Mocha Parfaits { & A Little Help for the Holidays from Kraft}

With creamy layers of mocha custard, coffee whipped cream, and coffee liqueur-laced cookie crumbs, Mocha Parfaits are a perfect sweet treat for entertaining. Whip them up in shot glasses for a party treat, or cocktail glasses for a full-sized dessert.

Wow, is it ever getting close to Christmas day! How are you doing on your holiday-prep to do list? If you're anything like me, you're probably feeling a bit behind.

With all the extra fun that surrounds the holidays ... shopping, decorating, attending others' parties, planning and preparing for our own parties, gift wrapping, baking, and more ... all while still keeping up with the day-to-day routine, it can be hard to keep up with everything on the holiday to-do list.

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With creamy layers of mocha custard, coffee whipped cream, and coffee liqueur-laced cookie crumbs, Mocha Parfaits are a perfect sweet treat for entertaining. Whip them up in shot glasses for a party treat, or cocktail glasses for a full-sized dessert.

Wow, is it ever getting close to Christmas day! How are you doing on your holiday-prep to do list? If you're anything like me, you're probably feeling a bit behind.

With all the extra fun that surrounds the holidays ... shopping, decorating, attending others' parties, planning and preparing for our own parties, gift wrapping, baking, and more ... all while still keeping up with the day-to-day routine, it can be hard to keep up with everything on the holiday to-do list.

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Gingerbread Magic Cookies

Love magic cookies? Then you'll go crazy for this Christmas version of the classic! That's right, it's Gingerbread Magic Cookies, complete with a gingerbread crust, cinnamon chips, and white chocolate. It's just as good as the original ... hmmmm, perhaps even better!

It just so happens that classic 7-Layer {Magic} Cookies are a staple of my mother-in-law's Christmas day cookie tray. So when I decided to mess around with the original classic recipe to create a more 'Christmas-y' version, I braced myself to get in 'trouble' with my husband. I mean, mess with a classic from his Mom? ... What was I thinking, right?

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Love magic cookies? Then you'll go crazy for this Christmas version of the classic! That's right, it's Gingerbread Magic Cookies, complete with a gingerbread crust, cinnamon chips, and white chocolate. It's just as good as the original ... hmmmm, perhaps even better!

It just so happens that classic 7-Layer {Magic} Cookies are a staple of my mother-in-law's Christmas day cookie tray. So when I decided to mess around with the original classic recipe to create a more 'Christmas-y' version, I braced myself to get in 'trouble' with my husband. I mean, mess with a classic from his Mom? ... What was I thinking, right?

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Overnight Praline French Toast { & PAM Baking Kit Give-Away!}

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PAM Cooking Spray.

With assemble-ahead ease and a decadently delicious pecan-and-brown-sugar topping baked on top, this Overnight Praline French Toast is a perfect holiday brunch or breakfast treat! And PAM Cooking Spray helps make sure it comes out right every time.

I work hard on my holiday baking and cooking. And I'm sure you do, too. With all the hustle and bustle and extra-goings-on of the holiday season, I don't have time for my creations to get messed up. I've got to get them right the first time!

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PAM Cooking Spray.

With assemble-ahead ease and a decadently delicious pecan-and-brown-sugar topping baked on top, this Overnight Praline French Toast is a perfect holiday brunch or breakfast treat! And PAM Cooking Spray helps make sure it comes out right every time.

I work hard on my holiday baking and cooking. And I'm sure you do, too. With all the hustle and bustle and extra-goings-on of the holiday season, I don't have time for my creations to get messed up. I've got to get them right the first time!

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Molasses Crinkles

Molasses Crinkles ~ our family-favorite classic molasses cookies. Who needs those ginger snaps from a box when you can whip up your very own ginger & molasses beauties at home?

Do you have some family favorites that seem to fall off your baking or cooking radar screen for a while? I'm not sure why it happens, but at times I seem to forget about some of our favorites. And that's exactly what happened with these beautiful and delicious Molasses Crinkles. I have no idea why ... but I hadn't made these in years. And I'm so glad I finally remembered them. It's fun when you rediscover an ol' favorite classic!
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Molasses Crinkles ~ our family-favorite classic molasses cookies. Who needs those ginger snaps from a box when you can whip up your very own ginger & molasses beauties at home?

