drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen

Super Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

There was a time when anything buffalo chicken was the epitome of a “food craze”. You really could buffalo anything! Buffalo chicken soup, buffalo chicken salad, and even buffalo-ed cauliflower! The craze has calmed down a bit and perhaps has been replaced with Nashville Hot (which is also amazing), but one dish that has remained tried and true, especially in this family, is the dip. Buffalo. Chicken. Dip. It is a staple over here and especially when there is football on tv. (Go Huskers!)

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italian, main dishes Ava Dreessen italian, main dishes Ava Dreessen

Meatball Lasagna

Prepare to be amazed... now, I know my lasagna recipe from my cooking classes is hard to beat, but I think I've actually found a way to! My family even voted on this one as the best. So, needless to say, this recipe was a total hit. I'm so glad I get to share it with you all!

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other, drinks & appetizers, sides & salads Ava Dreessen other, drinks & appetizers, sides & salads Ava Dreessen

Duck Fat Home Fries with Egg and Crispy Breadcrumbs

Have any of you ever seen the John Wick movies!? Now I’m not saying John Wick 2 inspired this new dish by any means... but my son reminded me of a scene in the movie while I was creating this dish in the kitchen. John walks into a restaurant and the character he confronts was eating roasted potatoes. He looks at John and says, “You know what the secret is? Duck fat. Makes all the difference.” And then he takes a bite.

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italian, main dishes Ava Dreessen italian, main dishes Ava Dreessen

Pesto Focaccia Italian Sub

Hello, once again, everyone! You all know how much I love Costco, right? Well, I was wandering around the bakery the other day (eyeing those amazing mini chocolate chip cookies— yes I resisted, I had to) when I came across a new item. Pesto focaccia. Now, I am a super fan of bread— and an even bigger fan of focaccia. But to put the two of these things together was mind blowing! I had to buy, so I did.

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desserts, other Ava Dreessen desserts, other Ava Dreessen

Paula's Perfect Peach Pie

Hey, guys! It’s that time of the year again. Peach time. I had some critters demolish most of my crop (little buggers), but with what I had left, I decided to make, what else?! Peach pie!! I prepare the fresh peaches and get them ready for some pre-made crusts. Then I cut some cute shapes out of that crust. Hearts, of course:)

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main dishes, other Ava Dreessen main dishes, other Ava Dreessen

My Sister Stole My Mac & Cheese

Hello, once again! At family gatherings I’m often asked to bring food. Dessert, side dish, even the main dish (That was Easter 2018 at my brothers. I believe it was ribs ;-) ). Well, recently, my sister had a birthday party for my nephew Owen. My nephews mean the world to me, so of course I obliged! I thought about what a good side dish would be for burgers and hot dogs, of course I landed on macaroni and cheese! Now, I have made macaroni and cheese a million different ways. This time, I decided I would try to created an “old fashioned shells and cheese” recipe. Nice and creamy. Filled with lots of gooey cheese. And enough to feed a crowd!

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italian, drinks & appetizers, main dishes Ava Dreessen italian, drinks & appetizers, main dishes Ava Dreessen

Roasted Tomato and Garlic Flatbread with Burrata Cheese

In today's newest recipe, we're featuring one of our favorite cheeses, burrata! If you haven't heard of it, take notes now and jot down this delicious recipe while you're at it! I love using fresh ingredients, especially in the summer, and it doesn't take more than a couple drizzles of olive oil to make into a memorable dinner that you can make at home! Hope you all enjoy!

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italian, sides & salads Ava Dreessen italian, sides & salads Ava Dreessen

Caprese Skewer Salad

It's been a kebab-filled summer for us! From those cooked on the grill, we've turned our focus onto ones you can assemble from anywhere-- including a boat! Our family often frequents our lake house on Lake Poinsett, and with that comes all assortments of food to try! This time, we had an amazing caprese kebab that I layered onto a salad... the perfect boat snack! Watch how we made it, and I hope you enjoy all the views along the way!

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other, breakfast Ava Dreessen other, breakfast Ava Dreessen

Puff Pastry Breakfast Pizza

Hello, all breakfast lovers! Who doesn’t love the weekends? I love LOVE lazy weekend mornings during the summer. I get to sip my coffee longer, I get to lounge in my cozies longer, and usually I have my kids sleeping longer, which means I get to whip something special up in the kitchen for them!

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drinks & appetizers, other, sides & salads Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, other, sides & salads Ava Dreessen

How to Throw a Pool Party - The Pilates Way

Hi, friends, and happy Saturday! I know after seeing my last recipe and video, some of you have been anxiously awaiting the other recipes mentioned! A little background before I start— I embarked on a new journey this summer and decided to enroll in teacher training at Club Pilates. I know I know... what an amazing twist of events! It was tough; it was challenging both physically and mentally, but boy what a great experience! And one of the best parts about it was the women I had the honor of meeting and working with! We come from all backgrounds, all ages, and yet we all fit together like a puzzle. I mean that.

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Ava Dreessen Ava Dreessen

Pool Party Pineapple Salsa

With summer comes time spent by the pool, and I recently hosted a pool party, with so many yummy snacks and entrees that you'll all be able to see soon on my blog! One of the featured items was a pineapple salsa, and it had to be a favorite among the feast! I decided to share how I made it, and I hope you all enjoy!

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sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen

Doritos Chopped Salad

Hello, once again! We recently visited our lake house once again for the holiday— it was such a nice change of view! While of course we had a lot to drink, we also filled our days eating, especially before boating everyday! This meant I had to pull out all the stops for lunch, and this was one of the best meals we had over the long weekend!

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asian, main dishes Ava Dreessen asian, main dishes Ava Dreessen

Curry Chicken Ramen

Ramen noodles are the easiest thing to load your pantries with, but what do you do with a surplus of them? Today, we give you an easy lunch recipe using what you've already got on hand, plus a few star ingredients you can find anywhere! This one turned out fantastic, and is the perfect example of you all being able to create takeout dishes from home! Enjoy!

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