mucklowdaddy

Have you heard about the F A M O U S K E T O pink drink at Starbucks? Have you had one and thought to yourself "oh my lanta, where have you been my whole life?" Yeah, that happened to me too. It was love at first sip, I tell ya.  (*disclaimer: this is NOT the "pink drink" on the Starbucks menu. This drink has been dubbed the "keto pink drink" on Instagram. It's NOT on the menu so if you go into Starbuck's and order a "keto pink drink" they'll have no clue what you're talking about. Baristas- please take no offense! We know you get some whackadoodle orders occasionally!) Then reality sat in. I paid over $4 for a glass of iced tea. What?! It didn't taste so great after that. If you haven't figured it out by now, I like to save money! I love coffee shops for the ambiance but I cringe when I see the costs and know what it really costs to make those drinks. Some (my mother) say I'm too practical but I'd rather spend ...

Sugar and spice and everything nice…that’s what this Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers recipe is made of! An easy side dish, perfect for fall. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. When I was a new mom and wife, sweet potatoes were cooked in my kitchen only one time per year: Thanksgiving. And, it was almost always canned sweet potatoes (or yams). Let’s just say that I was oddly intimated by fresh sweet potatoes. When I made sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving, it was always a “classic” sweet potato casserole, topped with marshmallows. My husband and I would enjoy it. But the kids? It wasn’t their thing. There was always a ton of leftovers, and I figured that my kids just didn’t like sweet potatoes. But, did that stop me? Nope. I continued to make them most years, citing that it was a tradition. But, over the last several years, I learned that my kids actually DO like sweet potatoes. They just didn’t like MY sweet p...

Roasted asparagus, fresh cherry tomatoes, garlicky couscous, and feta cheese with a simple vinaigrette. A great Spring side dish! It’s been pretty busy the last couple of weeks around my place and it’s finally time to share what we’ve been up to (and sorry mom, no more babies just yet ?) …We’re MOVING! It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally feeling real as most of our current home is in boxes and they are putting the finishing touches on the home we’ll be moving in to. We aren’t moving super far from where we are now, but we will be a whole lot closer to the husband’s work. We’re really going to miss where we are now, but also very ready for his hour (somedays hour +) work commute to be over! The moving date is all set up for this month and hopefully after we’re all settled in I can get you all recipes a little more frequently! Seriously, though, how did I pack everything I owned into the backseat of my car during college apartment moves and now it takes weeks to pack everythin...

Low Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu is an easy low carb dinner recipe made with cauliflower, ham, chicken, covered in a creamy dijon sauce. Note: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Thank you! Alright guys, after that minor detour thanks to those tasty Cheeseburger Tots I’ve been back on track and eating low carb every day. I love eating low carb because I still get to eat rich, hearty food like this Low Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu all I have to do is find a few low carb substitutions. Chicken cordon bleu is usually lightly breaded and the creamy sauce is thickened with flour. When I turned it into a casserole I knew I would need to figure out a way to thicken the sauce enough to coat all of the ingredients and help them stick together. Enter Xanthan gum. It is a low carb alternative to flour for thickening sauces and thanks to all of the diets out there that don’t allow grains you can find it in most grocery s...

I told Jorge I wanted to make some raspberry & blueberry muffins with cream cheese frosting. He didn’t even look up from his phone and replied…so you want to make cupcakes but call them muffins so you can eat them for breakfast? Why yes, that is exactly what I want to do…it’s almost like he knows me or something. I’m so glad I made these Razzleberry Cupcakes — oops, I mean muffins — because they actually did make a delicious breakfast. I have been buying copious amounts of fruit for the girls lately and sometimes it is going bad before we get around to eating it all. So when I had a couple pints of fresh berries about to go bad, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. I whipped up a batch of these Razzleberry Cupcakes while the girls were napping. Boy were they excited when I showed them what was for snack! I wish I had grabbed a picture of them inhaling their cupcakes. I have to say, Jorge doesn’t always lose his mind over all my desserts. Sometimes he does, but most of the ...

