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Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

ALL, Sweets27

These Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries are an easy dessert perfect for date night or to finish off a Valentine’s Day dinner menu.

Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Did I tell you that I got engaged a few weeks ago? Yes! I’ve been a little quiet about it around here because it feels…very personal. I was never that little girl dreaming of her perfect wedding day – I was too busy dreaming of being  independent in the form of having a cute little apartment on the top story of an old house with a big dog and vintage furniture. In fact, Wyatt and I have been together for almost 10 years (!!!) and we just started talking about marriage seriously in the last year or so because I thought I never wanted to get married. I always thought of marriage as something for old people and by not getting married then I just wouldn’t get old (which…we all know is just not true). And so when I talk about my engagement and a wedding, I almost just feel like a poser, an imposter. Marriage is not something I even knew I wanted but it feels so good now that I know it’s coming. I love Wyatt and I have no doubt that I want to spend the rest of my life with him so why not? Why not throw a big party to celebrate and make it official?

Anyhow, I somehow just turned this Valentine’s Day post into a post about my engagement but it feels pretty appropriate with the theme being love. And because I know you are going to ask, the proposal was perfectly chill which is very in line with our relationship. After a date night a few Friday’s ago, we were getting ready for bed and talking about his 30th birthday coming up in a few weeks. We started talking about how we had imagined our lives would be at 30 and I told him I guess I had assumed I’d get married at 30. He left the room and came back with a ring…and I said yes. : )

Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Now onto Valentine’s Day – our tradition is to skip the restaurant madness and make a meal together (which is a rare thing in our home since Wyatt usually leaves the cooking to me). We usually make dumplings or homemade pasta or something a little more special occasion so a simple dessert like these Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries will keep the mood fancy without causes us to eat dinner at 10 PM because we over did it.

For the white chocolate, I used Ghiradelli White Chocolate melting wafers (not sponsored, just what I found works best) which I easily found at Target. I’d imagine you could use melting wafers from Michael’s or the craft stores but I can’t speak to the quality of those. Let me know in the comments if you end up finding another wafer for these that you prefer better – I’m definitely interested!

These festive strawberries get a pink hue from beet powder or freeze dried strawberries that have been blended into a powder. I offered the option for either because they are both delicious and not everyone can easily find beet powder at their local store (freeze dried berries should be easy to find in the snack section of your grocery store – I buy mine at both Kroger and Target). Just pop the berries into a blender (make sure the lid is on tight at the powder will blow everywhere) and blend until a fine powder forms. Easy? Easy as chocolate covered strawberries!

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Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

These Pink Salt & Peppercorn White Chocolate Covered Strawberries are an easy dessert perfect for date night or to finish off a Valentine’s Day dinner menu.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 tsp ground pink peppercorn
  • 1/2 tsp ground pink himalayan salt
  • 10 oz white chocolate wafers (I used Ghirardelli)
  • 1 quart whole fresh strawberries washed and patted dry
  • 2-4 Tbsp beet powder or strawberry powder (see my intro for more info on this)
Instructions

  1. Mix together the peppercorn and salt and set aside.

  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate wafers on 50% power level in 20 second intervals, whisking between intervals, until the white chocolate is melted. You'll want to do it this way to avoid burning the chocolate as it will ruin the chocolate.

  3. Once melted, whisk in powder, starting with 1/2 Tbsp and adding in more until it reaches the desired pink hue.

  4. Working quickly, hold the stem of the dried strawberries and dip them into the chocolate until completely covered. Transfer to parchment paper and continue with the rest of the strawberries. Sprinkle a small pinch of the salt and pepper mixture over the strawberries and then let them harden for at least 15 minutes before enjoying.

Smoky Quinoa Vegetarian Nachos

ALL, Appetizer, Entertaining, Snack50

Looking for a munchies recipe to make for your next movie marathon or game night? These Smoky Quinoa Vegetarian Nachos are easy to make, addicting, and super versatile so you can easily adapt the recipe to what you like most about nachos (cheese…lots of melty cheese).

