Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Our summer has already been a whirlwind of visits with friends and family and I have been enjoying all of the company. Sean and I have plans to finally see the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie tonight and I can hardly wait.

Psssst – don’t miss today’s giveaway at the bottom of this newsletter!

ON THE BLOGS this week: With a little bit of sweet and salty goodness in every bite, GORP is a snack mix that my family devours every time we make it. Lucky for all of us, it’s an easy hassle-free trail mix to make.

The BEST chicken tetrazzini recipe begins with chicken, mushrooms, and pasta tossed together with a creamy, garlicky sauce. Layer that deliciousness in a baking dish and sprinkle it with just a handful of cheese before baking just long enough to melt everything together. Served with warm bread and a salad, this meal is a hit every time.

This cake. Hershey’s Chocolate Cake is the most versatile and the easiest perfect one-bowl chocolate cake recipe I have ever made. (traditional and gluten-free variations are included with this recipe)

Chock-full of bacon and beef, sweetened with molasses, and simmered until thick and sweet, Cowboy Baked Beans are sure to impress!

Sweet bits of pineapple and spicy jalapeño combine to make this easy pineapple salsa one of our favorite condiments and snacks.

Infused with the flavors of balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs, you will want to pour these mouth-watering Marinated Tomatoes over everything.

The bold flavors of ripe, juicy tomatoes marinated in balsamic vinegar with plenty of seasonings make this delightful Tomato Pasta Salad an easy winner.

Gooey mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant basil on toasted sourdough are going to make this Caprese Grilled Cheese your new favorite lunch option.

This creamy, sweet, fluffy three-ingredient peanut butter spread was a fun discovery when we moved to Amish country a few years ago. The kids fell in love with it as soon as they tasted it.

Nutty Bars Ice Cream is a rich peanut butter ice cream loaded to the absolute max with chunks of Little Debbie’s classic Nutty Buddy Wafer Bars

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We’re home again at last. We had a whole lot of fun exploring Tennessee with our youngest son. (And before I forget, big thanks to Mary for emailing me and recommending we try Hillbilly Golf while we were in Gatlinburg. What a fun afternoon!) Let me just admit right now that I am ecstatic not to be leaving home again until mid-July for our annual family camping trip.

Bring on the summer company, barbecues with friends, and lazy afternoons in the hammock and the rocking chairs. I am ready for it all. (Lest you think my life is picturesque at all times, there will also be 14,793 dishes to wash, piles of laundry for everyone to do, and many more mundane tasks.)

But amidst it all, there will be blue skies, sunshine, warm rain that brings on disgusting humidity (reality check there), and as many outdoor moments as possible. 

ON THE BLOGS this week: Crisp warm tortillas filled with chicken, bell peppers, and plenty of melting cheese are a terrific dinner or an excellent way to use up just a bit of leftovers. Who would turn down a piping hot chicken fajita quesadilla for lunch? (Not me!)

Red potatoes seasoned with Mexican spices are roasted and then tossed with sauteed onions, peppers, and beans, finished with a handful of barely wilted, warm spinach in this Black Bean Breakfast Skillet. Topped with a soft egg or scrambled eggs, this is a hearty and filling, slightly spicy weekend breakfast that can easily be doubled to feed a crowd.

Thanks to the magic of slow cooking, you can create these wonderfully buttery Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions with almost no effort at all.

With crunchy greens, juicy tomatoes, tender peas, cheddar cheese, plenty of bacon and eggs, and a bright, smoky dressing, this old fashioned 7 layer salad delivers more than you might be expecting.

Sweet corn, ripe bell peppers, red onion, and jalapenos are seasoned with a medley of aromatic spices and a touch of fresh cilantro to make each spoonful of this Fiesta Corn a fabulous blend of flavors.

Rhubarb Bars with a shortbread crust and tangy rhubarb custard filling are a fun, easy spring dessert. And this Rhubarb Sauce with Strawberry Jello is a favorite old-fashioned rhubarb treat. Serve it over ice cream or eat it in a bowl just like you would applesauce.

Moist, sweet, and lightly spiced, this car

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’ve spent every morning this week hearing the birds sing, appreciating this spectacular weather, and thinking endlessly about how much I love living in Ohio. The fact that I wake up every day in my favorite place in the world is something I hope I’ll never take for granted. 

I’m headed out to walk with a friend this morning, followed by (a very easy) hike with Sean this afternoon and I’m pretty happy about both. My youngest son had his last day of school yesterday and we’re taking him to TN (just the three of us) to celebrate his 13th birthday this coming week.

We’ve taken each of the boys on a trip by themselves for their 13th birthdays – you can see those trips here and here. I can hardly wait! Shoot me any suggestions you might have for food or fun in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas.

ON THE BLOGS this week:  This zesty Italian dressing is so simple to make, it’s ready in just a few minutes! And I promise you it’s infinitely tastier than anything store-bought.

