June 10, 2025

Oven-Baked Steak Fries

QUICK AND EASY OVEN-BAKED FRIES ARE A FLAVOR FILLED SIDE THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE!

The perfect side.

As the weather warms up one of our favorite things to make are these oven-baked steak fries. A quick and easy side dish, these flavor filled fries will be a side that the whole family will love. My favorite part is that I can prep them in 15 minutes and then put them in the oven and work on other things. My kids love them which is always a major win!

Jump to Recipe

Oven Baked Steak Fries

Print Recipe
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Chili Powder
  • 2 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 4 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 8 medium Russet Potatoes Washed

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix spices in a medium bowl add olive oil and combine well.
  2. Cut the potatoes into 8-10 wedges or slices each. Add potato wedges to seasonings and toss to coat.
  3. Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Bake for about 40 minutes.

Notes

Recipe: Our Best Bites

Quick and easy dinner ideas.

First you cut your potatoes into wedges or slices. Then you toss them in a bowl with olive oil and seasonings. Finally you bake them for about 40 minutes. Of coarse being from Utah we eat them with fry sauce. Just mix equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise. You can add a little pickle relish if you’d like but we love it plain.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Looking for something to make with these fries? Try my Cheesesteak Sandwiches, Pulled Pork Sandwiches or Marinated Salmon. These oven-baked steak fries will be a recipe you come back to over and over again!

Posted By Leave a Comment
May 28, 2025

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Bright, Buttery, and Zesty: Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies to Savor Every Season

There’s something undeniably cheerful about the flavor of lemon. It’s zesty, vibrant, and somehow able to infuse sunshine into even the dreariest day. Combine that citrusy brightness with the subtle crunch of poppyseeds and the comforting richness of a soft, buttery cookie, and you have a treat that feels both nostalgic and fresh—lemon poppyseed cookies.

This is exactly how I felt when I took the first bite of these delicious cookies! Two Peas and Their Pod creator Maria is a magician and master cookie maker. This is one recipe I hadn’t tried but am so grateful I did!

A Cookie with Character

Lemon poppyseed cookies aren’t your everyday sweet. While chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies might reign supreme in popularity contests, lemon poppyseed brings a more refined flavor profile to the table.

What makes them special? The balance. These cookies walk a tightrope between tangy and sweet, soft and crumbly, familiar and unexpected. The lemon zest and juice give the dough a bright zing, while the poppyseeds add texture and a gentle nutty undertone.

The Key Ingredients

What sets great lemon poppyseed cookies apart is quality and balance. Here’s what goes into them:

  • Fresh Lemon Zest and Juice: Don’t rely solely on bottled lemon juice. The zest is where the real magic happens—it’s packed with fragrant oils that give the cookie its signature flavor.
  • Butter: For richness and that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
  • Poppyseeds: Tiny but mighty, these seeds give a delicate crunch and visual appeal.
  • Almond Extract: A hint of warmth to complement the lemon.
  • A Pinch of Salt: Because even sweet things need contrast to shine.

A Simple Recipe for Homemade Joy

Here’s a quick overview of how you can make your own batch at home:

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Print Recipe
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookies
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 tbsp. lemon zest
  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp lemon extract
  • 1/2 tsp. almond extract
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds
Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 1/2 tsp poppy seeds

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and lemon zest. Rub together with your fingers until fragrant.
  3. In a bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar mixture together until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and egg yolk and mix until combined. Min in the vanilla, lemon and almond extracts.
  4. With the mixer off, add the dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Stir in the poppy seeds.
  5. Roll the dough into balls. 1 1/2 tablespoons per ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet, 2 inches apart.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set and the centers are still soft.
  7. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet then transfter to a wire rack.
To make the glaze.
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar, lemon juice, melted butter, almond extract and poppy seeds. Use a spoon to lightly drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies. Let the glaze set.

Notes

Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.

A Cookie for All Occasions

Whether you’re baking for a holiday cookie swap, looking to impress at a tea party, or just need a pick-me-up treat midweek, lemon poppyseed cookies rise to the occasion. Their elegance is in their simplicity, and their charm lies in their flavor.

So the next time you need a dose of edible sunshine, try whipping up a batch. You might just find that lemon poppyseed cookies become your new favorite.

If you’re looking for another great cookie, try our Perfect Holiday Cookie! It is a classic take on the basic chocolate chip cookie but is so soft, they literally melt in your mouth!

