Super Bowl is right around the corner and I'd like to share a family favorite!  It does take a bit of time as the chicken is cooked in the slow cooker.  I find that the slow cooker is best to create the juiciest pulled chicken and once you add the ingredients, you don't have to do anything except let it cook.  So with that, here's my recipe for Nachos Supreme!

For the pulled chicken:
-Chicken breasts
-1/2 onion chopped 
-Tomato puree
-1/2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
-2 teaspoons cumin
-1 teaspoon smoked paprika
-Salt + pepper to taste 
Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and let it cook for about 5-6 hours while stirring periodically throughout.  At about 4 hours the chicken will be tender enough to start shredding.  Use two forks to pull the chicken apart.  Let it cook for the remainder of the time.  Once done start assembling the nachos 
For the beans:
-3 cans black beans rinsed and drained
-Salt + pepper to taste
-1/2 cup of tomato puree
-1/2 cup chopped onions
-1-2 tablespoons of oil
Sauté the onions in oil for a couple of minutes.  Add black beans, tomato puree, and seasonings and stir.  Let it cook for about 20 minutes

Start to assemble the nachos with your favorite brand of tortilla chips and shredded cheese.  Use a large casserole dish and start with the tortilla chips.  Next add the cheese, cooked beans, and shredded chicken.  Repeat the steps and create several layers.  End with a final layer of cheese and place in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.  Top with pico de Gallo (chopped red onion, tomato, a bit of lime juice, sprinkle of salt and cilantro and mix together) and sour cream.  Enjoy!! 

If you love a gooey chocolate chip cookie, then you will LOVE this skillet version.  It's so delicious and loaded with gooey chocolate chips.  I made this very simple dessert and it was an immediate winner with the family.  The best part is you can make the dough before hand and freeze it for later if you choose.  It literally takes under 15 minutes to make the dough and in my book, that's a winner.  Anything that saves time :). Enjoy and please do let me know if you try this recipe.   

-2 cups all purpose flour
-3/4 cup packed brown sugar (this is more than enough sugar for us, but you can add up to 1 and 1/4 cup sugar.
-12 tablespoons of unsalted butter
-2 eggs
-2 tsps vanilla
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1 and 1/2 cups chocolate chips cookie
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt) and set aside in a bowl.  Start off with room temperature butter.  Add the sugar and. beat with a mixer until fluffy.  Next, add the eggs and vanilla and continue to mix.  Once combined, add the dry mixture and combine.  Gently fold in the chocolate chips and transfer the cookie dough onto a skillet.  Press the cookie dough down in skillet evenly and bake for 28-30 minutes (or until golden brown).  Let it cool before cutting and serving.  Enjoy it with ice cream if you wish!

One of the things I love most about starting a new year is getting a fresh new beginning.  Christmas is by far my favorite time of year, but I also look forward to having a clean slate and a home decor refresh.  I'm sharing a few tips that helped me as I prepped to start the first week in the new year.  I hope you'll find them useful:

1. Declutter your home.  Purchase some organizing bins and tackle spaces that are most often neglected (under your sinks, storage closets, etc.)  Use organizing bins to store and arrange cleaning supplies under sinks.  Group items such as cleaning sprays together so that they're organized and easy to find.  
2. In storage closets take all items such as sanitary napkins out of their original packaging and arrange them neatly in the bins. 
3.  Christmas wreaths may be put away, but you can still decorate with real and faux plants.  Greenery is a great way to freshen up a place and make it look lively. 
4.  Get some new throw pillows cases and use them on your old pillows.  Instead of buying extra pillows which can get messy, just switch the pillow cases and it's like having a whole new look while saving money!

Enjoy this fresh new beginning in your home!  There's nothing like a fresh clean slate to allow one to tackle the rest of the days to come!   

Happy New Year everyone! So many things to love about starting a new year.  New opportunities, a fresh start.  A chance to write new goals.  A time for reflection.  I can go on and on.  If there's one thing that I've learned it's to appreciate each and every moment.  To fully live in each moment.  2020 was an incredibly crazy year for a lot of people.  For me personally there were many blessings and opportunities that I am truly grateful for.  For one, it gave me a chance to start this website/blog and share what I love to do with each and every one of you.  I've gotten to connect and learn from so many amazing people and I do not take that for granted.  In this new year I will not be making any resolutions, except to live each moment to the fullest!  I do wish each of you a very happy New Year with increased blessings, opportunities, protection, support, love, and success.  Let's cheers with this special champagne/prosecco mule. 

-Ginger beer
-lime juice
-blood oranges and the blood orange juice
-vodka (optional)
-Champagne or prosecco
Mix 2 ounces each of ginger beer and blood orange juice, and 1 ounce of lime juice and vodka (optional).  Top off with champagne or prosecco and garnish with mint.  Enjoy!