Early December Dinners Hi friends! I’m typing this from a hotel room in NYC. It was a festive and quick weekend catching up with family and soaking up the city. I hit the ground running on Monday with a holiday pop-up at Mont Art House, if you’re in Houston try to stop by the gallery…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 26-November 31
SUNDAY Turkey and Wild Rice Soup. Use up those leftovers! MONDAY For Cyber Monday, we have an amazing deal on free shipping for my cookbook to anywhere in the US! I also have a sale on my online cooking school, you’ll save $50 if you join before Monday at midnight! Use this link and the…
Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
The Best Leftover Turkey Soup I had every intention of getting you this before Thanksgiving, but here we are! One of my favorite recipes from my cookbook is the Rotisserie Chicken Wild and Rice Soup (page 136). It comes together fast, it’s super flavorful and it’s just darn delicious. It dawned on me that you…
Become a Member of my Cooking School Today!
If you’ve been thinking about joining my online cooking school membership, Smart in the Kitchen School, today is the day!!! If you’re sitting there thinking, “What’s Smart in the Kitchen School?” Well, let’s discuss. During Covid, we launched my cooking school membership as a way to connect with cooks at home, teach the skills I share in every in-person…
Thanksgiving Menu 2023
What’s On My Thanksgiving Menu Here’s what’s on tap at Kitchenette Farm for Turkey Day, with a few do-ahead tips thrown in for good measure. Please keep in mind that I will be cooking in one small oven, so I’m being strategic with my menu. Most of this will be prepped, assembled or made ahead….
My Favorite Business Resources
Also Known As, How I Get it All Done It’s not a magic wand, that’s for sure! Sometimes people ask me if I’m “ok” in a concerned tone, I think because they assume I’m doing “all the things.” But I have the support of amazing people. Many of you who have been to my in-person…
Hot Spiced Apple Cider
It’s that time of year! If it’s a cold and cozy afternoon, I love to simmer apple cider on the stove. I keep this alcohol-free so it works as an after-school warm up for kids. For a hot toddy later in the day, add an ounce or two of bourbon to your mug. When we…
Protein Meal Plan
Prioritize Protein, Friends! My meal plan this week was inspired by a podcast episode my trainer (and friend) recommended. It’s a fascinating listen about health in terms of muscle mass, resistance training, skeletal health and visceral fat. I don’t want to get into it too much here, but I highly recommend you listen to the…
Plan Ahead for a Less Stressful Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is about spending time with family and friends, recognizing what we’re grateful and thankful for and breaking bread with the people we love. It doesn’t need to be a complicated meal with too many components. And while it definitely is a special occasion (and my favorite dinner of the year!), the side dishes can be simple…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 6-10
Dinner (Plan) is Done! I’m a day late with this week’s meal plan, apologies friends! It was a busy weekend and I opted for a relaxing dinner out with my family and a binge of All the Light You Can Not See on Netflix. It was so beautiful and a timely watch. Always look for…
Sheet Pan Green Beans with Everything Bagel Seasoning
Everyone Wants an Easy Veggie Side We’ve got you covered! Three ingredients, no chopping, delicious flavor. You could even serve this on Thanksgiving if you need a vegetable side that doesn’t contain the Turkey Day trifecta of butter, cheese and a crispy topping. I prefer this with thin haricot vert, but it’s delicious with regular…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 23-27
MONDAY I’ll make a fresh batch of Super Simple Salad Dressing to use this week and cut carrot and celery sticks for easy noshing. For dinner, it’s the Blackened Redfish Tacos from my cookbook. These Blackened Salmon Tacos are a similar recipe from my blog. I’ll have my fish over shaved cabbage with all the…
Weekly Meal Plan // October
SUNDAY I can’t lie, we ordered pizza and made a simple arugula salad with SSSD. It was a busy weekend. I cooked steaks, Greek lemon potatoes and salad on Friday night and gumbo on Saturday night, so I was ready for a night off. MONDAY My son requested tomato-feta pasta. I’ll make this and toss…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 8-13
Hi guys. We’re at our farm near Round Top for the weekend and I’m feeding a gaggle of teenage boys. I need to make this fast (as always). SUNDAY Make a batch of Marcella Hazan’s tomato sauce and toss it with rigatoni or ziti. Here’s how I made a batch yesterday, you can see photos…
Banana Snacking Cake
A Favorite Banana “Bread” One of my favorite recipes from my cookbook is a buttermilk-banana quick bread I call Banana Snacking Cake. A quick bread is any bread recipe made without yeast. Typically, that’s recipes like banana bread or pumpkin bread made in a loaf pan. Snack cakes are usually lightly sweetened cakes without frosting….
Weekly Meal Plan // September 25-29
Dinners! Here’s what I plan to make for dinner this week. We didn’t have school Monday and I traveled to visit my oldest daughter this weekend, so you’ll notice there’s not a recipe for Sunday night. Scroll down for a dinner party menu you can use when the spirit moves you. Have a great week,…
Weekly Meal Plan // September 17-22
I’m jumping right in with the meal plan. It’s a busy week ahead as I start my Basics II six-week series and get some recipe emails out to my newsletter list. I hope you all have a great week and cook up something delicious. Take a moment to look at your schedule and make a…
Weekly Meal Plan // September 11-15
An Easy Week of Dinners September and back-to-school are moving at a brisk pace! This weekend, we had a full house of grandparents in town for our son’s Eagle Scout ceremony. We’ve done a lot of eating, chatting, watching football and tennis and playing with the dog. I went to sleep at 9 p.m. Saturday….
Labor Day Weekend Recipes + Meal Plan
I hope you’re resting and relaxing over the long weekend. We’ve been working on some projects at our farm property and getting caught up on emails and work. It’s still a million degrees in Texas, which means any time outdoors has been spent in a pool. Count this as your Labor Day grilling plan, plus…
Weekly Meal Plan // August 27-31
Here’s What’s For Dinner SUNDAY Dinner is cavatappi with pesto and a sidedish of sautéed shallots and peas. I’m using up Trader Joe’s kale pesto that I bought for an “easy dinners” demo. It’s a lucky night when you have everything for a salad of baby arugula, buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, reduced balsamic, Old Country…
Weekly Meal Plan // August 20-25
My kids start school this week and I’m currently moving my oldest into her sophomore dorm. Since her freshman year was at American University in Paris, this move-in feels much more “typical.” We’ve been to three Targets, Ikea, Pottery Barn and Macy’s. Considering there are multiple universities in the DC area, finding a twin duvet…
Weekly Meal Plan // August 14-18
This week is a bit of a perfect storm. Every day is full to the brim with something. That means dinners will be strategic—low energy, not too many ingredients, easy cleanup, but delicious. It’s almost Kitchen Reboot time! Sign up ASAP! I made this cherry tomato and Calabrian chili sauce on Instagram, it’s a great…
Weekly Meal Plan//August 6-11
Back to Simple Dinners I’m getting packed up and organized for a travel day tomorrow. I can’t lie that I’m a tiny bit sad to return to the heat of Houston. Plus, there will be a serious amount of catch-up to do this coming week. But I’m thankful for such a relaxing and peaceful summer…
How to Pull Off Weeknight Meals
Weeknight Dinner Strategy August 1 is here. Yikes, how did that happen? August creates a feeling of “Sunday night blues” for me. It means I’m adding sports and school events to my calendar, reading through emails I’ve ignored and getting armored up for the school year. And by armored up, I mean whipping my kitchen…
Prime Day Kitchen Deals
Happy summer shopping everyone! I compiled a list of what I plan to purchase or hunt for on Amazon Prime Day. You need to be a Prime member to get these deals, but in my humble opinion, it’s well worth it! I receive a very small and very stingy commission from Amazon for these recs,…
Grilled Honey Soy Flank Steak
This post is a collaboration with Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. On behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own. In the Smart Family, when we need to feed a crowd, we make Honey Soy Flank Steak. It’s one of those dinners where someone always goes home with the…
Protein Waffles
Crispy Protein Waffles The best part? These waffles are made in a blender, which means one bowl to clean. I’m keeping things brief today, but a few notes about ingredients: My waffle iron is one I’ve had for over 22 years, but I’d start with this inexpensive Cuisinart option if I didn’t already own one….
