comment icon 68 more comments And I am not mad that this version includes spicy jalapeño garlic shrimp, chopped carrots and edamame, roasted cashews, baby spinach, and the lightest, crispiest, most addicting little golden brown wonton strips PLUS (wait for it…) a garlic-lime-herb-packed tangy dressing. One thing real quick: I live for dressing. In my contemplative food life, I ask deep questions like: what is a salad without a knockout dressing?...

Chunky Tomatillo Avocado Salsa Recipe Similar in flavor to store bought salsa verde but way better because homemade always is! You’re going to love the bright green sharp flavor from the tomatillos, the herbaceous cilantro, the acidity of the lime juice, and gentle heat from the chiles. Plus there’s chunky avocado which lends perfect creaminess and richness. This tomatillo salsa with avocado is as fast and easy as throwing everything into a food processor and in 5 seconds, the salsa is ready!...

This recipe for apple pie bread is super soft, tender, moist, and is impossible to resist! Since I am a fan of crumble topping like you wouldn’t believe, this bread was absolutely perfect for me. Honestly, it’s so good that you could call it apple crumble coffee cake and no one would bat an eye. I loved this bread for breakfast with a cup of coffee. It would also be great for brunch, as an afternoon snack, and definitely great as dessert, too....

comment icon 112 more comments You know I’m not always the biggest fan of chicken but THIS. This sauce-soaked, herb-loaded wonder is exactly the kind of chicken I like. It’s the time of year when I start to build my meal plans around getting outdoors as much as possible. I know what’s coming (WINTER) and I know how much I will be outside (HARDLY AT ALL) so I’m doing my best to really lean into those summer flavors and the kinds of meals that naturally bring you outside into the sun....

Always entertaining. After being awake 24+ hours at this point, two suitcases that I unpacked, a midnight grocery run for some produce, and fruit that I was chopping at 2am so that tomorrow gets off to a semi-normal start, and oh yes, sleep to get, the best I can do is show these beautiful calla lilies that I saw on our last day at the beach in Aruba. Same day as Skylar’s braid session....

Try my other favorite dipped in chocolate candy and treats, like peanut clusters, almond joys, and chocolate covered strawberries. These Cookie Dough Truffles are a mash-up of two of my favorite things; edible cookie dough, and chocolate! They win on all counts, being safe to eat with no raw eggs or raw flour, and being easy and fun to make and eat! How to make Make Cookie Dough Truffles: Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions: You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more great recipes!...

This is a super easy, no-mixer blueberry dessert that’s perfect for last-minute summer entertaining. It’s the type of pie you’d bring to a potluck or picnic to share. Casual but so tasty. I don’t have a lot of pie recipes on my blog compared to other desserts because I hate making pie crust. This no-crust blueberry pie is a total winner because no pie crust is needed and you save those empty pie crust calories for a better use....

No calories, and the flavors were nice. Not overpowering and not “fake” or chemically tasting like some zero calorie drinks can be. My favorite was the orange mango. I love mango anything! I drink plenty of water and 99% of the time it’s just regular tap water. So these were a nice change of pace. And I dig the insulated cooler bag they sent the water in. This will come in handy when the weather warms up for groceries or frozen foods that need to be kept cool....

I did Rack Up a Few More Points for Katie and Lori’s Earth Week Challenge that I mentioned Here Today I went to Whole Foods and brought my Cloth Reusable Bags with (1 point) And of course brought my own Coffee Mug and Skylar’s Re-Usable Water Bottle (1 point, each). What Did I Get At Whole Foods? Well, just a few things because I cannot afford more than a couple things....

Super Simple Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies When most people have a craving for cookies, they want them within the hour. Not hours or even days later. And they don’t want to dirty a million dishes or drag out a (stand) mixer in pursuit of their cookie goal. Enter: this incredibly fast and easy oatmeal cookie recipe with few ingredients that produces cookies that turn out perfectly thick with soft centers and chewy edges....

