If you’ve been looking for a non-cake idea for special occasions, birthdays, or just a special after school treat, this is the recipe you need. This easy cookie cake is hands down my favorite way to make any day special and it’s a fun gift to friends or family celebrating their own special days. It makes two cookie cakes – which is perfect because these cookie cakes don’t last long in our house! Best Easy Cookie CakeMakes TWO 9-inch round … Read More

It feels like a lifetime ago, but once upon a time I spent my days working in the Betty Crocker Test Kitchens developing recipes every day. It was one of the most enjoyable jobs I have ever had! I still remember the awe I felt when I first walked into the kitchens and saw my very own kitchen that I would work in each day. To spend most of my days developing recipes, thinking creatively and working with food was … Read More

File this under “no recipe recipes” that make life easier. One of my personal favorite meals is a good baked potato. But! Since having kids and a whole family to feed, I find baked potatoes sort of a pain to serve. By the time I get all the potatoes fluffed up and topped with butter and other toppings it seems to take forever and the food is cold by the time I get things to the table. I decided to … Read More

Hi, friends! We are back into the swing of regular life over here with school starting for three of our four kids and our regular childcare rhythm going. That also means sports and activities are starting to ramp up and our evenings will be getting a bit busier as we head into fall. This recipe is more of a “no recipe recipe” (admittedly, one of my fave kinds!) but has been a hit at our house with both adults and … Read More

I’m a BIG fan of breakfasts that can be made ahead of time and require very little clean up during the morning rush. Muffins, pancakes and waffles (frozen in advance), and coffee cake make for easy mornings when heading back to the school rush. This coffee cake base was rustled from a very old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook passed down to me – probably decades old – yet filled with amazing recipes that stand the test of time. I … Read More

Ainsley loves wild berry smoothies at our local coffee shop. But as a mom, my preference is for something both a little less expensive and a little more nutritious. I came up with a smoothie that Ainsley loves (she is pretty picky on taste!) and I can feel good about. It’s easy to make – we usually have all these ingredients on hand even when the pantry is pretty empty – and made with zero added sugar. Ainsley is also … Read More

While I’m not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, I AM a big fan of my little herb garden. My mom got me two large garden boxes to hang on our deck and it’s been the most successful I’ve ever been at keeping herbs alive and thriving! I also learned a bit more this year about how to property cut basil leaves to help your plants continue to flourish all summer long. If you want to learn more … Read More

I’ve been sharing more about meal planning and budgeting for meals over on Instagram and really been enjoying the challenge of sticking to a grocery budget of $200/week. It’s really stretching me to think more intentionally about food and also plan ahead for what we are going to eat each week. You can check out this week’s grocery haul over HERE where I shared a full video of what we bought this week! Since a few of you said that … Read More