Butternut Squash Ravioli with Herb Browned Butter

I love butternut squash and I love ravioli.
So when I saw Butternut Squash Ravioli at Trader Joe's recently,
I just had to buy it to try it out.
And guys - it's really yummy!

Not only is it tasty, it's super easy to make too!
I just threw together a simple herb browned butter sauce,
but even just a little butter would be delicious too.
Let me show you how I made mine.


The Goods:
Butternut Squash Ravioli
Butter
Garlic
Thyme
Parsley
Parmesan Cheese

Melt half a stick of butter in a skillet.

Once melted, turn down the heat slightly,

then add your garlic and thyme.

While the butter is browning, throw in your pasta to cook.

Cook according to package directions.

Keep an eye on your butter, stirring it every so often.

When it starts to brown and you smell a nutty flavor, you know it's done.

Add your cooked, drained pasta to the skillet 

and toss to coat it in the browned butter sauce. 

Plate your pasta, add fresh minced parsley and Parmesan cheese.

Dig in and ENJOY!!!

Grilled Pizzas!

One of my best friends introduced me to grilled pizza a few years ago.

I was hooked from the first bite and even shared about them in 2012!

I promised I'd share about them soon and I guess I failed on that.

Or that soon is apparently almost four years later...whoops!

These pizzas are well worth the wait though.

They are a step up from your regular pizza with a smokey grilled flavor.

And while basic pizza toppings like pepperoni are always good,

unique flavors like these below are by far my favorite!

The Goods:

Pizza Dough

Dates

Prosciutto

Thyme

Mozzarella Cheese

Tomatoes*

Baby Greens or Arugula*

(*Not Pictured)

Cut dough in half, stretch out and then grill both sides on cast iron grill pan.

Add your topping to each pizza dough.

I did date, prosciutto and thyme on one

and fresh diced tomatoes and prosciutto on the other.

Grill with top covered for 5 to 10 minutes, 

until bottom is crisp and cheese is melted.

I added a bunch of baby greens and more fresh tomatoes to the one without dates.

Fresh tomato, prosciutto and baby greens.

Date, prosciutto and thyme.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmy!

Now go make yourself some grilled pizza.

You and your stomach will be very happy!

Date and Prosciutto Grilled Pizzas

1 Package Premade Pizza Dough

5 to 6 Dates, Chopped

4 Slices Prosciutto, Chopped

4 to 5 Sprigs Thyme, Leaves removed from stems

1 to 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1. Cut dough in half, stretch out and then grill both sides on cast iron grill pan.
2. Add your topping to each pizza dough.
3. Grill with top covered for 5 to 10 minutes, until bottom is crisp and cheese is melted.
4. Cut and devour immediately! 

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Crock Pot Whole Chicken

This post was supposed to go live yesterday,

but I have been crazy sick the last few days

so I am just now getting around to posting.

My apology!

Years ago my brother told me about the blog 100 Days of Real Food

and how the Crock Pot Whole Chicken recipe is so easy and so tasty.

I tried it soon after we talked and have made it multiple times since.

Not only is it really easy to make, but it has so much flavor too!

It's become one of my favorite ways to make a whole chicken

and the best part is that the crock pot does most of the work!

The Goods:

Whole Chicken

Onion

Carrots

Baby Potatoes

Fresh Thyme

Paprika

Salt

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

Cayenne Pepper

Black Pepper

Cut up your onion, carrots and baby potatoes, then place in the bottom of your crock pot.

You don't want these too small, but more like bite sized pieces.

Combine all your spices and then rub the mixture ALL over the cleaned chicken.

Place chicken on top of the onions, carrots and potatoes in the crock pot.

Cover with the lid and cook on high for at least 5 hours,

or until the chicken meat is falling off the bones.

After about five hours, you'll have super flavorful chicken, carrots and potatoes.

Totally optional - but I like to make a gravy using the liquid from the crock pot.

Make up a plate, grab yourself a drink and enjoy this yummy dinner!

Crock Pot Whole Chicken

Adapted from 100 Days of Real Food

Whole Chicken

1 Large Yellow Onion

4 Large Carrots

12 Baby Potoatos

4 Sprigs Fresh Thyme

2 Teaspoons Paprika

1 Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Onion Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1. Cut up your onion, carrots and baby potatoes, then place in the bottom of your crock pot.
2. Combine all your spice and then rub the mixture ALL over the cleaned chicken.
3. Place chicken on top of the onions, carrots and potatoes in the crock pot.
4. Cover with the lid and cook on high for at least 5 hours or until the chicken meat is falling off the bones.
5. Optional - make gravy with liquid from the crock pot.

July Garden Update - 5 Favorites!

Happy last day of July you guys!!!

This month's garden update is extra special,

because it's a Five Friday Favorites post too!

Yup, a two for one on this fine Friday.

