When it comes to eating al fresco during the dog days of summer, you have to be careful — the dishes have to be refreshing enough to not weigh you down, served cold or at room temperature to offset the blazing heat, and casual enough to match the laid-back, barefoot vibe. So when we heard […]
Although kale salads could probably win the prize for “trendiest food of 2014,” when I stumble across a really great one, I can’t help but become obsessed. A couple weeks ago, it happened again at the Mother’s Day brunch that we hosted at my house with Minted. Word of Mouth prepared the mouthwatering spread, and […]
I’ve finally faced the facts that I, for one, cannot live on liquids alone (sayonara, juice cleanse!)… but I do think there’s something to be said about giving our bodies a digestive break and tapping into the healing properties of a liquid meal once in a while. Of course, when temps are as chilly as […]
Next in our 12 Tastes of Christmas Series, I’m honored to welcome one of my very favorite chefs and cookbook authors, Jane Coxwell. If you caught our “Entertaining With” feature on Jane and her effortless style a few months ago, you probably remember that she also happens to be the personal chef for one very chic DVF […]
Let’s face it: salad’s can be brimming-with-flavor; the perfect vessels for creative ingredient combinations… or they can be, well, just salads. I consider it a personal challenge to make mine the former, and I truly believe that an interesting salad can be a show-stopping first-course on the holiday table. For the “Snowed-In Dinner Party” we threw with […]
These days, there’s nothing I’d rather have for lunch than a hearty bowl of soup… I can’t get enough! But I also want that soup to be easy to throw together, packed full of nutrition and of course, majorly satisfying. This tomato, vegetable and bean version is topped with homemade pesto and perfectly fits the […]
Last night I kicked off a little menu planning for some holiday gatherings that are already popping up on my calendar: an open-house style party, family celebrations and of course our team’s annual holiday fête. When it comes to this crazy festive time of year, I require a lot from my hors d’oeuvres: they need […]
There’s something so comforting about a warm salad piled high with roasted tomatoes, beans and potatoes. It’s abundantly hearty and satisfying, the perfect meal for a cold Fall evening. And the fresh herbs make it even more so, bringing it to another level of rustic, tasty deliciousness! For as much hearty satisfaction as this salad […]
Ladies and gentleman, please give a warm welcome to the latest addition to our contributor team: Sarah Yates of A House in the Hills. We’re thrilled to have Sarah joining us every other week to share her gorgeous vegan, vegetable heavy, seasonal recipes… plus, she’ll be focusing on the health and nutritional benefits associated with […]
How are everyone’s weeks so far? It’s one of those Tuesdays that kind of feels like a Thursday because so much has already been crammed into the last two days… but I guess that means it’s been productive, right? However if you are already looking towards this weekend’s plans, this grilled corn salsa should definitely factor […]
Sometimes the biggest mistakes in the kitchen can lead to the greatest creations. Last week, I chopped up some veggies I had on hand and tossed them with tons of lime for what I thought would make a perfect lunch salad. As it turned out, it was a little too much lime (which I never knew […]
haloumi -n :: a salty white sheep or cow’s milk cheese from Greece or Turkey, usually eaten grilled. Also defined as: pure, unadulterated deliciousness. I typically see haloumi baked or grilled on restaurant menus which, for some reason, never appealed to me that much. But one night when we were at dinner in Aspen, I ordered the […]
We’re hosting a little poolside BBQ for the Fourth this year, and I’m working up a menu made for grazing over the course of an afternoon filled with sparkling rosé and cider beer. I love that these crostini topped with fresh ricotta and blueberry chutney give a nod to patriotism in red, white & blue, […]
Shishito peppers just might be my favorite summertime appetizer. They seem fancy because they’re on so many restaurant menus these days, but really, they couldn’t be easier to make! Toss them with a little olive oil, salt & pepper, and roast them until blistering. You can stop there (maybe toss them with a little soy sauce), […]
If I had to choose just one recipe to represent this summer so far… this sriracha-spiked street corn would be it. Mainly because I can’t stop making (and eating) it: for lunches, dinners, happy hours, and barbecues, and I typically make a solemn promise to several guests that I’ll share the recipe on the blog. […]
Last night, I went to an Austin Film Festival screening of Spinning Plates with my mom. It was a documentary about three wildly different restaurants, their incredible owners and the unexpected commonalities between them. Seriously one of my favorite films of the year, and I was amazed at how I took something different away from […]
I have a theory that the frittata is, quite possibly, the most versatile dish on the planet. It’s equally perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there’s really no better way to use up any squash, onion, bell pepper or herb languishing in the vegetable drawer. At the Mother’s Day brunch we threw with Hayneedle last […]
Yes, it’s true that I posted a different salsa recipe last Tuesday…and it’s also true that I took this photo after a glass and a half of pinot grigio before we kicked off a rousing game of Catchphrase with some friends last night (yeah…slightly out-of-focus.) But this smoky avocado and mango salsa was just too incredibly […]
It’s true: I’m on a major health kick right now. ‘Tis the season to embrace light, fresh, veggie-driven meals that make me want to pull on my tennis shoes for an after-dinner stroll (instead of curling up under the covers for a Bachelorette marathon… which is so 2 months ago.) I picked up Gwyneth’s new […]
How many of y’all go as crazy as I do for those crunchy candied walnuts that are in so many great restaurant salads… or constantly buy them from the cheese counter at the grocery to accompany appetizers? Well, betcha didn’t know that it’s just as easy to make your own at home, and dare I […]