A few weeks ago we were preparing to host over 20 adults for lunch after church on Sunday.  I wanted to serve a nice meal, with a good dessert, but I didn’t want to do a ton of work in the morning before church, or as people were arriving to eat.  After some brainstorming, online research, and input from my husband, I landed on a dessert recipe that ended up being perfect. This cheesecake recipe is the easiest thing to make, it tastes good, and it looks pretty in the little mason jar.  I made a chocolate cheesecake and a plain one, then topped the plain cheesecake with fresh blueberries…

Are you looking for a healthy way to enjoy tacos?  This Pineapple Mango Salsa recipe is just the thing!  And, with warmer weather coming, the fresh flavors will make you feel like it’s the middle of summer. In addition to the salsa recipe, I’ve also included a marinade I created for the grilled chicken tacos we made to go with this salsa. The marinade on the chicken was just perfect, and my husband said he would definitely serve this dish to guests.  That means it’s a winner, in my book. Enjoy! Pineapple Mango Salsa1 mango, diced1 can pineapple chunks, diced {reserve juice for use in the marinade}1/3 cup diced red…

For my birthday I decided to make myself a cake.  It might sound silly, but I had seen an episode on the Food Network of Giada de Laurentis making a chocolate layer cake, and I knew that’s what I wanted.  Thankfully, her recipe was online, as I couldn’t remember the exact ingredients.  This cake is delicious and we will definitely be eating it again.  Chocolate Raspberry Cake Cake: 1 box chocolate cake mix 3 eggs 1/2 cup oil 1/4 cup water 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Frosting: 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup cream cheese, at room temperature 1/3 cup…

Making baby food at home is a quick, economical, and healthy way to introduce solid foods to your growing baby.  I mentioned in this post some information on homemade baby food, including a great book that I found with tons of recipes. As promised, I’m going to begin sharing some baby food recipes with you.  Some of these will be my own creations and others will be straight from the book I referenced previously.  I tasted this mixture after it was blended in the food processor and it was delicious.  I might even use this as a base for an adult smoothie one day. One of the things to keep…

I love a good roast.  It is hands-down my favorite meal to eat when we visit my in-laws.  Mom always serves it up with squash casserole, mashed potatoes {or sometimes rice}, cauliflower with cheese sauce, and often a chocolate pie for dessert.  During our first year of marriage, we lived just down the street from my in-laws, and we would frequently have Sunday dinner after church at their house.  We definitely made it a point to go if previously stated menu was on the agenda. I have never been able to make a good roast.  It either ends up too dry or just tasteless.  One of my cooking goals this…

Hot cheese dips are always a big hit at parties.  I’ve previously shared my all-time favorite cheese dip; my mom makes it at Christmas time each year.  This one is a bit different with an addition of herbs and mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar. The combination of cheeses, herbs, and a little bit of tomato garnish makes for a delightful dip.  Serve it warm with some toasted baguette slices, or Triscuit crackers would also work. Baked Cheese Herb Dip1 cup sour cream1/2 teaspoon mustard powder1/2 teaspoon dried thyme8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese12 oz shredded Monterey jack cheeseabout 1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped1 tomato, diced Preheat oven to 350F.  In…

Last night I hosted a neighborhood get together for the ladies who live right around our home.  We had a great time visiting and it was the first time most of us had ever met, so we had  a lot to talk about! I made some appetizers and two different types of truffles {recipes coming soon!}.  I have always loved quiche, and the miniature ones served at various parties are always my favorite.  Well, I found a great recipe for making your own!  They are a lot less expensive than the frozen ones you buy in the store, equally as delicious, and you can change the ingredients to fit your…

This casserole is one of the easiest meals to make and it smells and tastes so yummy!  I had pinned it over a year ago, and even mentioned it in this blog post, but didn’t actually make it until a few weeks ago.  My sister and her husband were in town and I wanted a hearty meal that would make enough for us to eat the next day, too.  This worked! So, go grab some vegetables, a cutting board, and a roasting pan and get cookin’! Easy Roasted Veggie and Sausage Casserole8 sausages {I used some sweet and some mild Italian}2 pounds potatoes1 pound carrots1 bell pepper, red or green2…

Thanksgiving Day is just two days away, and I can’t help but wonder that someone out there might still be trying to find the perfect dish to finish off their Thanksgiving menu.  So, I decided to have a little round-up here of some fabulous looking dishes I spotted over the past few days.   {Click on recipe title to be taken to the recipe.  Please pin from original source if you are going to pin.  Thanks!} SIDE DISHES: Glazed Carrots with Pistachios BH&G Sauteed Green Beans with Shallot Crisps BH&G Butternut Squash Gratin BH&G Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Gouda and Crispy Pancetta BH&G DESSERTS: Brown Bottom Butterscotch Cashew Cream Pie…