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Show your sweetheart how much you care with these adorable Valentine’s Day cookies! Conversation heart cookies are fun and nostalgic and are customizable with sweet and silly messages. They are delicious, easy to make, and totally unforgettable!

Don’t you just love an excuse to bake cookies? I seriously make some for every holiday and special occasion because they are a crowd pleaser, and they travel really well. I also don’t know anyone who doesn’t like ANY kind of cookie, so they really are the best dessert to bring with you. If you love cookies, then you are going to have to try these super easy and delicious No-Bake Cookies, these show stopping Meringue Cookies, and these flavorful White Chocolate Oreo Cookies.

Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies

I’m pretty sure we all grew up with those chalky little heart Valentine’s Day candies right?! They were kind of flavorless, yet everyone always had them at the holiday because they have cute little messages on them. Well, get ready to fall in love with these cookies. They are actually delicious (so people will be so excited to eat them) and they can have personalized and adorable messages on them! They are seriously the ultimate Valentine’s day treat!

If you really want to spoil your special someone, you can make these cookies along with some cheesecake stuffed strawberries and these really easy to make red velvet brownies. If you are not confident in your piping skills and think this recipe might end in disaster, don’t worry! This is the perfect sugar cookie recipe that is still shaped like a heart and will win over your Valentine. It’s really the thought that counts right? That’s why I love these thoughtful cookies that you can write your thoughts onto!

Ingredients

There are two different groups of ingredients, one for the Valentine’s day sugar cookies and the other is for the icing. If you have never made royal icing before, I share all my tips in the recipe and some extras in the tip box! You will also need a heart-shaped cookie cutter, I like these ones. You can use a ziploc bag for the pastry bag if you need to, but I would recommend a piping tip. I talk more about that in the tip box below. You can find exact measurements below in the recipe card.

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

Flour: I used all purpose flour for this recipe.Salt: A little salt helps to balance the sweet flavors.Baking Powder: This helps the cookies rise.Butter: If your ingredients are at room temperature then they will mix together more smoothly. Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar will make this recipe sweet.Egg Yolks: This makes the cookie bind together really well and gives it the perfect texture.Sour Cream: It’s amazing! A little sour flavor really makes this cookie taste incredible, and not too sweet. Vanilla Extract: This will enhance the flavors of the sweet ingredients.Lemon Extract: This adds a fresh and bright flavor that you are going to love! You could add fresh lemon juice and zest instead.

Royal Icing

Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar dissolves really smoothly and makes the frosting taste delicious and sweet.Meringue Powder: This will help the frosting set up to the right stiffness. You can use gelatin or cream of tartar instead, they all do the same thing. However, you will need to use a different amount, so make sure to look up the conversion before substituting.Water: Room temperature is best to help all of the ingredients combine.Gel Food Coloring: You get to choose! I like to use pastel colors, so I don’t add as much coloring. The gel works best because it doesn’t change the consistency of the frosting. Don’t use too much coloring or it will make your frosting taste bitter.

Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe

Get ready for your new Valentine’s Day cookie tradition! This seriously is one of my new favorite things. Everyone fell in love with the cookies right away because they not only look adorable and really thoughtful, they are also super delicious! This just might be the best sugar cookie recipe I’ve made! There is nothing tricky to this recipe, it’s going to turn out great!

Make the Sugar Cookie

Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and line 2-3 cookie sheets with parchment paper.Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.Beat Butter and Sugar: In another medium bowl beat together the butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, sour cream and extracts and mix until just combined.Add Dry to Wet: Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just barely full combined.Roll and Shape: This recipe does not require any chilling time for the cookie dough, so you’re ready to roll out your cookies! Split the dough into 2-3 pieces and roll them one at a time on a lightly floured surface until they are ¼ inch thick. Use a heart cookie cutter to cut out your cookies. Press the scraps together and set aside to rest for about 5 minutes. Reroll the scraps and cut more cookies until you have used up all the dough. I used a 3-inch heart and was able to get 18 cookies.Bake: Place the cookies on the parchment lined cookie sheets leaving 1 ½ inches between them. Bake for 6-8 minutes, rotating the pan at the 4 minute mark. I find this gives the cookies an even bake. The edges will be just set and the cookies will be very light in color and should have very minimal coloring underneath them.Cool and Frost: Let the Valentine’s Day cookies cool on the pan for 2 minutes for the shape to set before transferring to a cooling rack. You can now store them, or frost them once they have had time to cool.

