Fuss-free, hands-off, one-pot, now you can enjoy a Chinese take-out favorite and let your slow cooker do everything for you - try our Slow Cooker "Fried" Rice recipe! Chinese fried rice has always been a favorite of mine, but it's a long process to get it right, to … Continue reading →
Mozzarella-Stuffed Crispy Portobello Burgers (“One to Five” Cookbook Review + Giveaway!)
I received a copy of Chef Ryan's cookbook for review and all opinions are entirely my own. If you like easy, quick, affordable, and crowd-pleasing dishes (I do!) then you should check out this new cookbook from Chef Ryan Scott which has been endorsed by celebrated chefs … Continue reading →
Salmon with Cranberry Ginger Mustard Sauce + Sous Vide & Slow Cooker Giveaway!
I've teamed up with Hamilton Beach to bring you this delicious post! Last week I found an incredible deal on fresh cranberries at a roadside produce stand: 2-pound bags for $2. Our family are all avid smoothie drinkers and being the berry-maniacs we are, I grabbed 15 … Continue reading →
Hungarian Meatballs
I've partnered with Veal Made Easy to bring you this recipe. Friends, you simply have to make these meatballs! Your taste buds will thank you over and over again. They may not state it verbally, but trust me, they'll say it in a way that you'll … Continue reading →
Grilled Sweet & Sour Meatball Kabobs
This post is in partnership with Veal Made Easy. I love food. All kinds of food. From north, south, east and west, exploring flavors from near and far is my passion. And I'm always looking for ways to incorporate more healthy vegetables in a way that makes them … Continue reading →
Burmese Yellow Split Pea Fritters (Baya Kyaw)
If yellow split peas aren't something you use very often, get ready for a fabulous way to put them to use! Crispy, spicy and flavorful, these Burmese yellow split pea fritters can be served as appetizers or the main course with your favorite dipping sauce. They can also … Continue reading →
Ultimate Ropa Vieja (National Dish of Cuba)
This "ultimate" version of Cuba's most famous dish, Ropa Vieja, is positively PACKED with flavor!! Make a double batch while you're at it and you'll be glad you have the leftovers! Thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post. Ropa Vieja Shredded beef and … Continue reading →
Sicilian-Style Grilled Tuna Steaks
A mouthwatering Sicilian-style grilled tuna steaks recipe! Grilled to perfection and topped with the flavors of sun-kissed Sicily. It's easy and delicious! A special thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post From my early childhood trips to Italy's beaches to … Continue reading →
Ultimate Skillet Corn Pudding
Who doesn't enjoy a good corn pudding? As American as apple pie, corn pudding goes back many generations as classic down home comfort food. I'm a little picky when it comes to corn pudding, especially where texture is concerned. A good corn pudding needs to be moist but … Continue reading →
German Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle)
One of the most beloved of all Swabian dishes, Kasespatzle (German Cheese Spaetzle) is everything great comfort food should be! How to Make Kasespatzle Where I'm from in Stuttgart, Germany, Kasespatzle is a classic - a quintessential Swabian comfort food dish. … Continue reading →
Portuguese Potato Hash with Linguica, Peppers & Olives
A special thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post! Is there a more versatile vegetable than the potato? (Okay, it's not technically a vegetable, but you know what I mean.) Boiled, baked, mashed, roasted, soup, gratin, salad, gnocchi, tater tots, French … Continue reading →
Roasted Sweet Potato Fettuccine Alfredo
Even though the holidays are long over, our consumption of sweet potatoes doesn't have to be - nor should it be! Find out more about the U.S.history of sweet potato consumption and why you should be eating them throughout the year in my post on Curried Sweet Potato Soup … Continue reading →
Valencian Paella Recipe
Thank you to Culinary Collective for sponsoring this post It's no wonder paella is the national dish of Spain because this delicious and drop-dead gorgeous dish is simply phenomenal! This Valencian paella recipe is a one-pot rice dish that's easy to make and perfect for … Continue reading →
French Lentil Soup
