Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We made it through the muggy hot week here in Ohio and I am so very excited to see temps in the 70s this coming week. Is this finally a sign of fall weather?? I’m so ready for it. There aren’t many things that make me grin more than watching the seasons change.

ON THE BLOGS this week: I’ve been making Peaches and Cream Oatmeal all summer long; filled with soft pecans and sweet peaches, this is a memorable breakfast. I save a couple of peaches to make this oatmeal almost every time I buy fresh peaches.

The sweet crunch of summer corn and crisp slices of zucchini are brightened with a zesty dressing in this Zucchini Corn Salad.

Tender noodles and lightly roasted vegetables come alive with a zesty dressing in this Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad. So good, you’ll make it twice.

Savory ham and hearty potatoes are baked to perfection along with plenty of melted cheese, making this Ham and Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole a true comfort food.

With little more than a few zucchini and a couple of ears of corn, you can be on your way to piping hot, crispy Zucchini Corn Fritters.

Irresistibly rich, Coffee Ice Cream is a dessert that captures the morning joy of a freshly brewed cup of your favorite java. Perfect at any time of day!

Tangy blueberries and sweet, sun-kissed peaches are the highlights of this super simple Blueberry Peach Cobbler with a cinnamon sugar crust.

Is it breakfast? It is dessert? Fluffy pancakes are loaded with crumbled Oreo cookies in these decadent Oreo Pancakes. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup, they’re an Oreo lover’s dream come true.

What I’m CRAVING: Tomato sandwiches on repeat. They are the quintessential summer sandwich and I adore them. Read more

Irresistibly rich, Coffee Ice Cream is a dessert that captures the morning joy of a freshly brewed cup of your favorite java. Perfect at any time of day!

Best Coffee Ice Cream

I’m something of a fan of coffee and ice cream. I like my ice cream with coffee, my coffee with ice cream. I’m not picky about the order! But, in a perfect world, I get them both in the same amazing dish. Well, this is that dish.

This is the best coffee ice cream recipe I’ve ever tried. And, full disclosure–I’ve tried a lot of coffee ice cream recipes. Get ready to dig into a robust blend of freshly brewed coffee with just enough creamy sweetness to take the edge off.

With over 70 ice cream recipes here to choose from, there’s sure to be an ice cream for everyone! If you’re new to making ice cream, the best and easiest vanilla ice cream is a great place to start.

These are my favorite inexpensive containers for storing ice cream. They’re perfect for gifting (who doesn’t love homemade ice cream?) storage, re-using, etc. I write the flavors on the lids with a sharpie and it washes off with dish soap.

I have more ice cream scoops than I can keep track of at this point and I definitely play favorites. This ice cream scoop does the best job ever of cutting through firm ice cream and still delivers a pretty scoop. It gets bonus points for being one of the least expensive scoops I own as well.

Don’t miss our Ice Cream Maker Review for all the information you need to find the BEST Ice Cream Maker for your needs! S

The sweet crunch of summer corn and crisp slices of zucchini are brightened with a zesty dressing in this Zucchini Corn Salad.

Raw Corn Salad

Many years ago, it was this salad that was one of my first experiences with raw corn. I saw a recipe for raw corn salad in a magazine, did a double take, and had to try it. If you’ve never experienced this vegetable raw, I recommend it!

I love the different flavors of the raw zucchini and corn. With a very light lime vinaigrette, it becomes such a fresh-tasting salad for the summer months. I make it at least once a year when corn is in season.

Zucchini Corn Salad

You might be skeptical of having raw zucchini in your salad. But, trust me on this pairing. The flavors, textures, and colors are all so well balanced. It just works!

Who can deny that the taste of fresh-picked, ripe vegetables is better than vegetables that have been on store shelves for a while? I don’t limit myself to shopping seasonal produce, but this zucchini corn salad does make the most of summer’s vegetables. So, you’ll get to enjoy them while both are at their best.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• fresh corn on the cob
• zucchini
• lime juice
• olive oil
• fresh cilantro
• salt and pepper

Read more

I’ve been making peaches and cream oatmeal all summer long; filled with soft pecans and sweet peaches, this is a memorable breakfast. I save a couple of peaches to make this oatmeal almost every time I buy fresh peaches.

And if you dare to top your oatmeal with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this really might be the best oatmeal you’ll ever eat. We aren’t new to the ice cream and oatmeal combination over here. 

If you haven’t tried ice cream with your oatmeal yet, you are missing out on some serious awesomeness for your breakfast! While it may sound a little crazy at first, I figure that a small scoop of ice cream has to be comparable to a spoonful of sugar and a splash of milk, right? If I’m wrong, just don’t tell me.

Oatmeal and Peaches

Peach oatmeal is pretty amazing on its own though, so feel free to skip the ice cream and eat it plain. Or top it with a pat of butter and a sprinkling of brown sugar.

Like the blueberries and cream oatmeal I’ve raved about in the past, this oatmeal is pretty awesome with a drizzle of cream as well.

Read more

The BEST Caprese Salad with Pistachios

The BEST caprese salad with pistachios recipe is right here! There’s nothing like finding a good recipe for fresh from the garden tomatoes.

This caprese salad is so light and refreshing and oooooooooohhhhhhhh so wonderful during the summer when you can pick the tomatoes straight from your garden. I had no idea tomatoes could even be that delicious until I tried my first homegrown tomato. It’s like a totally different thing. Am I right, gardeners?!

We love pistachios too and threw some on top of this pretty salad one night and we both found ourselves digging for the pistachios which could only mean one thing, they were meant to be. That added crunch is molto buono!

Recommended Equipment

• Tomato Knife
• Cutting Board

Before You Begin…

Slice your tomatoes nice and thick! I love a meaty bite of garden fresh tomato! And slice your mozzarella into thick slices too.

What is a Caprese Salad?

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and sweet basil, seasoned with salt and olive oil.

Ingredients for Caprese Salad

Have I ever told you we love caprese salad? No? Well, we do. Like, a lot. Especially when it has a really nice balsamic vinegar (not the cheapest no name stuff at the store). And even more so when it’s the best caprese salad with pistachios. Here is everything you will need…

• Tomatoes: heirloom or vine ripe tomatoes
• Mozzarella: it has to be fresh!
• Pistachios: shelled and either lightly salted or no salt added
• Basil: fresh leaves only
• Olive Oil: you’ll only need a drizzle but a good quality oil will make all the difference
• Balsamic Vinegar: go for a higher quality vinegar or even a balsamic glaze
• Salt and Pepper: just for a little extra flavor

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

What Kind of Mozzarella is Best for Caprese Salad?

You absolutely have to use fresh mozzarella to get the full caprese experience! The part skim or low moisture mozzarella, while cheaper, is saltier and won’t grab on to the flavors like fresh mozzarella does. You can get the fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini) if you want, but we love the big hunks of a block of fresh mozz.

If you absolutely need a substitute, then burrata will be your best bet.

What Type of Tomatoes are Best for Caprese Salad?

If you have access to fresh tomatoes straight from the garden, then go with those! Get some at a farmers market or maybe your neighbor! They just can’t be beat!

If store bought is your only option, then go with vin