Slow Cooker Italian Pepperoncini Shredded Beef

It only takes 4 ingredients & a few minutes of prep to make this juicy and flavorful Slow Cooker Italian Pepperoncini Shredded Beef...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

Whether we are hosting friends for the big game or having the family over for a little get-together, I usually rely on a few go-to recipes that can feed a small crowd and that keep me out of the kitchen and hanging out with our guests as much as possible. 







This Slow Cooker Italian Pepperoncini Shredded Beef happens to be one of those go-to, crowd-pleasing recipes of mine. It takes less than 15 minutes of prep time in the morning to get this flavorful, slow roasted shredded beef ready and in the slow cooker. 

Let it slow cook all day while you do more important things like cleaning the house, baking a cake or a batch of cookies, or whipping up a pitcher of sangria. ;)

My favorite way to serve this Italian shredded beef is topped with provolone or mozzarella cheese on big Italian sandwich buns. I just set out the buns & cheeses and let our guests make their own sandwiches. That is fuss-free entertaining, folks!

Frozen Peach & Cara Cara Orange Margarita

Ripe peach and sweet Cara Cara oranges come together in this refreshing Frozen Peach & Cara Cara Orange Margarita...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

So, can we chat about Cara Cara oranges for a second? I literally just discovered the existence of this navel orange hybrid last month, and I have been hooked ever since. Like I want to make all the Cara Cara orange things now. 






And why you might ask? Well, they happen to be a little sweeter and milder in acidity than traditional navel oranges. They also happen to be seedless which makes them perfect for juicing. And just look at what is on the inside when you slice one open. Such gorgeous color, folks!

Since patio sipping weather has just about arrived here, I thought why not use my new favorite citrus fruit in a frosty margarita? I combined fresh Cara Cara orange juice with ripe peach and fresh squeezed lime juice to make the perfect frozen peach margarita. You can rim your margarita glasses with salt or sugar depending on your taste preference. 






Personally, I am all for the sweet & salty combo, so I opted for a salt rim with mine. But if you prefer a sweeter margarita, go for the sugar rim. I found that the natural sugars from the orange juice and fresh peach were just right for me, but my husband who prefers all things syrupy sweet went for the sugared rim for his frozen margarita...

Pina Colada Pull-Apart Bread

If you are looking for a sweet tropical treat that will feed a crowd, you can't wrong with this easy to make Pina Colada Pull-Apart Bread...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

In case you haven’t noticed, pull apart breads are all the rage right now. Most of the versions I have seen have seen happen to be ooey, gooey, cheesy savory ones (think pizza inspired, game day ready, etc.). And I have seen quite a few breakfast versions of pull apart breads. But even though they are not as popular (yet), I am calling it now, folks- dessert pull apart breads are about to be the next big thing in easy to make dessert recipes.

The pull apart dessert bread recipes that I have come across recently though seem to have one thing in common- almost all of them are made from scratch with actual dough making and rise times and all that jazz. And while I have absolutely nothing against homemade, sometimes you just need a few quick, easy, yet impressive go-to dessert recipes that don’t require hours of your time. Am I right? 

Cue this Pina Colada Pull-Apart Bread! You use a ready-made sweet loaf of bread that you pick up from your local grocer or bakery and in 30 minutes you have an amazing, perfectly shareable pull-apart dessert bread.

Pomegranate Cranberry Moscow Mules

The classic Moscow Mule gets a perfect for fall flavor update with these Pomegranate Cranberry Moscow Mules...

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So, I have to confess that up until I had whipped up this cocktail, I had never had a Moscow Mule before. I know, I know... gasp. Right? 

And man, have I been missing out! The vodka mixed with the ginger beer and a little fresh lime juice? Amazing, folks. 