Cheese Bread
Ooey Gooey Cheese Bread This is not for the dairy-free and gluten-free among us. Or basically anyone health-conscious. Just move along if that’s you! I have some great salad recipes on my blog. But hey, if you’re ready to throw caution to the wind and make something so delicious and so addictive that you’ll be…
Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas
Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas Earlier this week, I was a guest on HoustonLife for a Mother’s Day brunch segment. Derrick Shore and I made the Greek Yogurt Coffee Cake from my cookbook and talked about homemade vanilla extract, mimosa bars (sparkling wine with a variety of juice add-ins), and generally treating mom to a morning…
Weekly Meal Plan // May 7 – 12
Weekly Meal Plan // May 7 – 12 SUNDAY We had a full day and tomorrow I’ll be on HoustonLife, so tonight was spent getting organized for my cooking segment. I picked up two quarts of vegetable beef soup from Tres Market Foods and made the gluten-free cornbread recipe on the back of Bob’s Red…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 30 – May 5
This might feel like a bait and switch, but this week isn’t much of a meal plan. Those of you who’ve been reading these meal plans for a while know they’re truly what I plan to make my family during the week. I’m attending The Brimm‘s entrepreneurship conference in Austin this week, so I’m officially…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 23 – 28
Let’s get right to it because I’m off to Taylor Swift! Have a great week. SUNDAY Since I’m headed to the Taylor Swift concert, the boys in my family are on their own! I have some cabbage and leeks to use up, so if I’m motivated early in the day I’ll make this soup. MONDAY…
Easy and Healthy Dinners
Easy and Healthy Dinners I may be biased, but I think Dinner is Done makes the perfect gift. So, if you need a signed cookbook or a HB + SITK apron before Mother’s Day or for teacher gifts, we endorse the idea. I also have an in-person book event this Friday in Houston, details are…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 26-31
We’re heading back from Virgin Gorda today after a few blissful days. But now my head is swirling with everything I need to take care of this week. It’s back to a full week of book events, my March online class for my cooking school members and the City Market in Houston. Here’s what’s on…
St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage
This post is sponsored by Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. All opinions are my own. Every year as St. Patrick’s Day approaches my husband checks in to make sure Corned Beef and cabbage is on the menu. Yes, 22 years later it’s still on the menu! During the first…
Weekly Meal Plan // Week 11 // March 12 – 17
A Few Things I’m Cooking this Week! This week’s meal plan is a little different. We’re skiing for our spring break with a group of six teenagers and I want to keep our schedule flexible. Who knows when we’ll crave an aprés ski burger at our favorite local dive? I’ve listed a few dinners I…
We Won An Award!
Should I add “award-winning” to my Instagram profile and bio? I haven’t done it yet, but I’m pretty close! I couldn’t be more proud to share the news that my first cookbook, Dinner is Done, won the 2023 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD for best cookbook and best interior design for a non-fiction book. It couldn’t have…
Weekly Meal Plan // Week 10 // March 5 – 10
Tonight I’m in Washington, DC, with my oldest daughter after a quick weekend in NYC. See my Instagram post for highlights. The oldest kiddo returns to Paris on Friday and we begin spring break with our younger two and some of their friends. Next week, I’ll share my plan for easy dinners to feed six…
Weekly Meal Plan // Week 9 // February 26-March 3
SUNDAY Last week, I was developing a new recipe for homemade corned beef. After my second attempt, I think I have it down! So stay tuned for a new St. Patrick’s Day recipe coming soon. I had an extra brisket in my fridge, so my family will be excited about tonight’s dinner. I’m making a…
Weekly Meal Plan//Week 7//February 12-17
Super Bowl Sunday This email goes out automatically on Sunday evening, so by the time you’re reading this the Super Bowl may be long over. But if you haven’t planned your dinners for the week ahead, it’s never too late! SUNDAY I don’t want a huge mess since I’m leaving the house Monday morning at…
Weekly Meal Plan//Week 6//February 5-10 2023
February is Here! I’m getting organized for a meal planning zoom with my Smart Meal Plan Formula students. We will talk about how to store produce so it lasts longer and how to make a grocery list that gets you through the store in 30 minutes flat. I’m also sharing this article that I just…
Blackberry Cornmeal Upside Down Cake
Blackberry Cornmeal Upside Down Cake This cornmeal cake is a little like a skillet cornbread with an extra special touch. Sometimes I want to bake something that’s not too sweet but satisfies a sweet tooth. Blackberry cornmeal upside-down cake is my go-to. I’ve made this cake with fresh figs too and it’s delicious with a…
Weekly Meal Plan//Week 5//January 29-February 3, 2023
Use What You Have We have a full refrigerator, which is usually not the case on a Sunday afternoon. I had several online and in-person cooking classes last week, so we’re still busting at the seams with leftovers. My husband has challenged me to make dinner for the week ahead without buying anything at the…
Weekly Meal Plan//Week 4//January 22-27
Full Steam Ahead I feel like this is really the first “back in action” week of January. Our high school has an amazing interim term that wrapped up last Friday and the regular semester begins tomorrow. I have four cooking classes to teach, which is a lot for one week. But I’m excited to kick…
Weekly Meal Plan//Week 3//January 15-20
Short Week: Love Them or Hate Them? I love a three-day weekend, don’t get me wrong. But short weeks can be deceptively long. Let’s make a meal plan to take one thing off our plates for the week ahead. Before we talk about recipes, I want to make sure you check out my meal planning…
Weekly Meal Plan Week 2, 2023
More Veggies, Please Although I did make a quick visit to the farmer’s market Saturday, I still haven’t stocked up at the grocery store for the week. But in preparation for meal planning, I raided my freezer and pantry to get the week rolling. We’re back to a routine and meal planning, but it’s baby…
Weekly Meal Plan Week 1, 2023!
Hi everyone! It was a quiet and restful break and I feel like I’m emerging from a long winter’s nap. After a lot of time with family, restful days, and a slower pace, I’m ready for 2023. It was necessary after a hectic year. Instead of resolutions, I wrote a list of intentions for the…
Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin
This post is sponsored by Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. All opinions are our own. Holiday Menus are Memories I tend to guard our holiday menus, they’re one of my favorite routines during this busy time of year. As the saying goes, “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”…
Weekly Meal Plan//December 11 to 16
Easy Dinners for Busy Days Today was a good day. It was a full day of catching up with an old friend, baking, cooking and making a major mess in my kitchen. Doing things with and for others is one of the things that can bring so much joy this time of year. I hope…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 27-December 2
One day late, but I did it! We had a long 14-and-a-half-hour flight home from Munich, so this didn’t get posted on Sunday night. Pantry pasta is the dinner I make when we return home from a trip, and it’s one of the recipes in my new cookbook. But last night was so exhausting that…
Paris Travel Guide
Updated May 28, 2023 I’m packed and ready for Paris! I can’t wait to see my oldest, who is a freshman at the American University in Paris. We will shop for Christmas gifts, stroll outdoor markets and eat *all the things*. This trip is extra sweet because it’s coming at the end of a few…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 13-18
Here we go! The last week before Thanksgiving and then a few days of rest. If you’re entertaining friends over Thanksgiving break, be sure to download my Appetizer & Cocktail ebook. Stay tuned for an amazing black Friday sale on my Smart in the Kitchen School cooking school membership, and mark your calendars for our…
Weekly Meal Plan November 6-11
Book Tour Week Dinners! It’s Sunday night and I’m knocking this out fast. I’m so grateful to everyone who came to say hello at our book events this weekend, thank you! I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for you all. Next week the book events continue, so while I was tempted to skip the meal planning and…
Weekly Meal Plan // Oct 30-Nov 4
MY COOKBOOK IS HERE! I still haven’t seen my book baby in hardcover, but you might hear my scream/tears/excitement when it arrives at my door this week. I’m trying to stay rested and healthy (check back on how that’s going, so far I’m up every night at 3 AM stressing about book events). As my…
COOKBOOK EVENTS!
The Smart in the Kitchen cookbook is here! Dinner is Done: Simple Weeknight Meals from Smart in the Kitchen. Pre-order today! Here’s a preview and sneak peek of the cover! I can’t wait for you to see this beautiful book. From its simple and beautiful design to the pared-down and straightforward recipes, this book will…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 23-28
Round Top Week I’m racing to get my family organized for the week and then heading to Kitchenette Farm for a couple days. Marburger Farm opens Tuesday and can’t wait to visit some of my favorite vendors and look for treasures. Here’s what’s happening for dinner this week! SUNDAY Round Top Antiques Week is in…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 16-21
Busy Week Ahead! I’m heading into a few weeks of high stress, an over-packed calendar of cookbook events plus all the regular family stuff. Buckle your seatbelt. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m so grateful and thankful for every one of these events and opportunities and don’t want to seem otherwise. But I’m also on…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 9-14
Long Weekend Vibes We’re smack in the middle of a long weekend and I’m about to feed hungry teenagers, so I’m making this quick. Have a great week, everyone! P.S. Thanks to a friend’s recommendation of the French spy drama The Bureau, I will be less productive for the next week or so. Or maybe…
Weekly Meal Plan//September 25-30
Dinners for a Busy Week I am racing against the clock to get this posted for you guys! I have SO MUCH to say about a few different topics, but I’ve decided to share them in video format on Instagram stories tomorrow. I’m grateful to you, wherever you are, for subscribing to my blog, opening…
Weekly Meal Plan // September 19-23 2022
There’s so much to cover this week. If you missed last week’s meal plan, you can find it here. I’m off to Denver to film videos with a brand partner Monday and Tuesday, so think good thoughts for me. I’m pretty pumped about this opportunity! Plus, Wednesday we kick off a 6-week Basics II series,…
Dinner is Done!
