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St. Patrick's Day Irish Recipe Roundup

March 15, 2016 By Joshua Rief Leave a Comment

It's that time again! We've gathered up our best "Irish" recipes (Are any of them really Irish? I don't know...but they're good!) Last year we had six, and this year we have eight! So, for our 2017 St. Patrick's Day roundup, we'll need to shoot for at least ten, right? Maybe more, if we really get our act together? Well, no matter what the rest of the year brings, we hope you have a wonderful day on Thursday, whether you're Irish or not, whether you make one of these recipes or not, and whether you wear green or not...well, scratch that last one. You better wear green... [Read more...]

Irish Apple Butter Coffee Cake

March 9, 2016 By Joshua Rief 6 Comments

What makes this Irish Apple Butter Coffee Cake Irish?

Um...the apples? Probably just the apples. Possibly the dough preparation, which is a little on the unusual side, at least from my perspective. The base recipe that Chels found for Irish coffee cake had boldly labeled itself as such, and so we kept the countried moniker once we added our modifications. Identifying a recipe or meal with a particular national heritage just makes it more fun somehow, and with St Patrick's Day right around the corner, it just made sense. We like "Irish" recipes, if you haven't noticed...

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Tuesday's Tidings for March 8

March 8, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Hers

1. My favorite post-workout smoothie is this one from Gimme Some Oven. I make it a couple of times a week and it tastes so delicious!

2. We bought this beautiful bouquet of Tulips at Cosco by Bloomaker. These tulips in the vase with the bulbs are supposed to have an extended life which I'm crossing my fingers for. I love tulips in the house this time of year. Have you guys ever bought from this company? What did you think?

3. I've officially become obsessed with almond butter. I buy it in the nutrition section of our grocery store straight from the roasted almond grinding machine. You cannot beat the flavor and I have to say, it is so much more affordable than buying a different brand. Most of those time you're simply paying for packaging. Right now, I just spread it on a Thomas english muffin for a late morning snack. What's your favorite way to eat it? [Read more...]

Weekly Menu for the Week of March 7th

March 7, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Okay, DO NOT tell me what happened on the finale of Downton Abbey. Josh and I took the kids to Marvel Universe Live last night and by the time we got home and got the kids in bed, we were both too tired to watch it. We're hoping to spend the next few evenings watching and savoring it. #RIPDowntonAbbey

Our weekend felt packed, but it was packed with fun stuff! On Saturday, Josh and I went to see Romeo & Juliet by the Oregon Ballet Theater. I had never seen it before and it was so beautiful! Josh has slowly been knocking off ballet bucket list items for me. The last ballet we went to was Swan Lake nearly three years ago (crazy how time flies!). Have you ever been to the ballet? Which one?

Next week, Josh and I are headed to Southern California for a few days and I plan on hitting up Downtown Disney and getting some beignets from the Jazz Kitchen Express. If you ever get the opportunity to hang out in there, you gotta order those beignets. They are seriously one of the best things ever!

If you all have any recommendations for places to eat in that area, let me know. Eating in SoCal is always such a treat!

Since we'll be gone for a couple of nights, I won't have a weekly menu next week. So make sure you check out some of our past menus for some great dinner ideas. This week's a little wonky, too, with a couple of dinners out planned - not the norm for us, as you probably know. There are still some fun new recipes in here, though - can't wait to try them!

Have a great week guys! I really hope the sun is shining where you're at. :) Here are the recipes! [Read more...]

Slow Cooker Curried Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup

March 1, 2016 By Chelsia Rief 1 Comment

This easy recipe for slow cooker curried sweet potato & carrot soup is spice-forward! This creamy bowl of spiced goodness will delight your tastebuds!

It's windy. It's rainy and it's cold. While it's beginning to look like spring outside - the trees are budding and the grass is growing like crazy - it doesn't quite feel like spring. Winter is almost over and I'm ready!

Who's with me?

Is it just me, or is winter wearing out its welcome? For me, I just feel tired. I'm tired of walking outside and getting rained on. I'm tired of having to lug umbrellas with me. And I'm tired of the rain trying to ruin my weekends!

All I want to do is hibernate in bed, drink tea, and binge on Netflix until spring. In fact, it's what I'm doing right now, except I'm also munching on a few Tagalong Girl Scout cookies. So, case in point. Not exactly practical with three kids, but, for the moment... [Read more...]

