It's Time for Turkey: My 4 Essentials for Easy Holiday Dinner Prep

Make your family holiday dinner super simple & hassle-free with My 4 Essentials for Easy Holiday Dinner Prep...

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

It is t-minus one day until turkey time, folks! If you happen to be scrambling to put the finishing touches on that holiday dinner menu for tomorrow, then you are in luck because I have a few quick & easy ideas to share with you all today. 

Who says that hosting a family holiday dinner has to be crazy time consuming and stressful anyways? ;) You can make it super simple & hassle-free with a few simple ingredients and a little creativity. I am sharing a handful of my favorite products & tips below for making that happen.

Make Your Holiday Dinner Simple & Easy with the Bob Evans Premium Farmhouse Feast

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bob Evans Restaurants for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.

The holiday season was meant for spending quality time with your family and loved ones. Make your holiday dinner simple & easy this year with the Bob Evans Premium Farmhouse Feast...

I love sharing a special meal with my family during the holidays. In fact, it is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. Coming together, gathering around a table to enjoy a family-style meal, sharing stories, and just enjoying a little time together.

What I don't sometimes like about family holiday dinners is that someone (usually me) gets stuck in the kitchen cooking and baking up a storm while everyone else gets to come together, share stories, and enjoy a little time together. 

But I have a little secret to share with you all that I just discovered for myself... you can let Bob Evans do all the preparation for that family feast for you this holiday season by ordering their Premium Farmhouse Feast either online, in store, or over the phone. That's right! Your next holiday dinner can be made simple with Farmhouse Feast.

Bob Evans Premium Farmhouse Feast provides a complete "home-cooked" meal for 8-10 dinner guests without all of the hassle.

Chipotle Butternut Squash & Pumpkin Soup

Roasted butternut squash & creamy pumpkin are blended together with warm spices & a little kick of heat in this perfect for fall Chipotle Butternut Squash & Pumpkin Soup...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

While I am not a fan of the cooler temps (and *gasp* the impending snow), there is one thing I do look forward to as fall progresses into early winter and that is the ushering in of one of my favorite seasons of the year- soup season! Honestly, we eat soup all year round in this house. But I definitely kick up my comforting and cozy soup game once the temperatures start to dip below the 40's on the regular.

I mean, what is better than a bowl of warm and creamy homemade soup when it is a cold and rainy (or snowy) outside? Not much else, folks. Except for maybe a mug of my Pumpkin Chai Hot Buttered Rum or a dish of my Slow Cooker Apple Butter Rice Pudding. ;)

This recipe for Chipotle Butternut Squash & Pumpkin Soup that I am sharing with you all today just might be the best fall inspired homemade soup recipe that I have come up with so far for the blog. It is creamy & smoky, with a little kick of heat, and a touch of spice & sweetness. Everything you could possibly ask for in a fall time soup! 

20 Tasty & Comforting Slow Cooker Recipes for Fall

You are sure to find a cozy slow cooker recipe to keep you and your family warm and satisfied in this collection of 20 Tasty & Comforting Slow Cooker Recipes for Fall...

Who else is huddled up inside avoiding this cold front that this blasting the east coast this week? I, for one, loathe being cold. When an arctic blast is heading my way, I am happiest when I am warm & cozy, cuddled up with a soft blanket and a bowl or plate of my favorite comfort food. Who's with me? ;)

And some of my favorite comfort food recipes happen to be made in one of my favorite kitchen appliances- my slow cooker! My love affair with my slow cooker is no big secret to those of you who have been following my blog for a while. In fact, some of my most popular recipes on the blog are made in the slow cooker.

I searched some of my favorite food blogs for the best tasty & comforting slow cooker recipes I could find for fall time. All of these slow-cooked recipes are brimming with some of our favorite flavors of fall like apple, pumpkin, butternut squash, and pears. 

Whether you are avoiding the cold temps outside or you are just craving a little comfort food, you are sure to find a cozy slow cooker recipe below to keep you and your family warm and satisfied...

How to Make a Boxed Cake Mix Taste Better Than Bakery

Magically transform a store bought cake mix into a moist, crowd-pleasing layer cake with my "secret" hack for How to Make a Boxed Cake Mix Taste Better Than Bakery...

I don't mean to brag or anything (okay, maybe I do just *a little* bit ;) ), but I have become known over the past few years for my "homemade" two-layer cakes. They are often requested by my family & friends for birthdays, special occasions, and holidays. And I do have to say that I find it a tad bit amusing since I have never really considered myself much of a cake baker.

