Gluten-Free

Life is busy. Regardless of what you do, almost everyone complains that there is not enough time in a day to get everything done. Sometimes, getting dinner on the table feels like a true miracle.  Chances are, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  Even as a trained chef, I feel that way–and most of […]

This is my new favorite tart.  I’m a sucker for anything with coconut.  This rich, decadent tart does not disappoint.  Plus, it’s gluten-free and can be made dairy-free as well!  I have already blogged about how fond I am of tarts: you may have seen the sweet potato tart recipe I shared around Thanksgiving and […]

I honestly have no idea when I first had couscous, but I love the stuff.  I think my boys were eating couscous before they had rice.  Pearl (or Israeli) couscous is similar to regular couscous in that is it also a whole-grain food made from semolina or wheat flour.  Known as “ptitim“, Israel, pearl couscous, […]

Fudge reminds me of a few things: Judy Bloom, my grandmother, and Valentine’s Day.  But not necessarily in that order.  Fudge is a delicious old-school confection, one that sometimes gets overlooked if you ask me. But all fudge is not created equal.  Fudge is a true decadent treat and a perfect match for Valentine’s Day.  […]

A New Year and, with it, new ideas. This is my first post in what will be my special featured series this year titled “Changemakers.” Our country, our world actually, is a bit of a mess. The news these days seems to be riddled with political chaos, hatred, violence, and discrimination as well as a […]

Vegetable stir-fry is one of the easiest vegetable side dishes out there.  By mixing different vegetable flavors and textures, you undoubtedly get a more interesting side dish.  What I also love about a good vegetable stir-fry is that almost any vegetable can work, so it is super easy to adapt to the likes and dislikes of […]

Peppermint bark, as it’s called, is almost non-existent during the year, until Christmas time when it is everywhere.  I don’t typically like the commercially made verities, but when you find an artisanal one, it can be fantastic.  Peppermint bark is a rich chocolate confection, it’s not something you eat a large amount of; the peppermint […]

I think one of the reasons I love the cooler months so much is because it is beet season.  Beets are referred to as “winter’s sweet treats“. You can find beets throughout the year, but during the Fall and Winter months they are at their peak of deliciousness–and I can’t get enough of them. Red […]

As a kid, I never liked butternut squash, it was always mushy and flavorless.  Years later, I learned how to make it.  It is funny how subtle things in a recipe sometimes make all the difference in whether we like or dislike something.  Growing up, butternut squash was one of those foods that I was […]

Thanksgiving is nothing without the cranberry sauce. This slightly sweet, slightly tart compote is essential at a Thanksgiving table if you ask me. And for the record, I am not talking about the canned stuff.  I believe in shortcuts at times, especially around the holidays when the sheer volume of tasks associated with hosting a […]

This is my mother-in-law’s pumpkin curry soup, and it is fantastic. The first time I had this was at Thanksgiving dinner when my husband and I were merely dating. I loved it from the first sip.  It is a simple blended soup, but the sweet curried onions elevate this soup to a whole new level. […]

Meringues are delicious and Marion’s, although you may not know her, are top-notch.  Marion is a dear family friend.  I have known Marion a very long time–since I was eleven, to be exact–and I adore her. My mother-in-law first met Marion in 1975 through their sons, who entered kindergarten together at The Calhoun School, where […]

Boy did I hate Brussels sprouts when I was a kid?  To my six-year-old self, these were odd-looking vegetables not meant for human consumption.  Kudos to my parent, the Brussels sprouts kept returning and eventually, I learned to like them.  Now, older and wiser, I love them.  Their baby cabbage-like appearance, their strong almost spicy […]

Simple, easy, hearty overnight quinoa is a great, slightly less heavy, alternative to overnight oats.  Also a make-ahead breakfast, overnight quinoa is appealing to anyone who likes to plan for a busy day. Quinoa is vastly popular, personally, I love the stuff, but I needed to do a little bit of research to understand exactly […]

Tofu lettuce cups have become a favorite of mine.  To be honest, I have always loved the lettuce wrap concept, beginning years ago with In-and-Out’s bunless, lettuce wrap “protein style” burger, which I discovered long before I even moved to California.  Tofu has also been a staple in my house.  My boys started eating tofu […]