Posts

We love mini handheld cheesecakes every bit as much as the full-sized versions. These Mini Lemon Blueberry Cheesecakes marry the classic dessert of creamy cheesecake with the convenience of individual servings with minimal mess while eating! Quick and easy to make, they’re the ideal addition to any event, from holiday gatherings to summer picnics. There’s no need to worry about slicing or serving a whole cheesecake when you can offer these elegant individual portions—you can even serve them with different toppings or garnishes to suit everyone’s preference!...

This easy weeknight dinner has been a favorite of my kids ever since I started making it when we lived in Iowa. It’s a version of the Sloppy Joe Pockets in my cookbook Dinnertime SOS, but with more veggies. The ingredient list is so simple and there’s no need to mince garlic or add brown sugar, which makes it even easier! You can serve the cooked mixture as sandwiches on hamburger buns or brioche rolls, next to a buttered roll, or even stuffed into a bun to make it easier for toddlers to eat....

Pancake Muffins My family loves pancakes and would eat them multiple times a week…if I had the stamina to make them that often. Thankfully, this method for baking pancake batter in a muffin tin helps me pull it off—and even easily make a batch ahead of time for easy weekday breakfasts. You can make these with store-bought pancake mix or you can stir together a quick homemade option. And really anything goes as far as the flavors go, though I’m going to share our favorite 6 options....

Weekend at the Beisers’ in summer time is when Jason gets to grill to his hearts content. I’m afraid I don’t know how to grill, so whatever barbecuing and grilling you will see in my posts its all my husband’s sweat and love. I distinctively remember my mother in law’s words in our early stages of living together… “Alpana, there are some things that are better not to learn. Leave those to the man of the house....

Baby Rice Cereal I love to start solids with a range of flavors, textures, and nutrients, and whole grains are a great option to include as a first food. With my first two kids, I didn’t even think of making rice cereal at home, but once I learned how easy it is—and how well it stores and how much less it can cost—I became a big fan! This easy recipe is for a single-grain infant cereal that’s rich in B vitamins and zinc and is naturally gluten-free....

You know those huge, fabulous gourmet caramel apples at Disneyland? Those stunning orbs of caramel & chocolate with nuts & candy never fail to lure me in when I’m walking past the candy shop on Main Street. The scent of that fresh caramel is possibly the most incredible aroma on earth. They are one of my favorite Disney treats along with the Jolly Holiday Raspberry Rose Macarons. When Paul and I were dating back in college, one of our favorite things to do was go to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and buy a caramel apple to share....

Is 10 minutes of your life worth the flavor explosion you will see in your recipes? This famous New Orleans spice blend will add those delicious and bold Southern flavors to any meal. Once I have this magic sprinkle ready, I start thinking about all the tasty dishes I can jazz up with it. Jambalaya, gumbo, blackened fish, or shrimp are just a few ideas. And it’s not just for Southern food....

This recipe for Pie Crust = buttery, flaky perfection! Every year we hold a Pi Day pie party and every Thanksgiving I’m always in charge of making pies. Pie is my favorite, really it is. I just love a good, flaky, buttery pie crust filled with wonderful seasonal fruit. I am one of those people who would take pie over cake, any day of the week. My husband Paul is the opposite....

This summer I urge you to take advantage of fresh seasonal produce and make your own salsa! It’s one of those things that is so simple to do, and the results are sure to blow you out of the water. There is nothing like a freshly made salsa. It doesn’t taste like the stuff from the jar. Not even the good, stupidly expensive tiny jars of salsa can hold a candle to it....

How to Cook Cauliflower There are so many ways to make delicious cauliflower, but I’m going to focus on cooking cauliflower on the stove, roasting it in the oven, and turning it into cauliflower rice since those are the most common (and easy) ways. These methods are simple and have the benefit of also being versatile when it comes to adding different flavors to keep things interesting. I love cauliflower because it has a mellow flavor and it stores well in the fridge and freezer....

