• bringing the sassy with salmon

    Is there ever a wrong time to add a little a sass to your dinner table.  Ok, now I am not talking about sassy back talk from your tween’s or teenagers, but how about a little sass on the table with a super delicious salmon dish? Now a sassy dish could be anything that you take to the next level and make it special but last week sassy was all about a new salmon dish that turned out super delicious.  The Hubby and I love salmon, and we normally have it once a week at least but I wanted to change it up a bit without adding a ton of…

  • 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…

  • bringing crunch to the bars

    I can’t believe Valentines Day is just around the corner.  I just got all my Christmas down (yes, it took me a little while) and now it is time to think red & pink with hearts everywhere…but first lets talk about bars. Valentines Day has always been a special holiday for me, it is my Mammaw’s birthday!  This year she will be 89 and we are making sure it is a super special day for her and these bars a favorite of hers (& mine) so they will definitely be on the birthday menu.  To be honest pecan pie is her favorite but I love turning a pie into a…

  • taking chicken soup to the next level

    Chicken soup is a childhood memory that is one of my favorites for sure.  Growing up we had several versions that would show up every once in a while.  Sometimes it was chicken and rice, or chicken and noodles and when we went to my MeeMaws it was chicken n dumplings…and now we have Mexican chicken soup.   Don’t get me wrong I love all the traditional chicken soup’s out there but I wanted to change it up a bit, while adding in a little kick and some extra veggies along the way…plus it was all made in the slow cooker making it a perfect weeknight dinner without a lot…

  • let’s go…go…go for some oatmeal

    Let’s talk about breakfast.  Do you eat breakfast everyday?  Do you LOVE breakfast or is something you have to do?  Do you change it up or do you eat the same thing everyday?  Are you always in a hurry in the morning and need something that is easy and already done when you wake-up?  How about overnight oats that are ready when you get up? For me I am eating breakfast everyday…NOW, but that has not always been the case.  Breakfast is not something I LOVE or think about or crave but in the last few months all of that has been slowly changing.  For the New Year I have…

  • oh so good…skinny chicken and rice

    Even when I am trying to eat lighter and make better choices there is one thing that I must have…CHEESE.  Now I know this is not the best must have, I mean obviously must having veggies are a better option but as long as I can have some cheese every now and then I am a much happier “skinny” eater & this chicken and rice casserole makes me happy for sure. Casseroles are also a must have…they are so easy, and if done right it can be balanced and full of flavor without a ton of guilt with some veggies & protein thrown in for good measure.  Growing up my mom made…

  • Lightened-up enchilada soup? Yes, its good

    Enchilada soup is one of my most favorite soups of all time.  There is just something about the chicken with the spices and the broth with the cheese that makes my life oh so happy! So one of my favorite enchilada soups of all time is at the restaurant Chili’s.  It is rich, creamy, cheesy with the perfect amount of spice and I have made that recipe several times, but lately I have been obsessed with green chilies so I decided it was time to change up my favorite soup a bit…and voila here we have the Green Chile Enchilada Soup.   [mpprecipe-recipe:110] Since I was changing it up anyway…

  • you have been good…time for a brownie

    We have been so good for the whole first week of 2016 and this weekend calls for a little treat…right?  And a brownie sounds like the perfect treat and these brownies laced with cream cheese make them an ultimate treat for sure.   Overtime I make these brownies they are gone before I can get a good pic so this last time I decided to set a few aside so after our company left I could take my pics…well that isn’t how it quite worked out.  My husbands family was over playing one of their favorite card games and as they played they kept eating the brownies…everyone LOVED them!  Eventually all…

  • 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,…

  • starting 2016 with a bang & spaghetti

    Don’t let the name of this dish fool you…this cream cheese spaghetti is still an under 400 calorie dinner that is perfect for your busy nights. It is no secret that I love my slow cooker but I especially love it when it involves pasta.  I think I could eat pasta everyday and this dish would be at the top of the list for sure.  It is rich and creamy, but without a ton of guilt which makes it even better.  To start with I used ground turkey, which I love to use in my pasta dishes…it gives the same texture of ground beef but with a lot less fat and…