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Pasta with Sausage and Peppers

Pasta with Sausage and Peppers

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Turn the classic combination of sausage and peppers into an easy weeknight pasta dinner!

Choose your favorite sausage and your favorite pasta, then add some peppers and onions and you have a hearty dinner that everyone loves!

Ready in under 30 minutes, this will become your go to weeknight dinner!

Gray bowl filled with pasta, sausage and peppers and topped with grated cheese.

Even though I am retired from teaching, I still appreciate an easy weeknight dinner. One that I can make without thinking. One that I can have on the table in under 30 minutes.

I make some variation of this simple pasta recipe almost every week.

Sometimes we're in the mood for spicy and I use spicy Italian sausage. Sometimes red bell peppers go on sale and I use them instead of green.

So many variations to this sausage and peppers pasta!

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9 Berry Delicious Breakfast Recipes for Your Best Morning!

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and now you can make that meal even more delicious with these fruity berry breakfast recipes! 

We've collected 9 of our favorite breakfast recipes featuring healthy, colorful berries.  You can make these using fresh summer berries or make them all year long with frozen berries! 

With creamy smoothie recipes, easy Instant Pot recipes and even a luscious overnight baked French toast recipe there is something for everyone!  You'll want to try them all! 

Photo collage of berry breakfasts.

Who says breakfast has to be boring! Put aside that slice of toast or that stale granola bar, we have a collection of berry breakfasts recipes for a berry delicious breakfast (I couldn't help myself.)

Whether you are looking for a quick grab and go smoothie recipe, a hearty Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe or even a company worthy French toast bake, we've got you covered!

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Pansy Flower Simple Syrup

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Add a soft floral flavor and a pretty color to your cocktails and mocktails with this Pansy Simple Syrup.

I used pansies for this flower simple syrup, but you could use other edible flowers. The syrup's color will depend on the color of your petals!

Not only is this great for cocktails, mocktails and other beverages, but it's lovely drizzled on fresh fruit or baked desserts!

Bottle filled with bright yellow liquid with tag reading pansy simple syrup.

I am a huge fan of simple syrups. I love them. Well, really I love infusions and simple syrups are one of my favorite infusions to make.

You can instantly change the whole feel of a cocktail with a flavored simple syrup. They are also lovely stirred into teas and drizzled over yogurt or pound cakes.

So, when I won some edible flowers from Gourmet Sweet Botanicals, the first thing I made was Hibiscus Vodka. The next thing I made was this pansy simple syrup.

Easy to make, with a soft floral flavor and a lovely color!

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Pasta with Zucchini, Raisins and Walnuts

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This Pasta with Zucchini, Walnuts and Raisins is the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner!

In the time it takes for the pasta to cook, you can make the quick and flavorful zucchini sauce.

With crisp tender zucchini, sweet raisins and crunchy walnuts, this is a meatless dinner on the table in under 30 minutes that everyone loves!

Bowl filled with pasta and pieces of zucchini, raisins and walnuts.

So, it is definitely zucchini season around here! Between our CSA and other zucchini that we picked up at the Farmer's Market, I had almost one produce drawer full of zucchini!

I've been pickling it and freezing it cubed to use in soups.

Then I remembered that I'm trying to go back and remake and update old blog posts. I have so many posts that don't have a recipe card or even photos.

I found this Pasta with Zucchini, Walnuts and Raisins from Real Simple that I originally made in August 2010. I loved it because school had started back and I needed quick, easy and delicious dinners.

This was everything I hoped it would be. Quick, easy, delicious. The best part is that it's even better the next day, so make enough for leftovers!

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Rich and Creamy Piña Colada Sherbet

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This Piña Colada Sherbet is the perfect grown up frozen treat!

Fresh juicy pineapple, coconut milk, sugar, lime juice and little bit of rum, make this the cocktail you eat with a spoon!

Sweet and creamy and full of luscious tropical flavors! It's the perfect dessert!

Two sundae glasses filled with a bright yellow sherbet.

Our favorite dessert when the weather is hot and even when it's not (I've sat on the couch with a blanket wrapped around me while I ate ice cream in the middle of winter) is some sort of frozen treat.

I love them all. From sorbets, to sherbets to frozen yogurt.

Did you know that sorbets only contain fruit and a sweetener?

Sherbets contain fruit, a sweetener and a little fat.

So this fruity pineapple dessert is a sherbet. It has a small amount of fat, from creamy coconut milk.

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10 Amazing Salad Recipes with Fresh Tomatoes!

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The best way to celebrate summer is by enjoying everything the season has to offer! One of the joys of summer is fresh tomatoes.

