I love muffins. Muffins and scones actually, they are the perfect accompaniment to morning coffee. But I’m picky, with muffins especially. With muffins, I prefer a standard-sized one, not the super-sized caloric bomb ones that make you feel like you’re eating three muffins in one sitting. I want my muffins soft, moist, flavorful and bursting […]

These are shirred eggs, or oeufs en cocotte as they are known in France. It’s a fancy name for something truly simple. Shirred eggs are really just baked (or coddled) eggs typically with the addition of cream, fresh herbs, and a little cheese, although the permutations are endless. This simple, elegant way of cooking an egg […]

Let’s talk about macaroni and cheese. It’s not health food, but it is a much-loved comfort dish that has been around for a long time. Kids love it, and grown-ups love to hate it–but only because they typically love it themselves and can’t resist it. To be honest, what’s not to love?  It’s indeed comforting. […]

Everyone has their favorite comfort foods, truffle polenta fries are one of mine. Totally serious. I have always been a big fan of polenta; the simple addition of truffle oil is a game-changer. Polenta served in the form of “fries“, is a fantastic way to incorporate an earthy grain into your winter meal without much […]

Chances are you’ve heard of a White Russian, a rich creamy cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream served over ice. This beloved cocktail was created in the late 1940s by Gustave Tops, a Belgian barman who also created the White Russian’s sister cocktail a Black Russian which is simply a White Russian without […]

My family knows it, I am obsessed with almond butter. I buy it constantly and am always putting it into things I make. I have been wanting to make my own almond butter for some time, so this was a fun recipe to develop. I have had so many kinds of almond butter over the […]

If you’ve never had a Hot Toddy on a cold winter night, you must. Known as a “hot whisky” in Scotland, it can mixed in any number of ways.  But typically, it is served as one is (according to Wikipedia) “retiring” for the night. Love that. In essence, it’s a true “nightcap.” Some believe the Hot […]

This baked zucchini “noodle” is my low-carb “lasagna” alternative that my husband and I have come to prefer. Don’t get me wrong, I still love lasagna now and again as it reminds me of my childhood.  But a reduced-carb option is always good to have. My mom, who is originally from the Midwest, made a […]

Holidays are all about spirit. And by “spirit” I mean the feeling of happiness, gratitude, and grace that swirls around December. Spirit is more a mood than anything religious. Anyone can have spirit no matter what one celebrates. I love the holiday spirit. The buzz, the pomp and circumstance, the gatherings, and the overall excitement […]

You survived the holiday season but you have one more celebration to come. But this one is easier. Much easier. New Year’s Eve is a bit more celebrated than New Year’s Day. And let’s call New Year’s Day what it is: a recovery day for the night before. But New Year’s Eve is a fun, […]

Who does not love hot chocolate in the winter? There are a number of ways to make this old standby different, and this is one of them. This is my pumpkin-spiced white hot chocolate because I’m not over my pumpkin obsession just yet. In this simple recipe, white chocolate replaces the traditional milk or dark […]

Apparently, Christmas jam is a thing. As a chef and a food blogger, I had no clue. This is a fine example of the food world today, chances are, the idea (recipe) is out there long before you came up with the recipe, and the only hope is you make it better. Jam is something […]

It’s holiday countdown time and everyone is searching for ideas about what to make for Christmas. Let’s face it, we all have our standard go-to’s and that’s fine, it works, but this year you want to challenge yourself or impress others perhaps. I say, go for it. Enter prime rib roast. Not a new dish, but […]

Brie en croute is essentially a brie wheel wrapped in a pastry dough and baked until golden. “En croute” (pronounced “on KROOT“) is simply a food that has been wrapped in pastry dough and then baked in the oven. The dough can be an ordinary pie dough or more commonly, puff pastry. Brie en croute is a […]

I can’t believe it’s almost been a year! This is the 12th (and final) installment in my Changemaker series. This series has been a very meaningful one for me. I have truly enjoyed sharing some amazing people, organizations, and foundations making positive changes in our world. There really is a lot of good and kindness […]