Growing up, we lived just a block away from the nearest convenient store, so during the summer we loved to walk over and stock up on candy cigarettes, gummy bears, and of course SLUSHIES! There was just something magical about artificial fruit flavored syrupy slush that gave you a killer brain freeze with each sip….
I hope you forgive my brief hiatus from recipes this week. My parents left today to head back to Iowa and I really wanted to maximize the amount of time I got to spend with them. To make it up to you I present this delicious fall smoothie! Portland has been rainy the last few…
The season 5 premiere of Game of Thrones happens this Sunday and whether you’re watching by yourself of planning a premiere party, your night won’t be complete without a cocktail inspired by the show! The poppy flower is associated with sleep, peace, and death, but lucky for you my cocktail version of the drink is…
We all know our dads love to grill so I couldn’t think of a more perfect dessert for Father’s Day than grilled fruit sundaes! You can customize them any way you want and they only take 10 minutes to put together. Let your dad break in the new grill or let him relax today and…
Coming from a state where everything is deep fat fried (at the Iowa State Fair they once did deep fat fried BUTTER on a stick! SICK!) it’s hard to get yourself away from those kinds of foods! Jalapeno poppers are one of my favorite game day snacks or bar appetizers that are so hard to…
Before I get into how dangerously amazing this mulled wine is I first need to discuss what I call, “The Grocery Store Conspiracy.” I don’t know if anyone else experiences this, but every time I set out to our local grocery store to get items for dinner or blog posts, I find they’re always missing…
Tis the season to get a little ballsy.. with rum balls that is! My pumpkin spice and chocolate rum balls have been fan favorites for a while now, so for those of you that have already made them, this recipe will be a breeze! Decadent, boozy, and just as delicious as their predecessors, but with a festive gingerbread twist!…
Since this month has been mostly dedicated to Halloween-themed cocktails, I thought I would make a delicious kid-friendly smoothie! Using only fresh fruit and ice, I layered up the smoothie and topped the whole thing off with ‘monster eyeballs’ that I showed you how to make last Tuesday! The best part is that you can always make…
I’ve been fantasizing about warm fall drinks since June, so you can imagine how excited I was to finally make this cocktail! I combined a traditional Hot Apple Jerry with a recipe for hot buttered rum and the drink should probably be renamed to Trouble, but I kept the original title instead. It’s smooth, delicious, and…
Last week I said I was going to make these and boy am I glad that I did! They’re crisp, zesty, and fulfilling! Definitely my new favorite snack! See for yourself! ….. Ingredients: 1 bunch of fresh kale 1 Tbs olive oil ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp fresh ground pepper ¼ tsp garlic powder A…
Happy Fourth of July America! Like most Americans I’ll spend the day barbecuing, drinking, and blowing things up.. ‘Merica! In addition to the Red, White, and Booze Slushies I created last week, I also wanted to whip up something classic and it doesn’t get more classic than homemade lemonade! Of course I had to put a Tattooed…
Believe it or not, but I had never watched The Shining until just a few weeks ago. I get numerous requests for rum cake recipes, so I was inspired to make a two layer red velvet rum cake as a tribute to the film! To up the rum factor a bit more I added Sailor Jerry…
Pumpkin pie is a fall classic, but I couldn’t resist altering the original and making 2 dozen mini pies instead! The fluffy whipped cream, rich pumpkin filling, and buttery flaky crust make the most decadent combination in bite sized form! Serve these up to your guests on Thanksgiving or any other occasion to enjoy pumpkin…
It’s the season for pumpkin spice everything, so why not a pumpkin spice body scrub?! Pumpkin is rich in soothing vitamin A, the coffee grounds ADVERTISEMENT  gently exfoliate and help diminish the appearance of cellulite, and the coconut oil will leave your skin smooth and hydrated. Need more incentive to try it yourself? The scrub leaves…
It’s nice to look back at some of my first posts and see how much progress I’ve made since then. This recipe was the first I ever posted and I can’t help but laugh when I look at the original post and photos.. It’s terrible!! I’ve been wanting to revisit the post for a long time, so here you…
