Slow Cooker Gluten Free Minestrone

This tasty delight looks and tastes like a lot of work, but it's insanely easy to whip up, and the time it takes to cook isn't any more than it takes to brown the meat, and chop a few veggies. You can serve this dish to family, friends, your partner, your kids -- everyone loves it. And guess what? It's healthy. It's practically a perfect meal. Make it when you need a belly warmer, or a big bowl o' comfort ... just make it!

Recipe here.

xo

One Bowl Apple Almond Muffins

Someday, we think, Maile will become a renowned chef. That, or a veterinarian with an affinity for baking and cooking. In the meantime, our sweet girl is my number one idea machine and critic.

This afternoon, as I heaped a leftover black bean enchilada onto a plate for us to share, she tilted her head ... "Mama?" "Yes." "These 'chiladas are too spicy for Maile; can I have something different?" From the child who will eat Sriracha (we like spice around here). 

When it comes to breakfast, Maile is a creature of habit: scrambled eggs, steel cut oats, from-scratch biscuits and gravy. One morning last week though, she asked for muffins. "Sure!" I said, reaching for a mixing bowl. "After eggs," she clarified. Of course.

She really wanted to use apples in our recipe, and these One Bowl Apple Almond Muffins were the result. This recipe is paleo friendly, and easy to make vegan, too. For muffins, they are quite nutritious and not too sweet; Maile ate two straight out of the oven!

You can find the recipe here. Enjoy, friends.

Around This House

The cutest little ice cream face ever. With the sun shining through her hair, and those near-black, almond shaped eyes.

Someone likes pretending to sleep, right around what used to be her nap time. Part precious, part why-don't-you-still-take-naps-Miss-Maile?

I've been desperately trying to add an afternoon movie to our routine over the past week, as first trimester exhaustion has hit me full force.

A delectable meal of Crock Pot Savory Asian Meatballs. Tiny amount of work, big flavor ...

When Tim is home, we spend a lot of our time cooking dishes like this one.

Maile giving her dada a checkup. (He needed a shot!)

Maile's hair bow c/o Bizzy B Crafts.

Summer Salad

I had so much fun putting together this salad. {And yes, I realize how strange that sounds!} It's a grilled balsamic chicken salad, with organic spring mix, mini cucumbers, cherub tomatoes, and the perfect kick. I'm telling you, it's ah-may-zing. Several readers asked for the recipe, on Instagram, and now you can hop on over to Shrinking Kitchen for the full recipe. Enjoy!

Shrinking Kitchen!

I am so excited to be the newest member of the Shrinking Kitchen team! And of course, I started with a dessert recipe! ;) The brownies, which I call Cakey Carob Brownies, are my first feature for the site. Shrinking Kitchen features a few lovely ladies who are passionate about healthy living for families, and encouraging each other as women. You can browse recipes here. Thanks for including me, Shrinking Kitchen!

PS - Thank you to all of you for being so patient and understanding of me on my blogging journey! You may notice that I'm much less active when Tim is home. Thanks to you, I don't feel like I have to worry too much about this. I can't feel good about this space, or in the friendships formed online, if I'm not giving them my full attention. I never want to give y'all anything but my utmost, so I appreciate your support as I give my family my all during Tim's days off. Love you!