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Chocolate Chess Pie

December 21, 2021 by Lindsay 8 Comments

Delicious, super easy creamy chocolate chess pie in under an hour! This recipe has just 7 ingredients and is so simple to make with the help of a storebought crust! PS, if you have extra evaporated milk, it can be used in slow cooker butter chicken or other creamy savory recipes!

chocolate chess pie slice on white plate with fork.

Tis the season to make a pie so delicious you may or may not consume 2 pieces in twelve hours just to be sure it was that good.

It was, promise.

Ok so this pie. Vague origin story. I actually didn't know what a chocolate chess pie WAS, but this local grocery/bakery that we frequent makes them around the holidays and they always looked really enticing in pretty bakery boxes. Then I ended up with a few extra pie crusts after Thanksgiving (my apple pies didn't require a top crust because I didn't have as many apples as I thought, long story), and I knew I needed a new Christmas pie. Enter: Chocolate Chess.

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Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic

December 1, 2021 by Lindsay 8 Comments

Creamy, luscious 5-ingredient Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes! These come together in under an hour, but the roasted garlic can be made in advance for even more hurried nights. These are very delicious with a cast iron skillet steak and some 5 Minute Asparagus, just saying.

bowl of mashed potatoes with butter swirl on blue napkin surrounded by Thanksgiving foods.

Oh, hello 5 ingredient steakhouse-worthy side dish that is the absolute love of my life.

It's the best ever mashed potatoes (with skins!), it's roasted garlic, it's buttery, creamy, comforting goodness.

There are a gazillion ways to make mashed potatoes, and IMO almost all of them are great. I love a super silky mashed potato (why does it remind of me of kind of a janky cruise?), but I also love a little bit of texture from potato skin and potato chunks.

Mashed potatoes are wonderful because gluten free potato recipes are easy to come by and almost universally adored, which means that lots of eaters can enjoy mashed potatoes. Also they're just supremely yummy, so there's that.

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Vidalia Onion Casserole

November 15, 2021 by Lindsay 13 Comments

Make onions the STAR of the show with this classic Southern onion casserole! This version uses sweet onions, has 9 ingredients, and can be made in advance for a yummy weeknight side dish with grilled chicken or as part of a Thanksgiving or Easter dinner. Bonus points for this being a Ritz Cracker topped casserole! (aka the best kind)

close up of ritz cracker topping on onion casserole.

Onion casserole. Heard of it? Had it? It's new-ish to me; my MIL brought us a version she made earlier this summer with just "I'm bringing onion casserole" and I just immediately knew I had found my new favorite veggie side dish.

I love a casserole, as we well know. I also really like onions, and sweet onions + cheesy stuff + Ritz cracker topping? Count.Me.In.

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BEST Easy Asparagus Casserole

November 1, 2021 by Lindsay 64 Comments

Super easy and healthy asparagus casserole that comes together in just a few steps. This is perfect for Thanksgiving, Easter, or any meal that needs a yummy low carb side dish! This is one of my most popular recipes with over 200k clicks, likes, shares, and saves!

white plate with serving of cheesy baked asparagus on a blue napkin.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, there's a balance of "we always have that," and "let's try something new," you know?

This is the BEST asparagus casserole ever, but I'd also venture that it's the best Thanksgiving side dish ever. It's the perfect line between "super classic" and "a little updated," and let's just take a moment to bow to the Casserole Gods of Thanksgiving. They love us, and we love them.

So. Easy asparagus casserole! The fancy feeling of a veg that isn't green beans with the comfort of cheese and Ritz crackers.

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Crock Pot Stuffing with Sausage and Apples

October 20, 2021 by Lindsay 11 Comments

One of the most delicious versions of classic Thanksgiving stuffing made in a slow cooker! Just 10 delicious ingredients cooked for a few hours while you make the rest of your Thanksgiving dinner. This is a great dish to prep in advance and take to a friendsgiving, too!

top view of slow cooker sausage stuffing with apples and celery.

We've definitely talked about this before, but where do we fall on turkey vs sides at Thanksgiving? I am Team Side Dishes all the way - I like turkey OK, but honestly side dishes are my favorite thing about Thanksgiving, hands down.

I've worked on stuffing recipes for years, and I think for me the key is a good ratio of crusty bread to buttery drizzle - no mushy bread, no mealy texture, actual delicious, buttery bread cubes with flavorful ingredients mixed in.

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Smoked Turkey Breast

October 14, 2021 by Lindsay 13 Comments

Delicious, easy whole smoked turkey breast with just a few simple steps! This is a smoked turkey WITHOUT BRINE for no mess or extra planning. An overnight dry rub and a few hours in the smoker produce the most delicious, juicy turkey breast ever!

plate of sliced smoked turkey with rosemary garnish on navy blue napkin.

