March 18, 2023

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My youngest son turns 13 this weekend and even though we’ve been watching the calendar waiting for this weekend to finally arrive, it’s a little bit unreal. We have three teenagers in the house now and I love it.

I’ve said it before and it bears repeating, parenting older kids is a whole lot more fun than the babies and toddlers ever were. If you’d told me 15 years ago just how cool it would be to have teenagers, I never would’ve believed it.

ON THE BLOG this week: This is beyond any doubt the BEST ham I have ever tasted – and the secret is all in the 3 ingredient ham glaze. (This ham is so completely worthy of hyperbole; I gave up on attempting to write the post without it.)

Fresh broccoli with dried cranberries, bacon, and red onion tossed in a tangy sweet dressing makes for a crave-able Cranberry Broccoli Bacon Salad. This salad was a hit with my non-broccoli fans too!

Tangy, sweet, Memphis bbq sauce is so much tastier than anything store-bought! (And you can make it with just a few pantry ingredients!) Have you tried making barbecue sauce? If you haven’t, it’s time to give it a try.

This lightly sweetened baked oatmeal is filled with bursting blueberries and wholesome oats with a hint of fragrant cinnamon.

This garlicky Bacon Asparagus Pasta includes a generous handful of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes as a perfect match to the fresh flavor of asparagus. (I actually had to hide the tiny portion leftover last time we made this because I was determined to have it for lunch the next day!)

Steak Fajita Quesadillas combines the rich, meaty flavor of a steak with the vibrant colors and bold flavors of fajita vegetables, all wrapped up in crispy, cheesy tortillas.

This lightly sweetened and spiced cake is filled with chunks of apple, then drizzled with warm caramel sauce just before serving. A sprinkling of raw sugar over the top of the cake adds a bit of crunch and sweetness as well.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies are thick, chewy chocolate cookies topped with gooey marshmallows and a generous dollop of fudge frosting.

Cinnamon coffee cake loaded with layers of buttery cinnamon brown sugar streusel is something

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s good to be home. Our weather has cooled off again, no surprise there, but there are hints of spring everywhere. We have bright yellow daffodils in the yard and I grin every time I see them.

ON THE BLOG this week:  Sweet berries and buttery cake are perfectly combined in this very easy six-ingredient Berry Cake recipe. A friend who shall not be named Lynne may have helped me consume a ridiculous amount of this cake when I made it again to photograph it a while back.

Crisp, buttery tortillas filled with spicy chicken and melting cheese add up to a buffalo chicken quesadilla that any fan of buffalo chicken is certain to love.

Roasted sweet potatoes, browned and slightly caramelized on the edges, are tossed with spicy hot sausage and handfuls of baby spinach to create a flavorful Sausage Sweet Potato Hash.

Pasta with broccoli and mushrooms in a garlicky cream sauce is a quick dinner that my whole family enjoys. 

Want to spice up your chicken tacos and take them to the next level? Mix together a batch of homemade chicken taco seasoning and give it a try.

Fresh green beans with a buttery, cheesy sauce and a crispy breadcrumb topping will get rave reviews and clean plates every time. Tired of the traditional green bean casserole? Try this green bean gratin next time and you might have a new holiday favorite.

This is not your average Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, this isn’t Oreo dust or a few crumbles of cookies stirred into ice cream. This is nearly an entire package of chocolate sandwich cookies stuffed into a batch of ice cream and you’re going to love it.

You only need a handful of ingredients to make a Homemade Chocolate Sauce that it tastes better than any chocolate syrup you can buy at the store.

What I’m CRAVING: This Lemon Ice Box cake! I stumbled on it again the other day, having saved the recipe to try over ten years ago. Let’s just say it’s a “fussy” recipe, at least at first glance, but oh my word, it sounds incredible. I’m putting it on my list to finally make one weekend when I feel like playing in the kitchen.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my Kitsch

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m in Arizona today for a whirlwind weekend with family. As I write this, my mom is making waffles, the kids are playing and my sister and I are chatting. (I’m a solid multi-tasker, friends.) I’m looking forward to a day filled with laughter, games, and conversation.

ON THE BLOG this week: Salmon marinated with balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and fresh ginger creates one of the most flavorful salmon dishes I’ve ever tasted. For a number of years, this was the only seafood meal to consistently receive two thumbs up from my entire family.

Garlicky roasted potatoes are tossed with fresh herbs to create an unforgettable warm potato salad that can be served hot or at room temperature. When I say that this potato salad is a garlic lover’s dream come true, I’m not exaggerating.

Saucy bites of chicken are tossed with crispy tender bok choy and a diced jalapeno in this flavorful Chicken and Bok Choy Stir Fry. (If you’ve never tried bok choy before, this is a great place to start.)

Crunchy, cheesy, salty, Parm Crusted Brussels Sprouts make a great snack or side dish. Serve a batch with bang bang sauce and there likely won’t be a bite left.

