In Food

No Guilt Chocolate Fix Ideas

Anyone in the room who is a chocoholic, please raise your hand! Folks, I am guilty as charged. Whether it’s a gourmet chocolate and peanut butter candy bar or a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone, I can’t stay away. But I’m always trying to eat healthier, so I’m on the hunt for ways to have my chocolate and eat it, too, so to speak. I don’t think dark chocolate on its own is inherently bad in moderation, but oftentimes it is accompanied by all kinds of oils, sugars, or unrecognizable ingredients. And those who are trying to eat paleo, gluten-free, etc. often have a hard time finding good options. Plus, if you make your own, you can save money! So it really is time we get back to the basics and indulge our chocolate addiction with ridiculously simple no guilt chocolate fix ideas like these. Come along!

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In Travel

Summers at the Lake

The RV jostled and bounced with each rock and bump as our family made its way down the gravel road to Canoe Lake. We were tired, we were ready for the cool lake water and fresh smell of pines and woody air. We eagerly anticipated long boat rides exploring hidden coves on the lake and languid dinners grilling fish on the fire and sharing tall stories. This was summer vacation in my home province of Saskatchewan, Canada. My dad, an avid fisherman, sought out the best lakes for walleye (his favorite) and took us all with him on fishing and camping adventures throughout the province. Canoe Lake, even though remote and only accessible via tiresome gravel roads, was his first choice, and each year we made our trek – family, RV, and boat – to this little haven.

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In Food

Beginner’s Guide: Canned Blueberry Pie Filling

If you have followed me at all, you know I am not the best cook or baker in the world. I don’t like anything super complicated and I’m generally afraid to try some things. But one of the reasons I started this blog was to push myself out of comfort zones, to try new things, and to write about it! And I have been wanting to try canning for a long time. I could schedule some time with friends or family who have experience with canning, but I kind of liked the idea of tackling it on my own. So here we go!

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In Travel

Musician’s Getaway in East Nashville

I am on my way to Nashville again, and I booked my stay in an Airbnb!  And that’s reminding me of this cute bungalow I rented on a previous visit.  When I started exploring options for lodging to attend a conference in Nashville, I quickly realized I couldn’t afford to be downtown, nor did I really want to be amidst all the action. Because I am a huge fan of Airbnb, I decided to take the opportunity to explore the surrounding neighborhoods and came upon this darling cottage in East Nashville.  I was unfamiliar with the location as I am still learning Nashville neighborhoods, but I decided to take a chance and book it.

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In Food

3 Easy Recipes for Fresh Summer Peaches

July means peach season in Ohio! And while it can be hard to find peaches grown locally (except at Quarry Hill Orchards, which is fantastic!), I always know when peaches are in season as the markets are full. Those beautiful fruits filling up the racks are just begging to be used in an infinite number of recipes. Today I’m sharing 3 of my favorite ways to use fresh peaches. First, I’m always up for trying a new cocktail so I concocted this Bourbon Peach-Tea Cooler. Second, I got hooked on this peach burrata salad I had a few weeks ago so I am making it again. And third, one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever make is a rustic tart with whatever fresh fruit is available – in this case, peaches! You could make any or all of these in one day. I dare say if you make them all at once it will be a veritable “peach feast”. 🙂 Let’s get started…

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