J. has an aunt, a really awesome aunt to be exact, with four of the cutest kids I’ve ever seen. Last week, while spending some time with J.’s extended family, I had a chance to talk with her about food, nutrition, life, you name it. During this time, one thing was very evident; raising and caring for four children is a lot of work and takes a good chunk of time when done well. But what really blew me away … Read More
Braided Pretzel Loaf
Do you ever have those times where life just doesn’t seem to slow down and let you catch your breath? I am majorly having one of those moments right now, as evidenced by my lack of regular posting. But despite being torn in many different directions, the emotion that has most frequently filled my heart is not anxiety, it’s gratitude. For friends, family and an amazing boyfriend, love and support, change and new opportunities. For a new job! Recently my … Read More
Bluberry Galette
Whew! I feel as if I’ve been out of touch with the outside world for months when it’s only been a week. I’ve been spending time with family and friends and celebrating a milestone birthday for my dad. And now the list of blogs I have to catch up on reading is a mile long, the laundry is piling up as I write this post, and I don’t even want to think about the state of my eyebrows. I’m not … Read More
White Chocolate Dipped Nutella Cookie Dough Bites
Originally I planned to post these on Friday in preparation for 4th of July. But then I made these brownies and got so excited about them that I lost my mind, got distracted, and in a sugar-induced haze I posted brownies instead. Not to worry, these White Chocolate Dipped Nutella Cookie Dough Bites (yes, you heard that right) taste good any time of the year. If you’re at all like me, you probably don’t need to read the rest of … Read More
Super Fudgy Brownies
Let’s talk about brownies, shall we? When I first made these brownies, I was doubting the recipe the entire time. “There isn’t enough flour!” I kept thinking. But since the recipe comes from the baking great, David Lebovitz, I figured it was worth seeing the recipe out as directed. I might have even audibly coaxed myself onward with a “It’s David-freaking-Lebovitz, Madison! He knows baking!”Call me crazy, but my pep talk worked, and I continued. The head notes of the … Read More
Midweek Mini-Post
E-mails have come in from a few people asking where I got the jars pictured in yesterday’s Light and Fit Berry Sorbet post. I figured I would take this opportunity to put together a little midweek mini-post. These beautiful little jars are actually Ball Jars purchased from the baking isle at Target. I found these jars perfect since they are smaller, only 4-oz., than regular canning jars making them a more manageable size to fill. Oh, and did I mention … Read More
Light and Fit Berry Sorbet
There are very few things I love to eat in the summer more than ice creams and sorbets. Actually, it’s not just during the summer, it’s all throughout the year. But during the summertime, blogs, websites, magazines, and newspapers are abuzz with recipe after recipe, touting the ease of making your own ice cream and sorbet at home. All this sounds well and good, until I read the dreaded phrase that inevitably comes with almost every recipe I read during … Read More
Chef Scott Peacock’s Dinner Rolls
Having a weekend at home is, to say the least, absolutely divine. Since it’s been almost two months since I’ve had a weekend like this, please excuse the short post. I’ve got a lot more weekending (is that even a word?) to get back to! Browsing the farmer’s market, a birthday barbecue, a wedding, and consuming way too much delicious food make for a wonderful couple of days. Before I leave you, a word or two should be said about … Read More
Oatmeal Scones with Coconut Glaze
As much as I may enjoy a busy, fun filled weekend every now and again, this nonstop travel and craziness has got to stop. Returning home from work last night, I was so tired that I completely forgot about dinner. Trust me, that never happens. So I celebrated the longest day of the year by getting the year’s longest night of sleep. Eleven hours later I feel like a completely new person. Not to worry, this new person still likes … Read More
Fruit and Nut Chocolate Bark
There really is nothing like waking up in the morning knowing the day is completely yours. No responsibilities, tasks to complete, or places to be. Of course being the list maker that I am, a ‘to-do’ list was still made. But today’s list was in my head instead of on paper, a fun list of sorts, and the consequences of not completing the items on my list? None whatsoever. You really should try it every now and again. After you … Read More
White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
I officially have no life. Wait, check that, I have a life and it consists of traveling in the car and going to weddings. Case in point? My last six days. They went something like this… Drove three hours back to northwest Iowa for a wedding. Spent a day baking hundreds of cupcakes and a wedding cake. Went to said wedding. Drove back home early Monday morning (6 a.m. early) and went straight to work. Sweated it out at hot … Read More
Black Bean Veggie Burgers
A few months ago I did something I never thought possible, something a little crazy, a tad unusual, and something that made J’s dad, a cattle farmer, scratch his head in bewilderment. I became a vegetarian. It started over dinner at a Mexican restaurant near my apartment while eating with a good friend. She introduced me to a website of a family living and eating vegan. That means no meat, cheese, milk, yogurt, eggs – basically anything that comes from … Read More