Creamy Artichoke Dip [+ Video]

This is the best creamy artichoke dip we’ve ever had, at home or in a restaurant. Plus, it’s super easy and can be made in the oven or slow cooker.

This creamy artichoke dip comes from my Mom’s best friend. This is definitely one of the most meaningful recipes we have, which is why my mom will be guest posting further down.

I remember everyone raving about it at every gathering we went to growing up. I have never once brought this dip to a party or gathering without someone requesting the recipe. In fact, many times I have quite a few people requesting the recipe. It’s just that good. In fact, out of all the dips I have ever had, including restaurant versions, this one remains my favorite. Is it healthy? Heavens no, but you’ll be quite happy with how delicious it is and let’s be honest, a little applause from your thighs as you walk couldn’t be all that bad, right?

I love how a good recipe can immediately flood you with memories of a person, loved one or event. I sincerely believe that recipes should be shared and passed on between family and friends. They are just as important as stories in our family history.

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Mouth Watering Sauteed Mushrooms

Mushrooms…you either love them or you absolutely do not, but these easy mouth watering sauteed mushrooms will make lovers out of everyone! They are earthy and meaty with the most sublime rich flavor.

My whole life I’ve heard my mom salivating over mushrooms. Now if you’re a picky eater can you guess what’s one of the easiest things to hate? You got it, mushrooms. But she’s been in love, stuffed mushrooms, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized mushrooms… the list probably goes on but as a mother of a teenager I’m too exhausted to think. 

I am older now, maybe wiser, and mushrooms are entering my life. These juicy sauteed mushrooms are a fantastic side dish, served over steak, or even better, slap them on a burger with caramelized onions and melty cheese!!

Keys to the Best Sauteed Mushrooms

The best sauteed mushrooms have a few special ingredients that bring out the savory umami flavor:

• white wine – I know it’s a sin to many, but we use cooking wine. See our tip below…
• worcestershire – this big time enhances that earthy, rich flavor
• butter – the ultimate caramelization maker, the fat hitting the heat will make for mouthwatering mushrooms

What Ingredients are Needed for Sauteed Mushrooms?

The ingredients list isn’t long, and having fresh ingredients will give you the best flavor. Here is your grocery shopping list:

• Baby Bella Mushrooms – these are our favorite mushrooms for sauteing but you could use whichever ones you like best
• Olive Oil and Butter –  combination of both fats gives the best flavor and is the sauteing dream team
• Thyme – aromatics
• Oregano – fresh is best
• White Wine – depth of flavor
• Soy Sauce – flavor, helps caramelize
• Worcestershire Sauce – enhances umami flavor
• Lemon Juice – bright fresh pop of flavor
• Kosher Salt – because you always need salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper –

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders

Take your Thanksgiving leftovers and combine them into the most tasty sliders! Turkey, stuffing, cheese and cranberry sauce in a mini sandwich baked in a poppy seed dressing…yummmmm!

For four years now I’ve been playing around with turkey sandwiches and I’ve for sure figured out a few leftover turkey recipes you need to try. For example, have you had a delicious roll with cream cheese, poppy seed dressing, mozzarella or havarti cheese (ohhhh or muenster!) with a nice slice of turkey? Easy and so delicious. 

But this is not about that sandwich. This is about the idea I’ve been playing with year after year and finally I just went all in and added every main ingredient, turkey, stuffing, a killer honey mustard sauce, cranberry sauce and especially melty cheese. And THEN!!!! Cover the whole thing in a butter poppy seed dressing and bake it all in the oven. 

This is the ultimate leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders recipe!  

Buffalo Chicken Wings

These Buffalo Chicken Wings are the ultimate wings recipe. Every man, woman and child will be begging to know your secret to making them so crispy and flavorful!

I am officially on team buffalo wings. Everyone says to use a few teaspoons of baking powder before baking, but I beg to differ…

TABLESPOONS PEOPLE!!

I also decided that if I like wings on the Traeger and hate them in the oven, I’d just cook them in the oven like I do on the Traeger, and boom!! I can’t stop eating wings now!

These chicken wings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. They are coated in a spicy buffalo sauce that is finger lickin’ good…if you know what I’m sayin’!

Ingredients for Buffalo Wings

I’ll divide this grocery list into two parts – the ingredients you need for the wings themselves and what you will need for the sauce. Here is your list:

Chicken Wings

• Party Wings
• Baking Powder
• Paprika
• Salt

Sauce

• Franks Original Red Hot Sauce
• Butter
• White Vinegar
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Dark Brown Sugar
• Cornstarch
• Water
• Blue Cheese Dressing
• Celery

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

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The secret to this Better Italian Stuffed Peppers recipe isn’t anything crazy, so why does no one do it? I guess it took a hater of stuffed peppers to make the magic happen.

Motherhood with Joy

My friend recently had her little boy in the hospital with a bad case of pneumonia. Anytime a child, especially one that’s still a young toddler ends up in the hospital, my heart lurches into the reality of time and love. It seems only yesterday and somehow a million years ago that I was lying in a hospital fighting to survive along with an unborn baby doing the same thing, but at my own expense. I lack an awful lot in life, certainly when it comes to parenting, but times like these always remind me of one thing, and I hope it will make sense to say it, at least I’m here.

I may not make perfect decisions or respond to situations perfectly, but oh how I perfectly ache to be a good mother. To remember to love them and to strive a little more to extend that love to those outside of my home. As I honor the gift of motherhood I find myself wondering, what is the secret to motherhood with joy?

My friend’s son made it out of a much longer stay in the hospital than expected. She had so much on her plate and could have lost faith in tomorrow, in medicine, even in God, but she continued on, giving all she could muster each day for him.

I guess that’s it. All I can do it strive each day to begin again and remember that though tempted to lose faith in many things, myself, people and the world, God never loses faith in those things. Maybe I won’t end up with adult children that think I was the best mom, but maybe they will think I was trying to love them. Maybe that’s enough. Just to try to love.