There is nothing quite like a perfectly ripe tomato. Sweet and juicy.

I've put together a collection of some of my favorite tomato salads or salads with fresh tomatoes.

While a lot of these call for fresh summer tomatoes, there are several that you can make all year long with cherry tomatoes from the grocery store.

Collage of tomato recipes with text reading "10 tasty summer salads with fresh tomatoes."

If you are sitting looking at the basket of fresh tomatoes on your counter, you have come to the right place!

I have a collection of 10 tasty summer salads with fresh tomatoes! Everything from main dish salads to side dishes.

Some you'll make all summer long and some you can make all year round with cherry tomatoes from the grocery store.

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Gin Basil Smash

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This Gin Basil Smash is the easy summer cocktail you've been waiting for!   It is so easy and refreshing!  

Gin, already herby, pairs beautifully with basil.   

All you need to make this easy cocktail is gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and basil!  

Two cocktail glasses filled with a pale green cocktail garnished with basil leaves.

My basil is flourishing this year. I think because I'm growing it in pots and I have an easier time keeping it watered and tended to.

I've made batches of pesto and froze it. But I still had plenty of basil.

I love smash cocktails - which are basically cocktails made with muddled fruit or herbs. I remembered reading about a cocktail called a Gin Basil Smash.

The result is a lovely pale green cocktail, with a soft herbal flavor. Really refreshing!

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Italian Style Garden Pickles (Giardiniera)

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Everyone needs to have a jar of these Italian Garden Pickles (also known as giardiniera) in their fridge at all times!

They are so easy to make and just get better and better as they sit in the fridge.

Crisp and tangy, they are perfect as an appetizer, quick side dish, lovely on a charcuterie board.

Large jar filled with pickled vegetables, like cauliflower and sprigs of rosemary.

I know I probably say this too often, but these Italian Garden Pickles are my favorite! Really if you only make one pickle this year (and that's crazy, because you should have jars and jars like me) this is the pickle to make.

It's also called giardiniera, which I believe means "from the garden." They are a delightful way to preserve whatever is flourishing in your garden right now.

A little sweet, a little spicy and a whole lot of deliciousness!

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Easiest Rustic Peach Tart

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Whether you call this a Peach Tart or a Peach Galette, you will definitely call it delicious! 

Fresh summer peaches and an easy rustic crust are the perfect dessert.  Top with vanilla ice cream for an extra treat!

Even if you think you are not a baker, you can make this tart! The dough comes together in minutes in the food processor!

Two plates with a slice of peach tart and a scoop of ice cream on top!

Easiest pastry crust!

I've come on here many times saying that I don't bake.  I usually say this on a post where I obviously did bake.  Perhaps what I should say is that I rarely bake, because baking terrifies me.  

I can count on one hand the number of pie crusts that I have made.  Actually I can count on one finger the number of pie crusts that I have made.

If I had known that I could make a delicious pastry crust in my food processor in minutes, I would have baked more!

Really, even if you don't consider yourself a baker, you can make this rustic peach tart!

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Classic Cucumber Dill Salad

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This cucumber dill salad is the cucumber salad I grew up eating all summer long.  After making it, I can see why my grandma made it all the time.  It's so easy.

Fresh cucumbers in a simple vinaigrette with fresh dill.  It's doesn't get much simpler than that. 

This is the summer side dish that goes with everything and is ready in about 20 minutes! 

Bowl of sliced cucumbers with dill.

I've been getting a little nostalgic lately. Perhaps it's getting older, perhaps it's the crazy summer we've been having.

Craving the foods I grew up eating. Simple, comforting foods.

Like this dill cucumber salad. We had this all the time in the summer. Sometimes with onions, sometimes a creamy version (recipe coming soon.)

Today's recipe is the salad in it's simplest form. It comes together in minutes and goes with everything.

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9 Grilled Chicken Breast Recipes to Have You Firing Up the Grill!

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Are you looking for some easy, yet flavorful ways to grill boneless, skinless chicken breasts?

Aren't we all?

This collection is some of our favorite recipes for grilling chicken breasts. We have everything from simple lemon grilled chicken breasts, to chicken skewers to chicken finished with a sauce or salsa.

Sit back, browse the recipes and fire up the grill!

Photo collage with grilled chicken breasts.
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Mint Lemon Simple Syrup

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This Mint Lemon Simple Syrup is one of the most versatile simple syrups that you can make!

You can use this in any cocktail, it's especially nice in those that already call for mint, lemon juice or simple syrup. However, I've been stirring it into a gin and tonic and love it!

