Tried & loved: Baked lemon pasta

Pasta is the perfect answer when looking for a hearty dinner that is easy on the pocket book.

But noodles (or nee-curdles as my lovely niece used to say) plain or with tomato sauce can get boring pretty fast.

Cue lemons. And parmesan. Such a lovely combination. And add in some sour cream to make the pasta super creamy with a slight tang? I’m in.

Get the baked lemon pasta from the Pioneer Woman herself >> HERE.

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Vanilla-rose tapioca pudding

This recipe isn’t just about making something. It’s about an experience I hope you’ll have.

Afternoon tea.

No, it doesn’t have to include hot tea. The whole purpose is to sit and take a brief respite from the day’s work. It’s about taking some time for yourself (whatever you can spare, most of the time I take a moment while Jack is napping).

Grab a glass of something: hot or cold tea, coffee, wine, beer, water. And maybe grab a small bite of something. Just a little something sweet or savory. You can use this time to sit outside and take in the world, check in on your tasks list, read or write.

I’ll be posting lots of my favorite little tea-time edibles in the coming months. But let me start with something sweet and simple.

Vanilla-rose tapioca pudding.

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Watermelon-pineapple pico de gallo

While the northeast is doused in snow and ice, this pocket of the southwest has been showered in sunlight. Yes, 80-degree weather in the middle of February. Life ain’t bad.

And that means a respite from hearty soups, tummy-warming pasta and layered casseroles.

I’ve had the Pioneer Woman watermelon pico de gallo recipe saved for months. Just haven’t felt it was the right time to make it. Plus, I knew I wanted to modify it a bit to make it toddler-worthy (no peppers).

While this one is both child-safe without spice and it gives a taste of the islands, with the adding of some orange and pineapple.

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