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Zesty Summer Pasta Salad

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This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It’s a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Vegan Pasta Salad

There are certain recipes that will remind you of happier times. Like summers ago with your entire family around a grill, jumping in and out of the pool all day, and running around without a care in the world. It’s up to you whether your children will have those same magical memories now. Though it seems like a big feat at times, sometimes food elicits memories of what made it special. By focusing in on those memories, you can remember how to make it special for your own littles. 
This homemade pasta salad is one of those recipes for me. To me, it’s the best pasta salad because of those memories. It’s one very similar to what my aunt used to make at every single summer cookout we had. This easy pasta salad recipe is also one of the few ways my mom could get me to eat vegetables as a child. Since moving to New Jersey though, I see my family less, so I needed to learn to make this Italian pasta salad myself.
cold pasta salad recipe

How to make homemade Italian pasta salad 

For this delicious cold pasta salad recipe there’s just 5 ingredients + the Italian salad dressing. You can choose to buy bottled zesty Italian dressing or we share our zesty pasta salad dressing recipe below. For this vegan pasta salad you need cooked pasta (we use angel hair), cherry tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and zesty Italian dressing. 
The most difficult part of this entire dish is cooking the pasta for 8 minutes. So, if you can cook pasta, you can make this recipe. Add everything to a big bowl and stir, stir, stir, until everything is mixed together well. Refrigerate and done! It’s really that simple to make this summer pasta salad.
homemade summer pasta salad

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe 

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Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It's a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 16 people
Calories: 188 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb angel hair pasta
  • 2 cups homemade Zesty Italian Dressing (recipe below)
  • 1/2 cup carrots, grated (approximately 4-6 large carrots)
  • 1 1/2 cups broccoli, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to the boxed instructions.

  2. Drain and transfer pasta to a large bowl. 

  3. Add remaining ingredients, except the tomatoes. 

  4. Stir until very well combined. 

  5. Add in the halved cherry tomatoes and give a quick toss (not too much, you don't want to over work the tomatoes). 

  6. Chill in the refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. 

  7. Refrigerate any remaining pasta salad for up to 5 days. 

Recipe Notes

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Dressing Recipe

In a large bottle or bowl, combine the following, shake or stir very well. Then, ready for use. Refrigerate any leftovers. 
  • 1 cup olive oil 
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • juice from half a lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/8 cup red onion, finally chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Nutrition Facts
Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Sodium 305mg13%
Potassium 222mg6%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 875IU18%
Vitamin C 19.6mg24%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Zesty Summer Pasta Salad Recipe for later!

zesty italian summer pasta salad - cold pasta salad - vegan pasta salad
This post was originally published on 5/21/2014.  Same great recipe but our photography skills have greatly improved.  Here’s some of the original photos. 
cold pasta salad recipes from scratch
easy pasta salad
easy pasta salad recipe

Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas

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These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they’ll have you forgetting that you’re even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

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

Even though I loved dairy, when we had our first baby, Larisha had to go dairy free. Obviously, she wasn’t going to cook multiple meals when it was just her, I and a tiny newborn, so subsequently I went dairy free also. I was surprised how easy this little switch could be. I thought it was going to be miserable, but it was really quite simple. One of our favorite meals quickly became chicken, bean, and avocado quesadillas. Surprisingly, the avocado actually binds the tortilla shells together like cheese would do and it’s absolutely delicious!

How to make a dairy free baked chicken quesadilla?

First, we start by soaking the chicken in Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk for 30 minutes.  After that, we dredge the chicken in a combination of flour, bread crumbs, and taco seasoning. We then baked the chicken for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Then, it’s time to put the quesadilla together. The topping possibilities are endless, but the basic of this recipe is a 10″ tortilla, avocado, chicken, and black beans. Other toppings may include: salsa or tomatoes, jalapeños, corn, cilantro, onions, and more.

This one dairy-free recipe seriously made my transition to a healthier lifestyle of much easier! It’s a must have recipe. If you are also gluten-free, you can try this on a corn tortilla, but just be extra careful when flipping since corn tortillas never hold up as well as flour.

