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Summer is all about simple. Throw it on the grill. Throw them in the pool. Ya know, it’s a thousand degrees and we’re all about the easy peasy lemon squeezy! So grab those juicy ‘maters and crisp cukes and let’s make a tangy fresh salad that goes with just about everything (and is loved by just about everyone). You can’t mess it up, I swear. The low down on ingredients Cucumbers: The small Persian ones are my favorite here because they’re extra crisp and they don’t need to be peeled....

Ingredients Full chocolate trifle recipe with instructions can be found in the recipe card. Granulated sugar. Cornstarch. Unsweetened cocoa power. Salt. Egg yolks. Milk. Use full fat/whole milk. Dark chocolate. Butter. Vanilla extract. For the trifle Chocolate cake/chocolate muffins. Dulce de leche. Heavy/whipping cream. How to make chocolate trifle Can I make trifle ahead? Yes! Trifle is the perfect make-ahead dessert because it needs at least a few hours in he fridge to chill....

Updated July 03, 2019 When I was in school, I almost always brought my lunch from home. The school cafeteria food was kind of scary. The mystery meatloaf was definitely a mystery and I never understood what a turkey horseshoe was. Plus, I liked picking out a special lunchbox every year. Well, there was that one year when my dad bought me a Ghostbusters lunch box and I cried for days because I thought the world was ending....

I’ve made no secret that I am slightly obsessed with pastry. Anything wrapped in buttery pastry is my death and in particular, chicken pie. By the way, you wouldn’t know I love pastry that much when you look at the disastrous pastry I made yesterday (I posted the pic on my Instagram). Never mind that, though. When I made this chicken pie last week, I knew I was onto something quite special when I tasted the filling....

It’s that time of year again. The weather has started to cool off, fall festivals are popping up on the street here and there, and people are starting to make plans for the upcoming holidays. When we can finally stop running the AC all day, our oven gets a little busier. Today I want to share these cute sesame checkerboard cookies with you. They are easier to make than you’re probably thinking....

What are lamb shanks? Lamb shanks are the bottom section of the leg of lamb. They are often French-trimmed which means the bones are cleaned of meat and sinew. Lamb shanks are filled with connective tissue which needs slow cooking to break down and become succulent and tender. Ingredients The star of this dish is of course the lamb shanks but without all the aromatics and that delicious sauce, they would be quite boring....

Updated April 30, 2020 Spaghetti with Chickpeas & Kale My family LOVES a spaghetti night, and I’ve got to be honest, I do too! Spaghetti is easy to make, budget friendly, and so, so yummy. One of my favorite spaghetti recipes is this simple Spaghetti with Chickpeas and Kale. Adding chickpeas and kale steps the nutrition up a little bit and adds some really satisfying texture to the spaghetti. The boys love to slurp the spaghetti noodles up, and I love that they’re getting some healthy greens in their dinner, too!...

In life, there are times when lavish meals are necessary. Meals that take you hours to prepare and cook and present beautifully. But there are also times where all you need is to sit on the couch with a big bowl of pasta while watching talk shows. That is what I needed a few nights ago when after a day of driving the kids around, trying to make deadlines, cooking, shooting and editing, I was just exhausted....

Updated October 06, 2020 First of all, thank you for all of your kind comments and congratulations on our big news! We are excited! Our Black Bean and Quinoa Enchilada Bake is taking the world by storm! We have gotten a ton of emails and comments about this recipe and it is getting rave reviews! It is one of our favorite recipes and I am glad you are enjoying it too!...

Stocking a pantry Buy shelf-stable products and foods that can easily be combined to make a delicious meal. Fridge and freezer stocking tips The freezer is your friend in situations like quarantine, etc. Not so much when you have days without electricity. However, I still prefer to have a well-stocked freezer/fridge. To keep your freezer cold for longer during a power cut, fill soda (cold drink) bottles filled with water and place in the freezer where there are gaps....