Make the Royal Icing

Mix: Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, mix the powdered sugar and meringue powder together on low.Add water: Add 4-5 tablespoons of water and mix together on high speed for about 1 minute. The icing should be pretty stiff. Add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time until the icing is about the consistency of soft serve ice cream and forms soft peaks. Reserve ⅓ cup, roughly, of icing and cover tightly with plastic wrap. This will be for the lettering on the cookies.Add Color: With the remaining icing, add additional water 1-2 teaspoons at a time until when the whisk is raised the icing drips back into the bowl and the lines of icing take about 10 seconds to melt back into the icing. This is the thin icing that will be used to fill, or flood, your cookies. Separate into small bowls and tint the icing your chosen colors, I chose to use a pastel color pallet of pink, blue, yellow, and purple. Color the reserved stiff frosting red or black for lettering. Now you are ready to ice your Valentine’s Day cookies.

Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating

Fill Bag: When ready to ice your Valentine’s day cookies, fill your piping bags with the icing colors and tie off the ends to prevent the icing from overflowing out the top of the bags. Avoid filing them more than ½-⅔ full. Snip the end of the bag just barely, leaving a very small hole to pipe from.Line and Flood: Use light pressure to trace the outside of the heart, not letting the tip of the bag touch the cookie unless it’s to start or stop piping. Once the outline has been piped, use stronger pressure to fill the center of the cookie. It doesn’t have to be perfect, use a toothpick or a scribe tool to swirl the icing around until all the holes are filled. Let it set and the icing will melt into itself and smooth out. Set aside and let it crust over, at least an hour.Add Lettering: Snip the very end of the bag of the stiffer frosting for the lettering. Once the base icing has formed a crust, pipe your chosen words onto the cookies. Let the cookies sit overnight or 24 hours to fully dry. They should be uncovered at room temperature. Once the icing is completely dry the cookies can be stacked and stored in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Meatloaf is a classic comfort food that is loved by the whole family! This recipe for crockpot meatloaf is easy to prepare, and using your slow cooker allows the flavors to blend together for a delicious meal.

If you love meatloaf then you have to try out some more of my easy and delicious meals that are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Some of my favorites are this Meatloaf Sandwich, this delicious Glazed Meatloaf, and these yummy Meatloaf Meatballs!

Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe

Meatloaf is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and so versatile! It’s a great option for a budget-friendly, easy-to-clean meal that your family will go crazy over! I love that I can throw it in the crockpot, let it cook all day and dinner is ready to go. It’s a lifesaver for busy days! This is definitely my new go-to meatloaf recipe.

Since this crockpot meatloaf is the kind of thing you can set and forget, you can use the extra time to make some easy sides to go with it! Mashed potatoes are an absolute must. Add in some delicious homemade rolls and a leafy green salad and you have a meal that will become a go-to for any busy night!

Ingredients in Crockpot Meatloaf

This recipe for crockpot meatloaf is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner! The combo of the savory beef, sweet glaze, and tangy balsamic vinegar creates a delicious blend of flavors that is sure to please your taste buds! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for measurements.

Ground Beef: I always get beef that is no leaner than 85 percent. The higher fat content helps the meatloaf stay moist! If you want a healthier version of crockpot meatloaf, you can also swap out the beef for ground turkey. Keep in mind, though, turkey tends to dry out more easily so you’ll want to add more liquids in order for it to turn out nice and moist.Onion: The onions add a sweet and savory flavor to the meatloaf and also help to bind the ingredients together. Parsley: Parsley adds a fresh and herby flavor to the meatloaf and also adds a pop of color!Italian Bread Crumbs: Using Italian-style breadcrumbs adds a subtle flavor to the meatloaf. You can even make your own breadcrumbs using this recipe. Milk: The milk helps to make the meatloaf moist and tender.Worcestershire Sauce: This sauce adds a savory and slightly tangy flavor to the meatloaf.Eggs: The eggs help to bind the ingredients together.Garlic Powder: The garlic adds such a delicious savory flavor to the dish! Kosher Salt: Salt is used to enhance the flavors in the recipe. Pepper: Pepper is used to add subtle spiciness (but don’t worry, no heat!)Ketchup: Ketchup is used as a glaze for the meatloaf. Balsamic Vinegar: This adds a tangy and slightly sweet flavor to the glaze. Brown Sugar: This adds a sweetness to the glaze.

How to Make Meatloaf in the Slow Cooker

The best part about this meal is that the crockpot does most of the work, leaving you with plenty of time to relax and enjoy your meal with the rest of your family!

