Sweet bits of pineapple and a spicy jalapeño combine to make this salsa one of my newest favorite condiments. If you've been reading this blog for very long you already know that there are not a lot of things I label "the best". This salsa is well qualified for that title.

There is a Mexican restaurant in my city that serves a pineapple salsa that I have enjoyed for a while now. I have no idea why it took me so long to try making my own, but a sale on pineapples finally pushed me to try. What was I waiting for? This salsa absolutely smokes my former favorite.

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This hearty spaghetti sauce is loaded with mushrooms, peppers, asparagus, and tomatoes, creating a rich and flavorful sauce for any kind of pasta. My kids were a little suspicious when they saw the piles of vegetables waiting on the counter near the stove. However, after they tasted their dinner, they all agreed that it was very tasty!

Vegetable Pasta is the kind of meal that happens in our house when I'm staring down a refrigerator full of of produce and I'm running out of time to use it all. There aren't many things in the kitchen that annoy me more than wasting food, so I try to do everything I can to avoid letting produce go to waste. Pastas and Stir Fries are two of the best ways to use up odds and ends from the refrigerator.


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This fruit filled dairy-free Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie is perfect for breakfast or an after dinner treat. The sweetness of the fruit is balanced nicely with the slightly tart pineapple. Without adding more than a hint of coconut flavor, coconut water creates a much lighter smoothie than the alternative dairy based smoothies.

My family is laughably passionate in their love of smoothies. One almost any given day, you're likely to find our blender on the counter making smoothies in almost every color of the rainbow. From Green Smoothies that don't taste the tiniest bit green, to dozens of fruit and vegetable filled smoothie recipes, all the way to my boys' beloved Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie and my personal favorite, the Pina Colada Smoothie, there is sure to be a smoothie for everyone's tastes!
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Sweet corn, crisp bell peppers, salty bacon, a splash of hot sauce and lime are all tossed together in a simple sauce to make this Creamed Corn with Peppers and Bacon.

When I was challenged to use Philadelphia Cream Cheese in a twist on a recipe, I immediately knew which recipe I wanted to play with this time. One of my very favorite snacks is Elote (Hot Mexican Corn Dip), a recipe I've made countless times and adapted from Elote restaurant in Sedona, AZ.

Creamed Corn with Peppers and Bacon takes it's inspiration from that dish, but it kicks up the vegetables and works beautifully as a side dish. However, I won't say anything if you go ahead and serve it as a dip, just dive in with a plate of tortilla chips. I might have done that myself the second time I made this.

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Colcannon is an Irish and Scottish dish comprised of mashed potatoes with either cabbage or kale. We tried Colcannon for the first time a few years ago, alongside our Baked Honey Mustard Corned Beef. These potatoes were the biggest surprise hit that I made that year. Most of my family enjoys bacon, cabbage and mashed potatoes on their own, but I had no clue that each member of the family would declare this dish awesome and eat every single spoonful.

Even my boys, who were extremely leery of the "green stuff" in their potatoes requested seconds and kept talking about how delicious the "ko-cannon" and corned beef dinner was. All three of them requested this again the next day for lunch and they were very disappointed that there was not anything leftover.

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Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Cupcakes start with smooth and creamy cheesecake over a simple graham cracker crust, then they are topped with a swirl of caramel sauce just before baking. Do you remember when I promised you a dessert worthy of that Vanilla Bean Salted Caramel Sauce? This is it.

For an extra special dessert, I topped the last two "leftover" cupcakes with a generous drizzle of warm caramel just before serving. (I wish I'd thought of that earlier! I highly recommend doing that with ALL of them.) Side note: Is there ever really a "leftover" dessert? I typically look forward to that last serving and stash it away for an afternoon snack later in the week. So, does it truly count as a leftover? These are the food things that I ponder late at night.

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Slow Cooker Oatmeal has been one of my family's favorite breakfasts for over three years now and my kids request this Cranberry Almond version more than any other. We truly do love oatmeal, as evidenced by over 40 oatmeal recipes here on the blog! Cooked on the stove, in the oven, or in a crock-pot; oatmeal is likely to be on our menu multiple times a month.

