Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Are you enjoying the cooler fall weather as much as we are? My brother is in town and I’m looking forward to much laughter, delicious food, and some board games, too. Since the weather is supposed to be great through the weekend, I’m hoping that we’ll be outside as much as possible in the cool mornings.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Tender pieces of flank steak are simmered in their own juices creating a rich and super flavorful broth to make the Carne en su Jugo (a.k.a. Meat in its Juices) that my family loves so much.

When I say that my family loves this, what I really mean is we LOVE LOVE LOVE this meal. So much so that my oldest son has requested Carne en su Jugo for his birthday dinner for the past five years now.

​​This easy-as-can-be sheet pan chicken dinner has become a favorite in many of your homes over the past two years. And my family continues to make it at least once a month. It only takes about 5 minutes of effort to toss the chicken, potatoes, and green beans in a simple lemon and herb vinaigrette before roasting until tender and crisp.

Honey glazed carrots are a welcome side dish combining the natural sweetness of carrots with a light and buttery honey glaze. This recipe can be made in just ten minutes, about the same amount of time it might take to steam some vegetables. And while I do enjoy a good many steamed vegetables, the wow factor of this glazed carrots recipe is a step or two above that.

Crispy Cajun cauliflower brings a kiss of heat to this tasty, slightly crunchy side dish. Cauliflower is a wonderfully blank slate when it comes to playing with different flavors. This makes it a perfect canvas for roasting and adding seasonings to pair with any dish.

Chock-full of bacon and beef, sweetened with molasses, and simmered until thick and sweet, cowboy baked beans are sure to impress! This recipe has been my favorite way to make baked beans for years.

An orange banana smoothie is proof that the simplest things are often the best. With just two ingredients and under five minutes, you can make the easiest smoothie ever. (And if you choose to include the bonus ingredients, it gets even better!)

This chocolate pudding bundt cake is pure chocolate lover’s heaven! Rich, deeply chocolatey, and super moist, this cake gets rave reviews and recipe requests every time I serve it.

Creamy sweet vanilla ice cream with a hint of fruity olive oil on the back is an unexpected grown-up flavor treat. I absolutely loved this Read more

Healthy Harvest Chicken Casserole

Healthy Harvest Chicken Casserole is a comforting and nutritious dish that combines tender, lean chicken with an array of colorful vegetables, wild rice, and a light, creamy honey mustard sauce.

This casserole recipe was inspired by a salad I had a few years ago up in Park City, UT. I haven’t been able to get the flavors out of my head since, so I converted it into a casserole and I’m obsessed!

This hearty casserole offers a wholesome balance of flavors, from the savory chicken to the sweetness of seasonal vegetables. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, it’s a satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy!

Ingredients for Healthy Harvest Chicken Casserole

There is nothing complicated about the ingredients for this healthy chicken recipe. You’ll need a few seasonal vegetables and some seasonings. Here is everything you’ll need:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: used to sauté the potatoes and vegetables
• Sweet Potatoes: adds heartiness and a touch of sweetness to the dish
• Brussels Sprouts: If you aren’t a brussel sprouts fan, use broccoli instead.
• Red Onion: adds flavor
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Chicken Broth: helps cook all the vegetables and chicken completely
• Seasonings: Dried Thyme, Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Kosher Salt and Pepper
• Chicken Breasts: use boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Honey Mustard Dressing: adds flavor, moisture
• Wild Rice: I love the flavor of wild rice with the recipe, but you can use any type of rice you like.
• Toppings: Sliced Almonds, Pepitas and Dried Cranberries (all optional but I love the texture and flavors they add)

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

How to Make Harvest Chicken Casserole

This delicious casserole is packed with protein and healthy vegetables, making it the perfect meal for a cozy night in. Here are the steps for making it…

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350℉.
2. Sauté: Heat a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat then add the oil. Add the sweet potatoes, brussels and red onion and season them with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes and then reduce the heat to medium. Once everything starts browning, add the garlic and cookie it for 30 seconds.
3. Cook the Vegetables: Add half of the chicken and all the seasonings and stir everything together. Cover the pot and cook for 5 minutes then place in a casserole dish.
4. Cook the Chicken: Return the heat to medium-high, add a little oil to the

First things first, while my house was divided over this particular ice cream flavor, I absolutely loved the olive oil ice cream served with a dish of fresh berries, and two of my children surprised me by enjoying it as well. Creamy sweet vanilla ice cream with a hint of fruity olive oil on the back is an unexpected grown-up flavor treat.

