Perfectly bite-size Marinated Tomatoes are seasoned with a combination of oil, vinegar, and spices along with just the right amount of sweetness.

I’ve always liked tomatoes, but these tomatoes are irresistible!

I’m feeling very Mary Poppins over here as I realize that just a spoonful of sugar has transformed my much-loved tomatoes into something altogether different!

I made these marinated tomatoes for the first time 11 years ago the day after Ree posted them. This recipe is adapted from and with thanks to Missy via The Pioneer Woman.

Marinated Tomatoes

I am sold on this flavor combination. I couldn’t stay out of them all afternoon as they were marinating on the counter and in the refrigerator.

I kept telling myself I needed to stir them to make sure they were marinating just right. Somehow that wound up in a taste or two each time. Consider yourself warned, these are addicting.

Marinated Tomatoes Recipe

1. Place the halved tomatoes in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with sugar, salt, pepper, parsley, basil, and thyme. Add the oil, vinegar, and garlic.
2. Toss well and then allow the tomatoes to marinate at room temperature or in the refrigerator for a few hours. The tomatoes will create their own amazing marinade as they rest.

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Bite-size Glazed Lemon Drop Cookies are soft not-too-sweet cookies dipped into a sweetly tart glaze. (Traditional and gluten-free recipes are included below.)

Lemon Drop Cookies

These Lemon Drop Cookies were so irresistible, that I happily ate cookies in lieu of my dinner. (shhhh, don’t tell the kids, they thought I ate my dinner after they went to bed.)

I’ve been craving a lemon dessert for a couple of weeks now and I had the recipe for these cookies scribbled out and waiting to try.

I’m happy to say that the cookies were an awesome success and I managed to eat an embarrassing number of them before I finally packed the remaining cookies in a container and sent them home with friends!

Lemon Drop Cookie Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside. Combine the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
2. Add the egg, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir to combine. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
3. The dough will be somewhat dry and crumbly, but can easily be pressed together. Scoop into 1″ balls and gently roll them smooth between your hands. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
4. Bake for 10 minutes, until the cookies are set, but not browned. These will be small, round cookies and shouldn’t flatten or spread much at all. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Easy Lemon Glaze

1. Slowly add the lemon juice into the powdered sugar, stirring until the glaze can be easily stirred and poured.
2. Drizzle the glaze over the top of each cooled cookie.
3. Allow the glaze to set completely and then transfer the cookies to an airtight container.
4. They should keep well at room temperature for a few days, or in the freezer for up to two months. 

Smoky chipotles, garlic, and honey are combined in this Chipotle Chicken Marinade. This simple marinade is packed with an awesome smoky southwestern flavor.

Chipotle Chicken Marinade

My friend Tricia shared a Chipotle Chicken Salad the other day (almost ten years ago now!) and the chicken marinade sounded so good, that I couldn’t resist trying it that very same night.

I had chicken in the refrigerator and everything else I needed for the recipe was in the pantry. Well, the chipotle marinade was a huge hit and I’ve been making this recipe for over ten years now!

The Chipotle Chicken is awesome on the Southwest Chicken Salad and it’s also terrific with Cilantro Lime Rice or this Creamy Pasta Salad.

Chipotle Marinade

It takes less than 5 minutes to make up this marinade and get the chicken marinating in it!

First, you’ll combine the oil, honey, garlic, chipotle peppers, cumin, salt, and pepper in the blender. Puree for just a moment to combine.

Next, you’ll pour the marinade over the chicken and refrigerate the chicken for a few hours or overnight. That’s all there is to it!

You can also combine the marinade and chicken in a freezer-safe zip-close bag and freeze it that way. Just thaw when you’re ready to cook the chicken. (I almost always have some marinated chicken stashed in the freezer this way.)

Chipotles in Adobo Sauce

Did you know that chipotle peppers are simply smoked or dried jalapeno peppers? Adobo is a Spanish sauce made from

Nothing says summer quite like a good burger! This time we are teaching you how to make a perfect smash burger and there’s one secret that is life-changing.

Look, I don’t know why smashing a burger, literally the one thing you should NEVER do to meat totally works in this recipe, but it does. Ok, I do actually know why, it’s because it caramelizes every single piece of that patty thus making for more flavor in each bite, but the point is, it doesn’t make sense and so therefore you should absolutely eat it. 

It’s kind of like that crazy wedge salad story; it’s simple and therefore it’s the beeeeeest!

Cade and I discovered smash burgers when we were in our first few years of marriage and I think it’s actually what kind of turned me from burger hater to burger enjoyer and now lover. I still loooove a crispy chicken sandwich, don’t you get me wrong, but a smash burger will always make my mouth water. 

They are juicy, buttery, and have those crispy edges that are the star of this burger show. And the best thing about this is that smash burgers are simple and cook so fast…exactly what you want to feed the fam on a busy summer weeknight or to feed a crowd for your 4th of July festivities!

Ingredients for Smash Burgers

There’s nothing crazy going on with these ingredients. The crazy comes in the cooking technique, so your ingredient list looks like this:

Burger Patties

• Canola Oil
• Burger Buns
• Butter
• Ground Beef (60/40) – this probably sounds crazy, but just ask your butcher and trust me on this one…all the flavor comes in the higher fat content!
• Salt
• Pepper

Toppings

• American Cheese
• Lettuce
• Killer Burger Sauce
• Pickles
• White Onion

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below.

Grilled Corn and Roasted Tomato Pesto Pasta

It’s one of my favorite quick dinner ideas for summer – grilled corn and roasted tomato pesto pasta is so fresh and ready in just 15 minutes!

When you find something that the whole family will eat, you make it in every form possible! By some miracle, all my kids will eat pesto. PESTO! Of all the things! I’m not complaining because pesto is life!

We have pesto pizza, pesto paninis, pesto veggies, pesto chicken pasta, and even pesto tarts! See…all forms possible and every one is so delish!

This recipe is so tasty with a little smokiness from the roasted tomatoes and grilled corn. I love the addition of the bocconcini for the creaminess and added protein. It’s also healthy and so satisfying!

What Ingredients Go in Roasted Tomato Pesto Pasta?

This ingredients list is simple and so yum! You’ll need the ingredients for homemade pesto and then just a few other items to get this recipe on the table. Here is your list:

• Pine Nuts
• Garlic
• Basil
• Olive Oil
• Tomatoes
• Grilled Corn
• Parmesan (fresh)
• Sea Salt
• Pepper
• Penne
• Bocconcini

The measurements for each can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

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