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My younger daughter’s first birthday is just around the corner, and I’m excited! I made this warm ranch crack dip recipe with bacon and cream cheese for my other daughter’s party last month and it was a big hit. It’s definitely making an appearance again this time! What Is Crack Dip? I have no idea where crack dip with bacon originated. I’ve seen pictures floating around Pinterest for years, but don’t know who came up with it first....

Whenever I think of Summer cocktails, I think of Caipirinhas (Brazil’s national cocktail). The traditional Caipirinha is made with Cachaça (sugar cane hard liquor), lime, sugar and ice. But there are many variations regarding fruits and liquor. There’s the Caipiroska (that is the Vodka version), the not so popular Caipiríssima (the rum version) and there’s also my favorite: the Sakerinha (that is the sake version)! You can easily find them made with fruits like tangerine, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry, lemon, grapes, cashew fruit, mango, lichee and – of course – watermelon!...

All of this goodness rests in between two slices of chewy, grilled rye bread. Seriously, could it get any better? A Reuben sandwich is scrumptious all by itself, but there are some classic sides that will transform your sandwich into a savory feast. Wondering what to serve with Reuben sandwiches? We’ve got you covered. Ready your plates and your palates – here are 8 tasty side dishes that will take your meal from good to great!...

WOW, WOW, WOW. I could never have reached this milestone without you. In May 2012, I started this little corner of the internet to keep my family updated on our adventures in a new city and occasionally share what I was cooking in our attempt to survive on a grad school budget in a 55- square-foot apartment. If you had told me back then that: I’d leave my full-time consulting job to purse blogging as a career....

FavoritePinShare 1-hour rolls are the perfect solution for making fresh bread in a pinch! This easy and delicious roll recipe will become your new favorite, just in time for the holidays! Homemade bread is a necessity for all of your holiday dinners! Want something sweet? Try my amazing Hawaiian sweet rolls. Savory? Pretzel rolls! And for that perfect in-between buttery goodness, go for my perfect dinner rolls! Easy and Delicious One Hour Roll Recipe This time of year has so much going on....

Do you have a favorite way to cook shrimp? I’ve been loving this mango and shrimp Thai red curry recently. If you like your seafood with a kick, I can’t recommend shrimp Okonomiyaki enough. It’s the perfect balance of flavors and textures, and I like it with lots of Sriracha on top. But if you want crispy, you have to try the super simple shrimp tempura. Which is your favorite?...

I don’t know what it is, but something about Kahlua makes me feel a little bit fancy whenever I have it. Maybe it’s because it’s something typically ordered as a treat at a restaurant. Or maybe it’s because I remember my parents adding it to their coffee after dinner when I was a kid. Whatever the case, I love trying out new Kahlua recipes at home, especially when I’m having guests over for dinner....

Scotland is famous for its scenic views, but that’s not all. Just as its breath-taking highlands, hills, and lochs are a must-see, its desserts are also a must-try. Did you know that the scrumptious shortbread originated in Scotland? Made with a blend of butter and vegetable shortening, the Scottish shortbread has a lovely combination of crispy, crunchy, buttery, and crumbly textures. If that made your mouth water, well, brace yourself for more!...

And if you’re not already a fan, you certainly will be after trying these 15 Captain Morgan drinks. Many of the cocktails on this list are sweet and tropical. A few have a bit of tartness or tanginess to them, but for the most part, they’re ideal for Island vacations. That’s because rum – both light and dark – has a sweet, mild flavor that blends well with most ingredients, particularly sweet, tropical ones....

Cheese is one of those almost universally loved foods, and you can do so much with it. From dips to breadsticks to mini-pizzas and more, cheese is incredibly versatile, and most people would agree that you can never have too much of it. It tastes great with bread, fruit, meat, veggies, and practically everything else, so it’s easy to find plenty of phenomenal cheese snack recipes. The hard part is narrowing them down and selecting the best ones....

Mezcal is a unique agave spirit that’s part smoky, part sweet, and 100 percent delicious. Odds are you’re very familiar with Mezcal’s sister spirit, tequila. But there’s a difference between the two. Tequila is only distilled from the blue agave plant in very specific regions of Mexico. Mezcal, on the other hand, comes from over 30 varieties of agave. Like tequila, you can sip on mezcal straight up or enjoy it in an alluring cocktail....

Everyone knows that lavender makes a lovely spray and an effective essential oil. But did you know you can add it to sweet treats and drinks too? Lavender is fresh, somewhat minty, and tastes similar to rosemary in many ways. So if you like a sprig of something herby in your gin cocktails, I think you’ll enjoy these lovely lavender recipes. 1. Lavender Earl Grey Cookies Aren’t these cookies the most adorable things?...

If you’re worried that these will lack flavor and substance without the meat, let me tell you – these burgers are fantastic! In fact, I would even say that some of these vegan burger recipes are better than traditional burgers! If you live a vegan lifestyle, you’ll love them all. And if you’re just curious about meatless meals, this is a great place to start. These burgers are hearty and so jam-packed with flavor that even hardcore meat lovers will reach for seconds....

I know not everyone is super keen on beets. But when you dress them up with fresh and bright salad fixings, there’s no denying how great they can be. Raw or roasted, their sweet earthiness and gorgeous hue add a burst of color to any type of salad. Whether you’re going with classic leafy greens or a bed of citrus fruits, beets are the dazzling delights your salads need. 1....

Whether you’re finishing the meal or sneaking an afternoon treat, you can’t go wrong with these sundaes! There’s no need to go fancy with desserts. The flexibility of sundaes makes them perfect for all sweet lovers. Drizzle them with hot fudge, sprinkle them with crumbled Oreos, or freshen them with mango! You can make your sundae any way you please. Grab your spoon and dig into these 20 scrumptious ice cream sundae recipes....

A staple of Asian cooking, the wok is believed to have originated in China around 2,000 years ago – making it probably the oldest piece of equipment in your kitchen. It’s stayed popular throughout the centuries thanks to its durability and effectiveness. The wok isn’t just one of the most ancient kitchen tools, it’s also one of the easiest. It doesn’t get much simpler than dumping ingredients into a pan and stir-frying....

Over the years, though, my bell pepper repertoire has expanded, and now I have quite the collection of delicious, savory bell pepper recipes. Bell peppers are excellent because they give you all the wonderful flavor of peppers but without all the heat, which many people just can’t handle. Another great thing about bell peppers is that you can find them in such a spectacular array of colors! So if you’re looking for something vibrant to give you a dose of earthy yumminess, these bell pepper recipes are just what you need....

A French word for finger foods, canapes are basically fancy appetizers. It doesn’t get much fancier (or delicious!) than these impressive and inventive recipes. You can eat these snackable, scrumptious treats in one bite. Serve them around at parties for the ultimate hors d’oeuvres, or just make a bunch for brunch. There are canape recipes for all occasions! There are a lot of delightful options here, no matter your food preferences or dietary needs....

Be it a birthday bash or Fourth of July feast, these sweet treats are the bombe. As a kid, there was no better birthday surprise than a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. And as an adult, I still love them because they’re simply amazing. There’s just SO many choices with endless flavor combinations. You can add sponge cake, curds, ganache, cookies, and more! So say goodbye to the line at the DQ because I have 20 fantastic ice cream cake recipes for you to try....