We are so happy for our friends, they recently set out to live their dream of offering some of the most delicious and local street food to folks in southern Illinois! We were so happy they invited us to photograph their first ever event at a local country club and this week, they begin Food Truck Fridays in Marion, IL!
Learn more about Roots Run Deep Street Food on Facebook here!
Food Truck Fridays in Marion, IL! Learn more on their Facebook Event Page.
Right now we have an gorgeous array of pollinator-friendly native wildflowers blooming here in southern Illinois. The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is home to a few of them!
Hummingbird Moth on Ironweed
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)
Southern Illinois is absolutely gorgeous this time of year. Drive down any road just outside of town and you will find a plethora of blooms of native wildflowers…here are a few I noticed recently!
Now, more than ever, is a great time to Treat Yo Self! These Plush Necessities Robes are out of this world amazing. Great for men and women, these would also make a delightful Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gifts. They are roomy, ultra-soft, and washed up great. Absolute LUXURY, in your own home. I have never owned a robe THIS nice, and now I get to appreciate some of the finer things in life. YAY!
Things have been so crazy lately, that when Plush Necessities sent me two robes, and I slipped them on, the worries actually melted away…thank you SO much!!!!
Last month, we spent a little time at our friends’ cabin in the woods and had such a great time! The robe made our time there EVEN better! Just look at how relaxing that fireplace makes things…
I have honestly taken a little step back from the crazy business of life, blogging, and travel, and have been focusing more time on doing meaningful things at home than I ever have before. I have been aiming to make a few more considered meals compared to quick bites for dinner, incorporating more local ingredients thank in years past. Luckily, too, foraging for local morels, wildflowers, hiking, and getting on the lake a bit have been extremely good therapy.
Also, I have been doing deep cleaning and organization of all my clothing, craft, and sewing supplies, as well as helped clean up our yard a bit. It’s sometimes hard though, with the current situation at hand to be able to push aside the thoughts of worry and uncertainty for the future, and focus on these sorts of things. Perhaps they are just distractions…but productive distractions to say the least.
I was trying to honestly hoping to avoid mentioning the stay at home / shelter in place / pandemic on my blog at all, perhaps in hopes of it just “going away”. Our society has really had to adjust to a major change in lifestyle, and people are all handling the social distancing thing in their own ways, making me wonder how we will all have adjusted and how these changes will stick to our social interactions from here on out, even after the COVID is “over”.
We can’t even go to bars and restaurants like we used to. We can’t have friends and family over for dinners or parties, or go to others’ homes to do the same. It’s been rough. We never really went out to eat or drink THAT regularly, since I believe the best food and drinks around here come from our home here in southern Ilinois.
BUT, with no live music to attend, and with the Makanda Mushroom Fest postponed until late September, I have to now re-focus energy back on myself, on mental health, and relaxing. None of which I have ever been THAT good at. I love focusing energy on making others happy and making life beautiful for others, and that in turn makes ME happy.
So, this is the moment to TREAT YO SELF, and I am loving this new way of thinking. Little special treats like this robe and a few delicious recipes, and some delish beer are getting me through…
Now, instead of going out to a live show, I can even more appreciate a night at home, watching a movie, enjoying a delicious beverage…
Our friends did such an incredible job with the remodel on their rental cabin, and soon, it will be available to rent again! It’s such a retreat in the woods, but not too far from town. Such a relaxing oasis.
These peanut bars are by far everyone’s favorite treat I have ever created.
With such simple ingredients and work involved in these, they are even great if you’re looking for a quick and easy treat. I made these to help spread the word when the Dumbo movie premiered. Such an honor!
INGREDIENTS
cooking spray
1 (16 ounce) jar dry-roasted peanuts, divided
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) package peanut butter chips
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups miniature marshmallows
INSTRUCTIONS:
Spray the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Spread 1/2 of the peanuts into the prepared baking dish.
Cook and stir sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter chips, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until melted, about 5 minutes. Add marshmallows and stir until smooth. Pour mixture over peanuts and top with remaining peanuts.
Refrigerate until chilled, 1 to 2 hours. Cut into bars. Enjoy!
