I’ve been on a bit of an eggplant kick lately. It’s just such a great vegetable (ok, actually it’s a fruit, like all good things in life), that’s perfect in so many applications. It can be used in stir fries, in salads, in tacos. It makes dips, sandwich fillings, casseroles, and even [plant-based] bacon. You find it in a lot of cuisines: Turkish, Japanese, Indian, Thai, French, Chinese, American, Italian, and more!...

Have you ever had Singapore noodles? Contrary to the name, they are not from Singapore at all, but actually a popular dish served at Chinese restaurants! It’s traditionally made with BBQ pork and shrimp, and has fish sauce in it, so it’s not the most veggie-friendly dish to order out. But, an easy one to make at home! For me, the dish is all about the sauce–it’s essentially a curry flavored Chinese noodle stir fry....

Best Time of Year for Strawberries While you can find fresh strawberries year round at most grocery stores, peak strawberry season in most parts of the country is typically from April through late June or early July. And what better way to celebrate the return of this ruby red favorite than by using them in some of our favorite strawberry recipes? Here in Northern California we get really excited for Spring to arrive because that means fresh strawberries at all the local U-pick farms....

They are everybody’s friends for busy nights, for cozy nights, for festive nights. We decided to compile a list of delicious Pasta Casserole Recipes for all occasions. You’ll find classics like Lasagna and Tetrazzini, some unique fusion dishes with flavors from around the world, and some very regional dishes that you just have to try! This collection belongs in your bookmarks. Cook through this list of pasta casseroles, and discover your new keepers…...

Portable Highchair Feeding babies and toddlers while on the go can be a challenge, and portable highchairs are one of the ways we can make it a little easier. This can be a great option if you have a travel with kids planned where you won’t have access to a regular highchair, if you regularly eat meals at relatives’ houses (like grandparents!) who don’t have a highchair, or even to use at home if you have a counter-height kitchen island and a regular highchair is too low....

I know firsthand how it can often feel like you’re totally out of ideas for what to make the kids each day. The endlessness of feeding a family is real! Thankfully, I also know that simply seeing new ideas can help bust any of us out of a rut—so these seven sample days worth of kids meal ideas are here to help. I’ve included a toddler breakfast, snack for kids, kids lunches, healthy snacks for kids, and toddler dinner ideas for each day of a sample week....

If you’re looking for another amazing cinnamon-sugar coated treat, be sure to try my Homemade Churros and Snickerdoodles! Apple Cider Donuts We are lucky to leave near some apple orchards that we visit every fall. One of our options is near Sacramento, CA in an area known as Apple Hill. There are lots of orchards there and each fall you can go there for apple picking and apple goodies like pies, syrups, cider, and these delicious donuts with the cinnamon sugar mixture that the whole family is obsessed with....

The only thing I might love better than a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls is another treat that highlights the warm, spicy flavor of cinnamon. Like my copycat Crumbl cinnamon roll cookies or cinnamon roll waffles. Or this phenomenal cinnamon roll cheesecake. If a batch of cinnamon rolls and a classic cheesecake had a baby, this is what you would get. It’s got all the classic cinnamon roll flavor in a creamy, dreamy slice of cheesecake....

If you love comforting Fall dishes, then you’ll also enjoy our Roasted Turkey with Butter Herb Rub and Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings! Both would pair great with this risotto as a main dish and a dessert. Or try serving it with sausages and roasted asparagus for another fantastic flavor combination! Years ago I had a friend who told me that she made risotto “all the time”. I felt like it was an intimidating thing to attempt as a home cook and pestered her about it, always getting the somewhat aloof reply that “it was easy” and she just “followed the directions on the box”....

When summer fruit season is here, I find myself craving cherry desserts nonstop! Some of our other popular recipes using this wonderful ruby red fruit are my Homemade Cherry Pie, Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream, and Black Forest Cake! Happy birthday to this here little blog of mine! It’s hard to believe that I’ve been creating and sharing recipes on this little corner of the internet for FOUR years now! And just like in years past, I am celebrating with a special new addition to my collection of cake recipes....

