Diana's Protein Balls

So right about now I am thinking about this summer...walks at the rail trail in town...healthy teas from Fuel Good...driving around and doing "drive bys" and "Diana's Sophomore Year Play List" - a list I made based on her most played songs this past year- songs that she got excited about...songs that helped her through her heartbreak and songs that make us laugh...all popular over the last year or two like "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" by Taylor Swift- "We Can't Be Friends" by Ariana Grande- "I Remember Everything" by Zach Bryan- "A Bar Song" by Shaboozey...anyway I digress

 

Another favorite this summer has been Protein Balls.  They make an awesome breakfast or even snack- packed with protein and flavor, they are always a good idea! 

 

I thought I would share our recipe with you today so you can try them too! 

 

What You Will Need:

 

• 1 ½ cups peanut butter
• ½ cup honey
• 1 ⅓ cups old fashioned oats
• ½ cup vanilla protein powder of your choice
  
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips OR mini M and Ms OR Raisins (you choose your mix ins- whatever you are feelin')
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• How To Whip These Bad Boys Ups:
  
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• • Add the peanut butter, honey, oats, vanilla protein powder, salt, and mini dark chocolate chips/mini M and Ms/raisins to a mixing bowl and use a rubber spatula to mix until the batter is combined
     
  • Use a mini cookie scoop or a spoon to drop energy balls with a spoon onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. They should be around 1 inch in size.
     
  • Roll the energy balls with your hands to form the shape
     
  • Place the cookie sheet with the energy bites on it in the freezer/fridge for 1 hour, or until the balls are hardened 
  • Transfer energy balls to a ziploc bag or plastic container and store in the fridge for around a week, or the freezer for 2-3 months We found storing them in airtight containers in the freezer works best for us.  We separate them into threes for portion control! We love playing around with the mix ins- are faves are ones with chocolate chips and/or raisins :) Enjoy! 

    

    
    

    
    
    

    
    
     
    
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Italian Summer Dinner Party

First Things First....

 

 

 

and now...for our main event...

 

 

 

When I heard that Zach and Zoe were coming home for a visit, we agreed on a night for dinner and I decided to really dial things up.  If you have been following along for awhile then you know cooking for people is a way I show my love so I will often go overboard ;)

 

 

I thought there was no better time for an Italian Summer Dinner Party and I made some dishes that I want to remember and share here so I can refer back to these wonderful recipes.  I hope you will give them a shot as well!

 

But first....our VIPs :)

 

 

After the hugging attacks, we enjoyed some Market Basket Spinach Pie and Stuffed Grape Leaves while I got everyone a drink.  I didn't do anything fancy for drinks but it would be the perfect meal for an Aperol Spritz ;)  We stuck with water, seltzers, sodas and wine.

 

Here is what our Italian Summer Dinner Looked Like

 

Steak Pizzaiola

Find the Recipe HERE

This is a fairly simple recipe and just dials steak up a bit.  The sauce consists of tomatoes, olives, capers and onions and peppers- so colorful and delish.  I served the sauce on the size in case anyone didn't like it but it tastes even better when the steaks are sitting in this deliciousness

 

Caprese Salad

Kept this one pretty straight forward- the only tweak I made was to add some little golden tomatoes as well

You can find my Caprese recipes HERE  in this post

 

 

Next, I whipped up a Mediterranean Orzo.   The recipe calls for Shrimp in this yummy dish but I omitted the shrimp since Zoe doesn't eat fish.  Rob and I agreed the shrimp would be a nice addition or you could serve this with lamb kabobs OR even by itself- it truly could be a meal in itself and it is SO GOOD

Check out the Recipe HERE 

 

 

 and the finishing dish on our Italian Dinner was a Sauteed Zucchini and Corn and it was probably my favorite dish of this collection!

Check out the Recipe HERE

 

 

 and although not very Italian, I also whipped up a couple of desserts (even though I am really not a baker)

I made the Pioneer Woman's "Knock You Naked Brownies" which are essentially Chocolate Caramel Brownies.  Check them out HERE

 

 

 and Reeses Fluffernutter Bars

Find them HERE

 

 So yes...it was a delicious night BUT the highlight was hearing Zach's stories...we had some real good belly laughs and quality time...I cherish these times more than anything :)

 

 

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

 

Hi Friends!  It is time for another fun and easy recipe.  If you love peanut butter and jelly or just muffins OR using your homemade jam in different recipes, then this one is for YOU!