One thing about turkey: people either love it or "meh" it and really love sides. I fall on the "sides are preferable" side (lol) of things generally, unless the turkey is really freaking good.

And let me say this: smoked turkey is really freaking good.

(although, if you don't have a smoker, I have a roasted turkey breast and foolproof whole roast turkey that are also really, really good!)

I LOVE smoking turkeys for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The benefits are endless: the oven is free for side dishes to bake, and the low + slow way the smoker works means that the turkey stays super flavorful and juicy.

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Vegan Marinated Mushrooms

September 30, 2021 by Lindsay 7 Comments

One of our favorite vegan mushrooms, these vegan marinated mushrooms are SO YUMMY and the perfect vegan appetizer to add to a party spread! They have just a few pantry ingredients and are done in 30 minutes, but last for weeks in the fridge!

hand holding a marinated mushroom on a toothpick over open jar of mushrooms.

I. Love. Mushrooms. Like, a lot a lot.

These mushrooms in particular will always and forever remind me of Christmas, even though my family never had them. I think this is a total throwback recipe, 80's or 90's or something - did you eat these as a kid? My next door neighbors in Japan made these for almost every holiday, and I LOVED them. I think they used Italian dressing and canned mushrooms, no shame in that game, and the chewy mushroom in the tangy vinaigrette was just my favorite thing ever.

I'm all about anything tangy or pickled, and I think these are such a great addition to a holiday party. They're so light and bright and a perfect complement to the heavier dishes that we have this time of year. I like having them as part of an appetizer spread with some pimento cheese or buffalo chicken dip; they're vegan and gluten free so everyone can enjoy them.

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Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls

April 13, 2021 by Lindsay 7 Comments

Yummy, EASY mini puff pastry cinnamon rolls made in a mini-muffin tin! These shortcut cinnamon rolls are perfect for a small dessert or snack for a baby shower or Mother's Day brunch. They have all the flavor of cinnamon rolls in flaky crust with no yeast, rising, or kneading.

What's it called when it's definitely baking in that we turn the oven on, but very low effort?

That's what I think of every time I use frozen puff pastry.

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Seriously Good Pimento Cheese (without cream cheese!)

April 6, 2021 by Lindsay 1 Comment

This classic Southern, slightly spicy pimento cheese recipe is absolutely perfect! I love to have pimento cheese homemade with lots of storebought ingredients (crackers, cheese, pickles, etc) for an easy cheese board at a party or for a snack plate dinner! This is extra delicious paired with some homemade focaccia for dunking.

Table Of Contents

Ingredients
Recipe Notes and Ingredient Notes
Step By Step Instructions
Serving and Storage
Other Easy Appetizer Recipes

OK SO.

Let us discuss the glory that is pimento cheese, since even if it's not Master's Weekend, we live in the South and love this dip for any and all snacking occasions. Since I started this blog I've made a LOT of pimento cheese, and have tweaked the recipe over the years to a combination that I absolutely adore.

Other people adore it too, and that's not something I say about a lot of the food I make, because I'm insecure. Pimento cheese homemade, though, is something that people of all walks of life really enjoy when it is good. Back when we used to cater large parties this was one of our most-ordered recipes, hands down.

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No Bake Chocolate Mousse Pie

December 21, 2020 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

For the countdown to Christmas, a super easy no bake chocolate pie recipe! This pie has the best chocolate mousse ever as a filling, a par-baked pie crust, and keeps perfectly in the fridge for several days. I love all kinds of chocolate pies at the holidays (this chocolate chess pie is another huge hit!), and this one is a huge favorite!

Welp. Christmas time is here.

I'm sure everyone in the world is thinking and talking about and writing the same "what a strange holiday" lines, and it's true, everything is strange. It seems like lots of people are kind of used to the strange at this point; we know nothing will be like it is normally but that doesn't stop us from wanting it, at least not for me.

The endless back and forth of hard decisions with no clear answer, hurt feelings, fake news, and on and on and on is getting to us as a culture, and some of the best "answers" I've heard for how Christmas will go down this year is somewhere along the lines of "the same but way less."

This no bake chocolate pie recipe is 100% "the same but way less." It's a really, really good recipe for chocolate pie, and it's really, really easy. There's nothing to do besides bake a pre-made pie crust, whip some cream, add chocolate, and chill while it chills.

I couldn't help myself.

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Easy White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cookies

December 8, 2020 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

These chewy cookies are just like subway white chocolate macadamia cookies but so much better! I add almond extract for some extra special bakery taste that complements the white chocolate chips so well. And, yes, if you find Funfetti chocolate chips like I did you should 100% use them in this recipe.

First full week of December, we made it!

