These Dark Chocolate Orange Creamsicles are more nutritious than you expect, thanks to Silk® Protein+Fiber Almondmilk.

To say that my son, Grady, is not the most adventurous eater is an understatement. I often chuckle in amazement at the foods that Lisa’s son, Charlie (also 8), will eat, let alone request:

Grilled Salmon?
Roasted Broccoli?
Asparagus?

Is this kid 8 or 28?

I can only hope that Grady will have developed a more adventurous palate by the time he’s 28. In the meantime, I definitely have my work cut out for me when I want to introduce new foods to my family. Rather than try to get them to sample something foreign completely outright, I incorporate it into a food they already enjoy, which is why these Dark Chocolate Orange Creamsicles were such a huge hit.

No Bake Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars

Posted by Lisa on Jul 30, 2014 in All, Desserts | 34 comments

Keep the heat out of the kitchen with these No Bake Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars!

Sometimes the best desserts are the easiest ones.

You know the ones I’m talking about, right? Short ingredient lists and one-bowl wonders that don’t even need to go in the oven but still look and taste like they are complex and time consuming to put together? That, my friends, is my summer love language when it comes to desserts.

These No Bake Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars hit all of these important criteria. It’s got the chocolate cookie crust that my kids go crazy for, is topped with layers of whipped cheesecake and has chocolate cookies wedged in between it all. Each bite is full of smooth cheesecake flavor with a cookie crunch, all without having to turn the oven on. I’ll happily crank up my oven to bake a cheesecake in winter, but summer is for easy, oven-free cooking whenever possible.

Peach Rosé Sangria

Posted by Anna on Jul 28, 2014 in All, Drinks | 4 comments

This refreshing Peach Rosé Sangria makes summer sipping with friends even more enjoyable.

Truth be told, I’ve never been much of a Sangria fan.

Which in and of itself is kind of odd, because I love every individual ingredient that goes into Sangria: wine, fruit, perhaps a spirit or two. But together? No thank you.

Clearly that’s because I hadn’t tasted the right one. Cloying, syrupy, sweet sangria does nothing for me. But this light Peach Rosé Sangria is my new love and will keep me cool, content and sipping all summer long.

Classic Chocolate Cake

Posted by Lisa on Jul 26, 2014 in All, Desserts, Sponsored | 0 comments

Classic Chocolate Cake….just the way Mom used to make it.

What’s your earliest memory in the kitchen?

For me, it is – hands down – this Classic Chocolate Cake. My mom always made this when I was growing up, and to this day, it is one of the only cakes that I crave. And I’m not even a cake person (Gaaaaah, I know!). But this Chocolate Cake? I will never, ever turn it down.

In fact, it’s become THE Chocolate Cake that my family requests for birthdays (or really any time). Every once in a while, I’ll try and shake things up with a different frosting or a new flavor. Let’s just say that change is not always well-received with my family. They just want the recipe that they know and love. Tradition trumps variety, and I kinda love that because many of my childhood memories stem from time in the kitchen with my mom. Life’s good in the kitchen. It’s what brings many families together. That and cake. At least in my family.

Summer Book Club Menu

Posted by Lisa on Jul 24, 2014 in All, Tips | 6 comments

The perfect summer book club menu! Get the prep done ahead of time so you can enjoy your evening with friends, nosh on some great food and discuss your latest read.

Book Club. Are you in one? I am and have been for 10 years…the same one. Granted, the women have changed a little over the years. Some have moved away to different states, and others moved on due to busy schedules, but there are 5 that remain constant. And after 10 years, we still meet every month and we all read the book. Crazy huh?

My friend Rachel, who used to be in book club before she moved to Atlanta, has been begging me to do a post on Book Club Menus for months. So we will start with a Summer Book Club Menu. Here you go Rachel; this one’s for you.