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When sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb join forces, they create the most incredible jammy filling that is basically summer in one bite. I love this combo in any form, whether that’s strawberry rhubarb pie, strawberry rhubarb coffee cake, or this strawberry rhubarb cobbler. This easy fruit dessert recipe is one of our favorite rhubarb recipes. This easy strawberry rhubarb cobbler recipe with its golden brown crust should be at the top of your list for a classic dessert to make the next time you find yourself with an abundance of rhubarb....

The perfect carrot cake should be pillowy and soft, well spiced and fragrant. It should be sturdy enough to hold up to stacking for a layer cake, and frosted with cream cheese frosting. My ideal carrot cake is full of juicy, freshly grated carrot and contain plenty of chopped walnuts. No raisins are invited to this cake party! This cake demands generous slices and big forkfuls. Consider yourself warned. Serve it for a spring treat, birthday parties, or just because–just because cakes may be my favorites, we are all always deserving!...

I know that we’re all looking for toddler meals that can be made quickly, so this list includes 15 of our favorite easy weeknight dinners for families. Each can be enjoyed by both the kids and the adults at the table and are versatile to help you use pantry and fridge staples you might have on hand. Each recipe here can be made in less than 30 minutes and can be easily rounded out with a simple side....

Before I tell you that serving family style meals will solve all your problems—because I know you won’t believe me—let me say I’ve been serving meals in this way for over a decade. My oldest daughter was fed this way at her daycare and I adopted it since it seemed to work so well for her. And then I read about why this method works so well in the words of experts including Ellyn Satter and I was totally hooked....

Banana Cupcakes When we celebrated my middle kiddo’s first birthday, I wanted to make her a kids birthday cake recipe or cupcakes that included some of her favorite foods. She loved banana and she loved dairy, so Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting it was! I also wanted to make them with less sugar than a standard cupcake, so I worked on this recipe for the occasion—and still make them many years later....

Birthday Treats for School Bringing in birthday treats to share with a class is one of the more exciting parts of the school year, and these options will help narrow down the entire grocery store to make choosing one more manageable. I’m including store-bought birthday treats, since they are required at many schools to reduce allergy concerns, as well as some homemade options and non-food treats. Always be sure to check with your school to find out their specific requirements for birthday treats....

1st Birthday Smash Cake Recipe This healthy first birthday cake is made with whole grains and natural sweeteners and is a fun way to celebrate the big day! The cake tastes like maple and vanilla, with a slightly tangy yogurt frosting. The tender crumb of the smash cake is paired with a yogurt-based frosting for results that are as delicious as they are fun for the kids to smash. This is a perfect first birthday cake option since it’s sweetened with maple syrup and has plenty of flavor and healthy fats....

Poor fruitcake. It has been the butt of many Christmas jokes for years. Traditional fruitcake has been around since the Middle Ages, although the European versions are more like fruit-studded breads (think Italian pannetonne or German stollen). British and American fruitcake are more like the dense cake-like loaves that most of us are more familiar with today that have a reputation for being bricklike, indestructible, and lasting for years. We’re skipping the alcohol in these cookies that were the surprise hit of my holiday baking this year, although some folks add a bit of bourbon or whisky to the batter....

Ok, this is it, the perfect summertime meal–easy and bursting with flavor. Minimal cook time and delicious hot or cold. Hungry friends, meet these gochujang peanut noodles with patty pan squash! If you like quick and simple dinners then this recipe is calling your name! These spicy, slurpy noodles are so easy to throw it barely counts as a recipe. It’s a Korean-twist on Thai peanut noodles. Which led me to wonder if peanut noodles are actually a Thai recipe or if they are just an Americanized Thai dish similar to say, Chop Suey in American Chinese Cuisine?...

We are always looking for ways to liven up plain old chicken! Some of our other favorites are using this Greek Marinade on chicken or making Smoky Chicken Tinga Tacos! Have you ever made chicken thighs on the grill? Marinated grilled chicken is basically a summer staple for us and we make it at least once a week all summer long using all sorts of different marinades, which are a great secret weapon to have in your culinary arsenal....

