It is way too hot these days to be dreaming about making s’mores outside on an open fire. The whole outside is like an open fire! LA is complaining about the heat every chance we get (myself included), and so I wanted to bring a classic summer dessert indoors. Away from the sun. Away from the heat, and away from any open flames. These Peanut Butter S’mores Hand Pies for GO BOLD WITH BUTTER, are a great summer treat to make because you can do it in the comfort of your air-conditioned home. Homemade pie crust is filled with creamy peanut butter, dark chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. They’re sprinkled with a graham cracker sugar topping and baked until golden brown and flaky. It’s like s’mores and pies coming together to create the perfect on the go summer treat. Don’t let the weekend go by without making these hand pies for yourself. You won’t regret it.
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When I was a kid, I would beg mom for money every time I heard the ice cream truck going around the neighborhood. I can’t tell you how many times I would run down the block so I could catch up with him. It was a constant game of trying to get out the door in time so I wouldn’t miss him. I would alternate the treats I would get from week to week. Sometimes I was in the mood for salty things like jalapeño cheddar popcorn or spicy corn nuts or cool ranch doritos. Sometimes I would want candy like now or laters or the gum with the zebra on it with the flavor didn’t last at all. Then on hot summer days, I would always go for ice cream. If I wasn’t getting a rocket pop, I would definitely get a batman ice cream bar with the bubblegum eyes. As I got older though I stopped getting the batman pops and started obsessing over the good humor strawberry shortcake ice cream bars. I remember eating those all summer long. Now as an adult, I can’t even tell you when was the last time I had one and I’m pretty sure they’d be equally delicious and disappointing. That’s why I wanted to recreate them at home. Now, these aren’t 100% the same. For instance, it doesn’t have a bright red ice cream filling surrounded by vanilla ice cream, BUT I do think they come pretty close in flavor. They’re incredibly easy to make thanks to the no-churn strawberry ice cream. If you’re a fan like me, then you have to give these a try soon!
The one good thing about summer is that it means grilling season is upon us and we get to take our cooking outdoors for a change. Now, I don’t know about you, but I love grilling on warm summer evenings. Whenever I think about grilling, I think about hot dogs, which also makes me think about going to the beach, which makes me think about sandwiches on the sand by the water. I’m taking you on this long twisted path of visualization so that you understand where these Reuben Sandwich Hot Dogs are coming from. They come from my love of both sandwiches and hot dogs, and grilling and the beach. Don’t get me wrong, I love a simple classic dog with just mustard and ketchup, especially if I’m at a baseball game. Hot dogs however, never fill me up. I’m always left hungry. So because of this, I’ve come to think of hot dogs as a pre-dinner snack. An appetizer if you will. I wanted to create a heartier hot dog. A hot dog meets sandwich situation that we can all get behind this summer. The best thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t really involve much cooking at all, which makes them perfect for those hot summer days when you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. They’re satisfying and I hope you’ll give them a try this summer!
I’m creeping out from my spot under the air conditioning, where I’ve been camping out for the good part of the past couple of weeks. It’s been extremely hot in Los Angeles, and I’m sure it’s hot everywhere else, but for us Angelenos we are melting away into nothing. The only way I think we can all survive this incessant heat is by making and eating a few ice cream sandwiches. Not just any ice cream sandwich though. Every year I make an ice cream sandwich of the summer (like last year’s 
I always categorize my salads into two different types. There’s the “healthy” salads, loaded with greens and lettuce and good-for-you add-ins. These are the kinds of salads you can feel good about eating because they’re lightly dressed and actually good for you. These are also the salads I depend on when I’ve eaten too many fried foods and want some alleviation from my not-so-healthy choices. The second type of salad, which is the one I lean to the most, are the much heartier salads that actually don’t have much lettuce or greens at all. This Fried Green Tomato and Halloumi Salad is hearty, filling and loaded with so much flavor. A fried green tomato base with fried halloumi, dolloped with a Cajun-style remoulade, feta and micro greens; this is the dish you’ve been waiting for. You might not call it the healthiest salad, or a salad at all, but I certainly think of it as this summer’s salad of choice. 
Homemade chewy oatmeal cookies—sans raisins and with chocolate chips instead because I’m no monster—are one hundred times better when they’re sandwiched together with a heaping amount of Nutella and toasted marshmallows. I couldn’t let another 4th of July go by without making sure I got you covered in the dessert department. These Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie S’mores are the way to go this year. They’re the perfect chance to shine at your BBQ or gathering, and to jazz up that tired old dessert we all know and love. Don’t get me wrong though, a classic s’mores with store-bought graham crackers are still my jam. All I’m saying is that chewy oatmeal cookies make for a much better vessel. I love these because you can make the cookies the day before and then keep them in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble. You can swap out the Nutella for either chocolate pieces or even peanut butter cups. You really can’t go wrong any way you go. The only thing that matters is that you make these for your summer celebrations. Nothing would make me happier!
