Honest and Truly

Hey Reader, I don’t know if you celebrate those quirky food holidays, but I love using them as a reason to indulge. May 15 is National Chocolate Chip Day, and I’m not about to let that go by without baking something sweet. Chocolate Chip Stars When the craving hits but you don’t want to make a whole batch, try this Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookie. It’s gooey in the middle, crisp around the edges, and ready in just a couple of minutes. I lean on Double Chocolate Muffins when I want something...

Hey Reader, Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, but I'll admit, I started "celebrating" it this past weekend. I love making Mexican dishes, and this is a good excuse. I don’t make anything too complicated. You can get an authentic flavor without it taking all day or using 500 specialty ingredients. Cinco de Mayo Recipes Worth Making Again Tamales are an all-afternoon enterprise, but I love their flavor. Tamale Pot Pies are what I make when I want all the flavor without all the work. This is one of...

Hey Reader, Some recipes just end up on repeat without me even realizing it. They’re the ones I make when I don’t want to think too hard and am hungry now, not later. These four are simple, reliable, and somehow never get boring, even when I’ve made them a hundred times. The best news? My family doesn't get sick of them either. Simple Recipes I Keep Coming Back To Pasta is always a win around here, and the fact that I can make Cacio e Pepe in about 15 minutes, including the time it takes to...

Hey Reader, A good cookie can turn a long day completely around. We all have that one standard chocolate chip recipe memorized, and we definitely lean on it way too much. There are SO many more cookies out there. These are four of my favorite fun cookies right now. Each one has its own little twist, but they are all easy to make and sure to be as much a hit in your house as they are in mine. Sweet Cookies Worth Turning the Oven On For It's too early in the year to make s'mores outside, so I...

Hey Reader, Taxes are due on Wednesday, and I don’t need yet another thing to drain my wallet. Prices keep going up, and it’s getting kind of ridiculous, but that doesn’t mean dinner has to suffer. There are so many ways to stretch a meal without losing flavor. These are four of my family's favorite meals that taste great without costing an arm and a leg. Delicious Recipes That Keep Dinner Affordable When did jarred pasta sauce get so ridiculously expensive? I can still get a pint of cherry...

Hey Reader, Do you remember as a kid when you made cookies and would sneak tastes straight from the bowl? That was always my favorite part, but between the raw eggs (and raw flour), that's maybe not the safest choice. BUT edible cookie dough is totally a thing, and there are so many different flavors and ways to enjoy it. We have a cookie dough store nearby where that's all they sell, but I make them at home instead, where I can dress them up as "fancy" truffles - sometimes. Edible Cookie...

Hey Reader, Easter snuck up on me again. It's somehow this weekend, and if you're planning or going to an Easter dinner, these desserts are perfect for you to make and share. I've already dyed a dozen eggs and can't wait to do our annual Easter egg hunt before the huge dinner we have every year with ham and potatoes and greens and of course, the desserts. With spring officially here, I love to go lighter sometimes, but how do you say no to chocolate? My Family's Favorite Easter Desserts...

Hey Reader, Ground beef is on the menu this week, and I'm finding ways to enjoy it that don't cost me my entire paycheck. It's gotten SO ridiculously expensive lately. Again. There are so many ways to use ground beef that stretch it without losing the flavors you want to enjoy. They're easy to make, give you tons of variety, and they don't taste cheap. I'm taking that for a win. Four Delicious Ways to Stretch Ground Beef These Honey Habanero Tacos are sweet, spicy, and filling. It's a perfect...

Hey Reader, St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow, and it's the perfect time to make something to celebrate the day. We're all Irish this time of year, no matter how much green flows in your veins. I've already made two batches of Irish soda bread, and I'm planning to pick up more corned beef on Wednesday when it goes on sale. Pro tip: These recipes are just as good this weekend when the meat is cheaper as they are today. Festive St. Patrick’s Day Favorites Irish Soda Bread is simple to make. This is...

Hey Reader, Brunch is my favorite meal. It's the one where we really sit down and catch up and relax without having to run to the next thing. And the fact that a lot of these recipes are reminiscent of dessert doesn't hurt. Go ahead, brew some coffee, turn on your music, and get ready to enjoy a relaxing morning. 4 Recipes You’ll Want to Make This Weekend My pottery class keeps begging for my Berry Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting after I brought them one Sunday morning. They are...