Graduation season was upon us once again. We had already watched three of our kids go off to college. This year, it was our baby. She was probably the most successful in her high school career. I think she actually took the advice and ideas that her older siblings had given her when they graduated. She graduated with honors and we couldn’t have been more proud of her. Each of our other kids had a nice catered graduation party, because basically I didn’t feel like doing all of that cooking. This was the last one though, and I promised myself I was going to do it and embrace it. No more babies!

I didn’t want to make something that was too difficult to either prepare or serve. That was only going to take time away from my daughter and the rest of the guests. When I found this slow cooker pulled pork on Relative Taste I asked the graduate if it would be okay with her. She, being the sweetheart that she is, said it was perfect.

There were about three crock pots full of this because I wasn’t sure what we were going to go through. People don’t really RSVP for graduation parties, they just show up. Let’s just say I’m glad that I went with three instead of two!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Relative Taste.

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Quick Tip: Use your favorite BBQ sauce brand or make your own.

I was looking over my calendar for the summer and it appeared we had a lot of gatherings coming up. As a matter of fact, just about one day out of every weekend was booked except for a couple here and there. I was looking forward to seeing everyone that we hadn’t had contact with over the winter. It seems as though everyone just kind of hibernates when the weather is unpleasant. We get together a little bit for the holidays, but it isn’t the same as enjoying a nice sunny day outside next to someone’s pool or on their patio. As I was looking, I saw that we were hosting the first event.

Oh boy! I wasn’t prepared for that at all. I knew we were doing it, I just didn’t realize that it was coming up so fast. I had to get ready! My husband has always been really good at getting the outside of the house ready, and he leaves me to take care of the food and decorating. I got the flower gardens all up to par, and while I was planting, I was thinking about food.

We were going to be grilling some pork chops, chicken, and steak, so I needed something that would pair well with that. Potatoes of course, but what kind. I found this recipe on Relative Taste and it was the ticket. I knew everyone would love them.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Relative Taste.

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Quick Tip: You could swap out your bread crumbs for cracker crumbs if that’s all you have on hand.

Ahhhhh. Pizza and pasta. It seems like one or the other is on our table five out of seven days of the week. I try to sneak at least one salad day in and then there is a meat and potatoes day for my husband. Other than that, I pretty much cater to the kids. I learned the hard way that if you make something they don’t like and won’t eat, you’re going to have your hands full later on. It started with frozen pizza and boxed macaroni and cheese, but now they are getting older and we can try out different, more grown up recipes, thank goodness. I was getting tired of those and I know my husband wasn’t impressed.

I have started adding meats and veggies to different kinds of pastas and they seem to enjoy them. I don’t have any complaints and my husband will go in for seconds so I think he’s happy. We have finally come to a mutual compromise. It took a while, but we made it. When I found this pizza stuffed shells recipe on Relative Taste, I knew it was going to be an instant favorite.

This was everything that everyone in the house loved. There was pizza flavor, pasta, meat for the man of the house, and veggies for me. It was perfect. It’s simple to make and pretty affordable too. It’s a regular on our menu board.

Recipe courtesy of Relative Taste. Photo credits go to Comfortable Food!

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Quick Tip: Stuff with all your favorite pizza toppings: jalapenos, ham, bacon, onions… whatever you want!

When my son was finally at the stage where he could eat solid foods, he wouldn’t. It didn’t matter what I would give the kid, he wasn’t having it. Pizza, chips, chocolate, (yes, I know, not the best options but he wouldn’t eat anything!) none of it was working. I called my sister one day who has three kids of her own in somewhat of a panic asking her what I should do. She asked me if I had tried hot dogs. I said that I had, and he wasn’t having those either. All he wanted was his cereal, milk, and once in a while I could get him to have some mashed potatoes… that was it.

She told me about a recipe that she had seen on Relative Taste for hot pretzel dogs and suggested I give that a try. Maybe if he got a taste of the salt, he would be more apt to take a bite. Everyone loves salt, right? Well, I figured I would try it. What’s the worst that could happen? He wouldn’t eat it? Wow.

Much to my surprise and I think even his, he really enjoyed these. The help from the dip was a big one too. He wanted to do the action more than actually eat it, but after a few dips, he was taking bites. That was the start to him trying new foods. Now I have him eating everything, including fruits and veggies!

Recipe courtesy of Relative Taste. Photo credits go to The Simple Parent.

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Quick Tip: Serve with your favorite dipping sauce… spicy ketchup is delish!

For some reason, I volunteered to be a counselor at our community park recreation program over the summer. It’s all day, Monday through Friday, for two months out of the season. Granted, that’s where my kids were going to be, but I don’t know what I was thinking. I spent all school year waiting for summer to come so I could relax. Oh, I forgot to mention, I’m a teacher. Summers are my time. That’s when I get to refresh and reload for a new group of fourth graders the following year. Not me though, I’m going to spend the whole summer with kids too. Why not?

Both of my little ones were part of the program, so I think that’s what drove me to do it. I didn’t want to miss out on time with them. Even though they were in different groups, at least I could see them and share lunch together. That meant not a lot of time at home though before the hubby got home and dinner time arrived.

I had to continue with my simple weekday meals like this creamy chicken casserole from Relative Taste. We have this a few times a month. It’s so simple, and everyone likes it. We hardly ever have leftovers and if we do, they go to work with the man of the house the following day making for no waste!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Relative Taste.

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Quick Tip: You can use butter instead of margarine.

My son came home from his final year in college. Before he arrived, he told us that he had a surprise and that he wanted to bring someone with him. We never had any issues with anyone that he brought home in the past so we said sure. When he came home, he walked through the door with one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen. On his face was the biggest smile that I think he could fit on there. I had never seen him smile like that before. Then he dropped the bomb, “Mom, Dad…. we’re engaged!” Holy smokes… I had to sit down for that one. We hadn’t even met this girl before.

I have always trusted him to make the right choices, so I wasn’t going to question his decision. We just hugged and kissed them both and sat down to chat. I knew that we had to celebrate. I asked them what they wanted for dinner besides a big bottle of champagne. My boy said that his new fiance really liked chicken cordon bleu.

Well, it just so happened that I had a recipe for that which I saw on Relative Taste a few weeks earlier. It must have been a premonition that I was going to need it. I headed to the store to pick up the ingredients I needed to create us a beautiful meal. We needed to learn more about this woman who was soon to become our daughter!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Relative Taste.

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Quick Tip: Swiss cheese can be used in place of the provolone.

Don’t skimp on the dumplings and make them the real way, just like Aunt Maggie did.

Whenever my mom and her sisters got together, I knew what was going to happen. We were going to be eating that good that day. When their mom was alive, that’s what they all did together. While the men were out working on the farm, the women would stay inside and do all the cooking and cleaning. With six kids in that family, there was plenty to do. Grandma always made them help her in the kitchen by splitting up each part of the meal and giving one sister part of the dish to make. Aunt Maggie always got in charge of the dumplings.

She still to this day makes the best dumplings that I have ever had in my life. I don’t know if it’s because of all her experience or what, but they are amazing. I’ve watched her make them several times, and her recipe is just like this one from Relative Taste.

I have taken after her place when it comes to the dumplings now, but I also have to make the whole entire rest of the meal including chicken and broth too. It’s okay though. The end result is so worth all the work it takes!

Recipe courtesy of Relative Taste. Photo credits go to YouTube.

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Quick Tip: Add in carrots if you want the color.