Taste buds calling for more? Try my Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars, No Bake Cheesecake, and Salted Caramel Pretzel Mini Cheesecakes. This dessert. This creamy, frozen, strawberry-loaded cheesecake-y dessert is….wow. just… WOW. The end. Okay but really, the crust…. the crust alone I could eat for days on end! It’s buttery and sweet and salty and everything you could ever want from a thick graham cracker crust. But obviously that’s just half of the party here....

Is it really mid-December already? Stop it right now, I’ve had enough of this fly-by season thing. I’m tired but too scared to take a nap for fear I’ll miss Christmas altogether, wake up and it’ll be 2014 already. I made a Fall bucket list this year because I’m sick of getting to the tail-end of a season and realizing I’ve done of the things I look forward to doing during that time of year....

Genoise sponge cake is a classic Italian cake known for its light and airy texture. Unlike traditional sponge cakes, genoise is made without any chemical leavening agents, relying instead on the air incorporated into the eggs during whipping to rise. This makes it perfect for layered cakes and desserts where a light texture is desired. Genoise sponge cake originated in Genoa, Italy, and is believed to have been created in the 18th century....

Gingerbread cookies. Just the mention of these sweet treats can conjure up images of cozy winter nights, festive decorations, and the delightful aroma of spices lingering in the air. But what exactly are gingerbread cookies? Gingerbread cookies are quintessential holiday treats that have been around for centuries. They are made from a combination of flour, molasses, butter, sugar, and of course, ginger. The ginger gives these cookies their distinct flavor and adds a warm, spicy kick to each bite....

I think I would eat cake for breakfast every day if I could. And lunch. And dinner. I love cake. I made this crumb cake last week for a family brunch. I thought there would be plenty left over to take home and devour throughout the week. Somehow all of it disappeared. Good thing I took these pictures beforehand and didn’t rely on a leftover piece to photograph when I got home....

As the story goes, she misread the directions the first time she made it and the crust flipped over onto the top of the fruit. However, it came to be made, “cherry flop” was a hit and she continued making it the same way. I used fresh sweet cherries to make this dessert, but my grandmother made it for years using canned cherries. Please note that Grandma made her Cherry Flop with plain cherries canned in water, not cherries in heavy syrup, and not cherry pie filling....

However, with just a little extra effort, the green chile flavor is made even better with a handful of spices and a little bit of time on the stove. I like to make large batches of this sauce and stash it in the freezer for anytime we’re craving Mexican food. The question “Red or Green?” is heard frequently in NM restaurants. Wikipedia even lists it as the State Question for NM....

Did you know that Italian Vegetable Soup was the very first recipe I posted on this blog? And as much as we love that recipe, I haven’t touched that post since it was first published in all of its four-sentence glory 10+ years ago. It makes me smile to remember how simple blogging was in the beginning. My husband carried one version or another of this soup to work with him for lunch at least a couple of times a week for years....

I’m the type of person that love to munch quite a few time in a day. I like variety. So today I made a batch of Cheese Crackers. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about a snack. It was Scrumptious. They were buttery and crisp. My son likes cheese-its. And who doesn’t right!! But after eating this Homemade Cheese Crackers, he said Mummy these are really really good, better than store bought ones....

This homemade lemonade is a simple, lemony, quick, easy yet refreshing combination of fresh strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar. It takes less than 20 minutes to make. It tastes so much better and fresher than store-bought. This homemade fruit lemonade is the ultimate summertime drink to cool off on a hot day. As soon as the weather starts to get warm enough I start getting requests from my son for lemonade....

Chai is the Indian word for tea. Indian tea is a variety on its own. If you ever shop at an Indian store, buy a box of Indian tea bags and you will notice it is stronger than our regular tea bags. The spices used in chai spice blends will also vary from place to place. If you buy an Indian brand, the dominating flavors are cardamom and ground ginger....

