Casseroles & Comfort Foods

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

October 11, 2017 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EverydayEckrich #CollectiveBias

Have you ever been going and going so much that you had to sit down because your head felt dizzy? 2017 has been the busiest year of our lives thanks to our home building project, and as we’re nearing closer to the move in date, we’ve become even busier trying to make final decisions and purchases to make everything tie together just like we’ve always dreamed. I’m definitely at a point where I’m feeling under pressure and overwhelmed, and during times like that it’s often hard for me to be as productive as I’d like.

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Southwestern Cornbread Salad

October 8, 2017 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

I HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED BY LUCK’S TO BRING YOU THIS DELICIOUS SPICY SOUTHERN-STYLE CORNBREAD SALAD, AND ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED WITHIN THIS POST ARE 100% MY OWN. I ONLY PROMOTE WHAT I TRULY LOVE!

What seemed like a brief glimpse of glorious fall temperatures here in south Alabama last week has been completely diminished by these not-so-lovely 90+ degree temps this week. You know it’s hot outside when you break a sweat going out to your own mailbox! And even though we’re still experiencing wave after wave of this horrendous heat, I’m not letting it get me down. Instead, I’ve been feeling a little bit inspired to bring an extra element of heat into my cooking this week, and what better way to add a little spice into your life than by combining it with a twist on a true southern staple dish!

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Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Alfredo Baked Potatoes

October 5, 2017 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of RAGÚ® Pasta Sauce. All opinions are entirely my own.

Things in our household have been a bit more stressful than usual this past month. We’re in the final stages of our home building process that we started back in December, so a lot of my attention has been focused on making decisions on things like counter tops, switch plates, paint colors and light fixtures. All of that sounds like it might be fun, but it’s been nothing short of nerve-wracking and a little bit intimidating. I’ve been feeling the pressure to pick out things that I not only like right now, but also feel like I’ll like years down the road, too.
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Carved Turkey, Cheddar and Homemade Apple Butter Sandwich

September 25, 2017 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

This post has been sponsored by Sara Lee® Artesano™ Golden Wheat Bread. All opinions expressed within this post are 100% my own.

It’s no secret that the best activities of the year happen during the beautiful fall season. The leaves begin to change colors, the temperatures outside are crisp and cool, and families begin making plans for celebrating together during the holidays. This fall in particular is going to be the biggest and best one yet for my family, because we’ll be putting the finishing touches on our brand new home we’ve been building and will be moving in before Thanksgiving!

My entire family will be coming over to our new home for Thanksgiving day, so I’ve already made a jump-start at making menu preparations for the big day. Because there will be roughly 11 or 12 people in my house at one time, I’ve really been trying to think not only about Thanksgiving dinner itself, but also the other daily meals surrounding it.

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Taco Hand Pies with Southwest Ranch Sauce

August 16, 2017 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BackToButterball #CollectiveBias

School is already back in session here, and parents everywhere have been busy adjusting to new schedules, figuring out how to fit in those extracurricular activities, and relearning how to balance the busyness of home and school life while keeping it all together simultaneously. I’ve always loved the back to school season, but it can certainly make you feel like you’re living in a whirlwind during that first month.

When a new schedule is thrown my way, I always find that it helps to have a few go-to recipes in my super-mom arsenal that are balanced, kid friendly, easy to throw together, and can be eaten on the go (in case we’re running behind for something…which we usually are!)

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Easy Parmesan Meatball Sliders

August 14, 2017 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooked Perfect® Meatballs for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love back-to-school season. I absolutely adore watching my social media feeds fill up with adorable photos of kids attending their first day of class, the sales in retail and grocery stores are always out of this world, and I get so excited to fill out my calendar with exciting events that are happening at the local school here in my community.

Because it’s typically a busier time than usual, a lot of parents are scrambling to find the time to attend all of the extracurricular activities their kids are involved in while also finding the time to make sure the family is fed a decent meal during those busy weeknights. The weeknight dinner struggle can be real sometimes, you guys!

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Easy Chicken Salad – Ready in 20 Minutes!

July 10, 2017 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

I received a Power Pressure Cooker XL as compensation in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own!

Does anyone else’s life seem to speed up during the weekend instead of slow down? Weekends are supposed to be a time to unwind from the busy work week, but my family is currently in a season of life where it seems like the only rest we get is when we close our eyes at night to get a little shuteye!

Because we’re still in the home building process, so much of my husband’s time is poured into working at the construction site. It seems like he works from sun up to sun down every chance he gets, and this past Saturday was no different. He’s a hard working man, that’s for sure!

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Cheesy Chicken & Rice Burrito Dip

June 22, 2017 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #UncleBens #FlavorInfusions #CollectiveBias

Now that summer is in full swing, my daughter and I have been a pair of busy bees attending all of the fun children’s events that have been taking place in the area. Just the other day I had to grab my calendar and schedule all of the activities taking place because it had gotten to where I couldn’t keep track of it anymore! On top of all of our weekly outings, I decided to enroll her in a baby gymnastics class that meets once a week. I feel so lucky to live in an area that has put such a big focus on children’s learning and physical activity. Living in a very rural part of the state, all of these free public events are a rare treat that are really making our summer extra special!

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Southern Fried Chicken (Without the Guilt!) Power Air Fryer XL Review

June 14, 2017 by Laura Tucker 54 Comments

I received a Power Air Fryer XL™ as compensation in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own!

When you think of southern style food, what are some of the first things that come to mind? Casseroles? Sweet tea? What about fried chicken? If you automatically thought of something battered and fried, you’re definitely not alone! It’s no secret that we love our fried foods here in the south. Heck, we even fry our vegetables! Just walk into any local diner around here and you’ll find that the majority of the menu items are fried – and if they’re not, the cooks will be more than happy to fry it for you!

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How to Host a Kid Friendly Fiesta Fry Bar!

June 5, 2017 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

“This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of McCain Foods. The opinions and text are all mine.”

With the summer months officially here, it’s time to kick off your shoes, roll up your sleeves and enjoy these beautifully warm days with friends and family by your side! Even though the temperatures here in south Alabama keep climbing higher and higher, nothing is stopping me from creating memorable moments for my family to enjoy together! One of my favorite things to do during the long summer days is to get my creative juices flowing and put together a special food-filled evening that my entire family will be sure to enjoy.

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