Over the last couple of years, I’ve been working on branching out with different spice combinations. And today is just one of those days – we’re now having a moment with Japanese Togarashi. If you’re not familiar with that spice mix, well we’re in the same boat, because it’s new to me as well. So what you really need to know is it’s a spice mix involving chilis. It’s deep, earthy, with varying amounts of heat depending on the brand you use, and it has savory hints from sesame seeds....

With all the flavors of the classic dish, this Chicken Pot Pie Pasta is pure comfort food! Tender chunks of chicken and fresh vegetables in a creamy sauce flavored with thyme are tossed together with freshly cooked pasta. This recipe is easy to make gluten-free, and there are two dairy-free options as well. Chicken pot pie is one of the most classic comfort foods, and most people I know have specific memories of it....

Ultra creamy and so easy to make, this Dairy Free Ranch Dressing is so good you won’t even know it’s dairy free. It’s simple to make with pantry spices, or with some optional fresh herbs to go the extra mile. This ranch dressing is perfect for any way you love to eat ranch dressing from a dip for cut veggies to sandwiches, wraps, and chicken nuggets. And if you’re not dairy free, be sure to check out my Greek yogurt variation below....

The weekend is looking extra good with these Healthy Banana Oatmeal Pancakes! They’re naturally gluten-free and dairy-free as well as whole grain. They’re full of flavor, nice and fluffy, and so good with drizzled with pure maple syrup and more sliced bananas. We also enjoy a good amount of salted butter on our pancakes with a side of freshly brewed coffee. These pancakes are easy to make in your blender and are a great way to use up super ripe bananas....

This Lemon Mint Spa Water is an easy to make infused water. It’s super refreshing and you can change up the combo by using limes or oranges. But you can also use different fresh herbs like basil in place of the mint. I love keeping a pitcher of this infused water in the fridge chilled and ready to go in the summer months. And I’ve also found it’s a great way to hydrate for those that find plain water unappealing....

These Maple Glazed Carrots are simple to make and incredibly flavorful thanks to the browned butter and sage! They’re easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but pretty enough for holidays as well. We love serving these, particularly at Thanksgiving and everyone always asks for the recipe. The combination of browned butter creates a wonderful savory flavor and is perfect with the touch of sweetness from the maple syrup . These glazed carrots are gluten-free with dairy-free options as well....

My favorite cookie are definitely these Molasses Ginger Cookies , but that doesn’t mean I don’t like a little variety, and where better than to start than with my mom’s favorite cookie? Snickerdoodles are an awesome little cookie because you just can’t go wrong with their buttery flavor paired with a hint of cinnamon. Growing up, my mom would bake like crazy every holiday, I mean batch after batch of cookies and homemade candies!...

Easy to make and perfect for any special occasion or holiday, this Mushroom Cream Sauce is my go-to recipe. It pairs well with anything from pasta or mashed potatoes to beef, chicken, and pork. It really is a creamy mushroom sauce for everything, and it always gets rave reviews at holiday gatherings! This sauce is going to come into your life and envelop you in its incredibly creamy embrace. It’s quite simply the #1 recipe we make at family holidays, birthdays, and pretty much all occasions....

The Navajo and Queen’s Garden Loop Trail was one of our favorites from Bryce Canyon National Park . Ok… who am I kidding, we loved all the hikes we did in Bryce, but I really think this hike packs in a little extra scenery! I would recommend starting down into the canyon at the Navajo Trailhead starting at Sunset Point so that you get to descend into the Wall Street section, after going in the opposite direction because we were photographing elsewhere, I can definitely say you want descend into Wall Street for the biggest impact....

One of my favorite things about fall is my desire to turn the oven on and start roasting and baking everything in sight! After an extra hot and really smoky summer, (from all the forest fires) the cool crisp mornings and beautiful fall colors are more than welcome. Roasted veggies are a real staple in our house most months out of the year, I only stop making them when it’s too hot to move outside, and that’s when I grill them instead....

