Ok, guys. I’m about to capture an entire year’s worth of activities into one ‘Bites of Life’ post. And hopefully, by the end, you will fully understand why you haven’t seen many new posts from me. I always value quality over quantity, which is a lot harder to do when you have a toddler tornado running around. [Read More…]
Easy Saltine Toffee Bark
Sweet, salty, crunchy… this dessert has it all. Oh, and you can make it in less than 20 minutes. It feels like I’ve been reading about this insanely sinful dessert made with saltine crackers for years now. Finally, I broke down and made it, and oh my goodness – this is chocolate, caramel, peanut butter [Read More…]
Pumpkin Pie Bars
There’s a reason why people are so obsessed with pumpkin. It’s delicious. Creamy, often with just the right amount of spice and sweetness. It’s the culmination of everything fall is supposed to be: warm, cozy, and comforting. My favorite food blogger, Sally, created this incredible pumpkin pie bar recipe. It’s what dreams are made of whenever [Read More…]
Sweet Honey Corn Muffins
You know a good corn muffin in the first bite. The perfect balance of sweet and grainy cornmeal, with a sticky top. This is literally the only corn muffin recipe I ever use (thank you, Neely’s!). They’re fantastic for breakfast (lightly toasted with a smear of butter) or (more frequently in our house) for dinner [Read More…]
Lemon & Ricotta Poppy Seed Pancakes
Hello, fluffy springtime pancakes. Where have you been all my life? You’ll love these lemony pancakes that are speckled with poppy seeds and fluffed by ricotta. Yes, you read that correctly: ricotta cheese. An incredible ingredient that turns these ordinary pancakes into something magical. Do. Not. Omit. Whip up a batch of these pancakes for a special breakfast [Read More…]
Bunny Butt Cupcakes
What’s cuter than a bunny butt on a cupcake?! This adorable dessert warms my heart. 🙂 The anatomy: These semi-homemade cupcakes have a chocolate cake base, topped with chocolate frosting and dipped in crumbled cookie bits. The fluffy bunny butt is vanilla cake mixed with vanilla frosting and rolled in shredded coconut. You’ll get crafty [Read More…]
Bites of Life: Part 9
Oh, hey. Remember me? I’m finally surfacing and finding balance in my newest role: Mom. The past few months have been a whirlwind of watching Baby Girl hit milestones and grow, while enjoying time with family and friends. Our adventures have dwindled, but I wouldn’t change our new life for the world. #SoObsessed Spending the heart [Read More…]
Snickers Cheesecake Bars
These creamy cheesecake bars are dreamy. An easy recipe that strikes a balance between decadence and smart choices: Snickers bars, meet low sugar, 1/3 less fat cream cheese and Chobani Greek yogurt. Why haven’t I thought of this combination before? Begin by making the crust: grind 6 graham cracker sheets until they’re fine crumbs. Mix it with 2 tablespoons [Read More…]
Vintage Photo Wall Collage
For as long as I can remember I’ve had the most nostalgic of hearts. Keeping memory boxes full of old birthday cards, notes passed between best friends, ticket stubs and lots of old trinkets. I’m pretty sure I have a Dear Diary and slammer in one of those, too. #90sKid But let’s dig deeper. Past [Read More…]
Candy Cane White Chocolate Fudge
‘Tis the season to be baking! You’ll love this easy five ingredient fudge – with a white chocolate base, it has a hint of peppermint with tiny flecks of candy cane throughout. Oh, and who can forget its swirly chocolate top with even more crushed candy canes? To begin, combine the white chocolate chips and sweetened [Read More…]
Oreo Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Just when you think cake batter cookies can’t possibly get better, something amazing happens. Oreos. Lots and lots of crushed Oreos. Oh my goodnesssss. These cookies are magical. They’re like birthday cake that’s loaded with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips and Oreos. I’m forever grateful for Sally’s Baking Addiction for concocting this recipe. Remember: the most important step to [Read More…]
Butternut Squash Soup
If you need a delicious butternut squash soup recipe, look no further. Made with roasted butternut squash, a tart granny smith apple and fresh sage, this soup will warm your bones. Fair warning: you will lick the bowl clean. I love making soup as an appetizer. It’s the perfect start to a fall/winter dinner as you [Read More…]
Rocky Road Fudge
Need an easy holiday dessert? Look no further, this Rocky Road Fudge is here to save the day. It’s creamy with soft pockets of marshmallow and crunchy with bits of walnuts. In just about 10 minutes (I’m not exaggerating) you’ll have this fudge prepared and in the fridge to harden. Quite amazing. To get started, combine the [Read More…]
Zucchini Ribbon Quiche
A quiche that’s delicious and beautiful. Swirls of zucchini and turkey bacon turn this ordinary quiche into a work of art. It’s creamy and savory with perfect umami (yes, the fifth taste — it’s an actual thing). I was a crazy person and decided to make the crust from scratch. It’s worth the extra effort (sooo buttery and [Read More…]
Stuffed Flank Steak
Are you ready for a new fall favorite? Your kitchen will smell amazing as this sweet and savory flank steak bakes in the oven. It’s stuffed with garlic, onion, spinach, golden raisins, walnuts and asiago cheese… then topped with provolone and prosciutto. A-m-a-z-i-n-g. Light your favorite fall candles, turn on some sweater weather music and grab a [Read More…]
Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar Topping
Happy Fall! This cool, crisp weather is my absolute favorite. Cozy jackets, apples, hot beverages, pumpkins and… a personal indulgence, cinnamon sugar donuts. How could you not just love them?! Inspired by those delicious donuts, I bring you banana muffins with a cinnamon sugar topping. The muffins are soft with flecks of banana throughout, with a crunchy pecan sugary top. You [Read More…]
Slow Cooker Beef Tacos with Salsa Verde
I’m always excited to try a new slow cooker recipe, and these beef tacos are fab! Savory and versatile, you can use them in tacos (as we did) or on a bun topped with fresh veggies. The hard work for this recipe is just browning the beef and chopping up a white onion and some garlic. Simple! The [Read More…]
Bites of Life: Part 8
Spring is all about new beginnings. There’s new life, opportunities and growth. What a perfect season to reflect exactly what was going on in my life: a precious little girl growing in my belly! Although Baby Girl ran our “to-do” list up the wahzoo, I managed to squeeze in a bit of fun, starting with… Going to [Read More…]