Get my newest freebie all about how I ditched wine culture, including how to find joy in sobriety and my favorite mocktail recipes.

Hi friends! I hope that you’re having a wonderful long weekend and enjoying the day. For today’s post, I wanted to share a freebie I created for you about reducing my wine intake over time.

Back in the day, it wasn’t unusual for me to have 2-3 glasses of wine each night. I also couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t sleeping well and woke up exhausted all the time.

In today’s society, wine culture has become deeply ingrained in our social lives. From casual gatherings to celebratory occasions, it seems like there’s always an excuse to uncork a bottle of wine. There’s also a huge “mommy wine culture.” I’d so often hear moms in real life and on social media talk about how they use alcohol to cope with parenthood… and that was a red flag for me. Sure, I loved the warm and fuzzy feeling that a glass (or two) of wine gave me. But, I didn’t need it to enjoy life, connect with others at parties, or enjoy my children, and I decided I wanted to cut way back.

I was once deeply entrenched in this culture, but I found myself questioning its impact on my health and happiness. This is the story of how I broke free, and now, I enjoy wine SO much more. It’s a rare treat, instead of a habit. 

How I Ditched Wine Culture

Inside my newest downloadable freebie, you’ll find:

• My experience recognizing my habits with alcohol
• Making the decision to reduce regular wine alcohol consumption
• Strategies for reducing alcohol intake
• Finding joy in semi-sobriety
• Discovering mocktails and some of my favorite recipes

DOWNLOAD HERE

Cheesy enchiladas filled with chicken and black beans in a green chile sauce is a hearty dinner that always gets two thumbs up from my crowd.

There are a great many enchilada recipes in my cookbooks and binders, easily dozens. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve made over the years.

These enchiladas were my family’s favorite when I first published this recipe – it was one of the first recipes I published here, over 13 years ago. And this is still a recipe that I make often. And if that isn’t reason enough for you to try it, they’re easy enough to assemble that my kids have been making them on their own for many years.

I usually assemble them early in the day and then cover the pan with foil and tuck it in the fridge. Bake for about an hour before you plan to serve dinner, removing the foil for the last 20 minutes.

Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• chicken
• black beans
• green chile enchilada sauce 
• garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin
• salt and pepper
• flour tortillas
• shr

Wild Blueberry Pie with Shortbread Crust

This wild blueberry pie is topped with a brown sugar streusel (I know, streusels are life!) and the shortbread crust is so rich and buttery!

I don’t know that there’s a huge benefit to me posting pie recipes every few months. No one seems to love pie exactly like me online. IRL? Yes, because my people are in fact “my people” and they get the pie love. Hence why we are friends. One in particular, Janelle, she just gets me. We would be the best travel-to-eat companions. Obviously when I saw her at a party holding a pie it was the first one I had to try. 

And that was the best idea. 

This is that pie. 

She is the genius that combined lots of wonderful recipes from bloggers across the web to create the ultimate blueberry crumble pie. And in case you even dared to ignore it, the streusel crumble on top is the most glorious element of the show.

Actually, I think Janelle hit gold by going for wild blueberries (most grocery stores now sell them in the freezer department) which transform this pie. This is sure to be one of your new favorite summer desserts!

Ingredients for Blueberry Pie

There are three components to this recipe so it looks like a lot of ingredients but most of them overlap to it’s really just a short list. Here is what you will need:

Shortbread Crust

• Flour: regular all purpose
• Powdered Sugar: all the sweetness without the grainy texture of granulated sugar
• Butter: unsalted is preferred
• Vanilla: adds flavor
• Almond Extract: adds flavor
• Salt: enhances all the flavors

Filling

• Wild Blueberries: you can use frozen if needed
• Lemon Zest and Juice: fresh is best
• Sugar: regular granulated, it balances the tartness of the berries
• Cornaby’s EZ Gel: thickens the filling
• Salt: enhances the sweetness

Streusel Topping

• Flour: all purpose
• Brown Sugar: adds richness and sweetness to the streusel crumble
• Sugar: a little more sweetness
• Salt: cuts the sweetness
• Butter: unsalted is preferred

Optional Glaze

• Powdered Sugar: adds sweetness to balance the acidity of the lemon juice
• Lemon Juice: must be fresh
• Milk: thins out the glaze a little

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

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Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

This strawberry rhubarb crisp is pure comfort with the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness and a buttery oat topping. I always eat it a la mode!