Making Life Easier

Another thing that has made parenting easier recently is learning about Walmart’s online grocery pick up. It’s completely free as long as you purchase at least $30 in groceries. I was able to easily choose everything I needed and schedule a time and day for my pickup. It’s available everyday from 8am-8pm at my location (check your location to verify hours). Once I arrived at Wal-mart, I found the large orange pick-up sign and pulled into a parking spot designated for pick-up. Once there, I was able to call and say that I was there and they brought all my items out to my car for me.

For our Dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas, we use Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk. It’s both dairy-free and lactose-free and has a great wholesome taste that our whole family loves. Feeling and eating healthier doesn’t have to be hard, and Silk’s Progress to Perfection helps along the way.  We’ve always touted our “semicruchyish” journey, where we believe everyone can make small steps towards a better, healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle and that’s just what this Silk program aims to accomplish.  That small victories are still victories. So start by swapping out your milk and you’re one step closer!

For our Wal-mart Online Grocery Pick-up we were able to get unsweetened almondmilk for our quesadilla recipe, along with dark chocolate almondmilk and Silk Vanilla Almond Dairy – Free Yogurt Alternative, which pairs great with fresh fruit on top!

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Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they'll have you forgetting that you're even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 quesadillas
Calories: 501 kcal
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp homemade taco seasoning
  • 4 10" flour tortillas
  • 2 avocados
  • 1 cup black beans
Optional Toppings
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1/2 cup red onions, diced
  • 1/2 cup salsa (or diced tomatoes)
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced thin
Instructions

  1. Soak cubed chicken in almond milk for 30 minutes. 

  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

  3. In a bowl, mix together the flour, breadcrumbs, and taco seasoning. 

  4. Drain any remaining almondmilk from the bowl after 30 minutes. Dredge the chicken cubes in the flour mixture and placed on a lightly greased baking sheet. 

  5. Baked chicken for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. 

  6. Remove from oven. 

  7. Using a fork, smash the avocados until no large chunks remain. 

  8. On one tortilla, spread 1/4 of the smashed avocados across the entire tortilla. 

  9. Add 1/4 of the baked chicken and 1/4 of the beans onto one side of the tortilla. 

  10. Add any optional toppings you may want. 

  11. Fold tortilla in half. 

  12. Place tortilla in a large skillet over medium low heat. 

  13. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Or until golden brown. 

  14. Remove and repeat the process with remaining ingredients. 

  15. Serve alongside a side of salsa. 

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are only estimates and do not include any optional toppings. 

Nutrition Facts
Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Amount Per Serving (1 quesadilla)
Calories 501 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 593mg26%
Potassium 938mg27%
Carbohydrates 56g19%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 225IU5%
Vitamin C 11.1mg13%
Calcium 233mg23%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this delicious Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadilla for later!  

Strawberry Watermelon Juice

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This strawberry watermelon juice is the ultimate summer drink for the family. Make this delicious watermelon juice recipe in just 5 minutes. 

*Disclosure: affiliate links may be contained in this post. They help us continue to run our site.

I first made this strawberry watermelon juice when I was pregnant with our first.  Up until that point, I drank a lot of soda and other high sugared juices, mostly all processed. It was how I grew up and while I could say I knew better, it’s not something that seemed easy to me at the time. Once I got pregnant, I slowly started becoming aware of the things I was putting into my body. Once we had our daughter and she began to eat herself, we both became hyperaware that we needed to really watch the things that we were eating.

Now that we have two girls, we continue to make simple and delicious juices like this strawberry watermelon juice recipe and both of our girls gobble it down and ask for more.

How to make strawberry watermelon juice? 

Strawberry watermelon juice is insanely easy to make. You only need strawberries and watermelon to make. Once you have your fruit cut away from the outer rind of the watermelon and remove the stems from the strawberries, you place in a high powdered blender. Once blended, you strain to remove any pulp and then serve! Want a slushie consistency? Freeze the fruit for 30 minutes before blending and then you have a strawberry watermelon slushie!

And definitely don’t throw away the pulp! Use it to make some delicious muffins or bread with a sweet taste!

