8 Romantic Valentine's Day Dinners at Home

This year Valentine's Day lands on a Saturday - which means you either need to book your date night reservations early, early or plan a stay at home date. But sometimes dinner for two is tough. And sometimes it can be boring because you do the same meals all the time. I know in our house it is usually chicken and rice or salmon and brussel sprouts. So I am here to help get you out of the dinner rut with 8 romantic Valentine's Day dinners at home.



Adam and I are Mexican food people. I have always been a taco and burrito fan, so marrying someone who served a two year mission in Mexico only helped my cause. Every Tuesday we do tacos. And any chance we get we take a Mexican coke and chips and salsa. We also prefer a good laugh and celebration over something super romantic - so our version of a romantic night in? Mexican cokes, beans, rice, and smothered burritos. Let's just take it a little south of the border.

 Smothered Ranch Chicken Burritos

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Serving Size: 2

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 tortillas
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 2 tsp taco seasoning
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 can refried beans
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• 1 box mexican rice
• Shredded Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Salsa

Instructions

1. Defrost chicken breasts.
2. While chicken breasts are defrosting start cooking refried beans and mexican sauce.
3. Once chicken breasts are defrosted cut into cubes strips and put into pan with a little bit of water on and cook on medium heat on the stove. Cover with a lid.
4. While rice, beans, and chicken are cooking start marinade.
5. Put chicken broth, ranch packet, and taco seasoning into one bowl and mix.
6. Once chicken is done cooking pour chicken broth mixture in and cover. Stir occasionally. Let cook until all water is evaporated and chicken is completely coated in spices.
7. Once chicken, rice, and beans are done make burrito by layering the items into the tortilla with a spoonful of enchilada sauce and cheese. Roll into burrito, cover with 3-4 spoonfuls of enchilda sauce and cheese. Place in microwave for 30 seconds. While the burrito is still warm layer sour cream on top of burrito so it melts into the sauce and cheese. Add salsa if desired.
8. Plate up the burrito with the remainder of beans and rice as side dish with burrito. We always get a mexican coke to drink along with our dinner.

And when the burritos are all said and done, you can enjoy some Apple Nachos - if you feel like staying with the Mexican theme. Not feeling the chicken pesto route? Check out one of the dishes prepared by these lovely ladies.

A Romantic Night in France by Camille from Friday We’re in Love

Panang Curry and Chocolate Croissants by Kayla from Freckles in April

Tortilla Soup and Cheddar and Chili Cornbread by Alex from Ave Styles

A Comfort Food Valentine’s by Abbey from Along Abbey Road

Romantic Brunch (Including Liege Waffles) by Jen from Nothing Comes of Nothing

Valentine’s Breakfast by Janssen from Everyday Reading

A Manly Valentine’s Meal by Amberly from A Prioritized Marriage

We are on a budget - so we are taking the at home date route this year. I am excited to pick out the perfect Valentine's meal. Something not salmon or chicken with rice. What are your plans for Valentine's Day this year? Will you be braving the crowds or will you be looking for a way to cook things up at home?

Avocado Cilantro Salsa

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeasonedGreetings #CollectiveBias

I am a firm believer that everything during the Christmas season needs to be red or green. So if I have a chance to make delicious party food during the holidays it will be something red or green to go with the traditional holiday colors... in fact, even decorating for the holiday at my home is a red and green festivity. So last week when Adam and I decided to pull out our decorations I also pulled out my Christmas sweater and whipped up some green salsa too.




I am all about decorating and I was so excited to finally have home that will fit in our tree and all our nativities. So the day we get back from Thanksgiving I was pumped to put up all the Christmas decor. Adam on the other hand? Not so thrilled. So I told him once the decorating was done we would have a salsa snack. Because all work deserves a little break with a snack, right? On our way back into town from Thanksgiving we made a quick stop at Winco for some groceries and I made sure to pick up all the ingredients including some Tabasco Green Jalapeño sauce to really put a kick in my Avocado Cilantro salsa.






And then on Sunday I made Adam a deal. He could open all the boxes, I would do the decorating, and then we could snack after. I felt like it was pretty fair right? I wouldn't have to open up everything and he could just watch TV while pulling things out of boxes. And I got to just focus on the decorating.











It is a good thing I made the salsa early because there was a lot more motivation to get the decorating done fast. We had everything out, opened, up, and then the boxes back in storage in about an hour. And of course, once it was all done we got to kick back, relax, and enjoy some delicious Avocado Cilantro Salsa by the Christmas lights. All wins if you ask me!

