This black bean soup is a zesty blend of beans and vegetables, simmered together to make a thick and hearty meal . Add your favorite toppings and you’ll have an easy and healthy dinner option that’s sure to get rave reviews! I love a hot bowl of soup on a cold day. Some of my favorite soup recipes include chicken and rice soup , cabbage soup and this simple yet satisfying black bean soup....

These candied yams are sweet potatoes tossed in brown sugar, butter and spices, then baked until caramelized. Add a sprinkle of marshmallows and you’ve got the perfect holiday side dish with minimal effort ! Every holiday meal must include sweet potatoes. When I’m in charge of Thanksgiving dinner, I often make side dish recipes such as Hasselback sweet potatoes , Ruth’s Chris sweet potato casserole , mashed sweet potatoes , or this sweet and decadent candied yams recipe....

This recipe for chicken primavera is seared chicken breasts served atop a lemon butter pasta with plenty of fresh vegetables. A spring time dinner that’s fit for any occasion! You can never go wrong with chicken pasta, I regularly make chicken parmesan pasta , chicken riggies and this light and delicious chicken primavera dish. It’s veggies all the time over here, I am so happy to breeze by the winter squash and potatoes at the store in favor of lighter offerings like asparagus and peas....

This Christmas punch is a blend of pomegranate, lime and cranberry, all mixed together into a fizzy beverage that’s perfect for any holiday party. A festive and refreshing drink that can easily be turned into a cocktail for the adults! I like to serve some fun drinks when I entertaining during the holidays – for a hot drink, I opt for slow cooker apple cider or homemade hot chocolate . For a cold drink, I serve this easy Christmas punch, and it always gets rave reviews....

This crab rangoon recipe is real crab meat mixed with cream cheese and seasonings, then folded into wontons and cooked to golden brown perfection. You can either bake or fry your crab rangoon for a restaurant quality result! I cannot resist the appetizers at my local Chinese restaurant. I always order sweet and sour pork , vegetable lo mein , homemade egg rolls , chicken lettuce wraps and these delicious crab rangoon....

This creamy pesto dip is a blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, basil pesto and seasonings that are combined to create a rich and creamy dip in just minutes. The easiest last minute appetizer option that pairs well with bread, veggies or can even be used on a sandwich or as a salad dressing. When I need a quick snack for entertaining, I turn to favorites such as fresh corn salsa , delicious eggplant baba ganoush , and this zesty and creamy pesto dip....

This cucumber tomato salad is full of fresh sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion and green peppers, all tossed in an herb dressing . The perfect light and refreshing side dish for any summer meal! Cucumber salad is a mainstay of summer parties. It’s inexpensive, easy to make and so refreshing on a hot day. My version is a mixture of cucumber, tomato, red onion and green bell pepper for an amazing combination of flavors and textures....

This dirty rice is a savory mix of sausage, peppers, celery, rice and spices, all cooked together to make a hearty and flavorful side dish. Serve Cajun rice as an accompaniment to chicken, seafood or pork, and watch the rave reviews come in! When I prepare our favorite Cajun style dishes such as blackened salmon and Cajun chicken , I often make a big pot of dirty rice to go on the side....

These fried apples are fresh apple wedges sauteed with butter, sugar and cinnamon until browned and tender. An easy side dish or dessert option that always gets rave reviews! When apples are in season I cook with them constantly. I make apple cobbler , baked apples , apple pie filling , apple cake , Jewish charoset and these simple yet satisfying Southern style fried apples. Serve your apples as a side dish recipe for pork chops, or spoon them over vanilla ice cream for a treat!...

This fruit pizza is a sugar cookie crust topped with cream cheese frosting and a variety of fresh fruit. A fun and easy dessert option that’s perfect for feeding a crowd! When I’m having a party, I often make some festive treats such as cake balls , chocolate covered pretzels , or this beautiful and delicious fruit pizza. It always gets rave reviews and you can customize it in so many different ways!...