BOOK EVENTS! The Smart in the Kitchen cookbook is here! Dinner is Done: Simple Weeknight Meals from Smart in the Kitchen. Pre-order today! And here’s your inside peak at the cover reveal! I can’t wait for you to see this beautiful book. From its simple and beautiful design to the pared-down and straightforward recipes, this…
Grilled Chile-Rubbed Flank Steak
Grilled Chile-Rubbed Flank Steak This post is sponsored by Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. All opinions are my own. Back to school and back to the routine! The night before school starts, my family sits down for a celebratory meal to kick off the year. This year for our…
Weekly Meal Plan // August 14-19 // Back to School
Back to School! Summer, in all its lazy glory, has come to an end. School starts Wednesday and we’re back in the routine of early mornings, sports practices and homework. Family dinners are part of the drill, and I’m happy to share what’s on my list. If you want to watch a short segment on…
Weekly Meal Plan / August 2022 / Instant Pot Recipes and Simple Meals
Still Too Hot to Cook Hi friends! News flash: Houston is HOT. That means I’m keeping the meal plan simple again. This is our last full week of summer before my two youngest start high school on August 17. We’re reaching full throttle organization mode, which gives me a sense of calm and structure before…
Weekly Meal Plan // Too Hot To Cook
What to Cook When It’s Too Hot to Cook How’s summer? I’m back in Houston after a fun-filled summer. My youngest starts pre-season sports tomorrow and I’m currently a broken record stuck on “have you done your summer reading” and “unpack your suitcase.” We’re slowly transitioning to a routine, one baby step at a time….
Recipes From The Bear
Recipes From The Bear Summer: Travel, beach reads and binging The Bear. I finished the show last night and all I can think about is braciole and “family meal” spaghetti. Warning: watching The Bear is not a relaxing escape. The show creates an angsty sense of dread and stress. I binged The Bear over a…
Low Effort Dinners
Easy Dinner Ideas Even I get cooking burnout. My energy reserves are lower than ever right now and sometimes I just need low-effort dinners. I’m honestly trying to just make it through the next two weeks and stay calm while my kids finish finals and we celebrate our senior’s graduation. And while I’d like to…
Cinco de Mayo Favorites
Cinco de Mayo Favorites It’s no secret that I’m pretty much addicted to Mexican food. Growing up in Southern California, we feasted on a balanced diet of Baja-style tacos, chips and salsa. Enter a move to Texas, and I I fell in love with Tex-Mex and all it’s processed cheese-slathered glory. Not to mention Houston’s…
Big Batch Jalapeño Margaritas
JUMP TO RECIPE Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas to Quench a Crowd I love spring and summer entertaining, but I don’t want to spend my time behind the bar making cocktails to order. Enter big batch cocktails that can be stirred up and stashed in the fridge. There’s even a book on the subject. Infused jalaño margaritas…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 27-April 1
Round Top Antiques Week! I need a serious dose of courage for the week ahead. I almost didn’t do a meal plan, because I’ll be away from home a lot this week, but I decided that I love you all too much. Plus, it will help my family and I stay organized if we know…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 20-25
Post Vacation Blues What’s your post-vacation dinner of choice? Usually, our go-to is an order of fajitas or a big batch of spaghetti. We really don’t deviate between those two. Saturday night, it was fajitas delivered to the door after a day that included a water taxi, regular taxi, the most chaotic airport situation I’ve…
Green Garden Smoothie
How to Make a Super Healthy Smoothie (With Garden Ingredients) This week, I was able to catch up with an old friend and mentor and make a delicious green garden smoothie at the same time. Nicole Burke, owner of Rooted Garden and Gardenary, joined me on Instagram Live to make her favorite smoothie. The best…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 7-11
The Week Ahead I’m jumping right in today, lots to mention! My husband is in charge of Sunday night dinner, and he’s making fajitas on the grill. I have a feeling he’ll head to one of his favorite spots, La Michoacana Meat Market, and stock up on pre-marinated chicken and carne asada. I’m a fan…
Weekly Meal Plan // February 28-March 4
March Madness! (Not the basketball kind…) My meal plans might be quick and sparse for the next two months. I’m about to embark on two months of the busiest schedule I’ve ever had. Besides my regular cooking classes/blog/social media workload, two days a week will be spent in a studio cooking for a super exciting…
Weekly Meal Plan // February 21-25
It was a cool, wintery long weekend in Texas. We relaxed out at Kitchenette Farm and caught up with my sister-in-law, who was visiting from southern California, and my niece. We showed them some of our favorite local sites, like Ellis Motel, Townsend, Stash and Shop Courtney Barton, and cooked an easy dinner at home….
Weekly Meal Plan // Feb 13-18
Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day Dinners I’m jumping right in tonight because it’s the Super Bowl and we’ve got things to eat and football to watch. Hope you all had a great weekend! SUNDAY Super Bowl! I mentioned our menu in an Instagram post last week, but we finally narrowed it down. BBQ pork ribs,…
Weekly Meal Plan // January 30-February 4
Happy Sunday, everyone! I need to make this fast, even though I want to tell you ALL THE THINGS about a busy weekend. So many senior activities! Newsflash: grad parties start in January in Texas as well as “senior style shows” that make my senior cringe but that are very sweet. Check Instagram stories for…
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Almost Flourless Chocolate Cake Happy national chocolate cake day! Sounds like my kind of holiday. I’ve been making this “almost flourless” chocolate cake recipe for over a decade and I can’t believe this is the first time I’m sharing it with you. I first learned to make a version of this cake in a Patricia…
Weekly Meal Plan // January 23-28
Easy Family Dinners Are What We Need! Does this feel like the longest month there ever was? It sure does. I’m going to get us through our last week of January with an easy (and healthy) meal plan! I had my first “Friday at the Farm” class last week and it pretty much made my…
Weekly Meal Plan // January 16-21
An Easy Weeknight Meal Plan Hi friends! Who else is excited it’s a long weekend? It’s always a shock to the system getting back in gear after a long break, and the last two weeks have felt especially hectic. I seem to have gotten really excited about cooking classes resuming and booked a ton of…
Weekly Meal Plan // January 9-14
Delicious Weeknight Dinners Happy Sunday! Here’s a link to my winter cooking class schedule. I hope you can join me for an online or in-person class. Let’s get to this week’s meal plan! SUNDAY Grilled chicken served with shortcut caesar salad. My oldest also made a batch of focaccia dough yesterday that we’re cooking off….
Instagram Recipe Roundup
Recipe Roundup The endless scroll and mysterious algorithm of Instagram means that the recipes I post may not get seen on the regular. I decided to link them here for easy reference. I apologize that they aren’t super printable, but since I don’t have time to post them on my blog between now and New…
Winter 2022 Cooking Class Schedule
Here’s What We’re Cooking Up! If you’re still looking for the perfect last-minute gift, it’s not too late to purchase a yearly Smart in the Kitchen School membership for a friend or family member. As a bonus, we’ll throw in our Smart Knife Skills online course for free (a $97 value). We can also coordinate the shipment of a HB…
Weekly Meal Plan // December 20-26
Countdown to Christmas Here we goooooo! Make your lists and check them twice. Advent season is in full swing and it’s starting to feel a little magical. That’s mostly because we just drove for three hours in the snow with Christmas music blaring (well, only for the last five miles, but it sure felt festive)….
Weekly Meal Plan // December 12-18
Busy Days Call for Easy Dinners There’s no time to wax poetic about family dinner. Let’s get right to it, shall we? Hope you all have a great week ahead. SUNDAY Chicken and wild rice soup and a big green salad. I’m making this in the Instant Pot, but you could just as easily make…
Weekly Meal Plan // Dec 5-10
Dinners for the Week Ahead SUNDAY Christmas cookies all day over here. And the dishes to prove it! Peppermint bark, peanut butter blossoms, and the best of intentions to make Joy the Baker’s peanut butter balls. I’m heating up leftover bolognese for dinner and tossing a Caesar salad. I make this dressing in a glass…
Weekly Meal Plan // Nov 28-Dec 3
December, Here We Come! One more reminder of some serious Smart in the Kitchen deals! I don’t want you to miss you on the chance to join my cooking school for the best deal ever! Plus, it includes my knife skills course as a bonus! Here’s the details: HB + SITK aprons are 50% off!…
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Thankful for Leftovers We had Thanksgiving at my parent’s house in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, so no leftovers for us! I’m tempted to roast a turkey breast just for the sandwich situation. Here are some ideas for what you can do with the leftover bird. Also, tomorrow I have an amazing Black Friday sale! Since…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 14-19
The Last Stretch Until Thanksgiving Today I’m heading out to Houston Oaks Holiday Market for their inaugural show. I’ll be there with Hunter Bell + Smart in the Kitchen aprons on Sunday and Monday! Come say hi if you’re attending, it’s open to members and non-members alike and will be a FUN way to kick…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 7-12
Here We Go! Dinners for a Busy Week I had so many things I wanted to say tonight, but I’m not quite sure where to begin. Instead, I’ll just say that there’s a gaggle of boisterous senior girls laughing in my kitchen and that makes the world feel ok and a lot less scary. And…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 24-29
Dinner in a Flash I’m making this super quick! It was a busy weekend and I’m packing up for a trip to Round Top tomorrow. Come visit me at Bader Ranch on Monday from 10 am-5 pm! I’ll have the Hunter Bell + Smart in the Kitchen aprons with me. Please introduce yourself and say…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 17-22
SUNDAY The plan was to make “clean out the fridge soup” otherwise known as kale and white bean minestrone. But then I started doing laundry, and listening to Atomic Habits, and cleaning out my closet. I honestly don’t have the energy to cut and chop one thing. Been there? I’m making a simple pasta casserole…
Weekly Meal Plan // October 10-15
The Dinner Plan Here’s our real life weekly meal plan. Take a minute on Sunday to make a plan for the week, you won’t regret it! SUNDAY We have a fall break this weekend, and I’m happily in Austin eating all the tacos. If you’re having a lazy weekend at home, make these protein pancakes…
Blackened Salmon Tacos
Blackened Salmon Tacos with Chipotle Crema Blackened salmon tacos are one of those recipes my whole family loves. Even the ones who don’t love salmon! This recipe is arguably just as good without all the taco extras. Just make the blackened salmon and a big green salad if you’re not in the mood for tacos….
