Spanish Rice

In this house we actually call this Orange rice because as you can see it is bright orange, but I will call is Spanish rice as this is what I make to go along with all of our Mexican themed meals. Is this true Spanish rice? No idea...but does it taste good...YES! So call it what you may, just make it.
I feel like when I make any kind of Mexican dish I need to have rice and beans with it. I don't know if that's just because it's been ingrained in me because every Mexican restaurant serves rice and beans with all of it's meals or because it's traditional to do so. Either way, I like the combination of it all together, so I always do it.
This recipe is super simple and doesn't require any prep-work other then putting everything in the pot and letting it do it's thing.
The two seasonings I use in this recipe I have been asked quite a few times what they are and where to buy them.
First, the Sazon Goya seasoning. I like to use either this one or this one. Either work just fine and taste pretty similar. As you can see one has chicken on it and one has fish on it. So I use one or the other depending on what I am serving it with. You can buy these through Amazon, or I am always able to find them at local Mexican markets.
The second seasoning is Knorr Tomato Bouillon. I use this in quite a few of my Mexican themed dishes. This can be purchased through Amazon or I often am able to find it in most grocery stores down the Mexican food isle next to the chicken bouillon.

Breakfast Cheesecake

This is such a busy time of year! The last thing I want to be worrying about in the morning is what I am going to feed people. This has become a traditional Christmas breakfast/brunch for us, because it can be made the night before or days in advance and still taste amazing, which makes it perfect for a busy season. It is on the sweet side, so I will usually have some hashbrowns and bacon to go along with it, but those aren't to hard to prepare.
As much as I love this recipe at Christmas time, this recipe holds a little bit of special meaning to me as well because it was the first "meal" that one of my friends brought to me when I had my first child. She brought it with a huge bowl of mixed fruit and it was the most unique and helpful meal I received. Dinner is great, but people often forget about breakfast. So the reason it holds special meaning is because I was able to eat it for several breakfasts, and even some midnight snacks while I was home with my first newly born child and in survival mode for the first time ever. Ever since then, I have made this for others who have recently had a baby.
But you don't need a special occasion to have this. 😀 This also makes for a great dessert!

Homemade Eggnog

How is it Christmas already?! Where has the time gone? I hope everybody has a Merry Christmas!
In my home, it just isn't Christmas until I have had a nice cold glass of Eggnog! This recipe is one that I have been making for years and is a family tradition from my childhood. There are two things I remember about Christmas as a kid, opening presents and making Eggnog with my mom.
If you are thinking, but store bought is so much easier and tastes good...true it is easier, but not by much AND homemade is SOOOOOO much better! Seriously. If you have never made it, you HAVE to try it.
As stated in the title, this version does not have any alcohol in it, sorry, but it does have some rum flavoring in it so you still get the right flavors going on in it.

Banana Bread

You know those recipes that you have had forever? This is one of mine. I have had this recipe since before I got married and it shows. The printed version of this recipe is covered in splatters and all sorts of goop, which means it's well loved. As Christmas draws near I find myself in the baking mood. Every Christmas I bounce between a few different ideas for friend and neighbor gifts and this banana bread is one of those that I use. This recipe is one that I have been making for years and years and absolutely love it. Now, I don't only make this at Christmas time, I make it anytime I have bananas that need to be used up.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are my families absolute favorite cookies ever. Maybe it's because they are one of the only cookies that I can actually make without massacring.
Usually I stick to making sugar cookies ONLY for Valentines day (big family tradition) but this year for our friend and neighbor gifts we decided to make these sugar cookies. This sugar cookie recipe has been in my family for a long time! Everybody in my family uses this recipe, especially to make our giant valentines day hearts, so in my humble opinion, it is the best recipe out there. 
Now there is a big debate about whether sugar cookies should be crisp or soft. I personally am a soft sugar cookie lover so I make mine thicker and cook for less time. So you will have to make them and let me know whether you are a crisp or soft lover!
*Also, I have a frosting recipe included that I always use as well*

