For this recipe, I totally overcame one of my biggest fears: buying the shrimp at a locally owned establishment that exclusively sells seafood (I’m also scared of the butcher). I know, totally terrifying, right? Why the fear, you ask? I think it’s because I’m obviously not from here, in a place where people take their seafood and butchered meats very seriously, and I’m afraid of doing/saying something stupid. However, I figured it was kind of lame to go to the grocery store and spend the same amount of money on previously frozen shrimp from Asia when I could get super-fresh shrimp and help support Louisiana’s ever-struggling economy....

Anyone else get giddy when your house fills up with the aroma of what you’re cooking and you can almost taste it as you begin to salivate, like a Pavlov reaction? The first time I made this slow cooker apricot chicken, I had stayed downstairs for several hours after starting it, working on my deadlines, cleaning up the kitchen, etc. I finally moved upstairs for a workout and shower and when I walked out of my bedroom, I was struck with the savory-sweet smell wafting up to me....

Today, we’re keeping things gloriously simple, mostly hands off and super delicious with this slow cooker chicken marsala recipe. We’ve got seared chicken breasts, onions and mushrooms and garlic (oh my!) and an absolutely scrumptious marsala wine sauce that coats everything perfectly. Plus, it’s a crock pot recipe! Score for dinner being ready for you at the end of the day! I will say, we have the extra steps of searing the chicken at the beginning and thickening the sauce at the end....

Welcome, 2021! We are all so very happy to see you. And no pressure, but people around the world have some pretty big hopes pinned on you. We spent the last few days of holiday break being delightfully lazy. Besides a few walks and a bit of fresh air, we just hung out with the kids, played board games, read a lot and started re-watching Star Wars. It’s been such a great holiday break that I’m a little bummed to be going back to work and the kids to school....

One taste of this and you’ll know why Sri Lankan Crab Curry is world famous and a favorite for anyone who visits Sri Lanka! If I could only eat just one curry for the rest of my life, I want it to be this. A Spicy Crab Curry so good, that it makes you do a happy dance, sing its praises and forget all that hard work of cracking the claws and crab shells to get to the good stuff!...

I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of fresh strawberries when they are in season. We buy them in large quantities, as well as go pick them straight from the fields, and generally try and consume as many as possible while they are at their peak. So bright, so juicy, so sweet. And I also really love healthy dessert recipes and ideas. I like to get my sweet tooth fix and still feel good....

Pakoda also known as pakora, pakodi or bhajiya are extremely popular Indian snacks. No monsoon or winter is complete without piping hot crispy pakoda and a cup of Indian masala chai. I have already shared quite a few pakoda recipes and this special Onion Paneer bhajia. But this special stuffed paneer pakora which I am sharing with you is a classic. Stuffed paneer pakora with a generous green chutney layer sandwiched between paneer slices is a perfectly spicy, moist inside and crispy outside....

We had a weekend full of parties here! M had her 7th birthday party with her friends, followed by a birthday party for her best friend from preschool, and a spring neighborhood cul-de-sac party yesterday. We also had my parents over to celebrate M’s birthday last night with the two-layer vanilla cake she requested and helped me make. (Her current wish is to grow up and be the owner of a cake shop....

I’ll be at my kids’ school tonight for a “welcome to middle school” meeting for parents, as my daughter will be moving to 6th grade next year. And if that wasn’t bittersweet enough, I have my (delayed) 20-year high school reunion this weekend (from the same school). And my 8-year-old son is having his first sleepover at a friend’s house. Oh, and I’m going to a funeral of a friend’s dad that passed away recently....

“Sara remember the time we went on that amazing date and I got you that super awesome gift and shared all of the inner most parts of my soul with you?” And I’ll instantly know what he’s referring to and say “Um, ya, you mean that one time when I was wearing that gray sweater and my red heels and I had my hair up, but not all the way up, but casually-messy up, and you wore those one pants with the hole in the knee and the flip-flops I bought you in Cali and on the way to the car I dropped my chap-stick?...

Today, we’re talking classic Thanksgiving sides and making this amazing sweet potato casserole. It’s a favorite at the holidays, and it’s actually great for any big meal with family or friends. Previously I’ve shared this bourbon sweet potato casserole with buttery pecans. It’s made with a little less butter and sugar, and a good dash of booze, for a less sweet take on the classic. And you guys love it!...

Sometimes I make this with a chocolate Oreo crust, and sometimes with a peanut butter Nutter Butter crust (or you can even do a traditional graham cracker crust). This time around I had both and I asked my little helpers which one they wanted and since the vote was split, we decided to get crazy and use both. My cute niece helped me make this; it’s a great recipe to let young cooks help with because it’s easy to do, and doesn’t even require the oven!...

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. What’s in a vegan green smoothie? Banana: I like using a frozen banana because it adds sweetness while at the same time helps thicken the smoothie. But if you can’t stand the taste of banana, don’t worry, you can just use a little more frozen fruit (1/2 cup) or a handful of ice. Frozen mango: Mango is my favorite frozen fruit to use in smoothies, but I also like to switch things up by using blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, peaches or a mixture of these....

The recipes are all 5 ingredients or fewer and 10 minutes or less to prep. And every recipe includes allergen tags so you can easily choose meals suitable for your baby. It’s launch day! Healthy, Quick & Easy Baby Food launches today and so many of you will finally have it in your hands. So I wanted to dive in and give you a bit of a closer look at this, my first cookbook....

You can also check out my comprehensive post on how to make donuts for all the tips and tricks to make the best deep-fried donuts at home. One of the most well-known families in the world for the past 25 years is without a doubt the Simpsons! I remember watching them when I was growing up and I still love the show. I love the couch gags! I even owned the Simpsons Album on Cassette tape and sang along to Do the Bartman....

Use What You Have People who know me know how much I love decorating for holidays, and I often hear, “Well that’s fun, but I can’t afford to buy all-new decor just to put up for a month.” Neither can I! Chances are, you have a lot around your house already that can be transformed. And with a few fun additions, you can make them fit for a season. For example, this mirror in my entry way got a super quick make-over with the addition of a fall feather wreath....

All in one Baked Omelette in a Toast aka Bread Omelette with an easy twist. It is a wholesome egg casserole dish when you want to have a quick and super easy egg recipe for Breakfast, brunch or snack. And, it makes everyone happy. This tasty baked omelette toast recipe is perfect when you love omelette but don’t always have time to stand by the stove. This oven-baked Omelette is one that I can make in the oven at a moment’s notice....

Once I created this juicy and tender Vegan Steak, I knew I had to transform it into vegan carne asada. So that’s exactly what I did, and the results are incredible! Instead of using the steak marinade, I used a combination of orange juice, lime, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño and a few other seasonings like salt, pepper and white vinegar. This is more of a traditional seasoning for carne asada meat....

With more and more vegan fried chicken options popping up at restaurants (like the Beyond fried chicken at KFC), I wanted to try making my own copycat recipe at home. With a perfectly crispy, golden brown breading and a tender and meaty inside, this Vegan Fried Chicken is a real winner! Most homemade fried chicken starts the same way: breading the chicken in flour and spices before it’s fried in vegetable oil....

Get your pumpkin pie fix with this vegan pumpkin milkshake! It’s full of pumpkin pie spices, super creamy and smooth and topped with non-dairy whipped cream. This shake is made with non-dairy vanilla ice cream. It actually tastes like a “real” milkshake, and isn’t pretending to be healthy, though I do give an option for using frozen bananas instead of ice cream if you want a lighter version. What kind of non-dairy ice cream is best?...