Burgers, enchiladas, and picnic dinners—oh my! | 2021 meal plan ideas #12
I know lots of us have lost the will to cook, and warmer weather always has me thinking about every single restaurant in town with a porch. But one trick that always works to get me back in the kitchen is to make a meal plan I know my family will eat. If you're...
Unbreakable outdoor dishes that are perfect for all your summer entertaining
Summer is almost here, and you know what that means: Three months of (safe!) outdoor gatherings and barbecues. Or as I like to call it, “The Season of Breaking Stuff Outside.” By the time September comes, you know someone is going to break a plate on the patio or bust...
11 spring recipes to lighten up pastas, soups, and one-pot meals
When warm, spring weather hits I immediately lose all appetite for the heavy dinners like chili or pot roast that I craved during winter, and instead I'm finding myself adding light pasta salads, gazpachos, and grilled meats and veggies to our dinner rotation. So, in...
From Pasta Carbonara to Carne Asada Fries, next week is going to be delicious | 2021 Meal Plan Ideas #11
It's time to get that meal plan together for next week and I'm excited to share my meal plan ideas with you. And yes, this is my actual plan for my family of four will be eating. Maybe you make them all, or maybe they just give you a few ideas and inspiration -...
Our favorite last-minute Easter recipes: Brunch, dinner, desserts, and treats of all kinds. Yay treats!
Are you looking for last-minute easter recipes and treats too? Yep, I get it. Easter is here so early this year, it's snuck up on so many of us. (Then again, time kind of has no meaning these days so wheeeee! Last-minute recipes all year coming your way!) If you want...
How to hop on the focaccia garden trend with the kids: Perfect for Easter or a spring kitchen craft project.
With our second COVID Easter on the horizon, a colorful and delicious focaccia garden at the centerpiece of our Easter meal sounds like a perfect addition to our table. Even better? I'm going to be passing this project off onto my three teens since it's such a great...
5 dinners that feel like spring | 2021 Meal Plan Ideas #10
It's starting to look like spring around here with daffodils popping up and flowering trees, even if it is still a bit chilly. Still, I'll take it after the winter we've had! While I'm really eager to start cooking "spring" food and can't wait for farmer's markets to...
Dolly Parton and Jeni’s Ice Cream pair up! Amazing woman, amazing flavor, amazing story.
Yesterday, when Dolly Parton tweeted "I’ve teamed up with @jenisicecreamsto create my very own flavor in support of @dollyslibrary! Strawberry Pretzel Pie is available at Jeni’s April 8," I mean...sold, right? Not that you need another reason to try a new flavor from...
6 delicious chocolate-covered matzo (or matzah or matzoh) gifts to send for Passover.
I'm eagerly awaiting for all the Passover jokes on Twitter like, "You thought 40 years in the desert was rough, try surviving 13 months in a pandemic!" Or something. But hey, unlike the olden times, we can enjoy our unleavened bread deliciously chocolate-covered, so...
Thanks a lot, TikTok: Trying the crispy tofu recipe
In our latest TikTok recipe adventure, we decided to give crispy tofu a try, as recommended by our very own Christina Refford. Now, when I made the suggestion to my son, I let him search for the recipe, and here's why: a) Kids are much better at finding stuff on the...
One more benefit of Covid vaccinations: Free Krispy Kremes!
Well aren't we just delighted to discover today that in support of public health, Krispy Kreme is offering free original glazed donuts to all fully vaccinated people for the entirety of 2021. Yes, all year! Donuts! Free! All you have to do is show your completed...
13 tasty and creative DIY dinners for the family
If you have picky eaters or family members with different dietary restrictions, it can be challenging to make a meal that pleases everyone. One of my favorite hacks is DIY dinners. I just set out all the ingredients and let my family members prepare their own meal...
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How long can food be left out in the summer before it spoils (and ruins the party)? Here’s a handy list.
Summer’s here! That means I'm thinking about all of those picnics, beach parties, and backyard barbecues — and also food safety. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but the CDC estimates that 48 million people get sick from food borne diseases each year in the United...
We found the easiest new way to recycle old cookware, bakeware, and cutlery, right from home
When I found out that Terracycle and Calphalon have partnered on a new, absolutely free program to recycle old cookware, bakeware, and cutlery, I immediately joined. We've been talking about somme of the increasingly eco-friendly changes we've all been making in...
Try these 7 tricks to lighten up your favorite summer desserts
Oh hey, scorching summer weather! Wow, did that come on quick in some parts of the country. That also means I'm making a quick switch from baked goods to some lighter summer desserts. A winter of sheltering in place means we did more than our fair share of...
How to grill pizza: My family’s new summer obsession.
When my omniscient editor asked me to write a post on how to grill pizza, I literally yelled out loud, “YESSSSS!” In my short career of grilling pizzas, I have become obsessed. I honestly can't believe how satisfying and easy homemade grilled pizzas can be. And...
The coffee subscription customized around how you take your coffee. Oooh…
Of all the things we are going to keep from the past year, one is the new habit of making our own lattes, Americanos and even caramel machiato-whatevers...right at home. It saves us money, it's kind of fun, it lets us make them exactly how we want, and above all,...
Recipes
5 fantastic dinners featuring summer veggies | 2021 meal plan ideas #27
We've been grilling a lot this summer and eating our fair share of tacos, too. But after my mom called, raving about the absolute perfection of the fresh veggies she got at the farmer's market this week, I wanted to focus on summer veggies for our meals this week....
5 cast iron skillet dinner recipes | Weekly Meal Plan Ideas #26
As I was prepping camping meals for our impromptu camping trip last week, I got to thinking that I should totally be using my cast iron skillet way more in my everyday meal planning. There are a ton of benefits to cooking in a cast iron skillet, including the fact...
Thanks a lot, TikTok: Ramen Hack
So it's been a hot minute since we have have had time to try another TikTok recipe around here! My teen had his wisdom teeth out, then a little set back and now finally back to eating like "normal" - which means he is standing in my kitchen looking for something...
Fire up the grill and try these 5 easy grilled dinner recipes my kids love | 2021 Meal plan ideas #25
My dad grilled up the most delicious, juicy burgers on his charcoal grill for July 4th, and he inspired me to plan to grill all our dinners next week. Cooking outside keeps the kitchen cooler. There's almost no cleanup. And, of course, we get flavors you just can't...
Delicious family-friendly recipes using July’s fresh produce | 2021 Meal plan ideas #24
My backyard garden is starting to produce some radishes and cabbage this week, and I'm seeing the most delicious peaches and tomatoes at local roadside stands lately. So this week I am going to be picking dinner recipes for my family that focus on July's fresh...
