The countdown to summer has officially begun! We are already thinking about all the things we want to do: go to the beach, get snow cones, swim at night, go fishing, picnic at the pool, make cherry limeade (pictured above) and lots more fun stuff! And with summer so close we can almost taste it, […]
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5 Things I’m Loving at Trader Joe’s

How to Make Chimichurri
Chimichurri. It is my favorite condiment of late for so many reasons: It’s easy to make. It’s light and fresh. It goes with anything. It adds a vibrant green color to your plate. It’s gluten, grain and dairy free, as well as paleo, vegan, sugar free, and raw! What’s more, the main ingredient — parsley — […]

Dulce De Leche Icebox Cheesecake Pie
It’s National Cheesecake Day! Who knew? I didn’t until I hopped on Instagram this morning. (Are you on Instagram yet? Come join me! It’s fun and artistic and inspiring!) As a tribute to this important day, I’m reposting this unbelievable dulce-de-leche frozen-cheesecake-pie thingy with a Teddy-Grahamy crust and Nutella drizzled all over the top. It’s by […]

Dad’s Pasta With Clam Sauce
Do you like clams? I have a feeling clams are kind of like oysters and minivans. You love ’em or hate ’em. If you are a lover, oooh have I got a recipe for you. My dad came up with it years ago, and we have been enjoying it ever since. It’s pasta with clam […]

The Easiest Way to Make Pickled Onions
I love pickled onions. I put them on everything … … Barbacoa … Pork verde … Pulled pork … Thai Lettuce Wraps … As well as almost any burger, dog, sandwich, taco or salad. Often, I make them from scratch, which basically just involves soaking sliced onions in a mixture of vinegar, water, salt, sugar, and […]

The Easiest Way to Cook Broccoli
Hi again y’all! Yesterday I posted about the easiest way to cook salmon, and today I’ll share the easiest way to cook broccoli. (Just think, if you make the salmon and the broccoli together, in 20 minutes or less you can have what might be the easiest and healthiest meal on the planet!) Here’s what you do: Place […]

The Easiest Way to Cook Salmon
If you’re not cooking salmon this way yet, you totally should. In the past, my go-to method was to pan-sear salmon with a hot fire on the stovetop. Which was always kind of a hassle because the hot oil would pop all over the place and the whole house would end up smelling like fish. Then I found […]

Eggplant Lasagna: Super Easy and Gluten Free!
My mom and I used to make lasagna together when I was a kid. While it was always fun to make, it never turned out just right. The noodles were often broken in the box, and then would stick together in the water. For the filling, we used a mixture of frozen (thawed) chopped spinach […]

Pesto-Prosciutto Chicken: Quick and Easy Dinner
Pesto-Pancetta Pork Tenderloin has been my go-to dinner-party dish for years. It’s easy and yummy and a real crowd pleaser, especially if you brine the pork. But who has time to brine pork?! Seriously, people. So lately, for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, I’ve been making the same dish with chicken and prosciutto instead […]

Recipe Round-up: 25 Naturally Gluten-Free Recipes
Nothing quite makes my day like meeting a new friend! Like my new friend Laila, who I met on Instagram yesterday. She recently made my Crock-Pot Pork Verde, and even her kids enjoyed it! Laila said that she has recently started following a gluten-free diet. So for her, I’m doing this gluten-free recipe round-up. All of these […]

Ground Bison Crispy Tacos
Do certain smells make you feel nostalgic? They do me. Especially, the smell of beach air, sawdust, and fried corn tortillas. Beach air, because we have been going to Port Aransas since I was a kid. Every year, when we’re about 30 minutes away from the ferry, the air starts to feel heavier. Thicker. And I can smell […]

Dinner on the Cheap: Chalupas Compuestas
After five years of marriage and two kids, John and I like to joke that we are “business partners in a nonprofit.” Which is only funny because it’s sort of true. As unromantic as that may sound, it is actually quite sweet. Because love during courtship is easy. But love during the chaos of parenthood? […]

On the Mediterranean Diet: Tabbouleh Salad
John’s grandparents are originally from Lebanon, so we eat a lot of Mediterranean food at our house. (For a funny little post about learning recipes from his family, click here.) I love to make a big spread of Lebanese food with the usual suspects (hummus, baba ganoush, rolled grape leaves) and this tabbouleh salad. Tabbouleh is very […]

Soup When You’re Sick (or Not): Lime Soup With a Thai Twist
Belize is my kind of place: White sand, blue water, rum punch, lime soup. Have you been? I went with my best friend Elissa and our mutual friend Rob back in 2007. We left a few days after Christmas and stayed through the New Year. This was back when John and I had just started […]

On the Mediterranean Diet: A Recipe for Lentils
Did you hear the news? A recent study confirmed what many suspected: A diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, lean protein, fruits and vegetables can reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. By a lot. As was reported in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago: The magnitude of the […]

Quinoa with Butter, Almonds and Cranberries
Okay, so I am officially becoming my dad. I am usually in bed before 9 p.m. I have a Japanese car (with light-colored seats!) that gets good gas mileage. I’m an over buyer, especially as to milk and paper towels. I use my blinker like a Driver’s-Ed instructor. I can’t stand loud restaurants. And my […]

One Helluva Texas Chili Recipe
I’ve been a bad Texan. Yes, I own boots and a Stetson hat. But I don’t have my own chili recipe. Oh the shame. My dear Texas, I want to make it up to you. Will this suffice? What if I told you that it was made with 12 ounces of Shiner Bock Black Lager? […]

The BEST Recipe for Crab Cakes
I made crab cakes last night for dinner. Jack ate two and John ate SEVEN. That’s why John and I are such a good match. As his dad likes to say: “Well isn’t funny that a guy who loves to EAT finds a girl who loves to COOK!” Here’s what you need to know about […]

Crazy Good Creamy Mustard Sauce for Steaks
Sure, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but this easy and elegant recipe is not just for that. It’s perfect for any romantic dinner at any time (as long as your guest likes a big juicy steak as much as I do). To start, you will need two steaks, cooked how you like ’em. […]

Ideas for Valentine’s Day Dinner
Hey Guys, have you made plans yet for the big day? No, not the Super Bowl. Valentine’s Day! How about this: A romantic dinner for two (or more) in your own cozy dining room. It’s what John and I have been doing for years. We usually invite over four or five other couples (with kids) […]