Rachel

Name: Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 48
Ingredients: 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk; 4 cups heavy cream or milk for a thinner option; 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract; Your favorite brewed coffee, cold

Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Recipe

June 10, 2021 by Rachel 16 Comments

If you’ve been around here for a while, you might know that I have a self-confessed addiction to Starbucks. It started in college with an iced green tea. But, over the years, it evolved. From there I went to lattes. And, thereafter, iced coffee. I spent a long time truly loving my iced coffees (honestly, I still do — unsweetened). Over the last couple of years my obsession has been cold brew with sweet cream. If you’re a Starbucks connoisseur you’ll know that these can get pricey. But this copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream recipe is the perfect way to recreate this favorite from home!

What you’ll need

There are only a few ingredients for this recipe, but they are key to making this sweet cream perfect! So please be sure not to skip any of them. The ingredients are as follows:

1 cup of sweetened condensed milk
4 cups heavy cream or milk for a thinner option
2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
Your favorite brewed coffee, cold

That is all you’ll need! That being said, I suggest either buying Starbucks Cold Brew concentrate, or brew your own cold brew from home.

How to make Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream

Here are the recipe details! I promise, it’s super simple!

Yield: 48 ounces

Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup of sweetened condensed milk
4 cups heavy cream or milk for a thinner option
2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
Your favorite brewed coffee, cold

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

In a blender, combine the sweetened condensed milk, cream and vanilla. Blend for 30 to combine. For a more frothy combination, blend for 60 seconds.

STEP 2 -

Pour over iced coffee to taste and enjoy.

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Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries Recipe

June 8, 2021 by Rachel 11 Comments

Back in the day, we used an oil deep fryer. Despite loving it, we rarely used it because it was a pain. The oil was messy and difficult to dispose of. So when air fryers became the popular new kitchen appliance, we quickly jumped on board. And we have been perfecting air fryer recipes ever since! These air fryer garlic parmesan fries taste like they are too good to be true! But I promise they are the real deal!

Why you need an air fryer

If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know that I’m obsessed with two kitchen gadgets: the Instant Pot and my air fryer. In my opinion, everyone needs an air fryer. You can get a standalone air fryer like this one, or (if you’re going to be recreating a lot of the recipes on my site) the pressure cooker/air fryer combo like this one!

In an air fryer you can make everything from marinated chicken breast to mozzarella sticks. Homemade meals and easy frozen entrees are a breeze. And they are ready to eat in just minutes — cooked to perfection every time!

What you’ll need to make air fryer garlic parmesan fries

Besides the aforementioned air fryer, you’ll need the following ingredients:

1 large potato
1/2 tablespoon of salt
1/2 tablespoon of pepper
1 tablespoon of oil
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1/2 tablespoon of parsley
1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese

The full recipe

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 large potato
1/2 tablespoon of salt
1/2 tablespoon of pepper
1 tablespoon of oil
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1/2 tablespoon of parsley
1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

Peel and cut potato into desired size fries.

STEP 2 -

Place fries in mixing bowl and pour oil over. Add salt and pepper and mix until fries coated thoroughly.

STEP 3 -

Place fries in air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes at 370 degrees. Shake fries halfway.

STEP 4 -

Remove fries. Top with garlic and parmesan cheese and serve garnished with parsley.

STEP 5 -

ENJOY!

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Easy and Fresh Summer Corn Salsa Recipe

June 3, 2021 by Rachel 14 Comments

My kids are OBSESSED with corn. I swear during the Summer they all live off corn alone. So, it’s safe to say we almost always have corn on the cob or frozen corn in the house. And what better way to celebrate the Summer months with a delicious easy and fresh Summer corn salsa!

What ingredients you’ll need

The ingredients are so simple. I can pick most of them up from the local farmers market. But, if I want to take an easy shortcut I’ll use two cans of corn instead of fresh corn.

2 15-ounce can of whole corn kernels
1/2 red onion
1 roma tomato
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1-2 fresh jalapenos
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp chili powder
Dash of salt & pepper

That’s it! It’s super simple, and no need for any fancy gadgets this time (I’m looking at you, Instant Pot!).

Easy and Fresh Summer Corn Salsa Recipe

Summer Corn Salsa

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

2 15-ounce can of whole corn kernels
1/2 red onion
1 roma tomato
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1-2 fresh jalapenos
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp chili powder
Dash of salt & pepper

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

Drain liquid from the can of corn.

STEP 2 -

Finely chop the onion, tomato, cilantro and jalapenos.

STEP 3 -

Place the chopped ingredients into a large bowl.

STEP 4 -

Add lime juice, chili powder, salt & pepper.

STEP 5 -

Mix all ingredients well.

STEP 6 -

ENJOY!

Easy and Fresh Summer Corn Salsa

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Investing in their future on 5/29 Day

May 25, 2021 by Rachel 12 Comments

If the last year and a half has taught us anything, it’s taught us that education and educators are a completely undervalued resource. In the last year, I went from being a preschool gymnastic instructor and heavily involved in our schools PTA; to being the sole educator for my children. And I’m not alone. As we approach the end of another school year, I want to reflect on how far we have come. But also, how we can look ahead by investing in their future on 529 Day (May 29!).

Education is multi-faceted

Education happens in so many ways. During this crazy time I’ve come to realize that our children are so resilient. Not only does their education come in so many forms, but they are able to learn even in the hardest of times. Playing outdoors, making kitchen science experiments, and even planting a garden are incredible ways of learning. My 8-year-old is even using digital ‘camps’ to learn new skills, like coding.

We’ve also gone way outside of the box by scheduling at-home animal visits! Regardless of how your children are learning, their education doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, many of those hands-on learning skills will be incredibly helpful in their higher education.