These grilled shrimp skewers are shrimp marinated in garlic, lemon and herbs, then threaded onto sticks and cooked to perfection. Shrimp kabobs can be on your table in just 20 minutes, which makes them perfect for a busy night! Shrimp skewers are a simple yet satisfying dinner option. While I especially love these shrimp kabobs on the grill, they also can be broiled in the oven. I am all about grilling right now, and my family can’t get enough of these easy grilled shrimp skewers....

This homemade ranch dressing is a rich and creamy blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk and plenty of herbs and seasonings. This dressing is SO much better than the store bought kind and also happens to be super easy to make. In my opinion, when it comes to salad dressing, homemade is the way to go. Whether it’s Greek salad dressing , Asian salad dressing , Italian dressing , balsamic vinaigrette or ranch, the fresh versions have way more flavor....

This Instant Pot corned beef is pressure cooked until tender, then served with potatoes, cabbage and carrots in a garlic butter sauce. An easy one pot meal that’s great for St. Patrick’s Day or any other day of the year! When March rolls around, I always celebrate by making St. Patrick’s Day recipes such as colcannon , Irish soda bread , an Irish mule and this super easy and delicious pressure cooker corned beef....

This recipe for lemon thyme chicken is a one pan meal of tender chicken thighs, new potatoes and spring vegetables, all seasoned with a sweet and savory butter and roasted to perfection. The perfect quick and easy dinner option that the whole family will love! As the weather continues to warm up here in California we’ve been spending more and more time outside. Our backyard is perfect for entertaining and we’ve been inviting family and friends over for dinner every weekend....

This Mexican rice recipe is restaurant style rice simmered in tomato sauce and broth with plenty of spices. A quick and easy side dish that pairs perfectly with fajitas, tacos or carnitas, and makes a perfect filling for burritos. We eat Mexican food at least once a week in my house, some of our favorites include chile colorado , chicken fajitas , beef enchiladas and this super simple yet versatile Mexican rice....

This one pot chicken with tomato basil risotto is the perfect weeknight meal – the whole thing bakes in the oven in a single dish! Chicken thighs are paired with creamy pesto rice for an amazing flavor combination the whole family will love. Chicken thighs with rice is comfort food at its finest – this version is an Italian spin on the dish with a tomato basil rice that’s fresh and vibrant....

This penne alla vodka is tender penne pasta tossed in a rich and delicious tomato, vodka and cream sauce. Add a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and you’ll have a restaurant quality meal in the comfort of your own home. I always order penne alla vodka at my local Italian restaurant. That creamy and flavorful sauce just can’t be beat! Luckily it’s super easy to make pasta alla vodka – in 30 minutes you’ll have an amazing dinner on the table....

This shrimp ceviche recipe is fresh shrimp marinated with cucumber, red onions, cilantro, avocado and diced jalapenos. It takes just minutes to make and is full of bold and zesty flavors . Serve this shrimp ceviche as an appetizer or a light meal, it’s perfect for any occasion! I’m constantly looking for more ways to incorporate seafood into my family’s diet, I often make garlic butter shrimp , honey garlic salmon or ceviche for a quick and healthful dinner....

This slow cooker brisket is beef simmered with vegetables and seasonings in the crockpot until it is fall-apart tender. A simple yet satisfying comfort food classic that’s great for feeding a crowd! I love to use my slow cooker to cook meats such as slow cooker beef bourguignon , slow cooker pulled pork , slow cooker carnitas and this super flavorful brisket. This dish is great for busy weeknights, yet impressive enough to serve to guests....

This turkey brine recipe is flavored with apple, citrus, brown sugar, rosemary and spices. It’s the perfect way to guarantee a moist and flavorful turkey every time! Every cook’s biggest fear on Thanksgiving day is a dry turkey. A good brine does wonders for the flavor and consistency of the bird and helps to prevent it from drying out during the roasting process. I have the best turkey brine recipe for you....