Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We’re enjoying the weather so much here in Ohio, nothing beats a chilly morning and a sunshine-filled afternoon. I’ll happily take it for as long as it lasts.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve gone out for lunch just because I was craving this salad. Crunchy greens, tangy pepperoncini, and hearty chickpeas are tossed with a sweet Italian dressing and then sprinkled with crumbles of creamy cheese to recreate Harvest’s House Chop Salad.

There’s something about the sweet and smoky flavor combination that just works. And this Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon proves it with every perfectly caramelized bite of salmon that practically melts in your mouth.

Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts with pecans and bacon are a fancy-sounding side dish you can eat any day of the week. 

Sweet corn kernels are coated with an irresistible creamy sauce in this easy Creamed Corn. It’s a dish that instantly takes me back to holidays at my grandma’s house. Why not make it year-round?

The -ber months are in full swing. Wonderful sweater weather has arrived. And, that means it’s time for all things pumpkin at my house. This Pumpkin Spice Creamer is the perfect at-home fall treat.

You know how food just feels more fun when it’s tiny? Maybe it’s the cuteness factor, or maybe it just reminds me of being a kid. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but a tiny stack of Silver Dollar Pancakes hits that sweet spot every single time for me.

Packed with tart and tangy flavor, this Cranberry Ice Cream is balanced perfectly with the soft crunch and slight bitterness of dark chocolate chunks. I cannot get enough.

What I’m CRAVING: These peanut butter cookies. I’ve been making a tiny batch several times a week and can’t get enough of them. I’ve learned I can bake just a few in the air fryer on a paper liner. That’s dangerous knowledge, my friends. I’m only 6 minutes away from a fresh batch. 

What I’m READING: When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptil Manning. My sister stumbled on this book a couple of weeks ago and immediately told me about it. I have a lifelong love of books, and this one is a treasure. It tells the story of the ASE (Armed Services Edition) books that were published during WWII and sent to the troops serving during the war. Before this, I’d never even heard of the ASE books.

When America

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s chilly outside, and this feels like an excellent day for a waffle brunch. We like all kinds of waffles – from sweet to savory (I’m looking at you today, ham and cheese waffles), so it’s unlikely I’ll have any complaints from my family if I break out the waffle iron. And since I happen to have some leftover rosemary in the fridge? There’s also certain to be a batch of the best ever sausage gravy to pour over some of the waffles. (Can you tell I woke up HUNGRY today?!)

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Creamy cheesy polenta is love at first bite! Buttery, soul-satisfying, and creamy, this cheese-laden polenta is perfect served alone or topped with any braised meat, vegetables, or stew. 

Hands down, my favorite way to serve polenta is with chile verde. This Mexican pork and tomato chile verde and classic pork chile verde are what my comfort food dreams are made of these days.

Want to turn a simple head of cabbage into a side dish that will actually be enjoyed? This Cajun cabbage recipe does just that. It is bright and tender-crisp, with a kick that will have your taste buds smiling.

‘Tis the season and these thick and soft iced pumpkin cookies are an awesome way to welcome fall. The oatmeal in these cookies helps add a bit of nutty chewiness to these pumpkin cookies.

And if you love cozy fall flavors, this pumpkin sheet cake with brown butter icing is about to rock your pumpkin-spice-loving world.

If you can’t get enough of the fall flavors, this sweet potato ice cream is about to blow your mind. Once you take a bite, you’ll understand. It turns out that sweet potato ice cream tastes like frozen pumpkin pie.

What I’m CRAVING: I’ve spent this week craving soups and the breads to dip in them, so tonight’s dinner plan is a big pot of this creamy vegetable soup and a basket of easy drop biscuits. 

And if I wind up getting just a little more ambitious while I’m in the kitchen, Tricia’s Bakewell Tart is on my must-make-soon list. If you adore almonds and almond-flavored things as much as I do, it should probably be on your list too.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my ne

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m spending the day slowly catching up on work and planning to get out for a walk this afternoon, too. I love lazy days like today. The odds are good that there will be a puzzle in my future as well.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Half a box of pasta, a pound of sausage, and some green cabbage that was tucked in the fridge added up to a winning last-minute meal. This sausage pasta was such a hit with my family that it’s become a regular player in our dinner rotation over the past few years.

