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 (Whole30)
Red Cabbage Salad with Herbs (Whole30) 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…
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 Thanksgiving 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…
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…