I like pretzel day! 
                -  Stanley Hudson

Are you addicted yet?  Oh, you will be soon enough. These seasoned gems are flavored to the core.  It just takes a few ingredients and some slow and low baking to make these pretzels a dream come true.  I usually make two batches of these pretzels and bring to work to share the joy of a holiday or to have a delicious snack to share at a party.  Either way it is sure to get you and others snackin' on a fun salty dish! 

Get ready to mix, bake, and crunch! 

BAKED RANCH SOURDOUGH PRETZELS

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz. bag of UTZ sourdough pretzels
• 3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp dill weed 

1.  Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. 

2.  In a large mixing bowl add oil, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder and dill weed.  Using a whisk mix everything together. 

2.  Open the bag of pretzels to let the air out, but keep the pretzels inside.  Using your hands or a utensil break the pretzels into bite-size pieces. 

3.  Pour the pretzel pieces into the large bowl and using a large spoon mix everything together coating the pretzels with all the seasonings. 

4.  Let them sit for about 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently. Next, pour the pretzels on a large baking tray.  Spread them out evenly and bake for 1 hour. 

5.  Once baked, let them cool and enjoy this salty, crunchy treat! 



                     Always craving good food,
                                           Jillian 

I'm sure you have heard the quote, "Less is more" before. But, it actually applies to almost everything in life, even your food! 

I first learned this lesson while teaching my first grade students.  In the past two to three years, teaching as a profession has transformed drastically.  Before, students were lectured to most of the day, given loads of practice worksheets with drills and were taught to memorize facts and formulas; but now we are teaching and lecturing less content and are diving deeper into a better foundation of that content with more student led questions and discussions.  Why you ask?  So children are better able to problem solve, critically think, and explore more possibilities on their own.  At first I was skeptical about this way of teaching, but I've seen the phenomenal changes in kids' thinking and confidence. Believe it or not, this way of teaching is not easier and takes more time to plan and prepare for effective learning.  The hard work is worth its weight and gold though.  I've definitely been sold to this, "Less is more" methodologically. 

You are probably wondering now, "How does this apply in life that can better my mental and physical well-being?  Well let's see how you respond to these questions first. 

Do you feel better when your house is easy to clean?
Do you feel better when cooking is simple and delicious? 
Do you feel better when grocery shopping is a breeze?
Do you feel better when you're feeling confident and sexy in your body?
Do you feel better when you have time to do things you love?
Do you feel better when you have some time in the day to rest and relax?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you agree that this whole "Less is more" shindig is a fantastic way to live your life!  Choose more things that make you feel happy and say no to things that complicate or add little value to your life.  I love applying this motto to cooking because living a healthy lifestyle is what makes my body and soul thrive! That's probably why I strive to create recipes that are healthy and simple. I want to share the 'health love' by bringing you recipes that have more nutritional value and flavor, and take less time and ingredients.  

I'm excited for a new year (Can you believe it's almost 2018??) of sharing simple healthy recipes that can bring joy to your tastes buds and your lives as a whole.  Next year will be an exciting year for our family, as we will be welcoming our first baby in June!  Thank you for allowing me to share my journey and passion for thriving in a life that makes me happy! I hope I have been able sprinkle a little more joy + happiness to your lives. 

                   Wishing you a happy + healthy holiday! 

                                               Jillian