oranges

Pomegranate and Orange Champagne Punch

This festive and fruity punch with bubbly champagne and DIY frozen ice cubes is a party favorite to serve a crowd and can easily be made non-alcoholic too.

Toast Any Season with Champagne Punch

Everyone loves a good reason to raise their glass and make a toast to loved ones, friends, good times and cheer no matter what time of year. But providing a full-stocked bar at the holiday party can be a somewhat overwhelming task to add to the party list for any host.

That’s when a bowl of champagne punch steps in to add the festive flair.continue to the recipe… about Pomegranate and Orange Champagne Punch

My Favorite Ambrosia Salad Recipe

This classic ambrosia salad is one of my favorite family holiday recipes because nobody can pass up its mixture of tropical fruit and marshmallows bathed in tangy whipped sour cream.

The Best Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe

“You’re REALLY going to put that on the blog?” my man questioned. “Really?”

Yes, REALLY.

We each have our holiday favorite dishes. He has his creamed corn. I have my ambrosia salad.

These are the recipes that if missed on the holiday table cause pain and agony. Even if just for ourselves, because it simply wouldn’t be the same without them.

My grandma made this marshmallow fruit salad recipe every Thanksgiving. I think my Aunt Jill and I—and maybe my little sister Holly because she’d eat pretty much anything that was sweet—were pretty much the only ones who actually ever ate it. Although I do distinctly remember my mom adding a dollop to her plate nestled next to the cranberry sauce, even though she may deny it now.

But as the years went on, and the realization that the ambrosia likers were in a deep decline, it disappeared from the serving table.

Well guess what peeps? It’s baaaaaaaaaack.

I’ve planned on adding this ambrosia salad recipe to the blog ever since I started the blog. But I’d always second guess myself.

It’s not healthy enough.

It’s not Pinterest-worthy enough.

Who’s gonna want to look at a salad with canned fruit and marshmallows bathed in a creamy slather of deliciousness?

Me. That’s who.

continue to the recipe… about My Favorite Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Quinoa and Kale Protein Power Salad

Quinoa, chickpeas and pistachios add protein and healthy fat to this seasonal kale salad, making it a favorite side dish or healthy vegetarian main meal.

Even though I knew better, I still asked.

“Should we do something with kale, or swiss chard, or spinach, with the quinoa?”

“I’m not a good one to ask about that sort of thing,” he replied. “How about you do something with sausage, butter and cream?”

Typical. Oh…so…typical.

Didn’t he hear the bleating of the noise makers? Didn’t he see the ball drop? Doesn’t he know there’s been the annual calendar flip that puts us all into dietary shock following the previous two month’s full-steam-ahead intake of gluttonous anything and everything?

Lucky for him (ahem) he has me and this protein-packed quinoa and kale salad to remind him.

continue to the recipe… about Quinoa and Kale Protein Power Salad

Berry Delicious Fruit Salad Recipe

A mix of berries, melon, oranges and pineapple gets tossed with honey, fresh orange and lime juice and mint, making for a healthy, colorful and bright salad that’s both light and refreshing.

Following my route of debauchery last weekend in Las Vegas for our 16th annual NASCAR race (yep, I’ve got a little redneck or “neckcar” in me, and proud of it), I’ve been in need of a thorough cleansing.

Too much rich food for dinners and wacky fair food at the track (fried bricks of french fries?), too many late nights as my dad’s good luck charm at the 21 table only to get up too early to head out to watch cars go round and round and round in the 74 degree sun.

Good thing I evened it out with a spa day spent with my mama. At least they offered cucumber water to counter our mango-ritas.

It’s all about balance.continue to the recipe… about Berry Delicious Fruit Salad Recipe

Citrus Fennel and Avocado Salad

It’s no secret I like to eat. It would be abnormal—in my humble opinion—to have a food blog and not enjoy the feasting it’s bounty produces. I stand firmly in the make and munch camp.

While I do consider myself a semi-foodie, I’m not really a whole foodie. I’m not hard core about eating 100% organic or avoiding sugar in my diet and I’m too lazy a.k.a. scatterbrained to ponder the possibilities of signing up for a CSA because then I wouldn’t have to run to the grocery store 4 times a day.

And for heaven’s sake don’t even ask me to think of giving up chocolate or cheese.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not a fan of eating fresh foods depending upon the season. In fact, I’d say that’s just exactly how my foodie tidal cravings swing.

As a former creative director for a health and fitness magazine, over the years I learned ALOT about food and nutrition. Heck, I even put a girl in a swimming pool full of oranges just to show “creatively” that vitamin C is so important for skin care. Instead of shooting just a regular old orange. Because that would be easy. Back before digital cameras were even used professionally, when we still shot film. And polaroids. So you could save them for years and hang then on the inside of your office cupboards for a walk down memory lane.

Oh wait, am I the only one that does that?

Oh, how my prop stylist hated me when she had to transport 100 cases of oranges to the pool and then get them all out afterward. And the model who put on a brave face in January in an unheated pool in un-sunny Encino, CA.

But doesn’t that model look just like Bridget from Bake at 350? I bet Bridget would have been smiling too, because she’s always smiling.

continue to the recipe… about Citrus Fennel and Avocado Salad

Pomegranate and Orange Champagne Punch

Toast Any Season with Champagne Punch

My Favorite Ambrosia Salad Recipe

The Best Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe

Quinoa and Kale Protein Power Salad

Berry Delicious Fruit Salad Recipe

Citrus Fennel and Avocado Salad

How to Make the Best Potato Salad

How to Make Classic Macaroni Salad

How to Make the Best Grilled Salmon

The Best Greek Chicken Marinade

oranges

Toast Any Season with Champagne Punch

The Best Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe

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