Spirited and Then Some

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...

What do Lemon Garlic Broccoli Pasta and a John Mellencamp concert have in common? Nothing except we made the former before attending the latter. Both were two of the best decisions we made that day. Although we don’t eat many grains in our house, when we do, we stay completely gluten-free (Barilla is a fave brand). This recipe brought the flavor, the nutrients, and a filling consistency that even the girls loved. Both girls, I might add. As for the John Mellencamp concert, what can I say? He and ... continue reading...

I have questions for you, Spiriteds. One, do you have a slow cooker? Two, do you have access to water? Three, do you have frozen chicken breasts? Lastly, do you have access to pepper and some form of a leafy green? If you answered yes to at least the first three questions, you have the leg work done for Slow-Cooker Peppered Chicken Salad. Essentially, this recipe is my new favorite way to prepare chicken for any meal. Seriously, this is a throw-it-all-together kind of recipe. No precious ... continue reading...

Can color single-handedly make the recipe? Probably not. But when I fell into this Dairy-Free Raspberry Almond Smoothie, sure the flavor was out-of-this-world divine, but it was the color that caught my eye time and time again. Vibrant pink shades with hints of raspberry seed. The girls and I have been loving on it this summer, and it wasn’t until recently that I even decided to put it on the blog. In fact, each time I made it, I just threw the ingredients into the blender and turned it up to ... continue reading...

Spiriteds, we hit a milestone in our house last week. Toodle had her first overnight camp out. She was all over it. I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. Why? Probably because, much like a flash of lightening, it struck me just how quickly she’s growing. I was so overcome with “the feelings” I told K-Hubs he would have to finish packing her camping gear. It was reminiscent of that time I dropped Twinkle off on her first day of preschool and unexpectedly cried so much I pulled away and ... continue reading...

By George, I think I’ve got it, Spiriteds! The Perfect Hard-Boiled Egg Recipe. Really! No more dimpled, over-dried, or undercooked eggs. And no more peeling away at our collective souls as we chip itty bitty pieces of shell from what is supposed to be our dinner. Nope, Spiriteds, achieving the perfect hard-boiled egg is not difficult to do, and once you’ve done it, you can add these perfect specimens to any number of recipes (including that one where you pour a little salt on the egg and eat ... continue reading...

  Yesterday was National Daiquiri Day, and we definitely had a recipe to celebrate ~ Raspberry Lime Daiquiri Popsicles. But what if you don’t drink alcohol? Or you simply want something else? Maybe you’re the designated driver at the party. What then? This, Spiriteds, this thirst-quenching drink. Pineapple Fresca Mocktail is where the party’s at. It’s refreshing, citrus-y, and completely alcohol-free. I’d love to say I invented it myself. But, alas, that would be a lie. In fact, a dear ... continue reading...

Happy National Daiquiri Day, Spiriteds! In a timely twist of fate, I have just the recipe for you. A few weeks ago on Facebook I ruminated on the idea of turning our Raspberry Lime Daiquiri recipe into popsicles for adults. Why should the kids have all the fun? Popsicles are for everyone, or, at least, they should be. Since then, I’ve been tinkering in the kitchen and now we have Raspberry Lime Daiquiri Popsicles! A combination of raspberries, red grapes, fresh lime juice, and a splash of rum ... continue reading...