Flourless Peanut Butter S'mores Cookies {Gluten-free, Dairy free}

Ohhh heyyyyyy.

It's been a minute, huh?

Turns out...parenthood is hard you guys. It's like all consuming and add in trying to keep up with various life things (we got a minivan! James broke Michael's computer! There's a global pandemic!), generally feeding our whole family, somewhat keeping the house clean, trying to spend any time on self care or my relationship with Michael, and the little bit of work I do (seriously NO clue how everyone who works full time does it) aaaand...something had to give. Unfortunately that something was this blog. 

But-as I said, there's a global pandemic going on. Which means that Michael is able to work from home (which we are extremely lucky to have that option and I hate that more people aren't in that position). Which has really helped with dividing up house responsibilities and brainstorming ways to be more efficient. Also I'm no longer working outside of the house either. So we decided to give me a few extra hours a week to just go away from the kiddos, let Michael take over, and I can do whatever work sorts of things I need to do. And that includes finding some time to blog again! So hip hip hooray I have some recipes for you! 

Way back before Rose was born when James was still more toddler than little boy (*sob*) the two of us decided to bake cookies together. And I had seen these cookies on Instagram that looked super ooey gooey delicious but were a little healthier (maple syrup instead of sugar, gluten-free, dairy free, able to use my homemade peanut butter that I always have lying around...) AND they looked really quick and easy to make (necessary when dealing with a toddler). So we made them together (the little cutie loved the part where we flattened the dough balls) and then ate them together and oooooh they were PERFECT. So chewy. So flavorful. So decadent and delicious, you'd honestly never guess they were anything but pure sinful (not that I believe in food having any morality, all food is good food! And this is my mommy soapbox for today.) 

And James pointed to them and said "I made that." So really the accomplishment almost superseded the tastiness. 

Make 'em. Eat 'em. Do a happy dance that I posted a recipe for you and that of course it's cookies.

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Another baby/toddler approved recipe--that's also endorsed by the hubby. This oatmeal is awesome because it is super versatile, you can totally play around with it a bunch, and it's healthy AND tasty! And-bonus for a busy parent or any busy adult-suuuper quick and easy to make. You just mix everything together, spread into a pan, and bake!

I love baked oatmeal-I think it's so comforting and tasty and I like that it's not as messy as unbaked oatmeal, lol. James loved this too-it's nice and filling and flavorful. I haven't made it in awhile now and the only reason for that is a current "bopple" (AKA apple) obsession that little man is going through. No apples survive his appetites long enough to end up in anything else. He so much as glimpses an apple and he immediately starts clamoring for "BOPPLE BOPPLE BOPPLE!"

But I swear as soon as I figure out how to successfully hide an apple from his little eagle toddler eyes I will be making this again!

Creamy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

HIII. I have a new recipe. It's a miracle, I know. Having a kid is hard, and I am in awe of the bloggers who do this thang with their tiny humans running around. They're the real MVP. I have a hard time but when I can get something for you I will! And here it is!!

There are two camps of macaroni and cheese lovers: baked or stovetop. I'm a baked mac and cheese fan myself, I like the crisp top and thicker center. But Michael is firmly team stoveop, so when I saw this recipe I thought it looked like it would be right up his alley (and I certainly wouldn't kick it out of bed either)!

It's quick and easy, uses only one pot (hi hi hi have I mentioned I'm a busy mom? All important facts for me!) and is seriously creamy and flavorful and just downright tasty. And you can absolutely jazz it up with different seasonings, or by mixing up the kinds of cheese, or mixing in veggies or a protein (OMG NOW I WANT TO DO BEEF AND CARAMELIZED ONION MAC AND CHEESE BECAUSE I HAVE AN ADDICTION TO THAT COMBO). Am I still #teambakedmacandcheese? Yes--but this recipe comes a close second! And it makes my boys happy so...I'm really #teamfamily. 

Banana Oatmeal Blueberry Pancakes {Baby Led Weaning Recipes}

I've got another baby-approved recipe for you!!! These pancakes are AHHMAZING for everyone because they're super quick and easy to whip up and so healthy AND delicious!! Seriously, Michael and I both loved them almost as much as James (it's hard to compare to the amount of enthusiasm that little guy had for these pancakes. He devoured them in no time flat!) They also freeze great, I made a big batch and then froze most of them so I could easily just take one out and microwave it anytime little man needed his pancake fix.

