Healthy Snacks for Kids I know firsthand how daunting it can be to go to the store and attempt to buy snacks for kids—there are just SO many darn options. And often, the ingredients lists and labels seem to make understanding what’s really in each snack so much harder. To help you cull through the vast choices, I’ve narrowed down my favorite shelf-stable snacks for little kids. These are great for when you need to pack preschool snacks or toddler lunches, but also school lunches for kindergarten and just some time out of the house....

Preschool Snacks Packing a preschool snack for kids is one of those parts of parenting that’s often harder than it seems—especially if you aren’t sure how hungry your kiddo will be or what they might be in the mood for. This list of preschool snack ideas has an assortment of healthy, yummy ideas that you can use individually or mix and match to pack a more substantial snack—because some kids are hungrier than others in the afternoon....

Whenever a holiday comes around, I feel like the internet explodes with ideas that always look a little too complicated for me. With three kids usually in close proximity, I’m more of the “give me the easiest thing possible!” mentality. Which brings me to: Halloween quesadillas! These are a fun Halloween dinner idea (or Halloween lunch), they take just a few minutes to make, and they’re super versatile. I even sometimes like to add a thin layer of actual pumpkin to add in some flavor and veggies....

Marble cake has been a family favorite ever since Paul and I got married. Back then we would buy a box cake mix and a can of chocolate frosting from the store to make for a special treat. But then I started baking cakes from scratch and never looked back! Homemade is just so much more flavorful and every bit as fluffy and moist as a box mix. Making a marble cake is an easy way to impress your guests with delicious, home baked goods....

Handheld bars are some of our favorite treats for casual parties or gatherings, especially around the holidays, because they are easier to eat by hand. Some of our other favorites are Carmelitas (Oatmeal, Chocolate, Caramel Bars), Oatmeal Fudge Bars, and Lemon Meringue Pie Bars. Did you know that pecans are the official state nut of Alabama? Pecan trees are actually native to North America and the word pecan is Algonquian for “requires a stone to crack....

This post is sponsored by Colavita. Every fall and winter, I look to add more cozy, nutritious recipes to our rotation and this pasta bake is a new favorite. It checks all of the boxes for me: minimal prep time (and no chopping!), nutrition (from the inclusion of butternut squash in the sauce), flavor (from the squash and also herbs and spices), and yumminess (from cheese and pasta!). It’s a great vegetarian meal for kids (and parents) that can also double as a holiday side dish—it’s a great Thanksgiving recipe for kids!...

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese This mac and cheese is a family favorite and is one of our go-to comfort food recipes. By adding the cauliflower right to the cheese sauce, we’re able to tuck a veggie right into the sauce without having to make a side dish to go with dinner. I love using cauliflower in the cheese sauce since it acts as a thickener without the need to use a flour-based roux…which can be tricky to make with a little one underfoot....

Often found on tables from Charleston to Savannah, it’s a delicious Southern curried chicken simmered in tomato sauce, a simple dish layered with vibrant spices resulting in amazing flavors. It comes with toppings of slivered almonds, raisins, currents, toasted coconut or crumbled bacon, and is always served with a plateful of fluffy rice. An Indian legacy from British Raj to the Western world. The story goes that Country Captain Chicken probably crossed over the Atlantic at the helm of some vessel with the captain of that ship from exotic lands....

If you are a serious sandwich lover, be sure to check out my Blue Bayou Monte Cristo Sandwiches, Slow Cooker Applesauce Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, and Cubanos (a delicious Cuban sandwich)! Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwich Recipe I hear these Italian Beef Sandwiches are crazy-popular in Illinois, which is the next state in my trip around the U.S. in my American Eats series. It’s a project where I am making and sharing some of the favorite foods of each state, one state at a time!...

Deviled Egg Potato Salad A couple of months ago I saw a recipe from Food Network for a deviled egg pasta salad that caught my attention. But I decided that instead of a pasta salad, I would take a classic potato salad and use the same concept of mixing it with deviled eggs to create something fun and new to share at our 4th of July celebration. Like any good potato salad, this cool, creamy deviled egg potato salad goes great with anything grilled or smoked, whether it’s hamburgers, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, or whatever else you can think of....