And while the classic Moscow Mule is delicious, I couldn't help but to keep thinking of that bottle of pomegranate vodka that had showed up at my door last month. The wheels started turning, and I knew I had to make a fall version of this cocktail! :) 

I swapped the plain vodka for the pomegranate one, added a generous splash of cranberry pomegranate juice, and then tossed in some fresh pomegranate seeds for a pretty garnish. Fall cocktail perfection, my friends. :)

These Pomegranate Cranberry Moscow Mules would be perfect for serving before or after that Thanksgiving dinner or maybe for a Friendsgiving get-together this month. 

You could even save this cocktail to whip up during the Christmas season. The color and flavors in this would be perfect for your holiday festivities... 

Chocolate Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti

These Chocolate Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti are perfect for dunking in a warm cup of coffee on a chilly fall morning...

Okay, friends... so, I had fully planned to share this recipe with you all last Thursday. And then blogger funk set in. Blogger funk as in... I don't feel like writing. I don't feel like doing social media. I don't feel like doing much of anything blog related. 

Blogger funk (or burnout as someone like to refer to it) happens to just about every blogger that I know every now and again. I decided that it was best not to force it (because nothing good ever comes from that), and then made the decision that this post would go up on Saturday morning. 

I rarely post on the weekends, but I thought who wouldn't want to be looking at these delicious homemade biscotti while sipping on their Saturday morning cup of coffee? 

And then Thursday happened... On Thursday, the food blogging community that I am a part of took a huge blow. And I needed a few days to take it all in and recover.

A blogger that I considered a mentor, an inspiration, and a wonderful friend slipped away suddenly leaving us all reeling and in utter shock. There is a good chance that many of you all may already be familiar with Joan of Chocolate, Chocolate, and More and all of her amazing sweet treats & dessert recipes. 

I would encourage you all to visit her blog often as the holidays approach and use it over and over again as a dessert resource for all those get-togethers, family gatherings, holiday dinners & parties. 

Help us keep her legacy to her three children- her blog- alive and thriving. And be looking for a very special post from me on Wednesday (aka, National Chocolate Day) dedicated to my good friend Joan and everything chocolate.

Honestly, I am not going to talk too much about these Chocolate Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti in today's post. But I do have a feeling that Joan, being the chocolate lover that she was, is approvingly giving me a thumbs up from above because I just totally made it okay for you all to have some chocolate for breakfast this week... ;)

Spiced Pear Planter's Punch

Sweet fresh pears and spiced rum come together in this perfect for fall Spiced Pear Planter's Punch...

I know that pumpkin and apples tend to reign supreme when fall rolls around, but I really think that pears should get a little more of the autumn spotlight. They become plentiful this time of the year and are begging to be made into delicious, fall inspired recipes. 

While doing a little cocktail research online, I came across a recipe for planter's punch and was instantly intrigued. A traditional planter's punch usually is a mix of dark rum and fruit juices making it the perfect libation for summer. 

But I thought why not give this rum cocktail a spicy fall makeover?

I infused a homemade simple syrup with fresh pear and shook that together with spiced rum and sparkling apple juice. The result? A perfect for fall cocktail that you will want to serve around a fire pit on a cool autumn night or as an adult treat with dessert after Thanksgiving dinner.

I do encourage you all to save the slices of pear that you use to infuse the simple syrup with to toss into your cocktail or to simply snack on and enjoy later (or right then ;) ). 

Something unexpected happened when I tried one of these syrup-soaked pieces of pear- I was instantly transported back to my childhood when my grandmother used to can pears from the tree in her backyard. 

She always jarred them in a simple syrup, and I remember them being such a special sweet treat for us kids. This Spiced Pear Planter's Punch is an adult version of that childhood fall treat...

Slow Cooker Chipotle Ale Chili

This flavorful Slow Cooker Chipotle Ale Chili with a little kick of heat is the perfect dinnertime solution for a busy weeknight...

