recipe.

Homemade Fudgsicles

Making rich, creamy fudgsicles from scratch is easy! Both kids and adults will love 

cooling off this summer with this delicious frozen treat.

Growing up, one of my favorite frozen treats were fudgsicles. You know, the ones in the box that your mom bought from the grocery store. I had one practically every night after dinner. Sometimes I'd get one from the ice cream man during the day, too. But almost always I had one for dessert.

Little did I know that one day I would be making these delicious frozen treats from scratch for my own family! In celebration of National Ice Cream Month, I sought out to recreate my favorite childhood frozen novelty treat. What I made is better than I ever imagined. The best part? These fudgsicles are made with only four ingredients. FOUR! Can you believe it? It's crazy to me that four simple ingredients can turn into something to creamy, so chocolaty, so decadent.

Sweet Cherry Yogurt Pops

Fresh, sweet cherries and creamy yogurt are all you need to make one healthy and 

delicious frozen treat that the whole family will love!

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? Break out those ice cream makers my friends, and let's get going! I remember my aunt and uncle having one of those old fashioned giant hand crank machines, the ones that you put the ice and salt in. You'd have to sit there and crank and crank and turn and turn for what seemed like hours to make that ice cream! But in the end it was so worth it to get that fresh, homemade deliciousness. I absolutely loved it and it was a highlight of many childhood summers.

Fast forward many years (many, MANY years), and now I have a fancy ice cream maker that does all the turning for me. No ice needed. No hand cranking. I kind of miss that old machine, but on the other hand it's way easier doing it this way and much quicker! I make my own ice cream quite often during the summer, but I also love making other frozen treats, like frozen yogurt and popsicles. I have a few different popsicle molds and love trying different combinations from sweet to fruity to chocolaty and even sometimes spicy. This week I took some delicious, fresh sweet cherries and combined them with thick and creamy Greek yogurt and got the best ever Sweet Cherry Yogurt Pops.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

A salty pretzel crust followed by a layer of sweet cream cheese, then topped with a luscious strawberry topping, 

is the perfect side dish or dessert all summer long! 

I have a very small family, I'm an only child, so growing up our holiday gatherings always included extended family like my cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents. With my mom's family living down South, and just my dad's family here in Michigan, our gatherings still weren't very big. But whether it was for Christmas or Easter, or even 4th of July, we always got together to celebrate.

It seems like each of the ladies in the family had a special dish they made. During the summer months it was my mom's famous potato salad; my aunt's delicious cheesy potatoes; and my grandma's strawberry rhubarb pie with rhubarb fresh from her garden. One of the other favorites was my mom's strawberry pretzel salad, and she still continues to make it to this day. Well, she still makes her amazing potato salad too, but this strawberry pretzel salad happens to be one of my kids favorites. You will find it on the table for any picnic, any potluck, any BBQ we are having. It's always there.