Soups like this one are very nostalgic to me. One bite with its familiar and comforting flavors transports me back to Europe. I'm biased but I stand by the conviction that some of the best soups and stews come from Germany and France. And not surprisingly many of their … Continue reading →
BEST Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni
This homemade cheeseburger macaroni recipe is made with whole, clean ingredients, tastes better than the boxed stuff and is ready in 20 minutes! Sometimes it's those simple comforts that hit the spot best. I grew up in health-conscious home where things like … Continue reading →
Greek Meatballs
These Greek Meatballs capture the exquisite flavors of sun-kissed Greece and will make your taste buds sing and have you coming back for seconds! Thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post! Our family loves meatballs. For many of us they're linked to childhood … Continue reading →
French Beef Stew with Old-Fashioned Vegetables
The French really know how to make great stews. Here is one of them and it uses a method similar to that of German Sauerbraten and corned beef to achieve both an exquisitely tangy flavor and a lusciously tender beef. Many of you have already been introduced to my French … Continue reading →
Spicy Chipotle Chili with Hominy
Chili makes for some of the best comfort food, don't you think? That rich velvety red sauce laden with beef and beans and a multitude of spices including a bucket of chili powder, then topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, avocado, and anything else your hungry … Continue reading →
Fettuccine Alfredo + A Case for Tradition: Musso & Frank Grill
Thank you to Bon Appetit for sponsoring this post! The best Fettuccine Alfredo I've had was at Hollywood's oldest restaurant, the Musso and Frank Grill. Not coincidentally there's a reason for this and it goes back nearly 100 years. But first let me take you back … Continue reading →
Chicken Barley Soup
Incredibly flavorful and packed with nutrients, this wonderful Chicken Barley Soup recipe is sure to become a family favorite! Make double batch while you're at it because it's great for leftovers or freezing! The weather here is crazy today! A total downpour of … Continue reading →
Salmon Risotto with Preserved Lemon
This dish is perfect for a family meal, a couple's night at home, or a dinner party. Risotto uses a special rice, most commonly arborio, and it cooks up into a deliciously creamy texture with the the perfect touch of chewiness. Risotto has a bit of an upscale image … Continue reading →
Curried Pumpkin & Coconut Meatballs
Here is a fun medley of flavors: Beef, pumpkin, curry, raisins, mango chutney and coconut. Formed into meatballs, fried and simmered in a luscious and creamy sauce, this dish is sure to satisfy your tummy and soul! Halloween is coming up in just a few days and our … Continue reading →
Italian Pork Ribs with Olives (Rosticciana di Maiale e Olive) + San Gimignano, Italy
I've teamed up with Bertolli to bring you this delicious post! I Love Tuscany. It's one of my favorite places and among the top destinations I regularly long to visit. Most of you know I'm originally from Stuttgart, Germany. Germany is such a perfectly central … Continue reading →
Andouille Sausage & Greens with Cheese Grits
Of Native American origin, grits are a staple food of the American South. In fact, three-quarters of grits sold in the U.S. are bought in the South. And the Southerners are downright proud of their grits, so much so that several Southern states have passed bills elevating … Continue reading →
Pressure Canner Chili Con Carne
I've been canning for several years, but only using the water-bath method. So that means I've mostly been making jams, relishes, chutneys, pickles, salsas and other high-acidic foods that are safe for water-bath canning. For most other things you have to have a pressure … Continue reading →
Chicken Xacuti
The origin of this wonderful dish is Goa. Goa is located in the western region of India and though it is India's smallest state, it's also one of its richest. Rich not only in terms of economic wealth, but rich in its tropical biodiversity. In fact, it's classified as one … Continue reading →
Chinese Chicken Fried Quinoa
