Right up there with vanilla flavored or vanilla scented anything, caramel makes me do the happy dance. Add a little dark rum to it? Even better. Try not to just drink this caramel sauce. Because I totally wanted to. [print_this] Dark Rum Caramel Sauce 1 c sugar 1/4 c water 1/2 c butter (1 stick) 1/2 c heavy cream (I used half-and-half) 1 tsp vanilla extract (I used TJ’s bourbon vanilla) 2 tbsp dark rum (or bourbon, whiskey, other rum, or other liquor such as Gran Marnier, Cointreau, etc....

Homemade Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe ‘Tis the season for soup. This is an easy soup that’s ready in 30 minutes, hearty, packed with flavor, and has so many healthy vegetables that add great texture. Rather than using noodles I used Alessi Organic Pearled Farro, Butternut Squash and Kale variety. Never heard of it? It’s an ancient grain with nutty flavor, chewy texture, and is similar in taste to brown rice....

Homemade Bread Pudding … with Banana! I cannot think of a more heavenly combination. Bread pudding meets banana bread. I am not the biggest fan of just plain bananas, but turn them into banana bread anything, and I am so down. The top of this homemade bread pudding is lightly crusty and golden while the interior is custard-like with plenty of bananas in every bite. There’s an amazing vanilla sauce that’s poured over the bread pudding after baking and before serving it....

Banana Cream Pie (with Pudding Mix!) In honor of National Pi Day on 3.14 I couldn’t resist making a pie. It’s crazy good, super easy, and if I can make it, so can you. There are plenty of bananas in every bite and I wasn’t shy about adding Nilla wafers. There’s something about bananas, Nilla wafers, and whipped topping that goes together so perfectly, and with a salted caramel drizzle, the pie tastes like a fluffy slice of heaven....

Why I love this recipe: Easy – Just a few simple steps and a few pantry ingredients, and everyone goes crazy for them.Works with any kind of nuts!My favorite topping for salads, desserts, and more–see my ideas below. I even like to add them to my chicken salad sandwiches. How to Make Candied Pecans: Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, beat together an egg white, water and vanilla....

Is it just me, or does anyone else get major cravings for Mexican food? Mexican restaurants can be hit or miss, which is why I tend to make my own favorite Mexican recipes at home. When it comes to Mexican rice, Chile Verde, and Tres Leches Cake, there isn’t a restaurant around that’s better than my homemade version :). Whether you need a new dinner idea, a fun appetizer for a crowd, or a simple side dish at a Mexican feast, this tostada recipe is so versatile and delicious!...

Winter Snowflake Cookies I just love a cookie that’s as picture-perfect as it is tasty! We’re officially in the heart of cookie season, and this buttery sugar cookie recipe that’s perfectly sweet and soft might just be one of my favorites to make a big batch of. If you love homemade sugar cookies, you’re going to fall head over heels for this easy snowflake sugar cookie recipe! This is a classic, no-frills sugar cookie recipe that you can count on, but made to look festive for the season by cutting them out in the shape of snowflakes....

Who doesn’t love an easy no-bake dessert? That’s one of the best things about this tiramisu recipe. If you are looking quick no-bake dessert I also love No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars and Butterscotch Cereal Bars. This recipe has been a long time coming, and I’m embarrassed to admit how much tiramisu has been made in the trial of this recipe (I literally bought out every package of Savoiardi lady fingers at two different stores!...

Serve this versatile salad as a side dish with other Spanish tapas, Artisan bread, or as part of a large Charcuterie board. Also known as Olivier salad, for its eponymous creator, Ensaladilla Rusa holds season tickets on dinner tables from Peru to Madrid, and Mongolia to Tehran. Based on the choice of ingredients, it can be simple or fancy and makes a wonderful side at any holiday or potluck. I was first introduced to this potato salad dish while living in Spain (here’s my collection of Spanish recipes inspired from my time there)....

Guess what? The muffins are gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free, dairy-free, oil-free, refined sugar-free, and they’re under 100 calories each. Here are the stats. That’s right – no flour or oats, no butter, and no added white or brown sugar yet they’re incredibly moist, super soft, perfectly sweet, and are bursting with blueberries. Sweetness comes from banana, honey, and blueberries. Moisture comes from almond butter. While you can taste the banana, the blueberries take center stage and the almond butter flavor is in the background....

