{roasted parmesan brussel sprouts}

I have a quick, delicious recipe for you today. It only takes 3 ingredients! So simple.

1. brussel sprouts
2. parmesan
3. Garlic Expressions vinaigrette

#3 is key for this recipe, so don't skip it! Garlic Expressions is technically a salad dressing, but I (& my parents) really just use it as a marinade. Shrimp, grilled chicken, vegetables...it's the best.

Set the oven to 400°F.

^^what you need

 ^^after rinsing, just cut of the ends & split the sprouts in half

^^pour some of the dressing into the bag, add the brussels, & shake

^^spread out on a tin-lined pan

^^cook for 20-25 minutes, flipping them half-way through so both sides get some heat action

^^grate some fresh parm immediately & enjoy!

I don't have any other photos of the finished product because that bowl was empty almost immediately.

This is such an easy side dish or appetizer. I made it twice last week as an after-work snack. Healthy & delish. Try it!

{st. valentine cupcakes}

I was in the mood to bake…so I did!

I was fully inspired by Oh Happy Day for these cupcakes, but I decided to add my own twist.

Once you bake the {red velvet} cupcakes & frost them, all that's left are the arrows!

{to create the hearts, I did nothing fancy---I just cut the tip of an icing-filled ziploc bag}

To make the arrows, this is all you need:

^^two pieces of paper per arrow

^^voila! as you can see, not every heart or arrow needs to be perfect :)

& to answer the obvious question…they were delicious. 

Now make them!

**My cupcakes were made from Williams Sonoma's GF mix. The mixes are sadly not made anymore. UPDATE: HOLD THE PHONE. THE MIXES ARE ON SALE. BRB GOING TO BUY OUT WILLIAMS SONOMA. Cream cheese frosting is the only flavor worth a red velvet cupcake, & when I don't make my own, I am partial to Duncan Hines. 

PS. If you double the butter amount by mistake…like I did…they taste just as good. Maybe better.

{recipe: homemade basil parmesan fries}

I made these the other night. They were worth sharing...

Parmesan Basil Fries

Ingredients:

• 4 medium red potatoes (or any other kind of your choice)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Combine cheese, oil, basil, & salt into a large zip lock bag (or a bowl).

2. Cut whole potatoes into 1/4 inch sticks. Leave the skin on! 

3. Throw potato sticks into the zip lock, close securely, & shake vigorously for a minute.

4. Place potatoes onto a greased baking sheet.

look at all that parmesan. so. good.

5. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes; turn potatoes. Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until they're crisp. 

Then eat!

So easy & the perfect side dish. Enjoy!

{in honor of this sweet day...}

Thank you, Buzzfeed, for this delicious article. I can't wait to try some!

ps. Happy Valentine's Day!

{homemade gluten-free chocolate-covered pretzels}

SO simple, I shouldn't even blog about it. But I'm in a blogging groove, so I'm going to :)

You need TWO things. Easy peasy.

1) Pretzels
2) Chocolate chips {dark, milk, white or a mix? whatever floats your boat}

Put some chips in a bowl & heat in the microwave for ONE minute.

It'll look like the chips aren't melted, but just mix it around wih a spoon. The heat will melt all of the chips {like below}. Keep stirring until everything is smooth.

I tried to do this as neatly as possible & make them look store-bought, but after the third pretzel I gave up. I ended up taking a spoon & just pouring chocolate on the tops of each.  It's a bit messy, so I suggest using parchment paper.

chocolate meet pretzel.

 Then I put them in the freezer overnight.

I made about 40 pretzels. I can't stop eating them...it's becoming a real problem :) I want to make some with dark chocolate & sprinkles!

Go make some! :)

{recipe: homemade gluten-free chicken & rice soup}

I was in the mood to cook this weekend {I blame Ina Garten}, but I didn't want a recipe with a lot of ingredients. Unlike Ina, I don't have everything at my fingertips on my 18 ft marble countertop in my kitchen barn. {& she's got an apartment in Paris & sweet husband to boot!}  It was chilly & I was feeling lazy, so soup was the perfect choice :)  It was easy to decide what kind of soup to make since chicken & rice has become my gluten-free chicken noodle.

I had a hard time figuring out the amounts for everything, because this was the type of afternoon where I threw everything out the window & guessed on all measurements. Needs more carrots...could use a little more herbs de provence. & then I dashed & sprinkled some in.  But I think I got it right for the recipe. This serves two people, with some to spare. It's also easy to double. Here we go...

Homemade Chicken & Rice Soup

Ingredients:

- 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
- 1 qt (or 4 cups) chicken broth
- 1/4 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup shredded, cooked chicken
- 1 tablespoon herbs de provence
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Step 1: Cook chicken & shred. {See how I do that here.} Just FYI...not all of the chicken below was used for this recipe.

Step 2: Cook rice. Drain.

Step 3: Cut your vegetables. You can add celery, carrots, broccoli...whatever your little BIG heart desires.

Step 4: In a large pot, heat the chicken broth. {I've seen some recipes where it says to start off with some olive oil & vegetables in the pot--before you add the broth--to soften them. Since I was out of olive oil, I skipped this step. Turned out fine.}

This brand was certified gluten-free, so that's why I chose it.

Step 5: Add the vegetables, rice, chicken, & herbs de provence. Let it all simmer together. Stir in the salt & pepper, & add more based on how it tastes.

Step 6: Enjoy!

I watched the second James Bond movie {Quantum of Solace} while I ate my soup. I keep forgetting to buy placemats...so felt was the only substitute I had ;)

Doesn't it look good? 

I had a ton left-over to store for lunches & dinner this week. It's a chilly 39*F outside. I'm so glad I made this cozy soup! :)

What's your go-to soup in the winter? I want to make some more :)

{recipe: sweet & salty roasted broccoli}

Sweet & Salty Roasted Broccoli

Ingredients:

• salt
• sugar
• olive oil
• broccoli

Slice the broccoli into thin slices...

I don't have photos of this...but after putting all the slices into a bowl, cover all the pieces with olive oil. Then pour in some salt {a tablespoon or two} & some sugar {half a tablespoon} & mix it all up.  Don't be put off by the sugar...that's what browns the broccoli & makes it crisp.

Lay the broccoli flat on a nonstick pan.

Set the oven to 350F & cook them for about 15-20 minutes. Or until all the pieces are slightly brown.

Voilà!  A different, delicious way to cook broccoli :)

{dylan's recipes: chicky chicky parm parm}

For an explanation on the name "chicky chicky parm parm" watch the video above.

Then click "Read more" to see the recipe!

{4th of july cake}

First of all....HAPPY {belated} 4th!!  I'm so lucky & proud to be an American. I may have dreams of living in Paris or London, but I'm so fortunate to live here!

My mom & stepdad have been spending the past few days at the beach, so Dyl & I have the house ALLLLLL to ourselves. So what do we do?

BAKE!

We had a half-day on Tuesday from work, so once that was finished, we got started. I'm known for my "rainbow" cake in my family, so I thought I'd do something similar for this Independence Day one.

Click below to see more....