But let’s face it, it’s easy to get stuck in a dinner rut, especially when the kids just want some spaghetti meal (oh well, there is nothing wrong with good old spaghetti, in fact I start with our family’s favorite version here). But if you find yourself just relying on the same old spaghetti Bolognese or tacos, don’t worry, I’ve got your back with some creative hamburger meat recipes that the whole family will enjoy....
Cookbook for Kids I love to have my kids in the kitchen because I’ve found that it helps to make new foods less scary, it gives us something to do together on days that we’re at home, and it lets them experience smells, textures, and skills that they otherwise wouldn’t. And the confidence and joy that appears on their faces when they do something on their own that they didn’t think they could is so much fun!...
We are definitely an ice cream loving family, and even though it’s convenient to pick up a pint or two from the store every now and then, I actually prefer homemade ice cream, even over the premium store bought brands. That’s particularly true when it comes to good old-fashioned chocolate ice cream. Not only is homemade ice cream insanely delicious and easy to customize exactly to your tastes, but it’s also really fun to make!...
Salt Dough This salt dough is a staple of childhood and I love doing this Christmas activity with my kids each year—and throughout the rest of the year too! We love to make salt dough handprints, ornaments, and sometimes, just any old shape they want to. It’s an easy project that we can do together—and then share as kid-made holiday gifts, keepsakes, or house decorations. Salt Dough Recipe Making salt dough at home is as easy as combining three pantry staples together into a dough....
It’s almost like a cross between ramen and fried rice. It’s savory, sweet, umami, garlicky, a little spicy, and uniquely flavored with everything bagel seasoning. If you need something super quick, I highly recommend giving this popular ramen hack a try! Let’s face it. Ramen noodles don’t get the respect they deserve. Sure they’re one of the cheapest things you can eat, and, well, they’re not exactly the healthiest food....
If you have some leftover salmon and rice in the fridge, this is the best and easiest way to repurpose it for a quick lunch. Here’s another one of those kitchen hacks that went viral for a reason… Truthfully, we’re not all that up to date on what’s hot on the internet. We don’t even have Tiktok, which is where this salmon rice bowl became famous. But when we hear about some new recipe that has the internet in a frenzy, we can’t help but try it....
I’m all about a classic doughnut. There’s something irresistible about that fluffy, chewy, fried dough. They’re not too sweet, but for the glaze on top. For me, cake doughnuts and especially baked doughnuts will never replace a traditionally made yeasted doughnut. And so I present, my vegan chocolate glazed doughnuts, non-fussy and seriously satisfying. Until the day that vegan doughnuts take over the world (or at least the doughnut shops), you will find me making homemade doughnuts once (maybe twice?...
Imagine everything you want from a German chocolate cake, but in cupcake form. All the yum, with a fraction of the effort! And you’re welcome, I’ve done it! Vegan German chocolate cupcakes for your eating pleasure. Now I love layer cakes, but know that sometimes people find them intimidating. Plus I just adore cupcakes and their cute size and how they are perfectly proportioned servings! Cupcakes are equally great for parties and for treating yourself....
I think I made the perfect wintertime cake. It’s soft and perfectly tender cake, with nutty undercurrents and buttery sweet hazelnut flavor. I could devour the whole cake bare, but top it with a luscious chocolate cream? I’ve never had better! Chocolate and hazelnut were made for each other. The flavor of hazelnut is strong enough to come through even the richest of chocolaty notes, and the mild sweetness of the nut mellows any bitterness of the dark chocolate....
This potato and zucchini bake is one of those cosy, belly warming, nostalgia-filled dishes. Albeit one that’s elevated, made beautiful, and completely vegan! It’s a hearty casserole that is meant to be a side dish, but hard to not just devour as an entree. Layers of thinly sliced buttery potato and tender summer squash, smothered in an easy homemade cashew cream sauce. Amped up with summery fresh herbs like tarragon and oregano....
