December 19, 2018

Eggnog truffles

Large platter filled with finished eggnog truffles.

Decadent, rich, and creamy truffles full of eggnog flavors are a lovely treat for the holidays! These holiday candies are a delicious addition to your holiday dessert plates or as a homemade gift.

December 12, 2018

Persimmon gingerbread loaf cake

A baked loaf of persimmon gingerbread with three pieces sliced showing the center.

This warming gingerbread loaf cake is full of robust molasses, spicy ginger, and sweet & sticky persimmon for a simple yet satisfying holiday treat! 

December 4, 2018

Flourless black bean chocolate cake

Baked flourless black bean chocolate cake with a piece sliced on a plate.

This gluten-free chocolate cake is made with black beans as the secret ingredient! It's a delicious cake to make for friends and family who are gluten-free or to try something new.

November 28, 2018

Cranberry orange bread

Finished loaf of cranberry orange bread on a plate with a few pieces sliced.

Cranberry and orange is a classic holiday flavor combination and they shine together in this easy and delicious quick bread that is perfect for a holiday breakfast, brunch, snack, or potluck. 

November 5, 2018

Pumpkin Alfredo pasta with chicken

Pan of pumpkin alfredo pasta with chicken topped with fresh sage.

Creamy and savory pumpkin Alfredo sauce with sage, chicken, and pasta is a delicious autumn evening dinner. 

October 16, 2018

Beef and butternut squash chocolate chili

This post is sponsored on behalf of #Choctoberfest and our generous sponsors. I received free product from Divine Chocolate. As always, all opinions are my own.


This chili combines beef, two kinds of beans, butternut squash, and is simmered in a sauce of warm spices and creamy chocolate for a delicious Halloween or autumn meal. I was super excited to be able to work with Divine Chocolate on a post for #Choctoberfest! I've always enjoyed their products and the fact that they are a Fairtrade certified. Another thing about this company is that they are the only Fairtrade chocolate company in the world that is owned by cocoa farmers! They also make some truly delicious chocolate and want their customers to #MakeSomethingDivine. Once I saw that I received one of their new 100% Unsweetened Baking Bars, I knew I wanted to make a savory chocolate recipe and more specifically a fall chili. Since the chocolate is unsweetened, it's really a great option for adding depth of rich flavor and creaminess to savory dishes. I used butternut squash to add some sweetness to the overall chili, as well as some autumn color (and an extra dose of vegetables). This recipe will serve about 4 people.


October 10, 2018

(Un)Stuffed banana pepper macaroni and cheese

A dish of unstuffed banana pepper macaroni and cheese with a serving spoon lifting some up.

Creamy, gooey, cheesy macaroni with kick from the banana peppers is a delicious twist on macaroni and cheese. This recipe is a great dinner for a cold evening.

October 3, 2018

Pawpaw bread

Pawpaw bread sliced on a cutting board.


If you are lucky enough to have pawpaws and have some to spare, this quick bread is a delicious way to use them. We usually only get a few pawpaws during their short season from a local farmers' market, so I don't cook or bake with them very much. But this year we were given a big box so I had the opportunity to try them in a quick bread. 

This quick bread is somewhat similar to a banana bread but with the distinctive tropical notes and aroma from the pawpaw. If you are not familiar with pawpaws, they are a fruit that is native to the eastern U.S. and they are custard-like in texture with flavor somewhat like a cross between a banana and a mango (I sometimes get some pineapple smell). 

They have a beautiful aroma and could be growing in a neighborhood or woods near you. We have three tiny trees in our yard, but they are still several years away from fruiting. 

You can read more about pawpaws here and in this fascinating book. It used to be grown and eaten much more frequently, but it still has its fans and even festivals in the regions where it grows. And rightfully so because this native gem is a delight! 

A word of caution - some people may experience gastrointestinal distress from eating pawpaws, and maybe especially cooked ones. You can read more about that from the USDA.  

