Setting intentions for the new year
Setting Intentions for the Year with My Students As the calendar flips to a new year, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement… …
Easy Peasy Popovers
The Perfect Popover: Light, Airy, and Surprisingly Simple to Make! There’s something magical about a popover. Golden brown and crispy on the outside, impossibly light …
Hot and Spicy Almond Milk
When the winter chill sets in and the nights grow longer, there’s nothing quite as comforting as wrapping your hands around a warm mug of …
Sourdough with Lace Pattern
There’s something undeniably captivating about the moment you pull a beautifully baked sourdough loaf from the oven—the golden crust, the rustic scoring, the irresistible aroma. …
Sourdough Discard Onion Rings
Sourdough Discard Onion Rings: Crispy, Flavorful, and Irresistible If you’re a sourdough baker, you’re probably familiar with the little jar in your fridge labeled discard. …
My Favorite Meatloaf Recipe EVER!
Second title for this post: Mastering the Meatloaf. Because this is the end all be all meatloaf recipe. Trust me. Meatloaf is a beloved classic …
The Absolute Perfectly Perfect Way to Make Mashed Potatoes
Yes really. I will go ahead and say it… these mashed potatoes are perfect. They are velvety smooth and yet so incredibly light and fluffy. …
Super Simple Chicken Pot Pie
What is it that makes Chicken Pot Pie so comforting? I think it’s that it combines everything we love about Chicken Noodle Soup and the …
Cooking the Perfect Ribeye Steak on a Cast Iron Skillet
Few culinary experiences match the savory delight of a perfectly cooked ribeye steak, especially when prepared on a cast iron skillet. The skillet’s heat retention …
Ultimate Salacuterie Board
Yes. I made up word – Salad + Charcuterie. Salacuterie. It’s going to be a thing. I just know it. We’re big salad lovers in …
Soaking Your Nuts? No, You’re Not Nuts!
Nuts have long been hailed as nutritional powerhouses, packed with essential nutrients, healthy fats, and antioxidants. They make for a convenient and satisfying snack, but …
Super Simple Sausage Penne Paste
Looking for a quick and delicious dinner option that the whole family will love? This Simple Sausage Penne Pasta recipe is here to save the …
Hasselback Au Gratin Potatoes
Hasselback au gratin potatoes are a mouthwatering twist on the classic potato side dish. With their crispy edges, creamy centers, and cheesy topping, they’re sure …
Sausage, Egg, Potato, Cheese Breakfast Pockets
Sausage hash brown breakfast pockets are a delicious and satisfying breakfast option. They are super easy to whip together, freeze well, and go quick! With …
Fall Apple Crisp Dessert
Y’all. I can’t possible describe how good my house smells right now. There’s hardly anything better than the way baked apples and cinnamon smell. The …
Perfectly Pumpkiny and Impressively Delicious Cheesecake
As the leaves turn to vibrant hues and the air takes on a crisp chill, there’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of fall …
Southern Soul Food Staple: Collards, Cornbread, and Beans
Can I just tell y’all how much this reminds me of my childhood, of my grandparents. And yes, in our house, it is a requirement …
Lit Circle Freebie!
I made this graphic organizer a while back for an activity that my students did with their literature circles. It’s a cute little graphic organizer …
Leftover Sheet Pan Nachos
I swear I’m a sucker for an easy dinner, and you can’t get much easier than this! We eat tons of nachos in our house …
1984 Posters
Do you teach George Orwell’s 1984? We used this iconic dystopian classic as part of literature circles for our seniors last semester. I had never …
Back to School Infographic
I used Piktochart to make this back to school infographic for our parent’s night a few years back. I just found it in some files …
Come with us to the Saint Luis Arch!
Did you know that there is an entire museum below the Saint Louis Arch? This national park (yes, it’s a national park!) had been on …
World’s Easiest Funnel Cake – no really!
Today is Halloween. Or it is when I started writing this. This year, Halloween is on a Sunday, and we were brainstorming what fun unusual …
There’s an herb for that!
In a world filled with modern pharmaceuticals, it’s easy to forget that nature provides a treasure trove of remedies right in our own backyards. Many …
Chicken Fettuccine Carbonara
Looking for a ⚡️lightning⚡️fast and super easy dinner idea that everyone will love!?! Try this quick and easy Chicken Fettuccine Carbonara!🥓 Start by browning some …
Super Easy Protein Packed Breakfast
One of my favorite discoveries when I did the Whole 30 were these super amazing sweet potato slices. I ate these for breakfast so much …
Potato Galette with Smoked Salmon
There’s something magically delicious about the union of humble potatoes and luxurious smoked salmon. One brings earthy, comforting warmth, while the other offers a silky …
Simple Seafood Gumbo
Being from the Gulf Coast of Texas, I grew up eating a variety of seafood. I love all types seafood – gumbo especially. This gumbo …
Grilled Zucchini Rolls and Mediterranean Chicken
This grilled Chicken recipe is so packed with flavor. It is so completely versatile and can be added to salads for lunches throughout the week. …
Get ready for it…. TACO. PIZZA.
