Happily Cooking

Skip to Recipe The temperatures are soaring high, and we are enjoying the most coveted Summer. Looking outside to find the sun shining bright makes me want to enjoy the beautiful world and connect with nature. And what better way to celebrate and relish summer's bounty than a fresh drink in hand! This Virgin Pina Colada is a refreshing and non-alcoholic version of the classic tropical Pina Colada. Rich and creamy, it is the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day, and you won't even miss the alcohol! This mocktail combines the creamy richness of coconut with the tangy sweetness of pineapple, creating a beverage that’s not just refreshing but downright irresistible. WHAT IS A PINA COLADA? The name Piña Colada is Spanish for “strained pineapple''. It is a popular classic cocktail that entered the pantheon of tropical drinks in Puerto Rico in the 1950’s and went on to become the official drink of th

Skip to Recipe There's nothing that screams summer as much as cherry tomatoes. While they can be found in the supermarket all year long, it's during summers when are in their full glory-sweetest, juiciest and most flavorful. And if you're growing your own, it's when they're most abundant, too! What do you do with all those gorgeous bunch of tomatoes in the backyard that are all ready to be picked at the same time? This Cherry Tomato Pasta is one of those recipes that I make all summer long. It is light, comforting and bursting with fresh summer flavors. WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE A quick and elegant weeknight dinner that will become a staple! It comes together in 20 minutes and with minimal ingredients that are easy to get your hands on. Ideal for meatless Mondays, it’s a dish that the whole family will love. If you

Skip to Recipe Summer is when berries get their spotlight, and oh how they shine bright! Since, the season is short-lived, it should be enjoyed in all its glory. Don't let those strawberries in your refrigerator go bad without making this Strawberry Sheet Cake. It is one of the simplest and delicious cakes you will ever make. A lot of Strawberry Cake recipes that you will find over the internet will call for cake mixes that have strawberry flavors and dyes to get that “strawberry” taste.. but why bake the fake stuff when you can have the real deal?? This Strawberry Sheet Cake is a beautifully moist cake, filled with real fresh strawberries and topped with the creamiest, strawberry cream cheese frosting. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHEET CAKE AND A LAYERED CAKE? The primary difference between a sheet cake and a regular, layered cake lies in their structure and serving size. A sheet cake is baked in a

Skip to Recipe With the warmer weather finally here, it's time to kick back and relax with good food, friends and drinks. If you are bored of cooking the same meals for your friends and looking to kick things up a notch in the kitchen, try this Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. This Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich features deep-fried, crispy chicken smothered in a fiery hot sauce, topped with crunchy coleslaw and pickles served inside toasted buns! WHAT IS NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN SANDWICH? Nashville Hot Chicken, the fiery take on classic Southern Fried Chicken, has been a staple in Middle Tennessee since 1945 and is now one of America's most coveted culinary treasures. The secret to this Chicken lies in the fiery hot sauce. Crispy fried chicken gets drenched in a Nashville hot sauce, which is made by mixing hot oil, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and other spices and seasonings. This sauce gives the chicken its s

Skip to Recipe Are you on the look out for a speedy midweek meal? My 30-Minute meal is perfect for those busy nights- super easy, quick, minimal ingredients but you know you’ve got a well-balanced meal that the whole family will enjoy. This Creamy Tuscan Salmon is one of those recipes that you will keep coming back to time and again! This Creamy Tuscan Salmon features tender and flaky salmon fillets seared until golden and simmered in a delicious, creamy sauce with spinach, sun dried tomatoes and parmesan. WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS RECIPE Incredibly Easy to Make: A restaurant quality meal that is made with just a few simple pantry ingredients, and takes just 30 minutes from start to finish. One Pan Wonder: Everything gets cooked in a single pan making clean-up a breeze. Extremely Versatile: This recipe is perfect for a simple we

Skip to Recipe Planning weeknight dinners can be tough- especially when you are low on energy and short on time. If you’ve got more important things to think about than what’s for your evening meal, let me help take some of those decisions off your plate. Pan Seared Salmon with Butter Garlic Sauce is one of the easiest and quickest recipes you’ll ever try! Tender, flaky salmon fillets are pan seared until perfectly golden brown and coated in a garlicky butter sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, date nights, or when you’ve got company over. Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein, making it a nutritious choice for any meal. With just minimal ingredients and about fifteen minutes of time, you will have an elegant restaurant-quality dinner at the comfort of your own home! PLUS the added bonus of having only one pan to wash and no mess in your kitchen to clean up when your done. If you are looki

Skip to Recipe When summer rolls around, we always find excuses to fire up the grill. Whether we’re looking to cook something special for an easy weeknight dinner or BBQ party, grilled skewers are one of our go-to’s all season long. Embark on a culinary journey to the Hawaiian islands with these Huli Huli Chicken Skewers and say aloha to the island life! These Huli Huli Chicken Skewers feature chicken breast infused in a sweet pineapple brine that imparts tangy-sweet flavors, and grilled until perfectly charred. Serve them with grilled pineapple slices and rice for the perfect tropical meal. WHAT IS HULI HULI CHICKEN? Huli Huli Chicken is a dish that perfectly captures the essence of Hawaiian cuisine. Beloved for its balance of sweet and tangy flavors, Huli Huli Chicken is an island classic. The word 'huli' means “to turn” in native Hawaiian language, hence the name comes from the need to turn or flip the chick