Banana bread and blueberry muffins are two of my favorite things. So I combined them into one heavenly mashup. This blueberry banana bread is ridiculously moist, soft, and bursting with blueberries in every bite. It’s like blueberry coffee cake with the comforting, homey qualities of banana bread. It’s a one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that goes from bowl to oven in minutes. The blueberry and yogurt banana bread is falling-apart soft and tender, and even though the batter is very thick before baking, the bread turns out soft and fluffy with just the right amount of density....

Moist Vanilla Cake From Scratch Some of my fondest birthday cake memories growing up are of white sheet cakes with inch-thick pink frosting and big frosting roses that my mom had made for me from a local bakery. Some people avoid thick, abundant frosting, but those are the pieces I seek out. In honor of its 125th birthday on September 28, McCormick has released a new vanilla extract, Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract, to help celebrate....

This easy casserole recipe has all the flavors and ingredients of a Monte Cristo sandwich, but combines them in a scrumptious brunch or breakfast casserole. There’s layers of tender brioche bread with cubed ham, sliced turkey, and both Swiss and cheddar cheeses. A mixture of eggs and milk is poured over before baking this hearty recipe. I always top my Monte Cristo breakfast casserole with confectioners’ sugar both for a nice visual presentation and also for a touch of sweetness....

Pretty and fun, but probably not something I’d want long term. I’m still loving the Master Bedroom Decor that I picked out from West Elm about a year ago. Duvet & Pillows here and Dressers & Desk here Without changing my foot positioning or my arm angles, and just using the zoom on the lens, I can get different shots so easily! See above and below. Same flower, just zooming in and out....

Nutella Peanut Butter Bread Recipe I set out to make peanut butter bread. You can call it ‘bread’ if it makes you feel better. It’s really more like Nutella and peanut butter cake baked in a loaf pan. But let’s go with bread. Sounds healthier. The interior is soft, springy, fluffy, with an open crumb. It’s not overly peanut buttery and reminds me of yellow butter cake, minus any butter used in the recipe....

She made the best oatmeal raisin cookies. And not just the best oatmeal raisin cookies, but she made the best cookies, period. I have no idea what recipe she used for her oatmeal raisin cookies. There probably was no recipe. She was legally blind and wrote nothing down. Writing things down would have been futile anyway because the next time she would have gone to look at it, she likely couldn’t have read it....

Oatmeal Scotchies Recipe These butterscotch chip cookies are a tasty trip down memory lane. My grandma used to make them, and I hadn’t had them in ages. So, I changed that. They turned out to be my favorite oatmeal cookie to date. They’re soft, chewy, and hearty without feeling like I need to strap a backpack on and take them mountain hiking. Sometimes oatmeal cookies get a little too oaty and hearty....

This image from Pocket Fuel basically sums it up. In the last few weeks, I’ve had quite a few readers ask for advice on how to overcome discouragement and burnout as a blogger. It must be the season for that because throughout the last few weeks of 2013, I myself have been working through that thing called burnout. Specifically food blogger burnout, teacher of struggling students burnout, and cleaning my new old house burnout....

I loved this moist zucchini carrot bread recipe so much. It’s so soft, tender, uber-moist, dense enough to be satisfying, but still light. It’s just sweet enough to taste like a dessert and not like you’re eating vegetables. But you are, so feel free to have seconds. I adapted my Carrot Apple Bread recipe and it’s an easy, no mixer recipe that goes from bowl to oven in minutes. Baking with carrots and zucchini not only adds chewy texture, but so much moisture is imparted that it’s impossible to have a dry loaf....

comment icon 9 more comments On my first day of summer break, I ran into a former student. Former as of a few days ago. Too soon, people, too soon! Not only was it too soon, but I was sporting that previously mentioned bedhead look (yes – I go out in public like that – don’t judge) and an outfit that was definitely not from the “professional section” of my closet....

