For those of you who, unlike myself, lack a cooler, younger sibling to keep you updated on hip acronyms, FOMO stands for “Fear of Missing Out.” At the end of every June, I feel prickles of light panic, because one third of summer has disappeared, and I fear I am behind on making the most of it. How can it possibly be the last day of June, and I have yet to bake my Grammy’s classic shortcake, toast a s’more (though these indoor s’mores bites were a delightful alternative), make these Grilled Stuffed Peppers, or go camping?...

Yes, that is correct. This full-time food blogger’s #1 party appetizer is a combination of deli meat, cheese, mustard, and puff pastry that I buy in the freezer section of the grocery store. Wait! Don’t go! As borderline embarrassingly simple as this puff pastry ham and cheese pinwheels recipe is to make, the reason I keep coming back to it again and again (and again and again) is the way my guests react every time I pull a pan of these fun appetizer roll ups out of the oven....

We almost never eat salad for dinner at home, but since a Cobb is the one-and-only salad that Ben considers “real food,” I decided to make a version of it for our main meal. I kept the Cobb essentials—bacon, chicken, avocado, and hard-boiled eggs—then incorporated a few of my favorite fall ingredients to give the salad a harvest twist. Alongside the classic Cobb ingredients, today’s Cobb has roasted butternut squash, apples, cranberries, and toasted pepitas....

Despite its OG status in today’s Thanksgiving spread, green bean casserole is one of those recipes I forget about every year until it’s in front of me in its French-onion-crowned glory. Holiday mealtime is sacred, and plate (and stomach) space is a premium. Every side should shine. Thus, I set out to create a green bean casserole from scratch that would be remembered and (this is the ultimate test) re-requested for years to come....

Beef and noodles is a fixture in my home state of Kansas and throughout the Midwest. It’s similar to the beef stroganoff I remember my Grandma Dorothy making on Sundays (the one that inspired my lighter Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff and its first cousin, Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff), but there are a few differences between the two. For today’s Instant Pot beef and noodles, I kept to the recipe’s intention—to be a cozy, affordable dish sure to warm you to the bone on a chilly evening—then, I made a few better-for-you swaps to lighten it up....

Sweet potatoes are my favorite Thanksgiving side. Fact. I’d even pick Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole or Glazed Sweet Potatoes over these perfect parmesan Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. That said, I also feel a holiday meal doesn’t feel complete without some version of mashed potatoes involved. My family’s solution is to serve sweet potatoes AND Crockpot Mashed Potatoes (we really never can get enough starch).If you are cooking for a smaller group or want to leave room for other sides (e....

A one-bowl, easy banana bread recipe with coconut flour, almond butter, and maple syrup, this moist, tender loaf is ideal if you are looking to eat well, without a life devoid of yummy baked treats, tasty breakfasts, and satisfying snacks. (Ahem, moi!) Yes, this banana bread is Paleo (meaning it is grain free, gluten free, dairy free, and does not contain refined sugars), BUT you certainly do not need to be following a Paleo diet to enjoy it....

This month, I’m sharing a new, delicious, and nutritious smoothie recipe every week (don’t miss the fab Green Smoothie or Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie that kicked us off!) because they’re such an easy, fuss-free, and yummy way to sneak more servings of fruit and veggies into your day. And “easy” is the most alluring quality whenever we’re seeking to add a few healthier habits into our lifestyle. Many types of fruits are good in smoothies – strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and bananas are popular and easy to find....

These pecan pie bars melt in your mouth. Every time I took a bite, I couldn’t believe a dessert this seemingly rich and thick could dissolve on my tongue as if by magic. The buttery shortbread crust is tender but sturdy enough to pick up with your fingers. It tastes like a cross between my Darn Good Whole Wheat Pie Crust and the most excellent shortbread cookie.The filling is lush with maple and brown sugar and positively chock-a-bloc with deeply toasty, crunchy pecans....

The first time someone passed me pineapple casserole was the first holiday I spent with my in-laws. I was horrified. Cheese and warm PINEAPPLE?! What was this abomination? Already feeling homesick for our family’s traditional holiday recipes, like Glazed Sweet Potatoes and Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, I was now going to have to pretend to like this absurd dish. I took a tiny, toddler-sized bite, and…oh my heavens, pineapple casserole is wonderful....

