Every year when I pack up the decorations after Christmas, I collect all of the garlands together in one box, I get all the candlesticks together in another box, and all my nativity sets go into their own box. We label the boxes "garlands," "candles," "nativity sets,"...which seems great until you remember that you have […]
What do you make for Christmas dinner? Sometimes we'll do a prime rib or a roast turkey, but this year, I'm going all out with a Christmas ham that just looks festive. For this recipe, I made a cranberry-orange glaze with some warm winter spices that takes this ham to the next level. Oh and […]
Raise your hand if you panic when your phone's low battery notification turns on? (Just me??) There's nothing worse when I'm out on a fun holiday outing taking video memories of my family, and I see that red light. Or I'm traveling and stuck in the airport on a layover...it gives me anxiety! I've tried […]
I put out a call on Insta to see if anyone needed help with holiday hosting, and I had so many great replies. There were some questions that popped up multiple times too, so I compiled this Q&A to hopefully help you prep for a smooth and stress-free hosting season. It can feel intimidating to […]
'Tis the season for sweets and snackable treats to share with others in those cool tins. My mom (whom you met in my dinner roll recipe video) always used to make soft, chewy caramels around Christmas that would be some of the first things to go at any holiday gathering. Her recipe probably had butter […]
Baking Dish | Striped Dish Towel (similar) I have a few recipes that are perfect for the holidays, and this is one of them. I make a really delicious brownie that can be made gluten-free and dairy-free, but you won't even know it's missing those elements when the peppermint flavor hits. It's really simple, and […]
This year for Thanksgiving, I'm all about quick prep (we're talking as few as 5 minutes) and big flavor payoff. My Thanksgiving menu will be a mix of tried-and-true classics from the Chris Cooks archives, plus some new recipes that I created this fall. But what this Thanksgiving dinner won't be is stuffy, overly formal, […]
This year, I'm doing Thanksgiving easy-style. While I have over 30 recipes for Thanksgiving that I've created over the years, This year, I want to spend more time out of the kitchen with my family and less time prepping and cooking. (Enter supporting dishes like candied ham skewers and roasted honeynut squash.) To top it […]
I do a lot of cooking for food restrictions, but this recipe is none of those things. These dinner rolls are my mom's recipe, and they're one of her signature dishes. She has made them for almost every gathering since I was a kid. The smell of these...it's the smell of every family event in […]
There's a new squash in town that everyone's talking about, and that's the honeynut squash. A smaller and slightly sweeter descendant of the butternut squash, it's quickly become one of my favorite fall vegetables. And it makes an incredible side dish for your Thanksgiving table. This season, I'm all about high-impact, low effort dishes, and […]
As a home cook, this is my favorite time of year: the time leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. But this year, I want to focus on low-effort, high-impact dishes. Something that can serve a crowd but is not too hard to make. And these spicy candied ham bites are just the ticket. Shop The […]
This post is sponsored by Neighborly, Your Hub for Home Services The beginning of the year we're always thinking "spring cleaning." But in fall, I like to cover our bases on home maintenance before we have guests or face colder weather. I usually like to split the tasks between things we tackle ourselves and things we […]
It was Professor Plum, with the knife, in the Conservatory. Happy Halloween from Clue characters: 1986 edition! Shop Costume Inspiration Over the years, we've dressed as everything from dolls and monsters to Peter Pan, E.T. characters, and The Wizard of Oz. But in the last several years, one of our kids has usually chosen our costumes. If you look back, you […]
I use our Ninja CREAMi all the time. It’s just so easy to make a super delicious dessert with almost no effort (other than an overnight freeze.) If you have someone in your house who can't have dairy, this little ice cream maker comes in clutch. It really can turn almost anything into something frosty, […]
When the sheet pan dinner craze started, I was all on board. What's not to like about a dinner with minimal prep, minimal effort and maximum flavor? I decided to take advantage of that one-pan method, but I use a roasting pan as my sheet pan—shhh, don't tell anyone. That way, I can layer the […]
I'm excited to share today's recipe with you because it's more than just a dessert—this baked pears & rosemary caramel recipe inspired a lip balm flavor! That's right, we launched a collaboration with our friends at Poppy & Pout based on three fall desserts that I developed just for you. We love Poppy & Pout […]
This post is sponsored by Walmart We have had a game night once a month with a mix of family and friends for years! A group of 6 seems to be the sweet spot and through all of our moves, one thing that makes it feel like home is game night. While hosting a game […]
Shop CLJ x Poppy & Pout Lip Balm Trio I'm even more excited to share today's recipe with you because it's more than just a dessert—it inspired a lip balm flavor! That's right, we just launched a collaboration with our friends at Poppy & Pout based on three fall desserts that I developed just for […]
Can you believe that September has already come and gone? This time of year is my absolute favorite and we've been busy finishing up house projects (the mudroom is officially checked off the 2024 project list!) and launching two new product lines! It was such a surreal moment to see our wallpaper designs on the shelves at Lowes […]
I recently got a question from a commenter who asked me how I entertain at home to make guests feel at ease. This question came at a great time since fall can be a natural hosting season from watch parties (there's football...or The Bach) to Thanksgiving. The truth is — Chris and I really *enjoy* […]
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Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations