4 Chocolate is the name of our family chocolate making group. It’s comprised of the primary 4 makers: my mom (Theresa), my older sister (Amy), me, and my younger sister (Amanda). We have been making holiday candy together for as many years as we’ve been around to enjoy eating it! […]
You know those epic stories of how a family bands together and overcomes incredible obstacles? My family did that this year to continue our holiday tradition of making candy together. Each piece made was part of a greater Christmas Miracle that will become a family holiday legend. 2022 just asked […]
I cut my hair to emotionally prepare for losing my hair during chemotherapy. It’s not for everyone, but it did help me transition from long locks, to hair coming out, to shaved head with really no hair.
This post highlights the bonbons made specifically for, and donated to support the Big Slick fundraiser benefiting Children’s Mercy Hospitals.
with Maple Vanilla Coconut Yogurt I have a “thing,” about making sure that people with food sensitivities are included in celebrations. Whether it’s a birthday party where allergies need to be considered, a meal for a friend in need, or serving up treats to the school staff for appreciation events, […]
The process of being diagnosed with a chronic illness is not always straightforward. This post describes my experience in being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The top 5 books I read in 2021
The 2021 holiday candy menu.
My Autumn Harvest Toffee has been making the rounds in my fall baking for a few years. It’s one of the most requested pieces of candy by my spouse and a few of my closest friends. One friend says this toffee is “everything.” Plenty of warm spices and crunchy seeds […]
I grew up very active and athletic. When I was young, I was the only kid in my grade to make it to the top of the rope in the gym climb. Yes, I totally just dated myself as a child of the 80’s with that. I was tough and […]
A buttery, flaky, fruity, creamy, and utterly divine strawberry shortcake recipe.
“That was heavenly” – Sarah, neighbor and resident macaron tester. “Grhmmmmp, Ohummmmm, Yuuuuuuuuuum.” – Daughter and macaron critic. More and more, I find myself in situations where I wish I had a quality vegan dessert recipe up my sleeve. Whether it’s staff appreciation, book club, or a neighborhood gathering, I’m […]
A soft and fluffy cake version of America’s favorite cookie.
Pitch black frosting without a drop of artificial color!
A post promoting MS Awareness To describe living with a chronic illness, it’s going to seem like complaining. So take this more as a list of experiences, rather than a list of complaints. I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting MS nearly 5 years ago. In that time, many things have […]
A chocolatey twist on a traditional Mardi Gras king cake.
An adult version of a hot chocolate bomb. Full of rum, warm spices, and dark chocolate.
These are my 5 favorite reads from 2020.
Flavorful, no bake, oyster crackers perfect for any occasion involving snacks. New Year’s Eve is approaching, and my family will skip a big meal in favor of a smorgasbord of our favorite homemade snacks and appetizers. There will be little pigs in blankets, Mexican cheese dip with chips, steamed Chinese […]
A family collaboration of bonbons and candies to give as holiday gifts.
A flavorful sugar cookie that is thick and will hold it’s shape when baked.
Learn how to make a fully edible chocolate delight.
An autumnal dessert, destined for the family recipe books.
A versatile dessert sauce ready to top, fill, glaze, drizzle, and make all your dessert dreams come true.
If you have the opportunity to pick apples out at an orchard, or even better, from your backyard; this recipe for spiced apple butter is a “must have.” PSA: Apple butter is not butter. It’s apples and spices cooked down to the point of being so thick, it spreads on […]
Tips, tricks, and recipe links for preparing your meals on a road trip.
My thoughts on where/how to stay overnight. Traveling beyond the safety of our home meant nights away from our safe, clean, beds. Choosing places to stay where we would feel safe and how we would manage more than one location also required some thought and consideration. For most of the […]
Tips and Tricks to navigating a road trip safely during a pandemic.
A throwback dessert bar that is essentially a chocolate chip studded peanut butter blondie with a chocolate topping. This simple family favorite can serve a crowd, or one die hard peanut butter fanatic, and is easy enough for young bakers to make with minimal adult assistance. My daughter made the […]
A versatile condiment made from blackberries, lime, and local honey. No canning required.
Holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations are times when you want your food to be as festive as the day. Sometimes that means making a traditional food. Other times, that means taking a food you love and dressing it up for the occasion! Our Independence Day celebrations looked a little different […]
A decadent homage to the All-American S’mores in cake form.
