As soon we started getting days over 70, my meal planning pretty much went into full-on summer mode. What is “summer mode”, you ask? Everything possible on the grill – and keep it simple.
This side is so easy I debated whether to even post the recipe, but it’s perfect for days when you want a little something more with dinner but have zero effort left to give. And it goes with so much.
Continue readingIf there’s one thing I’ve been cooking a lot lately, it’s soup. So. Much. Soup.
I can’t say I’m mad about it – it’s perfect for these chilly days and making up a big pot in advance has been great for quick lunches or easy dinners.
And what do you need with soup? A nice loaf of bread, of course.
This honey oat bread is my hands-down favorite. It’s soft and chewy with just the right tough of sweetness. It’s also fool-proof – every loaf I’ve made turns out beautiful.
Continue readingWe put in a big garden this spring. It’s something we’ve had plans for but with quarantine, we finally made the jump and did it. We knew it would be a learning year – and it is. I’m having more fails than successes.
One huge success? Our tomatoes.
This simple salad is one of my favorite ways to use up our tomatoes. If you’re going to make this, I highly suggest using tomatoes from a farm or your garden – they’re just so good right now!
Continue readingOne of the most requested lunches in our house? Grilled cheese. I always try to encourage the kids to help out when I’m making simple meals – but throwing some sliced cheese on bread just wasn’t holding their interest. How do you make grilled cheese more fun? Make it colorful, of course!
This rainbow version – dubbed Unicorn Grilled Cheese in our house, because of course unicorns have rainbow manes – only takes a few extra minutes to make but the extra fun helps keep the kids engaged!
Continue readingThis post is sponsored in conjunction with#NationalSlowCookerMonth. I received complimentary product from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #NationalSlowCookerMonth recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
I’ve been making a lot of soup lately. A lot. And to me, there’s no better accompaniment to a bowl of soup then a warm roll. But warm, fresh rolls made in the slow cooker? Total game changer.
Yes, these awesome, cheesy dinner rolls are made in the slow cooker! It is #NationalSlowCookerMonth after all!
I feel like we’re in this weird place in between summer and fall. We’re prepping for a beach trip – but also getting ready to start school. It’s warm enough to swim, but cools down at night enough for a sweatshirt.
Should I be posting fall dishes here? Or keep rocking summer?
This cornbread is a little of both – a great side for a summer cookout or a big bowl of fall chili. And really, is there any better side for either?
I’ve shared a few fun cornbread variations before – Amish Cornbread and Jalapeno Cornbread – but this is my favorite basic recipe. It’s gritty, but moist. Crumbly, but soft. Slather it with some honey butter and you’ve basically got heaven on a plate!
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Grease and flour a 9×9″ pan and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a large skillet, melt the butter, then remove from heat. Immediately stir in sugar, then the eggs and beat until well blended.
In a separate bowl, combine the baking soda and buttermilk. Stir into the mixture in the pan.
Stir in the cornmeal, flour, and salt until just a few lumps remain.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Is it even summer if you don’t end up drowning in zucchini at some point? I think not.
Between our garden and our CSA, we always have plenty of zucchini around. I have, of course, been experimenting with lots of new, fun recipes – but I just keep coming back to zucchini bread. It’s a classic.
This loaf is our favorite. It’s a little heavy on the nutmeg which gives the loaf a nice spice. Pecans and chocolate chips are mixed in, too, to add a little sweetness and texture.
This recipe does make a big batch, so it’s great to share with neighbors – or freeze a loaf for later!
And if you’re looking for more ways to use up your garden zucchini, I suggest Zucchini Scones, Zucchini, Chile & Red Onion Frittata, or Cheesy Zucchini Enchiladas – all family favorites!
Thanks Ellen from Family Around the Table and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures for hosting our Farmer’s Market Event!
Thursday Farmer’s Market Week Recipes
Makes 2 large loaves or 5 small loaves
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking powder
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease loaf pans and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and baking powder.
In another bowl, beat the eggs, applesauce, oil, and vanilla together. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in the zucchini, pecans, and chocolate chips.
Divide batter between loaf pans. Bake until a knife inserted comes out clean – about an hour for large loaves or 35-45 minutes for smaller loaves.
adapted from The Taste of Home Baking Book
This post is sponsored in conjunction with ChristmasSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
I am all about a festive breakfast for holiday celebrations – and these delicious doughnuts are a perfect treat for Christmas morning!
These pack a big punch of flavor thanks to LorAnn Oils Chocolate Hazelnut Flavor. Just a little gives these a great, complex flavor – and it’s balanced nicely by the vanilla icing. Sweets & Treats sprinkles make them extra festive and perfect for the holiday!
Note: I received complimentary product for this post. All opinions are my own.
New, inventive recipes are always fun – but sometimes you just want a classic. We love banana bread around here. Add in lots of chocolate, and you’ve got a treat that barely lasts 24 hours.
Lots of other chocolate goodness this way, too! —>
Chocolate Banana Bread
(from Chelsea’s Messy Apron)
Makes 1 loaf
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
1/2 cup coconut oil, measured melted and cooled slightly
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup mashed bananas, approx. 2-3 bananas
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup white whole wheat flour or plain white
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips dark chocolate chips for healthier
1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a loaf pan.
Run the oats through a blender or food processor until the consistency of flour.
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg and yolk. Whisk in the yogurt and coconut oil. Whisk in the vanilla and sugar. Stir in the mashed banana.
To the same bowl, add the oat flour, salt, baking soda, flour, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. Mix until just combined.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for an hour, until a knife inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool before removing from the pan.
As soon as warmer weather hits, I want to grill everything. I’m pretty sure that 90% of the recipes I’ve pulled out of magazines or bookmarked in the past month have been grilling-related. Besides just feeling summery, it generally means that Mark does more of the cooking and there are fewer dishes to wash – wins all around.
This was a great way to serve a loaf of Italian bread. I usually end up making garlic bread or just slicing and buttering – this was a nice, different treat. And with the fresh herbs starting to come out of the garden now, it’s especially perfect!
Grilled Bread with Rosemary Dipping Sauce
(from Tastes Lovely)
Serves 6-8 as a side
1 loaf Italian bread, cut in half horizontally
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
1-2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Cut the bread in half, horizontally and brush each cut side with olive oil. Grill on high for 2-3 minutes, until you have char marks. Remove from the grill and rub the cut side with the clove of garlic. Slide into strips
On a deep plate, stir together the olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary. Add the balsamic vinegar.
Serve the bread along with the oil for dipping.