Line: Line the inside of a crockpot with foil. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.Combine and Mix: In a large bowl combine beef, onion, parsley, Italian breadcrumbs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to mix until combined being careful not to overmix. Shape the Meatloaf: Using your hands, shape the meatloaf into a large oval and place it on top of the foil in the crockpot.Whisk the Glaze: In a small bowl whisk together ketchup, vinegar, and brown sugar. Brush half of the mixture on the top of the meatloaf. Save the other half for later.Cook: Cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours. Bake until the beef is cooked throughout and reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Top with Glaze: When finished cooking, top it with the remaining glaze.Slice and Serve: Serve sliced, with remaining glaze sauce served on the side for drizzling.

Mushroom Risotto is soft short-grained rice that is cooked in broth with flavorful button mushrooms and sweet peas. The flavor combination is incredible and it’s the perfect side dish for any protein!

This classic Italian recipe can be served as main dish or a side paired with a hearty meat. This is a comfort meal that is planned and prepared with you in mind! Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Potatoes, some delicious Creamy Tomato Italian Parmesan Chicken or this filling and flavorful Classic Italian Wedding Soup are some of our favorite classic Italian meals to try.

Mushroom Risotto

I needed something light, comforting and manageable for the week and I knew Mushroom Risotto had to be made! It is a dish that can be warmed up quickly and taste good every day. It has simple ingredients and when combined all together adds this comforting and oh-so-good meal that makes your day go even better! This Mushroom Risotto is perfect for making ahead for your busy week or enjoying it right off the stove top.

I am all about making life simple. With life so busy all the time with the kids activities and endless errands to run, quick and easy meals, like this mushroom risotto and my favorite lemon garlic chicken to go with it are my savior! This is a quick and easy meal that my kids can warm up quick after school or pack along as a lunch. Check out my healthy meals round up and slow cooker dinner recipes for more great quick and easy meal ideas.

Ingredients

Even though this list looks long, the ingredients for mushroom risotto are really simple! Most of them are herbs or things that you already have on hand. This dish is so flavorful and easy to make, I know you are going to love it as much as my family does! The measurements are listed below in the recipe card.

Chicken or Vegetable Broth: Either will work, they add flavor and it is what you cook the rice in.Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Has a nice soft flavor and cooks well.Onion: Finely chopped.Butter: To cook veggies.Garlic Cloves: Minced.Button Mushrooms: It’s a European and North American mushroom with tons of nutrients and packed with flavor.Fresh Thyme: Earthy flavor perfect for this dish.Salt and Pepper: Just a pinch.Arborio Rice: The best rice to use! I have other tips for choosing rice below in the tip box.White Wine: Use your favorite, I talk more about the wine below in the tip box.Fresh Parmesan Cheese: Makes this so creamy and flavorful!Frozen Peas: You could use fresh instead.Fresh Parsley: For garnish and extra flavor.

Mushroom Risotto Recipe

This mushroom risotto is a very simple recipe and you are going to love how it turns out! The hardest part is cooking the rice the perfect amount of time so that it isn’t hard, but it doesn’t get mushy. You will be able to tell when it starts to get close, this is a recipe you don’t want to walk away from. It only takes 35 minutes, and you will be so in love with the flavor!

Warm Broth: Start by warming the chicken broth.  Either in a large bowl in the microwave or in a medium saucepan over medium heat bring to a simmer.Cook Onion and Mushroom: In a large pot heat the olive oil.  Add the onion and cook until tender.  Add 1 tbsp butter, garlic, mushrooms and thyme.  Cook until the mushrooms have softened and are tender.  Then season with salt and pepper.  Remove and set aside on a plate.Add Rice: Melt the remaining 1 tbsp butter and add the arborio rice.  Stirring on medium heat, cook the grains until the are lightly brown and start to toast about 2 minutes. Then add the wine and cook until the wine has absorbed.  Add Broth: Add one cup of broth at a time to the rice and stir frequently until the rice absorbs the liquid.  Continue to add one cup of broth and allow the rice to absorb after each addition.  Stir often and cook until the risotto is al dente and not mushy.  You may not need all of the broth.  Add Veggies: Add the mushrooms, parmesan, and peas back to the rice and stir.  Garnish with fresh parsley.  Serve while warm. 

King cake is a colorful and festive dessert for Mardi Gras celebrations! With its gorgeous swirl of purple, green and gold icing, this sweet and soft cake is a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. Whether you’re a seasoned king cake aficionado or a newcomer to this sugary delight, there’s no denying its irresistible charm!

With Mardi Gras just around the corner, here are a few more must-try recipes inspired by New Orleans cuisine: homemade beignets, gumbo, and jambalaya! You’ve got to try them all!

What is King Cake?

If you’ve never heard of it before, King Cake has a rich history dating back to the ancient celebrations of the Epiphany in Europe. Originating in France, it’s now a staple dessert for Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans! Although it’s called cake, this dessert is more similar to a braided sweet bread like babka!

