Chilled cubes of watermelon tossed with lemon juice, salt, and a hint of spice are topped with thin ribbons of basil in this watermelon basil salad. Whether you eat it as is or top it with goat cheese or feta, it is destined to be a surefire summer hit!

Watermelon Basil Salad

Packing a surprising amount of flavor, this light and refreshing summer salad is a perfect choice to accompany anything grilled. And since it’s grilling season, this is a salad recipe you want in your back pocket.

This is best the day it’s made, but is still very tasty if eaten within a day or two. Wait to top with cheese right before serving for the best results.

Watermelon salad is mercifully easy to make when you know how to cut watermelon. And if you don’t know, check out that link for easy step-by-step instructions.

Basil is such a great natural pairing with watermelon. Both are fragrant and floral but the basil brings a little peppery zing to complement the sweet melon.

You can choose to scatter a little feta or goat cheese on top of the salad for a little briny deliciousness just before serving, but that’s strictly optional. I love the creamy, saltiness with the sweet watermelon.

Watermelon salads go into heavy rotation around here when it’s wa

Korean Ground Beef Noodles [+Video]

Want a quick and easy ground beef recipe that’s ready in less than 30 minutes? Korean ground beef noodles are the perfect recipe for when you’ve had a busy day. The flavorful sauce on the almost crisp beef is our new favorite dish!

You all went crazy for our Korean Ground Beef and I just knew you needed an even better version. Asian Noodles with ground beef is a game-changer!!

Have you ever had a take out dish that’s so crazy good you literally cannot stop eating it even though you physically are stuffed? This is that recipe!!

I love mixing it up by throwing in sauteed veggies, fresh edamame or even using only the sauce and skipping the meat entirely. I cannot wait to hear how much you all love this dish too (plus it’s so fun to be learning your names and where you’re from) so leave a comment!!

What Do I Need to Make Korean Ground Beef Noodles?

For being as flavorful as it is, you really don’t need many ingredients. Most of them are pantry staples, so you have no excuse not to make this for dinner asap! Here is everything you’ll need:

• Spaghetti: Any long, thin pasta will work great like linguine or vermicelli. You could also use angel hair pasta, or rice, ramen, glass, or udon noodles.
  • NOTE: For a low carb option, use zucchini noodles!
• Canola or Vegetable Oil: Used to help brown and crisp up the beef.
• Ground Beef: Use 80/20 or 85/15 for the best flavor.
  • NOTE: If you want to lighten this up a little, use ground chicken or lean ground turkey!
• Garlic: Adds flavor.
• Soy Sauce: I like to use low sodium soy sauce so that I can control the saltiness more.
• Orange Juice: Fresh OJ is preferred but you can use store bought if needed. Make sure there’s no added sugar. Adds tanginess and fresh citrus flavor.
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and rich flavor to the stick sauce.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds a little more sweetness and a tiny bit of heat.
  • NOTE: If you like a little heat and want even more authentic Korean flavor, replace the sweet chili sauce with gochujang hot pepper paste.
• Toasted Sesame Oil: Adds that signature Asian flavor.
• Cornstarch: Helps thicken the sauce.
• Green Onions: Adds a pop of fresh flavor.

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

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s a family-filled whirlwind of chaos over here this weekend with lots of family visiting and some very loud games in progress. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  Stuffed pork tenderloin is filled with sauteed broccoli, red peppers, and generous amounts of melted mozzarella for an irresistible main dish. It’s gorgeous enough for company, but easy enough for a family dinner.

Tender, spicy bites of chicken are tossed with fresh sauteed vegetables and plenty of Mexican spices to create this easy southwest chicken skillet with corn and zucchini.

All of the flavors in classic chicken parmesan are amplified in this simple chicken parmesan meatloaf. My whole family goes crazy over this dinner and every guest who has ever tried it agrees that it’s amazing.

Tomato pasta salad is the irresistible combination of tender, bite-sized pasta with red onion, super fresh tomatoes, and parsley in a garlicky vinaigrette.

Crunchy rainbow bell pepper salad in a flavorful Dijon mustard vinaigrette is a feast for the eyes and the stomach! Eaten on their own or added to any number of salads or sandwiches, these peppers are a win.

Cottage cheese ranch dip is a great tasting savory snack that just happens to be high protein and good for you, too! Scoop it up with cracker, crudités, bread, or chicken bites, but do make it!

