Welcome to the weekend, my friends! After a week of gorgeous sunshine-filled weather in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, we woke up this morning in a fresh winter wonderland. Ohio never fails to surprise me. As I write this, I’m watching the snow as it continues to fall outside. I’ll be headed to the gym in a couple of hours, but right now, I’m grateful for a slow start to the day and the time to enjoy my hot coffee.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: The sizzle of perfectly seasoned vegetables is snugly under wraps with oodles of gooey cheese in this golden, crispy Fajita Quesadilla.

Tart lime juice and peppery cilantro infuse the long, fluffy grains of rice with fabulous flavor in this simple Oven Baked Rice.

Fragrant and filling, when Hamburger Cabbage Soup is simmering on the stove, anyone wandering through the kitchen is going to grin.

The crisp crunch of cabbage is elevated with a tangy dressing in this Spicy Pickled Cabbage. With just the right amount of heat, each bite will have you coming back for more.

Smoothie Ice Cream is what happens when strawberries, blueberries, and bananas are blended into a frozen concoction so thick you can eat it with a spoon.

Skip the traditional fried donuts and make these Apple Cider Muffins at home. With a sugary coating reminiscent of their namesake, these muffins offer a delightful twist on a beloved classic.

Tender apples topped with buttery brown sugar streusel work together perfectly when making an Apple Crisp without Oats. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, the entire family was scraping their bowls clean and asking if there was any more of the crisp.

What I’m CRAVING: I’m going to make a big pot of this Baked Potato Soup today and serve it with a loaf of my friend Lynne’s Italian bread. (If you haven’t yet tried this bread, put it on your list to make soon, my friends. It’s perfection!)

My FAVORITE THING this week is this sea salt body cream. I’ve been using it for over a year and I still love it. It’s thick, creamy, and doesn’t leave your skin greasy at all. I love the mild scent and how incredibly moisturizing it is. I first tried this lotion as a sample and love

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We woke up today in a winter wonderland. As much as I love a snow day, and this is definitely a great one, I’m also thrilled that warmer weather is in the forecast for the rest of this week and the snow won’t be here for long. In the meantime, I’m planning to cook up some hearty snow-day foods this weekend.

Starting with waffles and waffle sauce for brunch this morning, then crispy baked chicken, the best ever homemade mac and cheese, and a sweet kale salad on the menu for dinner tonight. Tomorrow’s brunch plan is bacon and eggs with fluffy biscuits and some jam I brought back from Switzerland. Dinner will be this chipotle honey meatloaf (a long time favorite from my first cookbook) with garlic mashed red potatoes and parmesan roasted carrots. 

I’m getting hungry just reading all of that, so I’m headed to the kitchen to start the waffles just as soon as I send this email. Fortunately, we have several soups and a batch of steak chili tucked in the freezer for lunches too.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Bursting with the sweet, juicy flavors of pineapple and coconut, this Pina Colada Smoothie brings a bit of vacation sunshine, no matter the weather.

Tender and savory steak bites offer a fresh take on the classic loaded baked potato. A Loaded Steak Baked Potato is a hearty meal, all by itself.

Crunchy cabbage is tossed in a tangy and sweet dressing in classic Chick Fil A Coleslaw. Making this beloved menu item is a breeze, now that the once secret recipe is well known.

Warm and fluffy cinnamon rolls are kicked into high gear with rich, creamy caramel and tart apples in these Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls.

A simple, rustic tart featuring fresh pears drizzled with caramel sauce, this Caramel Pear Tart is simple to make, with just a handful of ingredients.

Buttery, nutty cookies are topped with the sweet jam of your choice in these simple, gluten free Read more

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s great to be home at last. Our weather here in Ohio has been spectacular this week, warmer than usual with loads of sunshine. I’ve been outside as much as possible, walking and soaking it in. I think we have snow in the forecast next week though, so winter hasn’t left the area just yet – despite all the glorious sunshine we’ve been enjoying.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Savory deli meats are piled high on a toasted hoagie roll, then topped with an unforgettable tangy slaw and gooey provolone cheese to make this Italian Grinder Sandwich your new favorite lunch.

Do you love the grinder flavors, but want something a little lighter? Try my new favorite salad! Crunchy greens, juicy tomatoes, and a medley of meats and cheeses are drizzled in a delicious creamy dressing to make this Italian Grinder Salad.

The crunch of tender-crisp cabbage adds wonderful texture to this Cabbage Fried Rice. It’s a simple one-dish meal that comes together in minutes – feel free to keep it vegetarian or add some sausage for the meat lovers.

