For my family, my Easy Delicious Cheesecake is the standard all other cheesecakes are measured by. It’s one of our favorite desserts for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Cheesecake is one of those things that people are very particular about. There are the purists for whom only a traditional New York cheesecake will do. And…
Homemade Chicken Shawarma is my own twist on roast chicken breast using the wonderful flavors of shawarma seasonings. Cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, red pepper flakes and paprika are some of my favorite “warm” spices and are so common in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. My Chicken Shawarma utilizes all of them and is quickly oven roasted,…
This delectable gluten-free tabbouleh salad is crisp, light and refreshing. A simple citrus dressing brings all the wonderful veggie flavors together. It’s grain-free, sugar-free and Whole30 compliant. My recipe makes enough to have leftovers on the second day. This beautiful variation on traditional tabbouleh makes a lovely side dish or appetizer, but is equally perfect…
Homemade Taco Chips are a deliciously simple and quick snack that the whole family will enjoy. You control the ingredients and you make them fresh! The flavor is fabulous because it comes from my Homemade Taco Seasoning. These chips have the cumin and pepper flavor of tacos with a little extra added cheesiness. (Nope! There…
Homemade Taco Seasoning is a recipe I started making several years ago. It’s so much more flavorful than the store-bought packets. Plus, we seem to go through a LOT at our house. With this recipe, I can make a big enough batch to always have plenty on hand. My homemade taco seasoning recipe is pretty…
My scrumptious Homemade Apple Pie has crisp, buttery, flaky crust. It’s bursting with three varieties of juicy sweet-tart apples and the warm spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. My husband says it’s the best apple pie he’s ever eaten. That’s high praise from a man who knows his way around a pie! lol Homemade Apple Pie…
A homemade Savory Pork Loin is a perfect low-stress and simple dish to serve on weeknights, and yet, it’s exceptional flavor makes it special enough to serve at a dinner party with friends. Pork easily takes on the flavors you apply to it, so your options are pretty much limitless. THIS roast recipe is scrumptiously…
Sweet Potato Fries are a happy indulgence that makes everyone smile. Even my “don’t like sweet potatoes” people LOVE these easy oven fries. And, my “definitely loves sweet potatoes guy” declared that he could eat a wheelbarrow full of them! lol He is always my “does this recipe work” barometer. Sweet Potato Fries are crisp,…
Today, I needed soup. Is it Spring, yet? lol Yes, I’m aware this is only January and there is plenty of winter still ahead. Gosh, though. I am not a fan. These dreary, cold and icy days make me so weary. I’m ready for sunshine! At least snowy days are great for baking and for…
My Homemade Sausage recipes are so easy to make and typically uses ingredients you already have in your spice cupboard. You’ll learn to make both breakfast sausage and Italian sausage in this post. The benefit of making it on your own is the same as any homemade recipe, I think. You control the ingredients. Not…
Pineapple Balsamic Pork Loin is that recipe you want on hand when you just. can’t. even. When you’re tired, stressed and there are so many things going to happen with your day, this delicious recipe will save dinner AND your sanity. Take five minutes to load the crock pot, at lunch time, and don’t think…
Homemade Avocado Ranch Dressing is DELISH! It’s fresh and herbaceous from the parsley, creamy from the homemade mayo and the avocado and so flavor-rich from the herbs. It has the perfect amount of acid to balance the creamy, richness of the healthy fats. It really does taste like ranch dressing! Best news ever? It’s crazy…
Cheesy Hot Sauce Dip is delectable! It’s creamy and spicy. And, for something with zero cheese — it’s VERY cheesy! lol It’s hard to believe it’s Whole30 compliant, Paleo, dairy-free, sugar-free and grain (gluten)-free! It makes my tastebuds do a happy dance and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything! This smooth, thick…
Easy Homemade Mayonnaise is a rich, creamy condiment with a slight tang from lemon and stone ground mustard. I’ve been making mayonnaise for our family for several years, now. It’s so easy and I control all the ingredients. I choose the salt level, the type of fats to use and the flavorings. There are no…
Easy Roast Chicken is the delicious star of any family dinner or gathering. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare it for the oven and the result is a beautifully seasoned bird with crispy skin. The tender meat is scented with onion, herbs and lemon. It is delish supreme! Your family and guests will think…
Homemade Chimichurri Sauce has expanded my condiment thinking by 220%! lol Have you ever had chimichurri? I had definitely heard of it, but never eaten any, until this past week. You guys__it’s SO good! If you like spicy, the way my family does, you’re going to keep this in the fridge at all times. Chimichurri…
My scrumptious Homemade Ketchup recipe is a household favorite and Whole 30 compliant. My whole family goes through ketchup at what can only be called a record-setting speed. I buy the largest bottles, two at a time, so we never run out. They eat it on almost everything. Oddly enough, I’ve never been a fan….
