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Foods for Sickness It can be so hard to help kids when they are sick, especially when they don’t yet have the tools to tell us exactly what they want or need. And since there are certain foods that can help us feel at least a little better—nourished, comforted, and soothed—when we don’t feel our best, I am putting them all together here for you to reference. You’ll find foods to help soothe a sore throat, easy meals to make when appetite is low, drinks for kids, soups for kids, and easy snacks....

I heard about candied bacon years ago and initially thought, “no way”. But then it was on the menu at a brunch I attended at a food conference in Oregon and obviously I had to try it. As soon as I took my first bite I understood what all the fuss was about. It’s a wonderful salty, sweet, savory bite that will blow your tastebuds out of the water! If you are a bacon lover, be sure to dive into some of my other favorite bacon snacks like Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers, Bacon Green Onion Deviled Eggs, & Bacon Ranch Cheeseball....

My kids begged me to make more of these as soon as the first batch was gone. Cheesecake stuffed strawberries are one of my favorite treats to take to a book club or bunco night because they not only taste amazing but they also looks impressive on any serving platter thanks to their delicious combination of fresh berries and rich cheesecake filling. The fresh, ripe strawberries adds a refreshing twist to the traditional cheesecake, making it perfect for warmer months or as a light dessert after a heavy meal....

Inspired by the rice at the popular restaurant, Chipotle, it is the ideal easy side dish for so many of your favorite Mexican mains, as well as a variety of other dishes. A brief chop and a quick squeeze are all you need… In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a big time rice eater. From a variety of sides like Saffron Rice and Arroz con Gandules, to more elaborate rice based mains like Katsudon and Jollof Rice, I can’t get enough of the grain....

When it comes to a traditional caramel cake, the real star of the show is the decadent caramel icing that is cooked on the stovetop to slowly caramelize the sugars and evaporated milk. Shortcut versions use brown sugar and powdered sugar to mimic the result, but they just aren’t the same as the real thing. This is the best caramel cake because it’s made the old-fashioned way from scratch! The homemade caramel icing is used to fill layers of tender yellow cake before pouring the rest over the top of the cake and frosting the sides with rustic, smooth swirls....

I had a reader with eagle eyes spot this side dish in a recipe I posted years ago for pan seared lamb chops and message me asking to share it. Somehow I have never posted this simple traditional recipe that is one of my favorite German foods! We ate plenty of gurkensalat (aka, this creamy, dreamy, herby cucumber salad) when we lived in Germany. This dish is a staple in German cuisine, and has been enjoyed by families for generations....

These Crispy Air Fryer potatoes are the perfect side dish for any meal, from busy weeknights to special occasion dinners. The air fryer cooks them so they are soft and creamy on the inside and crisp and delicious on the outside. We love them with Pan Seared Salmon, Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs, or a Grilled Ribeye Steak. Really they go with almost anything and you can change up the seasoning mix to use your favorite spice blend for a different flavor profile....

We love making popsicles, and these orange Creamsicles are one of our favorites. They require super simple ingredients and have a nice mix of nutrients including vitamin C, protein, and probiotics for kids. They are a refreshing dessert for kids or toddler snack, and are simple enough to make with the kids’ help. It’s basically like making a toddler smoothie and then finding a little patience to wait while they freeze....

There’s something about baking in a donut pan that really can turn basic ingredients into something super special. I love making these Apple Donuts since they are easy, are made with mostly ingredients I tend to have in the house, and totally thrill the kids. And while these aren’t super sweet donut-shop-style donuts, they have delicious apple cinnamon flavor and are fun to serve for breakfast or snack. You can top with a little cinnamon-sugar so they taste and look more like Apple Cider Donuts too....

