Miranda's Kitchen Adventures

I don't know about you, but I'm desperately trying to hold onto these last days of summer. I'm just not quite ready to talk about anything pumpkin yet! To honor these final days of summer and fresh fruit, I decided to make something refreshing. This raspberry limeade immediately came to mind. It's sweet, tart, and "bubbly perfect" for your Labor Day gathering! It was super easy to make, and I've posted some tips and tricks for this drink below. I'll also be turning it into an adult beverage in my next post, so stay tuned! Enjoy! Sweet photo bomb by Jacob! Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 6 oz. raspberries, plus more for garnish 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice 1 liter sparkling water or club soda, chilled Lime slices for garnish Directions In a small saucepan on medium heat.  Add the sugar and water.  Heat, stirring occasional, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow the syru...

Mexican food is a weekly staple in our household! I recently watched an episode of The Pioneer Woman and was inspired by her fajita recipe. While I've made steak fajitas before, her unique marinade, featuring Worcestershire sauce for a richer, deeper flavor and lime juice for a nice balance, intrigued me. I'm so glad I tried it! You must give this recipe a try the next time you make fajitas. Enjoy! Ingredients 1 1 1/2-2 pound Flank or Skirt Steak 1/2 cup olive oil 3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup  lime juice, about 3-4 limes 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 tbsp. ground cumin 1 tbsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes 1 tbsp. sugar 2 medium onions, halved and sliced 3-4 bell peppers, sliced - you can use any color combination 1 tbsp unsalted butter 8-10 flour tortillas Directions In a dish, mix together olive oil, Worcestershire, lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and sugar until combined. ...

Celebrating its one-month blogaversary, this blog has exceeded all expectations! With 1300 page views, a picture featured on FoodGawker, and a Facebook page boasting 50 likes, it's been an incredible journey. I'm so grateful to all my friends and supporters, especially my husband Gabe, for their patience and understanding. While this process has been rewarding, it hasn't been without its stresses. I truly hope you're enjoying the content and will continue to follow along. My aim is to inspire you to get into the kitchen and explore new culinary adventures! On that note, I recently embarked on a new cooking challenge: homemade flour tortillas. Not only did I make them from scratch, but I also documented the steps to encourage you to try them out soon! To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive about making tortillas from scratch. Store-bought tortillas are perfectly acceptable and what my family is accustomed to. However, in my ongoing effort to incorporate more homemade ...

Cherry season is here, and there's no better way to celebrate this delicious fruit than by turning it into a refreshing drink! Summertime always seems to make beverages taste extra good, perhaps because we're sweating more. Whatever the reason, this time of year is perfect for experimenting with different drinks, both kid-friendly and adult. When I first spotted cherry margaritas circulating in the blogosphere, I immediately added them to my must-try list, and I'm so glad I did—they're absolutely delicious! You really need to give these a try this weekend. Enjoy! cherry margaritas Yield: 1 serving Ingredients 12 fresh cherries, pitted 2 1/2 tbsp. good tequila  2 tbsp. fresh lime juice, about 1 lime 2 tbsp. simple syrup 1 tbsp. maraschino cherry juice  Directions Place the pitted cherries is a cocktail shaker.  Mash/muddle cherries with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon until cherry juice fills 1/2 of the shaker.  Add the tequil...

Looking to get your kids to eat more fish? This recipe is for you! These homemade fish sticks are incredibly crunchy and packed with flavor. When planning my weekly menu, I knew I wanted to include a fish entree, and for some reason, fish sticks popped into my head. I'm not a fan of the pre-made frozen versions, so I decided to make my own. I've been making Annie's Eats ' crispy baked chicken fingers for ages, and that recipe inspired me to use a similar technique with a few modifications. The result? Super delicious fish sticks that came together in no time. Enjoy! homemade fish sticks Ingredients 3-4 medium sized tilapia fillets, about 2-3 pounds, sliced longways into strips 2 tbsp. canola oil 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs 1/2 cup all purpose flour 2 eggs 3 tbsp. water 2-3 dashes texas pete or other hot sauce 2 tsp. lemon zest 2 tsp. old bay seasoning, divided 2 tsp. garlic powder, divided salt and pepper Directions Preheat your ...

