Spirited and Then Some

MAPLE!!! BACON!!!! Sweet potatoes??? Oh yes, indeed. Move over, marshmallows. We will eat our sweet potatoes with maple syrup, ALL the spices, and bacon. We'll also add a little bacon fat for ridiculously good measure (just like we did with Texas-Stye Maple Bacon Muffins!). These Maple Bacon Sweet Potatoes are ready just in time for fall and Thanksgiving. They’re here for us at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and basically all the snack times in between. I looked up what a sweet potato actually ... continue reading...

Spiriteds, I was on my way to making a delicious roasted vegetable recipe for you when Fate intervened and said, “Oh, HAIL NO, you will not go down the roasted vegetable path, dear one. Not today.” Instead Fate suggested I steam this delicious concoction of herbs, vegetables, and olive oil for what became a healthy, mouthwatering Easy Paleo Quick-Steamed Vegetables recipe. And when Fate speaks, thou shalt listen because she has no time for our tomfoolery, acting like we know what we’re doing in ... continue reading...

Spiriteds, can we have a frank conversation about vegetables? I, for one, have always preferred mine in the form of cheese, sausages, chips, or salsa. And if I could still have my vegetables in those forms, all the while getting the same nutrients, then, Spiriteds, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Alas, I discovered actual, honest-to-God vegetables taste rather delicious. They also boost my energy. But they have to be in the right recipe with tasty ingredients. I’m a fair weather vegetable lover at ... continue reading...

Okay, I have a confession, Spiriteds. I don’t love pie, nor do I love traditional apple crisp. I mean, I’ll eat the apple crisp if it’s there, and I’ll munch on the pie crust, if it’s available. But mostly I just love chips and dip and cheese and crackers and all the savory snacks I can get my hands on. Until now. For some reason, this Paleo Cinnamon Apple Crisp absolutely hits the spot, and I LOVE EVERY SINGLE BITE of it. Like Chocolate-Frosted Paleo Pumpkin Brownies, this one is an ... continue reading...

Spiriteds, this paleo fall dessert recipe is so ridiculous I can’t even handle it. I mean, name me ONE person who could handle pumpkin brownies that are smothered in a creamy chocolate frosting, and which also happen to be paleo. Seriously, tell me. Because these Chocolate-Frosted Paleo Pumpkin Brownies are so good, I didn’t even sink my teeth into the last batch. Because K-Hubs. That’s right. K-Hubs. He ATE THE WHOLE batch when I wasn’t looking. He did clarify he ate the brownies in two ... continue reading...

Is it still summer, Spiriteds, or is it finally fall? If you’re stuck somewhere in “summerfall,” then have no fear. Cinnamon Vanilla Orange Juice bridges the gap between seasons (as does this succulent Homemade Concord Grape Juice recipe). Fresh clementines harken back to the citrus flavors of summer while cinnamon and vanilla tease the tastebuds with seasons in store. I’m a fan of orange juice, but I must say there is something about a hint of cinnamon and vanilla to take a traditional ... continue reading...

Spiriteds, what is this season even? One minute it’s 90 degrees and sunny, and the next minute it’s 62 degrees and cloudy. Twinkle and I can't even deal. “I not wearing pants now! I only just going to wear my legs!” This is what preschool honesty looks like. And basically she’s only saying what I also happen to be thinking. I love me some summer, and I love me some fall. But, wow, this “summerfall” season is hard to predict! What should I even be wearing? Pants or legs? What should I drink? ... continue reading...

Grape juice that tastes like grape candy? Don't mind if I do. K-Hubs and the girls picked bushels of Concord grapes from our garden a few weeks ago, and we’ve been munching on them ever since. I decided then that we needed a succulent morning beverage to jumpstart our school year. Now we have Homemade Concord Grape Juice, and it is TEW much!! TEW much, I tell you. It's an ALL CAPS and made-up words kind of recipe. Since when does grape juice get to taste like it came out of the ... continue reading...

  Happy National Blueberry Popsicle Day, Spiriteds! Although September often marks the beginning of fall, it’s still technically summer, and I say we eat all the popsicles we can. Also, I say we eat popsicles whenever we want, seasons be damned. We’re calling this time of year “summerfall” because I have a ridiculous habit of creating portmanteaux. Summerfall sounds like a high brow last name, yet I like it better than “fallsum” or “Brangelina.” Neither caught on for me. To-MAY-to/To-MAH-to. ... continue reading...

Spiriteds, I have been posting back-to-school recipes on social media, and then I thought, Why in the actual what am I not posting them here on the blog? We need a round-up of go-to, low maintenance, easy-to-store, delightful-to-enjoy recipes that won’t make the family crazy and won’t break the bank. And here they are. These 10 Easy Back-to-School recipes cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Because in our house, food is a hobby, and if it were socially acceptable to add ... continue reading...