Where Did Cucumber Sandwiches Originate? 

Cucumber sandwiches are often thought of as an English tradition. So, you might be surprised to learn that they were originally created in India. From there, they spread to China, the Middle East, and Europe. 

It is said that the sandwiches were created by British colonists in India who were trying to find foods that would fill their bellies and relieve them from the intense heat. The sandwiches then made their way back to England and became a staple component of Victorian-era high teas. 

Today, they remain a popular recipe and are enjoyed all over the world. Quick, easy, and delicious, it’s not hard to see why they have been enjoyed for thousands of years. I’ll show you how to make them in minutes for the perfect snack, appetizer, or light lunch! 

Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

So what is "marry me chicken" anyway? It's said that this popular chicken dish is so good your partner will be asking for a marriage proposal after tasting it.

Of course that's just an over the top statement that's just a joke, but its name is basically saying this is one of the tastiest chicken recipes you'll make. It's simply creamy sun dried tomato chicken but that title just doesn't do it justice.

It comes together quickly and doesn't require a hot oven, chicken breasts are just quickly cooked on the stove and finished with the best pan sauce.

Those sun dried tomatoes bring bold, concentrated tomato-y flavor and the cream balances it perfectly. And let's not forget to mention there's also a fair amount of garlic and parmesan included in the sauce as well to really build up layer after layer of flavor.

In other words no more boring chicken dinners! This sun dried tomato chicken sets the bar high.

Watch the Video!

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What Goes with Marry Me Chicken

I recommend serving this with:

• Pasta, I like it with lemon orzo or plain orzo
• White rice or risotto
• Steamed or roasted asparagus or broccoli
• Fresh rustic bread or breadsticks

An upgraded coleslaw that's crunchy, fresh and delicious. Made with cabbage, apples, cranberries and almonds and it's all coated in sweet and tangy dressing. It's the perfect side for BBQ's, parties or picnics!

Apple Slaw Recipe

Who doesn't love coleslaw? It's crunchy, it's creamy, it has just enough sweetness, and it goes with just about anything. It's always quick to be polished off.

Here you get the perfect blend of textures and flavors with the mix-in additions of apples, cranberries, almonds and optional cheese. And it's covered in a more wholesome, lighter Greek yogurt dressing (versus a classic coleslaw dressing that has as much as a cup of mayonnaise in it).

This apple slaw recipe has a pleasant mild flavor to it, but if you'd like a more pronounced flavor you can add in a tablespoon of dijon mustard to the dressing.

And if you want to skip a step and go with a shortcut, you can use a coleslaw mix in place of the shredded cabbage and carrots. Also just chop the apples instead of getting paticular and cutting into matchsticks to save time.

I think it's time for pulled pork or pulled chicken sandwiches this week for dinner, don't you? And then of course this homemade coleslaw to go with it!

Homemade Banana Pudding

This banana pudding recipe has it all. The pudding is made with half and half for richness, egg yolks and cornstarch for a sure thickening, just the right amount of sweetness, and to fancy it up we add a vanilla bean and fresh grated nutmeg for flavor.

Then it includes a generous amount of just ripened bananas, and of course those simple but ever so nostalgic store-bought vanilla wafers. And no baking required.

It's as good as it gets!

This is a year round dessert that's perfect for a holiday celebration, a welcome addition to a weekend dinner, or just because you want a treat yourself kind of indulgence today.

Serve it up laid back casserole style in a baking dish or make it more elegant and serve in individual tumblers or dessert cups.

Have family or friends help with this fun layered cooking project that once complete is amazingly refreshing and satisfying with each and every bite!

The BEST Smothered Chicken

While this may not be a traditional smothered chicken like you'll find in the South, this is my idea of something even better!

It's easy to prepare and it has the most delicious blend of fresh flavors. It's like a BLT sandwich transformed into a crave-able chicken dish.

One change here however is that we do substitute spinach for the traditional lettuce, the "L" of BLT. This is because lettuce wouldn't hold up well to cooking and doesn't have near as much flavor as spinach. Soggy lettuce, no thanks.