It's also wonderful stirred into ice tea! You can make a pitcher of plain unsweetened tea and allow anyone who wants to, to stir in a spoon or two of this syrup. Perfectly sweet with a hint of mint and lemon!

Bottle of pale green liquid, labeled Mint Lemon Simple Syrup.

I make no secret of my love of simple syrups. They are such a quick and easy way to up your cocktail game.

There are always at least 2 or 3 different syrups in my fridge at all times.

I use them in cocktails, stir them into tea, drizzle them on ice cream and fresh fruit. The possibilities are endless.

This Mint Lemon Simple syrup is definitely one of the most versatile. I love it!

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Easy Grilled Chicken Skewers

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Whether you call these chicken skewers, chicken kebabs or chicken kabobs, you need to call these dinner tonight!

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts get a quick rest in a Greek inspired marinade featuring lemon juice and olive oil before being threaded on skewers and quickly grilled.

They come out golden on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside.

Grilled chicken skewers on a metal cookie sheet.

Some of you may be coming here looking for the old post which was titled Grilled Chicken Skewers with Mint and Lemon Dressing.

It was basically a post containing three recipes. These grilled chicken skewers, a tomato salad and a mint lemon dressing.

Since I regularly use all the different recipes, not only just together, I've split them into 3 posts. The tomato salad, which is linked above and the mint lemon dressing (coming soon) and these chicken skewers.

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Parsley Tomato Salad

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If you're looking for an incredible easy salad to use up summer's bounty of tomatoes, this Tomato, Parsley and Red Onion Salad is for you! 

Tomatoes, parsley and red onions are tossed with a simple lemon juice and olive oil vinaigrette for a quick and easy salad side dish that everyone loves. 

It's especially nice in the summer with fresh tomatoes from your garden or farmer's market, but we also love it in the winter with roma tomatoes or cherry tomatoes from the grocery store.

Glass bowl filled with a tomato salad with parsley and red onions visible.

Our farmer's market has been giving us the most gorgeous tomatoes lately.

Even after using them in this Caprese Salad, I still had more tomatoes to use.

I wanted to make something quick and easy that I could turn to time and time again.

This tomato salad is the answer. We've already had it three more times!

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9 Blackberry Cocktails that are Bursting with Flavor!

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You are going to love our collection of blackberry cocktails! There is something about the sweetness of blackberries that pairs so beautifully with so many liquors.

These cocktails are fruity and delicious and sure to impress your friends! 

Photo collage of blackberry cocktails.

I love using fresh fruit in cocktails. It not only brings such a lovely flavor to them, but usually a gorgeous color too!

You can turn almost any cocktail into a fun, fruity cocktail with hardly any extra work!

I've gathered up some of my favorite blackberry cocktails! Perfect for blackberry season, or any time your store has blackberries on sale.

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Hibiscus Martini

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This hibiscus martini is pretty, pink, floral and delicious! Made with homemade hibiscus vodka and vermouth, it is so easy to make and so heavenly to sip!

Pale pink cocktail with a hibiscus flower garnish.

Did you see my Hibiscus Vodka from last week?

Well, I am back this week with the hibiscus martini that I made using the vodka.

Just look at it! I think it's my prettiest cocktail ever! And, yes, I do judge a cocktail by how pretty it is - that's why I have a round up of Pretty Pink Cocktails!

Besides it's gorgeous pale pink color this martini is delicious, with a soft floral flavor.

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Tarragon Butter

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You always want to have some of this tarragon compound butter in the freezer.  A pat or two on fish or chicken and it goes from ho-hum to wow!  Rub some under the skin of chicken before grilling or roasting and it is so juicy and flavorful!  

White platter with sliced herbed butter.

I love tarragon. The soft anise flavor goes so well with fish and chicken.

One of my favorite ways to preserve the flavor of fresh tarragon to use all year round is with my tarragon vinegar. I love it.

After reading a chapter on compound butter in a recent cookbook (yes, I read cookbooks like novels) I thought...what a great way to preserve some of my herbs.

The first one I tried was this tarragon butter.

I was roasting a chicken that night and pushed some up under the skin on the breast and the thighs. Best. Chicken. Ever.

Let's just say, I now have 3 logs of this flavorful butter in my freezer!

Read on to see how easy it is to make, so you can stock your freezer too!

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Easy Three Bean Salad

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The Easy Three Bean Salad is one that you'll make all year long! With cannellini beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, red onion and an easy vinaigrette.

Bean salad in a bowl on top of checkered table cloth.

I know what you're thinking.

Where are the green beans and the wax beans?

