The BEST Pulled Pork Nachos

Raise your shot glasses and ring in the new year! Today, we say goodbye to a memorable and AMAZING year of food, family, friends, and so much fun! What dish could best pair with this bittersweet goodbye to 2021? Pulled pork nachos. Obviously! Using pre-cooked pork, your favorite barbecue sauce, and a quick and simple but all-too special slaw to top, this dish culminates all the joy and excitement of the coming year. AND it's so dang delicious. We scarfed it up as soon as the cameras turned off!! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did, and we wish you all an amazing 2022!

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drinks & appetizers, breakfast, main dishes Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, breakfast, main dishes Ava Dreessen

Biscuits and Gravy Christmas Tree Pull-Aparts

Christmas is only a week away... seriously?!? If you're looking for a last-minute Christmas brunch, you've come to the right place! We have just the easy and equally delicious recipe, all for you! Easy rich and savory sausage gravy to top biscuits stuffed with sausage and cheese... absolutely mouth-watering! A blast to make, fun to eat, this breakfast will definitely make your holiday season memorable. Enjoy!

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drinks & appetizers, asian, sides & salads Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, asian, sides & salads Ava Dreessen

Spicy Mini Chicken Egg Rolls

Y'all ready to roll? I LOVED this appetizer recipe, it's been far too long since we've had one! It's THE perfect starter to all your upcoming family gatherings, and would be even better to make together as a family! Paired with a sweet, tangy, and spicy chili sauce, you better roll your sleeves up and get rolling, these things will go quick!! Hope you all enjoy as much as we did!!

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other, drinks & appetizers, sides & salads Ava Dreessen other, drinks & appetizers, sides & salads Ava Dreessen

Crispy Cajun Roasted Potatoes

Happy Saturday, once again! We grilled some steak a few days ago when the weather was just perfect! As an accompaniment to our main course, I decided to toast some baby potatoes with a slight and “spicy” spin! They came out crispy and delicious. Needless to say, there were no leftovers. The key is to make sure you are not overloading your cookie sheet— otherwise they will steam! So just get out that extra sheet pan and do a little extra washing that day. It will be SO worth it!

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drinks & appetizers, main dishes, other Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, main dishes, other Ava Dreessen

Beer Cheese and Bacon Loaded Fries

Guilty pleasure at it's finest... ... Wasps not included. Today, I try to cater towards my children, who you can always find in the Freddy's drive-through for loaded fries! I wanted not only to make a better fry than fast food has to offer, I wanted to combine some extra ingredients to make it unforgettable! So, I came up with this Beer Cheese and Bacon Fry... and wow. I don't think my kids will be driving thru anytime soon!! Hope you all enjoy it as much as they do, because I KNOW you'll be taking this recipe to your own kitchen!


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Cast Iron Baked Cheese with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes and Fresh Basil

So recently I posted a picture on my Instagram account of a Cast Iron Baked Cheese with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes and Fresh Basil. You. Guys... You went nuts!! And I’m not gonna say I wasn’t excited, but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of requests for the recipe!

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main dishes, drinks & appetizers, other Ava Dreessen main dishes, drinks & appetizers, other Ava Dreessen

Roast Beef and Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry

Today we have another quick and easy appetizer, lunch, or dinner recipe for you all! Roast Beef with Caramelized Onion and Sharp Cheddar Cheese on Puff Pastry! Quite a mouthful, but even better after you take a bite! These simple ingredients match perfectly together, and I couldn't be happier with the result. We are suckers for the savory and sweet, so to add to the amalgamation, why not some fig jam? This is such a great lesson on flavor pairing, so good that the whole thing was gone within minutes!! Hope you all enjoy. Happy cooking!!


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main dishes, asian, drinks & appetizers Ava Dreessen main dishes, asian, drinks & appetizers Ava Dreessen

Korean Pork Belly Sliders

There's a lot of magic happening in this kitchen... Today I combine some the greatest Korean flavors with some simplified kitchen tricks to create these awesome pork belly sandwiches. Let me warn you though, my family gobbled these up in about 10 seconds, so make extra!! My quick pickling turned out so amazing, and with a gochujang sauce, it was a match made in heaven! Hope you all enjoy!


