Apple Sandwiches

I finally stopped stuffing my mouth with Christmas candy just long enough to post this healthy little snack. I believe I ran across this on Pinterest (p.s. what did we do before Pinterest). I don't remember the original source and I can't take credit for it but I wanted to share it with you guys. It's a great snack and I think the kiddos would like it as well.

Ingredients

- apples (any type)

- peanut butter 

- raisins

- honey

- cinnamon

Directions

Wash and core your apples. Cut them horizontally into thin slices. Spread one slice with peanut butter, sprinkle on a few raisins,  drizzle with honey, place another slice on top, sprinkle with cinnamon, and insert into mouth. That's it. Aren't they cute? Little apple sandwiches. 

Pesto Crusted Salmon

Okay so this picture isn't very good but this salmon is so so so good...and easy. Chad and I eat this almost once a week. During my first trimester I developed a love for pesto and Chad was right there with me. We would eat it straight out of the fridge on some pretzel chips. This recipe was created as I was trying to get my pesto fix one day.

Ingredients

- 2 salmon fillets

- Panko

- Pesto

Directions

Start by preheating your oven to 400. Mix 2 tablespoons of pesto with 1/4 cup of panko bread crumbs. The mixture should be thick enough to stay on top of the salmon fillets. Add more panko if needed. I normally use Buitoni pesto which is pretty thick. Place salmon fillets on a greased baking sheet and top with pesto mixture. Bake for 10-12 minutes then turn oven to low broil for 4-6 minutes to form a nice crust.

Zucchini with tomatoes and basil

I don't know about you guys but my side dishes are usually an afterthought when planning my menu for the week. I've been trying to make them a little more exciting than just steaming some veggies. This side dish was inspired by a dinner at Carrabbas with the hubby. It's very simple yet far from boring. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Ingredients
- 2-3 zucchini (washed and cut into bite size pieces)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (or you could use fresh)
- A handful of fresh chopped basil (you like my precise measurements?)
- 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
- Salt and Pepper
- Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil

Start by preheating a skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon minced garlic over medium heat (make sure  your garlic doesn't burn) Add the zucchini and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 more minutes and then toss in basil and as much cheese as your heart desires. I usually grate enough to lightly cover the top of the dish. Pretty easy huh?

Cowboy Cookies

Last Christmas, my friend Margaret gave me the cutest gift that quickly developed into an unhealthy addiction. She filled a mason jar with all the dry ingredients needed to make "Cowboy Cookies" with the baking directions attached. It was so adorable I almost didn't want to bake them...almost. These cookies quickly became a household favorite with myself and the hubby. Anytime Chad spots M&M's in the house he asks if I'm making "Cowboy Cookies." They are easy to make and turn out great every time. I especially love how you can use the different colored M&M's depending on the occasion. I have made them with blue and white (shown below) as a thank you to my co-workers for throwing me a baby shower. I currently have a batch with red and green in the oven as Christmas gifts to our neighbors. 

 Check out Bakerella for an example and the recipe.

Hello...again

 

Wow! I can't believe it has been over a year since my last blog post. Where does the time go??? I don't know what you guys were doing but I was cooking up something special in the oven. It took 9 long months full of heartburn, back pain, and swollen feet but it was well worth it. Plus I didn't mind eating the extra calories :)  I'm excited to start blogging again and sharing my recipes, stories of parenthood, and of course documenting the adventure of Atlas and Marley.