Golden beet carpaccio has been a favorite dish of mine this summer. To be honest, I’ve always been fond of beets and this dish merely reflects my love of this simple, yet incredibly flavorful, vegetable. Beetroot is the taproot portion of a beet plant. In Canada and the USA, they are referred to simply as “beets” […]

Calling it like it is, no one can ever have enough coffee cake recipes. And to be honest, I’m a sucker for banana bread as well, so this chocolate chip banana coffee cake blends two things I adore, in one. Total winner. If you ask my husband (who’s not typically a banana fan), this (like pie) […]

One of my closest friends hates chilled soup. I think of her every single time I make one. This is my chilled cucumber yogurt soup, a long-time favorite of my whole family, but especially my younger son. Like many memories, the years are a bit blurred, I can’t recall how old my son was when […]

This is my spicy salmon roll sushi bowl and one I’ve loved for some time, but I am just getting around to sharing it. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing complicated about this dish, but it’s the perfect one-bowl meal that’s easy to make and packed with nutrition. If you are a fish lover, this is […]

As with most classic cocktails, the origin of the mojito is widely debated but without question, its roots began in Cuba many years ago and the mojito continues to be a quintessential favorite around the globe. In the summer, truth be told, there is nothing more refreshing than a mojito. I’m a big fan of […]

My whole family loves falafel with tahini sauce. My husband and I both grew up eating falafel in NYC. In Brooklyn, we lived near a little family-run restaurant that made an amazing homemade falafel sandwich people would line up for blocks to get. I still miss it 13 years later. Here in Northern California, there […]

Mocktails have become popular go-to drinks year-round, but they peak in popularity in the warmer months. High temps and longer sunny days increase the need for refreshing, flavorful drinks to quench one’s palette, and the bonus is, that they keep you just as hydrated as water. This is my dragon fruit-mint mocktail and it’s just […]

Vanilla extract is an essential ingredient in baking. This is the perfect DIY project which only requires two simple ingredients, vanilla beans and liquor. And the best part is, if you start now, it will be ready for the holiday baking season come November. Selecting which vanilla bean to use is the first step in […]

I gotta say, I’m a sucker for fresh strawberry cupcakes. The fresh strawberry buttercream frosting on top is just a bonus. These light, flavorful strawberry cupcakes represent summer in all its glory. You can’t make them in winter, you need beautiful, juicy, summer berries to make them as fantastic as they are intended to be. […]

Vietnamese summer rolls, (also known as fresh spring rolls or summer rolls) are a healthy, often low-fat meal or snack I’m a huge fan of. Gourmet magazine’s description – “a salad packed into an edible container” –says it all. Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, done your prep work, and mastered the basics, you can […]

I talk about shortcuts in home cooking all the time, I’m the first to admit, that we all need them. And while such shortcuts would not be permitted in a professional kitchen, in your kitchen, it’s a different story. This malted chocolate peanut butter no-churn ice cream is one of those shortcuts, and if you […]

I adore frisée. I love the taste, but truthfully, it’s the name that gets me. This is my frisée and poached egg salad, lightly dressed with a homemade mustard vinaigrette and it’s a staple in my home. This classic French country salad is one I could live on, especially in the summer. What most people […]

I have been eating this type of cake for years without knowing exactly what it is. My go-to favorite cake has always been a lighter, less sweet version of the popular July 4th favorite, strawberry shortcake. But only recently did I learn of this lovely cake’s true origin. This strawberry shortcake is similar to a […]

This raspberry-lime vodka cooler was my first COVID holiday cocktail creation. I developed this lovely drink on Memorial Day when my family and I were stuck inside social distancing with blazing hot temperatures outside. With its fruity, tart notes and effervescent bubbles, it was the perfect warm-weather cocktail for sipping on. This simple new favorite […]

Warmer months often cause me to seek simpler meals. Not just time spent in preparation, but dishes that have fewer ingredients. This oven-roasted cod with lemon and green olives is just that; light, flavorful, and almost effortless. Cod has a lovely mild flavor and while I often like stronger-tasting fish, like salmon, cod has a […]