Tag Archives: Food

Nov5

Subway Taste Alike Sandwiches

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Subway Taste Alike Sandwiches

Hello!! I absolutely love a taste alike recipe and enjoy making lots of dishes that closely mimic mine and Johnny’s favorite eateries. It was pretty slim pickings in our apartment for a while but I was finally able to put in a curbside order to pick up over the weekend. One dinner I got the ingredients for was to make what is perhaps the easiest taste alike ever – Subway sandwiches. I couldn’t wait to make them because I had no idea until very recently that Subway sold some of their signature dressings at the grocery store! These sandwiches were a huge hit for me and Johnny and I also mean that they were huge lol. Check it out:

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As I placed my curbside order at Walmart, I got all of mine and Johnny’s go to fixings on our Subway sandwiches as well as two bakery loaves of Italian bread. The picture online looked pretty small so I ordered two just to be safe. I definitely could have gotten away with just one loaf because you could imagine my surprise when Johnny brought our groceries home and the loaves were the size of baseball bats! This was honestly a happy accident because we had plenty of leftovers for lunch and dinner the following day. 😀

Before we toasted our subs, I cut up all of the veggies to have them ready for assembly. I chopped green peppers, cucumber, red onion, peperoncini peppers, and olives and got bagged iceberg lettuce, spinach, and a jar of pickles too. This was the most time consuming part of the process, but once it was done all we did was take turns toasting the subs, put them together, and enjoy. As we assembled our meal, we had to laugh because the sandwiches were gigantic. They literally looked like what Scooby and Shaggy would eat in Scooby Doo. Mine was particularly sizable because of all of the veggies and I was full from just one quarter of the sandwich. My eyes might have been way bigger than my stomach, but I’ll be damned if it didn’t taste like Subway with every bite!

The Taste Alike Subway Sandwiches will, without a doubt, be made again. The only change I will be making is using smaller loaves of bread!!

Do you have a favorite taste alike recipe? What is your favorite chain restaurant? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep4

Lookout, Cookout

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Lookout, Cookout

Hello! Every summer Johnny’s job has a company picnic with food trucks and raffle prizes. He has worked there for five years and has never won squat until this year. There were plenty of great prizes to be had and, unfortunately, Johnny got the one thing we can’t use: A mini charcoal grill called the Smokey Joe lol. Any type of grill is grounds for eviction in Timber Top because it is such a huge fire hazard in our wooded community. So, the Smokey Joe found a new home at my in-laws’ house. When Johnny took his winnings home from the picnic, we had no idea when we were ever going to use it. Then, it pulled through in the clutch for a Labor Day cookout with Johnny’s mom and dad:

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Johnny had the brilliant idea of arranging our cookout get together and using the new grill to make my veggie burgers and hot dogs to avoid contamination. He is so thoughtful! After working a little shift on Monday morning, we headed over to chez parents to start the festivities and it was just the best time. Johnny’s mom manned their grill, Johnny’s dad handled the Dutch oven peach cobbler, and Johnny and I worked together on the Smokey Joe as it was my first grilling experience. By the time we were done at our respective stations, we had a delicious meal in store for us. The veggie burgers and hot dogs hit the spot but top marks definitely go to the peach cobbler. I have been asking Johnny’s dad to make it for forever and he deemed our cookout as the perfect occasion. It was as heavenly as I imaged it to be!

After we were beyond full, we retired inside because it was getting kind of chilly out. This was a nice change of pace from the ninety degree days we were having last week but it was still a shock to the system! As we warmed up, we chatted away and got all the doggo snuggles from the precious Odie. It was about all we could muster while being in a full blown food coma lol. Before we left, Johnny’s mom loaded us up with leftovers and an amazing surprise – some gorgeous vintage lamps that belonged to Johnny’s grandma. I can’t wait to show all of you. 😀

This was the first time Johnny and I have actively made Labor Day plans and our cookout was the most wonderful way to spend it. Even though we can’t use the Smokey Joe at our apartment, it proved to be an awesome prize after all!

What do you like to bring to a cookout? How did you spend Labor Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep3

Friday Night Dinner Club

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Friday Night Dinner Club

Hello!! Johnny and I truly hit the jackpot when we moved into our bigger apartment a few years ago. We have ample space, were able to get the bunnies because of it, and best of all – we have the best neighbor! Our downstairs neighbor, Tony, is one of my favorite people in the world. He is in his late sixties and I always like to think of him as my pseudo grandpa. Johnny and I would see Tony outside every day on his smoke breaks and we became fast friends after making introductions. We love going to the gun range together, shooting pool, watching movies, and participating in Friday Night Dinner Club.