And like my usual Five Friday Favorite posts,

I'm linking up with THREE different groups.

Make sure to check them all out at the bottom of this post!

If you're new to the blog,
my garden is kinda what got this thing going,
but my cooking has sorta taken over for the most part.

A few months ago I made a point to post about my garden more.
And I even started a monthly garden update the last day of every month!
If you missed them, check out: March, April, May and June.

Ok - now onto the Five Friday Favorites Update!

Jalapeno Plant

When I posted last month's update,
I said I hadn't seen any buds or blooms recently.
Well wouldn't you know - I have a few of each now!!!

Lemon Tree

Last month I pruned the heck outta my Lemon Tree!
It it still looking pretty bare, but seems to be doing quite well.
I want more leaves already, but I know that will take some time.

Herb Garden

I recently added two new plants to the herb garden.
I hadn't had parsley for quite some time,
and I replaced the dying thyme plant I did have.

Coconut Liners

(Photo Source)
I haven't had liners in my window boxes for months!!!
In fact, I STILL don't, but I have new liners and that's the first step.
I'm hoping to have new flowers planted very soon!

Christmas Tree

Now that we're less than FIVE months from Christmas,
it's time for me to start thinking about the holidays
(I'm only partly joking folks...)
And I can't wait to decorate this monster again in a few months.

Now for more Friday Link Up Fun, check out the blogs below!

Andrea and Erika's blogs from Friday Favorites.

April's blog from 5 on Friday.

Karli and Amy's blogs from oh hey friday!

And lastly, as a quick reminder -

I will be blogging about garden updates 

every last day of each month.

It may not be a complete update each month,

but it will be about something in the garden.

So keep coming back to see what I have growing!

Dad's Lemon Pepper Chicken

My dad has made Lemon Pepper Chicken for years.

I can't remember a birthday growing up,

that I didn't request for him to make it for dinner!

After I moved away and started to cook more variety,

I asked him for the recipe and only slightly modified it!

Keep reading to see how this tasty chicken is made.

The Goods:

Chicken

Lemon Juice

Olive Oil

Worcestershire Sauce

Fresh Pepper

Garlic

Garlic Salt

Salt

Fresh Thyme

Squeeze your lemons to get fresh lemon juice.

I recently got a lemon squeezer and don't know how I lived without.

It makes getting fresh lemon, lime or even orange juice so easy! 

It took me three lemons to get 1/2 cup of juice.

Add everything except the chicken to the juice.

And then mix until everything is incorporated.

You can use whatever chicken you'd like.

Boneless, bone in - it really doesn't matter.

I've had it on all, but I prefer boneless breasts.

Add a little bit of marinade to a container with a lid,

add your chicken and then the rest of the marinade.

Secure lid tightly and marinate a few hours or overnight.

Grill your chicken until cooked fully.

Then serve with a yummy side or two and enjoy!!!

And if possible - dine outside with a yummy cocktail!

Dad's Lemon Pepper Chicken 

About 1 Pound Chicken

1/2 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

2 Cloves Garlic - minced

1/2 Teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper

1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme

1. Juice lemons until you have 1/2 a cup of juice.
2. Add everything else, except the chicken, and combine well.
3. Put marinade and chicken in a container with a lid.
4. Refrigerate for at least a few hours, or overnight.
5. Grill until chicken is cooked fully.
6. Serve and enjoy!!

DIY: Herb Garden Chalkboard Pots

In the most recent post about my garden, 

I said I'd blog about my DIY Chalkboard Pots soon.

Well folks, soon is now here!

This project was pretty simple to complete,

and honestly didn't cost much because I owned all the pots.

Check out how I spent little time transforming my herb garden!

The Goods:

Ceramic Pots

Painters Tape

Chalkboard Spray Paint

Colored Spray Paint

Paper Drop Cloth

Chalk (Not Pictured)

Tape a thick line saperating the top portion of the pot from the bottom.

Using Chalkboard Spray Paint cover the top portion and the pot saucers.

Let it dry then remove the tape.

Once dry, completely cover the chalkboard areas with painters tape.

Then spray paint the rest of the pot whatever color you would like.

I personally love this shade and thought it was great for Spring!

Let dry and then remove tape.

Touch up with paintbrush where necessary.

Replant the herbs you have growing.

And using chalk label each pot.

That's it!

Super easy.

Super cute.

Sunday Night Dinner: Take 23

It's been FOREVER since I posted a Sunday Night Dinner post, and I'm sorry...but I just couldn't resist posting tonight!

Why?

Because I made pork chops for the 1st time!!! 

And made a very simple, yet super tasty homemade applesauce to eat with the pork chops! 

To finish the meal off, I made some parmesan mashed potatoes and fresh sauteed garlic brussle sprouts! 

Oh how I love a delicious homemade meal! Especially on a Sunday night for a perfect ending to a great weekend.