To finish them off, I’m taking you through my #1 tourist geek-out moment – a tour of the White House! :D Now Ben’s family visited DC a zillion times growing up, and I’d been once before when I was young, so we all felt like we’d been there and done that when it came to the monuments (although I did learn a fun fact about the Washington Monument – the reason why the stones are two colors is because construction was halted in the middle due to the Civil War and lack of $$$!...

Craving something light and healthy for the Thanksgiving table this year? Give m my low-fat, full-flavored, gluten and dairy-free Skinny Sweet Potato Gratin side dish a try! Mashed potatoes are a staple at Thanksgiving, of course, but sweet potatoes have their place too. My Mother-in-Law LOVES sweet potatoes and always has a small mashed dish of them at Thanksgiving for her and me to eat. I had her in mind when making this layered dish using the bright and colorful veggie....

Please tell me you’ve seen the hilarious hot chocolate meme on Facebook telling pumpkin spice everything where it can go until next year (hint: it’s not a nice place.) Hot chocolate’s back in town! My first thought was hallelujah! I can’t wait to wrap my hands around a hot mug of cocoa as I’ve already got big plans to make an epic almond milk/dark chocolate version for myself this year....

These rolls are so versatile that you can add any ingredients of your liking. I like adding lots of veggies, which look gorgeous and taste great during summertime. You can make these Summer rolls using fruits and serve them as a light dessert item. Being a vegetarian, I add an extra layer of air-fried & seasoned tofu as a protein substitute. Check out this short YouTube Video to assemble the Vietnamese spring rolls....

Published 8/30/2019 • Updated 9/6/2022 First, marinate your pork chops and then pan sear them for a few minutes on each side before finishing them off in the oven! Marinated Chops = Tender/Juicy Dinner is served with this delicious baked bone in pork chops recipe. I’m usually a pork + rub kind of girl, but for some reason, I’ve been craving marinated pork. I love how juicy and tender marinated pork chops get and this recipe is no exception....

Quickly, a note about Monterey and specifically the Carmel Valley Ranch where I am staying. NEVER LEAVING. I have spent a bit of time in both northern California (San Fran and above) and southern California – but never in Monterey, a couple hours south of San Fran, which is absolutely incredible. Very rustic, and untouched feeling. “Ranchy” vs manicured. I feel so at home here. The Carmel Valley Ranch itself is a sprawling golf resort filled with wildlife (including, ahem, loudly gobbling wild turkeys,) wild flowers, fresh air, singing birds, and a breathtaking night sky....

Published 12/24/2023 • Updated 1/3/2024 We are obsessed with our bananas foster muffins. The caramelized bananas are heaven on earth. They seemed like the perfect addition to French toast! The star of this dish—bananas foster—creates these delicious caramelized bananas that you place on top of your French toast. It’s a match made in heaven! What’s In Bananas Foster French Toast Banana’s foster French toast might sound fancy, but it’s actually made with basic ingredients that you’ll likely already have in your kitchen....

Published 7/24/2023 • Updated 3/19/2024 Serve your crock pot chicken wings with a homemade dip such as Ranch dressing or Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese dressing. Since we’re game day fanatics and love hosting parties, we made sure to keep this crockpot chicken wings recipe extra simple so that you can focus on your guests (and your frozen margaritas). Use fresh or frozen chicken wings and slather them with bbq sauce....

I’ve got a light and healthy, seasonal recipe to share with you today — Black Bean Butternut Squash Quesadillas with Lazy Girl’s Guacamole. These cheesy, crispy quesadillas are meatless yet satisfying, and full of healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. The definition of feel-good fall food! What’s Inside Roasted butternut squash, southwest-seasoned black beans, sweet caramelized onions, and creamy fontina cheese are sandwiched between tortillas then griddled until golden brown and crisp....

Usually, bread pakoras are made without any stuffing. However, stuffed bread pakoras are a unique option that is more filling and tastes better than plain bread pakora. So, to make your snack time fun, I’m sharing the recipe for bread pakora with stuffing and without the stuffing. These pakoras go perfectly in rainy weather. We are so used to eating these pakoras with Tamarind Chutney & Green Chutney; chutney’s sweet and spicy flavor complimented these spiced stuffed Pakoras perfectly....

