Potluck Pasta Salad We love pasta salads as the weather warms up. There aren’t many things that beat having a meal ready-to-go in the fridge on a hot summer night. Part of that is the fact that we lived in Phoenix for so many years. When it’s 108 degrees outside and muggy from a thunderstorm, you learn to eat as light as possible. And, you keep the oven off as much as possible....

Get ready to unlock one of the grand secrets of Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisine by learning how to make preserved lemons in this step-by-step tutorial. These homemade preserved lemons are a powerhouse ingredient that will infuse your dishes with such an incredible flavor and absolutely transform any dish you add them to, whether savory or sweet. Just a few minutes of your time will give you this magical ingredient that keeps for months and you can enjoy all the year through!...

It is naturally gluten-free and can be made vegan by replacing ghee with oil. This rice recipe is made in a pressure cooker and usually served with raita or plain curd. Who doesn’t like quick lunch recipes? We all do right! Here is one such delicious recipe loaded with vegetables, and mint flavors, popularly known as pudina rice or pudina Sadam in Tamil. Pudina is a Hindi word that means mint....

Have you ever wondered why some ravioli sauces are simply sublime? We’ll demystify the secrets behind the best rose sauce that will tantalize your taste buds. From the perfect balance of ingredients to essential cooking techniques, we’ll leave no stone unturned in this quest for culinary perfection. The secret to this sauce lies in its wonderful combination of flavors and its versatility. This sauce is a harmonious marriage of two beloved favorites: tomato and cream....

Butter and garlic combine to make any form of potato more delicious, don’t they? These potatoes have been a family favorite for as long as we’ve been married. My husband made these potatoes the first Thanksgiving we were together and my entire family devoured them. He was super laid back about it and potatoes became his “thing” for the next dozen Thanksgivings at least. How To Make Rustic Smashed Potatoes His method was simple, just smash up the potatoes and add butter, salt, and a splash or two of milk....

It’s been a few weeks people, I really needed to take care of my chocolate-marshmallow-graham-cracker cravings. By now you must expect that you’ll see a s’mores-inspired treat on this blog fairly often. It probably has something to do with my childhood. I’ve always been an outdoorsy person and I loved camping. Unusual for a gal, but I’m being totally honest, I really love it. Bugs? No hot water? Dirt? meh....

A specialty of the Bavaria region of southern Germany, drenched in gravy these famous Semmelknödel are pure heaven! This German Bread Dumplings recipe is just like my Mutti and Oma made them. Learn how to make these traditional Knödel from scratch! These Semmelknödel (German bread dumplings) have always been a favorite mine. It doesn’t matter what they’re served with – drenched in gravy these Knödel are pure heaven! What Are Semmelknödel?...

One pan meals will help you conquer the week. Try Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots, Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice, and Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Tuna Steaks and Potatoes. You know how I feel about one pan meals. And if you don’t, well let me just tell you that I’m basically borderline obsessed. They are MAGICAL. Honestly I don’t know how I ever survived weekly meal planning before they became so popular because these days I’m filling my weeknights with at least one if not two or three one pan meals each week....

I’ve been indulging myself lately. My husband has been out of town five out of the past six weeks and I’ve been making dinners that are one hundred percent catered to my tastebuds. I never look forward to these big travel stints but I’m not gonna lie, I do eat some really good food when he is on the road. Just making the best of the situation you know? So what kind of food happens when he’s not going to be sitting down to dinner with me that night?...

Loving this super easy Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala? You’ll also want to try my NEW Instant Pot Chicken Marsala, Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots, One Pan Garlic Herb Chicken and Asparagus, and Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore. Thank the heavens above it’s Sunday. If we’re being 110 percent honest, this weekend has not been my favorite. Sometimes stupid things happen and when all is said and done, it just bites....

Coming back from Sacramento was bitter sweet. I was all too excited to see the hubbs after he and I were both gone on business trips, so that was sweet. And even though my hotel room was nothing short of stunning, there’s nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed. But I’m already missing the people, the food, and the really warm weather I was enjoying in Cali. Now that I’m back in Utah and the cooler weather is making a presence here, I’ve started a list of must-make comfort foods to keep us warm in the coming months....

It’s approaching the end of September and Autumn is definitely in the air. One of the things I always look forward to come autumn, aside from the beautiful fall foliage and the excuse to eat lots of hearty soups and stews, is the harvest of fresh local squash. Acorn, spaghetti and butternut squash along with sweet pumpkin are all favorites of mine. Here is a deliciously satisfying salad that features tender steak, crispy spinach and red onions, crunchy almonds, roasted butternut squash seasoned with aromatic spices and served with a balsamic vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan....

Need to change up your potluck game? Try this Mandarin Pasta Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Dressing, Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad, Strawberry Avocado Chicken Pasta Salad, and Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad. I’m admitting it here and now, I have a pasta salad obsession. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s been over a hundred degrees consistently this month and I have a hard time turning on the oven in these kinds of conditions, maybe it’s just that I I like the idea of taking lettuce, adding pasta and fruit or veggies, a handful of goodies like nuts and dried berries or cheese, and calling it a salad....

If you love Thai recipes as much as I do, then you will definitely want to make my Chickpea Curry, Thai Blackberry Basil Chicken dish or these Thai Curry Steak Noodle Bowls ASAP. I’ve mentioned a time or two or three how much I love curry. All the curries, any color, (almost) all spice levels, sweet, savory…whatever kinds of curry I’ve ever tried in my life I’ve said “yes” to all of them and never once looked back....

Learn how to make this authentic Panang Curry Paste recipe from scratch! Full of fragrant herbs and warm toasted spices, this paste is way better than store-bought. Have you had panang curry yet? Panang is one of the most well-known curries in Thai cuisine, typically found in the central and southern regions of the country. As with other types of gaeng (curry), the backbone of flavor for the dish comes from an aromatic curry paste....

A mule cocktail for me is the perfect drink and one of my favorite recipes on New year’s eve. But, of course, it is also perfect any other time of the year. The sweetness of the fresh strawberries only makes this a very refreshing and wonderful drink when combined with fresh mint leaves. Why make this mule? This is the easiest drink you can make in less than 3 minutes....

Welcome to the fourth installment of The Micro-dwelling Project! To recap, we purchased a historic 104 year old house the end of last year. The nearly 8 acre property has a tiny guesthouse on it and we’ve been working on transforming it into a contemporary and efficient micro-dwelling. It’s been a while since our last installment but the work has steadily continued. This is where we left off in Part 3:...

He asked me to post the recipe after my sister Jenny made one for him while we were visiting last week.* He is probably hoping I’ll start making this one for him at home. I laughed a couple times as I was writing this post, because after doing a bit of research it appears that there are a number of opinions on the proper way to make an old-fashioned. All I know is that Sean and Jenny both approve of this version and that makes it a win for us....

Marzipan cookies are a delightful confection that combines the best of both worlds – the rich, nutty flavor of marzipan and the comforting familiarity of a classic cookie. But what exactly are marzipan cookies? Well, imagine a soft and chewy cookie, perfectly balanced in sweetness, with a subtle almond undertone that is both elegant and comforting. These cookies are made with a butter, sugar, and egg base. But what sets them apart is the addition of marzipan....

Pot roast is a traditional dish made by slow-cooking a tough cut of beef in liquid until it becomes tender and flavorful. Typically, a large piece of meat such as chuck or brisket is seasoned with herbs, spices, and sometimes a marinade, then seared to develop a rich crust before being placed in a pot or roasting pan with vegetables, broth, or other liquid. The dish is then cooked low and slow in the oven or stovetop until the meat is fork-tender and the vegetables are cooked....