If a thick, chocolate malt milkshake is your kind of treat, just wait until you scoop into this chocolate malt ice cream—it’s everything you love, frozen into pure nostalgic bliss.

What I’m CRAVING: Southern Peach Cobbler holds my heart today. My brother’s family brought a huge box of Georgia peaches with them when they drove up yesterday. These fragrant beauties are destined for cobbler tonight.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this new game. My friend Holly told me about Tapple a few weeks ago, and I immediately ordered it. It has been a huge hit with the family this weekend. YAY for a new all-ages friendly game!

What I’m LISTENING to: In Bloom by Jon Foreman. This album is so relaxing, and while much of Forem

Easy Enchilada Style Ground Beef Burrito Recipe

This enchilada-style ground beef burrito recipe is packed with seasoned ground beef, smothered in rich red enchilada sauce, and loaded with gooey melted cheese for the ultimate comfort food. Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner or crowd-pleasing meal, this beef burrito recipe combines bold Mexican flavors with hearty ingredients for a delicious and satisfying dish the whole family will love.

Tacos and burritos instantly make me feel nostalgic, even though we didn’t have them much growing up. I actually hated ground beef because of the texture, and my mom was so patient! She never forced me to eat while I quietly melted cheese on a tortilla instead.

My biggest tip? Don’t stress about making separate meals or battles at the table. My parents just kept offering and waiting for me to try new things, and I turned out fine. Now, I offer my kids lots of toppings to make things less “gross” (looking at you, Grayson, and your avocado skepticism). I ask them to try one bite, then enjoy what they like, without catering to picky tastes every time. Mealtime should be peaceful and fun for everyone.

I’ve completely changed my mind about ground beef, and this recipe might be my favorite. These burritos are giant, filled with beef simmered in Dr. Pepper and Better Than Bouillon, and covered in a rich mix of red enchilada sauce, beef stock, and lots of melted cheese.

What are Enchilada Style Burritos?

Enchilada-style burritos are burritos that are covered in a red or green chile sauce and lots of cheese and then baked in the oven until the cheese is melted. They are also known as smothered burritos.

What Ingredients Do You Need for This Enchilada Style Ground Beef Burrito Recipe?

This recipe takes a few ingredients to make the ground beef extra flavorful and to take the sauce on top to the next level.

Ground Beef Filling

• Ground Beef: The main filling. Choose something with a little fat so it stays flavorful.
• Taco Seasoning: A wonderful mix of chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and oregano. Adds that classic, bold flavor everyone loves.
• Better than Beef Bouillon: My go-to for a big boost of rich flavor.
• Dr Pepper: My little secret, but it adds the best little hint of sweetness.
• Water: Just helps everything cook together nicely.

Sauce

• Butter: Starts the sauce with a rich, smooth base.
• Flour: Thickens it up so it sticks to the burritos just right.
• Beef Stock: Gives it a deep, savory flavor.
  Read more

If a thick, chocolate malt milkshake is your kind of treat, just wait until you scoop into this chocolate malt ice cream—it’s everything you love, frozen into pure nostalgic bliss.

Chocolate Malt

One taste of a chocolate malt is all it takes to transport me back to childhood. My grandpa used to make chocolate malts for us when we visited and we’d very carefully carry them upstairs and out the second-story door to walk out on the roof and enjoy them. The excitement of being on the roof and also enjoying a frosty chocolate malt milkshake? Oh, that couldn’t be beaten.

This batch of chocolate malt ice cream took me right back to visiting my grandparents in Dewey, AZ in the summertime. There are so many memories attached to the foods we eat and I love when I can make something today that transports me back in time.

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

And if you love Whoppers or chocolate malted milk balls, you just might go a little crazy over this Chocolate Malted Crunch Ice Cream. Old-fashioned chocolate malt ice cream gets a little extra boost of fun from chopped malted milk balls.

Chocolate Malt Ice Cream

Making this ice cream is pretty darn easy. There are no eggs required and you won’t need a custard base for this ice cream. You’ll simply whisk together the cream, cocoa powder, malted milk powder, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring it to a simmer.

Stir in the chocolate until it melts, add the milk, and then chill your ice cream base until it’s good and cold. Once the mixture is cool, pour it into the ice cream maker and churn