Posts in RECIPE BOX
Spring Green Salad with Herb Dressing
Spring Green Salad with Herb Dressing

This time of year is my favorite for making pretty salads with lots of fresh ingredients that are perfect for light lunches with girlfriends. I really love a green salad with fresh herb dressing, simple deviled eggs and a sweet green smoothie on the side. It’s light but flavorful and leaves you feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed. If I could have this lunch every day, I would! This salad would also be a great addition to your Easter menu.

Ingredients

Salad

2 Heads of Butter lettuce

2 Sliced Avocados

1/2 Cup Sliced English Cucumber

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishGreen Salad, Devilled Eggs, Salad Dressing, Lunch Recipe, Salad RecipeComment
La Jolla French Toast
La Jolla French Toast

Every Christmas, I look forward to Christmas morning brunch! For years we’ve had the tradition of making French toast from one of our favorite restaurants in La Jolla. Brockton Villa makes a “coast toast” that’s absolutely to die for. It has everything you want in a French toast plus a little kiss of an orange flavor that’s unexpected and absolutely delicious. I like to add a little cinnamon to make it more “holiday” but this recipe is perfect for any special occasion brunch!

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishFrench ToastComment
Pumpkin Muffins
Pumpkin Muffins

Something about fall has me craving muffins! There’s nothing better than waking up on a cold morning, grabbing a cup of coffee and warming up a muffin. I’ve tried a few pumpkin recipes and I finally came up with the perfect concoction to create a sweet (but not overly sweet), moist and warming muffin anyone would love. These muffins stay fresh for a good week and are a great baked good to send with your husband to the ranch or pack up and deliver next door to your neighbor. I can’t recommend them enough!

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishPumpkin Muffins, MuffinsComment
Mushroom, Asparagus and Leek Quiche
Mushroom, Asparagus and Leek Quiche

If you’ve never made a quiche before, let me just tell you, it’s very, very easy and absolutely delicious! A quiche is really just a fancy breakfast casserole. This quiche recipe is cheesy, rich and very flavorful. The combination of mushrooms, asparagus and leeks really complement each other beautifully but you could easily substitute other vegetables if you prefer. The arugula salad on top is a must because it adds freshness and brightens up all the bold flavors. This recipe takes no time at all ot whip up and it’s…

Ingredients

1 packaged pie dough

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishQuiche, Brunch, BreakfastComment
Pimento Cheese Dip
Pimento Cheese Dip

Pimento cheese is one of those southern staples that everyone knows and loves. I’ve had many different types of pimento cheese but this recipe is hands down my favorite. The great thing about pimento cheese is how diverse it is. You can eat it as a dip with crackers, potato chips, bread or fresh veggies, or eat it in a sandwich, grilled cheese or baked potato. You could also use this dip as a spread to make pinwheels for bite size appetizers! The options are truly endless! My preferred way of eating pimento cheese is with crackers and a cold glass of sauvignon blanc. This recipe will make a generous portion which is great for packing up in a mason jar and bringing over to a friend’s house for happy hour. Enjoy!

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishComment
Banana Muffins & Bread
Banana Muffins & Bread

There are few things more comforting and delicious as banana nut bread! In my opinion, banana nut bread is acceptable to bake all year around, but it’s especially wonderful as the season changes and the weather cools down. This recipe works for both a loaf of bread and muffins. I love to double the ingredients and make both! When you have a few old bananas lying around, throw them into a mixer and follow this recipe! The muffins make a great treat to bring over to a friends house or keep on the counter for a quick and easy breakfast on the go. You won’t find a more yummy recipe than this one, trust me!

Ingredients

1 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. of vanilla

1 stick of softened butter

…

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay Standishbaking, fall baking, banana nut bread, banana nut muffinsComment
Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Lemon thumbprint cookies are the perfect spring and summer treat! These cookies are incredibly easy to whip up and most importantly, require very little clean up (always a bonus in my book!). These sweet treats aren’t TOO sweet and have a little bit of saltiness so you can have half a dozen with zero sugar hangover! Need I say more?!

Ingredients for the cookies

2 cups margarine

6 tablespoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2 teaspoon of salt

4 cups flour

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishLemon Thumbprint Cookies, Dessert, CookiesComment
Bluebonnet Berry Muffins
Bluebonnet Berry Muffins

It’s officially SPRING and I couldn’t be happier for the change of season! This time of year, Austin is full of beautiful wildflowers and bluebonnets around every corner and surrounding all the streets and highways. It truly is my favorite time of year in the hill country. Warmer and longer spring days always get in the mood to bake, and muffins are a really great go-to. They’re quick, easy and can be enjoyed all week long! I’m calling these blueberry muffins ‘Bluebonnet Berry Muffins’ because they’re perfect for whipping up as soon as the bluebonnets start blooming!

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

2 cups frozen blueberries

4 teaspoons sparkling sugar

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay Standishblueberry muffins, baking, baked goodsComment
Harvest Pasta Salad
Harvest Pasta Salad

Thanksgiving is finally upon us and I couldn’t be happier! When I started looking forward to this year’s spread, I thought to myself, it might be nice to have a little variety in side dishes when it comes to the typical mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and stuffing. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the traditional side dishes, but sometimes it’s nice to throw in a fresh addition that complements the meal and doubles as a really good leftover. Harvest Pasta Salad adds the perfect amount of sweet and savory to your Thanksgiving meal or pairs nicely on it’s own for another occasion!

