Serves: 5–6Bake: 350°F for 40–45 minutes Fruit filling 2 pounds firm, ripe peaches, about 6–8 1 cup fresh blueberries 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup all-purpose flour Crumble topping 1 cup all-purpose flour ⅓ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup lightly packed brown sugar ½ teaspoon...
Category: Misc Tips and Topics
Easy Black Bean Salsa
This easy black bean salsa is fresh, colorful, and always a crowd-pleaser. It takes just a few minutes to make and works perfectly as an appetizer with tortilla chips or as a topping for tacos, grilled chicken, or salads. Ingredients Instructions 1. Pour the salsa into a medium serving bowl. 2. Add the drained and...
We Saw It on TikTok… Then We Made It Our Own
One of my favorite things about creating is that inspiration can come from anywhere. This time, it came from TikTok. My daughter-in-law sent me a first birthday photo board she found on TikTok and asked if we could make one for Hudson’s first birthday. Of course, the answer was yes. But I started thinking about...
LEMON POPPY SEED MADELEINE
I went to a French-inspired cooking class at Sur la Table in downtown Chicago with my friend, Chris — and we made the most delicious desserts. I had so much fun that I came home and made two of them on my own this week. The standout? Lemon Poppy Seed Madeleines. I have a thing...
Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas for Grandkids (Personalized & Budget-Friendly)
Six grands in the family. Many different ages. Lots of personalities. And zero bags of jelly beans. (The jelly beans were hard to give up!) This year’s Easter baskets were all about making it personal — starting with affordable Aldi baskets and filling them with things the grands will actually use, wear, and remember. A...
Easy Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches (Chicago-Style Slow Cooker Recipe)
This easy crockpot Italian beef recipe came from my sister Colby. It’s one of those simple meals that takes just a few ingredients and turns into something everyone loves. The chuck roast cooks in the crockpot with ranch seasoning, Italian dressing mix, beer, and giardiniera until it’s tender and easy to shred. Pile the beef...
Copycat Mariano’s Cranberry Orange Walnut Loaf Cake (Bakery-Style)
If you’ve ever picked up Mariano’s (fancy local grocery) cranberry orange walnut loaf cake from the bakery case and thought, I need to learn how to make this at home, this recipe is for you. This is not the quick bread version you’ll find on their website. This is the richer, dessert-style loaf cake you...
Marry Me Chicken Recipe (An Easy, Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner)
When you search Valentine’s Day dinner ideas, one recipe shows up again and again: Marry Me Chicken.Creamy. Cozy. A little fancy—but still totally doable on a weeknight. I finally tried it, using the version from Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman), and now I get the hype. It’s one of those meals that feels special...
Did You Know You Can Customize Colors on a Spoonflower Design?
I didn’t realize this at first, but many artists on Spoonflower are open to adjusting color in their designs. (Scale too!) When I started asking about customization, a designer shared a few tips from her side of the process—and those tips made everything go much more smoothly. Here’s what helped. Start With Clear Color Information...
The A-B-Cs of Design & Décor for 2026
A calmer, more meaningful way to create at home—without pressure. Over the past year, I’ve heard the same thing from so many friends: “My space feels tired.” “I have dated pieces.” “I want to make changes, but I don’t even know where to start.” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and the good news is,...