At first glance, crock-pot oatmeal might seem like a very long wait for breakfast, but I promise that it isn't long at all. One hour is all it takes and you'll have a  delicious hot cereal ready to eat.

The benefit of not having to watch the stove or do anything in the kitchen right before eating makes this perfect for busy mornings! I typically add the oatmeal ingredients to the Crock-Pot as I start our coffee in the morning. By the time the kids are up and ready for school, the oatmeal is ready to serve.

Slow Cooker Oatmeal is not simply oatmeal made in a crock-pot. The texture is different, closer to a warm muesli cereal than a traditional stovetop oatmeal. As the oatmeal slowly cooks, the nuts soften and the dried fruit gives a natural sweetness to the oatmeal. I like to add a spoonful of brown sugar to the crock-pot, but it isn't required at all.

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These are beyond any doubt the BEST Peanut Butter Cookies I have ever tasted. Not at all dry, not at all greasy, crisp edges, chewy centers, practically perfect in every way! If you hang out with me on Instagram, you've been waiting quite a while for this recipe. (Thank you so much for being patient!) I promised it to you over a month ago! I wanted to test it once more before sharing it here and with the hassle of moving into a new house last month, my baking kept getting postponed.

These cookies are worth the wait though! While the simple and fun 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies will forever be in our recipe files, this is an entirely different cookie. For a while now, my husband has wanted me to make a crisp and chewy Peanut Butter cookie. I've played with several different versions over the past year and this recipe finally nails it. I hope you love them every single bit as much as we do!
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Tangy, sweet, Huli Huli Chicken is Hawaii's version of barbecue chicken. The chicken is marinated and then glazed as it cooks, it is loaded with flavor from pineapple, ginger, brown sugar and soy sauce. I ran across this recipe over a year ago and pinned it to try someday. I'm not sure how "someday" became a year and a half later, but I'm glad it was finally made.

I've made this chicken twice in two weeks and each time, the whole family raved about it. Served with Cilantro and Lime Pineapple Rice or with Simple Asian Rice and Roasted Green Beans, Huli Huli Chicken is great meal that is guaranteed to be made over and over again in my house.

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Sweet oranges, pineapple chunks and kiwi slices are tossed with a simply honey lime poppyseed dressing to make this Honey Lime Winter Fruit Salad. This salad takes barely five minutes to prepare and it disappears almost that quickly. Just in case you haven't noticed, my family eats a lot of fruit. Simple fruits, baked fruits, fruit salads, chocolate dipped or blended into smoothies, we love it all. This time of year, the selection is limited, but there is always a heaping basket of oranges on the counter. I wanted a fruit salad centered around our favorite cutie oranges and this one was perfect.

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Chocolate and peanut butter are mixed with crunchy cereal to make these super easy No Bake Chocolate Cereal Bars. When I was very young, I went camping with the Girl Scouts and our counselor taught us to make what she called "Babe Ruth Bars." The ingredients were stirred together, then rolled into a log, chilled and sliced. My counselor wrote out the recipe for me and I took it home.

My grandmother was sweet enough to save that recipe for me and over the following years, we would make those bars on special occasions. I remembered the recipe a while back and I dug it out of my old cookbook. I read it several times and then made a trip to the store, just to look at the ingredients in an actual Babe Ruth bar. Uhm, there is no similarity at all. I have no idea why she called these Babe Ruth Bars and the name now makes me laugh. I've since swapped out half the ingredients, so they are likely to be even farther from the original. Whatever you decide to call them, these bars are sure to be loved!

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Cheater Korean Beef is the kind of recipe that both beginning and experienced cooks need in their life. This simple meal comes together in minutes and is full of fantastic flavors. It's easier than ordering take-out, saves you money, and tastes better too!

I love so many things about this recipe! This dish includes our favorite Asian ingredients, and everything is simple enough to be found in most grocery stores. The fact it's made with ground beef instead of a more expensive cut of meat makes it a really great alternative to the pricier meats when you are craving Chinese food. Best of all, you can make this recipe start to finish in less than 20 minutes. I've served the beef over rice, wrapped in lettuce, and on top of a salad.

