Irish Soda Bread Scones

2 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. creamy yogurt
1 tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 c. butter, cut up and frozen
1 c. raisins
1 egg for egg wash

Combine dry ingredients.
Combine yogurt and syrup (if using greek yogurt, add a bit of milk).
Incorporate butter into flour mixture until coarse crumbs form.
Add wet ingredients, knead until just combined.
Form dough into a round loaf.
Cut into triangles and arrange on a cookie sheet separated.
Scramble egg and coat each scone with egg wash.


Bake on 375 for about 15 min.

Enjoy! YUM!

Chocolate Cherry-Dipped Pretzels

We got a chance to use our Santa plate this year for many a dish and appetizer or snack.

Here is a fun snack to try out with those cute new Christmas dishes. :)

These cherry chocolate pretzels are sooooo delicious and will be a big hit with your kiddos, guaranteed!

(If you like cherry cordials, we are on the same wavelength)

Ingredients:

Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks

Recipe for Mint Chocolate Sauce {Here}, 

substituting cherry andes confections for andes mints.

red colored sugar

apples 

Directions:

Make your sauce

Using a spoon, dip pretzels and roll all the way around in the chocolate until the tip *or however much you want* is covered

Chill in the refrigerator for 20 min.

Add Christmas sprinkles or colored sugar

Who knew that the sugar-sprinkled apples would be the big hit?!

#kids #canneverpredict

yum, yum, yum!

Enjoy!

two easy-peasy chocolate sauces (with agave nectar!)

These sauces are very versatile. I have given you examples for serving, but feel free to be creative! These are so easy-- I hope you try them! They may just give nutella a run for its money! :0)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sauce (for serving with graham crackers)

• 1/4 stick of butter
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. agave nectar
• 1 heaping tbsp. peanut butter

-Melt about 1/4 a stick of butter
-Add 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
-Add the agave nectar and peanut butter
-Stir, and Melt again 15 seconds

Mint Chocolate Sauce (for serving with ice cream)

• 1/4 stick of butter
• 1 tsp. agave nectar
• 1/2 cocoa powder
• 4 Andes Mints

-Melt 1/4 stick of butter
-Stir
-Add agave nectar
-Add cocoa powder
-add the mints and melt for up to 30 seconds, stopping to stir
-if it isn't pepperminty enough, add 2-3 drops of peppermint extract or oil.

Ideas for use:

Dip for pretzels, graham crackers, ritz crackers, etc.
Sauce for pancakes, ice-cream, bread, cake
Eat it plain, on a spoon
Any kind of seasonal dessert
Cool it and use like "chocolate chips" on desserts *like brownies, etc*
Have it with coffee or hot cocoa


That's it! So easy and so ridiculously delicious.  Share this snack with your husband and kids! :0)

Two Fall Delights

I love fall! The ingredients and food that is in season is one of my favorites of all the year! So fun :)

The great thing about these recipes is they are low-carb; the second one qualifies if you are doing a paleo or low-carb/no carb diet!

This might seem like a lot of ingredients, but you can buy one package of sausage for ...!both! And a little goes a long way. My kids will not for sure eat these, so if you have kids I recommend quesadillas on some corn tortillas or having some macaroni and cheese on hand.

Stuffed Green Peppers

ingredients:

green peppers

brown rice

italian sausage

cheddar cheese

garlic powder

salt and pepper

curry powder

dried onion flakes

Wash green peppers and cut off tops

Remove seed and place in small baking dish

Cook rice

Cook sausage- add other ingredients to rice and mix

Put rice filling into green peppers, pressing as you go until they are overfull

Bake on 375 for 25 min.

Add cheese and broil until cheese is brown and bubbly

Stuffed Acorn Squash

ingredients:

carmelized onions

crumbled sausage

sliced carrots

butter

parmesan cheese

cinnamon

applesauce

sliced almonds

coconut oil

herbs (rosemary or thyme)

Bake on 400 for 35 min.

Cook sausage

cook onion in coconut oil for 20-25 min, stirring every 5 minutes until well-browned!

add other ingredients to filling

Add filling and top with parmesan cheese

broil in the oven 3 min or until cheese is browned 

Curried Baked Butternut Squash

This was so absolutely delicious, filling, satisfying, and healthy.

I highly recommend it!

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized butternut squash

 handful sliced almonds

1/4 c. cheddar cheese

2 heaping tbsp. curry powder

pinch garlic powder

1/2 tsp. dried onion flakes

salt and pepper

Directions:

Slice in half and lay face up on baking sheet

Spritz with olive oil

Bake squash on 400 for 35-40 min.

scoop out some of the flesh and mix together with:

cheese, almonds, and spices

return to oven for 15 min

or until the cheese is beginning to brown

mix and serve!

Mediterranean Feast

This platter includes: grilled chicken pitas, hummus, kalamata and green olives, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, yogurt sauce, and other assorted veggies

Stephen grilled chicken breast on the grill, and I made the yogurt sauce

Yogurt Dipping Sauce (for chicken pita wraps)

-1 c. greek yogurt

-1 tbsp. lemon juice

-dash garlic salt

-diced cucumbers (about 1/2)

-chopped parsley

-2 tbsp. tahini sauce (optional)

Prepare the sauce a few hours ahead of time and allow the flavors to meld and marinate.

you can add the feta to your wrap or eat it as a side.

You can serve it with Quinoa, salad, and hot tea!

Three Summery Treats

American Flag Fruit Pizza

shortbread is my kryptonite. I love it so very much. It's dangerous.

a classic shortbread recipe should be in every American chef's repertoire. It is simple, easy, and fantastically delicious. You can vary it in so many ways.

This year for the Fourth of July, I made this berry fruit pizza. I started with a classic shortbread crust. Once cooled, I added a mixture of berry cream cheese mixed with cool whip. After that first layer, you can add your berries in a fun design. I didn't have whipped cream on hand, but you can add that, too!

-blackberries

-strawberries

-cream cheese

-cool whip

-whupped cream (optional)

-cookie base (crust) - like this similar

BLT pasta salad

-any kind of pasta

-top with lettuce

-tomatoes

-bacon

-balsamic vinaigrette dressing 

(my absolute favorite salad dressing)

My third "treat" was this DE.LICIOUS. cole slaw made by a friend. You can see a picture on instagram, 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV5SKvZg91J/?taken-by=tacywb

Low-calorie Cole Slaw

-cabbage

-carrots

-plain fat-free yogurt

-apple cider vinegar

-red onion

-mustard

-salt and pepper

-dill weed

-cilantro 

I have to be honest... a friend made this for us. She brought over some BBQ with this delicious cole slaw. It is hands down the best cole slaw I have ever EATEN. It makes my mouth water just looking at that.

Me at the beginning of the Summer (after Conrad was born) :-O