A free 7-day, flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. Recipes include macros and WW Points. 7-Day Healthy Meal Plan Fall leaves, fall sweaters, fall colors—pumpkins!!!!!! Who else is excited??!!! I love the versatility of pumpkins in recipes! I have so many pumpkin... Read more »

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are moist, delicious and perfectly spiced! A delicious fall breakfast made with canned pumpkin, pumpkin spice and a cream cheese swirl topping. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins These Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins are always such a hit on my blog, I knew I would love this cream... Read more »

Sweet, crunchy apples and grapes in a creamy yogurt and cream cheese sauce topped with crushed walnuts and brown sugar are the perfect fall treat or dessert. Autumn Apple and Grape Medley I’m usually pretty sad when summer comes to an end, but I do love the fall! Seeing the... Read more »

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats is a healthy plant-based breakfast made with my homemade pumpkin butter, oat milk, chia and spices, refrigerated overnight and topped with banana and nuts/seeds. No cooking required! Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats I’ve been eating overnight oats in a jar for years. They are such an easy breakfast that... Read more »

A free 7-day, flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. Recipes include macros and WW Points. 7-Day Healthy Meal Plan One thing I love about fall—-soups! Especially when I can plan ahead for busy nights–I know everyone’s schedule is crazy- school is back... Read more »

Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad takes advantage of end-of-summer heirloom tomatoes with lightly pan-fried chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad This Chicken Cutlet Caprese Salad is the perfect salad for dinner. It’s hearty and flavorful, and I know you’ll crave it again and again! I love a... Read more »

Strawberry Cheesecake Dip tastes just like cheesecake in dip form – perfect for serving with fresh fruit or graham crackers. Strawberry Cheesecake Dip With Madison back in school, I’ve got school lunches and after-school snacks on my mind. She’s always so hungry after school, so I created this strawberry cream... Read more »

This hearty beef stew cooks low and slow on the stove with pumpkin (or butternut/acorn squash) added when the beef is tender. Serve with crusty bread to soak up every last drop! Beef Stew with Pumpkin When the temperature starts to drop, I love to warm up with a comforting... Read more »

A free 7-day, flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. Recipes include macros and WW Points. 7-Day Healthy Meal Plan Did you know that September is one of the best times to go apple picking? Gala and McIntosh are some of the varieties... Read more »

Hello dear friends!  Another fine Sunday! What good fortune. I hope this finds you well. I hope this finds you cozy  because here we are in the coziest season of the year.  Yes. It’s almost almost time to start thinking about sweaters and I am READY.  I’m ready for sweaters... Read more »

Let that thermometer drop a few three degrees and you’ll find me inside (with the air conditioning still on) in a sweater, with a cozy sandwich to match. Yes that is correct. The calendar reads fall and the forecast calls for Lasagna Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. It’s not often (read: never)... Read more »

I’ve got plans for you. My plans mostly involve you making an absolute mess of your kitchen with butter, flour, chopped pecans and chocolate chips. Are you ready for all the fall and winter baking I’m going to talk you into over the next three months?  If you’re not ready... Read more »

Friends! Hello and happy Sunday! I’m back at The Bakehouse in New Orleans.  Will drove Tron and me back from Houston last Saturday. The drive was smooth, Tron settled in, I rested my eyes.  As we neared New Orleans, the trees along the freeway were roughly sheered in half. You... Read more »

Each week this fall we’ll revisit a recipe from last year’s Joy the Baker Magazine with new tips, tricks and insights.  The latest issue of my holiday magazine will hit grocery store shelves nationwide (and in Canada!) November 1st!  This week, let’s make Louisiana Crawfish Pie which, since moving to the... Read more »

Hi sweet friends.  The calendar flipped to September without me really being able to wrap my mind around it. Here we are;  Time waits for no one.  With the flip into September we spiritually have to set aside our watermelon wedges (noooo, not yet!) and reach for the apples and... Read more »

Each week this fall we’ll revisit a recipe from last year’s Joy the Baker Magazine with new tips, tricks and insights.  The latest issue of my holiday magazine will hit grocery store shelves nationwide (and in Canada!) November 1st!  This week, let’s make New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp, which since moving... Read more »