King cake is soft, sweet, and sure to be your new favorite Mardi Gras recipe. The bread has a brown sugar cinnamon filling with added pecans. It’s absolutely to die for! Top it off with a simple glaze, colored sugar, and you have a dessert that’s both festive and delicious on your hands!

Everything You’ll Need

The great thing about this king cake recipe is that it uses super simple ingredients. In fact, as long as you have some sanding sugar on hand, you likely have everything else to whip up this festive dessert! Looking for measurements? They can all be found in the recipe card below.

Dough

Warm Milk: Warm milk helps activate the yeast, allowing the king cake dough to rise and become fluffy!Instant Dry Yeast: This ingredient is essential for making the dough rise.Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to the dough and also helps feed the yeast.Unsalted Butter: You can’t go wrong with butter! It adds rich flavor and moisture to the bread.Eggs: Bind everything together.Salt: Acts as a flavor enhancer!Flour: Make sure you use flour with a low protein content. This will make sure your bread turns out nice and soft! I used all-purpose flour and it turned out perfectly.

Filling

Brown Sugar: Adds a deeper sweetness.Ground Cinnamon: The perfect match for brown sugar! It adds the perfect warm spice.Melted Butter: Makes the king cake filling smooth and rich.Chopped Pecans: I love adding chopped pecans because of their tasty flavor and texture! Chopped walnuts or sliced almonds will also work.

Glaze

Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and gives the glaze a smooth texture.Water: For adjusting the consistency.Vanilla: Adds an extra pop of flavor. I recommend using pure vanilla extract here!Colored Sugar: For the green, purple, and yellow topping.

How to Make King Cake

Now, I know this is a pretty lengthy list of instructions, but king cake is a lot easier to make than you’d think! I’ve broken the steps up into 3 simple sections.

Making the Dough

Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine your warm milk, yeast, and 3 tablespoons of your sugar. Allow the mixture to sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast becomes active and foamy.Mix in Wet Ingredients: Add in the rest of the sugar, butter, and eggs. Mix using the whisk attachment on medium high speed until everything comes together.Mix in Dry Ingredients: Add 4 cups of flour and your salt into the bowl and switch out the whisk for the dough hook, mix at low speed until the flour is fully incorporated, at this point you can determine if you need to add more flour, the dough should pull clean from the mixer when it is the right consistency, but not be too stiff, it should be slightly sticky.Continue to Mix: Increase the speed to a medium-high speed and mix for an additional 3-4 minutes. This last step will knead the dough and build the strength of the gluten.Proof: Remove the dough from your mixer and place it into an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and keep covered for about an hour, until the dough doubles in size.

Preparing the Filling, Baking

Combine Ingredients: While your king cake dough is proofing, make your filling. In a medium bowl, mix your sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Set aside.Roll Out Dough: Once your dough is doubled in size, tip it out onto a floured surface, roll into a large rectangle, mine was about 24 inches by 15 inches. Cut the slab into 3 equal strips, mine were 24 inches by 5 inches.Add Filling: Spread your filling evenly on each strip and sprinkle your chopped pecans on top. Roll each strip lengthwise so you have 3 long filled rolls.Braid Together: Lay the strips side by side and secure them together at the top. Braid the whole length of the 3 strips together and secure the other end by pinching the dough together. Form the braid into a circle and secure the two ends together as best as you can.Proof: Place the prepared rolled and braided dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Cover and allow the cake to proof until it is nearly double in size, depending on the temperature of the room you are making this cake in it could take 45 minutes to a little over an hour.Preheat Oven: While your cake proofs, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.Bake: Once the cake is ready, bake for 25-30 minutes, a toothpick inserted should come out clean, and the loaf should be a golden brown color all over. Remove from the oven and allow the king cake to cool completely before glazing.

Adding the Glaze

Add Plastic Baby: Before glazing your cake, take a mini plastic baby and poke it into one of the folds of your cake, hiding it completely for someone to find later.Prepare Glaze Mixture: In a medium bowl, mix together your powdered sugar, water, and vanilla. Pour the glaze over your cake evenly and while the glaze is still tacky, sprinkle the colored sugar over it in colored stripes.Find the Baby: Make sure to have everyone inspect their cuts of cake to find the baby before eating!

Juicy and succulent Steak Diane is the perfect dinner for any occasion. Diane refers to the delicious cream sauce made that includes mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Cognac. The steak is flattened and seared in butter, and couldn’t be more flavorful!

