Want more 30-Minute Meals? Try Salmon Bowls, Orzo Salad, or Kung Pao Shrimp! We absolutely love Thai food, wether we make homemade Thai food, or go to our favorite restaurants. My husband’s favorite dish is Pad Gra Prow, AKA Thai Basil Beef, and I love this quick and easy version that mimics the flavors we love, even if it’s not truly authentic! For authentic Pad Gra Prow, try this recipe from Hot Thai Kitchen!...

comment icon 106 more comments Not go-out-for-sushi-and-come-home-and-watch-reruns-of-the-Office-dates. <— love those too, though, and are we the only people that watch series of TV shows that we like all over again? It’s just so hard to fall in love with something else. No, but the dates I’m talking right now about are little brown wrinkly things that are incredibly, um, how do I put this… ugly? but taste like a sweet charm straight from the Earth....

How did that happen?! This series has been a total joy ride and it has absolutely flown by. Didn’t we just start? And here we are at the series close-out reflecting on the good times and handing out recipe awards and saying tearful goodbyes like it’s the last day of summer camp. Once again, your comments, your photos, your emails and DMs about what this series means to you in your REAL ACTUAL LIFE are absolutely the fuel that keeps the SOS fire burning....

It had been far too long since she and I saw each other and I was able to squeeze in some time with her and her kids today. Skylar loves playing with Jenny’s daughter who is about 15 months younger than she is. And Jenny’s son is so big since the last time I saw him. Most importantly, I got in some girl talk. Seeing real life friends, having girl talk, chit chatting over coffee, that’s what life is all about....

There are several dishes I fell in love with while living in Spain (including these simple Torijas) so be sure to check out my delicious Paella and Tortilla de Patatas recipes! While living with a family in Madrid, Spain during college, I was lucky enough to learn the in’s and out’s of many Spanish dishes from my host, who was an incredible cook! She bought fresh bread for our meals each day, and with any leftover/stale bread she would make Torrijas....

Easy Tortellini Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe Who doesn’t love a good caprese salad? My family and I will almost order it if it’s on a restaurant menu. And I’ve got many caprese recipe versions on my site including Balsamic Chicken Caprese Salad, Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad, and many more. Make sure to check out the recipe suggestions below the recipe card in this post for ideas! For this caprese salad version, which includes juicy cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, I beefed it up (not with beef) but with cheese tortellini and a bit of fresh spinach....

And it’s been another spectacular one. We have been blessed with the best weather of our trip the past couple days and I am so grateful. I actually have a recipe post coming up next. It’s been three days but it feels like ages but I figured with Christmas Eve and Christmas, why bother typing when everyone is with their families and unplugged anyway. So if you’re tired of me droning on about the blue skies and palm trees in Aruba…...

If you’re in need of a luscious, crowd-pleasing Valentine’s Day dessert, this one is perfect and tastes like a million bucks but uses plenty of baking shortcuts so it’s super easy to make. How To Make The Valentine’s Day Vanilla Sugar Cookie Bars First make the sugar cookie crust by combining a packet of sugar cookie mix with butter, an egg, pressing it into a pan, and baking it off....

But when you just can’t make one more banana smoothie or loaf of banana bread, make banana jam. It’s fast, easy, vegan, gluten-free, and comes together in about 20 minutes. It isn’t traditional jam and there’re no water bath or canning involved, so in case ‘jam-making’ instantly sets you into panic mode, don’t worry. Just mash the bananas, add brown sugar, butter (or vegan butter), lemon juice, and let the mixture boil for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it’s thickened to your satisfaction....

One variation is caramel corn, but this is not just any caramel corn. It’s caramel corn that’s made with vanilla cake mix so it tastes like caramel corn that met a vanilla cake on the way to the party. On the way to the party that’s going to take place in your mouth. You’ll know what party I speak of after you try a handful of these highly addictive kernels....

