Laura Tucker

How to Repurpose Old Formula and Snack Cans

June 27, 2016 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

Do you find yourself frequently throwing away empty cans? We go through a ton of cans and containers in our house. It seems like my toddler is forever devoted to her beloved crunchy snacks (seen below), and we go through containers of them ALL the time. The crafty person inside me cringes every time I throw those empty cans away, because I know there are ways to repurpose them! Then I look around at how tiny my house is and toss them anyway. (We unfortunately don’t have a recycling program where I live, or else I would totally recycle!)

I’ve been waiting for a little inspiration to hit me before I kept a container to repurpose, and that bright idea finally hit me late last week. I love to change out the centerpieces on my kitchen table from time to time, so I thought I’d take a stab at throwing something great together with some craft supplies that I had lying around.

Turn old formula cans into something really great - and in less than 15 minutes! A great way to recycle and repurpose every day items in our life! …

Bacon Spinach Alfredo Twice Baked Potatoes

June 23, 2016 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

Earlier this afternoon, my darling little girl took an incredibly long nap after going several days of not napping great at all. She knows just what Mommy needs sometimes! So I had some time to myself to really get into my element and get my creative juices flowing in the kitchen. Time in the kitchen without interruption (or a toddler trying her hardest to pull your pants down and/or digging things out of the trash can) is as valuable as gold to me. I don’t have the time to cook things from scratch nearly as often as I’d like to, so I consider it a real treat when I get to do it.

I started plundering through the pantry and refrigerator trying to scope out some things that were quickly approaching their expiration date. I had a sack of red potatoes that was starting to look a little pitiful, plus some spinach in the fridge that was looking pretty droopy and sad. I also spotted a half empty carton of heavy cream, so I knew I could definitely make a spinach alfredo sauce..but could that possibly be good with potatoes?

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Venison Taco Bites + A Dollop of Daisy

June 21, 2016 by Laura Tucker 38 Comments

I received a complimentary product as a BzzAgent in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are completely my own. I only share what I really love! #DollopOfDaisy #GotitFree

It’s no secret that I love a good taco-inspired recipe. Mexican night happens almost on a weekly basis in my household, and I’m always looking for a fun new way to add a twist to the dishes that I prepare. Cooking with venison is an art that I’ve been learning slowly over the past few years. It’s absolutely delicious in these Venison Taco Bites, and they’re a huge hit with the hubs!

Venison Taco Bites| Looking for a cool new way to cook with deer meat? Give this one a try! …

Fourth of July Craft: DIY Patriotic Ribbon Wand

June 18, 2016 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about all of the fun and exciting activities that tend to take place around this time of year. Cookouts, barbecues, pool parties, fireworks, and the list goes on and on! While these events are always fun for grownups and older kids, it can be a little tricky keeping a toddler entertained and not overwhelmed with all of the things going on.

One thing we do every year for Independence Day is celebrate with good food and fireworks at our church’s annual 4th of July celebration. My husband is usually one of the men in charge of setting up and detonating the fireworks (which freaks me out a little,) but everyone always has a fabulous time and the fireworks and sparklers are a huge hit with the kids. However, my 1 year old has never been around fireworks and sparklers, and I’m honestly not too pumped about her being near them. So the wheels started turning in my head trying to find a fun alternative for her that would allow her to enjoy the festivities along with everyone else without involving, ya know, explosives. 🙂

4th of July Craft: DIY Ribbon Wand - the perfect alternative to sparklers! …

Cheesy Italian Zucchini Boats – A Must Try This Summer!

June 13, 2016 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Hello, friends! I’m starting off this week with another fabulous garden-to-table dish that is packed with delicious fresh veggies and is easy to make!

Last week I made a scrumptious taco stuffed summer squash recipe that is definitely going to become a staple in my menu rotation. It was super simple to throw together and my husband really loved it! Riding on the heels of the stuffed squash boats, I thought I’d try my hand at doing something very similar with another favorite summer time vegetable – zucchini!

Looking for something new to do with Zucchini? These Cheesy Italian Zucchini Boats are a MUST make! …

Taco Stuffed Summer Squash Boats

June 9, 2016 by Laura Tucker 4 Comments

Remember last week when I was getting a little creative in the kitchen trying to utilize all of the fresh summer squash that’s filling up my garden? (If you don’t remember, I made a lemon poppy seed cake with the squash and it was AH-mazing.) 🙂

Well, here I am once again trying my hardest to find new and creative ways to use up some of this beautiful squash that’s taking over. I feel like the past few summers the only things I could think to use it for was in fritters, casseroles, and just cooked plain with a little EVOO and salt. I mean, those are all super yummy ways to eat yellow squash, but this summer I’m just feeling like I want something a little extra. Know what I mean?

So when I went out to the garden this afternoon to pick all of the squash that was ready, I had a brilliant idea hit me! Why not try my hand at stuffing the squash? After all, I make stuffed peppers ALL the time! Well, upon further inspection of the size of my squash, I decided that cutting them in half and hollowing them out would probably work a little better than truly stuffing them, but it’s all the same really!

