Mango Avocado Salsa Salad w/Corn & Black Beans

Bring on different types of greens and combine that with a tropical summer feel (and maybe a light tropical cocktail), and you have yourself a salad that eats like a meal. Or omit the greens and add chips and queso for a new kind of nacho spread. Either way, this Mango Avocado Salsa w/corn &…

No Boil Shrimp Boil

As a Midwesterner with a taste for spice, I wanted to challenge myself with the flavors of southern gulf coast line. That’s when I discovered an amazing recipe for a no-boil shrimp boil with Cajun spices and cayenne pepper. Each time I make it, the excitement builds as I imagine the warmth of the Gulf Coast, the lively sounds of zydeco music, and the laughter-filled patio with perspiring cocktail glasses. The combination of Andouille sausage, seasoned shrimp, buttery potatoes, and fresh corn creates a symphony of flavors that I can’t resist. It’s a simple yet successful dish that fuels my passion for cooking and motivates me to recreate it all summer long.

Panzanella Salad

It is done – we have signed up for the 2023 CSA summer season! It will be the fourth year in a row and I am struggling to contain my excitement to start receiving weekly boxes of fresh, local produce. Followed quickly by spending time on my deck in the sunshine and brainstorming ways to…

Wedge Salad

As the weather gets warm each year, a crisp cold salad feels supremely refreshing.  At our house this spring/summer of 2022, we owned the tradition of the Wedge Salad.  Serving this many times and looking forward expanding it’s possibilities each time with the changing seasons. Typically iceberg lettuce is not our go to for salads,…

Roasted Cauliflower Nachos

They say that necessity is the mother of invention.  If I believe that to be true – then our necessity was needing to eat dinner and the invention began with wanting cauliflower and seeing a half full jar of queso sauce and the idea of cauliflower nachos was born. I fully know that I’m not…

Caprese Lamb Burger

For over a decade, the traditional caprese flavor combo has been a favorite in our household. It doesn’t matter if it’s the straight-up caprese salad or it’s baked counterpart on a margherita pizza, there is an unmistakably wonderful balance of fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and sliced tomatoes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled…

Roasted Cauliflower with Carrot Puree

When I first started cooking on my own (I’m not going to say how long ago that was), butter was my best friend! Don’t worry – butter and I are still BFF’s in the kitchen, but it feels natural to expand to other fats as well. Where the standard meat and potato meal (with butter)…

Zucchini Lamb Burgers with Celery Slaw

I had grown up knowing that the all American cheese burger was an irreplaceable trademark of summer. Over the last 20-30 years, I’ve seen (and/or created) burgers that are made from so much more than the all beef patty with cheese. There are burgers made of pork, lamb and even salmon; burgers topped with bacon…

Seared Sirloin with Red Chimichuri

As the seasons turn to spring and summer (or in this year’s case, from winter direct to hot summer, then back to winter), I get excited for the thought of fresh herbs and grilled meats…and of course, something new.  As Eric and I were talking the other day and listing out items for dinners for…

Mahi Mahi with Pistachio Mint Pesto

Are you ready to say, “Oh my god….that’s amazing!”? Well, you should be.  This dish warranted that exact OMG face from E with those exact words…This is amazing!   I was gifted a new cookbook for mothers day and promptly went thru and flagged pages of recipes I wanted to try.  For the next few weeks…