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Sweet Potato Stackers

 

My family LOVES sweet potatoes! I served these and they were a BIG hit, so I believe I will serve them for Thanksgiving this year. Buttery layers of sweet potatoes with rosemary and garlic and fresh parmesan cheese – my mouth is watering just thinking about them!

These are a different way to serve those delectable, spuds of the South! And best part? No mini marshmallows!

 

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Sweet Potato Stackers
 
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Buttery layers of sweet potatoes, paired with rosemary, garlic and fresh parmesan - these Sweet Potato Stackers are sure to be a hit at the next family gathering!
Author:
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 4-5 sweet potatoes, washed, peeled and sliced into thin slices.
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon freshly chopped rosemary (plus another teaspoon for topping at end)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2-4 Tablespoons fresh grated parmesan cheese (plus 2 TBS for topping at end)
  • salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine in a large bowl the melted butter, olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and whisk until they ingredients are blended.
  3. Add freshly grated parmesan cheese and lightly wish.
  4. Add sliced sweet potatoes to the bowl and mix until all slices are coated in the oil mixture.
  5. In a light greased muffing tin, layer the sweet potatoes until each tin is filled to the top. These will shrink down while they cook.
  6. Cook for 45-55 minutes, or until the potatoes are lightly browned and are tender.
  7. Place on a plate and top with more parmesan cheese and fresh chopped rosemary. Serve immediately.

Sweet Potato Stacker – So Simple & So GOOD!

 

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Easy Cheesy Zucchini Bites

 

One of my favorite vegetables, second only to broccoli, is zucchini! It is a very versatile veggie! So speaking as a Zucchini Lover, this recipe is fantastic! You can almost convince yourself it is healthy because it is mostly zucchini, with a little bit of cheese!

Seriously, how can you not want to devour these right out of the oven?!
Seriously, how can you not want to devour these right out of the oven?! Easy Cheesy Zucchini by SimpleSolutionsDiva.com.

I suggest you double the recipe – I made a single batch and literally, all of the pieces were devoured in minutes. And this recipe has my little vegetarian’s stamp of approval!

Easy Cheesy Zucchini Bites
 
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These easy, cheesy zucchini bites will have carnivores, and vegetarians alike, devouring them!
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Serves: 2 dozen
Ingredients
  • 3-4 zucchini, cleaned & shredded (yields approximately 1.5-2 cups shredded)
  • 1 egg beaten
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (you can also use shredded mozzarella and add in parmesan!)
  • ¼ cup panko or Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat over to 425 degrees.
  2. After shredding the zucchini, place it into a clean, dry paper towel and squeeze out the excess water and place the zucchini in a large bowl.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
  4. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet (I placed parchment paper on the cookie sheet and then greased that.)
  5. Bake in the oven for 14-20 minutes until lightly browned on the edges.
  6. Eat plain or with ranch dressing for dipping (but they really don't need the dressing!)

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A Diva Product Review: The Purse Pouch (TM)

I think I may have the BEST neighbors! When I posted on Facebook the question, “Has anyone ever used the Purse Pouch (TM)?” – my neighbor Marcia went and bought one for herself and for ME! So I decided to do a product review. FYI – The makers of Purse Pouch (TM) have not compensated me in any way. Also, the photo below is from the Purse Pouch (TM) website.

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Photo Courtesy of Purse Pouch (TM).

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A Round-Up Of The Diva’s Favorite Household Tips

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In honor of her LIVE appearances at the 2016 Fall Jacksonville Home + Patio Show, the Diva is sharing her favorite, simple household tips!  Come out and say “Hi” on Sunday, October 2 at 11:30 a.m. – The Diva will be cooking things up on The Jacksonville Magazine Cooking Stage! If you plan to go to the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show, use promo code DIVA to get a discount on your tickets when you buy online! Buy Tickets HERE.

How To Fold A Towel For Easy Stacking: Tired of your towels flopping over when you try to stack them? The Diva makes it easy! Check out the tip – Click Here

How To Get Your Dryer To Dry Faster: Is it taking forever for your clothes to dry? Try this little tip from the Diva – Click Here

What To Do With Dryer Lint: If you do laundry, you know it always produces lint! You can leave the lint (along with old thread) out for the birds to use in their nests! Or check out this simple tip  from the Diva – Click Here 

The Secret Way To Make A Room Smell Great! – Try adding a Febreze Car Vent Clip to your air conditioning vent in a room – rarely do people look up when they enter a room, so it is a great way to make a room smell great, without being too heavy a scent! Available at Pubix, Target, Walmart and more. Or, you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your air conditioning filter when you change it out every month.screen-shot-2016-09-29-at-7-20-36-am

Simple Way to Clean Blinds: Tongs & Microfiber cloths! Wrap a microfiber cloth around each end of tongs, secure them with rubber bands, and you have a simple tool to clean those blinds! Toss the cloths into the wash when done!

How To Clean Large Amount Of Silverware: This is my FAVORITE Simple Holiday Survival Tip! Click Here to see how to go from tarnished to clean, without having to do all that hard polishing! (And you have to watch my Simple Holiday Survival Series before the holidays!)

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How To Clean A Wooden Cutting Board: Lay the board on a clean work surface. Sprinkle the cutting board with salt. Using half of a lemon, place cut side down on the board and rub in a circular motion, combining the lemon and salt. The salt gently removes any built up grime, and the lemon naturally sterilizes the wood.

How To Clean Your Hair Dryer: Prevent your hair dryer from blowing up with this SIMPLE tip! Click Here

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Thank you to WTLV-TV’s First Coast Living for having me on to share these tips!

 

 

Chicken Enchilada Green Chili Soup

I love a good bowl of soup, especially on cool fall evenings! I find this soup, so thick it could almost be a stew, really hits the spot! A little spicy, a little Mexican – all my favorites in one dish!

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I think when you try it, it will become a family favorite, too! Serve this up with some tortilla chips, a little sour cream, cheese, and maybe a little hot sauce to taste! Enjoy!

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Green Chili Soup
 
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This soup is perfect to come home to on cool nights in the fall or winter! Leave it in the crockpot all day and it will make your home smell like a Mexican fiesta!
Author:
Recipe type: soup
Cuisine: American/Mexican
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 can green chili enchilada sauce
  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless
  • 2 cans diced green chilies
  • 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 4 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 T. cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (if you use smoked, this would add a smokey flavor!)
  • 1 T. cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • 2 cans black beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1 can white beans, drained & rinsed
  • 16 oz. chicken broth (you can use more for a more soupy, soup!)
  • salt & pepper to taste (optional)
  • 8oz cream cheese, cubed
Instructions
  1. Pour half the can of green enchilada sauce on bottom of crockpot, then add chicken breasts.
  2. Top with remaining green enchilada sauce and all other ingredients, except for the cream cheese.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
  4. A half hour before serving, take 2 forks and shred the chicken. Add in the cubed cream cheese. Stir and cover, allowing the cream cheese to melt.
  5. Serve when the cream cheese is melted - enjoy!

 

Serve This Chicken Enchilada Green Chili Soup with Tortilla Chips, cheese and sour cream!
Serve This Chicken Enchilada Green Chili Soup with Tortilla Chips, cheese and sour cream!

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Getting Creative With Veggies – Carrot “Pumpkins”

I know from experience it can be difficult to get kids to eat their veggies! For some reason, two and three year olds just don’t care when you explain that veggies are good for them! But like all good parents, we try to sneak vegetables into their diet – some with success, some without!

So I knew when I saw these adorable carrot “pumpkins” they would be a perfect fall treat for kids – and something a parent can feel good about giving them!

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I hope you like the cutting demonstration in the video!  Disclaimer: When using a big knife, I don’t recommend letting the kids cut the carrots! If you want to get them involved, give them the job of peeling and washing the carrots!

A close-up of the cuts you need to make on your carrot - So cute!
A close-up of the cut carrot – So cute!

 

What kid could refuse these sweet & crunchy “pumpkins” – especially if they are served with dip! Or add them to chicken noodle soup for a Fall or Halloween theme!

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However you serve them, you and your child are sure to love them! (FYI – Even my teenagers happily munched away on these – before I was done filming!)

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Homemade Honey Dijon Dressing

 

Honey Dijon Dressing – it could be another food group for some kids! My kids put it on everything, so I thought I would try to make it from scratch – no preservatives and full of flavor! Try this tangy version is sure to make everyone happy in your home!

 

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Homemade Honey Dijon Dressing
 
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Sweet & Tangy! Sure to be a hit!!
Author:
Recipe type: Salad Dressing
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup dijon mustard
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1-2 Tablespoons honey
  • ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
  1. Combine the first four ingredients and whisk.
  2. Slowly whisk in the olive oil - you may find you don't want to use the entire ¼ cup - feel free to adjust to your taste.
  3. Serve immediately!

 

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Creamy Feta Cheese Dressing


Oh yes, I am thinking of my trip to Greece when I make this dressing! This recipe comes together so easily you will be making it every week! Pour it over salad, make it thicker and use it as a dip for veggies and pita chips!

 

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Creamy Feta Cheese Dressing
 
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Creamy Feta Cheese dressing is perfect for a summer time salad and it comes together in minutes!!
Author:
Recipe type: Salad Dressing
Cuisine: Greek
Serves: ½ cup
Ingredients
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • ½ cup feta cheese - use plain or flavored
  • 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • Adjust the liquid ingredients to your preference to make it thinker or thinned out.
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend! That easy! Store in an air tight container in fridge for up to 5 days.

 

Kill Pesky Mosquitoes Before They Can Bite!

 

With concerns of the Zika virus spreading during the summer months, I wanted to address one way to prevent mosquitoes in our gardens and back yards. Specifically for those who love to have bird baths and fountains running in our gardens. My recommendations are not meant to replace, in any way, the constantly updating recommendations of the Centers For Disease Control (CDC). For complete and updated information, check out the CDC website (Click Here).

FYI – A running fountain is a deterrent to mosquitoes (they don’t want to land and lay eggs) –but if that motor stops and water becomes stagnant, even for a few days, it can become a breeding ground!

 

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