{Ali}

{Latest Obsession}

I'm not really a huge yogurt fan. It's something about the texture, I think.

But, I've been hearing about Chobani Greek Yogurt for a while now, and decided to give it a try.

OH-EM-GEE!

So good.

Love it!

My fave is the Blood Orange flavor

And the Pomegranate

Not only is the yogurt delicious, but the health benefits are great as well!

Fromt he Chobani website:

Chobani is a naturally good for you indulgence. We use a centuries old straining process to make it, which results in a tasty, creamy yogurt that has two times more protein than regular yogurt as well as being naturally lower in sodium and carbohydrates.Chobani also contains five types of live and active cultures including three strains of probiotics. Plus, it’s deliciously rich and creamy so it’s an ideal way to satisfy your cravings without derailing your diet.

Check them out HERE

Have you ever tried Chobani?

Do you love it?

*By the way, I am in no way getting compensated in any way by Chobani!

BUT, if they'd like to send me a case of yogurt, I'd be one happy girl!

TGIF!

Enjoy your day!

{Best Pizza Evah!}

 

I'm not even kidding!

This is the Best Pizza Evah!

It's hard to believe.

The first time I made it, my husband and I loved it.

But, maybe we were just super hungry?

Or we hadn't had pizza for a while?

So

I made it again.

And it was the Best Pizza Evah

AGAIN!

Weird.

I swear, it is even better than any pizza I have had at ANY restaurant.

I promise.

First off, you start with this bread dough recipe

It is AMAZING!

A game changer, if you will.

I just roll it in to pizza dough

Yeah, I know…It's not perfectly round.

Go figure

The day I decide to photograph the BEST PIZZA EVAH for the blog

Nothing goes right

It kinda looks hideous

But it doesn't matter

The taste is …

Well, heaven!

After rolling out the dough, I brush on a mixture of olive oil and the Rossa Maria Dipping Blend

Throw the pizza dough on a baking stone in the over until it just starts to brown

Then take it out of the oven and add the following ingredients:

Pesto, Parmesan Cheese, Tomatoes and Mozzarella Cheese

Put it back in the oven until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crisp

(or however you like your crust!)

I know it doesn't look like much

But I promise you

It is FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!

We have eaten this almost every Friday during Lent (no meat)

Sooooo Delish!

Give it a try!

I'd love to know what you think!

{Cauliflower Poppers}

Have you heard of these?

Cauliflower Poppers.

I hadn't.

Last Saturday I received my first basket from Bountiful Baskets .

It was chock full of fruit and veggie goodness!

I know my friend Amy gets a basket every week, so I asked her if she had any great recipes for the items in this week's basket.

She did.

Of course!

The basket included a gorgeous bunch (?) of cauliflower, so the first recipe she suggested was Cauliflower Poppers

I think she may have gotten the recipe from Weight Watchers

It is very easy!

And very yummy!

The ingredients:

Pepper, Salt, Cauliflower, Grown Cumin and Chili Powder

This is a FABULOUSLY healthy snack!

With a kick!

I loved it!

What healthy snacks to you eat?

Care to share the recipe?

Please?

Linking up with http://www.athomewithkim.com/

 

{Brownie Cupcakes}

Have you ever made Brownie Cupcakes?

Have you ever even heard of Brownie Cupcakes?

I hadn't, but I figured there must be something out there like Brownie Cupcakes

I hate making cupcakes and having the middle soft and lovely, but the sides crusty and hard

Why does that happen?

Is it just me?

Please tell me no……

Anyway

I had a box of brownies, but didn't want to make brownies or cookies

So I searched for a brownie cupcake recipe

I found this recipe

I didn't make the peanut butter frosting though

I'm more of a cream cheese gal, but I do love me some peanut butter

I packaged these bad boys up individually and took them to Zumba

To share

With my Zumba peeps

The verdict?

SUPER FABULOUS!

Happy Wednesday

Hump Day

It's bright and sunny in my neck of the woods!

How 'bout yours?

Enjoy your day and THANKS…..

For stopping by!

{Mint Fudge Brownie Parfaits)

Did y'all have a great weekend? Did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

We had a pretty low key Saturday. I spent the morning at a St. Patrick's Day Zumba Party, which was awesome!

Great workout!

We were invited to dinner with some friends for Corned Beef & Cabbage (soooo good!), my assignment was to bring dessert.

I wanted to do something fun and creative, but didn't know what to do. I had some jelly jars in my party, left over from a strawberry shortcake dessert I did last fall for a tailgating party.

