Welcome to the weekend, my friends! What are you up to this weekend? I’m looking forward to a simply fascinating weekend of cleaning out my closet. Are you jealous? I’m over here, genuinely excited about it. We cleaned the garage last weekend (that’s a royal “we” by the way, my middle son did a fantastic job of the garage clean out on his own), and that motivated me to clean out more of my spaces in the house.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  It isn’t often that a salad manages to qualify as a full meal for my crew, but this Italian chopped salad checks all the boxes for us, with plenty of meat and cheese, crunchy fresh vegetables, tangy olives and pepperoncini, tossed in a zesty Italian dressing.

I could write an ode to smoked salmon dip at this point. My whole family has fallen in love with this snack. We dip vegetables into it, crackers, and even chips. I’ve smeared it on a bagel and eaten it off a spoon straight from the fridge. You can not go wrong with this one, my friends.

With little more than a few small zucchini and a couple of ears of fresh corn, you can be on your way to piping hot, crispy, craveable zucchini corn fritters. And while you can eat these crispy fritters all year long, they’re especially spectacular made with corn cut straight off the cob in sweet corn season.

And speaking of corn season, fresh corn, crisp peppers and onions, rich cream cheese, and spicy jalapenos are combined in this creamy fiesta corn dip to create a snack worthy of any occasion.

Chock-full of bacon and beef, sweetened with molasses, and simmered until thick and sweet, cowboy baked beans are a favorite for family dinners, barbecues, and potlucks.

Potluck pasta salad is filled with bell pepper, pasta, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and cheese. It’s delicious warm, cold, or at room temperature. This pasta salad is a classic favorite. It is a light and tangy salad that is perfect for summer barbecues, weeknight dinners and lunches, potlucks, and parties.

If you haven’t roasted strawberries before, this is a great time to try it! Creamy strawberry ice cream made with roasted berries is a treat like nothing you can buy at the stores.

Homemade blueberry pie filling tastes so much better than store-bought! And best of all, it’s super easy to make. Use this awesome berry sauce to top pies, cheesecakes, pancakes, or waffles. It’s delicious on Read more

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! The first week of July is always fun here in Ohio. Our main street has been closed for the past few days with the full carnival set up there—rides, food trucks, and games are in abundance. Today is the last day of it, and as fun as it is to see the lights and hear the laughter, it will be good to have a bit of our usual calm summer life return tomorrow.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: For the days or nights when you are craving a delicious meal and have no energy or motivation to cook it, these air fryer steak bites are the recipe you need to have in your pocket. They’re quick, flavorful, and just fancy enough to make dinner feel special—even if you’re eating them in your pajamas at the end of a very long day.

Crispy, pan-fried pork schnitzel is my kind of comfort food. I very rarely break out the oil in my kitchen for any kind of frying, so you know that when I do, it’s going to be worth it.

There’s something undeniably irresistible about this broccoli salad with bacon and cranberries. It disappears every time it’s served at a potluck or barbecue, and there are almost always requests for the recipe.

Tender rice with onion, bell pepper, and celery mixed with a great blend of spices adds up to bowl of Cajun rice—a simple, easy-to-make side dish that tastes like something a whole lot fancier than it is.

Hearty noodles serve as the perfect backdrop for slightly sweet cabbage and savory bacon in this simple cabbage pasta. I’ve been making it on repeat at least once a month for the past year.

Fresh pineapple and homemade ice cream are two of my summer favorites. So, naturally, combining the two into a batch of sweet and creamy pineapple ice cream was going to happen.

What I’m CRAVING: Sue’s burrata tomato salad is so lovely. I wish I had it in front of me now alongside a pile of torn croutons. That sounds so good right now.

My FAVORITE THING this week is the new Dawn dish soap. Yep, I’m such a weirdo that the new fragrance of Dawn dishwashing soap makes me grin every time I wash a dish. Initially, I was thrown off by the fact it wasn’t the same Dawn scent I’ve used for most of my adult life, but now? I like it. (And I don’t even know what to think about that, since I am typically highly averse to anything remotely fragrant!)

What I’m READING: Bl

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I spent barely an hour outside this morning, and I’m happily cooling off in the a/c now. It still boggles my mind that 80 or 90 degrees in Ohio, with all the moisture in the air, feels so different from the dry heat in Arizona. I will never miss those months-on-end temps over 100, but I have to admit that there are times when the humidity dims the shine on Ohio. Just a tiny bit, though – I’m still deeply in love with my beautiful Ohio.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  Crunchy bite-sized pieces of fresh vegetables, herbs, and ham, combined with a light and creamy dressing, make this ham pasta salad a standout.

This garlicky asparagus pasta includes a generous handful of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, salty bacon, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes as a perfect match to the fresh flavor of asparagus.

