One Pot Spanish Style Beef & Rice

Do you know what I don't like?

Dishes.

I have a tendency to use every utensil and dish I own when I cook, and I get so tired of dealing with dishes!  Rinsing them, loading the dishwasher, hand washing, unloading the dishwasher, drying, putting them away...whatever.

There just isn't anything fun at all about dishes, amiright?

Thankfully this dish uses exactly one.

Nothing Says Summer Like Pineapple

Last year was a bit of a milestone birthday for my husband and I was at a loss as to how to celebrate.

I procrastinated...and then I procrastinated some more...when it came to planning a celebration.

Finally I spotted a tropical party or something random like that on Pinterest- lightbulbs went off and I decided to run with it.

I went all-in.

My house had fishing nets, leis, coconut bras, grass skirts, and all manner of tropical-y things.

I made a giant container of man-tais and served island-inspired foods all with a beachy playlist I'd curated playing in the background.

It turned out so well.

I was so happy that he liked it...it was a special birthday for him and I didn't want to disappoint.

One of the things that I served that day was this Pineapple Salsa.  It went over so well, I could hardly keep my hands off of it!  I immediately swore that I would make it regularly so I could snack on it often.

Reese's Peanut Butter S'mores Ice Cream

Do you know how long I've wanted an ice cream maker?

FOR-EV-ER.

That's how long.

When my mother-in-law asked me what I wanted for my birthday I was at a loss.  That's always such a hard question for me to answer!

I need a new 13"x9" pan- mine's in terrible shape.

I need new bread pans- two of mine were left at a cabin seven years ago when we got married and have yet to be replaced.

Also...I wanted an ice cream maker.

I know there are a lot of them out there, at varying price points, but I love having attachments for my Kitchenaid, so that's the one that made the list.

Guess what I got from my fantastic in-laws?

Yep, you got it.

I got my ice cream maker!

I decided to break it in over Father's Day weekend.  My husband's only request?

"None of your lavender/chamomile/honey/Rosemary/weird flavor craziness."

Got it.

It was Father's Day after all- my honey/lavender ice cream will have to wait for another hot summer day.

Confessions of a Tacoholic & Unabashed Salsa Fanatic

For a long time, years actually, there was really no type of food I loved more than sushi.

Pure adoration.

What did I want for my birthday meal?

Sushi.

What did I want for Mother's Day?

Sushi.

What did I want my husband to grab on his way home from work after a bad day?

Sushi.

What did I get for Christmas and use to make a culinary feast on New Year's Eve?

A sushi bazooka.

Yeah, that's right.

A sushi bazooka.

The thing is amazing.  Don't judge.

lol I actually have a half-finished post about it and the wonders I've made with it I've been meaning to wrap up for the past 6 months now.

Sheet Pan Low Country Boil

You know, I could say that I've been slacking lately given how rarely I've posted over the last couple of months.  I'm not going to, though.

Nope, I've not been slacking at all.

I've been busy.

SO busy.

Busy feeling the sun on my skin.

Busy taking my kids to museums and watching their eyes light up.

Busy watching my son learn how to cannonball into the pool.

Busy eating late-night pancakes with my daughter.

Busy packing picnics, trying new parks, visiting the library, and exploring with the kids.

18 summers.

That's all we get with these crazy little humans that we call our own.

I've been having a blast enjoying this one to the fullest- and it's only halfway through June!

Peruvian Chicken and Rice

My favorite restaurant in the world closed last year.

I'm the kind of person who loves and appreciates good food and adores trying new restaurants, so to say this little hole-in-the-wall Peruvian place was my absolute favorite is saying a lot.

Honestly?

While I'm sure the rest of their menu was scrumptious, the only dish on the menu I ever ordered for myself was their Adobo Arequipeño.  Flavorful stewed pork served over mashed sweet potatoes alongside rice and adorned with pickled red onion.

PERFECTION.

I came close to shedding a tear when I realized I would never be able to eat it again.

I've done my share of googling looking for a suitable replacement for that recipe ever since the restaurant closed and sadly I've yet to find one that resembles what I used to order closely enough to attempt it at home.

This makes me sad.

Freezer Caramel Drizzle Pie

Picture this:

It's hot.  It's humid.  You have company coming and you have zero desire to fire up that oven and heat up your house.

Oh, that day is coming soon, my friends.

Summer is coming.

Cookies, cakes, cobblers, traditional pies, and most of your standard desserts are obviously out unless you want to go the store-bought route, right?

So, what's a girl (or guy) to do?

Freezer pie is what you're going to do.

Ok, I won't be presumptuous- freezer pie is what I think you should do.  :-)