Another Grandma specialty comes your way this week! This was a weekly dinner request growing up.  Hamburger cups are the perfect fun meal: no grill is required, there are basically three ingredients, you can eat them with your hands, and everyone loves them. With the summer coming to an end, the American hamburger tradition just takes a new form. Enjoy hamburger cups all year round with this super easy recipe.  Ingredients: 1 Tube Pillsbury Crescent Seamless Dough Sheets 1 ½ lb Ground beef 3 Slices cheese of choice Salt  & pepper to taste  Materials: 1 Muffin tin 1 Frying pan 1 Spatula …

The summer citrus zest meets Thanksgiving’s favorite fruit in this flavor packed cookie. This home-style cookie is great for football tailgates, half-time snacks, or even a special treat after a warm day, this cookie has comforting flavors that makes everyone smile. Enjoy the cookie as is, or add a special something to it with the orange glaze to drive home the citrus undertones with a luxury look.Ingredients: 2 ½ Cups Flour 1 Cup Butter ½ Cup Sugar ½ Cup Brown Sugar 1 tsp Baking Soda 1 tsp salt 1 tsp Vanilla 2 Large eggs 2 Oranges(zest and juice) 1 Cup Cranberries 1 Cup White Chocolate Chips…

Going off last weeks theme of Trail Mix ingredients, this delicious snack will use up all those left over “mix-ins” you may have from “Hit the Trail Banana Bread.” Breakfast on the go never tasted so good. Snacks were never easier to transport. Dessert was never this healthy. You get it all with this oatmeal packed ball of goodness.Ingredients: 3 Cups Oatmeal 1½ Cup Flour (your choice as to which type) ½ - ⅓ Cup Brown Sugar 1 Cup Pumpkin 2 Tbsp Honey 1 tsp Baking Powder 1 tsp Baking Soda 2 Tbsp Cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg/All-Spice ⅔ Cup Applesauce 2 Egg Whites ½ Cup Dried Cranberries/Cherries ½ …

Two great things come together here to create a fun bread that is perfect to eat and share. It has taken me years to perfect a healthy and delicious banana bread, but all the hard work paid off with this recipe. Hit-the-Trail banana bread takes my healthy banana bread recipe and combines it with trail mix additions to give it a special wow factor. Keep it for a quick breakfast, Sunday brunch, or give it as a gift. I now buy extra bananas just so I have an excuse to make this tasty bread!Enjoy sharing!Ingredients:(Makes three large loafs, six mini loafs or a mixture of several sizes from …

This July Fourth Barbecue serve up a slightly different entree with these Ginger Soy Salmon Burgers. Wow your health conscience guests with an alternative to the standard burger or get creative and easily tweak the recipe for an appetizer of sliders. As always, the dish is easy, delicious, and adaptable to your taste-buds. So have fun and enjoy the Holiday.Speaking of Holiday, this week we added a second recipe for a special ending to your celebration. It just wasn’t Independence Day around our house without a traditional American Flag Cookie. Easy to make and fun to eat, this bonus recipe is…

Every Summer BBQ and potluck growing up my mom would make this great Summer Strawberry Salad. Spinach, Strawberries, Jicama and a light, fresh dressing come together to make this fresh salad perfect for summer. Have fun sharing this easy salad this summer. With a slight sweetness to the dressing and delicious seasonal ingredients that provide flavor with a crunch, this salad will please all audiences.Ingredients: Dressing½ - ⅓ cup  vegetable oil ¼ cup cider vinegar ⅓ cup sugar2 Tbsp sesame seeds1 Tbsp poppy seeds2 scallions chopped¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce¼ tsp paprikaOptional: splash of …

Every year for my birthday I asked for my Grandma’s Scallop Corn. It is the perfect side dish to any meal -- although, admittedly I would eat enough for my whole meal. Not only does this dish have a great texture, but it is the perfect combination of flavor with a little sweetness from the corn and saltiness from the crackers. This week, enjoy a family tradition from my house to yours.Ingredients:2 Cans Whole Kernel Corn2 Cans Creamed Corn2 Whole Eggs or 3 Egg Whites2 Sleeves Ritz Crackers (crumbled)⅓ Cup MilkSalt & Pepper to TasteOptional: 1 Tbsp butter to tasteMaterials:9 x 13 Baking Pan…

Salads, trail mix, oatmeal, ice cream, or french toast will never be the same with this week’s recipe topper. Cinnamon walnuts can be a great gourmet touch to any dish, or a delicious snack on the run. Feel free to cater this recipe to your nut or spice of choice. Enjoy getting creative and eating every bite of these tasty morsels.Ingredients:4 cups walnut pieces1 ½ cups water½ cup sugar½ cup brown sugar2 tsp ground cinnamon½ tsp ground ginger½ tsp cardamom1 tbsp all spice1 tbsp vanillaMaterials:Sauce panBaking panSmall bowlParchment paperWooden spoonDirections: Preheat oven to degrees 375. …

Shredded barbecue chicken never tasted so good. You will surprise yourself here, with this recipe that allows a lot of versatility when you serve it. Whether you have a salad bar, a build your own sandwich station, or make sandwiches and wrap to serve, this dish is delicious whichever way you serve it. Barbecue chicken is what got Jean, our friends, and I through college. It was not only our favorite dish to make and share, but got us all through pre-season as Division 1 college athletes. Barbecue chicken was a special treat and when we made it, we made extra! The shredded barbecue chicken is…

Recipe: Banana Chocolate Chip Bread PuddingThis recipe is good enough for breakfast as baked french toast with fruit, or serve with ice cream and it is easily a healthy dessert. This bread pudding is great for all audiences and easily tailored to your taste preference. I highly recommend using Challah bread (at least one loaf) or a variety of any bread/baked goods you may have left over. Also, if you don’t have time to let the bread fully dry out, than just decrease the recipe by one egg and one cup of milk. Make sure that the bread soaks in the milk and egg mixture for at least one hour.   …