We are full swing back into the new school year here. My son actually started back last Thursday, and his cross country season officially started last Monday. In fact, he has his first meet of the season this coming weekend. Though I am a loyal slow cooker user all year round, I really stat ramping up my slow cooker game when school starts back up. There is just so much going on almost every day between homework, after school practices, parent meetings, and weekend meets that it is essential for me to break out my trusty slow cooker at least 3 times a week. I mean, you just can't beat having a delicious, home cooked meal ready and waiting when everyone walks in the door. And everyone does not walk in the door at the same time in this house, so the warm setting on my slow cooker's dial gets used quite a bit during the school year. ;)

One of my favorite meals to make in the slow cooker, especially during the fall months, is a good and hearty chili. Serve a bowl of it with a side of homemade cornbread, and you have the perfect after school/game day/busy weekend dinner plan. Traditional chili is good and all, but you all know me by now- I had to take my slow cooker chili game to the next level. And I did just that with this hearty and flavorful Slow Cooker Chipotle Ale Chili. Let me tell you all- this chili has amazing flavor with a little kick of heat...

Pina Colada Macaroons

Baking up a batch of these moist & delicious Pina Colada Macaroons is a sure-fire way to cure a case of the beach blues...

Pardon me, friends... But I happen to be going through a little bit of beach withdrawal this week. My family and I traveled to the Outer Banks with 9 other members of our family last week to take up residence in a 3 story beach house complete with a pool and hot tub for a full 7 days. If you happen to follow me on Instagram, you may have caught some of my photos from our little trip to the beach. ;)

We spent lots of time on the beach (no shark sightings or attacks for us, thank goodness!) and just hanging out together relaxing in our big ole beach house. We may have also enjoyed a frosty cocktail or two. 

Frozen pina coladas, to be exact. Once I saw that our beach house kitchen was equipped with a blender, I headed to the next little town over to seek out a liquor store. I picked up some white rum and a bottle of pina colada mix and got right to whirling away frozen and fruity concoctions for the ladies of the family. I blended up a few traditional pina coladas, and then spying the fresh fruit we had on hand I decided to make a few strawberry and banana ones as well. 

While I am glad to be home and back to the the familiar, I am missing the beach. The salty breezes, the seashell hunting, and those frosty pina coladas...

Caramel Peanut Butter Cup Skillet Cookie

This delicious Caramel Peanut Butter Cup Skillet Cookie -stuffed with peanut butter cups and gooey caramel- may be big enough to share, but that doesn't mean that you have to...

I have to admit it, you all- I was late to the game as far as embracing my cast iron skillet goes. Way back in the day, I was given one as a wedding day gift and promptly turned up my nose to it. What was I supposed to do with that awkwardly heavy thing anyways?? I pretty much had no cooking or baking skills to speak of at the young age of 19 (Yikes! That is how young I was when I married my first husband.), and I was definitely completely unaware of all the absolutely fabulous dishes you could make in a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Maybe if had known about the perfectly fried chicken and the buttery, flaky biscuits and the mother of them all- a huge skillet cookie- I would have felt differently back then. ;) 

Fast forward about 16 years later, and I was finding myself researching and asking for cast iron skillet recommendations from friends and fellow food bloggers. And why the change of heart? Well, I think it may have had a little more to do with my stomach than my heart, but I started seeing all these amazing dishes made in cast iron skillets popping up all over some of my favorite food blogs. The more cast iron recipes I saw, the more I started to come around to the idea of owning one myself. But the kicker for me was all these huge, gooey, amazing skillet cookie recipes I kept coming across! I wanted to make them all. 

So, of course one of the first things that I made in my brand new cast iron skillet was a bigger than my face skillet cookie! This Caramel Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie is packed with chopped peanut butter cups, gooey caramel, and chocolate chips. It is certainly big enough to share, but I promise to just look the other way if you decide to keep this big delicious cookie all to yourself... ;)

Almond Joy Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal

With its chunks of dark chocolate, coconut, & toasted almonds, this Almond Joy Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal only tastes like a decadent breakfast treat...