Friday Night Dinner Club is exactly what it sounds like lol. Once or twice a month, we go out to dinner together and take turns on who’s picking the restaurant and who’s paying. This has been a staple in our schedule for the past four or so months and is something we always look forward to. It gives us a chance to catch up, have a good meal, and enjoy each other’s company. From Mexican and Italian to chain restaurants or bar food, we go everywhere and it’s such fun to see where we will end up next!

This past Friday, we had a Dinner Club meeting at Luigi’s which is an absolute must in Akron, Ohio. This was a highly anticipated outing because they were closed during our last attempt to go and we haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Luigi’s is a mom and pop style Italian restaurant and offers a huge menu of pizza, sandwiches, pasta, salads, and the like. The portions are more than generous and Tony and I barely made a dent in our pasta. Meanwhile, Johnny annihilated his meatball sub lol. We have been waiting on this meal for over a month and I think everything tasted even better because of it. Having two extra meals out of leftovers is also never a bad thing. 😀

I am so glad that Friday Night Dinner Club has become our “thing”. It’s something so simple but it hits just right every single time. I have hung out with some neighbors once or twice during my extensive tenure at Timber Top, sure. However, I have never had a neighbor like Tony that feels like a true neighbor. He has turned into family – someone who we end our meetings on with an “I love you” and that means so much to me. Johnny and I love our apartment and our Dinner Club co-captain plays a huge part in it!

Johnny is choosing the restaurant for our next meeting and he has been carefully weighing his options. Wherever it is, we are going to have the best time. We always do!

Do you do anything similar to our Dinner Club with your friends? Do you have an awesome neighbor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug22

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

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Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Howdy!! When it comes to finding new recipes for dinner, I have been in a rut. I did away with Pinterest a while ago because I was sick and tired of pinning recipe after recipe and never making it lol. So, I decided on a different approach and have just been Googling dinners I am interested in trying. This has been so much easier because I limit myself to the first few five star recipes that show up rather than scrolling through and trying to find just the right one. With this new system, I wanted to try out a recipe I found for vegetarian stuffed peppers from The Modern Proper. It was alright but didn’t blow me away so I definitely plan on making some changes if I make them again! Let’s get to it:

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When I am looking for new recipes, I always look for simple meals that require minimal ingredients. The recipe for the vegetarian stuffed peppers called for twelve or so different ingredients and you are likely to find quite a few of them in your own pantry or fridge. I did! The prep work for the peppers was easy peasy and only involved chopping an onion, a few green onions, and a bell pepper. What took forever, however, was cooking the rice! I had no idea it would take that long and it turned the prep time into an almost hour long process. I literally finished it in the knick of time during a quick work break and had to leave as soon as I was sure that the rice was fully tender.

After work, all that was left to do was top the peppers with tons of cheese and stick it in the oven. Johnny and I were both SO hungry and couldn’t wait to dig in after it cooked for about forty minutes. The end result was just okay. Johnny didn’t particularly care for it and I wasn’t surprised in the slightest. The biggest disappointment to me was the flavor because it was really bland. The recipe called for one packet of taco seasoning and salt and that was it. I would have preferred a lot more kick to it so if I make them again, I would do my own thing with the seasoning. Cayenne pepper, chili powder, maybe a bit of hot sauce too. This recipe was not the best or the worst and the jury is out on if I would try it again.

Even though we weren’t overly impressed with the vegetarian stuffed peppers, I am glad I gave it a shot. You never know if you don’t try!

How do you like to find new recipes? What are some of your favorite vegetarian dishes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

6 Tips For Improving Your Pet’s Life

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6 Tips For Improving Your Pet’s Life

How healthy is your pet? Does your dog or cat have a shiny coat and sparkling eyes? Do they have boundless energy to run in the park or do they seem a little lethargic? If you want to improve the health and well being of your companion, check out some of the top tips below:

High Quality Food:

Many people with pets feed them using the most convenient pet food options in the supermarket. As with their own food, they choose pet food that offers the best value for money, but that isn’t necessarily the best way to buy pet food. Like you, your pet needs quality food.

Much of the pet food on conventional supermarket shelves contain additives and low quality ingredients. This has an effect on your pet’s health and well being. When you switch their food source, you will notice an improvement in their coat, their eyes, and energy levels.