I promise this will be both the last baked good and chocolate treat for awhile. Ending with a bang, this week’s recipe is that of a re-made brownie concoction. Sweet, crunchy, smooth, and creamy come together in this recipe, to make the perfect end to a meal. Enjoy sharing your brownie treats and get ready for re-made bread pudding next week -- save that bread!Ingredients:1 Package brownie mix of choice2 Egg whites½ Cup cinnamon applesauce⅓ Cup water½ Cup Chocolate chips2 Cups mini-marshmallows(For topping)1 Cup Rice cereal1 Cup chocolate chips½ Cup peanut butterMaterials:1 Large bowl1 Large …

With Easter and Mother’s Day coming up, this week’s recipe is a treat for special occasions. Cake balls offer an elegant dessert in just a few bites. Let your imagination take flight with flavors and decorations to tailor this dessert to your awaiting fans. I went with a standard chocolate sheet cake, homemade chocolate frosting, and coconut, pecans, and sprinkles for decorations but really make these your own. Feel free to share your favorite combinations and flavors with everyone else on this page. I can’t wait to see how creative you all get.Enjoy the treat and Happy Easter and Passover.…

As the weather starts to change and provide warmer glimpses of spring, this breakfast will get you in the mood for future summer days. The Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes are delicious on their own, but the homemade “syrup” is a great trick to spruce up this short stack and really make it gourmet.As a side note, this month will be all baking! What is your favorite baked good? You are free to share your recipes or offer some of your favorites up to be remade into a healthier version (keep your eyes out for amazing chocolate banana bread pudding redone later this month). The last recipe of the month …

My Uncle Joe is a phenomenal baker. When I found myself diving into a delicious dessert at a party, I was not surprised at all that he had made it. After getting the recipe for this crowd pleasing dessert I knew I had to share it with all of you. This month's dessert is a true combination of two fabulous treats that will leave everyone scraping the plate for more.Ingredients:2 tubes of store-bought crescent roll dough3 packages of cream cheese (8oz. each)1 ½ cups sugar2 tsp vanilla1 Tbsp cinnamon1 ½ Tbsp brown sugar¼ cup butterOptional: Blueberries/fruit  to serve.Materials:1 Big bowl13 x 9 …

Irish Soda Bread This week's recipe comes from a delightful reader, Stephanie, who was kind enough to share her Irish Soda Bread recipe that closely resembles her great grandmother's. Clearly I love sharing recipes. I find it so special when someone lets others in on a dish, side, or treat, that brings them great joy and sparks many great memories. Someone once told me "life is too short to make all the mistakes yourself, so you might as well learn from others." Well this week we all get to benefit from the many attempted rendition's that resulted in this final recipe.  In honour of St. …

BBQ Chicken Lettuce Wraps Who doesn’t have fun eating with their hands? This lunch treat is a play on the traditional lettuce wrap that will get you in the mood for warmer weather. The easy to make recipe is a great lunch during colder weather when you are thinking of grilling but quickly remember it is still too cold for a BBQ. As a bonus, the BBQ  Chicken filling doubles as a great salad topper for a second lunch or dinner in the future: simply pour filling over a bead of lettuce and serve with a piece of cornbread for a kickin’ BBQ Chicken salad in seconds. Ingredients: 2 Chicken breasts 1…

Breakfast Cookie Bar  Taste and nutrition does not have to be sacrificed when time is low. When you are on the go and don’t want to skip breakfast or pull into a drive-thru window, this recipe is the perfect on-the-go grab.   The benefits of oats are well known, but there isn’t always time to cook a warm pot on the stove. This Breakfast cookie is kid friendly and welcome to unique personalization’s based on taste preference. For a Superfood twist, check out the pictures of our raw cacao, goji berry, golden raisin, and sunflower seed cookie that we took with us as we travelled through the …

White Chocolate Cranberry Cereal Treats Dipped in Chocolate It is dessert time! For a great dessert that is kid friendly, fun, easy, and a crowd pleaser, make these delicious treats. This recipe simply puts a twist on an American Classic that takes the well known and loved Rice Cereal Treat from good to great!   Ingredients: -6 cups Rice Cereal of choice -1 bag (10 oz.) regular Marshmallows -3 Tbsp Butter (Heart Smart is my favorite) -1 cup white chocolate chips -2 cups Dried Cranberries (or one bag if you like a lot) -1 bag Semi-Sweet chocolate or 1 container dipping chocolate   Materials: -…

"Must-Go" Fried RiceOnce a week growing up we would have a night proudly entitled “Must-go’s.” After having delicious meals every day it was time to empty the refrigerator of all those remaining leftovers. Everything must go on these nights - but that does not mean it can't be filled with new creative dishes. This week’s recipe takes the traditional side dish (usually ordered out) and makes it an at home entree. It will surprise you how easy and delicious this Fried Rice will be. Don’t be surprised though, if it becomes a Go-To whenever you have rice in your refrigerator. Who knows, maybe you…

Spaghetti Squash PestoFor dinner tonight we will be finishing up that leftover protein and veggies from the week with a great, inexpensive spaghetti squash base. This dish is easy to make with angel hair pasta, but the addition of a great winter vegetable makes this dinner unique, light and nutritious. The amazing thing about Spaghetti squash is that it takes on the characteristics of pasta without all the carbs or processed grains. Don’t get me wrong, I love pasta, but it’s fun to mix it up a bit and try something new. Brace yourself for how much you love this pasta-like vegetable with all …