During the summer we are always looking for new and different ways to use up our garden-fresh zucchini. Sometimes we make Zucchini Noodles, but most of the time it’s these brownies or one of our other favorite zucchini recipes are Lemon Poppy Seed Zucchini Bread, Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread, and Zucchini Bread with Walnuts. Zucchini in brownies? Really? Before you start knocking on vegetables in brownies, think about how moist and wonderful shredded carrots make carrot cake....

Summer Lunch Ideas Whether you have kids heading to daycare, need camp lunch Ideas, packed lunch ideas for days on the go, or will simply be home through the summer, a fresh crop of kids lunches can be helpful. I love thinking of a few new ideas to rotate in to help me stay out of a rut, to use other foods I may have on hand (or that may be in season) and to simply cut down on the time I’m spending in the kitchen....

School Lunch Ideas for Kindergarten Starting kindergarten is such a big milestone, and it can bring up a lot of emotions for kids and parents alike. Lunchtime should be a source of comfort, so having a list of easy, yummy, and nutritious meals that the kids will love to eat can go a long way toward making the lunch packing (and eating) efforts much easier on everyone. These kindergarten lunch ideas work for starting the school year and beyond into elementary school....

Every good cook needs an arsenal of sauce recipes to take their dishes to that next level in terms of flavor. Every culture has their own versions, from mole and salsa in Mexico, to Europe’s mustard and America’s ketchup. There’s Korean gochujang and Chinese hoisin. Greek tzatziki, Japanese ponzu, and seemingly endless versions of hot sauce from around the world. Chutneys hail from the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent, and there are seemingly endless variations of them....

Planning a party? You can’t go wrong with our Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers, Philly Cheesesteak Dip, Asian Lettuce Wraps, or Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends to serve with your baked brie! It’s no secret I adore baked brie. It’s one of my favorite foods in the world and I make this apricot brie en croute (it just means it’s wrapped in puff pastry) for holidays, parties, and other gatherings since it’s basically one of the best things ever....

Homemade pie makes any holiday throughout the year so special! For July 4th celebrations whip up this Red, White & Blueberry Cream Pie or a Cherry Pie, and for a Christmas or Thanksgiving option, my Classic Southern Pecan Pie is always a hit! What is Banoffee Pie? If you have never tried Banoffee Pie, this is something that needs to be remedied ASAP. It’s combination of sweet, simple flavors combines into something that is so much more than you might think....

Breakfast Cake There are few things that delight my family more than cake for breakfast and this recipe is a perfect combination of berry-centric flavors and the most amazing texture. Think giant berry muffin, baked more easily as a cake with a nutritious base of yogurt and banana and you have this wonder! This is a favorite breakfast recipe because it’s easy enough to make for a weekday or a family breakfast on a weekend, but can be special enough to serve for a holiday....

Homemade cheesecake is one of the most classic, iconic desserts that belongs in the repertoire of every home baker. This is a tried-and-true cheesecake recipe that gives perfect results every time. Each slice is a sweet, creamy, crunchy piece of heaven, and I just can’t get enough! I have made cheesecake in so many ways, and this is definitely one of the easiest. While I don’t mind doing a simple water bath, and it definitely does give good results, I’m a big fan of this simplified method, especially because the result is so impressive....

Everybody loves a breakfast classic! These buttermilk pancakes are frequently in rotation at our house along with Cinnamon French Toast, Blueberry Muffins, and Belgian Waffles. I may have a slight pancake obsession. Because I also like to make Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Toasted Coconut Pancakes, Hoe Cakes [Cornmeal Pancakes], and Fluffy Japanese Pancakes! And that’s not even all of the pancakes recipes on my site! But the classic, fluffy buttermilk pancakes are the ones my mom made for her family at least once a week while I was growing up....

Whenever I spot Birria tacos on the menu at any Mexican restaurant or food truck, I have to order them. It’s a must for me. Now, let me share my recipe for making the perfect Birria taco. It’s all about getting that crispy taco shell filled with tender, shredded meat and oozing with melty cheese. And don’t forget the Birria consommé. It’s full of amazing flavors, ready to dunk your taco into for that extra zing....