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.

Chilled cubes of watermelon tossed with lemon juice, salt, and a hint of spice are topped with thin ribbons of basil in this watermelon basil salad. Whether you eat it as is or top it with goat cheese or feta, it is destined to be a surefire summer hit!

Sweet peas, salty bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese coated in a creamy, tangy dressing add up to an easy, tasty summer side dish. This bacon pea salad is a timeless favorite that is a great addition to any meal.

There’s something about strawberry sorbet that feels like pure summer in a bowl. It’s bright, refreshing, and so simple, it almost feels like a magic trick. Just strawberries, lemon, sugar, and a pinch of salt—that’s it.

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.

What I’m CRAVING: Every possible fruit and vegetable, please. I’d like a serving of Lynne’s couscous chicken salad and Tricia’s salmon asparagus salad, with a side of Sue’s burrata beet salad, a slice of Leigh Anne’s strawberry cream cake, and a handful of Read more

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s a family-filled whirlwind of chaos over here this weekend with lots of family visiting and some very loud games in progress. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  Stuffed pork tenderloin is filled with sauteed broccoli, red peppers, and generous amounts of melted mozzarella for an irresistible main dish. It’s gorgeous enough for company, but easy enough for a family dinner.

Tender, spicy bites of chicken are tossed with fresh sauteed vegetables and plenty of Mexican spices to create this easy southwest chicken skillet with corn and zucchini.

All of the flavors in classic chicken parmesan are amplified in this simple chicken parmesan meatloaf. My whole family goes crazy over this dinner and every guest who has ever tried it agrees that it’s amazing.

Tomato pasta salad is the irresistible combination of tender, bite-sized pasta with red onion, super fresh tomatoes, and parsley in a garlicky vinaigrette.

Crunchy rainbow bell pepper salad in a flavorful Dijon mustard vinaigrette is a feast for the eyes and the stomach! Eaten on their own or added to any number of salads or sandwiches, these peppers are a win.

Cottage cheese ranch dip is a great tasting savory snack that just happens to be high protein and good for you, too! Scoop it up with cracker, crudités, bread, or chicken bites, but do make it!

If a thick, chocolate malt milkshake is your kind of treat, just wait until you scoop into this chocolate malt ice cream—it’s everything you love, frozen into pure nostalgic bliss.

What I’m CRAVING: Southern Peach Cobbler holds my heart today. My brother’s family brought a huge box of Georgia peaches with them when they drove up yesterday. These fragrant beauties are destined for cobbler tonight.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this new game. My friend Holly told me about Tapple a few weeks ago, and I immediately ordered it. It has been a huge hit with the family this weekend. YAY for a new all-ages friendly game!

What I’m LISTENING to: In Bloom by Jon Foreman. This album is so relaxing, and while much of Forem

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s a muggy, warm Saturday here and I have a fairly blank day on the calendar. I enjoyed my yoga class this morning, then a church breakfast with friends. After I send this newsletter out, I plan to hit the couch with a book and turn myself into a vegetable for the rest of the day. Fortunately, the fridge is packed with leftovers and there will be no need to cook anything tonight. 

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Craving something quick, flavorful, and just a little spicy? This ground beef and cabbage stir fry comes together in minutes—with crisp vegetables, savory beef, and a subtle heat that keeps you coming back for more.

Frito pie casserole is the large scale, crowd-friendly version of walking tacos; seasoned taco meat with beans topped with melted cheese and crunchy corn chips. If you want to make it a meal in one, top as you would a taco with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro.

This brown sugar salmon recipe uses the air fryer to cook a piece of salmon to seasoned and subtly sweet perfection in mere minutes. And while I stand firm that the air fryer rocks salmon, I understand not everyone has one handy, (or you might need to cook for a larger crowd!) so I’ve included the instructions for cooking it in a standard oven.

Creamy ham pasta with tender sweet peas comes together in less than 30 minutes for this pasta night favorite. Whether you start with leftover ham or grab ham specifically to make this, everyone will love it!

Give your tuna sandwich a high octane upgrade with this spicy tuna salad recipe. A little bit of hot sauce and some jarred jalapeños bring the heat to this anything-but-boring tuna salad. You’re going to look forward to lunch all morning long.

Homemade pie fillings taste infinitely better than store-bought! And to make things as easy as can be, you can make this cherry pie filling recipe with fresh or frozen cherries.

I have a well-established love of ice cream, with over 150 ice cream recipes here on the website, and yet I still make this simple ice cream recipe at least once a month. There’s a reason why we call this the easiest (and best!) ice cream you will ever make or taste.

What I’m CRAVING: My friend Rebeca’s crispy bang bang salmon bites are screaming my name. I’m borderline obsessed with salmon bites lately and that recipe and s