Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We are in Louisiana this weekend and headed to a crawfish boil this afternoon. That’s a first for me and I’m pretty excited to see how it’s done.

We’re planning to spend a couple of hours in New Orleans tomorrow morning before heading home – basically long enough to walk a bit in Jackson Square and get coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. (That whole work-school-life thing is making this a quick trip.) Shoot me a note if there’s something I truly shouldn’t miss in the area.

ON THE BLOGS this week: This spice and herb crusted pork roast is packed with flavor and a surprising kick from the peppers and the salt. Pork sirloin roast makes a delicious dinner any night of the week.

Our friend Tony’s Slow Cooker Baked Beans are chock-full of bacon and beef, sweetened with molasses and then simmered until thick and sweet. When I tell you that people go crazy over these beans, I’m not exaggerating. 

Crunchy yet chewy; sweet and smokey, I feel like goldilocks when I eat this cauliflower broccoli salad because it has just the right amount of everything. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself making and eating this salad on repeat!

If you’re a fan of the strawberries and cream combination, a sweet steaming bowl of strawberries and cream oatmeal is quite possibly the epitome of breakfast comfort food.

Tender peas, sweet carrots, and savory bits of celery and onions in a creamy, rich beef gravy baked inside a buttery crust make for a fantastic ground beef pot pie.

Crispy, ever so tender, and scrumptious air fryer smashed Brussels sprouts with balsamic glaze are impossible to pass up. I dare you to eat just one.

Flaky tuna, crunchy bits of red onion, and bell peppers tossed with freshly cooked pasta in a creamy, tangy dressing make for a colorful (and oh so very tasty!) Tuna Pasta Salad.

No-bake cookies have met their match with these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars. It doesn’t get much easier than just stirring everything together and pouring it into a pan.

Dark chocolate ice cream delivers just the right amount of sweetness, it’s the perfect treat for chocolate lovers who enjoy a bittersweet twist.

What I’m CRAVING: Have you heard of a

Dark chocolate ice cream delivers just the right amount of sweetness, it’s the perfect treat for chocolate lovers who enjoy a bittersweet twist.

Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

While my sweet tooth has mellowed quite a bit over the past few years, I still enjoy a piece or two of dark chocolate most days – just a bite or two goes a long way to satisfy a chocolate craving.

Dark chocolate can be a bit of an acquired taste, depending on just how dark the chocolate happens to be. And two of my kids gravitate to milk chocolate over dark. (Where did I go wrong??) They’d never reach for super dark or bittersweet chocolate on their own.

That said, I’m thrilled to tell you that this dark chocolate ice cream received rave reviews from everyone in the family. The sweet cream balances the dark chocolates excellently.

Dark Chocolate Desserts

Dark chocolate has long been my preference for baking. These Dark Chocolate Toffee Cookies are crispy, chewy cookies with a deep chocolate flavor, toffee crunch, and gooey chips.

Dark chocolate brownies are a dessert I make at least once a month – scoop some of this ice cream over them for a sundae that might make you swoon. Classic blondies are made even better with generous handfuls of chopped walnuts and dark chocolate chips.

The combination of cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate chips in this ice cream creates a deeply rich chocolate flavor. The result is quite possibly the richest chocolate ice cream I have ever made.

As the percentage of cacao increases, the chocolate becomes darker and more bitter. If you’re a die-hard fan of dark chocolate, opt for chocolate with a higher cacao percentage. In my experience making ice cream, I’ve discovered that the sweet spot for dark chocolate is usually around 60% cacao.

This strikes the desired balance between sweetness and bitterness, without veering anywhere near the overwhelming sweetness of milk chocolate. However, if you desire an even more intense and robust chocolate flavor, go for 85% cacao.

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A sweet steaming bowl of strawberries and cream oatmeal is quite possibly the epitome of breakfast comfort food.

Strawberry Oatmeal

Oatmeal filled with fresh strawberries is something I will very happily dive into year-round. Not too sure about a warm bowl of oats for a summer morning? Stir in fresh fruit and add a splash of cream, a dollop of yogurt, or a bit of milk, and you’ll be an instant fan.

Strawberries and cream is a classic pairing that will never go out of fashion and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy it. When you take those two things and add them to a creamy bowl of oatmeal, you have a winning way to start the day.

Do you remember the Quaker Oats commercials from the ’80s? Okay, I am dating myself here a bit. But I always think of it when making oatmeal for my boys because the tagline was “It’s the right thing to do.”

There is something about making a simple, filling homemade breakfast for my crew when life is crazy and busy. Knowing they are starting the day with full bellies makes my heart happy.

Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal

While quick oats or rolled oats will both work fine for most oatmeal recipes, rolled oats (a.k.a. old-fashioned oats) are my preference when making this strawberry oatmeal.

(Truth be told, old-fashioned oats are the only choice for me. I keep quick oats on hand only for a few specific cookie recipes that work best with the smaller oats.)

The texture is a bit chewier with a nuttier flavor, perfect for topping with fresh strawberries and a drizzle of syrup or sprinkling of brown sugar.

Side note here – as I was editing the