DIY Cooking at Home

Well, hello there, happy Wednesday! I'm jumping on quick today to share these quick and easy Super Bowl appetizers with you, as well as some great tips for hosting a Super Bowl party! First, these simple but tasty mini tacos are perfect for game day and a cinch to prepare! You can even make them ahead of time and freeze them; I put them in our kids' lunches! Touchdown Taco Bites flour tortillas taco sauce black beans shredded cheddar Spray 2 mini muffin pans with non-stick spray. Set aside. Use a soup can to cut rounds out of your flour tortillas, then push the tortilla circles into each mini muffin cup. Put a dollop--about 1 tablespoon--of taco sauce into each muffin cup. Top with a spoonful of black beans and a sprinkling of cheddar. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve with salsa and sour cream. You can either place some of each on top of the taco bites after they've cooled, or serve the condiments on the side. Now that you ...

Thanksgiving is a week away, can you believe it?! So do you, like the dad on A Christmas Story , love turkey? Or are you more of a side dish person? Me: When it comes to turkey, I'm like...meh. But the sides? Oh, the sides...I dream about the mashed potatoes and stuffing, mixed with gravy and cranberry relish. Not to mention all of my other favorites, which I've listed here for you. So if you haven't planned your menu yet, or if you offered to bring a side to your family's potluck but don't know what to make, here are my family's traditional Thanksgiving side dishes. Broccoli Casserole Baked Apples Baked Acorn Squash Roasted Brussel Sprouts (simply toss in olive oil and kosher salt and roast on a baking sheet until fork-tender...yummmmm.) Photo Credit: Dishmaps My mouth is watering now...I can't wait until next week!

Can you BELIEVE Thanksgiving is in two weeks?! Maybe because it's been unseasonably warm up until now, but I'm really reeling with how fast this year is going. I feel like one of those unsuspecting cartoon characters when something really fast runs past and makes them spin around in a blur, and then they stop, looking really confused . Anyway, like I said, the weather has been beautiful but for the first time this week, there was frost on the pumpkin and I smelled winter on the air when I went outside last night. So I made comfort food: meatloaf with roasted potatoes and carrots, and baked acorn squash with bacon. If you've never had acorn squash before, you don't know what you're missing. I know a lot of people like butternut, but acorn is actually my favorite type of squash. And it's so easy to make! Just cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut it into quarters if you want. Lay the squash slices flesh side up in a pyrex baking dish, then ...

Hey there! Guys, I'm not gonna lie. I've been in a blogging slump. And not for lack of desire, either. I just can't settle on a project I love lately. But, there's light at the end of the tunnel for me. I just did something crazy in our house, and I can't wait to show you, but it's not finished yet. You'll be the first to know, so stay tuned! Until then, here's a yummy salad I whipped up the other day. I'm calling it a BLT salad. It was so filling because of the pasta, and delicious because, well, it has bacon (and everything is more delicious with bacon). Our kids even loved having this for dinner. Enjoy! BLT Salad 2 c. uncooked rigatoni 10 strips bacon, cooked and chopped 2 hearts of Romaine lettuce, chopped 2 T. chopped red onion 2 c. grape tomatoes, halved 1/3 c. Parmesan cheese Dressing: 1/4 c. olive oil 2 T. red wine vinegar pinch salt 1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard Cook rigatoni according to package directions. Rinse and cool. Meanwhile, ...

Good morning! We're on vacation this week! So here's a look back on some of my favorite summer projects and recipes: Painted French Linen Table Runner Peaches, Basil and Red Onion Salad Creamsicle Smoothie Vacation Memory Jar Bicycle Pallet Art Rope Wrapped Candlesticks Concrete Leaf Stepping Stones Coastal Tray Centerpiece Summer Veggie Orzo Outdoor Wall Art Perfect Oven-Fried Chicken Hope you're having a great summer so far!