I love cooking with a variety of grains and quinoa is one that I particularly enjoy experimenting with. Not because it's my favorite tasting grain, but because it's the healthiest grain on the planet, the only grain that is a complete protein. I like to use quinoa in … Continue reading →
10-Minute Margherita Flatbread Pizzas
Thank you to La Brea Bakery for sponsoring this post! Pizza is pure bliss, don't you think? There's just something about that crispy-chewy bread crust topped with sauce, oozing cheese and any variety of toppings that speaks universal comfort. I enjoy all kinds of … Continue reading →
Asian-style Grilled Fish Tacos
Thank you to NAKANO for sponsoring this post! Our Summer here has been a hot one! It's been a record low for rain with a grueling consistent 85-95 degree weather (for us Washingtonians that's grueling). But it sure has done absolute wonders for our garden! In … Continue reading →
Pulled Pork Burritos with Creamy Tomatillo Sauce
Few things can top meat that's been cooked for hours in the slow-cooker until fork-tender and saturated with flavor. This pulled pork is a prime example. And I can't even begin to describe how delectable it is once it's packed into a burrito shell with rice and black beans … Continue reading →
French Connection Sandwich (Two Ways)
Partnering with Castello for a Summer of Blue Cheese has a way of reconnecting me to my original home of Europe. Every time I sample some European cheese my mind is taken back to the lands and regions I spent my childhood through young … Continue reading →
Italian Zucchini Fritters
This is just one of several ways I've been trying to use up our plentiful harvest of zucchini. And by plentiful I mean the first crop was 20 pounds!! Second crop was 14 pounds and I haven't even picked the third round yet! We had a little extra room left in our garden and I … Continue reading →
BEST Chinese Beef and Broccoli
This delicious Chinese Beef and Broccoli recipe comes together in just minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights and WAY better than Chinese takeout, this is sure to become a favorite in your home! Chinese Beef and Broccoli Recipe One of the most popular Chinese takeout … Continue reading →
Chicken Meatballs
Italian Chicken Meatballs This Italian Chicken Meatballs recipe features deliciously seasoned ground chicken enveloped a simple but dazzlingly vibrant and flavorful tomato sauce! If you prefer, you can use ground beef instead. I'll make it both ways depending on … Continue reading →
Greek Lemon Chicken
Capers are one of those ingredients you come across occasionally but may have never cooked with or even tried. But they're an integral part of Mediterranean cuisine. Their use dates way back to ancient Greece. They come from a perennial plant that bears edible flower buds … Continue reading →
Grilled Salmon with Fresh Peach Jalapeno Salsa
Wild Alaskan salmon is a powerhouse of nutrition. In recent years we've been hearing more and more about the health benefits associated with the omega-3 fats in salmon, including a large American study of several thousands of participants followed over the course of 16 … Continue reading →
Spaghetti with Leek Alfredo
I had 15 minutes to get dinner on the table before our family had to take off to run an errand. I didn't have time to thaw any meat or chicken, so that meant it would need to be something meatless. What are some of your favorite go-to, ready-in-15-minutes meatless dishes? … Continue reading →
Roasted Chickpea Curry (Chana Masala)
This is a dish even fervent meat lovers will enjoy. This Roasted Chickpea Curry, or Chana Masala, has such a delicious depth of flavor and a great texture that you won't even miss the meat! The other day as I was boiling the chickpeas that had soaked overnight, I was … Continue reading →
Beef Stir-fry with Snow Peas and Mushrooms
Who doesn't enjoy a good stir-fry? One of the things I about Chinese food, aside from the fact that it's delicious, is that it's generally so doggone quick to make. Really the only time involved is the prep work - the chopping. The actual cooking takes less than 5 … Continue reading →
Szegedin Goulash (Székely Gulyás)
One of Hungary's most famous dishes, this Szegedin Goulash features slow-simmered, succulent pork, onions and sauerkraut in a wonderfully rich paprika-infused broth. It's incredibly delicious! The weather is slowly warming but I figure there's still time to squeeze … Continue reading →