Our Beef Tagine and Meatball Tagine are super popular recipes on GypsyPlate, and now I am very excited to present my version of Chicken Tagine with olives and preserved lemons along with dried fruits. Moroccan food is one of my favorites to try in our international travels. Unfortunately, I can’t find much of this amazing Northern African food in the part of the world where we live. So the next best thing is to just cook all this good food in my own kitchen....

Looking for more breakfast and brunch inspiration? Be sure not to miss my Raspberry Streusel Muffins, German Pancakes, and Green Chili Egg Casserole! Our family adores crepes so much that I wrote up a big post on our favorite Crepes Recipe with a more detailed explanation of how to make crepes and crepe filling ideas. They are one of our favorite Saturday morning breakfast traditions, for no other reason than it’s a lazy Saturday and we can!...

The first time I made this version of a Peanut Butter Muffin, we were in the midst of nighttime potty training and I basically didn’t have a decent night of sleep for 3 months. It was rough on the kiddo, too, and we were often grumpy and dragging in the mornings. These muffins saved us more than once, as I found that making a special breakfast really helped to improve my mood....

I don’t know about you, but whenever I got to a potluck, I always load up on the side salads. They are my favorite part! Some of our other popular potluck salads are Frog Eye Salad, Classic Macaroni Salad, and Greek Pasta Salad. I think I have seen this classic broccoli salad at almost every 4th of July or Labor Day potluck or summer gathering I have ever been to....

I love pesto myself. Maybe you’ve tried my Pesto Bruschetta Chicken or Pesto Shrimp and Grits. This creamy pesto chicken skillet is another great easy pesto recipe. It happens super fast, 3O minutes fast! Come home from work and get this going with whatever veggies you have in stock. They can vary according to your preference. The only constant is pesto and cream…This is my winner, winner “fast” chicken dinner for you!...

Grab-and-go Double Chocolate Muffins Recipe How do we feel about chocolate for breakfast? Personally, it’s something we enjoy on occasion whether it’s chocolate croissants from a bakery, Southern Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy, Chocolate Crepes that can be whipped up in a jif and filled with fruit and whipped cream, or my Triple Chocolate Scones. It’s an indulgence, to be sure, but makes the morning feel special! This easy Chocolate Muffins recipe is moist and sweet without being too overly decadent....

Baked Tofu Recipe Whenever I go to an upscale supermarket salad bar, I always get the baked tofu—and I am so delighted to share that it is crazy easy to recreate at home! This Baked Tofu relies on simple pantry staples and a hands-off baking method to make the most delicious cubes of tofu. This is one of our favorite vegetarian meal options since it is budget-friendly, easy, and pairs well with a range of foods....

The BEST Buttermilk Biscuits Nothing can compare to a batch of homemade buttermilk biscuits made with a handful of fresh, real ingredients. This buttermilk biscuits recipe makes tall, fluffy biscuits that are far superior to the refrigerated cans of biscuit dough from the store and they are ready in under 30 minutes! Easy Buttermilk Biscuit Recipe ingredients All-purpose flour Baking powder Baking soda Salt Sugar Butter Buttermilk What is a substitute for buttermilk?...

We’ve been on a savory waffles kick and have been enjoying them for lunch and easy family dinners. I like them with fried eggs on top and the kids like to dip them into pizza sauce. I love this since they come together really quickly and they turn basic pantry staples into a meal that everyone in the family enjoys. You can add broccoli or ham to make them more flavorful....

For years, I’ve been making a version of this healthy cranberry sauce, which relies on fresh orange for sweetness and flavor. I love it as a side dish as part of my Thanksgiving recipes for kids to go with turkey, or to pair with Christmas ham but also as a way to enjoy the cranberry flavor throughout the winter. It’s so good stirred into yogurt and oatmeal, as well as a side for savory meats and dishes....