But a few years back, I discovered a little hack to doctoring up a boxed cake mix. (Shhhhh.... I do not make my layer cakes from scratch!) The "secret" is extra eggs, extra oil, and sour cream. The addition of these three things can magically transform a regular ole store bought cake mix into a super moist and decadent cake that will leave all of your party guests raving and begging you the recipe.

Honey & Herb Roasted Chicken with Autumn Squash

This Honey & Herb Roasted Chicken with Autumn Squash recipe is a delicious way to usher in the fresh & warm flavors of the fall season...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series in the summer of 2017, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of September, I am sharing my last recipe post of the outdoor market season- this juicy and flavorful Honey & Herb Roasted Chicken with Autumn Squash. This roasted chicken recipe is a delicious way to usher in the fresh & warm flavors of the fall season. 

I am going to share a little secret with you all that I just recently learned myself- if you roast a chicken upside down, you will end up with the most moist & juiciest chicken breast that you have ever tasted. I know it seems weird to roast a chicken with the breast side down, but do trust me on this one, folks. Give it a try with this recipe. I guarantee that you won't regret it. 

4 Time-Saving & Nutritious Choices for Stocking Your Freezer

Not only can you feel good about serving these nutritious spins on some of your family's favorites, but you can also save yourself a little time with these easy & convenient choices...

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Conagra Brands

It is no big secret in the blogging world that the holiday season is the busiest time of the year for most of us food bloggers. Even if you are not a food blogger, I think everyone feels the time crunch around this time of the year. The kids are full-on into the whole back to school thing with after school practices and homework. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are just around the corner. And it seems our daily to-do lists gets a little longer the closer that we get to each holiday. Am I right?

Some evenings I find myself hard pressed for time, but I still want to provide smarter choices for myself & my daughter for dinner time. For nights when I just don't have it in me to whip up a nutritious dinner from scratch, I keep our freezer stocked with a few of our favorites from Gardein, Healthy Choice, & Birds Eye. 

Not only can I feel good about serving these nutritious spins on some of our favorites to my family, but I can also save myself a little time with these convenient choices...

Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad

Inspired by one of my favorite sushi rolls, this Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad makes the perfect quick & easy lunch idea...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of StarKist Selects E.V.O.O.®.  

With my youngest back at school 5 days a week now & the busiest time of the year for most of us food bloggers just around the corner, I am ready to get re-focused on some of my own personal goals that I want to accomplish before the end of the year. One of my biggest goals for this past year has been to work towards getting myself to a better & more healthier place physically. 

I have come a long way in the past few months- making my gym time & yoga practice a priority and making better choices when it comes to my daily diet- but I don't want to lose any of that progress as we head into the upcoming holiday season.

In addition to having a vitamin-packed green smoothie for breakfast most mornings of the week, I have also been focusing on creating healthier quick & easy lunch ideas. One of my go-to's for lunch at home or on the go is a filling quinoa salad. I usually make a big batch of quinoa at the beginning of each week so I can conveniently have it hand in the refrigerator. Sometimes I toss it with tuna, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, & a light dressing, and sometimes I saute veggies to add to it & serve it warm.

But perhaps one of my new favorite ways to enjoy a quick & flavorful quinoa salad for lunch is with this super easy recipe I am sharing with you all today for my Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad...

The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Delaware County, Ohio

From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in Delaware County, Ohio...

This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

If someone would have asked me at the beginning of May what my recommendation would be for a good travel destination in Ohio for foodies, Delaware probably would have not been the first Ohio city that would have come to mind for me. Having lived in the Columbus area for over 8 years, I was familiar with the Delaware area but didn't venture that way much when I was resident of Franklin County. I knew Alum Creek State Park was up that way, but that was about the extent of my knowledge of Delaware County.

That all changed when the kiddos & I visited the Delaware, Ohio area at the end of May earlier this summer. Over the past 10 years, the historic downtown area of Delaware has grown by leaps & bounds. And with this growth has also come the birth of a vibrant local restaurant & brewery scene. 

While we definitely didn't get to experience all of the deliciousness that Delaware County has to offer during our stay, we did get a good enough taste of the area. From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in the county... 

Caprese Tomato Bread Pudding

This creamy & savory Caprese Tomato Bread Pudding is a delicious & easy way to enjoy the fresh flavors of the summer season...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series in the summer of 2017, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

Both of my kiddos are back in school now & the summer is winding down, but the heirloom tomato game is still going strong at my local farmers market each weekend. Sweet & juicy garden fresh tomatoes really are one of the best things about the end of the summer growing season. Usually I am drawn to big, fat heirloom tomatoes that are bigger than the size of my palm, but I spied some gorgeous heirloom cherry tomatoes a couple of weeks ago at the market & I just knew that I had to use them in a recipe.