Monday was a very exciting day over here, as it marked 1 year of marriage. And to celebrate our anniversary, I made a mini-feast for dinner inspired by the food at our wedding. We got married last summer at the Sofitel in downtown Chicago, and the menu had a French Mediterranean theme, was 100% vegan, and 100% amazing. Honestly, we had so many people compliment the food! We especially heard a lot about how much people loved the soup served with the first course: corn velouté....
Looking for summer side dish recipes? Be sure to also check out our Strawberry Spinach Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing, Summer Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppy Seed Dressing, or Creamy Grape Salad. We eat a LOT of watermelon at our house during the summer. It’s right up there next to peaches and cantaloupe for being a favorite summer fruit for our family and my girls will easily manage a half a watermelon on their own in just one sitting....
Meal planning can be hard. And grocery shopping without a plan can be disastrous. Let me help! Tuesday Beef Steak Pie Wednesday New Jersey Italian Hot Dogs Thursday Yakitori Chicken Friday Best Buttermilk Pancakes Bonus S’mores Cookies Having a meal plan makes life so much easier. So we have thoughtfully put together a curated menu of 5 amazing dinner recipes each week so you don’t have to plan. And the best part is, I have a free shopping list of ALL the ingredients for all five recipes making shopping a breeze....
Picky Eating Trust me, I’ve been there. There’s the refusal to eat a meal you’ve made. Not wanting to eat foods they loved yesterday. Changing their minds about the foods they want in the middle of a meal. Having no appetite one day, then eating everything in sight the next day. It can make our heads spin. By nature, toddlers are very (very) fickle eaters. This normal nature of variable toddler appetites can be intensely frustrating and unpredictable, and it can make us feel like a moving target at the table....
Milk for Toddlers I’m going to cover grass-fed milk, dairy milk, the most popular nondairy milks, newer pea protein milks, and important facts to help you know which milk is the best milk for toddlers. Plus, how to know just how much milk your toddler really needs—and signs that they might be drinking too much. What’s the Best Milk for Toddlers? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that toddlers drink whole dairy milk since they need the fat for proper development of their brains and nervous systems....
The Problem with Honey for Babies Honey is a no-go for kids under age one because it can cause a very rare, but serious, condition called infant botulism. While most foods not recommended for babies are due to choking hazards or allergy concerns, the deal with honey is completely different. Honey—especially raw honey, but pasteurized honey is not considered safe either—can contain a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria, when and ingested and multiplied, produces toxins that can cause something called infant botulism....
When does a baby stop drinking formula? Babies should stop drinking formula by 12 months of age. There are a few reasons for this. When a baby turns a year old, they are typically eating three meals and two snacks a day, and are getting the majority of their nutrition from food. Continuing to use formula can reduce a child’s appetite for food and can potentially cause challenges with learning to like a range of foods and textures....
Camp Lunch Ideas I know many of us are in need of lunch ideas for camp that will hold up well, are easy for the kids to eat, and don’t require a ton of work to pull together. This post is here to help! These camp lunch ideas check those boxes to fit your reality and are also versatile enough that you can make them—or variations of them—according to what you have on hand and what your kids prefer....
Healthy Oatmeal Recipes Filled with heart-healthy fiber and complex carbohydrates, oatmeal is a nourishing source of energy—and it’s budget-friendly, easy to customize with all sorts of flavors, and it can keep our hearts (and our digestive systems, ahem toddler constipation) in good shape. It’s also very filling, which makes it a healthy toddler breakfast to start the day. These healthy oatmeal recipes are kid-friendly, come in a variety of textures, and are easy to make....
If you love French desserts and French cooking, be sure to try our Authentic French Fruit Tart, Chocolate Mousse, and French Crepes. You don’t have to travel to France to visit Ladurée or pay $2 or more per macarons when you can make them at home yourself! Once you have the hang of making French macarons, it’s such a fun way to let your creativity shine through! What is the difference between macarons and macaroons?...