This post is sponsored by Ocean Spray® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.
This year, health became more of a focus for me. I have always lived a pretty healthy and active lifestyle, but this year, when we upgraded our kayak, it got us outside, getting fit, and overall appreciating the benefits of treating our bodies better than ever.
I am always looking for new things to incorporate into my mission of living a healthy lifestyle. This year, I was able to spend so much time outside doing fun activities like hiking and boating, and now that the weather is a bit chillier, I tend to do more activities inside like yoga and light weights.
Ocean Spray® Pure Cranberry Juice has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and is Non-GMO. This is a big incentive for me to purchase this juice over others, because I love to find new ways better myself through what I am drinking!
You can get Ocean Spray® Pure Cranberry Juice at Target, Walmart or Kroger. I got my juice at Kroger, in the juice aisle, near the other 100% juices. It’s towards the very beginning of the aisle. The juice is 100% pure cranberry juice, and there’s NO added sugar. The only sugar in this juice is 9g per serving, which occurs naturally in the cranberries themselves. This is an excellent option compared to traditional juices that may contain 23g of sugar or more.
Cranberries have been referred to as a superfood, and they are known for their high levels of nutrients and antioxidants. Each bottle of Ocean Spray(R) Pure Cranberry juice is made from the juice of 850+ cranberries.
Throughout this post, I will share some of the simple ways I adapted to a healthier lifestyle, share the health benefits and nutritional information of cranberries, and share how you can easily incorporate cranberries into a more health conscious lifestyle. Plant based wellness is such an easy way to take our health into our own hands and help our bodies prosper any way possible!
Years ago, I decided to completely give up fast food and most convenience foods. By eliminating fried foods and gave up drinking soft drinks almost completely. That one was so difficult, but once you don’t give into certain temptations like excessive sugar, then your body does begin to crave it less and less. By finding alternative ways to indulge in those sugar cravings is so always have bananas, apples, and oranges on hand. And, feel free to of course keep a bit of chocolate around, but I recommend getting a bag of dark chocolate chips and eating a small handful of them, instead of keeping bags of processed candies around.
Also, through food photography, I was able to start learning more about eating plant based foods, incorporating new ingredients into my meals, and to consider what I ate and drank SO much more than ever. In addition to that new kayak we got this year, which allowed us to get outside, get fresh air, and get more active, we have been on an upward slope to being overall in better health. Cranberries are so fun to cook and bake with as well, and their all natural color makes for some gorgeous food.
CRANBERRIES FOR A BETTER LIFE
The Ocean Spray website has a lot of great recipe ideas, and some of them include smoothies and a variety of Cranberry Mocktails like these. The holidays are a fun time to try new drinks and ingredients, so here are some ideas.
Muddle ice and mint leaves in glass, then add all other ingredients. Enjoy this refreshing drink.
1 C. Gingerale
1 C. Ocean Spray® Pure Cranberry Juice
¼ Lime wedge
2 Mint leaves
1/4 C. Cranberries to garnish drink
Ice
Pour all ingredients over ice together, garnish with fresh cranberries.
· 4 tbsp of Ocean Spray(R) Pure Cranberry Juice
· 1/2 Can Cranberry sparkling water
· 4 tbsp of freshly squeezed orange juice
· 1 tsp lemon juice
· Cranberry and mint for garnish
· 2 Cups crushed ice
It’s so easy to incorporate cranberry juice into your life, making your journey towards health even more rewarding and achievable!
Join us for the first annual Makanda Mushroom Festival held in the gorgeous Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. During the weekend of April 17-19, 2020, Camp Manitowa at Cedar Point in Makanda, IL boasts a gorgeous backdrop for mushroom foraging hikes, food and fermentation workshops, a mushroom dinner with chef Anne Millard, live music from incredible local talent, art, vendors, camping, cabins, and much more. Stay tuned for more details. Perfect for families and people of all ages! Enjoy spring with us here in the Shawnee, we cannot wait to see you in April!