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High Octane Hot Chocolate is what happens when you combine coffee, cocoa, kahlua, and vodka and then top that with a generous handful of marshmallows. While it may sound crazy sweet, it really is not. This is a warm, smooth, chocolate-y mocha with a generous splash of booze. The marshmallows are fun and they sweeten the drink perfectly. If you're a fan of sweeter drinks, just add a few more marshmallows or swap them with a dollop of whipped cream if that is more your style.

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Flaky pie crust filled with fluffy, creamy eggs, spicy green chile, and cheese adds up to a delicious breakfast any day of the week. Eggs and green chile are two of my family's favorite breakfast ingredients, so it could come as no surprise that my entire crew loved this simple quiche. We ate it for lunch, but it would make a great breakfast or dinner as well. Served with fruit and bacon, or with a simple salad, this is a meal sure to disappear in a flash.

Looking for a low carb or gluten free option? I make crustless quiche more often than not, although I do enjoy both kinds. If you love the crust and don't want to give it up, here's a link to the best gluten free pie crust ever!

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To say that I am excited about these Monster Cookie Dough Bites, doesn't even begin to describe it. I'm not going to name names here, but a certain friend and I have a history that includes eating almost the entire batch of the dough for our Monster Cookies at certain times in the past. Out of all the cookies I make, the dough for Monster Cookies tempts me the most.

These cookie dough bites were born out of my family's love for my grandmother's Monster Cookie recipe. The bites will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for at least a couple of months. Good luck with that though. Mine rarely last 3 days!

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Salmon marinated with balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and fresh ginger creates one of the most flavorful salmon dishes I've ever tasted; this is also the only seafood meal to consistently receive two thumbs up from my entire family!

For years, the only way I prepared fish was with a sprinkling of salt and pepper and a drizzle of oil and lemon. We didn't eat it often enough that I ever felt the need to play with different recipes. I wish I'd known then that there were so many other options! Over the past year, my family has eaten more seafood than we would have imagined possible a few years ago. (This happens when your husband is fortunate enough to bring home 100 pounds of fresh fish from Alaska!)

For anyone who is not a big fan of fish for the sake of fish, a marinade is an excellent option for adding more flavors and changing the overwhelming "fish-factor" in the meal. I played with a couple different salmon and balsamic vinegar combinations before running across this one and let me tell you, it is a keeper. When I made this last week, it was voted "two thumbs up and the best salmon ever" by my oldest two boys. The fact that my youngest ate every bite of his without pausing for chatter is huge praise all by itself.

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The first time I made these Swedish Meatballs, my entire family declared them a favorite. They were immediately requested for a birthday dinner six months in the future and I was reminded multiple times, lest I forget. Over three years later, these are still some of the best meatballs I have ever tasted.

The texture is light, not heavy at all; as I typically expect with most dishes like this one. The meatballs are also very easy to form. They hold their shape quite well and I have never had a single one fall apart on me.

My boys (all four of them) always eat ridiculous amounts of this meal. Even after doubling the recipe, we still only have a small amount leftover. The sauce is perfect; flavorful and light. The blend of beef broth and cream helps make it much lighter than many other full cream sauces. Meatballs are not typically something I crave, but this is one of my all-time favorite meals.

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This is a rich dark chocolate cake topped by an absolutely amazing chocolate frosting. Designed to be served cold from the refrigerator, this is a wonderfully unique cake. Just thinking about this cake was enough to have me thinking about making it again last week, despite the fact we are in the chaos of moving and half of my kitchen is already packed.

My friend Sue shared this recipe on her blog years ago and I couldn't get it out of my mind. In this food laden world of blogging, I run across a whole lot of recipes that make my mouth water. I have Pinterest boards filled with other blogger's creations and binders over flowing with my own recipe ideas as well. There just isn't time to try them all! However, this cake stands out among so many other chocolate cakes. It truly rocks and you do not want to miss a chance to make it.

