A few weeks back I knew I was in for a horribly busy time- so I knew it was time to prep lunch way ahead for the week. How do I usually do this? Basically soup or salad. I went with soup because I had some veggies & herbs that I knew would be excellent in a soup recipe! Keep reading to check out the recipe, substitution ideas, & some of my favorite tortilla chips!…
This White Chocolate M&M Popcorn Recipe is the Perfect Mix for Parties!
This post is brought to you by HiHH & M&Ms. Thanks to M&Ms for making this post possible!
Are you ready for the awards show parties to begin? Today I thought it’d be fun to show you a super easy recipe to either bring to a party or serve at your own! All you need are some basic ingredients a lot of us have in our pantry already & it doesn’t take long to throw together either! Adding M&Ms to the mix adds some color, crunch, & a bit of fun with a candy we all recognize & love. Keep reading to check it out!
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Almond-Crusted Chicken Breasts with Pesto, Roasted Tomatoes, & Quinoa Recipe
Almonds. Almond all the things. When Ryan & I first got married we were flat broke. We refer to the younger versions of ourselves as “broke as a joke” on a semi-regular basis. We may not be rolling in dough (well sometimes I roll dough) now but whenever we think things are bad that’s our reminder. Almond-crusted chicken is one of those recipes that costs a bit more than breadcrumbs & really tastes special. & looks way more fancy. True story! Check out how ridiculously easy it is to recreate below!…
Seared Ahi Tuna with Mushrooms, Peas, & Couscous Recipe
I’ve been trying to recreate some of my favorite restaurant dishes at home lately…& some of them have turned out pretty great. Ahi tuna is an ingredient I’m mildly obsessed with- I love just about everything about it. Except cooking it. While this still isn’t perfect it was tasty…& inspired by a recipe in Clean Slate written by the editors of Martha Stewart Living. This dish is healthy, easy to make, & has some brightness to perk up the tastebuds. …
Easy Holiday Appetizers & Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Mezzetta
Today’s post is sponsored by Mezzetta, by my love for their delicious snacks is all my own! #MezzettaMemories #SharingJoy
Are you ready for the holidays? I am! Because I grew up in a somewhat non-traditional household I tend to have some different holiday treats so I thought I’d share one with you today! & since I’m already here & you’re already here…I’ll also share a few ideas for super easy appetizers with a coupon at the end. Sound good? Great! Let us make some Mezzetta Memories! Because the holidays are all about family I think of foods I always eat with mine. My mom & I both love hummus but my dad & husband don’t so we tend to really load up on it when we’re together! Today I want to share my super easy Roasted Red Pepper Jalapeno Hummus recipe that you can throw together so quickly it is practically sinful. It looks a bit more fun than the plain original & has a lot more zest. …
How to Make the Perfect Spaghetti Squash Noodles
Have you ever made spaghetti squash in the hopes of noodles…& ended up with mush? We have. Quite a few times actually. The faux noodles would merge with the sauce & become squash clumps. They definitely weren’t fooling anyone into thinking they were pasta! So what is the trick? It is all in the cut- keep reading to check it out!…
Beautiful Kitchen Jars DIY Craft – Classing up my Kitchen!
This post is brought to you on behalf of Weight Watchers. All thoughts are my own.
Do you ever look around your kitchen & think “Wow! I really need to step up my style game in here!” because you realize it is kind of blah? Well- I have lately. I’m trying to find my perfect accessories without changing anything permanently since we live in military housing. As much as I’d love to paint, re-tile, & replace cupboards it just isn’t an option! I recently had the opportunity to update my snack containers & customize them as well! I really love how this turned out! You don’t need very many tools & they should also be easy to find at a local store. Enough chat- let’s get into this crafty DIY then I’ll share with you a few of my favorite healthy snacks!
You’re going to want to pick any kind of sturdy container that have a seal like you see above. They’re super simple with clean lines & they aren’t real shiny- plus they have a nice ceramic finish to them. I like basic things like this because they are easy to switch up if I change my kitchen design. I chose to label them something simple below too so I can switch out the contents as seasons & my mood change.
You can buy paint in any color but here I have a satin finish black & white along with a fun metallic silver- all from Martha Stewart. You also want sponges so you can go over the stencils easily. I don’t always use the entire sponge, sometimes just the sides or just the center. The stencils are also from Martha Stewart & I love that the fonts are really different. Plus each comes with a little design to place.