Vegan Crock Pot Chili 1 Can (15 oz.) No-Salt Added Kidney Beans 1 Can (15 oz.) Health Valley Brand Organic Vegan Chili. Yes, I used a can of canned chili as my “starter” for my homemade chili. Sandra Lee & Semi-Homemade comes to mind. If you don’t use a can of chili, then use a can of crushed tomatoes and season with onions, garlic, cumin, etc. and add extra beans to taste....

comment icon 206 more comments This salad is the flavor bomb of my life. I am trying to really put into words how much my mouth loves this combination of fresh and unexpected flavors, crunchy-filling textures, and nutritious food power. But mostly all I can do is just close my eyes and ask myself: is it crossing the line to eat this for breakfast? This Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Salad starts with the tangy, salty, lime-and-garlic-y dressing, which totally shines with the cooling mint + cilantro and a handful of fiery-crisp serrano peppers, which all results in me wrapping my fork with a combination of spicy-cool, salty-tangy veggies, chicken, and NOODLES (♡♡♡)....

And make your house smell delicious. I made something along the lines of these. I better take pictures of the new goodies before the family eats I eat them all. Weekends are the best time to stop and smell the roses. Or the yellow calla lillies. Weekend mornings are made for nice long walks and catching up with my husband. I can talk his ear off for 5 miles while he nods and says yes, dear....

Food is such a strangely universal / personal thing. I love to make and eat fun and exciting recipes, but I equally love the real life, unpolished, what-do-you-eat-in-a-day stuff, which is why I include one of these posts every once in a while! Just trying to pull back the fridge door and give this food space a little extra dose of real life. Here’s a What I Ate Wednesday for the month of July!...

We’re two weeks into Sugar Free January and let’s just say – we’re feeling energized and eating amazing food and loving it so far, right? Most days, yes! There are some good moments and some wait-this-is-hard moments, but we’re doing it. Let’s carry on! Let’s march forward! Let’s keep up this feel-good biz! This week I found myself struggling with snacks (LOVE SNACKS NEED SNACKS) and especially those late night snacks aka sugary, desserty things....

Pomegranate Rum Punch Recipe Welcome to the holiday season with this twist on a classic mojito. You’ll still have plenty of fresh mint flavor, but with the addition of pomegranate juice, lemon juice instead of lime juice, and sparkling water rather than club soda. The combination is quite literally minty fresh, fruity, but not too sweet. Not to mention it looks so festive but it’s such a fast and easy holiday punch to make!...

Healthy Chicken Fried Rice … in the Oven! Two of the most popular top 10 recipes on my website for the past many years are this Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice and Better-Than-Takeout Shrimp Fried Rice. You guys love your fried rice. So here’s a sheet pan version! To me this tastes like comfort food, minus unnecessary fat and calories. The chicken is juicy, the rice is tender, I adore the juicy bursts of peas and carrots, and everything is lightly coated in a mixture of soy sauce and sesame oil....

Stuffed Cheesy Bread Rolls I’ve always said I can make a meal out of appetizers, and who needs dinner when you’ve got this as an appetizer? Everyone loves these cheesy bread bites! They are great for get-togethers and game day parties. Or make them to serve alongside an easy weeknight chicken recipe and you’re going to make the whole family smile. This stuffed cheesy bread recipe is the fastest and easiest of all of my bread recipes because there’s no yeast, no kneading, and no waiting for dough to rise....

Air Fried Chicken Cutlets with Hot Honey Did you just get an air fryer for Christmas and wondering what to make with your new toy? Are you wanting to make healthier recipes as we kick off the new year? Or are you just wanting an amazing recipe for (air) fried chicken? Whatever it is, I’ve got you covered with this easy, 30-minute chicken dinner recipe that’ll leave the whole family begging for seconds!...

comment icon 102 more comments And yes, they are as dense, moist, blondie-like, wholesome (!!) and perfectly sweet as you are hoping they will be. Zucchini Bars: A Love Story Let me tell you 7 of the 100+ things I love about these zucchini bars: Super easy to make. NO FUSS WHATSOEVER.Shockingly nutritious. No refined sugar or flour. All ingredients that you can feel good about – oats, olive oil, maple syrup, zucchini, almond butter, etc....