• Blog,  Entertaining,  Party Food,  Personal,  Summer Favorites

    A Beach Birthday Party

    Well, I survived.  I survived my first party since I’ve gone back to work in an office environment, and it was a success.  Now, I didn’t cook – it was catered, I just did the baking, and I had a little help from the candy aisle at the grocery store, but somehow I pulled off a cute little beach party in the middle of November and lived to talk about it. My Madeline turned eight years old this week, and as much work as it…

  • Appetizers,  Entertaining,  Party Food,  Quick,  Summer Favorites

    Spinach Queso Dip

    So, let’s talk football. My family is obsessed. College football on Saturday, NFL on Sunday, Monday and even Thursday sometimes. High school football on Friday nights, fantasy football leagues everywhere I turn, and pick-up games of catch before and after Sunday dinner. Now, I like football as much as the next person (ok, well maybe a *tiny* bit less), but I have to say that I get more excited about the football parties and the tailgating than I do the actual games. And right at…

  • Bars,  Dessert,  Guilt Free,  No Bake,  Other Desserts,  Quick,  Summer Favorites,  Weeknight

    Healthy(er) Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Bars

    My girls have been begging me for no-bake cookies for a couple of months.  Since we always have a million other desserts on the agenda, I just haven’t gotten around to it. But then, I saw this “heathier” version floating around Pinterest and I was intrigued.  I’ve always thought no-bake cookies were just kind of too-sweet and too-messy to get excited about, but the girls love them.   And I have to admit, I really like this version too.  Especially right out of the freezer. Now,…

  • Appetizers,  Garden,  Guilt Free,  Main Courses,  No Bake,  Party Food,  Quick,  Side Dishes,  Summer Favorites,  Vegetarian,  Weeknight

    Tomato & Basil Bruschetta

    Two quick things today.  One is related to the picture above, and one is a story that you must endure to get to the yumminess. So, first of all, my four year old says the cutest-ever things right now.  She’s right between that baby-talk and big-kid speak…and she makes up words and misuses words all of the time and it’s so stinkin’ adorable that I can’t even stand it.  For instance, instead of “accident,” she says “ax-ca-dent.”  Like, “Sorry, Mommy, but it was just an…

  • Appetizers,  Main Courses,  Sandwiches,  Side Dishes,  Summer Favorites

    Meatball Subs & Potato Chips

    It wasn’t long ago that I told you about my love for sandwiches.  Sometimes, I just get a craving and nothing will satisfy it until I just go out and get the real thing – and yesterday I almost caved.  I wanted nothing more than to jump in the car and go find the closest meatball sub sandwich I could.  But, since I found myself with a little bit of free time I decided instead to whip up some dinner – although I hadn’t made my weekly trip…