I recently took on a fun, new project. I am helping to coordinate a new, local festival here in southern Illinois. Myself and the two owners of Flyway Family Farm have embarked on a journey towards something they have dreamt of for years and years. I’m thrilled with the community that has some out of everywhere to support the Mush Love movement, so I can only imagine how incredible this will be.
Below, you can check out a few photos of the camp. It’s going to be so amazing!
Gates open at 3pm on Friday, April 17, 2020.
Festivities run Friday - Sunday.
Checkout Monday, April 20, 2020 12:00pm.
Purchase Tickets Here!
http://bit.ly/Makanda-Mushroom-Fest-Tix
Adult tent camping:
$80.00
Child 12 and under tent camping:
$40.00
4 person hogan cabin - includes festival ticket
(only 20 available):
$150.00
I’m excited that we will be offering guided hikes, and with the foraged edible mushrooms and other wild edibles we find, we will then be hosting a Forage and Fermentation Mushroom Dinner. This will be so wonderful, and I am going to be very excited to get to use my love of food photography to likely capture the event!
Festival Decor will also be so fun!!! I cannot wait to create a whimsical and elegant look for the camp.
The Camp also offers free kayaks and canoes to camp attendees for the festival, which is one of the best ways to enjoy this area, boating around on Little Grassy Lake!
So excited to share my latest project. I am helping to redesign the product labels for Flyway Family Farm. Here is the first round!
If you’re looking for a fun and unique snack or breakfast recipe, this panini-style sandwich will be great for you. With those classic flavors of bananas, Nutella, and whole grain sandwich thins as your bread, you are sure to enjoy this sweet delight.
That ooey gooey Nutella oozes out, so watch out, this is a fun experience that makes breakfast or even a midnight snack more fun.
I used my Martha Stewart Cast Iron Skillet, but here are some other great options under $20.
Victoria Cast Iron Square Grill Pan at Target
Crock-Pot Artisan 10" Square Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan at Walmart
We were so fortunate to meet Karen Fiorino, the creative artist behind Clay Lick Creek Pottery. Her ceramics studio is nestled in a cabin-like building on her property, nestled among the tress and gorgeous surroundings of the Shawnee National Forest. She creates every single piece by hand - no molds are used here, then each piece is also hand painted. Some items are made in smaller series, and some of her creations are available year-round. She uses her natural surrounds to inspire her art, and I am very excited to share them with you today.
I’ve been creating functional pottery for about 20 years, starting with a few classes in ceramics on the advice of a good friend who informed me, “To take real classes in pottery and use the opportunity of subsidized courses working at the University gave me”. Thus started my journey in clay. I fell in love with the process, bought a wheel, paid off the truck and quit my job to pursue a life of art. I sell my pottery at various local and regional art fairs to sell my work, and am well received in these markets. — January 2010 marked my beginning opening my shop on Etsy and having the whole world have a peek of my work.
I named my clay studio, Clay Lick Creek Pottery after the name of the creek that flows across the land where I live. and specialize in functional pottery making serving bowls, mugs and other fun pieces featuring a majolica glaze decorated in brilliant colors over a red earthenware body. Each item is hand formed or hand thrown on a potter’s wheel, trimmed, and allowed to dry for approximately 1 week depending on size, density and air humidity before it is bisque fired. This stage of firing takes 16-18 hours and is then followed by a 24 hour cooling period. The white background is applied using an opaque, lead free Majolica glaze, and then hand painted using a mason stain/ frit combination. The pottery pieces are then fired again for approximately 8 hours, and after another cooling for another 24 hours, the charming wares are ready for the world and all that they may be used for. All of the pieces are food safe, and the smaller bowls and mugs may be used in the microwave for heating times of less than three minutes. To clean, they may be hand washed or placed on the top rack of a dishwasher.
“I believe people should have beautiful objects in their homes and use these beautiful objects in their everyday life. Nature inspires me, from the smallest to the largest of creatures-from the colors of geological formations to the colors of the sunrise and sunset. Ideas come to me from my zoological background (did I mention my education experience? I have a B.S. and M.A. in Zoology, specializing in Ichthyology (fish) and I draw a lot of my inspiration from this), a little dream work and images which many may not come to think. Add to that a little bit of humor and what appears is a palette of vibrant, joyful and whimsical designs that come to life on my pottery.