If crunchy, juicy Italian bruschetta is one of your favorite appetizers, then you are going to love this easy bruschetta chicken recipe. It’s perfect for quick, busy weeknight dinners, but it looks good enough to serve at a dinner party for special occasions too! Bruschetta is a classic Italian appetizer that’s traditionally served on slices of crusty bread. It’s pronounced “broo-sketta,” not “broo-schetta.” In Italian, the ‘ch’ letters are pronounced like a ‘k,’ but this is frequently mispronounced in the United States....

Care Package Ideas Sending a care package is one of my favorite things to do for a friend in need, a family who has had a new baby, or a loved one going through a life transition. It’s also a great way to stay in touch with a college student or out-of-town family member. You can easily pack up a box with a fun care package ideas to send through the mail, or you can drop one off locally....

I love and adore a good, moist slice of cream cheese pound cake. It’s buttery and rich with a dense, tight crumb that is just perfect paired with some macerated strawberries or other fresh fruit and some homemade whipped cream. Or drizzle my raspberry coulis sauce over it to be extra fancy. Pound cake is a traditional, iconic dessert that is actually really simple to make, but too often folks settle for the frozen pound cake from the freezer section of the grocery store....

Dirty rice is one of the original one-pot wonders where you cook the meat and rice in the same pot to save yourself dirtying extra dishes. It’s made even easier if you have an Instant Pot, so I’m including instructions for either method below. Whether you serve it as a side dish alongside some roasted chicken, blackened salmon, or fried catfish, or serve it on its own with some cornbread for a simple meal, you can’t go wrong with dirty rice for dinner....

This cozy Butternut Squash Soup is an easy recipe made with simple ingredients, and it’s also healthy and nourishing. It’s also great way to use up fall butternut squash and any other veggies you have that are about to go to waste. This creamy soup is perfect for any time of year when you want some comfort food but don’t want to compromise on nourishment. Its creamy texture and sweet flavor, coming from the natural sweetness of seasonal vegetables, make it a classic fall favorite in our family....

I know that most of us so often make do with what we have on hand when it comes to cooking and this smoothie for kids makes the most of that by giving you lots of options. You can start with the main smoothie recipe, then change and customize it to add nutrients, flavors, other fruits, and even veggies as you like. It’s sort of like a choose your own adventure smoothie experience!...

It seems like there is often a point in the summer when we wind up with too much zucchini—and now that I know this zucchini pasta sauce is so easy to make, it’s no longer a problem! It’s one of our favorite zucchini recipes because it’s easy to make, easy to freeze, and is a delish option to toss with pasta. It has a mellow flavor that you can vary with the addition of basil and/or lemon, and it’s great with extra Parmesan....

Christmas Cookies for Kids Baking with kids is one of my very favorite holiday traditions and I love doing one each weekend as we head towards the holidays. This list includes my go-to easy cookies for kids—whether you want to make them together or you want to just make a batch to share with the kids. TIP: Each of these is designed to be very straight-forward to make and they all contain a little less sugar than the traditional cookies....

Funfetti Pancakes Yes, you could pick up a box of funfetti cake mix at the store, but when it’s SO easy to make a batch at home—with ingredients you probably already have on hand—I say why not! Plus, this sprinkle pancake recipe lets you make adjustments for preferences and allergies as needed, and it’s so darn delicious. The “Funfetti” part of this recipe comes from the addition of sprinkles right at the end of mixing the batter....

Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas I hope that every mother (or care provider, actually) has the chance to feel properly appreciated and celebrated throughout the year. And even more so on special holidays. These recipe ideas are some of my favorite ways to celebrate at the table with delicious flavors and easy methods. These Mother’s Day Brunch ideas can all be shared with the kids, too, as I know that this holiday is often one that we spend together with our families....

Easy Peach Crisp Recipe This Peach Crisp is one of my go-to summer desserts. It makes a lot, is delicious as leftovers—I love to eat it for breakfast with yogurt the following day—and it’s easy to pull together. You can serve it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you want. You can also make this dessert in the morning of the day you plan to serve it and leave it at room temperature for a dessert that will be ready whenever you need it....