Apparently one more because these are my new favorite blueberry muffins. Big, bakery-style, fluffy muffins that are oozing with blueberries and swirls of raspberry jam in every bite. Between the oodles of blueberries and dollops of jam, you’re getting a serving of fruit in each one of these light and tender babies. Servings of fruit via muffins and jam. Rationalize much? I wanted big, domed, puffy, bakery-style muffins, and the only way to create those is by filling the muffin pan liners past where you think you should....

PB & J sandwiches may be accused of being a little on the boring side. So why not make PB & J dessert bars. These are not boring. I had been wanting to make peanut butter and jelly bars for quite awhile and I was given Heather’s blog for this month’s Secret Recipe Club assignment. I noticed that she had a recipe for PB & J Oat Bars and that got my wheels turning....

I went for a run and narrowly avoided getting downpoured on, which I consider a success. Over the weekend I did a little thrift store browsing for some dishes, photography props, and various things I just can’t live without. Unfortunately my kitchen storage space is already maxed out. And I do mean, maxed out. Every single drawer or cupboard has something in it. Nothing like a 100 square foot kitchen....

Easy Chickpea Tuna Salad Recipe This easy chickpea tuna salad takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, it’s protein-packed and healthy, and takes advantage of canned tuna. Yep, that old standby that’s readily available and inexpensive which is such a nice bonus these days with groceries being as expensive as they are! Along with protein packed tuna, there’s another protein powerhouse in the form of chickpeas. I also added celery and dill pickles for crunch, salty capers, red onions, garlic, and fresh dill for tons of flavor....

Rolo Cookie Bars These Rolo blondies are one the gooiest, richest, and most decadent treats I’ve made in a while. Which makes it one of my personal favorites. The more melted caramel, chocolate, and buttery soft dough, the better. For these very soft, gooey, slightly chewy, buttery bars that are stuffed with Rolo candies and loaded with chocolate chips, I called upon my trusty blondie base. When I want an easy, fuss-free, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that I know everyone will love, it’s my go-to....

Cookies in stick form. One of the best parts of these cookie sticks is that they’re ready in under a half hour from start to finish. Stir the dough together in one bowl, no need for a mixer, just press it into the pan and bake. Because they’re baked in a pan, there’s no need to worry about spreading so you don’t have to chill the dough. The baking time is brief and before you know it, you’re eating cookies....

And it’s easy. No dehydrator required. Just a love of chocolate. [print_this] Chocolate Coconut Kale Chips 1 bunch of kale, washed and big stems removed 1/2 c cashews, soaked 1/2 c agave/honey/maple syrup (combo of one or any) 1/3 c cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon Optional and omit if you don’t like coconut flavored items: 1/4 c coconut flakes (unsweetened or sweetened) 2 tbsp coconut oil Directions: Soak cashews in water for at least an hour (4-6 hours ideal)....

I love crisps and crumbles of all kinds, but apple crisp in particular is always a nostalgic favorite. This apple cinnamon roll casserole combines the tried and true flavors of apple crisp — including juicy apples spiced with cinnamon and sugar and topped with a crumble topping — with a special twist. Crumble toppings are where it’s at for me. Truthfully, after I got done photographing this, I may have used a spoon to scoop off the crumble topping in a portion of this pan....

When in the Caribbean… …Make plantains. Never had a plantain? I’d describe it as a heartier banana that almost borders on the texture of a sweet potato, sliced and fried similarly. In fact, plantains are often used as the potato or pasta of the Caribbean because they are starchy. The way I prepared them was a little sweet from the cinnamon and sugar and the flavor of the coconut oil seeped into them perfectly....

Today I had a Blogger Meetup with Madeline. We met at our usual coffee shop and it was warm enough to sit outside, provided the sun was shining. And for the first time in a week, the sun was indeed finally shining in “Sunny Arizona”. ‘Bout Time because we’ve had some nasty dreary rain and clouds lately! We caught up on life. Madeline’s life is a lot more exciting than mine, trust me....