I used to dread the heat and humidity that comes with summer, but having a garden has made the sweltering season grow on me a bit. I’m able to produce a ton of fresh vegetables and herbs for my own consumption and to create new recipes with all season long. To highlight one of my…
A few years ago I challenged myself to try a vegetarian diet for one month. My first attempt ended at three weeks after I drunkenly scarfed down a pulled pork burrito AND a deli sandwich containing seven different types of meat… it’s a long story. My second attempt, however, was much more successful! I made…
Beets will forever be on that fine line of you either love them or hate them and if you hate them… this recipe is NOT for you. I like to channel my inner Dwight Schrute and fully embrace beets and their earthy flavor. This time I went even further by using their greens in this salad and…
I made these for a get-together with friends last Tuesday and I’m lucky I got one when I did because they went fast! They’re a rich, boozy, and decadent treat that’s perfect for fall! …… (makes 18 rum balls) Ingredients: 50 vanilla wafers ½ cup pecans 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½…
Every time we hit Trader Vic’s for happy hour I order their lamb sliders. I had never really tried lamb before and was actually surprised at how much I liked it! I was inspired to try out my own version of them and they turned out far better than what I expected! The sweet and spicy tomato…
I managed to escape my teen years relatively acne-free, then I hit 21 and my face rebelled! After a few years and 3 dozen face washes, creams, and gels later I’ve gotten my skin in check, but unfortunately I have quite a few scars as a result of my breakouts. I did some research (Google!)…
If you’re a fan of Parks and Recreation, you know that Nick Offerman’s character, Ron Swanson, is the epitome of masculinity. Although he would probably never eat a cupcake (unless it was made entirely from scotch and bacon), I’d like to think he might approve of this one. Inspired by one of Ron’s famous line,…
These scrumptious and festive cupcakes are perfect for a New Year’s Eve party, baby shower, bridal shower, or birthday! The best part is that you’ll still have some champagne leftover to make mimosas! ….. (makes 1 dozen) Ingredients: 1 cup of sugar ½ cup unsalted butter, softened 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1 ¾ cup…
A few weeks ago we threw a Haunted Luau, which doubled as a housewarming and an early Halloween party. On top of large quantities of food and treats, I made several pitchers of new cocktails to try out with my guests. The first to go was a batch of Murderous Mai Tai’s.. a dangerously delicious…
If you’re a fan of the sweet and spicy cocktail combo like me, then this drink is MADE for you! The slight heat from muddled jalapeños and the sweetness of fresh mango puree, come together perfectly with the bold kick of Sailor Jerry Rum. Mix one up for yourself this weekend and enjoy a mini-tropical…
A little while back, Cheryl from 40 Aprons, asked me to participate in a virtual baby shower surprise for her good friend and fellow blogger, Melissa of A Teaspoon of Happiness. I was honored and excited at the chance to help celebrate this joyous occasion! Obviously some of my past boozy concoctions would not be…
We’re heading into the season of comfort food and I couldn’t think of anything better to indulge in than a decadent deep dish pizza filled with creamy homemade mac and cheese! Chewy, crunchy, cheesy, and rich! This will quickly become a family favorite on chilly fall days! ….. (makes 1 medium pizza) Ingredients: 1 ¾…
Everyone loves a good taco pizza, but I wanted to create something a bit fresher and healthier as opposed to the typical refried beans, taco meat, soggy lettuce, and stale Dorito topped pizzas that you get from a pizza delivery service. Starting with a homemade whole wheat crust, topped with tequila and lime marinated chicken,…
To say that these cookies are premeditated is the understatement of the century. I drew up the idea for them last year, but about a week too late since Valentine’s Day had already passed. I’m extremely excited to finally share them with you today! I love love, but too much of it shoved in your…
My fiancé loves getting the chicken and waffles from our favorite southern restaurant, so I was originally going to try and recreate the recipe at home. Then after making my Leslie Knope inspired cupcakes with the mini Eggos, a different idea transpired. Since I have a weakness for miniature sized food as well as food…