I love summer produce. As soon as the cherries appear at the farmers’ market, I know that apricots, peaches, and plums won’t be far behind. But those aren’t the only summer fruits I look forward to. I also love heirloom…
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Now that the temperatures are finally warming up around here and the snow and ice have finally started to melt, it’s time to start thinking about warmer recipes. You know, recipes that are good for spring and summer picnics or…
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Strawberries are finally in season and they’re amazing. While it’s true that here in Southern California we have strawberries year round, you can absolutely taste the difference between the ones from the greenhouse and those from the farms. The farm…
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I love chocolate and cinnamon. While both are great on their own, put them together and you have a rich dessert that’s a little spicy. It’s seriously one of my favorite flavor combinations. So, when I found these Mexican Chocolate…
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So, last week I made a delicious noodle dish for the Lunar New Year thanks to some amazing produce from the folks at Melissa’s Produce. Well, I’m back this week with another awesome Asian-inspired dish. This week we use beef…
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The Lunar New Year started on Sunday and goes through February 15th. It’s a time of celebration all over the world. There are wishes to be made, food to be enjoyed, and plenty of hope and good fortune for the…
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Even though we’re getting into the citrus season, apples are still ever-present and new varieties are showing up weekly. (One of my favorites, the Sundowner, just hit the market last week!) I love apples, especially the tart, crunchy kind. You…
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Now that we’re through Christmas, there’s just one more holiday before we can pack up all the decorations and look ahead to 2023: New Year’s. While you’ll see a lot of recipes for champagne cocktails for New Year’s Eve, I’m…
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Several flavors come to mind when I think of the holidays: oranges, apples, cinnamon, cranberries, and nutmeg. Those flavors, combined or separate, always make me think of snowy evenings, crackling fires, and plenty of presents under the tree. They make…
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Thanksgiving is next week. And while you’re probably all set with your food menu, what about the cocktails? If you’re anything like me, there will be plenty of red and white wine. But what about a nice aperitif or digestif?…
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Have you noticed that over the past few years, certain food and beverages have been getting their own special days? I’m not kidding. There are even websites listing all the different days and which food, sweet treat or drink should…
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There’s nothing I love more in the late summer and early fall than fresh corn. It doesn’t matter if it’s yellow, white or a combination, if it’s in season, it’s sweet as sugar and I just can’t get enough! As…
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Fall means two things: cooler temperatures and the holidays. During this time of year you have Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. It’s time to stop thinking about salads and start thinking about hot, hearty meals. Meals that stick…
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Yesterday was the first day of fall, and while everyone all over the internet and social media was talking about pumpkin spice and apple recipes, I’m still thinking about summer. Why am I still in a summer mood? Because it’s…
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Recently I’ve been doing recipes with corn and zucchini because those are the vegetables that are in season right now. Two delicious choices that are even better in the late summer and fall. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a huge…
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We’re right in the middle of corn season. While I’m all about the stone fruits during this time of year, there are a few vegetables that I love as well. Actually just two: corn and zucchini. I used to hate…
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It’s been hot! I mean, surface of the sun hot. I live 10 blocks from the beach and it’s been oscillating between 80 and 90 degrees depending on the time of day. But if you look up above, it looks…
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For the past two years I’ve been invited to the OC County Fair to do cocktail demos. Last year I did bubbly cocktails with fresh produce. This year I did tea cocktails. Why tea? Well, the theme for this year’s…
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When summer turns to fall and the leaves start to change color that’s when we start to see some of my favorite summer vegetables. I know all I’ve been talking about are peaches and plums, but there are also a…
