• Pistachio fluff?? Yes, please

    Growing up there is one side dish that I always remember being on almost every Holiday table…Pistachio Fluff Salad.  I also remember that I was never a big fan of it (I didn’t like anything green as a kid) but I knew that everyone else LOVED it).   Fluff…yes please!! As I was thinking about our family Easter dinner this year I kept thinking about that green stuff that everyone seemed to love, (& my brother asked for it) so I decided it was time to make it.  Now as I am sure you have realized a lot of childhood memories are a little distorted being that they are from…

  • carrots…ok maybe I can like them

    I have a love hate relationship with carrots.  I like them in things such as soups or casseroles but I am not a huge fan of them on their own, that is until now.  I decided it was time to create a carrot recipe that I would love and what a better time than Easter to fall in love with these cute little veggies. Carrots, Carrots and Carrots The first choice was to decide between the long beautiful ones or the cute little baby ones, and to help save on time (& some mess) I went with the cute baby version.  OK now that I knew which carrots I was going to…

  • I could eat it all on it’s own

    It is probably no surprise but I am a fan of garlic.  I use it in almost all my savory dishes…not almost really in all my savory dishes.  I love it in all forms, but Roasted is my MOST favorite!! It all started at a pizza joint Years a go, I mean like many years ago (17 or 18 probably) I went to a super fun pizza place with a dear friend.  I was a little late and when I arrived there was the most interesting appetizer on the table.  It was 2 bulbs of garlic that looked almost burnt and some soft cheese and crostini’s.  I was immediately intrigued, but…

  • 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…

  • a little sprout for everyone

    I was asked the other day why I was inspired to use Sprouts in my name, and I had to laugh.  In all my time of blogging no one had ever asked me.  As silly as it sounds, I was inspired by brussel sprouts…yes the veggie.  Yes that one pictured below. A sprout changed my world About 6 or 7 years ago (I can’t believe it has been that long) The sis-in-law asked me to just try her brussel sprouts.  You see I made a promise to her that I would start trying veggies.  Prior to this promise I was not a veggie girl and would stay away from them as much…

  • bacon makes this party dip ROCK!

    One week from today is the SUPER BOW!!  What do you have planned?  Are you starting home with just the family? Planning on having a big party? Maybe going to a party? Well, whatever your plans this dip would be a great treat that everyone is sure to love. A classic…updated So why this dip…well every party we have we always have the Ranch Party Dip.  The little dip packet you find in the salad dressing aisle.  And we love it, just as it is. As much as I love it I know I could take it to the next level and what better to do that than to add bacon.  In my family bacon…

  • Weeknight Risotto…yes for real

    I am a HUGE risotto fan.  Almost anytime it is on a menu I will probably order it, but I also love to make it at home.  Even better, over time The Hubby has learned to LOVE risotto too. you’ve got this… So I know some of you are thinking there is no way I can make risotto on a weeknight.  It takes way to long and there is so much to it…but just wait.  This weeknight risotto only has a few ingredients and comes together pretty quick making it perfect or dinner tonight. The beauty of this risotto is that it is perfect for the beginner risotto maker.  The first…

  • frozen has never been so fancy

    Not too long ago I was in the middle of a crazy week and The Hubby wanted to grill.  I always loves it when he grills but I didn’t have any sides for the burgers.  And then I looked in the freezer and saw the answer…frozen fries. Now it’s time to make them fancy Me being me I can’t just bake them as directed on the package, I have to fancy them up a bit.  So how do you make frozen fries fancy, you ask?  It really is quite simple…just a few shakes here and there and there you go…Fancy Fries. First spread them out onto a baking sheet and…

  • red rice for dinner tonight…yes, please

    Over the last few years I have become quite the fan of rice.  We did not eat it a ton growing up but lately I can’t get enough of it. Red rice..LOVE, LOVE, LOVE The Hubby and I LOVE anything Mexican.  I mean anything…nachos, enchiladas, tacos (in all forms), burritos, fajitas…all of it.  One thing that goes great with all these dishes is rice, and especially red rice. Red rice is one of our new favorites for sure.  It is loaded with tons of flavor, but it is super easy to make, making this a dish perfect for a busy week. What makes it so special? First off I almost always…