Consider yourself warned though, it's almost impossible to just eat one sliver. I loved the cake and the frosting... oh my heavens. The frosting is amazing! I recommend just leaving a knife in the pan with the cake. You'll need it each time you open the refrigerator to trim up the edges on the cake.

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Grilled shrimp, marinated in chipotle and lime, and wrapped in bacon is something I could very happily eat every single day. Last time I visited my sister, we decided to play with her recipe for the Chipotle Chicken Kabobs and adapt it for shrimp.

The bacon was a spur of the moment addition and it was a great one. I only shared a few bites with my kids and they went nuts over this shrimp. Next time, and anytime I'm making this for a main dish, I'll be doubling or tripling the recipe. We made a few of the shrimp kabobs without bacon and they were every bit as delicious as their bacon-wrapped version.

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Chipotle and lime marinated chicken kabobs with avocado cream sauce is officially one of the tastiest things we've made so far this year. The bite size pieces of chicken are soaked in a chipotle and lime marinade before being threaded onto skewers and grilled. I served the grilled chickens skewers with a creamy avocado dipping sauce and the meal was a hit with everyone who tasted it.

Over a year ago, my sister told me about this recipe. She told me that my 18 year old niece had found it online and made it for their family. This rapidly became one of their favorite recipes and when I finally had a chance to make it myself, I knew why.

These chicken skewers disappeared in minutes and we never even had a chance to sit down at the table. We wound up standing around the kitchen island, dipping the skewers into the Avocado Cream Sauce just as soon as the meat was cool enough to eat. My whole family voted this recipe two thumbs up.

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Creamy, avocado sauce seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and lime is one of the simplest recipes I've made this year and yet, it stands out as truly amazing. If you trust me on nothing else, take my word on this recipe, and buy a couple avocados as soon as possible. This sauce is absolutely finger licking fantastic and the next two recipes I share are going to tie it together with the ultimate meats for dipping into it.

In the meantime, try this sauce with crispy baked potatoes, roasted vegetables, in a breakfast taco, over, under, or with almost anything you might like to dip into it. Seriously, however you might think to serve it, it will work. We made this sauce twice in as many days and it was gone in minutes.

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Orange juice, green grapes, a banana and a generous handful of spinach combine to make this the easiest (and possibly the tastiest) green smoothie we make. If you are new to green smoothies, this is the place to start. This was the first green smoothie that I tried and my whole family has loved it from the start.

For over four years now, this has been our go-to green smoothie. My kids all love it and this is easily the most frequently made smoothie in our home. I PROMISE that you can not taste the "green" in this green smoothie! My four year old has been requesting this smoothie since he was 18 months old, pulling the spinach out of the fridge and setting it next to the blender pitcher.

If you are looking for more smoothie inspiration, check out this collection of 50 Healthy and Delicious Smoothie Recipes or view all of the smoothie recipes here on the blog. I may not share the recipes as frequently as I did when we first started the blog, but my kids are still every bit as much in love with their breakfast, lunch, or snack smoothies.

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All the flavors of classic Chicken Parmesan are rolled into these bite size Chicken Parmesan Meatballs. I was so impressed by these meatballs the first time I made them; I requested them again for my birthday dinner. Sean had no trouble at all making this recipe on his own; even for a less frequent or experienced cook this is a simple recipe.

If you have never considered making homemade meatballs before, this would be an excellent way to try them for the first time. This is one of the most forgiving recipes I've ever made. We've had these a few times now and I've adapted the recipe differently each time.

Baked meatballs are simple, I promise. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mix together, scoop into balls and bake. This recipe also includes a drizzle of sauce and a slice of cheese, but that's it. The prep time is far less than you would think. I think it took me about half an hour to prep and get these into the oven. (That included making a quick batch of the most amazing marinara sauce and slicing the mozzarella to top them!) Serve these on their own or over pasta with extra sauce. Either way, they are delicious!

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Flaky, buttery pie crust tops a pile of fresh berries in this easy dessert; a little time in the oven and everything is transformed. This simple berry pie is a great way to highlight fruits as they come into season. If you are lucky enough to have last year's berries tucked in the freezer, this is an easy dessert year round. Topped with whipped cream, ice cream, or simply eaten warm straight from the pan, any way you serve it, this is a treat.