At my house, a steak dinner is a real treat that we can all look forward to. It’s everyone’s favorite and always what they ask for on their birthdays and other special occasions. If your family is the same way, you have to try this super easy Juicy Air Fryer Steak, this delicious Skillet Salisbury Steak, and this divine New York Steak.

What is Steak Diane?

Steak diane is a beef dish that is served with a mushroom cognac sauce that is typically flambeed. The sauce has heavy cream, mustard, and broth to give it lots of depth of flavor. There are no flames needed to get a great flavor in this sauce! It really hits the spot, and the whole family loves it too! The best part is, it’s almost a complete meal all on it’s own. I like to add some grilled asparagus or air fryer broccoli for an extra veggie. This dish is of course AMAZING served with some mashed potatoes too!

Sometimes I just really crave a good steak! Sometimes its as simple as some slow cooker beef tips, and other times I want a full on prime rib. The latter is usually just for special occasions! Sometimes, I want a dinner that feels and tastes just as expensive as a prime rib dinner, but for half the cost. This steak diane recipe is the perfect solution! It’s a delicious, tender, and flavorful piece of meat smothered in a yummy creamy mushroom sauce. You tenderize the steak, then make a delicious mushroom and cream sauce in the same pan that you cook the meat. It blends all the flavors together for a delicious balanced flavor.

Ingredients

The traditional steak diane recipe doesn’t include mushrooms. I really like including them because they add a lot of rich and hearty flavor to the sauce. You could also include garlic, it does the same thing for the sauce. This dish would also be delicious garnished with fresh parsley and chives. Make this recipe your own! You can find the exact measurements below in the recipe card.

Olive Oil: I prefer to cook my steaks in olive oil, but you can use your favorite cooking oil here.Butter: This adds a lot of flavor to the steak and helps them get a nice color.Beef Tenderloin Steaks: The quality of the meat will make a difference. I would get a nice piece of meat but it doesn’t have to be the most expensive since you will be tenderizing it.Shallot: This adds tons of flavor to the sauce.Button Mushrooms: I prefer button mushrooms for this sauce, but you could use pretty much any kind of mushroom.Cognac or Brandy: It is traditional to add cognac to the sauce. You could substitute brandy or broth if you don’t want to add any alcohol.Beef Broth: Beef broth adds extra flavor and liquid to the sauce which makes it the perfect consistency.Heavy Cream: This is what makes the sauce so thick and creamy. It really makes a huge difference! Worcestershire Sauce: It’s sweet, sour, and spicy, and perfect in the sauce!Dijon Mustard: It’s tangy and sharp and keeps the sauce really flavorful.Dried Italian Seasonings: I like to make my own blend for the freshest flavors, you can find the recipe here.Kosher Salt and Cracked Black Pepper: To taste!

Steak Diane Recipe

Don’t be fooled by the number of steps in this steak diane recipe, it is all really easy! First, you will pound the meat until it is about 1 inch thick. This will keep it really tender and help it all cook evenly. You sear the steaks in the pan, and then make the sauce in the same pan. This gets all of those delicious flavors into the sauce. Add your steaks back in to finish warming and you have the most amazing dinner!

Cook Steak

Pound: Pound the steaks down to 1-inch thickness with a kitchen mallet then season both sides of each steak with salt and pepper.Cook Steak: Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steaks to the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Then cook to the desired doneness. Medium-rare steak is cooked to 135 degrees Fahrenheit, but you can cook it longer if you like it more well done. Transfer the cooked steaks to a plate and then tent with foil. Now you will make the sauce for steak diane.

Make Sauce

Cook Mushrooms: In the same skillet cook the sliced mushrooms for 3-5 minutes, or until softened. Then remove from the skillet and set aside.Saute Shallot: Again, in the same skillet sauté the shallot over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, until softened. Add additional olive oil if needed.Add Cognac: Add the cognac and cook for 1 minute until the alcohol is almost evaporated. Then use a spatula to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. You can substitute the alcohol with beef broth if you prefer to leave it out.Add Broth: Stir in the beef broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until thickened, about 2 minutes.Add Ingredients: Stir in the cream, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes.Add Mushrooms: Add the cooked mushrooms back into the sauce.Season: Season with dried Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper.Add Steaks: Return the steaks to the sauce in the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the steaks and heat through until warm.Season: Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy!

These easy-to-make crab cakes are filled with thick chunks of crab meat mixed together with creamy mayonnaise and sweet red bell pepper, topped off with a kick of red pepper flakes. The BEST crab cake recipe you will ever use!

These are perfect for a quick dinner, appetizer or snack! If you love seafood as much as I do try this Cajun Popcorn Shrimp, Grilled Lemon Garlic Scallops or Walnut Crusted Maple Salmon.