Why not use those?

I surfed the net and came up with THESE Mint Fudge Brownie Parfaits, from Kristan @ Confessions of a Cook Book Queen.

So easy, and so yummy!

The super cute labels came from How Does She

I think they add the perfect finishing touch!

Happy Monday!

I hope you have a great week! Thanks for stopping by!

Two Simple but {DELISH} Appetizers

So……..did you have a great Valentines Day? Romantic dinner? Movie night? Delivering Valentines to friends and family with the kids? Whatever you did, I hope it was great! We spent time at home together, and then Carl went to the gym for his racquetball league, and I went to Zumba! Then we met back up at home to spend more time together! It’s the first year with no kids at home……so weird! But, we had a great night regardless!

A few weeks ago (has it really been that long?) we were invited to a Super Bowl party with some friends. Now, if you know me at all (who’s even reading this blog? Is there anyone really out there?)….then you know I absolutely LOVE appetizers. Love them. Like, I can graze on apps all night long and give up an entrée and dessert for more apps! Love everything about them. I decided to take two different appetizers to the party. A “bad” (i.e. fattening) appetizer and a “good” (i.e. healthy) appetizer! Nice, huh?

I went to my VERY FAVORITE inspiration site to get some ideas…..what site is that, you ask? Why pinterest of course! Do you pinterest? If not, why not? It is the most awesome thing evah! I promise you! And if you don’t pinterest, and want an invite……please email me! I’ll send you one!

Okay, so I have rambled and rambled long enough. Here they are:

THE GOOD ~ Caprese Skewers

Iowa Girl Eats

THE BAD ~ Sideline Smokies

Betty Crocker

O.M.G. Seriously…..both of them were delish! The Caprese Skewers were so light and crisp! The basil added the perfect blend of flavors with the tomatoes and mozzarella….drizzles with the warm balsamic vinegar!! And the Sideline Smokies? Oh my. A little bit of pure pork heaven is what they are. Seriously……soooooo good, and soooooo bad for you. But they kinda cancel each other out, right? Yeah, I know…..they don’t. But, a girl can hope, right?

Here are pics of my appetizers…….not nearly as appetizing at the pics above, right? But, I promise….they taste just as YUMMY!

 

Go ahead and give them a try! You will LOVE them, I promise!

Happy Valentines Day!

A few things catching my eye, on the day of  LOVE!

To Eat:

 

Source

Source

To Drink:

 

Source

Source

To Give:

Source

Source

Source

To Decorate:

Source

Source

Source

I plan on hanging out at home, cooking my VALENTINEa yummy dinner, and maybe watching a movie on netflix. 

Whatever you decide to do, I hope it's a most FABULOUS day!  Leave me a comment telling me what you did on this day of love!  I would love to hear!

 

Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

 

Photo credit

How FABULOUS does this salad look?  Something very similar to this, was my lunch today!  Oh my, DELISH!  I made it for dinner last night, and brought the leftovers to work with me today!  I didn't have a recipe, so I just winged it!

• One bag of mixed greens (mine had carrots, snap peas and radishe)
• Fresh Strawberries, cut into halves (or quarters, whatever you prefer)
• Can of pineapple chunks (or fresh pineapple)
• Can of Mandarin Oranges
• Fresh Blueberries
• Toasted almond slivers

Mix the above ingredients together and top with creamy poppyseed dressing! 

SOOOOOOO good and fresh!

Let me know if you try it, and if you do...what you think!

Happy Wednesday! 

My daughter has 2 days (and a few hours!) of school left, before she graduates. Oh my!  I cannot believe my baby is done with high school!  I am freaking out, just a bit!

Ü

 

My very first turkey!

So, I cooked my very first turkey on Sunday.  My very first.  I'm thirty forty some odd years old, and I have NEVER cooked a turkey before.  Kinda crazy, huh?  We always go to my mom's house for Thanksgiving, and she is superwoman, and cooks every year.  She always cooks a fabulous spread and does it all herself.  Hard to live up to that!

Carl got a turkey Christmas bonus this year, and with college boy home for the holidays on Friday night, I decided to have my whole family up for dinner on Sunday and cook my very first turkey.  What?  Invite the fam over for my first try at a turkey?  Yup, crazy.  BUT, it was fine.  Really easier than I expected.  I'm not sure how it tasted, but hey.....I cooked it right?!?!?!?  And with all the drama of the flood and the house being torn up.....it was a nice diversion.  I think I may cook one again soon.....well, maybe next year when Carl gets his turkey bonus ;)