I’m in love with this Basil Pesto. Big time. Growing up, pesto wasn’t big in our house. It’s one of those things that I honestly can’t even remember having until I was in my 20’s. Then I started to make it and fell in love. Then when started to grow our own basil and could pick it and immediately make the freshest pesto possible, then I really fell in love with it....

These banana muffins might be my proudest baking moment this Fall – they’re so soft and delicious! They’re made with simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen! The addition of yogurt in the batter makes them moist and tasty. They have become my favorite breakfast and afternoon snack (to be served with some tea/coffee as an afternoon “pick me up!”). If you loved my mini banana muffins and mini coffee cake muffins, then you’re going to love these full size Moist Banana Muffins!...

The best peanut butter fudge recipe I can never get enough of creamy homemade fudge. Whether I’m snacking on chocolate fudge and pumpkin fudge in the fall or tuxedo fudge around the holidays, each bite is always so smooth and addicting. This recipe for Crispy Peanut Butter Fudge is always a hit in my house and I often have to hide it so we don’t eat it all in one sitting!...

This is what we picked from the garden this past weekend, lots of goodies to snack on and prepare for dinner! September is always an interesting month in the garden since we try to age out the Summer plants, but keep an eye on the nighttime temperatures that seem to drop quickly. I’ll chat about a couple veggies specifically below, but special shout out to those cherry tomatoes that just keep giving and giving....

Valentine’s Day chocolate bark recipe Looking for a last-minute Valentine’s day dessert that’s sure to impress? This Strawberry Chocolate Bark is the perfect solution! Made with a handful of simple ingredients, you can have this chocolate dessert prepped and ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes. Melted bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate chips are swirled together before being topped with strawberries, Valentine’s Day sprinkles, and sea salt. If the pink and red presentation isn’t enough to impress your loved ones, the sweet, berrylicious, and salty flavors are sure to do it!...

Now we wait… hope to see you soon sugar snap peas!

Sweet Potato Fries for Baby Led Weaning With Enceladus (our first daughter) she was all about Baby Sweet Potato Cookies, now with Proxima (second daughter) she loves Sweet Potato Fries, so I thought it was worth sharing this simple recipe with you! When Proxima turned 6 months old, we started baby led weaning to get her taste buds going, and to make her more comfortable with food. We are luck that Enceladus, now 3 years old, is such a great eater and I really think that is because of how much different food she was introduced to as a baby and how we really encouraged independence in food touching and eating....

Healthy collard greens recipe “The South” is known for cranking out some of the best comfort food recipes, and collard greens just happens to be one of them. You wouldn’t think a leafy green could be so satisfying and delicious, but this recipe for The Best Collard Greens is really something special. The secret? Bacon and sugar. Wilting the greens in bacon fat and a pinch of sugar not only tenderizes the leaves but adds a beautiful balance of flavor....

Yummy Watermelon Smoothie I love this watermelon smoothie because it’s filled with some of my favorite Summer fruit! I love using fruit straight from our NYC garden, and I even freeze some so I can enjoy this smoothie in the Winter too. It includes fresh watermelon and strawberries with a touch of lime to create a delicious Summer-feeling smoothie! Does anyone else love a touch of lime in their drink? This smoothie is healthy, giving you a burst of energy and low calorie (doesn’t use any milk)....

What we’re picking in the garden! Here’s the main cast of characters in August – tomatoes, peppers, kale, beans and onions! Matthew decided it was time to pick all the onions from the garden so we could plant a 2nd crop of sugar snap peas in that space. This weekend we made Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions which is one of his favorite recipes! The kale we planted in the Spring is still in full harvesting period....

Strawberry Jam Today we are making Strawberry Peach Jam. I am a believer in never letting fruits or vegetables go to waste, I will find something to do with them always. I had a peach that had a short life span but you better believe it – this peach was not going to waste! (Sadly I didn’t have enough to make my favorite Peach Cake!) So instead of making my usual strawberry jam, I decided to give it a peach twist!...

This Is The Best! That’s a direct quote from my family who loves this Chicken Parmigiana recipe (aka Chicken Parmesan!)! I usually make this for Sunday dinner because it takes a bit more work than your typical weeknight meal. Does anyone else’s weeknights usually seem like a blur? Finish work, pickup from preschool, get home, get dinner made, get your little one in the bath, bedtime routine, and then pass out....

We got a Cuisinart ice cream maker a few weeks ago and it’s changed our Summer! Having a ice cream maker is a great idea. And by great idea I mean a deliciously bad idea. Its like you can make ice cream whenever you want. Which means if you happen to keep all the supplies on hand you can eat ice cream every single day. Delicious, totally. Dangerous, totally....

Braised lettuce in chicken broth recipe Lettuce isn’t just for salads anymore! This Cooked Lettuce (in Chicken Broth) recipe will forever change how you feel about lettuce. Braised in chicken broth and garlic, this easy dish is completely satisfying and ready to eat in 30 minutes. If the thought of sauteed romaine lettuce worries you, think again. One bite of cooked lettuce and your opinion will change. Seriously! Simmering lettuce in chicken broth is so delicious and is even better than eating it raw....

Tea Lovers! Calling Tea Lovers! You’re going to love these popsicles made from tea bags! These homemade popsicles are incredibly easy to make and only require 3 ingredients . They taste just like Earl Grey tea, but in a refreshing Summer treat form! The popsicles are only 25 calories so they’re a perfect Summer dessert to treat yourself to on those hot days where you just want to stay inside in the air conditioner!...

Chicken pot pie is comfort food at its finest, and this version features the most delicious flaky topping made so easily with Bisquick. Chicken pot pie is one of those classic dishes that seems to never go out of style. It also happens to be kid friendly, which of course is always a bonus in my book. This easy chicken pot pie is my version of the classic. The filling is savory and rich, while the simple pie crust is flaky and cooked to perfection....

Easy Ham and Bean Soup In The Instant Pot This soup recipe is my favorite because it tastes just like that classic ham and bean soup I had as a kid! The difference is that instead of Mom cooking it in the Slow Cooker and waiting for hours for it to be ready, this is made in the Instant Pot so it’s quick! The Instant Pot is one my favorite tools for delicious weeknight meals, who else loves it?...

Protein powder cookies Let’s be honest, peanut butter cookies are addicting! They’re sweet, salty, and perfectly chewy. Whenever I make my Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies, or Peanut Butter Blossoms, I find it hard to stop myself from eating too many. Thankfully, Peanut Butter Protein Cookies always swoop in to save the day! Packed with luscious peanut butter and chocolate protein powder, these cookies taste just like a classic peanut butter cookie but fill you up quickly to prevent further snacking....

Directions: Take your pea seeds and dip them in some water to get them wet. Then take a paper towel and wet it. Put your peas in the middle of the paper towel and wrap up, like a envelope. Put in a plastic bag with the top corner vented a little bit. Leave sit for a few days, soon enough they will sprout. 🙂 Here they are dry: In the moist paper towel all wrapped up: Sealed up for a few days: When you take them out, magic!...

We usually stick with our usual plants but this year we were feeling adventurous so we added celery to the garden mix! For time reference the seedlings were transplanted to the garden on May 17 and then celery was picked in September! We still have a few plants growing! Even though celery has a reputation of being difficult, we found it to be a pretty no nonsense plant once the seedlings were in the ground....