Cinnamon Almond Popcorn

As a proud Barlean's Ambassador, I want to thank them for sponsoring today’s post. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Satisfy both your sweet and salty cravings with this simple and delicious Cinnamon Almond Popcorn! 

It's a wholesome snack that the whole family will love.

Hey friends! I hope you all had a fabulous long weekend. I apologize for being kind of quiet, but life has been crazy busy over here. This past weekend I didn't do much relaxing, I worked a bunch outside getting ready for E's graduation party this Saturday. There is so. much. to. do. We pulled weeds, planted flowers, prettied up the landscaping, and so on. It was a hard few days on my old back I'll tell you that! But the yard looks great and that's one less thing to worry about. Starting tomorrow I'll be focusing on cooking since my mom and I are making all the food for the party. Pulled pork, summer salads galore, fruits, veggies, and yummy desserts. I'm tired just thinking about it!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 6

Happy Friday, friends! Happy Memorial Day! And happy long weekend! I only have to work a few hours this morning so I technically have a three and a half day weekend and I. Can't. Wait. We have so much to do this weekend. E's graduation party is next Saturday and I am totally not ready. Oh and by the way, I successfully made it through his graduation ceremony without a major breakdown. Score one for mom!

I'm super thankful for these weekly menu plans because believe me, I will be utilizing them this coming week. With all we have going on, I need to plan ahead and make sure dinner is on the table fast. Which recipes have you tried? Do you have a favorite? Let me know! You know I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. 

Frozen Caramel Mocha Latte

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. 

All opinions are mine alone. #FoundMyDelight #CollectiveBias

Skip a trip to the coffeehouse and make your own icy and delicious Frozen Caramel Mocha Latte at home! 

If you've been reading my blog long enough then you already know how much I love coffee. I mean, I love coffee so much that I refer to myself as a coffee addict. 😂 I typically stick to one cup in the morning (occasionally two if I had a rough night), and I usually have one in the afternoon, too. I don't let the heat deter me either. It's coffee all year round over here. During the summer I like to drink iced or frozen coffee drinks to keep me cool, and I love making my own treats at home. I find they taste better, plus it costs much less to make your own.

Sesame Chopped Chicken Salad

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Conagra Brands. 

All opinions are mine alone. #SimpleSecret #CollectiveBias

This flavor packed Sesame Chopped Chicken Salad is a perfect dish for summer BBQ's,

potlucks, or just for family dinner!

Even though my son graduated last week, we are still busy as ever. We have several graduation parties to attend over the next several weeks, plus we are planning his graduation party at the same time. There is still so much to do! Landscaping to do, food to buy, picture boards to be made...there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done! No matter how busy we are, I still like to make home cooked meals for dinner. Now that the weather is nice I've been turning to my grill almost nightly. Grilling is so simple and there's less clean up, too. 

One Pot Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes and Spinach

Weeknight dinner just got easier with this flavor packed One Pot Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes and Spinach!

This past weekend my youngest son graduated from high school. {If you follow me on Instagram then I'm sure you saw a few photos!} He is my baby. My baby is no longer in high school. It sounds so weird to say that! The past four years have flown by and I'm so proud of him, but I'm still coming to terms with the fact that my babies aren't babies anymore. It's really hard being a parent sometimes! Please tell me you agree and that I'm not alone?!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 5

Happy Friday, friends! Here we are at the end of another week already. It felt like this week really flew by! My "baby" is graduating from high school on Sunday so I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for the big day. I mean, didn't he just start Kindergarten? It's incredible how the older I get, the faster time seems to go. Do you feel that way too?

Getting to the food part of this post, we are already at week 5 of our weekly menu plan! I hope you've been enjoying these menus as much as we've enjoyed putting them together. I've been using the plan myself and have loved all the new recipes I've tried, and so has my son! Do you have a favorite yet? As always, please share your thoughts and suggestions below. I value your feedback!

Spicy Avocado Hummus

I received free products from Casabella to create a delicious recipe for this post. 

No additional compensation was received. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Perfect for your summer gatherings and family BBQ's, this Spicy Avocado Hummus is 
nutritious, easy to make, and simply delicious!

Summer is right around the corner which means it's time to start prepping the deck for outdoor gatherings galore. I love to have friends and family over, fire up the grill, and enjoy dinner and an icy beverage outside. We spend time talking, laughing, and of course, eating! I try to serve simple and delicious food that doesn't take hours to prepare and is easy to clean up. The beauty of grilling is no pots or pans to clean, and I often make pasta salad, coleslaw, or other salads beforehand so they're ready when company arrives. I also like to serve dips alongside chips and veggies for snacking before dinner is ready. Again, anything that can be made or prepped ahead is key here.

Heirloom Tomato Pesto Pizza

Fresh heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese are the stars of this beautiful Heirloom Tomato 

Pesto Pizza. It's a simple pizza, yet so delicious, and perfect for the summer!

