foodiecrush | The blog that loves food, photography and recipes

Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday!

I’m finishing up this Friday Faves after eating the lovely lunch above at La Bicyclette in Carmel, CA. We’re here celebrating my husband’s birthday, and guys, this is a big one for him. One of those birthdays that crosses the line from middle age to picking out decorations from the party store’s section for “over the hill” and “vintage.”

Happy birthday to my forever boyfriend.

Luckily for my man, he’s as youthful as they come. He falls easily in step with hipster slang, the latest styles, and always up to speed with current music. He’s fit, has yet to turn even the slightest bit grey, and is the funniest guy I know. And he proves every day that even though he is indeed 8 years older than me, he will always and forever act younger than I ever will. And after 25+ years of marriage, I can confidently agree.

It’s true. Age is relative. It truly is in how you think of yourself and how you show yourself to others.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes

Forget the cans of Manwich sloppy joe sauce, because my mom’s homemade sloppy joes recipe is just as easy to make and sixty-four (or more) times as good, especially knowing there’s a generous helping of vegetables inside this homemade, ground hamburger-ed, comfort food, beef-ey sandwich.

Remember the days when licking your plate was encouraged? They still are. And your fingers, and your chin too.

I originally published this recipe in the earlier days of le FoodieCrush blog, and after making it time and time again, I felt it was time for a little refresh. It’s totally worthy.

One of my favorite dinners as a kid was always Sloppy Joes, and the memories of stealing tastes of this burger/veggie mixture as it simmered on the stove still renders the same take-a-bite-then-burn-the-top-of-my-mouth-oh-no-it’s-now-become-a-blister result today as I hear the subliminal retort of my mom echo in my adult ear to “leave it alone or there’ll be nothing left for the rest of us to eat.”

Guilty as charged. But, sorry mom, I still can’t help myself. And if you’re a fan of easy recipes and you make this one, my mom will tell you it’s okay that you taste-test your way through the making of it, too.

And I’m here to attest, the top-of-the-mouth-blisters are totally worth it.continue to the recipe… about How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes

Easy Hamburger Vegetable Soup

This simple hamburger soup is loaded with vegetables and is an incredibly easy weeknight comfort food dinner because more than likely you’ll have all of the ingredients on hand and ready for soup thanks to your pantry, fridge, and/or freezer.

The first time I had this totally solid, totally comforting hamburger soup was when my mother-in-law made it for a family gathering of which I was not yet part of the family. My husband and I had just started dating and it was dinner at mom’s house and I was invited to go.

No pressure. Nope. None at all.

One of the things I learned that night—along with the fact that as a teen my husband used to wear a nylon over his head so his wet curly hair would dry straight—is that getting friends and family together to share a meal doesn’t have to be over-thought or overdone.

Good food means good times, and that’s really all you need.continue to the recipe… about Easy Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday.

Most weeknights you’ll find me at home making a dinner like the riff above on my go-to pasta. But last week I broke with routine when I attended a press dinner at Deer Valley Resort, where the chefs were previewing the meal they will be serving at the James Beard House in New York City in a few weeks. It is quite an honor for them to be invited to the James Beard House again, and an honor for me to get to be a part of such a special night.

While noshing on apps and drinks before sitting down to the 6-course dinner (see! another reason to follow my Stories on Instagram!) I I happily caught up with my friend and fellow blogger Erin. Our chat started with the standard question of most any conversation when she asked me, “How have you been?”

My answer was simple. And somewhat surprising to both of us when I sort of blurted out, “I’m happy.” Whoa. Where’d that come from? “Things are actually really great, and I’m really, really happy with where I am right now. I’m just…happy.”continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Heavenly Funeral Potatoes Recipe

Funeral potatoes are an easy-to-make and even easier-to-love comfort food casserole that is totally heaven sent.

This recipe is brought to you by Cache Valley Cheese

The Best Funeral Potatoes Recipe

If you grew up in Utah, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ve had (and loved) funeral potatoes. If you haven’t lived in Utah, you’re likely scratching your head wondering what in the world am I talking about?!? Unless you’re from the South, then you may be in the know, too.

This potato casserole’s roots run deep in the LDS faith and are a long-lived staple at family gatherings of every sort, including potlucks, family dinners, and any Sunday night dinner. My Grandma used to serve them at Christmas with her Roasted Turkey Breast with Oregano and Lemon with warm potato rolls, and believe me, rarely were there any hash brown potato casserole leftovers to be found.

continue to the recipe… about Heavenly Funeral Potatoes Recipe

How to Make the BEST Peach Cobbler

This easy peach cobbler is sweet, jammy, and just a bit caramelized with a perfectly tender-crisp topping making it the BEST comfort food dessert, like, ever.