I just love how healthy these pancakes are, they're mostly just bananas and oats! And you just blend all the ingredients in a blender: COULD NOT BE EASIER. I also added blueberries for my boys and because I'm a grown up and I can-and I don't dig blueberries-I added chocolate chips for myself. These were actually one of the first foods that baby James got excited about (he ate 2.5 pancakes in one sitting) and no one can blame him. You'll love them and feel good about eating them/feeding them to your family!

Perfect Roasted Carrots

Roasted carrots have changed my life.

I mean...as much as carrots can change your life, I suppose.

You know me, I'm never super excited about veggies. Carrots are one of the few I like, but up until now I thought I only really liked raw carrots but NOW...oh now I know the magic of roasted carrots.

(Thanks to Michael's stepmom Jeanne who brought some over with a dinner she made for all of us and totally turned my vegetable world upside down.)

Guys...they're delicious. They get all caramelized around the edges and have the perfect combination of sweet and salty. They're tender but still with some crunch. They're an awesome side dish and super easy to throw together. And I've made them a ton of times already and now I want to make them again!

Cheesy Chicken Crescent Bake

*gasp*

I'm blogging a recipe.

I KNOW. We're all shocked.

Guys...I'm sorry. Having a baby has completely consumed me and trying to keep up with housework, regular non-blog cooking, and other life things has kept me from making anything for you guys.

BUT HEY. I made something. Here it is! Hooray!

This is totally the perfect recipe for anyone who is busy and it's super family friendly because...yum...chicken and cheese. You pretty much stuff crescent dough with a cream cheese and chicken mixture and top with a sauce made with cream of chicken soup (which I made homemade because even though I'm busy I'm still me) and you top the whole thing with more cheese! Michael was a huge fan when he came home and tried a bite, and you'll love it too. It's comforting and tasty tasty tasty!

Butterfinger Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

If you like super rich desserts, then great news! I've got a super dense and fudgy brownie with peanut butter swirled in to the top and then lots of crunchy crushed Butterfingers on top of that. They're awesome-people love them. Michael enjoyed them with ice cream too (apparently it added a refreshing element to the richness :P).

May I suggest these as a potential option for your holiday baking? They're super tasty and are sure to be a huge hit with any non-peanut allergy crowd. They're also kind of ridiculously easy to throw together, so really none of us have any excuse to not be eating one of these ASAP. 

NO EXCUSE!

Creamy Chicken Pasta

I've been doing a lot more experimenting in the kitchen these days when it comes to cooking. Less recipes and more throwing things together. It's a little bit freeing! But...when you throw together the same recipe again and again and you love it and you realize...this recipe must be shared....then you write it down. And take pictures. And share it on your blog. This is what everyone does, right?

Naming recipes is hard. I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but it is. Trying to succinctly but accurately sum up what the recipe is like is SUPER tough! Like this...you pan fry chicken. Then you add the sauce ingredients into the same skillet (thusly using the delicious flavor left over from the chicken) and make a creamy sauce. And you eat it with the cooked pasta and chicken. And it's like...what do you call it? I feel pretty good about Creamy Chicken Pasta, but I don't know-what do you think?

It's really just comfort food. Like super flavorful creamy pasta and crisp chicken...it's a feel-good kind of meal. And I mean...feel free to mix some veggies in if you are so inclined. Personally that sounds terrible to me but I have an unfortunately strained relationship with the vegetables, and if you are one of the lucky people who likes them then I am envious and encourage you to enjoy them in this. Or not. Either way (as long as you like chicken) make it. It's gonna become a new favorite of yours like it is a new favorite of mine!

Butter Cracker Toffee {Easy, Nut-free}

Cracker toffee is amazing. It's so DARNED easy-it's sorta kinda dangerous. And I know you all still are probably thinking about your resolutions but....everything in moderation, ya know? Honestly, I made this toffee over the holidays aaaand you probably could've used it then. But...life happens. So I suggest you make it now, anyway. Or bookmark it for next year! Follow your heart.

My brother-in-law's girlfriend has a nut allergy, so I made this toffee nut-free and really...you don't miss the nuts. The toffee is so buttery and sugary and addictive and then the chocolate gives it that little extra bit of decadence and THEN I made half with salt on top and half without for that sweet and salty combo. Truth=I prefer with the salt. Next time I'd probably do all salt...if it's just for me. I know not everyone feels this way (even though I have totally made myself a salt-on-desserts missionary, going around and bringing people the good word of balancing the sweet with the salty.) Katie (the girlfriend) totally loved them-everyone did! 