Stimulation:

Animals are similar to humans, some are lazy, others are active, and some are more intelligent than others. If you have a very intelligent pet, such as a Border Collie, you will need to make sure they have plenty of stimulation to keep their minds active and not destructive.

Stimulation can include walking your dog regularly but it can also mean creating small games for them to play, such as hiding biscuits in cogs for your smart cats to find. Stimulation is important because, without it, your pet becomes stressed, unhappy, and destructive.

Regular Vet Appointments:

Having an excellent vet and seeing them as often as needed is so crucial for your pet’s health. Regardless of if you think your pet is feeling fine, your vet will be able to verify that or see indicators that they are unwell that you might not be aware of. With their findings, your vet will be able to recommend the best course of action. This could be a change in diet, treatments for canine osteoarthritis, vaccines, or even physical therapy. Keeping up with your vet is the best way to ensure your pet is living the highest quality of life.

Regular Grooming:

Your pet might not enjoy a trip to the groomer as much as you when visiting the spa but it’s just as important. Some pets require more grooming than others but it’s still recommended to groom your pets regularly to check for any lumps, parasites, or skin irritation.

If you have a dog or a cat that sheds every season, it’s a good idea to help them with their grooming, especially in the spring and especially if they are cats. Cats love to lick their fur and if they are shedding, the hair will become jammed in their throat and cause some discomfort. Some cats shed so much fur that you may feel you need to open a whole Pet Grooming Franchise to cope with it all, but luckily, you can simply visit an established pet groomer with the experience to know how to deal with your never-ending-shedding feline friend.

Vitamin Supplements:

As with humans, your pets need their fill of multivitamins. Multivitamins help to top up the essential vitamins and minerals your pets need to stay healthy and happy. Of course, they will get many of their vitamins from quality pet food, but supplements can improve their well being.

Remember to choose high quality vitamins as well as high quality pet food. High quality vitamins usually contain the most essential elements for your particular pets to make their coat and eyes shine. The vitamins can be added to their food semi-regularly, like once a week. Before making any changes, it is always a good idea to consult with your vet. They will be able to direct you to the best food and vitamin options to maximize pet health.

Socializing:

Ask any professional vet such as Cynthia Maro, and they will tell you that pets love to socialize and need to be around other animals and humans to be happy in their lives. The good news is, no one needs an excuse to spend more quality time with their favorite animals! Try going to the dog park once a week or scheduling a pet play date with your friends to help keep the pep in your pet’s step.

Taking good care of your pet is a lot of work and responsibility but it is always worth it for a beloved member of your family!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Feb8

Sweet Treats For Valentine’s Day

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Sweet Treats For Valentine’s Day

Hi! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if you are still struggling to come up with some fun ways to celebrate at home, then how about spending an afternoon baking all of the desserts with your SO? Creating confectionery treats together will give you a chance to showcase how well you work as a team and decorating your masterpieces will be a blast. Taste testing them will be even better, though!

If you are lacking inspiration for delicious desserts to try your hand at – fear not! You can extend your date by enjoying a carefully-crafted dessert menu at your favorite restaurant. Who says you can’t eat dessert first?! You might find that delightful treat that you just have to make for yourself! For more ideas on Valentine’s Day sweets, how about trying your hand at making the following?

Chocolate:

Who needs a heart shaped box of chocolate when you can make your own, instead? Two Christmases ago, I made chocolate with my boyfriend’s mom and not only was it tons of fun but the end results were delicious! You can find all kinds of cute chocolate molds, get creative with your color choices, and add on to your pieces of candy with peanut butter, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut. Don’t forget that you can also make chocolate covered pretzels and fruit too. Hello, chocolate covered strawberries!

While chocolate is fun to make, it is also fun to drink too. To add even more chocolate deliciousness to the mix, how about a hot chocolate bar? You can use ceremonial cacao for a rich, bold flavored drink and include all of your favorite toppings. Whipped cream, marshmallows, peppermint bits, and chocolate sprinkles are all excellent options! 

Cake Pops:

If you and yours aren’t big chocoholics, you could try your hand at making cake pops, cupcakes, or just a plain old cake for dessert. Investigate over YouTube and Pinterest for some ideas on how to decorate and see who is the Cake Boss in your kitchen! Red Velvet, angel food, and strawberry cakes are ideal for Valentine’s Day and I love a whipped frosting, myself. And, if whatever form of cake you go with is super successful, you can try this idea again on one of your birthdays. Store bought cake, what?