Smoky Quinoa Vegetarian Nachos

You all ready to eat your hearts out on Sunday during the Super Bowl? I have no idea who is playing, where it’s at this year, or who will be performing at half time but what I do know that our living room table is going to be filled with delicious snacks. I’m planning to make a huge mound of these nachos along a Pumpkin cheeseball, this Roasted Beet dip, and a batch of Tahini Chocolate Chip cookies. Once you factor in all the time I’m going to spend making and eating all of this, who has time to watch a sports game anyway? ; )

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Warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

ALL, Drinks, Winter25

This simple 3 ingredient warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea recipe is a go-to when feeling under the weather or like my body needs a little boost. I love that it doesn’t require a juicer and can be whipped up in a blender in just a few minutes.

Anyone else feel like everyone around them is sick? Thank you, January, for not only being dark and cold but also spreading all the germs. To try to build up a little extra immunity power for my body, I’ve been drinking this lemon ginger tonic mixture every few days for the last few weeks. It’s been soothing on my sore throat while giving my body a little extra boost from the ginger and lemon.

A lot of similar recipes to this online have you boil everything in a saucepan to let the ginger steep but my local coffee shop juices it all and the flavor of this method just packs such a bigger punch. I used to think you could only make this version in a juicer but I found a nice little cheat system though where you blend everything in a high speed blender and then just use a fine mesh strainer. The end result is deliciously sweet, spicy, and tart and the great way to mix-up your afternoon tea routine.

Here are a few fun variations for this Ginger Lemon Honey Tea recipe for when you want to mix it up:

  • Carrots Ginger Tonic: Add 1 peeled and trimmed carrot to blender along with the ginger and lemon.
  • Spicy Black Pepper Lemon Ginger Tonic: Add 1 tsp whole peppercorn to tonic after you pour hot water in and let steep for 3-5 minutes.
  • Thyme Lemon Ginger Tonic: Add 3 fresh thyme sprigs to tonic after you pour hot water in and let steep for 3-5 minutes.

Note that I like my Ginger Lemon Honey Tea super spicy and tart so you may end up wanting to adjust your ratios a bit from what I have listed below. If the drink is too tart or spicy for you, just add more water and honey until you find the right equation for your taste buds.

 

 

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Warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

This Warming Ginger Lemon Honey Tea is my go-to when feeling under the weather or like my body needs a little boost. I love that it doesn't require a juicer and can be whipped up in a blender in just a few minutes!

Ingredients
  • 1/2 small lemon (or 1/4 large) peeled and deseeded
  • 1 inch ginger knob peeled
  • 1 1/4 cup water divided
  • 1/2 Tbsp honey
Instructions

  1. Place lemon wedge, ginger, and 1/4 cup water in a high speed blender and blend on high for 2-3 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, boil the additional 1 cup of water in a water boiler or on the stove top.

  3. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the lemon ginger mixture into a mug. Add honey and pour in boiling water.

  4. Let cool slightly and enjoy right away. Add more honey and/or water as needed.

 

 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

ALL, Entree, Salad, Winter66

This Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad With Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette is inspired by Martina McBride’s new cookbook, Martina’s Kitchen Mix. It’s a hearty savory winter salad with a touch of sweet from the apples and cranberries.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

I’m one of those girls who wishes she was a salad person. I do this thing all the time where I’ll pick out a restaurant based on a salad I know they have that I really like and then we’ll get there and I’ll be like ‘dang but that (insert carb dish) looks so much better’ and guess what I end up ordering? Yup, you are correct – that carby cheesy dishes that wasn’t even on my mind when I picked out the restaurant. Ahhh well.

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15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

ALL, Entree, Round-Up72

Looking to incorporate more veggies into your diet? Check out these 15 delicious and easy vegetarian recipes which range from tacos to pizza to soup to more!

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Purple Corn Veggie Fritters recipe is so easy to make for weeknight dinner and can be altered to fit whatever ingredients you may already have on hand.
                                                                                   
                                                                

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

Pizza time! Make sure to try this homemade Sweet and Savory Vegetarian Potato Grape and Rosemary Pizza Recipe!

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Vegetarian Polenta Pizza Stuffed Peppers recipe is the perfect weeknight plant-based meal. Chocked full of nutritious vegetables, filling polenta, and gooey cheese, this main is sure to please everyone in your family!
15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

These Healthy Vegetarian Lentil-Walnut Meatballs are the perfect meat-free meal. Serve them with spaghetti and your favorite tomato sauce for a hearty main.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Vegetarian Quinoa Taco Meat Tostadas recipe is a quick and simple meat-free weeknight main entree. The quinoa taco meat is a healthy substitute for crumbled beef and a must-try for any vegetarian!

