Chicken & Strawberry Salad w/ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing

The weather has been all over the place hasn't it?

One minute it's 70 degrees and sunny.  The next, x-amount of inches of snow on the ground.  It's okay though.  Spring is pushing it's way through, and that makes me happy!  So happy in fact that I am out grilling any time I can, and along with the urge to grill comes the desire to eat a little lighter, and little fresher.  However, when you are married to the King of the Carnivores, it can be a little problematic.  That's when I like to blow his mind with things like  this Chicken and Strawberry Salad. It is packed with flavor, super filling, and the homemade poppy seed dressing is out-of-this-world!  And the best part, it only takes minutes to get on the table!  I can't wait to share it with you so let's get started!

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Cauliflower Soup

I have a problem.

Sometimes I buy things at the store with the best intentions to use them for this, that, and the other. However life happens, and before I know it, I HAVE to use said item or I am going to lose it!

Does anyone else have this problem?

This is what happened to me tonight.  I had this cauliflower in my fridge and I desperately needed to use it up.  I wanted to try something different with it, so I went to Facebook, and asked all of you beautiful readers for suggestions.  A few of you recommended Cauliflower Soup.  I was instantly intrigued by this because I never would have thought to make cauliflower into a soup.  I knew right then that I was going to give it a try and I have to say that the result was DELICIOUS!  I can't wait to share it with you,

So Let's Get Started!

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Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

If you follow me on just about any of my social medias you will know that I am passionate about shopping local and eating local.  Because of that my husband and I have been purchasing our beef, in bulk, from local farmers.  This year we decided to purchase from Foggy Dale Farms in Richie Co.,  and in our quarter beef there were a lot of top round steaks.  I will confess that I am not totally familiar with that cut, and was a little perplexed as to what to do with it.  So I went to my good friend Google and discovered that top round is a great cut for Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches.  Instantly I knew this was the perfect dish to make for Studhubs from our new meat haul and it was DELICIOUS!

I can't wait to share it with you, so let's get started!

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McCafè Coffee Affogato

This McCafè Coffee Recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #McCafeMyWay #CollectiveBias

Life can get so hectic, can't it.

There is work, family, errands, housework, and every thing in between.  Sometimes I feel like I am walking around in a total fog.  That is why, when those little window of opportunities present themselves, you need to seize them and have a little "me time".  I did that very thing this past weekend.  I knew Studhubs was going to be out of town, and Momma Pogue would go to bed around 8 o'clock, so I planned to block out some special time to pamper myself.  Early Friday morning I headed to Walmart to get everything I needed so there would be no distractions later.  This was going to be a great night!

When I think of pampering myself  it usually means having control of the television, candles lit, big comfy chair, and something delicious in my belly.  With the weather being a cold and snowy as it had been, only one such treat came to mind, Affogato!  What's an affogato you ask?  Well, please allow me to share with you and prepare to have your world ROCKED!

Let's get started...

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Mussels w/ Linguine

Some of you may remember the January Va. Beach trip I took for my birthday.  Well, on this trip my friends took me to this great seafood buffet called Captain George's.  I will confess, I was not super excited.  Why?  Because I am not a seafood lover, but I willingly went along and thought "Hey, you never know, I may try something new I love."  And that is EXACTLY what happened!

My friend Melissa had been raving about mussels for a while, and she was DETERMINED that I was going to try them.  I did, and let me tell you, THEY WERE AMAZING!  Not fishy at all, and the flavor of the red sauce, white wine, garlic, and chili flake, OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD!  I knew when I got home I was going to have to try making them and I was amazed at how easy it is.  I can't wait to show you how I did it!

Let's get started!

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Weeknight Chicken Curry

Many of you may know that, though I reside in West Virginia, half of my heart lives in Peru, Indiana with my step-daughter and grand children.  This past weekend Studhubs went up to see them while I stayed home to take care of Momma Pogue.  It is on weekends like this that I REALLY get adventurous in the kitchen.  There is no one to think about, but me (Momma Pogue has a special diet) and I can branch out a try new things.  This past weekend I decided to go Indian with a DELIGHTFUL week night Chicken Curry.  Though not traditional, it was really good and so easy to make!  I can't wait to show you how I did it!

