Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Crème Fraiche Citrus is a winter crop, so why does it taste so summery? Maybe because of its sunshine color and crisp scent. This lemon olive oil cake is a recipe I tweaked a while back when I was searching for a citrus dessert for a Central Market cooking…
Entertaining
Slow Roasted Sockeye Salmon
Slow Roasted Salmon with Lemon and Dill Slow roasted salmon with lemon and dill is easy, fresh and fast. A low and slow temperature melts the fat in the salmon and makes the finished product super tender. Top it with herbed yogurt sauce or chermoula for a dish that’s simple enough for a weeknight meal and impressive…
Aperol Spritz
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…
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 a pastry assistant (which meant hanging with the sweet pastry chef in a still and quiet 5am kitchen). Working “the line” during dinner service did not appeal,…
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
Buffalo Chicken Wings (Whole30 and Delicious!) 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. Buffalo chicken wings are truly a three ingredient recipe: ghee, hot sauce and wings. Feel free to substitute avocado…
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…