In my last post, I was really excited about the items I got from Sam’s! Let me tell you…we really enjoyed our groceries! Lol Check out the ways I served my meals!
Continue reading “Meal Shortcuts Update”Author: lindsayhomemaker
Meal Shortcuts
As a full-time homemaker, I tend to prepare most of my family’s meals. While I enjoy cooking, I do like to have a break! Since takeout isn’t always satisfying, I appreciate the meal shortcuts grocery stores provide. Check out what I got from Sam’s Club recently!
Continue reading “Meal Shortcuts”Dirty Rice
My great-grandmother was born in Louisiana, so I like to believe I have a little Creole in me! My family enjoys gumbo, jambalaya, red beans & rice, and other dishes from that region. This dirty rice recipe has proven to be a crowd pleaser… both kids asked for more!
Continue reading “Dirty Rice”Blueberry Protein Muffins
Do your kids like to snack allllllll the time? Mine do! Miss Baby really loves fruit, graham crackers, apple sauce and yogurt! Miss Baby is now a toddler, by the way, so she puts all those teeth to WORK!
Since she loves to eat allll the things, and I can barely keep up, I have to find healthy items that will keep her full…slow her down a bit! Lol I saw these muffins online and had to try!

Ingredients:
- Blueberries (I thawed some from frozen)
- Protein Pancake mix (I mixed the suggested serving)
- Maple syrup
Prepare the Protein Pancake mix according to the directions, then add as much maple syrup as you’d like. (I think I added a few table spoons, and it still wasn’t sweet. Perfect for a baby/toddler, but it wasn’t sweet enough for anyone else.)
Next, pour the batter into a greased muffin pan. Then, add blueberries and gently fold them in.


Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes, let cool a little, and remove them from the pan. Continue to let the muffins cool until they’re ready for a little person to handle!


Ideally, these would have been baked in a mini muffin pan. I don’t have one yet, so I served these to her 1/2 at a time. I kept the muffins in the refrigerator and heated as needed.
I hope you or your little one enjoys these healthy, filling muffins soon!

Dragonfruit Refresher
Are you a drive-thru coffee shop regular? While I enjoy the occasional treat, I’m a strong believer in drinking what I have at home! Lol
I saw an IG post about how to make a dupe of a famous coffee shop’s beverage, and I just HAD to try it for myself!
Continue reading “Dragonfruit Refresher”Chicken Meatballs & Tzatziki
If you want a quick meal, just get these items from Sam’s and enjoy! Lol Of course, though, I like to do things the long way. I got inspired and decided to re-create what I saw in the store!


Make yourself a coffee or cocktail, and get comfy to read this super-long post! First, we’re making tzatziki dip so that it can have time to rest in the refrigerator.
Continue reading “Chicken Meatballs & Tzatziki”Jalapeño Ranch
Hello!!!
Once again, I’ve been trying to try! Lol Maybe this health kick is due to the start of a new year, or maybe because I’m trying to make sure I fit into a bridesmaid dress for an upcoming wedding! Either way, I’ve been more focused on veggies.
I came across a recipe on IG that was a dip, but by the time I blended MY ingredients, it was a bit thin…so, let’s call it a dressing. I’ve been drizzling it on LOTS of things! Let’s check it out.
Continue reading “Jalapeño Ranch”Quick Banana Pudding
Do you like banana pudding? I’ve found that most people either totally love it or totally hate it. Some people don’t like bananas, for others it’s a texture thing. Well, my house is half and half. As you may have guessed, I enjoy nearly ALL foods! lol However, my husband doesn’t care for any puddings (he’s really missing out on bread pudding…shame) or Jello (again…Jello shots?!). Luckily, our son seems to be siding with me and enjoying pudding/jello/yogurt items. Hooray! Now I can make certain things without feeling bad for just making them for myself! lol
I mostly shop at Aldi, and my store rarely has vanilla wafers, but suddenly they were in stock! I knew I had to make banana pudding. I always buy bananas, so we might as well go all the way, right? Plus, the instant pudding mix insured that I’d be able to make my sweet treat and eat it pretty soon after.

I know, I know…this doesn’t look like enough ingredients to make REAL banana pudding. Listen, as Tabitha Brown says, “That’s my business!” No really, I’ve made the traditional banana pudding where you cook the custard and bake to brown the meringue. I’ve also prepared the kind with boxed pudding and Chessmen cookies. As a matter of fact, preparing these two recipes was an early way that I attempted to impress my father-in-law. It worked…banana pudding was one of his favs.
Remember, this house doesn’t NEED a lot of this dessert, so I went with individual servings. Your situation may be the same, so check this out:
Ingredients
- Ramekins or other small bowls (4)
- Bananas (I used 1.5)
- Instant Pudding Mix (1 box)
- Vanilla Wafers
- Whipped Cream
Mix the instant pudding according to the instructions. (I whisked by hand for a little workout! lol) While the pudding is thickening, line the ramekins with vanilla wafers and top with some banana slices. Scoop in some pudding, then layer more wafers, bananas, and the final layer of pudding.


Add a little whipped cream at the end if you’d like, but it’s still good if you leave it off. Definitely top the desserts with a wafer because it’s cute! lol


Yep, that’s what you think it is. A random pan with a lid that I saved from one of the Summer BBQs…we recycle AND upcycle around here! 😉 I couldn’t just let those cute little cups sit in the refrigerator all out in the open, especially with a 5-year-old around, so this was perfect!
Now, I said this recipe was quick because I prepared it in maybe 15 minutes. You COULD eat it after an hour or two like I did, but it’s even BETTER the next day! You really want to give the wafers time to get soft in the pudding.
Let me know if you make this!

Green(s) Eggs & Ham with Miss Baby
The Girl is 4 months old, super active, alert and talkative! She’s often in the kitchen with me, but today I let her get in on the action a bit.


Breakfast scrambles are one of my favorite things to prepare when I want to spice up our usual scrambled eggs routine. The ingredients vary, but there’s always cheese! lol Here are today’s ingredients:
- Eggs (4)
- Butter (1 Tablespoon); Olive Oil (a little swig)
- Spinach (half-bag or a couple of handfuls)
- Deli Ham/Turkey (as much as you like)
- Minced Onions
- Shredded Colby Jack Cheese (as much as you like)
First I sauteed the spinach with a little olive oil, seasoned salt, pepper and minced onions. After the spinach was wilted sufficiently, I set it aside in a ramekin and warmed some chopped deli meat. No need to get it super cooked, just enough to knock the refrigerator cold off…added that to the ramekin too.
I always scramble my eggs in a tablespoon of salted butter, so that was the next step. When those eggs were nearly ready I seasoned with a little salt & pepper, then added the other cooked ingredients and cheese. Folded everything in and served!


I ate mine with a dollop (ok…it was a whole single serving cup) of guacamole! I added toast and Conecuh sausage to my husband’s plate for a bit more bulk.


Here are a few more breakfast scramble ideas we enjoy:
- Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms
- Bacon & Sausage
- Taco-seasoned Meat (top your scramble with a little salsa)
Remember…cheese always pulls everything together! 😉


Life Update
Hello!!!
Long time, no post! I think we last left off in the Spring of 2021. Whew!
Since that time things have been mostly the same, but very different. Funny how daily activities can remain consistent while major life changes are happening. I’m still cooking daily, but I haven’t really been inspired to take pictures and document my process. Here are a few shots of some meals:




Family Highlights
- April 2021 – I quit my part-time job
- July 2021 – My husband’s father passed away
- August 2021 – The Boy started Pre-K
- November 2021 – We finally closed on some recreational land (been looking since 2018ish)
- January 2022 – The Boy started playing basketball
- March 2022 – The Boy started playing baseball
- March 2022 – We welcomed our daughter (The Girl)






Ah, yes! I buried the exciting news! lol We’re super happy to have our newest baby in the family…especially since The Boy has been asking for a sister since 2020!
You see, conceiving children hasn’t been very easy for us. The first go-round I had to have some fibroids removed to clear the way. This second time took muuuuuch longer. After trying alone for over a year, we sought out a fertility specialist in 2020. Then the pandemic hit and we put a pause on things for a few months. After starting the doctor visits again…a few months of “trying on our own” with monitoring…seven IUI’s later, we conceived our baby girl in July of 2021.
We’re adjusting to life as a family of four quite well, but things are obviously a bit different with an infant in the house. Sometimes she’ll sit in the high chair and watch me cook, and other times I have to hold her in my arms or the baby carrier. Somehow I still manage to make meals happen throughout the day! Did I mention my husband is working from home full-time?! Whew!
School starts again next week, so maybe…MAYBE…I’ll have a bit more time to post again. *fingers crossed*
Thanks for hanging in there with me!

