A chocolate-dipped chocolate chip cookie of course. The cookies are soft, chewy, packed with chocolate chips, and are dipped in rich melted chocolate before being adorned with sprinkles. Everything tastes better when it’s smothered in chocolate and sprinkles. I love my recipe for The Best Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, but I took a shortcut and used Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. Betty is your go-to for creating simple, yet memorable, holiday moments with your family....

Cinnamon French Toast Sticks Recipe My seven-year-old’s eyes lit up when she saw these. There’s something about portable, grab-able, or mini food, that I am always drawn to. And if it’s dunk-able or dip-able, even better. These French toast sticks are bursting with cinnamon-sugar flavor. I didn’t want the cinnamon flavor to get lost so I used plenty of cinnamon in the coating mixture, and by dredging the sticks in cinnamon-sugar before serving, there’s a pleasant pop of cinnamon that’s just right for us but you can always dial it down....

comment icon 127 more comments You guys, I know you get this: I am majorly predictable at breakfast. Oatmeal for Breakfast Every Day is my rock solid permanent habit, which is about to make things interesting because we’ve got some new equally healthy, equally filling, and even more pretty breakfast yums in food blog town and I love it so much that I’m alllmost ready to kick my standby oatmeal to the curb....

My day started off perfectly. I went for a quick couple mile run, did a little bit of yoga, and it was time to run some errands. But first, I had to snap a couple pics of Skylar. She was so happy she was dancing! With some St. Patrick’s Day Parade Beads that have gone from San Diego to Phoenix to Aruba. And we haven’t lost them yet. Then I went in search of coffee....

comment icon 111 more comments There is just no fighting it – it’s early morning, it’s cold outside, the wool mittens have made their annual appearance, Christmas music is pumping. Like, AS IF there is any restraint when it comes to a Peppermint Mocha pit stop. As if. The baristas always get a little annoyed with me because I’m one of those people who has a super particular order that takes at least 15 sentences to communicate (full fat, no whip, and half the amount of syrup and chocolate) (if you’re a barista, I’m so sorry for my ways), but nevertheless, the December morning peppermint mocha is always, always, always worth it....

In This Post: Everything You Need For Creamy Baked Orzo Lindsay’s Notes This is the definition of a weeknight hero! It’s comforting, cozy, and ridiculously easy to make. Pour everything in a pan, bake it in the oven, and be rewarded with a creamy baked orzo that is full of simple, nostalgic flavor. It has a Spaghetti-O’s vibe in the most delicious way – a little extra starchy with the baked-all-together texture, plus rocking that comforting taste of store-bought tomato soup....

You may have heard of Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter Spread or tried it. And if not you need to get on board. I’ve mentioned my love for the stuff and tried to describe what it tastes like if you haven’t yet been fortunate enough to inhale your own jar(s). Plural. It’s an imitation of Biscoff Spread which is amazing, too. I find the TJ’s is a little thicker and slightly stronger in flavor than the Biscoff version, but they are very similar....

Recipe for Ham and Bean Soup in the Crockpot It’s that time of year when holiday hams are served in abundance. And that can often mean lots of leftover ham. Not sure what to make with your leftover ham? In case you’re in that boat, this easy slow cooker ham and bean soup recipe will come in perfectly to help you use your leftover ham. Along with the ham, there’s white beans, carrots, onion, garlic, and thyme to create plenty of flavor depth....

Rich, fudgy brownies with a layer of pumpkin cream cheese and topped with decadent chocolate ganache. The pumpkin cream cheese layer reminds me of a pumpkin-flavored version of Cream Cheese-Filled Banana Bread. It’s always a win to have a layer of cheesecake inside your brownies, especially when it’s pumpkin cheesecake. The ganache takes the brownies into unadulterated chocolate overload territory and I loved it. I love the texture of the ganache because it barely sets and it’s so fudgy and indulgent when you bite down....

Festive Donut Christmas Tree Tutorial If you need a show-stopping, perfect centerpiece for an upcoming holiday party or brunch but don’t have the time or desire to make something from scratch, this donut hole Christmas tree is for you! The “tree” is made by sticking toothpicks into a styrofoam cone, which is easy to find at any craft store or online. Then, store-bought donut holes are placed on the toothpicks to form the tree....