The Easiest Red, White & Blue Dessert These homemade red, white, and blue cupcakes cupcakes are absolutely perfect for Flag Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, or Labor day. For this easy cupcake recipe, I used my Homemade Funfetti-Inspired Cake recipe, which has been a reader favorite since 2014. I love the base recipe because it’s fast, easy to make, and the cakes always turn out supremely moist, springy, and fluffy thanks to buttermilk, sour cream, and oil....

One of my favorite things about Angel Biscuits is the dough will keep in the fridge for up to one week, so you can make freshly baked biscuits without any mess! (Think Christmas morning, entertaining guests, or just busy mornings where you want something warm and delicious, without the work!) I have a deep love for all bread-y carbs, but particularly homemade rolls and buttermilk biscuits, so I can tell you these Angel Biscuits are complete HEAVEN!...

If you love authentic tacos, try my Birria Tacos, Shrimp Tacos and Fajitas. These incredible carne asada tacos are joining the ranks of my other favorite Mexican recipe like pork carnitas, fajtas, and grilled chicken street tacos. Be sure to include a large platter of authentic Mexican rice and homemade refried beans. Serve horchata to drink, tres leches cake for dessert and if you want to host a killer fiesta!...

Easy Dinner Rolls … with Pumpkin! These pumpkin bread rolls are easy to make and are ready from start to finish in under 2 hours. Not bad at all for a yeast roll recipe. They’re soft, slightly chewy, and the pumpkin keeps them moist and adds just enough tooth-sinking density. The scents of pumpkin, spices, honey, and bread baking that waft thorough the house are positively intoxicating. Sure beats lighting a pumpkin-scented candle!...

Cheesiest Baked Tortellini Casserole My refrigerator could be confused as a small cheese shop because at any given time I have at least 20 types of cheese. Multiple different types of blue and brie, aged cheddar, white cheddar, extra sharp cheddar, gouda, gorgonzola, goat, mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino, swiss, and on it goes. And I can’t help myself from buying new kinds. If you love cheese as much as I do, you’re going to love this very easy and extra cheesy tortellini pasta bake that’s ready in 30 minutes....

Ah yes. The first day of school. What would the first day of school be without a cookie? Sad. That’s what it would be. But my first day of school was not sad. My first day of school was very glad. Glad for the 25 precious souls that arrived early with shiny new backpacks and way too many markers. Glad for the spicy lunch in my lunchbox. Glad for ten minutes outside in the sun, even if it was courtesy of a little friend pulling the fire alarm....

Banana Zucchini Muffins … with Chocolate Chips! If you’ve never baked with zucchini, you’ve been missing out. Everything stays so soft and moist. All thanks to a plant that you can’t taste! These chocolate chip banana zucchini muffins taste like banana bread. Perfect for all you sneaky chefs! The one-bowl, no-mixer zucchini chocolate chip muffins are accidentally vegan and on the healthier side. No butter, no eggs, the chocolate chips are solely sprinkled on top, and they’re made with coconut oil....

But before we even started, I realized my mistake, because I already had 3 kids on “take a break”. Things got worse when I heard this little line: “Mrs. O, last night, I threw up seven times!” Take your hands off the food, go to the nurse! Are there, by chance, any bleach wipes in my purse? Re-sanitized tools were finally ready to use. Griddles warmed, batter poured, annnd there goes the fuse....

comment icon 50 more comments Oh, wait, yes there is – it’s that same situation + a piece of crusty bread for dunking into the stew, and a good TV show to catch up on, and a pair of really comfy sweatpants. There it is. That’s the dream right there. I am not a huge beef eater, but I really, really, really love this recipe. It couldn’t be easier and it freezes perfectly, not to mention cooks up in a flash if you’re using the Instant Pot....

Do you love gingerbread? Try our Gingerbread Waffles, Ginger Molasses Cookies, Build a Gingerbread House, or make Gingerbread Cookies! Why I love this cake: Light – The texture of this easy gingerbread cake is perfectly light, fluffy, and moist. Plus, your house will smell of freshly baked gingerbread. The Toppings – You must add a drizzle of the vanilla cream sauce, with sliced bananas and whipped cream, to get the full experience!...