Medium Rare Steak

There’s nothing like a juicy steak to elevate your weeknight dinner and bring out the best of your home cooking skills. Walk through how to achieve a warm pink center and you’ll be plating restaurant quality dishes in no time! This post provides details on how to cook a steak to medium rare, with a…

Read the Post

Packing Essentials: A Day at the Lake

Skip the panic of forgotten sunscreen on your next lake trip1 This foolproof list of necessities is sure to fuel your day of fun whether you’re on the water or lounging on the shore. Most of these can be prepared ahead of time to make your lake day as stress-free as possible. Adjust according to…

Read the Post

Butternut Squash Soup

Some of the largest harvests from our garden come from squash, especially in the later months of the growing season. This recipe is sure to have you looking forward to what I like to call “dealing with the abundance.” While some recipes can be easily halved, this one has enough prep work that I’d recommend…

Read the Post

Salmon Sushi Bake

Sushi bakes are one of the easiest ways to present seafood with minimal prep and a consistently delicious outcome. This salmon sushi bake makes for a simple weeknight dinner and is always a pleasant surprise at potluck parties. This recipe fits well in a 9×9 baking dish or alternatively in a ceramic pie plate as…

Read the Post




Hey there!

Meet Shannon

I've been blogging for seven years and focusing on intentional lifestyle choices for at least that long. Join me on my mission to better myself by learning new skills, tasting new recipes, and finding new ways to live joyfully.

Feel free to follow along on social media using the #TheUntamedOptimist or by visiting my pages to see what I've been up to recently...

Browse by Category

What’s Trending?

  • Amish Peanut Butterscotch Cookies

    Try these and thank me later! Elevate your classic peanut butter cookies with a few ingredient swaps! Enjoy the sweet and salty notes within this delicious blend of amish peanut butter and butterscotch. I used Amish peanut butter from my local farmstead and they turned out to be some of the best peanut butter cookies… Read the Post

    Amish Peanut Butterscotch Cookies
  • Butternut Squash Soup

    Some of the largest harvests from our garden come from squash, especially in the later months of the growing season. This recipe is sure to have you looking forward to what I like to call “dealing with the abundance.” While some recipes can be easily halved, this one has enough prep work that I’d recommend… Read the Post

    Butternut Squash Soup
  • Pumpkin Pie Bars

    Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, that doesn’t mean pumpkin treats have to go too! These pumpkin pie bars are the perfect treat to keep the whole family happy all winter long, without tons of prep work! I decided to grace the Thanksgiving dessert table with these delish bars and with so many people… Read the Post

    Pumpkin Pie Bars
  • Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

    There’s nothing better than making fall desserts with homemade pumpkin purée—until you get stuck with a bowl of pumpkin guts you don’t know what to do with. After all that scooping, you might as well put those pumpkin seeds to good use and roast them for a delicious source of protein that’s shelf-stable for weeks…… Read the Post

    Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
  • Candy Corn Cookies

    What’s better than a tray of freshly home-baked sugar cookies? A tray of fresh-baked candy corn cookies to get in the spooky mood, of course! The simple design makes this the perfect rainy day activity for kids of all ages, so get the whole family involved for a day of fun! This recipe is a… Read the Post

    Candy Corn Cookies
  • Flaky Mini Pumpkin Turnovers

    There’s something so comforting about sharing a fresh-baked plate of turnovers with family. This extra-crispy spinoff of a family favorite is perfect for seasonal parties and holiday gatherings. Rather than using the standard puff pastry dough, this recipe utilizes the extra flaky nature of phyllo dough. If you’re having a hard time finding pumpkin puree… Read the Post

    Flaky Mini Pumpkin Turnovers

Contact Me