This post is sponsored by Wholesome!®. comment icon 104 more comments I am a lover of two things: And the good news for those of us who love conveniences such as packing all the good snacks – health wise and taste wise – into one little treat that you can take on the go and eat in three bites is that THIS ENERGY BITES RECIPE WAS MADE FOR YOU....

This dip tastes remarkably like a pina colada and it takes two minutes to make, has three ingredients, and it’s vegan and gluten free. Do I have your attention? In a sea of pumpkin cakes, pumpkin cookies, roasted vegetable soup, and other fall-inspired food, I figured I’d turn seasonally appropriate on it’s head and make this dip. Then again, pina coladas know no season. If you like pina coladas, pineapple, and coconut, this is your dip....

PS. Triple exclamation point in the first line! you’re so welcome!!! 👻 Over the last 6-9 months, Bjork and I have had the opportunity to build our little Pinch of Yum team and it’s been awesome. That’s putting it lightly. We love our team so very much. Here’s who we’ve currently got working on POY behind the scenes: Lindsay – me! hello again. I’m the blog content creator / day to day manager of things....

comment icon 37 more comments But in order to help you fully appreciate the sticky brown sugary yet wholesome goodness of this pumpkin oatmeal that somehow makes you a superperson for the day, let’s back up. To the night before. It’s 11:00pm, and Bjork and I are getting ready for bed. And maybe it’s more like 9:00 pm, but whatever. Enter pug-sitting dilemma. No, it’s not playtime. Yes, I’m serious....

comment icon 124 more comments For years, these classic baked chicken meatballs have been my favorite of all time. And I still love them! But there’s a new meatball in town. RICOTTA meatballs, to be specific! They are a force in my life. They are just super tender, juicy, versatile, and so easy. Imagine this: you step in the door from school / work / life and get hit with the smell of warm garlic bread....

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup Recipe Fall is officially here and there’s no better way to celebrate the season than with an acorn squash bowl filled with this creamy and comforting roasted butternut squash soup recipe with a hint of natural sweetness that’s brought out by roasting sweet potatoes and carrots with butternut squash. Curling up with a bowl of this vibrantly colored soup made from a blend of roasted butternut and acorn squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, and fall-inspired seasonings like sage and thyme is the best way to really settle into all of those cozy fall feelings....

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken This easy fall green salad is just what you need when you’re in the mood for something more comforting than a cold salad. Warm juicy chicken, buttery tender sweet potatoes, and flavorful roasted red onions on top of a spring greens mix take this salad into comfort food territory. I topped the chicken and sweet potato salad with dried cranberries and shelled pistachios. Pumpkin seeds would also be lovely here....

Easy Recipe for Reindeer Chow If you need a ridiculously easy, no-bake dessert or snack for a party, Christmas cookie exchange, or just have a spur of the moment craving for chocolate and peanut butter, or a salty-and-sweet treat, this fun and festive Reindeer Chow recipe is a perfect recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes. Reindeer Chow (aka Reindeer Food or Reindeer Mix) is a holiday twist on classic Muddy Buddies, which are made with Chex cereal, melted chocolate, and peanut butter, and tossed in confectioners’ sugar....

comment icon 58 more comments I think we’ve talked about that. But I really do love them because they’re a really pretty brown color (ahem, NOT). They are so versatile and healthy and cheap and texturally amazing. I’ll cut myself off before you start to feel like this just a repeat of all of my lentil posts that I’ve ever done. Guess what? My friend Angie was here in Cebu this last week!...

comment icon 144 more comments This is sesame beef and broccoli – sesame because it’s got a tablespoon of sesame oil in the sauce (LUSCIOUS) and beef and broccoli because of the, well, beef and broccoli. I was initially going to call this recipe easy – and it is easy, I guess – but also, there are several steps and lots of high heat and sometime searing meat business can feel like a bit of a job, so just trust me when I say while you should probably wear an apron, this is still 100% weeknight material....