Weekly Meal Plan // October 3-8
Comforting Soups and Sandwiches No time for a long diatribe about the week ahead, it was homecoming weekend and our house looks like a train wreck! Laundry needs to be wrangled into the laundry room, flowers put in vases, and dresses hung up. Everyone is tired, yet they still have reading and homework, college apps…
Weekly Meal Plan // September 26-October 1
What’s Hitting the Table This Week October 1? What? Some days, I honestly don’t know what year it is. Are you worried about my mental health, or do you have the same sense of time lapse? Where did the past two years go, the past two months, the past two days? So many questions, I…
How to Use Up Extra Vegetables
Veggie Forward This week, I’m doing something different for my meal plan. I’m shopping from my pantry, fridge, and freezer. We are stocked with supplies and fresh veggies and there’s no reason to spend money at the grocery store. I’ve subscribed to the Hope Farms weekly vegetable delivery (use code SITK for a discount!), so…
Weekly Meal Plan // September 12-17
Whole 30 Dinners No One Will Complain About! I need to make this quick! Hope you all have a great week ahead. All the recipe links and details are below. SUNDAY The plan is a quick sauté of long beans and ground turkey. It’s a recipe I taught in detail as part of my Smart…
Weekly Meal Plan // September 6-10
My Week of Dinners My attempt at starting Whole30 on September 1 was an epic fail, so we’re starting again. Some of you may have seen my confessional photo of bread, cheese, and an Aperol spritz on IG stories. Plan ahead for successful travel on Whole30. If you research Whole30 friendly restaurants, pack airplane snacks,…
Weekly Meal Plan August 29-September 3
Weeknight Dinners for the Win It’s a busy week around here! Cooking classes, college trips, middle school back-to-school night. Here’s what you need to know: Houston friends: Sign up for my Bering’s easy grilling class on September 15. We’re covering the basics of easier dinners cooked al fresco. Click here to sign up and view…
Weekly Meal Plan // August 22-27
My Plan for the Week Ahead It’s been a quiet weekend around here. Sunday night I’ll clean out my fridge to prep for the week ahead and take care of at least one thing ahead of time. This “one thing” philosophy is my version of meal prep. I don’t like making whole dinners in advance,…
Back to School!
Here We Go! After a quiet weekend in the country, we’re back in Houston. Uniforms are ready, textbooks are here, and computers are charged. We’re ready for this year! I’m focusing on all the positive experiences ahead of us. Even if we’re not one hundred percent “back to normal” we’re so close! I spent some…
Back to Routines
Easy Dinner Routines We’re back in Houston after spending a chunk of summer in Sun Valley, Idaho. It’s time for kids’ haircuts, orthodontist appointments, new shoes, and school shopping. My head is also swimming with “to do” lists. In the car on our way home from the airport tonight, I did a quick Instacart order…
Weekly Meal Plan // August 1-6
As I’m writing this, it’s the last day of July and I’ve decided to dig my heels in. When my kids were little, I’d look forward to the start of the school year so we could get back into a routine. And let’s be honest, so I could have a few hours to myself during…
Summer Farro Risotto
Summer Farro Risotto Summer farro risotto is exactly what you need to make while zucchini, eggplant, and sweet cherry tomatoes are still at their prime. A meatless main that will leave you satisfied and full, it’s also simple to pull together. Full of the best of summer’s bounty, veggie-based farro risotto is the perfect way…
Everyday Dinners
This week I’m planning my meals thanks to Memorial Hermann Health System. Everyday Well Eats, a database on their website, is the best-kept secret for meal planning and healthy dinners. Dietitian-approved recipes are searchable by special diets, including heart-healthy, diabetes-approved, low carb, or gluten-free. You can also search for quick 30-minute recipes or family-friendly ideas….
Almond, Chia and Cherry Muffins
Almond, Chia and Cherry Muffins Streusel topped cherry muffins are the summer treat you need in rotation. This was a recipe I posted on Instagram last summer and now that it’s cherry season, it’s time to fire it up again. Cherries are here and we’ve already eaten about three pounds worth at our house. Make…
Weekly Meal Plan // June 6-11
What a week! On Tuesday, we returned from a relaxing few days in Cabo to celebrate our 20th anniversary. The return to normal life was a real shock to the system! Seeing and hearing the ocean, eating fresh fish ceviche, fish tacos, handmade tortillas, and drinking delicious margaritas (poolside) was a serious treat. Back to…
Summer Travel Workout
Summer Travel Workout One of the things I love most about vacation is lazy morning walks, best if taken on a beach. Hotel gyms are another vacation treat that always feels like such a luxury. “Would you like cold water?” Why yes, yes I would! This post is a bit different from my typical recipe…
Weekly Meal Plan // May 23-28
The Last Stretch There’s a lot going on over here, and my head is a tornado of work and life and kids. Those of you who follow along on Instagram know I’m beyond excited to get out of town soon. We’re celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary Thursday and taking a quick trip to Mexico. I’ve…
Weekly Meal Plan // May 16-21
The Final Stretch We have one more week of middle school, and two more weeks of high school. We need an easy weekly meal plan that won’t get complaints from the peanut gallery. I’ve polled my family to get their requests, which is something I typically do on the weekend. We’re ready to tackle this…
Instant Pot Tomato Bread Soup
Instant Pot Tomato Bread Soup Tomato Bread Soup for the Soul Yes, I know it’s not exactly soup season, but I won’t tell if you don’t. Tomato soup is one of my ultimate comfort foods. When I was little, that meant Campbell’s and a grilled cheese on the side (or saltine’s, a close favorite for…
Weekly Meal Plan // May 9-14
Comfort Food My kids are in study mode for APs, ACTs and finals, so I want comforting dinners that will fuel them up. I’m planning a week of family favorites that will be easy to pull off and well received. We’re basically carb loading just in time for swimsuit season. Ha! SUNDAY Mother’s Day. OUT…
Weekly Meal Plan // May 2-7
May Madness! It’s that time of year: AP exams, ACT studying, paper writing, project finishing, finals! We need a weekly meal plan more than ever. It’s a crazy stressful time of year, and I’m soaking up my children’s worries like a sponge. To tell the truth, I’m running on empty myself and feeling so much…
Protein Pancakes
Brunch, But Make it Nutritious Fluffy protein pancakes, dripping with maple syrup. What could be a better welcome to the weekend? Gluten-free and dairy-free (if you don’t use butter to cook them off), these protein pancakes are full of whole foods ingredients you can feel good about. Made with whole grain oats that are finely…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 25-30
Grilling Season is Open! Busy weekend over here! Golf tournament for my husband, my parents are visiting and a 13th birthday party. I’d love a week of easy dinners because I know my energy will be zapped. It helps that we’ll head out to dinner for birthday sushi one night. Those of you who took…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 18-23
Weekly Meal Plan A greatest hits playlist of dinners is headed your way this week. Recipes that are old school crowd pleasers in our family. I’m making this quick because I just finished a cooking class for Smart in the Kitchen School. Plus, my husband and I had a super fun date night at the…
Strawberry Basil Smash
Strawberry Basil Smash Make me a strawberry basil smash, just in time for warmer and longer days. A smash is my kind of cocktail. Fresh, seasonal fruit. Tender herbs and a splash of spirits––in this case, bourbon or whiskey. Top it off with something bubbly, like ginger beer or club soda. A squeeze of fresh…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 11-16
Let’s Cook! With a Weekly Meal Plan. Last week I operated without a weekly meal plan, and I don’t recommend it. We were working with a refrigerator full of cooking class and Easter weekend leftovers, so I wanted to use up what we had. But I didn’t have a plan in place for how to…
Kale Caesar
Kale Caesar Finally! The official recipe for my easy Kale Caesar is ready to share with you all. You’re so patient! I make it about once a week, and we add it to cooking class menus all the time. I’ve given rough directions for how to make this kale Caesar in so many meal plans,…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 28-April 2
Let’s Cook! So much to cover, so let’s get to it! Easter is almost here. If you need ideas for your menu, head here and here. Last call to sign up for Smart Sheet Pan Suppers! Class starts Monday. Once you enroll, you’ll get access to over 30 easy dinner recipes, sauces and salad dressings….
