I’ve wanted to try making mayonnaise for a while now, but I’ve been intimidated by it. That is, until I ran across a post here that described a one jar method for making mayonnaise, there was a link to a video as well. It sounded ridiculously easy, so I gave it a try and it worked. This mayonnaise has a distinct olive oil flavor, but we like it. I’ll be honest here and just state that I prefer the taste of Hellman’s mayo with a clear egg flavor, but this is a great tasting, healthy, preservative free substitute....

Everyone loves these Rustic Mashed Potatoes. They are chunky, creamy, buttery potatoes and they’re perfect for any occasion. Butter and garlic combine to make any form of potato more delicious, don’t they? These potatoes have been a family favorite for as long as we’ve been married. My husband made these potatoes the first Thanksgiving we were together and my entire family devoured them. He was super laid back about it and potatoes became his “thing” for the next dozen Thanksgivings at least....

Easy to make and versatile, this rice recipe is one you’ll never get tired of; it makes the perfect accompaniment to any Asian inspired meal. Simple Asian Rice With just a few minutes of extra effort, you can transform your favorite Asian dishes into a complete meal. Enjoy Asian rice with Asian Steak Bites or Honey Soy Chicken for a meal that’s better than take-out. Salty and savory, this rice is a perfect pairing for Sticky Asian Chicken or any of these stir fry recipes ....

Today I’m sharing 20+ easy, inexpensive, naturally gluten free desserts that require no special ingredients at all! These are my go-to desserts anytime I need an allergy-friendly option at the last moment. They are also the recipes I share with anyone who asks for a simple and uncomplicated gluten free dessert recipe. Naturally Gluten Free Desserts All of the desserts I’m sharing today are naturally gluten free, meaning that they require no special flour or starches and can be made with ingredients typically found in the average kitchen....

This Thai-flavors inspired Asian salad dressing uses lime, chili paste, toasted sesame, and other easy umami-packed ingredients to deliver big flavor! It’s so good, you’ll be looking for reasons to make more salad just to enjoy this vibrant dressing. Asian Salad Dressing It’s no secret that I’m crazy for salads . From Sweet Kale Vegetable Salad to Southwestern Steak Salad I’m all over them. But today’s dressing is so very good, it’s almost drink-with-a-straw worthy....

Oatmeal is anything but boring when it’s made into Baked Oatmeal Cups – like warm, soft and chewy oatmeal cookies designed to be eaten for breakfast! Baked Oatmeal Cups A few years ago, while staying in New Mexico, my kids were spending the night with their grandma, so I found myself with a little more time than usual to get our breakfast together. I took advantage of the lazy morning to play with my baked oatmeal recipe ....

Superfood packed Blueberry Salsa deliciously defies salsa convention. Blended blueberries are combined with jalapenos, onion, and lime juice to form the base of this non-traditional but stupendous snack you’ll crave all summer long. Salsa with Strawberries Is this a blueberry salsa? Is it a strawberry salsa? It’s both. It’s a recipe for blueberry salsa with strawberries! The thick blueberry base positively bursts with bite sized pieces of fresh strawberry and they play so well together....

Oh. Wow. This Chicken and Bacon Fried Rice has been established in our home as the best “unplanned and amazingly delicious” meal ever. Initially made on a whim one night when I had leftover rice in the fridge, I’ve been making this fried rice with bacon and chicken for years now and finally was able to get some updated photos so that I can share it with you. The whole family very happily gives this dinner two thumbs up each time I make it....

Loaded with Biscoff cookies and positively bursting with rich, nostalgic flavor, each scoop of this Cookie Butter Ice Cream is a glorious delight. Cookie Butter Ice Cream I adore cookies and ice cream. From the classic, old-fashioned recipes like 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream , to the gloriously simple combination of Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches . So, I jump at pretty much every chance I get to play with a cookie flavor of ice cream....

This is not your average Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, this isn’t Oreo dust or a few crumbles of cookies, this is nearly an entire package of chocolate sandwich cookies stuffed into a batch of ice cream. If you love Oreos, you are certain to love this homemade cookies and cream ice cream. This is creamy, rich, homemade vanilla ice cream absolutely loaded with chunks of Oreos. Oh, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, how I love you....