Do you have some family favorites that seem to fall off your baking or cooking radar screen for a while? I'm not sure why it happens, but at times I seem to forget about some of our favorites. And that's exactly what happened with these beautiful and delicious Molasses Crinkles. I have no idea why ... but I hadn't made these in years. And I'm so glad I finally remembered them. It's fun when you rediscover an ol' favorite classic!
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Mocha Cream Pie

Move over chocolate cream pie! Coffee's got you all jazzed up and turned you into ridiculously delicious Mocha Cream Pie ... with a coffee and chocolate custard filling, inside an Oreo crumb crust, all topped with coffee whipped cream. It'll make you kick plain chocolate cream pie to the curb, too.

Perhaps I should have used decaf to make this pie. Allow me to explain ...

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Move over chocolate cream pie! Coffee's got you all jazzed up and turned you into ridiculously delicious Mocha Cream Pie ... with a coffee and chocolate custard filling, inside an Oreo crumb crust, all topped with coffee whipped cream. It'll make you kick plain chocolate cream pie to the curb, too.

Perhaps I should have used decaf to make this pie. Allow me to explain ...

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Marbled Peanut Butter & Chocolate Shortbread Bars {& cherryBLOX Engraved Cutting Board Give-Away!}

Whip up beautifully-marbled Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars. A simple shortbread crust is layered with white chocolate and peanut butter, and topped off with a marbled swirl of semi-sweet chocolate. They're little bars of pure deliciousness!

Can you believe Christmas is only about 5 and a 1/2 weeks away? Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?? Well, I have bought exactly one gift. ONE. That's it. But I'm happy to say, it's a fabulous one! ... a personalized, engraved cherry wood cutting board for some foodie friends of mine from the wonderful folks at cherryBLOX.

And guess what!! YOU could have one, too! ...That's right, if you're the winner of this great cherryBLOX give-away presented by me and my bloggy friend Dorothy at Crazy for Crust, you'll get to create your very own cherryBLOX custom-engraved cutting board as your prize. How cool is that?

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Whip up beautifully-marbled Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars. A simple shortbread crust is layered with white chocolate and peanut butter, and topped off with a marbled swirl of semi-sweet chocolate. They're little bars of pure deliciousness!

Can you believe Christmas is only about 5 and a 1/2 weeks away? Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?? Well, I have bought exactly one gift. ONE. That's it. But I'm happy to say, it's a fabulous one! ... a personalized, engraved cherry wood cutting board for some foodie friends of mine from the wonderful folks at cherryBLOX.

And guess what!! YOU could have one, too! ...That's right, if you're the winner of this great cherryBLOX give-away presented by me and my bloggy friend Dorothy at Crazy for Crust, you'll get to create your very own cherryBLOX custom-engraved cutting board as your prize. How cool is that?

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Apple Fried Rice

It's an apple-icious twist on a classic! Chopped apples, celery, and pecans combine to create this flavorful, seasonally-inspired Apple Fried Rice.

One of my favorite things about fall is fresh apples. See, I'm kinda picky about my apples. They've got to be super crunchy ... and on the tart side. Soft and mealy textured? Won't touch 'em. Little soft spots or shrively skin? Nope - no way. Sweet? Won't do that either. I know, it's one of my weird little food 'things' ... please tell me I'm not the only one.

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It's an apple-icious twist on a classic! Chopped apples, celery, and pecans combine to create this flavorful, seasonally-inspired Apple Fried Rice.

One of my favorite things about fall is fresh apples. See, I'm kinda picky about my apples. They've got to be super crunchy ... and on the tart side. Soft and mealy textured? Won't touch 'em. Little soft spots or shrively skin? Nope - no way. Sweet? Won't do that either. I know, it's one of my weird little food 'things' ... please tell me I'm not the only one.

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Halloween No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Dessert

Classic no-bake Chocolate Eclair Dessert is all dressed up for Halloween!

When it comes to Halloween, I have to admit I'm pretty low-key. Halloween is just one holiday that I don't get into all that much. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I broke my nose on Halloween when I was five years old falling down the stairs wearing my costume we'd made in Kindergarten class. Hmmm, haven't been much of a fan of the holiday ever since.

So when my 2nd grade students ask me with super enthusiasm, "Mrs. Harrelson, what are you going to be for Halloween?" my response is always ...

