Hillary's Favorite Berry-Butter Smoothie

Hello! Today I bring to you a smoothie recipe! 

You know, to balance out the homemade popcorn recipe I shared here recently :) 

Chris had a smoothie similar to this one while he was traveling once + got all of the things to make it + i was super skeptical. I love berries + i love peanut butter, but together I wasn't sure. I tried it, and now I make this smoothie like three times a week, it's so so good!

Hillary's Favorite Berry-Butter Smoothie  \\

1 handful frozen raspberries

1 handful frozen blueberries

1 apple

1 glob of peanut butter

1 spoonful greek yogurt (optional, sometimes we are out + I don't notice a difference)

a dash (or three) of cinnamon

big splash almond milk

...blend...

E N J O Y

Homemade Popcorn!

A month or so ago, while Chris was out of town, I had the idea to dust off our popcorn maker + make a batch of homemade popcorn with the kids. I just knew they would have fun pouring stuff in + turning the handle + hearing the kernels pop, and it'd be a fun activity to get us closer to bedtime with Chris away. I was right.

We received our popcorn maker as a wedding gift + at the time I remember not being overly enthusiastic about it... because 22 + the microwave duh. Seriously rolling my eyes at that SO much now though. We used it a couple times as newlyweds, but it mostly just took up space in our cabinet. But now?! NOW, i totally get it. The sweet people who gave it to us were FAMILY FAMILY people. They are so great + they have great kids + they love each other well + they knew when they bought this gift what it could look like a few years after 22 + freshly married. Guys, it hasn't been put back in the cabinet a single time since we pulled it out. This is partially because dishes... + hand washables at that... but MOSTLY because i know we are going to use it again the next night, so even it if gets washed right away, I'll just set it right back on the stove. This has been the best ever, SUCH a fun tradition to start with our kids. I hope they only ever know homemade popcorn!

First we bought the movie theater butter + all the fix-ins. This is the kids favorite way to have it. I think mostly because they like to pick which color bottle they'll use + sprinkle their own.

We usually pop our kernels in coconut oil, and Mine + Chris' favorite way to season it is using melted butter + a little bit of salt! So, so delicious!!

This reminds me... Since we are talking popcorn again on this blog, check out THIS recipe, which would probably be extra delicious to make using homemade popcorn, when you're wanting a sweets fix. Now I'm off to find the perfect popcorn bowl, THESE look cute... Happy popping!

pumpkin pecan waffles, just another reason to love this time of year

I am on team pumpkin when it comes to fall. even more so when it's accompanied by chocolate chips or cinnamon or anything fall spice-ish. i'm also a fan of breakfast. put these two together? pumpkin pecan waffles. 

one of my favorite breakfast restaurants had one that was sinfully good but they shut down last year... womp womp. so when i got the hankering for one this year, my friend and i did some googling & found this recipe. well, yum. they turned out great (as if i suspected otherwise). we didn't make the maple pecan cream to go with, we just topped with pecans and used syrup, but i'm sure that stuff is dang good, so YOU should make it if you do this recipe & let me know how it is! i experimented again with these, added chocolate chips & skipped the pecans, and i could have eaten only those for a whole day they were so good. 

anyway! happy pumpkining to you! go eat some waffles :) 

pumpkin spice donut holes... you're welcome

hip hip! it's FALL! & i couldn't be more excited. i mean, if we are really being honest, i've acted like it's been fall for a couple of weeks now... but now it's official! i've got fall decor throughout our little home, & yesterday chris & i got two of the hugest pumpkins i've every seen, starting the collection of pumpkins that i'd like to grace our outdoor entry ways with! ...today, little pregnant sister & i brought out the other form of pumpkin, you know... the best kind. the baking kind. my first EVER 'pin' on pinterest was of baked, pumpkin spice donut holes... they sounded super delicious & come on... little round balls of pumpkin spice perfection? even a non donut eater could probably be talked into them. thanks to this recipe, my dreams became a reality today. so easy to make, & SAY NO to hot oil popping you in the face, because they are baked. pumpkin, pumpkin... i love you so. i'm so excited for this season! i always am, but even more so this year! why? you probably guessed it, abel. he just makes life so much more fun. all things pumpkin & fall are wonderful, mix it up with that baby? sheesh.

& i was like, "what?! is this real life?!"

Fort Collins, FIRST EVER, Food Truck Rally.

Dear, City of FoCO... pretty please make this a regular thing. Love, Me & the rest of the cool kids in the city

Okay, so I've always thought food trucks were just the sweetest thing around. Well lucky me, I now live in a city that has embraced them too! You know we love The Waffle Lab, & we also found some new goods at The Taste of Fort Collins this Summer... but little did I know there are actually TWENTY FIVE food trucks in our happy town! & for the first time ever, the city approved for them to all meet up in the same spot, sending my indecision into a frenzy & my happy heart to a whole new level of food joy. Chris & my Dad are both food nuts & will try ANYTHING, especially when it's served on wheels, and Taylor & Abel are just always up for a good time. We waited in lines, filled our bellies up over good conversation & topped the night off with a waffle for dessert. 

good food, better company. great night.

stuffed peppers!

my cousin posted a picture on instagram sometime last week & it made me drool.

peppers stuffed with ground turkey & quinoa.

yumm. i am not a huge cook, more of a baker, but i'm working on it. this seemed simple & delicious, and it was. 

what you're working with...

peppers

quinoa (i used roasted red pepper quinoa)

taco seasoning

jalapeños 

onion

cheese

she put tomatoes in hers too, but i forgot... oops.

asparagus (for the side)

what to do...

cut peppers, set aside

brown your meat, add taco seasoning, chopped jalapeños, onion & tomato

 cook quinoa

mix it all together in a bowl

fill your peppers

bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, top with cheese & melt

enjoy!

she's so pretty.

isn't she?! sheesh.
yep. little sister's having a baby. nuts. it seems like only yesterday that we were at my baby shower! time, man...
i am sooooo happy for her! recently, taylor and i had a blast planning & throwing her baby shower! food, games, party favors... we love to celebrate & we especially love celebrating people we love! mini foods & oversized balloons. bright colors & lots of polka dots.
here are a few (million) pretty scenes from the day! (menu & games at the end of this post!)

 

 

 

.on the menu.
veggie dips
peanut butter popcorn balls
fruit skewers
mini bLts
mini chicken salad sandwiches
soft pretzels with cheese & mustard
cake pops
mini donuts
sprinkled ice cream sandwiches

.games & activities.
don't say baby (or flip your sign over & wear an embarrassing baby statement)
baby i spy
wishes for baby
baby talk (word scramble)
things that pop (how many pieces in this jar?)

.favors.
mason jars filled with candy, yum!

please leave a comment for any wanted recipes!