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Tuesday's Tidings for May 3, 2016

May 3, 2016 By Chelsia Rief 2 Comments

Hers

1. Is there an app that allows you to time your workouts so you can say for example : one minute of jumping jacks and then a buzzer goes off indicating you begin your next work out of dead lifts? Those are just examples. But is there something like that out there? I wouldn't even know how to search for something like that!

2. We just got a pineapple corer! Do you have one and do you love it? Which brand did you get?

3. I want to jump on the mason jar salad bandwagon, but I'm nervous, lol! How many of you have tried making a bean salad in a mason jar? [Read more...]

Weekly Menu For The Week Of May 2nd

May 2, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

I don't what the weather was like for you where you live over the weekend, but here - it was gorgeous! We had 80 degree temps on Sunday and high 70's on Saturday and I couldn't have asked for a nicer weekend! In fact, the weather was so beautiful yesterday that Josh and I got a little excited and went ahead and pulled out all of our patio cushions, hammock, and other summer goodies for the backyard.

While Josh worked on a few "weekend warrior" projects for us (like shutters for the back of our house, *squeal*) I sat at our patio table sipping a San Pellegrino and working through the Sunday paper, clipping coupons and working on next week's menu and list. The kids ran around and screamed outside (I'm sure much to our neighbors' delight...) and it just felt good to have some sun on my back and shoulders while I relaxed.

I could get used to every Sunday being so relaxing. So how was your weekend? What did you do? I know a lot of people worked in the yard getting their gardens going. I want to hear about what you're growing!

I'm still in a state of shock that Mother's Day is THIS Sunday! Honestly, I haven't thought too much about it other than food. Josh usually fixes a dinner of my choosing, and the weather can be so unpredictable, so I told him this year that if it's cold and cloudy that I would love Chicken Picatta or Beouff Bourginon. But if it's nice like this last weekend, we'll grill something. I think last year we did steak...I'm hungry just thinking about it!

BUT, before I get too excited about Mother's Day food, we have Cinco de Mayo to think about. In fact, all week long, we're eating Mexican food! And, if you haven't seen our 16 recipe round up for Cinco de Mayo, make sure you check it out. We added our favorite recipes too it, but there are so many more which can be found in the recipe archive, too.

Have a great double holiday week everyone. Make sure to check out past menus for other menu ideas! [Read more...]

16 Recipes for Cinco de Mayo 2016

April 30, 2016 By Joshua Rief 2 Comments

Though I'm quite positive it was just Valentine's Day, Cinco de Mayo is upon us! I may not be a Mexican citizen or have Mexican heritage, but I did grow up in a little border town (back when the border was a little more fluid by design and a little less contentious), loving the people, sights, and especially tastes of the dynamic culture just across the manmade line dividing the Estados Unidos de America and the Estados Unidos Mexicanos. That doesn't make me an expert on Mexican cuisine by any stretch of the imagination, and very few of the recipes here would be considered "authentic" in any way, but, seriously...

Mexican...Latin...Southwest...Spanish

...you know you love seeing those words and their corresponding ingredients and flavors on a menu or a recipe card! Therefore, in honor of Cinco de Mayo 2016 (celebrating 154 years since the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla), we offer you 16 of our favorite "Mexican"-style recipes!

Want even more? Check out the Mexican/Latin recipe archive! [Read more...]

Cheese Enchiladas

April 27, 2016 By Chelsia Rief 2 Comments

In the battle between tacos and enchiladas and which one carries the most recipes on our blog, Josh and I were both shocked to discover that tacos were winning! We both thought we had more enchilada recipes than taco recipes.

In other news, French toast is still the reigning champion when it comes to French toast vs. pancakes...

#needmorepancakerecipes

However, there is still not a burrito recipe to be found. We've got a chimichanga recipe, but zero burritos. I lay that fault on Josh because honestly, his burrito folding skills leave something to be desired. No offense babe. You're still cute and make really great tasting food! (Editor's Note: You, me, burrito folding - wrapping! - competition. We'll see who's skills leave something to be desired...) [Read more...]

Chipotle Enchilada Sauce

April 26, 2016 By Chelsia Rief 6 Comments

Want to upgrade from the can? How about a smokey homemade chipotle enchilada sauce recipe? It's easy, and you'll love it!