This is not only the perfect solution for healthy weeknight dinners (and I like to pack extras to take to the office for lunch)it has also been quite popular for Sunday football as well! This is another VERY popular recipe from the archives here on the blog, so I wanted to make a video of it to jog your memory on what an awesome recipe it is, and how easy it is to pull together! The spice, the lime and the garlic make the chicken and beans so incredibly flavorful. I mean, it is really so good that I could eat a gallon of this stuff! I know you are going to love it too, and it will be just the thing as we head into hibernation weather! Recipe: Spicy Lime Jalapeno Chicken Soup Ingredients 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 1-2 jalapeno’s thinly sliced (depending how spicy you like it!) 1 whole raw chicken 2 cans white beans, rinsed and drained 8 cups chicken broth 1 lime kosher salt 1 fresh jalapeno, thinly sliced freshly cho...

While perhaps many of you already know about this Oriental Coleslaw, I decided to post the recipe here for the benefit of many who like me, previously, never knew that there was a salad like this. Nowadays, whenever I have an Asian themed dinner at home and especially when I am pressed for time – this is my go to salad. Easy to prep – how about 10 minutes or less tops – and of course, it’s reliably delicious. I’ve had many happy reviews about this and also requests for the recipe. So go, make this and enjoy! From the time I got to taste this delicious salad many years ago during one of our church potluck dinners, I was hooked. I must admit the first time I saw this salad, I thought it looked weird. Uncooked ramen noodles on top? Really? I’ve tasted so many ramen noodles in my lifetime. After all it’s very popular in Asia, including the Philippines but I have never ever, while I lived there, eaten uncooked ramen noodles. I didn’t even realize that was possible. I have always pictured Ra...

Instant gratification is something I often have no power against. Too often I feel a little too much like Veruca Salt: “I want it and I want it NOW!” The lines between instant gratification and life are blurring – it’s almost too easy to just get what we want immediately. Take TV, for example. We no longer have to wait in anticipation for our favorite shows; we just binge watch them on Netflix one after the other. The only waiting that occurs is because my husband makes me go to bed after watching 3 episodes of Friday Night Lights and I have to wait until the next night to continue my binging. We don’t even have to watch commercials anymore, now that every room has a DVR. I find it hardest to resist my impulses when I’m shopping. I’ll see a shirt or a bag or some shoes that I love and I just want them. Why shouldn’t I buy them? I work hard. They’re cute. They’re on sale! This actually happened last week – and while the shoes were at a discount store, they sure as heck weren’t on sale. ...

Brown Sugar Pecan Apple Dip is creamy with a sweet brown sugar flavor and crunchy pecans! It makes wonderful party food and is also great in sack lunches! With just three ingredients, this dip is ready in 5 minutes! When Fall rolls around I’m the first one cheering for all the wonderful and extravagant cooking! I’m very excited about football (because of the food), fall parties and of course my beloved Thanksgiving! As much as I love the seven layer bean dips and meatballs and cheese platters, I always think a great party has some variety! After all, something different is always fun! This apple dip is always a home run for me! The kids love the dip because it is a bit sweet. The adults usually enjoy something a bit lighter to accompany all the heavy fare. And of course it isapple season! You have to enjoy these wonderful, juicy fruits in all their glory at regular intervals during the fall. For those of you who will pack approximately 180 school lunches this year, I highly recommend ...

POTATO SOUP This easy Potato Soup recipe is truly the best!! It’s quick and easy to make on the stovetop, it’s nice and creamy (without using heavy cream), and it’s always so cozy and comforting and delicious. THE BEST POTATO SOUP! TOTAL TIME: 30 MINS  PREP TIME: 10  COOK TIME: 20 MINS INGREDIENTS: 5 slices bacon, diced 3 tablespoons (reserved) bacon grease or butter 1 cup diced white or yellow onion 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock 2 cups milk, warmed 1.5 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, diced 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream 1 teaspoon sea salt, or more to taste 1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper optional toppings: thinly-sliced green onions or chives, extra shredded cheese, extra bacon, sour cream DIRECTIONS: Heat a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add diced bacon and cook until crispy, stirring occasionally. Transfer the bacon to a separate plate, using...