Best Crab Cake recipe

Since you guys have been loving these salmon croquettes so much I decided to make for you the best crab cakes that you will ever eat! These seriously are SO good and simple to make. The best part, is my kids eat them not knowing they’re made with crab! The whole family will love these crab cakes. They work great as an appetizer, side dish or served as a quick snack. Whenever I make them, my family can’t get enough of their crispy texture and savory flavor.

Not only are they absolutely delicious, but these crab cakes are so quick and easy to make as well! If you’re ever in a pinch and need to make an appetizer that everyone will love, this is definitely the recipe to try! Everyone will be raving after the first bite. Serve them up with homemade tartar sauce or chipotle mayo for some kick. Don’t blame me if these homemade crab cakes become a new obsession!

What You Need to Make Crab Cakes

Combine all the ingredients together for a quick bowlful of flavor! The best thing about these crab cakes is that you probably have everything to make them in your pantry right now. This makes them so easy to whip up! Check out the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Crab Meat: Works best if it’s in lump form.Mayonnaise: Sticks everything together making a creamy and soft texture!Panko: Creates a light, crunchy breading. You can also use homemade breadcrumbs. Find my full recipe here!Flour: Helps hold everything together and will give the cakes a crispy crunch on the outside.Egg: Binds all the ingredients together.Green Onion: Adds a sweet but savory flavor and hint of texture.Red Bell Pepper: Adds fresh flavor and a bit of crunch.Worcestershire Sauce: Helps to balance out flavors.Cajun Seasoning: Adds a pop of spicy Southern flavor!Lemon: Citrus complements the flavor of these crab cakes perfectly.Vegetable Oil: This will help cook them to a crisp, golden brown.

How to Make Crab Cakes

It only takes 2 steps to whip up these homemade crab cakes. 2 steps!! They’re so easy but taste like they came from your favorite seafood restaurant!

Preparing the Filling: In a large bowl add the crabmeat, mayonnaise, Panko, flour, egg, green onion, bell pepper, Worcestershire sauce, Cajun seasoning, and lemon juice. Mix together and shape into patties.Cooking the Cakes: In a large saucepan add the oil and then heat to medium-high. Add the patties to the pan and then fry until they are brown on each side for 4-5 minutes. Serve with your favorite sauce.

Cheesecake stuffed strawberries are the perfect party treat filled with a creamy and smooth cream cheese filling. Topped with a graham cracker crumb, they are juicy, tangy, and sweet all at the same time. This easy and quick dessert is unbelievably delicious and impossible to resist!

Is there anything better than a sweet ripe strawberry? Maybe one dipped in chocolate! For more fun strawberry recipes, you should try these Chocolate Covered Strawberries, these amazing Strawberry Brownies, and this super yummy Strawberry Cheesecake Salad.

Strawberries Stuffed with Cheesecake

Fresh ripe cheesecake stuffed strawberries are the perfect thing to serve for any holiday celebration! From Valentine’s Day to the 4th of July and of course Mother’s Day, these are the perfect treat! They are super simple and easy to make and the freshness of the strawberry really shines. The sweetness of the strawberry plus the tangy cheesecake filling are a match made in heaven.

I love strawberry anything! We make a lot of strawberry desserts at my house, like this easy fresh strawberry pie and this irresistible strawberry milkshake. When berries are ripe and in season, all I can think about is cheesecake-stuffed strawberries! An entire batch of these was gone in minutes! These are a MUST try for a festive and fun dessert everyone will go crazy over! They are beautiful served on a chocolate charcuterie board or a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board too. You really can’t go wrong any way you serve them!

Ingredients

There are only 5 ingredients in this delicious and simple dessert. The most important thing is to choose really ripe and fresh strawberries. Other than that, there is nothing to this recipe. It is the perfect recipe to make when you don’t have a lot of time but still want a dessert to WOW your guests. Out of all of the amazing dessert recipes on my blog, this is still one of my favorites! You can find the exact measurements below in the recipe card.

Cream Cheese: Adds a mild sweet and tangy flavor and a smooth creamy filling in the strawberry.Powdered Sugar: Sweetness!Vanilla Extract: The vanilla brings out all the other flavors and adds a rich flavor of its own as well.Strawberries: Fresh and juicy and beautifully red!Crushed Graham Cracker: The perfect crispy crumb to add a small crunch to each bite.

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries Recipe

This cheesecake stuffed strawberry recipe is so easy, you are going to want to make them all the time! The best part is the cream cheese filling if you ask me. No need to bake cheesecake! It’s a simple cream cheese mixture. They are also a great recipe to make with kids. My kids are great at helping me remove the insides of the strawberry. It’s also really fun for them to use the piping bag to fill them up with delicious cream. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe!