Because the stencils have a light adhesive it is really easy to place them where you’d like. I’m a bit messy with stamps honestly so I keep cotton swabs on hand to touch up any coloring outside the lines. You can then rinse these & adhere them back to the plastic backing for reuse. Once you try self-adhesive stamps it is really hard to go back!
All cleaned up- here’s what I came up with! I like the silver on that deep chalkboard black best. I think it looks really cool! I love these two containers & although they may look small they actually hold quite a lot of snacks! Plus things just look better out of their package & in a new container that matches the decor doesn’t it?
So since I created these to hold snacks…let’s talk about two of my favorites at the moment! I am loving these Weight Watchers Triple Chocolate Brownies Bliss bars… they are absolutely awesome- & taste like way more than only 2 WW points! Another snack I’ve been loving are dehydrated apples! They help curb my sweet tooth when I need something that won’t get yucky on the go in this heat & humidity!
What are your favorite snacks lately? Where do you store them? Any other Weight Watchers treats I need to get my hands on?
Simple Cucumber Seaweed Salad Recipe
So when it comes to lunches for myself I tend to create something my husband doesn’t normally like. Ryan grew up eating very traditional food & although he’s branched out more than I could have dreamed some meals I love just aren’t his thing- & I really can’t blame him. One of my favorite salads is this quick & easy cucumber seaweed salad which I eat alone or serve with other Asian dishes as either an appetizer or little side salad. Sometimes I even include it in cold dishes (like my peanut noodles or slaws) for a bit of extra oomph.
Simple Cucumber Seaweed Salad Recipe
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A tasty combination that can be used as a side, salad, or even a garnish!
Author: Stephanie Louise of Home in High Heels
Recipe type: Salad, Side Dish, Garnish
Cuisine: Asian, Fusion
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber or 6 small Japanese cucumbers, thinly sliced or cut into matchsticks
- 1-2 large carrots, cut into thin strips
- 5 sheets nori seaweed or seaweed snacks, cut into very thin strips
- For Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
Instructions
- Add cucumber, carrots, & nori to a bowl.
- Whisk together sauce.
- Apply sauce & mix lightly with hands or tongs as to not break up or oversoak.
- Serve immediately or chill. Should be served cold.
I really hope you enjoy it! Another great way to incorporate this is into some Asian inspired fish tacos & substitute it as a slaw. So good! Do you have any little Asian inspired healthy dishes to share? I’d love to read about them so feel free to share them below!
Bacon Jam Review, Recipe, & Multi-Giveaway! + Spring Blog Hop!
PR Sample.
Do you like bacon? Do you really love it? Then listen up! Today I bring you 4 different types of bacon jam from The Bacon Jams. I am pretty excited to share with you something I probably wouldn’t have ever tried that Ryan & I now love. Whether you have it on some toast, as an ingredient, or as a topper I think you’ll be surprised to find how versatile they can be. As a super special treat there is also a huge blog hop at the base of this post filled with lots of awesome spring giveaways!
So I currently have 3 bacon jams- 3 from the permanent line & a special limited edition flavor. Above is the Original Bacon Jam & behind we have the Black Pepper & Honey, Red Chile & Garlic, & the limited edition Maple Habanero Bacon Jams. Each come sealed in an 8 oz jar with a nice wide mouth- perfectly easy to spoon out what you need without getting too much or too little. I can’t even get over how cute their logo is! A rockin piggy jammin out! Ha!
The first way I tried these jams was on some crusty bread. I mean, hey, isn’t that where you put jam? I liked it that way but the husband didn’t. With some experimenting we discovered he really liked these jams hot (think a hot dip if hot jam isn’t computing!) which doesn’t surprise me either. We tend to prefer our bacon hot (although cold bacon is tasty too!) so then we heated up a little of each & added them to crusty bread. Much better!
From left to right you have The Bacon Jams in Original, Black Pepper & Honey, Maple Habanero, & Red Chile & Garlic. You can see these aren’t gelatinous but rather more of a thick sauce/jam. When heated they thin out considerably because the fats break down. I don’t think there is a right or wrong temperature to eat them- you just have to find your own vibe. You can see each spread on crusty toast is a lot easier to see the differences. The ingredients are wonderfully simple but high in both quality & flavor- you can view them all here on their website.
Now onto the recipe! I wanted to do something ridiculously simple that really showed off a flavor that was dying to be paired with our dinner. I only used three ingredients to make this chicken more fantastic- 3 tablespoons of The Bacon Jam in Black Pepper & Honey, 1 tablespoon fresh honey, & around one tablespoon of water.
