Soft Pretzels

I've had a tasting for soft pretzels lately. This must be because yesterday (April 26th) was national pretzel day. How timely of me, right? So this week, in lieu of my normal popcorn adventures, I changed things up with a little baking.

There are numerous pretzel recipes out there. Some are more complicated than others and may require boiling the twisted dough prior to baking.

Sautéed Mushroom Cups

When entertaining for dinner, I like to have a starter ready to go when our friends arrive. It satisfies those who are arrived with hungry bellies and gives me time to visit before serving dinner.

We had friends for dinner and I had leftover wonton wrappers from some recent potstickers I had made. I dont think wonton wrappers freeze well so I needed to use them up.

Popcorn Friday: Homemade Kettle Corn

This week's popcorn continues my sweet twists on popcorn. And it's one of my favorites - Kettle Corn.

I love that at nearly every farmers' market, fair and outdoor event there's kettle corn to be had! I typically smell it roasting before seeing the kettle drum roaster and I reach into my purse for cash - that is if my husband doesn't already have the money out.

What draws me in? It's the combination of sweet and salty that gets me. That, and crunchy. An ideal combination for snack time eats!

Celebrating a mother-to-be friend

My dear friend, Melissa, is pregnant and expecting a baby very soon. Melissa is one of my best friends and I am so excited for her as she is about to become a first-time momma.

Selfishly, I am looking forward to her having the little guy soon so I can hold him! :)

This weekend, my other friend and I got to honor Melissa by throwing her a baby shower. Our shower had all the festive ingredients you would expect from a baby shower – decorations, friends, food and ‘oohing and aahing’ as she opened gifts and help up teeny-tiny onesies. Simply adorable.

German Chocolate Cake Popcorn

I've enjoyed the sweet twists to popcorn. This week, I was inspired by a desire for chocolate. Rather than have a whole chocolate bar, I created a chocolaty and crunchy popcorn.

Mango Madness Cocktail

Dan and I vacationed in Puerto Rico a couple of weeks ago. We enjoyed a full week of much needed R&R!

It was glorious. I was so relaxed, I took very few pictures. Nearly all of them of food! Thankfully, I have a couple pictures to at least remember our laid back trip.

Together, we sipped on fruity beverages while overlooking the beach from the comfort of our lounge chairs. Since then, I’ve had adult beverages on the brain.

Lightened-Up Egg Salad Sandwich

Every year, my adult siblings and I dye Easter eggs. Yes, I said adult siblings. We still enjoy doing this and have convinced our spouses to join in on the colorful creations as well.

Naturally, this tradition leaves us with lots and lots of hard-boiled eggs. The quintessential Easter leftover dish is an egg salad sandwich. But with the common ingredient of mayonnaise, I am sorry to say, such a sandwich makes for a calorie-laden lunch.

To health it up, I swapped Greek yogurt for the mayo. The result, the same great flavor but without the excess calories and fat.

Popcorn Friday: Party Time Popcorn Balls

I've been loving these Popcorn Fridays! It's so much fun to get creative in the kitchen!

This week, I changed things up by getting sweet with popcorn. These party time popcorn balls are coated in marshmallow - much like a rice krispie treat!

Curry Chicken Salad with Watercress

I have been traveling quite a bit these past months. I spend my days working for a wellness company for older adults and I get the opportunity to travel the nation visiting our partners.

In doing so, I also have many food-related experiences. Some healthy and some not so much. My travel eats inspire ideas about how to make dishes healthier.

This dish was inspired by a trip in which I enjoyed lunch with the team at a senior living community. The menu was much like a restaurant menu and offered several common lunch-time fares, such as tuna and chicken salad.