Salsa Verde Pork (Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot recipe!)

New Year, same kitchen.  But new recipes? I think so!

I know all of you got Instant Pots for Christmas.  I'm so excited to share this recipe, because it's honestly an original that came into being over multiple attempts to become perfect for your joyful table.  AND IT IS SO SIMPLE.  Well, I guess that is the point to pressure cooking.

I know the holidays are now a faint memory as we press into a new calendar year, but here's where I've been: hosting, cooking and getting my Lego build on.  

Colt's Lego version of a holiday meal at our house.  Why did Daddy get the smile and wine goblet and I get the crazy hair?

Cinnamon Blueberry Bran Muffins

Cooler mornings in the Ritter house means muffin making.  I rarely make the same muffin recipe twice.  But every now and then I find one that worth repeating.  Especially when the kids are begging for them and they are relatively healthy for you.

Being the nut milk fan that I am, I was drawn to this recipe because it soaks it's bran in almond milk.  I subbed coconut milk.  Can't go wrong with that, right?  Love at first bite.  Thank you garlicandzest.com for your inspiration.

No Bake Peanut Butter Squares

If you are a Reese's lover, you must try these.  Four ingredients.  Hardly any "cooking" involved.  And they are so so yummy.  Your guests won't know what hit 'em!

Friends, I have made promises like this before, but I thought this would be an appropriate time to remind you: I WILL ONLY POST FOOD THAT IS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL on this blog.  Just because it's vegan, dairy free, gluten free and has no refined sugar does not mean you should swipe right.  In fact, you should be ridiculously excited because that's healthier ingredients in your belly and tastier dishes on your table.

Chimichurri Dressing on Grilled Vegetable Salad

So thankful for these two.

Hey y'all!  Just wanting to share this INCREDIBLE salad with you.

I've been doing a LOT of cooking lately and have been having fun with several new recipes and combos.  MJ is eating food now, which is so fun!  I forgot how time consuming and messy it is when they are learning.  I'm also temporarily dairy and egg free while we experiment with my diet and her skin issues.  Oh the sacrifices we make, but if it makes the baby more comfortable, it's worth the temporary change.  Salads for breakfast it is!  Okay, just kidding... not really.  But, I'm surprised how well I'm taking the adjustment.  But with salads like this, what's not to love!

I told Chris I wanted to cook my own mother's day feast, and since then, I've made this dressing almost weekly.  The grilled vegetables really make the salad, so don't skip that step!

Easy Morning Egg Muffins

Oh life.  Life has been busy lately!  So I feel this post is appropriate.

This is one of my "clear out the fridge" recipes.  One of those "hurry and throw it in before it goes to waste" meals.  You know, the "leftovers from my kid's plates plus eggs" kind of dish?  You get the idea...

Mornings are not easy.  And, I'm a morning person!  But with a baby and a 4 year old, sometimes I feel like Father Von Trap with my whistle, shouting commands, following a schedule and checking the clock every 15 minutes to make sure we are going to make the most of our day.  We're just not the laze around type.

And we LOVE breakfast.  But sometimes, you're on the run and you want some quick protein.  These muffins bring it.  And they freeze well!  You can add any veggie, cheese, green or grain.  I love quinoa in these because it really fills you with some great nutrients and creates a nice little base for the muffin.

Vanilla Coconut Chia Pudding

What is gluten free, diary free, ridiculously healthy and addicting?  THIS PUDDING!  This is not even considered cooking!  It's embarrassingly simple.

Let's call it STRENGTH pudding!  Chia is the Mayan word for Strength.  This seed is packed with nutrition and some might say is one of the healthiest foods on the planet!  Protein, fiber, omega-3s, TONS of vitamins and minerals... the list goes on.  If you google their benefits, you will get lost in all the goodness.  I dare you.  Then make some for dessert and give yourself a high five!

