Name: Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 2 cans of buttermilk biscuits (two-7.5ounce, 10 count cans); 1/2 cup of sugar; 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ground; 1 stick of butter; 1/2 cup of brown sugar, tightly packed

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins

June 26, 2022 by Rachel 10 Comments

If there’s anything I love, it’s an easy recipe that the whole family will enjoy. As much as I’ve made breakfast items like pancakes, waffles, eggs, and bacon, my family just loves Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins. Perhaps it’s that we generally just have cereal and milk for breakfast, so monkey bread muffins seem like a mega treat! But that’s the beauty in it! They are easy, delicious, and (despite them only taking minutes to prep) everyone will think they are incredible!

What you’ll need

This recipe is super simple. In addition to your favorite air fryer, you’ll need the following ingredients:

2 cans of buttermilk biscuits (two-7.5ounce, 10 count cans)
1/2 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ground
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar, tightly packed

That’s it! Super easy and delicious. You no longer need to wait for a special occasion to make a big monkey bread. This is the kind of thing that you can whip up in a quick minute for every weekend, if you want!

If you need another muffin recipe, check out this delicious peach one!

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins Recipe

Yield: 12

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 cans of buttermilk biscuits (two-7.5ounce, 10 count cans)
1/2 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ground
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar, tightly packed

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Cut raw biscuits into 4 and set them aside.
In a gallon Ziploc bag, mix sugar and cinnamon together.
Take 1/4 the number of biscuit pieces and toss them in the sugar mixture.
Remove coated pieces and fill an oil-sprayed jumbo silicone muffin liner 3/4 full.
Repeat steps 3 & 4 until finished.
Melt the butter and mix with the brown sugar.
Place filled muffin liners in the air fryer basket and drizzle 2 tablespoons of the butter brown sugar sauce over the biscuit pieces.

Allow it to settle in.
Cook at 350 for 10 minutes or until the tops are crispy and the center is cooked.
Remove and let cool before removing muffins from the liners. Drizzle any remaining sauce over the muffins.
ENJOY!

PIN FOR LATER

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe

June 6, 2022 by Rachel 7 Comments

Confession: I am basically obsessed with eating Mexican cuisine. We eat a lot more tacos than I care to admit. But, the good news? SO much of my Mexican food is homemade. In addition to my homemade taco bowl shells, this Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe is a Taco Tuesday must-have!

What you’ll need

These refried beans are the easiest, most perfect addition to your taco Tuesday. Honestly, you’ll never want to go back to canned refried beans once you make them yourself.

You’ll need an Instant Pot for this recipe. I promise that the Instant Pot is most definitely needed. Pressure cooking foods truly infuses them with flavors you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Here’s what else you’ll need:

1 pound of pinto beans, dried
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of paprika
1 tablespoon of chili powder
2 tablespoons of ground cumin

That’s it!

How to make Instant Pot Refried Beans

Yield: 8 servings

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound of pinto beans, dried
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of paprika
1 tablespoon of chili powder
2 tablespoons of ground cumin

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Place dry rinsed beans into instant pot and add 5 cups of water.
Seal the lid and pressure valve and cook on high for 30 minutes. Manually release pressure when finished.
Drain beans while keeping 2 cups of liquid and set aside.
Place the beans in a food processor with butter and spices.
Blend until beans are smooth and creamy. Add left over liquid 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve desired consistency.
ENJOY!

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Air Fryer Half Chicken and veggies

May 31, 2022 by Rachel 6 Comments

The Summer months are quickly approaching. And, as much as I’d like to think we will have more time for cooking extravagant meals, that just isn’t the case. In fact, I feel like we’re almost more busy when school is out. (Which doesn’t even feel possible, does it?!) Even with little to no time, I promise you can still make a delicious meal. This air fryer half chicken recipe is proof that a delicious meal can be made in a pinch!

What you’ll need

For this particular recipe, you’ll want to have a decent size air fryer. The air fryer that will work best is this one. As far as ingredients, there are really very few.

Here’s what you’ll need as far as ingredients:

3 potatoes, parboiled for faster cooking
yellow onion
baby carrots, parboiled for faster cooking
1 halved chicken (save the other half for another time!)
olive oil
thyme
paprika
garlic powder
kosher salt
pepper

That’s it! If you’re looking to pair it with an adult beverage, try this delicious Jalapeño Margarita recipe!

