I am a huge fan of guacamole.  If you have been to my house, chances are, I’ve probably made you some. I make it often. Year-round in fact, not just on Cinco de Mayo. I will search high and low in winter months to find a delicious, perfectly ripe avocado. Thankfully, living in California, I […]

My family’s love of Din Tai Fung is no secret. I did a copycat recipe of their chilled cucumber salad (a true favorite) and to this day, this simple dish, remains one of my most viewed blog posts. I think that says something. Din Tai Fung has a cult-like following and for good reason. Their soup […]

I’ve always loved scones, or at least as long as I can remember. I think my love of them stems from the fact that they are often not overly sweet. Typically made with fruit, these simple pastries also go well with a great cup of coffee. And I do love my coffee. Scones are actually […]

Buddha bowls, as they are often called on social media, are everywhere. Typically presented in a Zen-like fashion, these brightly colored, artfully arranged bowls consist of a cornucopia of vegetables and/or proteins that are eye-catching at first glance. If you ask me, Buddha bowls are works of art that can make you feel healthier just […]

Traditional Easter foods consist of baked meats (typically ham), various sweet breads, and chocolate of all varieties. This can likely be attributed to the Lenten season, the 40 days prior to Easter when observant Christians often try to avoid indulgences. But for many Eastern European countries, such as  Ukraine, a staple Easter food is perogies, also […]

Sometimes shortcuts in cooking are needed and that’s totally ok. This is my chicken soup with matzo balls, the quick method. By “quick“, I mean faster, but it does not mean ready in 30 minutes. Many people love the idea of 30-minute meals, I totally get that and I try to blog about what I […]

I have always loved bananas.  As a kid, I preferred them over apples. Straight-up, on top of cereal, with ice cream, you name it, I’m a fan. Like banana bread, frosted banana cake was a treat and something I always looked forward to having. Some things never change. This is one of my all-time favorite […]

No one can ever have too many salmon recipes so here’s another fantastic one. As far as croquettes themselves go, there are numerous versions out there, but I’m talking about the more classic French version, but with a modern twist and made with sockeye salmon and quinoa. The croquette itself is believed to have originated […]

I have blogged about making a sake cocktail before. New to the sake world, I am enjoying its versatility and flavorful notes. This lovely cocktail is based on the National drink in Brazil called a Caipirinha cocktail traditionally made with cachaça ( also known as aguardiente, pinga, caninha), which is a distilled spirit, made from fermented sugarcane juice, known […]

Focaccia is a flat oven-baked Italian bread product that is similar in style and texture to pizza dough. Crispy on the bottom, thanks to the generous amount of olive oil it is baked in, and soft, almost pillowy on top. This tasty savory bread is fantastic served by itself, but is versatile both in toppings and uses, […]

Skillets are amazing things. Considered trendy now, they have been an intricate part of kitchens for many years. The first known use of cast iron cookware dates all the way back to the Han Dynasty in China, around 220 A.D.  By the 16th century, casting techniques became widespread in Europe, and quickly thereafter this versatile […]

Irish soda bread is one of the most well-known and popular quick breads there are. Soda bread is a soft textured, cake-like bread that rises due to the reaction of the acid (buttermilk), and the base (baking soda). Although this simple classic is most often attributed to Ireland, they were not its creators. American Indians were […]

Who does not love marshmallows?  My kids are huge fans for sure. Homemade artisanal marshmallows are now seen in gourmet stores everywhere, and they can often be rather pricy.  Classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry are often available, but more adventurous ones like malted milk, caramel, toasted coconut, lavender, Kahlua, Irish Cream, and Espresso […]

The world is a better place because of donuts. Seriously, it’s true. Donuts make people happy, myself included. Birthday mornings in my house are celebrated with donuts, it’s just something we’ve always done. At 13 and 11, we still have not stopped. I posted a recipe for baked cinnamon sugar donuts last year, I thought […]

Mushroom farro is a hearty winter comfort food to me. The addition of black truffle oil makes this simple dish even more delicious.  Farro is an ancient grain from Mesopotamia that has been around forever. Considered a nutritious grain, farro is high in protein, fiber, and B complex vitamins, and is considered a much healthier […]