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Gina Gibson

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Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies
Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Frozen Biscoff Ice Cream Bars
Frozen Biscoff Ice Cream Bars
Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
Crispy Potato Tacos with Beef
Crispy Potato Tacos with Beef
Banana Snack Cake with Chocolate Chips & Crumble Topping
Banana Snack Cake with Chocolate Chips & Crumble Topping
Spring Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
Spring Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
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MOST RECENT

  • Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies

    (The Best After-School Treat) I’ve made a lot of chocolate chip cookies over the years, but this one is the recipe I keep coming back to โ€” thin, chewy in the center, crispy at the edges, with that signature crinkled, rippled top that makes people stop scrolling. If […]

    Continue Reading Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip CookiesContinue

  • Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

    Jumbo Bakery-Style Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins There is just something about a giant bakery-style chocolate chip muffin, especially when itโ€™s served warm and the chocolate is still a little melty. These Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins have tall golden tops, soft centers, plenty of chocolate, and […]

    Continue Reading Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip MuffinsContinue

Hello, I’m Gina

Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I love cooking and sharing easier, healthier recipes for families and individuals. You’ll also see tidbits of mom life and lifestyle. Hope you enjoy your visit to the site!

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What to Make for Dinner

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sausage Pasta

February 2, 2026

Crispy Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with High-Protein Burger Sauce

November 19, 2025

Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchi

October 29, 2025

Pumpkin Goat Cheese Galette

October 6, 2025

Sweet Treats

Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies

August 30, 2026

Frozen Biscoff Ice Cream Bars

July 12, 2026

Banana Snack Cake with Chocolate Chips & Crumble Topping

April 17, 2026
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Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies ๐Ÿช Thin, che Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies ๐Ÿช

Thin, chewy centers, crispy edges, and that perfect crinkled top โ€” browned butter is the secret.

Comment โ€œCOOKIEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the link! ๐Ÿ‘‡

Ingredients: ยพ cup unsalted butter, ยพ cup brown sugar (packed), ยฝ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1ยพ cups all-purpose flour, ยพ tsp baking soda, ยฝ tsp kosher salt, 1ยผ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, flaky sea salt for topping

Instructions: Brown the butter in a saucepan until golden and nutty-smelling, then let cool 10 minutes. Whisk in both sugars until smooth, then whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt, then fold in the chocolate chips. Rest the dough at room temp for 20-30 minutes. Scoop into balls and bake at 350ยฐF for 10-12 minutes. Tap the pan firmly on the counter right out of the oven to create the crinkle. Finish with flaky salt while warm.
The Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso just droppe The Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso just dropped for fall and itโ€™s SO good โ€” but that pumpkin cream cold foam is doing some heavy lifting in the sugar department. Hereโ€™s how I order it to keep the flavor and cut the crash.

What to say at the counter:
โ€œGrande Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, half sweet, nonfat milk instead of oat, light pumpkin cream cold foam.โ€

Macro comparison (grande, estimated):
Standard: ~250 cal | 32g carbs | 26g sugar | 13.5g fat 

Modified: ~140 cal | 17g carbs | 13g sugar | 1g fat 

Same fall flavor, half the sugar, and way less fat โ€” this oneโ€™s a keeper for the season ๐ŸŽƒ
This high-protein 7-Layer Bean Dip is the kind of This high-protein 7-Layer Bean Dip is the kind of easy appetizer that disappears FAST.

I start with @SOMOS Refried Pinto Beans with Beef Tallowโ€”they have 17g of protein + 17g of fiber per pouch and give the dip that rich, homemade base. Then layer on ground beef cooked with SOMOS Taco Simmer Sauce, creamy Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, cheddar, tomatoes, onion, and plenty of fresh cilantro.

The Taco Simmer Sauce does all the work and the beef comes together in about 10 minutes, making this such an easy one for cookouts, game days, or feeding a crowd.

Grab the chips and get a scoop with ALL the layers. 

#SomosFoods #SevenLayerDip #BeanDip #HighProteinRecipes #EasyAppetizers
Say goodbye to dry, rubbery shredded chicken forev Say goodbye to dry, rubbery shredded chicken forever 

This is my go-to method for meal prep โ€” poach it low and slow (never boil!), let it rest in the liquid, then shred while itโ€™s still warm. Thatโ€™s it. Thatโ€™s the whole secret.

I make a big batch every weekend and use it all week for tacos, flautas, chicken salad, quesadillasโ€ฆ you name it. 20 minutes of hands-off cooking = healthy protein ready to go

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 3 garlic cloves (smashed), 1 tsp black peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, ยฝ yellow onion (quartered), 1 tsp kosher salt, ยฝ lemon

INSTRUCTIONS
Place chicken in a single layer in a large pot. Add broth so chicken is just covered, adding water if needed. Add garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf, onion, salt, and lemon. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat โ€” small bubbles, not a rolling boil, which is the key to tender chicken. Reduce heat to low, cover, and poach 15 minutes, until chicken reaches 165ยฐF internal. Turn off heat and let chicken rest in the liquid, covered, for 10 minutes. Shred while still warm using two forks or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low, spooning a little poaching liquid over the shredded chicken to keep it moist.