Hello, friends! It’s your girl, reporting live from a new TJMaxx jumpsuit  in a friend’s dining room in Houston, TX. Turns out the tiny bag of motorcycle clothes doesn’t translate well into life as a hurricane evacuee but thank goodness for a debit card and a discount store.  Welcome to... Read more »

Hello dear friends! I’m so glad you’re here this Sunday! We have a real treat for you this morning. My friend Kim Baldwin brings you today’s reads. Kim is a wonderful writer and a very hilarious truth-teller in her writing and in her friendship. She’s a gem of a human.... Read more »

Apple Turnovers are easy to make with puff pastry and a flavorful apple filling. Bake them immediately or freeze them to bake whenever you get the craving for a warm, flaky apple breakfast or dessert! As soon as it’s fall, I typically go all in with loads of pumpkin desserts,... Read more »

What happens when you combine sliced apples, crescent roll dough, and ginger beer? One of the easiest and best fall desserts! These Easy Apple Dumplings are quick to make and are always a crowd favorite. If you happened to catch my Classic Zucchini Bread recipe post, you may remember me... Read more »

Craving a rich, decadent chocolate cake? This Easy Chocolate Bundt Cake is made by doctoring up a cake mix to turn it into an incredibly moist, perfect chocolate cake.  Do you have a recipe that is absolutely perfect for just about any occasion? Whether it be a birthday party, a... Read more »

This Classic Zucchini Bread is a staple for the late summer and early fall! Packed with zucchini and chopped pecans, this easy quick bread is especially good with a bit of butter and a drizzle of honey. We started pulling out the fall decor bins from our storage area in... Read more »

Zucchini Cake is a picture-perfect bundt cake! This moist and flavorful cake is packed with pineapple, zucchini, coconut and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting for a cake that will be an absolute hit. It seems like every season I make a dessert recipe that moves straight to the top... Read more »

If you love zucchini bread and banana bread, you’ll love this marriage of both! Zucchini Banana Bread is a twist on your favorite banana bread. Don’t forget the crunchy sugar topping! I’m starting to think that the only reason I purchase bananas these days is to make banana bread. No... Read more »

Orange Fruit Dip is sweet, tangy, and popping with the flavors of orange! This dip is perfect for pairing with your favorite fruits. Earlier this week, I actually went shopping inside our local grocery store instead of doing curbside pickup. I’ve definitely popped into the store here and there to... Read more »

This lemony loaf cake is the best afternoon snack or dessert! Lemon Whipping Cream Cake is bursting with bright lemon flavor and is amazing on its own or with whipped cream and fresh berries. We’re over here soaking up the final days of summer before our sweet girl heads back... Read more »

If you love the flavor combination of lime and coconut, this cake is for you! Lime Coconut Cake is a tropical take on the classic whipping cream cake. Topped with lime glaze and toasted coconut, this cake will transport you to the beach with one bite!  I’m starting to get... Read more »

Today is National Lobster Day. Let’s talk about the gold standard of the seafood industry for a moment. When settlers first landed in America, lobsters were in such abundance that they actually washed up on shore in piles nearly two-feet high. They were thought of as the cockroaches of the... Read more »

Ember Days are among the most confusing of Catholic practices. Ember Days are by their very nature an extension of our agrarian roots. Yet most Catholics today are unfamiliar with the term Ember Days let alone how to observe them. The Church of old had set aside four times each... Read more »

Growing up, when my sisters and I were teenagers, Dad felt it was time to get us more involved in the family meal. For as long as I can remember, everyone helped. Helping was just a part of everyday family life. Helping lets children feel a sense of self-worth within... Read more »

Can you feel the changes in the air? Today is the Autumn Equinox, the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere. For us, summer is officially over. While some celebrate the Autumn Equinox all day, an Equinox is not a day-long event. An equinox occurs at the precise moment... Read more »

New York played a pivotal role during the American Revolution and subsequent war. The Stamp Act of 1765 brought together representatives from across the Thirteen Colonies to form a unified response to British policies. The Sons of Liberty were active in New York City to challenge British authority. After declaring independence, the colonies created the Articles... Read more »