Hello! I'm getting really excited for peach season. Peaches are my favorite fruit (little known fact about me: it's my family nickname), but last year's peach crop in Ohio was destroyed by the cold, so we didn't have any homegrown. I've heard things are looking good for this year, though, so I've rounded up these peach recipes for you (and me). You're welcome! Peach, Basil and Red Onion Salad Grilled Peaches Fresh Peach Pound Cake Three Cheese Peach and Prosciutto Pizza Peach Ice Cream Peach Salsa Peach Tea Peach Cobbler Cookies Peach Pie Scones Pork Chops with Peach BBQ Sauce Grilled Peach, Blueberry, and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese Chipotle Peach Chicken Tacos

Hey there! Last weekend we went to a picnic potluck at our friends' house for Memorial Day, and I made one of my favorite summer salads: Greek Macaroni Salad. I love it because it comes together quickly, doesn't spoil as easily as traditional macaroni salad or potato salad, and of course, tastes great! It's better for you, too, because it doesn't contain mayo. Greek Macaroni Salad 1 c. uncooked macaroni 1 small can chick peas, drained 1 small can sliced black olives, drained 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese 4 roma tomatoes, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice 1/2 c. olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, combine the chick peas, olives, feta, tomatoes, and onion in a medium-sized bowl. When the macaroni is finished cooking, drain it well, and add it to the other ingredients. For the dressing, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper...

Hi there, Happy Hump Day! I've got a great one-pot dinner for you today. This casserole tastes just like stuffed cabbage rolls, but takes a lot less effort and only one pot! It's absolutely delicious and so easy, not to mention inexpensive. Give it a try! Stuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole 1 T. butter 1/2 a head of cabbage, sliced thin 2/3 c. instant rice 1 medium onion, chopped 1 lb. ground beef 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce salt and pepper to taste The cooking method for this casserole might seem strange at first, but it works! In a large saucepan, melt 1 T. butter over medium-low heat. Heap all of the cabbage in the pan (don't worry, it will reduce as it cooks). Top the cabbage with the rice, then the onions, then the raw ground beef crumbled on top. Pour the tomato sauce over all and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the lid on the saucepan, reduce the heat to low, and let cook about 40 minutes. DO NOT STIR while it is cooking. When the beef looks brown, it's d...

Helllloooo! How are ya? We celebrated my husband's 44th birthday last Saturday. He's not much of a cake person, but he loves mint chocolate chip ice cream. So for the past two years, I've made this Thin Mint Ice Cream Pie that has been a total hit with my guy. The great thing is (besides the fact that it's sooo simple to make) is that I don't love mint chocolate chip, so I'm not the one to eat the leftovers...he is! And since it's his birthday treat, after all, that works for me. Here's how to make it. Thin Mint Ice Cream Pie 1 Oreo cookie crust 4 c. mint chocolate chip ice cream (softened) 5 Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, chopped (Oreos work, too) 1/3 c. Junior Mints, chopped Magic Shell chocolate topping Let the ice cream soften on the counter until you can spread it easily. Meanwhile, chop the cookies and candy. When the ice cream is softened, scoop it into the pie crust and spread it smooth. Top with the cookies and candy and drizzle Magic S...

Hey there! So are you ready for St. Patrick's Day? If not, I've got you covered today with a few ideas for celebrating. First, I realized recently that I've never shared my recipe for artichoke dip with you guys. This is probably the most-requested dish I make; everyone always asks me to make it for get-togethers. My artichoke dip is spinach-free...just lots of garlic and one special ingredient. So I thought...why not make it festive for St. Patrick's Day by adding the spinach, but in chip form instead? So, before making the dip I just cut some spinach tortilla wraps into wedges, tossed them in some olive oil and sea salt and baked them at 350 until they were crispy. Easy-peasy. Here's my recipe for artichoke dip: Best Ever Artichoke Dip 1 c. Hellman's mayo 1 c. grated Parmesan cheese 1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1/8 tsp. nutmeg Chop the artichokes, then blot them with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Mix...