Our kids love when we Grill Whole Fish! One of my kids’ favorite things to eat for dinner is a “whole fish”. In fact, this is what my oldest requested for our back-to-school feast this past year, specifically mentioning that she wanted it to have the head and tail on! She’s all about presentation, I guess. I know that lots of kids aren’t that into seafood but I feel like grilling a whole fish is a great way to get them excited about it....

Muffins are perfect for baking and freezing so you always have something on hand if you are running late. Some others you might like are our Easy Streusel-Topped Raspberry Muffins, Easy Apple Oatmeal Muffins, Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Muffins, and One-Bowl Easy Banana Nut Muffins. Morning Glory Muffins I’ve mentioned before on the blog how much I love muffins for breakfast. They are just so tasty and the perfect, sweet little treat alongside some scrambled eggs, fruit, and a glass of milk....

Making hummus at home can seem daunting, but it’s actually really quick and easy to make. And we can even make it without tahini, which contains sesame and is a common food allergen that many kids are unable to eat. But this creamy hummus tastes like the real thing and is a great vegetarian protein option for lunches and snacks. (And since tahini can be a little hard to find and isn’t always an ingredient that everyone has, this makes the prospect of homemade hummus a little less intimidating....

And if oatmeal for breakfast isn’t your thing, maybe you would like these Homemade Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping, Fluffy Toasted Coconut Pancakes, or Cinnamon French Toast instead! In this post, I’m sharing my favorite basic oatmeal recipe so you can know how to make oatmeal so it actually tastes good. Ditch the packets of instant oatmeal with their fake flavors and enjoy oatmeal made the old-fashioned way! How to Make Oatmeal Taste Good I’ll admit that I hated oatmeal as a kid....

How to Meal Plan Taking the time to do a little prep work ahead of the week can help so much when it comes time to cook. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen doing full meal prep. There are some simple strategies you can use to work smarter and reduce your stress. TIP: These all align with my general approach to planning meals, which you can see in my monthly meal planning posts....

Finger steaks make great party food! Some of our other favorite party bites for game days are Homemade Mozzarella Sticks, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers, and Slow Cooker Little Smokies in Honey Garlic BBQ Sauce. When it comes to Idaho-specific foods, we all know about potatoes, but not as many people have heard of finger steaks. When I was researching foods that best represent Idaho for my American Eats series, I just knew I had to include these finger steaks, especially when I read this article proclaiming their greatness!...

Finger Foods for Toddlers When little ones want to feed themselves, which often happens soon after starting solids, it’s a perfect time to introduce healthy, fresh foods to make the most of their enthusiasm. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, meats, fish, beans, and more are easy finger foods for kids that are often super easy to prepare and easy for the kids to pick up and eat. In this post you will find lists of recommended foods for toddlers, suggestions for how to cut and prepare them, and images of examples of what those foods may look like as your child grows....

Do you love making easy, no-bake desserts? If you’re into chocolate desserts, try my No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake or my Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies. Or if fruity flavors are more your thing, my Easy No-Bake Blueberry Delight and No-Bake Sour Cream Lemon Pie will definitely hit the spot! What is your favorite cheesecake? It’s so hard to choose just one! New York? Strawberry? Chocolate? Salted Caramel? I think I’d have a slice of each!...

Roast Beef Tenderloin is the centerpiece of many festive tables during the holiday season, but it will elevate any occasion at any time of the year. Whether it’s a Christmas dinner, a cozy family celebration, or an elegant dinner party, this easy recipe delivers a juicy and tender mouthwatering experience. It’s easy to prepare but promises a luxurious texture and flavor, making it a great recipe choice for those seeking to impress guests with minimal effort....

It’s basically tender, juicy beef simmered in this amazing tomato-wine sauce with veggies. I love how it’s cooked low and slow for hours until it’s so tender, you can shred it with just a fork. It’s finished with briny olives and capers to spike the flavors up a notch. You are in for one serious treat when eating a heapful of Ropa Vieja along with some rice, black beans and tostones....