Smoked Paprika Aioli
This 5-ingredient sauce is made bright and light through the addition of Greek yogurt and lime juice, while two simple spices add singular, smoky flavor. You wonโt believe how easy and versatile it is! My first introduction to paprika came as a young girl while helping my mom make deviled eggs. She always topped…
Simple Vanilla Syrup
A deliciously easy (and economical) way to sweeten homemade iced coffee, lattes, and a variety of other drinks and desserts. For basic simple syrup, simply omit the vanilla. Have you ever added sugar to a glass of iced tea, stirred vigorously to dissolve it, only to find a puddle of semi-dissolved granules at the…
Homemade Seasoned Salt
So often it’s the simple things made with run-of-the-mill pantry items that serve us best in the kitchen. Thanks to their ease, versatility, and great flavor, staples like classic balsamic vinaigrette, basic marinara, homemade Bisquick, and aptly-named “everything” sauce have found their way into many recipes in my kitchen and throughout this blog. An amped up salt fits nicely…
Pineapple Serrano Hummus
I grew up watching the Parade of Roses every New Year’s Day. Flowers have always been a hobby for my mom. She had a greenhouse, an undisputed green thumb, and a knack for arranging flowers in the most beautiful way. I remember being utterly amazed when she told me that all of the parade floats…
Creamy Horseradish Dill Sauce
Bright, herby, and quick to make, this creamy sauce will elevate fish, crab cakes, latkes, baked potatoes and more. Not every actor in a movie can have a starring role. Strong supporting characters are integral to the success of any movie โ or play or television show for that matter. That’s how I view…
Creamy (Healthy) Peanut Butter Dip… and some acceptable “double dipping”
Recipes have a way of evolving over time. Preferences shift, dietary needs change, and we learn from trial and error. Sometimes, we simply have a clever idea. At face value, the following recipe is a simple dip for apples, bananas, pretzels, and more. Mixing peanut butter and maple syrup into a base of Greek yogurt…
Roasted Beet Hummus
Serve this gorgeous show-stopper as a make-ahead appetizer, a satisfying snack, or as a base for an anything-but-boring lunch. When I first laid eyes upon this colorful sister of the traditional middle eastern dip, I was smitten by its vibrant ruby hue. Thanks to the addition of a humble root vegetable, the color is…
Chipotle Lime Crema
Fashioned after a friend’s recipe for lime crema, which she uses as an awesome finishing touch on her chili, this easy sauce adds the smoky heat of a chipotle pepper. The spiced-up version is perfect for chili and most anything based on south-of-the-border flavors. I use this versatile condiment on a couple of recipes…
Shortcut Blender Tomato Sauce
Great tomato sauce is so easy with this simple technique. The recipe may be doubled or halved based on the amount of tomatoes you have. Simply blend larger quantities in batches and choose a pot that accommodates. Freezes well! It never fails. Every summer I anxiously await the first of the red, ripe tomatoes…
Blueberry Lime Jam
Homemade jam is a breeze with these clear, simple instructions ๏ผ evenย true beginners will feel like a pro. And thanks to the hint of lime, the end result is worthy of a specialty store! One of my fondest memories from my grandmother’s dinner table is, silly as it may sound,…
Dinner (and leftovers) out of one 3-ingredient marinade
Minimal ingredients come together with flavor-packed ease in this wholesome, all-in-one meal that can be customized to taste. Effortless summer cooking at its best! So, I did what I have been strictly avoiding for a very long time. I cooked on live TV. The thought of preparing something delicious in two to three…
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
I conducted a family taste test with both versions of this recipe and our favorite store-bought brand, and we were surprised by how much we preferred the fresher taste of the homemade options. I like to prepare the sauce in advance to have on hand for easy dinners of baked or grilled chicken, pork, or…