I have a confession to make, you all- About 90% of the time my house is a cluttered mess. I know most people on the outside of the blogging world probably think that all bloggers have immaculate, perfectly decorated homes with fresh baked cookies sitting on the kitchen counter, and Pinterest perfect laundry rooms... But guess what? Most of us don't! ;) Because so many of us work at home while chasing little ones or do our blogging in addition to a job outside the home, our houses usually are the first to suffer. While I am glad to be doing something that I love while still being able to stay at home, blogging is not as easy as most think that it is. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes. But for more on that, you should check out my post on The Truth About Starting A Blog...

Back to the messy house issue- Yesterday morning I had a complete and total meltdown over the state of chaos our home has been in the past month or so. Why? Because there are four people living in this home! Yes, four people does mean more mess, but it also means more hands available to help clean up said mess. After having this realization and thus blowing up at my husband (it happens), I headed to the gym to work off a little of that steam and the tons of delicious food and good wine and beer I had consumed while visiting Harrisonburg, Virginia for the weekend with my family. 

Greek Chicken Mac 'N Cheese Muffins

A family favorite gets a tasty twist with these Greek Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese Muffins...

Anyone else have a family that is reluctant to try different foods?  Does just the very mention of some "strange" ethnic dish send them scowling into corner, turning up their noses? This happens to be my son or husband when I mention that I am cooking up something Indian or Greek for dinner. You see, I fell in love with both of these ethnic cuisines while living in a bigger city for over 8 years. But their exposure to these types of foods has been minimal at best. If we would want to go out for Greek or Indian or even good sushi here, we would have to drive 45 minutes north to find a decent restaurant that serves these cuisines. 

But let me tell you a little something, folks. I have found a way to at least get them to try different foods- incorporate those ethnic flavors into a dish that I already know that they love! ;) And who doesn't love mac 'n cheese, right?  I combined Greek yogurt, chicken, macaroni, olives, artichoke hearts, and feta cheese in these fun and healthy Greek Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese Muffins. Yes, I said muffins! Muffins made from mac 'n cheese! Because why not make them more fun to eat too while we are at it?

Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins

These creamy & moist Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins combine two bright spring flavors- sweet strawberries and tart lemon...

It feels like spring has finally arrived here in my little corner of West Virginia! This whole week has been filled with warmer temperatures, lots of sunshine, and a few spring showers. Last weekend? It felt a little more like January.... 

My son had his first big track meet of the season last Friday and Saturday, and it was in the 20's and 30's the entire time. My daughter, mother, and I shuffled between watching my son run in his events, and then heading to the parking lot to sit in a warm car. I lamented in my head (and aloud) about just why spring had disappeared so suddenly.

But luckily, spring made her presence known again this week (and hopefully she is sticking around for good now!) this past week, and I am in the mood to celebrate in the way that I best know how to- with bright, fresh spring flavors! :) These creamy and moist Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins with their fresh sweet strawberry slices and bright lemon zest and juice are the perfect way to celebrate a sunny spring morning...

Skinny Tiramisu Smoothie

This creamy, low fat Skinny Tiramisu Smoothie is a guilt free way to satisfy your craving for a classic Italian dessert...

Call me cliche, but I may have overdone it just a little over the holidays. It is hard for me to say no to the cookies, and fudge, and my grandmother's apple sauce cake.  And just like most of you all, I am ready to get back to better and healthier eating once I break out that new 2015 calendar on the first day of January.  

I have no problem swapping out potato chips for hummus and baby carrots, and those decadent cinnamon rolls for a bowl of whole grain cereal. 

What I do have a problem with is giving up the sweets.

In fact, I just can't give up the desserts.  Anyone else also have a mean sweet tooth that seems to always thwart your best efforts at healthier eating?

That is why I have come up with an arsenal of healthier, low fat sweet treats to tame that sweet tooth without the guilt.  Like this Skinny Tiramisu Smoothie...

