HEY HEY!! So many of you have told me that you have a goal (from watching Great British Bake-off ;)) to make your own puff pastry dough. I've gotcha. I've got a rough puff pastry dough today that is simple to follow and consistently flaky. And just an FYI...there is a new season of GBB out. For the complete recipe and video you'll want to head on over to THIS POST for your weekend baking. Many puff pastry recipes feel complicated. Here’s a puff pastry recipe that has clear and simple steps to...
about 5 hours ago • 2 min read
My nephew is just entering his Harry Potter era right now. Wands, Hogwart's Express, all of it. And every time I picture throwing him a wizarding birthday party, I think of my sister. She would love to give him that party. She does not have the time, or honestly the energy, to plan one from scratch. That's the problem with kid's parties sometimes, isn't it. Somewhere along the way, a good party stopped meaning "the kids had fun" and started meaning "did it look like something off Pinterest."...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey friend, It's been a few weeks since you've heard from me. Minnesota summer will do that. We do it big here because it's so short, loose bedtimes, staying up late just because the light's still out, everyone a little feral in the best way. Now fall's creeping in and everyone's digging back into some kind of rhythm. My daughter's a teacher, so she's back in her classroom. My son's back to his own work routine. And after being the oldest of ten and around kids and teen programming my whole...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey friend, Okay, this one’s a repeat performer at our house. Like, embarrassingly often. And I’ll be honest, it’s usually not even me making it. This is Nate’s dish. Onion soup mix, a cheap chuck roast, the crockpot, and then… nothing. He walks away for six hours and it turns into the kind of fork-tender, fall-apart pot roast that makes people think somebody tried really hard in that kitchen. He loves it because of how simple it is. He’s not in there fussing over it or checking on it every...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey friend, If you're anywhere near Minnesota right now, you already know. We are on heat wave number two of the month, and this weekend's heat index is supposed to hit somewhere around 105-108°F. My oven and I are on time-out. So, this week, three things that get dinner and dessert done without heating up the kitchen (or touching a bag of lettuce). Easy No-Bake Banana Cream Pie I'll just say it: this is one of the best pies you'll ever have, full stop, doesn't matter how many pies and cakes...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hey friend, My garden has officially declared war on me, and the weapon is basil. So. Much. Basil. I'm making pesto by the bucket and freezing it like a squirrel prepping for winter, and I regret nothing. More on that in a second, because I have a recipe obsession to confess. But first: Father's Day is this Sunday, and I am the very last person you should ask for gift ideas. I got Nate more tools for his gold mining kit. Yes, gold mining. No, I have no idea how many other dads are out there...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Homemade Tater Tots Now this one comes with a little secret. I made these over and over last year for a reason I haven't really shared about yet- let's just say it involved a competition cooking show. The whole story is coming soon. For now, the tots recipe is up. The Best Homemade Tater Tots → Hey friend, Remember when I told you my ferritin was a 5? When the normal range starts at 50 and my body was apparently running entirely on spite and coffee? Well. I went back for labs this week. It's...
5 months ago • 1 min read
skip to the end for what to eat because you have to feed yourself and your people. Hey friend, I've missed you. And I owe you an explanation for my disappearing act. Five weeks of Fridays. Still smiling. Barely. Here's the short version: my body staged a full-on revolt. Turns out I've had severely low iron. Like, embarrassingly, how-are-you-still-standing low. My ferritin level (that's your stored iron) was a 5. FIVE. The normal range starts at 50. I had apparently been running on fumes for...
5 months ago • 2 min read
New Recipe You love the idea of Swedish Meatballs but not the reality of...the balls. You'll love this Swedish Meatball Gravy Skillet! Swedish Meatball Gravy Skillet Recipe How To Make Boxed Cornbread Even More Awesome Got a box of Jiffy Cornbread mix? We have a whole bunch of hacks for taking that box of cornbread mix and turning it into something amazing! Get the hacks Coming up Welp, get your aprons ready. We have a spring baking challenge in the works! Stay tuned! Nellie 1st. Street S.,...
8 months ago • 1 min read