And again...I cannot emphasize enough HOW EASY these are. Like...put some crackers on a baking sheet (lined with foil). Boil some butter and sugar. Pour on top of crackers. Bake. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Spread. Let sit. Chill. EAT THE EVER-LOVING CRAP OUT OF THEM. Or ya know...just be good and have 1 or 2. Personally I think that's no way to live, but I'm not here to tell you what to do.

...but seriously...at least eat 5 of them.

{No Bake} Chocolate Hazelnut Tart--Chocmeister Review

I love Peanut Butter & Co. It is well documented. So when I heard they were coming out with chocolate hazelnut spreads...I nearly jumped up and down, I was so thrilled! And, lucky lucky me, they sent me a jar of their new Chocmeister Dark Chocolatey Hazelnut Spread to play with!

Before I tell you about all the deliciousness you are presently gazing upon, let me give you the 411 on Chocmeister Chocolatey Hazelnut Spreads. First of all they come in 2 varieties, milk and dark chocolate. And they're made with 25% LESS sugar and 50% MORE protein than the leading chocolate hazelnut spread brand. Which is pretty amazeballs. And, as someone who immediately tried some: it tastes even better! The hazelnut flavor really comes through and it's perfectly delicious. Just the thing to eat on toast, with fruit, or ya know...in a perfect no-bake tart.

It's summer. My favorite season. I love it. And it's hot-which I'm totally cool with but maybe we don't reeeeally want to use the oven if we don't have to, you know? That's why I wanted to make you guys a super decadent no-bake dessert. And the Chocmeister Dark Chocolatey Hazelnut Spread was so rich and had such a great hazelnut flavor that I knew I wanted to play that up. And I DID. This tart seriously just embodies chocolate and hazelnut-in every way.

First, we have a chocolate cookie + hazelnut no bake crust: tastiness. Then I made a ganache with the Chocmeister and heavy cream. And topped it with chopped hazelnuts. You chill the entire thing and it...is...just...perfect. The texture of the filling is so silky and perfect and the crust and hazelnuts give you a bit of crunch. So good. SO SO GOOD. 

Quick Raspberry Ice Cream

I'm sort of in love with the pretty pretty shade of pink this ice cream is. Like...the pictures don't even do it justice. It's LOVELY. And it's all just from raspberries-no artificial coloring or anything like that. Speaking of ingredients, this recipe only uses SIX ingredients and it's completely no cook, no churn, and egg free! It's insanely quick and easy and you'll never believe HOW GOOD it is.

The ice cream is super creamy and silky and deliciously refreshing. I made the ice cream for Michael (because it's raspberry, so of course it's for him). It always makes me giggle when we order at restaurants and-with dessert for example-Michael usually orders something pink (strawberry or raspberry) and I usually get something super rich and decadent, and they always try to bring us out each other's food. Apparently I eat like a man and my hubby likes pretty pretty girly food :P

The point of the story is...Michael love love loves this ice cream. In all it's pink glory.

Look....all you have to do is blend together a few ingredients, then whip some cream, fold it all together, freeze it, AND THAT'S IT. Now you have this dreamy ice cream for yourself. It's pretty much the perfect thing to enjoy on a hot summery day. 

{Easy} Salted Praline Pecan Clusters

Look...I'm as Yankee as it gets. No one in my family is from the South or ever has been. I've lived in Ohio and NYC. I'm Italian and Irish. I think the Civil War did in fact end 150+ years ago. I don't like sweet tea.

Buuut sometimes I say y'all. And I love comfort food. And I love pralines.

So...Southerners...can you just like let me sometimes be one of you? In the land of pralines, at least?

That said...I'm 99% sure these are not traditional pralines. I've actually had a few pralines and these have very little in common with them. But...like I said...what do I know? And regardless, this recipe is insanely easy and yields DELICIOUS little pecan caramel-y clusters!

And you know what the best part of these "pralines" is? Ok....well...the best part is the taste.

But do you know the SECOND best part?? You make this recipe by just putting some stuff together and throwing it in the microwave! And...that's mostly it. Then you spoon some of the mixture onto a silpat or wax paper or something and sprinkle it with salt and YOU'RE DONE! This is actually a pretty dangerous situation we're all in now. Because we can have these YUMMALICIOUS lovelies so quickly and so easily. It's bonkers.

And seriously....they're so rich. And salty-sweet. And crunchy. It's like...pecans covered in a hardened salted caramel or butterscotch sauce...sorta. They're good, my friends. SO GOOD. That's all you need to know.