Strawberry Papaya Tofu Smoothie

This Strawberry Papaya Tofu Smoothie is a thick & creamy blend of tofu, sweet strawberries, fresh papaya, frozen mango, & banana- a perfect quick & easy after school snack!

Thank you House Foods for sponsoring this post.

My daughter is enjoying her last few days of summer break, and I am thinking ahead to next week when school starts back up for the year. Even though we do not know quite yet what her second grade year will bring, one thing is for certain- she will come through the door just about every afternoon after school proclaiming how hungry she is. So I am making a mental list now of fun & easy snacks that she can help me make when her after school munchies hit.

Inspired by her recent reading of The Tales of Tofu from House Foods ebook, my daughter asked if we could try one of the recipes from the ebook. My daughter loves any & all smoothies, so she of course requested that we whip up the Strawberry Papaya Tofu Smoothie in preparation for all that upcoming back to school snacking. 

Double Blueberry Greek Yogurt Waffles

These fluffy & protein-packed Double Blueberry Greek Yogurt Waffles are a tasty & filling way to start your day...

This dairy packed recipe was created in partnership with the ADA Mideast. As always, all thoughts & opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Back to school is just around the corner, & I am sure that most of you all are in full-on prep for the new school year. I know that we are. We have been picking up school supplies at the store, doing a little clothes shopping, & making sure all the paperwork is in order for my daughter to start second grade. We have been checking off our back to school to-do list & then checking it twice. 

But did you know that one of the single most important things that we, as parents, can do to make sure our kiddos are ready for school each morning is to ensure that they are eating a healthy, filling breakfast? And one of the best (& easiest!) ways to do that is to make sure to include dairy in their daily breakfast.

In fact, dairy foods happen to be one of the most budget friendly ways to add more protein to your kiddo's breakfast. And more protein means your child will stay feeling fuller longer, which in turn improves their concentration during class. Just one serving of milk, yogurt, or cheese includes 8 grams of high quality protein & 9 essential nutrients.

One of my daughter's favorite breakfast foods happens to waffles. This girl would eat waffles every single morning if she could. So, I decided to take her most requested breakfast dish & give it a dairy & protein boost by using Greek yogurt instead of oil in the waffle batter. The results? Perfectly fluffy waffles bursting with fresh blueberry flavor! (And also a very happy & full second grader... )

5 Fun & Family Friendly Things to do in & Around Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hershey is so much more than just roller coasters & chocolate bars! Check out my top recommendations for 5 Fun & Family Friendly Things to do in & Around Hershey, Pennsylvania...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Hershey & Harrisburg. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I don't think that it is any big secret that the Hershey, Pennsylvania area is a go-to destination in the east for fun family getaways. With Hersheypark & Hershey's Chocolate World just a short walk apart from each other, it is easy to see why the area has been a favorite among families for decades now. I mean, who doesn't love a good amusement park and lots & lots of chocolate? ;)

Plus, Hershey is quite literally the city that was built on chocolate. Or at the very least, it is a city that was built upon Milton Hershey's chocolate empire and his vision of a town & a community that he could give back to. You can experience his legacy at every turn within the historic downtown area of Hershey & the surrounding areas.

That being said, Hershey is so much more than just roller coasters & chocolate bars! Within a 30 minute drive of the city, you can also explore hiking trails that lead to incredible views, create your very own ice cream flavor, & challenge your family members to a friendly game of nighttime mini golf. 

Last month, my kiddos & I got to spend four fun-packed days in the Hershey, Pennsylvania area. While four days is definitely not quite long enough to experience everything this area of Pennsylvania has to offer, we did get to enjoy five of the area's top family-friendly attractions...

15 Creative Zucchini Recipes That are NOT Bread

From moist muffins to flavorful & fresh dinner ideas to pies & tarts, put that overabundance of garden zucchini to good use with these 15 Creative Zucchini Recipes That are NOT Bread...

I don't know about you all, but my Facebook feed has been filled with friends & family posting pics of their very generous bounties from their home gardens lately. And these homegrown bounties almost always include a ridiculous amount of zucchini with an offer that they also happen to be free to good homes. ;) Now I like a good, garden grown zucchini as much as the next girl, but you can only bake so many loaves of zucchini bread in a month- am I right?

That is why I made it my mission to go out & search for some of the most creative zucchini recipes out there from a few of my favorite food bloggers. My only requirement? No bread recipes. In fact, I went looking for zucchini recipes that were anything but bread recipes.

I gathered up 15 of the most unique & creative zucchini recipes I could find. Everything from moist muffins to flavorful & fresh dinner ideas to pies & tarts. 

So forget the zucchini bread this week, and try one of these tasty zucchini recipes instead...

Coffee Rubbed Venison Bacon Burger

This juicy & flavorful Coffee Rubbed Venison Bacon Burger is sure to quickly become your new go-to burger recipe this summer...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series in the summer of 2017, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of July, I am sharing the recipe for this juicy & flavorful Coffee Rubbed Venison Bacon Burger. For those who are not familiar with cooking with venison, it is deer meat. And deer meat tends to be on the leaner side with very little fat & with a slightly gamey flavor. My remedy for both of these predicaments? Thick cut local bacon, of course! ;)

Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops

Inspired by a favorite summertime cocktail, these Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops will make the perfect adults-only poolside treat or a refreshing ending to a backyard BBQ...

Who says popsicles are just for the kiddos? ;) Not this mama! In fact, one of my favorite adults only treats to make during the hot summer months are boozy ice pops. It is so much fun to transform a favorite fruity cocktail into a frosty treat perfect for beating the heat with.

Some of you all may remember my Peach Shinesicles from a couple of summers ago. Those ice pops combined juicy peaches with my favorite peach flavored liqueur. These refreshing Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops happen to be inspired by one of my all-time favorite summertime cocktails- mojitos! 

I combined fresh watermelon with mint, tart lime, & rum to make these mojito inspired popsicles. They will make the perfect poolside treat or a refreshing ending to a backyard BBQ...

4 Fun Things to Do in Delaware County, Ohio for Animal & Nature Lovers

From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers...

This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Located less than an hour north of Columbus is the quaint town of Delaware, Ohio. Having been a Columbus resident for almost 8 years, I must admit that Delaware County was not an area I explored much when I lived in the area. And boy, had I been missing out, you all!

From a growing local foods & brewery scene to a historic downtown filled with small town charm & plenty of shopping, the city of Delaware has grown quite a bit in the past decade. But perhaps what I was most impressed by was just how much there is to do in the county for outdoors & nature lovers like myself & my kiddos. From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers.

While we didn't get to explore everything that Delaware County had to offer in our 3 day stay, we did get to experience 4 of the best things to do in the area if you happen to be the outdoorsy type. Whether you & your family love animals, or are into gardening, or love to hike, this county in Ohio needs to be on your family travel list this summer...

Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie

Packed with vitamins, nutrients, & antioxidants, this thick & creamy Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie is the perfect way to get in those leafy greens...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series in the summer of 2017, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of June, I am sharing the recipe for this vitamin & nutrient packed Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie. Since I started on my journey to a healthier lifestyle a few months ago, smoothies- especially green smoothies - have become an integral part of my diet. I start out most days with a creamy smoothie blended with lots of the good stuff- frozen fruit, leafy greens, green tea, & chia seeds. 

3 Easy Dessert "Pizza" Muffins

With 3 different topping combinations to choose from, these Easy Dessert "Pizza" Muffins are the perfect no-bake treat for summertime...

This post is sponsored by Thomas' English Muffins & Megaphone. All opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Who else happens to be a fan of no-bake recipes for those hot summer days? When the temperatures rise & the humidity is on, the last thing I want to do is turn on my oven to whip up a sweet treat for myself & the kiddos. That's why when Thomas' English Muffins asked me to come up with a perfect for summertime recipe that went beyond the breakfast table, I knew I wanted to create a dessert recipe that was simple & easy and required no baking time whatsoever.

I stopped in at my local Walmart & picked up everything that I would need to make these Easy Dessert "Pizza" Muffins, including my favorite Thomas' Light Multigrain English Muffins. These dessert "pizzas" go from toaster to table in just 20 minutes! Plus with 3 varieties to choose from & make, there is sure to be a perfect dessert muffin for each member of your family.

Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels

You only need 2 ingredients & about 40 minutes to bake up a batch of these easy to make, protein-packed Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels...

This dairy packed recipe was created in partnership with the ADA Mideast. As always, all thoughts & opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Since I have been on a kick lately to eat healthier, I have made it one of my goals to incorporate more low fat Greek yogurt into my cooking & baking. Not only it is one of my favorite ways to lighten up some of my go-to recipes, but Greek yogurt also happens to be high in protein (aka, keeps me feeling fuller for longer) & packs a nutritional punch with dairy's 9 essential nutrients. (CLICK HERE to check out some of the differences between Greek yogurt & regular yogurt.)

Since I love using Greek yogurt in my baking, I decided to give the latest foodie trend a go- making soft & fluffy bagels using only two ingredients, self-rising flour & protein-packed Greek yogurt! Yes, I was a little skeptical myself at first. But after baking up a batch of these Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels, I am definitely a believer now...