Recent Posts

Thai Red Curry with Chicken and Basil

Thai Red Curry with Chicken and Basil

This easy Thai curry takes only 15 minutes to prep but tastes like you labored all day in the kitchen! This winner of a recipe couples the saltiness of fish sauce with the sour tang of lime juice, all balanced by creamy coconut milk and (more).

Nummy White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Nummy White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These cookies are the perfect balance of the textural crunch of savory macadamia nuts, the sweet hint of creamy white chocolate chips, and the tropical touch of shredded coconut. Even though this recipe yields 2 dozen cookies, these mouthwatering morsels disappear fast in our household! (more).

Beef Chili Like None Other

Beef Chili Like None Other

With this surprising twist of beer, adobo sauce, cinnamon, and jalapeño, this is truly a beef chili like none other. Here, the rich tomato base and spices complement the tender beef and protein-packed beans. It will have you and your guest coming back for more! (more).

Tuscan-Inspired Minestrone Soup

Tuscan-Inspired Minestrone Soup

Tuscany is where I first fell in love with this region’s take on that legendary dish, minestrone soup. Who cannot love the creamy consistency of Italian’s homegrown borlotti beans, the vitamin-packed leaves of lacinato kale, and the gritty texture of that nutty yet savory Parmesan? (more).

Better Than Boxed  Vegetable Broth

Better Than Boxed Vegetable Broth

A staple in every kitchen, vegetable broth, is easy to make and is so much better homemade than with the store-bought variety. Plus, it yields a vegetable purée, which can be added as a thickening agent to add more flavor and body to your soups. (more).

Nutty & Golden Homemade Granola

Nutty & Golden Homemade Granola

This nutty and golden homemade granola got its inspiration from a muesli bar that I was eating one spring morning. It triggered me to mix the perfect combination of oats, honey, butter, nuts, and seeds, making it a staple in our kitchen and hopefully, yours! (more).

My Addictive Oatmeal Combo Cookies

My Addictive Oatmeal Combo Cookies

These cookies are an addiction with their combo of shredded coconut for texture, applesauce for moisture, and sesame seeds for a nutty flavor. Such delights will jumpstart your morning as an accompaniment to your coffee or will cap off your night as an irresistible dessert. (more).

Healthy Snacking Four-Bean Salad

Healthy Snacking Four-Bean Salad

With over 22 grams of fiber and 22 grams of protein per serving, this nutrient-packed salad is a must for vegan and vegetarian eaters and will easily satisfy the average carnivore. Plus, who can resist a good vinaigrette, set off by a punch of pepper? (more).

Party Date Cheese Ball: A Crowd-Pleaser

Party Date Cheese Ball: A Crowd-Pleaser

With my party cheese ball, the sweetness of the coconut date rolls enhances the mild flavor of the goat and cream cheese. And the textural crunch of the pecans offsets the softness of the cheese. Serve with a biscuit and you have an unforgettable crowd-pleaser! (more).

Soul-Nourishing Lentil Soup

Soul-Nourishing Lentil Soup

This hearty, soul-nourishing soup gets its flavor from tender lentils complemented by the natural saltiness of a ham hock and a garnish of Parmesan cheese. An array of mild, sautéed vegetables fills the background, rounding out a subtle burst of earthy flavors. Rich in fiber (more).

Heartwarming White Bean and Smoked Ham Soup

Heartwarming White Bean and Smoked Ham Soup

This heartwarming soup is exceptionally rich in flavor but unbelievably low in fat, as it derives its full body from the stewing of cannellini beans, smoked pork hock, and homemade vegetable broth. Its aroma will fill your home and whet your family’s appetite, making them (more).

Mexican Pozole Soup

Mexican Pozole Soup

This sensational soup fills the home with the flavorful aroma of earthy hominy and smoky chili anchos. The garnish of lemons and radishes lends a textural crunch and tangy note to this unique soup. Note: this soup is mild in heat although using chilies. It (more).

Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies

Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies

This sweet delight is a treat with your morning coffee or a goodie to top off your evening dinner. The rich taste of the butter, combined with the egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, and cornmeal, make this a mouth-watering morsel to have in your repertoire. (more).

Holiday Spiked Apple Cider

Holiday Spiked Apple Cider

This robust, smoky cider has long been a staple in my family’s celebration of the holiday season. Come November, I trek to Trader Joe’s to stock up on their cider as a base. But it’s my mulling of spices that lends a density of flavors. (more).

Honduran Morning Coffee

Honduran Morning Coffee

Here, the traditional cup of Joe is given a twist, with the unexpected complement of allspice and sugar to coffee. This is the customary way coffee was served when I was a Peace Corp Volunteer two decades ago in the coffee producing sector of western (more).

Creamy Basic Vinaigrette (Vegan Too)

Creamy Basic Vinaigrette (Vegan Too)

I found it remarkable that this vinaigrette was so creamy, provided it didn’t have any dairy. What’s more, the sweetness of the honey tempered the pungent garlic, shallots, and red wine vinegar, while the sour tinge of lemon juice added another level of complexity. I (more).

Simple Green Salad

Simple Green Salad

Don’t be fooled by the name, “simple” salad. This recipe is far from mediocre—exuding a burst of flavors—with the dill and black pepper elevating a robustness to your palate and the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese tempering the bitter herbs. Very few ingredients are needed, (more).

A Healthy Twist on Artichoke-Parmesan Dip

A Healthy Twist on Artichoke-Parmesan Dip

This dip has a subtle orchestra of flavors, running from the salty hint of the artichokes and Parmesan cheese to the sour notes of the vinegar marinade. It is perfect in itself and does not need the heavy fat, as added by many others. *Note: (more).

Sopa de Lima (Yucatán Chicken Lime Soup)

Sopa de Lima (Yucatán Chicken Lime Soup)

This adapted, time-honored soup from the Yucatán features a blend of sweet mini peppers, which is accented by a sour tang of freshly squeezed lime juice. Naturally low in carbs and fat, this soup still abounds in flavor and can be made vegetarian and vegan. (more).

Classic Split Pea Soup

Classic Split Pea Soup

This classic, heart-warming soup was a staple in our household to make use of Christmas’s bone-in ham leftovers. But it can be served on any occasion, as this vitamin-rich, protein-packed soup stands out as a star in its own right. Enjoy any time of year! (more).

All-Time Best Banana Nut Muffins (Gluten-Free Too)

All-Time Best Banana Nut Muffins (Gluten-Free Too)

After six batches of poor banana nut muffins, I almost hung up my apron when my persistence paid off. With a burst of sweet bananas and crunchy walnuts in each bite, I now have a go to recipe to make use of the overripe bananas (more).