When I was growing up, my dad would occasionally have to travel to Greenville, South Carolina, for business.   When he returned home, he always brought a cooler full of pulled pork, coleslaw, and a variety of sauces.  Thus began my love affair with southern cuisine—more specifically, barbecue. While I love trying out different barbecue…

This morning, as I was using the Better Homes and Gardens recipe for buttermilk pancakes, I decided to add a little vanilla and apple pie spice to shake things up.  Oh, my God!  Those additions took the pancakes over the top.  They were devoured before I could get any pictures.  I will definitely be making my…

  While visiting my parents this past spring, my mom made a delicious pasta dish from a recipe she found in the February 2018 issue of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.  Of course, I had to copy it and make it for my husband as soon as I got back.  Since then, I’ve tinkered with…

Like many American preschoolers, my son is obsessed with Paw Patrol.  So, when it came time to plan his birthday celebration, it had to be pup-centric.  Everything, from the invitation, to the decorations, the favors, and the menu, was inspired by his beloved program.  We wanted to keep it small due to the complicated parking…

This classic hors d’oeuvre is as simple as it gets—just two ingredients—and it’s always a crowd pleaser.   2 cans, crescent roll dough, such as Pillsbury (bonus points if you use Sweet Hawaiian dough) 1 package mini beef hotdogs, such as Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, for serving Ketchup, such as Heinz,…

This is a great all-purpose condiment, which can be used for spreads on sandwiches or as a dipping sauce.   1/2 cup good mayonnaise, such as Helman’s or Duke’s 1/3 cup Dijon mustard, such as Grey Poupon 2-3 Tbsp honey, to taste 1/4 tsp kosher salt, or to taste 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper,…

I was first introduced to the idea of pizza pinwheels in the Southern Living Complete Quick & Easy Cookbook.  I love the versatility of this appetizer—you can use any combination of ingredients that you’d like, just as you would when making pizza.  They are great for game day snacking or in your child’s lunch box….

If you are looking for a simple, rustic meal that utilizes fresh summer vegetables, this is the dish for you.  Zucchini, bottleneck squash, and eggplant lend a heartiness to this dish, while still keeping it light.  I add pork sausage to the mix, but you could easily use ground beef or turkey.  You could also…

The very first time I made this burger, I was 16 weeks pregnant.  Even though my first trimester was comparatively easy, I still didn’t have much of an appetite.  Once the second trimester rolled around, it returned with a vengeance.  It was Super Bowl Sunday and I wanted to put on a spread—especially because I…

This is a super easy salad to make and is great alongside grilled meats, burgers, and sandwiches.   1 English cucumber, thinly sliced (1/16th of an inch on a mandolin is perfect) 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (1/16th of an inch on a mandolin, just like the cucumber) 1 tsp kosher salt 1/3-1/2 cup Paprika…