Day

We eat Mexican food at our house at least a couple times a week.

Sometimes I am in the kitchen making up tacos, enchiladas, nachos, or some other form of the cuisine.

When I don’t feel like cooking, there is a Mexican buffet right around the corner from our house. That can get dangerous let me tell you. Every time we go there starving, we walk out feeling like we are going to explode. It’s one way of getting your money’s worth I guess, but I would rather not do that if I don’t have to. It isn’t the cheapest place to eat either. You get a lot of food, but it’s going to cost ya.

One thing that they always have on their buffet are these stuffed shells that are out of this world amazing. I couldn’t believe how simple it was to make these at home. If I would have known I could make this tantalizing dish at home, we would have stopped going to the buffet a long time ago! What a money, and gut, saver.

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick Tip: Put your stuffing in a Ziploc bag and cut off the tip to squeeze filling into the shells more easily.

When I was little my mother used to have a small vegetable garden in the backyard.

Behind all the carrots, onions and parsley was my favorite spot – my sister and I would sneak in every day to see if the strawberries were ripe yet.

It seemed to take forever for that biggest, most delicious looking strawberry to be done! Mom would always let us eat the first ripe ones, but when there were enough of these plump, red pieces of heaven, she would make this incredible strawberry pie.

My mother’s strawberry pie is still my favorite. She makes hers from scratch, with a pie crust recipe she’s been keeping a secret for years. It’s not really a secret – she just knows I’m not much of a baker so she would rather give me the finished pie instead of the recipe…

But occasionally I like to pretend I’m a pastry chef and I choose the easiest recipe I can find, to make sure it will turn out ok. The flavor resembled my mother’s strawberry so much that it almost could have fooled me!

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick Tip: Serve with a scoop of ice cream or some whipped cream on top.

My family has always been so picky when it comes to eating, it makes my job as their momma and chef a bit difficult.

I mean, I have to balance making them healthy meals (or at least semi-healthy), something that will keep them full and energized, and something that is relatively easy to make for a working mom who also has to care for her family.  All the while, making the kiddos (and even my husband!), something that they will actually like and want to eat. It has always been a struggle, but I have found tips and tricks to help me achieve the end goal: that they eat.

Well, I have searched high and low for healthy recipes to serve them, but they always stay away from things that look too healthy. What they actually like are casseroles, so I decided to give them a go. Anything to make them eat and actually enjoy dinner! Well, it has been a huge success and everyone loves to look forward to whatever casserole I put together.

They give me suggestions, fill me in on new ideas, and tell me what their friend’s mommas are making so I can make something similar.  I love that they enjoy eating now and make casseroles for them all the time!

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS.

Quick Tip: Add in a can of your favorite type of beans for extra hidden protein!

Good morning, everyone! Well, for some of you around the world it might be the afternoon or nighttime.

Where is everyone from? I’ve always wondered that! It would be great if you could leave where you are from in the comments. As you all know, I am a Michigan native who moved to Pennsylvania. I have discovered that my Michigander cooking style is quite different from the Appalachian lovers. Lots of great recipes here on the Mason-Dixon Line 🙂 Anyway, today we are making a southern favorite called pecan bread.

This bread reminds me of the classic pie but without the crust. It’s moist, flavorful, and made with love. We had a church potluck last Sunday and this was the dessert that I took to pass.

I swear I think the bread was gone in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. People loved the stuff! You’ll find that pecan bread is very easy to make, too. Enjoy!

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS.

Quick Tip: Make sure to store this pecan bread in an airtight container.

We all have our favorite parts of the holiday dinner.

Me, personally? I love the side dishes, especially green bean casserole. There is just something nostalgic about this dish that I tend to gravitate towards. Perhaps it’s that my mother would make this casserole every year. who knows. One thing is for sure, though, it is dang good! Now, why fix something if it ain’t broken, right? That might be what you’re wondering about this glorified green bean casserole recipe.

Well, folks, this cheesy green bean and corn casserole recipe only amplifies the already-good aspects of classic green bean casserole. The extra ingredients add flavor, texture, and yummy satisfaction to the mix.

I’m telling ya, the first time I had this casserole I was inside dish heaven. I know my friends and family are going to be super excited that this casserole is sitting on the table right next to the turkey. They will make a lovely couple. Gobble gobble!

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS.

Quick Tip: You can easily half this recipe when feeding smaller crowds.

Out of this world – with an amazing sauce!

Wow – did these patties completely blow my mind! I don’t know why, but I had always just made ground beef patties and fish patties. I guess it’s because those are what my mother always used to make, and my grandmother as well. That’s how it often is with recipes; there are staples that get passed on from generation to generation and we love those familiar flavors so much, that we don’t even think of trying something else for a change.

I’m really glad my sister is crazy about trying all kinds of lean alternatives when it comes to cooking. This recipe probably wouldn’t have been my first choice (or even the second) if I had just randomly come across it. But she was serving these for dinner last weekend and they were so incredible that I don’t know if I can ever go back to my old patty recipe again.

These turkey patties are scrumptious on their own, and I can imagine they would make really tasty turkey burgers! But the sauce is what takes these to a whole new level. I swear, I wanted to eat it straight from the serving bowl!

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick Tip: Try ground chicken instead of turkey!

People are going to line up and beg for this recipe!

When I was little, my mother would often make us meringue treats. It was usually when she had baked something that called for egg yolks, so she had some extra egg whites on hand. You know, back then it was a big deal not to let any ingredients go to waste, and I think it still should be! Sometimes I’m amazed by people who seem to throw away food, simply because they don’t need it anymore – or because they didn’t know what to do with the leftovers.

But that’s a conversation for another time. My point is, I really learned to love meringue at a very young age, but I was always wondering if I could combine it with other favorites of mine.

For example dessert bars… Yum! I love any and all kinds of dessert bars. Lately I’ve tried different recipes for bars with berries and pie fillings. They are so delicious! I think I got an overload of chocolate at some point and I needed something different after all those brownies!

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick Tip: Use any pie filling for these bars!