Monthly Archives: September 2025

Simple Mason Jar Protein Ice Cream

Sometimes, you just want ice cream without the guilt or the sugar crash. That’s where this vanilla protein ice cream comes in. It’s creamy, sweet, and tastes like a real treat, but it’s made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. Plus, it’s packed with protein, so it can double as a post-workout snack or late-night dessert that won’t derail your fitness goals. This ice cream is also very easy to make in 30 minutes. All that will be needed to make this is a simple mason jar.

For a simple single-serving batch you will need the following:

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 cup heavy whippng cream

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1–2 tablespoons sugar substitute (like stevia adjust to taste)

1 pinch of pink Himalayan salt (balances flavor)

Let’s get to the fun part

1. Combine all ingredients into an 8 ox mason jar

2. Close and shake the jar for up to 5 minutes to mix (try not to over mix)

3. Freeze for 30 minutes (don’t freeze it too long as it could damage the jar)

4. Renove from the freezer and serve with your favorite toppings or straight from the container.

I ate the whole thing. Zero regrets

The best part about this treat is that you can customize your toppings (or protein powder if you want something like chocolate or strawberry). This is a beginner friendly recipe that can be enjoyed the same day. Until the next time dear readers. Excelsior!

Picadillo (Giniling) – Ground Beef in Tomato Sauce


I enjoy trying different kinds of foods from all over when I travel, and I try to also find recipes for places I might want to go as well. I make it a point to explore different kinds of cuisine from all places. One dish that i recently stumbled upon is Picadillo.  Picadillo, known in the Philippines as Giniling, is a hearty, comforting dish that brings together simple ingredients in a rich tomato-based sauce. What makes Giniling special is how adaptable it is. You can swap ground beef for pork, chicken, or even turkey. You can also swap the veggies for assorted heartiness and color.

For this recipe, you will need the following:

1 lb  ground beef (the leaner, the better, but I found a little fat in this recipe worked well)

3 medium potatoes, diced

2  large carrots, diced

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can tomato sauce (Alternatively I used fresh tomatoes that were blanched and chopped in the food processor)

2 tbsp soy sauce (I found teriyaki sauce works in a pinch)

2 tbsp cooking oil

Assorted spices of your choice to taste


Now let’s get down to the good part:

1. Prepare the base: Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent.


2. Brown the meat: Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up clumps with a spatula. Drain excess fat if necessary.


3. Season: Stir in soy sauce, tomato sauce, (for additional texture you can opt for  tomato paste to mix with the sauce). Simmer for 2–3 minutes.


4. Add vegetables: Mix in potatoes and carrots. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.


5. Finish: Add any additional veggies you may want to use (commonly peas and peppers are used, but you can use what you want) and the seasonings. Simmer for another 5 minutes until everything is well combined. (Green onions garnish is optional)

The finished product

And there you have it. A simple hearty dish that the whole family can enjoy. This one was a lot of fun. Until the next time, dear readers. Excelsior!

Homemade salsa

One of my favorite things to make is tacos. And what else would be better than a good old-fashioned salsa to top things off. This salsa is not too spicy (you can adjust the heat as you wish for this) yet quite flavorful with fresh ingredients.

For this recipe you will need the following:  3 large tomatoes, 2 green onions (chopped), 1/3 chopped onion, 1/3 cup cilantro, 1 jalapeño pepper (or more depending on spice tolerance), 2 tbsp lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder,  1/2 teaspoon cumin, 2 cloves of garlic.  I am aware you can use sugar to help balance out the flavor but I didn’t use that for this. Please use sugar at your discretion.

Chop all solid ingredients and place them into a blender or food processor and blend for 60 seconds. Do not puree this as you’ll want a nice chunky texture. This can last about a week, I put mine into mason jars for a nice snack during the week.

The finished product

This was a simple recipe yet super delicious. As the weather starts to cool I look forward to sharing some nice fall recipes with you all. Until the next time dear readers. Excelsior!