Quick & Easy Family-Friendly Homemade Recipes from Scratch

Grilled Shrimp with Key Lime Aioli

June 23, 2018 By John

A fast and easy grilled shrimp appetizer that mixes savory seafood seasoning with tart and tangy key lime dipping sauce. It’s sure to be a BBQ favorite!

It’s been a few months since Kim and I made the move from Florida to Arkansas. While Arkansas has always been home to us, it’s where we met after all, there are a few things we miss about living on the coast. Light, island themed dishes and happy hours featuring tropical drinks and tapas inspire a strange homesickness that the gorgeous mountain scenery just can’t satisfy.

Since I’ve no ambition to move back to the Sunshine State, I have only one option. Bring the flavors of Florida into my own home here in the Ozarks. What better way to do that than to serve a dish featuring a tangy lime native to the Keys? Let’s get started!

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A small wooden bowl of watermelon salad, topped with fresh mint and crumbled feta cheese.

Easy Summer Watermelon Salad

By John Leave a Comment

Looking for an easy watermelon salad? Then search no more, our savory, sweet side dish has only three steps while still using the freshest of ingredients. Over the last seven days we've done a lot of outdoor grilling. Quite literally, pounds and pounds of beef and chicken have found their onto our ...

Ariel view of three shredded beef tacos on a plate.

Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos

By Kimberly Leave a Comment

Beef tacos are a simple and tasty dinner option that will please even the pickiest of eaters. Make these family favorites even easier by using the Instant Pot! Our Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos only take a few minutes to brown the beef then simply dump in the remaining ingredients and done. You'll ...

The completed strawberry banana smoothie split between two glasses and garnished with strawberries.

Strawberry Banana Breakfast Smoothie

By John Leave a Comment

This strawberry banana smoothie is the perfect start to your day. It’s loaded with fresh bananas and strawberries and sweetened with a touch of honey! Weekday breakfasts are always the worst. If you’re anything like us, then you try to hit the ground running every morning. However, trying to fit in a decent breakfast can…

The completed tequila drink served in glasses half-filled with ice and garnished with sliced lemons.

Lemonade Tequila Drink

By John 14 Comments

Our lemonade tequila drink is a cool and refreshing drink combined with tequila to create a grown-up version of everyone’s favorite Summer beverage. With Summer finally arriving across most of the U.S., the temperatures are warming fast. The time is come to start breaking out all those classic recipes. One of our favorite hot-weather treats is…

The finished bacon cheeseburgers on a cutting board, served with fries and BBQ sauce.

Ultimate BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers

By John 26 Comments

**This post is sponsored by Pepperidge Farm, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.** Ultimate BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers will take center stage at your next barbecue. These bacon cheeseburgers start out with Pepperidge Farm® Hamburger Buns. Each patty is grilled to perfection then topped with all your favorite fixings like lettuce, tomato,…

Two bowls of cold pasta salad sitting on a blue designer towel and garnished with extra cheddar cheese.

Cold Pasta Salad with Vegetables

By John 24 Comments

A fresh and easy cold pasta salad with vegetables made using just a few simple ingredients, including frozen vegetables and creamy homemade ranch dressing. Summer is almost here and Kim and I are so excited! We have a few recipes that are perfect for the warm temperatures. For this week, we’re starting with a cold…

The finished backyard bash table setting with chicken breast, hot dogs, and iced tea.

Backyard Bash to Remember

By John 6 Comments

**This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc., but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.** Make your next backyard bash a hit with these recipes. Put a tropical twist on your favorite iced tea without tropical iced tea punch or, spice up your hot dog using our pineapple chipotle relish!

Rum Mixed Drinks

By Kimberly 16 Comments

These rum mixed drinks are the perfect blends of citrus, coconut, and touches of cherry. Their smooth, sweet, and refreshing any time of year. One of the best things about living in Florida is the Winter weather. It’s mild, calm, and a great time to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The humidity is…

The finished Greek pasta salad in a wooden serving bowl on a blue towel.

Easy Greek Pasta Salad

By John 24 Comments

Our easy Greek pasta salad is simple to prepare but still comes loaded with homemade flavors. The red wine vinaigrette highlights all those great Mediterranean ingredients. We can’t wait for you to try it! Before you say it, I know, it’s not authentic Greek pasta salad. With that being said, it’s still delicious and isn’t that…

7 Layer Dip

By John 10 Comments

Our 7 layer dip starts with Tex-Mex favorites like savory refried beans and smooth, creamy nacho cheese. It’s the perfect party dip for any occasion and is sure to please a crowd. What can you say about a 7 layer dip? Well, for starters, there are 7 layers of Tex-Mex inspired ingredients. As you can…