Two-Year, Four-Year, or technical school?

My kids are still relatively young. My 8-year-old still wants to code for a job. But my 5-year-old wants to be a princess. I know that as their schooling continues, they will develop new interests. And, whether they choose a 4-year, 2-year, or technical school, they will be set because we invested in Ohio’s 529 Plan for each of them.

A 529 Savings Plan is a lot like a 401k. It’s an easy, tax-friendly way to save for your children’s higher education. Ohio’s 529 Plan can be used across the country for 2-year and 4-year programs as well as technical schools. Fun fact: Ohio’s 529 Plans can be used to fund your education nationwide — not just in the state of Ohio. And withdrawals from your plan are tax free when used for eligible education expenses.

INVEST IN YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE WITH OHIO’S 529 PLAN on 529 Day

May 29th, or “529 Day,” is a day to highlight the importance of higher education. Regardless of your child’s age, opening an account with Ohio’s 529 Plan right now is the perfect way to invest in their future education. And there are so many reasons not to wait.

Using the College Saving Planner you can see how an investment of any amount today can truly help cover the cost of schooling later! Additionally, the Cost of Waiting Tool will help you figure out how much money you’ll need to save the longer you wait to start. So whether or not they still want to go into coding or become a lawyer, you’ll be in a much better financial position to help them succeed with higher education.

IT’S SO EASY TO GET STARTED

There are only a few things you truly need to start Ohio’s 529 plan.

Your ID, social security number, telephone number, address, your date of birth, and your mothers maiden name.
The telephone number, social security number, address, and date of birth of your successor (someone to take over the account should something happen to you).
And lastly, the date of birth, telephone number, address, and social security number of the person you’re saving for.

That’s it. Easy peasy, right? Exactly.

So why not take this change in season to reevaluate the future of your children’s education. Open an Ohio 529 Plan today!

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Food Safety Tips For All Cooks

May 20, 2021 by Rachel 16 Comments

When my husband and I started dating nearly 13 years ago, I was blown away by what a pro he was in the kitchen. I had spent many of my post-college years making easy meals from my freezer. Admittedly, it was well after we got married that I even decided to give cooking a shot. On my first go at trying a new recipe, I posted a photo to Instagram. Immediately I received a comment about cross-contamination. I had no idea the mistakes I was making. Even now, as a much better cook, I need to remember certain safety items, which is why I’ve decided to put together food safety tips for all cooks!

Basic Food Safety

Part of the reason I was always so nervous about cooking was because I didn’t trust myself cooking meat. Like many people, I was worried about undercooking it and getting food poisoning. So I would spend every night trying to figure out if my food was done enough before overcooking it.

Finally, after several years of ‘not getting it quite right,’ I started using a meat thermometer. It has been a lifesaver. I no longer question whether or not the chicken, beef, or pork is cooked safely. Because I know it is! I honestly wish I had started using a cooking thermometer sooner.

Giving Food Safety a Boost

Now, as a more experienced cook, I still struggle. But in different ways. One of my major issues when prepping a meal for my family is that I am distracted. Moreso, I know many moms are distracted during dinner prep. They’ll lose track in a recipe or forget if they added salt. But what if we forget about whether that cutting board would cross-contaminate?!

The new Dixie Ultra™ Cutting Boards available at Walmart (in the foil aisle) help reduce the spread of germs by mitigating that risk. Simply prep, cut & toss! Basically, just toss away the germs when you’re finished.

Make Food Safety for everyone

I grew up with a mom that made a homemade dinner 6 out of 7 nights a week. But, I admit — I wasn’t present much during dinner prep times. So, one of the ways I’m taking food safety seriously is by educating my children in the kitchen.

Teaching them to use a knife, cut veggies, and even grow their own food is important. But what good are these skills if they aren’t familiar with safe food handling? Getting them involved from a young age and talking about why we’re doing the things we are is educating in action.

Dixie Ultra™ Cutting Boards are especially perfect for Summer. When prepping for a cookout (like we recently did with extended family), they are my go-to. Dixie Ultra Cutting Boards helps eliminate the spread of germs between my sister’s fruit salad and prepping my pork recipe for the grill. That way, you’ll have a clean, fresh surface each time.

These tips are the easiest way to remove the worry of whether or not I could be creating a foodborne illness. Instead, I’m confident and able to stay focused on feeding the whole family.

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Easy Instant Pot Peach Cobbler Recipe

May 17, 2021 by Rachel 8 Comments

Living in the Midwest of the United States, we aren’t quite in peach country. But, last year I decided to order from The Peach Truck for the very first time. I heard it was a lot of peaches, but I decided not to split with anyone. So, yeah. We had a lot of peaches. Also? They were absolutely delicious. And well worth the money. So I ended up getting fairly inventive with my recipes. But my absolute favorite? This Instant Pot Peach Cobbler Recipe!

What you’ll need to make Instant Pot Peach Cobbler

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know that I’m basically obsessed with pressure cooking and one-pot cooking in the Instant Pot. It’s just… easy. And, when food is made in a pressure cooker, it is 100 more flavorful. Sure, you could make soup in a stock pot on the stove; but I highly suggest you try using an Instant Pot. It’s a complete game-changer.

In addition to the IP, you’ll need the following:

4 cups of fresh peaches, sliced OR 1 29-ounce can of peaches, drained and rinsed
1/2 box of yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cornstarch

That’s it!

How to make Instant Pot Peach Cobbler

Yield: 4 - 6 servings

Instant Pot Peach Cobbler

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

4 cups of fresh peaches, sliced OR 1 29-ounce can of peaches, drained and rinsed
1/2 box of yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cornstarch