I’m two weeks late in delivering this post, but I had to write up my Farewell 2018 post. What a crazy year 2018 was. It was the most transformative year of my life because I moved across the country leaving behind my family, friends, and city. My husband is SO worth it, hence the move was definitely justified, but certainly not easy. Work Ahhhh… where do I begin. It was February 2018, I mustered up the courage and told my work that I had to move to California....

In these double decker black bean and corn salad tacos, a soft corn tortilla gets spread with refried black beans, which become the “glue” that helps them adhere to an inner hard taco shell. It’s really the best of both worlds – you get the crispy crunchy goodness of a hard shell tacos without having them fall apart when you take a bite, thanks to the chewy soft taco wrapping....

Salsa Verde Chicken Chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts are simmered in jarred salsa verde with cumin and spices for the easiest chicken ever! This makes easy shredded chicken, a great base for chicken tostadas, over cilantro lime rice, in tacos, as a filling for enchiladas, whatever! Here’s my chicken verde tostada recipe! Some weeknights are hectic in my house with after school activities, and that’s when I turn to my slow cooker....

I love baked goods with banana in them, they are moist, tender and full of flavor. You have to try these blog favorites Banana Bread, Banana Pudding, and Banana Coffee Cake. Banana Bread Muffins I almost get giddy when I see my bananas start to turn really brown on the kitchen counter. It means I get to make banana something! Whether it’s Banoffee Pie, Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread or these insanely delicious Banana muffins, I love it!...

BBQ sauce is meant for grilling, slathering, and of course for dipping! Use this homemade BBQ sauce in recipes like these ribs, this chicken, or with these tasty meatballs! Just substitute storebought for this homemade goodness! Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce This homemade BBQ sauce recipe will become a staple in your refrigerator! It is simple to make and most of the ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Skip the BBQ bottle from the store and make this sweet, tangy, smoky BBQ sauce because everyone will fall in love!...

Easy Horchata Recipe Horchata is a deliciously refreshing Mexican beverage made from rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon, typically served chilled over ice. And while you can find packets of horchata mix at some stores, making your own from scratch not only tastes better but is super easy too! Similar to my Colombian avena recipe, which is a beverage made with cooked oatmeal instead, in Mexico, horchata de arroz is a more typical beverage and is naturally gluten-free....

Egg Tomato and Scallion Sandwich I often make this egg sandwich for my daughter Karina because she loves it! Plus it’s inexpensive and easy to make. You can make it a day ahead if you want to pack it to eat on the go! Sounds too simple, right? Well try it and you will see why I’m so addicted! More easy lunch ideas with hard boiled eggs, you can make my classic egg salad recipe or these lentil avocado egg bowls!...

When you serve a delectable dish like meatloaf, what you serve with it is almost just as important. So that means the classics, Dad’s Famous Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Butter String Beans and Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls! Now that’s what I call dinner! Meatloaf Recipe Perfectly glazed and tender and juicy this is just such a great dish. There’s just something about meatloaf that seems to say everything is going to be ok....

Coconut. I feel like you either love it or hate it. I used to hate coconut. The texture and taste of it would just gross me out. I slowly started liking it with Almond Joy Bars. And now I love it! If you love amazing chewy fudgy brownies and macaroons then this recipe is for you. Layers of fudge brownie and a sweet coconut macaroon center. It is the best of both worlds combined into one!...

Fun snacks can make any occasion more festive and tasty! I love whipping up these favorites when I need them: Chex Mix, Ranch Pretzels and Caramel Popcorn. Funfetti Bunny Bait Popcorn If Bunny Bait isn’t part of your Easter traditions yet, it needs to be! This sweet and salty colorful snack mix is a quick and easy family favorite! The bright colors are a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of spring....

Ingredients You’ll Need All you need to whip up this delicious garlic butter rice is a handful of simple ingredients. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements. Butter: The star of this rice for adding creaminess and richness! Yellow Onion and Garlic: Infuses the rice with the most wonderful savory flavor. Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and delicious flavor to the rice as it cooks....

When it comes to garlic butter sauce, there’s really no wrong thing to use it for. It’s the perfect addition to any savory dish! With that being said, I LOVE serving it with seafood. Try it with my reader-favorite lobster tails or grilled shrimp! The BEST Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe I mean, the name speaks for itself. I feel like all the best savory dishes are slathered in some sort of buttery garlic sauce, and I can never get enough!...

Go all out with this delicious tenderloin meal! Make this a complete meal by adding my Dad’s Famous Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Brown Butter Garlic Rainbow Carrots and Brown Sugar Cinnamon Baked Apples for a sweet side. Roasted Garlic Herb Butter Beef Tenderloin This decadent Garlic Herb Butter Beef Tenderloin is just what you need to make one over the top dinner for the holidays! It is simple and delicious but OH....

My kids love chicken! Simple recipes like this one and my chicken tender recipe is perfect for those quick lunch meals or a snack for after school. Homemade Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders We are a huge fan of chicken tenders and breaded chicken for our family. The “special ingredient” in these tenders is the Panko. Instead of breadcrumbs or just flour I use panko. Panko is generally used in Japanese cooking and it can be found in the grocery store in the Asian foods aisle....

My miracle no knead bread is another one of my favorite bread to make, but it is also just as easy as this homemade bread. Bread is so rewarding to make and tastes even better than store-bought! Grandma’s Perfect Bread Recipe I am so excited to be sharing my Grandma’s perfect bread recipe with you! She was the best baker and although I love her homemade pancakes and her no fail pie crust, you just can’t beat her bread recipe....

Green Scallop Tacos What makes these scallop tacos better than just good is this amazing green herb salsa made with fresh herbs, jalapeño and little dices of cooling cucumber and avocado. When paired with these quick sauteed scallops and a squeeze of lime juice on top you’ll probably contemplate opening up your own taco truck (or at least I did!), they are that good! If you want more seafood taco ideas, try these shrimp tacos and lobster tacos....

Hey Recipe Critic readers! This is Chelsea back from Chelsea’s Messy Apron! The weather is warming up which means it’s time to start grilling right?! If you’ve never grilled fresh fruit, you are in for a huge treat. Grilled fruit is one of my absolute favorite things to eat. It makes the fruit ultra sweet and really heightens the flavors. Adding that delicious grilled fruit to a salad and this is one salad you’ll be craving (and making) all summer long!...

This Indian rice dish is simple, comforting and utterly delicious. If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, skip the paneer. You’ll need 10 ingredients. The dish is gluten free, vegetarian and so easy to veganise. What’s not to love? Wait, what’s the difference between Gujarati-Style Matar Bhaat and Pulao? Think of it this way: Pulao is the Hindi word for a rice dish in which you sauté rice in fat with spices, then add vegetables (or any protein of your choice)....

Harissa Chicken I created this shredded harissa chicken recipe one day almost by accident. I had a jar of harissa and some chicken breast, and threw it in the slow cooker. The results were lovely and such an easy dinner idea! I love it with rice, chickpeas or cauliflower rice (pictured above) plus cucumbers and tzatziki on the side. Tommy loves it gyro style on a pocket-less or pita or naan with tzatziki!...