It still amazes me that just a spoonful of oil and a little bit of patience can result in juicy, tender chicken with golden crisp skin. Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks The other day, as I was mixing together a fresh batch of Taco Seasoning for some Spanish Rice I was cooking, it occurred to me that I could use that combination of Mexican spices as a rub for the chicken I was planning to make that night for dinner....

Not only do I have an intense adoration for Mexican cuisine, but also for all things spicy. Yes, really really spicy. I like it hot. There aren’t many things I haven’t tried hot sauce on. Hot pockets? Check. Turkey sandwiches? Check. Potato chips? Double check! What can I say, even as a kid I was thinking outside the box. My three older brothers loved to torture and torment me. And I just wanted them to let me tag along so I’d do just about anything they told me to....

As I sit here writing this post, I’m trying to think of a single time in my life when I’ve turned down an oatmeal cookie. There’s just something about the chewy oats, the rich brown sugar and the butter. Oatmeal Cookie Recipes I have a serious love of oatmeal cookies. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Oatmeal Toffee Cookies, Old Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies, Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, and these Coconut Lover’s Oatmeal Cookies just to name a few....

I baked this recipe as muffins the first time I made it and we liked them so much that the muffins disappeared in 24 hours. My youngest begged for more after his nap this afternoon and that was all the excuse I needed to bake another batch. This recipe comes together in just minutes. If you choose to make muffins instead of a loaf, it will be in and out of the oven in under 20 minutes....

Pear Oatmeal A steamy bowl of fragrant oatmeal is a must on a cold morning. Oatmeal is the breakfast equivalent of a hearty soup when it comes to warming your entire body and fueling the belly when the temperature drops to chillier temperatures. We have always been a family that enjoys waking up to a pot of oatmeal simmering on the stove for breakfast. But it wasn’t until moving to the midwest from Arizona that I fully understood its warming powers....

This luxuriously creamy pea risotto recipe combines the freshest sweet peas with the irresistible flavors of basil, Parmesan and pancetta! For more delicious risotto recipes be sure to try my Mushroom Risotto, Tomato Risotto, Salmon Risotto, and Pumpkin Risotto! Pea Risotto Recipe In celebration of Spring, I want to introduce you to a risotto featuring one of early Spring’s finest bounties: The garden-fresh sweet pea. Aren’t they simply irresistible? We had a really nice harvest of sweet peas last year and are looking forward to picking the first batch of this Spring....

Do you realize that September is pretty much here? How did this happen?! Summer is over. Gone. And the only reason I’m semi-okay with that fact is because my absolute favorite season comes right after Summer. The one that includes cozy sweaters, changing leaf colors, pumpkin pie scented candles, and football games. For years I’ve been going to college football games with my dad, but this season tailgating is going to look a little bit different for me because I’ve got two little munchkins about to make their big debut in a few weeks and I just don’t see the game outings going quite the same with two babes in tow....

Sticky coconut rice with sweet mangos makes a terrific snack/dessert. My recipes this week are the result of a weekend spent playing at our cabin. My sister drove over from NM and met us there with her girls. The kids played and ran around with their cousins and had non-stop fun all weekend; while the adults talked, laughed, played games and only paused to put food in front of everyone....

The recipe I’m sharing with you today is truly worthy of that descriptor. You don’t think I’d call something the “best” if I didn’t mean it, do you? I’ve tried numerous recipes for balsamic vinaigrette over the past few years and while they have been decent, they were not quite what I was searching for. Some homemade vinaigrettes would end up a little too oily, while others were too sweet for my tastes....

I’ve teamed up with GE Appliances and BlogHer to bring you this post. The history of the kitchen is a fascinating one. I’ve never seen one, but I would love to watch a documentary on the subject from a sociological perspective. Kitchens tell us so much about the prevailing culture and are a reflection of its values and philosophies. And so it’s no wonder that as people and cultures have changed, so have their kitchens....

Soft, light, chewy, fruity and wonderfully fragrant, Panettone is Italy’s world famous sweet bread that is traditionally enjoyed for Christmas and New Year. But you don’t have to limit yourself, with this traditional Panettone recipe you can enjoy this scrumptious treat any time of year. And if you’re like me and have never cared for the store-bought stuff get ready to be converted because homemade is a total game changer!...

For more delicious cookies, head on over to my popular recipes for Caramel Pretzel White Chocolate Cookies, Cowboy Cookies, and Santa’s Christmas Cookies. Ingredients Butter — I use unsalted butter but if you like a little extra salt in your cookies then you can use salted cookies. You might want to omit the salt though if you only have salted butter but don’t want too much salt in your cookies....

Annnnnd the Italian theme continues today. Oh my, speaking of which, I really need to tell you about what happened a few weeks ago. My father-in-law’s birthday fell on Father’s Day this year and to celebrate, we took him out that weekend to dinner. By “we” I mean basically my husband’s entire family. The one place he was dying to go for dinner was Olive Garden. I’ve been to Olive Garden maybe… once before?...

To truly appreciate the artistry behind crafting the perfect Danish butter cookies, it’s essential to understand what sets them apart. Danish butter cookies are renowned for their delicate texture, buttery flavor, and iconic shape. These delectable treats are a staple in Danish households and have gained popularity worldwide for their irresistible taste. Unlike traditional cookies, Danish butter cookies have a melt-in-your-mouth texture achieved through a specific combination of ingredients and techniques....

Classic French buttercream is a decadent frosting with a rich and creamy texture that sets it apart from other types of buttercream. Its origins can be traced back to France, where it is highly regarded for its luxurious taste and smooth consistency. What sets French buttercream apart is its use of egg yolks, which are cooked with a sugar syrup and then whipped with butter to create a velvety frosting....

Mixed vegetables are cooked and then simmered in spicy, onion-tomato-garlicky gravy and served with Tandoori roti or garlic Naan! Make this for any party or gathering; your guests will have a hard time believing this wasn’t ordered from a restaurant! Today I am here with the famous and most-ordered recipe in an Indian restaurant; Veg Kolhapuri. Kolhapur is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. And before Kolhapuri readers mention in the comment section that there is no such recipe made in Kolhapur, You are right!...

Raw Corn Salad Many years ago, it was this salad that was one of my first experiences with raw corn. I saw a recipe for raw corn salad in a magazine, did a double take, and had to try it. If you’ve never experienced this vegetable raw, I recommend it! I love the different flavors of the raw zucchini and corn. With a very light lime vinaigrette, it becomes such a fresh-tasting salad for the summer months....

I created this soup on a cold winter night when I was craving a hearty and warming soup and Sean was craving stuffed peppers. Spicy Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers are one of Sean’s favorite meals and for a good reason. The combination of textures and flavors in a stuffed pepper is hard to beat! I had a hunch that those same ingredients could come together to make a tasty soup and I was right....

Pronounced dool say dee lay chay, dulce de leche is milk caramel made by cooking milk with sugar long and slow until most of the water is evaporated. The end result is a rich, golden-colored, creamy, thick, and luxurious syrup consistency. And it can be eaten on its own, used as an ingredient in other recipes, or as a filling in cakes, pies, tarts, and ice cream. Growing up, we did not have the option of buying dulce de leche, condensed milk, or evaporated milk....

Challah is a traditional Jewish bread, often braided, with a soft, slightly sweet flavor and a rich, tender crumb. It is central to Jewish culture, particularly during the Sabbath and holidays. The dough is enriched with eggs and often slightly sweetened with sugar or honey, creating a beautifully golden and soft loaf that is as delicious as it is symbolic. Traditionally, challah is braided, representing unity, love, and the intertwining of community....