When I first moved out on my own, I cooked with whatever pots and pans were handed down to me from friends and family. Later, when Sean and I were married, we had a shiny new box set of pots and pans that we bought for less than $50 total.

When I tell you that those pans were lightweight? That doesn’t even really describe it. Foods would burn so easily! Those nonstick pans were a mess. I chalked it up to my lousy cooking skills, but I’ve since learned that quality pots and pans actually make a difference.

Over time, I’ve learned to be a little more careful about the quality of the pots and pans. I’ve also learned to use them well. So, I don’t buy or recommend huge sets of matching pots and pans. There are too many sizes that we don’t need.

There are really only a handful of pots and pans that I consider essential in the kitchen. I now own a couple of skillets, a sauce pan, and a Dutch oven that are my go-to for cooking. I’ve been using them daily for the last 5-10 years, and they are still going strong.

I use this heavy duty Misen 12″ steel frying pan nearly every day. This thing is a total champ, no matter what I’m cooking. It heats evenly and works for induction, gas, or electric stovetops. And it is oven and broiler safe to 800°F.

This All-Clad hard anodized 12″ frying pan is HANDS DOWN the best nonstick pan I have ever used. I’ve owned the trendy and viral brand names. They aren’t worth it. Get this one instead. It works for induction, gas, or electric stovetops, and it is oven and broiler safe to 500°F.

Read more

Cheesy Bacon Baked Egg Casserole with peppers for when you’re looking for an easy, healthy breakfast casserole! Made with only 9 ingredients (eggs, peppers, bacon, cheese and spices) it’s a hearty, low-carb, high protein recipe for breakfast and it’s perfect for the days you don’t want to make dinner!

My mom and dad are empty nesters and are often sending me simple recipes that they are loving. Mom knows that as much as she’s tired of making dinner, there are people all over the world tired of deciding, “what’s for dinner”. I love her suggestions and this healthy egg casserole recipe is one of my favorites!

I love that this egg bake is a straightforward breakfast casserole that keeps you full longer thanks to the bacon, eggs, peppers and cheese.

This egg casserole is a perfect meal-prep recipe and it is totally versatile. If this version hits all the right notes for you, make sure you try our cheesy egg casserole with ham and sauteed mushrooms too!

Ingredients for Baked Egg Casserole

• Bacon: Adds salty savory flavor to the dish.
• Bell Peppers: A little crunch and mild flavor to add depth and variety to the dish which helps you feel more satisfied.
• Eggs: A lot of eggs are needed! We prefer to use large eggs.
• Milk: Creates a softer egg.
• Seasonings: Add flavor with minimal effort.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheese adds a lot more flavor to the dish compared to a mild variety.

How to Make Baked Egg Casserole

1. Grease a casserole dish so the eggs don’t stick.
2. Cook the bacon until crispy.
3. Sauté the peppers and add the onions and seasonings.
4. Chop the bacon.
5. Beat the eggs and milk.
6. Stir in the remaining bacon, peppers mix and cheese into the egg mixture, reserving a small amount of cheese to sprinkle on top.
7. Pour into the prepared baking dish and add remaining cheese, and bake until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 30-40 minutes.

Variations for Egg Casserole

• Customize this recipe with your favorite veggies, greens and meat. Here are some ideas:
  Read more

There are a few recipes that instantly take me back to childhood, and these easy cream cheese mints are one of them. They’re sweet, creamy, and just a little minty—the kind of treat that melts in your mouth and feels so nostalgic.

The best part? You only need five ingredients and a few minutes to make them!

I remember my grandma making these (we called them “party mints” back then) and man, I loved when the ladies at church brought them to potlucks!! They are perfect for weddings, baby showers, and Christmas, and I can still remember sneaking one (or five!) off the tray when grandma wasn’t looking.