I grew up with a rhubarb obsessed father. Is it a generational thing? I’m going to bet most people these days have never even tried rhubarb yet everyone’s Mom and Dad seem to love it. I hated it. I mean, wouldn’t even touch the stuff! I’m still a bit weird about it depending on how it is used, but cook it down with sweet berries and sugar and I don’t even know how to explain it, it becomes a whole new creature! It’s so good!!

Recommended Equipment

• Sure Gel Ultra Gel
• Pastry Blender

Before You Begin…

Get about 3 cups of water boiling over high heat. You’ll use the boiling water to soften and prep the rhubarb for the crisp. Rhubarb can be quite bitter but letting in sit in boiling water for a couple of minutes will dull the bitterness.

Ingredients for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

For the Filling

• Rhubarb: A vegetable that has edible stalks that are usually pink in color. It is quite sour like a lemon but it becomes sweeter as it cooks. It is a great source of antioxidants, fiber and vitamin K.
• Strawberries: You will want to wash and hull the strawberries before cutting them up.
• Sugar: Helps sweeten the filling.
• Brown Sugar: Adds richness and sweetness to the filling.
• Sure Gel Ultra Gel: Thickens the filling so that the filling isn’t water. You can also use flour or cornstarch.
• Lemon Zest: Adds an extra pop of flavor and brightness
• Cardamom: A spice commonly used in Indian food that has a complex flavor that is floral but also citrusy.

For the Topping

• Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: You can use quick oats too but I love the texture and chewiness the old fashioned oats add.
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to the topping
• Flour: Adds structure to the topping
• Cinnamon: Adds warmth and flavor
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors of the topping
• Unsalted Butter: Adds flavor and binds all the ingredients together

The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card down below. This is just meant to be an overview of the ingredients so keep on scrolling down for all the details.

What are Substitutes for Ultra Gel?

I prefer ultra gel over flour or cornstarch for thickening. I feel like there’s a flavor that accompanies both whereas the ultra gel is flavorless. But if you don’t have ultra gel or you don’t want to buy it, you can use flour or cornstarch.

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aka “Botox in a bottle.” Sharing my thoughts and if it’s worth it here!

Hi friends! How’s the morning going? I hope you’re having an amazing day! I’m writing in with exciting news that the Oliveda 59 Corrective Face Serum is back in stock… but will sell out extremely fast, so if you’ve had your eye on it, snag it here!

This powerhouse serum has made a huge difference in my skin over the past month and a half, it’s viral for a reason (!), and I can’t wait for you to experience its magic, too.

Oliveda F59 Corrective Face Serum review

The Oliveda Story: Where It All Began

Before chatting about the serum, let’s talk a bit about the brand behind it. Oliveda was founded by Thomas Lommel, a visionary who turned his passion for the olive tree and natural healing into a revolutionary skincare line. Oliveda, part of the Olive Tree People brand, harnesses the power of the olive tree’s ingredients to create products that are as effective as they are natural. Their mission is to provide skincare that’s deeply nourishing and eco-conscious, transforming the ancient wisdom of the olive tree into modern beauty solutions.

Why F59 Corrective Face Serum is a Game Changer

Nicknamed “Botox in a Bottle,” this serum is designed to smooth, lift, and rejuvenate your skin, giving you a radiant and youthful appearance without the needles. As someone who’s mildly terrified of Botox (no shame if you love it! Just not for me right now), I’m always looking for safer alternatives that will keep my skin looking bright, tight, and smooth, without harmful ingredients.

Key Ingredients & Their Benefits:

This highly effective face serum with hydroxytyrosol and para cress has a lifting effect on the skin as well as it reduces the appearance of enlarged pores. Strong olive tree antioxidants have balancing and regenerating properties to smooth the skin structure. Fine lines and wrinkles as well as high pigmentation can be reduced if applied regularly. Para cress, a south american plant, works as a botox alternative by having positive effects on the collagen which lifts the skin. This unique face serum is quickly absorbed to create sculpted contours and a healthy and glowing complexion – in just seconds! Signs of premature aging can’t only be prevented but minimized.

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