Archive

As Easter quickly approaches, forgive me small nod to a Lenten tradition that reaches far and wide in this part of the world. Fish fries are a Friday tradition in the Midwest - before, during, and after Lent - but perhaps this last Friday of Lent calls for a special twist on fried fish!

Bring a bit of Italian dessert to the breakfast or brunch table with tender crepes filled with lemon cannoli cream and tangy blueberry sauce. Perfect as an Easter brunch showcase, you can also make the blueberry sauce and lemon cannoli cream in advance!

The next time you make turkey or chicken, chop those leftovers and get ready for a quick Thai soup that's packed with noodles, coconut milk, and as much spice as your heart desires. It's also designed to have dinner ready in about a half hour!

Make steak work for midweek meals when you sear it beautifully and crown it with decadent miso butter mushrooms. The best part? It can be on the table in a half hour. Pour a glass of wine and get your cast iron skillet ready!

When you put together a batch (or two) of muffins and freeze the results, you set yourself up for the delightful experience of regular, warm muffins with a morning cup of coffee. Get ready for your favorite new tradition!

While technically a dip, this tzatziki inspired dish seems spoon-worthy and ideal for serving at large gatherings or just digging into with warm pita for a perfect warmer weather lunch or snack. Add shredded chicken and you might even have lunch for all summer!

When there's not a lot of time for making or eating dinner, potsticker soup is here to help. From start to finish, it takes 20 minutes to make and my family will inhale it in minutes and be back for seconds!

When dinner needs to be ready quickly, but you are wanting something elegant and inspiring as spring continues to bloom, look no further than a delightful garlic butter shrimp recipe that can be on the table in 20 minutes.

Versatile and simple, these scones are equally perfect for starring as the foundation of a great sandwich or being paired with afternoon tea. You can even make a batch (or three) and keep them in the freezer until you're ready to enjoy them.

Sheet pan dinners are popular and it's no wonder: you mix a bunch of ingredients on a baking sheet, pop them into the oven, and dinner bakes itself. You can put together a salad or some other side, but the cleverness of it all is that you can just make the contents of that pan dinner!

When you make a big pork roast or carnitas or even ribs and have leftovers, consider a rich, creamy, spicy chowder that tastes like tacos in a bowl. You'll be finding yourself coming up with reasons to roast that 10 pound roast just to make this amazing chowder!

Grab your pressure cooker and get dinner on the table in 20 minutes with a creamy chicken dish that's out of this world. Add in some tender green beans and make it your one dish miracle meal to help you get through the week.

Build an elaborate and beautiful noodle bowl that is delicious, colorful, and comforting just in time for Mother Nature to leave us wondering if we'll ever see spring. Hang in there … it's on its way and we're helping you stay warm while we wait for it to arrive!

I have a tradition of having a warm muffin with my second cup of coffee most days of the week. How do I manage that daily? I make them ahead of time, freeze them, and then pop one in the microwave when it's time to pour my second cup!

When trying to eat healthier, rather than swearing off meat entirely or deciding carbs are the devil, let's take a more moderate approach that chooses menus that embrace plant-based foods without sacrificing flavor, texture, and color without zapping all of your time.

Every winter, I make French onion soup at least once. And while this endeavor takes over an hour, it's worth every moment when I let my spoon land in that bowl of soup perfection. It's the epitome of comfort food and I'm sharing it with you.

As we near the end of February and we begin to look toward spring, give yourself a sneak peek with a gorgeous salad featuring both fresh and roasted vegetables, tender chicken, olives, creamy hummus, and a fantastic dressing.

If you like spicy, creamy food, then fasten your seat belt for a great recipe that can be on the table in about 20 minutes and will remind you of spring while still giving you the comfort food you crave. Get ready for a seafood pasta dish that has it all!

Begin your morning with a little bit of everything and keep yourself fueled for a busy winter day. Bring comfort food to the breakfast table and put it all in one bowl with a clever dish that lets you work in stages as other parts of the meal roast on their own!

Thaw out a bit with a gloriously roasted chicken dinner that uses the magic of cast iron to give it the crisp exterior and tender, juicy interior you crave with a flavorful glaze that's both delicious and a beautiful sight in the middle of winter!

February brings about some of winter's coldest weather. Heat things up with some spicy Firecracker Shrimp Bowls! Packed with fresh and cooked veggies, tender shrimp, and your choice of hot cooked rice or noodles, they will bring a little fire to your table.

Our at-home Valentine's Day menu wouldn't be complete without a decadent dessert! Make one that will wow your beloved without taking a lot of time or energy to assemble. Then dig in and use that time saved to do something fun together!

Rounding out our at-home Valentine's Day menu, we're visiting a warm barley salad that will stand on its own while complementing the flavors in our earlier salmon and asparagus dish. This salad has it all, including perfectly sautéed mushrooms and shallots!

Quick and elegant, this one pan meal is a great Valentine's Day dinner menu idea for you and the special person in your life. Instead of spending all your time and money on restaurants and waiting lines, turn to your own kitchen and get dinner on the table in a half hour!

With April here, everyone is busy welcoming spring with yard work, spring cleaning, and the occasional spring concert or ball game. Save time and money by making dinner a snap with a quick peanut noodle dish featuring the flavors of Thailand and speed that can't be matched by pizza delivery or fast food pickup!

Get cheers and wows in addition to hugs and kisses this Valentine's Day with a custom floral ice bucket to chill your champagne and warm your beloved's heart. Step by step instructions take you through assembling this simple, yet breath-takingly beautiful holiday touch.

If you think salads have to wait until spring, think again! Embrace the need for hearty ingredients by building an elegant salad with a base of mixed greens, tender lentils, sautéed salmon, and crispy shallots. Round it out with everything from creamy blue cheese to salty olives.

If you love the flavor combination of chocolate and mint, you're far from alone. Get your fill of this fantastic duo in a simple bundt cake that's moist, flavorful, and will wow anyone at your table!

Even though winter's in full force and what many of us want to do is hibernate, our busy lives say otherwise. Get dinner on the table and still have a bit of time to catch your breath with a fantastic Cajun Shrimp Pasta dish that is ready in minutes.

With cold weather upon us, firing up the oven and baking a batch of calzones is a welcome weekday treat. But mix things up a bit with some fun fillings that speak to the season and let you prepare everything in advance for assembling during the busy work week.