Picture credit: Eating By Elaine Because everyone in the backyard deserves a cool treat, feathers included! Hot summer days call for cool treats. With a few simple ingredients, you can make dye-free snow cones for the kids and a chicken-friendly shaved ice treat for your flock! First, Why Dye-Free? Artificial food dyes are everywhere in store-bought snow cone syrups. Those neon-red, electric-blue, radioactive-green bottles are basically the firework show of the food colorin

Photo Credit: SunnyDaysNora I find myself standing in front of the refrigerator more often than not wondering what on earth I’m going to make for supper. Does anyone else do this? Haha. I do much better when I have a plan, but let’s be honest… sometimes that plan disappears somewhere between chores, errands and everyday life. That’s why I love recipes like this one. If you have leftover Easter ham, you likely already have most of these ingredients sitting in your fridge and c

Happy New Year, everyone! January has a way of making us think about getting back to healthy habits, especially during these long Minnesota winter weeks when simple, hearty meals are a lifesaver. What if most of us make eating healthy more complicated than it needs to be? Nutritious food can still be fun, it’s really about moderation and saying no to the “good things” that keep us from our best. I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions, but I do see January as a clean sl

I must be in my maraschino cherry phase. I don’t drink Diet Coke very often, but when I do, I always add a few maraschino cherries. Not...

Everyone stop what you’re doing! I am SO excited to share this super simple homemade mayonnaise recipe with you today. Why? Because it gave me a reason to finally use my immersion blender, and oh my goodness, it did not disappoint. My immersion blender and I became besties today. We whipped up the creamiest, dreamiest homemade mayo and it is absolutely delicious. Plus, it’s fast. I’m talking 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, that’s it! No preservatives, no weird fillers. Just clea

Photo Credit: Magnolia Kitchen Last week, it was -15°F in Minnesota, and today it’s 50°F. That's a 65-degree swing! Only in the Midwest, right? No matter the temp, when it’s chilly, soup is always on the menu. While we Minnesotans love a thick, hearty stew, sometimes you just want something light, warm and comforting. That’s where Egg Drop Soup comes in! I’ll admit, this soup used to intimidate me a little—something about pouring the eggs in just right made me hesitate. But g

Picture Credit: PKP Way Merry Christmas, everyone! Today, I’m excited to share one of my family’s favorite holiday recipes—our delicious chewy and gooey gingerbread cookies. They’re a classic treat, and baking them always reminds me of the incredible bakers in my family. When I cook, I just add things in here and there where I feel like it. But baking? Baking is a science, and my great grammas, grammas and mom have figured out how to get these cookies down pat. I love this re

I have the perfect side dish for you to bring to your next gathering! Sure, it’s easy to grab a bag of chips or cookies, but I promise this is just as simple and way healthier. Plus, everyone will be begging you for the recipe! Feel free to claim it as your own if you like—my gramma and I won’t mind! This dip recipe has been a family favorite for years. I remember going to my grandparents’ house as a kid, where gramma would be slicing apples and strawberries to serve with her

Are you guys ready for a super easy recipe for apple butter? Hurry up and go pick those apples hanging from your tree! Or if you don’t have apple trees, no problem. This old family recipe works great with store bought apples just as well. My family loves this apple butter, and I have no doubt yours will too. Plus, it’s a crockpot recipe! It doesn’t get any better than that. Your house will be filled with the scents of fall and your taste buds will do a happy dance. So, ro

Fall is in the air, and while I’ve been holding on to the last days of summer, it’s time to face the reality of sending the kids back to school. The lazy summer mornings, big breakfasts and spontaneous adventures are giving way to schedules, packed lunches and soccer and football games. But these are the years we’ll cherish as we raise our kids, and we’re embracing them! This fall is especially exciting for us—we have a son getting married, a daughter starting her senior year

Photo Credit: Sugar Maple Farmhouse Our family loves the 4th of July! Celebrating our country’s independence while hanging out with...

I have incredible memories of our kids’ birthday parties. One of my favorite memories is listening to my grandpa swoon over my baked beans! I can just hear him now. I miss him and think of him every time I make this yummy recipe. My Grandpa Bob and Gramma Lou We love to celebrate birthdays in my family, and whether it’s a party, a picnic or a potluck, I have an easy and delicious recipe for you! I throw mine in the crockpot for ease and virtually no thinking. Those are the r

I put this little basket together for our granddaughter. Happy Easter week everyone! Easter is one of my absolute favorite holidays. Being married to a pastor, Easter week is busy for us! So, I have to be on top of my “game” when it comes to Easter baskets, egg hunts and egg coloring. Growing up, my parents did a fantastic job with our baskets! They would be up early hiding our baskets, and we would have to find them. Every year they were a bit different, but exciting nonet

I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for healthy, simple meals to feed my family. We have had an unseasonably warm winter this...

Happy Valentine’s Day! I realize this is an unpopular holiday for some, but I’ve loved this holiday my whole life. I’ve always loved the...

Are you ready for my favorite ginger cookie on the planet? I have two favorite ginger cookies, but this one comes in at the top. The...

I wish you could smell my house right now! It smells like fall. With Thanksgiving right around the corner and the possibility that it might be your year to bring pies, I’m here for you! We're going to make an almost completely from scratch pumpkin pie today. Now, before you click off and move on to another recipe, remember you’re cooking with Annie. Haha! I keep things easy, and this will be no different. How to Make Pumpkin Puree If you’ve never roasted a pumpkin before, ple

It’s officially fall, and I couldn’t be more excited! Fall is my favorite time of year—crunchy leaves, beautiful colors, pumpkin spice everything and the winding down of our gardens. It’s all so cozy and comforting! If you’re like me, you may have a zucchini or two sitting on your counter, waiting for inspiration. I get it—sometimes we just don’t know what to do with another zucchini! Well, I’m here to help you out. A Family Favorite: Homemade Zucchini Bread A family favorite

I used to be the girl who’d see a word like “frittata” and just keep moving right along. I have shared so many times that I am not a...

My father-in-law is taking a spin on the giant slip-and-slide! We have hit the hot days of summer! With heat indexes into the hundreds,...