Store in the fridge up to 4 days, or freeze in the poaching liquid up to 3 months.
This is the breakfast meal prep we make on repeat. This is the breakfast meal prep we make on repeat. Sausage, eggs, cottage cheese, and cheese baked into one dish means high protein and minimal effort. If youโ€™re not into cottage cheese yet, this recipe might change your mind.

Ingredients:
1 pound breakfast sausage (pork or turkey)
8 eggs, scrambled
1 more egg (for binding)
Salt, to taste
1 cup Good Culture cottage cheese @good_culture 
1 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions:
Cook the sausage, then remove from the pan. Scramble the eggs in the same pan and season with salt. Add the cooked sausage and scrambled eggs to a bowl along with the cottage cheese and shredded cheese. Mix in the flour and the extra egg to bind everything together. Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes.
Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins Tall go Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Tall golden tops, soft centers, melty chocolate, crunchy sugar on topโ€”and the brown butter makes them SO good. Serve them warm. You can even freeze the rest for later.

Comment โ€œMUFFINโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the recipe!
Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies ๐Ÿช Thin, che Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies ๐Ÿช

Thin, chewy centers, crispy edges, and that perfect crinkled top โ€” browned butter is the secret.

Comment โ€œCOOKIEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the link! ๐Ÿ‘‡

Ingredients: ยพ cup unsalted butter, ยพ cup brown sugar (packed), ยฝ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1ยพ cups all-purpose flour, ยพ tsp baking soda, ยฝ tsp kosher salt, 1ยผ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, flaky sea salt for topping

Instructions: Brown the butter in a saucepan until golden and nutty-smelling, then let cool 10 minutes. Whisk in both sugars until smooth, then whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt, then fold in the chocolate chips. Rest the dough at room temp for 20-30 minutes. Scoop into balls and bake at 350ยฐF for 10-12 minutes. Tap the pan firmly on the counter right out of the oven to create the crinkle. Finish with flaky salt while warm.
The Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso just droppe The Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso just dropped for fall and itโ€™s SO good โ€” but that pumpkin cream cold foam is doing some heavy lifting in the sugar department. Hereโ€™s how I order it to keep the flavor and cut the crash.

What to say at the counter:
โ€œGrande Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, half sweet, nonfat milk instead of oat, light pumpkin cream cold foam.โ€

Macro comparison (grande, estimated):
Standard: ~250 cal | 32g carbs | 26g sugar | 13.5g fat 

Modified: ~140 cal | 17g carbs | 13g sugar | 1g fat 

Same fall flavor, half the sugar, and way less fat โ€” this oneโ€™s a keeper for the season ๐ŸŽƒ
This high-protein 7-Layer Bean Dip is the kind of This high-protein 7-Layer Bean Dip is the kind of easy appetizer that disappears FAST.

I start with @SOMOS Refried Pinto Beans with Beef Tallowโ€”they have 17g of protein + 17g of fiber per pouch and give the dip that rich, homemade base. Then layer on ground beef cooked with SOMOS Taco Simmer Sauce, creamy Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, cheddar, tomatoes, onion, and plenty of fresh cilantro.

The Taco Simmer Sauce does all the work and the beef comes together in about 10 minutes, making this such an easy one for cookouts, game days, or feeding a crowd.

Grab the chips and get a scoop with ALL the layers. 

#SomosFoods #SevenLayerDip #BeanDip #HighProteinRecipes #EasyAppetizers
Say goodbye to dry, rubbery shredded chicken forev Say goodbye to dry, rubbery shredded chicken forever 

This is my go-to method for meal prep โ€” poach it low and slow (never boil!), let it rest in the liquid, then shred while itโ€™s still warm. Thatโ€™s it. Thatโ€™s the whole secret.

I make a big batch every weekend and use it all week for tacos, flautas, chicken salad, quesadillasโ€ฆ you name it. 20 minutes of hands-off cooking = healthy protein ready to go

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 3 garlic cloves (smashed), 1 tsp black peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, ยฝ yellow onion (quartered), 1 tsp kosher salt, ยฝ lemon

INSTRUCTIONS
Place chicken in a single layer in a large pot. Add broth so chicken is just covered, adding water if needed. Add garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf, onion, salt, and lemon. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat โ€” small bubbles, not a rolling boil, which is the key to tender chicken. Reduce heat to low, cover, and poach 15 minutes, until chicken reaches 165ยฐF internal. Turn off heat and let chicken rest in the liquid, covered, for 10 minutes. Shred while still warm using two forks or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low, spooning a little poaching liquid over the shredded chicken to keep it moist.

Store in the fridge up to 4 days, or freeze in the poaching liquid up to 3 months.
This is the breakfast meal prep we make on repeat. This is the breakfast meal prep we make on repeat. Sausage, eggs, cottage cheese, and cheese baked into one dish means high protein and minimal effort. If youโ€™re not into cottage cheese yet, this recipe might change your mind.