After searing your chicken breasts add all three ingredients to the pan. Whisk on med-high until thickened. The added honey helps to make it more of a glaze which will help it stick to the exterior of the cooked chicken. Poor over chicken & serve hot. This should only take maybe 1-2 minutes & the flavor is out of this world!
Needless to say we’re loving these bacon jams. I have so many ideas floating around- Beer cheese soup with bacon jam? BLTs with bacon jam? Bacon jam salad dressings? These are extremely versatile & they are all completely original- something I admire. Think of these jams as creative additions & let your recipes go to the next bacon level with very little effort! Want more ideas? They have a ton of creative recipes on their site here!
They have been so kind to me by letting me try their product & now it is your turn! There will be THREE winners & each winner will get to pick their own flavor variety they’d like to try if chosen! Which Bacon Jam speaks to your bacon loving soul?
Welcome to the Blooming Into Spring Blog Hop!
Hosted By: MPM Network Bloggers
While many of us are looking forward to spring, it doesn’t mean we are looking forward to spring cleaning. To make spring cleaning a bit more fun, the MPM Blogging Network has joined together to make spring cleaning even more fun! Each participating blog below is hosting their very own unique spring themed giveaway, including spring cleaning items, fashion accessories, and even gift card for purchasing your own Spring treats! To increase your chances of getting something fun, make sure to visit all the blogs linked below.
Also, don’t forget to enter to win our grand prize, a Shark PRO Steam & Spray Mop!
The Blooming Into Spring Blog Hop ends on 5/1/14 at 11:59 PM. The MPM Blogging Networks is not responsible for prize fulfillment and associated bloggers are responsible for their own giveaways. Good luck everyone and happy spring!
Wordless Wednesday: Our Seriously Random Food Week in Photos
Fondue Date Night- Beer Cheese Fondue Crockpot Style!
I decided one night that I wanted to have fondue but there just isn’t all that many options out here. Ryan grew up eating fondue at home but it was the oil kind- I thought cheese sounded better! I read a ton of recipes but decided on a few simple ones pieced together. We also had some amazing drinks because we’re grownups & no one can tell us what to do, right?
I pretty much followed this recipe here on Spoonful but using the option of beer. I also rubbed the inside of the crock pot with a raw garlic glove instead of adding it directly to the slowcooker. If you want something super creamy don’t do what I did by using up a few small bits of cheese since they didn’t melt down as well. Still tasted amazing though- like beer cheese soup!
To dip in our awesome cheese I displayed a bunch of options:
- crusty French bread
- sausage that had been charred a bit for flavor
- pear & apple
- roasted asparagus
- roasted green beans
Obviously you can use about anything you have that goes with cheese- these items just happened to be readily available. There’s just something so fun about fondue! I think it is because it is a real activity & creates a bit of conversation. The prep looks like a lot but it didn’t really take much time. If you use raw veggies then it practically preps itself.
What do you do for date nights? What’s your favorite fondue recipe? Any tips for chocolate fondue?
Simple Peanut Noodles with DIY Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe + Noodle Linkup!
Hopefully you caught my Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe yesterday because today we’re throwing it together into one of my favorite lunches! Eat them cold, eat them hot, eat them right after they’ve been prepared, save them for later…main dish…appetizer…side…. Seriously this is one of those dishes that does it all. Plus it is completely customizable. If you don’t dig the veggies I do or you prefer tofu instead of chicken- whatever. Plus it is Friday & that means time for another Friday Foodie Linkup! Check it out!
Simple Peanut Noodles with DIY Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe
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Want some peanut noodles that you can make yourself? Here's an easy recipe to quench your need!
Author: Stephanie Louise of Home in High Heels
Recipe type: Pasta, Sides, Main,
Cuisine: Asian, Thai
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- For Noodles-
- 1 box of spaghetti noodles
- salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon Asian peppers or sriracha
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 can baby corn, drained well & chopped into thirds
- 15-20 spears of medium asparagus, cleaned & chopped into thirds
- 1-2 tablespoons soy sauce
- For Sauce- see this entry from Home in High Heels
- http://www.homeinhighheels.com/2014/03/thaipeanutsaucerecipe.html
- You'll want about 2-3 tablespoons per person.
- Optional- chopped green onions & peanuts.
Instructions
- Salt a large pot of water & bring to a boil. Add pasta & cook according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, & set aside.
- Add oil to wok & heat on high. When heated, dd garlic & saute until lightly browned.
