Food & Dining

Over the years, my husband and I have enjoyed going to Juban’s for date nights, especially for special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays. We loved the old-school feel and the classic cajun go-to's: their gumbo is one of our favorites in town with a perfect dark roux! We also thought it was a great location for several business functions we attended for my husband’s work. Needless to say, I was really bummed when I saw Juban’s was closing last year then pleasantly surprised when it was because of renovations and a re-opening just a few weeks ago. When our friends from out of town were coming to visit, I knew we had to try out Juban’s for a double...

We are truly in the dog days of summer here in South Louisiana. Just coming back from San Diego, I long for the cooler days & nights again. To stay cool this summer, my family and I will be hitting the pool constantly. Moms always have snacks and bring them everywhere – even the pool! Here are some of my favorite poolside snacks, and the best part … some are easy! 1.  Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips INGREDIENTS Peaches, peeled and diced Mango, cored and diced Kiwis, peeled and diced Strawberries, diced 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 4 large whole wheat pita chips coconut oil...

Summertime and salad go hand and hand, you know? I crave cold foods during the summer, I want crisp and light and flavorful! Gone are the days of salad being lame. A quick scour of the internet reveals that salads are filling and delicious, and pending your toppings, super healthy. On my best meal planning weeks, I’ll even prep some dressings and veggies ahead of time so that when I come home from the pool, I can easily throw a snack tray lunch on the table for the kids and have something filling and healthy for myself. Most of these are absolutely filling enough to serve for dinner. I have one kiddo that loves salad, but for the other...

Louisiana cookin’ in my house is a staple. Almost every night we are cooking something with carbs, whether it be rice, pastas or potatoes. The house smells like roux most days. The problem is? Mama has been eating healthy nine years now. Yes, I have cheat meals, but I try not to. How do I do it and still eat what everyone else is eating at the dinner table? I try not to cook something separately than what everyone else is eating because who has time for that?! My favorite products/hacks are below: Seeds of Change Quinoa & Brown Rice - I have to start with this one first! Yep, I still eat my gumbo and jambalaya. I either eat this with a...

I have a love hate relationship with the fact that Costco so frequently changes out their products. I love that they are always adding new items to try but hate that some classic favorites leave the shelves for good. Thankfully we can always count on organic eggs, quality produce, applesauce pouches, toilet paper and paper towel. Otherwise, I’m on the lookout for what’s new. I love when friends share their Costco hauls and things they like, so I wanted to share some of our current Costco favorites, here’s to hoping they’ll be around awhile! Siete Almond Flour Tortillas: I’ve been buying these from Whole Foods for a while, so I was thrilled when the 20 pack became available. I love...