How to make air fryer half chicken and veggies

Air Fryer Half Chicken

Air Fryer Half of a Chicken with potatoes, onions, and carrots.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

3 potatoes, chopped in 1” cubes, parboiled for faster cooking
1/2 yellow onion, chopped into 1” pieces
2 cups of baby carrots, parboiled for faster cooking
1 halved chicken
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of thyme
1 tablespoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Add vegetables to a large mixing bowl.
Add 1 tablespoon of oil and half of the spices. Mix and fully coat.
Add your half chicken and use the remaining oil and spices to coat. Let rest for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats at 350°.
Add vegetables to the air fryer basket and place chicken on top. Place the chicken breast down for half the time. Then flip to finish.
Cook at 350 for 30 minutes.
ENJOY!

PIN FOR LATER

Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions

May 23, 2022 by Rachel 11 Comments

There are so many events going on, literally every day. It’s hard to keep them all in order! But I have your solution! I’m keeping all of the Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions here in one place. Be sure to save this post in your bookmarks and come back, as I’ll keep updating throughout Summer 2022, as needed!

Water Works Family Aquatic Center

Located in Cuyahoga Falls, Water Works is so much fun for families of all ages. It offers a lazy river, several types of water slides, adult-only/deep end swims, and so much more!

Concessions available on-site.

Open to the public** 5/31/2022 to 8/12/2022, 11am – 8pm Monday thru Friday; 11am – 6pm Sundays*.

Cost

The rates are different based on days, age, and residency. Refer to the table below for a full cost breakdown.

Location: Water Works Family Aquatic Center. 2025 Munroe Falls Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

MACA Pool

Maca Pool complex consists of a 250,000-gallon water park that includes a 6 lane lap pool, enclosed flume slide, speed slide, and zero depth entry area.

Open to the public 5/28/2022 to 8/14/2022, 11am – 7pm Monday thru Thursday; 11am – 8pm Friday thru Sunday*.

Cost

Location: MACA Pool. 183 Maca Drive, Tallmadge, OH 44278

Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Splash Pad

The downtown Cuyahoga Falls splash pad is newly remodeled. With ample street parking (meter) and free parking in the red, blue, and yellow decks.

Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions

Open to the public daily from now until 9/5/2022, 11am – 9pm.*

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Splash Pad. Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

Hudson Splash Pad

The Hudson splash pad is located in Veterans Way Park and features 12 in-ground sprays.

Open to the public. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10am – 8pm*.

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Hudson Splash Pad. 55 Veterans Way, Hudson, Ohio, 44236

Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium

The Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium features four pools and nearly 400,00 gallons of water! It has a zero depth area for small children, sprinkling features, a small kids slide, and big water slides.

They’re open for family swim during the weekend only (for now).

Cost

Daily rates differ for city residents versus non-residents. There are discounts for children and seniors. Age 2 and under are free.

Location: The Natatorium 2345 4th St, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

Edgewood Park SprayGround

Edgewood Park is an expansive, 10-acre park on the west side of Barberton. The spray ground is perfect for little kids. The spray grounds will be open throughout the Summer months.

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Edgewood Park, 1170 Liberty Ave, Barberton, OH 44203

Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool

The Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool is part of the Akron Area YMCA. You do not have to be a member of the YMCA to go to the Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool. It features a leisure pool and a deep pool. The leisure pool has zero depth entry and spray features for little kids.

Open to the public 5/30/2022 to 9/6/2022, 12pm – 6pm (until 7pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays).

Cost

Infants under 2 are free. Youth (ages 2-17) and seniors (65+) daily rates is $6. Adult daily rate is $8. Everyone can enter after 5pm for just $5.

Location. Wadsworth Grizzly Pool. 624 School Dr, Wadsworth, OH 44281.

Cuyahoga Falls Wading Pools

There are currently 6 little-kid friendly wading pools throughout Cuyahoga Falls, but for the 2022 season, only the following locations will be open: Oak Park, Linden Park, Valley Vista Park, and Lions Park. The wading pools at Indian Mountain Park and Quirk Cultural Center will be unavailable for the 2022 Summer season, while they undergo construction to be turned into themed splash pads for each neighborhood.

The pools are ADA accessible and are somewhere between 1-2 feet in depth. There is a lifeguard on duty when open.

Open to the public from 5/31/2022 to 8/12/2022, hours coming soon!

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Lions Park, 641 Silver Lake Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, 44221. Oak Park, 2250 12th St, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Valley VIsta Park, 2790 Valley Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Linden Park, 241 Roanoke Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Reservoir Park Pool

The Reservoir Park Pool is one out two outdoor pools in the city of Akron, this one in Goodyear Heights. It has seen a revitalization in recent years.

Open to the public from 6/7/2022 to 8/21/2022 from 2pm – 7pm Monday through Friday, and 2pm – 5pm on Saturdays.