Olive Oil Ice Cream

A good quality extra virgin olive oil is required for this ice cream, though it truly does not need to be one of the priciest varieties either. If you have a fancy and fruity oil on hand, definitely use it!

I did a bit of research online before making this ice cream, searching for a decent quality, “fruity” oil that could be found at most grocery stores. While I do enjoy using fancy olive oils at different times, I wanted this ice cream to be something that wasn’t out of reach for the average home kitchen. I used Terra Delyssa olive oil, and it proved great for this ice cream.

If possible, I recommend buying a new bottle of oil for this recipe. Olive oil really does not last all that long. If your olive oil doesn’t smell like anything, it probably won’t taste like much either. (And if it smells bad – musty, or like plastic or wax? please don’t try using it here!)

A great oil should smell kind of green, fresh, and maybe a bit fruity or citrusy. Give it a sniff before pouring: even the best olive oils will lose their aroma after a while. And again, you do not need a super fancy bottle of oil for this. Just make sure it’s fresh and a little bit fruity, if possible.

Philadelphia Style Ice Cream

The vast majority of the ice cream recipes here on the site are Philadelphia-style ice creams. Made without any eggs at all, simply with a combination of cream, milk, and sugar as the base. These are some of the best and easiest ice creams to make. They turn out wonderfully smooth and creamy without the need for a traditional custard-style base.

It’s a well-established fact that I enjoy making ice cream, and we’ve made everything from classic cookies and cream to Read more

Easy Garlic Butter Steak at Home

If you’re looking for the ultimate date-night dinner at home, this garlic butter steak recipe is a showstopper. The steak is first seared on the stove to lock in a rich, golden crust, then finished in the oven for a tender, juicy center. What makes it unforgettable is the homemade garlic herb butter that melts over the top, adding layers of flavor with every bite.

Whether you’re planning a fancy dinner at home, treating yourself to a restaurant-style meal, or searching for the best garlic butter steak recipe to impress guests, this dish delivers on flavor, texture, and simplicity.

Easy Garlic Butter Steak Recipe

Have you ever had a steak so perfectly cooked and seasoned it melts in your mouth? That rich steakhouse flavor feels impossible to recreate at home, but this garlic butter steak recipe makes it easy. Juicy, tender steak topped with sizzling garlic herb butter can be yours right from your own kitchen.

Picture the best steakhouse you’ve ever been to: the sizzling hot plate, the aroma of garlic butter dripping down the sides, the kind of steak that makes every bite unforgettable. With a few simple techniques, you can create that same experience at home. I’ll show you how to sear steak on the stove, finish it in the oven, and top it with the most incredible homemade steak butter.

Garlic Butter Steak Ingredients

If you’ve been lucky enough to enjoy garlic butter steak at a fancy steakhouse, you may mistakenly think the cooking process is complicated. In reality, cooking steak with butter couldn’t be simpler!

Here’s what you’ll need to prep the steak and make the steak butter:

• Steak of Choice: The star of the dish! Pick a well-marbled cut like ribeye or filet mignon for the juiciest, most flavorful results.
• Olive Oil: Helps create a beautiful golden sear while keeping the steak from sticking to the pan.
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that bring out the natural flavor of the steak and build a savory crust.
• Unsalted Butter: Melts into a rich, velvety topping that enhances the steak with indulgent flavor.
• Minced Garlic: Infuses the butter with bold, aromatic depth that makes every bite irresistible.

How to Cook Steak in the Oven

In my opinion, the best way to cook steak is to first sear it on the stovetop, then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking. This cooking method delivers perfect results every time!

Here’s how we make garlic butter steak at home:

1. Prepare: Pat the steak dry and season generously with kosher salt and black pepper to enhance 

An orange banana smoothie is proof that the simplest things are often the best. With just two ingredients and under five minutes, you can make the easiest smoothie ever. (And if you choose to include the bonus ingredients, it gets even better!)

Banana Orange Smoothie

This really is the easiest smoothie ever!

Tossed together one morning many years ago, just to use up an overabundance of bananas and oranges, my kids flipped over this simple smoothie.

After I handed the drinks to the kids, I walked out of the kitchen for a moment. My middle son yelled after me, “The smoothie is fantastic!” Why am I not surprised that they adored a smoothie made of nothing but juice and bananas?

In the years since, I’ve made it with both store-bought orange juice and freshly squeezed. Both versions are terrific. And while the ginger and lime are optional ingredients in this smoothie, I highly recommend adding them both. They work to brighten the flavors and add a new dimension to this simple drink. 

Banana Smoothie

To make these sunny smoothies, you’ll need the following two in