A new year is upon us, which means new resolutions, new opportunities, and new beginnings.

I know that I’ve been quiet on here for a long time, but not without good reason. For me, 2019 was one hell of a year, becoming one of the most stressful, frightening, exciting, happiest, and wonderful year of my life all at the same time. Let me explain.

As everyone was kicking off the New Year, I lay in hospital bed, catching small glimpses of the fireworks and celebration happening far away. I had already been there for two days. January 1st went by quietly with family coming and visiting me in the hospital, playing games, and keeping me company. They spent a majority of the day with me, and as the night crept in – I smiled and waved everyone goodbye, hopefully counting down the hours and minutes.

Every minute was precious, and every one that passed meant a higher chance of survival… but now it was time.

Within minutes the room was a blur of activity. I blinked back my tears, and tried to swallow the lump in my throat as my body shook uncontrollably. My fiancé held my hand tight and met my gaze. I could see the fear in his eyes too, but he put on a brave face as be told me it would all be okay before they wheeled me into the operating room.

They told us that he might not cry, that he might not survive, but to our surprise the room erupted with the sweetest sound we have ever heard as our baby boy took his very first breath on his own.

Our baby boy, our little 950g wonder -born prematurely at just 26 weeks and 2 days gestation was here, making his grand entrance on January 2nd, 2019 at 1:06am.

And so began 2019, our NICU journey, our first taste of parenthood.

He was so impossibly small -nothing but skin and bones, hooked up to endlessly beeping machines. His eyes were still fused shut and his skin was so delicate that we were unable to hold him for a week. I cried every single day. The goodbyes were the hardest, and I dreaded when I had to leave his side to try and catch a moment of sleep.

We spent 113 long days in the hospital, and during that time we rode the NICU rollercoaster. From the highest of highs, cheering him on for every small step – every gram of weight gained, him opening his eyes, first cuddle, his first bath, moving out of his incubator to a big boy bed, drinking his first drops of milk, then his first bottle, getting off oxygen, and finally coming home. To the lowest of lows. The tears, the hard times, and the ‘close your eyes and pray that the devil doesn’t know you’re there’ moments. From reintubation, a ripped off and re-sewn on ear, chemical burns, brain scans, brain bleeds, weight loss, multiple blood transfusions, a broken arm, and the heartbreaking waiting game to finally bring him home.

I don’t remember a lot of the days in between. The days just seemed to repeat, like a cruel version of Groundhogs Day. A blur of feedings, updates, and cuddles -with nights that ended in tears as I made the journey home.

The second best day of our life finally came on April 25th, 17 days after his predicted due date.

Our son finally got to come home.

We were happy, yes, but a different emotion dominated the day. The moment we stepped through the door it was like a weight had been lifted off our chest, relief flooded over us, and it was as if we could finally breathe again. Serenity.

Of course, our journey didn’t stop after the NICU, and for a while our days and weeks were filled with endless doctors appointments, physio sessions, eye exams, and follow ups. But each day he grows stronger, and the appointments move further and further apart. He is now one year old, and nearly 20lbs. Our days are filled with reading, playing, talking, trying new foods, visiting the cows, chickens, and horses, cuddling on the floor with his best friend -a big husky shepherd who adores him, and his most favourite thing of all… holding mamas hand as we walk all around the house!

Here’s to a new year full of exciting adventures, precious memories, and many more ‘firsts’. I’m glad you’re here on this wild ride with me. If you are currently going through your own NICU journey, please know that my heart goes out to you and your little ones. Our family is rooting for you.

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

The post Our NICU Journey - 26 Week Micro Preemie first appeared on The Humble Kitchen.

At least up here in Canada, maple bacon chicken wings have been all the rage. From quaint pubs to bustling restaurants, everyone whos anyone has been scrambling to jump on the maple bacon bandwagon, adding their own unique spin on them to become the best of the best.

I ended up missing the maple bacon bandwagon and had to walk 40 clicks, but hey I’m here now and I’ve got something to say.

It’s time to put some freaking salt on those things!

It seems that so much emphasis is put on the sweetness of these wings that people completely forget about just how much the flavors of both sweet and salty  (my personal favorite flavor combination), can change a dish. As the lovely chefs in beautiful Banff, Alberta say: “No dish is complete without a little salt.”

So without further ado, the best of the best maple chicken wing recipe is here. (You can thank me later)

For my fellow keto lovers, this recipe can easily become lower carb by swapping out regular all purpose flour for almond flour, with the only noticeable change being slightly crispier wings. Of course, let’s not kid ourselves here… this recipe will be higher in carbs than most keto recipes thanks to the maple syrup and the maple sugar in my Backwoods Bacon Sea Salt Blend (see? again with the sweet and salty!)  but that’s exactly what makes them maple chicken wings!.

Personally, I’m a bit of an easy peasy, half-ass keto-er (as shown by my slightly squishy tummy and my neverending love for ice cream)  so a few extra carbs don’t bother me any.

Perhaps my diet is a bit more ‘slow carb’ than ‘low carb’.

