Summertime is here to stay.  For hot summer days there’s nothing more refreshing or nostalgic as an ice cold glass of lemonade.  Each time my husband goes to the neighbors’ to help in the yard he succeeds in walking away belly full with cold lemonade and a few scattered cookies.  Although there are numerous instant lemonade mixes you could use, there’s nothing like freshly squeezed lemonade from {gasp!} real lemons.  It’s easy, delicious, and refreshing.  Be sure to try this to quench your thirst this summer. Read the rest of this entry »

July 4th is one of my favorite holidays.  We are so fortunate to live in a land with so many freedoms, and I love that we have a day set apart to celebrate those freedoms and the land that we love.  The fireworks, the picnics, and I get chills every time I hear “God Bless America.”  And the food.  Let’s not forget the food!! Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for a summer treat that can’t be beat, look no further.  This dessert is so easy, yet so satisfying you will go back for seconds, and thirds.  The best part of this ice cream pie is that you can
make it any way you like.  Use your favorite ice cream and toppings.  My favorite is mint ice cream, oreos, caramel sauce and hot fudge.  And don’t forget the whipped cream!

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Summer is officially here! (I hope) Nothing is better than a lovely summer get together with family and friends while enjoying perfect weather. To top it off, good food doesn’t hurt. This pesto bruschetta on toasted garlic crostini is a family favorite. TIP: make an additional batch of pesto and freeze the extra in ice cube trays.  Pop the perfectly portioned sizes into freezer bags and use when needed. Enjoy the recipe below!

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while summer grilling is well on it’s way, sometimes the option of hamburgers and hotdogs gets a little old time after time.

consider next time you fire up the grill to throw on some veggies and in no time you have a healthy and tasty meal.

at my house we’ve been grilling veggies like crazy.  but, my favorite meal so far has been these amazing grilled veggie with goat cheese wraps.   there’s just something about that warm goat cheese! Read the rest of this entry »

The fourth of July is about a week away.  Finding inspiration for holiday fare isn’t too difficult, many people stick to ol’ glory for that.  Red, white, and blue adorn tables and homes country wide and the number one thing to become an edible patriotic symbol is dessert.  It’s easy with some strawberry rhubarb sorbet, whipped cream and fresh blueberries. Read the rest of this entry »

I was starting to think that summer wasn’t going to start here in Utah. But now, with the first day of summer this past weekend, the temperatures are starting to heat up. And what’s the best thing to do when it gets hot outside? Eat ice cream!! Read the rest of this entry »

Do you ever get bored with your usual dessert recipes? I know I do, and when I get bored I like to get creative and jazz up my desserts using simple ingredients that I can find in my pantry. I came up with this recipe because I love the flavor combination of chocolate, pretzels and caramel. It layers chocolate brownies with a pretzel crumble topping and it’s drizzled with caramel and milk chocolate chips. This is so delicious and will get rave reviews from your friends and family. Give them a try!!

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I’ve been enjoying a plethera of fresh basil thanks to a local market that is selling it for 99 cents a bunch! My favorite ways to incorporate this divine herb into my cooking repertoire include making pesto from scratch and enjoying plenty of caprese salads. The easiest way to work with fresh basil is by chiffonading the leaves. Once you have accomplished this step, it makes it so easy to incorporate the basil into a basic pasta dish or even use as a garnish on top of grilled chicken or a summer salad.

Never tried chiffonading basil leaves?…no problem, check out this quick instructional video. Enjoy!

So what’s in Fairfield, California, you ask? Well this everyday city peppered with public schools, city parks, a number of friendly neighborhoods, and of course a Wal-Mart; is also home to the worldwide headquarters of U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s favorite candy - Jelly Belly jellybeans. Read the rest of this entry »