Are you ready for the best smores? Smores are a quintessential summer food. And also rife with nostalgia. Maybe they take you back to your first overnight camp? Or a Girl Scout jamboree? Or a bonfire on the beach? Or perhaps a family barbecue? The truth is, you can make smores almost anywhere. You can toast marshmallows over almost any… Read More
Pantry Hacks: What to Make in Your Vitamix – Besides Smoothies
It’s time for some pantry hacks… After five or six weeks at home – (aren’t the days and weeks just blurring together?) – you are probably digging deep into the back of your pantry – and your other kitchen cabinets. Here are some ways to use a likely underused appliance – your high-powered blender – to stretch your pantry a… Read More
15 Quick Ways to Refresh Yourself
Do you need quick ways to refresh yourself? Do you need a break? Something you can do without leaving home (obviously) that can help refresh you and reset the trajectory of your day. As we shelter in place, it’s important to focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t. The good news is that there is plenty… Read More
Food Memories: Moving Forward Samosas
Do you have food memories? I have foods that are inextricably tied to certain places, events, and, more than perhaps anything else, people. Food memories can be a unique, visceral way of virtually transporting yourself to different times, places, and to connect – or reconnect – with distant friends or family. I reconnect with my long-deceased grandparents with every Saint… Read More
Mix and Match Instapot Recipes: 5 Ideas, Endless Tempting Possibilities
Are you ready to try these mix and match Instapot recipes? Are you in a dinner rut? Do you need some help to rethink what’s on the menu? Is your pressure cooker gathering dust in a corner while you surrender and order pizza? Try these easy mix and match Instapot recipes for a fresh take on dinner. Choose one from each… Read More
20 Top Trader Joe’s Picks
What are your top Trader Joe’s picks? If you live near Trader Joe’s, you probably live at Trader’s Joe’s. For me, it is one of the only places where grocery shopping is invariably interesting and enjoyable. And, with the notable exception of Sunday evenings when the lines tend to be interminable, it is my go-to stop for sips, snacks and… Read More
2 Cakes for Fall Celebrations
Does the fall weather – and produce – inspire you to bake? After a summer filled with “assembling” fresh fruits and vegetables into salads, slaws, and salsas, there is something satisfying about coming inside and turning on the oven. Here are two great cakes for fall celebrations. This fall, I’ve taken two recipes I’ve been making for awhile and tweaked… Read More
3 Reasons You Should Grill Your Pizza
Are you ready to grill your pizza? Homemade pizza tends to have a mediocre reputation. Unless you have installed a several-thousand-dollar imported Neapolitan-style pizza oven in your backyard, it can really be hit or miss. But if you have a teen or tween with a growing appetite, it can be appealing to make a batch of this crowd-pleaser without the extra… Read More
3 Fall Treats: Your New Favorites
It is the season for fall treats. School is back in full swing, which means it is time for bake sales, parties and get-togethers. If you have a dairy- and gluten-free crew, it can be hard to find a recipe to please. I’ve found success with this recipe from Betty Rocker, though it definitely has both tree nuts and peanuts,… Read More