So if you’re anything like me, ditch the carbs of regular flour by using almond and then embrace the maple-y goodness of the carbs you do keep. If you’re a die-hard keto fan (kudos to you!), save this recipe for your future treat meal and go all out. You won’t regret it!

Now -this time for real, if you’re ready for the best of the best maple chicken wings turn up “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies and let’s get started!

That’s all there is to these incredible, impossible to beat pub style maple bacon chicken wings!

Enjoy!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

The post Pub Style - Maple Bacon Chicken Wings first appeared on The Humble Kitchen.

I’ve fallen deep into the rabbit hole that is Pinterest lately …so get ready for an abundance of mason jar salad recipes!

Just kidding… (maybe).

 While the mason jar salads are certainly alluring and “Pinterest Worthy”, it was actually when I was scrolling through picture upon picture of delicious dinners, light lunches, and naughty desserts that I once again stumbled upon the world of ketogenic desserts.

Part of me knew that going low carb doesn’t mean that you have to forgo favorite desserts, I’ve dined on keto cheesecake, cake, cookies, and of course fat bombs countless times thanks to my devilish sweet tooth… but what I didn’t realize was how vast and expansive this world of keto desserts is.

From avocado brownies to literal cookie dough my sweet tooth is in low-carb heaven!

This past little bit I’ve just been binging on all sorts of treats. One part of me insists it’s for the recipes but the other part of me knows it’s just for the cookies… which brings us to this gem of a fat bomb recipe today!

Chocolate chip cookie dough fat bombs.

Who knew there was such a delightful thing? (You do now, you lucky goose! I guess all those late night  Pinterest scroll sessions, and cooking sweets binges weren’t for nothing!)  Long story short -these are by far my favorite fat bombs of all time, and I’d bet all the money in my piggy bank (…roughly 47 cents but that’s beside the point!) that they’ll rank high on your list too.

Guess you’ll just have to make them and find out!

Of course, in typical Humble Kitchen fashion, this recipe can be tailored to you and can be as keto friendly or carb loaded as your tummy desires. For my fellow keto lovers, using almond butter instead of peanut butter or using specialty chocolate chips like Lily’s Chocolate (dark chocolate made with stevia) will yield a lower carb count.

However, these items can be tricky to find -especially in small towns, so if you’re fine with an extra carb or two go grab your favorite dark chocolate,  turn up “I Need A Hero” by Bonnie Tyler and let’s get started!

For the original, lower carb recipe jump on over to Fit Mom Journey’s blog and if you’re having a hard time finding the ingredients – stay right here. 

There we have it! That’s all there is to these easy and delicious cookie dough fat bombs!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

The post Cookie Dough Fat Bombs - Keto Friendly first appeared on The Humble Kitchen.

As the workload gets harder, the house gets messier, and the days seem to get impossibly busier the last thing anyone wants to do is come home and slave over a hot stove (oh, and then proceed to spend another 20 minutes washing dishes -don’t even get me started).

My slow cooker has been my knight in shining armor on busy days like these for years… that is until I broke it while scrubbing it in the sink shortly after making this recipe.

As if I needed yet another reason to hate doing dishes.

Admittedly, I stared heartbroken at my shattered dinner hero for several minutes (all while wondering to myself why bad things happen to good people)  before finally moving it to its final resting place -the trash. So… I’m just saying that if you’ve ever been even mildly curious about trying flavored gourmet sea salts first hand, now’s a good time. Momma needs a new slow cooker.

But I digress, let’s not drag on with the (albeit overdramatic) sad stuff. As one last tribute to my lost dinner helper, let’s turn up “Want You Back” by the Jackson 5 and just get right into it!

Want to turn up the heat?

Substitute the mineral sea salt with a sea salt that definitely packs a punch. Try Bold Jalapeno for a gentle heat, Prairie Fire for a dish that’s hot and smokey, Diablo’s Ghost if you don’t mind sweating while you eat, or go one step further and try our hottest salt to date: Hell Fire!

That’s all there is to this incredibly simple, tantalizingly spicy slow cooker buffalo chicken. All that’s left to do now is to sit back, relax, binge some Netflix, and enjoy the rest of your evening.

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

The post Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken | Low Carb - Keto Friendly first appeared on The Humble Kitchen.

February is already here and love is in the air. Heart shaped candies fill the stores, lovey-dovey cards stock the shelves, and beautiful flowers bloom – all of this and more for 10x the usual price! …yay?

Whether you love Valentines Day or love to hate it. Whether you want to spoil your sweetie, spoil yourself, or simply eat some gosh darn chocolate covered strawberries then you’ve come to the right place!

Okay but seriously, why don’t we eat chocolate covered strawberries more often?

Personally, (as much as I joke about the cost) I’m definitely a hopeless romantic, a sucker for love, and a fan of all things happily ever after. This Valentine’s Day is actually very special as this one my sweetheart and I will be celebrating as fiancés!

Just a few short days ago, my sweetheart and I got engaged out in Lake Louise, Canada during the Ice Festival. Surrounded by intricate ice sculptures, picturesque snow-capped mountains, and the love of our family he popped the question.

And I ugly cried. Hard.

I’ll spare you the details, but I will say this…

It was perfect.