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When summer hits, I’m all about the stone fruits. Cherries, peaches, plums… if it’s got a pit, I’m all over it. But there’s another fruit that shows up when the temperature turns warm that I also can’t get enough of:…
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PLEASE NOTE – The following post/recipe contains spoilers for Better Call Saul. So, if you’re not caught up on the final season, please come back once you are. If you’re a Better Call Saul fan, you know that this Monday…
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I love bread. I know it’s super heavy on the carbs and it’s not the healthiest option out there, but I can’t get enough, especially when it’s piping hot, just out of the oven. But of all the different kinds…
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Tomorrow is National Chocolate Chip Cookie day. I love chocolate chip cookies. I’ve been eating them since I could hold one in my hand. Haven’s you? Do you remember the first time you tasted a chocolate chip cookie? How about…
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I was going back through all my cocktail posts and I realized I’d never done the infamous G&T. You’re probably wondering why? I mean, I’ve got all the classics here. The Martini, the Manhattan, Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Margarita and the…
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After a couple weeks of rum-based cocktails I thought I’d switch things up and go back to another summer liquor: gin. If you’ve been following along, you know that I’m a big gin fan. Whether it be a martini, a…
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It’s stone fruit season! I absolutely love stone fruits. This season is far and away my favorite time of year. It starts with cherries in May, then continues with apricots, peaches and plums all the way through October. I can…
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Yes, it’s another mojito recipe! But do you blame me? It’s summer! When I think of summer, I think of days at the beach, lounging at the pool, backyard barbecues and plenty of fun! And nothing goes better with summertime…
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I know summer is the season of fruit, but every so often I need chocolate. I don’t care how hot it is. There are just times when nothing but a piece of dark chocolate or a bowl of chocolate ice…
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Monday is July 4th. The day America celebrates its independence from England. I love the 4th of July. Backyard barbecues, block parties, fireworks and ice cold cocktails. Yeah, nothing goes better with a hot dog or hamburger than a beer….
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When the weather turns hot, I like cool meals. It’s time for grilled proteins and pasta salads, poke and lettuce wraps, anything that’s chilled and filling. I don’t care if it’s cold fried chicken, steak salad or raw fish, if…
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It’s officially summer and when it comes to cocktails that means 3 things: vodka, gin and rum. These are the liquors I like to imbibe when the weather turns warm. There’s just something about lighter liquors, especially when mixed with…
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I’ve always been a big fan of Thai food. Chinese, Japanese, Korean… if there’s a wok, noodles, rice and some sort of protein, I’m all in. As a matter of fact, every time I make rice as a side dish,…
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Yes, it’s another Italian cocktail to commemorate my recent trip to Italy. But unlike last week’s spritz, this drink is definitely on the more bitter side. So, for all you Campari lovers out there, this one’s for you. Unlike my…
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If you follow my Instagram, you know I recently got back from Italy. There was beautiful scenery, plenty of museums, amazing architecture and of course tons and tons of delicious food and drink! Yes, there was plenty of pasta and…
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It’s been a whirlwind month and we’re only through the 2nd week of May! May’s always been a busy month for me. Between all my boys’ birthdays (there are 3!), Mother’s Day, 2 anniversaries (mine and my parents), it’s always…
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There’s so much happening this weekend. Cinco de Mayo was yesterday, Mother’s Day is Sunday and tomorrow is the Kentucky Derby! Now, I know for most of us the Run for the Roses is not a holiday, but for sports…
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Cinco de Mayo may be tomorrow, but there’s another holiday right around the corner: Mother’s Day! Yes, that very important holiday where we celebrate the women in our lives. The women who took care of us from birth through those…
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Cinco de Mayo is next week and that means it’s time to make sure you have everything you need to celebrate. Sure, you’ve got avocados, plenty of lemons and limes, ground beef, shredded cheese and tortillas. But do you have…
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Now that we’ve switched into spring, there are a few holidays coming down the pipe. First was Passover and Easter, then there’s Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. After that, we’re into June, the end of school and…