When I first saw the idea of a Pizzadilla floating around the Internet, I knew I needed one ASAP! Turns out they’ve been around for a while, but in my usual fashion, I’m late to the party. If you’re like me and new to this concept, it goes like this: pizza + quesadilla = pizzadilla. So it’s basically just a quesadilla with pizza ingredients as the filling. The version that inspired my gluten-free/grain-free version is from Delish because they go a little above and beyond with theirs....

Rich with a balance of bright tomato flavor, this easy Tomato Cream Sauce can be made in less than 20 minutes from start to finish. It’s really good served with chicken, shrimp, fish, or pork, but it’s especially indulgent when tossed together with freshly cooked pasta. It’s naturally gluten-free with 2 dairy-free options listed as well. This sauce is so easy to make and incredibly tasty, you may never buy jarred sauce again....

This Tropical Spinach Salad with Creamy Coconut Lime Dressing is full of bright flavor from the tropical fruits to the juicy crunch of the pomegranate arils. It’s all drizzled with and oil free creamy coconut dressing that pairs so well with all these flavors. It’s gluten free, dairy free, vegan and paleo as well. I’m really quite predictable with my seasonal cravings. With every fall that arrives I’m overly enthusiastic about all things apple and of course sweet potatoes....

These Almond Flour Raspberry Muffins are the perfect summer breakfast because they’re light and fresh, yet perfectly comforting! If you’ve been following along a bit with my seasonal muffin series, you’ll know there are quite a few on the blog now! And today I have another one for you that’s too good to miss. I’ve been craving poppy-seed muffins for a while now, and so I decided to come up with a new recipe....

I know meatloaf might not be the most popular food out there. But I do have to say I’ve always liked it, and it’s just plain good comfort food. While there’s nothing wrong with old fashioned regular meatloaf, I really can’t help mixing it up a bit with recipes! So todays bacon ranch meatloaf is a mix of all the most popular American things I could think of that would be great together....

These Banh Mi Lettuce Wraps satisfy all those sandwich cravings, but are packed with veggies, and there’s no added sugar! I might be a little on the extreme side, but I could eat Banh Mi sandwiches every single day of the week, and still not be tired of them! The obsession started at a tiny shop in downtown Chinatown, Calgary. Imagine for a second… life before yelp/facebook/etc. where we all exchange restaurant reviews at the speed of light....

This creamy pie would be perfect with any berry, but I think blueberries go particularly well with the lemony filling. In a few weeks, I want to try it with peaches because, well… you know… peaches and cream! It’s quickly turning into an all-purpose, every occasion kind of pie and you don’t even have to turn on the oven! This pie requires a little time to set up in the fridge, making it the perfect ‘make ahead’ dessert for barbecues and potlucks!...

You can thank my Mom for this recipe, it seems every recipe has a story behind it, and this one is no exception. She casually mentioned one day that a healthy granola with the flavors of her favorite candy bar might be nice for hiking season, and who can go wrong with chocolate, almonds, and coconut!?! I of course got right to work, and here we are with the most addictive snacking granola I’ve ever made… or maybe it’s just that I’m really partial to chocolate, (truly my mother’s daughter)....

Do you love all things creamy? We sure do, and so today I have another healthy side dish that’s low carb and dairy free, yet creamy and comforting too. This Creamy Cauliflower Mash is the perfect way to add another veggie to the table. And it’s so good you might just want to make it the main course! How does Creamy Garlic Chicken with mashed cauliflower and sautéed mushrooms sound?...

The best and easiest Deviled Eggs + 10 Flavor Topping Variations to mix things up! These classics are made easier by using the Instant Pot for the fastest peeling possible. From there you can eat these as a yummy snack or a grab-and-go breakfast. They’re also a staple at almost every holiday and potluck occasion, especially Easter. You’ll find all sorts of fun flavor variations below from the kid-friendly ranch to spicy buffalo, and the ‘fancy’ smoked salmon and capers....