Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Can you even believe that today is the first of November? I’ve had a bit of a bug all week, so I’m enjoying a lazy weekend at home with hot tea and honey to soothe my throat.

I have a stack of books (metaphorical, of course, since they’re all on my Kindle) and several games waiting to be played with the kids. They’re all home today and I’m loving it. Now that they’re mostly grown, it’s kind of rare to have most of us at home at the same time, so we try to make the most of it. 

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Soup season is officially here, and I don’t know about you, but I could happily live on cozy bowls of soup all fall and winter long. To make things easy (and extra delicious), I’ve gathered the top 10 fall soup recipes people are cooking right now.

This recipe for Dutch Oven Pot Roast is a timeless classic. Carrots and onions simmer in the rich broth for hours, while the beef gets so tender that it practically falls apart on its own. How could we say no?

These Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes take a classic and make it even better. We’re talking about velvety smooth potatoes, bursting with rich cheesy flavor. This is the kind of side dish that everyone is still talking about, long after the potluck is over. (And you’re going to want a scoop of these potatoes alongside that amazing pot roast!)

Before we move on, yes, I KNOW how weird this one sounds, but once you’ve tried this Cheesy Broccoli Cornbread, you’ll understand. It’s the kind of side that starts with “I guess I’ll take just a small piece,” but always ends with me going back for more. 

The first time I tossed broccoli florets into the air fryer basket, I honestly didn’t expect much. But when the timer dinged and I opened the basket, I was thrilled with how gorgeous the Air Fried Broccoli looked. The florets had golden brown to slightly charred edges, and vibrant green stems that weren’t mushy at all. This has become one of my go-to snacks and easy sides when there are just a few of us at home.

Classic pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are super soft and moist, the kind of dessert that melts in your mouth and makes you wonder why you ever waited until fall to start baking with pumpkin.

You’ll savor every spoonful of this M&M Ice Cream, where the unmistakable crunch of M&Ms collides with the smoothness of luscious vanilla. 

What I’m CRAVING: My brother made this Chicken Pot Pie Casserole this week and raved about it so much that now I’m craving it! I’m putting it back on the menu

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We’ve skipped right through the warm late days of summer and landed solidly in the midst of fall. And judging from the chilly mornings this week, we’re now approaching winter at a run. I’ve reacquainted myself with the furnace and the fireplace, and I’m immensely enjoying both today.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  These Pumpkin Spice Waffles are almost like eating dessert for breakfast. But I won’t tell if you won’t. And, they come together in just minutes, making them perfect for a cozy morning whenever the temperature dips outside.

Sweet and slightly tangy, this absolutely delicious, juicy Dr Pepper Pulled Pork is perfect for sandwiches, BBQ sundaes, or (if you’re like my teenage boy) just heaped on a plate by itself with nothing else.

Tender, delicate angel hair pasta gets a carbonara-like glow up with a flavorful bacon cream sauce to make this Pasta with Peas and Bacon. It’s a weeknight dish that’s easy enough for busy evenings but nice enough to serve company.

Balancing salty and sweet flavors perfectly, this Easy Teriyaki Sauce belongs in every kitchen. And, when I say it’s easy, I mean it. You can whisk this sauce together in less time than it takes to find your takeout menus.

Sweet and savory teriyaki chicken is topped with fresh pineapple and all the classic taco fillings to make these Pineapple Chicken Tacos a major win at the dinner table.

The earthy flavors of perfectly crispy Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli create one of the simplest, most satisfying side dishes I’ve ever made. You really can’t go wrong with this one. It’s golden, flavorful, and goes with just about anything on the dinner table.

These Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars are one of the best fall desserts you can make. Who can say no to all that heavenly pumpkin cheesecake, layered between a walnut shortbread crust and a tangy, sweet frosting?

Rice Krispy Treat Ice Cream feels like summer sleepovers, Saturday morning cartoons, and pure imagination all rolled into one bowl. Enjoy all the marshmallow goodness of Rice Krispies Treats with none of the sticky fingers.

What I’m CRAVING: I made pancakes this morning for my boys and some friends, as a result, I’m now craving some serious vegetables. I already have a salad in the fridge, and I’m thinking that loaded quesadillas sound great for dinner.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We’re enjoying the weather so much here in Ohio, nothing beats a chilly morning and a sunshine-filled afternoon. I’ll happily take it for as long as it lasts.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve gone out for lunch just because I was craving this salad. Crunchy greens, tangy pepperoncini, and hearty chickpeas are tossed with a sweet Italian dressing and then sprinkled with crumbles of creamy cheese to recreate Harvest’s House Chop Salad.

There’s something about the sweet and smoky flavor combination that just works. And this Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon proves it with every perfectly caramelized bite of salmon that practically melts in your mouth.

Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts with pecans and bacon are a fancy-sounding side dish you can eat any day of the week. 

Sweet corn kernels are coated with an irresistible creamy sauce in this easy Creamed Corn. It’s a dish that instantly takes me back to holidays at my grandma’s house. Why not make it year-round?