Make Filling: In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla and beat until smooth and creamy. Fill the mixture in a piping bag.Prepare Strawberries: Core out each strawberry and fill with cream cheese mixture.Add Topping: Top with crushed graham cracker.Enjoy!

These decadent red velvet sugar cookie bars with cream cheese frosting are so divine. This is the best of both worlds, all the goodness of red velvet cake in an easy-to-make cookie bar form.

Red velvet is one of my favorite dessert flavors. It’s rich and chocolatey with the best hint of tang! If you love it as much as I do, here are a few more recipes you need to try: red velvet cheesecake, red velvet pound cake, and red velvet white chocolate chip cookies.

Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars

These could quite possibly be the best cookie bars that I have ever made. They’re thick, dense and slightly crisp on the edges. It’s a perfect cross between a cookie and dessert bar. Topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting, these are going to be you new go-to favorites. They’re everything you love about red velvet cake but in a moist, fudgy dessert bar form. Psst- they’re also a great option for Valentine’s Day!

These bars though. They’re so moist and heavenly! The tangy flavor of the cream cheese frosting perfectly complements the sweetness of the red velvet, making every bite a burst of flavor in your mouth. These sugar cookie ebars are so good, you’ll find yourself reaching for another one before you even finish the first! Perfect for a sweet snack, a party dessert, or even as a special breakfast treat, these bars are sure to become a favorite in no time. So go ahead, give them a try and taste the yummy goodness for yourself!

Ingredients for Red Velvet Cookie Bars and Frosting

These red velvet sugar cookies are scrumptious and easy to make. You are going to love how fast both the cookie bars and frosting come together. If you’re looking for exact measurements, they can all be found in the recipe card below.

Flour: All-purpose flour works great here!Unsweetened Cocoa: If you have non-alkalized (also known as Dutch process) cocoa powder, use that!Salt: Balances out the sweetness of the cookie bars.Baking Powder: A necessary rising agent.Butter: Bring the butter to room temperature before using it. This way, you will end up with a smoother batter.Sugar: Just regular granulated sugar works fine!Eggs: Give the cookies texture and lift.Vanilla: Adds a little extra flavor. Use pure vanilla extract if you can!Red Food Coloring: For that signature red color.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so your frosting ends up nice and smooth.Butter: Should also be at room temperature.Powdered Sugar: For thickness and sweetness.Vanilla: Adds an extra pop of flavor!

How to Make Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars

As easy as cookies but faster and more hands-off. These will be a winner when you’re short on time, but need big flavor and big wow factor. Red velvet makes everything just a bit more special! These sugar cookie bars almost look too good to eat.

Preheat Oven, Prep Pan: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Have a 9×13 inch pan ready. I like to line mine with aluminum foil or parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray so that the bars easily lift out and are easy to cut.Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder. Then set aside.Mix Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup butter softened and sugar until light and creamy. About 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and food coloring until combined.Combine and Bake: Add the flour mixture until a soft dough forms. Press into the bottom of the 9×13 inch pan. Bake for about 20 minutes until the edges start to pull away from the sides and a toothpick entered into the center comes out clean. Allow to completely cool before frosting.Prepare Frosting and Enjoy: To make the cream cheese frosting, Beat together the cream cheese and butter. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat together until smooth. Frost the top of the bars and enjoy!

Smothered Pork Chops are tender, savory, and satisfyingly covered in a creamy mushroom gravy.  This one-pan dinner is the perfect comforting dinner at home that your family will love!

Forget everything you know about pork chops being dry and flavorless! These pork chops are so packed with flavor you won’t believe it, and they are so moist and perfectly cooked that my family instantly loved this recipe. After you try this recipe, you’ll have to try these fun Hawaiian Pork Chops, these delicious Baked Stuffed Pork Chops, and these easy Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops.

Smothered Pork Chops in an Amazing Mushroom Gravy

When you need a restaurant-quality meal at home, these smothered pork chops are the perfect choice!  The creamy gravy is so flavorful thanks to the one-pan method this recipe uses.  Those delicious bits on the bottom of the pan get scraped up into the gravy along with earthy mushrooms and rich heavy cream.  Smother your pork in this flavorful and satisfying gravy for the perfect juicy meat. I love to serve them with mashed cauliflower and some sautéed garlic asparagus with bacon!

This classic dish is not only incredibly delicious, but it is also affordable and a family favorite. The creamy gravy and tender, fall-apart meat is homemade goodness that will make you a very popular cook! This is a great recipe to add to the meal-planning dinner recipes. For other meal planning ideas, check out these totally delicious healthy meals!