I'm like a lot of people. If I can, I will often take a shortcut if it helps get me where I want to be faster and doesn't endanger anyone. For example, sometimes, I will use jarred spaghetti sauce in my recipes like this Skinny Three Cheese Penne or this Easy Lasagna Casserole instead of making homemade sauce, simply because...

Convenience.

I go the convenient route a lot when it comes to enchilada sauce too. I switch between brands often, depending what's on sale or what I have a coupon for. I'm always trying to pay attention to which sauces in the past have been too spicy for my kids because let's face it, if it's too spicy, they aren't going to eat it, and neither will I for that matter. (Editor's Note: But I will!) [Read more...]

Tuesday's Tidings for April 26, 2016

April 26, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Hers

1. I finally splurged on a pint of the Arctic Zero ice cream from the grocery store. This stuff is is completely guiltless being lactose free, gluten-free, kosher, GMO-free, and fat free (Editor's Note: What's left?). I went ahead and got the Chocolate Peanut Butter and I thought it tasted really good. It does taste like it's missing some of the fat that we enjoy in regular ice cream, but not enough to bother me. Josh didn't care for it, which was perfect because I didn't want to share anyway! I'm eager to try the Cake Batter and Snickerdoodle Dandy next. Have you guys tried this stuff? Which flavor is your favorite?

2. These Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes. I don't know what else to say except, "YUM!"

3. Since's it's spring...that means it's time for Spring Cleaning! (Oh, yeah! ...right?) I do love spring cleaning because then I usually don't have to take care of a lot of the stuff on the list again for another year... This list from Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper is a really great list because it covers EVERYTHING! As soon as I get my husband to order our printer ink (Editor's Note: Done!), I'm printing this list out and getting to work!

[Read more...]

Weekly Menu For The Week of April 25th

April 24, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Last week of April! Can you believe it? When and how did this happen? I blinked and May (seemingly always our family's busiest month) is upon us!

We didn't post as many new recipes as we wanted to this month. In fact, we didn't post any new recipes, just older recipes from the archives that got facelifts and rejoined the land of the living (recipes) again! The good news is, so far, every recipe we re-shared this month is as much of a family favorite now as when we originally shared it.

But this week...well, in honor of Cinco de Mayo next week (you didn't think I would miss that holiday, did you?) we're sharing two new recipes and one recipe round-up to make sure that all of your Cinco de Mayo food cravings are taken care of.

But onto this week's menu...

It's a fairly simple menu this week. All family favorites that I know will please everyone's tastebuds. Some weeks, I like to try new recipes and other weeks...I like to cook our favorite meals that everyone is familiar with.

If for some reason we don't have a link to one of the recipes or something from this week's menu doesn't appeal to you, no problem. We've got lot's of past menus for you to check out and find some options there.

Have a great week everyone! Here are the recipes: [Read more...]

Taco Ramekins

April 20, 2016 By Chelsia Rief 5 Comments

This post originally appeared on Catz in February of 2012. The pictures and recipe have been updated.

I remember standing inside of Ross trying to convince Josh that buying a set of 3 ramekins for $3.99 was a good investment. He stood there trying to rack his brain of excuses to try and talk me out of it. But my mind was made up! If he wouldn't splurge and buy me the Rachael Ray mini muffin pan I wanted, then he was going to buy me these ramekins and I was indeed going to prove to him, that they were not a waste of money.

[Read more...]

Tuesday's Tidings for April 20

April 20, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Hers

1. It's pretty rare that we take the kids to the movies (well, maybe not that rare with all the Star Wars and Marvel films out lately!), but Friday night we decided to surprise the three kiddos with dinner at CPK and going out to see The Jungle Book! What an incredible movie! Disney is on a roll! I would highly suggest you take your kids to see this - definitely a "must see!" This was Christian's first theater experience and though he's only 3 years old, he did a great job of staying quiet. Of course, having a giant tub of popcorn helps with that too!

2. Josh just built me a window box and I'm loving all of these tips from The Lilypad Cottage! Now I just need to figure out which full-sun flowers to plant. Any ideas?

3. This Crispy Mexican Tortilla Pizza is my jam! I want it for lunch. I want it for dinner! I think I could even eat it for breakfast. Pizza and Mexican food...I'm just a sucker to it. Can't resist! [Read more...]