Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My friend Lynne was here this week working in the kitchen and photographing recipes with me and as a result, today I’m dreaming of Thanksgiving dinner and all of the side dishes we’ll be making. 

Do you have a non-traditional favorite holiday dish? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment on this blog post telling me about it.

ON THE BLOGS this week: This Homemade Shrimp Ramen is a quick and satisfying twist on the classic Japanese dish. With simple ingredients and minimal prep, this easy recipe offers a flavorful shortcut to a delicious bowl of noodles, succulent shrimp, and aromatic broth.

Chunks of savory, smoky ham are added to perfectly seasoned, gooey, melted cheese. Mac and Cheese with Ham is a dinner you’ll make more than once.

Juicy, raw corn kernels are tossed with crisp bell peppers and tangy tomatoes in a light dressing to create this zesty Fresh Corn Salad.

Tender potatoes mingle with crisp fresh vegetables in a creamy, herb dressing to take this Loaded Vegetable Potato Salad over the top.

Ripe, juicy tomatoes dance with garlic and fresh herbs, all tossed together a zesty lemon dressing in this irresistible Fresh Tomato Pasta.

Puff Pastry Baklava Bites are delightful, bite-sized treats that offer a modern twist on the traditional Greek dessert, baklava. These miniature pastries are made by filling buttery, flaky puff pastry cups with a sweet honey and nut filling.

Filled with slightly chewy pieces of black walnuts, this sweet and fragrant Black Walnut Ice Cream is a decadent treat.

The sweet, juicy burst of blueberries complements the subtle tang of buttermilk in this delightfully moist and tender Blueberry Buttermilk Cake.

My FAVORITE THINGS this week are these tweezers. Once again, these tweezers came to the rescue this week. Splinter removal has never been easier.

What I’m WATCHING: Book Club: The Next Chapter. This movie caught my eye a while back and I finally watched it this week. Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen were perfect in their roles. Wh

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m headed out to our local farmer’s market this morning for their Fall Harvest Festival. After that, maybe a bike ride and then some time on the couch with a book. It is thrills a minute over here and I’m happy about all of it. I’m looking forward to a cozy day and night at home before the whirlwind that is our October begins. I think a pot of the easiest and tastiest chili sounds just about perfect for dinner tonight.

ON THE BLOGS this week: This Broccoli Slaw is filled with crunchy ribbons of broccoli and carrots, paper-thin onions, sweet chewy cranberries, and pecans before being tossed in a light, tangy dressing. You’re going to love all of the different textures in this salad!

Rich and savory ground beef is seasoned with a dash of aromatic spices, beneath a fluffy layer of mashed sweet potatoes. This Ground Beef Sweet Potato Casserole is a hearty dinner you’re sure to love.

Roasted carrots and beets offer a terrific combination of earthy sweetness and caramelized richness. For a real treat, drizzle the roasted vegetables with a tangy, slightly sweet balsamic glaze to enhance every flavor-packed bite.

Tender chunks of chicken, creamy cannellini beans, and sweet corn all swim in a velvety, spiced broth that’s just begging to be devoured. This White Chicken Chili with Corn has just the right amount of heat.

As tasty as it is nutritious, this Mango Banana Spinach Smoothie highlights the tropical sweetness of mango and the creaminess of bananas.

The nostalgic magic of a banana split meets the morning comfort of pancakes hot off the griddle in these Banana Split Pancakes.

The satisfying crunch of Nutter Butter cookies in creamy homemade ice cream makes this Nutter Butter Ice Cream positively irresistible.

Fudgy chocolate mint brownie with a rich, smooth chocolate ganache, what’s not to love? These mint brownies are made from scratch and they are the best you’ll find!

My FAVORITE THINGS this week are these leggings. I still absolutely love them. I’ve been wearing them for a couple of years now. (I mentioned them in a newsletter about a year ago.) They

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’ve been outside as much as possible this week, soaking up this gorgeous fall weather. I’m reading a book right now where one of the characters is annoyed with Anne Shirley’s October quote, as he insists October is an awful month for weather, and I just had to laugh to myself as this has become one of my favorite months.

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

ON THE BLOGS this week: Warm hash browns, crumbled bacon, eggs, and cheese create an Amish Breakfast Casserole that is pure morning magic.

Roasted sweet potatoes, crisp warm baby spinach, and spicy breakfast sausage are all topped with an egg in this Sweet Potato Hash.

Tender chicken and a rainbow of vegetables mingle with noodles in a smoky chipotle sauce to make this Chipotle Chicken Pasta an easy dinner that is out of this world.

Tender, juicy meatloaf is seasoned to melt-in-your-mouth perfection and smothered in a rich, velvety mushroom gravy that’s so good you’ll want to lick the spoon. Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy is your next favorite dinner.