Brimming with juicy pineapple and colorful bell peppers, this pineapple chicken stir fry is a little bit tangy, a little bit sweet, pretty to look at, and absolutely full of flavor. (I’m making it tonight, subbing shrimp for the chicken – can’t wait!)

These steak kabobs are calling my name again. The steak rests in a simple Asian-inspired marinade for a few minutes before being skewered along with slices of colorful bell peppers and red onions.

Creamy mushroom pasta is cream sauce perfection with sauteed mushrooms, garlic, parmesan cheese, and spaghetti noodles. I like to serve this with smashed Brussels Sprouts or these extra crispy roasted green beans. 

Peanut butter oatmeal balls pack a punch of rich peanut butter with the earthy taste of oats and that hint of sweetness we all crave. With the addition of a handful of chocolate chips and some mini M&M’s, these are a sweet treat you’ll be making often.

These chewy, dense, peanut butter cookies are an unforgettable memory from my childhood. Made with just an egg, a scant cup of peanut butter, and a cup of sugar, 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies are an old-fashioned cookie that everyone loves.

If you or someone you know loves Butterfinger candy bars, this is about to become their all-time favorite ice cream. Butterfinger ice cream is swirled with flakes of Butterfinger candy bars and loaded with bite-sized chunks of candy bar too!

What I’m CRAVING: My friend Christi’s insanely delicious chocolate peanut butter cookies. When I tell you that these are the best chocolate cookies I have ever tasted, I’m not being dramatic or even remotely exaggerating. She first shared them with me about ten years ago, and they are firmly established now as the greatest chocolate peanut butter combination possible.

My FAVORITE THINGS this week are t

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

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m in Santa Fe, NM this weekend with my sisters. We’re soaking up the cool, rainy day today and enjoying our coffee this morning with vacation pastries. (Anyone else make the most of the fun pastries when traveling and rarely do that at home? I’m all about it.) We’ll be playing games, likely doing another puzzle or two, and heading out for more walking as well, if and when the weather clears. It’s thrills a minute over here – just the way I love it.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Have you seen the new website design? I’m loving it so much. Hopefully, you’ll find it easier to navigate and find exactly what you’re craving!

We’re making all my favorite and easiest recipes this weekend, and I’m looking forward to everything. Egg roll in a bowl ramen is an irresistible skillet of deconstructed egg rolls tossed with ramen noodles, and I’m telling you now that you are going to love it.

And you can’t have an egg roll bowl without the drizzle of bang bang sauce, can you? It’s simply irresistible. This sweet and spicy sauce has become a staple in my fridge over the past few years. 

I’ve been making this chicken waldorf salad on repeat every week for months now, and it’s the lunch plan for today. I’m nowhere near tired of it. 

I’ll give you one guess what’s for breakfast over here. At home or when traveling, it’s my go-to meal. And these jammy eggs will be happening as well. 

Hot tea and steamed milk are all you need to make a London fog. Made with or without caffeine, this is a drink you’ll enjoy all day long. And I plan to enjoy at least one later today while it’s rainy outside and I’m cozy inside. 

Is there anything more cozy than a piping hot melting grilled cheese on a rainy day? Ours will have to wait until tomorrow’s lunch, since the bread won’t be ready until then, but it will be worth the wait. (Also, if you aren’t using sourdough for your grilled cheese sandwiches, you’re missing out! It’s a real game changer.)

These hibiscus margaritas are deeeelicious. Jenny made them for us last night and added a chamoy rim – 1000 stars, highly recommend. I’ll be sharing our version of the recipe soon! 

What I’m CRAVING: My little sister has been making sourdough for a while, and it’s soooo good. She is a big fan of Maurizio Leo (highly recommend his site for Read more