Posts

Imagination time: Envision your favorite coffee cake. You know, the one that’s outrageously fluffy and makes your house smell bonkers amazing while it bakes (my vote is for this Cranberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake). Now, swap the traditional cinnamon-sugar filling with a honey-licious walnut, raisin, and cinnamon-studded filling (if this sounds up your alley, try these Coffee Cake Muffins next). Throw in a subtle touch of orange, then finish by slathering on the icing....

Mega-moist (far from your average crumbly cornbread muffin), and made with better-for-you ingredients, these southern cornbread muffins are a twist on my mother’s classic cornbread batter. You can enjoy them in both sweet and savory applications. If you’re wondering what to serve with these sweet cornbread muffins, the answer is: whatever you like! Enjoy these old-fashioned cornbread muffins for breakfast with a smear of your favorite jam.Whip up a batch to enjoy as a side dish with a steaming bowl of Healthy Turkey Chili....

A rich, hearty slow cooker soup made with ground meat (I used turkey to lighten it up, though you can certainly stick with tradition and use lean ground beef instead), kid-friendly vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and peas, and a few subtle but substantial flavor-boosters, this recipe is a happy meeting ground where both little ones and grownups will find solace and satisfaction. Crock Pot Hamburger Soup: Kid Appeal The flavor is mild without being bland....

When viewed objectively, crock pot turkey meatballs are not particularly romantic. They are messy. They are saucy. They are rarely pretty, and they certainly are not to be eaten in white pants. Yet, there is something about slow cooked turkey meatballs that will always remind me of love. Perhaps it is because each meatball is formed individually with care. Perhaps it is because the best, most tender meatballs require the gentlest touch to scoop and shape....

I’m not sure who told Mr. Monday about my Friday night bar bill or showed him the recycling bin after Saturday’s party at the lake, OR how he found out about Sunday night’s barbecue bonanza (for the record, the Crockpot Ribs were suburb). Somehow, Monday has a way of cajoling me into atoning for my weekend excesses. It’s as if the “M” on my calendar stands for “Make Amends.” On Mondays, I drink and Cleansing Apple Avocado Smoothie and begin to restore the equilibrium of my digestive system....

I want the extra-large Grilled Sweet Potato Fries order. And I don’t want to share. I know it’s hypocritical. I’m THAT girl at dinner who will happily mooch your fries (I promise I only want a few!), but when a healthy version of sweet potato fries is on the table, I can’t help but want every last delicious wedge all to myself. Fortunately, with this easy method to make Grilled Sweet Potato Fries at home, everyone can munch barbecued sweet potato slices to his or her heart’s content....

I’ve come a long way since cooking my first turkey for Friendsgiving at the age of 22. From wet brines to dry brines, to roasting at different temperatures, to basting/not basting, turkey bag/no turkey bag, covered/uncovered, I HAVE TRIED IT. This post tells you exactly what you need to know! Follow this post and you’ll cook a perfect turkey that is moist, not dry every single time. Let’s talk turkey!...

A whiskey smash is a classic cocktail with just four ingredients: whiskey, mint, lemon, and simple syrup or sugar. You don’t need any fancy equipment to make it, and you’ll feel like quite the accomplished home bartender when you shake it up. If you aren’t a fan of whiskey and have wondered “how do you make whiskey tasty,” a whiskey smash is the perfect place to start. The brightness of the lemon and crispness of the mint make it more refreshing than boozy, so it’s dangerously easy to drink....

Italian beef is a sandwich that originated in Chicago. The cut of beef used for Italian beef is typically chuck. The beef is slow cooked until fall-apart tender, then piled high in a hoagie bun with some of the meat’s tasty, sloppy cooking juices. From there, the sandwich is finished with a shower of pepperoncini, giardiniera (pickled Italian vegetables), and provolone cheese. It’s drippy and salty and cheesy and messy, all in the best possible way....

When outdoor barbecue weather strikes you best be ready. Do you know where your flip flops are? Who has the sunscreen? Can someone hose out the cooler?And, most importantly of all, what are we going to EAT at our first outdoor feast??? My vote: Italian farro salad! This farro salad with feta is the kind of recipe that was tailor made for gatherings with friends alongside other summer barbecue recipes because:...