A German pork chops recipe made in “hunter’s style” featuring an irresistibly rich and creamy mushroom sauce known as Jägersoße. These hunter’s pork chops are absolutely delicious! Pork Chops. Breaded. Fried. Mushrooms. Creamy. Sauce. All combined these create succulent Hunter’s Pork Chops, or German pork chops, that are phenomenal served with homemade Spätzle, Semmelknödel, German Potato Dumplings, mashed potatoes, buttered noodles or rice! The term “hunter” is inspired by the German word for hunter, Jäger....

Instant Pot Mujadara (Mujaddara) – A signature Middle Eastern dish made with lentils and rice and garnished with crispy fried onions! It is gluten-free, vegan and one of the most comforting one pot meal! It is one of the favorite Vegetarian side dishes and it is a protein-rich filling meal. Mujadara or Mujaddara translates to a middle eastern staple rice and lentil dish which is an everyday staple in most of the Lebanese home....

Lentil Vegetable Nuggets – Vegan, Gluten-free, Healthy, Kid-friendly, simple and easy to make, Perfect for any party as an appetizer or snacks. These Lentil Vegetable Nuggets are fun and delicious for snacks or meals. It tastes great in sandwiches, in burgers or even in Pita bread. I could eat these nuggets/fritters, all day long. 🙂 Lentil Vegetable Nuggets This simple veggie nugget recipe is made with red lentils, lots of vegetables, salt, ginger-chili paste, mint, and chickpea flour....

Looking for more potluck sides to share? Try my Bacon Avocado Potato Salad, Strawberry Avocado Chicken Pasta Salad, Greek Tortellini Salad, and Loaded Baked Potato Foil Packs. I’ve always been picky about my macaroni salads and to be 110 percent honest I usually skip it if I don’t know who made it (or take a courtesy scoop if it’s a relative – shhh!!) but this recipe is positively crave-able. It’s the right balance of textures with tender noodles and crunchy veggies, and that dressing is sweet, creamy perfection!...

It still boggles my mind that so much fresh flavor is possible from a couple cans of fruit, a splash of cream, and a squeeze of lime. When Alberston’s and Safeway asked me if I’d like to create a new recipe for the “Cans Get You Cooking” project, I jumped at the chance to play with some foods that were already in our pantry. I love keeping a well-stocked pantry because it makes spur of the moment cooking and baking possible....

If you’re looking for delicious Summertime salads, be sure to try this Corn Salad, Berry Orzo Spinach Salad, or Best Ever Broccoli Salad. Mexican street corn salad is inspired by a common Mexican street snack called Esquites. Esquites is basically corn salad in a cup, but with a mayonnaise based dressing. And let me tell you- it is delicious. I wanted to make a healthier version of Esquites so I made this Mexican street corn salad!...

The classic accompaniment to oysters on the half shell, this Mignonette Sauce recipe features wine vinegar, shallots, and black pepper. Feel free to change things up by using any combination of red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, or champagne vinegar. Here where I live in the Chesapeake Bay region oysters are a big deal. Historically it’s been one of the largest producers in the U.S. and you can find oyster bars throughout the region serving the freshest oysters on the half shell....

Want more cheesecake? Try my Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars, No Bake Cheesecake, and Cheesecake Stuffed Baked Apples. True confessions of a recipe hoarder Episode 937. Obviously I do a fair amount of baking and to be honest, sometimes I get a little behind on the sharing of my recipes. Case in point, these mini turtle cheesecakes. The exact date is a little fuzzy but I’ve been hanging on to this yummy recipe for wayyy too long without sharing it....

Love chicken? Then you’re sure to love my Shredded Chicken Sandwiches, Best Healthy Chicken Salad Sandwich, and Pesto Chicken Sandwiches. I don’t know what has gotten into me lately but I have been all about the sandwiches. And burgers. And wraps. (For a wrap recipe, check out these Grilled Pineapple TeriyakiChicken Wraps.) Basically anything that involves a bunch of really yummy fillings (generally consisting of protein + veggies + sauces) piled between carbs....