Apple Cider Mojitos

 A classic summertime cocktail gets a delicious autumn makeover with the addition of apple cider in these crisp and refreshing Apple Cider Mojitos...

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Okay. I know, I know.... Mojitos are cocktails that are usually associated with summertime, and backyard BBQ's, and beach vacations. Not with fall time or apple season.

But hear me out, you all.... It works. The white rum with your favorite apple cider and a little fresh mint and lime really works. Even I was surprised by how delicious this autumn twist on a classic mojito turned out.

Now, I can't take all the credit for coming up with this cocktail idea. I actually tried an apple cider mojito at a local brewery a couple months ago, and I knew I had to try to recreate it at home. 

Last month, we went apple picking while my sister and my best friend from West Virginia were visiting us at our new home in Erie, Pennsylvania. When I spied the fresh pressed apple cider at the local apple orchard we stopped at, I picked up a half gallon to bring home just to test out my new fall cocktail idea. I am a firm believer that the best cocktails start with the freshest ingredients.

Pumpkin Banana Bread with Pepitas & Dried Cranberries

 Crunchy pepitas & dried cranberries lend a little crunch and tart sweetness to this moist (and healthy-ish!) Pumpkin Banana Bread...

My most favorite time of the year has finally arrived here in Erie, Pennsylvania- fall!  I have to admit that when we first decided to move here a couple of months ago, I had a few reservations about living here.

Yes- my fiance, my daughter, and I would be hours from our hometowns and families. And we would have to adjust from life in our small hometown to living close to a bigger city (which actually wasn't all that difficult to do! ;) ). 

But one thing that caused me a bit more apprehension than maybe it would the average person was this question- what would the autumn season be like this much further north? Would I still get to see and enjoy the fall colors, crisp weather, and fun fall activities that I had come to love in my home state of West Virginia?

And let me be the first to tell you all- the fall foliage here is simply amazing! And the weather? It definitely has its moments (like the 3-4 days straight of non-stop downpours when it rains- yay, lake effect!), but all in all, I have been enjoying the cooler temps here since I get to don my favorite fall sweaters, hoodies, and boots just a little earlier than normal.

Mahi Mahi with Fresh Pineapple Salsa

 This light and healthy Mahi Mahi with Pineapple Salsa is the perfect quick and easy summer dinner idea! You can have this on the dinner table in just 20 minutes, folks...

So, life has been a little on the crazy side for me lately. In case some of you all haven't picked up on the little hints I have left here and there on my social media lately, my daughter, fiance, and I are moving to Erie, Pennsylvania in just a couple of weeks. 

Colin has already been in Erie since the end of June starting his new career opportunity, but he has unfortunately been living out of a hotel for almost two months now. To say he is beyond ready to have an actual home and a family to come home to each day is an understatement.

I am going to be in full-on packing and moving mode for the next two weeks or so as I have decided to tackle not only packing my home, but Colin's apartment as well. If any of you all can spare any good vibes or ju-ju (or moving tips!), please send them my way. My sanity will thank you. ;)

Spicy Almond Cold Soba Noodle Salad

This Spicy Almond Cold Soba Noodle Salad is full of flavor and amazing textures- crunchy almonds, cucumbers, and red bell peppers, soft and slippery noodles, all tossed with a spicy almond butter sriracha dressing...

This is a sponsored post by Babbleboxx.

I am all about easy and simple when it comes to cooking and entertaining in the summertime. I love quick and effortless pasta salads and dishes that work well not only as a light and healthy lunch idea, but also as a flavorful, make-ahead side dish for a backyard BBQ or a summer potluck. The Spicy Almond Cold Soba Noodle Salad recipe I am sharing with you all today easily meets the requirements for both. 

Seriously, you all. This recipe comes together in just 15 minutes and can be easily doubled or quadrupled. And thanks to Roland® Organic Soba Noodles and RECIPE 33 Infused Almonds, this cold noodle salad recipe is packed with flavor and amazing textures. 

Before I share the actual recipe with you all, let me tell you guys about a few of the products I am loving this summer for cooking and entertaining...

Chicken Mushroom Flatbread

 You can have this artisan-worthy Chicken Mushroom Flatbread pizza for one on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes!

First, before I even begin here, let me apologize to you all for taking such a long hiatus from posting to the blog. As many of you all know by now, I donated a kidney to my fiance in October of last year. My recovery went pretty smoothly, but my fiance was hit with a few setbacks shortly after our surgeries. 

We faced many challenges- mild rejection episodes (which we have now come to realize is fairly common within the first 6 months of a transplant surgery), numerous medication adjustments (he was on 20+ prescriptions at one time during this journey), and even emergency surgery which resulted in him having to stay weeks longer in the hospital. Let just say that life needed my blog to temporarily take a back seat.

Fortunately, we have finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel and life is somewhat resuming to normal. My fiance is feeling healthier and stronger every day, we have the meds under control, he is back at work, and we are planning for a (hopefully) fall wedding. 

I'm Sharing My Spare: The Beginning of Our Kidney Donor Story

Photo credit: Meredith Brook Photography

So today's post isn't going to be like my usual blog posts on here. I won't be sharing an easy to make recipe or any cooking or baking tips. Today, I am going to take a moment to get a little personal with you all- something that I don't do all that often on here.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you may have already seen my post in July about my then boyfriend's impending need for a kidney donor. Colin has been battling kidney disease since he was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disorder in his mid-twenties. 

His doctors were not able to identify what was wrong with him in those first few weeks of his illness. In the meantime, the disorder wreaked irreversible damage to his kidneys during the weeks that elapsed between when he was first admitted to the hospital and then finally diagnosed with Henoch Schonlein Purpura.

Small Batch Blueberry Muffins

 These Small Batch Blueberry Muffins are perfect to bake up when you don't need an entire dozen of muffins in the house. They are nice & moist thanks to the addition of creamy Greek yogurt and are bursting with fresh blueberry flavor...

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So I know that summer is on the exit and that the fall season is just about to arrive, but I had to sneak in just one last summer-inspired recipe this year before we dive head first into all things pumpkin spice and apple. ;) 

One thing that we have not been in short supply of this past summer was local blueberries at our weekly farmers market. And one of my absolute favorite things to make with fresh blueberries is homemade blueberry muffins.

The problem is that most recipes I have come across online make a dozen or more muffins. But since it is now just my daughter and I at home together most weeks, we can rarely get through an entire dozen of muffins between the two of us before they go stale no matter how amazingly delicious they may be. Cue my mission to come up with the perfect small batch blueberry muffin recipe!