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Nantucket Cranberry Pie

November 10, 2015 By Chelsia Rief 6 Comments

This easy, quick recipe for delicious Nantucket Cranberry Pie is a delightful alternative to traditional sweet desserts with its tart, bright flavors!

Would you believe it if I told you that I made this pie last year during the holidays with the full intention of sharing it with all of you before Christmas?

Well, believe it, because it's a true story. These pictures have just been sitting on our memory card for a full year, and let me tell you...

It has been one LONG year because this pie is so good.

Or is it a cake? You decide...but I'm going with pie. Even though you bake it in a cake pan. It's all very complicated over here. [Read more...]

Tuesday's Tidings for November 10, 2015

November 10, 2015 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

We decided to give the Amazon show The Man in the High Castle a try and it is eerily fascinating. It's set in the 60's with the idea that that Nazi's and Japanese won the war. Sound scary? It kind of is. Note: So far, some language and violence, pretty typical for a war "movie."
The last trailer for the In the Heart of the Sea is out and I just finished the book - which was amazing! One of the best books I've read to date!
I've got set my eyes on a new cookbook, Giada's Happy Cooking! I love Giada's recipes. They are so amazing and full of flavor! What's your favorite cookbook?

[Read more...]

Weekly Menu For The Week of Nov 9

November 8, 2015 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Good morning everyone! How was your weekend? I'm hoping that some of you will have a mid-week break while we recognize Veteran's Day. Josh has that day off and we'll also be taking the day off from homeschooling - I'm hoping the day won't be filled with too many errands so that we can relax a little bit, too.

It's been decided that this year, I'll be hosting Thanksgiving for my side of the family. This will be exciting as it is the first holiday we'll have celebrated since moving into our new house. How many of you know where you will be going? I would love to hear about special traditions you guys have, if the family participates by helping out with some of the dishes, where you'll be, and if you are traveling!

I hope you all have a great week and find some helpful dinner ideas from this week's or past menus to help inspire your own menu planning for your family. [Read more...]

Ham, Gruyère, & Apple Panini

November 5, 2015 By Chelsia Rief 3 Comments

Savory, sweet, and easy to make, this simple but elegant Ham, Gruyère, & Apple Panini recipe is one you want on your table this weekend.

Ever since I heard that Gilmore Girls was coming back for a four part series, I've been pumped. I love that show. I love how quick the dialogue is and the how cute the clothes are. Since the series has been back on Netflix I've watched it twice!

And...I'm currently working on a third! Yes, I enjoy it that much, and the fact that I've been sick means I've been holed up in bed and needing something entertaining enough to watch to distract me from the discomforts of the flu...anybody else with me this season already? [Read more...]

Skinny Veggie Egg Muffins

November 4, 2015 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Simple, easy, fast, convenient, tasty, and even portable! What more could you ask for in a grab-and-go recipe? Try these skinny veggie egg muffins!

I'm a fan of anything healthy that tastes good. I think we can all agree that healthy food that tastes bad isn't even worth eating. #AmIRight?

But these skinny veggie egg muffins are so good! They are healthy, but they contain all goodies I happen to love, like cheese!

I find that these breakfast muffins are a great way to use up leftover produce in the fridge or freezer. If you've got carrots starting to go bad, spinach that's looking wilty, leftover mushrooms, bell peppers, etc - by all means, throw them into these muffins! [Read more...]

Weekly Menu for the Week of Nov 2

November 1, 2015 By Chelsia Rief 2 Comments

Well, this last week was quite the week and it felt like it would never end. Eden got sick Monday afternoon. Then Christian got sick early Friday morning. Josh had crazy work hours. Halloween got rained out, and I've had a headache for the greater part of the week.

Thank goodness for Daylight Savings because I have a feeling that I am going to need that extra hour!

Who else feels like that?

This week's menu is comforting, easy, and full of favorites recipes, plus a few new ones! Don't forget you can save the recipes or pin them.

Have a great week everyone! [Read more...]

Tuscan Tomato White Bean Soup

October 27, 2015 By Chelsia Rief 4 Comments

This flavorful, creamy Tuscan Tomato White Bean Soup recipe elevates traditional tomato soup in every way, and is perfect for the fall season!

If you follow me on Instagram then you probably know that we got a new kitten (not that I've formally introduced her to you yet). She's beautiful, sweet as can be, tiny, and I named her after my favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn.

Of course, Noel (our other cat) has her nose out of joint (someone please tell me what that even means) and is adjusting to having a younger frisky feline in the house. For the past two weeks Noel has been punishing us. It has only been within the last two or three days that Noel has warmed back up. [Read more...]

Tuesday's Tidings for October 27, 2015

October 27, 2015 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Hers

Last night we made The Pioneer Woman's Veggie Stir-Fry from her new cookbook "The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Dinnertime" and it was delicious and made a ton of food. My sister-in-love, Krista, has also made the Potato Soup from the cookbook and she said," It was the best potato soup I've ever had!" If you haven't broken down and bought her cookbook yet, you should!
I hope I'm not the only one super excited for the upcoming movie In the Heart of the Sea. I'm actually reading the book right now and it is really amazing so far. Here's a trailer/interview with Ron Howard. I thought it was pretty interesting.
Have you guys shopped from Fabletics yet? I love love love this site. You can buy cute workout outfits (a whole outfit, 2-3 pieces) for one price ranging from $49 and up. It's a monthly subscription, so if there is a month you don't want to buy anything, you have the first five days of the month to skip it. If you sign up, get your first outfit for $25.00! I'm a firm believer that if you like how you look when you workout, your mood and workouts are better for it!

[Read more...]

Weekly Menu for the week of Oct 26th

October 25, 2015 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

Is it just me, or did the month of October go by extremely fast? I was just on vacation and here it is the last week and Sunday is the first day of November! How did this even happen?

Of course, you all know what this means - the stores will be relentlessly throwing Christmas in our faces... Not that I don't like Christmas, I love it - it's my favorite holiday! But, it is really over-commercialized, and I think it takes all the fun out of it...if you let it, and I don't!

BUT, there are good things about the holidays coming earlier and earlier - for one, I bought egg nog last week and it was glorious and tasty. I gave Christian a sippy cup full and the little man just inhaled it.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, haha! [Read more...]

Honey Mandarin Chicken

October 22, 2015 By Chelsia Rief Leave a Comment

This summer, I was thinking about all the different kinds of categories I have here on my blog. We've got burgers, crockpot dishes, soups, desserts, and we've got chicken, beef, pork, and turkey. There are also a whole bunch of Mexican and Italian recipes. In fact, those seem to be my our family's favorite. But it occurs to me that there are not many Asian-inspired dinners on here.

To be honest, aside from Panda Express and our local (favorite) Chinese restaurant in our new town, I don't have a ton of experience with the flavors, textures, and ingredients (other than soy sauce) in these recipes. [Read more...]