Ingredients

1/2 of a 16 oz package of pasta (any type of fun shape or shell)

1 cup roasted pecans chopped

1 head of broccoli chopped

1/3 cup red onion chopped…

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishHarvest Pasta Salad, Fall Dish, ThanksgivingComment
Pumpkin Spice Thumbprint Cookies
Pumpkin Spice Thumbprint Cookies

There is nothing that puts me more in the mood to bake than Fall and the start of October! I have a special place in my heart for a good thumbprint cookie but I’ve found they are hard to come by. The cookie itself needs to be the right amount of saltiness to balance out the sweet icing and they cannot be hard or dry. There is a place in Lubbock (where I am from) called Sugar Bakers. Sugar Bakers makes the most insanely delicious thumbprints that are on constant rotation with icing that fits the season. I literally CRAVE these cookies and have never been able to find ones that come close to comparing. Until now… This cookie recipe is not only extremely simple and easy, it’s downright delicious. The cookie is buttery, a touch salty and perfectly moist (if baked correctly). The icing is creamy, not overly sweet and pairs perfectly with this time of year…

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishPumpkin Spice Thumbprint Cookies, Thumbprint Cookies, Fall BakingComment
The Easiest Hostess Dish To Bring To A Summer Shower
The Easiest Hostess Dish To Bring To A Summer Shower

It’s sweet summertime which also means it’s shower season! Spring and summer are always filled with parties and showers celebrating engagements, weddings, births and anything else that’s worth throwing a get-together for!

Being a hostess is always fun but can be stressful depending on what else you have on your plate. Summertime always seems to fly by and by the time you know it, you’re one day away from the party and don’t have time to whip together the homemade muffins or bite size tea sandwiches you planned on impressing everyone with. A colorful fruit plate is all you need! Not only will it make the table look pretty, it also won’t break the bank! I try to look for fruits that are in season and easy to eat. Slice the larger fruit to make a bed for the smaller berries and garnish with mint. It’s as easy as that!

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishFruit Plate, AppetizerComment
Summer Charcuterie Board
Summer Charcuterie Board

Summer is around the corner and patio parties are already in full swing! There is nothing I love more than sitting out on the back porch with a charcuterie board, wine and good friends. Charcuterie boards are great all year around and a perfect excuse to get creative and make your own spread with what’s in season. Summer in particular is always more fun when putting together a charcuterie board because there are so many colorful fruits and veggies that are great for brightening up your meats and cheeses. There are so many beautiful charcuterie boards and cheese platters out there (hello Pinterest!) and you really can’t go wrong! There is no recipe or rules when it comes to…

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishCharcuterie Board, Cheese BoardComment
Easter Brunch
Easter Brunch

As a believer, Easter has always been special and important for me to celebrate. It’s also a really fun time to dress up and go to brunch! Growing up, I remember always getting to buy a special new dress for Easter Sunday. After church, we would either go to the country club or come home to a really elaborate brunch. My mother would always have her Easter decorations out, fresh flowers on the table and food that she had been preparing all weekend. I just remember really beautiful colors that set the tone for the change in season and represented new life.

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RECIPE BOX, DINECharly Kay StandishEaster, Brunch, Easter Brunch, Devilled Eggs, Pasta Salad, Lemon Aioli DipComment
No Frills or Fuss Chicken & Dumplings
No Frills or Fuss Chicken & Dumplings

There’s nothing better than chicken and dumplings on a cold dreary day. This delicious soup cooks all day long so by the time supper rolls around the chicken is falling apart and you finally get to taste what you’ve smelt for 8 hours! Oh, and the best part? This is a crockpot dish so you literally can’t mess it up and it’s SO EASY. This is my go-to Sunday night dinner in the winter time or on a rainy day.

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishChicken and Dumplings, Winter Dishes, recipesComment
My Top 3 Bitesize Holiday Appetizers
My Top 3 Bitesize Holiday Appetizers

When it comes to bite size appetizers, what could be better than deviled eggs, bourbon balls and chicken salad? Whether your hosting a big party or just having a couple of friends over, these appetizers will always be appropriate! Best of all, you can basically make these recipes ahead of time and take a couple of shortcuts to save you some time in the kitchen.

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishButternut Squash Bacon Deviled Eggs, Bourbon Balls, Chicken Salad on Apple Slices, Recipes, Holiday Party, Holiday Appetizers, Bitesize AppetizersComment
Holiday Bourbon Sangria
Holiday Bourbon Sangria

For years I’ve looked for a festive holiday cocktail that I can sip on and not feel like I’m swallowing a cup of sugar or cream. Don’t get my wrong, I love a good white russian or milk punch, but sometimes I want something a little lighter. I stumbled on this recipe this fall and I have to say it has been a HIT with anyone who has tried it. It (almost) feels healthy because there is so much fruit that you forget about the alcohol! But don’t let it full you, it has a kick! This is the prettiest punch to serve for a small party with friends that you can make in advance. I’ve fully decided this is my go-to fall/winter sangria! Full disclosure, I followed a recipe I found online from…

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishFall Sangria, Holiday CocktailsComment
Honey Crisp Apple Cider Spritzer
Honey Crisp Apple Cider Spritzer

It’s my most favorite time of year! There is nothing like crisp fall air, sweaters and scarves, and yellow and orange trees that make you want to sit outside and enjoy a cocktail with your loved one. This weekend I was in the mood to make a yummy fall cocktail that I could sip outside and enjoy the sunny 70 degree weather. When I started looking for recipes, I found that most of them seemed like a lot of work. And I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the mood to sit outside and soak up the outdoors, I don’t generally want to

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RECIPE BOXCharly Kay StandishFall Cocktails Comment