homemade pimento cheese
How have I lived in the south almost the entirety of my life and never made pimento cheese?! I finally made it this summer for a little happy hour on the deck, and it was so simple and so good! I used this pimento cheese recipe and loved the end result so much – the jalapeno gives it the perfect kick. Am I real southerner now?!
pimento cheese shrimp and grits with bacon
Similarly, we had never made shrimp and grits before! We decided to make them as southern and delicious as possible, and it was a breeze to make this meal – maybe 20 minutes total. We stirred in a large scoop of that homemade pimento cheese to make this incredible pimento cheese shrimp and grits with bacon… heavenly!! We will absolutely be making this again.
Thai black pepper honey chicken
Everything that we make from Half Baked Harvest is pure gold, and it’s so true for this recipe! We love Asian foods and bold flavors, and this Thai black pepper honey chicken topped with cashews and basil and served with coconut rice is such a hit in our house. Better than takeout – and probably takes less time, too!
corn and bacon pasta
As soon as I saw this recipe in an issue of Southern Living earlier this summer, I knew I had to make it! I adore using the freshest, most in-season produce, and local corn and fresh basil had both been calling my name. This Southern Living corn and bacon pasta with basil and parmesan cheese is amazing, and I’m such a fan!
Thai peanut chicken with mango salsa
We first made this utterly amazing recipe during our third cooking challenge, and it is amazing. Half Baked Harvest recipes really are incredible, y’all! This Thai peanut chicken with mango salsa and coconut rice is filled with so much insane flavor, and every bite is perfection. I highly, highly recommend!
chicken tinga tacos with pineapple jalapeno salsa
And again, this recipe is from Half Baked Harvest’s newest cookbook and is really the only way I’ll eat chicken in Mexican food (I just prefer Mexican food with ground beef so much more, usually). This chicken tinga recipe is out of this world good (with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce combined with enchilada sauce), and topping it with refreshing pineapple jalapeno salsa (and a homemade margarita with a chili lime salted rim!) knocks this recipe out of the park.
Greek gyros with homemade tzatziki
We love Greek food in our house (I studied abroad there, afterall!), and Greek gyros or Greek gyro bowls are an old standby and also such a hit. Sometimes we get sliced lamb from Trader Joe’s, sometimes we use rotisserie chicken, and sometimes we air fry chicken thighs with Greek seasoning, and no matter which protein option you choose, you can’t go wrong. You can do a base of lettuce, grains (we prefer white or brown rice), or a warm naan, top with the protein of your choice with ample Greek seasoning (oregano, lemon pepper, garlic, and salt), and then add feta and your favorite veggies (cucumbers, red peppers, and olives and tomatoes if you like those). And, of course, homemade tzatziki!
To make homemade tzatziki (way better than store bought!), simply combine a container of Greek yogurt with grated or finely diced cucumber (remove the watery center of the cucumber first with a soon). Stir in a drizzle of olive oil, fresh dill, some garlic, a dash of onion powder, and some salt and pepper. Stir and let chill so the flavors really meld together.
chicken pot pie with sage
All winter, we made this cozy, warm, mouthwatering meal. It’s an elevated chicken pot pie with the freshest veggies, a comforting sauce, and topped with flaky puff pastry (use the Trader Joe’s brand!). Half Baked Harvest’s chicken pot pie with sage is a constant hit in our house and with many friends who’ve enjoyed it with us!
lemon ricotta pasta
This is a summertime meal in a bowl! It’s a light, refreshing summer pasta recipe that we love and have had on repeat – lemon ricotta pasta (and topped with shrimp in this picture). It’s super simple, comes together quickly, and it light yet filling all in one. You’ll love it!
I can’t count how many times I’ve baked Elisabeth and Butter’s peanut butter dark chocolate chip cookies topped with sea salt. They are devoured instantly in our home and with our family and friends! The recipe is easy and straightforward, and the cookies melt in your mouth. I love topping them with a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt both before and immediately after baking. Heavenly!