Ice Cream Sundae Bar:

Ice cream sundae bars are ideal for those who have a sweet tooth and aren’t trying to wait around for a cake to bake! Head to the store together and grab what you both need to build the perfect sundae. Fruits, candies, syrups, and whipped cream are all great starters. If you’re looking for a boozy treat, don’t forget that black or blueberry wine is awesome over vanilla bean ice cream! Love the sundae idea but want more of a challenge? You could make your own ice cream! But, it might be good to have a pint of Ben & Jerry’s for back up. 🙂

If you want to try your hand at making your own ice cream, it’s a great idea to find some inspiration first. Check out the flavors at your local ice cream parlors or you can view Banana Daddy for amazing soft serve and sundaes that are sure to please. If each of you are making your own batch, you could each go for a flavor that compliments the other for a swirl treat. There is nothing better than homemade ice cream so save me a scoop!

Lava Cakes:

I am not a huge fan of cake (the texture bothers me) but I do love a chocolate lava cake every once in a blue moon. The rich chocolate and the gooey hot fudge center topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? Forget about it!! Lots of brands have make your own lava cake kits if making it from scratch seems like a daunting task. Homemade or from a box, you will still experience the joy of baking something delicious with your SO.

Don’t Forget:

To add some atmosphere, whether it be fun or romantic, both of you could create a playlist to listen to while you bake. Be sure to grab champagne or sparkling cider when you are picking up your ingredients too!

What is your favorite dessert? How do you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

5 Ways To Be An Eco-Friendly Pet Owner

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5 Ways To Be An Eco-Friendly Pet Owner

The choices you make for your pets can affect the environment in the same way as the choices you make for yourselves. It’s important to try to reduce your pet’s carbon paw print whenever possible. This might not always be an easy task and their health and happiness should always come first. There are, however, several ways you can be a more eco-friendly pet owner:

Adopt a pet:

By adopting a pet from a shelter rather than buying one, you could end up saving two lives. You’ll be giving a home to an animal that needs one, and also freeing up space in the shelter for another stray or abandoned pet. It’s a more ethical choice to adopt a pet from a shelter.

Be responsible about the type of pet you adopt. If you want a dog but only live in a small home, then it’s best to go for dogs for small spaces. If you get a larger dog, then remember to take it for walks once or twice a day as it will need regular exercise.

One additional way to ensure your pet’s safety while staying environmentally conscious is by installing an invisible dog fence. This system creates a secure, boundary-defined space for your dog to roam freely without the need for traditional fencing that can disrupt natural habitats or require resource-heavy materials to build. Modern invisible fence systems are energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and designed to work with your yard’s layout, meaning you can keep your dog safe without compromising the surrounding landscape. They also reduce the risk of pets wandering into unsafe areas, which helps protect both your animal and local wildlife. For eco-minded owners, an invisible fence is a thoughtful choice that blends pet welfare with environmental respect. It allows you to avoid the chemicals and upkeep associated with some physical fence materials, while also providing your dog with the freedom to explore. Choosing such a solution supports a balanced lifestyle for your pet, keeps them close to home, and aligns with sustainable living practices.

Sustainable pet food:

There are several ways to make pet food more sustainable. You could try to make your own dog food, it’s actually a lot easier than it sounds. Speak to your veterinarian about the dietary needs of your pet. Certain animals might need more specialist food that you can only buy.

If you’re buying pet food, check out the best brands for healthy and sustainable products. There are several brands that aim to reduce their environmental impact by limiting shipping, emissions, and GMOs.

Recycled toys:

Some animals such as dogs and cats can really go through toys. These will probably end up in a landfill. It’s better to go for recycled toys or toys made from natural, biodegradable materials. These toys are much better for the environment in the long run.

There are also some great brands that sell eco-friendly toys. These toys are made from durable recycled plastic. You can also find recycled leashes and other accessories. These can even be made from earth-friendly fabric like hemp and other certified recycled materials.

Non-toxic shampoo:

Use organic and natural shampoos for your pet’s bath time. You can find plenty of organic pet products online and they’re not very expensive. Look at the label and see if it’s free of dyes and parabens, as it will be better for your pet’s fur. Not only are non-toxic shampoos gentler on your pet’s skin, but they’re also better for the environment. There will be fewer nasty chemicals running down the drain as a result.

Clean up waste:

You can get a hold of recycled eco-friendly cat litter from big brands such as Purina. This is made from old newspapers. If your dog or other animals do their business outside, then clean it up. It can actually be damaging to the environment to leave it. When cleaning up after your pet, use bags made from plant-based or recycled materials and throw it out immediately.

We can all do our part to help the environment and now your pet can be included with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay