Frisco Melt Burgers

These juicy and delicious Frisco Melt Burgers are easy to make and are a family favorite!

It's hard to believe it's already mid-August and school is starting in a few short weeks. I don't know about you but it seems like summer goes faster and faster each year. It's so much different now that both boys are in college. My mom asked my youngest the other day if he wanted some new shoes this fall and he didn't know what to think haha. I guess since he's not in high school anymore he didn't think anything about getting new clothes! 

Grilled Hawaiian Dogs

Take your tastebuds on a trip to the tropics with these delicious and flavorful Grilled Hawaiian Dogs!

With the holiday weekend right around the corner I'm finalizing my meal plan and getting my grocery list ready. We typically don't go anywhere for the 4th so I have my family over and we grill out and eat our favorite summer foods. My mom's homemade potato salad is a staple on our table during the summer, and we also love baked beans and corn on the cob. Pretty much the quentessential summer meal, am I right? What I throw on the grill depends on what we're in the mood for. Sometimes it's steak, other times it's chicken, and more often than not it's hamburgers and hot dogs. There's just something about a delicious grilled burger or dog that makes the 4th of July special.

Grilled Pork and Pineapple Salad with Simple Vinaigrette

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork. 

The opinions and text are all mine.

#RealFlavorRealFast @SmithfieldBrand

Juicy and flavorful pork, fresh pineapple and heirloom tomatoes are topped with a simple 

vinaigrette to create a hearty summer salad that the whole family will love! 

Summer has finally arrived and you know what that means...it's grilling season! Most summer evenings you can find me on my back deck, cooking on the grill, enjoying an icy beverage, and eating my dinner at my outdoor table. Since warm weather season isn't around too long in Michigan I try to enjoy every single moment that I can outside. Grilling just happens to be one of my favorite activities and I can proudly say that, after years of practice, I am Queen of the Grill!  

One reason I love to grill is that there is less mess in the kitchen. If I can throw my meats and veggies on the grill, there is no need for extra pots and pans in the house! Another plus is that it's quick, and you don't need to think too hard about what's for dinner. I try to keep a lot of meats and fresh veggies on hand so that I can pull together a quick grilled meal in no time.

Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken

Simple grilled chicken gets a boost of flavor with an easy homemade peach barbecue sauce. 

Perfect for weeknight dinner, it's a meal the whole family will love!

Summer is in full swing here. It's been in the high 80's/low 90's for over a week, which is really warm for Michigan in June. I've been soaking up all the sun I can and loving how late it stays light out. That's a food bloggers dream to have so many hours of daylight, but I also love it because it means more time for the kids and I to spend outdoors. We've been spending a lot of time out on the deck and I've been grilling a lot of our meals lately. This Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken is made with a simple homemade peach barbecue sauce that's so flavorful and delicious. I'm also using ingredients in this recipe that supports one of my favorite campaigns, so please read on to learn more!

Grilled Southwestern Beef & Tomato Kebabs with Lemon Orzo

Flavorful cubes of sirloin steak and fresh tomatoes are grilled to perfection, then served atop a bed 

of creamy, lemony orzo. It's the perfect summer meal and best enjoyed al fresco!

Father's Day is just around the corner and I'm already planning dinner for my dad. It's been a tradition for years now that I cook for him on this special day. There's no going out to eat around here, everything is homemade! He's pretty easy to please, but I always ask him if he's craving something or has any special requests. This year when I asked he told me that he'd love steak on the grill. Instead of cooking a whole steak, I've decided to make these Grilled Southwestern Beef & Tomato Kebabs with Lemon Orzo. The beef is tossed in southwest spices and grills up tender and juicy. The sweet grilled tomatoes add the perfect pop of flavor!

Shrimp on the Barbie with Chimichurri Sauce

I am honored to be a World Market Ambassador and I thank them for sponsoring this post!

This crowd pleasing grilled shrimp recipe couldn't be easier to make! Served alongside a fresh 

and colorful chimichurri sauce, this is a dish you'll be making again and again!

