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.

Balsamic Salmon

For years, I simply prepared fish by sprinkling it with salt and pepper and then drizzling it with a bit of oil and lemon. We didn’t eat it often enough that I ever felt the need to play with different recipes. I wish I’d known then that there were so many other options!

Over the past ten years or so, my family has eaten more seafood than we would have imagined possible a few years ago. (This happens when your husband is fortunate enough to bring home 100 pounds of fresh fish from Alaska!)

For anyone who is not a big fan of fish for the sake of fish, a marinade is an excellent option for adding more flavors and changing the overwhelming “fish-factor” in the meal. I played with a couple different salmon and balsamic vinegar combinations before running across this one and let me tell you, it is a keeper.

When I made this last week, it was voted “two thumbs up and the best salmon ever” by my oldest two boys. The fact that my youngest ate every bite of his without pausing for chatter is huge praise all by itself.

Baked Salmon with Ginger and Soy Sauce

A simple marinade is a perfect way to impart different flavors to any dish. Salmon is one that does extremely well with a marinade. For this flavorful version whisk together olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and salt.

The balsamic, honey, red pepper flakes, and other ingredients create a sticky, sweet heat, Asian-inspired flavor combination.

Pour it ove

Biscoff Snickerdoodle Cookie Explosion Cheesecake

Biscoff Snickerdoodle Cookie Explosion Cheesecake! Because why not combine three awesome things? Perfection!

But… it doesn’t taste like a snickerdoodle cookie, it tastes like a cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and cinnamon sugar. 

That’s what I kept saying as I tried recipe after recipe claiming to be the best snickerdoodle cheesecake all over Pinterest. I get it, a snickerdoodle is basically a plain cookie with a slight tang from the cream of tarter and that cinnamon sugar punch on the outside, so how can you really achieve that in a cheesecake?

Well, you play around a lot and end up with this beauty, Biscoff Snickerdoodle Cookie Explosion Cheesecake. Because why not take a simple cheesecake and make EXTRAORDINARY?! It’s like a cheesecake and Biscoff snickerdoodle exploded in your mouth.

We needed something to really bring that cinnamon sugar cookie taste so we scratched the mere dredging of cinnamon sugar all over the top and went for a streusel instead. Instant cookie oomph. 

Read more

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.

I’ve been making Fresh Strawberry Frosting for several years now and it’s easily the most requested frosting I make. However, blueberries were on sale a couple weeks ago and I couldn’t resist playing with my recipe and switching it up to make a blueberry buttercream frosting.

I’m a blueberry lover for life and I suspected we’d love this new frosting as much or maybe even more than the strawberry version. As it turned out, I was right. I topped this Gluten Free White Cake (baked into cupcakes this time) with the blueberry frosting.

My helper had a lot of fun swirling the topping onto each cupcake. If you haven’t watched his little hands help with the frosting, it’s a fun watch. (Says the mama who knows that he’ll be a teenager in a couple of weeks.)

I probably don’t even need to mention it, but this frosting is also lovely spread on graham crackers. This is a taste test requirement every time we have frosting in the house.

It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that I have made this frosting more than a few times without a cake to put it on. There’s no shame in my frosting game.

Kitchen Tip: I use this mixer, these cheap

Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

This is spinach salad at its very best! With crunchy bacon and fabulous homemade salad dressing, this salad gets devoured every time I make it!

This is a perfect holiday (and every other day of the year) salad. I don’t even know where to begin with this spinach salad. When you read what the ingredients are you might think…”what’s so special about this?”, but the combination of the salty bacon with the creamy cottage cheese and flavorful swiss cheese just rocks the taste buds in all the right ways.

Every time I make this recipe I make a whole boat load, and every single time I have brought it to an event the whole boat load is gone. One of the best things about this salad is that it is perfect for holiday dinners and get-togethers simply because it doesn’t require any produce that could be out of season and the ingredients list is short and simple. You can eat this beauty ALL YEAR LONG! It’s seriously so good!

Make it, eat it, enjoy it…and you can thank me later. In fact, add it to your Thanksgiving menu right now because I am for sure!

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