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asian, drinks & appetizers, sides & salads Ava Dreessen asian, drinks & appetizers, sides & salads Ava Dreessen

Lemon Miso Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Happy May to all my Creme foodies! This past week has been somewhat of a struggle, as my kitchen days have been a little slower because of a much needed knee surgery. While I am on the mend, that does not mean good food is still not a priority! And veggies always seem to find a way to my heart— especially Brussels. I can make these into a salad, a main dish, or roasted 100 ways. But one of my favorite ways has a nice little Asian “spin” on it with some white miso paste and fresh lemon. Delicious!

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drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen

Cheesy Garlic Bread with Basil Aioli and Mayonnaise Taste Test

Do you know if you keep the right mayonnaise in your fridge? Well in this video, I'll let you know! And with the most amazing mayonnaise on hand, I use it for this decadent, cheesy, highly-addictive garlic bread! This isn't something you can pick up at your local pizza store... Watch how it's made and enjoy!!

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drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen

The Best Barbecue Chicken and Bacon Potato Cups With a Smokey Cheese Sauce

This has to be one of my favorite creations to date... of course, it's pretty much just a hodge-podge of all my favorite ingredients (I mean... bacon, potatoes, and cheese? there's nothing better.) All fit into a nice serving, perfect for parties, appetizers, or a midnight snack! Who cares? When you're using ingredients as good as these, there's really no shame... So enjoy!!

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drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen drinks & appetizers, sides & salads, other Ava Dreessen

Valentine's Day Charcuterie Snack Board

With valentine's day *just* around the corner, it's time to plan the most important part of the evening... food!! Not only have charcuterie boards gained popularity over the past few months, they're easy, delicious, and show your family, friends, and significant others just how special they are to you! And for a day that's all about love, what better way to celebrate?

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asian, main dishes, drinks & appetizers Ava Dreessen asian, main dishes, drinks & appetizers Ava Dreessen

Chicken Satay and Cucumber Salad

Oh friends, I cannot begin to tell you how much this family adores satay.

The mere mention of it and the crowd goes wild!! To accompany this savory chick-on-a -stick, one can only add a cool crisp and slightly spicy cucumber salad. My cucumber salad takes a tiny bit of a detour from the traditional cucumber shallot combination—I love to add fresh bell pepper. And lots of it. And if you don’t have any shallots on hand, go ahead and substitute thinly sliced red onion. Let it sit and chill and this side dish with the satay is next-level.

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other, asian, main dishes, drinks & appetizers Ava Dreessen other, asian, main dishes, drinks & appetizers Ava Dreessen

Oven Crisped Miso Glazed Wings

Hi friends— hope you are having an amazing start to your week! We had so much success cooking in the kitchen this weekend, and one of the things I created I wanted to share with you. How would you feel about Oven Crisped Miso Glazed Wings. Marinated with ginger, garlic and a splash of sake (just so there’s enough left over to cheers with!) Sooo tender on the inside after a crisping in the oven. Tossed in a slightly sweet and savory glaze with a hint of spice. Nothing more needed, I promise.

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sides & salads, drinks & appetizers, other Ava Dreessen sides & salads, drinks & appetizers, other Ava Dreessen

Kettle Chips with Blue Cheese Drizzle

Birthdays are a big deal over here. Like, huge. Food, family, and usually something fun to do! Recently, one of my five had a birthday—my Sophia. What was her request for dinner you ask? A good old fashioned cheeseburger. Only melted American cheese on top will do. Sautéed onion and jalapeño draped over the melted cheese And a grilled soft and squishy bun. Skip the butter and spread it with some Hellman’s mayo and put it upside down on a skillet until golden brown. I promise you won’t regret it.

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Super Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

There was a time when anything buffalo chicken was the epitome of a “food craze”. You really could buffalo anything! Buffalo chicken soup, buffalo chicken salad, and even buffalo-ed cauliflower! The craze has calmed down a bit and perhaps has been replaced with Nashville Hot (which is also amazing), but one dish that has remained tried and true, especially in this family, is the dip. Buffalo. Chicken. Dip. It is a staple over here and especially when there is football on tv. (Go Huskers!)

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