Avocado Cilantro Salsa

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Serving Size: 4.5 Cups

Ingredients

• 6 large avocados,
• 12 tomatillos
• 3 cups cilantro leaves (loosely packed)
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup TABASCO® brand Green Jalapeño Pepper Sauce
• 1 tablespoon salt

Instructions

1. Husk, wash, and quarter tomatillos
2. Half and pit avocados
3. Scoop avocado pulp into blender or food processor container
4. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth
5. If you do not plan to serve immediately, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on top of salsa and refrigerate. Serve with tortilla chips.

Fruit Ice Cream Pie

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Fruttare, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

You all know I am in Arizona. You all know I am trying to get fit. But.... sometimes a treat is needed. So how do you come up with a solution when you are trying to get away from your snacky ways? You come up with a healthier version of the treats you love. Yes.. you can have your cake and eat it too.. or in this case pie! An ice cream pie with a healthy-ish twist.

Growing up my Mom would always make me an ice cream pie or ice cream cake for my birthday. Because I love ice cream. I love cake. And I love them magically stitched together. An Oreo crust. A caramel filling with mocha almond fudge ice cream. Or a chocolate filling with mint chocolate chip ice cream. The topped with hot fudge and whipped cream. Oh. My. YES. Right? Can't you just taste it? And lately I have been craving, craving, craving ice cream cake... but I decided to put a twist on it for my healthy and hot Arizona summer. So I bring to you Fruit Ice Cream Pie. The quick and easy version that is!

I could tell you how I made my own crust and I made my own filling. I could tell you that I found the perfect consistency for my frosting... but let's cut to the chase. I made the whole thing really easy by purchasing 4 items at Kroger and getting it all done in about 20 minutes - and 10 of the minutes were letting the ice cream soften.

Items needed for Fruit Ice Cream Pie:

Graham Cracker Crust

10 Fruttare Fruit & Juice Bars

8oz Tub of Cool Whip

Fruit - frozen of fresh, I bought a small fresh fruit medley cup and it was plenty

Instructions for Fruit Ice Cream Pie:

Set all ice Fruttare Fruit & Juice Bars out to soften for about 10 minutes

While the Fruttare Fruit & Juice Bars are softening open up the crust, Cool Whip, and cut fruit to your liking to layer on top of pie

Once fruit bars have softened open them all up and drop into a mixing bowl and stir together

Pour ice cream mixture into graham cracker crust

Put in the freezer for 5 minutes to let stiffen

Once ice cream seems less soft pull pie out of freezer and add Cool Whip on top as "frosting"

Add a design on top of your pie with your fruit

Cut, serve, and enjoy!

You could choose any fruit ice cream or sorbet that you want, but I picked Fruttare Fruit & Juice Bars because they have milk in the bar, which made for a smoother and creamier texture. And if you shop at your local Kroger store you can get $4 music rewards if you buy at least two types of Fruttare Fruit & Juice Bars. Just head to your store, buy two flavors (they have mango, strawberry, banana, and coconut) and then head to the reward site to claim you prize! The offer doesn't start until after July 1st... but that is just in time for all your 4th of July celebrations!

So there you have it. A quick and EASY ice cream treat for all your summer parties. And if you are looking to be a homemaker too - you could always make the crust and frosting. But I will save that for another day. What are your favorite ice cream snacks? Do you have a favorite brand of fruit ice cream and popsicles?

Apple Nachos

If you know me you know I love crack apples... and if you don't know me you are now wondering, why does Deidre love crack? Well. By crack I mean caramel apples, and not just any, the ones specifically from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory that are so addicting I would compare them to a drug. Adam, being the smart man he is, decided to surprise me with a treat on Sunday. Not just a treat. An apple nacho treat. Combining my two favorite things. Nachos and caramel apples. Apple nachos. Not with cheese. With caramel and chocolate. We are still working on perfecting our nacho combo but for now all I can say is it was SO good.

INGREDIENTS

6 Apples || We used Granny Smith

Chocolate flavored Almond bark

Caramel Sauce

Toppings (optional)

There are two options for caramel

A jar of premade caramel

or

6 Minute Microwave Caramel

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

I prefer a jar of caramel because it doesnt stiffen like the microwave caramel

Toppings Ideas

Reeses

Oreos

Nuts

Peanut Butter sauce

Chocolate Chips

Coconut

Sprinkles

Directions for 6 Minute Caramel

Combine all ingredients together into a microwave safe bowl

Microwave for 6 minutes taking it out every 2 minutes and stirring ingredients together.