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

Creamy Vegetarian White Chili recipe that is cozy and filling (with vegan option). Ideal for healthy weeknight meals or chilly afternoons.

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

These Fried Eggs with Green Tahini and Pita are packed with spices and herbs and make a perfect simple dinner or weekend breakfast for two.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Vegetarian Baked Ziti With Chorizo-Spiced Chickpeas recipe is packed with vegetables, protein-rich beans, gooey cheese, and deliciously carb-y pasta.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

This Smoky Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice recipe is loaded with up melt-in-your-mouth vegetables that are tender and packed with flavor.

 

15 Easy Vegetarian Recipes To Get You Eating More Vegetables

These Curried Veggie Patties with Coconut Quinoa are the perfect meal to throw together when you are trying to get rid of leftover vegetables or just looking to incorporate more veggies into your diet!

Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

ALL, Breakfast, Winter27

Sharing the recipe for this Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears along with some meal prep breakfast ideas! This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bob’s Red Mill and

Happy new year!! You all ready to conquer all your 2019 goals? I was so excited when Bob’s Red Mill andBlue Ribbon Orchard Choice Orchard Choice), creamy milk, and crunchy seeds or nuts to create a perfectly addictive meal.

Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

A few tips for prepping this ahead of time and eating throughout the week:

  • Cook the Bob’s Red Mill farro on Sunday afternoon and store it in an airtight container (it should keep in your fridge for 3-4 days). This will speed up your morning process because it just means everything will need to be warmed.
  • Stock up on 

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    Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

    This Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears can be meal prepped ahead of time for a quick and delicious weekday breakfast or snack!

    Ingredients
    • 1 cup farro
    • 1 cup milk of your choice (whole milk, hazelnut, almond, etc)
    • 1 Tbsp butter
    • 1 package Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice California Figs (you can slice them in half if you buy the regular size figs or enjoy whole if you purchase the figlets)
    • 1 small pear cored and sliced thin
    • 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
    • dash of salt
    • 4 Tbsp fresh orange juice
    • 1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
    • seeds from 1 small pomegranate
    • 4 tsp maple syrup (+ more to taste depending on how sweet you want it)
    • 2 tsp sesame seeds
    Instructions

    1. Rinse the farro and place in a saucepan with 3 cups water. Bring to a oil and reduce heat to medium-low. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Drain excess wate and set aside (you can also transfer to an airtight container and place in the fridge at this point if you are making farro ahead of time).

    2. In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat and add in figs, pear slices, cinnamon, and a dash of salt. Saute just until the pears are soft and fragrant and the figs are warmed through. Remove from heat and add stir in orange juice. Use right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge (and just rewarm right before serving).

    3. When ready to serve, warm farro in a medium saucepan with milk (if only making one serving at a time, warm 1/4 of the farro with 1/4 cup of milk). Place farro in 4 bowls (if making a full batch). Serve with warmed figs and pears, seeds, and maple syrup.

     

    Seedy Farro Breakfast Bowl Recipe With Warmed Figs & Pears

     

Easy Vegetarian Chickpea Noodle Soup Recipe

ALL, Entree, Fall, Soup, Winter77

This Chickpea Noodle Soup recipe is chocked full of healthy vegetables, hearty beans, and chewy egg noodles. This soup is a great way to get more vegetables into your meal while still enjoying the comfort of delicious pasta.

Easy Vegetarian Chickpea Noodle Soup Recipe

Happy New Year! Ready or not, it’s time for 2019! Can you believe this will be the last year in this decade?! I’m a bit in shock since I’m still listening to music like it’s the early 2000s (just joking…sort of). Anyhow, it’s sort of become a tradition for me to share a soup recipe (like this one and this one) as the first recipe of the year. I decided to share this Chickpea Noodle Soup recipe because it’s chocked full of vegetables (helloooo 2019 goal of eating more vegs) and beans but its not totally indulgent free because there are plenty of filling egg noodles in this as well.

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Vegetarian Lunch Ideas + 2019 Goals

ALL, Entree, Round-Up, Salad, sandwich, Wrap Up68

Need less microwave meals and more vegetables in your life? I’ve got you covered with a round up of easy and delicious vegetarian lunch ideas.