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Classic no-bake Chocolate Eclair Dessert is all dressed up for Halloween!

When it comes to Halloween, I have to admit I'm pretty low-key. Halloween is just one holiday that I don't get into all that much. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I broke my nose on Halloween when I was five years old falling down the stairs wearing my costume we'd made in Kindergarten class. Hmmm, haven't been much of a fan of the holiday ever since.

So when my 2nd grade students ask me with super enthusiasm, "Mrs. Harrelson, what are you going to be for Halloween?" my response is always ...

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Turtle Krispie Treats

Transform classic krispie treats into scrumptious and fun Turtle Krispie Treats with layers of ooey-gooey caramel, chocolate, and chopped pecans on top. It's krispie treats all jazzed up!

Thank you to Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap for sponsoring this post.

Hey, have you heard of Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap? Until a few weeks ago, I hadn't either. But now I'm having tons of fun creating with this versatile caramel product! The realm of their possibility goes waaaaaaaaaay beyond the basic caramel apple. They work fabulously for adding a layer of caramel in your baked goods, or ... as is the case with these scrumptious Turtle Krispie Treats ... in your non-baked goods, too.

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Transform classic krispie treats into scrumptious and fun Turtle Krispie Treats with layers of ooey-gooey caramel, chocolate, and chopped pecans on top. It's krispie treats all jazzed up!

Thank you to Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap for sponsoring this post.

Hey, have you heard of Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap? Until a few weeks ago, I hadn't either. But now I'm having tons of fun creating with this versatile caramel product! The realm of their possibility goes waaaaaaaaaay beyond the basic caramel apple. They work fabulously for adding a layer of caramel in your baked goods, or ... as is the case with these scrumptious Turtle Krispie Treats ... in your non-baked goods, too.

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Pork Tenderloin & Pimento Cheese Crostini Melts

Pork tenderloin and pimento cheese, broiled together and topped with crumbled bacon. These Pork Tenderloin and Pimento Cheese Crostini Melts are one very tasty way to enjoy pimento cheese.

Southerners loooooooove their pimento cheese! Even transplanted Southerners, like me. But I have to admit ... it is one of those things I had never even heard of until I moved South. When my brother's mother-in-law ... a true Southern lady ... asked me if I liked pimento cheese, I had no earthly idea what she was talking about. I'm super glad that I do now.

And at one of our {former} local restaurants, I discovered this incredibly delicious way to enjoy pimento cheese.

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Pork tenderloin and pimento cheese, broiled together and topped with crumbled bacon. These Pork Tenderloin and Pimento Cheese Crostini Melts are one very tasty way to enjoy pimento cheese.

Southerners loooooooove their pimento cheese! Even transplanted Southerners, like me. But I have to admit ... it is one of those things I had never even heard of until I moved South. When my brother's mother-in-law ... a true Southern lady ... asked me if I liked pimento cheese, I had no earthly idea what she was talking about. I'm super glad that I do now.

And at one of our {former} local restaurants, I discovered this incredibly delicious way to enjoy pimento cheese.

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Outrageously Good Caramel Pumpkin Snack Cake {& Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap}

Complete with a layer of ooey-gooey caramel hidden within moist and tender pumpkin cake, this Caramel Pumpkin Snack Cake is outrageously good!

Thank you to Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap for sponsoring this post.

I have had soooooo much fun coming up with yummy creations with the Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap product! And I'm so excited to share this fabulous treat with you ... absolutely delicious, outrageously good Caramel Pumpkin Snack Cake, complete with a layer of ooey-gooey caramel hidden within the moist-and-tender pumpkin cake. And as if that's not enough, ...

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Complete with a layer of ooey-gooey caramel hidden within moist and tender pumpkin cake, this Caramel Pumpkin Snack Cake is outrageously good!

Thank you to Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap for sponsoring this post.

I have had soooooo much fun coming up with yummy creations with the Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap product! And I'm so excited to share this fabulous treat with you ... absolutely delicious, outrageously good Caramel Pumpkin Snack Cake, complete with a layer of ooey-gooey caramel hidden within the moist-and-tender pumpkin cake. And as if that's not enough, ...

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Fresh Green Bean, Walnut, & Feta Salad

Fresh Green Bean, Walnut, and Feta Cheese Salad dressed with olive oil and fresh mint vinaigrette. It may sound bizarre, but it's one amazingly delicious flavor combination!

