Category: recipes

Easy Ratatouille (with Jarred Sauce)

The Wild Gems1 Comment

Sometimes the best meals aren’t complicated—they’re just made with what you already have, a little intention, and a whole lot of ease. This ratatouille is exactly that. Simple, nourishing, and quietly beautiful.

What You Need:

  • 1 jar marinara sauce
  • 2 green zucchini
  • 2 yellow squash
  • 1 small eggplant (optional)
  • 2–3 tomatoes (optional)
  • 2–3 cloves garlic (jarred minced garlic works)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt + pepper
  • Italian seasoning
  • Optional: parmesan or mozzarella

And:

  • A ceramic pie dish (or any baking dish you have)
  • A knife + cutting board
  • A little time to slow down

Steps:

  1. Start with your base
    Pour your jarred marinara into a sauce pan and mix in:
  • Garlic
  • A splash of olive oil
  • Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning

This is where you quietly turn something store-bought into something that feels like your own.

  1. Slice your vegetables
    Thinly slice:
  • Zucchini
  • Squash
  • Eggplant
  • Tomatoes

There’s no rush here. Let this part feel calm.

  1. Build your dish
  • Spread a layer of sauce on the bottom of your dish
  • Arrange your veggies in a spiral or rows
  • Sprinkle a little seasoning on top
  • Drizzle with olive oil

It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

  1. Bake
  • Cover with foil
  • Bake at 375°F for 40–45 minutes
  • Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes

Your kitchen will start to smell like comfort.

  1. Finish with intention
  • Add a little more olive oil
  • Sprinkle fresh herbs or cheese if you’d like
  • Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving

This is where everything comes together.

A gentle reminder:

This dish isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating something warm, simple, and nourishing with what you already have.

Just like most things in life.

Don’t Lock Up Your Inner Child

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Sometimes “becoming a grown-up” makes us a little too serious. We tend to overthink things, replay unnecessary scenarios, and censor ourselves. I look at my children—they say what’s on their minds, do what they feel, wear what they want, and laugh every day with little concern for what the rest of the world thinks. There’s a freedom in their joy that reminds me of what it feels like to be fully present and unburdened.

When we get too caught up in the grown-up lifestyle, that inner child can get lost, often without us even realizing we’ve locked that part of ourselves away. But it’s important to keep that side alive, to let it out and have fun. So ask yourself: what did you enjoy as a child? Let those answers guide you in reconnecting with that playful, authentic part of you.

Today, give yourself permission to embrace a little bit of that freedom. Laugh at something silly, try something new, or revisit a simple joy from when you were young. Releasing your inner child can bring a lightness that balances the weight of adulthood, reminding you that fun and spontaneity are just as important as responsibility.

Whatever It Is, Just Start – You’ll Figure It Out Along The Way

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Honestly, what holds many of us back is the fear of what our peers might think. It’s wild, really—because they’re probably not as concerned as we imagine!

How someone views you often says more about them than it does about you. If someone mocks or criticizes, consider how they treat themselves. Those who truly love and support you will always be there, regardless.

Remember, you don’t need to please everyone, and you don’t have to. You know your reasons, and that’s enough. Keep that close to avoid the noise and stay true to your path.

And here’s the thing: You don’t need all the answers to start. Taking the first step is what sets the journey in motion. Trust that clarity and confidence will grow as you go. Every step forward brings insight, and before you know it, you’ll be far beyond where you started—proud that you chose to begin.

m.g.

Easy Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe

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What You Need:

  • 3-4 Pounds boneless pork loin
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 cups broth – I prefer chicken broth
  • cooking spray or unsalted butter

Instructions

1. Spray the bottom and sides of your crock pot with cooking spray or you can substitute with butter.

2. Slice your onion into round circle slices.

3. Lay your pork loin on top of the onions, fat side up.

4. Drizzle olive oil over the top of the pork loin.

5. Sprinkle garlic, onion powder, black pepper, salt and paprika over pork loin. Give it a quick rub to ensure that the spices are distributed evenly.

6. Add two cups of broth to the bottom of the crock pot.

7. Close and cook the pork loin in your crock pot on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for four hours. Your meat should register at an internal temperature of 145 with a meat thermometer.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

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What You Need:

1 large zucchini or 2 small ones finely shredded 

1 beaten egg

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 handful of dark chocolate chips

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup of sugar 

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

Steps: 

1. In one small bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.

2. In a separate medium/large size bowl mix the beaten egg, sugar, vegetable oil, and shredded zucchini with an electric mixer.

3. Begin adding the dry ingredients (the flour and spices) to the wet ingredients (the egg and oil) slowly till batter is consistent. Add in the chocolate chips.

