Summer Recipes

Summer Shandy (Cocktail or Mocktail)

Equal parts light beer and lemonade create the easiest drink and can be modified in several delicious ways. Mildly sweet with a hint of tang and so very refreshing! Crisp and refreshing with a hint of sweetness, there’s something special about a Shandy on a warm evening.  The 2-ingredient drink is effortless to mix and…

Taco Refrigerator Pickles

Cool, crisp refrigerator pickles get a new flavor twist in this easy recipe that’s perfect for snacking, adding to sandwiches, and serving alongside a variety of barbecue fare. No canning required!     On his holiday shopping expedition last year, Christian stopped in a local store that makes a small but impressive variety of pickles. Along…

Roasted Potato Salad with Special Sauce

No need to peel the potatoes in this customizable salad, which uses a uniquely flavorful dressing that can be made in advance.    Iโ€™ve been making this salad for years without actually measuring the ingredients. A little different than the average potato salad, itโ€™s always a hit. Most recently, I prepared the summer staple for…

A Few of my Favorite Things๏ผSummer Book Edition

Looking for a new book to read this summer? In this month’s Favorite Things, we share a broad range of favorite titles, which offer inspiration both in and out of the kitchen!   Summer is a great time to start a new book โ€“ but which one? When Emily and I recently talked about our…

Classic Strawberry Salad with Sweet Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

A light drizzle of this sweet and tangy vinaigrette makes a classic strawberry salad shine. Eating your greens never tasted so good!   When local strawberries are at their peak, I make salads with them almost every night. Once a simple dressing has been prepared and left to wait in the fridge, salads in general…

Spinach Pesto

Easy, accessible, and endlessly versatile, this flavorful pesto is especially ideal when fresh herbs aren’t available. Perfect for adding flavor to pasta, pizza and flatbread, sauces, sandwiches, and so much more, the simple recipe can be customized with a variety of nuts, seeds, and cheeses. Plus it maintains its vibrant green color and freezes well!  …

The Staycation Burger (a deliciously simple pork burger with options)

One bite of these easy-to-make patties could make you rethink your usual burger. The base recipe has become regular weeknight fare in our house, and the optional pineapple onion jam offers a restaurant-worthy upgrade. (And don’t miss the clever burger-making tip!)   When we think of burgers, the traditional beef patty likely comes to mind.…

All Purpose BBQ Spice Rub

Taco seasoning isn’t the only spice blend that will serve you well all year round. From chicken to shrimp, pork and tofu, this simple spice rub adds incredible flavor…whether grilled, sautรฉed, baked or slow cooked!   This is one of those kitchen staples I rely on heavily because it makes creating a variety of flavorful…

Aperol Spritz

Bright orange in color, lightly sweet, and crisply refreshing, an Aperol spritz conjures up the taste of summer all year round. This simple formula guarantees a perfectly balanced cocktail every time. No cocktail shaker required!     A really good Aperol spritz conjures up images of sitting on a piazza in Italy (or maybe your front…

Easiest Vegan Zucchini Fritters

Inexpensive, easy-to-make fritters start with two base ingredients and make an endlessly customizable, protein-rich side or vegan entree.   Two main ingredients get you started with these healthy fritters, and then you can experiment with all sorts of combinations. Adding to the appeal, the easy-to-make recipe will pull double duty as a crowd-pleasing side or vegan…

Loaded Zoodle Bowls

A bowlful of zucchini noodles serves as a low-carb base for all sorts of flavors, textures, and colorful additions. The bowls make a deliciously satisfying plant-based meal, although meat may be added if desired. Don’t have a spiralizer? Don’t worry. There’s an easy alternative!       Hot summer days call for cool meals and…

Chicken Quinoa Bowls with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

What do you get when you add a variety of proteins, a whole grain, and lots of colorful veggies to a bowl and then drizzle it with a simple vinaigrette? A satisfying, all-in-one meal that youโ€™ll want to make again and again!   May I tell you how many times I’ve chopped up some leftover chicken,…

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