The best stir fries are salty, savory, sweet, and a little bit spicy. This ground beef and broccoli stir fry nails all of those things. The fact this stir fry is made with ground beef instead of a more expensive cut of beef makes it a really great alternative to the pricier meats when you are craving Chinese food or an Asian-inspired meal.

I couldn’t hide my love for coconut desserts if I wanted to and when it comes to desserts with coconut, I can’t get enough of them. So, I’ve gathered up a whole collection of my favorite coconut desserts to share with you.

Fresh Blueberry Frosting is a light and creamy frosting, whipped into fluffy blueberry loveliness. A dollop of this frosting is sweet heaven on a cupcake. On a spoon, on a cracker, or on an actual cake this blueberry buttercream frosting is irresistible.

Filled with fresh juicy pears between layers of brown sugar crumble topping and crust, a pear crumble is a winter dessert for any occasion. Slightly chewy with that irresistible buttery, brown sugar, and oat crust and topping, these pear crumble bars are great both on their own or served warm topped with ice cream.

What I’m CRAVING: These Read more

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Good morning, good morning, good morning!! The weather this week has been glorious with another 70 degree day here in Ohio. I realize it’s a false hint of spring, but I am basking in it while I can. 

It won’t be nearly so warm today, but there’s no rain in the forecast, so I’m hoping to get out for a long walk or hike. Local friends, where are your favorite walks and easy hikes in the Columbus area?

ON THE BLOG this week: Fresh strawberries tucked into light and fluffy pancakes create the loveliest Strawberry Pancakes you can imagine. If you happen to have some berries on hand, you have the potential for a breakfast that is certain to make you grin today.

Tender chicken and sweet corn are combined in a creamy chicken corn soup with just enough heat to warm your mouth without setting it on fire.

Steaming hot biscuits topped with melted butter have proven irresistible to every member of my family. I’ve made this easy drop biscuit recipe at least half a dozen times over the past few months. It just doesn’t get old.

Crispy, toasty, and ever so slightly cheesy, I can make an entire meal out of this garlic parmesan roasted broccoli.

Saucy BBQ pork tucked into melted cheese in a buttery crisp tortilla? That’s something I can’t possibly resist. This pulled pork quesadilla is a quick and easy way to get a hearty meal on the table, even on the busiest of weeknights.

Crisp, tart, slightly sweet, and always fragrant, the classic mojito is a cocktail that I never get tired of sipping.

Bite-size potatoes and Brussels sprouts are roasted with spicy sausage and plenty of cheese to create an irresistible dinner.

Sticky Asian Meatballs are sweet and a little bit spicy. I typically serve these meatballs over rice, with some steamed or roasted vegetables on the side. However, they work great as a party appetizer too.

Have you tried the Sweet Kale Salad at Costco? It starts with shredded kale, thinly sliced Brussels sprouts, and a generous handful of broccoli matchsticks. The greens are topped with sweet cranberries and salty pepitas before being tossed in a tangy sweet poppyseed dressing. The awesomeness of the salad can not be overstated and now you can make it at home!

What I’m CRAVING: Have you tried Read more

February 18, 2023

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Sean and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this past week with a few days away on our own. We stayed about an hour from home and it was a lot of fun to explore a new-to-us part of Columbus and a few new restaurants too.

So, that’s my excuse for the later-than-usual weekly newsletter today. I’m happy to be home now and ready for the fresh new week ahead.

ON THE BLOG this week: All the ingredients we love in classic Chinese Egg Rolls come together in this Egg Roll Stir Fry recipe. This is an irresistible bowl of deconstructed egg rolls and you’re going to love it.

Fluffy mashed sweet potatoes top a saucy mixture of seasoned ground beef and vegetables to make this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie.

Creamy Smoked Salmon Chowder is filled with carrots, onions, celery, garlic, wine, and a hint of bacon. If you enjoy smoked salmon, you will love this chowder.

Crisp buttery blueberry waffles are a spectacular breakfast treat that will have you coming back for just one more bite until they are gone.

Speaking of breakfast treats, fluffy buttermilk pancakes filled with crumbled breakfast sausage add up to a whole lot of awesomeness in these Sausage Pancakes.

You know how much I enjoy making my own seasoning mixes, right? Smokey, salty with a hint of pepper, homemade french fry seasoning takes fries to a whole new level.

Roasted and drizzled with pure maple syrup, these classic maple roasted carrots are almost candy-like in their sweetness.

Sweet and just a little bit spicy, this honey sriracha chicken stir fry is filled with bite-size sticky sweet chunks of chicken and tender-crisp peppers. The whole recipe comes together in under 20 minutes.

favorite things: this cuticle oil, this movie, and this book

What I’m CRAVING: Have you tried Sticky Toffee Pudding? It’s one of those things that I can not resist when it’s on a dessert menu. Soft, fluffy, incredibly moist cake smothered in a toffee caramel sauce is unforgettable. This recipe is on m