Growing up in the Western United States, there’s a lot of celebration of the heritage of the American West and the pioneer heritage that populated and developed the area into what it is today. One of the activities that we seemed to always do in pioneer celebrations in the community and at school was to make our own butter. Homemade butter can be made a variety of different ways. A mason jar makes a fun, and accessible activity for people of any age and skill level....

Made with chickpeas, tahini, lemon, olive oil and garlic, it’s a great standby pantry dip for unexpected guests or midnight munchies! Creamy and smooth, it’s completely incomparable to the thick, sour store bought hummus. Hummus recipe Whenever I’m planning gatherings, I like to keep the stress levels down by using a combination of some store bought things and some homemade things for pre dinner nibble platters. I buy cured meats, olives and crackers (though these homemade gourmet crackers are in high demand in my circles)....

With the model I bought, a Ninja air fryer, I spent a week making at least two meals a day and reheating leftovers. It’s so easy to use even without reading the instruction manual. I’m here to report that I won’t be returning it for my money back. Here are the two reasons I am glad I got an air fryer and if you’re on the fence, it’s time. Go for it....

Versions of the soup have been made all over the Mediterranean for centuries. It’s a nourishing meal that’s easy enough for any weeknight. Why Is It Called Italian Wedding Soup? Calling this Italian wedding soup"is somewhat of a misnomer since the dish is unrelated to weddings. The name is said to come from the words “minestra maritata,” which mean “married soup.” Here, rather than the couple joining together, it’s all the flavors in the pot that balance each other so well....

The secret to juicy skewers? Season the chicken with a tasty olive oil rub and avoid drying it out on the grill. Chicken breast is so EASY. It’s always there in the fridge, affordable, available, and versatile. I’m grateful for this simple ingredient! These grilled chicken skewers make the most of this ingredient. They are juicy, succulent, well-seasoned, and grilled to perfection. They are very easy to make and everyone enjoys them....

It’s also much less work than filling, rolling, and baking enchiladas. And leftovers are really good - just as good as the freshly made dish. I’m so in love with this delicious casserole! It’s so flavorful, so filling, and so easy to make. My entire family loves it and requests it often. And leftovers are great too. The secret is in the seasonings. They make the dish truly taste like enchiladas, even without the tortillas....

With a prep time of just 15 minutes, it’s also very easy to make, and the leftovers are really good! I’m not sure why fruitcakes are so controversial. Admittedly some of them are quite bad! Dense, heavy, and filled with fake red-and-green-hued dried fruit. But when made right, I think they are absolutely delightful. In fact, I like this cake so much, that I don’t reserve it for the holidays....

They’re wonderful when freshly baked, but the leftovers are great too and can be frozen for later use. I love having muffins for breakfast. I make a big batch of them on the weekend, freeze them, and thaw them in the microwave each morning. They’re perfect with my morning coffee! ☕ These muffins are especially good. They are incredibly fluffy and they have this wonderful lemony flavor. They’re perfect for breakfast, of course, but they also make a great afternoon snack....

It takes only 10 minutes to mix, then the oven does the rest of the work. Only 120 calories and 5g net carbs per slice! I used to have a really good recipe for pumpkin pie. It was incredibly creamy and delicious. But it was not low-carb, and my husband and I try to eat low-carb year-round, no exceptions (we find it easy and delicious so it’s not a sacrifice for us)....

My family moved to America in the late 70s and adopted so many American traditions. Thanksgiving was one of our favorite holidays, because it revolved around food. We love to eat, and we love to cook. This was a holiday made for us! Any excuse to cook too much food and stuff our bellies sounded like a holiday made in heaven. Each year, we used to make two stuffing recipes: one boxed stuffing mix purchased at the store and one Korean kimchi stuffing that my mom invented....

This fun recipe came about because my son wanted to have a Lego themed birthday party. I am not the craftiest person. In fact, I often refer to myself as the anti-craft. I just don’t have the patience for it! I knew I needed something super easy, and there’s not much easier than making rice krispie treats! These easy to make Lego loving treats are just traditional rice krispie treats cut into rectangles, frosted with icing, and topped with M&Ms....

Serve immediately or place in the fridge for about 30 minutes for the flavors to meld. Enjoy!!! Extra virgin olive oil: I recommend you use quality EVOO that does not have an overpowering aroma. Use olive oil if you prefer. Freshly squeezed lemon juice Honey: This will help balance the saltiness and tanginess from the lemon and feta cheese Feta cheese: it is salty, tangy, and creamy, sub with low-fat feta cheese for a healthier option....

These potatoes make for a tasty, starchy side for a low-key dinner or your next holiday spread. You can dress ‘em up with some crumbled feta and fresh dill, though it’s certainly not necessary. I prefer a waxy potato like Yukon Golds for this recipe, but you can use russets instead—they’re just a bit starchier. My Secret to Oven-Roasted Potatoes My favorite oven-roasting technique for potatoes is adding a bit of water to the sheet pan....

Or just do as I do and eat a whole bowl of this for lunch! I’m sharing this recipe today as a classic side dish for Duck Confit which I also published today as part of French Bistro Week! Together they form four recipes to put together your very own three-course French dinner party at home, with a Warm Goat’s Cheese Salad as the starter and Duck Confit as the main (so much easier than you think!...

This huge colorful salad, filling yet light, has a mash-up vibe of a Tuscan vegetable garden meets seafood shack. The sweet chunks of lobster work in harmony with the summertime bounty of corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers. This is a casual main course meal that takes a little time because of the many components. Get the tomatoes marinating first, then work at your leisure. A great meal to make over a relaxing weekend at home!...

Lotus, Purple Sweet Potato, and Coconut Rice Pudding is a joyful and delicious dish that plays with texture—succulent sweet potatoes, crunchy lotus root, and soft lotus seeds are hugged by the sweet coconut rice pudding. As the rice cooks, the purple sweet potatoes turn the rice pudding into a cheerful shade of purple I love. Coconut cream is drizzled over the top to serve. The rice pudding is warm and textured, a contrast to the smooth silky coconut cream....

OMG this pasta has so much flavour! Sounds a little bizzarre, but to get this much taste it basically involves marinating the pasta in the pan until it absorbs the juices from the veggie packed sauce. Leave it for 30 minutes or even for a day before reheating and slurping up every last bite. I’ve been making this dish for years, and find it’s great - not only as a prep-ahead meal to reheat for a quick tea - but also for when you’re cooking for a crowd....