Whole Wheat Lemon Blueberry Muffins are light and tender, bursting with fresh lemon and juicy blueberries for a wholesome breakfast or snack! A few weeks ago, before I headed out of town to Canada, I spent a busy few days prepping to leave. My husband was coincidentally going to be away for a work trip on the same days that I was set to be gone, so my mom was coming over to our house to keep the kids. And {Read More}
Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
May 18, 2017 by 4 Comments
Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars are flavored with lemon zest and topped with crunchy sparkling sugar for a sunny, yummy, easy-to-make treat! A few weeks ago, the middle child was “Superstar” at school. Lest this requires an explanation, over the course of the year, each first grader has a turn to be class Superstar for one week. The Superstar gets to share a poster with the class full of facts and photos of them. The Superstar’s family is invited to eat {Read More}
Bacon & Blue Cheese Egg Salad
April 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Bacon & Blue Cheese Egg Salad makes a flavorful filling for sandwiches or lettuce wraps and is a great recipe for using up leftover hard-boiled eggs! It’s about that time of year when many of us find ourselves with an overabundance of leftover hard-boiled Easter eggs. I mean, who doesn’t love lowering fragile eggs into receptacles of questionable dye with the assistance of jellybean-fueled kiddos? So when leftover hard-boiled eggs abound, classic egg salad is an obvious choice for using {Read More}
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Lemon Honey Vinaigrette (AKA, Easter Salad)
March 30, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Toasted Almonds & Lemon Honey Vinaigrette (AKA, Easter Salad) is a beautiful, delicious addition to any spring or summer meal! I’m of the opinion that every special holiday meal should include a gorgeous, festive, scrumptious salad loaded with seasonal ingredients. And y’all apparently agree, because my Holiday Honeycrisp Salad is one of the site’s most popular recipes from Christmas to New Year’s, and my Thanksgiving Salad gets lots of attention come November. So why shouldn’t {Read More}
Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Thyme
March 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Tender and flavorful Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Thyme is a vibrant spring side dish that’s as gorgeous as it is delicious! I wasn’t planning on adding another Easter-friendly carrot side dish to the ol’ recipes archives. After all, in past years I’ve already shared pan-sauteed carrots and crock pot carrots and carrot slaw. But when I saw these beautiful, colorful rainbow carrots at the grocery store the other day, I knew I couldn’t pass them up! Not to mention the {Read More}
Bird’s Nest Mini Oreo Cheesecakes ~ Easy Easter Dessert!
March 24, 2017 by 1 Comment
Simple cheesecake filling is studded with Oreos, baked in muffin pans, and topped with chocolate shavings and candy eggs for Bird’s Nest Mini Oreo Cheesecakes, a fun spring dessert recipe that’s perfect for Easter! Easter is on the horizon! However, since stores are rather overzealous about setting up for the next holiday before the current holiday is even over, I’ve had a bag of white Cadbury Mini Eggs in my pantry for over a month now. Well, last week, I {Read More}
Whole Wheat Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes
March 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Tender, fluffy Whole Wheat Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes are wholesome and delicious, drizzled with a scrumptious Lemon Poppy Seed Syrup to take them over the top! Happy Spring, y’all! I hope today finds you enjoying flowers, sunshine, and lovely weather…and perhaps, if you’re lucky, a stack of Whole Wheat Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes. š We’re returning to reality this morning after Spring Break, and I have to say…hopefully reality will be more enjoyable than the past week has been at {Read More}
Coconut Shortbread Cookies
March 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Tender, buttery shortbread is loaded with toasted coconut in these delicious, addictive, easy-to-make Coconut Shortbread Cookies! Sometimes the simplest recipes are the tastiest, and that’s certainly the case with shortbread, where just a handful of basic ingredients magically transform into a melt-in-your-mouth treat. I’ve already got recipes on the blog for basic Scottish Shortbread and jazzed-up Pistachio Shortbread Cookies, so today I’m adding Coconut Shortbread Cookies to the line-up! It’s hard to pick a favorite when it comes to shortbread, {Read More}
Cheesy Garlic Roasted Potatoes & Asparagus
March 10, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Cheesy Garlic Roasted Potatoes & Asparagus is an easy, one-pan side dish recipe that makes a gorgeous, delicious addition to a special holiday meal or a regular weeknight dinner! Spring Break is upon us, Easter is around the corner, and I say it’s high time we bid adieu to winter recipes and ring in the new season with some fresh, spring fare! I don’t think an Easter menu would be complete without asparagus, so this year I’ve paired this quintessential {Read More}
Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts
July 18, 2016 by 7 Comments
Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts are light, citrusy, and generously coated in a crunchy, lemon-zest infused sugar…the perfect sunny treat for breakfast or dessert! The food blogger side of me is a little embarrassed to admit that Iām decidedly late to the baked donut craze, having only bought my first donut pans a month or so ago. But now that I’ve had a bit of time to bake and experiment, I can confidently tell you…baked donuts are where it’s at, y’all. {Read More}