- Sprinkle chicken with salt & pepper, also the dried peppers if using. Add sriracha at the end or directly to the sauce. Add chicken to the pan & cook until lightly browned.
- Add baby corn & saute for 1-2 minutes to remove moisture. Add asparagus last since it cooks faster.
- Add soy sauce & mix thoroughly then remove from heat. Add noodles & sauce mixing well.
- Serve hot or chill. Can be eaten hot or cold.
Yum! Simple, easy to make, & uses a sauce you can keep on hand. Remember to check out that recipe for Thai peanut sauce here– it beats the bottled versions! I really hope you give this recipe a try because it is an amazing fallback meal that is kid friendly as well, just omit spicy additions when you make the sauce. For more texture add some chopped peanuts on top, yum!
& here is the linkup! Hope you enjoy checking out the other recipes as much as I do! Want to join in on our next linkup? Check out my Lifestyle Blogging Network tab here for more information & how to apply.
Loading InLinkz ...Simply Tasty Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe
Have you ever had Thai peanut sauce? Bottled sauce is okay for most but the real stuff is so easy to make & tastes so much better! Later on this week I’ll have the recipe for the noodles for the Foodie Friday Linkup but for now, I bring you this magical sauce. I seem to go through peanut butter phases- one day I want it for every meal & the next it is a back-of-the-cupboard type of condiment. I’m finicky. This Thai style peanut sauce never lasts long though- I put it on everything from noodles to stir fry to chicken breasts. It makes an awesome dipping sauce as well! Keep reading to whip up your very own batch! This isn’t spot on traditional since I prefer to use my own pizazz & items in my pantry- adjust accordingly!
Simply Tasty Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe
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An easy sauce that beats anything that comes in a bottle- perfect for chicken, noodles, & other Asian inspired cuisine.
Author: Stephanie Louise of Home in High Heels
Recipe type: Sauce/Condiment
Cuisine: Thai, Asian
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce can coconut milk
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup honey or agave nectar
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or Asian chile
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- ½ teaspoon ginger
Instructions
- In a medium pot on low add coconut milk & peanut butter. Whisk on low to combine.
- Add all remaining ingredients & cook on low until light boil constantly whisking.
- Remove from heat & serve or cool to thicken up. Can be eaten both cool & warm.
So there you have it! I’ve used both chunky & smooth peanut butter int his recipe & both work fine- I find it is personal preference. I normally use smooth & then if I want some extra crunch I can always add some rough-chopped peanuts. I usually jar this or put it in a bowl then store extra in the fridge. This sauce is perfect to recycle into a new recipe another day or night! I’ll be showing you possibly the easiest noodle recipe ever this Friday using this sauce so feel free to prep some! What are your favorite peanut based recipes? I feel like they are sadly often overlooked!
Creamy Healthy Avocado Sauce with Chicken Tacos
Affiliate link.
Happy Friday! Have you guys noticed anything new on Home in High Heels? like…say….everything? Completely new setup, I hope you guys will enjoy it! Bare with me as I’m still working out kinks including these photo sizes. Sorry! I’m hoping to have them a nice BIG size soon so you can see details!
But anyway…onto the food!If you caught my Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing recipe awhile back then you know how much I love my little dressing mixing gadget (check out the Vibe Salad Dressing Mixer on Amazon here!
So this recipe was born months ago when I had half an avocado that I needed to use up. My husband doesn’t eat them & although I can sit down to a whole one I wanted to make it last. I always have these ingredients on hand with the exception of the avocado so it practically makes itself.
Creamy Healthy Avocado Sauce
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An easy recipe made with healthy ingredients resulting in a creamy sauce to love.
Author: Stephanie Louise of Home in High Heels Blog
Recipe type: Sides
Cuisine: American Mexican
Serves: 4 to 6
Ingredients
- ½ a ripe avocado
- ¼ to ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ a fresh or roasted jalapeno, chopped & seeded OR jalapeno sauce
- 3 pinches fresh cilantro, chopped fine
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in food processor or whisk together until creamy. Add more or less milk depending on how thin you'd like it.
- Serve chilled.
This day I was really feeling tacos & this sauce was absolutely a perfect topper! These are roasted chicken tacos on corn tortillas topped with lettuce, Creamy Avocado Sauce, & some beautiful feta cheese. Yum! Also great with chopped veggies (use it in place of ranch!) & just about anything that is good with a chilled topper in my opinion. If you need a dip cut back on the milk & add a touch more greek yogurt. Also great with a tablespoon or two of your favorite salsa.