Cost

The pool is free, but you need to fill paperwork for an open swim membership.

Location: Reservoir Park, 1735 Hillside Terrace, Akron, OH 44305.

Joy Park Community Center Splash Pad

The 1,600 square foot spray pad is located next to the community center off of Fuller Street.

Open to the public throughout the Summer season, 7 days a week, from 11am to 7pm.

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Joy Park Community Center, 825 Fuller St, Akron, OH 44306.

There are SO many amazing resources here within our reach in Akron. My kids and I can’t wait to check all of these out during Summer 2022.

*weather permitting
**valid government issued photo ID required for entry_.

PIN ME - The Ultimate Akron Kid-Friendly Water Attractions

Easy Jalapeño Margarita Recipe

May 15, 2022 by Rachel 9 Comments

I have a confession. I am more of a red wine and craft beer aficionado than I am of anything with liquor in it. Funny enough, I haven’t had some horrendous ‘straight liquor’ story or situation; but I just couldn’t seem to perfect a good mixed drink to save my life. But I do actually love a good margarita. A little sweet, a little spicy, and the perfect amount of tequila? Yes please! And that’s exactly what this easy jalapeño margarita recipe calls for!

What you’ll need to make these spicy margaritas

There are only a few ingredients in these delicious margaritas. I haven’t (yet) tried making my own simple syrup. That’s the next goal! And you don’t necessarily need simple syrup for this recipe, but if you want to add it, I recommend this one.

Here’s what else you’ll need:

2 jalapeño peppers
a few limes
8 ounces of your favorite tequila
honey (agave or simple syrup can be substituted)
kosher salt
Cilantro, lime, and or jalapeños can be used to garnish

Technically, you only need one jalapeño. But I like to slice up a second jalapeño for garnish. A wooden spoon and a cutting board will work to break down the juice of the jalapeño. However, if you’re in the market for a mortar and pestle, this one won’t break the bank; and it has tremendous reviews.

Easy Jalapeño Margarita Recipe

Yield: 2 drinks

Easy Jalapeño Margaritas

Ingredients

2 jalapeño peppers
2-3 limes
8 ounces of tequila (your favorite brand)
3 tablespoons of honey (agave or simple syrup can be substituted)
3 tablespoons of kosher salt
Cilantro, lime, and or jalapeños can be used to garnish

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

De-seed the first jalapeño by cutting it in half and scraping the seeds and white parts. Rinse the peppers and wash your hands thoroughly.
Slice the pepper thinly. Thickness similar to a penny.
Place the slices in a mortar and bring to a pulp with the pestle.

If you don’t have a mortar, you can use a bowl or the cutting board with a wooden spoon back. You just want the juice to be extracted.
Add juice and pulp to a pitcher.
Squeeze the lime juice from your lime and add to the pitcher.
Add tequila to the pitcher.
Stir in honey until dissolved.
Add your salt to a bowl.
Rim the glasses with a lime wedge and place in salt to adhere to the rim.
Add ice, margarita, and garnish (slice second pepper for garnish, if desired).
ENJOY!

PIN FOR LATER

Easy Homemade Chocolate Pudding

May 10, 2022 by Rachel 9 Comments

One of my favorite treats from my childhood was so simple. Pudding! It seemed like such a delicacy, despite being made from a box. As a mom I’m 100% guilty of not making enough of these types of treats. Which is maybe why my kids also think pudding is a ‘special’ treat. But I’ve also spoiled them even further by making this easy homemade chocolate pudding from scratch. They will never look at boxed pudding the same from here on out!

What you’ll need

This chocolate pudding is so easy to make and it only has 7 ingredients — most (if not all) of which you probably have in your pantry already. Here’s what you’ll need:

6 tablespoons of flour
1/2 cup of sugar
6 tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 Eggs
3 cups of whole milk
2 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Optional ingredients would include whipped cream and chocolate shavings (for that extra ‘wow’ factor!).

That’s it. No fancy pressure cooker or air fryer required for this one! I just know you will enjoy it as much as we have.

How to make this Easy Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Yield: 3 cups

Easy Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

6 tablespoons of flour
1/2 cup of Sugar
6 tablespoons of Cocoa powder
2 Eggs
3 cups of whole Milk
2 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of Vanilla

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Add flour, sugar, and cocoa powder to a mixing bowl. Combine.
Add eggs and mix until paste forms.
Mix in the milk until smooth.
Add mixture to a saucepan over medium heat. Continue to whisk until the mixture starts to simmer and thicken up.
Remove from heat and add the butter and vanilla. Mix in until melted.
Set in the fridge for 1-2 hours until the pudding has cooled and set.
Serve with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.