Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s getting even chillier over here in Ohio and I am soooo here for it. The snow started falling around noon and it’s supposed to keep falling through tomorrow. Do I even need to tell you how excited I am about this?!?! We’re supposed to get 3-6” and for us here in central Ohio, that’s a whole lot of snow.
I’m about to start some tomato soup simmering on the stove and we’ll be dipping the best ever grilled cheese sandwiches into it tonight. My son, Ben, requested clam chowder for dinner tomorrow and I’m looking forward to that too. I’m thinking that we might need some cheesy biscuits to go with it.
ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Sometimes the simplest things end up being the biggest wins. That’s how I feel about this cheesy, crispy, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla. My boys and I threw them together a few weeks ago for the first time with some of the items we tend to have on hand in the freezer. Suffice it to say that these are way tastier than they have any right to be!
This crave-worthy Ground Beef Fried Rice is absolutely packed with flavor, and it’s ready to eat in under 20 minutes. Did I mention that it’s a one pan meal? Yep. Quick and easy with almost no dishes to do? Count me in for seconds.
Everyone seems to have a different name for these melt-in-your-mouth Mexican Wedding Cookies. Regardless of what you call them, they’re dangerously delicious! Eat just one? Yeah, right.
Imagine you’re sitting at a European streetside cafe, sipping a tiny cup of espresso and watching all the people bustling along. The waiter brings you this confection for dessert. It’s a slice of Chocolate Salami, a rich and silky ganache, absolutely packed with crunchy cookies and walnuts. And, the good news? You can make this no-bake dessert at home in just 10 minutes. Buon appetito, indeed!
This luscious Chocolate Sea Salt Ice Cream is the kind of indulgence you whisper about at the end of a long day. I don’t know what it is about sea salt ice cream that has me hooked, but I’m in deep now, and there’s no going back!
What I’m CRAVING: This Christmas salad with fresh greens, mandarin oranges, pomegranate, candied pecans, and crumbled feta in a zesty citrus vinaigrette caught my eye this week. Not only is it beautiful, but it sounds absolutely delicious too!
My FAVORITE THINGS this week
December 6, 2025
Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s a chilly one here in Ohio. I have pipes that tend to freeze here in my studio, so we’ve had faucets going on a slow drip for days (yes, that’s really a thing, friends in Phoenix) and I’m grateful to know to do this now after the first few years of frozen pipes.
Anyone with a different solution? Feel free to message me, we’ve had plumbers look at the situation and basically shrug or tell us it’s just an old house, so I think we’re probably stuck with this method. At least the pipes don’t freeze if we leave the faucets dripping when we have single digit temps. Weird way to start the newsletter, I know, but I’m hoping someone might have a creative solution we might not have tried!
ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Whenever the temperature dips and soup season arrives, I find myself using my crockpot even more than usual more. I am convinced that this slow cooker white chicken chili is the reason crockpots exist. No stress. Just tender chicken, hearty beans, spicy chile, and a house that smells divine.
When it comes to dinners that are lightning fast but still feel luxurious, baked pesto salmon is the way to go. Topped with a homemade parsley pesto with crunchy pine nuts, this dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish!
Store-bought puff pastry just might be the ultimate kitchen hack. No more rolling butter and dough and waiting. Just an easy solution for the flaky, buttery crust we all crave. And, this elegant chicken pot pie with puff pastry puts it to good use, covering a savory filling that is loaded with tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a creamy sauce.
Leafy greens, crunchy apple slices, and chewy raisins are fabulous together in this spinach apple salad with a tangy sweet dressing. The salad is a delightful balance of flavors and textures, making it one of my favorites to share with friends.
Creamy peanut butter, chewy marshmallows, indulgent almond bark, Rice Krispies, and chocolate chips? Stop talking, I’m already interested! But, combine them in a no-bake cookie recipe? Oh, yeah. Sign me up. These unbelievably good avalanche cookies are ready to eat in just 10 minutes.
Decadent fudgy mint brownies are topped with a peppermint buttercream frosting and a heavenly dark chocolate ganache. I may be biased, but you won’t find a better brownie recipe out there. And, bonus? They’re way easier to make than they look!