This hearty, rich, and creamy soup is generously filled with tender potatoes and spicy andouille sausage. There’s a wonderful, lingering heat in each bowl of Cajun Potato Soup.

These Apple Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting are packed with delicious fall flavors in a soft, cinnamon apple blondie.

Tart apples and sweet caramel are fabulous together in these heavenly Apple Crumb Bars. You won’t believe how easy they are to make!

Creamy, cool sweetness collides with spicy, zesty heat in Jalapeno Ice Cream, creating a surprising fusion of smooth, rich dairy with the fiery kick of jalapeño peppers.

What I’m CRAVING: French Toast! I’m planning to make some for our breakfast tomorrow morning. I just realized I don’t have a recipe to link for you either. (I should fix that!) It looks like my friend Valerie’s recipe is the closest thing to the very simple method I use to make ours with thick-cut brioche bread.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this travel scarf / blanket. It is pretty big but folds down incredibly small and thin. I tuck it into a pocket of my carry-on every time we travel and I’m grateful for it whenever a plane is chi

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s been a whirlwind of a week in Switzerland, exploring the area around Lausanne, enjoying the ballet, and eating copious amounts of cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

I’ll be sharing more in a full post on the blog after I’m home again, but in the meantime, let me just say that the Alps are gorgeous, the architecture is fascinating, and the weather has been lovely.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: This dairy-free Pineapple Banana Smoothie is light and refreshing, perfect with breakfast or as a snack any time throughout the day.

Fluffy pancakes are infused with the juicy flavors of ripe pineapple, sweet coconut, and a sprinkle of crunchy macadamia nuts, kicking these Hawaiian Pancakes into high gear.

Tender, savory beef simmers with a medley of herbs and earthy veggies under a golden, flaky pie crust in this simple Beef Pot Pie.

A handful of simple seasonings transform frozen green beans into a wonderful side dish with these Italian Green Beans.

The rich and hearty flavors of cabbage and root vegetables combine with savory beef in a simmering pot of Cabbage Beef Stew. This is the kind of comfort food that warms you right down to your toes.

Bursting with the sweetness of fresh apples and spiced up with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, these old fashioned Apple Cinnamon Cookies take you right back to grandma’s kitchen.

This creamy, rich Blueberry Ice Cream is filled with chunks of dark chocolate that will melt in your mouth. This ice cream has been my weakness for several years now. Make this as soon as possible – you will not regret it.

What I’m CRAVING: Salads! Just about every time I travel, I start craving fresh vegetables and salads like mad by the time I’m ready to head home. This Spinach Orzo Salad with Cranberries and Goat Cheese needs to happen asap, as does this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with an Apple Cider Vinaigrette.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my pocket size pill organizer. I’ve been using this tiny pill case for a few years now. This might be the mo

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m writing to you this morning from Switzerland – no joke – and I’m pretty excited about it. We just settled in at our Airbnb a couple of hours ago and the view of Lake Geneva from our apartment is lovely.

I’m here for Prix de Laussane and can hardly wait to see Rowan dance again. (I’m also here for alllll the chocolate and the cheese, but if Rowan asks, this week is all about him, k?) If you’re reading this and happen to be familiar with Switzerland, send me your favorite must-try foods, pretty please!

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: With a flavorful chicken broth base and light wisps of egg throughout, classic Egg Drop Soup is a wonderful, light, and simple soup your whole family will request again and again. The first time I made this soup, my kids went crazy over it and devoured every single sip. They requested it again the very next day for lunch.

Flavorful artichokes and earthy spinach meld perfectly with zesty garlic and Parmesan cheese in a creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip so good, you will not be able to stop dipping.

Tender chunks of savory chicken dance with crisp green beans in a sauce that’s the perfect blend of savory and spice in this Chicken and Green Beans Stir Fry.

With a rich, buttery dough that is loaded with irresistible morsels of chocolate, these Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies nail every delicious detail. And, bonus, they stay soft and chewy for days.

Andes Mint Cookies are soft-baked chocolate cookies loaded with Andes Mint pieces and spread with an extra layer of mint goodness. They’re amazing straight from the oven.

Gooey chocolate chips and salty bits of toffee are wrapped up in these soft Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies that are just begging to be dunked in your favorite milk.

Creamy vanilla ice cream is swirled with decadent fudge while tiny peanut butter cups dance in every spoonful of this homemade Moose Tracks Ice Cream.

What I’m CRAVING: Raclette! I can hardly wait to try authentic raclette while we’re here in Switzerland. It’s going to be a delicious week. 

My FAVORITE THING this week is my