Posts

We love a good pasta dinner! Some of our other favorites are Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, 30 Minute Cajun Pasta with Sausage and Peppers, and Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet (with Video!) You’ll love this Easy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe I don’t know where chicken spaghetti came from in the first place, but I know I first saw it in the Pioneer Woman‘s cookbook years ago. This chicken spaghetti casserole recipe, along with her chicken pot pie recipe, were my two favorites from that book....

If you can’t resist the lure of this trio of flavors, you’ll also love our Rolo Pretzels, Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars, and Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods. When it comes to candy, I can say no to pretty much anything from the store any time. It holds no power over me. But homemade candy on the other hand? That’s a whole different story. Especially when the homemade candy in question involves chocolate, caramel, and pretzels....

I worked on this recipe for weeks in an attempt to make a granola bar that is full of easy to find ingredients, doesn’t rely on peanut butter or eggs to hold together (for allergy purposes and also to ensure they are school-safe for peanut-free schools). I finally found a great mixture that is easy to make, easy to bake, uses affordable ingredients, and stores so well. And it’s just SO yummy!...

I grew up eating frozen chocolate covered bananas and I’ve been having so much fun recreating the treat for my own kids. We love making these as a fun summer snack or as a way to use up ripe bananas whenever we find ourselves with too many…and I don’t have the energy to bake them into Banana Bread Muffins or Lower Sugar Banana Bread! These are easy to make and they freeze quickly—so the kids won’t need to wait hours to enjoy them....

Looking for more Halloween inspiration? Be sure to check out our Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars, Halloween Chocolate Blossom Sprinkle Cookies, and Halloween Chocolate Cherry Hand Pies. How often do you take a turn as room mom for your elementary-aged kids? It’s so much work! Somehow I keep saying it’s my last year and then getting sucked back in when school starts up again in the fall. Last year for my oldest daughter’s holiday party, I picked up some Lofthouse cookies from the store....

I love the mixture of crunchy and creamy textures in these bars, as well as the chocolatey, nutty, and vanilla flavors! They are one of the BEST no-bake treats and perfect for taking to potlucks or adding to cookie plates during the holidays. If you have never had one, a Nanaimo Bar is a classic Canadian no-bake treat from British Columbia made with three delicious layers that are full of textures and flavors....

I confess that I will often skip dessert and go back for more rolls instead. They are that good! If you love rolls too, then you might also want to check out our Lion House Dinner Rolls or these Homemade Potato Rolls. There is nothing as good as freshly baked rolls right when they come out of the oven. When I was a kid, I always used to sneak through the kitchen when the rolls my mom and aunts had made where coming out of the oven so I could snatch one off the pan....

Creamy Carrot Soup I’m all for serving up veggies in new ways because you just never know what might work with kids. This Carrot Soup is one I like to make when the weather is damp and dreary, and when I’m in the mood for some nutritious comfort food. It’s easy, flavorful, and fun to serve to the kids in a few different ways. This creamy soup can be served as a standalone vegetarian meal or as a side dish....

They’re a staple, along with rice, with all of their famously flavorful main dishes. But don’t worry, these black beans are so easy. Just a few pantry staples is all you need to get this Caribbean classic on the table… Wherever you go in Central America and Latin Caribbean countries, beans always seem to find their way onto the menu. Of course we all know Mexico’s famous Refried Beans. And in our home, we just can’t get enough of Puerto Rico’s ultra flavorful Habichuelas Guisadas....

I am most definitely not the most talented decorator of cakes, cookies, and baked goods. But I still like treats that are fun and festive for celebrating the holiday season! These Santa hat brownie bites are right up my alley with fresh fruit, chocolate, and minimal effort to achieve a Christmasy feel without any stress over ending up with a Pinterest fail. Looking for more fun holiday desserts that are quick and easy to make?...

This graham cracker icebox cake recipe takes me immediately back to my childhood—my mom made Ice Box Cake regularly and I have such fond memories of it. I love to recreate recipes I had as a kid for my own kiddos, and this is a great dish to share because it’s incredibly straightforward. All you need is graham crackers and pudding. You can choose ones that work for food allergies or your preferences, and you can even make the whole thing ahead of time....

Halloween Dinner Ideas I know that there is a lot of pressure on us parents to make every holiday meal an artistic creation or to go all out in all of the ways. But honestly? You don’t have to if you don’t want to or if it’s just too much. It’s possible to have fun, filling meals that are easy to make and that help fill those tummies before heading out for spooky fun....

Kale Pesto On its own, kale can have a very strong flavor that is not always very kid-friendly, but using it in pesto is a genius way to lock in the nutrients it contains with seriously yummy flavor. I like to pair it with some basil so you get the classic flavor of basil pesto, too. This is a favorite way to serve greens to kids, and it stores really well in the fridge or freezer if you want to make it ahead....

No-Bake Energy Bites There are many times during the week when I need a quick after school snack for my kids and myself, so I love to have a batch of these quick energy balls in the fridge ready and waiting. The beauty of this recipe is that the finished snack stores so well. And each one is sweet enough to taste like a treat—without any added sweetener—while also providing a nice dose of energy....

We went to Mackinac Island, Michigan not long ago, which is famous for its incredible and numerous fudge shops. I basically tried every flavor I could get my hands on while we were there because I love the stuff! It was consistently all really, really delicious fudge that had a wonderful texture to bite into, and then it just melted in your mouth. Peanut butter fudge was one of the flavors that surprised me....

Making Shrimp Tacos at home is an easy way to change up your family’s favorite tacos and they are so darn quick! The family dinner is filled with protein from the shrimp and vitamin A and C from the bell peppers—yet the flavors are mild enough for even the kids at the table. I love this method since it’s easy, but also because of how versatile it is. I can use whichever kind of shrimp I want, which means I can look for the ones that are on sale....

Vegan Banana Muffins Banana muffins are a staple in many houses—and they can be in yours, too, even if your toddler is egg-free, gluten-free, and/or nut-free. The littles may even love helping to mash the bananas! These mini Vegan Banana Muffins use chia seeds in place of eggs, which add a moist texture as well as a dose of healthy fats and fiber. I love this recipe because it’s easy to make and it packs all of the flavor you expect in classic banana muffins....

Gourmet cookies and soda shops have been big in Utah for years. There’s Chip, Crave, Crumbl, Twisted Sugar, Ruby Snap, Dirty Dough and more. But Swig might have started the whole thing off with it’s famous dirty Dr. Pepper and frosted soft sugar cookie combo. Our favorite version actually draws from many of these cookie shops, using a base that’s more Swig or Crave (it’s actually from Crave’s published version that they use) and a frosting that’s more Crumbl with a little almond extract for flavoring to achieve what is, for us, the perfect sugar cookie....

Gobi Manchurian one of my favorite Indian-Chinese dishes, and always a favorite to order when out. It’s even better to make at home! Despite the fact that it’s traditionally fried, I wouldn’t call it crispy because the battered cauliflower does absorb the sauce. It turns into a lovely chewy texture with a tender yet toothsome cauliflower center. Indian Chinese food is a sub-cuisine of Indian cooking. It’s thought to have originated from Chinese immigrants in Kolkota (a city in West Bengal) over 200 years ago....

I’m always torn on whether to boil my corn on the cob or grill it. Both have their merits and I use both methods about equally so I figured it was high time I shared my grilled corn on the cob approach. Grilled corn on the cob is always popular at family barbecues, summer picnics, and festive gatherings. The smoky flavor and char marks from the grill enhance the natural sweetness of the corn, making it a crowd-pleaser every time!...