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Working in a restaurant also taught me to love REAL food. Up until that point, I pretty much relied on drive-thru windows and packaged foods you could pop in a toaster or microwave. I was a “picky” eater in the sense that I didn’t stray outside of my usual convenience foods. However, being a server changed all of that, because I had to taste the specials each night– and I realized that made-from-scratch salad dressings and sauces tasted way better than the bottled versions I was accustomed to....

After I filled my six popsicle moulds with the green monster smoothie, I realized that I went a bit overboard and made more smoothie mixture than I needed. Not wanting to waste any of the delicious concoction, I turned it into lunch. The result of my impromptu smoothie bowl was 15 minutes of bliss. I’m definitely a believer of green monster smoothies now! Give the green monster smoothie a try for St....

These Grilled Veggie Skewers are my go-to for a quick and easy side that’s packed with flavor. The veggies soak up a tangy balsamic marinade, then hit the grill to get that irresistible smoky char. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll want to put them on the menu every week! Olive Oil: You’ll need olive oil for the base of the marinade to coat the veggies evenly and prevent them from sticking to the grill....

We love taco parties and usually go between these ground beef tacos or our famous fish tacos. You can prep the taco meat and toppings in advance then everyone builds their own tacos. Talk about stress free entertaining. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. If you are looking to feed a smaller crowd, you can easily cut all of the ingredients in half and the taco meat will cook even faster....

Hawaiian Cheesecake Bites Recipe How decadent do these look? Piled high with flaky coconut and drizzled with rich chocolate sauce and caramel, I’ve been day dreaming about these Hawaiian cheesecake bites ever since I first made them. I recently discovered adding tinned pineapple to my cheesecakes and it really adds so much dimension to what would be a basic cake. I like to make this recipe when having guests over or going to a potluck as it’s small size is perfect for sharing with a group, and you can be sure you’ve made the perfect amount for everyone!...

In case you’re in the same boat, or just want some convenience meals on hand, here’s my solution to easy freezer meals. — Frozen Sauces. One of the easiest meals for me to throw together is one based around a delicious sauce, paired with vegetables and quinoa (or a grain-like substitute). Since sauces are quick and easy to prepare, I’ve been making double-batches all week and freezing the extras for future meals....

If you’re wondering what to do with lemons, making lemonade is our favorite way to use freshly-squeezed lemon juice along with our Lemon Bars and Easy Lemon Curd. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. Perfect Lemonade This lemonade recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. We’re sharing our favorite proportions of sugar to lemon juice, but you can add more sugar or more lemon juice to taste....

Ah, these slider buns, love me some slider buns. So here’s the thing. I’ve been wanting to make some sliders forever now, but I just can’t seem to find the right buns for them. Eventually I got tired of looking and waiting so I decided to make my own slider buns. Bread is bread, so it’s not that difficult. I’m so glad I did, these little slider buns turned out amazing, cute little buns, buttery, delicious and best of all only 91 calories a slider bun....

Easy Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe You know when you create something in the kitchen that can only be described as special? Well that’s how I felt as soon as I took a bite of this honey sesame chicken. Well what could be more perfect than crisp, crunchy, coated chicken coated in a sticky sweet and super flavorful honey sesame glaze? The answer – just in case you were wondering – is nothing....

We love homemade pastry recipes from our classic Apple Turnovers to the famous Baklava. If you’re also a fan of delicious pastries, this classic Scone recipe is a must-try! This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. Best Scone Recipe Scones can be served for breakfast or brunch, at an elegant afternoon tea (bridal or baby showers come to mind), or at a cozy gathering with family or friends....

Fresh corn is one of summer’s many produce offerings. Corn can be added to pretty much everything, from soup to salads. Some supermarkets sell corn on the cob already shucked and packaged in the refrigerated section, available at any time of the year. However, once you try freshly picked summer corn, it’s hard to go back. You’ll find it’s well worth the effort to pick fresh corn and remove the husks yourself....

Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken Recipe As promised, here’s my super easy butter chicken recipe that’s done in 30 minutes start to finish in an Instant Pot. If you’re wondering if your Instant Pot can develop flavors as rich and complex as other traditional methods, this Butter Chicken recipe is the perfect dish to deliver the answer. And the answer is yes. This butter chicken is super creamy and full of beautiful spices....

Pull Apart Bread My dear readers, through this blog I aim to bring to you a variety of different recipes and not get stuck on certain things. That’s just not who I am. So today I bring to you these skillet baked rolls buttered and seasoned with Italian seasoning. Because butter is what makes the world go round and round. No, seriously. It does. But look at that butter, its vibrant color....

I must admit that I find it difficult to write about myself. For the most part, my life is quite ordinary, so I struggle to come up with interesting things to say. That’s precisely the reason why I hated writing personal statements for school applications. These applications require that you unfold an interesting story, boast about your laurels, appear intelligent while maintaining a humble tone. A difficult task! Okay, time to get off my soap box and get back to the Liebster award....

My Mom’s Pork And Beans Recipe Ah, my Mom’s Pork and Beans, a timeless dish from my youth that never fails to bring a tide of nostalgia with each savory spoonful. The secret weapon in this comforting concoction? The smoked pork hock, whose rich, hearty flavors seep lovingly through every morsel, offering a warm embrace in the form of a robust, satisfying meal. Fast forward to today, and this dish isn’t just my past – it’s also a treasured part of the present, especially for my husband, who lights up at the mere mention of visiting my parents, knowing well that this beloved meal will grace our plates....

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. This is exactly the way my mom makes this classic Russian/Ukrainian pryaniki cookie. Its a healthier cookie (absolutely no butter, margarine or shortening!!) The glaze is infused with peppermint making these unique and scrumptious. Let your kids raid the cookie jar for a change! Pryaniki are soft cookies, almost like dense cake. It makes a wonderful tea cookie. Goes perfectly with a glass of milk....

Easy One Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe When it comes to cooking, sometimes the simplest dishes are the most delicious and that’s why one-pot meals have taken the culinary world by storm. They not only save precious time in the kitchen but they also deliver a delicious dinner without the hassle of multiple pots and pans. And this easy one pot sausage pasta is the ultimate one pot wonder offering the ideal combination of convenience and incredible flavor!...

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. My sister made this jello for our recent church potluck. I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet and the cream layer in the center was so perfectly smooth. I called her right after and wrote out the recipe in detail. I knew you all would love it too. It was my favorite dessert that day. The flavors came together really well....

Marbled Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe Meet your new favorite sweet treat- Peanut Butter Brownies! As a true dessert lover, I’ve always had a soft spot for gooey chocolatey brownies. But when you add a generous swirl of creamy peanut butter into the mix it takes these delectable treats to a whole new level of indulgence. The contrasting fudginess of the chocolate brownie to the nuttiness of the smooth peanut butter creates the perfect mixture of indulgent taste and texture that leaves you longing for more....

Be sure to serve these with my easy Honey Mustard Sauce and try my Popcorn Chicken recipe next! Beer Battered Fried Pickles Although you can substitute water for the beer in this recipe, Epicurious explains the benefits of using beer in batters such as this. To sum it up: the usage of beer helps create an airy, extra-crispy batter. This is due to the combination of carbon dioxide, foaming agents, and alcohol in the beer....