Zucchini & Tomato Skillet

I know. I disappear for 2 weeks and then I come back to you with vegetables. Like...who am I even?

Don't worry, I'm still me. I made this for Michael :P

BUT I tried some and actually didn't mind it. And it was a super simple thing to throw together as a healthy side dish for the boy. You're gonna agree-trust me!

Michael was a little wary at first...he said it looks like minestrone soup (of which he is not a fan). I informed him that it was literally just some garlic and chopped tomatoes and zucchini with some seasonings. He gave me a suspicious look and took a bite...

...and he was pleasantly surprised! "This is REALLY good, actually!" he said.

*huff* I can't believe he doubted me.

SO don't you all start doubting me either! This is seriously the simplest (and most adaptable) weeknight skillet idea that works as a side or it could even be an entree if that's your thing (whether you're a vegetarian or if you wanted to mix in some cooked meat with the veggies). You can also of course mix up the vegetables according to your preference but the zucchini and tomatoes really worked out nicely. The zucchini ended up perfectly tender and the tomatoes started to cook down so that they almost became a sauce--which I didn't expect (I suppose I should have but I didn't). Anyway--flavorful, quick, easy, healthy. These are words that describe this one skillet dish that I hope your family likes as much as mine does! :)

Cheesy Turkey Pesto Rolls

I can't believe I did it. This is something I practically never do. I...I used crescent rolls in a recipe. And I didn't make the crescent roll dough from scratch. This is not a thing I usually do but I know we don't always have time and...I wanted to make these. So I bit the bullet and used crescent roll dough. I hope we're all ok with this? Everything in moderation, am I right?

I feel like I've been pretty firmly in the old-for-my-age camp in a lot of ways for awhile. You know, I'd rather sit and watch Netflix or a movie than go out, I like to cook/bake (obviously), Michael and I bicker like an old married couple...etc. One of the few things that kept me from being too far over the edge is that I've never cared much for HGTV...and I don't knit. Well...now that I'm starting to get into the idea of house hunting...I am sorta loving HGTV all of a sudden.

...but so far I still don't knit.

But whether you're young-at-heart or old-for-your-age...or anywhere in between, you're gonna be all about these rolls! They're crazy easy to throw together and they make an awesome lunch or snack or appetizer or just grab-and-go sustenance! They're cheesy and pesto-y (so make sure to use a pesto you love!) and there's turkey so yay protein! They're also super customizable so feel free to play around with the fillings, and you can totally make them vegetarian (just...don't add any meat--ta da!) 

Roast Garlic Gravy

Hiii everyone! I'm back!! Didja miss me? I missed you! I have to say, though, I had THE BEST time! It was so wonderful to see my brother and spend so much time with him. We also got to check out San Antonio-which is an awesome city and I cannot recommend the River Walk down there enough! So beautiful and so many amazing restaurants! We did a lot of fun stuff, and I'll talk more about it on Saturday, but yeah the best part was definitely my baby brother. It was so hard to leave him and know I won't see him for another 6ish months (after he's done with his tech training for his intel job in the airforce). But at least I can send him care packages now! I know he misses his sissy's food lol.

I would put roasted garlic in everything if I could. So I obviously jumped at the chance to put it in gravy!

Now...I get that gravy season is sorta technically over. But like...is it? Is it ever really over. 

I think not. But...yeah you might not be making turkey and might not have drippings. I certainly didn't when I made this. Sooo I've included a way to make this both with and without drippings. Huzzah!

This gravy is rich and creamy and has a delicious mellow garlic flavor and seriously takes any mashed potato recipe over the top. A must make, in my humble opinion.

Quick & Easy Homemade French Bread

I think this is my new favorite quick and easy bread recipe! I was honestly shocked by how simple it was to throw together and then you just have to wait about an hour for it to rise and about half an hour for it to bake and then...TA DA! French bread!

I think my current favorite use for this recipe is for garlic bread--that's what I made it for initially when we had Michael's friend over for dinner. You can make it the day of or like a day ahead of time and it helps you make seriously delicious an brag-worthy garlic bread (seriously...look at people's faces when you tell them you made the whole thing from scratch, even the bread. They will be impressed!) Slightly crusty on the outside, nice and chewy on the inside. Gotta love a delicious and easy recipe for homemade bread, am I right??!

Creamy Herb Chicken Skillet

I'm always up for a new chicken recipe! Are you? I hope so because if not...well...you're probably only here for desserts and don't worry, I've got one of those coming to you on Wednesday.