“Oftentimes, I have no idea what my work will look like until I am done, the designs simply develop while I am working on them. My goal for each piece is that when people come in contact with my work, they will experience joy and positive energy. One of my favorite things to hear from people who have my work, is how much they enjoy my pottery, how it makes them happy. If one of my purposes in life is to spread happiness, I believe I am succeeding one person at a time”—Karen
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These ceramics are such show pieces! Serve your favorite veggies or appetizers in them for a beautifully colorful presentation!
She also has a listed schedule of events of art shows she’s showing her work at and various other tidbits.
If you would like a gift message enclosed with your order, just let her know. She is happy to help!
She will GLADLY ship anywhere - if it's not listed in my shipping, contact her for a quote. Plus, if you are interested in multiples, she will adjust any overcharge on the total shipping rates.
Serve guests vanilla yogurt and beautiful bowls of fresh fruits and granola to make their own parfaits.
Enjoy the beauty of southern Illinois with Clay Lick Creek Pottery
Super excited for #FootballSeason with @gardein! Here is a delicious #vegetarian #football #party #appetizer that will please fans. These #plantbased Gardein Meatless Meatballs are great baked in the oven, then finished off in your favorite sauce in a skillet in the oven. They also have a range of other products like chicken fingers and chicken strips which we have thoroughly enjoyed all season long.
The brand was so kind to send me an assortment of their meatless appetizers
#GardeinGameDay #IC #appetizer #meatlessmonday #footballparty #recipe #heresmyfood #meatless
This post is sponsored by CBDMEDIC but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Experience a new revolution in pain relief! CBDMEDIC is a topical ointment in stick form that is applied directly to the skin to relieve sore muscles. I love being able to choose a safe, effective, and powerful pain relief - allowing me to Play Harder & Live Better!
I visited CVS to grab the stick. I found it across from the pharmacy, in a nice CBD featured endcap. I loved getting to know the range of CBDMEDIC products.
CBDMEDIC - a CBD-infused topical for fast pain relief. Topicals generally do not enter the bloodstream, and they do not have to pass through the metabolic system before producing the effect. This aids in temporary pain relief. This would be great to keep in your travel bag too, since the lid fits nice and securely.
This incredible rub-on CBD-infused stick relieves sore muscles through other active ingredients like camphor, menthol, and clove oil. Many other natural oils and ingredients are utilized.
About the product, from the brand. "Our Active Sport™ Deep Muscle Rub and Solid Sport Stick provide advanced pain relief while continuously delivering our proprietary formulation that increases blood circulation and reduces inflammation. Active Sport™ products can be applied before, during, and after workouts, so they work when you are ready for them. From strains and sore muscles to joint distress and muscle pulls, our Active Sport™ line can offer highly effective relief and get you back in the game"!
Play harder & Live better!
With all the fun outdoor activities we do here in southern Illinois, it takes a toll. Sore muscles are no joke, and while I try to stretch or fight through the pain, sometimes I definitely need something. This lotion was really nice, and easy to apply since it’s in a twist-up applicator.
We are so fortunate to have such immense natural beauty here in southern Illinois. We have lived here for about 13+ years, and we used to hike and camp all the time. We loved it, but the heat would keep us inside more and more. It gets extremely hot and humid here, and there is rarely a cool breeze to greet us.
We recently headed to a friend’s cabin and I tried Stand Up Paddling (SUP). While I have kayaked and paddled quite a bit recently, I have never gotten the chance to SUP. It was great.
As I mentioned, we have kayaked a lot lately. Last Fall, we got a two person kayak, and learned that the best way to actually enjoy summer here is on the water. Paddling can definitely hurt my arms and shoulders, almost making my body feel tight. It’s always nice to know that I have been exercising and working those muscles, and this CBDMEDIC offers fast relief, and then you can go on with your day.
If you would like to learn more about CBDMEDIC, visit them on social media, or their website, here!