The Best Herb-Roasted Turkey Recipe The best part of any Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday meal is the turkey. Some people would argue the stuffing, but that’s another topic. All the butter that is incorporated into this classic roasted turkey recipe adds a richness you wouldn’t get otherwise. The myriad of herbs season the skin and outside layers of meat so well. Plus the gravy that you’ll be able to make is just a big wow!...

I’ve been enjoying the 74F and sunny San Diego weather I went on a power walk with Scott and Skylar I heated up the last of my Chipotle Salsa Lentils & Mixed Vegetables leftovers. Leftovers save my sanity. And it’s been productive because… I worked. I cleaned. Swiffering my floors always makes me feel productive. I did laundry. I sat at my desk making Valentines for Skylar’s 18 friends for her Valentine’s Day party....

comment icon 300 more comments Simple and elegant with shrimp, linguine, herbs, garlic, butter, cream, and duhh, a few good glugs of wine for this can’t-stop white wine shrimp linguine. Love love love love love. Let’s dive into it. Prefer To Watch Instead Of Read? Restaurant-Worthy Yet Ridiculously Easy This recipe is BOTH a quick weeknight meal and something that you might feel like you’d order at a restaurant. That’s a one-two punch, friends....

Why this one? Well, after doing tons of research and confusing myself, I was talking to Jessica and she mentioned that this particular Garmin model has: GPS that you can shut off if you don’t need it ( a bonus when inside a gym lifting weights), it tracks your heart rate, and it gives total caloric burn based off actual heart rate, not a formula. This is important to me because as I said in this post, I want to fuel properly for what I am doing and my activity levels....

Want more candy recipes? Try Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, Chocolate Fudge, Sweet Chex Mix, or Caramel Popcorn. Why I love this recipe: No-Bake – This Rocky Road candy doesn’t make a mess in my kitchen or heat up my house. (Some of my other favorite no bake treats are Oreo Balls, Peanut Clusters, or Rice Krispie Treats!) Treasured family recipe from my husband’s Great Grandmother. She used to give it as birthday gifts to her grandchildren....

This hot ham and cheese sandwich joins the ranks of my other favorite sandwiches from across the globe, including French Croque Monsieur, Mexican Torta, and Italian Grilled Cheese. I can confidently say your family will LOVE everything about this Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich, and you will love how easy it is to make! It’s one of our go-to’s for a quick weeknight meal, and the easy honey mustard sauce really takes it over the top!...

I love Peanut Butter I love Cookie Butter It was about time I combined the two. I won’t say that this spread tastes exactly like Cookie Butter or Biscoff Spread because they’re not made from peanuts, whereas this is. But it’s definitely more along the lines of cookie butter than peanut butter. I thought long and hard about what to include to achieve the flavor I wanted. Although it would have been possible to omit peanuts and make cookie butter by pulverizing gingersnap cookies with heavy doses of cinnamon, spices, and sugar, I would have had to grind a ridiculous amount of cookies and add a considerable amount of oil, which didn’t seem appealing....

comment icon 200 more comments Thanks for coming, end of story, goodbye, see you next time! Okay, I’m kidding – but I really almost feel like I could just leave it at that “Homemade Ramen is Lyfe” statement and there would be nothing more that would need to happen here except you grabbing a big bowl, piling it high with slippery ramen noodles, pouring that spicy miso broth over the top, adding a scoop of seared tofu or a soft boiled egg, drizzling everything with sesame or garlic oil, tossing in a handful of scallions, and going to town with your chopsticks to the delight of your little ramen-loving heart....

Why Make Homemade Vanilla Extract? I love the scent of vanilla in anything from candles to soap, and the flavor of vanilla in baked goods and desserts is second to none. If a recipe calls for one teaspoon vanilla extract, I use at least two; but likely more and use a slow, heavy hand when pouring. All that pouring makes my food taste amazing, but my wallet doesn’t like it....

My love for homemade pie is no secret, and if you’re looking for pies that are no-bake, or extra quick and easy try my Peanut Butter Pie, No Bake Cheesecake, or Pecan Pie. What I love about this recipe: EASY – The most amateur baker in the world will look like a pro after making this key lime pie. It’s so simple and fool-proof.Three-Ingredient Crust – Store-bought crusts are flavorless and flimsy!...