I know. But you won't miss them in this even easier salad! When making the classic 3 bean salad, you had to either use fresh green beans and cook them a bit or use canned.

This version uses all canned beans making it perfect year round!

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How to Make Hibiscus Vodka

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Hibiscus Vodka has such a lovely soft floral flavor and is ready in about 8 hours!  I used red petals to make a lovely pink vodka that makes the prettiest cocktails! 

Bottle filled with soft pink liquid with a label reading Hibiscus Vodka.

So a few weeks ago, I won an Instagram contest! One of the prizes was an amazing collection of edible flowers and herbs from Gourmet Sweet Botanicals!

There were pansies, hibiscus, star flowers and more!! I immediately started thinking of all the ways that I could use them!

It was a busy 3 or 4 days since I wanted to use the petals while they were fresh and gorgeous!

Up first was this hibiscus vodka. You know how much I love infusions and believe me this one is a keeper!

It's ready in about 8 hours and just look at that gorgeous color!

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Homemade Basil Vinegar

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You don't have to say good bye to the lovely summer flavor of basil! Just make an easy infused basil vinegar (time does most of the work) and you can have the fresh taste of summer all year long!

Bottle filled with liquid and labeled Basil Vinegar.

We are in peak of basil season around here. I love it and grow pots, pots and more pots of it! If you haven't read my post on rooting it and making more basil from a single basil plant, read this - Basil Cuttings in Water.

One of my favorite things to do with basil, besides pesto, is an herb vinegar. At the end of summer, I usually have at least a couple of bottles of basil vinegar in my pantry.

In the middle of winter, I buy cherry tomatoes, dice them (sometimes roast them) and drizzle this vinegar over them. One whiff and it's like your back in the sunny days of summer.

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Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad (Caprese Salad)

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This simple salad of tomato, basil and mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil and salt and pepper is also known as Insalata Caprese. Whatever you call it, you'll definitely call it delicious!

Tomato, mozzarella, and basil leaves layered in a tart dish.

Insalata Caprese. Those two words make me sigh in a wonderful, contented manner. I don't even know what they mean, though a quick trip around the net, tells me know that they mean, salad in the style of Capri. Oh, Capri, I've never been, but I obviously love you.

I have been making this salad ever since I first stumbled upon it in 2008. It's been sitting here on my blog all that time without a recipe card or a photo!

Probably because it's hardly a recipe. You basically make a salad of tomato, basil and mozzarella. The first time I make it each year, with summer's fresh tomatoes, it's like I officially welcome summer with this salad.

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Basil Gimlet Cocktail

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If you are looking for an easy and refreshing cocktail that is bursting with flavor, this Basil Gimlet needs to be on your list!  So easy to make, all you need is lime juice, gin, simple syrup and basil!  So cool and elegant and the perfect way to highlight basils fresh flavor! 

Two light green cocktails in a coupe glass on a mirrored surface.

People. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I have a new favorite cocktail. Yes, a gin and tonic is always going to have a big place in my heart, but a gimlet is rapidly becoming my favorite!

A gimlet at it's most basic is simply two parts gin to one part lime juice (traditionally Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice.).

The best part about it, besides it's utter simplicity, is that it's so easy to modify it.

In this case, my basil is flourishing and I was in the mood for a basil cocktail. Just add an extra step of muddling some basil with the lime and the simple syrup and boom, you have an amazing cocktail!

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7 Fruit Popsicles to Get You Through The Summer!

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Nothing is more refreshing than a homemade fruit popsicle in the summer!  This collection gives you 7 yummy recipes to choose from!  Everything from raspberry yogurt to even a grown up Piña Colada popsicle!  Something for everyone!

Collage of fruit popsicles with text reading easy and delicious fruit popsicles.

My favorite part of summer is fun frozen treats and it doesn't get much more fun than fruity popsicles.

Delightful fruit popsicles that you can easily make at home!

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Mixed Berry Crisp

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Summer berries really shine in this mixed berry crisp!  Fruity and sweet, especially yummy when topped with vanilla ice cream.  This is the perfect summer dessert, so easy!  Use whatever berries you have, we used strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries! 

Berry dessert topped with vanilla ice cream on a white plate.

Whenever summer berries go on sale or show up at the farmer's market, I buy as much as I can. The season is so fleeting, especially with delicate berries like raspberries.

I made Raspberry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt and Strawberry Chia Jam, but still every time I opened the fridge, my berry cartons took up almost half a shelf!

I had an assortment of berries left in each carton, what I needed was a recipe to finish all the berries left in my fridge.

Crisps are one of my favorite ways to use fresh fruit, so how about a mixed berry crisp!

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