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Now that spring is here, we’re starting to see all those delicious spring and summer fruits I love so much. Fruits like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Whenever I see baskets and baskets of fresh strawberries I know that spring…
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It’s spring break here in Redondo, and that means that Passover and Easter are this coming weekend. If you’re entertaining friends and family like me, you have a menu planned. But in case you don’t, as always, I’m here to…
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Easter and Passover are a little less than two weeks away and if you’re anything like me, you’re already figuring out your guest list and menu. While Passover’s almost always dinner, Easter can be brunch or dinner. It really depends…
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Last week I made a Toronto cocktail. The perfect drink to bridge those winter vibes into spring. So, today, I’m moving further into spring with the King Cole Cocktail. This one is practically identical to the Toronto but with more…
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With Easter and Passover coming up, it’s all about spring recipes, and have a I got a few. There’s lamb, egg, lemons… so many options, and all of them are great choices for the spring holidays. Better yet, all of…
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We’re in a weird place right now with the seasons. It’s officially spring but it’s still chilly outside. Beautiful green leaves are sprouting on the trees but then a bitter cold wind blows off the ocean. It’s that weird time…
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In my goal to eat healthier the family and I have started eating fish and seafood at least once a week. While Hubs and I eat all kinds of seafood, the boys can be picky. A loves poke and some…
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In case you’re living under a rock, you may not know that St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow. Well, I’m here to tell you that it is! And that means it’s time to break out your cabbage, corned beef, potatoes, Guinness…
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When winter hits, all I want is warm comforting meals. Dinners that will coat my throat and stomach and make me feel all cozy inside. Hearty proteins that will fill me up and keep me content until breakfast the next…
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If there’s one thing I love, it’s an easy dinner. I’m so busy during the week, taking the kids to and from their various activities, that making something simple always makes me happy. I make a variety of things from…
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I make dinner almost every night for my family. Those dinners range the gamut from pasta, to seafood to steak and chicken. It really depends on what we’re in the mood for. While I love chicken and steak, my boys…
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The big game is this weekend and now that we know which teams are going to be facing off, it’s time to start planning the party! You’ve got the times and the TV’s all set. You know which cocktails you’re…
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I know I’ve been all about being healthy the past few weeks but even I need the occasional cookie or sweet treat. A simple cookie won’t tip the scales if you’ve been cutting back, but it could temper those cravings…
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The past few weeks I’ve talked about how I’m trying to be healthy in the new year while still eating delicious, filling meals. I’ve cut back on the sweets (somewhat) and I’m making hearty dishes. Since it’s National Soup month…
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We’re still smack dab in the middle of National Soup Month and there’s nothing I want more on a bitingly cold day than a big, hot bowl of soup. I’ll take anything from the classic chicken noodle to a hearty…
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Happy New Year! New years mean new plans, new resolutions and plenty of new recipes. This is the time of year I start with a clean slate and think about what I want to do and eat over the next…
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Sunday is National Repeal Day, the last night of Hanukkah and we’re officially in the middle of Christmas season. That means it’s all about fall and winter cocktails. There’s the classic egg nog, mulled cider, cranberry cocktails… anything that has to…
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Tonight is the 4th night of Hanukkah which means we’re right in the middle of the festive holiday. By now you’ve gotten a few presents and have probably eaten plenty of latkes, brisket and sufganiyot (jelly filled donuts). I love…
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Now that we’re past Thanksgiving, it’s time to start thinking about the holidays and all the gifting. Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday and the fact that Hanukkah started last night, there’s no time to waste….