The BEST Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe I’ve baked plenty of Christmas cookies, but had never baked Halloween cookies. This was the year to change that. These sprinkled-up cookies are buttery soft, tender, slightly chewy without any cakiness. They’re based on two recent favorites, Softbatch Funfetti Cookies and Lofthouse-Style Soft Peanut Butter Chip Sugar Cookies. I love the baked-in sprinkles in the Softbatch Funfetti Cookies. It’s such a timesaver not having to frost and decorate cookies when all you want to do is dive into them, not frost them....

Nothing screams his-kind-of-food louder than salmon. Except these salmon cakes are a wee bit different than the bagels and lox he grew up eating. First, there’s beans and corn and although Scott is not a bean fan, they were in the can with the corn so into the salmon cakes they went. He said the beans were fine because they were small. Okay, I’ll go with that. And rather than breadcrumbs I used Fritos....

Easy Cowboy Stew Recipe Calling all cowboys and cowgirls, this easy cowboy stew recipe is pure comfort food, especially when the weather is chilly. If you’re feeling cold to the bone like I am, a big pot of this family-friendly beef stew recipe is just the ticket. Actually, there’s not just ground beef in this cowboy stew. There’s also bacon, sausage, beans, Rotel, potatoes, and corn, all simmered in a super flavorful broth thanks to a combination of chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin....

Sick of watching me eat this yet? Hope not, I don’t think I could ever get sick of raw veggies. Oh and more carrots with some (not shown) Cinnamon Ginger Cumin Dipping Sauce After a few miles’ run this morning, I did some ashtanga yoga. This is Maricyasana A with a Bind at the Wrist. This is a pose dedicted to the Sages. And this is Side Crane Pose, also know as Parsva Bakasana....

comment icon 83 more comments Vegetarian? Possibly. Salad? Oh my word. Not even close. And I mean that in the most delicious way possible. But I don’t have a category for side dishes that are to.DIE.for. and so here we are with buttery, creamy corn that somehow got labeled as a salad. And I guess in my ideal world, this probably would be a salad, so we’re all good. Note: I’ve since updated my site and re-categorized this as “quick and easy”....

I love pasta salads, especially during warmer months. They give me all the summer vibes and this easy shrimp pasta salad is no exception. There’s a delightful medley of flavors and textures, with the sweetness of shrimp, crunchiness of celery and bell peppers, along with peas for a fresh green pop, and a refreshing burst of fresh dill which is always a lovely match with fish and seafood. The homemade pasta salad dressing is creamy and tangy thanks to a splash of lemon juice and vinegar, and it coats the pasta, shrimp, and other veggies beautifully....

Wouldn’t we all rather be sitting on the couch drinking coffee than babysitting pancakes on the stove. If you love thick stacks of pancakes, you’re going to love this deep-dish skillet pancake. It’s soft, fluffy, and light, with the texture of pancakes, and it’s packed with berries. It’s an absolutely perfect brunch recipe because it feeds a crowd and you can pop it into the oven about 45 minutes before you’re ready to serve it....

If you enjoy Cajun and Creole recipes be sure to try my New Orleans Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, and Jambalaya. Dirty Rice is Southern comfort food at its finest! It’s called Dirty Rice because the rice turns a “dirty” brown color while cooking with the diced meats and spices. You’ll also hear Dirty Rice called “Cajun Rice” or “Rice Dressing”, but they’re all variations of the same rice dish (they may use different types of meat or add more or less veggies, or spices)....

I love fast and easy 30 minute meals like this stroganoff recipe or One Pan Baked Ziti or Creamy Tomato and Spinach Tortellini! And, if you want to make this recipe in the Instant Pot, I’ve got you covered! This simple homemade stroganoff recipe takes me straight back to my childhood. Is it fancy? No. Is it gourmet? Not at all. But, is it something your family (of any age) will happily eat, and ask for seconds?...

Want more soup recipes? Try my Potato Leek Soup, Creamy Tortellini Soup, Chicken and Dumplings, or Pozole Verde! Why we love this Chicken Tortilla Soup: Quick – Ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes! The perfect cozy weeknight meal! Stove, Slow Cooker or Instant Pot – Make it quick on the stove or instant pot, or let it simmer four hours in the slow cooker. Crowd-Pleasing – Everyone loves a hot bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup, and everyone has fun adding their own toppings!...