 Ways to Use Watermelon Rinds

Speaking of not wasting! Use up those watermelon rinds.  Contrary to popular belief, watermelon rinds are actually edible and some studies have shown that they actually contain more nutrients than the pink fruit from the watermelon. It’s hard to break our views that it’s not something you can eat, so we put together a list of some delicious ways to use watermelon rinds so you can start today! Here’s 8 ways to use up those watermelon rinds:

 
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Strawberry Watermelon Juice
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

This strawberry watermelon juice is the ultimate summer drink for the family. Make this delicious watermelon juice recipe in just 5 minutes. 

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 57 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 4 cups watermelon
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1.5 cups water*
Instructions

  1. Add the ingredients to a high powdered blender. 

  2. Blend everything until very well combined.

  3. Pour into a container and enjoy! 

Recipe Notes
  • Some watermelons are much juicier than others. If you have an extremely juicy watermelon and you get 1.5 cups of juice from the watermelon while cutting - Use that before adding water. 
Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Watermelon Juice
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 57
% Daily Value*
Sodium 6mg0%
Potassium 225mg6%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 865IU17%
Vitamin C 33.5mg41%
Calcium 19mg2%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Want even more delicious juice recipes?

You may also be interested in trying out Homemade Strawberry Lemonade!

Pin this Strawberry Watermelon Juice for later!

This strawberry watermelon juice post was originally published on 4/16/2012. Same delicious juice, we’ve just gotten a lot better at photography. Here’s the original picture from the post. 

The Best Peanut Butter and Jelly Recipes

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Tired of the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich but love the peanut butter jelly combo? Try out the best peanut butter and jelly recipes for a switch!

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY RECIPES

Growing up, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were my jam. (See what I did there?) Of course, we grew up without a ton of money, so I didn’t have many options, but I did truly enjoy peanut butter jelly sandwiches. While I don’t have them as much now, it’s still something I resort back to in a pinch. It’s also something my girls love. Even if I don’t have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches often, I love the sweet and savoriness of the combo together in other recipes.

peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese

Last week, we put together a series of some new peanut butter and jelly creations that were a huge hit!

I know that the peanut butter and jelly burger through some for a loop, but everyone that had tried it before confirmed that it was a legit amazing thing.

peanut butter and jelly burgers

Is Peanut Butter and Jelly good for you?

Yes and No. It ultimately comes down to which products you use to make your peanut butter and jelly recipes. A standard peanut  butter and jelly sandwich can be healthy for you even though jelly is made with sugar.  You can choose a bread that is made from whole grains. Then, make your own homemade peanut butter so the only ingredient is peanuts and possibly a raw honey (so a natural source of sugar). Lastly, choose a no sugar added jam instead of a jelly made with high fructose corn syrup.  These simple swaps will actually make your peanut butter and jelly sandwich and other peanut butter jelly recipes healthier.

peanut butter and jelly smoothie

Everyone loved our peanut butter and jelly recipes series so much we decided to give you all even more. We’ve complied a list of more than 30 peanut butter and jelly recipes. There’s truly something for everyone in our list and we’re sure you’ll find something fun to try.

So move over classic childhood peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it’s time for a new family favorite or favorites!


PIN THIS ULTIMATE LIST OF PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY RECIPES FOR LATER!

must try peanut butter and jelly recipes

Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream

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Peanut Butter and Jelly ice cream is the ice cream of your childhood dreams. Whole family approved, this homemade ice cream recipe is a huge hit! 

peanut butter and jelly ice cream
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States. Thoughts are opinions are my own. Affiliate links are contained in this post. 
Someone told me before that they didn’t really like ice cream.

via GIPHY

Errr???? Freeze.  Excuse me?  How do you form your lips to speak that?  I will never understand.  My only exception is anything mint. Keep that away from my taste buds. But seriously, how do you just not like ice cream as a whole being. There are endless possibilities to flavor combinations and delicious toppings and cones and oh my gosh how do you not like ice cream.
peanut butter jelly ice cream
A few years ago, we got an ice cream maker, but only attempted to make chocolate ice cream from the book it came with. I was tired of another appliance sitting around not being used, so I decided to sit down with Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States, and try out some of their delicious ice cream flavors. There are over a hundred recipes and I had no clue where to even start.
 peanut butter and jelly recipes

Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream

I quickly turned to see what New Jersey and West Virginia had to offer since they are closest to my heart.  New Jersey features Sweet Basil Ice Cream from The Bent Spoon in Princeton, New Jersey. And, West Virginia features Pink Panther Ice Cream, a recipe adapted from Ellen’s Home Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia. Neither of them sounded exactly like something everyone in our family would like so I asked Andrew to pick. He said, “Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream”.  It sounded amazing and weird all at the same time, but I was going for it.
how to make homemade ice cream
The first time we made this homemade ice cream recipe, we stayed pretty true to the recipe in the cookbook. However, that’s not really my style and I immediately knew how I would change it up the next time around. The kids loved this peanut butter and jelly ice cream recipe and Andrew and I both agreed it would be a hit with some slight changes. It literally tastes like you are eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but mixed into deliciously churned homemade ice cream.
 homemade ice cream recipe

How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Freezing Time
8 hrs
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Peanut Butter and Jelly ice cream is the ice cream of your childhood dreams. Whole family approved, this homemade ice cream recipe is a huge hit! 

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 471 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk divided
  • 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 cup unsalted peanut butter divided
  • 3/4 cup grape or strawberry jam
  • chopped peanuts optional
Instructions

  1. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch, whisk, and set aside.  Whisk the peanut butter and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

  2. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch, whisk, and set aside. 

  3. In a medium bowl, add 1/2 cup peanut butter and set aside.

  4. Combine the remaining milk, heavy cream and sugar in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat.  Bring the milk mixture to a low boil.  Cook until the sugar dissolves, 3 minutes.

  5. Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Return to a boil and cook over moderately high heat until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. 

  6. Pour into the bowl with the peanut butter and whisk until smooth. It will looks like tiny peanut butter pieces throughout.  

  7. Set the bowl in the ice water bath to cool for 20 minutes. Whisk together. Then, cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.

  8. Once chilled, pour the ice cream based into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacture's instructions.  

  9. Spoon a small layer of jam into a freezer-safe container. Then, lightly spoon a layer of ice cream on top. Drop 1/2 tsp globs of peanut butter on top and use the tip of a knife to carefully swirl it around. Continue to alternate layers of jam, ice cream, and peanut butter until the container is full. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

  10. Optional: Add chopped nuts to the layers for an added crunch or use them on top. 

Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 471 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Fat 29g45%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 75mg25%
Sodium 51mg2%
Potassium 244mg7%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 35g39%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 840IU17%
Vitamin C 3.1mg4%
Calcium 102mg10%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream for later!

how do you make peanut butter and jelly ice cream
Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States  is available now. Some of the other homemade ice cream recipes that sounded amazing to me are: Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut, Junk in the Tree Trunk, Mango, Banana Pudding, Chunky Turtle, Pumpkin Ale, Pennsylvania Dutch Chocolate-Covered Pretzel, Lavender Caramel Swirl….ok, I admit, I could write out almost everyone included in the book. Grab the book and an ice cream maker and get ready for summer deliciousness today!
This post was originally posted on 8/15/2014. Same great recipe, but our photography has greatly improved. Some original photos are included below. 


Ultimate Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly

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The ultimate grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich will blow your mind.  Combining the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with grilled cheese using perfectly melting gouda cheese and adding in bacon for the ultimate decadent peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

grilled peanut butter and jelly

Sandwiches were a huge part of my childhood. They were really basic though. Grilled cheese. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ham and cheese.  You get it. Basic. As I grew up, and explored more in the kitchen, I decided to get more creative.  I used to creative these really random things that somehow just always went together.  One was a grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

peanut butter and jelly sandwich ideas

I know what you’re thinking. Peanut Butter and jelly sandwich with cheese doesn’t go together. But what’s the old saying, “Don’t knock it til you try it!” If you’ve never tried a grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly sandwich then you must. But wait. It gets better. Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich with cheese ANDDDD bacon. I promise it’s delicious.  Plus, it’s a great alternative to making your kids the same thing over and over again.

grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly

Does Peanut Butter and Cheese Go Together?