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Smooth, sweet, and crisp with a hint of citrus, these Pear Martinis celebrate the best of the fruits that are in season right now. This martini is made with fresh ripe pears, citron vodka, a splash of lime, and St-Germain liqueur. A few weeks ago, I tried a Pear Gimlet while out with my sister, and it inspired us to play with the perfectly ripe pears that were already in the kitchen.

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Soft, fluffy bites of potato, crisp on the outside, generously seasoned with spices and cheese are roasted with fresh green beans to create this side dish. I served this with the Honey Soy Chicken and my whole family enjoyed the meal. This is a very easy dish, the amounts for the spices are approximate, use your own judgement and adjust the amounts according to your family's tastes.

Turmeric is the star in this dish, despite the small amount used. It takes just a pinch of turmeric to brighten the dish to a lovely yellow and add just a hint of something unexpected. Turmeric is a fragrant and mellow spice, and I really enjoy what it adds to this recipe. However, if you don't have it on hand, you can certainly skip it. I've roasted potatoes using this same combination of spices, both with and without the turmeric. The dish is delicious both ways.

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This pasta with a creamy lemon sauce and just a hint of heat has been my lunch and dinner for a couple of days now. I'd been craving Brussels sprouts for a while and I chose to load the pasta with them; feel free to use whichever vegetable you might happen to be craving. This dish keeps well in the refrigerator and reheats nicely, so it is a great option for lunches too.

The entire meal comes together in very little time at all, making this my favorite kind of recipe. The lemon keeps this pasta fresh and light, while the pepper adds just a bit of unexpected heat. If you aren't a fan of much heat in your recipes, start with a tiny pinch of the pepper flakes and add more after tasting it.

As the main Brussels sprouts fan in our house, I loved every single bite of this dish. However, the rest of my crew enjoyed their pasta without my beloved Brussels sprouts. So, feel free to tweak the recipe however you like. Mushrooms and tomatoes would be great with this pasta, as well as asparagus tips, broccoli, or almost any other vegetable you love. This is an extremely versatile recipe and will work well with almost any vegetable.

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I tasted Laffa Bread for the first time while visiting my sister over the holidays and it was bread-love at first bite. Chewy and elastic, laffa bread reminds me of both naan and pita bread, with a better flavor and chew. It is amazing to me that we are able to bake so many different breads, crackers, tortillas, and more, using the same basic ingredients.

The grilling method used for cooking this bread gives it a unique flavor. Laffa bread is typically served with Middle Eastern foods and flavors, although, I'd happily eat this on its own or with just about anything. We served our laffa bread with hummus as it was coming off the hot pan and then piled on some awesome toppings flatbread-style. (recipe for that will be coming next week!) My boys slathered peanut butter on the leftover pieces and devoured them in an instant.

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Lemon Crinkle Cookies with crisp edges and a chewy center are one of my favorite lemon treats. Lemon desserts are always a great thing in my world, but these cookies are truly sublime. (I don't use that word lightly either!) Perfectly crisp around the edges, with a soft center, even three days later.

Just a heads up, these cookies are even better after a day or two. (Can you believe I managed to make them last that long, to test this?!) So, feel free to double the recipe, and trust me, these cookies will get eaten.
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Crisp on the outside, hot and juicy on the inside, steaks bites are a hit every single time I make them. This is one of my favorite ways to cook beef. It only takes a few minutes and the result is bite-size pieces of the juiciest steak you will ever eat!

Last time I made steak bites, I tried this quick honey soy marinade and WOW. The whole family went crazy for these and they disappeared in just a few minutes. I've served these with Roasted Red Potatoes, Spicy Caramelized Cauliflower, and Salad Skewers. This is a quick dinner that everyone loves and these juicy steak bites work well with almost any side dish.

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I shared this photo along with some of my thoughts on Instagram late one night a couple weeks ago. I woke up to a flood of truly amazing comments (that made me cry!) and that inspired me to begin the #lovemylaughlines project.

