all recipes
30 Minutes or Less
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas for Two
An Easy Beef Quesadilla Recipe! This “beefy quesadilla” recipe was the fourth recipe that I ever posted on A Flavor Journal! Needless to say, it was time for a glow up! Although the photos are much better than they used to be, I actually decided to simplify the recipe list a bit. This recipe now […]
Bacon and Egg Breakfast Grilled Cheese with Avocado
A Whole New Take on the Breakfast Sandwich This breakfast grilled cheese is good for breakfast, or lunch, or whenever you’re craving it. It’s made with bacon, egg, cheese, and avocado, and it’s delicious! This is grilled cheese #3 in our Fall 2020 Grilled Cheese Series. Scroll to the bottom to see the other grilled cheese […]
Apple, Cheddar, Bacon & Arugula Grilled Cheese
An Awesome Grilled Cheese Recipe for Fall. Here it is! Grilled cheese recipe number two in my Gourmet Grilled Cheese Series that is running from September – October this year. This apple, cheddar, bacon & arugula grilled cheese is another favorite, and it’s here just in time for that cooler weather. What makes this grilled […]
Appetizers
Loaded Buffalo Tots
Cruncy, spicy, bold and awesome. Tater tots coated in buffalo sauce, drizzled with ranch (or blue cheese), and topped with bacon and green onion.
Oven-Roasted Tomato Bruschetta with Mozzarella and Pesto
Bruschetta with Melted Mozzarella, in fact. That title gives away this entire bruschetta recipe. This one is way overdue, because I’ve been making variations of this for the last five years. Bruschetta is such a crowd pleaser, and it’s so easy to make. This bruschetta with mozzarella is even better than the rest. Loosely based upon […]
Jalapeno Artichoke Dip with Roasted Jalapenos
This jalapeno artichoke dip is seriously addictive. It’s creamy AND cheesy with roasted jalapeños, artichoke hearts, and tons of flavor. Tried and true, this jalapeno artichoke dip pleases even the pickiest of eaters. It’s basically a copycat version of the Aldi jalapeño artichoke dip, but this version is totally easy to make. We use roasted […]
Brunch
Bacon and Egg Breakfast Grilled Cheese with Avocado
A Whole New Take on the Breakfast Sandwich This breakfast grilled cheese is good for breakfast, or lunch, or whenever you’re craving it. It’s made with bacon, egg, cheese, and avocado, and it’s delicious! This is grilled cheese #3 in our Fall 2020 Grilled Cheese Series. Scroll to the bottom to see the other grilled cheese […]
Baked Pear and Apple Sparkling Sangria
Your New Favorite Fall Sangria. This sparkling fall sangria is here just in time for the cooler weather. It’s a step up from your typical fresh fruit sangrias, because the pears and apples are roasted. It offers a warm, comforting note to the sangria, and it’s so delicious. When we lived in North Carolina, we […]
vermont cheddar + chive drop biscuits
I’ve made fluffy, cut-out, buttermilk biscuits before, but I wasn’t as familiar with drop biscuits. These biscuits look way different, and don’t have all of the flaky layers inside. (Read: less work!) However, these small batch cheddar and chive drop biscuits are super easy to make. They’re crunchy on the outside, light and fluffy on […]
Cocktails
Baked Pear and Apple Sparkling Sangria
Your New Favorite Fall Sangria. This sparkling fall sangria is here just in time for the cooler weather. It’s a step up from your typical fresh fruit sangrias, because the pears and apples are roasted. It offers a warm, comforting note to the sangria, and it’s so delicious. When we lived in North Carolina, we […]
blackberry bourbon smash
what is a blackberry bourbon smash? This drink is such a classic cocktail. A “smash” is comprised of seasonal fruits, mint, citrus, and a spirit of your choice. If you’ve ever had a mint julep, which is basically just bourbon, sugar, and mint, the smash is like the julep’s close relative. But this drink has […]
spicy serrano grapefruit margaritas
If you like heat in your drink, you’re going to love this serrano grapefruit margarita! It combines spicy serranos, sweet simple syrup, tart grapefruit and lime juices, and sweet orange juice with blanco tequila. It’s super easy to make, and incredibly (but spicily) refreshing. are serrano peppers spicier than jalapenos? Yes. Serranos are spicy … […]
Desserts
Mini Funfetti Cake Stacks
The cutest Confetti Cake Recipe Funfetti cake / confetti cake is the epitome of celebration cake! This particular recipe is a very small version of homemade funfetti sheet cake that is packed with colorful sprinkles, then cut down into little tiny cakes. It’s very similar to my Mini Carrot Cake Stacks from a couple of […]
a mini layered carrot cake recipe
mini carrot cakes Happy (almost) Easter! We aren’t exactly celebrating with family this year (that whole social distancing thing, ya know), but I still wanted to be festive. So, I made these super easy mini layered carrot cakes! Sure, they’re delicious and fun to make for Easter. But they are really good any time of […]
chewy chocolate chip + pecan cookies with Karo® Corn Syrup
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeBetterCookies #CollectiveBias #ChocolateChipCookies #ChewyCookies #ChewyChocolateChipCookies It’s cookie season. I’ve already made a few batches of cookies this fall, but I’m always looking for bigger and better ways to make chocolate chip cookies specifically. I tried cold butter, higher […]
Entrees
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas for Two