Slices of pawpaw quick bread.

September 28, 2018

Apple cream pie with oatmeal crust

This post is sponsored on behalf of #appleweek. Our generous sponsors, Swiss Diamond, Envy Apples, Imperial Sugar, Nordic Ware, Rodelle Vanilla, Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal, Nairn's and The Spice House have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

 

A mix of tart and sweet apples are wrapped in cream, vanilla, and cinnamon and baked in a crust that tastes like a big oatmeal cookie in this delicious autumn dessert. This pie is closing out my #AppleWeek recipes and it's worth the wait! I hope that you are all loving #AppleWeek as much as I have been. I felt that doing a week of apple recipes just wouldn't be complete for me without a new pie recipe. Pies are kind of a thing with me. I enjoy trying out all different pie filling flavors, but also different types of crusts. I was really nervous about this pie - very unsure if the oatmeal crust would work, but it turned out perfectly! We decided that it tastes like a giant oatmeal cookies and a big bonus is that it's a snap to make - no chilling, or rolling, or using a food processor for this crust! The apple cream filling was kept very simple with a hint of cinnamon and some deep vanilla flavor using Rodelle's gourmet pure vanilla extract and the crust is made with Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal. Apples, oats, and vanilla are a lovely flavor profile. You can't beat the vanilla flavor you get with Rodelle's pure vanilla extract. And, Flahavan's oats are a family favorite - we love eating them for breakfast - they make the creamiest and smoothest oatmeal. They are also terrific for using in recipes like this. This pie will serve about 8 people and it's a perfect dessert for using up apples after apple picking this fall.


September 27, 2018

Creamy beet and apple salad

Disclosure: This post is sponsored on behalf of #appleweek. Our generous sponsors, Swiss Diamond, Envy Apples, Imperial Sugar, Nordic Ware, Rodelle Vanilla, Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal, Nairn's and The Spice House have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

 


A creamy and tangy dressing coats these crisp, sweet apples and soft, earthy beets for a delicious fall side dish. 

#AppleWeek is still going strong and I hope you have been enjoying everyone's amazing recipe contributions this week! I know I am! Hopefully you have found at least a couple, if not several, new apple recipes to try out this fall. Today I have a fall side dish that is super easy and also so tasty. I have to say that even my toddlers scarfed down this salad - it's that good. 

I received some spices from The Spice House for #AppleWeek and one that I was especially excited to try was ground caraway. I've used the whole seeds several times, but never a ground version. I have been wanting to make a beet and apple salad ever since I tried one years ago and I thought caraway would be a lovely compliment to the flavors. I was correct - the flavors in this salad all go together so nicely and the contrast between the sweet crispy apples, the soft earthy beets, and the cool and tangy dressing go so well together. 

We had this salad along with come cranberry chicken sausage and potato pierogi for a perfect autumn meal. This recipe will serve about 4 people as a side dish.


September 26, 2018

Chipotle turkey, apple, & sweet potato chili

Disclosure: This post is sponsored on behalf of #appleweek. Our generous sponsors, Swiss Diamond, Envy Apples, Imperial Sugar, Nordic Ware, Rodelle Vanilla, Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal, Nairn's and The Spice House have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

 

A chili packed with sweet potatoes, apples, turkey, black beans, and seasoned with chipotle in adobo, cinnamon, coriander, and more makes for a delicious, hearty, and unique fall meal. 

I am so excited to share this recipe with you! Apples are a huge part of our fall and my husband and I love visiting our local orchard where they have new apple varieties as well as heritage varieties. We go picking every fall and I'm always creating new apple recipes as well as old favorites. 

I was soooo happy to be able to receive a box of Envy Apples to try for #AppleWeek! These apples were new to me and to my family, so trying them was a big deal for us. Our kids were sampling them with me as soon as we got the box. I popped one in my husband's lunch. I gave one to my mom to take home one day, too. The kids and I loved them. My husband texted me saying what a great apple it was. My mom called and asked where she could buy them. They is no question these apples are winners! They are crisp, lightly sweet, and have a delicate apple flavor - plus the skin is so pretty in color and nice in texture. 

