Dinner at the Zoo

AKA prep and plan day for me… or at least that’s what I try to do. I’m going to be honest, there are a lot of Sundays that I never get it all done and because of that my week is a little frazzled. Anyone else in the same boat? I feel like I cannot be alone in this, so today I am hoping to help everyone out and remind you all of my favorite one pot recipes on the site....

Like we’re talking negative temps and icy cold snow, but hey, it sure is beautiful. PLUS, cold temps just mean it’s time for cozy winter food that’s gonna warm ya right up. Yeah!! Seeing as it is January though, I picked a few of my favorite HEALTHIER comfort foods. You know, because I want to help everyone stick to those New Years resolutions. Which by the way, did any of you make any fun resolutions?...

The holidays are coming up and part of the fun is all the amazing food! I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive list of recipes that are fit for any special occasion. It’s honestly so hard for me to narrow down what recipes I want to make every time the holidays roll around. There are so many amazing festive recipes that I wish I could have them all! However, there’s only so much time during the winter season since it can be quite busy....

I didn’t mean to share two Thai chicken recipes in one week but I’m just very into the Thai recipes right now. Well, actually, what’s really got me going is my oldest brother, Creighton. As I’ve been saying on repeat, Creighton has been quarantining with my parents for weeks. He loves Thai, meatballs, and really anything saucy, so I’ve been making a lot of his favorites. And these meatballs? They have his name written all over them....

Air Fryer Vendakkai Varuval is a quick and simple Indian style recipe made with okra, that can be served as a side dish for rice or even as an appetizer. Making this crispy okra fry in air fryer means there is literally no worry about the bhindi turning soggy or being sticky. It is totally effort-free except for cutting the vegetable and it can be made with very less oil in no time at all....

Happy Thursday! I am currently in lighting mode, yep, I’m in the process of choosing the lights for the studio barn. Oh my gosh, it’s kind of hard. We have been working on the lighting for forever now, and I’m excited to be almost done with it. My mom is honestly doing the grunt of the work, sending me text after text of lights to decide between. Decisions, decisions, UGH....

When I’m entertaining, I like to put out a variety of snack options including mini pizzas, little smokies and this impressive looking antipasto tray. The best part about this platter is that it feeds a large crowd and can be customized to your tastes! While I love this Italian platter, if you want to try some other flavors take a look at my savory cheese board my best ever charcuterie board....

It just wouldn’t be fall otherwise. Pot pies are kind of like chili in that way, both are quintessential fall dinners, and since I already made chili, it’s time for pot pies! I decided to make autumn inspired pot pies, because you know me, I can’t help but spruce up the classics just a bit. I mean, it’s what I do. Plus I am full on obsessed with autumn ingredients right now....

Honestly, I am not sure this should really be considered a BLT. I mean I swapped the lettuce for arugula, added melty smoked gouda cheese and some mashed up avocado… because it just works and it needs to be there. Avocado needs to be in, and or on, everything, in my opinion. Alright, I take that back. Not everything. Definitely not in cereal and definitely not on my chocolate cake, although I would not be opposed to adding pureed avocado into my chocolate, cake batter that is....

I recently took a look back through some of my oldest recipes. The recipes I first shared in 2012 and 2013. It feels crazy to say this, but as of today, we’ve been creating new recipes and writing this website for 11 years. I feel so old, but also, wow, how cool! I love to look back at the crazy ideas I shared back then. Some of them are so fun....

These crepes? They basically have spring written all over them, which I of course love. If you guys have been reading HBH for a minute, than you probably know my family loves a good crepe. Out of all nine of us, I can’t think of even one us who does not love to eat a crepe. Sure, some of us love them more than others (Asher, Red, MOM), but as a whole I think it’s safe to say, the entire Gerard family loves crepes....

You can never go wrong with potatoes, whether it’s a cheesy casserole, buttery mashed potatoes, or these simple yet satisfying potato wedges. Who loves french fries? I sure do, and my kids also love ’em. I don’t do a lot of frying in my home kitchen, so I sought out to come up with the ultimate baked french fry. These baked potato wedges are coated in spices and parmesan cheese, then oven roasted until they’re crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside....

As you’ll see later this week, I am very much into spring brunch foods right now. Today I’m sharing something sweet. Later this week I’ll be sharing something more on the savory side. I am really excited about both recipes. With Easter being this weekend, I figure you can never have too many brunch recipes. I’m also just really happy to be back in the kitchen creating recipes that are full of spring color....

Happy Friday! Hard to believe that it’s the last Friday of July, but for as sad as I am to say goodbye to July, I am excited for all that is to come in August. With August being the last full month of summer, I’m excited to continue to embrace all the in-season produce, long days, warm nights, and begin to get just a little bit excited for fall in September…just a little bit....

It’s become the time of year when I’ve decided I’m pretty over winter and ready for spring. This is a bit of a problem, since officially we still have over a month of winter left. It’s even more of a problem for me, because up here in the mountains we definitely have way more than a month of winter left. Usually we’ll have a snow into May. Very, very long winters around here....

It’s not even September yet and I am already throwing the casseroles at you guys. Yes, it’s true. I’m ready to switch things up. I’m ready for a bit of cozy, and well, I really just hope you all are ready too. In all seriousness, this really is a perfect recipe for this time of year. The kids are all heading back to school, everyone is slowly coming back from summer vacations, and life is getting busy....

Broccoli with cheese sauce has been a classic side dish for ages, when you make it fresh it’s SO much better than the frozen kind you grew up eating. Growing up, my mom used to always serve me broccoli with cheese melted on top. It’s a classic flavor combination that never goes out of style! This broccoli with cheese sauce recipe features fresh steamed broccoli and a homemade sauce. It’s the perfect easy side dish that goes great with almost any meal!...

I have so many memories of baking my mom’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. She’d make them once a week and even became a little famous for them. She certainly knew the recipe by heart! Oats, flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, canola oil, and a ton of chocolate chips. Her recipe called for canola oil, which I prefer not to use. So basically what I’ve done with these cookies is replace the canola oil with browned butter....

Burrito bowls are so versatile, I could make them every day and never get bored! Serve your burrito bowls with a topping of homemade pico de gallo and a Mexican caesar salad on the side. It’s a new year, and like many other people, I’ve been busy working on ways for my family to lead a healthier lifestyle. We’ve been going for long walks on the weekends, eating more fresh fruits and veggies, and have been eating out less....

I am not going to lie, sometimes I can stare blankly at my computer screen for hours, even the entire day and not come up with anything good enough to share with you guys. But then, sometimes out of nowhere, I will get an idea. Then I will build on that idea. And that’s great and all, BUT my favorite is when I get the full name of the recipe to somehow come to me....