With Spring officially here, (it is isn’t it?) we’re all craving lighter, fresher dishes full of vibrant colors and the flavors of the season. Although it was cooler here in SoCal this past weekend, we still enjoyed a sunny, breezy weekend for the most part and pulled out the grill on both days. Other places […]
Sides
Kid Friendly Quinoa Salad
A new month has rolled around and I’m super pleased to introduce you to Shelby B. of GlitterfulFelt Stories as our March Top Mom. Besides being a wife and mom of three adopted children, Shelby designs and creates interactive felt board stories that help preschool children learn to read. She’s also a crusader for children’s literacy, […]
Latkes for Hanukkah
December 1st marks the beginning of Hanukkah and the eight-day Festival of Lights celebration.The Hanukkah ritual of lighting the menorah at sundown commemorates the Maccabees’ triumph over the oppressive Syrian king and how one day’s supply of oil miraculously burned for eight days and nights following their victory. One of the traditional foods of Hanukkah is latkes […]
Summer Vegetable Gratin
Faced with an abundance of zucchini? This Summer Vegetable Gratin is a deliciously healthy dish for Summer’s bounty! Thanks to my friend Diane, I went to see a movie and came home with a cornucopia of fresh, organic produce. Diane, a Master Gardener who specializes in edible gardens, had been to a garden swap and […]
Southwestern Turkey Burgers with Tomato and Corn Salad
Although we’ve been having typical southern California weather, most of the country has been blistering in 90+ temperatures, and just like those folks,I’d rather be firing up the grill or stoking a beach bonfire than inside cooking on the range. So following an afternoon spent lazily floating in the pool and dodging kids hurtling themselves […]
Green Beans with Blue Cheese and Walnuts
Greeted by a bounty of green beans upon our return from vacation, I’ve been busily creating summertime salads that defy the term “salad” as it is commonly thought of, i.e. dressed salad greens with traditional salad toppings. The first was the classic Niçoise Salad, inspired by images of The Young Baker gleefully absorbing the sights, […]
From pale to perfection!
Are you trying for a more plant-based diet? Want to include more veggies but grow weary of salads? The abundance of fresh produce at the farmer’s market looks so inviting but always ends up mushy in the crisper drawer? Look no further than your back yard, patio, or balcony! Its grill season, not only here […]
Preserving Holiday Traditions through Cooking: Latkes for Hanukkah
Having lived in California for 28 years with no family at all to celebrate holidays with, I firmly believe in the importance of creating your own family traditions. But I also find comfort in the past and feel that, especially these days, with family members often scattered far and wide, sharing memories from your childhood […]
How I got my kids to love vegetables
My daughter’s love of vegetables can be directly traced to the fried rice I used to make for her when she was a toddler. I can see the kitchen of the house we lived in at the time and remember whipping up fried rice from leftover rice and adding lots of bite-sized broccoli, carrots, and […]