It's hard to believe my sweet little Jacob is now a kindergartner! It feels like just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital. But enough with the sentimental thoughts, let's talk muffins! One of my main goals as a mom is to ensure Jacob always has a healthy breakfast and lunch. This might sound challenging for a full-time working mom of two, right? However, with a little planning, it's completely achievable! A lot of what I do involves preparing items ahead of time that can be frozen for quick, on-the-go options. So, what better way to start than with a batch of blueberry muffins for breakfast! I discovered this recipe on King Arthur Flour , one of my favorite sites. They have an incredible array of recipes you should definitely explore! I particularly appreciate that this recipe uses White Whole Grain Flour. Since I already had some on hand from a previous recipe , it made my decision to bake these muffins even easier. I'm actively working to incorporate mor...

My baking adventures last weekend led me to a delightful discovery! Gabe requested a coffee cake, and I eagerly accepted the challenge, as I always get excited to bake. It struck me that I didn't have a signature coffee cake recipe, having tried a few that didn't quite hit the mark. My search began on my favorite sites, and it wasn't long before I stumbled upon a recipe that truly impressed me. I only wish I had found it sooner! This cake is incredibly moist and utterly delicious. I made a few small tweaks that I believe elevated it even further. Enjoy! sour cream coffee cake Ingredients 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. all-purpose four 1/4 cup quick cooking oats 1 stick (8 tbsp) plus and additional 3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans 2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups, all-purpose flour, plus more for pans 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup for topping 2 large eggs, at...

One-pot meals are a lifesaver for our busy schedule, and as you can probably tell by now, I'm a big fan! While I do enjoy more involved dishes, I typically save those for the weekend when I have more time to spend in the kitchen. This recipe was incredibly simple to make; I just substituted regular lasagna noodles for the no-boil kind, and it turned out great. Enjoy! skillet lasagna Ingredients 2 cans whole plum tomatoes (1 28-oz. can and 1 15-oz. can) 3 garlic cloves, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 3 tbsp. olive oil 1 large egg yolk 1 cup ricotta cheese, at room temperature 8-9 lasagna noodles, broken into 2-inch pieces 1 lb. Italian sausage, casing removed and crumbled 1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded Salt and pepper, to taste

In our home, I prioritize incorporating whole grains, primarily through bread, crackers, and cereal. While I'm not an expert in whole-grain baking, my continuous pursuit of healthier choices for my family led me to this recipe from King Arthur Flour . Discovering their website was a game-changer; it's an invaluable resource for delicious recipes and tutorials that could easily captivate me for hours. This pancake mix is incredibly easy to prepare, yields approximately 10 batches, and freezes beautifully. We all agreed that these pancakes were not only delicious but also a welcome variation to our usual routine. Enjoy! homemade whole-grain pancake mix whole-grain pancake mix Ingredients 4 cups King Arthur white whole wheat flour 1 cup All-Purpose flour 3 1/2 cups old-fashion or rolled oats 3 tbsp. sugar 3 tbsp. baking powder 1 tbsp. salt 1 tbsp. baking soda 1 cup vegetable oil Directions Grind the oats in a food processor until they're chopp...

My sweet Lucy loves being outdoors and even manages to sit still for a bit! "Pretty rainbow!" "Silly boy!" Jacob graduated preschool! (Sniff, sniff!) A snapshot from after the ceremony. Jacob and his best bud Abbott, who have been together since infancy. (Sniff, sniff! I need a Kleenex!) A sweet picture of Gabe, Jacob, and me after his graduation. Sibling love—there's nothing quite like it! Lucy loves to paint (or eat paint, you decide!). I captured some amazing bubble shots while friends were visiting; this one was the best! Being silly at a stop light! My friend Tammy and I enjoyed a fabulous girls' weekend trip to the lake to visit a dear friend. We were treated like queens in her amazing home—she's such a gracious host! 9-11. Simply beautiful! Kayaking for the first time was so much fun! While at the lake, we dined at the fabulous Chef Prepared restaurant, Foothills Milling Co. This place had a four-page article in Southern Living Magazine! If you...

I hope you're enjoying the blog so far! I have many more fantastic recipes and tutorials coming your way, so stay tuned and be sure to sign up for email notifications! This recipe was an absolute must-try for me. It ticked all the boxes: a one-pot meal, quick to prepare, and it looked incredibly delicious when I first spotted it in [ this ] cookbook. It immediately shot to the top of my "recipes to try" list, and it didn't disappoint—it was everything I hoped for: quick and delicious! I wholeheartedly recommend this dish. Enjoy! summer stir fry Ingredients 2 tbsp. unsalted butter 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 red onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 large zucchini, diced 2 ears of corn, kernels removed 3/4 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 10 fresh basil leaves, cut in a chiffonade Juice of 1 lemon Directions Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and...