These one-bowl cottage cheese pancakes are beautifully fluffy and loaded with protein. The recipe multiplies nicely for a family breakfast or brunch for a crowd. This pancake recipe is from my friend Kathryn ‘s cookbook: Healthy, Quick, and Easy Baby Food . While it is one heck of an awesome baby food cookbook, there are plenty of recipes included that aren’t just for babies or toddlers. Cottage Cheese Pancakes These cottage cheese pancakes prove that....

Made of tender flaked imitation crab with crunchy, fresh celery, fragrant onion, and sliced black olives in a light, herbed mayonnaise dressing, deli classic crab salad is hard to resist. Whether you serve it on rolls, lettuce wraps, or on crackers, it’s so very good! Crab Salad When we were newlyweds, Sean and I would often splurge and pick up a carton of crab salad from the deli and then snack on it with crackers while watching a movie or chatting after work....

Tart cranberries and apples are mixed with brown sugar and spices to fill this flaky buttery crust. When Bob’s Red Mill contacted me to see if I might be interested in testing their new gluten free pie crust mix, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m thrilled to tell you that this is one of the best pie crusts I’ve ever tasted and it doesn’t taste one little tiny bit gluten free....

Espresso Ice Cream is quite easily one of my favorites. I love a simple, smooth yet rich and creamy authentically coffee-tasting ice cream. Espresso Ice Cream This is a simplified and egg-free version of my Cafe con Leche Ice Cream . I absolutely LOVE the flavor of espresso ice cream. I’ve made this recipe a couple of times and each time it tastes exactly like a frozen airy cup of Cafe con Leche ....

I am so happy with this salad; I’ve made it for lunch three times this week. Crisp lettuce, red onions, ripe tomatoes, grilled chicken, pecans and apple slices have been the base of my favorite salad at Paradise Bakery for a couple years now. I’m listing all the ingredients below and the amounts can be adjusted to your preferences. For me, the best part of making this salad at home is that I can pile on the apple slices and go easy on the gorgonzola....

Declared “the best fish dinner ever” by my boys; this baked Halibut with a Pine Nut Crust is one of my favorite meals too. The first time I made this recipe, one of my boys happily ate the crust first and then wondered aloud if we could have a meal of nothing but the topping because it was so delicious. Serve this Pine Nut Crusted Halibut with Rice Pilaf , Crispy Brussels Sprouts , Hasselback Potatoes , Zucchini Ribbons , or any of your favorite salads and side dishes ....

Fluffy mashed potatoes with sauteed cabbage and bacon add up to Colcannon – a side dish that everyone loves for pretty much any occasion! This Colcannon Recipe is the ultimate in mashed potato dishes. This traditional Irish and Scottish food combines mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale and occasionally bacon for a creamy savory side dish that was an instant hit in my family when I first made it almost ten years ago....

Tender potatoes and cannelini beans are simmered in a rich, flavorful broth full of Italian spices. There is just a touch of heat from red pepper flakes; feel free to adjust the amount of heat according to your tastes. This is a simple soup that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The whole meal went from start to finish in about half an hour. White beans are quite delicious when combined with spinach and beef for a simple Italian White Bean, Spinach and Beef Soup ....

For over ten years, I have declared this Turtle Cheesecake with Chocolate, Caramel and Pecans to be the best cheesecake I have ever tasted. Well, there is a new cake in town. We had some friends over for dinner and I wanted to make something a little different. Fruit was requested over chocolate and I looked around for inspiration. Naturally, I couldn’t leave well enough alone. The brown sugar and almond crust combined with a seriously kicked up lemon flavor to create a dessert that far exceeded my expectations....

Thick, chewy, fudgy brownies with generous chocolate icing are enticing enough to have me eating these Lunch Lady Brownies for dinner. This post was first published when my friend Joan passed away, 10 years ago today. I remake these brownies every year while remembering her. Chocolate for Joan My chocolate-loving friend Joan would most definitely approve of eating brownies for dinner! This Lunch Lady Brownie recipe is one of hers that has become a family favorite for us as well....