Creamy, classic mashed potatoes are elevated with the sharp and tangy flavor of white cheddar cheese in these White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes.

Sliced fresh apples, with a drizzle of peanut butter and honey, topped with a handful of crunchy chocolate peanut butter granola add up to a plate of the best ever Apple Nachos.

Freshly brewed espresso is poured over creamy vanilla ice cream to create Affogato, an Italian dessert that is a marriage made in flavor heaven.

Juicy peaches, cinnamon, and brown sugar bubble merrily beneath an irresistible fluffy crust in this Crockpot Peach Cobbler.

What I’m CRAVING: Creamy mashed potatoes are topped with breaded chicken, cheese, corn, and gravy to make these Chicken Mashed Potato Bowls! Oh my word, why have I never thought of doing this?

My FAVORITE THING this week is this set of pillows. Over the past few years, I’ve replaced just about every pillow in our home with these pillows. And our guests

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My friend Christi is in town and we’re headed to The Farm at Walnut Creek this morning. She’s the biggest animal lover I know and she’s about to lose her mind over all the animals. I can hardly wait. (If you live anywhere near Central Ohio, put this on your must-do list. It’s just so much fun.)

ON THE BLOGS this week: Layered with crispy tater tots, gooey cheese, savory sausage, and fluffy eggs this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole has earned thumbs up around the table every time I serve it. There are rarely any leftovers.

Buttery, garlicky shrimp with plenty of bright lemon is something I can never get enough of. I have a hard time resisting eating these Garlic Butter Shrimp straight out of the pan each time I cook them!

The earthy flavors of perfectly crispy, Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli are a wonderfully simple side dish that pairs brilliantly with all of my favorite dinners.

Sauteed sausage pairs beautifully with the slightly sweet peppers and crisp zucchini in this flavorful Sausage Zucchini Skillet.

Crispy, Cheesy Roasted Potatoes are covered in a mouth-watering blend of garlic, herbs, and melted cheese, making these taters the MVP of comfort food.

Succulent peaches and warm, fluffy pancakes, what’s not to love? These Peach Pancakes are a breakfast lover’s dream come true.

Juicy, sun-ripened peaches mingle with the sweetness of fresh blueberries beneath a heavenly brown sugar crust in this Peach Blueberry Crisp. This is one dessert worth daydreaming over.

Designed to mimic store-bought varieties of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, this flavor captures the timeless combination of refreshingly cool mint and indulgent chocolate chunks with that vivid green hue we all know and love.

What I’m CRAVING: This Sausage Potato Soup sounds so good right now. I absolutely love the chilly mornings and nights that have finally arrived. Bring on soup season!

My FAVORITE THING this week is Oscar’s fish oil. How’s that for a random favorite? Our sweet black dog has the softest coat ever and this fish oil keeps it so very shiny and clean. I just re-ordered it y

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Have I rambled enough about the seasons changing? I am so ready for fall! The past few days have given me hope that change truly is in the air. I’ve been driving the open jeep for the past few days and loving every windblown minute.

ON THE BLOGS this week: This Old Fashioned Potato Soup is a journey back to grandma’s kitchen where hearty food is made with common ingredients, and every bite tells a story.

Learn how to make perfect French Bread Pizza in the air fryer! This method creates cheesy pizzas with a crispy crust. It’s homemade pizza that’s fast enough for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

Fresh vegetables are tossed in a mixture of oil and spices before being quickly cooked to create this irresistible skillet of Sauteed Zucchini and Onions.

Tender vegetables and a rich, creamy sauce are nestled under a layer of golden, flaky biscuits just begging to be enjoyed with this vegetable lover’s pot pie casserole.

Crispy baked potatoes are filled with hearty meat and vegetables and topped with creamy mashed potatoes in these Shepherd’s Pie Baked Potatoes.

Rich, nutty notes and rolled, hearty oats create true poetry in this creamy, dreamy Peanut Butter & Jelly Oatmeal. It’s pure comfort food for breakfast.

Colorful, fruity cereal meets the smooth and dreamy world of ice cream in this Fruity Pebbles Ice Cream. Every scoop is loaded with the iconic rainbow crunch of a Saturday morning spent watching cartoons.

Sweet and tangy blueberries burst with fresh flavor beneath the tender crumb of golden cake in this delightful Blueberry Dump Cake.

What I’m CRAVING: I am fairly obsessed with fresh corn these days and this Sweet Corn Risotto with Crispy Pancetta sounds unbelievably delicious.

What I’m WATCHING: Julie & Julia. I’ve seen this movie a few times now and Meryl Streep remains as charming as she could possibly be in her portrayal of Julia Child. The movie makes me smile so much and I was thrilled when one of my boys suggested watching it this week.

I’ve always loved Julia Child’s quote, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” Sh