What are your favorite sauces & dips to whip up in a flash? What do you do with leftover avocados? Link to your recipe below if you have on & check out these other sauces from the Foodie Friday Linkup members! Want to join in on our next linkup? Check out my Lifestyle Blogging Network tab here for more information & how to apply.
Loading InLinkz ...Beer Love- Sweet & Spicy Honey Beer Sauce with Chicken Recipe + St. Patrick’s Day Linkup!
Affiliate links.
If you caught my post this past Friday with my recipe for Mint & Lime Asparagus then you saw this coming- BEER. I don’t personally drink beer very often (although my beer of choice tends to be Blue Moon & definitely with an orange wedge) but I do love cooking with it. Beer can completely transform a dish & make the meal much more exciting. Sometimes I use tequila or bourbon or whiskey but seeing as this is St. Patrick’s Day beer is only right don’t you think? I mixed together a few recipes I’ve made in the past to come up with something a bit fun & definitely tasty. Here is the end result- Sweet & Spicy Honey Beer Sauce with Chicken. Don’t forget to stay tuned till the end of the post for lots more St. Patrick’s Day ideas from other bloggers as well!
I highly recommend using a beer you really love- this one that I used was a leftover from a get-together but it worked out nicely. I also used some honey called Grilling Honey & it is from Savannah Bee Company
Beer Love- Sweet & Spicy Honey Beer Sauce with Chicken Recipe
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Author: Stephanie Louise of Home in High Heels
Recipe type: Chicken, Main, Sauce, Alcohol
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, about 6 oz each
- Fresh black pepper
- Kosher salt or smoked salt
- 2 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup high quality beer, preferably darker & richer in flavor
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 Japanese or Korean pepper, chopped or 1-3 teaspoons sriracha
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or Thai basil
Instructions
- Heat oil in large pan with high sides on medium high heat. While pan is heating up whisk together beer, soy sauce, peppers or sriracha, & honey in a small bowl. If substituting dried herbs add them now as well. Set aside.
- Season chicken breast with salt & pepper on each side & when the oil is hot, add to pan carefully. Cook about 5-7 minutes on each side for a nice sear. Don't move it around too much or you won't get a nice color. Remove from pan & keep warm.
- In the same pan with chicken leftovers add your garlic. Cook until softened & lightly browned. Re-whisk your sauce if anything has settled & add to pan. Whisk to mix. Let thicken up a bit.
- Serve hot over chicken or add chicken back to the pan to really drench them.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe inspired by the many gallons of beer guzzled on this day! If you’re not much of a drinker (I’m a lightweight to the max!) then maybe this will knock your socks off & make you feel like a St. Patrick’s Day participant! Check out the many other lovely blog posts from bloggers on St. Patrick’s Day inspiration- you’re bound to find a few new-to-you bloggers to enjoy!
Going Green with Mint & Lime Asparagus Recipe + Foodie Friday Linkup!!
So for this Friday Foodie Linkup we went with a fun theme- going green! I think there are a lot of ways this topic can be taken, right? Healthy? Literally green? Well I hope you thought of those two as they both pertain to today’s recipe! Without further ado, here is my recipe for Mint & Lime Asparagus!
Before we go green I need to address one thing- the beautiful chicken here will have its very own post Monday for St. Patrick’s Day! How does chicken equal that particular holiday? Hint: BEER.
Now onto this recipe! I think when you’re working with really basic ingredients you should opt for higher quality so you can really taste them. I chose a higher quality olive oil, fresh cracked pepper, nice ripe limes, & a mint chutney I’ve had waiting to be used.
Mint & Lime Asparagus Recipe
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Jump into a seriously tasty burst of flavor with fresh asparagus, mint, & a pop of lime!
Author: Stephanie Louise of Home in High Heels
Recipe type: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: Greek, American
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb. of asparagus, washed & trimmed
- 1 to 2 tablespoons high quality olive oil for roasting/drizzling
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 to 3 fresh limes, you want about 1.5 tablespoons of juice
- fresh mint or mint chutney
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450. Drizzle asparagus with olive oil on a roasting pan then top with sprinkling fresh pepper & salt. Make sure your spears are well covered in oil for an even cook. A good trick is to roll them with your palm lightly to make sure each is covered in oil evenly.
- Cook about 8-10 minutes until browned & the ends look a bit crisp.
- Remove from oven & transfer to serving dish. Top with fresh mint/chutney & the lime juice. toss lightly. Serve.
