Chicken Burrito Bowl
Another great recipe for that leftover chicken! I absolutely love burrito bowls. Completely full of fresh ingredients, this recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal. Double up the recipe and it is great for meal prep as well. And the best part, you don’t have to pay extra for guacamole 😉 I have to admit,…
Chicken Enchiladas
I know it is Taco Tuesday but enchiladas sound delicious and that is what we are having! Plus, I had leftover chicken so this was perfect. Growing up, enchiladas was not in my family vocabulary. Enchiladas originated in Mexico and its been practiced all over the world. Having parents from Central America, I grew up…
Chicken, The “Ross” Way
As my husband and I were sitting on the couch one weekend, we felt the need to contact some friends to see if they wanted to go for a cruise. We took the doors and top off of our jeep and took our friends on a drive out to Beaver Lake. Just parked, had a…
Homemade Flour Tortillas
With my parents being from Central America, I grew up with tortillas being part of our daily meals. Mom always made fresh corn tortillas and they must have been made with some secret ingredient that I have yet to figure out because I still don’t believe I have mastered them! Of course, corn tortillas are…
Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken
My husband and I have this guilty pleasure of going to Panda Express and ordering way too much orange chicken and just overeating the crap out of it! Well, let me tell you, it is so much more yummy if you make it from home. This is definitely NOT a healthy recipe at all but…
Tomatillo Avocado Salsa
When your father-in-law gives you peppers from his garden, you find many ways to use them. Well, today was taco Tuesday which clearly means fresh salsa is a must. Made with jalapeños, tomatillos, avocado, cilantro and lime juice, this recipe is delicious! When it comes to chips and salsa, I rarely see anyone wanting a…
Cajun Jambalaya and the best Cornbread Muffins
I recently had happy hour with a friend and all we could talk about is needing to get away. Somewhere close enough to drive to and with good food. Immediately, we both thought of Louisiana! Beignets, crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and of course, Jambalaya! I rarely make one pot meals but when I do, I expect…
Easy Homemade Naan
I sincerely struggle when it comes to lunch items. I never eat leftovers (that’s all my husband) because I hate eating the same thing every day…. I tend to get bored easily. I love smoothies and sandwiches but then again, same thing different day. I was desperate to try something new in my household. Luckily,…
Crispy Chicken with Thai Coconut Sauce
I recently hosted a dinner with friends and was super excited about my menu…. until I found out one of my guests was lactose intolerant and I was so embarrassed! Thankfully, she only missed out on the appetizer but made me want to redeem myself very soon. Well, I am definitely going to make this…
Shrimp Risotto
Wine, garlic, and cheese… All items needed for a perfect night to myself. Currently, my husband is doing what I believe almost everyone in Northwest Arkansas is doing, cheering on our Razorbacks at the baseball game! I love a good ballpark hot dog but me time is also a necessity. With that said, I wanted…
Cobb Salad with Walnut Crusted Tenders and Honey Mustard Dressing
I seriously only want crispy, fried, chicken tenders and French fries right now. Thats all. Is that too much to ask? Well, I will not lie when I say that I was not missing any of that with this meal. I am never a salad person, so when I make one, it has to be…
Basil Pesto Pasta with Sautéed Zucchini
Happy Meatless Monday!! So, the husband and I decided to start intermittent fasting and when I say I am looking forward to dinner, I really REALLY mean it! This girl is hangry! (that was not a typo) Luckily, it is Meatless Monday which is my favorite day of the week! I feel like I always…
Italian Turkey Rigatoni topped with Whipped Ricotta
Spring is finally here and so is the rain! Yesterday we had random pours with a sprinkle of tornado warnings. So let’s be honest, cozy comfort food is still very much a thing in my house at the moment. Which is why this pasta bowl is so much happiness right now. Rigatoni tossed with a…
Chicken Meatballs with Lemon Butter Orzo and a Cucumber Salad
Today was a long but much needed day! I currently work from home, like many others do, but today I was able to get out and about and meet with customers…. only catch was, they were located almost 4 hours away! I have to admit, I have been spoiled at being home and able to…
National Margarita Day!