Considering we live in a Tall and Skinny Four-Story House… Nearly two dozens earthquakes, including a magnitude 5.7 temblor, struck Monday night near the U.S.-Mexican border in southern San Diego County. (that’s where we live, Southern San Diego county!) The largest of the quakes was recorded at 9:26 p.m. and was felt by residents across a wide swath of Southern California, including Los Angeles. The temblor was centered five miles southeast of Ocotillo in San Diego County and 16 miles east-northeast of Jacumba in eastern San Diego County, the U....

Instant Pot Beef Tips Recipe These tender, juicy beef tips with savory mushroom gravy are going to be a new family favorite comfort food recipe. What can be better than succulent beef smothered in tons of rich and flavorful mushroom gravy and served over a bed of mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles. The beef gravy tips are made in an Instant Pot which allows you to have them ready in about 30 minutes!...

What I love about this healthy snack: Fast: Kale chips are so EASY and fast to make! Just toss them with some olive oil and salt, bake them, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese! Healthy: Kale is a super food for good reason. It’s high in fiber and a great source of Vitamins A, K, C, E, and Calcium. Plus, it’s low-calorie! Inexpensive: Fresh kale is really cheap at the grocery store and you likely already have garlic, salt, olive oil, and parmesan in your fridge!...

No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes Recipe Mini food just tastes better. Yes, it really does. And when we’re talking about an easy-peasy dessert that you can make in minutes without even turning on your oven, well, those desserts taste even better. It’s the holiday season, we’re all busy, pressed for time, going in a million directions, and shortcuts come in handy. For these no-bake mini cheesecakes I used a box of JELL-O No Bake Real Cheesecake Dessert....

Easy Stovetop Beef Stew Recipe This old-fashioned beef stew recipe is super simple yet hits the spot every time! Consider this the type of no-frills comfort food like Grandma used to make. It’s a carrot, beef, and potato stew that’s cooked on the stovetop until the beef is fall-apart tender and the vegetables are soft but not mushy. The gravy is incredibly rich and silky with a strong beef flavor. The additions of red onions and celery helps to balance out the richness of the stew while adding yet another layer of flavor....

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Peanut butter blossoms is such a classic recipe, especially around the holidays. How I’ve written a peanut butter cookbook with 100+ recipes and have 30+ different peanut butter cookie recipes on my blog, but don’t have a recipe for this classic is beyond me. So now I’ve changed that. And in case you’re noticing the tiny flecks in them, they’re flecks of vanilla bean from the vanilla I used....

I love easy pasta recipes that sound so much fancier than they are, like this Cajun Chicken Pasta, Penne Arrabbiata, or Shrimp Scampi with Linguine. How to Make Penne alla Vodka 1. Make the Vodka Sauce: Add olive oil and butter to a large pot over medium low heat. Once hot, add onion and cook for several minutes until translucent. Add garlic and crushed red pepper cook for 30 seconds....

Serve pulled pork in a sandwich, with nachos, tamales, tacos, burritos, or quesadillas. Whether you’re planning food for a party, BBQ, or a simple weeknight dinner, this pulled pork recipe is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Serve it with BBQ sauce and your favorites side dishes, or serve it in sandwiches, tacos, nachos and more. If you’re cooking for a larger gathering or party see my tips in the post for how to calculate how much pulled pork you’ll need per person....

All-Natural Margaritas … Without a Mix! If there’s one drink that should be so simple, but somehow turns so complicated, I think it’s a margarita. There’s blended, on the rocks, from a mix that comes in gallon-sized jugs — sometimes with alcohol already added and sometimes without. Some margaritas are made with just tequila and others with a smorgasbord of other booze added, including triple sec, Cointreau, Gran Marnier, Chambord, and more....

The BEST Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe Normally I am not a big fan of sugar cookies because I feel like they’re bland, boring, dry, and fairly tasteless, but that is not the case with these frosted sugar cookies. They are some of the best sugar cookies I’ve tried. Between the tender cookies, creamy frosting, and the sprinkles, the batch disappeared quickly. To top these soft sugar cookies, I made a simple buttercream frosting and added three drops of red food coloring....