The flavor combination of this salad may sound a tad bit, well ... strange ... to some, but believe me, it's aMAZing. The snap of fresh green beans, with the crunch of chopped walnuts, the saltiness of crumbled Feta, and refreshing zing of fresh mint pair just beautifully. In a most surprisingly wonderful way.

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Fresh Green Bean, Walnut, and Feta Cheese Salad dressed with olive oil and fresh mint vinaigrette. It may sound bizarre, but it's one amazingly delicious flavor combination!

The flavor combination of this salad may sound a tad bit, well ... strange ... to some, but believe me, it's aMAZing. The snap of fresh green beans, with the crunch of chopped walnuts, the saltiness of crumbled Feta, and refreshing zing of fresh mint pair just beautifully. In a most surprisingly wonderful way.

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Glazed Poppy Seed Tea Bread {& Announcing cherryBLOX!}

Enjoy deliciously moist and flavorful Poppy Seed Quick Bread with Fresh Citrus Glaze. Your tummy will be glad you did!

I'm super excited to share today's post with you ... for two fun reasons. First, because this super moist and super flavorful Poppy Seed Tea Bread is one of my absolute favorite quick breads. And second, because I get to announce a fabulous new partnership between The Kitchen is My Playground and cherryBLOX!

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Enjoy deliciously moist and flavorful Poppy Seed Quick Bread with Fresh Citrus Glaze. Your tummy will be glad you did!

I'm super excited to share today's post with you ... for two fun reasons. First, because this super moist and super flavorful Poppy Seed Tea Bread is one of my absolute favorite quick breads. And second, because I get to announce a fabulous new partnership between The Kitchen is My Playground and cherryBLOX!

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Baked Artichoke Dip with a Kick {& Green Giant Veggie Chips #GiantFlavor}

In our family we have a habit ... or tradition ... or whatever you want to call it ... of referring to dishes after the person who gave us the recipe. The dish becomes forever known to us as 'so-and-so's whatever.' Like my absolute favorite Jean's Pizza. And Kate's Chili. And Joe's Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, even though no one in the family can even remember exactly who Joe is!

And so, in keeping with our family's 'tradition,' this Baked Artichoke Dip should be called Jessica's Artichoke Dip, since this fabulous recipe was given to me by my dear friend Jessica. But since none of you would know who Jessica is, I decided to call it Baked Artichoke Dip with a Kick instead.

Why 'with a Kick,' you ask?

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In our family we have a habit ... or tradition ... or whatever you want to call it ... of referring to dishes after the person who gave us the recipe. The dish becomes forever known to us as 'so-and-so's whatever.' Like my absolute favorite Jean's Pizza. And Kate's Chili. And Joe's Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, even though no one in the family can even remember exactly who Joe is!

And so, in keeping with our family's 'tradition,' this Baked Artichoke Dip should be called Jessica's Artichoke Dip, since this fabulous recipe was given to me by my dear friend Jessica. But since none of you would know who Jessica is, I decided to call it Baked Artichoke Dip with a Kick instead.

Why 'with a Kick,' you ask?

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Coconut Caramel Swirl Ice Cream {No Machine Needed} ~ #IceCreamWeek

Thank you for stopping by my third post for #IceCreamWeek! Today I'm happy to bring you Coconut Caramel Swirl Ice Cream ... and, oh my goodness, this stuff is absolutely drool-worthy.

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Thank you for stopping by my third post for #IceCreamWeek! Today I'm happy to bring you Coconut Caramel Swirl Ice Cream ... and, oh my goodness, this stuff is absolutely drool-worthy.

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3-Ingredient Creamy Coconut Ice Cream {No Machine Needed} & Give-Away for #IceCreamWeek!

Oh my, we have a new favorite sweet treat at our house. Can you guess what it is? How 'bout I give you some big ol' clues ... It's cold. It's super easy. It's super creamy and super delicious. And it only takes 3 ingredients to make. Still not sure? Oh, come on now ... it's this 3-Ingredient Creamy Coconut Ice Cream! And I totally can't believe that an ice cream this good can be whipped up without an ice cream machine. But it sure can.

And guess what? I'm going to share three more no-machine-needed ice cream treats with you this week because ... it's #IceCreamWeek.