Elisabeth and Butter’s desserts are the ones I bake most often, and they are always such a hit around here! I regularly bake her:
oatmeal cream pies (WOW.)
Another favorite Elisabeth and Butter recipe is this fresh strawberry cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting – yum! I’ve made it a few times over the year, and it such a stunner of a cake… and the strawberry cream cheese icing is particularly heavenly.
blueberry blackberry peach crisp
Is there anything more summery and satisying than a blueberry blackberry peach crisp?! I love, love, love using local produce – the very freshest and most juicy fruits! – to make summery desserts like crumbles and cobblers and crisps. This one is so good and so easy… and best enjoyed with a large scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream on top of a warm bowl of fruit crisp!
This black bottom peanut butter mousse pie from Epicurious is such a hit in our home! I’ve made it a couple times now, and it is so, so delicious. Rob and I love chocolate and peanut butter together, and one of our favorite local spots, Hayes Barton, makes a mile-high peanut butter mousse pie, much like this one. I set out on a quest to replicate it at home as best as possible, and this very highly rated recipe hits the spot in every way. From the graham cracker crust to the rich layer of chocolate ganache on the bottom to the light yet lush layer of peanut butter mousse… it’s heavenly. I like to top ours off with drizzles of melted dark chocolate and flakes of Maldon sea salt!
salted dark chocolate peanut butter blondie brownies
This is another winning dessert from Half Baked Harvest, the salted dark chocolate peanut butter blondie brownies. Can you tell we love chocolate and peanut butter around here? This is irresistible and so decadent – and a crowd favorite!
We also really love the Half Baked Harvest crinkle top chocolate peanut butter skillet blondies – very similar and equally amazing!
grilled peaches with homemade honey vanilla ice cream
This dessert just screams summer to me! Grilled peaches with honey vanilla ice cream is the epitome of summer in the south – and so easy to come together. Spray your ripe peaches (cut in half and pit removed) with Pam, grill for a couple minutes, and then top with homemade honey vanilla ice cream for the perfect summer treat!
We have a Cuisinart ice cream maker that we use… way too often or at least a couple times a week! Here the basic homemade vanilla ice cream recipe that we use and LOVE:
1 cup of whole milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
pinch of salt
2 cups of heavy cream
1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
Combine the first three ingredients til sugar is dissolved, then stir in the last two ingredients til fully mixed. Refrigerate for a couple hours and then pour into frozen ice cream mixer for 20 minutes.
I hope this roundup of some of our favorite recipes become some of your favorites, too! We’ve been so inspired in the kitchen lately and have had a lot of fun together finding, cooking/baking, and enjoying so many recipes that are so creatively crafted by some incredible cooks and bakers.
I’d love to hear from you: are there any meals or recipes that particularly stand out that you’re adding to your meal planning list this week?!
Raleigh Wedding Planner 
Since I share your loves for both Half-Baked Harvest and Elisabeth & Butter, I can’t wait to try some more of your ideas!! Love your food styling too–I’d love to see a post about your favorite places to pick up pretty tableware! š
Thanks, Lisa! And noted!! I’ll work on a post for that, and thank you for the idea!
Goodness! You are a true culinary inspiration my friend. Everything is not only styled so beautifully but it looks like it’s all cooked to perfection. I still need to invest in Half-Baked Harvest and this post might just be my final push. Enjoy your week ahead of home-cooked delights, Steph! Xoxo
Thank you!! We have had SO much fun cooking and enjoying the process together – it’s been a very fun and welcome distraction this year… and a very delicious one, too! I rarely buy cookbooks, but we LOVE love love the new Half Baked Harvest cook book. I bookmarked about sixty “must make ASAP” recipes (which I never do), and we’ve cooked at least half of them already (which we rarely have ever done)! In fact, we’re making a new-to-us HBH recipe tonight, and I’m so excited!
Some lovely selections here!