What an exceptional birthday! I turned 34 last weekend, and we celebrated at a cute pavilion on Devil’s Kitchen Lake. The weather was just perfect, and the full moon that started on Friday the 13th and carried into my birthday things even more special. Wow, I am so thankful for all the wonderful people in our lives!
We love craft beer! We went to the Big Muddy Homebrew Competition in Murphysboro, IL, and it was so fun sampling craft homebrews from all over Illinois and Missouri. This competition leads up to the Big Muddy Monster Brew Fest, in Murphysboro, IL on Saturday, October 5, 2019 (noon - 4pm). Excited to frequent the homebrew tent at the event next weekend!
I’m so happy we had the opportunity to stop by and check out the 100+ Homebrew recipes that were submitted.
Check out the poster I created for the homebrew competition, below. The winner will have their beer recipe brewed at a larger scale, and is a huge honor! **NOTE - Contest has ended.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FALLInLoveWithHatfield, #MakeEasyMoreInteresting #simplyhatfield #CollectiveBias
We recently headed to Schnuck’s Market here in Carbondale to shop for our Hatfield® Dry Rubbed Marinated Tenderloin, as well as the grocery items on the list. Luckily, this meal only took 3 main ingredients, so shopping was fast and easy.
Hatfield has amazing products, ranging from dry rub seasoned tenderloins to slow-cooker-ready pork roasts.
Since the pork tenderloin is already marinated, your prep and cooking time is reduced by HOURS! Oh my goodness, the aroma of the Tuscan Herb seasonings made the house smell incredible…our mouths were watering after just a few minutes :)
Cook and serve
Simple
Full of Flavor
Makes dinner less about the hard work of cooking, and more about time spent with family.
#1 Marinated Tenderloin in the Northeast is the Hatfield Tuscan Herb Tenderloin
Hatfield offers a HUGE variety of products and selections in their Marinated line. From Tuscan Herb to Texas Smokehouse, so many flavor profiles are covered, that most anyone would find one they loved.
Hatfield® Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Hatfield® Marinated Pork Loin Filets
Hatfield® Marinated Pork Roasts
Hatfield® Marinated Pork Chops
Hatfield® Marinated Pork Ribs
1 Package (18.4 oz.) - Hatfield® Dry Rubbed Marinated Tenderloin
1 medium-sized summer squash
1-2 packages asparagus
Olive Oil
3 skillets (at least 1 needs to have a lid for the pork tenderloin)
seasoning (I used Italian seasoning)
Salt
Any other seasonings you like, such as garlic
Cooking utensils
Tongs for cooking tenderloin, optional
Hatfield® Marinated Pork Tenderloin
1.) Remove packaging, and heat skillet to medium heat, with 2TBSP or so of olive oil.
2.) Once the skillet is hot, use optional tongs to place tenderloin onto heated skillet. This will begin to help you build a nice sear on the outsides while cooking the insides as well. Place lid onto pan/skillet, check after 2-3 minutes to ensure no sticking). No need to season the tenderloin, since Hatfield has already done the hard job of marinating the pork for you. This saves hours, luckily.
3.) After 3-4 minutes of cooking, carefully use an oven mitt and pair of tongs and flip the tenderloin to the other side. Replace lid and cook for 4-5 more minutes, moving tenderloin around in skillet if needed, to avoid burning or sticking to the skillet too much.
4.) Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes (or even a bit longer), rotating and flipping the tenderloin every couple of minutes. Make sure meat has cooked to an internal temperature of about 180 degrees F. The meat was extremely tender and cooked SO WELL!
Squash
1.) Heat second skillet and add 1-2 TBSP olive oil.
2.) Carefully slice squash and once skillet is hot, add squash to skillet. Sautee about 3 minutes on one side, use tong to flip slices, and cook on other side for 2-3 more minutes, until tender.
Asparagus
1.) Cut bottom 2-3 inches off asparagus stalks.
2.) Cook in hot skillet with olive oil, salt, and garlic, enjoy.