I'm nearly certain this is one of those entrees that will wow your family and friends. That's basically a given right? Because it includes bacon!

I recommend pairing this with pasta of sorts, we like this lemon orzo. Then also steamed asparagus is a nutritious and colorful pairing.

Loaded Salmon Rice Bowl

These salmon rice bowls are loaded with the works! It's an abundance of fresh ingredients all piled together in one bowl for maximum flavor.

You get a harmonious blend of various textures, an exciting combination of flavors that all highlight each other perfectly, and there's a visually pleasing variety of vibrant color.

It's made up of nutritious ingredients and it's such a filling dish. I'm a white rice fan lately but you can easily swap white jasmine rice for brown rice (regular, short grain, or jasmine brown rice) or quinoa.

I've also listed other various substitutes to use in this dish based on what you have on hand (see ideas below).

This is one to add to the dinner rotation, it's incredibly delicious!

What is Chicken Cordon Bleu?

Cordon Bleu is a dish with Swiss origin that is a derivative of schnitzel.

Chicken cordon bleu specifically is made of chicken that has been pounded thin, layered with ham slices, and topped with Swiss cheese. They layers are rolled snug or folded over, after which it's breaded with flour, egg and dried breadcrumbs. And to cook it's and either pan fried or baked.

In the United States it was a dish that was very popular between the 60's and 70's. In my experience as a kid growing up in the 90's I commonly remember chicken cordon bleu casserole which was a simplified version (which wasn't quite as good, but mimicked the same flavors).

You can serve it whole (note in this recipe though you'll only get four servings if doing so), or you can slice and layer them on a platter domino style. I prefer the later as you'll get more servings and presentation is eye catching with those pretty swirls.

And the creamy honey mustard sauce, which I believe is a staple to the dish, should be poured over each individual servings right before it's served (so the breading doesn't get soft, because that crispy crunch is a crowning finish!).

This dish is perfect for entertaining or for the holidays. It may be a little bit of extra effort but very well worth it!

The Best Ricotta Cookies Recipe!

Our favorite ricotta cookies! They're easy to make and they're always consistently delicious.

They're so good that you can never stop at just one.

The ricotta cookie dough can be made two days in advance so it's a great make ahead recipe. Plus it makes a huge batch of cookies so they're great for celebrations and gifting.

You'll love their lightly lemony flavor, the melt-in-your-mouth texture and that sweet and simple icing finish. And if you want a little contrast finish them with crunchy sugar sprinkles which also adds a pretty and festive pop of color.

Easy Crockpot Mac and Cheese!

This is hands the absolute easiest way to make macaroni and cheese! And believe it or not and it's unbelievably creamy, no broken curdled sauce, and the taste is simply perfect.

My tricks to a good crockpot mac and cheese are to use a combination of cream, water, and evaporated milk - instead of regular milk so it doesn't curdle. Then also waiting until closer to the end to add the cheese so that doesn't overheat and separate.

And another important key is to use a combination of cheeses for great flavor and texture. Sharp cheddar builds up the best traditional macaroni and cheese flavor, while each American cheese and Monterey Jack cheese create a velvety sauce.

The starches of cooking everything together in one pot (or slow cooker insert technically) also helps create a smooth sauce.

This is a family favorite! It has a well balanced flavor that isn't too harsh so people of all ages love it, and the cook will love the ease of preparation.

It's jam packed flavorful goodness in every bite and undoubtedly worthy of the holidays, but yet simple enough for a weeknight side dish!

Watch the Video!

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Breakfast Egg Muffins

Welcome to what may likely be your new go-to breakfast! Our family loves these egg muffins for a quick before school and work breakfast (we serve them with freezer friendly healthy blueberry muffins or oat flour pancakes with blueberry syrup).

They are a nutritious option to start out the day, and there are countless ways you can make them by swapping in your favorite mix-in blends (see some ideas below).

They also store well in the fridge and freezer making them such a tasty make-ahead side dish. In other words it’s a good time to swap out those boring granola bars for this flavorful homemade breakfast instead!