I tried making old fashioned cream cheese mints on my own for the first time in college and then totally forgot about them. They need to be posted here! They are the perfect holiday treat! The best no bake mint candy recipe!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Cream Cheese: The base of the recipe. It provides creaminess, a slight tang, and moisture to bind the powdered sugar into a smooth dough. It also keeps the mints tender instead of dry or crumbly.
• Butter: Adds richness and a silky texture, helping the mints melt in your mouth. It also balances the tang of the cream cheese and makes the mixture easier to work with.
• Peppermint Extract: Gives the mints their classic cool, refreshing flavor. Just a little goes a long way in creating that signature taste.
• Vanilla Extract: Softens and rounds out the peppermint flavor so it isn’t too sharp, adding warmth and depth to the overall sweetness.
• Powdered Sugar: The bulk of the recipe. It sweetens the mints, thickens the mixture into a pliable dough, and creates that melt-in-your-mouth texture because of its fine consistency.
• Gel Food Coloring: Optional, but perfect for making pastel or seasonal shades. Gel is preferred over liquid so the color is vibrant without thinning the dough.

How to Make Cream Cheese Mints

1. Beat: Add the cream cheese and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until creamy with the paddle attachment.
2. Combine: Add the peppermint and vanilla extracts to the cream cheese mixture and mix until combined and then lower the speed of the mixer and gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until combined.
3. Add Coloring: If you want to add multiple colors to the mints, separate the dough into different bowls and add gel coloring for your desired colors. Mix thoroughly until the gel coloring is fully incorporated.
4. Form: Use a small scoop, scoop the dough into small balls and roll between your palms. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Dip a fork into powdered sugar and gently press down on each mint.
5. Dry: Let the mints dry at room temperature for several hours. Once they are completely dry, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Read more

Recipes are born all the time. But, recipes that are born in hard times? They’re special, like this depression-era Crazy Spice Eggless Cake. Creative bakers figured out how to put a tasty dessert on the table, even without the eggs and butter we so easily take for granted.

One of my readers shared this cake with me, straight from her family’s recipe card. And, I’m so glad she did! The crumb is wonderfully moist, and the spices are warm enough for the coldest winter night. I’m going to make it again, and the eggs can just stay jealous in the fridge.

Eggless Cake

I’m willing to bet that if you could peek inside your grandmother’s recipes, you would find something like this eggless cake recipe. I’ve seen them called wacky cake, depression cake, war cake, and crazy cake. And, I make a chocolate crazy cake, myself.

My foray into making cake without eggs was simply the result of my curiosity and not personal hardship. But, for millions of bakers during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, finding a ready supply of eggs and butter was simply not feasible. Traditional baked desserts were a luxury, and this kind of “crazy cake” helped make it possible for even the families who were often going without to occasionally enjoy a sweet treat.

Cake without Eggs

You’d be amazed at how good this cake tastes. This is not some awfully dense brick of dough that’s been given a dusting of sweetener and called cake. I’m telling you, this cake has a moist and fluffy crumb that just shines with a rich and creamy frosting.

Don’t be startled by the vinegar in this recipe, either! You don’t taste it at all. It reacts with the baking soda to create an acid-base reaction (remember those science fair volcanoes?) which is what makes the cake rise without any eggs or baking powder.

Read more

You and I both know that frosting isn’t just some creamy decoration. This Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting might sit on top, but it improves the whole experience. Smooth without being too sweet, rich without becoming heavy, this tangy topping is everything you want. And, you can whip up a batch of it in less than ten minutes!

Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting

Have you ever tried a frosting that didn’t spread easily? It reminds me of the long ago, back before I knew how easy it was to make frosting at home. Cracking open a plastic can of storebought frosting that seemed more like paste. Too dense. Too dry. Oof, thanks brain. Let’s forget that one again.

Fluffy cream cheese frosting is a different experience entirely. It’s lighter and silkier, but still has plenty of structure to stand up proudly above your cake. Just don’t skip bringing the butter and cream cheese up to room temperature so they’re easier to spread. And, that splash of heavy cream? That’s the trick that makes this frosting super fluffy.

Cream Cheese Frosting

I know that there are a lot more complicated frosting recipes out there. But, my family adores this fluffy cream cheese frosting. We’re not even apologetic about it. It reminds me of the homestyle toppings that my grandma spread on her baked goods long before social media perfection was ever a thing.

It’s super easy to throw together, even on short notice. And, the flavors are perfect. That first spoonful (just to test!) never fails to make me question why it’s been so long since I made it. The tang of cream cheese is subtle but lingers. And, because it’s less sweet than traditional frosting, it doesn’t overpower the dessert beneath it. It amplifies those flavors.

Read more