Let's get started!

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REESE'S Mini Peanut Butter Pies

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnackTalk #CollectiveBias 

Though it is officially still a few days off, spring has sprung in the Mid-Ohio Valley!  With that comes the big basketball tournament which means parties and get togethers as well!  One thing I always struggle with, when planning a soiree, is what to make for a dessert.  You don't want anything too fussy or messy because people are mingling, and they don't want to be bothered with a lot of plates and forks.  So that is when I go to bite-sized finger foods and, in my humble opinion, there is no bite-sized treat yummier than a Reese's Cup.  I mean, how can you improve upon peanut butter/chocolate perfection?  Well, what if you turned that peanut butter/chocolate perfection into a REESE'S Mini Peanut Butter Pie?  Oh yes, you heard me right!  These mini pies are OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD and I can't wait to show you how I made them!

Let's Get Started!

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Mushroom Tortellini in a Brown Butter & Sage Sauce

It's Monday, the sun is FINALLY shining, and the snow is beginning to melt.  All of these things has my mood in a good place, and since Spring is starting to show her face around here, I thought today would be a good day for a Meatless Monday dish!

Some people shy away from meatless meals, but the thing is, when you pack it full of flavor and hearty ingredients, you don't even realize the meat is going.  This recipe for Mushroom Tortellini in a Brown Butter and Sage Sauce is the perfect example of how you can go meatless and not miss the meat.  It is so delicious and I can't wait to share it with you!

Let's get started!

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Swedish Meatballs

Every once in a while my husband gets a "hankerin'" for something and asks me to make it.  It doesn't happen very often, but when it does I'm usually happy to comply.  Recently he was craving Swedish Meatballs.  Of course I smiled and said "Sure, I can do that", but here is the truth of the matter.  The only Swedish Meatballs I have ever made were the kind you removed from a box and put in the oven.  However, I didn't want to let him down, so I started doing a little research on how to make them.  That is when I realized that the key ingredient is red current jam.  WHAT?!?  Trust me when I say that red currant jam is not something that is easy to come by in the Mid-Ohio Valley.  That is when I decided to put on my thinking cap and come up with a recipe of my own.  I am THRILLED to say that Studhubs LOVED it, and I can't wait to share with you how I made it!

Let's get started!

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Perfect Pasta e Fagioli

 Well, it looks like we are about to have another huge winter storm come through the Mid Ohio Valley.  And though I have had my fill of winter already, I have decided to take it all in stride!  So when life gives you the possibility of 10 inches of snow, make Pasta e Fagioli!  Yes, this Italian stew is beefy, and hearty, warm, and rib sticking.  Perfect for being snowed in with.  The best part about this stew is that it is so simple to make.  I like to prepare a big pot in the morning and nosh on it all day.

I know you are going to love it so let's get started!

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Dirty Rice

Sometimes I feel like the humble side dish gets a bad wrap.  You know what I mean.  So many times we just throw something on the plate to compliment an amazing entree, but what if it could be more?  What if a side dish was so flavorful, so filling, yet amazingly simple, that I dare say it could be a meal all on its own.  Well that side dish exists my friend, and it exists in the form of my Perfect Dirty Rice.  Though it only uses a few ingredients, this recipe will rock your socks!  I can't wait to show you how I make it so let's get started!

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Blackened Chicken

Can I be transparent with you for just a moment?

This past two weeks have been a NIGHTMARE!  Sickness ran rampant through my home, but I am happy to say that after two trips to the doctor, two prescriptions, and countless over-the-counter medications, I am starting to feel like a human again!

With all of that being said I am ready to start easing back into cooking.  I have missed it, but that doesn't mean I am ready to get all crazy in the kitchen.  This is why I love recipes like my delicious Blackened Chicken.  With just a few, simple spices from my pantry I can take these boneless skinless chicken breasts from ordinary to extraordinary!  You won't believe how easy it is and I can't wait to show you how I do it!

Let's get started!

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