comment icon 89 more comments Today I’d like to introduce you to a REALLY GOOD BAKED ZITI. This recipe has been tested and tweaked and loved and devoured many times over to get it just right. And I think we landed it. It’s minimal. It’s bubbly and browned, extra creamy, extra saucy, with just the right flavors and textures to make the whole thing into a baked pasta masterpiece. It is simplicity at its finest: just chewy noodles, a deeply flavored tomato sauce, the right blend of melted cheese, and a creaminess that cuts the tang of tomato sauce as it oozes into every bite....

Bjork here checking in for the monthly traffic and income report here on Pinch of Yum. We’ve done these reports for quite some time now. Our first one was almost four years ago when we were just starting to figure out this “blog as a business” thing. We’ve continued publishing these reports every month, regardless of if we’re on vacation, working on a big project, or 32,000 ft in the air (like we are right now!...

While our team has grown so much over the last few years, we’re still a small team, so getting to add someone to this lovely group of people is a very big and very exciting deal. Here’s who currently makes all this happen every day: Lindsay: Blog creator / editorial director / voice of Pinch of Yum.Bjork: Husband to Lindsay who manages a lot of the behind-the-scenes aspects to make everything run smoothly....

comment icon 50 more comments This was my math lesson today. Actually, if I would have remembered the Fraction Pancakes fiasco, I would have skipped the lesson altogether and saved these chocolate bites of heaven for my personal kitchen alone. My brain hates that memory. But I’m glad I didn’t remember, because today was fun. I cannot keep my face more than one inch away from these dark, sweet, sticky, peanutty snickers cookies....

I also have been doing “homework” and studying for my Yoga Teacher Credential at the 500 Hour Level as I mentioned before. No biggie, just a decade in the making this “little project” of mine. I truly love yoga, and am brushing up on my Sanskirt, my chanting, my Yoga Sutras, and some of the less physical and more intellectual and thought-provoking aspects of yoga. And of course, I’ve been brushing up on my balls....

The fact that I packed (literally) 101 pictures into this one single post is either really seriously awesome orrr really annoying. You can vote in the comments – JUST KIDDING, you will never even make it to the comments because you’d have to scroll for 50 years! joke’s on you! I guess I decided to pack these all into one just in the name of efficiency. Might as well make this a one-stop-Europe-picture-post-stop, and might as be sitting on my couch in maternity leggings while making it happen....

Leftovers after big family holidays are always a must for me. The bonus about making such a huge meal is to use the leftovers! Don’t worry, you won’t feel like you are eating the same thing for days. I have plenty of recipes for you to reinvent your leftover ham in creative new meals. Chicken Cordon Bleu Everyone’s favorite meal with an easier method for getting the chicken breast thin- no more pounding....

15 Valentine’s Day Favorites include: Festive Cookies Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting – Soft and chewy, fast, easy, and foolproof Dark Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies Stuffed with Chocolate Covered Strawberries – Rich dark chocolate cookies with surprises stuffed into the center Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Cookies – One of my favorite cookies on my site, they’re soft and chewy, and the flavor combo is a favorite...

Easy Chicken and Asparagus Pasta Recipe Spring is in the air and there’s nothing better to ring in warmer weather with this lighter, fresher lemon asparagus chicken pasta. This is an extremely flexible recipe and I really wanted to take advantage of asparagus while it’s in season, but if you don’t like asparagus, you can omit it or replace with another veggie. This chicken and asparagus pasta takes just 20 minutes to make, and the veggies all cook while the pasta is boiling....

Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs Recently I was having an informal get-together with friends and was thinking about what to make that most everyone would enjoy. And that’s easy on me as the cook, that can be prepped in advance, and that holds reasonably well at room temp. I decided that cocktail meatballs would be great and everyone loved these. You can either serve these honey garlic meatballs more fancy with toothpicks or in a big ole bowl....

comment icon 119 more comments And yes, I know. I made curry again. It’s becoming a problem. Like, I haven’t made anything in recent memory that wasn’t some unusual use of cauliflower or a vegetarian curry. I think I might have even combined my two loves not that long ago. Helppp. Leave me some inspiration in the comments or something. My blog is dying a slow and happy curry death....

comment icon 124 more comments Isn’t the simplest usually just the best? This is just exactly how I’m feeling with these 6 ingredient espresso brownies. With eggs, sugar, butter, flour, cocoa, and espresso? Yeah. Basic is the best. HOW TO MAKE OUR ESPRESSO BROWNIES: Lately I’ve been trying to avoid caffeine for a number of reasons. (This from the girl who is currently typing out all the words about how she’s currently into chocolate and espresso....

Fall Chicken and Apples Recipe I went apple picking and came home with tons of apples and apple cider and came up with this easy recipe to put them to use! Just kidding. I don’t have time to go apple picking but I wish I did. Regardless, this is an easy dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes, takes advantage of apples, apple cider, and the flavors of fall. The whole family will love it....

Making and baking was fun… …Doing the dishes? Not so much. But unavoidable. Everyone asks about these bowls when I post them. They are these Zak bowls and they have been used multiple times per week for the past 3 years and I would say I have at least another 30 years left with them. Extremely well-made. They show no signs of wear, at all. What did I make? This was just some of it....

Oh Fish tacos, how I LOVE you! Some people like fish tacos breaded, or fried, but I personally love them best when they are grilled. The fish maintains it’s fresh, delicious taste and texture and it’s much healthier then breading and frying. There are three important components to making great fish tacos: white fish, shredded cabbage, and crema (a white sauce). Other parts of this recipe are adaptable, but those three things, paired together, are the trinity of basic fish tacos....

When I say party, I should really define that as an intimate celebration. Why? Because we’re new in town and don’t know too many people, so it will just be the three of us, and that’s totally fine by me. More desserts for us…haha! Thanks to everyone who chimed in with all your special memories about the parties you had as kids! The birthday girl has requested cupcakes so that’s what it shall be and other than that, I am in girly-girl birthday party planning mode!...

These bars come together in less five minutes, are virtually work-free, and taste far more decadent and indulgent than you’d imagine something that’s so easy to make could taste. They’d make a great last minute holiday treat for a party. Or make them for a special night with your couch and remote control. My grandma’s version of these bars, and many similar recipes, use peanut butter. I’m a peanut butter fiend, but also have a soft spot for Biscoff and it’s sweet, cinnamon-ginger pop....

Blogging 103 Blogging 104 Blogging 105 I have been blogging for a couple years and have learned a thing or two about blogging. I am not going to try to re-invent the wheel here because so many bigger and better other bloggers have already said so much on this topic, but readers write to me frequently with blogging or starting-a-blog type questions, and I thought I’d share a few of my own thoughts....

I am so happy to have smooth, sleek, wash-and-go hair back again! I got one five months ago. And then I wrote a month later with my review and thoughts. In a nutshell, I loved it! They don’t last forever, and although their site says they last about 10-12 weeks, I actually had 3 great months out of my first treatment, and then 2 more months where my hair was still straighter than it’s natural state....

Try other popular breakfast recipes like perfect Cinnamon Rolls or Monte Cristo Sandwich. So, I always thought I had the best breakfast casserole recipe (this overnight breakfast casserole that we make a few times a year). I recently learned I was mistaken, because this breakfast casserole right here really is the BEST! And, although I still really love the other recipe, this one is more of a traditional breakfast casserole, with tons of eggs, and it’s fantastic!...