There is nothing better than deep-dish pizza, especially when it’s homemade!  I love the fresh marinara sauce, fresh herbs, mounds of melted cheese, soft dough, and plethora of toppings.  It’s one of those meals you crave because you probably only have it 1-2 times each year and it’s most likely when you’re traveling to a city known for deep-dish pizza…  Well, you’re in luck!  I want to share my recipe for Homemade Cast-Iron Deep-Dish Pizza with you. The recipe can be found here. The dough is Chicago-style, meaning it not only covers the bottom of the pan but also stretches up the sides of the pan.  The dough isn’t overly complicated to make, but does need time to proof and rise, so plan for additional time.  It’ll be worth it!  The crust is layered with cheese and other toppings first – the sauce goes in last.  This is very important because it helps the crust say crispy and … Continue reading

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Slow cooker meals are great for any time of year.  Simply set it and forget it and you have a tasty meal that is hearty, filling, and will feed the whole family.  That’s what my recipe for Slow Cooker Shredded Thai Curry Chicken is…. simple but delicious.  The chicken is braised in a coconut-curry mixture and is moist and tender.  The coconut-curry is Thai style with a base of coconut milk, onions, peppers (spicy), sugar (sweet), fish sauce (tangy), and lime juice (citrus)…it’s like a flavor explosion in your mouth.  You then finish the dish with fresh herbs and serve it over a bed of rice. The recipe can be found here. Start by placing the chicken in the bowl of the slow cooker.  Top with the coconut milk, curry powder, fish sauce (or you can substitute soy sauce), lime juice, brown sugar, green onions, red onion, jalapeno, garlic, and ginger. Cover and cook on LOW … Continue reading

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Instant Pot Jalapeno Popper Shredded Chicken Sandwiches are a fun twist on a classic appetizer.  Think of your favorite jalapeno poppers, then think about what they would taste like when paired with shredded chicken…sounds good, right?  This is a comfort food recipe and it’s packed with flavor!  Plenty of tender, juicy chicken, a little heat from the jalapenos, a rich and creamy sauce, and crispy bacon make up this sandwich.  It’s a hearty and satisfying meal you’ll want to put into your weekly rotation. The recipe can be found here. Start by cooking the bacon according to package instructions.  Remove to a paper towel lined plate to cool, then chop and set aside. Next, slice the jalapenos and green onions, and set aside. Place the chicken in the bowl of the Instant Pot.  Add the chicken broth, jalapeno juice, chopped jalapenos (from jar), fresh sliced jalapenos, ranch seasoning, and black pepper. Chopped jalapenos in a jar … Continue reading

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Gruyere & Onion Flatbread is a wonderful recipe for a quick weeknight meal.  It’s light and will leave you feeling satisfied without being overly full, and it has great flavor!  It’s a little salty but has this rich and nutty flavor from the gruyere cheese and a hint of tang from the red onion.  The Lavash flatbread makes the perfect pizza crust.  If you aren’t familiar with Lavash, it’s a flatbread that is low in sodium, low in cholesterol, and is very thin (less doughy).  I think Lavash is perfect because it is paper thin and get a nice, crispy bottom, so each bite is crunchy. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  This recipe makes 2 flatbreads so go ahead and cut the ingredients in half if you only want to make one. Place one piece of Lavash on each baking … Continue reading

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Spring will be over before you know it and as we get into the summer months, you might be looking for something fun for the kids to do over summer break.  Why not make a fresh batch of cookies?  (And then send them outside to recover from the sugar rush) 😊 There is nothing like fresh baked cookies, right out of the oven.  I always have to sample one off the baking sheet (for quality control purpose) before they are even cooled enough to transfer to a cooling rack.  Am I a monster?  Yes.  But so are the 1st cookies I want to share with you today 😊 Monster Cookies are giant in size and truly the best!  They are loaded with peanut butter, oats, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and M&M’s, so you are essentially combining aspects of your favorite cookie into one super-sized cookie.  They are thick, chewy, and a crowd pleaser! The recipe can be found here. Start by … Continue reading

