Hope you had a good week!
One of the highlights of my week was the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship Monday night.
I’m not even a basketball fan and know nothing about the game, but it was super fun to watch and get excited about.

We also had dinner at my mother-in-law’s the other night because three of Kurt’s cousins were in town and his sister came for a visit as well. It was wonderful to see them all, and have some great conversation and laughs. ❤️

Tomorrow morning I’m going to go strawberry picking with my daughter, Emma. I LOVE strawberry picking!! I’m already looking forward to the Strawberry Shortcake I’ll be making for dessert tomorrow night. 😋 I’ll also be making some new strawberry recipes for the blogs, so watch for them in the next few months!

AI.
Since I discussed it last week, have you been more aware of pictures on social media, specifically Facebook (FB), that don’t look right and just look “off” or literally too good to be true?

I also came across this a couple weeks ago that someone had shared on FB. Apparently someone Googled cheese not sticking to pizza. So I did it, and this is what Google’s AI will tell you to do.

I really shouldn’t have to tell you this, but DO NOT put glue on your pizza in order to make cheese stick. Wow.

Let’s have some more fun this week with an AI generated photo of my ​Zucchini Casserole​.

OYE!!! Did you feel how hard my eyes rolled?
Ok, for one there are no red pepper rings in my recipe. How and why they added those are beyond me.
The fork looks a bit distorted, so that’s a dead giveaway that the picture is fake.
The shape of the avocado is one that I’ve never seen before.
And there are two tiny, tiny what I think are jalapeños next to it.
Oh, and that guy. Laying on a table, surrounded by food, with a casserole dish that just came out of the oven on top of him.
I. Just. Can’t.

Again, I ask that you be aware of the food photos you’re sharing on social media, and use recipes from trusted sites so you aren’t wasting your time or money on ingredients and instructions that won’t turn out.

Have a great week, my friend and keep those eyes open!
Hugs,

New Recipes This Week:

From ​Easy Recipes From Home​:

Make this light ​Cucumber Tomato Salad​ recipe as a refreshing side dish or garnish for your summer meals. The cool, crisp cucumbers combined with juicy tomatoes are just the beginning. Add in the crunch of the onions, the saltiness of the feta, and the tangy vinaigrette, and you have one heck of a salad!

Next time you have chicken on the menu, give my ​Easy Chicken Marinade​ recipe a try! It is a tantalizing combination of tang and spice that will elevate your taste buds to new heights. This recipe is the perfect balance of zesty orange and fiery ginger– the best chicken marinade recipe that will infuse every bite of otherwise boring chicken with a burst of bold flavors.

The arrival of summer means a rise in temperatures, so stay cool with these great ​Summer​​ Salad Recipes​ this season. A great and delicious dinner, side, and dessert don’t have to be made in the oven!

With peach season in full swing, I made these ​Peaches & Cream Dream Bars​. Totally light and airy, refreshing and no bake just like 99.9% of my other Dream Bar recipes. these will be a hit all summer long. And the best thing, you can make them all year because the recipe uses canned peaches!

Summer Recipes To Enjoy:

• This delicious ​Strawberry Banana Bread​ is a tasty twist on classic Banana Bread. This sweet bread is quick and easy to make, featuring juicy strawberries folded through the batter.
• These ​Frosted Oreo Cookies​ have a rich, chocolate cookie base topped with vanilla cream frosting! A copycat Crumbl cookie recipe that tastes even better than the ones from the bakery chain.
• This ​Griddle Cakes​ recipe has been in our family for generations and for good reason. There’s a secret ingredient makes them super delicious!
• This fast and ​Easy Chicken Salad​ with Greek yogurt, buttermilk, mustard, and a touch of hot sauce will become a summer staple. Enjoy it on picnics, for lunch and even dinner!
• ​Tater Tot Nachos​ are oven baked and loaded with homemade queso! Layers of gooey cheese, spicy jalapeño and tangy tomatoes turn frozen tater tots into amazing loaded totchos!
• Nothing gets a pool party started like pineapple and rum! This easy recipe for ​Piña Colada Jello Shots​ has all the pineapple, coconut and rum flavor of the classic tropical drink served as single serving shots!

Menu Plan This Week:

Sunday: ​Chocolate Covered Strawberry Dream Bars​

Monday: ​English Muffin Bread​

Tuesday: ​Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi​

Wednesday: ​S’Mores Milkshakes​

Thursday: ​Greek Quinoa Chicken Salad​

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: ​Strawberry Danish Hearts​

Favorite Product of the Week:

Shower caps. They sure do come in handy when you’re taking a shower and don’t want to get your hair wet, but I also use them for something else.
I bought a package of these disposable ones so I could place a couple in the welcome basket when we have guests spending the night. BUT, I also use them to cover bowls or dishes when I’m bringing something to a cookout or potluck. Super easy as the elastic easily clings to the outside of the bowl and stays secure. I also don’t have to worry about tin foil or plastic wrap coming off, and is convenient for recovering, too!
They’re also great when you’re eating outside and want to keep the flies and bugs away from the food. Since they’re clear, you can simply see what’s in the container. If you want to save some money, you can buy the reusable ones, and just wash them after each use. Know that they also have legit elastic bowl covers if you’d rather use those.

Tip of the Week:

I don’t know if you already do this, or have a container specifically for your compost, but I always place a large bowl on the counter in my prep area when I’m making a recipe. This bowl is the catch-all for vegetable peelings, squeezed lemons, herb stems, onion skins, egg shells or whatever else I discard while baking or cooking. It’s just so much easier than stepping over to the garbage (though the few extra steps can add up! haha) and saves me time, too. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

I’d love to hear any tips you have, and what has helped you be more efficient and organized in the kitchen! If you would be interested in sharing them with all of us, and if I choose to share them in our newsletter, I’ll give you a first-name shoutout! ❤️