Healthy and Easy Vegetarian Lunch Ideas And Recipes

Woooweee! We are really at the finish line now for 2018. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for 2019! Before I jump into sharing a few vegetarian lunch ideas, I wanted to quickly jot down some goals for the new year. I’ve always been that obnoxious overachiever that insists on writing down my goals every year and this year will be no different. Although I don’t always succeed with all of them (I see you goal of mastering video), it’s always so rewarding to go over my goals at the end of the year and see how much I did manage to accomplish.

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Holiday Stollen Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

ALL, Bread, Sweets, Winter30

This batch of Holiday Stollen Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for Christmas morning or for a lazy weekend around the holiday season.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

A few Christmas seasons ago, I somehow talked my mother, aunt, and grandma into helping me make our family stollen recipe. The recipe called for several bags of flour, obscene amounts of fruit, required all of us to knead the huge pile of dough by hand, and took several days from start to finish. Needless to say, no one has suggested we make that recipe since. Even though our family recipe was beyond labor-intensive, I still loved the end result which was yeasty, boozy, and studded with just enough fruit to be sweet but not overly sweet. I made a stollen cookie in my first cookbook and although it’s a delicious shortbread, it doesn’t have the yeasty flavor I crave. After a few trial and errors, I was able to translate all my favorite parts of stollen into cinnamon roll form with these little rolls. It’s a pretty amazing hybrid with yeasty base, rum-soaked fruit, cream cheese frosting, and a touch more cinnamon than traditional stollen has (but more of other spices that a cinnamon roll usually would).

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Cardamom Coffee Chocolate Biscotti

ALL, Breakfast, Snack, Sweets, Winter41

This Cardamom Coffee Chocolate Biscotti recipe is perfect for the holidays or when you are planning to have friends over for tea or coffee. The biscotti can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

Cardamom Coffee Chocolate Biscotti

Checking in for a quick one today and to share this amazing biscotti recipe! I made an addicting hybrid of the Spicy Double Chocolate Chip Biscotti recipe found in my Vegetarian Heartland cookbook and the Cardamom Coffee Cream Scones found in my Platters and Boards cookbook! These end results are a subtly sweet biscuit meant to be dunked in teas and coffee. I promise that the instructions look more complicated than they are – you are basically going to make one dough that splits off into two bowls (so you can add two different flavors) and then pile one part of the dough over the over so you end up with an impression looking two flavor biscotti.

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Cranberry Orange Punch With Cranberry-Rosemary Ice Ring

ALL, Drinks, Winter33

This Cranberry Orange Punch With Cranberry-Rosemary Ice Ring is only 6 ingredients and a totally show stopper for your holiday parties!

Cranberry Orange Punch

It’s the holiday season (*queue holiday music*)! If I wasn’t so wrapped up in binge watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 2 then I would probably be out celebrating the season at holiday parties. Jk Jk – I do plan to go to a holiday party eventually this season (next weekend, to be exact) and will most certainly be bringing a big batch of this punch to the event. I’ll be bringing this punch not only because I need alcohol to tame my social anxiety (I kid…sort of) but because it’s an easy and delicious way to serve up something festive. …View More

Vegetarian Ventures 2018 Gift Guide (All Under $50!)

ALL, Round-Up, Winter, Wrap Up39

Here we are again! It’s already the holiday season and time to pick out the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Luckily for you, I’ve went ahead and piled a list of 18 gifts under $50 that would be perfect for almost every women in your life – whether she is an obsessive cook, all-natural beauty goddess, design forward homebody, compassionate animal lover, or giver that already has everything (see giving options below for more ideas for that one!).

 

Vegetarian Ventures 2018 Gift Guide (All Under $50)

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Farro Salad with Pistachios Apricots and Herbs

ALL, Entree, Salad, Side, Winter37

This Farro Salad with Pistachios Apricots and Herbs is my go-to meal prep lunch. It can be made in under 30 minutes and lasts several days in the fridge when tightly sealed. The chewy farro balances perfectly with salty pistachios, a bright citrus dressing, and sweet apricots pieces.

Farro Salad with Pistachios Apricots and Herbs Recipe

Hiii! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving week (if you are US based)! I am just now getting back into the swing of things and am SO ready to start getting festive! We put our tree up over the weekend along with a bunch of lights and I’m planning to spend Sunday working on a new holiday cookie recipe for you all.