ONE-POT BEEF STROGANOFF SOUP Classic beef stroganoff is transformed into a hearty, yet light soup. And no need to cook the noodles first, because it’s all made in one pot. Easy weeknight dinner! One-Pot Beef Stroganoff Soup Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 15 mins Total Time 35 mins Course: Soup Cuisine: American Keyword: beef stroganoff, soup Servings: 6 Ingredients 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 pound beef sirloin , trimmed of fat, thinly sliced into bite-sized strips salt and pepper 8 ounces sliced crimini mushrooms 1 medium sweet onion , diced 3 cloves garlic , minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 5 cups low-sodium chicken or beef stock 1 1/2 cups dried egg noodles 1/2 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour chopped fresh parsley Directions In a large pot or dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the meat with some salt and pepper to taste; add to the pot and cook until browned. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meat to a bowl; keep ...

INSTANT POT FAUX-TISSERIE CHICKEN Do you ever find yourself at the grocery store buying a week’s worth of food, then reach for a rotisserie chicken because you no long have the energy to go home and cook what you just purchased? I admit it, I am guilty. But have you ever looked at the ingredients label on that chicken? Yikes! My Instant Pot Faux-tisserie Chicken is pure goodness….. It is not injected with brown sugar or any crazy sounding ingredients. There is no caramel coloring to be found, just chicken, olive oil, fresh onions, garlic, and seasonings. That’s it!! Instant Pot Faux-tisserie Chicken Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 33 mins Total Time 38 mins Weeknight meals just got easier with this delicious Instant Pot Faux-tisserie Chicken that is ready in no time and you control the seasonings! Course: Main Course Cuisine: American Servings: servings Calories: 443 kcal Author: Lisa Johnson Ingredients 3 pound whole chicken 2 Tablespoons olive oil {divided} sea salt & black pepper, t...

INSTANT POT CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP This Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is THE BEST chicken noodle soup I have ever had and it’s one of the easiest I have ever made. Tender chunks of chicken in a rich homemade chicken broth with big hearty veggies. Homemade Instant Pot chicken noodle soup from scratch in less than an hour. Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 20 mins Total Time 50 mins Ingredients 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1 small onion diced 3 cloves of garlic minced 5 carrots peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces 2 celery sticks sliced into 1/2 inch pieces 1 whole 5 pound chicken giblets removed and discarded 2 tablespoon of soy sauce 8 cups of water Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 4 ounces of extra wide egg noodles 1/4 cup of minced fresh flat leaf parsley Instructions Set Instant Pot to Saute function. Heat olive oil and onions until onions start to soften and become translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic, carrots and celery and saute for another minute. Ad...

Instant Pot Goulash I was able to pass Goulash off as small spaghetti to my little one who ate the whole bowl! Goulash (AKA American Chop Suey) is something that honestly I grew up hating. I never liked red sauce as a kid. One day as an adult, something just clicked and now I LOVE it. Instant Pot Goulash Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 4 mins Total Time 14 mins Time to ditch plain old spaghetti! Instant Pot Goulash is going to be your new favorite thing! Course: Main Course Cuisine: Italian Servings: 6 people Calories: 504 kcal Ingredients 1 lb ground beef 1 large onion 3 cloves garlic 2 15- ounce cans tomato sauce 2 15- ounce cans diced tomatoes 2 tbsp Italian seasoning 3 tbsp soy sauce 3 cups elbow noodles 2 1/2 cups water 3 bay leaves salt and pepper to taste Instructions Turn the Instant Pot onto saute. When hot, add ground beef garlic, salt, pepper, and onion. Cook until meat is browned. When meat is browned drain fat then add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, soy sauce...

Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan Thin chicken cutlets dredged in tasty breadcrumbs, smothered in sauce and cheese, and baked to perfection. This is the most delicious healthy chicken parmesan recipe. Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan Prep time 10 mins Cook time 45 mins Total time 55 mins Author: Organize Yourself Skinny Serves: 6 Ingredients ½ cup unseasoned wholegrain breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons grated parmesan (or romano) cheese 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon granulated garlic ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 2lbs chicken cutlets ¾ cup sauce ¾ cup mozzarella cheese Instructions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl mix together the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Coat a sheet pan with the olive oil. Dredge each chicken cutlet in the breadcrumb mixture and place on the sheet pan. Discard the rest of the breadcrumb mixture. Bake the chicken for 15 minutes. Turn over and bak...