Edible Springtime Slime

You only need 4 ingredients to make this super fun Edible Springtime Slime! Easy to make & guaranteed to keep the kiddos entertained for at least a couple of hours...

So, today I am sharing a "recipe" with you all that is a little out of my norm for the blog. But hey- what is normal these days anyways? Am I right, you all? I mean, normal is pretty much out the window for the next couple of months (at least), so why not share something a little different with you all this week? ;)

My daughter has been obsessed with making slime for the past couple of years now. Me though? Not so much. I mean, making & having glue based slime in my house has been an absolute pet peeve of mine. I really do hate to be that mom, but UGH. I most definitely am.

My daughter has a knack for getting slime in all the wrong places. My living room sectional? Check! Smeared (and then dried!) onto my kitchen table? Check! In her hair? Check! I could keep going on and on, but I think you all get my drift by now. I don't know how many times I have had to google, "how to get slime out of - fill in the blank".

And let's not talk about the countless containers and ziploc baggies of homemade slime I have randomly found around the house that should have been thrown out weeks ago. Eeeeewwww...

Easter Egg Hunt Rice Krispies Treats

Inspired by a favorite springtime tradition, these fun & easy to make Easter Egg Hunt Rice Krispies Treats are a must-make for your Easter celebration...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rice Krispies®. 

As always, all opinions are my own. 

The Easter Bunny is going to be making his rounds a little earlier this year than normal, but we are ready for him in our house. The soon-to-be treat filled baskets are ready to be assembled. Extra eggs have already been procured from the local farmers' market. And the Easter dinner menu is currently being planned as I type this. 

One part of our Easter menu that is already handled & planned out is the dessert. The youngest and I will be whipping up a batch of these super fun Easter Egg Hunt Rice Krispies Treats. :)

These bright and cheery Rice Krispies treats are inspired by one of our favorite things to do with Little Miss each spring- the city's annual Easter egg hunt at the local park. Kiddos from all over our hometown gather in excitement at the city park with baskets in hand. 

The egg hunt is sectioned off by age groups, and when the whistle is blown the kids go wild! They are all on the hunt for the handful of golden eggs in the field. Finding a golden egg means you get an extra special prize from the Easter bunny. We haven't snagged a golden egg yet, but I have a feeling this year is the year, folks. ;)

Golden egg or not, everyone gets to be a winner with these Easter Egg Hunt Rice Krispies® Treats... 

Lavender Tom Collins

A classic gin cocktail gets a floral, springtime twist in this bubbly Lavender Tom Collins...

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

Okay, I won't lie to you all. I am pretty sure my alcohol consumption has maybe slightly increased since this who stay at home order business started. I mean, there really isn't any rules anymore for when it is acceptable or not to enjoy a little boozy concoction- am I right? 

Just like everything else in my life, I have finally accepted the fact that I am living a new "normal" for now. Like realizing that my youngest is still wearing her pajamas as dinner time is fast approaching & shrugging my shoulders because she will just be taking a shower in a few hours & changing into a new pair of PJ's. 

Or the fact that I have now become a hard core FaceTimer when I hardly ever used the app on my iPhone before. I mean, what better way is there to chat with my sister than with a unicorn or a kitty filter on? Also, how am I just now discovering how insanely fun that is?? ;)

I have also learned to appreciate the value of a well stocked fridge and liquor cabinet through all of this. Because sometimes a whiskey & ginger or a little gin and lime is just what I need at the end of the day. We have been fortunate here in West Virginia that our liquor stores have remained open throughout all of this. I can't say the same for our neighbors up north though (sorry, Pennsylvania!). 

20 Farmers Market Inspired Recipes for Spring

From breakfast recipes to appetizers to desserts & everything else in between, these 20 Farmers Market Inspired Recipes for Spring will have you racing off to your next local farmers market ASAP...

One of my favorite things about spring is that everything comes alive & my local farmers market starts to brim with fresh garden goodness again. Everything from asparagus to ramps to bright leafy greens & sweet strawberries. 

Springtime is also when my local farmers market goes from a once a month thing to a weekly happening, so I am always on the lookout for more market inspired recipes to use those locally sourced & harvested veggies, herbs, and berries in. 

Once again, my food blogger friends did not disappoint when I put out the call for their favorite farmers market inspired recipes for springtime. I literally combed through hundreds of recipes to narrow it down to just these twenty. From breakfast recipes to appetizers to desserts & everything else in between, these bright & fresh recipes will have you racing off to your next local farmers market ASAP...

