• Cranberry Green Beans

    Jump to Recipe Not Your Everyday Green Beans Green Beans are a staple on most Holiday tables.  You can make a green bean casserole, quick skillet green beans or just roasted green beans… OR you could make these Cranberry Green Beans.   Not only are they Christmas ready but they are also SUPER YUMMY! Holiday Table Ready Holiday sides do not have to be hard to look impressive and taste even better.   These green beans are roasted and the sauce comes together super quick in one saucepan and can be served immediately or reheated.  I love a Holiday side I can make ahead… don’t you?   One quick note……

  • Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

    Black Eyed Peas are a must every New Years Day & this should be your go to recipe.  This year I decided to try a new recipe & let me tell you it is so, so good and all made in the Instant Pot. Black Eyed Pea tradition… Every year my parents would make black eyed peas for New Years Day with cornbread, this is my favorite cornbread recipe.  My mom would always use the leftover ham from Christmas which made the black eyed peas AMAZING!  For this recipe I used ham and smoked sausage.  I mean why not make them even better. What is your New Year’s Day tradition?…

  • Cranberries & Holidays = Magic

    It is time to bring on the cranberries!!  I don’t know about you but the side dishes are really my favorite part of my Holiday table.  They are also my favorite left over…and these green beans are among my MOST Favorite.  As I have mentioned before, the only veggie I would eat growing up was green beans.  My family was not one of those that you had to finish everything on your plate before you left the table, but if green beans were on my plate I would finish those for sure (I would also finish my potatoes, but now I know they weren’t veggies).  For the most part we ate green beans either…

  • Quick Black Beans

    Do sides ever stump you when your planning for dinner?  They do me.  I get bored with roasted veggies, mashed potatoes or a simple salad.  I love beans but to make beans from scratch takes forever and rice, well rice can get boring as well.   Do not fear though…I am taking canned beans (which can be pretty bland) to the next level…and it is SO EASY! 30 Minutes and DONE Making beans from scratch takes several hours, but these black beans only take 30 minutes.  Yes, 30 minutes is all you need to make this delicious side dish.  There is a little bit of heat, a ton of flavor…

  • some quinoa dinner fun

    OK…now I know that not everyone is a fan of quinoa.  The Hubby is not a fan at all, but it is healthy so therefore I keep trying. Quinoa? Why? There are so many reasons why but just a few are (according to this article)….  Quinoa is one of the best protein rich foods we can eat…I mean that protein rich foods are always a good idea. Quinoa has a ton of fiber…like almost twice as much as other grains.  Who doesn’t need fiber?  Everyone needs fiber…so quinoa is a great option. Quinoa contains iron…iron is always a positive thing to consume. There are so many other reasons as well…it…

  • restaurant style at home

    Do you have a favorite bean? Are you a big fan of pinto beans?  Navy beans?  Lima beans? Green beans?  Me, I am a HUGE fan of black beans.  Honestly I would eat black beans everyday if given the opportunity, and now I can fix them at home just like my favorite Mexican food place. Wait…Maybe I will eat them everyday now. as good as I have had Being from Texas I have had my fair share of really great Mexican food and especially some great black beans.  Every chance I get I oder them with my enchiladas, tacos or burritos.  I judge a restaurant by how good (or not) their…

  • black beans and options

    The weekend is almost here and that means some much needed downtime (hopefully), some family time and hopefully a good meal (or two).  For us I love to break out the slow cooker on the weekends as much as the weekdays as I just love smelling the yumminess all day long as we run in & out or are doing some chores around the house…it just seems to make the day that much more enjoyable…and these black beans are a perfect weekend slow cooker dish.   Not too long ago my weekend slow cooker recipe was black beans.  OK, now I know that may not sound like the most exciting…

  • a cranberry is not just for the Holidays…

    I don’t know about you but sometimes the sides are the hardest part of a healthier lifestyle.  I mean how many stalks of broccoli can you eat?  With that being said I am always on the hunt for new sides that are not only healthier but also delicious and if they are nice to look at then that is a win, win and these cranberry green beans are a win, win for sure. As I have mentioned before, the only veggie I would eat growing up was green beans.  My family was not one of those that you had to finish everything on your plate before you left the table,…