Oatmeal with Fruit We have a regular breakfast rotation in our house to simplify morning meals and Tuesdays and Thursdays are oatmeal days. We often have raisin oatmeal, but sometimes we go for strawberry, blueberry or banana—and since the method is so simple and versatile with all kinds of fruit, I wanted to share it. Oatmeal is an incredibly affordable breakfast option, it’s easy to keep on hand in the pantry, and it’s simple to customize it for everyone in your family....

How to Store Apples I am forever looking for easy ways to store produce so I can cut up more than one serving at a time and to keep leftovers fresh to reduce food waste. Apples usually brown so easily after slicing—but a few easy tricks can totally eliminate that issue. That means we can slice apples for a whole week at the same time and send them to school or preschool without worrying they’ll turn brown....

Colorful veggies and Levantine flavors like Kalamata olives, feta, and pine nuts along with nutty chewy pearled couscous and tossed with a fresh lemon Dijon vinaigrette. It’s a salad chameleon at its best!! It could be your lunch or weeknight dinner. Or it could be your “oh look at that salad” at all the potlucks or get togethers this coming summer. Hopefully they are coming our ways soon. Yes… they are!...

Eating chicken for dinner too often can get boring unless you change it up from time to time! Some of our other favorite ways to change up our standard chicken dinner are Chicken Flautas, White Chicken Chili, and Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. My oldest daughter’s best friend’s mom is from Japan and came to the U.S. to go to college. So while we were at the park one day I asked her what was one of her favorite Japanese foods that she made for her kids....

Spring hits and I’m all about the lemon desserts all season long and on through the summer! I love a good tart, lemon treat and have shared many of my favorites on here! Don’t miss my Lemon Meringue Pie, Fresh Lemon Ice Cream, or my Lemon Macarons. If you have been looking for a light, fluffy, made-from-scratch lemon cake, you’re in the right spot. This one is definitely a keeper with it’s moist crumb and all-natural lemon flavor that doesn’t rely on lemon extract or pudding mixes for a citrus boost....

This bowl of Meatball Minestrone Soup is a huge upgrade over the famous Olive Garden Minestrone soup. It retains the rich classic Italian flavors jam packed with veggies, beans and pasta in heavily seasoned tomato broth. And then you get to bite into delicious parmesan flavored chicken meatballs. All good… so, so good. Try making your all time Italian classic soup with meatballs. You might never go back to the plain veggie version again… Whatever the time of the year, a GIANT pot of soup is always welcome at the Beisers’....

Salmon is one of our favorite fish and we eat it at least a few times a month. Some of our other favorite salmon recipes ae Blackened Salmon Tacos, Smoked Salmon Chowder, and Grilled Soy Brown Sugar Salmon in Foil. This is another one of our favorite Japanese-restaurant menu items that we tend to order, if not getting sushi. But miso salmon is also one that I have made for dinner for my family multiple times over the years....

Old Fashioned Divinity Recipe This old fashioned divinity candy recipe is a sweet treat I love to make and share during the holiday season, and I’m guessing fewer people have heard of it, much less tasted it before, unless you grew up in the South. Old fashioned divinity is a vintage recipe for a meringue-based candy that I would describe as somewhere between fudge (even though there is no chocolate in most divinity, it is often even referred to as Divinity Fudge), nougat, and marshmallow....

Bursting with fresh fruit flavor, these easy Peach Popsicles are a total hit with the kids. They are easy to make with fresh or frozen fruit—or you can use canned fruit if needed—and are a perfect way to cool off, work as a hydration food, and are a yummy toddler snack on for a vitamin-rich treat. We love having popsicles on hand to change up how we eat produce, and I often use them as a way to prevent food waste....

I’ve had a few requests for a version of my Chocolate Chip Granola Bars with a smidge more protein, and since peanut butter granola bars are a favorite among many, this is a perfect option. With easy-to-find ingredients, a super simple method, and seriously yummy flavor, this healthy snack to make is filling and nutritious. You also don’t need to worry about the bars losing their shape at room temperature since they hold up so well....