Absolutely peanut butter and cheese go together.  I’ve found it best to use a honey roasted or honey added peanut butter.  My favorite cheese to use is gouda, however, a sharp cheddar or brie is great too depending on what kind of cheese you like.

grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich

How do you make a Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly?

Luckily, it’s insanely easy to make with grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich with cheese and bacon. Take two slices of your desired bread. Spread peanut butter on one side and jelly on one side of second slice. Then, add sliced cheese and cooked bacon. Put two slices of bread together. Next, spread softened, unsalted butter on one outside side of the sandwich. Lay sandwich, butter side down, on a skillet over medium low heat. Now, butter the non-buttered side that is facing up.  When the bottom side gets golden brown, flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until that side is also golden brown.  Serve immediately.

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Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly with Bacon
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

The ultimate grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich will blow your mind.  Combining the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with grilled cheese using perfectly melting gouda cheese and adding in bacon for the ultimate decadent peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

Course: Lunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 sandwich
Calories: 844 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2 slice cinnamon raisin bread
  • 2 tbsp grape jam
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 slice cooked bacon broken in half
  • 1 slice gouda cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
Instructions

  1. Take two slices of your desired bread. Spread peanut butter on one side and jelly on one side of second slice. 

  2. Then, add sliced cheese and cooked bacon. Put two slices of bread together. 

  3. Next, spread 1 tbsp butter on one outside side of the sandwich.

  4.  Lay sandwich, butter side down, on a skillet over medium low heat. 

  5. Use remaining butter and spread on the non-buttered side that is facing up. 

  6. Cook 2-3 minutes. 

  7. When the bottom side gets golden brown, flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until that side is also golden brown. 

  8. Serve immediately. 

Nutrition Facts
Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly with Bacon
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 844 Calories from Fat 522
% Daily Value*
Fat 58g89%
Saturated Fat 26g163%
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 734mg32%
Potassium 405mg12%
Carbohydrates 61g20%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 880IU18%
Vitamin C 3.5mg4%
Calcium 258mg26%
Iron 2.3mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich with Bacon today! 

peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese with bacon

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

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These Peanut Butter and Jelly cookies are one of the most perfect peanut butter and jelly recipes you’ll try.  You will wonder why you never thought to create them before! Use different preserves to tons of variations to this simple recipe!

peanut butter and jelly cookies

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Growing up, I wasn’t a fan of peanut butter cookies.  I loved cookies and I loved peanut butter, but I was never a huge fan of straight up peanut butter cookies.  I always loved making them with my family though because I thought the fun design you got to put on the top of them was really cool and I loved seeing how it grew but was still the same pattern as it cooked and expanded. The nerd in me learned that peanut butter actually makes cookies dense, so you put the fork marks into the cookie to flatten them so they come out soft with crispy edges.  It’s the best of both loves in the cookie world.

peanut butter and jelly recipes

When Andrew and I were discussing what recipes for our Peanut Butter and Jelly series, we both immediately thought of cookies. We debated if we put the jelly into dough or even if we make thumbprint cookies with peanut butter chips. Ultimately, we decided on jam sandwich cookies.  These were the most true to what peanut butter and jelly traditionalists would consider a peanut butter and jelly cookies. These sandwich cookies are super fun and super easy.  It’s a great way to get the kids involved in cookie making too.

How do you make peanut butter and jelly cookies?

To make these peanut butter sandwich cookies, you take a traditional peanut butter cookie recipe and bake it as normal. Once your cookies are cooked and cooled completely, you garnish one side with jelly. Then, top with another peanut butter cookie.  The type of jelly is completely up to you.  Use traditional grape or often replaced with strawberry. Or, get really creative with blackberry preserves or apricot jam or bacon jam!

And to further the crunchy versus creamy peanut butter debate, you can also top with crushed peanuts on the inside if you wish.

how to make peanut butter and jelly cookies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Cooling Time
1 hr
Total Time
27 mins
 

These Peanut Butter and Jelly cookies are one of the most perfect peanut butter and jelly recipes you'll try.  You will wonder why you never thought to create them before! Use different preserves to tons of variations to this simple recipe!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18 cookie sandwiches
Calories: 359 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2.5 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp white sugar
  • 9 tbsp jelly
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

  2. In a small bowl, add flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Whisk together. 

  3. In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, peanut butter, brown and 1 cup white sugar. 

  4. Add in eggs, one at a time, and beat just until blended. 

  5. Add in vanilla just until blended. 

  6. Slowly add in the flour mixture until blended. 

  7. Using a 1-inch scoop, roll cookie dough into balls. 

  8. Place remaining 1 tbsp sugar in a bowl. 

  9. Dip a fork in sugar bowl and use it to flatten cookies in a criss-cross pattern. 

  10. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. 

  11. Remove from oven and let cool for 3-5 minutes until hardened enough to move to a cooling rack. 

  12. Let cool completely.  

  13. Once cool, spread 1/2 tbsp of jelly on the flat side of one cookie.  Top with another cookie. 

  14. Repeat with remaining cookies. 

Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie sandwich)
Calories 359 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 144mg6%
Potassium 166mg5%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 29g32%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 315IU6%
Vitamin C 0.9mg1%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

peanut butter sandwich cookies

Pin these Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies for later!

jam sandwich cookies

Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Smoothie Recipe

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This Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Smoothie Recipe not only tastes good, but works to help get the calories needed in a simple lactation boosting recipe.  

 peanut butter apple pie lactation smoothie

Watch us make this Peanut Butter Apple Pie Smoothie Recipe

WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
I used to hear mom’s say that ALL the time before I had our girls. Now, we have two girls and our baby is almost six.  When I first wrote this post, I was amazed that not only 18 months had gone by, but that we were still breastfeeding here.  As our this current post, we nursed that 18 month until until she was four, and we are currently nursing her little sister who will be 3 in a few months.
I had no intention of full term breastfeeding and my goal was to make it to 6 months with our first. But here we are.  Some days nursing happens more often than it did when she was a newborn, some days I’m ready to throw in the towel, and many days, I’m extremely grateful to still be able too feed her.  Because I know she needs it.  Physically and emotionally.
lactation smoothie recipe

DO LACTATION RECIPES WORK?

Friends with new babies often reach out because they are scared they won’t produce enough milk.  And my answer is always, “it’s very rare that a mom actually has production issues, however, you can take precautions and be proactive in helping your supply.”
I’ve been working to create some great, easy recipes to share so moms have great options when they need them.  So how can this recipe help with lactation?  Oats and Flax are known help boost milk production, while the peanut butter is a great protein to make sure you are getting the calories you need while satisfying your hunger since you are probably stuck on a couch nursing a baby.
how to make a lactation smoothie

**NOTE:  IF YOU ARE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR MILK PRODUCTION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO AN IBCLC AND/OR YOUR LOCAL LA LECHE LEAGUE. YOU CAN ALSO READ OUR POST ABOUT LACTATION BOOSTING FOODS TO INCREASE YOUR MILK SUPPLY. 

lactation smoothie recipe

But don’t think that just because we have made it here that we haven’t shared in our own ups and downs.  It’s been a tough road, any breastfeeding mom will tell you the same.  Fortunately, I never had supply issues (most moms don’t), but even I have questioned if I’m still producing enough milk.  I’ve read various articles about increasing milk production and two of those — oatmeal and flax seed — I love adding as often as I can to many things.  Peanut Butter is also a great way to get in healthy fats, protein, and keep you filled for longer (we all know as moms we don’t get to eat very often!). Feel free to sub nut free butters like sunbutter, or use an alternative like almond butter.  It will give it a slightly different taste, but still yum!

peanut butter lactation smoothie

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LACTATION BOOSTING PEANUT BUTTER APPLE PIE SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

This delicious Lactation Boosting Peanut Butter Apple Pie Smoothie recipe will have you asking for another right away! 

Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 smoothie
Calories: 593 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 apple cored
  • 1 banana
  • 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp flax seed (up to 2 tbsp if you are really looking to boost milk production)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup whole milk Sub for dairy free milk if necessary
Instructions

  1. Add ingredients and blend until well combined.  

Recipe Notes
  1. If texture is a concern for you, add oats to blender first and pulse until fine like flour. Then proceed as normal with remaining ingredients.
  2. To make cold, use a frozen banana or add ice until well blended. 
  3. **Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 
Nutrition Facts
LACTATION BOOSTING PEANUT BUTTER APPLE PIE SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Amount Per Serving (1 smoothie)
Calories 593 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 12mg4%
Sodium 206mg9%
Potassium 1140mg33%
Carbohydrates 81g27%
Fiber 14g58%
Sugar 42g47%
Protein 18g36%
Vitamin A 370IU7%
Vitamin C 18.6mg23%
Calcium 199mg20%
Iron 2.6mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Recipe for later!

lactation smoothie recipe with peanut butter

*The pictures below were the original pictures for this Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Recipe which you may have seen floating around Pinterest.  It’s the same recipe, we’ve just gotten a lot better at photography!

The Best Homemade French Fries

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If you’ve ever wondered how do you make homemade french fries, the wait is over. Try out easy homemade french fries recipe in the air fryer or oven, including a homemade french fry seasoning blend.  

best french fries recipe

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. You shop the same but we earn a small commission from sales. 

I really can’t believe that it took me more than 25 years to figure out, but since making homemade french fries for the first times, I’ve made them dozens of times since.  We actually prefer this homemade french fries recipe over store-bought fries. Our whole family devours them every time we make them!

Since we’ve began trying to make more and more of our foods from scratch, these easy homemade french fries are one of our favorite recipes.  Not only does it save me a ton of money overall, but I know exactly what ingredients are in my food, which for me feeding two growing kids, this is very important to me.  I’m determined to make better choices for our family on a daily basis with each day being better than the day before.

how to make homemade french fries

How do you to make homemade french fries?

Homemade french fries are incredible easy, almost too easy.  It’s a great recipe to make with kids in the kitchen to learn their way around too. To make the best homemade french fries recipe, you need to simply slice potatoes into your desired size.  Smaller for shoestring french fries and larger for steak fries.  The key is that you want to get them all the same size so they cook evenly.

We make our homemade french fries in the air fryer; however, if you want to make know how to make homemade french fries in the oven we’ll explain that below as well. We prefer the air fryer for the best homemade french fries because there’s no preheating oven, no greasy mess, you have the crispiest, most delicious french fries ever.

french fry seasoning

What is the best homemade french fry seasoning?

We have a delicious all-purpose seasoning that started out as a homemade chicken spice rub, but has morphed itself into an everything seasoning.  This seasoning blend combo is the best homemade french fry seasoning you’ll find around!

how to make french fries in an air fryer

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Best Homemade French Fries
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

If you've ever wondered how do you make homemade french fries, the wait is over. Try out easy homemade french fries recipe in the air fryer or oven, including a homemade french fry seasoning blend.  

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 87 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
Instructions

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into strips approximately 1/4 inch wide (size depends on how large you want your fries - fatter fries take longer to bake).

  2. Add potatoes, olive oil, and seasoning mix to a bowl and stir until well combined.

  3. Add your seasoned potatoes to the basket of an Air Fryer*.

  4. Cook for 30-35 mins at 392 degrees F, flipping every 10 mins.

Recipe Notes

Larger cut fries will need additional time.

**If you do not have an Avalon Bay Air Fryer - you can cook these in a single layer on an oven sheet following the same directions above.  