Ingredients:
1 pound breakfast sausage (pork or turkey)
8 eggs, scrambled
1 more egg (for binding)
Salt, to taste
1 cup Good Culture cottage cheese @good_culture 
1 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions:
Cook the sausage, then remove from the pan. Scramble the eggs in the same pan and season with salt. Add the cooked sausage and scrambled eggs to a bowl along with the cottage cheese and shredded cheese. Mix in the flour and the extra egg to bind everything together. Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes.
Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins Tall go Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Tall golden tops, soft centers, melty chocolate, crunchy sugar on topโ€”and the brown butter makes them SO good. Serve them warm. You can even freeze the rest for later.

Comment โ€œMUFFINโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the recipe!
Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies ๐Ÿช Thin, che Thin & Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies ๐Ÿช

Thin, chewy centers, crispy edges, and that perfect crinkled top โ€” browned butter is the secret.

Comment โ€œCOOKIEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the link! ๐Ÿ‘‡

Ingredients: ยพ cup unsalted butter, ยพ cup brown sugar (packed), ยฝ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1ยพ cups all-purpose flour, ยพ tsp baking soda, ยฝ tsp kosher salt, 1ยผ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, flaky sea salt for topping

Instructions: Brown the butter in a saucepan until golden and nutty-smelling, then let cool 10 minutes. Whisk in both sugars until smooth, then whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt, then fold in the chocolate chips. Rest the dough at room temp for 20-30 minutes. Scoop into balls and bake at 350ยฐF for 10-12 minutes. Tap the pan firmly on the counter right out of the oven to create the crinkle. Finish with flaky salt while warm.
The Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso just droppe The Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso just dropped for fall and itโ€™s SO good โ€” but that pumpkin cream cold foam is doing some heavy lifting in the sugar department. Hereโ€™s how I order it to keep the flavor and cut the crash.

What to say at the counter:
โ€œGrande Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, half sweet, nonfat milk instead of oat, light pumpkin cream cold foam.โ€

Macro comparison (grande, estimated):
Standard: ~250 cal | 32g carbs | 26g sugar | 13.5g fat 

Modified: ~140 cal | 17g carbs | 13g sugar | 1g fat 

Same fall flavor, half the sugar, and way less fat โ€” this oneโ€™s a keeper for the season ๐ŸŽƒ
This high-protein 7-Layer Bean Dip is the kind of This high-protein 7-Layer Bean Dip is the kind of easy appetizer that disappears FAST.

I start with @SOMOS Refried Pinto Beans with Beef Tallowโ€”they have 17g of protein + 17g of fiber per pouch and give the dip that rich, homemade base. Then layer on ground beef cooked with SOMOS Taco Simmer Sauce, creamy Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, cheddar, tomatoes, onion, and plenty of fresh cilantro.

The Taco Simmer Sauce does all the work and the beef comes together in about 10 minutes, making this such an easy one for cookouts, game days, or feeding a crowd.

Grab the chips and get a scoop with ALL the layers. 

#SomosFoods #SevenLayerDip #BeanDip #HighProteinRecipes #EasyAppetizers
Say goodbye to dry, rubbery shredded chicken forev Say goodbye to dry, rubbery shredded chicken forever 

This is my go-to method for meal prep โ€” poach it low and slow (never boil!), let it rest in the liquid, then shred while itโ€™s still warm. Thatโ€™s it. Thatโ€™s the whole secret.

I make a big batch every weekend and use it all week for tacos, flautas, chicken salad, quesadillasโ€ฆ you name it. 20 minutes of hands-off cooking = healthy protein ready to go

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 3 garlic cloves (smashed), 1 tsp black peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, ยฝ yellow onion (quartered), 1 tsp kosher salt, ยฝ lemon

INSTRUCTIONS
Place chicken in a single layer in a large pot. Add broth so chicken is just covered, adding water if needed. Add garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf, onion, salt, and lemon. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat โ€” small bubbles, not a rolling boil, which is the key to tender chicken. Reduce heat to low, cover, and poach 15 minutes, until chicken reaches 165ยฐF internal. Turn off heat and let chicken rest in the liquid, covered, for 10 minutes. Shred while still warm using two forks or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low, spooning a little poaching liquid over the shredded chicken to keep it moist.

Store in the fridge up to 4 days, or freeze in the poaching liquid up to 3 months.
This is the breakfast meal prep we make on repeat. This is the breakfast meal prep we make on repeat. Sausage, eggs, cottage cheese, and cheese baked into one dish means high protein and minimal effort. If youโ€™re not into cottage cheese yet, this recipe might change your mind.

Ingredients:
1 pound breakfast sausage (pork or turkey)
8 eggs, scrambled
1 more egg (for binding)
Salt, to taste
1 cup Good Culture cottage cheese @good_culture 
1 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions:
Cook the sausage, then remove from the pan. Scramble the eggs in the same pan and season with salt. Add the cooked sausage and scrambled eggs to a bowl along with the cottage cheese and shredded cheese. Mix in the flour and the extra egg to bind everything together. Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes.
Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins Tall go Jumbo Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Tall golden tops, soft centers, melty chocolate, crunchy sugar on topโ€”and the brown butter makes them SO good. Serve them warm. You can even freeze the rest for later.

Comment โ€œMUFFINโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the recipe!

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