Shrimp is not a normal ingredient on our weekly menu. In addition to the cost, I’m never quite sure how to cook it properly and I fear making a disastrous meal with an expensive ingredient. Since the whole point of this journey of cooking 365 new recipes is to grow my culinary skills, I realized…
Avocado Grapefruit Quinoa Salad (16) and Quinoa Cakes (17)
When I saw this recipe for Avocado Grapefruit Quinoa Salad on Pinterest, it looked perfect. I love avocados and grapefruit and had never cooked with quinoa before. We are always looking for more exciting lunch ideas and I believed this would be a winning recipe. This recipe came from Skinny Taste which by now you may have noticed I…
Mango Margaritas (15)
One of the things that I am already enjoying about this blog is the creativity that it’s helping me cultivate in my kitchen. I’m amazed that in one short month (yes, I got a head start on cooking before the blog launched. I’m not completely crazy!) my level of comfort has so drastically changed. I’ve…
Bacon Hash Brown Quesadillas (14)
These Bacon Hash Brown Quesadillas come from Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Cookbook. If you love Southwest cuisine, you need to buy this cookbook immediately. I love Bobby Flay’s use of spices and his creativity in the kitchen. This cookbook also holds a special place in my heart. I lusted over this cookbook for months and…
Mango Avocado Salad (12) with Lemon Vinaigrette (13)
As I’ve mentioned previously, we struggle with coming up with creative options for lunch every day. I have become slightly obsessed with finding recipes on pinterest (you can follow my boards by clicking the link at the top of the page). This Mango Avocado Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette was a great find that we enjoyed twice in one week. Have…
Edamame Fried Rice (11)
When we lived in Chicago, our apartment was 4 blocks from our favorite Chinese restaurant. We honestly ate there at least once a week. It was so frequent that when I called Triple Crown they knew my voice as well as my order. The food was fantastic and a $10 dinner always yielded at least…
Homemade Whipped Cream (10)
Let me just start with saying it you haven’t ever made homemade whipped cream you should rectify that immediately. As in tomorrow. I realize that I sound borderline crazy as I confess my love for this delicious treat but honestly, it’s just that good. In my opinion, it’s one simple addition that makes your guests…
Key Lime Pie (9)
We’ve been experiencing a record setting heat wave where we live which makes me want to turn on my oven as little as possible. We were having friends over for dinner and I had not taken the time to make the homemade ice cream I’d initially planned on serving. I still wanted a light and…
Parmesan Roasted Potatoes (6), Potato Cakes (7) and Garlic Baked Potato Fries (8)
I picked these recipes because I’m always looking for side dishes. I purchased a 5 lb bag of yellow potatoes after seeing a recipe on a blog using yellow potatoes. I loved that the writer used yellow potatoes. Yes, I realize that’s a totally random way to pick recipes but I was intrigued. Sure it’s…
Strawberry Soup Recipe (5)
The first time I was exposed to chilled fruit soups was while on a cruise with my family. Almost every night there was a different chilled fruit soup on the menu. That was our first and only cruise but it was a very memorable vacation! I am still teased by my family about a huge…
Raspberry Lemonade Recipe (4)
When I saw this raspberry lemonade recipe on Pinterest, I knew that I had to make it. This wasn’t any old recipe. It was a copy cat of Cheesecake Factory’s Raspberry Lemonade. Simply reading the title made me nostalgic. My husband and I spent our entire dating relationship living hours, and sometimes states, apart. The…
Pesto Mozzarella Panini (3)
One of my biggest struggles with menu planning is lunch. We eat lunch at home most days and I often struggle to come up with creative and delicious options. We are usually stuck eating PB&J because I’ve simply run out of more inspiring ideas. Thankfully, I found a recipe for a Pesto Mozzarella Panini. This…
Barbeque Chicken Pizza (1) and Pizza Dough (2)
As I mentioned in my previous post, I love cooking and feeding people. Although I love sitting down to dinner with my family, I also really enjoy sharing a meal with friends. Early on in our marriage we realized that sitting around our dining table, sharing good food with people brings you together. Acquaintances become…
365 New Recipes in 365 Days
My name is JJ and this blog is a dream that began when I was 34 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I shared my crazy idea with my precious husband and to my disbelief he thought it was a great idea. (Ok, so him being my biggest cheerleader isn’t that surprising at all.) And…