Welcome to the weekend, my friends! The countdown is on and I am soooo excited for Thanksgiving. My brother’s family will be arriving in a few hours and I can hardly wait. They’ll be here all week and we’ll be playing as many of our favorite games as possible while they’re here. Wingspan, DC Deckbuilding, Skyjo, Hitster, Poetry for Neanderthals, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Harry Potter Deck Building, Quirkle, and more will be on repeat. 

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Ready in just minutes, these Chicken Bites are generously seasoned pieces of tender chicken with crispy edges, perfect for a game day, a family night in, or just when you’re in the mood for something satisfying. Blink and they’re gone!

Tender carrots are tossed with a light and buttery glaze in these Honey Glazed Carrots. They are the perfect combination of earthy sweetness and buttery richness.

Absolutely loaded with buttery sweet corn, this Corn Spoon Bread is pure southern comfort. This is the kind of side that greets you before you even open the oven door. And, you just know you’re going to find a second spoonful on your plate without quite knowing how it got there.

I’m not claiming to be the first human to ever put pancake batter on top of perfectly crispy bacon. But, these are absolutely the best Bacon Pancakes you’ll ever have the pleasure of eating. Don’t take my word for it. Try them for yourself.

Moist chocolate cake, filled with juicy cherries and topped with fluffy whipped cream? Say less. This Easy Black Forest Cake is a busy baker’s dream come true with just five simple ingredients. Using boxed cake mix is a shortcut that feels too good to be true. But it works beautifully for this showstopping dessert.

Maple Syrup Cookies are generously studded with pecans and drizzled with a homemade maple frosting. They’ve got the soft texture of a scone, but all the sweet satisfaction of a cookie. I am telling you, these cookies are a MOOD.

Waves of salty and sweet churn together in a l

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Can I be honest for a moment? I’ve just not been feeling the holidays this year. I am that girl most of the time, just counting down the days for every possible holiday event. Christmas is my very favorite time of the year. But this year? It simply hasn’t felt like it’s that time of year yet. 

So, I have been playing Christmas music (whether I really felt like it or not initially) and every time I hear a classic Christmas song, it brings a smile to my face and a little more of the holiday spirit to my heart. If you find yourself feeling a bit of the same, I recommend starting up your favorite playlist and embracing the fact that we really are in the season now.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: You know that moment when you’re halfway through winter and your body just starts begging for something fresh, bright, and alive? Yeah, that’s where this Winter Salad with cabbage and Brussels sprouts comes in. I think I’ve made it five times in the past month. 

Crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, these Garlicky Roasted Baby Potatoes are tossed in a quick garlic and herb dressing right before serving. The warm potatoes soak up all that garlicky goodness, making every bite memorable and fresh.

Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta is the kind of comfort food that feels delightfully indulgent without being heavy. This is a dish that tastes fancy enough to post online, but lets you stay firmly in your rest era, as it comes together as quick as can be.

 As far as I’m concerned, this is the Best Apple Pie of all time (not that I’m biased). There’s something magical that happens when you top an apple pie with streusel. It adds a layer of texture and new flavors to the pie, that you’d otherwise miss out on. So, I’ll take a slice of this apple streusel pie over conventional apple pie any day.

There’s something incredible about a dessert that looks this fancy and takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. It feels like unlocking a cheat code. And, Graham Cracker Toffee is exactly that kind of recipe.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa is one of our favorite warm drinks this time of year. Mix up a batch of this cocoa mix today and have it ready for easy peppermint hot chocolate through the holiday season.

I’ve gathered all the best Fall Ice Cream Flavors here for you. From caramel apples to pumpkin spice, peppermint, and cinnamon, sweet maple syrup, nutty pecans and walnuts, apple crisps, and all the other things I can’t get enough of, at this time of year.

What I’m CRAVING: These

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My day started with a beautiful foggy drive, yoga, and then a giant brunch for my boys and some of their friends. This easy bacon, cheesy scrambled eggs, and a mountain of fluffy waffles added up to full bellies and happy smiles as they split off to either head for synagogue or to the gym. (Yes, teenage boys can apparently eat stacks of waffles and then immediately go workout. That is soooo not my world.)

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Roasting sausage with peppers and onions isn’t complicated. It’s not trendy. But, this Super Easy Sausage and Peppers is 100% absolutely that dish.

You know the feeling. You’ve got maybe 10 minutes before everyone starts asking for dinner, and you need something fast, hearty, and actually satisfying. That’s exactly when I reach for this Southwest Chicken Soup. 10 minutes, friends. And yes, I’ve timed it.

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are proof that a little extra preparation goes a long, long way. The secret? It takes less than a minute with a chef’s knife. Your guests will rave about these crispy edges, loaded with fresh parmesan cheese and Italian parsley.

This Confetti Rice has been declared the best rice we’ve ever made. Yes. I said that. I served it with Crispy Italian Oven Chicken and the whole meal was a win.

Have you tried a mayonnaise cake? I know, it sounds suspicious at first. As it turns out, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is actually an old-fashioned recipe that was likely in your grandmother’s recipe box. And, fortunately, it has stood the test of time quite well. This is one fantastic cake.

Isn’t fall baking season just the best? Rich and full of warm spices, topped with the irresistible, buttery crunch of pecan streusel, this Pumpkin Crunch Dump Cake just might be the easiest, most tantalizing dessert to come out of your oven this year.

Mascarpone Ice Cream is velvety and rich like gelato, but has that cheesecake-like tang that makes each bite feel absolutely indulgent. This is not one of those cottage cheese rip offs that you have to convince yourself tastes good. There’s no going back from this kind of dreamy decadence.

What I’m CRAVING: This Mac and Cheese with Salami looks sooo good! My mouth is watering and I’m craving that cheesy goodness today. My guys love salami anytime I include it in a meal, so

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