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms

Fresh brussels sprouts & mushrooms are oven roasted until tender & caramelized & then topped with a rich & savory garlic Parmesan sauce in these Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms....

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Marzetti® Brand. 

All opinions are 100% mine.

Springtime has arrived! And with the arrival of spring also comes some of my favorite vegetables of the season- asparagus, green beans, sugar snap peas, fresh mushrooms, and of course, Brussels sprouts. Not only does the selection of fresh veggies at the local grocers expand during the spring, but the local farmers markets start to pick up around here offering locally sourced vegetables as well. 

When it comes to fresh, crisp veggies, I like to keep it simple and flavorful. My favorite way to cook vegetables is to just simply roast them in the oven. For these Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms, I roasted them in the oven until the Brussels sprouts were fork tender, but the outsides were nice and crispy and slightly caramelized. 

The earthy roasted mushrooms pair perfectly with the sprouts. And the finishing touch? A splash of rich & savory Marzetti® Garlic Parmesan Veggie Drizzle™ Finishing Sauce! :) New Marzetti® Veggie Drizzle Finishing Sauces are the easiest & quickest way to add more flavor to your favorite roasted, grilled, boiled, or steamed springtime vegetables...

Peanut Butter Oreo Cake Mix Cookies

These easy to make peanut butter cookies start with a cake mix and are loaded with chunks of chopped Oreos...

So, we are on like what? Day #1,525,123 of the stay at home/quarantine life now? And yes, like everyone else I am starting to feel a little restless and antsy & long for some of the normalcy from my life pre-virus...

For one, I miss my gym workouts something fierce, you all. Specifically, cardio machines like my beloved elliptical and stair climber. 

Yeah, I know I could go out and run, but A. I kind of hate running and B. Mother Nature hasn't really been cooperating weather-wise. I mean, one day it is sunny and in the 60's and the very next day it is flipping snow here. Or it is raining. Or just plain cold.

I also miss getting my hair cut. And since I went much shorter with my hair in the fall, I had been stopping in to see my stylist about once every 3 weeks before all of this went down. I made the decision a few weeks ago to just go with it and started growing it out. 

My hair is presently in that super awkward stage of having ducky feathers and sticking out in weird places, so I am super thankful for my stretchy, wide headbands right now. And baseball caps. 

And the fact that I can't go out socially (because no one wants to witness this, lol). But hey- what better time to decide to grow it out than now? 

15 Easter Bunny Approved Desserts

From no-bake creations to easy treats the kids can help with to bunny shaped confections, you are sure to find the perfect sweet treat for Easter in these 15 Easter Bunny Approved Desserts...

Spring has finally arrived here in my part of the world, and we are starting to gear up for Easter. The youngest already has her Easter dress picked out. The kiddos' Easter baskets are starting to come together (yes, even the 18 year old gets a visit from the Easter Bunny each year). The daffodils are blooming, the world is turning green, and I am ready to whip up some of my favorite springtime treats. 

I think that Easter & spring just brings out something whimsical and fun in my baking and recipe creations. From pretty pastels to classic Peeps and malted milk eggs, Easter has to be one of my favorite holidays (other than Christmas... and maybe Thanksgiving ;) ) to bake for. 

This year, I hopped around to a few of my favorite food blogs to find some new Easter dessert recipe inspiration for this year. And boy did I find some fun ones, you all! I would like to think that the Easter Bunny would personally approve of each and every one of these. 

From no-bake creations to easy treats the kids can help with to bunny shaped confections, you are sure to find the perfect sweet treat for Easter in these 15 Easter Bunny Approved Desserts...

Pesto & White Wine Chicken & Veggies

This flavorful & easy to make Pesto & White Wine Chicken & Veggies will quickly become your new go-to sheet pan dinner recipe...

I have no clue why it has taken me so long to jump on the sheet pan dinner bandwagon. I mean, you just need one pan, some meat & veggies, & a little seasoning, and voila! Add a loaf of crusty bread or a salad (or both), and dinner is served. :)

But perhaps the best thing about sheet pan dinners is that they require only one baking sheet. Line it right, and you don't even have to worry about washing the pan once dinner is over. Just take the foil or parchment paper off & put that sheet pan right back on the shelf.

For my first ever sheet pan dinner recipe on the blog, I decided to keep it super simple with a 2 ingredient sauce for the chicken & veggies. You just need a jar of prepared basil pesto (homemade pesto will also work for my over-achievers out there ;) ) and your favorite white wine.

