Need a super duper easy appetizer recipe that will impress your friends? Look no further. These 2-Ingredient Homemade Baked Mozzarella Sticks are a skinny version of the American fried food favorite. 

Whenever I think about mozzarella sticks, I think about my rebellious middle school days.

When you grow up in a small farm town, you have to create your own ways to entertain yourself. And when you’re in middle school and boy crazy like I was, that typically involves following your “crush” around where he and his friends went. I digress.

There was a small drive-in a couple blocks from the middle school, and all the “cool kids” would walk there to order mozzarella sticks. Well, the only problem was that my mom knew that I mainly wanted to go there for the boys and not the fried cheese (man how things have changed), so she didn’t let me go!

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These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Black Bean Brownies are a guilt-free way to satisfy your chocolate craving! The fudgy brownies are super easy to make and taste similar to the real deal – yet they’re made with no flour!

What do you think about dining out at a restaurant alone?

Most my friends were busy this weekend, which meant I took the opportunity for “me” time. I got my hair done, spent enough money shopping to make me cringe at my credit card statement, made these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Black Bean Brownies, and finished rewatching all 7 episodes of Sex and the City.

A combination of watching SATC and wanting to avoid company got me thinking about dining alone. I think New York City might be the only city where it’s 100% socially acceptable for a young, single woman to go to a restaurant and enjoy a nice meal plus wine … completely alone.

Is it just me, or are other Chicagoans afraid of going to nice restaurants alone for fear of people thinking you simply don’t have any friends/boyfriend/acquaintances/Tinder dates to come with you? Perhaps I’ll do a social experiment and dine alone next weekend.

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If you’re looking for a fancy, yet easy to prepare, dinner recipe … look no further! These Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs are delicious when served over mashed cauliflower, mashed potatoes, rice, or polenta!

Does anyone else think about Valentine’s Day and immediately want to dive head-first into a tub of Ben & Jerry’s?

Let’s all be honest: nobody is happy on this holiday. Either you’re depressed because you’re single, you’re annoyed because your boyfriend didn’t do enough, or you just hate hearts and pink in general and don’t understand why our country celebrates a “holiday” made up by Hallmark to get people to buy more cards and chocolate and flowers.

The whole thing just makes me want to drink wine and have a Sex and the City marathon. Oh wait … I do that pretty much every night anyways.

Okay … end of Valentine’s rant. Let’s talk about BEEF.

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These Sweet Potato Breakfast Burritos are super easy to make ahead of time and freeze for quick breakfasts! With sweet potato and red bell pepper hash, bacon, eggs, cheese and salsa, this is one delicious and easy healthy breakfast recipe. 

So …. heat is expensive. Sometimes I think about what I could buy each month with the money I spend just on our gas bill.

New shoes …

My gym membership …

A fur coat to keep me warm …

17 new blankets …

See. A new pair of shoes every month would be great. Instead, I throw all my money away just trying to survive the Chicago winter. Being an adult is hard. After our record-breaking month of December, I’ve officially resorted to placing three blankets on top of my comforter and turning the furnace down to 60 degrees. As I type this post right now I wish I had gloves on.

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.

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This Paleo friendly, low effort, high reward, mouth-watering oven pot roast with sweet potatoes is worth every adjective I just used to describe it.  Pairs perfectly with The Best Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes” for a dinner you and your guests won’t be soon to forget.

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Lightened Up Pork Chops Marsala is an easy one pan dinner that comes together quickly! The pork chops don’t dry out with the delicious mushroom marsala sauce served on top. 

I really don’t know why pork chops get such a bad reputation. I only recently discovered my love for pork chops, with creole seasoning, grilled to perfection, after we received bone-in chops in our meat CSA. They’re just so good. And CHEAP! What could be better?

This Lightened Up Pork Chops Marsala recipe is an adaptation of the chicken marsala recipe in The Skinnytaste Cookbook. If you like chicken marsala, you’ve got to try making it with pork chops. The pork chops stay super moist with the same delicious, savory mushroom marsala sauce that’s perfect served over pasta or mashed potatoes.

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These are The Best Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes” you’ll make. Adding sour cream makes them creamy and delicious – much like your favorite mashed potatoes. Even picky eaters won’t suspect these are made with vegetables!

Have you discovered the magic of cauliflower yet? If you haven’t, put down those Doritos, get in your car, go get a head of cauli, and come back here.

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