I'm going to be upfront here. I WISH I could take credit for crafting this beautiful recipe, but this busy Mom has needed some serious help lately. My dinner help comes in the form of PeaPod Meal Kits and they are honestly amazing. You can see the incredible selection of meals here. I've tried a few different ones so far (including this buffalo chicken quinoa skillet) and they've all been awesome. They come with all the ingredients measured, mostly prepped and will help you have dinner ready ... [ Read More ]
Quinoa Veggie Power Bowl using a Local Farm Box from Peapod
There is nothing more I love than seasonal, fresh veggies from the farm. When I found out that Peapod (my favorite grocery delivery service ever) was launching a farm box, I squealed with joy! They are basically brining the farmers markets right to your door! Each region of the country will get different boxes because they are truly working with local farmers to bring you what's in season just steps from your home. Here is what mine looked like... </br> I was so inspired by the ... [ Read More ]
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
Let's face it, every once in a while, you get a craving for an over-the-top, carb-loaded, Chicago style Deep Dish Pizza. Unfortunately for the majority of people, getting to Chicago to satisfy this craving isn't always in the cards. Even if you're from Chicago, waiting for hours in the crazy lines just doesn't feel like the "local" thing to do, right? Well, today I'm going to show you how you can easily make your own version at home! Do you want to know what makes this recipe even easier? ... [ Read More ]
Sweet Potato & Sausage Breakfast Burritos (Make-Ahead and Freeze!)
Since becoming a new Mom, my mornings have become extremely hectic. From the moment my daughter Elia opens her eyes at 6am, it is pure and utter chaos. As a result, unfortunately, breakfast started to take a backseat to other things. It wasn't long into this whole, "Mom thing", that I realized a lack of a healthy, hearty breakfast, actually gave me less energy and made it much more difficult to get through the day. To be honest, it was even more stressful because I knew even if I did have a ... [ Read More ]
Strawberry Walnut Greek Yogurt Bark
When your sweet tooth strikes, this strawberry walnut greek yogurt bark is going to be your best friend. No joke. Whether it's a midnight snack sesh or a midday treat, this bark is the perfect way to satisfy your sugar craving without all the guilt. Plus it's so dang easy to make! The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the yogurt bark to freeze up so you can eat it. :) Strawberry Walnut Greek Yogurt Bark When your sweet tooth strikes, this strawberry walnut greek yogurt bark ... [ Read More ]
My Whole 30 Shopping List Survival Guide
In February, I completed my first ever Whole 30! Even a few months out from finishing, I feel better than ever and the results were honestly astounding (you can read more about them here). I seriously can't WAIT to do another one and am actually planning one for later this month! Ever since I finished, I've gotten hundreds of questions from you about how to prepare for it. Since I'll be starting up again, I thought it would be fun to share my shopping list of essentials that I know I will ... [ Read More ]
How I transformed my body in 30 days!
Six months ago I had a beautiful baby girl. While having a new baby has been the most wonderful thing, I've had a really difficult time coping with how it impacted my body. You always hear people tell new Moms that they should embrace their new body, love their curves and feel proud for their accomplishments. For me, that was much easier said than done. To be honest, my difficulty wasn't necessarily all about my weight. I just didn't feel good. I was out of shape, I felt so tired and ... [ Read More ]
Curly’s BBQ Pulled Pork Shepards Pie
Hi Guys! If you know me, you know I love a contest. When I found out that Curly's BBQ was having a tailgate recipe contest, I just HAD to participate! What can I say, I'm a competitive little bugger... The mission? Create a quick & easy dish (using Curly's BBQ) that can be served as a Basketball Game Day party recipe for family and friends. Without hesitation I knew what I was going to make. Pulled Pork Shepard’s Pie topped with mashed sweet potatoes! It's easy to make and there is not ... [ Read More ]
Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash (Paleo/Whole 30 Friendly)
When it comes to breakfast, I have always had a hard time eating healthy. I'm not much of an egg person and I feel like that only leaves me with carb-heavy options like waffles, pancakes and muffins. Recently, I've been really focused on shedding these last 10lbs of baby weight, so I've had to start thinking of breakfast dishes that were low-car, high-protein and dairy-free. Once I created this sweet potato hash, having a healthy, nutrient dense, breakfast became a whole lot easier (and more ... [ Read More ]
Brussels Sprouts with Pear, Pecorino and Morton Coarse Sea Salt
Last month I attended one of the coolest secret pop-up dinners and today I can FINALLY tell you about it. Morton Salt hosted a very intimate, Thanksgiving-inspired dining experience with Chicago chef, Jason Vincent of Giant. Jason's role in the dinner was to coach Cara, a novice cook, on how to prepare a restaurant-quality meal by showcasing how the proper usage of salt transforms home-cooked food into an elite dining experience. It turns out that using table salt for cooking purposes just ... [ Read More ]