My first bbq sauce

So I've been thinking about when it was that I first began to enjoy cooking... I was 5 years old and while my mom was making dinner, she had the three of us kids sitting at the counter top with plates of ketchup in front of each one of us. Also spread out was every seasoning, spice and condiment in our fridge! So we each got to mix whatever we wanted into our ketchup and voila! Bbq sauce!! I have to admit, my brother Jason made the best one.  Which is funny because as adults, he is actually better at making sauces and marinades than I am!! (Hahaha) I told him this story at Christmas (he didn't really remember but that's ok, I don't expect everyone to live in a constant state of food dreaming the way I do), To which he said "no kidding, I DO make badass dressings!" Well brother, you can thank our mom for starting us out so early :) since this point in time I have attempted to make bbq sauce completely from scratch... It was NOT good at all!! Lol there's just so much flavor in ketchup already, I believe it's definitely the easiest and best way to go! You can still make it your own with all the other goodies, but I highly recommend starting with this tangy sweet classic as your base :) here are some of my favorite additions for a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce:

Brown sugar

Worcestershire sauce

Paprika

Cayenne

Onion powder 

Honey

Dijon mustard

Salt

Pepper

Apple cider vinegar

(This might be a little thick for your liking, so combine all of these ingredients in a small sauce pan on medium heat with a splash of water, simmer for about 10 minutes, let cool to room temp and serve as is or use as a marinade!) on a side note, these are the exact same ingredients I add to my baked beans for a delicious and rich side dish perfect for any potluck, picnic or barbecue! (Oh... But don't forget to add BACON!!)

Obviously I've been slacking...

Well... Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is in two days!!  My wonderful husband did a whole photo shoot of every dish I made on Thanksgiving for me to post with their recipes and I feel awful  I haven't done it yet!!  It's hard when your infant only takes 15 minute naps... and by the time she goes to bed, I still have dinner, dishes, laundry, an 8 year old, a husband... it's never ending!!  So I promise to get better at this, I have no problem posting to instagram, so I just need to carve out a couple extra minutes for a blog!  New Year's resolution.  Done.

Happy thanksgiving!!

I am SO excited for tomorrow, I dream about this day all year!! I have been catering thanksgiving meals recently and my kitchen smells like heaven, so being able to actually enjoy the wonderful foods that are creating these magnificent aromas is kind of like Christmas for me :) I'm going all out too, the whole shebang, even if it is just for my little 'ol family! Because I'll eat leftovers for dayyyyyyyys. I perfected my menu at an event a couple of weeks ago and my mouth has been watering ever since... In case you hadn't noticed, food is my LIFE! Obviously after my husband and children, duh!! Food keeps us alive, and there are so many many ways to enjoy it and benefit from it. So Friday I'll post some recipes and pics, because tomorrow is my day, and I'm going to fully enjoy it! I hope you enjoy yours as well and have a safe and happy holiday :)

Holiday spiced banana pudding

Banana pudding is a southern classic and I promised my son I would make a batch this weekend! We were browsing the store for vanilla wafers when he grabbed a bag of snaps and said "let's use these instead!" I love pumpkin so why not? It's always fun to change things up a bit😊

4 cups whole milk

2 packages instant vanilla pudding

Large container whipped cream

Pumpkin or ginger snaps

4 bananas sliced

1tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

Combine milk, pudding mix, cinnamon and nutmeg. Fold in half of the whipped cream and set aside. In serving bowl or 9x13 dish, layer cookies, bananas and pudding. Top with remaining whipped cream, garnish with sprinkle of spices and a few snaps. Let chill in fridge for two hours before serving. Enjoy!

Too many food recalls

It's absolutely nauseating how many food recalls there have been in the last month... Over 50!! Chipotle just shut down 40 something stores in the northwest... Yikes! You just can't trust anyone these days. Salmonella, e. Coli, it's everywhere! Your only safe bet is organic and natural foods. I know they can be a little pricey at times, but really, they are getting better and totally worth the health of yourself and your family, not to mention the relief of knowing you aren't poisoning yourselves with preservatives and gmo's... But don't get me started on that subject! That's a whole 'nother episode folks! Back to organics. My personal favorites are from everything at sprouts and target's simply balanced. Totally affordable and tasty :) what are your favorite organic products? Let me know if I'm missing out on a must have ;)

Coming soon!!!

Embarking on my culinary affair in January 2016... I cannot wait!!