Whole30 Sheet Pan Ratatouille Chicken
Sheet Pan Ratatouille Chicken (Whole30) Tired of doing dishes? I’m with you! Worn out from cooking dinner night after night? Even me! Well, I’ve got you covered. Sheet pan dinners are the lifeblood of busy home cooks everywhere. Sheet pan ratatouille chicken is one of my favorites — you get a delicious Mediterranean vegetable medley…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 21-26
Spring Break Blues We skied our hearts out (or at least got in some cruiser half days) and enjoyed soaking up the mountain air and blue skies. Now it’s time to focus on the last couple months of school and plan summer activities. This will be a busy week paying for the relaxation of last…
Top Five Spring Break Dinner Ideas
Spring Break Dinner Ideas Who’s ready for a break? Meeeeee! I’m beyond excited to get to my happy place next week and breath the fresh mountain air. I won’t send a meal plan this Saturday, so I want to share my spring break dinner ideas. Since we’ll be skiing, these are pretty hearty, but many…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 7-12
SUNDAY We have a cooking class tonight with some of my favorite recipes. Grilled lamb rib chops, a colorful radicchio, radish and butter lettuce salad and a roasted red pepper dip called muhammara that’s somewhat similar to romesco. We’re capping it all off with an upside down blackberry cake. My recipe is gluten-free and uses…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 2021 // Week 1
A Week of Delicious Dinners Here we go! The doors to my online cooking school are open for one week only. Find all the info here, I hope you’ll join me and hundreds of other students! It’s a serious deal at only $27/month, and I’ll teach you everything I’ve learned from teaching 20 years of…
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup Soup for the Soul Ready for the best chicken noodle soup you’ve ever had? Seriously. This recipe includes a quick and easy “double” chicken stock, which happens when you cook raw chicken in chicken broth. We also add some secret flavor agents and finish it with rich egg noodles. What could be…
Weekly Meal Plan // February 2021 // Comfort Food
A Comforting Meal Plan The great thaw of 2021 has begun. I shared my thoughts here and here if you want an update. My son and husband are back home after being stuck in Utah and Florida when the Houston airport shut down, so all is right in my world. We are exhausted, wish we…
Weekly Meal Plan // February 2021 // Week 2
Super Bowl Snacks and Easy Weeknight Meals SUNDAY Our Super Bowl menu hasn’t evolved much over time. A pot of weeknight chili, buffalo wings, seven layer dip (I don’t add the cream cheese in the linked recipe) and some lower carb dippers like bell pepper slices, celery sticks and cucumbers cut on the diagonal. MONDAY…
Weekly Meal Plan // February 2001 // Week 1
SUNDAY Cast iron seared ribeyes with rosemary and garlic. I’m following a recipe my son created. Serve with a raw shaved fennel salad, marinated in extra-virgin olive oil, Meyer lemon juice and a big pinch of Maldon sea salt. Serve over arugula with shaved Parmesan. Roasted cauliflower would also be a yummy side, toss it…
Instant Pot Lamb Stew
Instant Pot Lamb Stew (Whole30!) Oh fine, you can use beef in this instead if you really want to. But give lamb a chance! I absolutely love lamb in stews and ragus. Not to mention my favorite weeknight Indian dish, lamb keema. But Instant Pot lamb stew cooks quickly and the meat falls apart, plus…
Whole30 Meal Plan // January 2021 // Week 4
Whole30 Meal Plan: Week 4 We’re on our last week of Whole30 meal plans. Feelin’ good and the livin’s easy, right? It’s not hard to pull off Whole30 when it’s full of simple, delicious, approachable dinners. As a thank you for following along, I’ve put together a Whole30 eBook with my favorite dinners. It will…
Whole30 Meal Plan January 2021 // Week 3
I can’t believe we’re heading into week three of Whole30 meal plans. Halfway there! Are you with me? Or are you doing “Whole30-ish”? Either way, I hope you’re enjoying the meal plans and recipes. My goal is to give you dinner ideas that are attainable on a weeknight, delicious and healthy. Tomorrow I have my…
Whole30 Meal Plan // January 2021 // Week 2
Whole30 Meal Plan: Week 2 Here’s week two of my Whole30 meal plan, full of family-friendly weeknight dinners. There’s a lot going on this week! My kitchen reboot webinars (have you signed up?), the launch of my meal planning course, and a handful of online classes. Here we go! SUNDAY I’m teaching two cooking classes…
Any Greens Pesto
Any Greens Pesto Yes, you can make fresh pesto in January! Maybe not the super traditional Genovese version, but you can make a bright and fresh “any greens” pesto that will be delicious with pasta, as a sauce for fish or chicken or tossed with roasted veggies. We just came back from a couple weeks…
Whole30 Meal Plan // January 2021 // Week 1
Whole30 Meal Plan: Week 1! Here we goooooo! It felt good to take a break from blogging and get some rest and quiet time. We celebrated the holidays in Sun Valley, Idaho, with extended family. It was bluebird days and cozy nights, with lots of carbs thrown in for good measure. It’s time to reboot…
Meal Plan // December 13-18
We’re winding down school with a schedule full of papers, tests and loose ends. I want a meal plan that will use up what we have in our refrigerator and freezer. By the end of the year, I look forward to a fresh start in January full of clean eating. But until then, we still…
Gift Guide 2020
The Gift Guide for Ourselves! Were we anything but selfish when we came up with this gift guide? Well, no. This is basically a letter to my husband (jk!). But I do think we all deserve a little merry merry this year. And to jumpstart your merriment, be sure to download this year’s Holiday eBook….
Easy Weeknight Meatballs
Easy Weeknight Meatballs (Gluten-free) Your New FavoriteWeeknight Meatballs When it gets cold and cozy, there’s nothing I crave more than a savory bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Sometimes it might feel like over-achiever status to pull this off on a weeknight, but I have a version that’s quick, simple and delicious. Plus it’s gluten-free, Whole30…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 29-December 4
What a great Thanksgiving week! A few quiet days without homework, stress, and routine is the perfect entry to the holiday season. My family is bringing down decorations from the attic as I hide in the dining room to write this. We have tons of extra produce to use up this week, which I’ll work…
Membership Pop-Up!
