When I posted my meal plan this week, it was the day after turning our clocks back for daylight savings. We woke up at 4:30am that morning to catch a flight from Houston to Denver and then from Denver to Sun Valley, Idaho. St. Patrick’s Day was far from my mind when, 14 hours…
Holidays
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…
Christmas Menus
If you’re in charge of cooking for anyone besides yourself this Christmas, it’s time to make a game plan. How many people are you feeding? What time are you eating? How exhausted will you be? Let’s talk Christmas menus, friends… I won’t make everything listed here, but wanted to give you several ideas to choose…
Prosecco Pomegranate Spritz
Quick and colorful, a prosecco pomegranate spritz can be your signature cocktail this holiday season. And with half the glass full of pomegranate juice, it’s less caloric than a traditional cocktail. Not that calories count in December. A little elf told me that one, but I’m not sure I believe it. (Whole 30, see you…
Easy Peppermint Bark
Super Easy Peppermint Bark Holiday baking is one of the best parts of the season, and everyone in my house has their favorite. My oldest makes the most amazing grain-free and gluten-free peanut butter blossom cookies. She tops them with flakey Maldon sea salt and Hershey’s kisses, mind blowing combo! My son always wants to…
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Ok friends. I swore to my kids I wouldn’t try to create a healthy Thanksgiving menu, but I do think it’s good to balance virtue and vice. When you have a table filled with probably twenty pounds of butter-and carb-filled side dishes, it’s important to have something green. Yesterday in the Houston Chronicle, I had…
Pomegranate Sangria
A big and bright pitcher of pomegranate sangria is the easiest way to entertain a crowd. Full of pomegranate seeds, thin slices of apple and oranges, this fruity cocktail is slightly bubbly from sparkling wine. Depending whether it’s early fall or winter, you can add dark plums, berries or fresh figs to the mix. Stir…
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Autumn has finally hit Houston, which means the leaves are falling, there are acorns crunching underfoot and it’s 80 degrees and humid. Here’s the plan: Turn down your air conditioning to 70 and fire up the oven for this super tasty apple cranberry crisp. It will make your whole house smell like cinnamon, pecans and…
Pumpkin, Apple and Honey Nut Squash Soup
Squash season is in full swing, and that means a rotation of roasted butternut squash, Delicata and Kabocha. Recently, I noticed a new variety of squash that looks like a baby butternut. Honey nut squash is sweet and tender when cooked, and easier to cut than its big brother. A couple of these cuties are…
Easy Easter Dinner
Keep it easy, peeps. Easter is here, and before it arrives I have my son’s birthday to celebrate and my kids home from school on Good Friday. Which is why I shopped for Easter dinner yesterday, and also why I did not complain when my son requested pizza and cookie cake for his birthday (the key here being he doesn’t want my…