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Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and by now you should have your menu all planned, and you may have even started making some dishes to prepare for the big feast. There’s the turkey, stuffing and gravy. There’s a potato dish as well…
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Since Thanksgiving is next week, I wanted to bring you one more cocktail that’s not only perfect for the upcoming holiday, but has all those fall flavors we love so much this time of year. It’s the Stone Fence. If…
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With Thanksgiving only a week away now is the time to start planning your menu (if you haven’t already). If you’re hosting you’ve probably already ordered your turkey and are in the process of figuring out what to serve with…
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It’s October and while that means there’s a chill in the air and the trees have started to shed their leaves, it also means that Halloween is right around the corner. This is the time of year when you start…
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My weeks are pretty busy. Between the boys being back in school and trucking them back and forth to sports and robotics, my week days have gone from empty to overflowing. While I’m thrilled things are finally getting back to…
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It’s October and everywhere you look it’s apple and pumpkin everything. But there’s another fruit out there this time of year. It doesn’t get a lot of love, but it’s just as much a part of fall as the other…
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Every time I think fruit season is over, a new one begins with even better produce than the season before. Peach and berry season is almost over, and while I’m bummed to say good-bye to all those delicious stone fruits,…
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Today’s the first day of October. The leaves have started to change color and there’s a definite chill in the air. While others are thinking about Halloween decorations, I’m thinking about fall and winter cocktails. This is the time of…
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Today is National Coffee Day! While a lot of blogs and Instagram feeds will be whipping up coffee drinks and cocktails for you today, that’s not the only way to take your coffee. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing I…
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The first day of fall was Wednesday which means it’s time to start thinking about warmer drinks and cocktails made with bourbon or scotch. But in several places (including here in So Cal) it still feels like summer. (It’s actually…
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I know fall officially starts tomorrow, but here in sunny, southern California, it’s still in the low 80’s. So, while apples and citrus are starting to show up at farmers markets and grocery stores, there are still plenty of berries…
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We’re right in the middle of High Holidays. Last Tuesday was Rosh Hashana and today and Thursday are Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur. It’s a time of celebration and atonement. A time to reflect on the past year, what we’ve…
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We’re right in the middle of hatch chile season. I love this time of year when markets all over pull out their giant roasters and roast pounds and pounds of hatch chiles for days on end. It’s so much fun…
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I know it’s been a little quiet here the past few weeks. I’ve missed you guys. I’ve missed sitting down at my computer and writing about what’s been going on in our lives while whipping up some delicious dinners and…
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It’s August which means we’re deep into the summer. I still can’t believe there are only a couple more weeks before school starts. And unlike last year, school is actually going to start! But while the kids going off to…
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Hubs and I love TCM. As vintage fans, we love tuning into those classic movies from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Sure, the stories are always quaint and the guy always gets the girl, but there’s just something about those…
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Now that things have opened back up here in the States, people are traveling again. People are visiting relatives on coasts they haven’t been to in over a year. They’re getting on planes and going to the Bahamas, Hawaii or…
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Summer’s in full swing and that means it’s time to pull the cover off your grill and get to grilling. While hot dogs and hamburgers are the easy choice, nothing is better right off the grill than chicken, or seafood…
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Last week I did a savory peach recipe, so this week I’m doing a sweet peach recipe. While I love peaches in savory recipes, my favorite is without question dessert. There’s just nothing better than a warm slice of peach…
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Since we’re right at the beginning of peach season, it’s all about peaches for me. Where I used to buy pounds and pounds of citrus, I’m now buying pounds and pounds of peaches, plums, pluots and apricots. In other words,…
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Block parties are back, baby! Okay, let me backtrack a bit. For over a decade, my street has been having a block party every year on the 4th of July. What started as a small get together with just a…
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Now that the world is opening up again, all of us are booking vacations! I mean after being stuck in your house/town for the past 15 months don’t you want to get away? I know I do! It doesn’t matter…
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You all know how much I love the spring and summer produce. I can’t wait for those amazing stone fruits to make an appearance. Then from April through at least September I cook with them constantly. While I can’t get…
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I know I usually do cocktails on Fridays, but this week I wanted to bring you a refreshing beverage that’s alcohol-free! I know, you’re probably wondering what’s wrong with me? Nothing! It’s summer and while I’ll never pass up a…
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I know we’re getting into stone fruit season, but you can still find rhubarb and plenty of citrus at the local farmers markets. Yesterday I actually spotted a bushel of Meyer Lemons! Meyers! They’re those sweeter lemons that are great…
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Have you noticed how every day seems to be a holiday these days? Some, like Christmas and Veteran’s Day, are definitely noteworthy while others, like No Diet Day and Dictionary Day (yes, these are real holidays) are some of the…
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The past few months I’ve been trying to make our dinners a little healthier. While I’ve been making meals from scratch forever, you need to do more than just copy a recipe. The ingredients you use are also very important….
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