The BEST Peach Cobbler Recipe

I took one bite of this homemade peach cobbler and melted. My eyes closed and my shoulders dropped just a bit as I exhaled a loud “mmmm” that literally escaped my lips. I.was.sold. It was one of those bites that was like a warm hug where whatever happened during the day that didn’t go quite right, POOF! just didn’t even matter.

God save the peach cobbler.

This peach cobbler recipe is totally delicious and absolutely addictive. My husband claims he could eat it ’til he’s sick, and I might be right there with him. It’s crispy. It’s gooey. It’s perfectly sweet and caramelized in the middle with a magically tender crunch on top.

It tastes amazing warm with melty vanilla ice cream pooling its edges, at room temp spooned straight out of the pan, or eaten as a stolen bite while nobody’s looking with the fridge door swung wide open—to that I can attest.continue to the recipe… about How to Make the BEST Peach Cobbler

My Favorite Pumpkin Roll Recipe

This pumpkin roll recipe with the best cream cheese filling is a favorite you’ll make year after year. It’s easy to freeze and serve with my tips for how to roll a pumpkin roll successfully every time.

Does the world needed yet another pumpkin roll recipe? This recipe proves the answer is YES.

This is one recipe that made me fall in love with pumpkin-flavored everything. The first of course being the classic pumpkin pie. I mean, what 8-year-old doesn’t love pumpkin pie? The third are my light as a pillow pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Fall wouldn’t be the same without them.

My mom always made this pumpkin roll recipe to welcome in fall and it was a popular neighbor gift for the holidays. As soon as we could smell the combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin wafting from the oven, we knew the leaves would soon begin falling from the trees.

Today I’m sharing an important tip for baking it in the pan, the easy way for how to roll a pumpkin roll, and the how to make this pumpkin roll with or without nuts.

Looks like the world DOES need another pumpkin roll recipe.continue to the recipe… about My Favorite Pumpkin Roll Recipe

Bratwurst In Beer With Onions

Simmered in beer with onions that become sweet and caramelized, this bratwurst recipe is a familiar German meal with a Wisconsin twist for the best reason to cheer at tailgates or clink cheers for Oktoberfest.

Hello, my name is Heidi. A classic German name, right? I even fit the demographic, with blue eyes and blonde hair—thanks more to my colorist than my genes as I’ve gotten older. But I can still claim it, right? Please say yes. Please.

Growing up, dishes from my youth like Weinerschnitzel and rouladen and often displaced the classic American favorites like pot roast and roast chicken or Liverwurst and pickles instead of peanut butter and jelly. German food is in my DNA.

So when fall festivities like football tailgates and Oktoberfest roll around, I’m happy to belly up to classic the cornerstone of nearly every German-American picnic or Superbowl game day: classic German bratwurst sausages with onions with a Wisconsin spin.

Our friend Tim hails from Wisconsin, a state with a bevy of German descendants. Who like beer. And football. And sausage. Years ago, Tim cooked his famous bratwurst for a Superbowl party at our house. Stewed in beer with sliced onions and then loaded onto soft rolls with my favorite grainy mustard, this style of bratwurst sandwich quickly became my favorite.

continue to the recipe… about Bratwurst In Beer With Onions

Tomato Basil Soup

Homemade with fresh tomatoes roasted in the oven, this tomato basil soup recipe adds a healthy and deliciously creamy flavor you won’t find in any old can.

The Best Tomato Soup Recipe

If I think back to my childhood, tomato soup is at the top of the list of my all-time favorite comfort foods. But unlike my ultra creamy macaroni and cheese or my mom’s spaghetti recipe, tomato basil soup is on the lighter side of the comfort food scale.

Even better, when you have a stash of roasted tomatoes in the fridge, it’s an easy recipe to whip up for an easy dinner with leftovers for lunch the next day.

I’ve seen some recipes for this soup that call for canned tomatoes, but I use fresh tomatoes roasted with garlic and herbs in my tomato soup. Earlier this week I shared my recipe for roasting the tomatoes here, and since I had a jar left over, I decided to update the photos and post for this recipe too.

Soup at our house is a regular menu item, in fact, my husband has gone on an all-soup diet more than once. It’s also likely that our early marriage was built on tomato soup with grilled cheese. Because can one even eat tomato soup without a grilled cheese sandwich for dunking?continue to the recipe… about Tomato Basil Soup

Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday!

October is my spring. It’s when I feel like everything around me needs a clean sweep, a spring cleaning. It’s when I feel the urge to dump all the extra stuff. Clear it all out. Simplify my closet. Cleanse my system. Clear my mind. Set new goals. Basically give everything I touch, inside and out, a good, old-fashioned scrub.

A fall sweep. That’s what I’m craving now.

But it isn’t just about things I need to get rid of or shouldn’t be doing. It’s also the things I want more of. It’s balance.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves