cooking, baking, and a home in the making

Author: Courtney

Skillet Mushrooms with Butter and Thyme

Skillet Mushrooms with Butter and Thyme

So I have to admit that my fiance’s low-carb game is strong. He’s started eating more carbs again (like these rosemary and garlic biscuits I recently made), but we still limit them during dinner. The whole meat and veggie thing has actually become something we 

My 5 Sunny Summer Essentials

My 5 Sunny Summer Essentials

Summer is in full swing and in Morgantown that means it’s hot a humid a lot of the time! I’ve been taking advantage of our apartment’s pool, my little deck, and the West Virginia recreation as much as possible. With only a few months left 

Cucumber Basil Fizz Cocktail

Cucumber Basil Fizz Cocktail

I started my first herb garden this year. I named my first two little herb sprouts after two of my good friends in Chicago, Katie and Caitlin. I nurtured them for a month and Katie and Caitlin grew into a whole bunch of thyme and 

One-Pan Creamy Garlic Parmesan Shells

One-Pan Creamy Garlic Parmesan Shells

Hopefully, by now you know how much I love pasta and cheese. These creamy garlic parmesan shells are a little twist on a mac and cheese recipe and are the perfect side dish for your summer grilling adventures.  I use a simple white sauce and 

Mango Sorbet Margarita (aka the Adult Float)

Mango Sorbet Margarita (aka the Adult Float)

My friends have started a tradition here in WV. We like to do clothing swaps. One of us will complain that our closets are a mess and then one will kindly offer up her living room to host a swap where we bring bags full 

Cooking 101: How to Make a Roux

Cooking 101: How to Make a Roux

A roux is pronounced “roo” and you use it as a base for lots of different types of sauces and gravy. It’s always equal parts fat and flour and then you add a liquid to make the sauce. I use a roux the most to 

Roasted Red Pepper Pesto with Pasta and Sausage

Roasted Red Pepper Pesto with Pasta and Sausage

Do you ever make your own jarred sauces? I made this Roasted Red Pepper Pesto and jarred it up to keep in my fridge. It didn’t last long though! I used it to make this red pepper pesto pasta and will have to make another batch 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

In one of my many quests to eat healthy, I brought a banana with me to work one day when I was living in Chicago. I probably got sidetracked with some other snacks or food, but I forgot about the banana. I saw it in