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Mug Cake
April 14, 2016 by 7 Comments
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Mug Cake is a quick, tasty, single-serving breakfast or dessert treat! So I’ve come to a conclusion regarding seasonal recipes…lemon is to springtime what pumpkin is to fall. At least it is at my house, because as soon as September hits, I want to pumpkin-ify everything. As for this time of year? I could happily bake and cook with lemons every day. I’ve waited three long weeks since posting my Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese {Read More}
Pesto Pasta Salad
April 11, 2016 by 8 Comments
Studded with bright green asparagus, sweet peas, decadent bacon, and fresh pearls of mozzarella, Pesto Pasta Salad is a flavorful side dish or light dinner, perfect for spring and summer celebrations! Last week, I got a hankering for pasta salad. It’s a warm weather staple around here, and I don’t think I’ve enjoyed it since last September. But I do believe it’s high time to change that! Am I the only one who’s way excited to say a definitive adios {Read More}
The BEST Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
March 24, 2016 by 32 Comments
The BEST Lemon Cupcakes start with a simple one-bowl batter and end with a soaking of lemon simple syrup and a topping of fluffy Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting for luscious, lemony, perfectly moist treats! My middle child has apparently inherited my love for any dessert by the name of lemon. So when I told him that I was thinking about making lemon cupcakes, he was way excited. And so was I…because, hellooo? LEMON CUPCAKES. But these aren’t your ordinary lemon {Read More}
Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad
March 21, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad is light and fruity, with crunchy toasted pecans and a creamy, honey-kissed dressing that’s been lightened up with Greek yogurt! Spring is officially here…yippee! True to form, central Texas was already hitting the high 80s in February…and then dipped into the mid-30s last night. Our poor bluebonnets are so confused. Nevertheless — Lone Star State weather-schizophrenia aside — the arrival of spring (and Easter coming up this weekend) means that it’s time to bring on {Read More}
The Ultimate Easter Recipe Menu Planner
March 16, 2016 by 6 Comments
This *Ultimate* Easter Recipe Menu Planner includes everything from main dishes and side dishes, to breakfasts and desserts, to ideas for using up leftover ham and hard-boiled eggs! Popping in from our Spring Break Texas road trip to say hi! So far we’ve been expert tourists in San Antonio, we’ve cheered on the Spurs, we hit the rodeo, we took in some Aggie baseball, and now we’re heading north for a little zoo and museum action. Yes, we might just {Read More}
Slow Cooker Honey Cinnamon Carrots
March 10, 2016 by 4 Comments
Slow Cooker Honey Cinnamon Carrots make a sweet, buttery, and addictive side dish…the perfect easy recipe for freeing up the oven and feeding a crowd, on a holiday or any day! Apparently I don’t keep resolutions very well. When I wrapped up my final recipe for the cookbook a few weeks ago, I swore off slow cookers for awhile. In fact, I actually put away the three slow cookers that have been in constant use and permanently residing on my {Read More}
Easter Egg Pretzel Chocolate Swirl Bark
February 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Easter Egg Pretzel Chocolate Swirl Bark is a simple, festive, spring treat featuring two kinds of chocolate swirled together and topped with mini chocolate eggs, pretzels, and pastel sprinkles! I like to make bark and I cannot lie. But seriously, who doesn’t adore chocolate candy bark? It’s super easy to make. It’s highly customizable to just about every holiday and season (any leprechauns out there?). It’s fun for the little ones to help assemble (and stalk, apparently). It’s pretty. And {Read More}
Parmesan Panko Asparagus
May 10, 2015 by 8 Comments
Fresh asparagus spears are coated in a mixture of grated Parmesan and panko breadcrumbs and baked until crispy and golden brown for an addictive, healthy, “asparagus fries” side dish or snack. The other day in the grocery store, my 5-year-old spied a display of asparagus and begged me to buy a bundle of it. Not one to argue with any child-o-mine who enthusiastically requests a green vegetable, I obliged. Now, I typically pan sautĆ©e or roast my asparagus. But once {Read More}
Avocado Egg Salad
March 22, 2015 by 6 Comments
Avocado Egg Salad is like avocado toast meets classic egg salad, lightened up with yogurt and studded with creamy chunks of avocado throughout…a perfect topping for sandwiches, crackers, or salads and a fantastic way to use up leftover hard-boiled eggs! Easter is right around the corner, and that always gets me a-brainstormin’ ideas for how to use up all those impending, leftover, hard-boiled Easter eggs. Last year I featured a cutesy, kid-appealing idea, so this spring, I think a yummy, {Read More}
Strawberry Lemon Shortbread Bars with White Chocolate
March 17, 2015 by 3 Comments
Strawberry Lemon Shortbread Bars with White Chocolate feature a base of tender, buttery, lemon-infused shortbread topped with a layer of strawberry jam, a sprinkling of white chocolate chips, and a dusting of shortbread crumbs. Spring finally, officially arrives this week, and I don’t know about you, but I am beyond ready to bid adieu to cold, dreary weather. Bring on the sunshine! Bring on the bluebonnets! Bring on the short-lived span of pleasantly temperate days before Texas decides to skyrocket {Read More}