An online bake sale to promote awareness and affect change. This blog is not meant to be a platform for politics. It is a place for me to share recipes, kitchen tips, health experiences, and share ideas on how I strive to maintain wellness in life. I do not believe […]
Balancing Motherhood, MS, and the FOMO. I was always a summer sun person. As as child, I played outside or swam everyday until dark. As a teenager, I swam in the early mornings and again in the evenings for swim team, playing outside with friends much of the day in […]
I have had the song, ” I love Rock N’ Roll” in my head for days, but I’ve been singing it as “I love Rocky Road! Put some choco-late in my ice cream baby!” I suppose I’m a bit of a nut, and I like chocolate covered chopped nuts in […]
Summer cannot go by without having at least 1 fresh fruit pie. The first pie is always strawberry and marks the start of the summer. Peach is my favorite and usually marks the middle of summer. Growing up, we had a raspberry bush and had raspberry pies to wrap up […]
Pizza Dough recipe and tricks for delicious homemade pizza in 30 minutes. I am no stranger to a good pizza delivered to my door, but I also love to make homemade pizza. I can use local honey and whole wheat pastry flour to make my dough a little healthier without […]
A light tequila cocktail that is just as lovely to look at as it is to drink.
Mother’s Day Cocktails Part 1 Quarantine 2020 is still going strong, and I couldn’t bear the thought of a Mother’s day without imbibing in a bit of cocktail. It’s usually mimosas out at a restaurant, but since that is not going to be happening this year, I decided to get […]
A delicate French custard with a caramelized sugar topping.
A peachy keen smoothie to start any kind of day.
I know my blog and social media feeds are a bit sugar heavy, but I do actually make and eat lots of veggies. This particular recipe is gluten free, dairy free, Wahl’s protocol friendly, and whole 30 friendly. Brussels sprouts were practically a four letter word when I was growing […]
With Lemon Curd and Fresh Whipped Cream The flavors of this scone paired with lemon curd and fresh whipped cream will burst on your tongue like a welcome ray of spring sunshine. This recipe is a lot like a lemon version of strawberry shortcake. The buttery scone is studded with […]
Spring Style Soft, brownie-like cookies studded with chocolate chips and M&Ms. Who can resist? This recipe has been a family favorite for years! The original recipe is from Baker by Nature. No stand mixer or fancy tools required! Just lots and lots of chocolate! YUM! Purchase the seasonal versions of […]
A healthy green smoothie that will make your think you’re drinking a milkshake!
A moist chocolate cake with creamy peanut butter frosting.
Discover a tool to help you identify safe products and foods.
A fruity, pink caramel that can be made soft to fill bonbons or firm for caramel chews.
Can a smoothie impersonate a fruity milkshake? Yup. And it can do it without added sugars or processed ingredients. Don’t tell the kids. The dates sweeten the smoothie as well as add additional fiber. Chia seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids as well as fiber and are rich in […]
Fondue Part 3 Chocolate fondue is the final stage of any good fondue party. Whether you’ve served other courses of fondue or you’re just doing the chocolate course, it is always a strong finish. Chocolate fondue is essentially a dessert bar that can be thrown together with items from the […]
For all the banana bread, banana muffin, banana cake lovers out there; this is your cakey bar version of perfection. My mom has been making these bars for years and when it came time for my sisters and I to make desserts for our kids, the recipe was pulled back […]
Kick your fondue game up a notch with tempura fried veggies and seafood.
Fondue Part 2 After finishing a somewhat heavy cheese course, the kids usually run off to play and work up another appetite and the grown ups get to chat and prepare the next phase of the dinner: seafood broth fondue. This course of fondue is friendly to all sorts of […]
The first in a series of fondue posts: Cheese Fondue for the whole family.
Decadent Chocolate Muffins
Cloth napkins are earth friendly and create a uniquely inviting table.
Unbleached all purpose flour. A healthy, inexpensive kitchen swap.
Go Chiefs! It’s Super Bowl Sunday and our home team, the Kansas City Chiefs, are in the big game. I started the celebrating early with a Chiefs themed breakfast. There was cheering from the crew when the aroma of cocoa enhanced waffle batter began wafting through the house. Normally, I […]
Reduce the time and intensity of a cold or flu. A recipe for cold/flu fighting elderberry juice.
Marshmallow Fluff from your kitchen instead of a jar!
An Italian version of chicken noodle soup. Meaty and hearty.
Advice from a regular on how to prepare for MRI.
Pancakes can be as personal as fingerprints. Do you like yours flat? Fluffy? Sweet? Whole grain? Flavored? The size of a plate? That’s not even addressing the toppings. Don’t even get me started on personal preference with pancake toppings! The opportunities for a delightful breakfast are endless. My family likes […]
Practical uses for coconut oil.
A healthy meal or side dish made with veggies! Grain Free, Dairy Free, includes tips to make it Soy Free, and Vegan.
Rich peppermint ice cream studded with candy cane pieces, chocolate cookie crumbles and a swirl of decadent chocolate fudge sauce.
My perspective living with relapsing remitting MS.
Guacamole in under 5 minutes. Easily adjustable serving size.
Hard Boiled Egg Tutorial
A creamy, chocolaty, nutrient packed smoothie, perfect for any breakfast lunch, or snack. Dairy free, no added sugars, and gluten free.
The 5 books I couldn’t put down in 2019. Not only could I not put them down, I’m still thinking about them!
Your favorite childhood cookie sandwich with a pumpkin spice and caramel upgrade.
