When things around me are crazy, I find solace in food. Cooking and baking takes my mind off of everything going on around me and I find comfort in tastes that I know and adore. I can control food when I can’t control everything going on around me. That’s why my menu this week is heavy on comfort food. I’ve taken recipes and made some changes to lighten them up, so they all fit within my macro goals.

I’m focused on nutrition this month so I’ll be sharing my weekly meal plans again. This is what I will be enjoying and what I’ll feed my family. Everything on this list can be adjusted to accommodate your likes. Don’t care for fish? Use chicken. Focus on lean proteins and healthy carbs.

A great salad sets the stage for your holiday dinner. You want something simple and festive, compliments the star of your holiday table, and won’t fill everyone up so much they don’t have room for the main course. The Pride of the Crown Salad is the perfect addition to any holiday menu.

Preparing Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful. And though you’re likely not having a crowd, it can still be a challenge. It doesn’t need to be. I’ve created a simple planner that notes everything you should consider so that you enjoy the holiday stress-free.

Looking for a quick appetizer that is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone? Look no further than the Brie & Cranberry Pull-Apart bread. I’ve been making variations of this for years and regardless of where it’s served (Thanksgiving, Christmas, backyard BBQ), everyone loves it. Plus, it’s super easy to make and budget-friendly!

With everyone staying a bit closer to home this year, experts predict that the Butterball Turkey Hotline will be busy this year. If this is your first-holiday attempt at a turkey, I’ve got you covered. My recipe is tried and true and delivers the juiciest, tender turkey. It doesn’t disappoint!

If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve seen the Fab Four Smoothie (#Fab4Smoothie). And for good reason. Developed by Kelly Leveque, this smoothie is the perfect formula to help balance your blood sugar with enough protein, fat, and fiber to keep you full. It also supports your immune system to cleanse regularly, stay regular, avoid blood sugar spikes, and increase insulin sensitivity.

Working out has been a great way for me to focus on something other than work, everything going on in the world, and simply destress. So many of you feel the same way, so I thought I’d share my plan for the week. I follow the same order each week and rest on Sunday and Friday. All workouts can be done at home, with or without weights.

For a number of reasons, I don’t drink caffeine and miss having my cup of coffee as part of my morning ritual. Decaf tea and coffee are ok but I don’t love them so I’ve started drinking warm lemon cayenne water as a replacement. With anti-fungal, immune boosting, and detoxification properties, lemon cayenne water is a powerhouse drink and a great way to start your day.

I am so glad everyone is enjoying my workout Wednesday exercises! Two weeks ago I shared the full body so this week I thought I’d share the exercises I do targeting my back, shoulders, and arms. I usually do this group of exercises once a week.

Chia seed pudding is one of my favorite ways to break my fast so I was excited to see it in the refrigerator section of my local Starbucks pre-SIP. While I normally would take my lunch to work, sometimes in the craziness of getting two teens and myself out the door, I forget. Between meetings, I would run downstairs to Starbucks and quickly grab something to hold me over until dinner. And their pre-made chia seed pudding is perfect. Creamy, lightly sweet, with fresh coconut and strawberries. Yum. So I set out to make it at home.

After making masks for the homeless and seniors in our community, we’ve decided to open our store so that if others need masks, they have another source. For every mask we sell, we will donate two (one to the shelter and another to the senior center).

So many of you have done my Sample Workout Week exercises and asked for more, so starting today I’ll be posting a weekly workout. Today’s workout focuses on the whole body, with extended time spent on legs, back, and arms.

While some made sourdough and others made banana bread, during our Shelter-In-Place I decided to try my hand at making kombucha. Kombucha is one of my favorite drinks, supports gut health, and if you purchase it at the store, it can be fairly expensive ($5 or more per bottle). So since I had nothing but time, I decided to give it a try. And wow, I am so happy I did.

One of our favorite meals is slow cooker pulled pork sliders. So much so, that we make this at least once every two weeks or so. I’ve also been known to throw this together for large group gatherings, family get-togethers, and anytime I’m on the hook for a main at a potluck. I guarantee you have all of the ingredients in your cupboard and this recipe is absolutely foolproof!

If you’re like everyone I know, you’ve been enjoying a few more cocktails while you’ve been SIP than normal. With that in mind, I thought I’d share some pantry staple cocktails for your weekend (or heck, anytime during the week). My Skinny Spicy Margarita remains a favorite, but here are some others that I will be enjoying this week.

Like the rest of the US, we’re staying put this month and paying attention to the Stay at Home order our county and governor have put in place. I’m not venturing out to the grocery store so meals this week use pantry staples or I substitute ingredients for what I have.

If you’re like me, you aren’t venturing outside often and that includes going to the grocery store. As a result, I am making meals from the ingredients I have in my pantry and/or freezer. That’s why this week’s meal plan focuses on ingredients you most likely already have.

When life gets crazy, I crave comfort food. I want something warm, yummy, and satisfying as if it will bring calm to my day. And this vegetarian chili does the trick. This is a simple recipe that delivers big in the chili category. It has a bold taste and uses ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

When it’s cold and wet outside, there is nothing better than an amazing bowl of soup to warm your soul. Add in the viruses we can’t seem to get away from (hello flu and COVAD-19), there really isn’t a better time to enjoy a warm bowl of soup than right now. That’s why this week I’ve decided to forgo my weekly “this is what I’ll be eating” and instead I’m sharing different soup recipes for all lifestyles and flavor profiles.