I would definitely recommend keeping a few of these Hatfield Marinated products on hand. Cook one for dinner, have it as leftovers the next few days, and keep 2-3 other Hatfield products in the freezer. They only take a half a day to thaw, so they would be amazing when you need a fulfilling dinner without any fuss.
The other protein that I was considering featuring was the Hatfield® Marinated Pork Roast. It looks incredible, but the preferred cooking method was a crock pot. I would definitely like to keep one on hand for another time.
This dish would be super easy to make ahead for lunch or dinner the next day. Simply use clear containers to store the meal, and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
I also really love what Hatfield is doing across their social media channels. In fact, they featured my kebabs recipe recently, it was such a nice surprise! Get the full recipe here.
I’m sure the warm weather hasn’t “officially” ended / I literally just got the weather app notification staying, “considerably warmer temperatures tomorrow”,
Despite the “Fall weather fake-out”, we took a little time today after the storms cleared and headed to a few places in Cobden, Alto Pass, and all the sprawling hills with orchards and wineries, and it was so pretty. Really happy to have taken full advantage of the weather, and I’m super happy with some of the photos we took too.
Stay tuned for more photos, coming soon! What sort of Fall activities are you looking forward to this year?
We are so lucky to have lots of great places in the Shawnee National Forest to hike and experience. I recently went on a hike on the 3+ mile loop trail at Little Grand Canyon, and I had a blast!
Towards the lower portion of the trail, I saw some of the most impressive set of rock formations, shown above. It’s definitely worth hiking the entire trail just to see them!
Wild hydrangeas grow along creek beds and from rocky ledges. Thank be been so enamored with these gorgeous flowers since we visited the Oregon coast a few years ago and these flowers were everywhere. This year, we also grew them in our garden so when I realized that they grew naturally in southern Illinois, I was so happy! I’ve seen them here, Tunnel Hill, and also at Pomona Natural Bridge.
The native Wild Hydrangea is occasional to locally common in southern Illinois, uncommon in central Illinois, and largely absent from the northern section of the state. Habitats include shaded ravines, rocky stream banks in wooded areas, bottoms of bluffs and cliffs, low rocky ledges, and similar habitats in wooded areas. Wild Hydrangea is found in high quality natural areas.
This was one of the first solo hikes I had embarked on, and it’s said that, “in every walk in nature, one receives far more than he seeks”.
My main intent with this walk was to explore a new place and to spend a little time in nature and I absolutely LOVED every second of it.
While I saw a few other hikers at first, and since there’s little to no signal for most of this trail, I should’ve been slightly concerned about being alone in the woods…but I felt safe. It felt awesome to know that I had a moment to myself and that I could walk as fast or as slow as I wanted and I didn’t have to be concerned with taking too many photos of the little things along the way, for fear that it would take “too long”.
I feel like I should make it a point to hike somewhere different each week and post it here! I’ve gotten so much more in tune with the natural beauty around me here in southern Illinois, and it definitely needs to be a bigger part of my blog!
I met Mike and Jess at the Carbondale Farmer’s Market years ago, and they are some of my favorite people to this day. They sell their incredible, gourmet mushrooms at the market every Saturday throughout the entire season from April - November. You can also find their mushrooms at various local restaurants, grocery stores like The Neighborhood Co-Op, and at the Urbana, IL Market.
I recently had the honor of capturing some of their current offerings. They have a Chef’s Mix, which contained some of each. These pink oyster mushrooms were so incredible in a mixed veggie skillet we made recently while camping.
Last year, we also created a really incredible post for Martha Stewart, featuring several of the Flyway Family Farm mushrooms, which I also found at the Farmer’s Market.
Looking for a delicious marinated mushroom recipe? They can be made ahead of time, and enjoyed for up to five days.
I was asked by Carusele to participate in the #LaurasLean campaign, sponsored by Laura’s Lean. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.
This simple and delicious meal idea is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Since all of the ingredients are creatively displayed on the plate, each person can create their very own version of their meal. This is food that actually makes you feel great after eating it, exactly what food should be!
I think this would also be fun to serve to guests, for the very same reason, everyone has such different tastes and preferences.
