recipe Archives - Page 9 of 16 - Simply Happenstance

Healthy Taco Salad {vegetarian}

January 23, 2014

:: Healthy Taco Salad ::

Confession: When my husby is home from work… I do very little cooking. With our new life in the mountains, he not only does 100% of the grocery shopping, but also cooks, so I can focus on homeschooling our four little ones. We eat very well when he is home! He’s super creative in the kitchen {thanks to the near decade he’s spent as a firefighter}. I am truly one lucky wifey!

This healthy Taco Salad is one of our family favorites. We love it because it is so versatile, quick, and easy to prepare. You can basically cut up and add-in any fresh veggies you have on hand from your garden or market. {For meat lovers… you can grill up some chicken, or prepare ground turkey, or lean ground beef to add to the salad.} To be honest… I rarely use dressing, instead I mash up the avocado and add a dollop of salsa. {If you like sour cream or plain greek yogurt, it would make it even creamier!} For those of you that love a simple dressing… a Creamy Cilantro Avocado or Italian drizzled on top tastes divine! [Read more…]

Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

December 12, 2013

:: Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding ::

Oh… do I have a tasty indulgence for you today! My friends, this is definitely my favorite breakfast treat at the moment! It’s delicious served warm for breakfast {or dessert}… and it’s even good cold, straight out of the fridge {don’t ask me how I know that}! One of my dearest friends recently gave me the recipe to try out with my family. We’ve made it two times in the last week! Remember my husband who doesn’t like anything sweet? He LOVED it! In fact, I totally caught him with a fork sneaking bites out of the fridge. That never happens!

So, before I get started on the details of this amazingly delicious dish {that would be the perfect addition to your Christmas morning, I might add}… I must first tell you about my friend who passed on this recipe. I typically call her “Pretty”… because she’s so pretty, of course {inside & out}! I’m hoping that one day she’ll decide to write a guest post for Simply Happenstance and tell you all about her testimony and issues she’s faced over the past few years. She is hands down, one of the strongest, most God-loving, positive, and wonderful mamas I know! She has taught and encouraged me so much over the past five years that I have known her. The most cherished girlfriends that I have in my life are definitely the ones that bring me closer to God. “Pretty” is one of those. We don’t live near each other any longer {now that our family has moved to the mountains}, but we talk on the phone almost daily. She uplifts my spirit in so many ways. I hope that all of you have a friend like that in your life. It is such an incredible gift… [Read more…]

Christmas Cranberry Spritzer

December 10, 2013

:: Christmas Cranberry Spritzer ::

It’s Christmas time and boy do I absolutely LOVE a fun holiday drink! This Christmas Cranberry Spritzer is a new favorite. Made with St. Germain, a little bubbly {champagne/sparkling wine}, a splash of cranberry juice, and a dash of blood orange vodka. This drink is definitely something to say “Cheers” to.

Lately, when Shane and I have had a moment to go out to dinner, we have noticed that the cocktail menus in most restaurants are creating libations with St. Germain. It is a flowery liqueur that when combined in a tangy drink it adds a hint of sweetness to a cocktail.

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Walnut Granola Crunch Recipe

November 19, 2013

:: Walnut Granola Crunch Recipe ::

I am ADDICTED to Costco’s Granola!!! Have you had it? Shane had to have a semi-intervention with me in regards to their granola, so I needed to whip up a batch of homemade granola stat! This Walnut Granola Crunch Recipe is healthy, delicious, and it makes your home smell incredible while it’s baking. The smell of the sweet honey, oats, and walnuts create the perfect fall aroma. This is exactly why I love granola and oatmeal so much. It’s healthy, filling, and it can be versatile. It is a fall favorite, but with a few simple switches, this granola can be enjoyed year around. [Read more…]

Pumpkin Nutella Muffins

November 14, 2013

:: Pumpkin Nutella Muffins ::

Oh my goodness, you guys! This is the BEST muffin combination… pumpkin + Nutella! During this time of year, I typically make plain pumpkin muffins and occasionally add in chocolate chips… but let me tell you, swirling in a dollop of creamy Nutella made an incredibly decadent difference! The pumpkin is flavorful and moist, while the Nutella creates a rich, chewy, chocolatey muffin top!

I doubled the recipe below and it made 18 muffins and one loaf to give away to a neighbor. This is the perfect baked treat to give to friends and family! If preparing this recipe as a loaf for others… you may want to buy a few of these darling paper loaf pans from Sur la Table. Wrapped in cellophane and tied with a simple bow… it makes for the perfect hostess gift or sweet treat for neighbors for the holidays! Enjoy! [Read more…]

Gingerbread Pumpkin Fluff

November 12, 2013

:: Gingerbread Pumpkin Fluff ::

I don’t know about you, but this long weekend allowed for ample time to start thinking away about Thanksgiving and the holidays. No… it wasn’t just me thinking about them, but my family as well. “What would you like to bring to Thanksgiving?” Well for starters, my first choice will always lean towards dessert {obviously I have a sweet tooth}. I also like to think of simple recipes that I know will be an easy addition to my traditional dishes {that can be found here and here}. This Gingerbread Pumpkin Fluff is simple, yummy, and can be either an appetizer or a dessert {whew… a two-fer}! It is a great sweet appetizer for family waiting for the turkey to be done, or a wonderful dessert for those who like pumpkin pie, but maybe aren’t fans of the crust. This dip is similar to pumpkin pie but with the twist of cream cheese and marshmallow fluff.

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