Shrimp and Broccoli Lo Mein

Oh, hello Monday. 

I can't believe we are at the start of another week. I can't believe it's the end of March already. 2015 is, in my opinion, flying by. I'm behind on my reading, my running, you name it, I'm behind on it. Between the avalanches of snow we've received in our area, the inexplicable customer service nightmare that was getting a new transmission for my car, and this unpleasant tweak to my back, I've never gotten back to my routine post-holidays. And by routine, I mean normal, consistent exercise. For the mind, as well as the body. Now that I know the vacuum is at least a trigger for my back injury, I'll be avoiding that this month. I'm hoping April will be all about getting back to normal. 

25 Easy Chicken Recipes

Happy Friday! Happy March Madness! 

The NCAA tournament has been going as planned for the hubby, with Kentucky chugging right along. My bracket is looking awfully precarious, though I do have Kentucky winning it all. As long as Kentucky can keep on winning, I'm still in it. But barely, and by the skin of my teeth. I'm in 4th place in the family pool. Out of 5. I guess you can't win em' all.

Blueberry Cream Cupcakes

Well everybody, I thought since I posted the recipe for Fresh Blueberry Curd on Tuesday that today I'd post a follow-up recipe. My favorite vanilla cupcakes, bursting at the seams with fresh blueberry curd, all topped with whipped cream-like frosting and a few tart berries.

Fresh Blueberry Curd

-plus a dessert recipe!

It's officially Spring here in Kentucky! The air is warming up, gardening supplies are being stocked on the shelves at the big box store again, and blueberries are back in grocery stores. I love the start of Spring. There's just something magical about breaking out of that long rut of winter weather and gray skies into the first warm day that merely hints at what's to come. It really feels like everything is coming back to life. My heart leaps with joy, and I want nothing more than to be outside with my hands in the dirt. Of course, we haven't had our last frost yet so I can't plant anything just yet. 

Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole

Time for a revamp on a classic recipe!

I'm pretty sure it's a requirement as a cook/chef to have your very own recipe for Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole. It's a classic for a reason. Those flavors that always seem to gel perfectly together. Crunchy, crisp broccoli. Creamy rice. Savory chicken. All married together with cheesy, savory sauce. Ooh child, it doesn't get much better than this. 

Buffalo Chicken Wings

Guess what today is??

Guess what day it is!!

Today is the kickoff of the NCAA tournament, or "March Madness" as much of the country joyfully calls it. What better food to kick of the tournament than the official food of sports-watching? There is none, these are hands-down the best! The hubby makes them a couple times a year, usually for the Super Bowl, the title game of the NCAA tournament, the Hall of Fame Game in the NFL, occasionally when the Steelers play the Bengals... and that's about it. They are a treat for us, and I look forward to them as such whenever I get them.

Chocolate-Dipped Malt Cookies

I figured since it's been 364 days since I last posted a recipe with malt powder in it, it's time for another one. Yep, that's right. On March 17, 2014 I posted Chocolate Malt Cupcakes with Malted Buttercream. How's that for a throwback? There must be something about this time of year that causes my brain to be dreamily preoccupied with malt powder...

Eggs Poached in Marinara with Arugula

Happy Friday folks! I've got a great, brunch-y recipe for you today. Perfect for a late Saturday morning meal with your significant other. Or for dinner. We have breakfast-like meals for dinner quite a bit. Eggs, Bacon, and Toast is one of the easiest dinners to pull together at the drop of a hat. It's also a meal the hubby can fix when I don't feel like cooking :) Mwhahaha. But I digress. 

Recipe Redux: Almond Poppyseed Muffins

-aka Copycat Costco Poppyseed Muffins

Hello friends! Time for this month's Recipe Redux-

In all honesty, I really wanted to bring you another dish for my Recipe Redux post this month. And that dish was Cooking Light's Kung Pao Chicken, for which I have my own version of on the blog that I used to make all the time. Which is why I chose it for my Recipe Redux. However, I hadn't made it for at least 2 years when I made it again last week. I don't know what's changed, but the hubby and I hated it. Have our palette's changed? The recipe certainly hasn't changed, so I'm bamboozled. Anyhoo, that recipe is going to take more work so I thought I'd bring you a practically foolproof recipe- Almond Poppyseed Muffins!

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

It's finally starting to feel like March around here. 

We've had a fairly warm last couple of days, which has melted a considerable portion of our snowpack. Enough of the snow, in fact, that the dogs are pretty happy. And it was 60º yesterday! The hubby and I went into town without coats, and it felt amazing.

Snowpocalypse 2015

I'm sure (if you follow the national news) you are aware of the winter weather activity in the Kentucky area. Earlier in the week, the governor declared a state of emergency. In our little northeast nook of the state, we received 16 inches Wednesday and Thursday. 

Raspberry Blueberry Smoothies

You could say, "Uh, Jess. You have 16 inches of snow on the ground. Why the heck are you making smoothies??"

And I would say, "Eh."

Yes, it's true. We received a freakin' truckload of snow. I was telling the hubby that I'd never seen so much snow. And I remember uttering that exact statement last year! Around this time last year, I think the most snow we got in one day was 8 inches. We have double that now. It's so crazy.

Simple Fish Tacos with Lime Crema

Hey-o! Happy Wednesday!

Guess what friends? I got my car back! Yippee! I'm very excited to have my car back. We picked it up from the evil dealership yesterday morning, and it drove like a champ all the way home. Can't say I'd ever recommend these people, nor will I ever buy a car from them. But the car is retrieved. Hopefully, we can now put this whole ordeal behind us. 

Dark Chocolate-Mint Ice Cream

I warned you.

I told everyone there would be more ice cream. This one is even easier than my Vanilla Bean. You don't need a stove, and there's not much work. The most work you'll do is by giving the dark chocolate a rough chop.