-
The BEST Chicken Marinade
Marinades…oh let me tell you I love me a good marinade. They can be the make or break to a meal. What makes this the BEST marinade? First it is the combo of seasonings and fresh ingredients. There are your basics of salt & pepper, but then I also added in some paprika, cumin & chili powder for some extra flavor. Next comes some depth with Worcestershire sauce…this is my favorite ingredient to add that little extra something that will make you smile. Next comes the fresh ingredients…the fresh chopped onions, fresh parsley and fresh garlic. The combo alone with he olive oil is great, but wait there is something…
-
It’s time for a BBQ
As I have mentioned before we grill a lot around here. If it were up to me we would grill every meal in the summer, but I will settle for several in a week. For Friends and Family When The Hubby and I entertain the grill is normally on and many times you can find pork being grilled, (like this teriyaki version). Pork is perfect for grilling, it is quick and very versatile. It is always so fun to get everyone around the grill while enjoying a drink (or two) while enjoying the wonderful aroma only a grill can give. The Hubby and I also enjoy grilling for just the two…
-
potatoes without the oven…YES I promise
I just can’t stand turning on the oven in the summer. It is just too hot here in Texas. I mean the heat index today was like 110 degrees or something crazy like that. Thank you Jesus that I work inside!! Even though it is summer… Even though it is summer The Hubby still wants his meat and potato dinners. I am a fan of meat and potatoes, but it is so hot outside. Can you hear the whine in my voice? Yes, I am whining. Since it is so hot outside I just can’t stand turning on my oven, especially to bake a potato…so it is time for the…
-
Sweet & Spicy = AMAZNG BBQ Sauce
I have a secret dream. One that I have never told anyone…EVER! I dream of winning a BBQ sauce competition. Really? Yes, for reals. I have a recurring dream (or maybe its a nightmare) that I win a BBQ sauce competition at the Houston Rodeo. After having that dream for so long, I now have a desire to make BBQ sauce. I know it sounds weird…and let’s be honest I am a little different, but any chance I get to make my own BBQ sauce I jump on it. Fancy or Simple? Well I have done both. A simple BBQ Sauce and a Peach BBQ sauce (that would be the…
-
couscous like never before
A coucous salad is a must have for me in the summer. Anytime I go to a restaurant that has a couscous side dish option it is always at the top of my list, only behind mac-n-cheese. Why Couscous? First, couscous is little pasta balls. They have a delicious texture and can mixed with a variety of flavors making it a perfect ingredient for almost anything. Couscous is also delicious warm or cold. I served this salad warm the first night and then ate it cold for lunch the next 2 days and it was DELICIOUS either way!! Veggies AGAIN? Yesterday I posted a new favorite grilled recipe…Grilled Veggies. Now…
-
Grilled Vegetables like never before
We love to grill here in the sparkles n sprouts house. As I am sure you have seen we grill everything from burgers, to pork to fish….but these grilled veggies are a new favorite. Grilled Vegetables, Really? OK, I know what your asking. Veggies are really a favorite? YES, these veggies are loaded with so much flavor they are a new favorite for sure. Not only are they loaded with flavor but they are also not so bad for you either. It doesn’t get much better than that. Loaded with flavor, Really? Yes! That is the short answer…these veggies are loaded with TONS & TONS of flavor. So where does…
-
creamy, cheesy goodness
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I LOVE a creamy mac-n-cheese. I am not a picky mac-n-cheese eater. I will throw down the blue box or a homemade pot of cheese and noodles anytime, anywhere and be so HAPPY! Noodles, noodles and more noodles… Now there are a ton of noodles you can choose from for your mac-n-cheese. You can use the traditional macaroni, or a corkscrew noodle like fusilli, or a even a penne. I typically use a short cut pasta, I just feel it makes for a better cheese to noodle ratio, but use a long pasta if you would like. As much as…
-
a S’more isn’t just for camping…
S’mores are a favorite of mine. I love the combo of graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows…it is summer in a bite. NO campfire needed… One of the hardest parts of having s’more is they are traditionally cooked over a campfire, or at least a flame of some sort, but the beauty of these s’mores is that you don’t need a fire of any kind. It is COOKIE time! Getting the fun started… Every good s’more is loaded with graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows and now they are mixed into a cookie. This chocolate chip cookie recipe is balanced perfectly with white sugar and brown sugar. There is also the perfect amount of butter and salt making…
-
honey butter corny, corn, corn
It is summer and that means it is time for CORN! It doesn’t matter how… I don’t know about your family but my family eats corn anyway we can. We love boiled corn, corn on the corn, kernel corn, creamed corn and of course popcorn…but my favorite is grilled corn for sure. Grilling makes it even better… Grilling corn on its own, without anything special is amazing…but when you add in some honey butter it becomes even better. I also love how easy grilling corn is. You can throw it on when you put your protein on and it will be done in no time, and you don’t have to heat…
-
cheesy campfire goodness
Grilling has been about all The Hubby and I have been doing lately. Summer is here and I don’t know about you but heating the house up wth my oven is not so fun…so out to the grill (or campfire) we go. Grilling more than just meat Grilling is not just for the main portion of your meal, it can also be for your sides. Some of my favorite grilled sides are veggies, especially onions and peppers but tonight we wanted to do something a little different. The Hubby and I decided to grill some potatoes in a pan to make a delicious potato and cheese casserole. This cheesy…
