Hi friends, Halloween is Saturday, and the costumes are settled at our house. This year I'm sending out a bumble bee and a hot dog. I didn't ask too many questions about the hot dog. Some decisions you just go with. The snacks, on the other hand, are still up for grabs, so I rounded up my four favorite Halloween recipes. Three for the party, and one for the morning after, when the candy pile on the counter starts to feel like a problem. Spooky Halloween Charcuterie Board The star here is a...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Hello! There's a certain kind of night this time of year when all I want is a warm casserole, a cozy blanket and a movie. So this week I've got two new ones for you, both the kind of comfort food I crave this time of year. Easy Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef For your next couch-and-movie night. This is comfort food at its finest and one of my favorite examples of a classic Midwestern hotdish. A hearty, meaty filling (a lot like a shepherd's pie) topped with cheese and rows of crispy...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Hi friends, happy Thursday! Ever feel like lasagna but have zero desire to actually make it (especially on a Thursday night!)? Lasagna is one of my favorite dishes, but let's face it, it's a lot of work: boiling the noodles, making the sauce, building all the layers. Who has the time for it? Enter lasagna soup. My new favorite weeknight indulgence. Crockpot Lasagna Soup I made this one night when I was craving a big plate of lasagna, and it delivered in ways I did not expect. It has that same...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Hi friends, Football season is in full swing, and whether you're hosting a crowd, heading to a tailgate or just watching from the couch, the snacks matter. (And, tbh, some of us just might care about the snacks more than the score. No judgment from me!) So this week I've got two things for you: a brand new dip and a big list of game day favorites. Easy Texas Caviar This one takes about 10 minutes and zero cooking. Black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, a little pineapple for sweetness, and a...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, If you asked my family what they want for dinner, spaghetti and meatballs would win almost every time. Italian food is in near-constant rotation at our house, and meatballs still get requested more than just about anything else. So I made a version that's a little lighter, but still super delicious. Baked Turkey Meatballs GET THE RECIPE! Turkey meatballs have a reputation for being dry. But man, are these baby moist! A little grated zucchini and some blended cottage cheese keep...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, September always feels like such a funny in-between month to me. We still have zucchini and tomatoes hanging around, and the afternoons can still feel very much like summer...but the mornings are getting cooler, the kids are fully back into their routines, and suddenly I'm starting to think about soup, casseroles, and baking something warm on the weekend. I'm not quite ready to go all-in on pumpkin everything yet. But I am ready for food that's just a little cozier. And this Cheesy...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, How is it already Labor Day weekend? I know summer doesn't *officially* end for a few more weeks, but Labor Day always feels like the turning point to me. School is back, the evenings are getting a little shorter, and I'm already starting to see pumpkin everything creeping into the stores. But I'm not quite ready yet. We still have peaches. We still have sweet corn. And we still have a perfectly good long weekend ahead of us. So if you're planning a cookout, having a few friends...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Is anyone else feeling that late-August shift? Summer isn’t technically over, but around here we’re already settling back into school schedules, practices, homework, and all the other things that suddenly make 5:00 feel a whole lot busier. (How does it always come so quickly? Glad to be back in a schedule, but...it's always a little bittersweet 😢.) So I’m firmly back in easy dinner mode. These Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks have been a favorite at our house for a long time, and...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It's officially peach season here in Colorado, and I came home from our local peach festival with a LOT of peaches. Once they finally ripened, I knew exactly what I wanted to make first: Peach Pizza with Burrata and Prosciutto. And you guys. This one is SO. GOOD. Fresh peaches are layered over mozzarella and baked until warm and juicy, then the whole thing gets topped with creamy burrata, salty prosciutto, and fresh basil. A drizzle of hot honey gives it a little kick, and I highly...
3 months ago • 1 min read