So really we're all winners.

This dish was really delicious-the chicken is juicy and flavorful and the sauce is creamy and cheesy and...herb-y...? Herb-y isn't a word...herbaceous? I don't know if that really applies to this...oh whatever, you guys get the idea! It's a creamy sauce that is made with boursin (one of my fave kinds of cheese), yummy shallots, and garlic (of course)-and you make it in the same skillet you cooked the chicken so all of that goodness is up in there, too. I sent Michael some in his lunch and he texted me an enthusiastic "This chicken is so good! What's in the sauce?" and then after I told him he proceeded to make a pun about the Lady of Shalott that went over my head and then he had to explain it.

After all these years...there is still mystery. Keepin' the magic alive, folks.

Especially the magic of delectable chicken dishes.

One Pot Mexican Rice Casserole

Yepp. Another one-pot recipe. I'm serious about not doing dishes and feeding my hubby (seriously...if I don't feed him he gets all whiny and it's no fun. Ask anyone with an Italian husband lol.) Anyway, one of the beautiful things about this Mexican Rice Casserole recipe is you can definitely customize it based on your preferences! You can add in onions, peppers, corn, or any other veggies you fancy! You can also add in some cooked meat (so me making chicken and adding it sort of increased the dishes I needed to wash post this recipe but...that's ok! Plus you could just buy pre-prepared chicken or sausage or whatever and throw it in there to maintain the one-pot'dness.) And, although it's pretty healthy to begin with, you can make this dish even better for you by using brown rice (which I did!)

Regardless of any customization you decide to do, the base of the recipe is this: rice, veggies, spices, tomatoes, and cheeeese! It makes an awesome side dish or entree and is full of flavors! It's also colorful...which is pretty important for Michael and his food. He likes for food to be about more than just taste, he gets really into the textures and colors too. It's pretty hilarious, except when he's griping about how I make too many brown "bland" foods---but that's why I make recipes like this one! To keep me sane and make him happy! And so I can share the happiness and sanity-savingness with all of you. This "casserole" is a perfect weeknight meal and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

One Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo

Erm, I hate dishes. And I have a husband who is constantly needing variation in his cuisine (unlike me who is perfectly happy with all meat & potatoes, all the time). Soooo I'm getting really into the idea of making one pot meals for him. They're easy, the dirty pretty much 1 dish, and he gets something new to eat. I think we can all  agree that this is a win situation, yeah?

Michael has a mini love affair with New Orleans food--mind you, we haven't been to NOLA (yet) but when we go out to eat and a menu item says New Orleans or Cajun...Michael's probably going to order it. So I loved the idea of Cajun Chicken Alfredo! Not to mention--not only is this recipe quick and easy, and all made in one pot, BUT it also is made with ingredients you almost definitely already have (the Cajun seasoning is the only thing I needed to buy for this recipe, and I know Michael is happy that we now have that!) Oh yeah and...it's actually pretty healthy. Hooray!

Creamy, thick alfredo sauce (made from broth and milk-no heavy cream or butter!) that has that extra bit of Cajun spice envelops soft fettuccine noodles and perfectly seasoned chicken. Michael was definitely a fan, and I loved how simple the whole thing was. This will be getting made again...and again...and again....

Strawberries & Cream Chocolate Chip Ice Cream {Easy, No Cook, Egg-free}

This ice cream is extra special for a couple reasons.

1. Michael requested it as his birthday treat.
2. It was my first time using my ice cream maker!
3. It's insanely easy and super pretty and was the perfect way to finish out summer (mind you--I don't care that it's October. Strawberry ice cream should be enjoyed all the time.)

I'm so glad this was the recipe I started with for my first foray into real ice cream--it was kind of insanely easy. Like...you blend a bunch of stuff together and then you put it in the ice cream maker. Then you add in some mashed strawberries and chocolate chips and...yeah. The end! And seriously...how pretty is it? No food coloring here-just naturally pink strawberry-liciousness! It's also super creamy, thanks to the cream cheese. I will make a small note that if you freeze this extra long/store it in the freezer-it does get quite hard so I suggest taking it out for a bit to soften prior to serving (unless you gobble it all up straight out of the ice cream maker, that's cool too!) Also, this recipe doesn't make a bunch but I actually made another batch almost immediately after-so you can totally double the recipe if you have a hungry Michael type person in your house.

It's ok if that hungry person is you. It means we'd probably be friends. #facts