I spent last week at a photography workshop and as homework for the first session, I was asked to journal about myself and who I am. Then, brace yourself, take a self portrait (with the real camera) that represents that AND print the photo (8x10 size) and bring it with me for the first session.

I thought about it a bit and almost didn't do it. That's when I realized that I am no longer that person. The person I am now is not worried about what people think. I actually like the lines on my face because they are proof of laughter. I didn't edit my photo to smooth any wrinkles. I'm comfortable in my skin for the first time in my life and that amazes me. I think aging works for me.

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These chewy, dense, peanut buttery cookies are an unforgettable memory from my childhood. The recipe is a classic; just an egg, a cup of peanut butter and a cup of sugar. After you've made them once, the recipe will be forever in your memory too. When I was in high school, I remember stirring a batch of these together with a girlfriend in the middle of the night. There is nothing like being able to satisfy a sweet tooth craving on a moment's notice! We sat and nibbled on the warm cookies and talked half the night.

In less time than it takes to preheat the oven, you can have these ready and waiting to bake on a tray. There are plenty of variations here and I've played with the recipe a bit in the past. In the end, I keep going back to the original. I love it for its simplicity.

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When I heard about the "Cans Get You Cooking " project, I grinned to myself. I frequently cook using only ingredients from the pantry when we head to our cabin for the weekend. Over the years, we've lived quite frugally at times and limited our grocery shopping to once a month. Keeping a well-stocked pantry is one way to make the most of your grocery budget.

I've become fairly adept at pulling together quick meals with the canned goods that we keep on hand. Canned foods cut down on prep time when I’m in a hurry and they are often a more affordable option than fresh or frozen options. As an added benefit, some fruits and vegetables can be tastier canned than fresh when they aren't in season.

This soup is a favorite and I've made versions of it countless times. As listed below, the soup comes together in just a few minutes, quite literally, in the time it takes us to unload the car we can have a hot meal waiting on the table.

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What's not to love about a flaky pie crust filled with fluffy cheesy eggs and plenty of bacon? I adore make-ahead and casserole style breakfast dishes, preferably ones with plenty of protein as well. This recipe combines some of our favorite breakfast foods into a single dish that everything in the family loves to eat.

Looking for a low carb or gluten free option? I make crustless quiche more often than not, although I do enjoy both kinds. If you love the crust and don't want to give it up, here's a link to the best gluten free pie crust ever!

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Toasted pearl couscous with pistachios and pine nuts, chewy raisins, a hint of cinnamon, and a squeeze of lemon combine in this incredibly flavorful dish. Over a year ago, my sister, Jenny, told me that she had a dish she wanted to make for me. She described this Israeli Couscous to me and I have looked forward to trying it ever since the first time she mentioned it. This past month, we finally had the chance to make this recipe together. Served with Pan Fried Chicken Thighs, this is a meal that is as perfect as it can possibly be.

I loved this so much, I hid the leftovers in the back of the fridge and helped myself to them frequently over the next couple days. This is a wonderfully easy side dish that is substantial enough to stand alone for a meal. This keeps fabulously in the refrigerator and I can see myself making future batches to eat for my lunches all week long.

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Hot tea is a perfect match for steamed milk in the very popular London Fog. I've enjoyed my tea with a splash of milk for as long as I can remember. My sister recently introduced me to the London Fog while I was visiting her over the holidays. The London Fog is my favorite tea drink these days and I've been making this almost every night for two weeks now. This is one of the easiest drinks you will ever make and I promise it is so much more than the sum of the ingredients.

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Vanilla Coffee Syrup is a staple in every coffee house and it's one of the easiest things you can make at home. There's no need to ever again pay for store-bought syrups with extra ingredients. You can make Vanilla Coffee Syrup at home, using just a few common ingredients and no preservatives or artificial flavors. It takes less than 5 minutes to stir together this syrup and it tastes better than any store-bought options.

I am so happy to back from vacation and sharing new recipes with you once again! I hope that your holidays were everything you hoped they might be. We spent our time in NM with family and friends; it was a very relaxing holiday. My sister and I had a ridiculous amount of fun cooking together while we were there and I can hardly wait to share all the great new foods with you this month!

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