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Oh my, we have a new favorite sweet treat at our house. Can you guess what it is? How 'bout I give you some big ol' clues ... It's cold. It's super easy. It's super creamy and super delicious. And it only takes 3 ingredients to make. Still not sure? Oh, come on now ... it's this 3-Ingredient Creamy Coconut Ice Cream! And I totally can't believe that an ice cream this good can be whipped up without an ice cream machine. But it sure can.

And guess what? I'm going to share three more no-machine-needed ice cream treats with you this week because ... it's #IceCreamWeek.

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Irresistibly Adorable Biscoff Kisses

Thanks to the sponsorship of Biscoff, I'm able to bring you irresistibly tasty & irresistibly adorable Biscoff Kisses!

I was first introduced to Biscoff Spread almost exactly two years ago during a demonstration cooking class I took, and let me just tell ya ... it was love at first sight! Or, maybe I should say, love at first taste. Well however I say it, the bottom line is I love this stuff.

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Thanks to the sponsorship of Biscoff, I'm able to bring you irresistibly tasty & irresistibly adorable Biscoff Kisses!

I was first introduced to Biscoff Spread almost exactly two years ago during a demonstration cooking class I took, and let me just tell ya ... it was love at first sight! Or, maybe I should say, love at first taste. Well however I say it, the bottom line is I love this stuff.

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Glazed Poppy Seed Muffins with Strawberry Butter

Scrumptious little Glazed Poppy Seed Muffins with Strawberry Butter ~ a tea room inspired treat.

Sometimes inspiration strikes us and we just have to go with it right at that very moment. No waiting. Just right then. Like for me with these Glazed Poppy Seed Muffins with Strawberry Butter.

They are inspired by a tea room in my town ... Chantilly's Tea Room, to be exact ... and once I decided to make them, I was compelled to do it that very day.

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Scrumptious little Glazed Poppy Seed Muffins with Strawberry Butter ~ a tea room inspired treat.

Sometimes inspiration strikes us and we just have to go with it right at that very moment. No waiting. Just right then. Like for me with these Glazed Poppy Seed Muffins with Strawberry Butter.

They are inspired by a tea room in my town ... Chantilly's Tea Room, to be exact ... and once I decided to make them, I was compelled to do it that very day.

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Double Blueberry Muffins with Citrus-Sugar {& $500 Amazon Gift Card Give-Away!}

Summer is a time when we get to indulge ourselves a little bit. Like ... with ice cream, or trips to the beach, extra time hanging out with friends, lazy days at the pool, or big shopping trips. Some may say that during summer, we get to splurge. The other day, my Mom and I splurged with these Double Blueberry Muffins with Citrus-Sugar. Yes, double blueberry. Two kinds of blueberry make these blueberry muffins extra delicious. And a sprinkling of citrus-sugar on top adds just that much more deliciousness. The perfect summer berry splurge.

Rather splurge with cash? Hmmmmm, we might be able to make that happen. Read on ...

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Summer is a time when we get to indulge ourselves a little bit. Like ... with ice cream, or trips to the beach, extra time hanging out with friends, lazy days at the pool, or big shopping trips. Some may say that during summer, we get to splurge. The other day, my Mom and I splurged with these Double Blueberry Muffins with Citrus-Sugar. Yes, double blueberry. Two kinds of blueberry make these blueberry muffins extra delicious. And a sprinkling of citrus-sugar on top adds just that much more deliciousness. The perfect summer berry splurge.

Rather splurge with cash? Hmmmmm, we might be able to make that happen. Read on ...

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Easy Oven-Roasted Summer Vegetables

When it comes to vegetables, there's not much easier ... or more delicious, for that matter ... than a big ol' pan of roasted mixed vegetables. And the beauty of the summer season is that we have such a huge variety of fresh vegetables available at our fingertips to cook up in this simple-yet-delicious way. Like zucchini. Or yellow summer squash. Or green beans. Or asparagus ...

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When it comes to vegetables, there's not much easier ... or more delicious, for that matter ... than a big ol' pan of roasted mixed vegetables. And the beauty of the summer season is that we have such a huge variety of fresh vegetables available at our fingertips to cook up in this simple-yet-delicious way. Like zucchini. Or yellow summer squash. Or green beans. Or asparagus ...

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