Food

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe (or Banana Bread)

We stopped at a coffee shop on our recent day trip to Raleigh and I got a banana nut muffin (and a latte:)…which of course reminded me how much I love these muffins!! See me running home the next day to whip up a batch??

I’ve been making this banana bread recipe for more than ten years. It’s old hat to me and almost comfort food in a way. Originally it was from Paula Dean, but as usual I tweaked it by adding the applesauce and chocolate chips. The applesauce makes it super moist and delicious!! It’s a family favorite!

You can easily make this recipe in a loaf pan to make banana bread or go the muffin route like we do. I choose to make muffins because my son has a severe nut allergy. By making muffins, I can make some with nuts and some without. Just fill the muffin tins without nuts first, then add the nuts to your batter and scoop the rest. Super easy and makes everyone happy! If you choose to make the banana bread in a loaf pan, just cook on 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

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Food

Amazing Chicken Enchiladas

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chicken enchiladas

The Most Amazing Chicken Enchiladas!

I know y’all know by now how much I love Mexican food.

And Cinco de Mayo is just the perfect opportunity to make my favorite chicken enchiladas!

I was totally inspired on our recent trip to San Antonio by all the amazing Tex-mex food…so I absolutely had to come home and throw some together for dinner!

These enchiladas are so flavorful. My entire family raved about them! Homemade enchilada sauce paired with tender chicken and lots of cheese make for a winning combo. If you’ve never made homemade enchilada sauce before, please I beg you to try! It is so freaking good…I can’t even explain how yummy it is! Again, I cook my chicken in the crockpot with just some salt and pepper which allows me to shred it so easily! Then, I add white sharp cheddar cheese and cream cheese to fill my enchiladas. Top them with the sauce and more cheese and you have the most amazing chicken enchiladas! I like to serve with chips, homemade salsa, guacamole, fresh corn, and refried beans. Oh! And a margarita-it’s a fiesta!!

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Food

Super Simple Guacamole Recipe

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simple guacamole recipe

Super Simple Guacamole Recipe!

Holy Moly I love Guacamole!

No, seriously…I might have a problem. I can eat this stuff as a meal by itself.

I love getting it at restaurants…but A. you never know if it’s fresh and B. it’s expensive!! Truth be told…I ate a lot of this stuff on our recent trip to San Antonio. So, as soon as I got home, I decided to share this super simple recipe to make at home…you should give it a whirl! (Read about all the amazing food we ate in San Antonio HERE.)

Fresh ingredients…just avocados, onion, lime, and some spices…and you are good to go! One important thing to remember is that it does not keep long…I usually make it in the morning and it’s gone by the next day. But you can totally make as much as you want depending on how many people you’re trying to feed. This recipe is usually good for two people. If it’s just me, then I cut the recipe in half- simple! Some people don’t mind room temperature guacamole, but I prefer to chill mine if the refrigerator for a couple hours. I think the flavor is better, but that’s just my opinion!simple guacamole recipe

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Food

Homemade Salsa

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homemade salsa

Homemade Salsa

Who loves chips and salsa??

Well, this girl sure does!! I adore Mexican food…it’s pretty much my favorite.

We just got home from spring break in Houston, Texas and ate at this amazing Mexican restaurant with the best salsa!! Read about our fun trip HERE.

So…Cinco de Mayo is just a few days away! I guess that means I better get busy, right?? Homemade salsa is actually quite simple. Throw a bunch of fresh ingredients in your food processor or blender and voila! I’m going to stop you here though. If you are accustomed to jarred salsa, this has a very different flavor and you may not like it! My recommendation might be to start with half canned tomatoes and half fresh if you don’t love the taste of fresh tomatoes.  But if you love fresh homemade salsa…try this recipe!Homemade salsa

Salsa is super fun because you can definitely mix it up if you want more heat, then add more jalapeno. If you want more spice, add more cumin or some chili powder. Taylor it to your taste and what you like…that’s the beauty of homemade salsa! I like a little bit of cilantro, but my mother would add an entire bunch if I let her!

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Food

My Husband Approved Chicken Salad Recipe

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Chicken Salad Recipe

My Husband Approved Chicken Salad Recipe

My husband was raised in the South. I was not. So when we got married, I learned of his love of chicken salad, which in turn, created mine. I also learned that there are many, many versions of chicken salad. So, my mother-in-law graciously gave me her recipe…which of course, I tweaked just a teeny bit. Here in the South, we eat a lot of chicken salad…as a meal, as a snack, tailgating, parties…you name it, someone will bring it!!

Chicken Salad Recipe

Aren’t these little chicken salad cracker appetizers the cutest? Anyway…

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Food, Travel

San Antonio: Good Food Finds in Texas!

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San Antonio Good Food Finds

San Antonio Good Food Finds

We just returned from Spring Break in Texas where we spent half our week in San Antonio and the other half in Houston (Read about it HERE). I’m not ashamed to say it…one of my favorite things to do when we travel is EAT! I know it’s silly but I get an immense amount of joy from discovering a good food find! I read a lot of blogs, articles, use my trusty Yelp app, and talk to locals about the best spots to eat. Occasionally we just stumble upon a gem of a food find, but overall it takes a little legwork.

For me, when I think San Antonio, I think tex-mex…which y’all know I am all about some tex-mex. But, San Antonio is a big city with a lot more to offer! I love to see what regional cuisines have to offer and what local chef’s are up to. So without further ado…here’s where we ate:

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Food

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

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chocolate covered strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Have you ever checked into a hotel and had these little bites of yumminess waiting for you? It’s one of the best little welcome surprises I’ve ever received at a recent mini vacay for my birthday.

It’s also something I often make at home. This is truly one of the most simple, most decadent treats you can make. Trust me…you can do this!!!

If you’re looking for a dessert to take to your family holiday gathering, a neighborhood party, or even a gift for a friend…look no further! Chocolate Covered Strawberries are one of those things people spend a lot of money on, but truly you can make these all by yourself! And they are super versatile…today I was going for more of an Easter/ Spring theme, but I’ve done Valentines, Christmas, and just plain old everyday strawberries. They are my mother-in-law’s favorite treat, so I often make them for her. You can use white, milk, dark, bittersweet chocolate, OR colored chocolate melts (look at your craft store if your grocery store doesn’t carry these). It may take some practice getting them to look pretty…but regardless of what they look like, they always taste YUMMMM.

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