Appetizer Recipes
Arepas
A South American staple, arepas are cornmeal cakes that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They can be stuffed with a variety of ingredients, from cheese to chicken salad, and the ingredient list is short. Three years ago, I tagged along on one of my husband’s business trips to Florida,…
Spiced Pecan Chex Mix
This sweet and savory spin on the classic snack mix is easy to make and hard to resist. Perfect for gift giving too! Why is it nearly impossible to replace a favorite pair of shoes? You know, the shoes that are really comfortable and go with everything, but their near perfection wasnโt apparent until…
How to Make Kimchi
Make kimchi worthy of a Korean kitchen in your kitchen with these easy instructions. The flavor-packed, probiotic-rich condiment will keep for months and can be added to tacos, burgers, eggs, rice, pasta, and grain bowls or enjoyed as a simple side dish. My intro to traditional kimchi-making came in an unexpected way several years…
Classic Chex Party Mix
Making your own Chex mix is easy and will outscore store-bought any day! This variation on the classic mix is a little nuttier and offers several ways to customize according to taste. Plus, it makes a big batch…for which you will likely be grateful! My boys recently had their annual physical at the pediatrician’s office,…
Classic Gazpacho (A toppings bar makes it a meal๏ผor a party!)
A selection of toppings turns this classic summer soup into a filling meal. Simple advance prep makes it ideal for casual entertaining and easy weeknight meals alike, and the flavor improves over time! While living in Spain for six months many years ago, I was told that when the weather gets hot, even a…
Grilled Shishito Peppers (with stovetop option)
Serve these sweet and (almost always!) mild Japanese peppers as a quick, easy, and surprisingly popular appetizer or side dish. Have you ever heard of chili peppers that are mildโฆmost of the time? Such is the case with the shishito pepper, a small, slender sweet pepper that originated in Asia. A year or two ago,…
Slow Roasted Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
With their concentrated savory-sweet flavor, these little bites will transform many a meal, and Iโve included a list of ways we enjoy them. A great way to make use of a bounty of cherry and grape tomatoes, the roasted tomatoes can even be frozen for later use. If you told me that someone secretly…
Snappy Honey Grilled Shrimp
Have you ever wondered what food item is most commonly stolen from grocery stores worldwide? (Stick with me here…I’m going somewhere with this.) The answer surprised me. It’s cheese. In the United States, cheese actually ranks fourth behind meat, candy, and baby formula. (France skewed the global figures.) These stats are one more reason the following…
Spicy Sweet Potatoes with Smoked Paprika Aioli
Packed with flavor and so satisfying โ I could make a meal out of these sweet potatoes. The easy aioli puts them over the top! The mention of great sweet potato fries could lure me to any restaurant. A plateful of these alone could easily be my entire meal. My first taste of this…
Prosciutto-Wrapped Roasted Asparagus
For added convenience, these pretty little bundles of savory deliciousness may be wrapped several hours in advance. Simply cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. In the final months of my second pregnancy, my legs were swollen to a rather extreme degree. My friendsโand sometimes strangersโoften noticed and offered advice based on personal…
Cheesy Cauliflower “Flatbread”
In the past few years, cauliflower has been reinvented in so many ways. Thanks to its low carb count and subtle flavor, this healthy cruciferous vegetable has been successfully morphed into healthy-yet-creamy mashed “potatoes” and surprisingly delicious pizza crust. When my friend Sonali asked me to review her cookbook, Natural Pregnancy Cookbook, one of the first things…
Greek Chicken Meatballs
Nutrient-rich and flavorful, these versatile baked meatballs work well with ground turkey and freeze well too. People often ask me when Iโm going to write a cookbook. Although I have plenty of recipes, I havenโt quite figured out how to pull off a book. My friend, Sonali, has written three cookbooks and has another on…