Let's talk about productive procrastination:

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Lobster Pasta With Lemon Cream Sauce

December 2, 2020 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Channeling major Kate-Winslet-The-Holiday Christmas pasta recipe vibes with this super easy creamy lobster pasta recipe! I buy frozen lobster tails when I see them on sale and keep them in the freezer for extra special meals when we need cozy + comforting without spending a ton of time on dinner. I have a lobster mac and cheese recipe too for even more creamy dreamy lobster!

Oh hey, December. Didn't see you there with all the Thanksgiving pandemic election fake news bs inundating my brain and screens.

But, December it is, and December means we need some festive meals. Right? Right. Let's get right into this lobster pasta cream sauce of joy situation.

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What To Do With Thanksgiving Leftovers

November 25, 2020 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Some of my favorite recipes with Thanksgiving leftovers, as well as ideas for incorporating leftovers into lunches and dinners for the coming days!

We made it! To the day before Thanksgiving, in the middle of a pandemic, after a very stressful election season.

AND THEN, we get to plan what to do with our Thanksgiving leftovers! I know lots of people prefer to repeat the meal a few times, which I'm fully on board with, but I also like doing different things without wasting anything.

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8-Ingredient Small Thanksgiving Dinner

November 12, 2020 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Two weeks until Thanksgiving! And in less than two weeks we'll be elbow deep in stuffing prep, right?

I will be, at least.

I've shared a few new Thanksviging menu recipes this year, and now is the moment that we get our Thanksgiving menu planning hats on and get to work. Lists, prep, groceries, etc.

This year I'm making two new menus - One that is going to be a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for larger groups, and one small Thanksgiving dinner menu plan for gatherings that are just you and some besties. It's Thanksgiving Menu 2020, COVID-style.

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Easy Roasted Cornish Game Hens

November 9, 2020 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Super simple buttermilk cornish game hens roasted to perfection! This recipe has only 3 ingredients and is a fabulous Thanksgiving turkey alternative. The smaller size makes them much more manageable, and they roast in just an hour, leaving time for all of the other yummy side dishes you're making to heat up!

Two and a half weeks to Thanksgiving!

There's another countdown in my head to January 20, 2021, BUT I DIGRESS.

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Potatoes Romanoff

November 5, 2020 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

What is Potatoes Romanoff? Only the best twice baked potato casserole recipe in the world! Envision: leftover baked potatoes, fused with cheese, butter, sour cream, and seasonings. I love this for a super easy Thanksgiving side dish that can be made ahead, but it's also delicious as a meal prep side dish served with my favorite marinated grilled chicken for dinner!

Great news!

We are staving off election and pandemic jitters with carbs and dairy.

What can I say except, you're welcome? (listening to a lot of Moana recently, Will's choice)

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Gluten Free Baked Broccoli and Cheese

October 14, 2020 by Lindsay 14 Comments

This creamy, cheesy baked broccoli has just FIVE INGREDIENTS and comes together in under an hour. It's my favorite GF Thanksgiving side dish for this year and is absolutely replacing traditional broccoli casserole (much as I love all casseroles!). This cheesy broccoli wins the side dish game again and again.

cheesy baked broccoli in a white baking dish with sunflower in the background.

Well, HELLO. We're starting Thanksgiving side dish recipes!!

(no one asked, I realize this)

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Brown Butter Blondies

August 31, 2020 by Lindsay 5 Comments

This brown butter blondies recipe is the best ever! With a gooey, nutty center, crackly crust, and chocolate slightly melted and swirled into the batter, you won't find a better potluck dessert recipe! These easy blondies are super rich making them the perfect small dessert. The recipe is from food52 and we can't get enough!

I have great news for introverts.

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10 Recipes for Christmas!

December 19, 2019 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

..or literally anything you are celebrating in the next two weeks.

Hello and how is your life! We have moved, had dance recitals, cleaned out our old house via 9,827 trips across town, lost things, found things, donated things, done some Christmas shopping, cancelled a vacation, and now, finally, are getting all in on Christmas, which they tell me is next week.

I have done no planning, no decorating, no wrapping, hardly any shopping. The whole thing is v out of character, but it's a season we're in right now so I'm going with it.

Now, though, the dust is settling somewhat and I'm all...oh right so it's happening NOW. We're hosting a gathering next week with Jay's family which will be lovely, and I'm starting to piece together what things I can cook for what stuff we'll be doing this week and next....

Meal Prep Quiche

December 3, 2019 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to the middle weeks!

There is still school. There are still chores. We're still working. But we're in the MOOD for holiday stuff, right? It's busier, there are more activities, more opportunities to not keep up the great habits we've spent all year building. Meal prep quiche is here to save us from takeout temptation.

This is another version of my absolute favorite quiche that I shared several weeks ago - the Kale Roasted Red Pepper Quiche that dreams are made of. Here, we have options because we need our quiche to be exactly how we want it every single time. Meal prep quiche is the best kind of quiche, basically.

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