Smart in the Kitchen School Membership Guess what? The doors to Smart in the Kitchen School are open for one week only! What is Smart in the Kitchen School, you say? It’s an online cooking school for home chefs. During the early days of the pandemic, I started working on this online cooking school as…
Thanksgiving Week Meal Plan
It’s a busy week of cooking so let’s not wear ourselves out, right? Thanksgiving week meals should be uncomplicated. And since our refrigerators are full of turkey and provisions, let’s use this week as an opportunity to clean out the fridge and pantry! I shared my Thanksgiving recipes yesterday. Be sure to have a game…
Thanksgiving Day Recipes
Some of My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes Guys. You’d think since it’s just my family of five, I’d be able to do a low key Thanksgiving. I tried. Really I tried! But the requests just keep coming. The newest one today was for homemade mac-n-cheese. Y’all, we NEVER have mac-n-cheese for Thanksgiving, but we’re adding it…
Cranberry Margaritas
Cranberry Margaritas What to do with leftover cranberry sauce? Cranberry margaritas! Fresh, bright and colorful, they’re the perfect holiday cocktail. I make them non-stop from Thanksgiving through New Year’s and never tire of their tart-sweet taste. These are equally good with leftover homemade cranberry sauce or canned sauce in a pinch. Although homemade cranberry sauce…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 15-20
Here we go! It’s the week before Thanksgiving and planning mode is in full swing. If you haven’t ordered your turkey from your local butcher, the time is now. Or if you have the freezer space, buy it now and bring it home. I get an organic heritage turkey, but an organic free range turkey…
Simple Mashed Potatoes
Simple Mashed Potatoes For a couple years, the only part of Thanksgiving dinner my youngest would eat was the mashed potatoes. Seriously, I couldn’t blame her. They are crucial to Thanksgiving––what better way to soak up all the gravy––but they’re also delicious on a regular old Tuesday night. Mashed potatoes don’t need to be complicated,…
Weekly Meal Plan // Nov 8-13
Quick meal plan this week! I’m enjoying a quiet 24 hours out of town with my husband. Starting tomorrow, I have cooking classes every day for a week. We have a few more openings for private holiday classes if you’d like to book a class! I’m gearing up to celebrate my daughter’s 17th birthday next…
Meal Prep vs. Meal Plan
The “One Thing” Strategy Those of you who’ve been here for the long haul know I’m a big fan of meal planning. As a working mom of three who values family dinner with my crew, there’s no way I could pull it off without a plan. And that doesn’t mean that every night is an…
Election Week Meal Plan
Election Week Dinners This meal plan isn’t really about the election, it’s about planning a regular week of dinners at home. But I couldn’t help to think that on Tuesday night I want a comforting and easy night. I don’t talk politics on my blog or social media channels, and I’m so thankful my sweet…
Quick Lamb Ragu
Quick Lamb Ragu Some of you may remember when I made this super quick lamb ragu on Instagram stories a while back. Time flies when you’re having fun. It’s fast, simple and completely delicious. And before you keep scrolling since this is lamb, please oh please give it a try! Sure you can substitute ground…
Meal Plan // October 25-30
Cozy Fall Dinners Happy weekend! I’m in Round Top, Texas, where there’s a cool front and the wind is blowing. This is the first day it feels like fall in Texas. We’re at our farm where I hope to host cooking retreats and classes soon. Although, this time to pause has given me space to…
Parchment Paper Fish Packets
Parchment Paper Fish Packets It may sound fancy, but parchment paper baking is a super easy method to prepare fish. Everyone in the family can add their favorite toppings (or leave them off). Toss the packets on a sheet pan, throw them in a hot oven and a few minutes later, dinner is done. Cooking…
Weekly Meal Plan//October 18-23
Weekly Meal Plan, Plus a “How To” Workbook for YOU! Today it hit me that I’ve been sharing my weekly meal plans with you for five years. Before that, they lived on Instagram, and before that they lived in my spiral notebook. Before that, I didn’t meal plan and our family life was even more…
Weekly Meal Plan October 12-16
SUNDAY I’m enjoying some time out of town with my oldest daughter. If you’re cooking tonight, think about making a double batch of vegetarian three-bean chili and freeze half for another dinner down the road. If you prefer something meaty, it could be weeknight chili or white chicken chili. MONDAY Back home in Houston and…
ProLon Fast Review
ProLon Recap Last week I completed my second ProLon fast, and I wanted to give you my review and a few tips. My first ProLon was the first week of July this past summer when I deeply needed a reset. The recommendation from ProLon is to do three fasts within a three month range. Since…
Weekly Meal Plan
A Week’s Worth of Family Meals Guys, I’m making this quick because I just got back to Houston after a weekend at Kitchenette Farm. Need to get kids to focus on homework, unpack bags and focus on the week ahead. Two quick things: 1) I’ve been working on a free “how to meal plan” workbook…
Stupid Easy Dinners
Five Stupid Easy Dinners Last week I had a great conversation about meal planning with Dr. Colleen O’Grady on her podcast Power Your Parenting. I’ll share a link when it’s live! While chatting about meal planning strategy, I told her that I have an arsenal of “stupid easy dinners” to fall back on in a…
Weekly Meal Plan // September 20-25
Weeknight Dinners Here we go! Take a few minutes on Sunday to look at your week ahead and make a plan of easy weeknight dinners that work for you! Having this strategy in place makes shopping and cooking much more efficient. I hope you all have a good week ahead! SUNDAY I’m trying out a…
Sheet Pan Ratatouille
Sheet Pan Ratatouille Sheet pan dinners are my lifeline during busy times of the year, nights when I don’t want a ton of dishes or just a regular Thursday night. And while this is far from a traditional ratatouille, it’s highly satisfying and one of my favorite veggie-based dishes. Sheet pan ratatouille is so versatile,…
Easy Meal Plan
Dinners for the Week Ahead Hi everyone! I definitely need an easy meal plan this week. We’re trying to resume to a normal routine over here after an emotional past week. Homework, emails and work piled up after we paused life for a few days. After a drive to A&M to say goodbye to our…
Smart in the Kitchen School
A New Adventure! Before I give you the details about my new Smart in the Kitchen School membership, I have a secret to share with you guys. When Covid struck, I was about to embark on the dream of a lifetime. We were just about to start photography for a cookbook I had been dreaming…
Best Fall Cookbooks 2020
Best Fall Cookbooks 2020 Get ready to line your shelves with the best new cookbooks of 2020! There are beautiful new books coming your way, with inspiring recipes to keep you cooking and sated. Of course I snuck in a couple spring releases too because I couldn’t help it! Cookbooks are a work of art,…
August 30-September 4 Meal Plan
To Whole30 or Not to Whole30? Anyone else? I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a September Whole30, which has become a typical September routine around here. It’s a good reset before the holidays approach, and kills cravings from summer hedonism! But I’m not sure I have it in me. Right now, I’d like…
Weekly Meal Plan // August 23-28
Weekly Meal Plan I have a free meal planning webinar Sunday, August 30 at 4pm Central Time! Grab a notebook, a pen and your computer and I’ll teach you how to make a weekly meal plan that works for you. Simple shifts in your routine can help you save time, money and energy during the…
School Lunch Ideas
Back-to-School Lunch Ideas Hello mamas! Here we go again. In another lifetime, some of us joked that never EVER in a million years could we homeschool our children, and guess what? Jokes on us! Doing school from home is not easy, and when you’re trying to get your own work done as well, it can…
Back to School Meal Plan
A Back to School Meal Plan to the Rescue! It’s a busy week ahead. Thank goodness for a meal plan because it’s one thing I won’t have to think about this week. Speaking of meal planning, I have a free webinar next week and I can’t wait to share my meal plan tips and tricks….
Meal Plan // Aug 10-14
We’re in Sun Valley, Idaho, soaking up the mountain air. We are grateful to spend time with family and be outdoors where it’s easier to social distance. But we still need a meal plan! It’s not completely a vacation (my husband works from here and I’ve been busy finalizing my private membership launch and teaching…
Cooking Class Schedule
What’s Coming Up How’s life, friends? There’s a lot going on at Smart in the Kitchen, and I don’t want you to miss a thing! We have a ton of new faces and newsletter subscribers, so I thought I’d give you a quick rundown of the cooking class schedule! August Cooking Class Schedule Open sign…
Pasta Salad with Roasted Tomatoes
Pasta Salad and School Lunch Ideas You guys! This pasta salad––full of roasted tomatoes, a zingy oregano vinaigrette and cubed mozzarella––is just what the doctor ordered. I’m literally eating it as I type! Usually, I try not to be too effusive about my recipes, calling things the “best” or “favorite” is not my style. Food…
Weekly Meal Plan
Dinner for the Week Ahead Here we go again! Weekly meal plans to keep us all sane and in the groove. I love taking July off from meal planning and embracing a more relaxed way of cooking. But after a while, the multiple trips to the grocery store start to wear me out. I love…
Summer Reading
Read and Listen When Covid first erupted, I couldn’t get enough of Netflix, Amazon Video and Hulu. I took a mental health break in March and it felt really good. After a fast-paced work and life schedule that was starting to take its toll, it felt pretty amazing (at first) for the world to pause….