Black Bean Tacos with Radish Salsa and Feta

Let me tell you about my sister-in-law.  Tay.  She's so good for our family.  She will break into song at any moment, and always knows all the words.  She's the kind of gal everyone wants to be friends with, but I get to call her family.  She's ridiculously fun but can go super serious in a heart beat.  She loves LA, loves the kitchen and eats mostly vegetarian.

Taylor shared this recipe with me when I came down to her home for wedding.  I was kidless, husbandless and just soaking in some quality time with my sister-friend.  We strolled the streets of Pasadena and then came home to make her "go-to tacos."  Guys, they were as good as she claimed.  Maybe better.  How could such simple ingredients come together in such a new for me?  I guess that is the amazing thing about food!  It just keeps surprising you!

(Kid Approved) Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I'm not going to let Jan 10th, 2017 happen without blogging!  

How has it been 362 days since I've blogged a recipe?

I'll tell you how... I got pregnant and gave birth to this little sweet thing:  Mackenzie Jane Ritter.  Born Oct 18, 2016 weighing just over 8 pounds and is so delicious I have to restrain myself from nibbling her sweet toes. 💜

Oh sweet Jesus, thank you for this little love muffin.

Speaking of sweet things... I thought I'd talk about my sweet potato fries... But first, my confession...

On New Years Eve, I mumbled to Chris, "What if I decided to start food blogging again?  Say at least once a month?  Am I crazy?  With two kids?"

It's already crazy, and I'm still cooking up a storm, so why not?  Colton is still helping in the kitchen quite a bit.  Maybe this year I'll teach him to take my food photos too?

Someone thought it was funny to poke an ingredient out of the line.

Red Wine Beef Stew

A few years ago we were dining at a friend's house.  Sharon "threw together" a stew for us.  It was unbelievable and I won't soon forget it.  A few months ago, I went to Sharon's daughter's house for dinner.  Again, Whitney made her version of a beef stew.  I looked wide eyed and said "is this your family's stew?"  She shrugged it off, just like her mother, and said it wasn't really much of a recipe.  These are my favorite types of recipes.  Meat.  Veggies.  Wine.  Cook a while while you put your feet up.  Invite friends over.  Done.

Persimmon Vanilla Cobbler

Oh Persimmons!

We had a rough start, you and me.

But after a few years, playing under your tree,

I've come to love thee!

Really though... when we first moved in, we had no idea what kind of tree it was that provided such beautiful shade and stood as the figure piece for our backyard, that was not yet a yard at all.  After a season, we learned it was a persimmon tree!  So fun!  After doing some poor research, and giving it an undeserving hack job, it went through a bit of a rough season.  But this year... THIS YEAR... I fell in love with our little tree and the harvest was plenty.  Maybe trees just need to be loved to produce well (and we added it to the drip system this year... poor thing).  And by loved, I mean embraced as a part of our yard: yoga under the tree, using it as a "secret look out," and it acting as a "fielder" to our son's line-drives.  It's a part of our yard now, which is a part of our family space.

Roasted Poblano, Corn and Potato Chowder

Well it's not cold yet here, but I figured I could start practicing for when this supposed "El Nino" hits.  But whether the rain is pouring, or you're just praying for the rain, this chowder will make all things better.

Roasted Poblano, Corn and Potato Chowder

adapted from Iowa Girl Eats (easily serves 8 people)

2-3 poblano peppers, 

2 tbls olive oil

6-8 slices of bacon, chopped

4 leaks, white and light green parts, cleaned and chopped into half moons

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2" cubes

4 cups chicken broth

4 cups whole or 2% milk, separate out 1 cup for mixing the roux

2 cups sweet corn, frozen or fresh

4 tbls flour

3/4 cup shredded cheese (I used a combo of cheddar and jack)

cilantro for a cooling garnish

Salt and pepper throughout to layer the seasoning

Crostini with Blue Cheese Butter and Roasted Balsamic Grapes

Can we talk appetizers?

