I rarely cook Italian food. I’m not Italian, and while my dark hair may fool you, my very pale skin gives it away. The truth is, I don’t love Italian cuisine — I really don’t enjoy tomato sauce. It might surprise some: I sometimes use jarred tomato sauce. If you prefer homemade, by all means … Read more

It’s a revelation: ice cream creamer. Can we make this a thing? I used to dislike coffee, but over time I forced myself to try it and now I actually enjoy it—coffee shops, iced drinks, and all the ritual. Lately I’ve been obsessed with combining cold brew, espresso, soda and a scoop of ice cream. … Read more

This grilled steak salad is drizzled with blue cheese vinaigrette and loaded with satisfying ingredients: avocado, pickled red onion, pepitas and more. It’s an easy weeknight go-to we make all the time. Dinner tonight is going to be really good. This salad is a regular in our rotation. I make it when I have leftover … Read more

Happy Saturday! I’m back from a short break in this “crushing on” series — I took some time off last week to enjoy a little vacation. This trip also marks the end of nonstop travel for me since March. I haven’t been home for more than ten days at a stretch since then, so I’m … Read more

I have a slight basil obsession at the moment. As you can imagine, it’s an expensive habit since basil isn’t in season right now. But that’s hardly surprising. Fortunately the mangos have been on sale for two weeks, and cheap mangos help offset the cost of the basil. I originally planned to make a kiwi … Read more

Homemade BBQ Sauce One of my favorite homemade sauces, this BBQ sauce surpasses any bottled version I’ve tried. It’s versatile for grilling, dipping or glazing, and delicious straight off the spoon.   Whole Wheat Orzo with Grilled Chicken and Roasted Veggies This orzo dish is great served hot or cold and can be prepared ahead, … Read more

So… how offended will you be if I tell you how to make a sandwich? I’m not assuming you don’t know how to build a sandwich. You do. But every so often we all forget how to make a truly killer sandwich. By “we” I mean the collective of internet friends who overthink food and … Read more

I have to tell you about my favorite thing: a perfect cheese plate. Cheese, of course. Is it embarrassing to show how I assemble my go-to cheese plate? Maybe a little, but this is the method I rely on—simple, flexible, and always impressive. These ideas were included in my snacks chapter and are perfect for … Read more

Happy Saturday! I hope your week has been productive and delicious. On the blog this week I shared several new recipes that I think you’ll love: sticky honey garlic salmon bowls, a cozy fire-roasted chicken tortellini soup, a crunchy winter broccoli salad, and a gooey garlic bread grilled cheese. Each one is simple enough for … Read more

Look no further for your new favorite meal—this southwest salmon salad is seriously delicious. If that isn’t a loaded salad, I don’t know what is! I’m sharing this recipe in case you have leftover mango from last week’s cashew shrimp dish. You could certainly just eat the mango, use it with the shrimp, or toss … Read more