I have been a fan of Laura’s Lean for a couple of years now. Since I shop at Kroger, and I am always drawn to higher-quality, learner ground beef, Laura’s Lean has been a go-to of mine ever since I first tried it. Our local Kroger was remodeled recently, and I tend to prefer their selection and prices way better than anywhere else in town. I always recommend upgrading your beef selection when possible – you definitely deserve the best. When you chose Laura’s Lean, you’re choosing the balance of taste and nutrition for you and your family.
Learn Where To Buy Laura’s Lean Near You!
Keep reading to get the full details on this lean recipe and learn how easy it is to make this yummy meal.
This dish would be so great as a make-ahead option too, since most of the ingredients can be stored overnight and bought to work or school the next day. I stored each of the leftover ingredients in individual containers, and created a whole extra meal the next day.
WORK LUNCHES
BACK TO SCHOOL
BUSY FAMILIES
…and anyone who loves an easy, simple, delicious meal that takes under 30 minutes to prepare and enjoy!
Find Laura’s Lean Ground Beef or Ground Beef Patties at Kroger nationwide.
1 (16 oz.) package of Laura’s Lean Beef
1/2 – 1 cup chopped onion
2-3 cloves garlic – chopped or minced
2-3 TBSP olive oil
3-4 TBSP Taco Seasoning (or more if you prefer)
2 cups shredded cheddar
Lettuce - chopped, tomatoes - diced, sour cream, and any other toppings you prefer.
Tortillas – optional – omit if low carb is preferred.
Salt
1-2 limes
We really loved being able to use home grown tomatoes, right from our garden!
Laura’s Lean is so great – it’s so lean and has a taste that’s better than anything else on the market.
1.) Chop onions and garlic into tiny pieces, set aside. In a medium to large skillet, add 1-2 TBSP olive oil, and turn heat to medium. Add chopped onions and garlic, and season with a small sprinkle of the taco seasoning. Cook until tender.
2.) Once veggies are sautéed, add Laura’s Lean Ground Beef, and begin to cook. Season with 3-4 tsp salt + 2-3 more TBSP of the taco seasoning, and more if you prefer. Cook until brown. Season with fresh lime juice if you would like.
3.) If you do see any excess grease after your beef has cooked, feel free to strain it in a colander in the sink. Once drained, add beef back to skillet and get ready to prepare your plates.
4.) On each plate, add Laura’s Lean ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, cheese, and any other toppings you like! Serve with warmed tortillas, and enjoy.
With a fresh, new season almost upon us, I wanted to take an opportunity to refresh the blog and share a few new posts! We’ve been busy behind the scenes planning and prepping for lots of great new content, so stay tuned!! Below, you can check out some of the most adorable items for Fall Under $50 on Jane.com, one of my favorite partners!
What are your Fall Fashion staples? I tend to gravitate towards items that are cute AND comfy - how about you?
The Wild Thing Dolman Cardigan is so versatile and would be amazing for travel.
$25.99 plus $5.99 for the first item and $2.99 for each additional item. US only. Seller usually ships within 6 business days. Ships no later than Wed, Aug 28.
This Sherpa Pullover comes in 4 colors, and is a timeless closet staple. It will match so many outfits and excursions this Fall.
$26.99 plus $3.99 for the first item and $2.99 for each additional item. US only. Seller usually ships within 2 business days. Ships no later than Tuesday, Aug 27.
Awe, these Fall-Themed T-shirts are really adorable and I have several other designs from this company. They really last forever, and they fit like a dream! Great for the pumpkin patch, too!
$14.99 plus $3.99 for the first item and $1.99 for each additional item. US only. Ships no later than Thu, Sep 5.
This Boho Flag Bunting is SO cute! I would love to decorate my home with this.
$14.99 plus $3.99 Shipping for the first item and $2.29 for each additional item. US only. Seller usually ships within 5 business days. Ships no later than Thu, Aug 29.
These popular, side-cut booties are amazing. They would really dress up an outfit with little effort, a big plus in my opinion!
$34.99 plus Free Shipping. US only. Seller usually ships within 2 business days. Ships no later than Wed, Aug 28.
