Recipes

Mozzarella is an Italian curd cheese made from water buffalo milk, not to be confused with North American buffalo or bison. The Italian Mediterranean buffalo breed was believed to have been introduced to Italy during the Roman times. Because Italian water buffalo are herded in just a few countries (mainly Italy and Bulgaria), most mozzarella you eat […]

These chocolate-raspberry walnut rugelach are by far one of my favorite cookies. Within the history of Jewish foods that have traveled across continents, there are many examples of flavor changes and other adaptations, rugelach is one of them. What is Rugelach? Rugelach, pronounced “ROO-gəl-əkh“, for those unfamiliar, are crescent-shaped, yeast dough pastries with a variety of fillings […]

An elixir by definition is “a magical or medicinal potion“. I’ve always loved that word. When used in this juice recipe, it implies healing powers. In some ways, that’s true. This superfood juice elixir is as healthy as you can get in the juice world, thanks to the superfoods it’s made with. But, what are […]

A stunning Aperol Cosmopolitan that’s perfect for sipping. I must confess, sometimes I love a good cosmo. But the key with making a great one is using good quality ingredients. In this case, good vodka and actual Contreau, seriously, don’t skimp it makes a difference. This drink highlights the alcohol, so you need the quality to be […]

An arepa is an iconic South American food with over 75 distinct forms and preparations. According to The Columbian Academy of Gastronomy, “arepas are part of (their) cultural heritage and can be considered a symbol of national gastronomic unity”. Arepas are flat, round, unleavened patties made from maize meal or maize flour that can be […]

A friend of mine nicknamed these cookies the $10 cookie, honestly, he may be on to something. These are my rich, decadent, giant brown chocolate chip cookies and I am truly obsessed with them. In this recipe I went “giant” because I love cookies and let’s face it, one little bite-size cookie just doesn’t get […]

Despite my boys being back in school, technically, it’s still summer. This has always been a strange thing for me to accept. In New York, school started after Labor Day.  Even after so many years living on the West Coast, that still seems “normal“. With August winding to a close, Northern California is still seeing […]

I can’t call this recipe healthy, however, I can say it’s a vegetarian taco recipe that’s worthy of trying–even if you are not a vegetarian. Meanwhile, if you’re on Instagram, you may already know this dish is a popular one right now with clear staying power. This recipe was a fun one for me as I’m […]

Like clothing, spirits can be trendy. Right now, gin is in. So while I enjoy a traditional gin and tonic, I also appreciate something a bit more playful and fruity in the warmer months. Meet my honey mango gin and tonic, this simple beauty is a keeper. The Story of Gin Gin itself has been […]

Almond milk is a plant milk made from almonds with a creamy texture and subtle nutty flavor. A popular non-dairy milk, that does not contain cholesterol or lactose making it a great go-to option for people with milk allergies, who are lactose-intolerant, vegans, and those who have increasing concern over animal rights and environmental protection. […]

They say pesto sauce originated in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria, Italy.  But this simple sauce can actually be traced to the ancient Romans. Romans made a very similar dish called “moretum,” a spread made of garlic, cheese, herbs, olive oil, vinegar, and salt. Another influential sauce was “agliata“, a garlic sauce, common during the […]

There is a great misconception about sangria out there. Sangria does not have to be loaded with sugar and incredibly alcoholic. In fact, sangria can be as sweet, tart, boozy, fruity or mild as you want it to be. Sangria is actually one of the most refreshing and popular drinks in the world and depending […]

Even with all the amazing ice cream flavors out there, chocolate and vanilla remain two of the most popular flavors around. Not a huge surprise to me, but then again, I’ve always been a fan of the classics. Chocolate has always been a favorite of my boys. Straight-up, no toppings, the richer the better. While […]

Nothing says summertime like lemonade. Hot sunny days call for refreshing beverages that are not soda. This is a lovely cucumber-limeade mocktail guaranteed to cool you off day or night. I fell in love with cucumber mojitos years ago while vacationing in Hawaii and I had that flavor in mind when I developed this recipe. […]

This was a request from my husband. My husband is notorious for coming home from a business trip suggesting recipes for me to develop, based on something he’s had. This was a simple one, but not all are. I’m already a huge salad person, so a homemade dressing did not take too much convincing. I […]