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal {Dairy-Free}
March 12, 2015 by 12 Comments
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal is a tasty, wholesome breakfast recipe featuring rolled oats, grated carrots, coconut oil, and maple syrup, with flavors of the classic dessert. Two carrot recipes in a row, but I’m not even going to apologize, y’all. After all, it’s not everyday that you can trick your kids into eating veggies for breakfast, but that’s exactly what we’re doing here today! Say hello to my new friend, Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal, which is pretty much exactly what {Read More}
Orange Apricot-Glazed Carrots with Candied Almonds
March 10, 2015 by 3 Comments
Orange Apricot-Glazed Carrots with Candied Almonds are sweet and tender, glossy and vibrant…and the perfect spring side dish for Easter dinner! Well, folks…another winter day, another spring recipe. š But hey, I’m not jumping the gun too much here! It’s my understanding that some of you are already enjoying Spring Break (ours is next week), the clocks have already “sprung forward,” and in reality, we’re only a couple weeks out from the official changing of the seasons. So I hereby {Read More}
Rosemary Cider Brined Pork Loin
March 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Rosemary Cider Brined Pork Loin is extra juicy and flavorful thanks to brining…and while it’s easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner, it’s impressive enough to serve for a special occasion! Easter is just one short month away, folks…so who’s already started to think about your menu? š I realize that most people like to cook ham for Easter lunch or dinner, and I shared a super easy, super tasty recipe for a Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham around {Read More}
Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
March 3, 2015 by 15 Comments
Easy-to-make Pistachio Shortbread Cookies are delicately sweet and studded with bits of salty pistachios. And for an extra-special touch, fill them with lemon curd, fruity jam, or Nutella to turn them into sandwich cookies! If each month had a designated a color, March would undoubtedly be green. There’s St. Patrick’s Day, of course, but there’s also (finally, at long last) the ushering in of spring (hallelujah and glory be)! When I initially decided to share these cute little Pistachio Shortbread {Read More}
Creamy Spring Peas with Bacon + Mint
March 1, 2015 by 3 Comments
The ultimate Easter side dish, Creamy Spring Peas with Bacon + Mint feature a delicious combo of flavors and textures from sweet green peas, fresh sugar snaps, salty bacon, a decadent cream sauce, and refreshing pops of mint! Well, March has certainly come in like a lion around these parts. We actually have a chance of snow in the forecast this week. Snow! In central Texas! In March! But aside from the fact that my kids would be elated to {Read More}
Lemon Blueberry Overnight Baked French Toast with Lemon Syrup
February 24, 2015 by 26 Comments
Bursting with juicy berries and layered with lemon-infused cream cheese, Lemon Blueberry Overnight Baked French Toast with Lemon Syrup makes a special, make-ahead breakfast or brunch for celebrating Easter or spring! I’m not sure how it’s even possible, but Easter is right around the corner, folks. My wheels have been a-spinnin’ coming up with some spring-inspired recipes for y’all. But along with menu ideas for Easter dinner and new ways to use up leftover hard-boiled eggs, this here Lemon Blueberry {Read More}
White Chocolate Cheesecake Fruit Dip
May 17, 2014 by 30 Comments
This delicious, creamy, White Chocolate Cheesecake Fruit Dip is quick to make and will be even quicker to disappear at your next party or get-together! Well, folks, the school year is winding down and summer is sneaking up on us! With that season will come plenty of opportunities for parties and playdates. I don’t know about you, but when I’m asked to contribute a dish to a potluck or get-together, I prefer to bring something that’s homemade yet quick and {Read More}
Homemade Strawberry Syrup {for} Strawberry Soda
April 18, 2014 by 21 Comments
A quick, three-ingredient strawberry syrup can be used to flavor drinks like this refreshing, bubbly, Homemade Strawberry Soda, or it can be drizzled over ice cream, pound cake, waffles, and more! Happy almost-Easter, everyone! I know that most of you probably already have your Easter menus set and your grocery lists made and/or purchased, so I’m not going to take up your valuable time today with another Easter-friendly post (although if you’re still in need of some Easter recipes, I {Read More}
Springtime Asparagus Tart with Ham & Mushrooms
April 9, 2014 by 25 Comments
This lovely tart will be the star of your springtime brunch between its garlic-laced asparagus and mushrooms, savory ham and Swiss, and flaky, buttery crust. Back when I was a newlywed, childless, first grade teacher, there was a brief span of time during which I spent my evenings each week making hundreds upon hundreds of cookies. As much as I enjoyed teaching and loved the kids I taught, at times there was a part of me that felt pulled in {Read More}
Lemon & White Chocolate Tiramisu ~ Mason Jar Trifles
April 7, 2014 by 39 Comments
This easy springtime version of tiramisu features soft lady fingers brushed with lemon syrup and layered in Mason jars with lemon curd and white chocolate cream, making them cute, portable, and perfect for picnics or parties! If you ask me, lemon is to spring what pumpkin is to autumn. I could happily eat both lemon and pumpkin all year long (not together, mind you), but seeing as how my brain relegates them to their stereotypical seasons, I have a hard {Read More}
