California Club Pasta Salad

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Making a pasta salad on a hot day is one of my favorite ways to get dinner on the table during the summer. While I could eat a pasta salad every single night, I don’t think the rest of my family would agree. So we tend to have one about once or twice a week, … Read more

A Baby, A House, A Lonely Kitchen

I don’t know if anyone has noticed, or if it’s just my own guilt speaking, but things have been a little slow around here lately. That’s because being a wife and mom take precedence over cooking and blogging. And right now, those first two areas are filling up most of my time. So, maybe my … Read more

Oven Fries

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I have had a love-hate relationship with homemade French fries for several years now. Sometimes they turn out just fine and other times they taste great, but their texture leaves something to be desired. With a family of ketchup-loving fanatics, soggy French fries just don’t hold up to the dipping test. However, I recently stumbled … Read more

Top Memorial Day Side Dishes

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Is there any better way to officially usher in summer than with a party? Even if it’s just your family celebrating Memorial Day in a small way, it’s easy to throw together a perfect summertime meal. So whether you are grilling out, picnicking or heading to a party, here are some of our family’s favorite … Read more

Sausage & Spinach Quiche

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I’ve never understood why quiche gets made fun of so much. In our house, it’s always a hit. What’s not to love about a flaky pie crust filled with yummy (usually cheesy) ingredients? I don’t see how it could be anything but a winner! As the cook, I love quiche because it is the perfect … Read more

Peach & Nut Oatmeal

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I am not a fan of oatmeal. I wish I were though, and I always try a few bites on that off chance that my tastebuds will have changed. So far…no such luck. But, my kids and my husband LOVE oatmeal. They would gladly eat it for breakfast every single day. Obviously, I don’t mind … Read more

Vegetable Alfredo

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I love to make homemade alfredo sauce because it always makes me feel like such a gourmet. But the funny thing is, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I actually thing homemade alfredo sauce is one of the easiest things to make. It just sounds impressive! Other than the ease of making alfredo sauce, … Read more

Sausage & Cheese Biscuits –

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I blame laziness for many of my successful creations in the kitchen. I am all about cutting corners wherever and whenever possible. As long as the food still tastes good, I don’t mind if it looks a little different than the usual or if it requires a few steps less. Good is good, but good … Read more

Revisiting 30 Minute Meals Get Real

Early last year, I did a few posts in a short-lived series that I titled “30 Minute Meals Get Real.” I am a big fan of Rachel Ray, yet whenever I made one of her recipes, it took me quite a bit longer than 30 minutes. I couldn’t help but wonder what I was doing … Read more

Mexican Black Beans

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We don’t go out to eat very often, but when we do, a Mexican restaurant is always on our short list of places we really want to go. One of our favorite places serves a family-style bowl of black beans with all of our meals. We all really enjoy those, but they are a bit … Read more