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- Fall garden tips – time to plan your North Texas crops
It’s time to start planting your fall garden! Gardening is my second favorite activity (to cooking). There is nothing like deciding what to have for dinner and heading into my front yard to pluck the ingredients. My kids like to join in too — they love to try each kind of lettuce and then spit it out and tell me it’s gross (joke’s on them- they’re trying it!). They especially adore pulling carrots they’ve planted and … Read more - Basic lasagna with garden veggies
- Sweet rum limeade
This sweet rum limeade is one of my favorite recent drinks I’ve concocted. I have been seeing Brazilian lemonade all over Tik Tok lately and have been wanting to try it, but I was in the mood for something easy that didn’t require a blender, so I put together this basic three ingredient cocktail instead. Rum limeade, for two:3 oz dark rum (or rum of choice — not flavored or spiced)Juice of two large limesTwo tablespoons … Read more - Fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls
Everyone loves homemade cinnamon rolls. While the kind that pop out of the can are tasty, nothing can beat made-from-scratch, hand-rolled, fresh from the oven homemade cinnamon rolls. These are particularly special because I made them from a simple French bread recipe, so the dough isn’t sweet and cuts through the sweetness of cinnamon sugar filling and frosting just right. All four members of my household were sick this weekend, so all of our plans went … Read more - Gluten-free Tuscan Peasant Soup with Sausage
This Tuscan peasant soup is a version of a classic dish found in Marcella Hazan’s “Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking”. I received a copy from my sister-in-law for my birthday a couple of years ago and spent a week of reading it cover to cover. It’s an amazing cookbook, especially if you are a cookbook fangirl like I am. One recipe stuck out to me — the Tuscan Peasant Soup With Cabbage and Beans, or, Aquacotta. … Read more - Chardonnay Chicken
This chardonnay chicken recipe is super easy and is just the thing to fancy-up a regular weeknight meal. I used a chardonnay gifted to me by Prescription Vineyards and chicken from Omaha Steaks and the combo was perfect (we drank the chardonnay with the chicken also and that was even better). Here’s how to make this simple recipe: Slice a red onion thinly and place rounds of it on the bottom of a greased baking dish. … Read more - Taylor Swift listening party menu ideas
If you haven’t had a Taylor Swift listening party yet (because it was at midnight and you have a job), you are probably planning to listen to Midnights within the next day or two. Every good listening party needs a good menu. Here are a few ideas to make the evening even more magical (although with a new Taylor Swift album that may not be possible). To eat: To drink: - Brown Butter Banana Bread
This brown butter banana bread is a decadent morning treat. If you’ve been saving up ripe bananas in the freezer, this is your reminder to use them! I used three frozen bananas and brown butter — yep, brown butter — alongside brown sugar, cake flour, vanilla bean paste and chocolate chips for this scrumptious version of the classic banana bread. I am a new brown butter convert, and if you haven’t used it in a baked … Read more - Basic Chocolate Cake Donuts
Donuts on Sunday morning are a must sometimes (especially chocolate cake donuts). My kids beg for them every week, but sometimes I’d like to get in the kitchen instead of sending them out with their dad for the baked goods. This morning, I settled in to make these basic chocolate cake donuts with my favorite donut pan and a good cup of coffee. This recipe is super basic, but I did add chocolate chips for a … Read more - Fall ratatouille with sweet potatoes and herbs
A slightly different take on this traditional French veggie dish —more herbs, more sauce. - Pumpkin ricotta caprese appetizers two ways
This pumpkin ricotta version of caprese with sausage is a truly versatile appetizer. If you aren’t a fan of pumpkin, you can omit that ingredient, but this is a savory pumpkin dish that isn’t too “pumpkin-y.” The pumpkin and ricotta combine perfectly with the ample garlic and lemon juice cut the sweetness the pumpkin lends to the ricotta mixture. The sausage adds a ton of flavor and the cherry tomato on top is…well, the cherry on … Read more - Pumpkin parfait with white chocolate
Who doesn’t love a good pumpkin parfait dessert? This white chocolate pumpkin parfait is lighter in flavor than pumpkin pie, lighter overall than a pumpkin cheesecake, but equally as indulgent as both of those desserts. This is easier to make than most desserts. It’s no-bake, and includes one of my favorite short cuts — boxed pudding mix. I also add two kinds of baking extracts for extra flavor, vanilla and almond. A touch of sea salt … Read more - Pesto sausage lasagna with homemade sauce (and tons of herbs)
This pesto sausage lasagna is definitely a bit more complicated than my usual recipes, but still not too difficult! I wanted to try my hand at the dish and I had mountains of herbs to use, so I put together a pesto sauce to mix into the meat mixture. I also used Marcela Hazan’s sauce technique, just with different proportions. If I were going to improve this recipe I’d say increase the sauce by another 1/3 … Read more - Negroni cocktail with honey and rosemary
