Mango Mint Chicken Salad

Regardless of the fact that it snowed here is Salt Lake yesterday (BOO!), spring has officially sprung. I've been excited to start making fresh fruity salads! I went to lunch the other day with a friend to Blue Lemon and ordered their Mango Mint Chicken Salad and I was blown away by the flavor and fresh taste of it. I knew I had to try and duplicate it at home. And BAM. I did, and am so terribly pleased because I plan on making it lots throughout spring and summer. Here's how (add however much or little of each of the items below as you like! I add lots of all, but I'm cool like that): Salad: - Your favorite lettuce - Ripe mangoes (chopped) - Fresh mint leaves (they sell at most grocery stores by the lettuce) - Feta cheese - Shredded chicken (I love rotisserie chickens from Whole Foods) - Avocado - Onions Toss all ingredients together and top with this dressing: Dressing: - 1/2 cup olive oil - 1/2 cup agave - 1/4 cup white wine vinegar - Fresh lemon juice to taste - Fresh pepper Shake well in sealed container Enjoy!

Almond Flour, Coconut Sugar Pancakes!

The other morning I was craving pancakes, however I was not craving the food coma that always accompanies them. So I did some internet browsing and came across this recipe. GOLD! The only thing I did different was add a couple tablespoons of coconut sugar. We're having a love affair with coconut sugar lately. It's hot. I then pureed some strawberries and added coconut sugar to that as well. I heated it, and poured over the pancakes. A healthy, delicious breakfast, and one even baby could share in! :) Hims is a big goy!

A Little Park City Day Date

Saturday was one of those perfect days. The kind you dread coming to an end. The sun was shining and it was surprisingly warm, so we headed up to Park City for the day to celebrate Sara's birthday with her and Devin. We ate delicious pizza at Vinto, and then shopped up and down Main Street. Radcliff was a dreamboat with a capital D. He took a perfectly timed nap while we ate (there really should be an academy award for the best performance for that!) and he loved every minute of the scenic view from his stroller. We ended the day with caramel apples, sea foam, and almond clusters from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Obvi :) Radcliff slept the entire way home, and continued to sleep for another two hours once we got home giving Wren and I the perfect nap of our own!  I love my little family so.  And you too Seven and Eight! Thanks for letting us tag along on your birthday trip!  

Bring it on Monday.

You in the mood to be NAUGHTY too?

Guys.  I'm being honest when I say I have discovered the best, and the chewiest, and probably the unhealthiest chocolate chip cookie recipe out there.  Sunday turned into one of those gray, luxurious, snowy days where Wren and I were feeling particularly bad...  Radcliff's nap was turning into a three hour event (bless that child!) and we came to the happy realization that we just so happened to have all of the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies.  And so we just kind of went with it.  I did what any normal bakee would do and googled chocolate chip cookies and Google was a peach and went and delivered this gem.  Merci Martha.   The only thing I did differently was add an extra tablespoon of sea salt (yes, the crunch counts!) and really, who doesn't love their chocolate chip cookies extra salty? I'd be lying if I said we didn't stop eating them until we 100% hated ourselves.  Anyway, two days later they are still incredibly soft and still incredibly alluring/haunting. Have I sold you yet? 

Ginger Cookies in White Chocolate

Over the Holidays I've been on a baking frenzy up in her!  Our favorite treat, and by favorite I mean we have not stopped shoveling them in our mouths since the second these bad boys came out of the oven, would have to be these ginger cookies straight from Wren's Grandma Jeanie's cookbook.  Everything that lady made was tasty and these are no exception. 

Here's how... 

Ginger Cookies 

(Wren's favorite...grandma always made them just for him:)

3/4 C shortening

1 C. brown sugar

1/4 C molasses

2 T. milk

1 egg

2 1/4 C flour

2 t. soda

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ginger

1/2 t. cloves

1/4 t. salt

Mix & cover, chill 1 hr. roll in balls, dip in sugar and bake 8 mins. 350 

After they cooled off, I took it upon myself to make them ever naughtier by dipping them in white chocolate. YUM.   Thanks for the recipe Grandma Jeanie!  

I Love My Boys However...

...sometimes some girl time is absolutely necessary.  Scratch that, mandatory.  Last night treats from Trader Joe's (have you been yet?), sushi, and heck, even valet parking, was just what the doctor ordered.  Thanks for the laughs friends!

And let's hear it for daddy of the year who basically forces me to do things like this so I can have a little break every once in awhile.  It takes some strong coercing to get me to leave my ghost baby.  When I came home, him and Radcliff were having the time of their lives.  And speaking of time of their lives, he also took Radcliff to scouts with him tonight (I think it's like the funniest thing ever), and while there, Radcliff apparently had just that.  The time of his life!  Hysterical...              

A Fun Weekend for a Girl Like Me? THAT'S AWESOME!

Have you ever seen a cuter bottom?
This weekend consisted of:
A date night out in a blizzard to get Mexican food and frozen yogurt while my baby sisters watched Radcliff.   A sisterly sleep over which included hacking Savannah's FB page.  If you're my FB friend you already know that though, they BLEW it up!  Lots of snow. Lots of naps. A baby that slept nine hours straight each night and let his lazy parents sleep in! And a delectable family dinner that clearly included my favorite dessert... Baked Alaska.  Isn't it just exquisite!? Happy snowy Monday Salt Lake City!   

Potato Chowder for the Cold Days :)

Okay folks.  I have been on a cooking frenzy up in here!  What better thing to make than Potato Chowder when the weather is getting chilly frighteningly fast?! Nothing duh.   My mom used to make this all the time when we were little and I would always look forward to it.   I have been wanting to make it for awhile and this is what I used... *10 potatoes (I like a lot of potatoes in my soup :), who doesn't though right!???) *3 cans chicken broth *1 can cream of chicken soup *1 package Philadelphia cream cheese *1 onion, chopped *1 red pepper, chopped *1 pound finely chopped pork *Lot's of salt and pepper (if that's your thang) Boil potatoes until cooked.  Meanwhile, on a frying pan, cook pork and chopped onion.  In a separate pan (I know guys, big business, THREE pans for this meal, but it's worth it), combine broth, soup, cream cheese, and chopped pepper.  Bring to a boil and letter simmer.  Once the potatoes are cooked through, use a potato masher to break into small pieces.  Add potatoes and pork and onion to soup mixture.  Mix well, and serve with sliced french bread.  Best soup I've ever had.  Swear! AND, we ate it for like a million meals and it never got old.  Good luck!   

Baby Girl Crumpets

Sorry for the picture overload!  I just thought they were all so cute.  Especially the ones of my baby.  But every mom is partial right?  Hollie, Wren's mom, threw the cutest baby girl shower for Wren's sister Willow on Saturday.  It was at Dear Lizzie Boutique and Bistro in Highland and it was perfect.  I highly recommend it.   We were served croissant sandwiches (I could eat croissants for every meal, I kid you not, the buttery goodness is mighty tasty), frosted cookies, and mint brownies.  We felt like quite the ladies that we are :)  It went straight to my... Radcliff.  He had two critical blow out diapers while we were there.  Courtesy of lunch I'd assume ;)  Anyway, baby girl baby girl, come whenever.   Radcliff's getting impatient already!