A Summer Thirst Quencher We’re having a relatively quiet summer around here. No big European adventures and our travel plans are centered around family time in Sun Valley, Idaho, and San Diego. But when we’re at home in Houston, battling the humidity and trying not to spontaneously combust, there’s nothing like a cold Aperol spritz…
Entertaining
Gluten-Free Berry Crisp
An Epic Gluten-Free Berry Crisp Sixteen years and a lifetime ago, when I finished cooking school in San Francisco, I did an externship at Greens restaurant. I was relieved to hear that I’d be a pastry assistant (which meant hanging with the sweet pastry chef in a quiet 5am kitchen). Working “the line” during dinner…
Spinach Salad with Pesto and Peas
Spinach Salad with Pesto and Peas, Please! If you’re hosting friends for a backyard BBQ this weekend — or heading to a lake house, the beach or the mountains — make this easy spinach salad. It’s my go-to summer salad, full of flavor, easy to put together and always a crowd pleaser. I found this…
Jalapeño Green Goddess
When some of your favorite women entrepreneurs and style mavens invite you to a garden party, the response is YES! The second response is, “What can I bring?” What to serve at a garden party? Crudité all day! I decided to find as many seasonal, beautiful vegetables as possible and fill up boards and platters…
Grilled Lamb Chops
Grilled Lamb Chops For a super easy Easter dinner, look no further. Grilled lamb chops, with a tangy ginger, tamari and garlic marinade, have been a hit in recent cooking classes. When you’re entertaining a crowd, this recipe is the answer. Served with a spicy chermoula sauce on the side, it’s a flavor combination that’s…
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…
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Crispy, tangy, salty, crunchy. My mouth is watering just remembering these indulgent bites of buffalo chicken wings. If I hadn’t made them myself, I wouldn’t believe they were Whole30 compliant. And by the way, I’ve never used the word “compliant” so much in my entire life. The chicken wings are truly a three ingredient recipe:…
New Year’s Eve Fondue Party
Think of this as your last hurrah before resolutions come knocking. Do it up big, with a fondue and wine party to satisfy a crowd. Warm gooey cheese and melted, fragrant chocolate wrap up a season of indulgence with a big red bow. Fondue is my love language, especially if I have on ski boots…
Simple Chocolate Fondue
Fondue reminds me of skiing. Which tells you what type of skier I am. The type that likes to get a couple runs in, and then cozy up next to a fire with a cocktail and a warm snack. Fondue also pairs well with game nights, Christmas Eve or any gathering where you’re entertaining a…
Cranberry Baked Brie
My family has been making this cranberry baked Brie for years. Found in the appetizer chapter of an 80s-era Junior League of Pasadena cookbook, it’s a holiday appetizer that makes an appearance at every extended family gathering. So much so that my sister-in-law, mom and sister might ask each other, “who’s making the cranberry brie?”…