I wish there was a smell feature to go with these photos because the delish scent of this citrus and cranberry easy overnight monkey bread is just heavenly. Every buttery bite of sweet-tart monkey bread just melts in your mouth and tastes like the holidays. It’s perfect as a festive dessert or for a holiday brunch, especially when served with a savory breakfast casserole. If you love all things cranberry and orange, be sure to also check out our Cranberry Orange Bread, Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce, and White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Fudge!...

I have been eating this recipe for most of my life and have been making it the entire time I’ve been an adult—especially in late summer when all of the ingredients are ripe and available at the same time. This, to me, is comfort food and I love how after you chop the veggies, the Giambotta just simmers away in a pot. There are so many ways to vary this dish and customize it for your family....

If there exists a dish that’s equally perfect for feeding a crowd and enjoying as a cozy meal for one or two–it’s chili. Hearty, nourishing, flavorful, and belly-warming. My meaty vegan chili is quite an easy meal to make. It’s pantry friendly, and the only perishable ingredients you need are onion and garlic. It’s extra delicious when made a day in advance, as it gives a chance for the flavors to meld, but it’s also to die for the day it’s made!...

I’ve been wanting to share this recipe for a while now, as it’s one that we’ve made often over the years precisely because it’s so easy to do with the kids. And while it’s even easier to whip up by yourself, this is a great holiday pie to make if your kids like being in the kitchen—or if you want them to be part of holiday baking. The ingredient list is super short and there is no need for electric mixers or special tools....

Easy Sugar Cookies This time of year is made for cookie baking and I love to have at least one baking session with my girls. Because baking with the kids is often a challenge, this cut-out Sugar Cookie recipe has just a few simple ingredients and requires nothing other than your hands to mix it together. I love the challenge of developing a recipe that has all of the classic texture and flavor, but with a little less sugar and in that way, this healthy sugar cookie is a great option....

Banana Popsicles I am a huge fan of fruit popsicles as both dessert and snack, and this banana flavor is as easy as it is delicious. It has intense banana flavor, a really creamy texture, and the base recipe has just two simple ingredients in the base recipe. You can make these banana popsicles without added sugars, vary the flavor as you like, and full-size or mini popsicles. These are great for toddler teething, hydrating foods, and soothing a sore throats....

Carrot Baby Food Making homemade baby food can seem so daunting, but I’ve found that it’s quite easy to make affordable, delicious baby food at home with cooking tools you likely already have on hand. And knowing a few simple ways to add flavor and keep things interesting for your little one can ensure the food you spend time making doesn’t go to waste. I love this method of making a simple carrot puree for baby (or as a one year old food), and I also love using it to make simple baby food combinations....

Vegetables for Breakfast It’s a great feeling to start the day with extra nutrients and to help the kids eat their fruits and veggies—but I know how hard that can be. And so often it feels like we need to do mealtime acrobatics to get the kids to even taste veggie…which is where these recipes come in. Each is super delicious, but also contains vegetables. Some of the veggies are hidden and some are in plain site, because we want the kids to be able to eat veggies even when they know they are there....

Yogurt Drinks We are big fans of drinkable yogurt in our house and use it constantly as a kids drink to pair with breakfast or snack. I love it since it’s a great way to serve up protein and calcium (especially when the littles aren’t so into milk)—and making them at home when I can is one of my favorite ways to reduce my grocery bill. Those little bottles of store-bought yogurt drinks can be so expensive!...

Originating from the Philippines, Caldereta reflects the country’s diverse food culture by blending different influences into a tasty dish. In the early days of GypsyPlate, I cooked Chicken Caldereta and Pork Menudo for you guys and were amazed by the rich, comforting flavors of stews coming from the Philippines. We tried Filipino food for the first time in Las Vegas. Since then, we are always on the look out for good Filipino food, which can be hard to find....