Recipe Reviews

An Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Review: A New Family Favorite?

Sometimes when I choose a recipe, I’m looking for something quick. Sometimes I want something a little different. And sometimes I just want dinner to be fun. That’s what I was looking for this week when I came across this Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole from All Things Mamma. Ben loves burgers. Kids love tater tots. […]

Chicken Scampi Recipe Review (Is it Better Than Olive Garden?)

I’ve always been a fan of shrimp scampi. Paul not so much. Since shrimp has never been his favorite, I started looking for a recipe that would capture those bright, buttery, lemony flavors while still being something we’d both enjoy. That’s how I landed on this Chicken Scampi from Cooking Classy. It turned out to […]

Easy and Delicious Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake for Summer Time

I’ll admit it, desserts are usually the part of cooking that makes me the most nervous. I don’t really consider myself a baker, and sometimes recipes that look beautiful also look intimidating. That’s one of the reasons I decided to try this Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake from Celebrating Sweets. It looked like the perfect summer […]

Easy Homemade Pierogis for Beginners

Every month, Paul gets to choose one recipe for me to review. If you’ve been following along for a while, you know his picks usually push me in a direction I probably wouldn’t have chosen on my own. This month was no exception. Paul’s family has Polish roots, and he wanted to celebrate that part […]

Easy Potluck & Picnic Ideas I’d Actually Bring

Summer seems to have a way of filling up the calendar. Whether it’s family reunions, church picnics, neighborhood BBQs, pool parties or last minute cookouts almost every invitation comes with the same question: “Can you bring something?” Over the past several months, I’ve reviewed quite a few recipes that would fit right in at a […]

An Honest Review of The Pioneer Woman’s Tequila Lime Chicken

This week, I decided to try The Pioneer Woman’s Tequila Lime Chicken, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Ever since we added a grill to our backyard, I’ve been looking for recipes that make the most of it, and this one seemed like the perfect fit. Bright lime flavor, a simple marinade, […]

An Easy Ground Beef Dinner for Low Energy Nights

One of my favorite kinds of recipes to review is the kind that makes me wonder, “Why haven’t I been making this all along?” That’s exactly how I felt about these Korean Ground Beef Rice Bowls from The Recipe Critic. Sometimes, after a long day, I don’t want to spend an hour in the kitchen. […]

Easy Pasta Salad for Cookouts and Potlucks

Most of the recipes I review are main dishes, but every now and then it’s nice to remember that the sides can steal the show too. With summer officially here, I wanted to try a recipe that would be perfect for backyard cookouts, family gatherings, or those last minute invitations where you’re asked to “just […]

Choosing Family Recipes That Actually Get Made Again

When I first started The Recipe Reality Check, I thought I’d mostly be answering one simple question: “Was the recipe good?” After reviewing dozens of recipes, I’ve realized that’s only a small part of the story. Because here’s the truth: I’ve made plenty of recipes that tasted good and that looked beautiful. I’ve even made […]

Breaking In the New Grill with Ribeyes and Potatoes

Every month, Paul gets to choose a recipe for me to review. Usually that means he picks a specific meal, challenges me to make something new, and then enjoys giving his official opinion afterward. This month, however, he had a different idea. Instead of choosing a recipe, Paul chose a cooking method. Specifically, he chose […]