Ingredients

One thing you won’t see in this ingredient list is canned soup! This is a made-from-scratch smothered pork chops recipe that is just as easy as using cans, without all those unknown ingredients. You could throw in some onions with the mushrooms to add a little extra flavor. You can find the exact measurements below in the recipe card.

Olive Oil: Add to pan warmed to medium high heat before adding in pork chops.Salt and Pepper: To taste.Thick Cut Pork Chops: Either bone-in or boneless will work, just adjust your cook time since bone-in will take a few minutes more on each side.Sliced Mushrooms: Crimini, white, or portobello all work well.Butter: Add to pan and whisk with flour to begin gravy.Flour: Whisk together with butter until brown to start your gravy.Beef Broth: Adds flavorful base to the gravy. You could use chicken broth instead.Heavy Cream: Thick rich cream in the gravy mixed together with Worcestershire.Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a little bit of tanginess to the gravy.

Smothered Pork Chop Recipe

Depending on the size of your pork chops, this could easily be a 30-minute meal! On top of being quick, clean-up is simple because it is all made in one pan! Just another reason that these smothered pork chops will be a family favorite.

Heat Oil: In a medium sized skillet over medium high heat add the olive oil.Season Pork Chops and Cook: Salt and pepper the pork chops and add to the sauce pan. Sear on each side for 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked through and golden brown.  Remove and set aside on a plate.Sauté Mushrooms: Add the mushrooms and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Set aside on plate with pork chops.Whisk Together Gravy: Add 4 Tablespoons butter and flour to skillet and whisk until it turns brown. Slowly stir in beef broth and heavy cream. Add Worcestershire sauce and dijon mustard and bring to a simmer until sauce starts to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste.Combine and Simmer: Add the pork chops and mushrooms back to the skillet and let simmer for a couple of minutes.Serve: Plate and serve over mashed potatoes if desired.

Although these chicken and rice meal prep bowls may seem simple, they’re anything but! The chicken is juicy, tender, and seasoned to perfection! You’re going to love having these easy-to-make meals on hand for a quick lunch.

Meal preps are a great way to keep costs low and also stay on track for your diet goals. You can customize them however you’d like and take them on the go! Need some ideas to get you started? Try these Korean beef meal prep bowls and teriyaki chicken meal prep bowls next!

Easy Chicken and Rice Meal Preps

Chicken and rice is the bread and butter of healthy eating. It’s the perfect ratio of protein and carbs to power you through your day! Pair it with your favorite veggies for some added nutrition and you have the perfect lunch. The chicken in these meal prep bowls is perfectly seasoned, juicy, and tender. You’ll love every bite!

Good news is- these chicken and rice meal prep bowls take less than 30 minutes to prepare. A weeks worth of meals in a snap! Another nice thing about these meal prep bowls is you can customize them to work into any diet. So whether you’re wanting something keto or low-carb, these are perfect for you. See my tips section below for ideas!

Everything You’ll Need

I love these chicken and rice meal prep bowls because they use a bunch of pantry staples. They’re also great for using up leftover chicken if you have it! Exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Chicken Breasts: This is the main protein source in the meal prep bowls. They are cooked until they’re perfectly juicy and oh-so tender!Olive Oil: Used to sear the chicken in. It adds richness and flavor to the dish.Homemade Chicken Seasoning: A tasty blend of herbs and spices that add depth and taste to the chicken. Find my full recipe here!Cooked Rice: Adds carbs to the meal preps. Looking for low-carb options? I’ve got you covered! Check out my tips section below.Steamed Green Beans: A fresh, crisp veggie that adds nutrients, color, and texture to the dish. Feel free to swap this out for your other favorite greens!

How to Make Chicken and Rice Meal Prep Bowls

These are going to be your new favorite lunch. They’re so delicious yet so simple to throw together! Plus, it’s easy to work them into your macros. The perfect diet-friendly meal!

Precook Rice: Cook the rice ahead of time. You can also use prepackaged cooked rice for convenience.Season Chicken: Prepare the chicken by seasoning it with my homemade chicken seasoning.Sear: Add the olive oil to a skillet and then cook the chicken over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes on each side. The chicken should be cooked through and no longer pink. You can also use my air fryer method for cooking the chicken if you prefer!Steam Veggies: Steam the vegetables until tender.Assemble: To assemble the bowls, evenly divide all of the cooked ingredients into four sealable containers. Each container will contain ½ cup rice, ½ cup cooked chicken, and ½ cup green beans.Store and Enjoy: Seal the containers and then store them in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Warm in the microwave and enjoy!