Easy Cranberry-Almond Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

This Easy Cranberry-Almond Cream Cheese Cake Coffee Cake is so simple to make yet so impressive- perfect for your holiday morning breakfast...

Am I the only mother who happens to have this far fetched fantasy of having her family sit down to a perfectly prepared holiday breakfast before the gift unwrapping frenzy begins each Christmas morning? I mean, honestly it is a fantasy. And maybe just a little cruel to the kiddos to do so too. ;)

But even when I know that I will be up before the crack of dawn on the 25th.  And I know that there is no way my kids (and perhaps even my husband) would sit down to a nice family breakfast without scarfing their food down just so they could get to those presents quicker, I still would like to prepare a special breakfast for Christmas morning without missing all of the gift opening to do so.

Enter this delicious and holiday perfect (and easy to make!) Cranberry-Almond Cream Cheese Coffee Cake...

Bacon & Beer Bread Drops Biscuits

These Bacon & Beer Bread Drop Biscuits are ready in the fraction of the time of traditional beer bread and are even more delicious with the addition of bacon...

If there are two things that you all know that I love, it is bacon and craft beer.  And bread.

I love bread too. ;)

And yes, I know that they are not necessarily always the healthiest options, but as I always say- all in moderation, folks.

I love, love, love beer bread. (See my Homemade Peanut Butter Beer Bread for a tasty example of my adoration for it.)  But what I don't love is how long it takes to bake... close to an hour! Sometimes I just can't wait that long for some beer bread goodness, so I took matters into my own hands and came up with these beer bread drop biscuits.  And I threw some crispy bacon in there just for good measure...  ;)

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

This creamy and hearty Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal comes together quickly and makes the perfect quick breakfast on a busy fall morning...

Ever since making and sharing my Double Berry Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal with you all back in early August, I have been dreaming of making a version of baked oatmeal that would be perfect for fall.

Let me introduce you all to the Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal! :) 

I know, know... some of you may be thinking- Chocolate chips for breakfast??

But let me assure you all that the small amount of mini chocolate chips in this are really just serving as a tiny bribe to get the kiddos (and sometimes the husband) to happily enjoy a piece for breakfast.  This baked oatmeal is mainly packed with all the good stuff- pumpkin, oats, yogurt, and so on. Shhhhhh... ;)

Pumpkin Pie Angel Food Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

I hope you all are ready for everything pumpkin because I am not holding back with this simple, yet delicious Pumpkin Pie Angel Food Cake...

I know today is technically the start of the last weekend of this summer, but honestly? I have been ready for all the pumpkin things since like.... last month.  

I broke out the cans of pumpkin puree around mid-August and started whipping up some perfectly pumpkin recipes for you all.  First up? These airy, yet moist Pumpkin Pie Angel Food Cake with a Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting...

Chocolate Chip Waffle Cone Ice Cream

With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this creamy & dreamy Chocolate Chip Waffle Cone Ice Cream- no ice cream maker needed!

Can we talk about ice cream makers for a sec, folks?

I own one. When I first bought it, I used it religiously every time I wanted to make a batch of homemade ice cream.

Then one day a very important and necessary piece went missing. 

After a good amount of online researching (and actual searching of every nook & cranny in my kitchen), I came to find out that it would just be cheaper to buy an entirely new ice cream maker than just purchase the missing part.

I put off buying a new ice cream maker.  And the one with a missing a part went to a back corner of my kitchen cabinet to gather dust.

No homemade ice cream was enjoyed in our home for months.  

(Cue the sad violin music.)

And then one day, I was done with it. I sought out homemade ice cream recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers- ones that did not require an ice cream maker, aka no churn ice creams.

From my first batch, I was hooked and never looked back. 

I even miraculously found the missing piece to the dusty ice cream maker a couple of months ago. But yet the ice cream maker still sits, gathering dust.

The moral of the story?