appetizers & snacks
4th of July Healthy Menu...
If you are trying to figure out the fireworks of your 4th of July menu and what will make... Read More
Ahi Tuna Salad Lettuce Cu...
The Sears Chef Challenge – Week 1, Cerritos, CA What an exciting weekend! I was selecte... Read More
Asian Turkey Lettuce Wrap...
Perfect for hungry Superbowl guests or a busy weeknight dinner for family, Asian turkey le... Read More
Avocado Basil Dip
Creamy and bright green, this avocado basil dip is terrific for holiday entertaining, afte... Read More
Avocado Hummus Wraps
Like wraps? Here is something new to try. A Wrawp. Smear with hummus, layer in some avocad... Read More
Avocado Pomegranate Guaca...
For the love of avocados, here is a twist on traditional guacamole you’ve got to try... Read More
Avocado Toast with Tomato...
Beautiful California avocados. I eat them every day. Buttery, creamy, healthy, and totally... Read More
Baked Corn Tortilla Strip...
Details, details. The right little garnish can make a simple soup or salad a lot more fun,... Read More
Baked Crab Cakes
A plate of crab cakes with a big green salad and a glass of chilled rose wine make for a w... Read More
Baked Goat Feta Cheese|Me...
For a new twist on the traditional cheese and crackers, try this beautiful Mediterranean-i... Read More
Caprese Skewers with Basi...
Featuring juicy summer tomatoes, creamy mini mozzarella balls and fresh, bright green basi... Read More
Cherry Tomato Tart
Maybe it was the fresh cherry cakes I’d been baking weekly at the request of visiting fr... Read More
Chia Muesli Breakfast Pud...
While I’ve called this chia breakfast pudding, it’s really something called Bi... Read More
Chocolate Chip Granola Bi...
. Who doesn’t love granola. Crunchy, nutty, maple-y, spiced and a great way to start the... Read More
Classic French Mushrooms...
Mushrooms Duxelles – The classic French mixture of finely chopped mushrooms, herbs, garl... Read More
Creamy Deviled Eggs
Musing over my non-traditional Easter menu of roast salmon, I was missing an appetizer. I... Read More
Creamy Golden Hummus
Homemade hummus is a mainstay snack in my kitchen. When I made a batch this week for a vid... Read More
Deviled Egg Lettuce Wraps...
What to do with all of those pretty eggs you’ve hard boiled for Easter? Make egg salad o... Read More
Easy Healthy Party Dips
While the Superbowl is synonymous with great football and must-see commercials, snacks a... Read More
Easy Lemon Hummus
We spent last weekend visiting family and friends in beautiful Colorado. It was so nice to... Read More
Easy Smoked Salmon Dip
A few years ago I posted my recipe for an easy smoked salmon dip. It’s a recipe I make r... Read More
Endive Leaves with Green...
Crisp, refreshing and pleasantly bitter, endive leaves make the perfect palette for herbed... Read More
Fig and Goat Cheese Crost...
With fresh figs at the market and friends in for dinner three nights this past week, I ass... Read More
Gluten-Free Cornbread wit...
With cornbread baking, the aroma wafting from the kitchen was wonderful. Who can resist a... Read More
Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bo...
Here’s a quick bowl I’ve been making recently as an alternative breakfast to m... Read More
Green Mojito Smoothie fro...
Do you love smoothies? I do, and have had one most mornings for the last fifteen years. Sm... Read More
Grilled Artichokes
See that platter of grilled artichokes? After we shot the photos for this post we were hun... Read More
Healthy Protein Smoothies...
Smooth, creamy and bursting with nutrition, smoothies are easy to make for a healthy break... Read More
Herb Roasted Cherry Tomat...
Sweet and rich with concentrated tomato and herbal flavors, these herb roasted cherry toma... Read More
Homemade Cocktail Sauce
This homemade cocktail sauce is quick to make and sure beats anything out of a jar. Smoked... Read More
How to Choose and Cut a W...
Watermelons are the quintessential summer refresher. And since watermelons are more than 9... Read More
How to Make Perfect Hard...
Frustrated by hard boiled eggs that are hard to peel then look like a train wreck? Here is... Read More
How to Toast Pumpkin Seed...
How to toast pumpkin seeds. Such a simple thing. So tasty. And do you know good for you t... Read More
Ingredients A-Z: Artichok...
Artichokes – the vegetable version of a pinecone. My thanks to the brave soul who first... Read More
July 4th Healthy Menu Pla...
If you are trying to figure out the fireworks of your holiday menu and what will make it s... Read More
Maple Glazed Pecans
Crunchy, rich, and lightly sweet with warm spices. From breakfast through afternoon snacks... Read More
Mint and Melon Kabobs
With a wide variety of melons at the market, you know the end of summer is near. Their jui... Read More
Nectarine and Goat Cheese...
Nectarines are beautiful. My favorite of the stone fruits. Big burgundy baseballs of summe... Read More
Not-ella Carob Butter | T...
If you suffer from migraine headaches, vertigo or Meniere’s Disease, chocolate migh... Read More
Parmesan Gougeres Cheese...
The irresistible French cheese puffs called gougeres (goo-zhare). They are great with a g... Read More
Pomegranate Seeds and a D...
A friend recently offered me fresh pomegranates off of her overflowing tree. What a gift!... Read More
Quick and Creamy Guacamol...
Cool and smooth, this creamy guacamole dip whips up fast in a food processor for a healthy... Read More
Rainbow Vegetable Spring...
Whether you call them vegetable spring rolls or summer rolls, these little vegetable-fille... Read More
Roasted Garlic Shrimp
It was not until this weekend that I thought to share this recipe with you. One I have use... Read More
Roasted Maple Granola
After years of baking boatloads of homemade maple granola for my family, friends and clien... Read More
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus...
Don’t labor in the kitchen on Labor Day. Make this roasted red bell pepper hummus ahead... Read More
Rosemary Maple Roasted Ca...
This holiday season, share a gift from your kitchen – rosemary maple roasted cashews... Read More
Smoked Salmon Deviled Egg...
Creamy, tangy, eggy bites of deliciousness. Deviled eggs and I go way back. So much, my mo... Read More
Steamed Artichokes with L...
Steamed artichokes with dipping sauce, one of my standard friends-are-coming-for-dinner ap... Read More
Stuffed Mushrooms with Su...
Stuffed mushrooms are a quick way to quiet growling stomachs while you are getting dinner... Read More
Stuffed Portobello Mushro...
Mushrooms. I’m crazy about their rich, meaty taste. When I learned about the fifth taste... Read More
Summer Gazpacho Tomato So...
Summer in a bowl. Take the edge off of summer’s heat with a chilled, refreshing bowl of... Read More
Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pe...
Our friend and fellow photographer, Ron Goldman, has been growing organic heirloom tomatoe... Read More
The Best Gluten Free Bana...
This Mother’s Day, remembering my mom and all of the baking we did together, I decided t... Read More
Watermelon Goat Cheese Ap...
Watermelon, the essential summer refresher teams up with creamy goat cheese and crisp cucu... Read More
Zucchini Applesauce Muffi...
Zucchini in muffins? Yes! Zucchini applesauce muffins. If the thought of that throws your... Read More
Zucchini Roll Ups with Go...
Creamy, bite sized vegetable bombs. When my neighbors kids wolfed these down for an aftern... Read More