Posted By Leave a Comment
May 16, 2025

A Basic Banana Bar

If your family is anything like mine, a bunch of ripe bananas sitting on the counter feels like an open invitation to bake something cozy and sweet. Sure, banana bread is the classic go-to — but let me introduce you to a family favorite that’s just as comforting and way easier to make: Banana Bars.

This recipe came from my Aunt Cindy, and it’s honestly become one of those “don’t even bother writing it down because I’ve memorized it” kind of bakes in our house. These soft, cake-like bars are perfectly sweet, quick to throw together, and disappear just as fast as you cut them.

Basic Banana Bar

Print Recipe
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Banana Bars
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 cup flour
  • 1 T baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 bananas
Frosting
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 tsp. vanilla or mapeline (I like one of each)
  • 4 cup powdered sugar

Method
 

  1. Mix ingredients with a hand mixer or in a Bosch or Kitchen Aid.
  2. Spread in a greased sheet pan.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 22 minutes.
  4. Cool, easiest to stick in the freezer for 10 minutes.
  5. Frost.
  6. Enjoy!

Why We Love These Banana Bars

✅ Kid-approved
✅ Freezer-friendly
✅ Feeds a crowd
✅ Uses pantry staples
✅ Easy to frost, or enjoy plain

These moist banana bars are perfect for:

  • School lunches (they pack so well!)
  • Potlucks or neighborhood get-togethers
  • Weeknight dessert after a busy day
  • That “what do I do with all these bananas?” moment

Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor

Most of the time we already have everything on hand to make these banana bars, which makes them even more of a win. And yes — frozen bananas work great too!

What you’ll need:

  • Ripe bananas (the spottier, the better)
  • Basic baking ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs, butter, baking soda
  • Vanilla extract
  • Optional: cream cheese frosting (you’ll never regret it)

Bake Once, Snack All Week

This recipe fills a full sheet pan, which means you’ll have enough for everyone — even if your kids insist on going back for seconds. (Spoiler: they will.)

A few banana bar pro tips:

  • Let the bars cool completely before frosting.
  • Want to speed things up? Pop the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes before frosting.
  • These freeze beautifully! Layer with wax paper in a container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Make-Ahead Magic: Why These Bars Are a Family Staple

These banana bars aren’t just a quick fix — they’ve become part of our family rhythm. When schedules are packed and you need a reliable dessert or snack that feels homemade (without spending your entire afternoon in the kitchen), this is the recipe that saves the day.

Bonus: This is a great recipe for kids to help with. Mashing bananas and stirring ingredients are perfect ways to get little hands involved in the kitchen.

Time to Bake!

Have a few bananas turning spotty right now? Take that as a sign. Whether you enjoy these bars plain or top them with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting (highly recommend), you’re going to love how easy and delicious they are.

Drop a comment if you try them, and let me know — frosting or no frosting?

Posted By Leave a Comment
December 17, 2024

Spiced Apple Pecan Salad

You know we love hosting people and this has been a major hit at the last couple of gatherings! We aren’t serving the same menu to the same groups of people but when you find something that works, you go with it! This is the perfect winter salad. It is fresh, simple but has the best kick. I think I’ve sent the recipe out to over a dozen of people. So today, I’m sharing it with you!

[Read more…]
Posted By Leave a Comment
September 24, 2024

Simple Banana Bread

We are all familiar with the bananas that need to be tossed or baked! I swear they are never just right! They are either too green or brown, never much in between. This recipe is amazing because one recipe (3 bananas) makes one loaf but if you have 6 bananas, you can double the recipe!

Jump to Recipe

My kids love coming home from school to a warm loaf of bread. We all sit at the counter and talk about our days. It is one of my favorite ways to slow down and connect with my kids.

Simple Banana Bread

Print Recipe
Servings: 1 loaf
Course: Dessert
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 square Butter
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 3 med Bananas smashed
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 cups Flour
  • 1 tsp Soda

Method
 

  1. Cream sugar, butter and salt together.
  2. Add mashed bananas and beaten eggs.
  3. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix well.
  4. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

What are you waiting for? Your family will thank you and so will those brown bananas. If you’re looking for more sweet bread recipes, check out my Sweet Lemon Loaf!

Posted By Leave a Comment
UT-83227673-1