A Negroni is one of those classic cocktails that doesn’t really need improvements, but I love to experiment and came up with a version I like. This Negroni cocktail has some sweetness, subs sweet vermouth for a dry Sauvignon blanc or vermouth, and has the added flavors of rosemary and lime to bridge the gap between summer and fall cocktail season. This is the perfect drink for sitting on the porch at dusk listening to the … Read more - Edible Crops to Plant in Your Fall GardenIt’s time to start planting your fall garden! Gardening is my second favorite activity (to cooking). There is nothing like deciding what to have for dinner and heading into my front yard to pluck the ingredients. My kids like to join in too — they love to try each kind of lettuce and then spit it out and tell me it’s gross (joke’s on them- they’re trying it!). They especially adore pulling carrots they’ve planted and … Read more
- The best chocolate brownies with hidden veggies
Brownies are asked for all the time in my house. It is difficult to get just the right combo of chewiness and fluffiness – the ratios have to be just right to get them how you like them. I have probably made 20 different brownie recipes and experimented with several of my own. These brownies are a little chewy, a little cakey, very moist, and has a sweet and saltiness I love. It also includes my … Read more - School lunch: pack what they will eat
Sarah McClellan-Brandt A slightly different version of this article originally ran in the Fort Worth Business Press. School lunch has come a long way since the rectangular pizza slices and marshmallow Snoballs of my youth in the 80’s and 90’s. Schools try to make the meals balanced and offer a much wider range of choices. But that doesn’t help my household, as I have been blessed with the pickiest eaters on the face of the earth … Read more - Best burger recipe
This burger recipe has been our favorite for years. I’ll tell you upfront, the secret ingredient is the cumin. It’s not a super-common ingredient for a hamburger but it’s not so off-the-wall that you’d taste it and think it’s weird, but just different enough to make you ask what it is. This burger recipe is super easy: just mix the eggs and spices with the meat and grill how you like it. Whether or not you … Read more - Mezcal Margarita
Craving a margarita but fancier? Look no further than the Mezarita. That’s short for a Mezcal margarita (but spicy). A friend and I made this one a little special with the addition of cilantro lime syrup, which really took the flavor up a notch! Recipe is below, but here is a how-to video: For the syrup: Boil one cup of water, 1/4 cup lime juice, one cup of sugar and about a cup to a cup … Read more - Vesper martini with lemon and lavenderI’ve been thinking about making this lavender lemon vesper martini for awhile. I’ve wanted to make a vesper martini since I tried one at a local restaurant in January (when I first fell in love with Lillet). I finally put one together, with a couple of twists. I used Empress gin, added about a tablespoon of Meyer lemon juice, and added some garden lavender along with some ground cooking grade lavender. I also upped the amount … Read more
- Five cookbooks everyone needs in their kitchen
A slightly different version of this originally ran in the Fort Worth Business Press. A good cookbook is like a good friend. It’s always there when you need it, and it gives you great recipes. Well, I hope you have friends who give you recipes. Everyone has favorites, but there are cookbooks everyone needs. One of the most common reasons for ordering takeout or not cooking meals at home is being tired of your regular rotation of … Read more - Top three after-work cocktail ideas
Note: A slightly different version of this first ran in the Fort Worth Business Press on May 5, 2022. A classic after-work cocktail is a magical thing. It can be the gateway between a rough day at work and a lovely evening, and when you work from home, it can act as the separator between your desk and your couch. Once you’ve made yourself a deliciously crafted after-work cocktail (or asked someone else to), you will … Read more - Brussels sprout salad
There is a restaurant near my house (if you are local you will know Pacific Table ) that makes the best, BEST, Brussels sprout salad. I made my own version at home, and while it pales in comparison, was my favorite meal this week. I’m pretty sure there is no ginger in the restaurant version, but I felt like it worked. In this how-to video (also posted below) I forgot to mention that you’ll need at least … Read more - Pulled BBQ Pork
This pulled BBQ pork is super easy, super versatile and will make your house smell amazing all day. All you have to do is slow-cook it in the oven for up to 12 hours and I do it overnight specifically so I’ll have weird meat dreams and wake up to the scent of heaven. This dish can be used on sandwiches, salads, grain bowls, or put as a main dish with a side of rice or … Read more - Tangy White Bean Salad
This bean salad is exactly what a summer barbecue or cookout needs. It’s good warm or cold, packs creaminess from the white beans, crunch and sharpness from the onion and bell pepper, and flavors galore. The “secret” ingredient is horseradish, though this salad wouldn’t be the same without the added complexity from honey, white wine vinegar, mustard, green olives and peperoncini. How to make this bean salad This salad is pretty easy, but does take a … Read more - Watermelon salad