We will definitely be adding Envy Apples to our favorites now. They are so good for eating out of hand, but they are also terrific for cooking. I knew I wanted to make at least one savory apple dish this week and had long been thinking of adding apples to a chili. 

This chili far exceeded my expectations and will be a regular in our autumn meal rotation from now on - trust me, it may sound a bit add, but all the flavors blend together for a perfect one-pot meal! This recipe will serve about 4-6 people depending on hunger level and any sides. It's great with corn bread or a side of corn chips/tortilla strips for scooping or sprinkling on top.


September 25, 2018

Glazed spiced apple cider cookies

Disclosure: This post is sponsored on behalf of #appleweek. Our generous sponsors, Swiss Diamond, Envy Apples, Imperial Sugar, Nordic Ware, Rodelle Vanilla, Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal, Nairn's and The Spice House have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

 Plate of finished glazed spiced apple cider cookies.

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 Soft, fluffy cookies are flavored with reduced apple cider and spices and topped with a cinnamon and apple cider glaze for a festive fall treat! This is the second of my #AppleWeek recipes that I'm sharing this week. These apple cider cookies have been a work in progress for a few years now. I never feel like they turn out quite right or have enough apple cider flavor in them. For this recipe I've reduced the apple cider to help concentrate the flavor and also added a glaze made with that as well. That and the addition of some mulling spices create a delicious autumn cookie. I know I've mentioned many times in the past that I make cookies each year to take on our family annual apple picking in October. Apple picking is a tradition here and one of my favorite days of the year. These cookies would be perfect to take along on a fall outing or enjoy at home after a day of picking apples or pumpkins, or just playing in the leaves. I used Imperial Sugar's granulated, light brown, and powdered sugar in this recipe. This recipe makes about 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Apple cider cookies on a plate.

September 24, 2018

Oven roasted apple butter

Disclosure: This post is sponsored on behalf of #appleweek. Our generous sponsors, Swiss Diamond, Envy Apples, Imperial Sugar, Nordic Ware, Rodelle Vanilla, Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal, Nairn's and The Spice House have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

 Jar of finished oven roasted apple butter.

Apple butter is taken to another level when you slow roast it in the oven. The apple flavor condenses and you get a hint of a caramelized flavor for the most amazing and deeply apple-y apple butter! 

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This is my first recipe for #AppleWeek! I'm so excited to join this event this year because as my readers know I have a bit of an apple obsession. Stay tuned all week for bushels of fabulous apple recipes! 

This apple butter was made in this Swiss Diamond XD Nonstick Roasting Pan. I am so excited to be able to add this roasting pan to my cookware collection. According to Swiss Diamond's website, their XD coating features not only a new nonstick diamond-reinforced coating formulation, but also an advanced PFOA-free and eco-friendly production process. 

The apple butter in this recipe reduces down a lot of leaves apple residue on your pan, but clean-up was so simple - just soapy water and a sponge and it wiped right off. This roasting pan is going to be perfect for our family all year round for making roasts, chicken, and even casseroles. Don't forget to enter to win one of the awesome prizes from our sponsors!

I lightly spiced this apple butter to really highlight the apple flavor and not overwhelm it with too much spice. I also did not add any sugar as I used sweet apples. If you use more tart apples, or want a sweeter product, feel free to add some brown sugar to the recipe after it is pureed. This recipe will make about 2-1/2 cups of finished apple butter. 

I left one small jar in my refrigerator and froze another two jars for later. Any sweet apple will do in this recipe. I used Gala apples and left them unpeeled for even more apple flavor, but you can peel them for an extra smooth apple butter. 

