Braised Brisket Tacos
Brisket gets rubbed with a smoky (but not spicy) pantry sauce and cooks over onions to create tender, flavor-packed meat and saucy caramelized onions. All that’s left is to grab tortillas and your favorite toppings and this delicious dinner is Read more
Key Lime Pie Bars
Inspired by my new summer novel, The Best Is Yet to Come, these Key Lime Pie Bars are the perfect combination of creamy, tangy filling, buttery graham cracker crust, and lightly sweetened whipped cream. There is very little difference between Read more
The Best Is Yet to Come | Inspiration Behind the Book
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a storyteller. It doesn’t take much for my imagination to kick into gear. The idea for The Best Is Yet to Come was inspired by a Sunday morning news program. Read more
Teriyaki Salmon Sushi Bowls
These Teriyaki Salmon Sushi Bowls have all the flavors of your favorite sushi spot, without the precise rolling and cutting. Delicious teriyaki-glazed salmon and rice with all the toppings makes this meal easy for everyone to customize their own bowl.In Read more
Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
Layers of strawberry and vanilla ice cream are sandwiched between a buttery cookie crust and a crunchy strawberry topping, giving a nod to the childhood favorite strawberry ice cream bar. This is an almost no-bake dessert, but if you don’t Read more
Bethany Turner
Bethany Turner has been writing since the second grade, when she won her first writing award for explaining why, if she could have lunch with any person throughout history, she would choose John Stamos. She stands by this decision. Bethany Read more
Spice-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Polenta
A sweet and smoky rub makes big flavor on this Spice-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. Served over a fast creamy polenta, this weeknight meal comes together very quickly.In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, Read more
Juliet Blackwell
Juliet Blackwell was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, the youngest child of a jet pilot and an editor. She graduated with a degree in Latin American studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and went on Read more
Spring Cleaning Before Summer
I don’t know about you, but this Spring seems to be going by at record pace! I am just now beginning to deep clean and jump into my seasonal cleaning. For me, Spring cleaning is something that was passed down Read more
Brendan Slocumb
Brendan Slocumb was born in Yuba City, California, and was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was the concertmaster for the University Symphony Orchestra at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and served as the principal violist. The Violin Read more
Ham and Caramelized Onion Strata
This Ham and Caramelized Onion Strata is a breakfast casserole you’ll want to bring to all your brunch parties this season! Trust me. It’s incredibly delicious and simple! Layers of crunchy bread, gooey cheese, sweet caramelized onions, salty ham, and Read more
Cultivating Joy
It seems like today’s world is constantly changing, there is so much happening around us that when we stop to catch a breath it often feels impossible to find joy and happiness while looking at sorrow, sickness, and destruction. What Read more
Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2022
Admittedly, it’s really tough to find the perfect gift for my mom! What do you get the person who seemingly has everything she needs? When it comes time to shop for my mom I often find myself thinking outside the Read more
Lemon-Blueberry Mini Bundt Cakes
Adorable Lemon-Blueberry Mini Bundt Cakes are the perfect spring dessert. Lemon cakes dotted with blueberries get topped with a bright lemon glaze and sprinkled with lemon sugar. These have girlfriend tea time written all over them!In the bowl of an Read more
Teacher Appreciation Week
Debbie has referenced in a few of her blogs that she has a son who is an elementary school principal. She’s talking about me. I’m Ted Macomber and I’ve been the principal at Olalla Elementary for the past seven years.
Greek Pork Gyros
Warm, pillowy pitas get stuffed with spiced pork, French fries (a traditional gyro ingredient!), homemade Tzatziki sauce, and lots of fresh toppings. The balance of salty, sweet, savory, creamy and tangy is just right, and will make your family ask Read more
Speckled Egg Layer Cake
Buttery coconut cake and creamy vanilla frosting get dressed up to look like speckled egg candies, complete with an adorable coconut nest. This Speckled Egg Layer Cake is perfect for your Easter table. In the bowl of an electric mixer Read more
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Two extra steps make this Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala a showstopper: blooming the aromatics in the microwave and finishing off the chicken under the broiler. They are technically optional steps, but quickly add so much depth of flavor to Read more
Blackberry Pie Bars
Blackberry Pie, but make it easier and portable? Sign me up! These Blackberry Pie Bars utilize the food processor to make the dough and are baked on a baking sheet, making it easier to enjoy pie anytime the craving strikes.In Read more
Don’t be Afraid
It’s been an emotional, trying week and while life is still moving and I am spending my days doing the same tasks I was a few weeks ago, I am seeing things with a different lens. Above the door to Read more
Black History Month Book Recs
In honoring Black History Month, today on my blog I wanted to highlight, recommend, and let you know which books are on my TBR stack this year of books written by Black authors. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson“Black Cake is a Read more
Carne Asada Loaded Fries
Bring the taqueria home with these Carne Asada Loaded Fries! Tender, grilled steak and all your favorite toppings get piled on top of crispy, seasoned waffle fries. Make this a fast weeknight meal by prepping the steak the night before Read more
Julie Cantrell
Julie Cantrell is a multiple-award winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who loves to write stories about second chances. Her latest contemporary novel, Perennials, is set in the quaint southern town of Oxford, Mississippi. Julie was recently Read more
2022 Goals
I’m a huge proponent of making lists. In fact, one of my own personal commandments is: “Thou shall not be listless.” One of the best ways to stick with your goals is to write them down. I think it’s important Read more
Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington is a very impressive holiday main dish, yielding ultra-tender meat that you can cut with a fork, prettily wrapped in crisp puff pastry. Using an instant read thermometer makes this special cut of meat virtually impossible to overcook, Read more