Delicious, quick, and easy air fryer chicken thighs are ready in about 30 minutes. The air fryer yields tender, juicy meat with crispy, golden skin — a perfect weeknight dinner made with just a handful of pantry staples. Tips for Making Air Fryer Chicken Thighs With only six basic ingredients and a few simple steps, … Read more
Beautifully spiced and with a truly amazing crumb, this low carb gingerbread loaf — made with a touch of blackstrap molasses — tastes like the holidays in a slice. Low Carb Gingerbread Loaf Almond Flour! This loaf has all the hallmarks of a great gingerbread: a tender, ultra-moist crumb, a buttery melt-in-your-mouth feel, and a … Read more
One pan, so many possibilities! These favorite sheet pan dinners deliver big flavor and feed a crowd with minimal effort. What is a Sheet Pan Dinner? A sheet pan dinner is a simple, one-pan meal prepared on a rimmed baking sheet. It’s an efficient, low-fuss way to cook: minimal prep, easy cleanup, and many recipes … Read more
We’re only a few days away from reaching two full months as Chicago residents, and it still feels surreal. Sometimes I forget I live in Illinois — I’ll spot the corner of my driver’s license in my wallet while waiting in line and do a double take. The time change has thrown me off more than once; I once scheduled a work call for EST before remembering Chicago is in Central Time.
Gardens at The Art Institute
These past eight weeks have flown by. Part of me feels like we’ve lived here a long time; the other part still expects we’ll return to DC in a few months. Yet it’s real: we will be living in Chicago for the next five years. Our apartment is settled, we’ve explored much of the city, and a steady routine has taken root. It hasn’t been perfect — about a week into the move I had a small identity crisis. Being away from close friends and family, combined with the whirlwind of the past year — residency match anticipation, planning a wedding, an adventurous honeymoon, and then packing and moving — left me feeling a bit unmoored. There were no big events on the horizon to distract me, and that felt strange.
June didn’t help; it was reportedly the wettest June in almost a century for Chicago, and the persistent rain and cloudy days made the adjustment harder. Thankfully, life has settled, and I finally feel like I can focus again. That’s a welcome relief.
Bake these soft, buttery mini banana bread donut holes for breakfast! These little bites are easy to make and pair perfectly with your morning coffee or as a sweet snack any time of day.
Cooking and baking while pregnant has been more challenging than I expected. Add a brief stomach bug and suddenly nothing appealed to me. That explains the recent quiet around here.
Thankfully the illness passed quickly, but it then caught my husband just after he returned from a 10-day business trip. I spent the weekend tending to him — comfort food, drinks and long naps were our routine. Lots of Saltines, bananas, sports drinks, and re-runs of television kept us moving toward recovery.
Real meals weren’t top of mind for a while.
When our appetites finally returned, we made a big breakfast: scrambled eggs, buttery toast and sausage, fresh orange slices and hot coffee. It was comforting, filling, and exactly the reset we needed.
Breakfast really does make everything better.
These baked banana donut holes are soft, fluffy and full of warm banana and vanilla flavor. They’re simple to prepare and perfect for brunch or casual snacking. If you enjoy banana bread, you’ll love these bite-sized treats.
On a weekend when I’m feeling especially domestic I’d make a big batch, but sometimes a classic diner-style breakfast is the fastest route back to feeling normal. Other times, these little banana bites are exactly what I want.
These mini baked donut holes are a simple way to make any morning feel special. You can fold in chopped nuts for texture or top them with chocolate ganache instead of the cinnamon-sugar coating. No special equipment is required — just a mini muffin pan and about 30 minutes from start to finish.
They also make a sweet Valentine’s morning treat.
These homemade Cream Cheese Frosted Red Velvet Cookie Bars are the stuff red velvet dessert dreams are made of. When it comes to classic treats, it doesn’t get much better than tender red velvet bars topped with silky cream cheese frosting. Why These Red Velvet Cookie Bars Are Irresistible The name alone is enticing, but … Read more
Packed with protein, this pink cottage cheese salad is a delicious, year-round option. Made with cottage cheese, fresh strawberries and sugar-free strawberry Jell-O powder, it’s an easy, satisfying side or light meal. I grew up on a simple fruit salad my mom made with Cool Whip and canned fruit cocktail — a childhood favorite I … Read more
20 Awesome Ideas for Your Next Party – party inspiration for New Year’s, birthdays, anniversaries, tea parties and more. 20 Awesome Ideas For Your Next Party There are so many celebrations this season: birthdays, holiday gatherings, company year-end parties, anniversaries and more. One of the biggest events is right around the corner—New Year’s Eve—so it’s … Read more
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN REFERRAL LINKS. IF YOU CLICK THROUGH AND TAKE ACTION, I MAY BE COMPENSATED, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU. I love soup — making it, serving it, and savoring it with family and friends. Soup is comfort in a bowl, which is why I planned a soup-and-salad supper for guests at … Read more
