In a recent post I shared my simple chicken recipe and mentioned a few favorite ways to use it. This make-ahead diced chicken is one of those kitchen shortcuts that really speeds up weeknight cooking. Below is a longer, organized list of dishes that work especially well with premade chicken, plus brief notes on … Read more

Strawberry Ring Pop Shots Bonbons is a sophisticated adult version of the popular eighties candy, with an intense strawberry flavour. Ring Pops Do you remember ring pops? These Strawberry Ring Pop Shots Bonbons are inspired by the iconic eighties and nineties candy, reimagined as an elegant grown-up confection with a bold strawberry character. I made … Read more

Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe If you love the Parmesan Crusted Chicken from Longhorn Steakhouse, this easy copycat recipe brings that same crispy, cheesy, and tender chicken right to your table. The dish combines a tangy ranch-and-Italian marinade, a rich Parmesan topping, melty provolone and mozzarella, and a buttery panko crust for irresistible … Read more

For me, the highlight of any camping trip is the s’more—those melty, crunchy, chocolate-and-marshmallow sandwiches that taste like childhood summers. I once tried tracking down who invented s’mores and discovered that their origin is fuzzy; historians note the treat evolved over time. If you’re not into food trivia, skip ahead to the recipe photos. If … Read more

This Coconut Cilantro Rice is a flavorful, flexible side dish that combines creamy coconut and bright cilantro. A small extra step—toasting shredded coconut—deepens the coconut flavor without adding much time. Coconut rice shows up in many cuisines across Asia and beyond, both as sweet and savory preparations. This recipe is savory, leaning on rich coconut … Read more

Baked Chicken Pesto Parmesan refreshes classic chicken Parmesan with bright pesto and a simple, oil-light oven method. This Baked Chicken Pesto Parmesan recipe is fast, family-friendly, and produces crunchy breaded chicken topped with marinara, pesto, and melty cheese. I developed this version by experimenting with what I had on hand. The result kept the satisfying … Read more

This is the final week of this month’s Blogging Marathon. After this week I will be taking a short break from regular blogging to focus on a different project. I had planned to join the mega Blogging Marathon next month, but my schedule won’t allow me to commit right now. So after these three posts … Read more

New year, new soup — but still me. I love the “new year, new me” approach: reflecting, celebrating progress, and deciding what to improve. Lately I’ve been generous with my own encouragement. Last year I ran my first 5K, cultivated an urban garden, rescued Tilly, traded many hours of video gaming for reading, and put … Read more

Chocolate Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark marilynpeight A simple, irresistible sweet-and-salty treat: crisp pretzels are layered with smooth chocolate and a quick homemade salted caramel, then finished with a chocolate drizzle and a sprinkle of sea salt. This version of the caramel is easy to make without a thermometer and gives great flavor, though it sets … Read more

Peppermint Mocha Cake This Peppermint Mocha Cake combines rich chocolate layers flavored with coffee and a hint of peppermint, topped with a fluffy chocolate-peppermint frosting and a cloud of peppermint whipped cream. A light sprinkle of crushed candy canes finishes the cake with bright color and a crisp peppermint crunch. I developed this recipe inspired … Read more