Creamy Tropical Yogurt Smoothie

Sipping on this delicious Creamy Tropical Yogurt Smoothie will have you daydreaming of 

being on the beach and dipping your toes in the water!

Spring is finally here - well, almost here, in Michigan - and I'm excited for warmer weather and lots of sunshine. Daydreaming of blue skies and flowers the other day, I decided to make some Creamy Tropical Yogurt Smoothies for me and the boys. Pineapple, mango and banana makes me think of being on a beach somewhere with my toes in the sand!

You know we eat a lot of yogurt around my house, so I was thrilled to try Stonyfield's two newest product lines - 100% Grassfed Yogurts and Whole Milk Organic Greek Yogurts. I can officially say that I am in love with both of these lines, and so is my family! 

Sweet Tea & Spring Vases

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All opinions are mine alone. #TeaStraightUp #CollectiveBias

Get True Tea Taste in every sip of the refreshing and delicious Snapple® Straight Up™ Teas! And when you're done you can use the bottle to get crafty and make a beautiful Spring vase!

Having family down south, Louisiana to be exact, I grew up loving tea. My mom was raised down there and moved to Michigan when she and my dad got married, but she brought with her several of her Southern traditions and favorite recipes. Like hush puppies and fried okra. Fried catfish and shrimp gumbo. And especially, sweet tea. There is nothing more refreshing than a cold glass of freshly brewed sweet tea. When I was young my mom always made sun tea and oh how I miss it!

Obviously being in Michigan it's a bit difficult to make sun tea all year round since it tends to be pretty cold and gloomy here during the winter. Lucky for me I recently discovered Snapple® Straight Up™ Teas, which have True Tea Taste in every sip! Whenever I'm looking for a beverage to help me relax, these teas do the trick. Whether I'm working or running errands or just taking time for me, Straight Up™ Teas are just what I need.

Chocolate Baklava #SundaySupper

This decadent pastry is made of layers of phyllo dough, toasted walnuts and hazelnuts, and creamy chocolate, and is sweetened with a delicious cinnamon honey syrup. The perfect dessert for any special occasion! 

Have you seen the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding?" I probably didn't watch it until it was about 10 years old {don't ask me why!}, but once I saw it I instantly fell in love. It's sweet. And funny. And definitely romantic. Did I mention funny? I love the family dynamic and how the characters interact. 

This weekend just happens to be the premier of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2," and my Sunday Supper friends and I are celebrating by sharing big fat Greek recipes! How fun is that?! I'm super excited to be sharing one of my most favorite Greek recipes with you...BAKLAVA! And not just any baklava, CHOCOLATE baklava! 

Lavender White Chocolate Scones

These melt in your mouth Lavender White Chocolate Scones are a welcome addition to your breakfast or brunch table. 

Or for an afternoon snack with a cup of tea or coffee! Really, anytime is the perfect time to enjoy these delicious treats. 

I love the smell of lavender. It's just one of those scents that makes me feel all calm and relaxed. I use lavender lotion before I go to bed at night, and lavender essential oils throughout my house. It reminds me of spring and fresh flowers, and just seems to take all my worries away. Now I'm taking it one step further and baking with lavender. These Lavender White Chocolate Scones are comforting, delicious, and have just a hint of lavender flavor. They are perfect, in my opinion.

One Pan Greek Beef Pasta

This One Pan Greek Beef Pasta is made in one skillet and can be on your table in less than 30 minutes! 

It's quick, easy, and full of delicious flavors that your whole family will love! 

There's nothing better on a busy weeknight than knowing you don't have to worry about dinner. To have all of the ingredients on hand for a quick and easy one pan meal is a blessing. I've learned over the years that dinner doesn't have to be complicated. It's all about using the best ingredients to make one heck of a delicious meal. This One Pan Greek Beef Pasta is just that!

Lean ground beef, Red Gold tomatoes and fresh green beans are the stars of this easy one pan meal. Oh, and you can't forget the cheese. Delicious feta cheese to be exact. It's the simplest of dinners, but one that my entire family absolutely loves.

Mexican Torta Sandwiches + 5 Minute Salsa

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All opinions are mine alone. #YesYouCan #CollectiveBias

This hearty and delicious Mexican sandwich and simple salsa come together quickly 

when you are pressed to get dinner on the table! 

As we transition from Winter to Spring the first thoughts that come to mind {other than warmer weather!} is food. It's almost time to finish off the comfort foods and move forward with fresh veggies and fruits, lighter meals, and breaking out the grill! Although the type of food we eat may change, the fact that I need quick meals for my family doesn't change one bit. We are still busy. There are still sports, school work and other activities going on. That seems to be a constant throughout the year!

Even though I want fast meals, I still want them to be delicious and nutritious. That's why I love pairing my favorite canned foods with fresh produce and baked goods to create a simple and satisfying meal for my family. 

Dark Chocolate Mousse #SundaySupper

This decadent and creamy chocolate mousse is simple to make and is made with just a few high quality ingredients. 

It's one dreamy, chocolaty dessert that will have your family and friends asking for more! 

It's no secret that I love chocolate. I would take a piece of really good chocolate or a chocolate dessert at the end of my meal every day if I could. I've been working on my menu for Easter and want to make something really special for dessert. We always have a few choices for desserts on the table, but I wanted something chocolaty and decadent. Chocolate mousse seemed like the perfect choice.

This Dark Chocolate Mousse is much easier to make than you might think. It's take a bit of time to pull it all together, but the steps are not difficult and the results are well worth it.