Strawberry Coconut Bread Pudding

The sweetness of strawberries comes together perfectly with the creaminess of coconut in this easy to make Strawberry Coconut Bread Pudding...

So, one of my favorite things about us going from late spring to early summertime is those first of the season strawberries. There is just nothing quite like them- wouldn't you all agree? Not only do they seem to be at their very best, but the prices drop dramatically and you can snag a big ole package of them for just a few bucks. 

But unfortunately when there are only two people in your house most of the time, a big ole package of strawberries doesn't seem to get consumed quickly enough. Not wanting to see them go to waste, I brainstormed what I could do with them. 

I also happened to have on hand a loaf of locally baked sourdough bread I needed to use and some leftover canned coconut milk from when my boyfriend made me homemade Indian food from scratch a few days before. 

Fresh strawberries + sourdough bread + coconut milk? It was a no-brainer, folks. It was time to whip up a new homemade bread pudding recipe! ;)

Sweet Honey BBQ Peach-Ginger Pork Chops

Sweet, juicy peaches come together perfectly with the bite of a good ginger beer and the smoky sweetness of KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce Mix & Dry Rub Sweet Honey in these tender, flavorful slow cooked pork chops...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of KC Masterpiece. The opinions and text are all mine.

While I have been grateful for the warmer weather here lately, we just can't seem to catch much of break with the rain. I seriously think it has rained almost every day of the week for the past few weeks save a day or two here and there. Needless to say, it has put a slight damper on our springtime grilling. Ever tried barbecuing in a downpour? It never works out very well for the person grilling or for the meat being grilled. ;) 

So what is a girl to do when it just. won't. stop. raining, and I am craving some good BBQ? I break out my slow cooker and one of my new favorite KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce Mix & Dry Rubs, & get down to work creating a slow cooked dish that has all the smoky goodness of backyard barbecue without the outdoor charcoal grill. Everyone stays nice & dry, and we still get to satisfy our barbecue cravings. I call that a win-win, folks. 

For these Sweet Honey BBQ Peach-Ginger Pork Chops, I went all sweet and smoky with these babies. Sweet, juicy peaches come together perfectly with the bite of a good ginger beer and the smoky sweetness of KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce Mix & Dry Rub Sweet Honey in these tender, flavorful slow cooked pork chops... :)

Jelly Bean Rice Krispies Treats

These easy to make and colorful Jelly Bean Rice Krispies Treats combine two family loved classics into one perfect sweet treat for Easter or spring...

KELLOGG COMPANY sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine.

Easter and springtime both evoke a lot of feel good family memories for me. From my sister and I dressing in matching frilly dresses complete with bonnets, to Easter egg hunts, to a big family dinner with a pineapple rings and cherries studded ham, Easter has always been a time for family and for creating lasting memories. 

Another classic from my childhood Easters has to be jelly beans. I mean, who can think of Easter and not also think of those colorful candies? Granted, some people love them and some people could leave them (or could just ditch certain flavors of jelly beans- like those black licorice ones ;) ), but jelly beans have always been and always will be associated with Easter fun.

Now that I have children of my own, I am all about creating our own Easter memories and traditions. I love sharing my love of food and creating in the kitchen with my children, so it only seems natural that we should start a tradition of making something fun and tasty together for Easter this year. In these easy to make and colorful Jelly Bean Rice Krispies Treats, I have combined two family loved classics into one perfect for Easter sweet treat... :)

Shrimp Scampi Pesto Frittata

Light & flavorful, this easy to make Shrimp Scampi Pesto Frittata is the perfect addition to your spring brunch, Lent, or Easter menu...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SeaPak. All opinions & text expressed below are 100% my own.

Spring is finally in the air here, and I couldn't be happier! As some of you all may have gathered from me by now, I am not much of a snow and winter kind of gal so the signs that spring has almost arrived here are most welcome. The days are warmer, the daffodils are ready to burst into bright yellow blooms, and I am starting to break out the lighter, brighter spring dishes on the blog like today's recipe for a flavorful & simple Shrimp Scampi Pesto Frittata. :)

Did you all know that the USDA recommends you eat two 4-ounce servings of seafood each week? I had no clue, and my family and I haven't even been coming close to that lately! But I am about to change all that real quick because I have discovered SeaPak's super convenient & quick seafood products. For this easy to make frittata, I picked up a package of the SeaPak Shrimp Scampi. I added in our favorite basil pesto, creamy ricotta cheese, and fresh baby spinach with these tender & flavorful shrimp for a light yet filling frittata that would be perfect to serve for a spring brunch, for Lent, or on Easter...