There used to be a restaurant chain here in the Midwest called Max & Erma’s that had delicious chicken tortilla soup. It was creamy, lightly spicy and so comforting on a cold day.

Sadly, I think the chain mostly went out of business a few years ago, and the only one still around is at the airport, I think.

This Crockpot Taco Soup is inspired by, but quite a bit different than that restaurant soup. My version is a little lighter (less creamy) and uses ground beef instead of chicken.

Unlike many other crock pot soup recipes out there, this one doesn’t just have a dull, one-note flavor. Deeply browned ground beef, tomatoes, two types of beans, green chiles and lots of seasoning give this soup layers of comforting flavor.

The post Taco Soup Slow Cooker Recipe appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

This Corn Casserole Recipe with Cheese is the ultimate comfort food

Don’t you just love when a side dish becomes that thing that everybody is still talking about the next day?

That’s what this Cheesy Corn Casserole is designed to do. It’s perfect for a holiday dinner or any time you’re craving comfort food.

It comes together using simple things like sweet corn, rich cheeses, a touch of seasoning and bacon. The ingredients are transformed into something so warm and comforting that it will be a star of your dinner table.

The post Corn Casserole with Cheese appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

This Elote Corn Salad is so flavorful!

Right up there with salmon pasta, this salad is one of the most popular recipes on this site!

I think it’s because it’s a side dish that can be made in advance and has a huge amount of flavor going on.

There’s creamy cheese and mayo, tangy lime juice, herby cilantro and a little bit of heat from cayenne and chili powder.

It can be made with fresh or frozen corn, and there’s substitution options for a lot of the ingredients, making it easy to use what you already have on hand.

My favorite part is that it can be served warmed, chilled or even right at room temperature. It’s equally delicious all three ways.

The post Mexican Street Corn Salad (Elote Salad) appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

Is there an ingredient you love but often forget about when you’re meal planning or grocery shopping? For me, that ingredient is mushrooms.

I love mushrooms of all kinds – portobello, crimini, and even the humble, ubiquitous button (white) mushroom. But for whatever reason, I often forget they exist until I happen to be eating them in something like beef stroganoff or chicken stroganoff, when I say to myself “I LOVE mushrooms! Why don’t I make them more?”

Perhaps because they don’t fit neatly into a protein / carb / fruit / vegetable category, since they are, after all, a fungus. But they are a complete flavor and umami bomb, and they’re really good for you, too!

So, I’ve been making an effort to include mushrooms at more meals, including savory oatmeal for dinner and my lentil pasta recipe with mushrooms. And today, I’m sharing my favorite recipe for mushroom tacos.

The post Mushroom Tacos appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

If there’s a recipe for dinner in my house in the summer, it’s basically grilled protein + cold side dish #1 + cold side dish #2 (or maybe a hot side dish like Dr. Pepper baked beans once in awhile if I’m feeling motivated, but not often).

This might be buttermilk grilled chicken + tomato blue cheese salad + seafood pasta salad.

Or maybe it’s root beer ribs + goat cheese pasta salad + apple cider vinegar coleslaw recipe.

It definitely involves pasta salad at least once, if not multiple times per week. Now, growing up in the Midwest in the 80’s, pasta salad usually meant either macaroni salad with celery/onion/mustard/Miracle Whip, or tri-colored rotini and Italian dressing.

I’m thankful that our pasta salad options have expanded in the past few decades, with all kinds of pasta shapes available at the grocery store now, and a seemingly endless array of flavor options.

This acini di pepe pasta salad recipe is filled with vibrant summer vegetables, and is a little change of pace from the more traditional pasta shapes like elbows and rotini.

The post Acini di Pepe Pasta Salad Recipe appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

Why you’ll love this Slow Cooker Burrito Chicken Bowl

• You can control the ingredients, making it a bit healthier than takeout if you want.
• Perfect for meal prep lunches, or a make-ahead dinner for a busy weeknight.
• Customize with whatever toppings your family likes best.

The post Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

So, we made a traditional Easter dinner a few weeks ago. For two adults and one toddler who really only wants to eat blueberries and goldfish crackers. Needless to say, we had a lot of baked ham with pineapple sauce left (and mashed potatoes, which were turned into mashed potato cakes and serve with my easy gravy recipe).

I had hoped to get this soup made, photographed and published in time for you to make it with your leftover ham, too. Alas, that wasn’t meant to be, and I hope you’ll understand. You know how life is right now.

The post Ham and Potato Soup appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

What dish defines summer to you? Here in the Midwest, things like potato salad, hot dogs on the grill and fresh cherries come to mind quickly. But in my house, all summer long, you’ll find sautéed zucchini and corn on our table at least once a week (especially in the late summer when corn is at its best).

(more…)

The post Parmesan Corn & Zucchini Sauté with Haddock appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

My roasted corn salad recipe is an oldie but a goodie. In fact, not only is it one of the most popular recipes on this blog, but it’s also one of my favorite recipes to take to a party. I’ll sometimes simply call that recipe “elote salad,” and serve it alongside baby back ribs (don’t forget the best rib rub when you make them)!

What is Elote?

Elote is a popular street food in Mexico. It’s simply corn on the cob (usually boiled or grilled), coated with condiments such as mayonnaise, cheese, lime juice and spices.

However, I’ll be the first to admit that the salad can be somewhat polarizing among certain crowds. In my experience, 50% of party guests will LOVE it and come back for seconds.

But the other 50%? There’s somebody who wants to try it, but can’t eat onions. There’s somebody who doesn’t like any spice at all.

There’s a toddler who just wants corn without all the “stuff” on it. And then there’s the people with the cilantro-hating gene.

The post Mexican Street Corn Elote Cup appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

Happy National Bratwurst Day (aka Bratsgiving)! Grilled brats are a go-to easy dinner for my husband and I all summer long. Pair with a few easy (sometimes store-bought, because real life) side dishes, and dinner is on the table really quick. But today I just went ahead and piled the side dish (roasted corn salad) right on top of the brats.

(more…)

The post Mexican Street Corn Brats appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.