The farmers market is brimming with fresh produce this time of year and one of my absolute favorite finds are heirloom tomatoes. Not only are they gorgeous in color, but they are juicy and super flavorful. There are so many ways to enjoy these beauties, but my typical go-to is to use them as a topping for pizza. You may remember that early last month I attended the Food & Culinary Professionals 2017 Culinary Workshop in Napa with the Dairy Industry of Michigan. We attended different educational sessions and also participated in hands on activities, one of which was making our own wood fired pizzas. Even though I don't have a wood fired oven in my backyard, I was so inspired by our trip that I had to try and recreate our pizza at home!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 4

Happy Friday, friends! So Mother's Day is this weekend, do you have plans? My son is coming home from college so I'm grilling out on Mother's Day for my boys and my parents. At first my mom wanted to go out to eat because she didn't want me to have to cook, but I wanted to cook for her. That's the best part, to just spend the day at home with my family. That's really all I need! Whatever it is that you do, I hope you enjoy your day!

So here we are at week 4 of our weekly menu plan. I can't believe it's been a month already! Do you have a favorite recipe that you've tried? Are you enjoying the recipes that we're sharing? Please, feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions below!

Cherry Almond Coffee Cake #BrunchWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor 

companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

This Cherry Almond Coffee Cake is a sweet addition to any brunch menu. Made with fresh cherries, almond 
extract, and slivered almonds, this delicious cake will quickly become a family favorite!

I'm gonna be honest here, coffee cake is my weakness. I would make one every few days if I could, but I don't because I know I'll devour it all by myself. Coffee cakes are one of those things that are good for breakfast, brunch, an afternoon snack, and even dessert. I can eat coffee cake all. the. time. See the problem here? I need to learn to control myself better. But since Mother's Day is this weekend, and since I really want to spoil my mom, I'm making myself this Cherry Almond Coffee Cake. I mean, her. I'm making her this coffee cake. Sorry about that.

Apple & Grape Breakfast Salad #BrunchWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor 

companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Lighten up your brunch menu with this creamy Apple & Grape Breakfast Salad! Fresh fruit
 is tossed in a flavorful lemony yogurt sauce that's not only delicious, but healthy too!

Happy Thursday, friends! I hope you've been enjoying #BrunchWeek so far. You didn't get a new brunch recipe from me yesterday but don't fret, I've still got two new ones coming your way this week. This Apple & Grape Breakfast Salad is one of my new favorite dishes. It's so simple, yet it's light and creamy and packed with flavor. It's perfect to serve at brunch, but also great for busy weekday mornings. You can make the dish ahead of time and eat it for the next few days. It gives me a great boost of energy and brightens my mood too!

Cherry Yogurt Power Smoothie

I am honored to be a Stonyfield Ambassador and I thank them, and prAna for sponsoring today’s post.  

All opinions, as always, are my own.

This smooth and creamy smoothie is made with frozen sweet cherries and thick and tangy Greek yogurt. 

Full of antioxidants, protein, and fiber, it's a great way to start your day!

In this crazy busy world we live in, most people don't make time for themselves as often as they should. Myself included. I've been a single mom to my sons for the past 15 years and have raised them on my own. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade it for the world! But sometimes it can be exhausting. Working, take care of the kids, doing chores, etc. can be a lot to handle whether you're by yourself or have a partner to share in the everyday tasks. That's why it's so important to take time out for yourself every day. 

Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake #BrunchWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor 

companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

This healthy and simple Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake is the perfect brunch recipe! 
It's warm and comforting and is a great way to start your day!

Hello friends! It's day two of #BrunchWeek and I'm so excited to share with you this Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake! Oatmeal bakes are my new best friend. They are so easy to make and also very customizable. You can swap out the fruits and spices with some of your favorites if you like. The combination of cinnamon and apples reminds me of my childhood, when I used to eat the little packets of instant oats for breakfast. My kids loved those too when they were little. {Actually, Evan still does!} This dish is perfect for breakfast or brunch as it feeds a crowd. Don't worry though, if you decide to make it for just your family and have leftovers, it's equally delicious warmed up!

Asparagus and Pancetta Frittata #BrunchWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor 

companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

This beautiful Asparagus and Pancetta Frittata recipe is so simple to make! Ready in 
less than 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for Mother's Day brunch!

Welcome to the fifth annual #BrunchWeek hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. We are so excited to have you join us this year as we celebrate brunch and prepare for Mother's Day! This is my second year participating and I couldn't be more excited to share some of my favorite brunch recipes with you. I've got sweet and I've got savory and there is definitely something for everyone. I'm sharing five brand new recipes with you this week, are you ready to get started?

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 3

Happy Friday! AND Happy Cinco de Mayo! Do you have any big plans today? I'm staying in tonight and making a fiesta here at home. And of course there will be a margarita or two. 😉 Although I love to go out, sometimes it's nice to forget about a crowded restaurant and just enjoy a quiet, relaxing evening with the family, especially after a long week. 

So here we are at week 3 of our weekly menu plan! How have you liked it so far? I hope you've found some new recipes to try. I'd love to hear from you and get your thoughts and suggestions, so please leave me a quick note in the comments below!  

Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers #MexicanRecipes

Simple Mexican Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers are full of protein, fiber, and plenty of flavor!

 This is a healthy and well-balanced meal that the whole family will love.

So Cinco de Mayo is quickly approaching...in fact, it's in three days! You all know how much I love Mexican food, so to celebrate the holiday I've teamed up with some of my blogger buddies to share delicious Mexican recipes all week long! Drinks, side dishes, main dishes and desserts, we've got it all covered! Be sure to scroll down to the end of this post to see what my foodie friends are sharing today.