 

 I made these recently and they were a big hit here.  Hope you will try them out and let me know if you do.  Enjoy!

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk any kind
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cup flour1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup strawberry or grape jelly or jam
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• Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. 

 
 In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar, then mix in the eggs one a time. 

 

Lastly, mix in the milk, peanut butter, and vanilla. 
 

Stir in flours, baking powder, and salt. Mix till combined. 

 
Fill each liner ¾ the way complete and cook for 20-22 min, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool for 10  min.

 
Make a hole at the top of the muffins using a knife that goes almost to the bottom of the muffins, then pipe in jelly.

Notes

If you don't have a piping bag, you can cut off the tip of a plastic pad and use that as a piping bag    These were the perfect little breakfast treat for my fam :)

Homemade Strawberry Jam

 

Hi Friends!  I thought it was about time to share our recipe for Homemade Strawberry Jam.

When I took the girls strawberry picking a few weeks ago we chatted about trying to make jam so we made it happen!

I feel like picking berries is a quintessential New England Summer activity.  How about you?  Maybe it is just a summer activity here in the U.S?  Please weigh in from your area!  Would love to know if you pick berries or even any kind of fruit during the summer months.

Anyway, here we go.  Now keep in mind, as I read and researched, I learned that the best way to make jam is in small batches.  That is how it comes out tasting and looking the best.  I mean seriously, the color is gorgeous!

Here is what you will need


Ingredients

 
1 lb. fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, add the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. You will notice the strawberries start to feel mushy and the juice coming out.

 

 

Cook the strawberry mixture over medium low heat. Stir continuously and slowly bring the mixture to a boil. The mixture will get foamy. Continue to boil for about 15 minutes, or until the jam starts to thicken and its internal temperature reaches 220 F. A digital thermometer is very helpful to get the quick measurement. You will also notice the foam disappear at this point.


 
 Turn off the heat and keep stirring to cool it down a bit. Pour the jam into a mason jar and allow to cool down to room temperature. Seal the jar and store in the refrigerator






 Highly recommend!  Not only is the end product delicious but making it is so much fun :)

Carrot Fries

 

Ok friends!  You asked for it!  Carrot Fries are my new favorite side or snack and they are CLEAN.  I have to give the credit all to our air fryer.  It seriously makes things more delicious and in a healthy way!

 

 

So this is really a loosy goosey recipe.  That's typically how I cook and how I found the recipe on some message boards so stay with me!

 

 

Ingredients

 

Carrot sticks- pre cut in your grocery store

Avocado Oil Spray

Seasonings of Your Choice- I have used Everything But The Bagel Seasoning as well as Garlic Salt and Sesame Seeds.

 

 Instructions

 

Spray the basket in your air fryer

Lay the carrots down

Season them to your liking

Cook at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes (the longer you cook them the crispier they become)

Enjoy!

 

Seriously...that's it!  Let me know if you try them and how you like them!

Life Changing Baked Beans

 

 

 

 

 

So I originally got this recipe on Andrea's blog and decided to whip it up last summer for our Memorial Day Cookout AND it was a BIG HIT!  I tweaked it a little bit and though this screams summer, I have had requests to make it even now so thought I would share!

 

 

Here's What You'll Need...

- 8 slices bacon

- 2 medium onion, diced

-1 green bell pepper, diced

- 3 large cans (28 oz each) pork and beans

- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce

- 1/2 cup brown sugar  (I added a little extra)

- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

 

 

Here's What You'll Do...

Step 1) In a large skillet or dutch oven cook the bacon just enough to render off the fat.  Throw the diced onion and pepper into the bacon fat and cook for a few minutes until they're brown and tender.  

 

 

Step 2) Toss in the rest of the ingredients (beans, sugar, bbq sauce, mustard and vinegar) and stir to combine.  Heat through and simmer for a few minutes and then pour into a 9x13 and top with the bacon. 

 

 

Step 3) Bake at 325 degrees (uncovered) for two hours. 

 

The result?  Gooey goodness and the perfect side for grilled meats!