So in the spirit of all things love, turn up “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John, grab a bottle of wine, and prepare for a little romance.

Or at the very least, some good old gosh darn chocolate, caramel strawberries!

There we have it! A salty, sweet twist on chocolate covered strawberries!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

The post Chocolate Caramel Covered Strawberries first appeared on The Humble Kitchen.

Here I lay tucked into my bed, weak and sickly a mere day before New Year’s Eve. I’m surrounded by tissues, tea, and heat packs with my head so stuffy that I’m squinting just to see and my nose is running more than a leaky faucet.

I’m jumping back and forth between working, writing, googling how to get rid of a cold fast, and reminiscing on all those days I took for granted where I was able to breathe through my nose.

I’m not so good at relaxing – can you tell?

December has been the busiest month to date with my little growing business! With new interested stores to contact, promotional videos to shoot, Christmas orders to fulfill, Christmas markets to attend, and attempting to find at least one  spare moment to write and cook is enough to leave my head spinning.

Pile on Christmas shopping, family visits, Christmas baking, and planning Christmas parties – you’ve effectively made a grown woman wish she could hibernate for the winter.

Could you imagine? Oh, what a dream.

Honestly, all this stress is likely why I am lying here in a mess of tissues with unbrushed hair and a relentless head cold in the first place.

But here I am typing away for two reasons:

1. Apparently, I can’t chill the f*ck out

2. I honestly really, really love my little business (even the stressful times that come with being the boss).  I love pushing, learning, growing, and I simply can’t wait to see how far The Humble Kitchen will go!

So thank you for cooking, growing, and being here on this little adventure with me!

Since its apparent I won’t be able to rest until this recipe comes out, let’s quit with the chit chat! Turn up “Wolves” by One Direction and let’s get into it!

…Don’t you judge me...

… I’m sick… my judgement is fogged…

…Fine. It’s catchy okay?

Let’s just move on.

Serves: 2     Total Time: 5 minutes

• 1 cup of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries -or any berry that you adore!
• 2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• A pinch of shaved dark chocolate, sprinkles, or a touch of Aloha Alaea, Japanese Matcha, or Vintage Merlot Sea Salt.

Looking for a different taste? Indulge in any sea salt you adore for a splash of color and a flavorful twist.

Split the berries between two wine glasses and set aside. If using frozen berries, let them sit out at room temperature for a few extra minutes while you tap your foot along to my guilty pleasure song.

 (Oh come on, don’t pretend you don’t like it!)

Once the berries are thawed, combine the heavy whipping cream and maple syrup into a medium sized bowl. Whip the mixture until soft peaks form. Then, add in the vanilla extract and beat it once more until the vanilla is fully combined.

Scoop generous amounts of the whipped cream over top of the berries.

Go ahead and lick the bowl… Nobody’s watching.

Sprinkle on a pinch of your preferred topping then grab your glass and get ready to indulge in a very berry treat!

There we have it!

That’s all there is to this super simple, very berry treat. Dig in and enjoy!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

The post Berries and Cream Dessert first appeared on The Humble Kitchen.

When weekday dinners aren’t the bane of my existence… weekday side dishes are.

It always seems like the same rotating selection of 3 different dishes made to get your family to at least pretend they’re eating a couple of vegetables. Of course -let’s not kid ourselves here, green beans are the furthest thing from spicing up weekday dinners… but at least you get to arm yourself with another side dish for your roster.

Sometimes it’s the little things, like discovering a new recipe for supper that can make a long weekday night even a little bit better.

So despite being a rather uneventful dish, we can at least be grateful that this recipe is incredibly easy, fast (and my favorite part) relatively hands off -which means less stirring time and more time spent awkward kitchen dancing to “Dancing With The Devil’s Daughter” by Jo Hikk

Are you ready?

Lets get started.

Serves: 5      Prep Time: 5 minutes    Cook Time: 5 minutes

• 3 cups of green beans (fresh is best, but I just opted for what I had -which was frozen)
• 1/4 cup of slivered almonds
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
• A pinch of Himalayan Pink or Sel Gris Sea Salt

Looking for a different taste?

Try substituting regular mineral salt with Bold Jalapeno, Heated Habanero, or Diablo’s Ghost Sea Salt for a little extra heat.

Or amplify the garlic by using Roasted Garlic Sea Salt or our Tuscan Sun Sea Salt Blend -and then get ready to pucker up!

In a large pan, start by melting the butter over a medium-low heat.

Add the green beans, garlic, onion powder, and sea salt to the pan and stir until the beans are evenly coated.

Sauté the beans until almost tender. This will take just a couple minutes if using fresh beans and approximately… well honestly I don’t know how long it took with the frozen ones.

Too busy busting my awkward two year old dance moves I  suppose!

Once the beans are tender (or once you take a dancing break and realize that you’re still cooking like I did) add in the slivered almonds. Don’t be afraid to add in more for extra crunch!

Continue to sauté the beans until crisp and tender.

Then get ready to dish up, cause you’re done!

There we have it!

A super simple and super speedy green bean side dish to get those extra veggies on your plate!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

The post Green Beans With Toasted Almonds first appeared on The Humble Kitchen.