Ummmmm…..looks like we both hit the jackpot! I hereby renege every disparaging word I’ve ever uttered about a Brussels sprout. Roasted Brussels sprouts not only are a far cry from the boiled green little monsters that may have scared you away in the past—they are downright delicious. (I love them in this Sautéed Brussels Sprouts recipe.) These roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic are crispy on the outside and tender and caramelized on the inside....

The first time I made this Thai chicken curry, I was worried I would find it lacking. Having eaten copious amounts of authentic Thai curry (and Vegetarian Pad Thai) in Thailand, I know how fabulous a perfect chicken curry can be. With a short and simple ingredient list, at least compared to many Thai recipes, I had to wonder how this easy Thai chicken curry could measure up. Well, to put it simply, this Thai curry recipe BLEW ME AWAY....

Despite its lack of originality (rice and beans Erin, really?), I stand by my prior intentions for this recipe. It’s an approachable, yet sophisticated side for your end-of-summer soirees and upcoming tailgates. These aren’t just any old rice and beans—these are sassy rice and beans with jalapenos, cilantro, and honey-lime dressing. Enjoy this summer salad recipe: Alongside other potluck sides dishes and entrees.Beside an Avocado Chicken Burger at dinner.Warmed with an egg on top for lunch (so good)....

I have the perfect answer for any of you who’ve ever found yourself standing at the pantry door wondering, “what can I do with extra trail mix?” Or, if like me you constantly have odd bits of baking chips, dried fruits, and nuts flitting about your pantry, trail mix cookies are a perfect way to use them up. These trail mix cookies are soft, chewy oatmeal cookies loaded with salty-sweet, nutty-fruity, chocolaty goodies....

Leftovers are one of my absolute favorite parts of Thanksgiving—one meal just isn’t enough to fully appreciate the feast! When it comes to How Much Turkey to Cook Per Person, I err on the side of more, not less. While some leftovers you can catch me munching straight from the refrigerator in my PJs (ahem, Glazed Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Potato Pie), others deserve a little extra TLC, and the turkey is no exception....

The concept of a twice baked sweet potato is simple—bake a sweet potato, whip up the insides with other delicious things, stuff it back into potato skin, and bake the sweet potato a second time—but the resulting dish always makes me feel like I won the lottery. The creamy, fluffy interior is just HEAVEN. The contrast between the broiled top and the whipped filling beneath makes my heart pitter-patter. Twice baked sweet potatoes take a bit of extra effort compared to Roasted Sweet Potatoes or Mashed Sweet Potatoes, but not much....

If the thought of vegetarian dinner recipes makes you think of sad, boring food that leaves you missing the meat, then prepare to be pleasantly surprised. You’ll be amazed at what you can make for dinner without meat! The recipes on this list are not only good for you, but they taste fantastic too. From Crockpot Lentil Soup to Paneer Tikka Masala, the vegetarian recipes on my website are packed with filling, flavorful ingredients....

The first week of January sometimes feels like a polar plunge from the warm, cozy hug of holiday cookies and champagne into dry, cold, “healthy” food. It doesn’t have to be this way! I passionately believe that eating well should not to taste like a sacrifice. Healthy recipes like this one shouldn’t require you to spend a fortune on ingredients or make trips to specialty stores. That’s my goal with my recipes here (especially the ones in my upcoming cookbook!...

I owe my appreciation for classic Southern desserts like buttermilk pie (and Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie) to my grammy, who often made them growing up. Chess pie (a close relative of buttermilk pie) was one of her signatures. If you’ve never had a classic southern buttermilk pie, please run to your kitchen and bake this recipe immediately. It looks unassuming, but every bite is positively luscious (like the best Lemon Pie, also my grammy’s recipe)....

Chocolate chip cookies are a source of (mostly) good-spirited debate in our household. Which is the greatest chocolate chip cookie? Is it chewy or crispy?Fluffy or flat?Nuts or no nuts?Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Though I know you are narrating a declarative answer to each of these questions in your head, today I’m excited to tell you about my second favorite chocolate chip cookie of all time: chocolate chip walnut cookies....