Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Isn't half the fun of carving a jack o'lantern roasting the seeds? Spiced with chili powder, these roasted pumpkin seeds are a delicious seasonal snack.

If you’re carving pumpkins in the next few weeks, don’t even think about tossing the seeds! These roasted pumpkin seeds are toasty, nutty, salty, and crunchy – a healthy autumn treat that’s just too good to miss. If you have kids, I think this recipe would be a great one to make with them. Half the work is separating the seeds from the squishy, slimy pumpkin flesh. In all honesty, I still have fun getting my hands messy doing it, so I can only imagine that it would be a blast for kiddos too. 🙂 How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Applesauce Cake

On a fall day, this applesauce cake really hits this spot. It's moist, tender, and warmly spiced. Add cream cheese frosting to take it over the top!

fall

Want to know how much I love this applesauce cake recipe? I made it four, that’s right, four times in two weeks. That’s a lot of applesauce cake! Well, it’s a lot of applesauce cake in theory, but in practice, it seems like a whole lot less. You snag a slice for breakfast, circle back later for an afternoon snack, and maybe reach for one or two more for dessert. By the end of the day, that first cake is almost gone, and by the end of the next, it’s completely vanished. What can I say? At this time of year,…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Homemade Chili Powder

The first time I tried this chili powder recipe, I knew I'd never get the store-bought kind again. It's flavorful, complex, and surprisingly easy to make.

cooking basics

It’s official: I’m never buying chili powder at the store again. This homemade chili powder is so much more flavorful, nuanced, and complex, and it’s not at all tricky to make, either. Toast some spices and dried chiles on the stove, whizz them up in a spice grinder, and voila! You’ll have made delicious homemade chili powder in under 10 minutes. I know I’ve mentioned Kite String Cantina a few times before, but I have to give them another shoutout here. They’re a bar in our neighborhood that serves amazing sauces and taquitos, and their signature chili seasoning (aka “Kite…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Instant Pot Black Beans

These no-soak Instant Pot black beans are so flavorful and easy to make! Serve them as a side dish, or add them to your favorite black bean recipes.

cooking basics

These Instant Pot black beans did something that I didn’t think was possible – they changed my mind about the Instant Pot. After I made them…and then rice…and then soup (recipes coming soon!), I went from being an Instant Pot skeptic to a total convert. It is so handy to be able to start cooking your beans/rice/whatever you’re making and then walk away, not having to worry about adjusting the heat on the stove or having a pot boil over. Plus, it does speed things along, at least in the case of these Instant Pot black beans. They cook up in…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Baked Apples

These baked apples are a simple, delicious fall dessert. The soft, juicy apples contrast beautifully with a crisp brown sugar and cinnamon topping.

fall / desserts

This baked apple recipe might be my ideal fall dessert. It’s simpler to make than apple pie, apple cake, or even apple crisp, but it checks all the same apple-y, cinnamon-y boxes. It also shows off the natural shape and color of the apples, which I really love. When I nestle a couple of these baked apples into a bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, they look so fresh and festive…and they taste amazing, too. I’ve made this baked apple recipe a few times this season already, and I’m still excited to make it a few more. If…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Apple Pie Spice

Why buy apple pie spice in a jar when you have all the ingredients to make it at home? This cozy autumn spice blend is delicious in crisps, pies, and more.

fall / cooking basics

The other week, I mixed up a big batch of this apple pie spice to make my baked apple recipe. I purposely made more than I needed, figuring it’d be handy to have around throughout the fall, but when I got done, I wondered if I’d made a mistake. I had…quite a bit of apple pie spice. Would I ever use it up? As it turns out, I had no reason to worry, because this apple pie spice is delicious in so many things. You can use it in pie, yes, but also in crisps, coffee, oatmeal, and more. I…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Air Fryer Onion Rings

These air fryer onion rings are such a fun appetizer or snack! They're crispy on the outside, tender in the middle, and filled with sweet onion flavor.

snacks & dips

If you’re looking to refresh your repertoire of game day snacks this fall, look no further: these air fryer onion rings are exactly what you need! They’re crispy on the outside, melty in the middle, and filled with sweet and savory onion flavor that will keep you coming back for more. In my opinion, they’re just as good, no, better, than regular onion rings, and they’re way less of a hassle to make at home. Fun, tasty, and fairly healthy, too, these air fryer onion rings are one of our new favorites. Air Fryer Onion Rings Recipe Ingredients This recipe…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

How to Make Vegetable Stock

Learn how to make vegetable stock! Perfect for using in soups, sauces, risottos, and more, this homemade broth is super flavorful and easy to make.

cooking basics

The other day, I was making vegetable stock with veggie odds and ends I’d accumulated throughout the week. As I stood in the kitchen, savoring the delicious aroma wafting from my stock pot, I realized that I had yet to share my method for how to make vegetable broth on the blog. I have over 80(!!) soup recipes on here, and another soup season is right around the corner. Suffice it to say, this vegetable stock recipe is long overdue. I’m so excited to share it today because I believe that vegetable stock is something that everyone can and should…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

San Marzano Pizza Sauce

This San Marzano pizza sauce is perfect for Margherita pizzas and more. Made with 5 simple ingredients, it's fresh, flavorful, and easy to make!

I love my classic pizza sauce recipe, but when I’m making a Margherita pizza or another Neapolitan-style pie, this San Marzano pizza sauce is a must. Made with 5 simple ingredients, this sauce is similar to pizza sauces I’ve enjoyed in Italy. It’s slightly thinner than typical American pizza sauce, and it has a sweeter, fresher flavor. Unsurprisingly, I love to make this sauce with San Marzano tomatoes. This variety of plum tomatoes is grown in a specific part of southern Italy near Naples, and it’s known worldwide for its sweetness, intensity, and mild acidity. It gives this easy, no-cook…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Jalapeño Cornbread

This sweet and spicy jalapeño cornbread recipe is a perfect side dish for soup or chili. Tip: slather your slice with honey butter to take it over the top!

This jalapeño cornbread recipe is a spiced-up riff on my regular homemade cornbread. I always love cornbread, but lately, I’ve been especially smitten with this jalapeño version. It’s tender, moist, and a little crumbly in the way that good cornbread should be. In addition to adding jalapeños, I mix in scallions and shredded cheddar cheese, making this jalapeño cornbread spicy, sweet, and savory all at once. Even Jack, who doesn’t typically like cornbread, goes nuts over this recipe. Heads up: you’ll want to save room for a second piece. Jalapeño Cornbread Recipe Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need to make this…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Honey Butter

This honey butter recipe is delicious on cornbread, dinner rolls, muffins, and more! With just 3 ingredients, it's creamy, flavorful, and easy to make.

Where has honey butter been all my life?! It’s light and fluffy, smooth and creamy, and filled with sweet, rich flavor. And it’s not just delicious – it’s easy to make, too! You only need 3 ingredients, 5 minutes, and some basic kitchen equipment to whip up this recipe. What are you waiting for? How to Make Honey Butter This recipe is SO darn simple to make. It starts with 3 basic ingredients: unsalted butter, honey, and sea salt. Let the butter come to room temperature before proceeding with the recipe. Many honey butter recipes ask you to use a…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.