My friend, Christina, brought this pie to our annual Pi Day pie party a few years ago and everybody went crazy for it. Christina always brings the BEST pies and pretty much wins in at least one category every year, so it wasn’t a surprise that we all loved this blueberry custard pie. I first posted this recipe back in 2016 shortly after starting this blog and pretty much only my mom, sisters, and a couple of friends were reading it....

Once we made our homemade cherry pie filling and lemon curd for filling cakes and topping desserts, we realized how much better the flavor and fruit-to-gel ratio is when you have control versus buying the canned stuff from the store. Plus, homemade pie filling takes only about 10 minutes to make with a handful of ingredients and freezes beautifully so you can always have some on hand! It’s a total game-changer!...

Bacon… Don’t forget the bacon!! I could imagine that tastes out of this world… I decided why to wait until November when I can make it now… RIGHT NOW!! Brussels Sprouts: The vegetable that is fiercely loved or hated. That’s the fate of this mini cabbage like goodie. This can divide a nation, a family, a dinner table at the holidays, debating whether brussels sprouts are tasty or a poor excuse for food....

We grow zucchini in our garden every summer, and we always end up with more zucchini than we can use in zucchini bread alone. Even though we share with anyone who will take it, we still sometimes end up with more zucchini than we know what to do with! This old fashioned zucchini casserole recipe is delicious way to enjoy and use up lots of zucchini, especially if you’re growing it in your garden during the summer months....

If you love edible cookie dough desserts like we do, be sure not to miss our Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream! Back in my undergrad days my roommates and I would make a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and rather than bake it we would just pass the bowl around and eat it just like that. I mean, we used spoons so we weren’t completely uncivilized, but it’s still one of my favorite college memories....

We are slightly macaron-obsessed, especially after visiting Paris with our kids. Some of our other favorite flavors are Pistachio Macarons, Raspberry Macarons, and Chocolate Macarons! Ooh-la-la Oreo Macarons! Cookies and cream macarons are the tasty little cookie you didn’t know you needed. With all of your favorite flavors of Oreo cookies and the creamy filling inside, you know this macaron recipe is going to be good! And if you love all things cookies and cream, be sure to check out my Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Easy Oreo Dip, and Oreo Cookies & Cream Cake!...

Sweet peas slathered in creamy white sauce, sprinkled with pearl onions. That’s it. No bake it, no slave for it. Perfect side dish contender for your holiday table. Yes those grandmas knew best and nailed it right… 🙂 This side dish is really quick. I can make it in under 20 minutes, even while the turkey and other dishes are in the oven. Sometimes, I make it a couple of days in advance and just reheat it before serving....

Apple Baked Oatmeal With an easy method and a nutritious ingredients list, this quick baked oatmeal is such a great option for easy breakfasts and snacks. The batter comes together quickly so you don’t have to spend hours getting it ready to bake, and the apple flavor comes from both applesauce and fresh apples. It’s kind of like an oatmeal apple bread as far as flavor and texture goes. It’s moist, fresh, and loaded with delicious flavors!...

I must admit, I was a few years into motherhood I even thought about making crispy baked chicken tenders at home because I was so sure that the kids wouldn’t think they were as good as the ones at school. But now that I’ve found an easy method that totally delivers, I can say with certainty that this is a favorite chicken recipes for kids. The exterior is perfectly crisp (even the underside due to baking them on a rack inside a baking sheet), it only takes about 15 minutes to bake, and the leftovers are delish too....

I’m all about easy, yummy recipes with extra nutrition, and these brownie bites totally fill the bill. I’ve made them a few times recently with my girls and they love pressing the button on the food processor and covering the kitchen with sprinkles. They think it’s so interesting that we can add beans to brownies and can’t really taste them. Though full disclosure: My girls love black beans in almost any form, so they may be predisposed to loving these!...