On November 10th, I’ll be hosting a special holiday cooking demonstration, and I want YOU to be there! (Tickets available here.) Those who attend will receive a PERSONALIZED, SIGNED copy of The Well Plated Cookbook at a stellar discount AND a 20% off coupon to purchase additional autographed copies through November 30, 2020. With its wide array of appealing, easy-to-make, and DELISH recipes, a gorgeous photo for every recipe, and accessibility for many diets, The Well Plated Cookbook makes a fantastic gift, especially if it’s signed, wink wink....

Soaking a cake is a classic secret to moist cake. It’s also incredibly easy. Simply combine the ingredients in a small saucepan, heat, and BOOM. You have liquid gold that will make even the simplest cake recipe truly special. About This Cake Soak Recipe This cake soak is perfect if you are looking for fun recipes using rosé wine (I love it for a girls’ night) or want to take a basic cake recipe and make it truly special....

If it’s been a while since you’ve had peanut butter and jelly together, let me tell you something right now: it’s even better than you remember. A few weeks ago, a friend brought me some strawberry jam, and I decided to use it for what may be jam’s ultimate purpose: an old school PB and J. HEAVEN. In addition to making me feel like a kid again, I was reminded of the beautiful simplicity of this notorious combo: salty and sweet....

I’m a scone fanatic. The sum of the scones I’ve devoured in my lifetime could sustain the population of a small island for a remarkable period. In my life’s work of scone eating (one of my more impressive achievements), I developed a clear idea of what I am looking for in my ideal scone: Supreme moistness and ultra fluffiness (as in these Pumpkin Scones).Alluring flavors (like these Savory Scones with Bacon Cheddar and Chive)....

When it comes to planning traditional holiday meals, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the Crockpot Mashed Potatoes and Cornbread Sausage Stuffing, but don’t forget about the veggies. Since (and we can be honest about this) no one wants a pile of sad broccoli next to their Thanksgiving Turkey and Turkey Gravy, it’s important to show some TCL to the vegetables on the table too. Giving vegetables the casserole treatment (baked up in a creamy sauce with a tantalizing crispy topping) is a surefire way to make them holiday-worthy....

If you didn’t previously believe that tacos and pasta were meant to be together (like tacos and salad in Taco Salad), I’m going to implore you to leave your skepticism aside. A cheesy blend of whole grain pasta noodles, ground chicken, fresh veggies, and other taco-centric ingredients like spices, salsa, and black beans, this entire dinner cooks in the same skillet, including the noodles. Like pasta, it comes together fast....

While I love a rich, cheesy pasta as much as the next sane human—Adult Mac and Cheese anyone?—I also appreciate healthy meals that leave me feeling elated and empowered for making nutritious choices for myself. But can you have them both? Food that speaks to your creamy pasta-loving soul and food that nourishes your body? ABSOLUTELY. As my collection of healthy pasta recipes demonstrates, you never ever should have to sacrifice flavor to eat well....

Faster-cooking, far less labor intensive (no wet turkey brine or dry brine required unless you are in the mood), and yielding a more manageable amount of meat, air fried turkey breast is perfect for smaller gatherings and for weeknight dinners. Between working on this turkey breast recipe, delving into How to Cook a Turkey, Spatchcock Turkey, and Turkey Gravy, we have eaten a lot of turkey in the last few weeks....

Pieces of zucchini tossed in a light Parmesan and panko breadcrumb coating, then air fried until crispy outside and tender inside, air fried zucchini is the lower maintenance cousin of air fryer Zucchini Fries. When you’re looking to cook vegetables with maximal crunch appeal in a healthy way, the air fryer is the appliance for the job. Be it Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Cauliflower, or Air Fryer Broccoli, the intense heat of the air fryer does a good job mimicking the delicious, deep-fried veggie experience....

This simple blueberry bread is moist and springy with blueberries in every bite. The slices are sturdy enough to easily pick up with your fingers, which is ideal considering that you are going to want to take it with you wherever you are headed. Like the other much-loved quick bread recipes you’ll find on this site (whose fruit additions range from Apple Bread to Strawberry Bread to Zucchini Banana Bread, and more), this is a healthy blueberry bread....