Today is National Fried Rice Day. It’s a day the resonates so well with me. As many of you know, I come from a mixed marriage. Dad is an Okie with Irish-Cherokee roots. Mom was a Filipino by way of Spain with a splash of Chinese for good measure. Dad... Read more »

Today is the 3rd Sunday of September. While Sundays are traditionally reserved for families as a whole (at least back in the day), today is extra special. It’s Wife Appreciation Day. Marriage is a series of checks and balances. Every day married couples do things for one another. At times... Read more »

Sure seems like there are a lot of National Days dedicated to America’s Iconic Burger. We’ve got Hamburger Day (May 28) and Hamburger Month (May, of course). Just a few days ago, we had National Double Cheeseburger Day. Where was the recipe for a double cheeseburger you asked? Well, we... Read more »

Are you a fan of history? I am – the past fascinates me. Not just the events themselves, but the human element behind it. The whys and hows and eventual outcome. Every deed, no matter how seemingly unimportant at the time, are like a pebble tossed onto the waters. The... Read more »

This Instant Pot Mushroom Wild Rice Soup is naturally gluten free and loaded with nutrients. Every bite of the earthy wild rice and mushrooms is sure to be a hit, especially on cold winter days! A cold, blustery day calls for a meal that is so warm and comforting, it’ll... Read more »

This filling, comforting, and dairy free Creamy Keto Tuscan Salmon Skillet is the perfect weeknight meal. Made in just one pan, the rich Mediterranean flavors and simple keto-friendly ingredients are sure to please everyone at the dinner table. Disclosure: this recipe has been created in partnership with Awaken180° Weightloss and it is... Read more »

Easy Balsamic Roasted Beets made with a couple of ingredients. Delicious on its own or as an add on to salads, soups or as a healthy side to a fish or steak dinner. Top with your favorite plant based yogurt and fresh dill for extra flavor! When it comes to... Read more »

This 100% Grain Free Granola is a sweet and hearty snack made from a healthy mix of nuts, seeds, and berries. Perfect to serve to gluten free friends and family, this oatless granola adds the perfect crunch to parfaits, smoothie bowls, and trail mixes.  I like to think of this... Read more »

This easy Roasted Vegetable Pasta screams summer! Tender roasted tomatoes, garlic, and zucchini are mixed with gluten free pasta to create a juicy, saucy, and herbaceous weeknight dinner. This gluten free and vegan Roasted Vegetable Pasta bake is the perfect late-summer dinner to serve to all of your family and... Read more »

This easy Low Carb Keto Beef Stew recipe is loaded with veggies, gut-friendly and gluten-free, a warming meal that is perfect for the cold weather! Disclosure: this recipe has been created in partnership with Awaken180° Weightloss and it is compliant with the program rules and recommendations. For more information please visit Awaken180° Weightloss. It’s... Read more »

Nutritious, delicious, and sweet, these Healthy Banana Oat Muffins are made from simple ingredients and are free of most allergens. They’re an irresistible and family-friendly snack or breakfast! These Healthy Banana Oat Muffins are so easy to fall in love with. Every bite is incredibly moist and sweet, you’d never... Read more »

My hearty and filling Spicy Lentil Soup is loaded with red lentils, carrots, coconut milk, and chili peppers. Made in one-pot, this easy soup is perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep! I cannot get enough of this vegan Spicy Lentil Soup. So hearty, filling, and flavorful, I love the... Read more »

Farm fresh peaches turned into a simple 3-ingredient peach frosé that is sweet, fruity and refreshing. Inspired by Yankee Candle’s Farm Fresh Peach fragrance, the perfect mood setter! Disclosure: this post has been sponsored by Yankee Candle in collaboration with Coleman, but all opinions expressed are my own. August is... Read more »

This Healthy Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry is packed with veggies and easy to digest flavors. The thin strips of chicken are super tender and moist. This is a great tasting dish that you and your family can enjoy and feel supported on your journey to good health. Disclosure: this recipe... Read more »

Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole is loaded with veggies, chunks of wild albacore tuna, and coated with a deliciously light and creamy sauce! It’s a quick and budget-friendly meal you can prepare months ahead of time or whip up for an easy family dinner. The comforting flavors, affordability, and convenience of... Read more »