I'm a huge fan of them.  It's always a party when dad gets home for the day, so why not pair his homecoming with a fabulous snack to kick off dinner?  Toasted bread with fine toppings is usually a hit with most folks.  But this crostini is a home-run.  Wowsa.

Blackberry Cupcakes with Yogurt Cake and Berry Butter Cream

Oh hey there blackberry season!  Here it comes, and there it goes.  

My girlfriend and I went to a U-pick blackberry farm this year.  It was Colton's first experience.  I loved watching him study each one to see if they were "black enough" and then the inner struggle of where to put the chosen berry: in your basket or in your mouth.  The kid must have consumed a pint by the time we left.

Broccoli Pesto on Grilled Naan with Melted Manchego

A client of mine loves talking food with me.  We actually probably have too much fun tossing around ideas and telling stories of things we've tried.  She told me how she made a broccoli pesto once, and being the pesto lover I am, I couldn't believe I hadn't tried that?!  Pesto claims no rules right? Anything green with garlic and olive oil?  I sought out to try it.

Lentil Salad with Kale and Almond Pesto

In the history of this blog, I've posted two lentil salads.  I am obsessed with lentils, and am still in search for a shirt that says "I heart lentils."  Both salads are fabulous... check them out here and here.  But today, my legume loving friends, I present a third lentil salad that will not only rock your healthy socks off, but it's flavors are unbelievable.  Just ask my meat eating husband.  He even loves it!  Trust me, I would NOT bother posting a third unless I found one comparable to my other two loves.

So without further story, I'll get on with it.  So you can get munching!

Chocolate Avocado Cookies with Peanut Butter Chips

These cookies.  They include all my favorite food items.  Avocado.  Coconut oil.  Peanut Butter Chips!  And, in cookie form?  And their are relatively healthy?!  You're waiting for the catch... but there just isn't one this time.

My sweet friend who was over last night sharing a meal, grabbed my arm, and with chocolate on the sides of her mouth, looked into my eyes and said "Noelle, I'm not saying this lightly, but these might be my favorite cookies of all time."  

Kale, Brussels Sprout, Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Food prep and construction toys.  Yep, that pretty much sums up my afternoons lately.

Also, as a busy mother, wife, woman and whatever other roles I am called into for the day- making a dish that does well as leftovers wins in my book.  And, for the most part- salads are usually excluded from that list.  Except THIS ONE!  I would venture to say, it is even better day after!  Go ahead and make this 1-12 hours in advance, let it sit and marry up.  The "massaged kale" thing was not a fad because people like massages, it's because time is beauty people!  Work that dressing, then walk away and take a nap!

Citrus Salad with Mint and Tarragon Vinaigrette

Hello dear citrus lovers out there.  I know we could debate the best way to cut an orange, but I'll just make this easy for you: have you ever tried this?

Chop off north and south poles so it stands up nicely.  Then slice off the outer skin and pith, starting at the top and working to the bottom, leaving as much fruit on as possible.  Now with your perfectly sitting ball of juice, turn it on it's side and slice through the center and out come little sunshines, perfect flowers, citrus gems!  About 5-6 per fruit.

Salad with Citrus Almond Butter Dressing

A salad should never be "just" a salad.  It deserves a little more love than that.  

I spotted a dressing online and before I could even try it, my girlfriend made it FOR us while we were visiting.  It was as good as I had hoped.  I've been varying a few ingredients, to make my own version.

Venison "Back Strap" Medallions

Dinner looks different these days.  Cooking is beyond strategic.  Sautéing anything includes tossing scraps down to my toddler who inevitably thinks he is going to die of hunger 30 minutes before dinner, no matter what time we eat.  Moms, you know how it is, right?

Believe it or not, I still love nothing more than to cook food for my family.  Even cooler is when I know exactly where the food came from!  My buddy Keith brought home a deer this year, and real friends give you meat for Christmas.