Heather Schrader

Tropical Jicama Salad

April 29, 2015June 18, 2015by Heather SchraderLeave a comment

Summer is around the corner and I can’t wait! I love the hot weather, the sounds of ocean waves lapping and smells of salty sea air mixed with sweet fried dough while walking on the beach, and the food, of course! Barbecue, fresh tropical fruits, grilled burgers and hot dogs, big salads with crisp greens and sweet crunchy toppings. Sure, you can eat those foods year-round if you want, but there’s something special about eating them in the summer. This tropical jicama salad is inspired by my love of summer, and I hope you’ll like it as much as I do.

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Ginger Garlic Grilled Shrimp

April 22, 2015June 18, 2015by Heather Schrader1 Comment

I love shrimp, and huge tiger prawns are far and above my favorite kind. Growing up, we rarely had big tiger prawns; but we had seafood at least once a week. I would always ask for shrimp, and I would say about fifty percent of the time I was lucky enough to get it. Plus we always had shrimp cocktail for special occasions; I usually ate more than my fair share.

These days, shrimp is still more of a special occasion food. But, anytime I see wild caught shrimp on sale, it’s a special occasion!

Dressed simply, these succulent shrimp are light and refreshing despite being a hot grilled item. The sweet flesh of the prawn with the bright freshness of ginger and slight spice of garlic come together to create a great appetizer on a warm day. Or, if you’re a party of one, they can serve as your entree!

We hope you enjoy these ginger garlic grilled shrimp as much as Brent, his parents, and I did.

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Chai Pumpkin Chia Pudding

April 8, 2015June 18, 2015by Heather SchraderLeave a comment

I realize that pumpkin is not a spring vegetable, but I love it any time of year. This flavorful pudding came about as I was trying to bring some of my favorite flavors together for a filling but slightly sweet breakfast smoothy.

The first attempt was a total flop; but it seeded the idea of this recipe and I’m pleased with the outcome. I love that the banana adds subtle sweetness without overpowering the pumpkin flavor and that the chai spices give a warmth and brightness to each bite. Chia seeds add a bit of protein and fiber, making this a worthwhile mid-day snack as well as dessert. We hope you enjoy it!

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Strawberries with Homemade Chocolate Frosting

February 14, 2015September 7, 2016by Heather Schrader5 Comments

Brent and I do not put a lot of stock in Valentine’s Day. We usually surprise each other with random acts of kindness year round, rather than saving them for a calendar occasion. That said, we still celebrate a little on Valentine’s Day just for fun. We usually stick to a silly Valentine’s Day card, and leave it at that.

This year I decided to try my hand at a fun dessert with strawberries and homemade chocolate frosting. (Honestly, when I saw the strawberries at Wegmans this morning, I had to have them for our date-night-at-home tonight. We’re going to enjoy shrimp, steak, and roasted root veggies. Why not treat ourselves to a little something sweet, too, on this sweetest of holidays?) Strawberries alone would be great, but I’ve been itching for an excuse to make frosting. So, now I’ve done it!

We hope you enjoy this simple, and super fast, sweet treat tonight or anytime you want to sit back and savor life’s goodness.

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Sunday Broccoli-Mushroom Egg Bake

February 11, 2015June 18, 2015by Heather SchraderLeave a comment

I love breakfast, and I really appreciate the value that a large egg bake creates for Brent and me during a busy week. On a typical work-week morning, I spend anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes preparing breakfast for Brent and myself. Most of those mornings, one or both of us has to run out the door with that food in a to-go container, destined to eat in the car or at the office, rather than sitting down at our kitchen table to enjoy it and each other’s company.

This Sunday Broccoli-Mushroom Egg Bake, and others like it, often change that. Not only is it easy to make and delicious, it saves me time morning after morning as the week progresses. When there’s a breakfast casserole available, it takes me just a couple of minutes to pack up a piece for Brent and myself so I can sleep in an extra few minutes. Or, even better, Brent and I can actually take 10 minutes to eat together before starting our busy days.

Whip this up on Sunday morning, enjoy it, and save the left overs to make your work-week morning routine a little less hectic. We hope you enjoy it!

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