Pecan & Date Granola

This easy-to-make, homemade Pecan & Date Granola is brimming with toasted golden oats, crunchy pecans, & sweet dates...

Can we talk about raisins for just a quick second? In general, I don't like them. I mean, they have their place in the culinary world, but for me that wouldn't be straight from the box. Or baked into any kind of bread or bagel (oatmeal cookies though are a-okay with me ;) ). Or as part of a trail mix (I always pick around them). And especially not in my granola!

Do you know how difficult it can be to find a box of store bought granola that does not have raisins in it?? Nearly impossible. Believe me- I have tried. 

If you have an aversion to raisins in your morning granola like I do, then you are going to love the recipe that I am sharing with you all today! This homemade Pecan & Date Granola is brimming with toasted golden oats, crunchy pecans, & sweet dates.... and absolutely no raisins whatsoever! ;)

Cranberry-Ginger Eggnog French Toast for One

Grab some leftover rolls or bread & the eggnog from the fridge, and whip up this decadent Cranberry-Ginger Eggnog French Toast for One in less than 10 minutes...

Picture this for one second, folks- it is the morning after Christmas Day. You are up early, and the house is quiet. The kids are sleeping in after waking up super early the morning before to raid the gifts under the tree. 

You have a cup of coffee brewing & are just enjoying the stillness of the morning after the Christmas craziness of the day before. The only thing missing is a warm plate of french toast sitting in front of you.

But you don't want to drag out everything to make french toast. Or stand over the stove flipping the egg soaked pieces of bread. Plus, the delicious smell of homemade french toast is just sure to wake up the entire family, and there goes your much deserved quiet morning to yourself.

But wait! I have the perfect solution for this little day after Christmas dilemma of yours. ;) How about french toast just for one that you can make in your microwave? 

Grab some rolls or that loaf of bread leftover from Christmas dinner & the eggnog from the fridge, & whip up this decadent Cranberry-Ginger Eggnog French Toast for One in less than 10 minutes...

Farmers Market Frittata

This hearty Farmers Market Frittata is brimming with locally raised pork sausage, bell pepper, & fresh rainbow chard...

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

One of my favorite times of the year is the outdoor farmers market season here in my hometown. From the end of May through mid-fall, I can visit the local market each Sunday and stock up on freshly picked vegetables and pasture raised eggs & meats. 

And I just so happen to be on a mission this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious meal purchasing only locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market this summer. 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. 

Apple Pie French Toast for One

This perfectly portioned for one Apple Pie French Toast takes just a handful ingredients and a few minutes to make in your microwave...

Okay, you all. I have another apple pie inspired recipe for you guys today! And yes, I am well aware that I just shared my Easy Apple Pie Trail Mix recipe with you all last week. ;) But you see, I have apple pie on the brain lately. 

I am totally craving the combo of sweet apples with cinnamon and sugar, but I am not quite ready to dive into full-on pie baking mode yet. Mostly because it still feels like summer here. Like in the 80's with some humidity. I definitely have no desire to kick on the oven and bake when I am still have to have the AC on pretty much all hours of the day. Where is the crisp fall weather at already?? Because I am SO ready for jeans and flannels, okay? 

Until the temperatures drop and it actually starts to feel like fall around here, I will satisfy my apple pie cravings without heating up the kitchen with this easy to make Apple Pie French Toast for One. This perfectly portioned for one french toast in a mug takes just a handful ingredients and a few minutes to make in your microwave...

Peanut Butter Stuffed Crescent Rolls with Caramelized Bananas

Flaky crescent rolls are stuffed with creamy peanut butter, baked golden brown, & then topped with perfectly caramelized bananas in this decadent breakfast treat...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

Every once in a while when I am out & about traveling, I will order a dish at a restaurant or inn that is so delicious that I know I will have to find a way to recreate it as best I can as soon as I get home. The peanut butter stuffed croissant French toast I had at the Redbook Restaurant at Hillbrook Inn & Spa during our blogger retreat last month was one such dish. 

The chef stuffed a flaky croissant with natural peanut butter and then topped it with perfectly caramelized bananas, whipped cream, & fresh blueberries. (Wanna see a pic of it? ;) Then be sure to check out my review of our stay at the Hillbrook Inn for the Sip, Dine, & Shine 2016 blogger retreat.)

For my at-home version, I went simple & easy by using a roll of my favorite refrigerator crescent rolls. While not exactly a croissant, crescent rolls are light and flaky mimicking the texture of a fresh baked croissant. I stuffed each crescent roll with a dollop of natural peanut butter before baking them up golden brown and then topping them with ooey, gooey caramelized bananas...

Lime in the Coconut Banana Bread

This Lime in the Coconut Banana Bread is the perfect combination of sweet & tart thanks to creamy coconut and a hint of fresh lime...

There is no flavor combination out there that screams summer is on its way to me quite like lime with coconut. The sweet & tart combo of lime and coconut makes me think of cabanas on a tropical beach, and sipping on frozen libations on the backyard deck, and of course that super catchy song by Harry Nilsson. And I know pineapple and coconut get most of the summer lovin' (Hello, pina coladas! Duh.), but I think the coconut/lime combination deserves a little time in the limelight too (Like what I just did there? ;) ). 

I know that the official start of summer is still over a month away, but who says that we have to wait until then to get into that summertime vibe? Not me! I am diving right in with this moist and flavorful banana bread recipe. The banana bread itself is packed with lots of sweet coconut flavor and just a hint of fresh lime. But what really makes this bread something else is the super simple tart lime glaze you drizzle right over top. Finish it all off with a little toasted coconut, and you have just created the perfect taste of summer in the middle of May... 

Peanut Butter Chai Banana Baked Oatmeal

This easy to make Peanut Butter Chai Banana Baked Oatmeal with it's hearty oats, bananas, & chia seeds is the perfect grab & go breakfast for busy mornings...

When it comes to breakfast for myself and my family, I like making sure that we start our day with something healthy & filling that can take us right on through to lunch. And since we all have different start times to our days (my teenage son being up and at 'em well before the rest of us), I need breakfast recipes that will be easy to grab and ready to go no matter if we are eating breakfast at 6am or 9am. That is why I just love baked oatmeal! :) I can bake up a batch on a Sunday night, cut it into generous squares, and then slip each one into it's own ziploc baggie. Those hearty oatmeal squares become the perfect grab and go breakfast throughout the rest of the week. 

I have made different versions of baked oatmeal before (you all may remember my Almond Joy Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal & my Double Berry Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal), but this moist & satisfying Peanut Butter Chai Banana Baked Oatmeal just may be our favorite one yet. Not only is this baked oatmeal packed with lots of the good stuff (think bananas, whole oats, chia seeds), but you just can't beat the flavor combo of creamy peanut butter with chai spices. Before baking up a pan of this family-pleasing baked oatmeal, be sure to click on over to get my recipe for DIY Chai Spice Mix and whip up a batch. It is perfect to use in this baked oatmeal recipe, and to have on hand to mix into oatmeal, sprinkle over toast, or stir into your hot chocolate or favorite hot tea... 

Chocolate Mint Sweet Rolls

These cake mix Chocolate Mint Sweet Rolls are so rich and decadent that they can double as a breakfast & dessert...

Ever since making my French Vanilla Chai Cinnamon Rolls earlier last year, I have been kind of obsessing over new sweet roll recipes I could make using cake mix.  

My son is pretty much a chocolate-mint fanatic.  Give him a box of Andes chocolates and he is in heaven.

I knew I needed to come up with a sweet rolls recipe that would re-create the flavors in his favorite chocolates.

I have to say that these Chocolate-Mint Sweet Rolls were a resounding success (and teenage son approved!).

French Vanilla Chai Cinnamon Rolls

These French Vanilla Chai Cinnamon Rolls almost guarantee perfect homemade cinnamon rolls with my fail-safe "secret" ingredient- cake mix!

Lately I have been facing my culinary nemeses head on.  First it was fudge with my Mud Pie MoJoe Fudge.  And now, homemade cinnamon rolls with these delicious French Vanilla Chai Cinnamon Rolls.  

I can't tell you all how many times I have attempted to make homemade cinnamon rolls only to have them come out tough or chewy... or both.  The amount of time and effort I put into them just seemed silly, & I vowed to myself after my last cinnamon roll recipe flop that I would only be using the canned refrigerated cinnamon rolls from here on out. 

No more yeast based cinnamon rolls.  No more messing with punching down dough and letting it rise off and on for 2+ hours just so my family could grin and pretend that they liked my crappy from scratch cinnamon rolls.  ;)