I like my apple butter spread onto biscuits or toast, or even used to make apple butter oatmeal muffins.

Roasting pan full of cut apples.

September 19, 2018

Chocolate chip banana pumpkin muffins

Muffin tin of baked chocolate chip banana pumpkin muffins.

Banana bread and pumpkin bread are combined into one in these delicious spiced muffins loaded with chocolate chips. 

September 11, 2018

Silky creamy zucchini soup

Finished bowl of zucchini soup topped with sour cream and served with crackers.

A silky smooth and creamy zucchini soup is a perfect last hurrah to your summer zucchinis as we transition into fall.

August 30, 2018

Old-fashioned zucchini pie

Photo of finished zucchini pie with a slice on a small plate.

A cream pie filling blended with cooked zucchini makes for a unique dessert that will probably surprise your family and friends when they find out the secret ingredient.

August 27, 2018

Turkey and summer vegetable soup

Bowl of turkey and summer vegetable soup.

Ground turkey, diced tomatoes, fresh garden herbs, and summer vegetables make a scrumptious and hearty summertime soup. 

August 8, 2018

Cinnamon basil shortbread cookies

Platter of cinnamon basil shortbread cookies.

Sweet buttery shortbread cookies are infused with fresh cinnamon basil for a unique cookie. These cookies are a fun way to enjoy and highlight this fresh garden herb.

July 24, 2018

Dill pickle potato salad

Finished bowl of dill pickle potato salad.

Creamy potato salad filled with dill - dill pickle juice, chunks of dill pickles, and dried dill - is perfect for the dill pickle lovers in your life!

July 12, 2018

Candied watermelon rind

Finished strips of candied watermelon rind.

Candied watermelon rind is a fun treat and a terrific way to use some of your food scraps and turn them into something you'd want to eat!

Watermelon rind is edible, though not especially tasty raw. My kids are watermelon monsters, so I buy one almost every week in the summer, leaving us with A LOT of rinds to compost or throw away.

I always enjoy coming up with ways to use up foods that otherwise may be tossed. Things like making pestos from some greens (like the tops of carrots or radishes), eating beet greens, making broths and stocks with the tops of celery and onion peels. These are all great ways to reduce food waste.

The process to candy the rind takes about 4 days, but most of the time is completely hands-off. I scaled up the recipe to make more and I added some drying time in the direct sunlight. 

It's an imperfect process that you have to play by ear; a dehydrator may be helpful here and cut down on drying time, but mine turned out delicious without one!

Pieces of watermelon rind lying on a baking sheet during the drying process.

Candied watermelon rind is similar to other candied rinds like oranges, lemon, and grapefruits. Watermelon rind is bland in flavor - it does not taste like watermelon. The lemon in this recipe adds the flavoring to the end product.

You can use other flavors if you prefer - lime or ginger would be great ones to try in this recipe if you don't want to use lemon, or don't like lemon flavor.

These are a fun and tasty treat to eat out of hand for a few days - they are almost like a fruit snack in a way. Their shape and texture also remind me of a gummy worm - sweet, a little tart, and a touch chewy. We eat them out of hand, but you can use them to decorate the tops of cupcakes or other treats as well. 

When your are planning to make watermelon rind candy, I suggest using rinds from watermelon that you have cut up into a fruit salad or similar. You don't want to collect up ones that people have been touching and eating from with their mouths. Remove the fruit from the rind with a knife and then use that rind for making candy.

Pouring sugar into a bowl of watermelon rinds and water.

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

July 9, 2018

Roasted balsamic radishes

Cast iron skillet with roasted balsamic radishes with a fork piercing a radish.

Radishes roasted in olive oil, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar are a tasty way to change-up your radish eating routine! 

June 28, 2018

Beet lemonade

Pitcher of beet lemonade.

Sweet, tart, and a little earthy, beet lemonade is a delicious, colorful, and different drink for a hot summer day! 