A few housekeeping things before we dive into today’s recipe. First up, did you see my instagram post about gifting my cookbooks for the holidays? Basically, since I can’t meet all of you in person and give you a big ‘Thank you’ hug, I’m offering to send a signed recipe card to anyone who emails me a proof of purchase for one of my books. I’m hoping it’ll help give an extra special touch to your gift and a small way to show how appreciative I am to you for supporting my book adventure!

Secondly, I will be signing copies of my book this Saturday in Indianapolis at the Indiana Historical Society’s Annual Author Fair! If you live in the area, I’d love to see you there! The event is from noon to 4 PM and I’ll be the awkward looking introvert in the back peddling my recipes. Hope to see you there! : )

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Apple Cider Gravy From Now and Again

ALL, Sauce, Side, Thanksgiving, Winter44

This Apple Cider Gravy recipe from Julie Turshen’s Now and Again cookbook is both savory and tangy. It’s a perfect gravy for a special occasion like Thanksgiving or a lazy morning with biscuits and eggs.

Apple Cider Gravy From Now and Again

Thanksgiving is officially a week from today – are you ready? This is the first year we will be hosting at our new home and I’m beyond excited / nervous / overwhelmed. There will be about 15 of us and I have no idea how they will all fit into our 900 square foot home (ha). To calm my nerves a bit, I’ve started testing some of the recipes from the menu ahead time and this Apple Cider Gravy from Julie Turshen’s Now and Again. I was drawn to this Apple Cider Gravy recipe because I always think of gravy as super savory so I was very curious to see how a healthy helping of acid would alter the flavor. The results were still deliciously savory with a tint of tang that was surprisingly wonderful on top of a pile of biscuits and eggs. I dare say this could even replace our go-to recipe we’ve been making for years!

This Apple Cider Gravy is from Julie Tushen’s newest cookbook, Now and Again. I was beyond excited to receive a copy of this from Chronicle Books since I was such a big fan of her first cookbook, Small Victories. This has a similar approach in that all the food in the book is very accessible while still being creative and feeling new. Now & Again is sorted by seasons and then again by menu themes. What makes it extra unique is that Julie then gives recipe ideas on how to use the leftovers so nothing goes to waste. It also has an ideal mix of everyday recipes and special occasion recipes. I highly recommend you checking it out if you are a cookbook fan and looking for new inspiration!

Apple Cider Gravy From Now and AgainApple Cider Gravy From Now and Again

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Apple Cider Gravy

This Apple Cider Gravy recipe from Julie Turshen's Now and Again cookbook is both savory and tangy. It's a perfect gravy for a special occasion like Thanksgiving or a lazy morning with biscuits and eggs.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 Tbsp fresh sage
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups vegetable broth (she used chicken but veg worked great for me!)
  • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.

  2. Add onion, garlic, sage, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring often, until everything is softened, about 8 minutes.

  3. Add flour and, stirring often, cook until it turns the color of a milky cup of coffee, about 5 minutes.

  4. Next, while whisking constantly, slowly pour in the stock and the cider.

  5. Bring the mixture to a bowl and then lower heat and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 10 minutes.

 

 

 

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes You Should Try This Year

ALL, Entertaining, Entree, Fall, Round-Up, Sweets, Thanksgiving, Winter90

Thanksgiving is less than a week away – do you know what you are making yet? Whether you are planning the whole menu or just looking for a dish or two to bring to the party, I’ve got 20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving that are perfect for the occasion.

 

Quick Starters and Appetizers

This Roasted Beet Hummus with Hazelnut Oil & Rosemary recipe is a bright and easy snack worthy of serving to guests.

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Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives

ALL, Appetizer, Drinks, Entertaining, Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter35

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

This Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives recipe is an easy appetizer that can be made ahead of time and is a great starter to serve at your holiday parties!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Day Owl Rosè. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible. Msg 4 21+Tracking Pixel

Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives

 

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Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

ALL, Appetizer, Fall, Side, Snack76

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

This Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe is perfect For Halloween themed parties and any fall entertaining you are planning to do!

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

As you may remember, we completely redid our backyard this past spring and I am SO SO SO excited that it’s finally cool enough to have a fire back there and not break into a sweat. This also means it’s time to host! I’m planning to make this festive Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball the next time we have guests over for a fire because it’s not only delicious but super festive (black and orange!) and can be whipped up ahead of time. I’m thinking I will also probably make this for Halloween so Wyatt and I can have a delicious treat while we hand out candy on our porch – we deserve a treat yo ‘self moment too for the holiday, right??