Yes, you read that correctly. Taco. Pizza. And yes, it is everything you’ve ever wanted in your entire life. All the best things we love …
Bourbon Ginger Apple Cider
Bourbon. Check. Ginger. Check. Apple Cider. Check. This is one cocktail that screams fall. I love this fizzy drink so much, it’s hard to not …
Easy Smothered Steak – two ways
Smothered steak always reminds me of the Salisbury steak that was served at our elementary cafeteria, and I don’t know about you… but no thank …
Herbed Flank Steak
I used to avoid flank steaks because I thought that they absolutely had to be grilled and should only be used for fajitas. I don’t …
Easy Empanadas
Easy Empanadas? Yes please! Argentina? Spain? Mexico? I have not traced the origin of these delicious little pockets of scrumptiousness, but I do know that …
Herb Roasted Pork Loin with Port Wine Glaze
Oh my heavens. Y’all. This recipe may sound complicated, but I promise you it is anything but. The hardest part is probably the chopping of …
Pomegranate Rosemary Vodka Tonic
The combination of pomegranate juice and rosemary makes this such a flavorful little cocktail! Whip one of these up or make a large batch for …
Rosemary and Lemon Mixed Potatoes
I needed to use up a bunch of random potatoes that I had lying around. I love to make a big batch of these like …
One Pan Chicken and Creamy Gnocchi
I don’t know about you, but I don’t ever remember eating gnocchi when I was growing up. Maybe it was just my plain Jane family. …
Weekly Meal Plan #2
We’ve got a super busy this week here in our house. John is going out of town Wednesday through next Sunday, so I needed some …
Random List for Writer’s Notebook
We have all experienced students that struggle to come up with something to write about during independent writing time. The ever popular moan “I can’t …
When you change the way you look at things…
I’ve been thinking about what Heart Soul Joy means lately. When I started HSJ, the intention was to share my passion for teaching and to …
Heart Soul Joy: Weekly Meal Plan #1
Weekly Meal Plan #1 Welcome to the first round of HSJ’s Weekly Meal Plans! I’m a busy teacher, I’ve got three kids and a ton …
Seared Sesame Ahi Tuna Salad
I don’t think I need to go into all the health benefits of a great tuna steak. I love a good tuna steak just seared …
Zesty Homemade Sloppy Joes
Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned sloppy joe? This recipe is super easy, super quick, and super flavorful! It’s a little zesty – almost …
Copycat Minestrone Soup
I don’t know about you, but my kids love Olive Garden. I mean. When I say my kids love Olive Garden… it is the most …
Easy Layered Parmesan Ratatouille
I love a good ratatouille! I know there are umpteenbajillion ways to make this, but I’ve found that this is practical and simple. Just the …
Fried Green Tomatoes
Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Fusce porttitor metus eget lectus consequat, sit amet feugiat magna vulputate. Phasellus …
Fluffiest Pancakes You’ll Ever Eat!
There’s something magical about making the fluffiest pancakes on a lazy weekend morning. Whether drizzled with maple syrup, topped with fresh berries, or dusted with …
Sausage Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
Yes! This deliciousness is Whole30 Friendly (as long as you remove the breadcrumbs and cheese)! It’s got the perfect fall flavors that you know you’re …
Mosaic Book Cover Bulletin Board
My partner and I were at the Oculus Go VR conference a few years back in San Francisco, and they had one of those mosaic …
Omaha Steaks Potatoes au Gratin Copycat Recipe
Last year for Christmas, we were gifted a freezer full of meat from Omaha Steaks. We found them to be pretty tasty for the price, …
DIY Home Movie Theatre
We have this large rectangle room upstairs in our house that we have struggled with how to use since we have moved in. I bought …
Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita
Look no further. You have found the perfect recipe for a spicy but refreshing perfectly tart marg. When it comes to cocktails that are both …
Pesto Chicken Italian Stir Fry (with optional pasta)
Pesto Chicken Italian Stir Fry – Just gonna say it… Every time I make this, I plan for leftovers, but it’s always gone. This is …
Recipe Review: Ina’s Skillet-Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
I am obsessed with everything Ina. There aren’t very many of her recipes that I’ve tried and did not like. Sometimes she gets a little …
We call this… Christmas Crack!
…because it is that addictively good. Salty crackers, sweet chocolate, held together by a caramely goodness that is really super simple to whip together! Give …
My Dad’s Chicken and Dumplings
This is my dad’s “recipe” for Chicken and Dumplings… and I use quotes around recipe because I’ll do my best to list measurements… but he …
Complete A-Z Guide of Manifesting Joy
We all need some creative idea on things like self care, date night idea, and fun yet affordable things to bring joy into our every …