An Easy Beef Quesadilla Recipe! This “beefy quesadilla” recipe was the fourth recipe that I ever posted on A Flavor Journal! Needless to say, it was time for a glow up! Although the photos are much better than they used to be, I actually decided to simplify the recipe list a bit. This recipe now […]
Garlic Butter Chicken Parmesan & Brussels Sprouts Orzo with Kinder’s® Master Salt
This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KindersAtWalmart I’ve been developing a chicken parmesan recipe for a couple of years now, but never really pulled the trigger on publishing a final version. I feel like a lot of chicken parmesan recipes (while all delicious), all tend […]
Spicy Philly Cheesesteaks with Jalapeños
A spicy twist on the Philly Cheesesteak. This spicy Philly Cheesesteak is seriously one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. The FIRST post on A Flavor Journal was actually this Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich recipe. (I honestly recommend clicking it just because the difference in photos between it and this post are pretty comical!) How […]
Handhelds
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas for Two
An Easy Beef Quesadilla Recipe! This “beefy quesadilla” recipe was the fourth recipe that I ever posted on A Flavor Journal! Needless to say, it was time for a glow up! Although the photos are much better than they used to be, I actually decided to simplify the recipe list a bit. This recipe now […]
Spicy Philly Cheesesteaks with Jalapeños
A spicy twist on the Philly Cheesesteak. This spicy Philly Cheesesteak is seriously one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. The FIRST post on A Flavor Journal was actually this Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich recipe. (I honestly recommend clicking it just because the difference in photos between it and this post are pretty comical!) How […]
BLT Sliders with Caramelized Onions and Arugula
basically, the best mini BLT sandwiches. When tomatoes are ripe and juicy, it doesn’t get much better than making a perfect BLT. These little BLT sliders are super easy to put together, but they’ve got a delicious twist: caramelized onions, and arugula. There’s a step-by-step guide right here for caramelized onions. (If you’re making more than […]
Risotto Recipes
Caprese Risotto with RiceSelect® Arborio Rice
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #UnforgettableRice #CollectiveBias It’s pretty clear that risotto is like, my thing. I think it’s because risotto is like a blank canvas, and you can add any and every flavor imaginable to it. Bacon, cheddar, chicken risotto? Done. Spicy […]
lemon asparagus risotto with prosciutto
lemon, prosciutto, & asparagus risotto Risotto number five (of the risotto series on the blog) has arrived! This lemon asparagus risotto starts like a basic risotto: olive oil, onions, arborio rice, a splash of white wine, and chicken broth. But then, asparagus, lemon juice, prosciutto, and mascarpone transform it into a gorgeous flavor and textural […]
Caramelized Onion, Bacon, and Parmesan Risotto
Risotto with so much flavor. The risotto series continues with this (insanely delicious) caramelized onion, bacon, and parmesan risotto. Caramelized onions are a game-changer for so many simple dishes, so why not risotto? If you’ve never made caramelized onions, now. is. your. time. It’s so easy to do, and it’s relatively therapeutic. Just thinly slice […]
Salads
cilantro sauce with sour cream and lime
an easy sauce for all things tex-mex Cilantro sauce is a necessity for anything Tex-Mex. Tacos, salads, nachos … everything. This cilantro sauce is made with sour cream, a few spices, hot sauce, milk (or water), fresh lime juice and fresh cilantro. The flavors in this sauce will really benefit from chilling for about an hour, […]
buffalo chicken caesar salad :: small batch
an awesome buffalo barbecue chicken salad with all the toppings Warm weather means it’s officially salad season. This buffalo chicken caesar salad recipe makes enough for two big salads, but can easily be doubled or tripled if needed. It’s so good, and so easy to make! It’s part of the constant rotation on our summer […]
the best + unique caesar salad recipe
This is the best caesar salad recipe I’ve ever thrown together. Inspired by a salad I ate in North Carolina, this is an unexpected blend of flavors that is going to wow anyone who is craving a unique caesar salad. how do I spice up a caesar salad If this is your question, I’ve got your […]
Sauces
cilantro sauce with sour cream and lime
an easy sauce for all things tex-mex Cilantro sauce is a necessity for anything Tex-Mex. Tacos, salads, nachos … everything. This cilantro sauce is made with sour cream, a few spices, hot sauce, milk (or water), fresh lime juice and fresh cilantro. The flavors in this sauce will really benefit from chilling for about an hour, […]
Crab Bash + Calabrian Aioli with The Fresh Market
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TheFreshMarket #TFMCrabBash #Collectivebias One of my favorite things in life is a great dinner party. Whether I get to throw it, or I am simply attending one with friends, I love the gorgeous array of food, drink, conversation, […]
small batch sherry vinaigrette
Summer is nearly here, but the weather has decided that we are already into it full-force. Not only do salads make your body feel better, but they also help you avoid those afternoon crashes. I love a hearty lunch, but sometimes my need for caffeine around 3:00 p.m. becomes way more real than I need it […]