Delicious, homemade, healthy condiments are my solution to a healthier eating dilemma. I mentioned, earlier this month, that I started a *Whole 30 with my adult daughters, at the beginning of January. Condiments and Sauces that are Whole 30 compliant are very difficult to come by, unless you’re prepared to spend a premium. I’ve spent…
I first shared Delicious 10-Minute Taco Dip, with my first blog audience, in 2009. It is so scrumptious and super easy to make. Even your kids will become experts at making this family favorite snack that can easily become a simple Sunday Supper. It’s always a hit at parties, too. You’re going to be asked…
Homemade Refried Beans are going to rock your world! They are absolutely delicious — so flavorful and versatile. I would never eat canned refried beans, just by themselves. However, I would eat a whole bowl of these delicious beans. Guys, they’re so good! Why I Prefer Homemade Refried Beans They taste so much better! There’s…
Pineapple Avocado Salsa is light and refreshing. It’s completely delicious and 5-ingredient simple! If you’re trying to be true to any special diet, this recipe is Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole 30 and Paleo. You get the crispy crunch of fresh cucumber, the soft, creamy decadence of avocado and the sweetness of fresh pineapple. And everything…
Tater Tot Casserole Supreme is one of those quick-fix suppers that makes life simpler when you have 12,000 different things going on all at once. It’s a hearty meal with vegetables, (green beans and corn) in a scrumptious cream sauce topped with cheese and crispy potatoes. Seriously, what’s not to love? lol Truly though, if…
This tutorial on making wool dryer balls is in response to a recent poll I ran on Facebook. The majority of participants asked me to incorporate lifestyle posts along with the recipes on the blog. Today, will be the first foray into that niche. This post is from the old blog and I originally ran…
Breakfast Casserole is one of those everyday, classic recipes that all people everywhere should have in their recipe boxes. It’s such a simple savory dish, but universally loved, it seems. This version has all our favorite breakfast items baked into one deliciously cheesy dish. Breakfast Casserole is crazy versatile. Change up the veggies you use,…
I love when a spin on a classic dish is even more delicious than the original. Baked Spaghetti takes everything we love about spaghetti supper and takes it to the next level. Tender spaghetti, layered with a meaty sauce and ooey, gooey cheese. Baked Spaghetti stretches one pound of ground beef to be enough for…
Some days you just need a break. You need dinner to be tasty for your family and on the table, without creating a lot of stress and dishes, for you. I get you. When you’ve had a busy day and 5:00 rolls around, sometimes the weariness can be overwhelming. You walk through the door and…
Without even the slightest hesitation, I can declare Frosted Drop Sugar Cookies to be our family’s all-time favorite Christmas cookie. If you polled them, it wouldn’t just be a wide majority. I believe you would get a 100% affirmative from each of them! They are soft, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie perfection. Frosted Drop Sugar Cookies…
Cranberry Pecan Filled Cookies are soft, pillows of brown sugar cookie with a wonderful tart-sweet cranberry and pecan filling. This is ALMOST not a new recipe for you guys. Earlier in our 12 days I made a date walnut version of this cookie, so I almost opted not to share this one. But Cranberry Pecan…
When I think of orange shortbread cookies, I picture those swirly cookies that show up in holiday tins around Christmastime. As a kid, I liked them, but there were so many other cookie options that they didn’t really hold my interest. My Orange Shortbread Cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They’re simple and they’re not overly sweet….
Meatball Stew uses the scrumptiously spicy meatballs I taught you to make, early in the fall. Pull some out of the freezer or mix up a new batch to get the maximum flavor from this delicious, comfort-food stew. (You could, technically, buy a bag of frozen meatballs to use in this recipe. But, I promise…
White Chocolate No-Bake Cookies are the solution to needing Christmas cookies when you’re out of time and out of energy. This recipe was created in a moment, just like that, when I found out about 9:30 in the evening that someone in our family had signed up to bring cookies to work with them, when…