M&M's® Marshmallow Cream Cookie Sandwiches

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All opinions are mine alone. #SweeterEaster #CollectiveBias

Light and fluffy marshmallow cream is sandwiched between two soft M&M's® cookies 

to make one delicious and decadent sweet Easter treat! 

Easter is just 10 days away! I can't believe the month is going by so fast. Wasn't it just New Years Eve? Spring is definitely coming soon too and I can hardly wait! After a couple of huge snowstorms here in Michigan, the snow has melted and I can actually see somewhat green grass now. Plus the temps have been getting into the 50's lately which is awesome! Easter eggs hunts are best done when it's not freezing out.

To celebrate the coming of Spring and Easter, I made these delicious M&M's® Marshmallow Cream Cookie Sandwiches for my friends and family. Fluffy and sweet marshmallow cream gets stuffed between two of the most amazing M&M's® cookies I have ever made. They are incredibly soft and make a great vessel for that decadent marshmallow cream!

Irish Soda Bread

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this quick and easy traditional Irish Soda Bread. Baked in a cast iron skillet, 

the outside gets a golden crispy crust, while the inside stays tender!

I've got a list sitting on my desk of recipes that I want to make. Not recipes that I've developed, or even thought up, but traditional recipes that have been around for years, but I have never made. On the top of that list is Stollen Bread, followed very closely by Irish Soda Bread. Since St. Patrick's Day is just a few days away, I decided to try my hand at making the Irish Soda Bread. {Don't worry, Stollen Bread is next!

Slow Cooker Spanish Meatballs #SundaySupper

Take a trip to Spain with these rich and flavorful turkey meatballs. Nestled in a simple tomato sauce, cooking them in the slow cooker keeps them super tender. Serve the meatballs over rice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

I know I've mentioned this before, but I love my slow cooker. Being able to pop everything into it in the morning and have dinner ready at 5:30 is such a lifesaver some days. I can't tell you how many times I've went to my frig at 5:00 wondering what to make for dinner. When you plan ahead and make a slow cooker meal, all of that wonder and worry is gone!

I created these flavorful and delicious Slow Cooker Spanish Meatballs for this weeks' Sunday Supper. Can you guess this weeks' theme? Well it's MEATBALLS of course! And who doesn't love a good meatball? I am amazed at the variety of recipes that my Sunday Supper friends have come up with. We've got everything from Italian to Thai to Moroccan and even vegetarian recipes! Find the entire list of delicious meatballs at the end of this post.

Toasted Coconut Cream Pie with Caramel Drizzle

Give your Coconut Cream Pie a special touch by sprinkling it with toasted coconut and a sweet caramel drizzle! 
It's the perfect dessert for Spring.

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Ready or not, Easter is almost here! We still have just over a couple of weeks to go, but I've already begun to plan my menu. My family will be coming to our house for the holiday, so I'm working on to-do lists of table settings, decorations, and most importantly, food. A delicious ham with all fixin's, sides, rolls, and of course, dessert. I think I should have put that on the list first!

Every year my mom and I both make desserts for the holidays. You see, she loves to bake just as much as I do. {I'm sure I got my passion for baking from her!} Whether it's pie, cake, cupcakes or something else decadent, she and I both have a blast making our sweet treats. 

Simple Vanilla Almond Granola

This simple homemade granola is sweet, crunchy, and most importantly, delicious! 

It's perfect sprinkled over yogurt or just eaten by the handful! 

One of my favorite weekday breakfasts is yogurt and granola. It's so simple to make, it's healthy, and most importantly, it's delicious. Some days I even throw fresh berries on top! Although the granola selection is huge at the grocery store, there's nothing better than making it yourself at home. It's crazy easy to make, it's customizable, and you know exactly what it's made with.

This recipe is one of the most basics. Just a simple vanilla almond granola. You can use any type of nuts you like, but almonds just happen to be my favorite. You can also add dried fruit to give it a bit more texture, but make sure if you decide to add some that you do it after baking! You never want to cook the dried fruit, just toss it onto the pan as soon as it comes out of the oven and stir it to combine.

Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella Salad #SundaySupper

This classic bread salad gets a makeover with the addition of delicious roasted root vegetables. 
Packed with nutrients and full of amazing flavors, it's the perfect hearty winter salad!

One of my favorite things to do in the fall and winter is to roast vegetables. I absolutely love the amazing flavor that comes from roasting - the vegetables get tender, sweet, and practically melt in your mouth. I typically roast different types of squash, potatoes and Brussels sprouts, but I recently decided to try parsnips as it's something I don't cook with very often. Once roasted, they reminded me of carrots in flavor. I wish I would have tried them a long time ago, because I really do love them!

Panzanella salad is probably my favorite salad to make during the summer. The fresh veggies combined with the crunchy bread cubes are an amazing combination. When I found out the Sunday Supper group was dedicating a weekend to root vegetables, I knew I had to take my favorite summer salad and give it a winter makeover!

Overnight French Toast Bake

This delicious make-ahead breakfast casserole is simple to put together and perfect for weekend breakfast or brunch!

I treasure weekends with my boys, mostly because I know they won't be at home forever. Although K is currently living at home and attending community college, he plans to transfer in the Fall. And E is just a junior in high school, but man has this year flown by! Only a few months left of this school year and he'll be a senior. I really don't know where the time has gone. Seems like just yesterday they were both little guys.

Anyway, sorry for all the reminiscing. I just get sad when I think about my boys getting older! I love making big, home cooked meals for them, especially on the weekends. Those two days are the only time that we have to eat breakfast together. At least one of the days I make a big breakfast, like pancakes, waffles, omelets, etc., and we all sit down to eat together. Rather than be in the kitchen for a long time, I love serving special dishes that can be made ahead of time. That just means more time with my kiddos!