Egg Roll in a Bowl

Okay, since the last recipe shared was about the most unhealthy recipe in the world, I decided I should remind you all that generally I do love cooking healthier 😂
This recipe is SO CLOSE to being anti-inflammatory that I decided to label it as such anyway, even though the sauce drizzled on top is not. The rest of it is, so if you follow the anti-inflammatory diet, just don't add the spicy mayo sauce on the top, but I HIGHLY suggest adding it when you can because it is delicious.
I love the flavors that are in typical egg rolls, but sometimes I don't want the added carbs and fat from deep frying them. This recipe is so full of flavor that you don't even miss the added grease.

Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries

Okay this recipe is by no means healthy AT ALL BUT man is it delicious and easy and brings back so many memories.
This is my Ode to The Hat. This is one place that I REALLY REALLY REALLY miss about
living in California. This is probably one of the most unhealthy things you can possibly eat, but it is absolutely one of the best things you will ever eat. They are famous for their ginormous Pastrami sandwiches, which are also amazingly fantastic and consist of pastrami, pickles, and mustard. This is what most people order. After going there with a "Hat Pro" we ordered the (not on the menu) Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries. Oh my goodness. Since I know most of you aren't from California and can't visit The Hat, I have created the same recipe that I use at home. Granted it isn't exactly like The Hat, because their pastrami is out of this world (and I don't even like pastrami) but its a great homemade alternative.

BBQ Pulled Pork w/ Garlic Aioli

MMMMMM. Pretty much anything that has a garlic aioli is going to be a favorite of mine. There is just something about it that takes a basic recipe such as this, and brings it to the next amazing level of deliciousness. This recipe is super easy! You literally throw a few ingredients in the slow cooker, whisk up the garlic aioli, and then wait until dinner time. You can't get much easier then this. Plus, it's BBQ...who doesn't like BBQ.
I like making slow cooker meals like this on days where I know I am not going to have a lot of time at night to prepare a meal. I feel like there are some nights where we are just running from one thing to the next. It's nights like those where I still want to have a home cooked meal but I run out of energy and time to make one. Thus the slow cooker comes into play.

Anti-Inflammatory Lettuce Wraps

I love lettuce wraps. They make me feel like I am doing something good for my body, and everybody else in my family loves them as well. Double win for me. I know I have another lettuce wraps recipe on the blog already, but this one is one that we have been making a lot lately because it is full of ingredients that are anti-inflammatory. I honestly can't decide which recipe I like better. I guess you can decide if you make both of them 😁
One thing I love about this recipe is that yes it has meat in it, but it's also loaded with minced up mushrooms, which helps stretch the meat without you even realizing it's mushrooms. My daughter HATES and I mean HATES mushrooms. If we get a supreme pizza with mushrooms on it, even if we pick them off, she won't eat it because the sauce and bread take on the flavor of the once placed mushroom. True story. BUT...she loves this recipe. Gobbles it up every stinking time! Of course, I don't tell her there are mushrooms in it until after she has already consumed a massive plate full and every time she gets mad at me and tells me she hates mushrooms, and yet I continue making it, and she continues to enjoy it. 😏😏

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

Is everybody else's bodies just exhausted from the massive amounts of over eating from the last couple of weeks?! Mine is. From having 3 birthdays, Thanksgiving, and a baptism, my body has been feeling a bit like it needs a break from the carbs and sugar. Thus the need to blog about a few more of my favorite Anti-Inflammatory recipes. Can you have to many? I don't think so.
This recipe here has been one that I have made over and over again.
Usually I'm not a huge cauliflower fan but roasting it does amazing things to it and honestly the turmeric seasoning and other spices make this recipe a keeper in my book.
I'm always looking for new ways to cook vegetables. Side dishes in my house get pretty boring and I feel like I get in this cycle of "okay do I roast it, steam it, or just boil it to tar tonight?"
I'm so glad that I have a side dish now that has amazing flavors, is healthy, and looks beautiful in color!