Towards the end of the 6 minutes the bowl will be VERY hot, have a hot mitt on hand.

If you make this caramel don't make it until you ready to assemble the nachos.

Assemble the Nachos

Cut apples and core apples into 16 slim slices

Lay slices across plate of cookie sheet

Break a few chunks of almond bark into a microwave safe bowl to melt

Heat in microwave for 30 seconds and stir, continue until heated through

Heat up or make caramel sauce

Once the caramel is done, use a spoon to drizzle over apples

Drizzle chocolate over the top of the apples and caramel

While everything is still soft add any additional toppings you want

And then. Enjoy!

Oh So Delicioiso || Guest Post

It is fun to find friends that blog. And one of my friends from my hometown has a recipe blog with her sister and some friends. And let me tell you, these ladies know how to cook. You've probably seen their recipes on Pinterest and didn't even know it! So I invited Aubrey to come and share a little love and cooking. Ain't she a doll?

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Hello there, Aubrey from Oh So Delicioso {A Cooking Style Blog}. My hometown girl Deidre invited me over to her lovely blog to share! I’ve enjoyed reading Love, the Skinny’s.. It takes me back to my newly-wed days when all was romantic and exciting and just blissful. After 7 ½ years, 3 years and maaaanny many years of school, I am happy to say, I am still in love. Am I lucky? Yes, but it wasn’t luck that brought our marriage to this day. It is good ol’ fashioned labor of love. LOVE is totally a labor!

When Brandon and I were first married he had a personal encyclopedia on the foods he would NOT eat. This left me quite a trial trying to come up with nutritious meals. Many nights I would give up and say “fine you cook it!” This was the perfect strategy in to me learning his likes. After eating many of his boxed meals or frozen dinners I learned his flavor. I tried to focus on seasoning and herbs that he liked and apply them to the black listed foods. Over the years he has trashed his encyclopedia and now just has a page or two. And I honor that. Nothing makes me happier than him saying, “mmm.. that’s really good, what d’ you put in this?“

I have to be honest though, I haven’t always been a great cook. From experience I’ll give you a little advice, don’t mix up the sugar and salt! Cooking is a skill that for some is natural and other is learned, although I feel to most it is a learned skill (you don’t usually see many natural prodigy cooks on food network do ya?). And what a rewarding skill! I mean who doesn’t love to eat warm soft rolls right out of the oven that melt in your mouth?! For me there is also the reward of serving others.

I was raised to know that when you serve someone, you gain a love for that person. And that is why I cook. I cook to serve my husband; to serve my children. And I’ve gained a greater love and purpose as a wife and mother. Please call me old fashioned, because I feel that some great wisdom has been lost in the modern family. I am not in the least judgmental of other family situations, because I may someday be in their shoes. For now, I have to opportunity to fix a home cooked meal ready for the Mr. when he arrives home and to teach my children the variety of foods and flavors and how to keep their sweet little bodies healthy and strong. To show my family the adventure of cooking and the bond that food can bring across cultures and most importantly with in a family. So many of our recipes on our blog are “grandma” recipes. The foods that we ate as children at grandma’s house, and we still love them today because of the sweet memories and love that went into those meals.  Will be children survive if I don’t ever fix Chicken Cordon Bleu? Sure, but they will be missing out. Could he cook for himself? Sure, he’s actually a good cook. But what a sweet thing I can do for them by providing a nutritious dinner. They don’t always pat me on the back, and I don’t get any promotions. The happiness that dwells in our home is the best reward I can have.

I’d like to share one of my husband’s favorite meals he requests regularly. It can also be found on our blog under Pastas in the recipeindex!

 Ingredients:

16 oz farfalle pasta (bow-tie)

1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

4 chicken breasts
1 cup thawed peas
1/2 cup chopped sundried tomatoes (packed in oil) *optional

3-4 cloves of garlic

1T pepper

3/4 cup butter

1 lb bacon (previously cooked and crumbled) **must be real, fresh cooked bacon. not "bacon bits or real bacon"

3/4 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese

1 120z Lawry's mesquite marinade with lime juice

Directions:

In Crock Pot cook chicken in marinade on low for 6 hours. About a half and hour before serving boil pasta. Pull marinated chicken out of the juices and shred. Set aside. In a small sauce pan melt better, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper cheese and bacon. Wish together on low heat for 3-4 minutes. In a large bowl pour sauce over cooked drained pasta. Add chicken, stir through. Sprinkle with a little bit more cheese for presentation on top.

Cheers to cooking and serving our families, the most important people in the world.