Sides
Cheesy Roasted Garlic Bread
Quick & Easy Garlic Bread for Two Want to pin this for later? Click here! This cheesy garlic bread recipe steps it up a notch by using roasted garlic butter (which is heaven), and gooey, melty cheese. Roasted garlic is the easiest thing in the world to make – and I have a link coming […]
spicy smashed black beans recipe
a smashed black bean recipe for canned black beans Smashed black beans are an awesome side dish for Tex-Mex food. This particular recipe for smashed black beans packs a flavor punch, and also delivers on the heat. But it’s easy to adjust if you don’t want a lot of spiciness! Smashed beans have a consistency […]
small batch roasted brussels sprouts with parmesan
Brussels sprouts are easily one of our favorite vegetables, and one that we eat almost weekly. These small batch roasted spicy brussels sprouts with parmesan are a really good side dish for date night in! They are perfect to eat with grilled steak, roasted chicken, or whatever you like! This recipe makes enough for two […]
Slow Cooker
slow cooker pulled pork french dip sliders
succulent shredded pork, melty cheese, and crunchy fried onions make the best sliders. If you have a two quart crockpot, you have come to the right place for recipes for it! This small batch recipe for pulled pork french dip sliders makes one pound of pulled pork. It’s perfect for about 10-12 total sliders, which […]
small batch barbacoa (in the slow cooker)
spicy, small batch barbacoa with wine pairings! Slow cooker barbacoa is a solid recipe to keep in your back pocket. This small batch version uses only 1.5 pounds of beef, and makes the perfect amount for a smaller household! what is barbacoa? Barbacoa is the word from which “barbecue” was born. It’s basically a traditional […]
shredded slow cooker buffalo chicken
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but fall is officially slow cooker season. Kidding. It’s obviously what some of us live for every year, and I’m here for it. I’m also here for all of the buffalo chicken recipes, so it’s only right to combine the two. This slow cooker buffalo chicken is pretty much […]
Small Batch Recipes
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas for Two
An Easy Beef Quesadilla Recipe! This “beefy quesadilla” recipe was the fourth recipe that I ever posted on A Flavor Journal! Needless to say, it was time for a glow up! Although the photos are much better than they used to be, I actually decided to simplify the recipe list a bit. This recipe now […]
Garlic Butter Chicken Parmesan & Brussels Sprouts Orzo with Kinder’s® Master Salt
This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KindersAtWalmart I’ve been developing a chicken parmesan recipe for a couple of years now, but never really pulled the trigger on publishing a final version. I feel like a lot of chicken parmesan recipes (while all delicious), all tend […]
Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup for Two
A Simple, Perfect Tomato Soup Recipe This roasted tomato soup recipe makes two large servings of soup, and is the perfect way to make great use of those remaining summer tomatoes. This takes the incredible, simple flavor of roasted tomatoes, and transforms it into a creamy, comforting soup for two. The key is to roast […]
Soups
Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup for Two
A Simple, Perfect Tomato Soup Recipe This roasted tomato soup recipe makes two large servings of soup, and is the perfect way to make great use of those remaining summer tomatoes. This takes the incredible, simple flavor of roasted tomatoes, and transforms it into a creamy, comforting soup for two. The key is to roast […]
small batch loaded potato soup
I don’t know if there are many recipes in my repertoire that are longer overdue. If there is one soup I love in life, it’s easily loaded potato soup. Hands down. And it needs to be easy, creamy, and packed with flavor. It also has to deliver a sense of comfort to my tastebuds in […]
simple + spicy tomato soup
easy and delicious tomato soup Making tomato soup warms the soul. Keeping things simple also warms the soul. This simple tomato soup is the best of both worlds, and it’s perfect for a cozy night in on the couch … paired with your favorite grilled cheese, of course. I use San Marzano tomatoes for this […]
Wine Pairings
Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup for Two
A Simple, Perfect Tomato Soup Recipe This roasted tomato soup recipe makes two large servings of soup, and is the perfect way to make great use of those remaining summer tomatoes. This takes the incredible, simple flavor of roasted tomatoes, and transforms it into a creamy, comforting soup for two. The key is to roast […]
Easy Date Night Bolognese Sauce
Date Night Pasta Shouldn’t be Difficult. Pasta has a really interesting way of being both comforting and elegant, and this bolognese sauce is no exception. Bolognese typically takes over three hours to simmer, but with a couple of helpful swaps, this only takes 45 minutes. Of course, if you have the time and you want […]
Oven-Roasted Tomato Bruschetta with Mozzarella and Pesto
Bruschetta with Melted Mozzarella, in fact. That title gives away this entire bruschetta recipe. This one is way overdue, because I’ve been making variations of this for the last five years. Bruschetta is such a crowd pleaser, and it’s so easy to make. This bruschetta with mozzarella is even better than the rest. Loosely based upon […]