Updated March 04, 2020 My birthday was yesterday and we celebrated with the most epic chocolate cake. The boys insisted that I had a chocolate birthday cake. They said every birthday HAS to have chocolate cake…and balloons . I love chocolate cake so they didn’t have to convince me. I was on board 100 percent. Josh and the boys kicked me out of the kitchen and baked me a special Strawberry Chocolate Cake to celebrate my birthday....

Published on May 10, 2023 This classic strawberry shortcake recipe is a family favorite dessert. Tender Shortcake biscuits are topped with juicy strawberries and whipped cream for a delightful dessert! It has been my favorite since I was a little girl, probably because I loved the Strawberry Shortcake TV show. Did anyone else watch that show? I even had the dolls that smelled like strawberries. Strawberry Shortcake is a classic dessert because who doesn’t love tender, flaky biscuits topped with fresh strawberries and fluffy whipped cream....

Updated January 03, 2019 Maria’s Pasta Sauce Ingredients Olive Oil Onion, diced-I usually do half an onion or so, depending on the size of my batch Garlic, minced-Are you a garlic lover? You decide on how much to put in! Fresh Vegetables, chopped-Use whatever you have on hand. My favorites are: zucchini, yellow squash,eggplant, peppers of any color-red is my favorite:), mushrooms, and artichokes. Herbs- Fresh basil is the best!...

One of my favorite types of fish to cook is salmon. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also incredibly good for you. It has antioxidants, vitamins, and plenty of protein. It has minerals your body needs like selenium and potassium. And of course, it is very well-known for its omega-3 fatty acid content. Until you taste my sweet and sour salmon recipe, you won’t believe that healthy food could taste this amazing....

Updated January 09, 2020 Sweet Potato Roasted Corn Chowder I am still making the most of summer produce. I picked up fresh sweet corn from the farmers market and decided to make Sweet Potato Roasted Corn Chowder. I was in the mood for something a little more hearty than the usual summer fair. This corn chowder hits the spot every time. Every bowl is loaded with flavor…and the best part?...

Published on January 30, 2023 Taco Soup- this easy taco soup recipe is made with ground beef, tomatoes, beans, corn, and the perfect blend of taco spices. If you like tacos, you are going to love this easy one pot meal! This easy one pot meal that is an all-time favorite, especially during the cold months. A bowl will warm you up and fill you up. Taco soup is similar to chili, it is loaded with beef, beans, tomatoes, spices, and more!...

Fish is always a great protein to work with for dinner because it cooks so quickly. On a busy night, you can balance nutrition and restaurant-quality flavor by making salmon curry. It has the bold and bright flavor of Thai food, rich with aromatics, and a creamy texture that makes it nearly impossible to stop eating. I prefer salmon with the skin on because you can sear it to a crisp, adding an edge in texture to this savory and lightly sweet dish....

Published on February 25, 2019 Tofu Scramble Breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day, I love almost all breakfast foods. Tofu scramble is one of my go-to breakfasts because it is simple to make and loaded with plant-based protein and veggies, the perfect way to start any day! So what is tofu scramble? Basically, a vegan breakfast dish that tastes like scrambled eggs, for real. Don’t be afraid of tofu, I promise you it is a magical ingredient that tastes like scrambled eggs with a few little tricks....

Published on August 14, 2023 Turkey Wrap- a tortilla filled with slices of turkey, cheese, bacon, avocado, tomato, and lettuce. They only take 10 minutes to make and are the perfect packable lunch or light dinner! We love making wraps because they are very versatile. You can add whatever ingredients and sauces you like, just like a sandwich. But wraps really are more fun. Everything gets wrapped up into a large tortilla, cut in half, and you have the perfect little meal!...

Updated November 17, 2019 This post is sponsored by Kroger. Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookies If you like peanut butter, you are in for a real treat because today I am sharing the Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookie recipe. Think peanut butter oatmeal cookies loaded with peanut butter chips, Reese’s Pieces candies, AND chopped up Reese’s peanut butter cups. Oh, yes, these cookies are peanut butter heaven! Bring on the Candy! I love going down the candy aisle at Smith’s to check out all of the latest and greatest candy selections, especially during Halloween time because they always have a huge selection to choose from....