Soy-Honey Steak Kabobs
Soy-Honey Steak Kabobs A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Meal Grilling is the theme song of summer. Throw meat and veggies on the BBQ, and dinner is done. Marinate them with ginger, soy and honey and the tune gets even better. Kabobs are a make-your-own adventure meal, which works great for families. Set out all the veggies, onions and…
Sesame Noodles with Napa Cabbage
Sesame Noodles with Napa Cabbage Chock full of vegetables and packed with flavor, sesame noodles are your new favorite meatless dinner. Adjust the heat by increasing or decreasing the red pepper flakes. Make this gluten-free or soy-free by using gluten-free noodles and coconut aminos. Sesame noodles with Napa cabbage are a five star recipe in…
Quick Dinner Ideas
20+ Easy Summer Dinner Ideas Summer is the time to rely on simple and quick dinner ideas. The best thing about summer is the change in routine, the easy living, the more relaxed “summer casual” vibe. When you rely on the season’s bounty, the flavors shine through without the extra fuss. During summer, I especially…
Live Stream Cooking Classes
Hey, friends! Many of you might be here for the recipes and meal plans and not even realize that my main business is teaching cooking classes. I thought I’d take five minutes to give you some background and a quick update on my live stream cooking classes. I’ve taught cooking classes for 20 years, since…
Baked Feta and Tomato Confit
Baked Feta and Tomato Confit Here’s the inside scoop on my all-time favorite meal: it would include tomatoes. There’s a story my mom likes to tell about a family trip to Canada when I was a toddler (which I remember nothing of). As she was making dinner, I ate every single cherry tomato out of…
Weekly Meal Plan // June 21-26
Weeknight Summer Dinners Summer dinners! That means all the peaches, nectarines, berries, zucchini and heirloom tomatoes. On Instagram last week, I posted a photo of my nectarine and burrata crostini and the crowd went wild. I honestly haven’t had that much reaction from a photo in a while, so thank you. I feel seen. Maybe…
Father’s Day Menu
An Easy Father’s Day Menu + You’re Invited to a Live Stream Cooking Class What month is it? Funny how that feeling hasn’t gone away just yet. One thing I do know is that Father’s Day is this weekend and you may need some grilling inspiration! We’ve put together a delicious Father’s Day menu so…
Glazed Wild Salmon
Herbed Sweet and Spicy Glazed Wild Salmon Do you have one of those friends who’s just a force? Nothing slows them down, they operate on all cylinders, always on their game? That’s Pamela Salzman for me. She runs a successful food blog, teaches cooking classes, is dedicated to her social media following––not just through regular…
Weekly Meal Plan // June 14-19
Meal Plan: Summer Dinners So excited to be back up and running and get out my weekly meal plan! For the past couple weeks, our internet has been on and off so many times, I thought I might lose my mind. Just as I’d start to work on a blog post or meal plan, it…
Weekly Meal Plan//May 31-June 5
Happy Saturday! I have a serious question for you all. Do you plan your dinners? Do you take 10-15 minutes on the weekend to make a weekly meal plan? I promise it will make your week ahead run so much smoother. Let me know in the comments below if you’re a wishful meal planner, a…
Healthy Texas Caviar
The Best Healthy Texas Caviar Ok, ya’ll (still not used to slipping that in, hello wanna-be Texas girl). Texas caviar is something I had in college or soon after, when one of my real-life-Texas-girl college roommates whipped it up. I was immediately obsessed with the flavor and crunch and all the colors. Salty tortilla chips…
Weekly Meal Plan // May 17-22
How did we get here? The deluge of spring activity surely wasn’t the same this year, but the days flew by none the less. And suddenly Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and the school year is winding down. Our kids finish school this week, and we’re all ready to move on to summer. Here’s…
Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk
Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk Homemade vanilla almond milk is about the only kind of almond milk I like. It’s not gummy and thick like most of the store bought varieties. And when it’s sweetened with dates and scented with real vanilla, it’s rich and delicious. Start with raw, unsalted almonds and soak them overnight (or…
Ground Beef Tacos
The Easiest Ground Beef Tacos Taco ’bout a weekly staple! We LOVE Mexican food and flavors around here, and typically have various taco nights on the regular. Almost every Tuesday I add a Mexican-inspired meal to my weekly meal plan, and these ground beef tacos are a hit with everyone in my family. Leftovers can…
Weekly Meal Plan // May 10-16
SUNDAY Happy Mother’s Day! We had a late breakfast of quiche Lorraine, salad with super simple salad dressing (in today’s variation we used minced fresh garlic, grainy mustard and apple cider vinegar with EVOO) and rosemary and sweet onion breakfast potatoes. I highly suggest making these breakfast potatoes pronto! To make, dice 4 russet potatoes…
Easy Weekly Meal Plan // May 3-9
An Easy Weekly Meal Plan Let’s make this fast — it’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Houston, and we’re making the most of breezy spring weather. Since I’m trying to lighten up our meals and focus on vegetables instead of cookies, this is a healthy and mostly Whole30 meal plan. It felt good to get…
Gift Ideas for Mom
Gift Ideas for Mom We’ve been taking a little break from our Friday Love List, but it’s time for some gift ideas for mom! Moms right now are working harder than ever: Working from home, educating kids, entertaining families, walking the dog, cleaning the house, killing the germs and cooking non-stop. Women can seriously do…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 26-May 1
Time for a Reset Hi everyone! We’re making this weekly meal plan fast today because we’re deep in house projects. Couldn’t let quarantine go by without some attic organization and closet clean outs. It’s also my youngest’s birthday tomorrow, so we have work to do! After tomorrow, we’re starting a Whole30 reset, teenagers included, so…
What Is Natural Wine
What Is Natural Wine? Guest post by Kaitlyn Ross Chances are you’ve heard of natural wine. Whether you can describe it or not! The truth is, there’s no legal definition, which is just confusing. In her recent book Natural Wine for the People, Alice Feiring nailed it, “Natural wine is wine without crap in it.” But…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 19-25
Easy Dinners All Week Long Did you get my cooking class update? We’re hosting free live stream Smart in the Kitchen cooking classes through the month of April. I’m working on a full calendar of online cooking classes for May as well. I’ll have a set schedule of classes twice a week, as well as…
Weekly Meal Plan // April 12-18
Keep On Cookin’ I bet you feel like that’s all you do. More ideas for what to cook below, as well as one routine change that’s helping me stay sane right now. You guys have maybe heard me talk about “come and take it” night. Every Friday, I clean out the fridge and let everyone…
Easter Brunch Menu
Easter Bruch Menu Ideas It’s time. Easter brunch is upon us, and I’ve been fielding lots of texts and questions about my Easter menu. While I want to give you ALL the ideas, I also don’t want to suggest that anyone should be making all of these. I’ve given you TONS of ideas to work…
Three Bean Salad
Three Bean Salad This one takes me back. Anyone else? It’s an old school side dish my grandma used to make for lunches when I’d visit. I remember hers being deliciously sweet and almost syrupy. My variation of three bean salad uses healthy pantry ingredients and has multiple substitutions to make it work for you….
Weekly Meal Plan // April 4-11
We’re starting to understand the meaning of the phrase, “this is a marathon not a sprint.” Currently feeling like I’ve been running full bore and need to check my pace. Last Friday, we had a full deep clean at our house, with tons of laundry, vacuuming and disinfecting, I appreciate my housekeeper more than ever….
Weekly Meal Plan, Quarantine Edition
Dishes, Dishes and More Dishes Cooking at home has taken on a whole new meaning: Dishes! And lots of them!! I know many of you are cooking more than ever, but hang in there. Cooking together with your family is such a fun way to spend time together. For slightly older kids, let them pick…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 22-27
Let’s Cook! Hi everyone! Just here meal planning like always with a big old stack of my favorite cookbooks and a warm cup of coffee. A meal plan creates a sense of routine and also might help reduce stress around dinner time. When I got ready to meal plan today, I was surprised by how…
Basic Knife Skills
Basic Knife Skills I thought it might be helpful to share some oldie-but-goodie knife skills videos. These and other easy recipe videos are on my YouTube channel. Please subscribe and share with friends! Knife skills are a building block that just might make your time in the kitchen a little more efficient, a little less…
Pantry Meal Plan
Two Weeks of Pantry and Freezer Meals Now that you have a list of everything for a well-stocked freezer and pantry, you need some ideas for what to do with it! Work to start with fresh ingredients and produce stocked in your refrigerator. Make a big batch of vegetable soup and freeze it in serving…
How to Stock Your Pantry and Freezer
Perfect Your Pantry Game Stock your pantry with cooking essentials to make your weeknight dinners a breeze. Some of my favorite “faster than fast” dinners come from pantry ingredients: Penne with Rao’s, chicken thighs plucked from the freezer and cooked with a jar of salsa verde, roasted red pepper and tomato soup or my throwback…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 8-13
Happy weekend, everyone. We have a quiet Saturday around here and let me tell you, I’m so thankful. One more week until Spring Break, and we are taking it one day at a time. The world is an anxious place right now, but to stay calm I’ve tried to focus on what I’m grateful for…
White Chicken Chili
White Chicken Chili My family is full of chili aficionados. We don’t discriminate amongst turkey, beef, brisket, veggie or chicken chili. So while it’s still a little cool and crisp outside, get this white chicken chili on the stove. Full of green chilies, jalapeños and green bell pepper, it’s almost more “green chicken chili” than…
Weekly Meal Plan // March 1-6
SUNDAY I can’t believe it’s March! Two weeks until Spring Break and then buckle your seatbelt for the fast paced ride to summer. I’m teaching an afternoon cooking class today, so dinner at my house is something fast and simple. I think I’ll repeat the Spicy Ground Turkey and Green Bean Stir Fry we’re making…
Weekly Meal Plan // Feb 23-28
SUNDAY We have a full Sunday of confirmation class, National Charity League and tutoring. So much for a day of rest! Let’s make a one-pot wonder: Whiskey and lime skirt steak fajitas will be just the thing. To make it easy on yourself, stock up on store bought guacamole, pico de gallo, hot sauce and…
Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30)
Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30) Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo –– it’s what’s for dinner! Chop the holy trinity of onion, celery and bell pepper, throw everything in the Instant Pot and seal the lid. And while it’s not a traditional gumbo that starts with a browned roux, it’s gluten-free, Whole30 and…
Weekly Meal Plan // Feb 17-21
SUNDAY If you’re cooking at home over the long weekend, I suggest super easy tomato confit pasta. Roasting the tomatoes brings out their sweetness and creates a delicious sauce. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil and your favorite pasta, whether it’s gluten-free, whole wheat or whatever floats your boat! MONDAY Monday I’m taking the…
Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles
Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles My kids have always loved the flavor of Nutella, and I can see why. The nutty combination of rich hazelnuts and chocolate combine to create a classic flavor combo. My hazelnut chocolate truffles aim to achieve that same satisfying flavor without the unhealthy oils or processed sugar. Decadent and satisfying, you can…
Weekly Meal Plan // Feb 10-14
It’s time to meal plan and look at the week ahead. The weekend was full of cooking, eating, laughing and talking with a great group of women. It was a cool and beautiful weekend in Round Top at my 5th cooking retreat and it was so great to share new recipes and some time in…
Chocolate Popcorn Bark
Salty and Sweet Chocolate Popcorn Bark I really REALLY want you to be able to make this crunchy, sweet and salty popcorn bark this weekend. Chocolate popcorn bark is the perfect dessert for your Oscars viewing party and it takes all of five minutes to put together. What Type of Chocolate Should I Use? Start…
WEEKLY MEAL PLAN // Feb 2-7
Super Bowl Meal Plan and Beyond… February is here! Super Bowl! Valentine’s Day! My birthday! So many great menus to plan. My Whole30 officially ends today. My 4th round of Whole30 wasn’t perfect by any means (honey in my tea when I was sick, and maybe a little whiskey in my tea when I was…
Coconut Red Curry Soup (Whole30)
Coconut Red Curry Soup Coconut red curry soup might be your new favorite weeknight dinner. Not only is it Whole30, dairy-free, and full of veggies, it’s also absolutely delicious. Red curry paste is such a powerful secret ingredient. This flavorful spice and aromatics mixture adds so much depth of flavor; warm tones from red chilies…
Red Cabbage Salad
Red Cabbage Salad Growing up in Southern California, we would head to the North Wood’s Inn to celebrate birthdays and gather with extended family. The fake snow on the roof, the peanut shells on the floor, and the moody lighting made a sunny Southern California day feel cozy and seasonal. Their red cabbage salad came…
WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN // WEEK 4
Are you guys still hanging tight with your Whole30? I have one more week of easy and family-friendly dinner ideas to keep you on track. If your house is anything like ours, you’ve had your fair share of cold, flu and cough. I’ve added some immunity boosting ingredients to this week’s meal plan to keep…
WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN // WEEK 3
An Easy Whole30 Meal Plan the Whole Family Will Love You may have noticed on Instagram stories that I have an intern right now. It’s a program through my children’s school called Interim Term. Lucky for me, there was a senior who wanted to cook and be in the kitchen for his three week internship….