June 27, 2018

Easy creamy grape salad

Bowl of creamy grape salad.

Make this cool and creamy grape salad side dish for your next summer cookout or picnic! It's so refreshing and always a big hit with everyone who tries it.  

June 26, 2018

Honey cinnamon summer berry crisp

Disclosure: Chef Shamy provided me with two flavors of their butter as a #CookoutWeek 2018 sponsor. All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a favorable review.

Honey Cinnamon Summer Berry Crisp in a baking dish with some scooped onto a serving plate.

Four kinds of fresh summer berries are baked together with honey and cinnamon and topped with a crisp made with cinnamon and brown sugar honey butter. 

June 20, 2018

Salmon burgers with lemon-chipotle mayo


Today I'm sharing these salmon burgers as part of June's Fantastical Food Fight hosted by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes. This month's theme is seafood! I love to make salmon patties with canned salmon. I think they are delicious and salmon is so healthy for you (and canned salmon is an economical seafood choice). I was inspired by those patties to make them into something like a burger. Also, I'm so very excited to report that both of my kids ate them (I put ranch on theirs instead of the chipotle mayo). I made the burgers mild because we were feeding two toddlers as well, but otherwise I would have added more chiptole to the burgers themselves (feel free to add a pepper if you like). Making burgers from canned salmon is also a time-saver! They salmon is already cooked and there are no bones - all you need to do is add flavor, form the patties, and give them a quick fry in a skillet. This recipe will make four burgers. I topped ours with lettuce and tomato and served them on a kaiser roll with a side of sliced pickles and roasted local asparagus.


June 7, 2018

Old-fashioned rhubarb crumble

Pan of rhubarb crumble.

This dessert combines humble, tart rhubarb with sugar, a little bit of spice, and a delicious buttery crumb topping for a classic old-fashioned family favorite.

June 4, 2018

Roasted maple blueberries & a review of "The Fruit Forager's Companion"

Disclosure: Chelsea Green Publishing provided me with a review copy of this cookbook. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Fruit Foragers Companion book with a jar of Roasted Maple Blueberries.

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When I saw that Sara Bir had a new book coming out dedicated to recipes for foraged fruit, I was super excited to say the least. But, this isn't just a book of recipes, it's full of information - why people forage fruit, doing so respectfully and safely, and also what makes these wild fruits special to us. 

May 29, 2018

Purple sweet potato and blackberry pancakes

Stack of sweet potato and blackberry pancakes topped with blackberries.

I've had some purple sweet potatoes in my pantry for a while now. They are a little expensive, so I don't get them often, but I really love the color so sometimes I will splurge on a bag. 

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

I'm always trying to work different produce colors into our diet. I use them mostly for smoothies (just bake, peel, and you have a delicious and lovely colored smoothie ingredient). 

Since I am always happy to have sweet potato pancakes, I figured why not try them with the purple ones and some blackberries for extra color, flavor, and texture. Plus our kids are pretty much pancake fanatics so I knew these would be a big hit at our house (and I hope they will be at yours, too). 

These are another way to get your kids to eat something they may not otherwise eat and sneak in some extra nutrition. Fun fact, when you cut up the blackberries and add them to the batter, they will start to turn everything a strange greenish-blue color. 

It's not the color I was expecting of these pancakes, but they still taste good! This recipe will serve about 4 people.

Stack of finished pancakes on a serving plate.

May 23, 2018

Picnic macaroni salad

Finished bowl of macaroni salad

This picnic macaroni salad is a perfect classic cookout dish to bring to a summer party or family barbecue. It's full of flavorful and color and is easy to put together.

May 8, 2018

Fresh garlic & herb dip

Bowl of fresh garlic and herb dip surrounded by cut fresh vegetables.

Cool, creamy, and full of fresh garlic and herbs, this dip is sure to get you to eat more vegetables! This fresh garlic and herb dip is full of bright flavors.