Once you’ve made the dressing, put this California spaghetti salad on your must-make list for summer. It’s filled with fresh vegetables, tangy Italian dressing, and delightful twirls of pasta, you’ll want to savor each bite.

Pot pie has never been easier to make – all the irresistible flavors of classic chicken pot pie are here in a perfect balance of savory chicken and wholesome veggies, wrapped in a buttery crescent roll crust.

Three different kinds of beans simmer in the crockpot with plenty of seasonings and hot sauce to make one of the easiest side dishes you can put on the table. These spicy baked beans come together with barely five minutes of effort.

Crispy cauliflower, toasted bread crumbs, and nutty, savory parmesan are wonderful together in this scrumptious side. This roasted garlic parmesan cauliflower is snackable right off the pan!

Tender and buttery, sauteed mushrooms and onions are a terrific side dish on their own. However, if you happen to enjoy them anywhere near as much as I do, you’ll want to pile them over your next pan of steak bites or serve them with these roasted chicken thighs.

If you’d told me a couple of years ago that one day in the future I’d be Read more

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’ve been traveling since last Wednesday (first to NM and then to AZ) and finally made it home last night. I am so very happy to be waking up in my own bed and enjoying a lazy day with my family today.

ON THE BLOGS this week:  Creamy and cheesy, with wonderful lingering heat, this green chile mac and cheese is a keeper, transforming the quintessential comfort food into a dish that is positively irresistible.

The ever-popular and timeless rainbow fruit salad combines a variety of bright and colorful fresh fruits with a tangy honey lime dressing to create a crave-worthy summer side dish.

Bold and spicy flavors meet the refreshing crunch of fresh cucumbers in this spicy Asian cucumber salad. This simple side dish is endlessly snackable.

Tender crisp cabbage, carrots, and peppers combine with savory ground beef and leave a subtle, lingering heat that will have you wanting more. It’s a fully loaded skillet of eggroll flavors we love.

Grandma’s German pancakes meet irresistibly caramelized apples in these German apple pancakes. You won’t believe how easy it is to make such a scrumptious breakfast treat.

Filled with plenty of fresh strawberries and blueberries, these fluffy hotcakes are heavenly. These berry pancakes will make everyone smile this weekend.

Get ready for a tasty combination of fresh fruit and cool mint in these blueberry mojitos. You’ll find yourself hooked from the first sip!

Creamy vanilla ice cream swirled with tart lemon curd is a treat worth making year-round. Brighten up your next dessert with this refreshing lemon curd ice cream!

What I’m CRAVING: This Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi caught my eye yesterday and it sounds so good! It needs to be on our meal plan soon.

What I’m READING: He Who Fights with Monsters 8: A LitRPG Adventure by Shirtaloon and Travis Deverell. I’m hooked on this series all over again with the 8th book. It’s been a fun read / listen while traveling. 

What I’m LISTENING to: Houndmouth. This group is new to me and I’ve been enjoying them. It’s Americana meets rock, blues, alternative, folk… I don’t even know exactly how to describe it, but it’s a whole feeling. If you lik

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m in Albuquerque this weekend for my nieces’ B’nai Mitzvah and I’m looking forward to a fun day of celebrating with them. My sister converted to Judaism many years ago and it’s always a joy to share those traditions with her family.

ON THE BLOGS this week: Did you know that you can make a restaurant-quality clam chowder in less than 30 minutes? It’s easier than you might think!

Roasted potatoes, green chile sauce, and black beans tossed with barely wilted baby spinach make a surprisingly delicious combination in this breakfast hash recipe.

Sweet, sticky, and just a little spicy, this chicken stir fry is a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Creamy chunks of avocado are combined with tender pieces of chicken in a fresh and slightly spicy dressing to make this avocado chicken salad.

Savor a delightful medley of fresh, ripe vegetables with a tangy homemade vinaigrette in this zucchini pasta salad. This is a recipe you will make more than once this summer.

Dive into this timeless combination of flavors with savory chicken, gooey mozzarella, and marinara sauce, nestled in tender-crisp squash, and topped with toasted bread crumbs. These chicken parm zucchini boats are a big hit!

These parmesan smashed potatoes are the joyous marriage of fluffy, tender insides and delightfully crispy edges. Every flavor-packed bite will have your taste buds dancing.

Dive into a bowl of strawberries and cream and you’ll see why it remains a classic. This quintessential summer combination of sweet, tangy fruit and velvety smoothness will have you reveling in each bite.

Rich banana ice cream, decadent chocolate chunks, and crunchy walnuts create a tantalizing treat you won’t soon forget. Chunky monkey ice cream is the perfect late-night indulgence.

What I’m CRAVING: These BBQ Pork Skewers with a sticky, sweet, and spicy marinade sound fantastic. I’m so ready for grilling season.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this magnetic cell phone holder. I’ve used a couple of other holders in our vehicles over the years and this style w