My homemade, copycat version of Ruby Tuesday’s pasta salad. Rotini pasta, diced ham, peas and green pepper make for the perfect side dish for a summer party! Generally speaking, I’m not a “chain restaurant” kind of girl. I live for finding little hole in the wall cafes, family-run diners and restaurants that only use locally-grown…
Appetizers & Sides
Deviled Eggs
This deviled eggs recipe is quick and easy, with variations for different flavors and presentation – and has a bit of a kick! An appetizer that will disappear first at parties, this recipe is naturally gluten free, with paleo and Instant Pot options. I feel like more often than not, when I get to a…
Easy Cheesy Pizza Pull Apart Bread
Canned biscuits are dressed up with pizza toppings for an easy, cheesy pull apart bread appetizer for a group! I know things have been a little quiet around the blog home front lately, but I can explain: there are just not enough hours in the day! Anyone else aware of this problem? I’d like to…
My Top 10 Favorite Soups for Winter
My top ten favorite soups for the cold winter season that are sure to warm you right up! I feel like we can all agree that winter is soup’s prime time. They get to be front and center, everybody wants a piece of them, and just about everywhere you go has some sort of soup…
Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup
This carrot ginger soup makes for an easy, healthy and heartwarming winter dish! It’s creamy with a subtle spicy kick of ginger, gluten free, dairy free, sugar free and perfect for those on a paleo diet. Includes directions for making in an Instant Pot as well as on your stove top. Welcome to 2019, everyone! …
German Potato Salad
My favorite traditional German potato salad dressed with a dijon vinegar dressing and served warm. The perfect cold weather side dish! I have one of those names where it’s almost never spelled correctly, but it’s really not even that difficult a name. Most of my conversations at businesses go something like this: “First name?” “Leslie.”…
Baked Mac and Cheese
The perfect mac and cheese casserole! Rich and cheesy on the inside, crunchy homemade breadcrumbs on the outside. Posting this recipe is so overdue I’m almost mad at myself. This is my go-to in the depths of winter, and I’ve been making this for as long as I can remember. Every time I make it…
Roasted Delicata Squash and Brussels Sprouts
A fall side dish that will brighten any meal! Roasted delicata squash and brussels sprouts are topped with pomegranate arils for gorgeous pops of color. I would like to submit this recipe as a last minute addition to your Thanksgiving dinner tablescape. This dish is a combination of my favorite winter vegetables and fruit, which…
Dark Chocolate Covered Figs
Covered covered figs are sweet, syrupy figs that are gently dipped in dark chocolate for a perfectly light dessert! I’m not gonna lie to you guys… I’m tired. Like, down to my bones tired. The idea of typing up this post even seemed to daunting to my tired fingers and strained eyes. I was walking…
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
Forget Chipotle – make cilantro lime brown rice at home! Fluffy brown rice gets an upgrade with a healthy dose of lime and cilantro. Recently my father asked me how I like to prepare brown rice, and it was a nice reminder of one of my favorite side dishes: Cilantro Lime Brown Rice! It’s super…
Bacon Wrapped Kielbasa
Smoky kielbasa wrapped in thick cut bacon is complemented by a slightly sweet and spicy mustard glaze. Let’s get right to the point: Bacon Wrapped Kielbasa. You heard me. Meat wrapped with meat. I was looking for some Sunday football snacks to make from stuff around the apartment and after Googling a few different…
Shrimp Pasta Salad
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiveItASparkle #CollectiveBias || A colorful, simple shrimp pasta salad with homemade Italian vinaigrette and shrimp that’s sure to be a hit at your next summer party! Hey friends! LONG time, no talk. We’re almost completely settled in the…
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
These twice baked sweet potatoes are fully loaded, perfectly sweet and so filling they could be considered a dessert! Today’s recipe is brought to you by an intense craving for Thanksgiving foods. If I could bring myself to prep an entire holiday meal just for me, one of these bad boys would be cuddled up next to…
Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
These brussels sprouts are pan-fried with crumbled bacon and butter for a light and flavorful side dish! I feel like brussels sprouts are one of those foods that people either love or despise. Which side do you fall on? I absolutely adore them, and like to prepare them a bunch of different ways. My personal…
Cornbread and Bacon Stuffing
This warm, fluffy stuffing has the perfect combination of sweet cornbread, crispy bacon and savory herbs. Perfect for Thanksgiving! Do you call it stuffing or dressing? I grew up calling it stuffing, because dressing is for salads. And yes, it’s always ranch dressing. Good grief I’m Midwestern. You can consider this part two of this…
Skillet Cornbread
No mixer required! Easy cornbread so good it doesn’t even NEED to be served with butter! I don’t normally give my recipes taglines, but for this one I have to: It’s cornbread so good it doesn’t even need butter. That’s right, I said it. Now does that mean that you shouldn’t slather it with butter?…
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
This creamy cheese combination paired with tart cranberries and crunchy pecans make this the perfect shareable snack! As you might recall, I’m not a big fan of cream cheese. However, I am a total sucker for anything that involves white cheddar cheddar cheese – so, cheese balls? I’m all over that. Cheese balls with cranberries…
Watermelon & Blackberry Mint Salad
A wonderfully refreshing summer fruit salad with only four ingredients: watermelon, blackberries, mint and cotija cheese! You know those hot, humid summer days when all you can bring yourself to do is take a semi-cold shower and lay down on the nearest cool surface like a dog? I had one of those recently. I was sprawled on…
Stuffed Pepper Dip
A great addition to any party! The filling from my favorite stuffed pepper recipe with a little extra cheese makes for a perfectly scoopable dip. I have a thing for chunky-style dips. If it’s smooth and creamy, I probably won’t partake in it… the only real exception being queso. Mmm, queso. Salsa? It’s gotta have…