Growing up I had a pen pal, Tracy, who lived in Sydney, Australia. I can't remember how we first got connected, I think it was through some sort of teen magazine. I was around 12 at the time, and we wrote each other letters (can you believe it? Actual letters!) every couple of weeks. It was so awesome to learn about her life in another country. We sent each other pictures of our favorite places, and we also traded stickers. Do you remember doing that as a kid? Stickers were such a big deal back then! I had tons of them, and I think my mom still has some of them stashed away. Anyway, it was my friend Tracy who initially sparked my interest in other countries, especially Australia, and it's someplace that I've always wanted to visit.

I enjoy watching pro tennis and have really gotten into the Australian Open this year. As I've been watching, it has brought back all the memories of my friend Tracy from Sydney. I decided that in honor of her, I wanted to whip up an Australian inspired meal. Just a little something the kids and I could enjoy while watching the matches. You can watch the Australian Open on the Tennis Channel from now through January 29, 2017. For more details, check out the Tennis Channel!

The Best Ever Bacon, Egg and Cheese Burger #SundaySupper

This thick and juicy burger is loaded with bacon, a sunny-side up egg, and cheddar cheese. Topped with a little 

hot sauce, you'll enjoy this burger for breakfast, dinner, or anytime in between!

You all know my love for grilling runs deep, so you can imagine my excitement when I learned that this weeks' #SundaySupper theme was all about Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. I know, neither of those things HAVE to be grilled, but that's my favorite way to eat them! There's just something about the smoky grilled taste of a big juicy burger. It's the best!

Now I've made a lot of delicious burgers in my life, some with different spins like an Italian burger and a Caribbean chicken burger, but my latest creation really takes the cake. This Bacon, Egg and Cheese Burger truly is the BEST. EVER. A big, beautiful hamburger topped with cheddar cheese, thick slices of bacon, and the most gorgeous, perfectly cooked egg. Add a few dashes of hot sauce to give it that extra zip, and you're ready to dig in. 

Grilled Pineapple with Vanilla Sorbet #SundaySupper

This simple grilled pineapple with homemade vanilla sorbet is not only delicious, but it's light and refreshing, too. 

With just a few easy ingredients, you can impress your family and friends with this dessert all summer long!

I don't know about you, but I've been grilling up a storm lately! My grill has been getting a great workout. From lots of burgers to steaks and chicken, I've been enjoying the beautiful spring weather and the opportunity to be outside on my deck. Grilling is my go-to cooking method in the summer because it's so darn easy. You can grill your proteins, veggies, and even desserts, which means less clean up in the kitchen! I don't know about you, but I'm all for that.

Speaking of desserts, have you grilled dessert before? There are actually many options, but one of the easiest for me is grilling fruit. I especially love grilling pineapple, as it brings out the sweetness and juiciness of the fruit. And those grill marks? Those are the most beautiful things I've ever seen on a piece of fruit. Simply stunning.

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. 

All opinions are mine alone. #MadeWithTheMasters #HeinzBBQ #CollectiveBias

This juicy burger is piled high with thick cut bacon, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and warm Heinz BBQ 

Kansas City Sweet & Smoky Sauce. It's perfect for any Memorial Day or 4th of July cookout!

Are you ready for grilling season? I know I am! In fact, I've already pulled out my grill and used it a few times this Spring. Now I'm dreaming of spending warm, sunny days on my deck, grilling up our favorite foods and having a get together with my friends and family. To me that's what summer is all about!

One of my favorite meals to cook on the grill is burgers. I mean, that's just the traditional thing, am I right? I recently picked up some of the new Heinz BBQ flavors and decided I wanted to go all out for burger night. Get this, I made BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers. Using the new Heinz BBQ Kansas City Sweet & Smoky Sauce, I created the must luscious burger I've ever made. Seriously people, it's THAT good. My son said it was the best burger he's ever had! That was quite the compliment.

Spicy Grilled Steak Nachos

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 

#KingOfFlavor #CollectiveBias

Be sure to make these filling and flavorful Spicy Grilled Steak Nachos for your team's next big game!  

Everyone knows how much I love football, and football season is definitely in full swing right now! Between watching my son play on Friday nights, and watching my favorite college and NFL teams play on the weekends, I get my fill that's for sure. And you know what goes hand in hand with football watching right? FOOD! Whether it's tailgating with our friends on Friday nights, or homegating on the weekends with my family before a big game, I love football food.