You do need to plan ahead just a bit by making sure you give the cheeseball time to chill in the freezer before rolling it in the poppyseed and black sesame seeds. I like to serve my cheeseball with some crackers and veggies but potato chips would also work great here as well.

Oh and if you are into pumpkin recipes, make sure to check out all the other amazing recipes being featured on the Virtual Pumpkin Potluck!

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

How is your fall shaping up so far? It’s been pretty quiet over here – the weather FINALLY turned cold yesterday so I’m hoping we can finally start getting in some fall activities like hiking and apple picking. Wyatt and I are also celebrating our 8 year anniversary (woot woot!) next week with a little weekend trip to Cincinatti (a place neither of us have really spent any time in but is close enough for a weekend trip and has some pretty awesome looking restaurants to check out. Let me know if you have any recommendation for musts while we are there and make sure to follow along on my Insta!

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

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Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball

This Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe is perfect For Halloween themed parties and any fall entertaining you are planning to do!

Servings: 2 cheese balls
Ingredients
  • 2 8 oz packages cream cheese softened
  • 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper
  • 1/4 cup black sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup poppy seeds
Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  2. Add cream cheese, pumpkin, cheddar cheese, paprika, salt, and pepper to a food processor and process until completely combined and a smooth paste remains. 

  3. Using clean and damp hands, divide the dough in half and each half into a circle using the palm of your hands. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and place in the freezer to chill for at least 20 minutes.

  4. Mix together the sesame seeds and poppy seeds in a shallow rimmed dish. Remove chilled balls from freezer and roll each ball in the seed mixture until completely coated.

  5. Transfer to a serving dish to serve right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve with veggies, chips, and crackers.

 

 

 

Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer Recipe

Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail

ALL, Drinks, Entertaining, Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter81

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

This festive Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail recipe is a delicious fall drink that can be easily made with booze or as a mocktail.

Chai Spiced Apple Cider

I seem to be on a roll with chai-spiced apple recipes this season which I am not at all sorry about (because both of these makes your house smell A M A Z I N G and oh so fall). Ever since my mom moved into her beach home near Lake Michigan in May, I’ve been up to visit her at least once a month. We’ve already worked ourselves into a little Saturday routine which consists of browsing her nearest farmers market and then stopping at both a small Swedish bakery for pastries and a cute little grocery store / coffee shop for sandwiches to pack for a lazy afternoon at the beach. One the last trip up there a few weeks ago, I picked up a really delicious iced Chai Cider which should honestly be the official drink of September because it was the perfect mix of fall spices while still being a refreshing warm weather thirst quencher. As I was sipping on it, I couldn’t help but think about how simple it was – I’m sure it was just half local apple cider and half of their homemade chai mix they use in lattes. Genius! I knew I had to create my own.

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Chai Apple and Almond Puff Pastry Tarts

ALL, Appetizer, Fall, Snack, Sweets68

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

Today we are covering how to enjoy ‘me’ time this fall before the holiday busyness begins. Plus, I’m sharing a recipe for these delicious and easy Chai Apple and Almond Puff Pastry Tarts.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Oregon Chai®. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible.

Chai Apple and Almond Puff Pastry Tarts

It’s no secret that chai lattes hold a special place in my heart (one of the first recipes on VV was a chai spiced cupcake recipe and I’ve featured the spice combo in many recipes since). My obsession with them first started when I worked at a coffee shop in high school, as it was my favorite drink item on the menu. Over the years, I’ve also come to associate the smell of a steaming cup of chai latte with fall – with the crunching of leaves, a big cozy sweater, pumpkin picking, and so much more. A spicy chai latte always seems to be my first choice when packing up a warm drink for a brisk walk in the woods to wander among the changing leaves.

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10 Vegetarian Soup Recipes To Get You Excited For Cooler Weather

ALL, Entree, Fall, Side, Soup, Winter110

10 Vegetarian Soup Recipes To Get You Excited For Cooler Weather featuring chilis, stews, dumpling soup, minestrone, and more!

Here in the Midwest, we are at that point in the year where I’m just so ready for cooler weather and comfort food in the form of easy and flavorful soups. Any else with me? Well here are 10 vegetarian soup recipes to add to your dinner menu in the coming weeks:

10 Vegetarian Soup Recipes To Get You Excited For Cooler Weather

1. This Creamy Vegetarian White Chili recipe that is cozy and filling (with vegan option). Ideal for healthy weeknight meals or chilly afternoons. 