The -ber months are in full swing. Wonderful sweater weather has arrived. And, that means it’s time for all things pumpkin at my house. This Pumpkin Spice Creamer is the perfect at-home fall treat.

You know how food just feels more fun when it’s tiny? Maybe it’s the cuteness factor, or maybe it just reminds me of being a kid. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but a tiny stack of Silver Dollar Pancakes hits that sweet spot every single time for me.

Packed with tart and tangy flavor, this Cranberry Ice Cream is balanced perfectly with the soft crunch and slight bitterness of dark chocolate chunks. I cannot get enough.

What I’m CRAVING: These peanut butter cookies. I’ve been making a tiny batch several times a week and can’t get enough of them. I’ve learned I can bake just a few in the air fryer on a paper liner. That’s dangerous knowledge, my friends. I’m only 6 minutes away from a fresh batch. 

What I’m READING: When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptil Manning. My sister stumbled on this book a couple of weeks ago and immediately told me about it. I have a lifelong love of books, and this one is a treasure. It tells the story of the ASE (Armed Services Edition) books that were published during WWII and sent to the troops serving during the war. Before this, I’d never even heard of the ASE books.

When America

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s chilly outside, and this feels like an excellent day for a waffle brunch. We like all kinds of waffles – from sweet to savory (I’m looking at you today, ham and cheese waffles), so it’s unlikely I’ll have any complaints from my family if I break out the waffle iron. And since I happen to have some leftover rosemary in the fridge? There’s also certain to be a batch of the best ever sausage gravy to pour over some of the waffles. (Can you tell I woke up HUNGRY today?!)

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Creamy cheesy polenta is love at first bite! Buttery, soul-satisfying, and creamy, this cheese-laden polenta is perfect served alone or topped with any braised meat, vegetables, or stew. 

Hands down, my favorite way to serve polenta is with chile verde. This Mexican pork and tomato chile verde and classic pork chile verde are what my comfort food dreams are made of these days.

Want to turn a simple head of cabbage into a side dish that will actually be enjoyed? This Cajun cabbage recipe does just that. It is bright and tender-crisp, with a kick that will have your taste buds smiling.

‘Tis the season and these thick and soft iced pumpkin cookies are an awesome way to welcome fall. The oatmeal in these cookies helps add a bit of nutty chewiness to these pumpkin cookies.

And if you love cozy fall flavors, this pumpkin sheet cake with brown butter icing is about to rock your pumpkin-spice-loving world.

If you can’t get enough of the fall flavors, this sweet potato ice cream is about to blow your mind. Once you take a bite, you’ll understand. It turns out that sweet potato ice cream tastes like frozen pumpkin pie.

What I’m CRAVING: I’ve spent this week craving soups and the breads to dip in them, so tonight’s dinner plan is a big pot of this creamy vegetable soup and a basket of easy drop biscuits. 

And if I wind up getting just a little more ambitious while I’m in the kitchen, Tricia’s Bakewell Tart is on my must-make-soon list. If you adore almonds and almond-flavored things as much as I do, it should probably be on your list too.

My FAVORITE THING this week is my ne

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m spending the day slowly catching up on work and planning to get out for a walk this afternoon, too. I love lazy days like today. The odds are good that there will be a puzzle in my future as well.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Half a box of pasta, a pound of sausage, and some green cabbage that was tucked in the fridge added up to a winning last-minute meal. This sausage pasta was such a hit with my family that it’s become a regular player in our dinner rotation over the past few years.

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. (I’m making it tonight, subbing shrimp for the chicken – can’t wait!)

These steak kabobs are calling my name again. The steak rests in a simple Asian-inspired marinade for a few minutes before being skewered along with slices of colorful bell peppers and red onions.

Creamy mushroom pasta is cream sauce perfection with sauteed mushrooms, garlic, parmesan cheese, and spaghetti noodles. I like to serve this with smashed Brussels Sprouts or these extra crispy roasted green beans. 

Peanut butter oatmeal balls pack a punch of rich peanut butter with the earthy taste of oats and that hint of sweetness we all crave. With the addition of a handful of chocolate chips and some mini M&M’s, these are a sweet treat you’ll be making often.

These chewy, dense, peanut butter cookies are an unforgettable memory from my childhood. Made with just an egg, a scant cup of peanut butter, and a cup of sugar, 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies are an old-fashioned cookie that everyone loves.

If you or someone you know loves Butterfinger candy bars, this is about to become their all-time favorite ice cream. Butterfinger ice cream is swirled with flakes of Butterfinger candy bars and loaded with bite-sized chunks of candy bar too!

What I’m CRAVING: My friend Christi’s insanely delicious chocolate peanut butter cookies. When I tell you that these are the best chocolate cookies I have ever tasted, I’m not being dramatic or even remotely exaggerating. She first shared them with me about ten years ago, and they are firmly established now as the greatest chocolate peanut butter combination possible.

My FAVORITE THINGS this week are t