April 30, 2018

Italian sausage, potato, & pepper sheet pan dinner

Sheet pan with Italian sausage, potatoes, and bell peppers.

Sheet pan dinners are all the rage these days and for very good reasons. They are super easy to make, eat, and clean-up! One of my favorites is this Kielbasa, cabbage, & potato version. We have that one relatively frequently. 

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This one with Italian sausage reminds me of foil packets we sometimes make for camping - full of sausages, potatoes, and peppers (sometimes onions, too). 

We have had such a very long and cold winter this year. It even snowed a little this morning again and it's almost May! I'm ready for things that make me think of warmer weather and this type of dish reminds me of campfires and grilling. 

It makes for a simple yet flavorful dinner or lunch for about two to three people, but can easily be adjusted for more just by adding more of what you like. I like to use two sheet pans to help everything brown up nicely instead of steaming. However, you can try to put everything on one if you prefer.

Cooking Italian sausage, potato, and pepper sheet pan dinner.

April 5, 2018

Whole wheat kale applesauce toddler muffins

Stack of three muffins.

Kale, applesauce, and whole wheat flour are blender together in these green-hued muffins perfect for getting toddlers (or others) some greens with their breakfast or snack. 

March 21, 2018

Baked carrot cake oatmeal

Baked carrot cake oatmeal in a pan and some in a serving bowl.

All the flavors of carrot cake put into a hearty and delicious baked oatmeal breakfast. This baked carrot cake oatmeal is a yummy way to start the day.

March 13, 2018

Spätzle

Bowl of Spatzle topped with parsley.

Homemade Spätzle are a delicious side dish to make in the fall and winter. They are perfect with sausages, Schnitzel, a cheese sauce, and more. 

March 8, 2018

Sheet pan kielbasa, cabbage, & potato dinner

Sheet pan os kielbasa, cabbage, and potatoes.

This easy meal filled with smoky sausage, sweet carrots, cabbage, and potatoes and drizzled with a maple, mustard, and apple cider vinegar sauce is a simple and filling weeknight dish! 

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I've been making this dinner since I first got inspiration over at the amazing Budget Bytes about a year ago. I've changed it over time and also scaled it up a bit to feed our hungry family of four and it remains one of my favorite simple and budget-friendly dinners. 

I'm trying to post more frugal recipes on my blog lately as being a frugal mama is where I am these days. Since we are getting close to St. Patrick's Day, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots tend to be on sale and even more budget-friendly than usual, so this is a great time of the year to try out this meal. It's also very adaptable - you can easily add more or less of the vegetables that you wish. 

You can use red or russet potatoes instead or yellow. I use turkey kielbasa (a great Aldi find!), but you can use your favorite kind. This meal will feed about four people depending on age and hunger level.

Pouring the vinaigrette onto the sheet pan dinner.

February 26, 2018

Grandma's Pittsburgh chipped ham sandwiches

Chipped ham sandwich on a plate with pickles and sweet potato fries.

Chipped (or "chip chopped") ham sandwiches are a diner food from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region of the United State. They are a simple, affordable, and crowd-pleasing dish for the whole family.

February 21, 2018

Baked sweet potato fries with creamy maple mustard dipping sauce

Creamy maple mustard dipping sauce in a ramekin surrounded by baked sweet potato fries.

Sweet potato fries baked in olive oil and then dipped in a cool and creamy sauce with hints of spicy mustard and real maple syrup make a delicious side dish! 

February 6, 2018

Chocolate beet mini muffins

Chocolate beet mini muffins on a plate.

Earthy red beets and sweet chocolate come together in these tasty mini muffins making them a perfect Valentine's Day treat! 

January 22, 2018

Spinach pancakes

Stack of spinach pancakes.

Fresh baby spinach makes these buttermilk pancakes a lovely bright green color! They are perfect for springtime, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, Halloween, or anytime you want a fun breakfast.