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Pesto & Tomato Flatbread is a yummy recipe when you are in need of a quick meal.  It’s light and will leave you feeling satisfied without being overly full, and it has great flavor!  The Lavash bread is crispy, the pesto has a lovely, fresh taste, the mozzarella cheese is melted and pairs well with the pesto, and the tomatoes are tender and roasted.  It’s delicious!  Plus, if you’re anything like me, you probably have most of the ingredients at home already so it’s easy to whip up in a bind or when you don’t have other dinner ideas 😊 I like to use store-bought pesto for the convenience, but you can use homemade if you prefer.  If you aren’t familiar with Lavash, it’s a flatbread that is low in sodium, low in cholesterol, and is very thin, so it’s less doughy.  It’s great when you are looking for a paper-thin, crispy crust or are looking to cut some … Continue reading

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Instant Pot Chicken & Vegetable Pad Thai is simple weeknight meal that is ready in no time!  It’s packed with tender chicken, lots of veggies, noodles, and a flavorful sauce.  Pad Thai sauce is a little salty, fairly nutty, and a little sweet in flavor.  I think it’s similar to peanut sauce, which tastes great on just about anything 😊 This is a one-pot meal your whole family will love! The recipe can be found here. Start by doing all your prep work.  Slice the chicken, zucchini, bell pepper, etc.  I like to buy matchstick carrots because they are already the needed size.  I also prefer to julienne (cut super thin) my zucchini but if you have a spiralizer, that also works well.  Set all the ingredients aside until ready to use. Next, make the Pad Thai sauce.  In a large bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients – brown sugar, chicken broth, rice vinegar, soy sauce, creamy peanut butter, … Continue reading

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Bacon Jalapeno Crescent Roll Puffs is an easy appetizer or dinner recipe that will be a crowd favorite!  I say appetizer or dinner because the recipe is something most people would serve as an appetizer but if you eat enough of them (like we did) they can also be filling enough for an entire meal 😊 Think of this recipe as a spin on a traditional jalapeno popper.  You still have the jalapeno, bacon, shredded cheese, and cream cheese but instead of being stuffed inside the jalapenos, the ingredients are wrapped in crescent roll dough.  You get crispy bacon and spicy jalapeno, but the heat is cut by the combination of Colby jack and cream cheese.  The crescent roll dough creates this warm, soft, pillowy blanket to hold the ingredients together.  They are addictive! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook the … Continue reading

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Are you ready for the Kentucky Derby?  It’s usually held on the first Saturday in May, making it this upcoming Saturday, May 7, 2022.  A lot of people like to gather with friends and family to watch the races and enjoy some good food and drink.  I believe it’s known as “the greatest two minutes of sports” so why not spend all day in the kitchen for 2 minutes of cheering pleasure? 😊  Kidding…it’s a very fun horse race to watch! I will be preparing the following items to enjoy during our viewing pleasure, and you might notice a theme… Kentucky (where the derby is held) and whiskey/bourbon (sponsors of the event and heavily influenced in the south). Kentucky Hot Brown Dip Whiskey Spiced Chicken Wings Kentucky Oaks Cocktail Maple Bourbon Candied Pecans   Kentucky Hot Brown Dip is a rich a creamy dip that encompasses the wonderful ingredients and flavors of a … Continue reading

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Do you ever order ravioli at a restaurant and wonder why it doesn’t taste the same when you make it at home?  Or you think you need to make homemade ravioli for it to taste as good as at a restaurant?  Well…you don’t!  You just need to find a premade, store-bought ravioli that you like, and jazz it up!  My preference is to buy fresh.  This is what you can find in the refrigerator section, often by the lunch meats or deli items.  These “fresh” pastas usually have a shorter shelf life and only take a few minutes to boil.  You can also go the frozen ravioli route if you have a brand or flavor in mind.  These options make cooking ravioli SO MUCH EASIER at home because the bulk of the work is already done for you.  All you must do is add sauce and toppings and you have a wonderful meal! The recipe I want to share … Continue reading

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