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Turkey Meatballs with Sage + Brown Butter Pasta

January 14, 2016 • 31 Comments

Prior to being in my 20s I had never had ground turkey, let alone turkey meatballs.

I thought turkey was something used only for sandwiches and Thanksgiving. This all changed a few years ago when a roommate came home with a pack of ground turkey, set it in front of me in the kitchen and said, “Turkey was on sale and you’re a food blogger. Can you make us something good with it?”

Now there’s something you should know about me. I love a good food challenge. Even if in the back of my mind I know I might fail, I love experimenting in the kitchen. It’s where I thrive. So of course, I didn’t say no to my roommate. I grabbed the pack of ground turkey and opened the pantry to see what else I had to work with.

By the end of my search I had a pile of sweet potatoes, sage, bread, onions, peppers and garlic sitting on the counter. I bet you’re wondering what I ended up making with the ground turkey … but you’ll have to stay tuned until next month to see what recipe I whipped up because today we’re going to start with a more basic ground turkey recipe: Turkey Meatballs with Sage + Brown Butter Pasta.

Sorry for leading you on with a preview of what’s coming to the blog next month, but I guess that just means you’ll have to come back! 😉

Words cannot describe how delicious this pasta dish is and how fun it is to make. All I have to say is watching the butter brown on the stove and sizzle with the sage is something everyone should experience. Just don’t get too mesmerized by the browning process because otherwise you’ll end up with burnt butter, which is arguably one of the saddest things in the world.Read More

First-Ever Reader Survey!

January 12, 2016 • 5 Comments

It’s an exciting day here at Making Life Sweet, and I want you to be a part of the fun!

You might have read on my Most Popular Recipes of 2015 post about how 2015 was the first year I actually started taking this blog and cultivating community seriously. Well today is another big step for me, because today is the day I release my first-ever reader survey!

I want to know what you love about Making Life Sweet, what you’d like to see from the blog in the future, and how I can make this space of the Internet even more inspiring for you!

All I ask is for five (or less) minutes of your time to take a short survey designed to help me make this blog the best blog it can be in 2016 and beyond. Click here to take the survey.

From the bottom of my heart thank you so much for taking time out of your day to take the survey. I am grateful for each and every one of my readers and excited for what the future holds. If I could, as a token of thanks I would hug you through the screen and send you a few of these Coconut Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars. But a big THANK YOU will have to do for now! XOXO 🙂

Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai

January 11, 2016 • 24 Comments

With this being my second Thai recipe in a row on the blog, it’s probably obvious by now…

The Gaskills like Thai food. Big time. Of the two of us, I am the more adventurous one when it comes to trying different Thai dishes. I’ll go for the Tom Kha Gai, like I featured on the blog last week, or a Pumpkin Curry. On the other hand Mr. Making Life Sweet is more of a Thai purist … or maybe traditionalist is a better word, haha. How so? He legit only orders ONE thing when we get Thai: Pad Thai.

The man has had Pad Thai in probably 15 of the 50 United States — so he knows a good Pad Thai recipe when he comes across one. I didn’t know how he would react to me making this Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai dish at home (and I was kind of nervous to make it) but I was giddy when he gobbled up the whole plate. I knew that meant I’d nailed it for sure.

I love rice noodles, but I’ve been on a spaghetti squash kick recently. 1) Because it’s in season. And 2) Because you can eat an entire half a squash and not feel like you need to lie down on the couch. It’s a delicious way to enjoy a large meal without a crap-I-ate-way-too-many-carbs hangover 30 minutes later.

Tom Kha Gai (Thai Chicken Coconut Soup)

January 7, 2016 • 35 Comments

When you live in a place for awhile, you get attached to its restaurants.

Mr. Making Life Sweet and I fell in love with several restaurants during our two years living in Minneapolis. There was W.A. Frost with its unique, seasonally inspired menu; Red Cow with its juicy lamb and bison burgers; India Cafe with its creamy chicken saag; Pizzeria Lola with its perfect gluten-free pizza crust; the bakery I worked at, Salty Tart, with its addicting coconut macaroons (otherwise known as CRACK-a-roons). The list goes on and on.

There’s one place I didn’t include in the list above, and it was our favorite Thai place — a tiny, off-the-beaten-path, family-owned restaurant with the best spring rolls, pad pak and tom kha gai I’ve ever enjoyed. Since we’ve moved to Des Moines, we have yet to find a Thai place as good as Taste of Thaiyai in Apple Valley, Minn. And so, I’ve made it my personal goal to remake some of those beloved Thai dishes at home.Read More

French Onion Soup

January 4, 2016 • 54 Comments

Happy New Year everyone! Can you believe it’s Jan. 4, 2016 already? Talk. About. Craziness!

I hope you guys like soup! Because this week you’ve got two new recipes coming your way and it starts with this recipe for French Onion Soup! Now that winter weather has finally arrived and it’s freeeeezing outside, there’s never been a better time for comforting and nourishing meals.

Thanks to my second cold of the season and the need to be on a soft foods diet for my degenerated jaws, soup is the only thing I’ve been craving lately. So when Canyon Bakehouse asked me to develop a French Onion Soup recipe using their gluten-free focaccia bread, I jumped at the chance to finally make one of my favorite dishes at home.

You want to know something crazy? Maybe even borderline insane? This was the first time I ever made French Onion Soup at home. I don’t know why but French Onion Soup has always been one of those things reserved for holiday family gatherings or eating out. It’s something I always look forward to ordering, along with shrimp cocktail and wine at a French restaurant. It’s a special treat. And yet I don’t know why I never made it at home until now.Read More

10 Most Popular Recipes of 2015

December 31, 2015 • 6 Comments

When I look back on the last 12 months, I’m amazed by what’s happened in 2015.

Some of what’s happened has been not so good. Some of what’s happened has been downright horrible. But when I look at this blog and think about you wonderful readers, all of that fades away because it’s been a wonderful year here on MakingLifeSweet.com.

2015 was a year of wonderful firsts for this blog. I’ve been blogging for around three years now, but to be honest this was the first year I started taking this blog, and my photography and writing seriously.

It was the first year I started developing recipes for brands (shoutout to Canyon Bakehouse and Snap Fitness!).

It was the first year I invested in photo equipment. (Go back and look at old recipes photos and you’ll see the magnitude of this transformation.)

It was the first year I started making meaningful connections and friendships with other food bloggers (shoutout to Stephanie of Girl Versus Dough and Cheyanne of No Spoon Necessary!).

It was the first year I exceeded 10,000 site views in a single month.

2015 was a year of major growth for me personally and professionally, and I just want to say I couldn’t be where I am today without all of you. To my readers: I LOVE YOU. Even if we’ve never met or you’ve never commented, Tweeted, Facebooked, Instagrammed or Pinterested me, I love you for who you are and for coming to this site to get inspiration for recipes and for your faith walk.

I am honored whenever take time out of your busy day to read something on MakingLifeSweet.com, and I am incredibly grateful for the community that’s formed around this blog. This New Year’s, I’m raising a glass to an even better 2016. Stay tuned for a reader’s survey coming in the next few weeks, which I will use to make this blog more inspiring, engaging and relevant. If you want to take part in this short reader’s survey, you can sign up for my newsletter here.

I know you’re probably when I’m going to get to the 10 most popular recipes of 2015, so without further adieu … let’s dive on in!

10. Avocado + Tomato Sandwich with Sweet Potato Hummus