Fruit platters are a common go-to option for any gathering.  Like crudités platters, I make them often when I entertain.  Fruit is a great healthy option for guests, especially during holiday time, plus it helps add a splash of color to any table.  People tend to shy away from fruit arrangements a bit more in the […]

I came up with this blueberry-banana walnut smoothie with my older son in mind.  He, like me, avoids the super sweet smoothies, favoring ones like this instead. This smoothie recipe has some power to it, loaded with protein, fiber, and antioxidant power.  The three key ingredients here are blueberries, banana, and walnuts–the perfect trifecta in […]

My thirteen-year-old niece was diagnosed with severe food allergies when she was an infant.  Allergies to dairy, eggs, and peanuts are serious stuff for anyone to navigate, especially a young kid.  In doing so, one should not have to give up delicious treats, like brownies.  This is a vegan brownie recipe made with tofu and […]

My little one is a big fish lover, salmon in particular.  As if he was not already a big enough fan, a summer trip to Alaska and his exposure to incredible fresh salmon made him crave it even more. While traveling in Alaska we visited the Kenai River, the longest river in the Kenai Peninsula […]

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 […]

This beauty is a spiced pear gin fizz, and it is delicious.  Flavorful and lovely to look at, yet very different from my apple gin fizz cocktail I posted about not that long ago, I found this recipe on Jelly Toast, a blog by another foodie/photographer, Emily Caruso.  I just had to try it.  If […]

Entertaining this weekend? This bacon-wrapped date recipe is a quick and super easy one to make for guests.  If you are a bacon lover and have not had this simple sweet and salty combination, you are missing out.  The addition of rich local honey and a sprinkling of Sriracha salt add more complexity to the […]

Frosted pumpkin cookies are a common request by my older son, these and my coconut cake that is. With just a subtle pumpkin flavor, these soft pillowy cookies are light on pumpkin flavor and not too sweet, so the frosting is by no means overkill.  I myself, love these as well. Serving these warm further […]

My husband is a foodie, but not in a pretentious way.  He simply loves good food.  This is not why I married him, but let’s just say that it didn’t hurt.  At times my husband will send me a recipe he finds with subject lines like, “this sounds good,” “you should try this,” or “maybe we […]

It’s Friday and sadly I’m not at the International Food Bloggers Conference in Sacramento, so I’ll post instead.  This is another fun and somewhat “new” tequila-based cocktail for those who want something other than a margarita or a Paloma.  Most have probably never heard of a Siesta cocktail, until recently I certainly have not. This tequila, […]

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 […]

Sadly, summer has passed, but wonderful memories remain.  What I love about summer is the simplicity: relaxed schedules, easy meals, and later bedtimes.  There is no rush and with that, at least in my house, there is no fuss (well, there is less of it…).  This is a simple skillet cookie recipe that I created […]

Moscow Mules have taught me I love ginger beer.  Now for something new.  The combination of fresh seasonal apple juice, lemon, and ginger beer is fantastic and one I had never tried before.  This drink is light, crisp, and refreshing, with a touch of apple essence.  Barb Kiebel, a fellow blogger, first brought this fun […]

Although it feels odd to say it, my history with rice pudding is a complicated one. My mom ate it often when I was a kid. Not the homemade kind, but the kind that came in a small individual package with a pullback foil top. I had no major objections to it.  But this was […]

This simple, crunchy cabbage salad goes well with just about anything, and even the kids will eat it!  I like it so much, I make it year-round, as it is easy to make, especially when I’m in a hurry.  I was first introduced to this type of cabbage salad at a good friend’s house who […]