I am all about cooking and creating new recipes but when it comes to drinks, that is all the husband! I basically have an at home bartender at all times! Well, I think his Margaritas are the absolute best. So much, that when mom comes over she will literally call when she is 10 minutes…
Easy Turkey Chili
It is another snow day in Northwest Arkansas and that definitely calls for a big bowl of chili! I have to be honest, I never ate chili until I met my husband. It honestly looked and sounded absolutely gross and mom never made it growing up. Plus, when it came to chili, all I could…
Black Bean Burger with a Vegan Chipotle Sauce
HAPPY MEATLESS MONDAY! One of the main things I try to keep at a minimum is red meat. This is just personal preference but I have felt a million times better since doing so! I have to be honest though, I do love me a juicy burger and fries! Well, with this black bean burger,…
Teriyaki Salmon Bowl with Sautéed Leeks
Lately, the husband and I have been binge watching all sorts of cooking shows. With quarantine still happening, learning new kitchen tricks and recipe ideas has been our thing. Well, after watching an episode of Selena + Chef, leeks is all we have been wanting to cook! And tonight seemed like the perfect night to…
Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Aioli
Mashed potatoes. Loaded baked potatoes. Potato salad. French Fries! Baked, fried, or mashed, just give me all the potatoes. These sweet potato fries tossed with delicious butter garlic sauce and parmesan, then topped with goat cheese, and served with creamy chipotle aioli…. I DO NOT need to say anymore! Sooooo good! Ingredients Sweet Potato Fries:…
Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings
Eating healthy isn’t always the easiest for me as my love for pizza is never ending! And when it comes to game days, I want all of the easy comfort foods to be out on the table! Cheese dip, chips, Chex-mix, fried wings, you name it, I want all the yummy snacks!! Well, this years…
Hot Honey Pizza
Pizza is literally my favorite food and I can eat lots of it! This homemade pizza dough is the absolute easiest but the best part is the Garlic Herb Olive Oil pizza sauce and the final drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey. Inspired by my favorite restaurant in Bentonville, AR named Oven and Tap. They have…
Homemade Family Lasagna
Do you ever just want to eat a bowl of pure comfort while watching horrible “reality” tv and not have a care in the world… Well tonight was one of those days for me. Honestly, the only thing missing was a glass of wine but who knows, the night is still early 😉 This recipe…
Vegan Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls
These Vegan Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls are absolutely delicious and honestly simple to make. I am not someone that enjoys very much sweets but I love these! They are gooey, soft, and have just the perfect amount of sweetness to where it is not overpowering at all. Made with fresh raspberries and absolutely no dairy, these…
Instant-Pot Carnitas Tacos
Some people look forward to Friday and some, like me, look forward to Taco Tuesday! Today, my friends, is that day and I have a good one for you. Typically, I would leave work and meet my husband at a local Mexican restaurant for cheap margaritas, cheese dip, and yummy street tacos. Even during the…
Baked Pasta with Spinach, Caramelized Shallots, and Goat Cheese
I am just your average home cook who finds inspiration in all my friends and family when it comes to recipes. A couple of days ago, I noticed a friends post of her making a delicious pasta for her family. I reached out and asked what her secret was as it looked soooo creamy and…
Chicken Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Homemade Salsa Verde
I had a friend reach out to me last night asking if I had a good stuffed poblano pepper recipe. “I have tons” I said! Chile Rellenos (stuffed peppers) is a family classic! I LOVE IT when friends reach out. I have hundreds of recipes that I am dying to share with you all but…
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fresh Rosemary & Walnut Butter Sauce
You know you have reached your 30s when you get more excited about getting kitchen tools at Christmas than you do about anything else. This year I got a potato ricer and you would have thought I won the lottery. With that said, I could not tell if my mother in law was more excited…
Chipotle Vegetable Quesadilla with Cassava Tortillas & Avocado Cream
Why is it that every time you want to start eating healthy, you immediately crave all the bad things that you typically don’t eat to begin with! For me, that’s ice cream and cheese. Well, just because you are eating “healthy” doesn’t mean you can’t eat all the delicious comfort food that you really want,…
30 Minute Vegetable Stir-Fry
One of my New Years resolutions was to take more time to relax and just enjoy moments of doing nothing. Well, I may have overdone that these past few days. I spent the first few days of 2021 on the couch, binge watching Netflix, all of the Harry Potter films, and eating the most amazing…
Black Eyed Peas & Ham
A traditional dish for my family is Tamales. Wrapped in banana leaves and filled with lots of mole sauce, it is absolutely delicious! But when the husband asked for black eyed peas for New Years luck, I went blank! Also, that did not sound good at all! Let’s just say, I am always up for…
Crispy Duck Breast Tacos
Having parents from Central America, I was spoiled with fantastic Taco Tuesdays. Handmade tortillas, homemade salsa, and the best marinated Carne Asada ever! All of that is delicious but I am also about trying something different: Crispy Duck Breast Tacos! I always thought duck would be way too dry and chewy for my taste… I…
A Mistletoe Kiss (Cranberry French 75)
I am not someone who typically likes gin. Honestly, I never even tasted it until this year. How that came about was we originally had a trip booked for South Africa in November of 2020. After several years of planning and saving, my 2 week dream vacation was finally happening! I was told by several…
