Sweet and Sour Seafood Spread

Sometimes you just want a easy and delicious snack on a hot summer day. Well, maybe all the time. Instead of the usual sandwich or salad for lunch, I decided to make yummy Sweet and Sour Seafood Spread on baguette slices. This is the first time I've made this dish before, so I wasn't sure if it would turn out as I was imagining, but I am happy with the result. It is a cheesy, flavorful, and very quick snack. Also, I am in love with Kikkoman Sweet & Sour Sauce for Dipping. It's light, a little bit spicy, and it has a fantastic orange color. 

Dairy Free Cupcakes- Straight Outta The Box!

I am super excited to share this week's recipe with you! Since becoming severely lactose intolerant, many things in my life have had to change- goodbye milk, see ya later cheese, peace out cream of anything. I think that because it wasn't a choice that I made, but one that was made for me, I was extra unenthused about it. Dairy Free, a lifestyle of asking every server and every party hostess what is safe and what is not safe for me to eat. Let me tell ya, it's NOT my fave thing. For me, the only way to get through this was to find some regular things that I could buy in a store, and cook like a normal person. Now don't get me wrong, I am a nut soaking, grinding, straining, weird ingredient buying and eating machine when it comes to homemade dairy free stuff- but I had to ease myself into that life. This recipe is one that I often fall back on, it's easy, it's good, and its dairy free all on it's own. It's even what we used for the cupcakes and wedding cake when I got married last summer. Seriously, we ate box cake at my wedding, and no one even noticed/cared/thought about it.

Dairy Free Chocolate Shell on Banana Ice Cream Treats

Whenever I make something and it is extra tasty I tell people around me that it is awful in an attempt to not have to share.  These are TERRIBLE!  Jk.  Being a dairy free girl that also avoids soy, it is hard to find something creamy and frozen I can eat.  This summer I have been making banana ice cream like it is going out of style.  I just freeze ripe bananas and blend in my Vitamix.  Perfect treat but adding this chocolate shell makes them so much better.  I feel the need to mention two things.  1) I am not a big banana fan and 2) coconut is my fave favor, but theses are great!

Cherry Nutella Waffles Recipe

Hello foodie friends! It's finally Friday, which, if you're feeling like me is a blessing. It's been a hectic month, and I'm looking forward to slowing down and taking a deep breath. One way to take it easy and start the weekend off right is to have the perfect breakfast. Waffles will do that for you, and I have the perfect recipe for you.

Frozen Cherry Berry Lemonade Treats recipe

It has been unusually warm in the Portland metro area the last few weeks, and we've all had to found our ways to make it more bearable. In our house, we've been avoiding using the oven and learning how to strategically open and close windows. I've also been brainstorming ideas for cold treats to beat the heat. I will tell you now about my experimental recipe that turned out different than I imagined, but still very cute and tasty. I call this recipe Frozen Cherry Berry Lemonade Treats. I will also include a recipe for Cherry Berry Lemonade below.

9 Reasons Why I am a Terrible Food Blogger

1. I procrastinate.  I will make things in advance and take pictures but wait till the last second to write the post.
2. I want everything to look perfect and things dont always look perfect!
3. I make the same things over and over on repeat.  Not sure you guys want five recipes in row on different ways to make potatoes awesome!
4. I like to eat.  I have trouble not eating the things I make.  Once I messed up on a picture but had already eaten the dish...  Hard to retake a photo once the yummy is in the belly.
5. I try to make things practical.  Like not make hot things on a hot day and make sure I can eat it all up.
6. Sometimes I have too many ideas for what to make and have trouble narrowing it down.
7. I cant speell.  
8. I am sad I cant enter our giveaways.
9. I see things on Pinterest or Foodgawker and think I will never post anything as pretty as that.  

But in the end I love food and cooking.  I love feeding people and if you and I cant get together for a picnic in the park and share some yummy snacks at least I can pretend we do when you make a recipe I posted.

Cheers!

BLOG/POSTS

Cucumber Salad On The Fly

Oh my gosh, it has been so hot this week! Here in Portland it has been a lot hotter than normal, so we are all melting and whining about it. That's what we do, we're pacific northwesters! I've been staying relatively cool, i even installed my air conditioner this week, all by myself! Unfortunately AC or not, come dinner time, my house is sweltering. So we've been struggling to make dinner every night- it's hard to want to cook in hot weather! 

Gluten Free Tuna Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes

This pasta salad is my favorite thing to eat in summer.  Favorite!  When I was a kid I would make it with the help of my mom.  We would make it the night before and let it sit over night in the fridge.  It is sooooo much better the next day.  In the neighborhood where I grew up there is a pool.  I would walk there spend most of the day swimming and walk home.  This was my favorite thing to eat when I got home.  It is cool and refreshing.  I like it best on a bed of lettuce.

United Cakes of America: A Picnic Centerpiece

Happy Fourth of July my foodie friends! Today's the day for big picnics, loud party music, laughter and fireworks. Holly and I actually have a ritual of doing the Molalla Parade every year, but that's a whole different story on its own. 

So what to make for the Fourth? I have always found those cakes on the cover of Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, etc. of flags inspiring. My heart had longed to make one; I just didn't know if I had the patience or the ability to pull it off. However, I decided to take a go at it, and I must say, this will make the perfect party centerpiece for your 4th of July get-together.

Red, White, and Blue Cheese Potato Salad

What does it mean to be an American? Well, I'll let you decide that for yourself, but one of my favorite things about being an American is celebrating the 4th of July. I love a hot day filled with flags, food, and fireworks. The best food to enjoy on Independence Day is BBQ and the appropriate sides. This week, I'm going to tell you about my patriotic Red, White, and Blue Cheese Potato Salad.