Raise your hand if it’s unseasonably cold where you live and all you want to do is convince your spouse/significant other/best friend/dog/cat/goldfish (I suppose those labels could overlap,) that it’s a good idea to light a fire then curl up on the couch with a blanket, movie, and bottle of Cabernet then stuff your face with Brown Butter and Crispy Sage Popcorn? So glad we’re on the same page. No matter the situation nor company, this seasonal stovetop popcorn needs to be made ASAP!...

My husband unexpectedly walked in the door for lunch yesterday (it was his usual You Pick Two day at Panera so naturally I wasn’t expecting him) and found me shoveling Caprese Pasta Salad in my face straight from the serving bowl. “Serving size one?” he asked. “If I try hard and believe in myself.” I replied. Just kidding. I wish I was that smooth but the reality is that this pasta salad is so unbelievably tasty that there’s simply no time to waste dishing it out into bowls like a civilized human being before devouring!...

Published 11/2/2021 • Updated 8/25/2024 We’ve been eating (and making) chicken casserole since we can remember and this is our tried and true Midwestern chicken and rice casserole recipe that we’ve made time and time again! You won’t find any cream of chicken soup or any other nonsense in this recipe. Just chicken, rice, tons a veggies, and cheese, of course! From a classic midwestern chicken and rice casserole like this one to creative Asian-inspired casseroles like orange chicken casserole, we are huge fans of taking classic chicken dinners and turning them into casseroles....

Anyway, as I mentioned on Monday, last week the boys and I went west to explore beautiful Colorado! Ben’s cousin got married last Saturday outside of Denver, so we went a few days early to explore and visit with family. My brother lives in Denver, Ben and I both have extended family in the area, and Colorado is just so dang fun that we try to go at least once a year....

Published 6/10/2022 • Updated 11/5/2024 Our Classic Lemon Bar Recipe If you’ve made our healthier lemon bar recipe and you’re here for the real deal, welcome! This is a classic lemon bar recipe made with a buttery crust and perfect lemon curd filling. Lemon bars are great for sharing at any party, bbq, or gathering and will have your guests coming back for seconds. The real question is, do you eat your bars with fresh whipped cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar like us?...

Published 5/15/2016 • Updated 1/23/2024 I am a huge granola fan. One of my favorite breakfasts is Greek yogurt, homemade granola, and berries. I love the crunch granola gives and the fact that you can control the sweetness because it’s homemade. Packed with healthy fats, tropical coconut flavor, and wholesome goodness from the chickpeas, this chickpea granola will become your new go-to granola recipe. This is so yummy on top of a smoothie bowl and honestly eaten by the handful....

Published 4/20/2021 Best Coffee Protein Shake I haven’t always been a smoothie girl. If you talk to the other ladies on Team Fit Foodie, they would tell you that I love to start the day off with a piece of arugula toast or a breakfast salad with a hard-boiled egg. However, protein shakes that are not only flavor-packed, but nutrition-packed like this coffee protein shake are my jam. Ingredients for Coffee Protein Shake This coffee protein smoothie recipe is made with 4 ingredient categories....

A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning up old posts here on IGE and came across a Trader Joe’s night dinner including Chicken Chili Lime Burgers, which my husband and I had loved at the time. I remember wanting to recreate them at home and had even typed out the ingredient list from the package so I could come back later and have a shopping list all ready to go....

Published 7/31/2021 • Updated 6/4/2022 Best Baked Chicken Nuggets Growing up we were a McDonald’s chicken nugget kind of family. Heck, I still am a chicken nuggets (and tenders) person! I’ve been loving our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with a side of Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries, lately. Today we’re teaching you how to make a simple, at-home chicken nuggets recipe that is made in the oven! They’re coated in an egg wash, then dredged in a yummy breadcrumb mixture, and finally crisped up in the oven to perfection,...

Yesterday I got bit by the crafting bug, and whipped up the decorative twig vase I featured in a Friday Favorite’s post a few weeks ago. BONUS: It didn’t cost me a DIME! Ugh I love it so much. Here’s how you can make one too! Step One: Gather your supplies: Clear vase Paper bag Scissors Twigs Sharp gardening shears Glue gun & glue sticks Raffia (or twine/rustic-looking ribbon)...