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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing

ALL, Appetizer, Salad, Side, Summer89

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This Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing recipe is a great way to use up those heirloom tomatoes currently ripening on the vine in your garden.

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing

Dropping in for a quick post today and to give one last ode to summer with this late season Heirloom Tomato Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing. The humidity has already started to drop here in the Midwest so I know fall is on the horizon but my garden is still bursting with these late summer beauties. I’d probably be wishing summer away altogether (fall is my favorite season) if it wasn’t for all the fresh herbs and tomatoes currently thriving in the garden.

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Blueberry Lemon Pie

ALL, Summer, Sweets83

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This Blueberry Lemon Pie recipe has a flaky crust and juicy filling perfect for a summer treat when blueberries are in abundance.

As I’m sure you can tell by the recipes I’ve shared over the last few months, I usually shy away from anything too labor intensive. And to me, pie has always been at the top of the list when it comes to time consuming and finicky recipes. If I had my way, I’d just make cakes and quick breads for all special occasions but pie is Wyatt’s favorite so I’ve come back to trying to master it time and time again. I’m inpatient but persistent which is why I gave this pie making thing another go a few weeks ago after swearing it off last January when I made two ugggggly looking things for Wyatt’s birthday. I think my biggest issue, as a bit of a perfectionist, is that I’d spend hours in the kitchen working on a pie and it would come out of the oven so imperfect – the crust would shrink or there would be fruit oozing out of the seams. All the work and it’s not perfect? What’s the point.

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Seedy Blueberry Banana Bread + Scenes from Blueberry Picking

ALL, Bread, Snack, Summer, Sweets64

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This Seedy Blueberry Banana Bread recipe is a great way to use up overly ripe bananas and to get a boost of fruit in your diet! It’s less sweet than most banana bread recipes making it an ideal choice for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Not sure exactly what it is but it doesn’t take much for me to get the summer bummers – maybe it’s the expectation that summer is going to be only all day pool parties and caprese salads but usually by the time July hits, I start to crave cooler calm days. We headed up north to visit Wyatt’s parents a few weekends ago and disappoint rung throughout the house, from everyone but me, when rain hit on our boat day. It was merely sprinkling but that was enough to know that laying out in the sun was not going to be in our cards so I suggested we visit a nearby organic blueberry farm instead. I was nervous about how Wyatt’s family was going to react to spending their Saturday picking fruit but everyone ended up having a blast (the guys even turned it into a competition)! And wandering around the lush blueberry patch in the warm summer rain drizzle was exactly what I needed to refresh and get me out of my mood.

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Fresh Greek Nachos with Herbed Tahini Sauce

ALL, Appetizer, Entree, Snack, Summer102

In a hurry? Click here to JUMP TO RECIPE!

Is your garden or farmer’s market overflowing with herbs and tomatoes? It’s time to make this quick and easy Fresh Greek Nachos with Herbed Tahini Sauce recipe! I eat it for lunch all the time but it would also be great to serve to a crowd.

Fresh Greek Nachos with Herbed Tahini Sauce Recipe

My eating shifts with the seasons so it’s not surprise that I go through phases with recipes. This particular recipe was a regular on my lunch routine last summer because it was so darn easy and I could pull half of the ingredients fresh out of my garden to whip up in just a few minutes. This recipe comes from Katherine of Cookie + Kate’s cookbook, Love Real Food, and her recipes are just that. They are no-frill vegetarian recipes that are perfect when you are short on time or just looking to not over-complicate your meal. And that is the exact reason I’ve been going back to this recipe on the regular again this summer.

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15 Recipes To Make While Summer Fruit is in Season!

ALL, Appetizer, Breakfast, Drinks, Round-Up, Summer, Sweets54

15 Recipes To Make While Summer Fruit is in Season! From drinks to sweets to savory items, these recipes will have you making fruit recipes all summer long!

15 Recipes To Make While Summer Fruit is in Season!

 

If you are anything like me, you can’t resist all the colorful and juicy fresh fruit currently stationed at your local farmer’s market. Summer fruit can be fleeting so here are some recipes to make sure you have an excuse to pick up those berries or stone fruit pints while they are around!

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