There’s something gleefully unrestrained about turning a drink as comforting as horchata into ice cream. You still get the sweet, creamy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla in horchata
Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I hope that your Thanksgiving was a wonderful one. This newsletter is a little different from the usual and I’m hoping you will find it helpful! I spent a while this week sifting through my favorite kitchen tools, selecting my absolute favorites to share with you. I’ve been a food blogger for 15 years now and I’ve been cooking 2-3 meals a day for most of the past 25 years.
And over those years? I’ve tried and tested sooooo many kitchen tools, most of which have gathered dust and eventually made their way to donation centers over time. (I’d like to spare you that hassle if I can!) So, if you’re looking for gift ideas for yourself or for those on your Christmas lists, these are my recommendations for kitchen gear that will earn its keep.
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
For kitchen gifts that actually get used, I’ve got you. Not another candle. Not another mug. These are the things that I use in my kitchen every. single. day. (And the reasons WHY I choose these over others that look just like them at first glance.) Check out my go-to favorites!
KITCHEN TINY EXTRAS
I’ve tried so many kitchen tools over the years. And, far too many of them are gimmicky nonsense. But THESE? These actually work. These are the tools that I keep using, time after time. Can we just agree to say no to “cute but useless” kitchen gadgets? These tools right here are perfect for gifting… or upgrading your own kitchen. Kitchen tools you WILL use!
KITCHEN SPLURGES
Ok, confession time. I am a frugal cook. But, sometimes I make an exception. These things were absolutely positively worth the extra cost. They work incredibly well. They last. And, most importantly, they give me no regrets. Ready for an investment that makes sense? You will not regret clicking this!
KITCHEN POTS AND PANS
Did you know that quality cookware actually makes cooking easier? I used to think that I couldn’t afford good pots and pans. Oh, how wrong I was. Skip the trendy and expensive sets. You don’t need to be fancy. Here are the must-haves. Click here for easier cooking!
THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS: Oh, baby, have I got you covered this year. I’ve never had so much fun with the holiday leftovers. Is there anything more American than sitting down to a feast with multiple pounds of meat on the table for each person? Turkey leftovers are real.
But, they aren’t a problem, at my house! We use it up in sandwiches, s
Welcome to the weekend, my friends! The countdown is on and I am soooo excited for Thanksgiving. My brother’s family will be arriving in a few hours and I can hardly wait. They’ll be here all week and we’ll be playing as many of our favorite games as possible while they’re here. Wingspan, DC Deckbuilding, Skyjo, Hitster, Poetry for Neanderthals, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Harry Potter Deck Building, Quirkle, and more will be on repeat.
ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Ready in just minutes, these Chicken Bites are generously seasoned pieces of tender chicken with crispy edges, perfect for a game day, a family night in, or just when you’re in the mood for something satisfying. Blink and they’re gone!
Tender carrots are tossed with a light and buttery glaze in these Honey Glazed Carrots. They are the perfect combination of earthy sweetness and buttery richness.
Absolutely loaded with buttery sweet corn, this Corn Spoon Bread is pure southern comfort. This is the kind of side that greets you before you even open the oven door. And, you just know you’re going to find a second spoonful on your plate without quite knowing how it got there.
I’m not claiming to be the first human to ever put pancake batter on top of perfectly crispy bacon. But, these are absolutely the best Bacon Pancakes you’ll ever have the pleasure of eating. Don’t take my word for it. Try them for yourself.
Moist chocolate cake, filled with juicy cherries and topped with fluffy whipped cream? Say less. This Easy Black Forest Cake is a busy baker’s dream come true with just five simple ingredients. Using boxed cake mix is a shortcut that feels too good to be true. But it works beautifully for this showstopping dessert.
Maple Syrup Cookies are generously studded with pecans and drizzled with a homemade maple frosting. They’ve got the soft texture of a scone, but all the sweet satisfaction of a cookie. I am telling you, these cookies are a MOOD.
Waves of salty and sweet churn together in a l