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…
appetizer
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…
White Bean Dip with Rosemary Olive Oil
White Bean Dip with Rosemary Olive Oil White bean dip is one of the easiest appetizers you can throw together on the fly. Made from pantry staples you will most likely have on hand, it’s simple and straight forward. Garnish off with a drizzle of fragrant rosemary-infused olive oil, it’s a finishing touch that takes…
Artichoke Jalapeño Dip
Artichoke Jalapeño Dip This artichoke jalapeño dip falls in the category of “healthyish.” Full of artichoke hearts and pickled jalapeños, it’s creamy enough to feel indulgent. Use water-packed artichoke hearts, not the ones marinated in olive oil. Fresh lemon juice and good quality Parmesan and mayonnaise make a difference. I use Hellman’s or Best Foods,…
Mixed Nuts with Rosemary
Just in time for a weekend of college football and fall weather, a recipe for a warm, salty, crunchy snack. Tossed with sizzling olive oil, garlic powder and red chili flakes, these herb-flecked mixed nuts are just what your appetizer board is missing. This was one of the cocktail hour recipes in my Vintage Round…
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…
Roasted Cauliflower Hummus (Whole30 and Paleo)
I’ve uncovered a trick to help you rock your Whole30: Good sauces, salad dressings and snacks to keep you satisfied. When I was prepping to teach a cooking workshop at The Vintage Roundtop recently, I wanted to include one of my favorite recipes for healthy 7-layer dip. I’ll post that recipe soon, but it’s basically…
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. And by the way, I’ve never used the word “compliant” so much in my entire life. The chicken wings…
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?”…
Blistered Shishitos with Everything Spice
This is the time of year when you may find yourself with neighbors who stop by for a glass of wine, extra family members to entertain and feed or just hungry mouths in general. Grab some Shishito peppers and everything bagel spice and fire up your oven, help is on the way. If you’ve been…