As a lover of all things Mexican food, I knew that fiesta-fying these bad boys was a must. Thus, the idea for these Taco-Stuffed Summer Squash Boats was born! De nada, mis amigos. 😉

Taco Stuffed Summer Squash Boats | Fresh yellow squash halves stuffed with cheesy taco-seasoned beef, topped with sour cream, tomatoes and fresh cilantro. YUM! …

Lemon Poppy Seed Summer Squash Bread

June 2, 2016 by Laura Tucker 28 Comments

This recipe for Lemon Poppy Seed Summer Squash Bread is a wonderful way to use up fresh summer squash straight from the garden! Shred it, bake it, slice is up and serve with a pad of butter on a hot summer day for a refreshing treat!

During the summer time, there is always an abundance of fresh produce filling people’s gardens and the shelves of local farmer’s markets. It’s one of my very favorite things about summer! My husband and I have a very small garden growing in our back yard. This year we planted yellow squash, zucchini, egg plant, tomatoes, an array of peppers and fresh basil. I enjoy incorporating those fresh elements into my cooking, but by mid-summer I’m always looking for something a tad bit different to do with them.

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Submerged VBS Craft Ideas

May 29, 2016 by Laura Tucker 6 Comments

Affiliate links may be included throughout this post at absolutely no cost to you. I love sharing VBS craft ideas and supplies to help your VBS go as smoothly as possible! Submerged VBS Craft Ideas

School is officially out for the summer here, and many of our local churches are gearing up for Vacation Bible School! I have such vivid memories from my childhood of attending VBS at the church I grew up at. The people at my church always made a big to-do out of the decorations, skits, crafts, etc. I can even remember a few different jingles from the various VBS’s I attended!

It’s funny that I can remember things like that, but I am certain that I couldn’t even tell you what I ate for breakfast this morning. That’s just the way it is, I suppose! But on that same note, I get excited with all of the different ways VBS touches the lives of children and adults in our communities. I mean, if I can remember the things that I did when I was 9 at Vacation Bible School, who’s to say that others wouldn’t remember it for years to come, too? Did you know that every year, VBS is hosted by over 25,000 churches and reaches more than 3 million people across the US? That’s something to really get excited about, y’all!

This year, the Lifeway VBS theme is called “Submerged.” It’s all about submerging yourself in God’s word and discovering that Jesus doesn’t just see what’s on the outside of people, he sees deep down on the inside.

15 Craft Ideas for VBS Submerged Lifeway Theme #submerged #lifeway #underthesea …

Walnut Basil Pesto – A Must Have for my Family!

May 27, 2016 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

Without question, the hands-down favorite dish that I prepare for my family is my Turkey Pesto Sliders with Brown Sugar and Poppy Seed Glaze. They’re insanely delicious, but they call for an ingredient that has proven to be a little bit difficult to find in my neck of the woods:

Pesto

Walmart definitely doesn’t carry it here. I’ve searched high and low at multiple stores trying to find a jar of the stuff, but I’ve never been successful in that endeavor. My Publix carries it, but they’re 45 minutes away from my house. Plus, the only place I’ve been able to find it there is on a tiny little table tucked away in the produce section along side a few other specialty spices and spreads. I was happy buying it there, but I always felt so nervous that one day I’d walk in and they wouldn’t carry those specialty goods any more.

In fact, one time they rearranged their produce section and removed the table with the pesto (without even consulting me first…so rude!) I thought for SURE that they had stopped carrying it. I almost had a conniption fit right there in front of the tomatoes and everybody! But I eventually found it on a little end cap nearby and bought almost every jar they had on the shelf out of fear and partial embarrassment. I don’t play when it comes to my pesto, y’all! That was too close of a call for me, and if I couldn’t get it there, I had no idea how I’d get my pesto fix. Walnut Basil Pesto - fresh pesto picked straight from the garden blended with olive oil, shredded Parmesan and finely chopped walnuts …

Rainy Day Activity: Indoor Picnic Fun + Free Printables!

May 26, 2016 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StormStockUp #CollectiveBias

If there’s one thing in the great state of Alabama that’s common knowledge, it’s that the weather is never going to do exactly what you think it’s going to do. The meteorologists do the best that they can, but mother nature tends to do what she wants, when she wants, and she really doesn’t care if she ruins your outdoor plans. This especially holds true during the summer months. We all know for sure that it’s going to be hot and humid here, but there’s just no telling when a pop up shower or storm is going to happen.

In fact, I vividly remember 2 years ago when it rained almost every single day during the month of July. It could be a gorgeous day outside, then BAM! A pop up storm comes out of nowhere to rain on your parade. #Rude

Now that I have a little one, I’ve seen how a rainy day can put a major damper on the amount of fun she has. She loves to run around and play outside, but that’s a big no-no when the yard is wet and muddy. Thankfully, Publix has situations just like that in mind! They’ve got a pretty sweet “Summer Storm Stock Up” promotion going on right now that helps us keep the party going when rain creeps up.

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Laura Tucker

I received a complimentary product as a BzzAgent in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are completely my own. I only share what I really love! #DollopOfDaisy #GotitFree

Pesto

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StormStockUp #CollectiveBias

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