Well, the first one or two are nice. It gets naughty from there! If you are looking for homemade holiday gift ideas this season, bourbon balls are sure to delight anyone with whom you share them. (Cookie Mix in a Jar and Peppermint Chocolate Covered Pretzels are two other fun presents.) They’re a cinch to make, can last for weeks in the refrigerator or at room temperature (not that we’ve ever had that problem), and are the kind of grown-up indulgence (hello, Red Wine Truffles) that we all crave this time of year....

Creamy and cozy this healthy version of broccoli cheddar soup is inspired by the infamous bowl at Panera Bread, a soup that has now been enjoyed by multiple generations of our family. One of the most fun parts of being an aunt is seeing my nieces fall for the same foods I loved as a kid, which lately means trips to Panera. My orders have evolved over the years (meaning I now order things for lunch besides a bagel with double cream cheese), but a constant when the weather turns cool is the cheesy broccoli soup....

One of the fun parts of being an adult is that no one can stop you from making potentially imprudent, positively satisfying eating decisions. Craving Cocoa Puffs (or Chocolate Muffins) for all three meals today? Go for it! Mom isn’t here to judge. One of the least fun parts of being an adult is realizing this choice isn’t healthy or sustainable. This chunky cluster filled chocolate granola, however, is the best of both worlds....

A crispy initial bite lures you into a chewy, buttery interior that then surprises and delights you with its coconutty goodness and “why can’t I stop eating these?” texture. These coconut cookies are simple to make at home, a fun alternative to your go-to cookie recipes, and on the healthier side (for cookies anyway). If you think it’s nuts to love coconuts, I beg you to reconsider. While you might think coconut should be reserved for tiki bars, it’s a fabulous ingredient to add to desserts for a sweet, nutty flavor, and bewitching texture....

What do New Orleans, Chinese takeout, and bourbon all have in common? The answer is bourbon chicken. I’ve visited the Big Easy (New Orleans) three times. One dish I couldn’t get enough of (aside from beignets and Blackened Salmon) was the city’s famous bourbon chicken. Juicy chicken cooked in a sweet, sticky sauce, bourbon chicken gets its name after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, as well as its not-so-secret boozy ingredient (you’ll also find it in these Bourbon Balls)....

I hadn’t planned to share these golden raisin no bake energy bites until next week, but after seeing your response to these Fig Almond No Bake Energy Bites and these Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls, it seemed wrong to deny us all one more delectable excuse to shove an entire ball of goodness directly into our mouths. The inspiration for this recipe was the outrageous quantity of golden raisins that mysteriously appeared in my pantry....

I never tire of eating this healthy chicken salad for lunch. It’s nutritious, creamy, ultra filling, and perfect for salads and sandwiches. It also would likely horrify my friend from Alabama. This Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad does not have mayo. I can hear my sweet Alabama gal pal, who is an aficionado of all things chicken salad, gasping in horror. Actually, she’s far too genteel for such a gesture. I’m sure she has a very polite, socially appropriate sound effect for a chicken salad recipe made without mayo, which she considers an essential condiment for creamy salads of all kinds....

This sweet ricotta cream cheese dip recipe came to be in the 15 minutes of panic I have before every party I host. In the moments leading up to my guests’ arrival, I am seized with a single, nagging fear: what if, despite all my preparations, potluck assignments, and counting/recounting of the guests, we run out of food. The horror! The party in question was Friendsgiving, and despite the fact that I’d roasted a 21-pound turkey and had 14 friends bringing sides, I was worried about the appetizers....

Follow up advice: do not skip the gravy. If by some act of the universe you mess up the Instant Pot pork tenderloin (which you will not if you follow this pressure cooker recipe), the easy gravy (which you cook in the Instant Pot while the pork rests) will cover your tracks. Rich and intensely savory with a touch of tangy sweetness from maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and the pork’s own juices, you’ll want to eat it by the spoonful....

I had the best of intentions to post it sooner, I really did! Easy, healthy meals like this broccoli quinoa skillet are some of my favorite recipes to share with you, especially when that recipe: Cooks in just ONE pan.Is ready in 32 minutes max, less if you are super speedy.Uses mostly pantry staples that I bet you have on hand right now.Can be easily adapted to just about any vegetable lurking in your produce drawer....