Cauliflower Gnocchi with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Cauliflower Gnocchi with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto (Whole30) Oh the glories of Trader Joe’s. By now, most of us are not strangers to their disappearing Cauliflower Gnocchi. But some of us are lost about the proper way to cook it. The first time I made Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi, I didn’t read the directions and just…
Whole30 Meal Plan Week Two
WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN WEEK TWO! Here we go. It’s been so busy around here that I’m not even sure what day it is! I do know I’m on my 10th day of Whole30, and so far so good. No serious withdrawals or cravings. Cutting down on the sugar and alcohol has helped me sleep more…
WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN // WEEK 1
Whole30 Meal Plan Week One Let’s go, January. If you’re anything like me, the past couple months have been a constant stream of cookies, cocktails and carbs. Time to embrace a new year and start it off with healthy habits, lots of whole foods, vegetables, healthy fats and grass-fed meats and wild-caught seafood. There are…
Weekly Meal Plan // December 29-January 3
New Year’s Eve and Whole30 on the Horizon If you’re on vacation somewhere warm and tropical, then God bless you and just go ahead and skip this entire post. In fact, order a margarita for me and put your feet up. We’re in the mountains of Idaho and it’s COLD. Especially since our heat went…
10 Christmas Breakfast Ideas
10 Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas Happy happy, everyone! Only two more sleeps until Christmas. And for all my friends celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanza, I hope you have a week filled with family, love and lots of good food! I’m sharing a few Christmas breakfast ideas in case you need inspiration. I’ve been to the grocery…
Winter Sangria
A Big Batch and Bubbly Winter Punch Tis the season! Invite friends over and make a pitcher of the easiest winter punch around. Big batch cocktails like sangria are your answer to stress-free entertaining. And this winter sangria couldn’t be faster to stir together when you’re in need of a party libation. Winter sangria is…
Cooking Retreat
Join Me at the Table! Exciting announcement! Tickets for my next cooking retreat are available now! We’ll gather at The Vintage Round Top February 8-9. Get ready for a weekend of cooking, laughing, eating and relaxing at one of the coziest spots in Round Top. If you’d like to join us, grab your tickets soon…
Weekly Meal Plan // December 15-20
Midterms, Send Help and Easy Recipes!! At this point my body composition is 50% sugar. Fudge, peppermint bark, date squares and toffee have been my go to holiday pick-me-up. Not good. This week I need a healthy meal plan that’s quick and easy. My older two have midterms all week long, and my youngest has…
Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers
Pint Size Favorites That Won’t Break the Bank Cotton Cocktail Napkins. Obsessed with these, from hemstitched “linen” to gingham and white. Great hostess or teacher gift! Reusable Glass Straws. I’m making up for the disposable cocktail napkins with reusable straws. It’s called carbon credit. Small Maldon Sea Salt Tins. I may or may not have…
Weekly Meal Plan // December 8-13
A Week of Healthy Meals This is our last full school week before midterms and I want my kids to stick to a routine. That means dinners at home and me trying to get them to sleep at a decent time. This week I have a big private cooking class for a local legal firm,…
Holiday Gift Guide: Hostess
Holiday gift guide for the hostess with the mostess.
Cherry Tomato Confit
A Super Easy Party Appetizer Garlic, herbs and tomatoes in a warm bath of extra virgin olive oil makes your whole house smell intoxicating. Pour the just-baked mixture over goat cheese and serve it with crostini or crackers, and it makes the perfect party appetizer. HOW TO MAKE THE CONFIT Look for the smallest size…
Weekly Meal Plan // December 1-6
An Easy Weekly Meal Plan SUNDAY I’ve decided I need a cooking vacation tonight, how’s that for a meal plan? I’ll give my husband the option to make dinner at home or we’ll go out. If you’re cooking at home and need to use up leftovers, make turkey stock with the carcass. Enchilada casserole with…
Thanksgiving Week Meal Plan // November 24-29
Thanksgiving Week Meal Plan My husband and I are in Round Top, Texas, soaking up one of our happy places. The second I turn off the highway for Round Top, my blood pressure lowers and my shoulders relax. It’s a slow pace and a beautiful setting, especially this time of year when the leaves are…
Baked Pumpkin Custard (Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free)
A Simple and Delicious Fall Dessert Do you love pumpkin pie, but can’t do dairy? Do you have gluten-free guests coming for Thanksgiving? Does the thought of making homemade pie dough give you anxiety? Make these simple dairy-free and gluten-free pumpkin custards. It’s basically the pie filling without the crust. Spicy, creamy pumpkin custard is…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 18-22
Pre-Thanksgiving Weekly Meal Plan MONDAY Make-your-own pizzas for an easy meatless Monday dinner! Today my oldest takes her driver’s test, my son gets braces and I’m catching up after a weekend away. If you want to make your own dough, check out Alexandra Stafford’s Neapolitan-style pizza recipe. Or buy Trader Joe’s pre-made pizza dough or…
Getting Organized for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving barely gets its due. Christmas décor and ads appear before Halloween and holiday movies pop up in October. Let’s not run through Thanksgiving like it’s a race. Take the time to enjoy the week with friends and family and celebrate a season of gratitude. Let’s slow down and be thankful for the abundance of meaningful…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 10-15
SUNDAY Slow Cooker Pot Roast for Sunday supper will make your whole house smell delicious. I’ll sub avocado or olive oil for the canola and arrowroot powder for cornstarch. MONDAY Book fair family night at our school, which means half my crew will eat at home and do homework while the youngest (and mom) head…
Weekly Meal Plan // November 3-8
An Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Kind of Week This week’s meal plan is full of savory soups, family favorites and fast dinners. I have a couple new Thanksgiving recipes to upload for you guys, but keep your fingers crossed I can pull it off. It has been a busy couple weeks, and I have…
Kitchen Equipment Essentials
Kitchen Equipment Essentials How to Choose a Knife The ultimate essential. First order of business: Everyone needs a good chef’s knife for chopping, slicing and dicing. It's such a personal preference, although I do NOT recommend those knives sold by your neighborhood college kid that come serrated and promise to never need sharpening....
Thanksgiving Menu
A Simple and Delicious Thanksgiving Menu Thanksgiving is one week away! I’m proud to partner with Memorial Hermann on this easy Thanksgiving menu that’s full of seasonal bounty. From appetizers to dessert, find your new favorite recipes and tips for a stress-free turkey day. Get everything in one beautiful booklet that you can download and…
Healthy Seven Layer Dip
Healthy Seven Layer Dip I have friends to thank for this one. Iterations of this appetizer kept showing up at casual poolside barbeques and weekend gatherings last summer. Healthy, colorful and easy to assemble, it’s definitely a crowd pleaser. To assemble the appetizer, spread out the ingredients in thin layers on a white platter or…
Meyer Lemon Cranberry Sauce
Super Easy Meyer Lemon Cranberry Sauce Meyer lemons make the perfect cranberry sauce. Slightly less acidic than Eureka lemons and full of juice, Meyers are my favorite winter crop. Tangy, bright and with a touch of cinnamon spice, this is my favorite cranberry sauce. If you don’t have or can’t find a Meyer lemon, feel…