Honest and Truly

Hey Reader, Football season is back, which means my kitchen counter is once again a snack table. Nobody in my house except me cares what's happening on the field, but they do want to know what dips I'm making each weekend to snack on. These four dips are the ones I make most, and none of them is complicated. Make one for a crowd, or make all four and call it dinner. I won't judge. Four Dips My Friends Rave About My Non-Traditional 7 Layer Dip takes out the bits I don't like and adds in the...

Hey Reader, It's finally cooled off enough around here that I'm willing to turn on my oven. I spent all summer avoiding it, and now I want the house to smell like chocolate again. Boxed mix is fine, and I'm not going to pretend no one uses them. But these four do something a box can't, and just a tiny bit more effort is absolutely worth it. Four Brownies Worth Making This Fall My Pumpkin Swirl Brownies are made without cream cheese, which is why they stay fudgy instead of turning cakey. This...

Hey Reader, Labor Day weekend is my last real excuse to invite everyone over for a cookout before the calendar takes over. Once football and homework start, the grill mostly just sits there. So I go all in on this one. These four travel well, and none of them keeps me inside while everyone else is out back. The Four I'm Making This Year Kefta Kebabs are a great alternative to the usual burger treadmill. They're naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, so I'm not standing there tracking who can...

Hey Reader, The first week of school always wrecks my schedule. Everyone gets home late, everyone's starving, and I'm standing in the kitchen at 6:15 with no plan. These four are what I make when I'm tired and in a hurry. All of them are on the table in 30 minutes, and none of them send you to the store for something you'll use once and then stare at for two years. What I Make When I Didn't Plan Ahead Lemon Butter Pasta is five ingredients and no chopping, and it doesn't taste like I spent...

Hey Reader, My air conditioning feels like it's running almost nonstop, and the humidity outside makes everything so uncomfortably hot. The last thing I want to do is heat up my kitchen by turning on my oven or cooking over a hot stove. These four recipes skip the oven and stove completely, so you get a real meal on the table without breaking a sweat over the counter. 4 Dinners That Won't Heat Up Your Home Loaded with canned chicken (one of my favorite pantry staples) and a bit of a spicy...

Hey Reader, Summer fruits are at their best right now, and as much as I love snacking on them fresh from the store, I always end up baking with them, too. A little effort turns peaches, mangoes, and cherries into desserts no one can resist. These four fruity summer desserts range from no-bake to barely-bake, so there's something here whether you want to turn on the oven or avoid it completely in this heat. My Fave Fruity Summer Desserts You can make Mango Custard with a few ripe mangoes or...

Hey Reader, It's summer, and I'm hot. Ice cream is kinda my go-to dessert right now, and it's so easy to make at home. Pick your favorite flavor - or two - and make a batch this week. It's cheaper than buying it at the store and so much more satisfying. Ice Cream You'll Want to Make All Summer Cookie Dough Frozen Custard is my kids' absolute favorite. The custard base is rich and creamy, and the cookie dough chunks are safe to eat raw. You can't go wrong with this choice. Sweet and salty...

Hey Reader, It's summer, and I keep waiting for my schedule to slow down, but it's just not happening. I need something I can pull together quickly, clean up fast, and actually want to eat. It sounds like a tall order some nights, right? These are simple meals I can whip up quickly - or have my kids make because they're so easy! - when I just don't have the time or energy to spend more than a half hour or so on dinner. Go-To Dinners When I Don’t Feel Like Cooking I love dinners I can set and...

Hey Reader, We're in the middle of a heatwave, and with the smoky air from the wildfires, I don't want to do anything outside - including grilling. I'm stuck inside, and I just want something sweet to make me feel better. Just me? I love these simple treats that don't take a ton of effort or ingredients. Some are perfect for a quick treat just for me, and others will wow your guests. Sweet Treats Worth Making Want something a little richer and completely decadent? This Espresso Brownie...

Hey Reader, The grill has been getting a lot more use lately, and just because the 4th of July is over doesn't mean I stop the cookouts. When the weather is this good, it makes sense to cook outside and avoid heating up your kitchen. You don’t need anything fancy to make a great grilled meal. These four go-to recipes are delicious, keep prep easy, and make dinner something to look forward to. Four Recipes to Make the Grill Worth Your Time If you've never made Beer Boiled Brats, you'll fall in...