4. Generously butter up the loaf pan and pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

5. Allow bread to cool for a moment and enjoy!

Cheesy, Saucy, Baked Pasta

The Wild Gems1 Comment

What You Need:

Between 1 1/2 lbs and 2 1/2 lbs of ground beef or sweet ground up sausage or you could do a lb of each of meat

2 jars of your favorite marinara pasta sauce we like ragu

1 lb of your favorite pasta noodle (ziti, rigatoni, macaroni, or spiral pasta are all good ones)

3 zucchini’s chopped green and yellow

3/4 of a sweet onion finely chopped

4 – 5 tablespoons of Olive oil

1 heaping tablespoon of jarred minced garlic

2 cups of Mozzarella cheese or extra depending on your cheesy level

1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese

Steps:

1. Heat up a large skillet while you chop your onion, and zucchini. Once skillet is heated through add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sauté the onion, zucchini, and garlic until soft. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Then set aside.

2. Cook pasta as directed in a large pot. (Tip: once the water begins to boil, add a few dashes of salt. THEN add your pasta. That will flavor your pasta) Once cooked, drain your water, and add the pasta to a 9 x 13 baking dish.

2. In the same skillet you cooked your veggies, add your meat. If using ground beef season as you normally would (I like to use salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, a little turmeric, and maybe a little oregano.) If you’re using the sausage you don’t need to season, should already be seasoned. Once cooked, drain fat if needed.

3. Add the veggies to the meat and mix well. Add both jars of pasta to the meat and veggie sauce, reserving about 1/2 cup of sauce. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the sauce and a tablespoon of Italian seasoning mix. Allow the sauce to cook for just of minutes or until heated through.

4. Add the reserved pasta sauce to the naked pasta in the baking dish and mix well. Along with a tablespoon of olive oil.

5. Next add the meaty and veggie sauce to the pasta and mix well. Then add in 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, give or take and mix well.

6. Once fully mixed, top with the rest of the Parmesan cheese and then top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake at 375 for 25 mins covered with foil. Once the 25 minutes is completed, removed foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

7. Allow to sit for a few minutes, garnish with fresh parsley (optional ) and serve with your favorite crusty bread with unsalted butter.

Enjoy!!!

Party Pico De Galo

The Wild Gems4 Comments

This is one of my favorite things to make for outdoor parties along with homemade tortilla chips. It’s yummy and refreshing, and guests love it!

What You Need:

4 limes

6 to 8 jalapeños chopped depending on your spice level

1 medium white onion chopped

27 to 30 roma tomatoes chopped

1 bunch of cilantro finely chopped

Salt for taste

Steps:

1. Chop all veggies and mix together in a large bowl.

2. Add your lime juice from the limes and mix well. Add salt lightly, mix, and taste until you achieve your desired taste.

*tip: taste test your pico with a tortilla chip. And always add salt gently. better to have little salt where others can add salt to their pico vs your salsa coming out too salty*

3. Serve immediately or allow to refrigerate overnight before your big party.

Enjoy!

Click here to learn how to make homemade tortilla chips

Super Easy Chicken Thigh And Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner

The Wild Gems1 Comment

What You Need:

1 1/2 lbs of chicken thighs (bone in and skin removed)

1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped into bite size pieces

1 yellow squash sliced with skin on

1 head of broccoli chopped

1/2 of a sweet onion chopped into bite size pieces

1 tablespoon of olive oil plus 2-3 extra tablespoons

1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic

1 packet of McCormick Seasoning Farmers Market Chicken And Vegetables SHEET PAN

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 400 and line a cookie sheet with foil. While the oven is heating up prepare your veggies and remove skin from chicken.

2. Place veggies and chicken on sheet pan. Prepare McCormicks seasoning packet. Rub majority of mixture on the front and back of the chicken. Any additional mixture add onto veggies.

3. Drizzle the extra olive oil on veggies, next add a few dashes of salt and pepper on veggies, and then add the minced garlic throughout the veggies. Mix well with your hands.

4. Ensure the chicken is directly on the foil surrounded by the veggies (see photo below) . Bake at 400 for 30 mins. Once complete, allow the chicken and veggies to rest for 10 mins.

Best served with rice or potatoes.

Enjoy!

The seasoning packet
Before pan enters the oven
After the pan has been removed.

Happy cooking! 🙂

Quick Tostadas

The Wild Gems2 Comments

When you need a delicious quick dinner this is a great go-to! Now, I am not going to get specific with measurements of ingredients. Chop as much as you want, use as much as you want, just enjoy it!

What You Need:

Tostadas (Guerrero)

2 premade bags of beans (La Sierra Refried Beans)

Chopped up lettuce

Chopped up fresh cilantro

Chopped up fresh roma tomatoes

Queso fresco crumbled (Ranchero)

A couple of Avocados sliced up

A yummy salsa (your favorite)

Rotisserie chicken shredded

Lime sliced and ready for a good squeeze

How To Layer Your Tostada

1. Start with your tostada, then spread your refried beans. It works like glue.

2. Next add your shredded chicken or beef.

3. Then add your lettuce, tomato, cilantro, and cheese.

4. Top your tostada with an avocado slice and drizzle your favorite salsa. Squeeze lime juice all over and ENJOY!