December 6, 2025

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s a chilly one here in Ohio. I have pipes that tend to freeze here in my studio, so we’ve had faucets going on a slow drip for days (yes, that’s really a thing, friends in Phoenix) and I’m grateful to know to do this now after the first few years of frozen pipes. 

Anyone with a different solution? Feel free to message me, we’ve had plumbers look at the situation and basically shrug or tell us it’s just an old house, so I think we’re probably stuck with this method. At least the pipes don’t freeze if we leave the faucets dripping when we have single digit temps. Weird way to start the newsletter, I know, but I’m hoping someone might have a creative solution we might not have tried!

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Whenever the temperature dips and soup season arrives, I find myself using my crockpot even more than usual more. I am convinced that this slow cooker white chicken chili is the reason crockpots exist. No stress. Just tender chicken, hearty beans, spicy chile, and a house that smells divine.

When it comes to dinners that are lightning fast but still feel luxurious, baked pesto salmon is the way to go. Topped with a homemade parsley pesto with crunchy pine nuts, this dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish!

Store-bought puff pastry just might be the ultimate kitchen hack. No more rolling butter and dough and waiting. Just an easy solution for the flaky, buttery crust we all crave. And, this elegant chicken pot pie with puff pastry puts it to good use, covering a savory filling that is loaded with tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and a creamy sauce.

Leafy greens, crunchy apple slices, and chewy raisins are fabulous together in this spinach apple salad with a tangy sweet dressing. The salad is a delightful balance of flavors and textures, making it one of my favorites to share with friends.

Creamy peanut butter, chewy marshmallows, indulgent almond bark, Rice Krispies, and chocolate chips? Stop talking, I’m already interested! But, combine them in a no-bake cookie recipe? Oh, yeah. Sign me up. These unbelievably good avalanche cookies are ready to eat in just 10 minutes.

Decadent fudgy mint brownies are topped with a peppermint buttercream frosting and a heavenly dark chocolate ganache. I may be biased, but you won’t find a better brownie recipe out there. And, bonus? They’re way easier to make than they look!

There’s something gleefully unrestrained about turning a drink as comforting as horchata into ice cream. You still get the sweet, creamy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla in horchata

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I hope that your Thanksgiving was a wonderful one. This newsletter is a little different from the usual and I’m hoping you will find it helpful! I spent a while this week sifting through my favorite kitchen tools, selecting my absolute favorites to share with you. I’ve been a food blogger for 15 years now and I’ve been cooking 2-3 meals a day for most of the past 25 years.

And over those years? I’ve tried and tested sooooo many kitchen tools, most of which have gathered dust and eventually made their way to donation centers over time. (I’d like to spare you that hassle if I can!) So, if you’re looking for gift ideas for yourself or for those on your Christmas lists, these are my recommendations for kitchen gear that will earn its keep.

KITCHEN ESSENTIALS 

For kitchen gifts that actually get used, I’ve got you. Not another candle. Not another mug. These are the things that I use in my kitchen every. single. day. (And the reasons WHY I choose these over others that look just like them at first glance.) Check out my go-to favorites!

KITCHEN TINY EXTRAS 

I’ve tried so many kitchen tools over the years. And, far too many of them are gimmicky nonsense. But THESE? These actually work. These are the tools that I keep using, time after time. Can we just agree to say no to “cute but useless” kitchen gadgets? These tools right here are perfect for gifting… or upgrading your own kitchen. Kitchen tools you WILL use!

KITCHEN SPLURGES 

Ok, confession time. I am a frugal cook. But, sometimes I make an exception. These things were absolutely positively worth the extra cost. They work incredibly well. They last. And, most importantly, they give me no regrets. Ready for an investment that makes sense? You will not regret clicking this!

KITCHEN POTS AND PANS 

Did you know that quality cookware actually makes cooking easier? I used to think that I couldn’t afford good pots and pans. Oh, how wrong I was. Skip the trendy and expensive sets. You don’t need to be fancy. Here are the must-haves. Click here for easier cooking! 

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS: Oh, baby, have I got you covered this year. I’ve never had so much fun with the holiday leftovers. Is there anything more American than sitting down to a feast with multiple pounds of meat on the table for each person? Turkey leftovers are real. 

But, they aren’t a problem, at my house! We use it up in sandwiches, s

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