Tuesday's Tidings for March 1

March 1, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Hers

1. I love this little tidbit of information Josh sent my way yesterday about Moby Dick's captain's ship! Seriously, this is cool. And if you haven't read Moby Dick yet. You should! Get on it!

2. This cake is seriously one of the best things I've ever seen. I see me attempting to make this for Eden's birthday this summer.

3. I got a pair of Tom's wedges (like these but in a different color) from Zulily and they are so so cute! But, a little tight on my heels. The good thing about Toms shoes is that they stretch. So I have high hopes! [Read more...]

Weekly Menu for the Week of Feb 29th

February 28, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

First of all Happy Leap Day to everyone and for anyone whose birthday lands on the 29th, I apologize. Your birthday officially bites more than mine! How do you celebrate a Leap Year birthday? Do you party on the 28th or March 1st? Maybe pick a random February date? I'm curious...

Apparently the Academy Awards were on last night. I totally forgot until Josh reminded me and then he started listing off all of these movies that were winning and I was like, "I've never heard of that. I don't know what that is." and so on and so on. The only one I recognized was the Mad Max movie. Is that bad or sad or just not even a thing?

It's the last day of February and the first week of March! I'm so excited for March - we've got some fun things on the calendar for our family, including spring break!

I'm taking the easy road this week with the weekly menu. Some family favorites that will make everyone happy!

For past menus, make sure you check out our past weekly menus or pin from our Pinterest board. Have a great Leap Day and first week of March...spring is right around the corner, guys! YIPPEE!! [Read more...]

Cheesy Honey Mustard Chicken

February 25, 2016 By Chelsia Rief 6 Comments

This is one of those recipes that you crave as soon as the aroma begins to fill the house! You've got to try this Cheesy Honey Mustard Chicken!

You know when you go and have dinner at someone's house and it is just so so good and you must have the recipe?

You do?

Good, because that is exactly how I felt about this dinner at a birthday party several months ago.

We walked into my mother-in-love's house and were immediately greeted by this delicious winner, winner, chicken dinner aroma and a huge pan of hasselback potatoes. At this point, I can't even remember which family member's birthday it was. All I remember is this chicken. Not the present we got them and not even the birthday cake...and you guys know how much I love cake!

But this chicken...it made a lasting impression, and not only on me, but on my husband and my three kids too. I remember on the way home one of my kids asking "Did you get the recipe, mom?" [Read more...]

Easy Garlic Spaghetti

February 23, 2016 By Chelsia Rief 20 Comments

In need of an easy, inexpensive meal that's still full of flavor and popular with the whole family? Try this go-to recipe for easy garlic spaghetti!

This post originally appeared on Catz in October of 2012. It has been remade and rephotographed, and brought back from the archives!

So...I have a confession to make, and I think that you might think it's a little weird. Spaghetti, like a really delicious spaghetti, is one of my favorite things to eat as a leftover for lunch. Is that weird? Maybe not. I feel like it's weird. This spaghetti here is probably the best spaghetti we've ever made and the leftovers were just as good the second and third time around as the original dish was the night we made it!

It's no surprise this spaghetti is delicious. You start out simmering a ton of garlic in olive oil for 30 minutes.

So, I guess what I'm saying is, that if you don't like garlic, stay away from this recipe!

But if you do, hop aboard the garlic train because your senses of taste and smell are about to have a party!

Even Josh, who is not the biggest traditional spaghetti fan, loved this recipe. In fact, he said, "If more spaghetti recipes tasted like this, I would get more excited about it!" So...this recipe is a flavor winner and one you should definitely try out the next time you have an easy spaghetti night.

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Tuesday's Tidings for February 23

February 23, 2016 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Hers

1. If you haven't watched this video of Adele and Ellen teaming up to prank Jamba Juice then you need too. I laughed SO HARD!

2. I'm drooling over this Polenta, Refried Bean & Egg Skillet Bake from Ambitious Kitchen. Those eggs...they just look dreamy! I seriously need to eat this!

3. Who watched Sunday night's episode of Downton Abbey? I loved it! I thought it was great, but ugh, only one more episode and it's all over. Good thing there is plenty of Fixer Upper for us to watch to make up for it. [Read more...]