This easy slow cooker broccoli cheese soup recipe is perfect when you are in need of a healthy meal but have zero time to cook it, a position I find myself in often, and I suspect you do too. A Quicker, Easier Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup Nearly every broccoli and cheese soup recipe I’ve found calls for the initial step of making a base cheese sauce on the stove, including recipes designed for the crock pot....

I resisted snagging the lipsticks, opting for a mini set of these amazing, fancy lip balms instead…which was eventually stolen from me. Fortunately for each of our appetites, this recipe for Spinach Pastry Puffs yields a large batch, so we could all happily gobble as many as we pleased. Why I Love These Easy Spinach Puffs Whenever I need an appetizer for a party that I know will be easy, impressive, and a total crowd-pleaser, I turn to puff pastry (if I’m not already making Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms)....

This easy tofu stir fry came about in one of those classic Erin moves in which I tell myself I am cooking “just for fun!” and don’t need to worry about measurements or posting the recipe. You’ve witnessed this here before. I make a recipe. We sit down to eat it. I fall madly in love and realize that I cannot in good faith go about the rest of my mortal existence without sharing the recipe with you....

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you likely know that last fall, we sold our home in the suburbs (the one my husband Ben grew up in!) and moved to downtown Milwaukee. And if you follow along on Instagram, you likely know that we spent a good chunk of June redoing our kitchen WELL, I’m excited to share that the before/after photos of our kitchen have arrived!...

I’m not entirely sure how or when I became obsessed with Madison, only that it snuck up on me. Perhaps it had something to do with: Weekly trips to the largest producers-only farmers market in the country (conveniently located two minutes from our front door)Endless baskets of fried cheese curds (scroll to the bottom of this post for my favorite Madison bars, restaurants and sights)More Friday fish fries than I can count (especially if I include those made at home using this Fish and Chips recipe)Morning runs that look like thisPicture-perfect sunsets off the lakeWriting MANY blog posts on our apartment building’s rooftop, with a favorite cocktail in hand...

A tender side of salmon slathered with honey Buffalo sauce, baked to flaky perfection, then showered with an optional (unless you live at my house, in which case it is obligatory) shower of blue cheese or feta cheese, the easy baked salmon recipe takes the experience of your favorite Buffalo wings, then turns them into a feast-worthy, healthy dinner that’s full-on flavor. This recipe uses my foolproof method of baking salmon in the oven in a foil packet....

In the spirit of full disclosure, Ben actually made this comment upon first bite of these Healthy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes. Considering I hadn’t seen him exude that much enthusiasm over dinner since he confessed to ordering Papa John’s the last time I was out of town, I took note that we clearly needed more Buffalo chicken in our lives. And when Buffalo chicken recipes are as juicy, zesty, easy, and CHEESY as these Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Taquitos, couldn’t we all use a few more servings?...

Chickpeas? In blondies? She made no attempt to disguise her skepticism. When I dropped off some of the finished chewy blondies in all their delectable glory a few hours later as a thank-you, my neighbor was clearly still dubious…but no level of apprehension can override the alluring scent of a freshly baked treat. Two minutes later, I had a text: “THESE ARE AMAZING!!! If there’s any left by the time my husband and daughter get home, I can’t wait for him to try them too....

This coffee bundt cake recipe may have deceived me for years, but I’m way too excited about it to keep it hush-hush. Call the tabloids! This cake has a story to tell. On the outside, this cake appears to be straightforward: A classic bundt with a lovely shape, golden tone, and solid companionship for your cup of coffee (just like Cranberry Coffee Cake and Buttermilk Cake). Topped with the perfect vanilla glaze that hints at subtle sweetness and cues that this cake is a special treat....

As a kid, spaghetti squash (with brown sugar and butter, please and thank you) was one of the few vegetables I would eat without some serious mealtime melodrama. It took me a while to reunite with it as an adult, and considering its positive qualities, I don’t make it nearly as often as I should. Spaghetti squash is low carb, low calorie, and offers a range of vitamins, minerals, and fiber....