Table set ahead of time - check!! Call me a freak, but I enjoy making the Thanksgiving meal. I love this holiday because it's all the fabulous food and none of the pressure of presents of Christmas. You just make a great lunch/dinner and that's it, nap time and a sandwich later. Plus there's football … Continue reading Thanksgiving week planning: The struggle is real people! →

Last week my mom, sister and I went on a road trip to check out Pawhuska, OK where Ree Drummond - aka The Pioneer Woman - lives, works and cooks up some really great food! On busy weekends in the summer the size of the town can double due to all the visitors. The locals … Continue reading Road trip! Pawhuska, OK – Land of The Pioneer Woman →

This is an old school casserole that is usually appreciated by adults and kids alike. It's from my Nana's cookbook and everyone I make it for loves it. I like it for tailgating or winter family parties because I can make it ahead and just pop it in the oven. It's a great make ahead … Continue reading Marzetti Caserole →

A good plate of spaghetti and meatballs is one of my favorite all time meals. I've gotten spoiled over the years making my own so I'm sometimes disappointed when I try this dish when we go out. Don't get me wrong there are lots of good versions out there, just not great. I make the … Continue reading Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs…from scratch of course! →

Canning Fresh Tomatoes Every year in late summer I spend a couple of evenings or a weekend canning fresh tomatoes for me to use all winter. I have been spoiled with these end of summer wonders for as long as I can remember thanks to my mom and grandma. They would spend hours doing this … Continue reading Canning Fresh Tomatoes →

This is ALMOST a great no cook side dish, and it's really not even something I measure. I know I've vowed to get better at that measuring thing, but here it is anyway. Once again I find myself with a ton of little tomatoes from my garden. Ina Garten has a great summer pasta recipe, … Continue reading Tomatoes with Angel Hair Pasta →

For some reason every time I see zucchini at the Farmer's market I must pickup a few. I put them on the grill, or saute them with tomatoes, garlic and some parmesan cheese for a quick side dish or tossed with some pasta. There's lots to do with these yummy squash, but my favorite thing … Continue reading Farmer’s market finds…zucchini →

This isn't even CLOSE to a recipe, but it's something I just started doing after I got Gordon Ramsay's Healthy Lean and Fit cookbook last week. I'm usually in a hurry in the mornings, like everyone else, but it never occurred to me to mix my yogurt, fruit, honey and granola all in one bowl … Continue reading Assembly only – Breakfast bowl →

During the summer I try to grow tomatoes in my yard. Sometimes they end up just being deer and chipmunk food, so then I just buy them at the Farmer's markets. Either way I always have a ton of them around this time of year. However you get your hands on these little jewels of … Continue reading Assembly only – Tomato and Mozzarella Salad →