White Christmas (Coconut Gin)
We all love a snowy white Christmas but, let’s be honest, a warm beach Christmas does not sound bad either! This recipe is secretly a combination of both! Made with cinnamon-anise syrup, tropical coconut milk and garnished with toasted coconut, yes, this recipe is the perfect balance of a snowy day with the scent of…
Holiday Mule
I love Moscow Mules. So much so that I made sure we had a Moscow Mule bar at my wedding a couple years ago that included 3 different versions. The main recipe is simply vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Ginger Beer does not have alcohol in it so if you do not drink alcohol,…
Homemade Chex-Mix
Its official, most of my recipe inspirations come from what the husbands mood is… and he is constantly in a snacking mood! I can never keep snacks and sweets in my pantry for long as he will eat it all! It became much worse once the working from home started in 2020. That is why…
Judy’s Hot Cocoa
It is snowing in Northwest Arkansas today!! It is officially starting to feel like my favorite time of the year, Christmas! Comfort food, drinks and of course, Christmas movies! In my household, our Christmas actually begins Christmas Eve. The whole day consists of us wearing matching pajamas while we make homemade tamales, drink ponche, and…
Cranberry Brie Bites
During the holidays, I am always trying to think of an easy entertaining appetizer that can impress. This is honestly the perfect appetizer for just that. Best part, it can be made ahead of time to easily pop in the oven prior to guests arriving. Drizzle with a little of honey and serve with delicious…
Sweet Fried Plantains (Platanos Fritos)
Plantains are very popular around the world but they are especially popular in El Salvador. My dad was from El Salvador. He took me to visit once when I was around 3. I do not remember much of that trip but according to dad, I was loving life! The funniest story he ever told me…
Moms’ Black Beans and How to Freeze
Growing up, beans were included in all 3 daily meals. Yes, even breakfast! Platanos Fritos con Crema, so good! Check out that recipe here! My moms black beans are the absolute best. So you would think I would know how to cook beans like a pro right?!… Well, nope. I’ll be honest, canned beans was…
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
I present you Santa’s new favorite cookie… Brown Butter, EXTRA chocolate, a sprinkle of salt, and for a little extra spice, a dash of bourbon. Honestly, this is the perfect Christmas cookie. And for those that know me well, I am NOT a sweets person and cookies have not always been my specialty but these…
Walnut Crusted Chicken Tenders
In our household, chicken is always in our fridge as an easy ingredient to whip up when needed. This whole recipe came about when I wanted cauliflower “wings” but the husband was just not having it. When it comes to meatless Monday, the husband definitely turns into a child being told to eat their broccoli…
Creamy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
I have to be honest, I am not a fan of Mac and Cheese… I know! What?! But once again, Mac and Cheese is one of the husbands absolute favorite. Anywhere we go out to eat at, if there is Mac and Cheese as a side option, that is what he gets. So I had…
Mother-In-Law Thanksgiving Dressing
Thanksgiving is very much an American holiday that I am VERY thankful my parents adapted to way long before my brother and I were born. But of course, any excuse to be in a kitchen cooking as a family for us! Im not sure what my favorite dish of the night is. I absolutely love…
Baked Sweet & Spicy Wings
The perfect game day wings! I don’t mind getting messy with these. The flavor is just the perfect combination of sweet and spicy and no frying! I remember one year we had a wing competition with friends. I believe I made sticky sesame wings. All of us went all out that year. It was honestly…
Easy Street Corn Dip
“EEELLLOOTTEES!” I can hear the Elotero now (street corn vendor). Growing up in California, the Mexican street corn vendor was the neighborhoods hero! Topping choices included, mayo, crema, cotija cheese, salt, chile powder and lime. My choice: chile powder, EXTRA mayo and lots of Cotija. Now, living in Northwest Arkansas, street vendors aren’t necessarily a thing…
Chipotle BBQ Nachos
Anyone else love a good game day snack? This is a really good one that I will for sure be serving as we cheer on our Hogs here in Northwest Arkansas. All the delicious toppings and that yummy queso sauce, so good and a definite must! You can also make your chicken ahead of time…
Garlic Herb Baked Brie
Wine and Cheese is actually my husbands thing. As for me, you say wine and I’m sold. So when the husband asks for a charcuterie board, I’m in! Typically, I serve brie with a drizzle of honey and call it a day. But its currently Fall so I really wanted something warm and different. That…
A Ramen Dish
If you are here simply for my version of a classic Ramen broth recipe, please scroll down to the bottom. If you are interested in a little more, please continue reading. I absolutely love this one! Now, I say this is my version because Ramen is not a traditional dish I was raised cooking. You…
Kitchen Tools
I believe I have been asked 100+ times if I really use that tool. I am very thankful I have plenty of cabinet space in my kitchen because I have almost all kitchen tools you can think of. When it comes to Birthdays and Christmas, I want nothing but kitchen items! With that said, there…
My Pantry
Now, you do not have to copy my pantry to follow any of my recipes exactly but, having these essentials on hand will guarantee successful meals at any moment with limited time spent at your local grocery store! Plus, its always fun when you crave something and have almost all ingredients on hand! As I…
Al Fresco NWA 