Nutrition Facts
Best Homemade French Fries
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 87
% Daily Value*
Sodium 57mg2%
Potassium 464mg13%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 3g13%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Vitamin C 12.1mg15%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 3.5mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

We hope you love this easy homemade french fries recipe just as much as we do! While you are making the best homemade french fries recipe, don’t forget that you can work on zero waste! Instead of throwing away the peels from the potatoes, throw them into a skillet about an inch high with vegetable oil over medium heat.  Fry them for approximately 7 minutes.  Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with some course salt. Delish crisp “potato chips” skins! The kids go crazy over this!

zero waste potato skins

What is the best French Fry Dipping Sauce?

We are obsessed with dipping our homemade french fries in our homemade honey mustard BBQ sauce.

french fry dipping sauce

We also love regular homemade bbq sauce.

french fry dipping sauce

For a spicy kick and non-traditional alternative, this homemade avocado dip is delish with fries!

french fry dip

Pin the Best Homemade French Fries Recipe for later: 

easy french fries recipe

This post was originally posted on 3/4/2015. Same great recipe, but our photography has greatly improved. Old images below!

homemade french frieshomemade fries

Strawberry Banana Popsicles

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These homemade Strawberry Banana Popsicles are just 3 ingredients! Learn how to make popsicles with this super easy homemade popsicles recipe today!

strawberry banana popsiclesThis post contains affiliate links.
Shop like normal using our links to our favorite products, but we receive a small commission to help run our site.

homemade strawberry popsicles

My kids are obsessed with popsicles.  Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a sweet treat? I know growing up, I used to beg for ice cream or popsicles, or anything else that my parents would let me have. With the weather warming up (hopefully) right around the corner, I know that I need to keep our freezer stocked with fun frozen treats.

homemade popsicles recipes

When Serenity was a baby, I got popsicle molds and tried to make popsicles for the first time. I felt so silly for not realizing how easy it was. The possibilities in how many different ways you can make homemade popsicles is endless. We typically just blend together a bunch of overripe fruit that is about to go bad and pour them into our favorite popsicle molds. It’s the perfect way to reduce waste while still having something fun and healthy.

how to make homemade popsicles

Today, we’re sharing with your our homemade strawberry banana popsicles. These healthy popsicles have just 3 ingredients – strawberries, bananas, and unsweetened vanilla almond milk. The kids loved our homemade popsicles and I loved that they were dye-free and no added sugar or other ingredients that we can’t pronounce.

easy popsicle recipes

How do you make homemade popsicles?

In a high powdered blender or food processor, combine frozen bananas and frozen strawberries with the unsweetened vanilla almond milk.  Blend until a smooth texture. Carefully pour mixture into the popsicles molds slightly under filled.  Then, put in popsicle sticks and place in freezer for six hours or overnight, until completely frozen.

how do you make homemade popsicles

How long does it take popsicles to make a popsicle?

With these strawberry banana popsicles, it takes 10 minutes to blend and get them into the popsicle molds. After that, it takes a minimum of five to six hours to freeze. Alternatively, you could use a quick freezing popsicle mold that can freeze in as little as 7 minutes depending on which you get.

3 ingredient popsicle recipes

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Strawberry Banana Popsicles
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Total Time
6 hrs 5 mins
 

These homemade Strawberry Banana Popsicles are just 3 ingredients! Learn how to make popsicles with this super easy homemade popsicles recipe today!

Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 15 popsicles
Calories: 31 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 3 frozen bananas
  • 20 medium strawberries
  • 2.5 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Instructions

  1. In a food processor or blender, add the ingredients and blend until smooth. 

  2. Pour mixture into popsicle molds

  3. Place popsicle molds in freeze for 6 hours or overnight, until completely frozen. 

Recipe Notes

For a fun crunchy treat: dip the top of the frozen popsicle in vanilla greek yogurt, then dip that in granola (we used our Chocolate Cranberry Granola). 

Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Banana Popsicles
Amount Per Serving (1 popsicle)
Calories 31
% Daily Value*
Sodium 28mg1%
Potassium 135mg4%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Vitamin A 50IU1%
Vitamin C 11.5mg14%
Calcium 34mg3%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Looking for even more popsicle recipes ? Check out these delicious homemade popsicles ideas!

 We hope you enjoy these delicious strawberry banana popsicles and and inspired to start making your own!

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easy strawberry banana nice cream popsicles

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