I take advantage of the nice weather as long as I can and I grill a lot of my tailgating recipes. Lots of times I'll make traditional burgers or brats, even sometimes chicken, but one of my favorites is grilled steak nachos. I love Mexican food, and nachos are one of my favorites! I recently stumbled across El Yucateco Hot Sauces and fell in love. Believe me when I say they are very spicy! But they work perfectly in the marinade I make for these delicious nachos.

Spicy Fiesta Burger

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 

#VivaLaMorena #CollectiveBias

Kick your grilling game up a notch by adding spicy Mexican flavors and making these delicious fiesta burgers 

for your next BBQ!

I love a good juicy burger, especially one cooked on the grill. I've mentioned it like a thousand times before (sorry!), but I LOVE the new grill that my kids surprised me with for Mother's Day. I've definitely become the grill master this summer and the kids are reaping all the benefits of their purchase. Burgers, brats, dogs, chicken, corn and other veggies, I've been grilling it all.

Recently I wanted to change things up and instead of making a traditional burger, add some spice and make it Mexican style. I call it my Spicy Fiesta Burger! I whipped up an easy chipotle mayo, melted spicy pepperjack cheese on top of the burgers, and also added sliced pickled jalapenos on top. It turned out to be one SPICY burger! I loved it though, and so did my kids! It was an awesome twist on our usual burger.

Grilled Tandoori Chicken

Cool, tangy yogurt and lots of spices give these grilled chicken thighs plenty of irresistible flavor!

School is right around the corner. Literally right around the corner for my kids (like this week!), but I'm not giving up on summer yet. I mean even though school is starting, it's technically summer for another month. Which means I'll be grilling anything and everything, enjoying all the fresh fruits and veggies that I can, and eating lots and lots of ice cream.

Speaking of grilling, let's talk about this tandoori chicken. I've had tandoori chicken at restaurants before, but never tried making it at home. I didn't realize just how easy it is to make! Using creamy, tangy Greek yogurt and delicious Indian spices as a marinade, these chicken thighs came out tender and juicy and full of amazing flavor.

Grilled Vegetable Tostadas with Feta and Fresh Tomato Salsa

Crisp tortillas are piled high with grilled vegetables then topped with feta cheese and a fresh tomato salsa. 

Dinner is served!

One of my favorite places to spend time during the summer is on my back deck. Whether I'm just lounging around, reading a book, or grilling out, it's such a peaceful place. I technically don't live out in the country, but I'm not in the city either. I'm in between. I tell people I have the beauty and peacefulness of the country with city amenities. I have lots of wildlife in my yard from many varieties of birds, to geese, to bunnies, and of course, deer. We've been in our house for three years this month and I absolutely love it. Prior to this house, I've always lived right in the city. I honestly don't think I could go back now, that's how much I love it here.

Anyway, now that I've told you all about my love for outdoor life, let's get back to the part where I mentioned grilling. You may remember that my sons surprised me with a brand new beautiful grill for Mother's Day. Let's just say, that baby has gotten a ton of use this summer! I would guess I've been grilling three to four times a week this summer. I just absolutely love it! Everything from burgers to brats to chicken, I've been cookin' it. But grills aren't just for meat. Fresh veggies are also perfect for the grill. Which brings me to this delicious new recipe.

Italian Pizza Burgers

Jazz up burger night with these loaded Italian Pizza Burgers! They're a big hit with both kids and adults alike!

I've been grilling up a storm this summer, and one of our family favorites are burgers. Both of my boys adore burgers, and since they got me a new grill for Mother's Day, they love them even more! I've learned to cook a burger to perfection, with beautiful grill marks on the outside, crispy edges and ooey gooey cheese, and the perfect tender pink center. After all these years, I finally did it!

I probably make burgers once a week now, so it's nice to changes things up a bit and not always eat them the same way. I came up with the idea to make Italian pizza burgers, and they have been a huge hit ever since we had them for the first time. A juicy burger patty topped with pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. What could be better? If you love your veggies, some grilled mushrooms or peppers would be a fantastic addition, too.