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bringing some fireworks to the dinner table
Chicken is a staple on my dinner menu. It is quick, easy and lean…but sometimes it can be kinda boring…that is until now. Firecracker Chicken is the perfect dinner option for tonight. One pan (& a bowl)…done Not only is this chicken super yummy, but it is also super easy. All you need is a bowl to whisk the sauce together and then an oven safe skillet and voila your done. I don’t know about you but that makes me a happy girl. A spicy as you want Being that the name is Firecracker Chicken there is a bit of heat in this chicken dish, but you can…
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A good morning makes a GREAT day
A good morning, in my opinion, really can make a BIG difference in how your day turns out. For me I like to have a routine to help ensure a good day…and this is it. I am not perfect Don’t get me wrong I don’t follow this step by step EVERYDAY but I try to as much as I can. The hardest one for me is to not reach for my phone. I instinctively wake up and want to see what notifications I have, or what emails have come through, but when I don’t and take a few minutes for me it makes such a difference. I find that…
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turning everyone into a sprout lover
OK, I know not everyone loves Brussels Sprouts, but I think I can change their minds with these sprouts. They are tender, crispy and loaded with tons of flavor that will make everyone love them. Just a little crisp The beauty of these brussels sprouts is that they have just a bit of crunch and it is from baking them…no frying involved. I don’t know why but I just love a little crunch on my side dish. To make these just the right amount of crispy…it is all about the panko bread crumbs. I have always been a fan of these super crunchy breadcrumbs but using them with brussels sprouts…
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A-Z … what inspires you and those around you?
Do you remember back in grade school you would make lists based on the alphabet…well I have a challenge for you. Lets make a list, based on the alphabet, of what inspires us. A…..Z Yes you read that right…lets list what inspires us A to Z. A – Admiration B – Beauty C – Creativity ….. S – Smarts ….. Z – Zebras (yes… Zebras) This is your list and you can be inspired by anything…even Zebras. Make it a game Use this as a challenge with your family and friends. Maybe for family game night (kinda like a scrabble…
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Salted Caramel Makes Everything YUMMY
In my opinion Salted Caramel can anything and everything yummy…especially brownies. Yes…Salted Caramel Brownies, I mean how good does that sound? To me it sounds AMAZING! Hello Goodness… I have always been a big, big fan of caramel but salted caramel, well that is taking my like to love. The balance of sweet and salty makes it a perfect bite and when you add it with chocolate…it doesn’t get any better. I usually make my own salted caramel sauce but for these brownies I used this Salted Caramel Sauce. I love it because it is thick and super creamy, and holds up well as it is baked. You can use…
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grilling fun all summer long
One of my favorite things about summer is grilling. I will grill pretty much anything in the summer…I mean it. This summer we have already grilled burger, steaks, veggies, peaches and even bread…yes I said bread. Trust me grilled bread is AMAZING!! Even better than grilled bread is this Grilled Pork. Quick & Easy Not only is this pork delicious but it is also CRAZY easy. So easy it is only 3 ingredients. Yes only 3 ingredients. All you need is the pork tenderloins, olive oil and course seasoning salt. Thats it and then onto the grill it goes. Before you know it you have dinner done. It is…
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All about YOU (at least for 30 days)
OK, I know it is hard to sometimes make time for you. Your busy with work, family, friends, housework, kids, church…the list goes on and on. I understand I have been there, but I have learned just recently how important it is to take some time for yourself. Trust me and in 30 days you will see what I am talking about. Don’t worry I am not talking about a ton of time, I am talking about 10-15 minutes a day…that’s all. Step 1….Grab a Journal Confession time…I am I am journal junkie. I use them for work, personal, in my car…and the more I have the happier I am.…
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Get what you NEED…not just what you WANT
Do you ever find yourself wandering around the grocery store not 100% sure what you NEED but 1000% sure of what you WANT? Well, I know I have many times and that is why now I am all about making lists… and I love this one. A good list… Lists are a must for me not only for the grocery store but for life in general. Stay tuned as there will be some fun ones coming your way here at Sparkles n Sprouts. For this grocery list I use this on a weekly basis. I make my meal plan (using this plan) and then I inventory the pantry and…
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a summer must…homemade chimichurri sauce
I am a sucker for sauces. I love them on almost any dish…heck I love sauces on really anything. Literally I love a good hollandaise for breakfast, and nice pesto for lunch and something like this Chimichurri for dinner (or anytime of the day). And it is so pretty I first fell in love with Chimichurri Sauce when I went to one of my favorite restaurants ever…Americas. It is the way cool Latin American inspired steak house. As you sit down they bring you crispy plantain chips with a light chimichurri sauce, the two pair so well together. Trust me I could fill up on just those as I drink…
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bring on the honey…and lots of it
It is no secret that I love to bake…I mean I really love cooking in general but baking is just so fun! Recently I have been looking for some ways to have all my yummy baked goodies but maybe with a little less sugar. Honey is the answer and it is so YUMMY! It is all about the sweet… My favorite way to replace traditional granulated sugar is with honey. It is sweet and way better for you in the long run. Now that sounds like a win win. Local is my favorite My favorite honey is local. I love finding different vendors at the local farmers markets.…