This watermelon salad is so easy I can’t believe I don’t make it more. It’s by far my favorite way to use watermelon when it’s in season. It’s crisp, sweet and savory, and has both crunch and creaminess. Since watermelon is super healthy, it’s the perfect side dish for summer cookouts (especially if you need to balance a French fry addiction like I do). How to make watermelon salad Just chop about four cups of watermelon … Read more - Best burger recipeThis burger recipe has been our favorite for years. I’ll tell you upfront, the secret ingredient is the cumin. It’s not a super-common ingredient for a hamburger but it’s not so off-the-wall that you’d taste it and think it’s weird, but just different enough to make you ask what it is. This burger recipe is super easy: just mix the eggs and spices with the meat and grill how you like it. Whether or not you … Read more
- Lemon Upside-Down Cake
Lemon might be the most versatile flavor of all time, which is why I altered my citrus upside down cake to be more lemon-forward and created this lemon upside-down cake. I love all citrus — blood oranges, lemons, Meyer lemons, Cara Cara oranges, juicy limes, raspberry oranges (which are really just blood oranges but I swear they taste more delicate), minneolas, mandarins, and even your run of the mill naval orange are all on my cravings … Read more - Coffee MartiniA long day at a desk sometimes calls for something with a little more pick up at 5 p.m. than a glass of wine, like a coffee martini. Coffee-based cocktails comes in handy when you’re a little tired but still want to party. A little booze, a little caffeine, a little sugar, a lot of flavor. How to make the coffee martini This drink is fairly simple. There’s no squeezing of fruit or muddling of herbs. … Read more
- Vesper martini with lemon and lavender
I’ve been thinking about making this lavender lemon vesper martini for awhile. I’ve wanted to make a vesper martini since I tried one at a local restaurant in January (when I first fell in love with Lillet). I finally put one together, with a couple of twists. I used Empress gin, added about a tablespoon of Meyer lemon juice, and added some garden lavender along with some ground cooking grade lavender. I also upped the amount … Read more - Leek and potato soup with garlic
Leek and potato soup is super simple, nourishing, and easy to make. There is something so soothing and perfect about a simple soup. This one is the perfect combo of spring veggies and starchy potatoes, and can make a great side dish or a meal in itself. If you really want to jazz it up, you can add some chili flakes or shredded chicken. Here’s how to make it: What you’ll need for leek and potato … Read more - Easy Shepherd’s Pie
This easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe is one of our favorite dinners. It doesn’t take long to make, it’s filling, and it’s healthy. I don’t use the traditional flour thickener, but I do add a bit of cream to thicken the filling. If you have extra herbs experiment with them in this recipe! You can use almost anything from the garden in this one — make it your own! Chives, parsley, marjoram, or even oregano or basil … Read more - Frittata with broccoli and pancetta
A frittata is maybe the easiest way to make a fancy breakfast. They are so easy and so good. Recently I discovered that you can cook a frittata in one pan too, which is a game changer over here (I’m all about less cleanup). I use a seasoned cast iron skillet similar to this one for this recipe. I used broccoli, pancetta and goat cheese for this because that’s what I had on hand. You can … Read more - The perfect morning muffins
What could be better than coffee and a muffin? There are not that many combos that are better. These muffins are gluten-free and made with buckwheat, oats and raisins. Recipe below: Makes 12 standard size muffins:1/2 c gluten free flour (I use @pillsburybaking)1 cup old fashioned oats1/2 c. Buckwheat flour (I used @bobsredmill)1/2 c. Ground flax seed1/2 cup raw or coarse sugar1/4 tsp sea salt1 tsp. Baking soda1.5 tsp cinnamon (I use Vietnamese cinnamon and it … Read more - Edible Crops to Plant in Your Yard Now – the Top 5Gardening (mostly edible crops) is my second favorite activity (to cooking). There is nothing like deciding what to have for dinner and heading into my front yard to pluck the ingredients. My kids like to join in too — they love to try each kind of lettuce and then spit it out and tell me it’s gross (joke’s on them- they’re trying it!). They especially adore pulling carrots they’ve planted and helping me pick green beans, … Read more
- Easy Chili with Cocoa
Chocolate is amazing. It has antioxidant properties and can reduce inflammation, among other health benefits. But most of all, it tastes good — even in savory dishes like chili. This easy chili with cocoa is no exception. Just two tablespoons of regular cocoa powder transforms a normal stew into something with a rich, deep flavor you just can’t get from a baggie of chili mix from the store. How to make easy chili with cocoa Below … Read more - Orange Upside-Down Cake
If you’ve followed this blog for long, you know I’m obsessed with citrus. I’ve wanted to create a winter citrus cake for awhile, and this orange upside-down cake proves it. I love citrus. At night if I’m making a cocktail, more often than not it has a whole lemon and at least half an orange juiced in it. And in the winter, the citrus is so good and there are so many varieties. Blood oranges, lemons, … Read more - Pineapple rum cocktail with whipped cream
This pineapple rum cocktail is something I put together while I was researching foods from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and I stumbled on this gorgeous concoction from Fruteria Cano and knew it had just inspired a simple but fun cocktail recipe. I stumbled on this gorgeous concoction from Fruteria Cano. I decided to use rum (although it would make a great mocktail recipe too, just omit the rum and sub in 1/4 tsp. … Read more - Corn Dog Bites (Gluten-Free)
Corn dog bites are an easy, fun way to bring certain events home if you can’t get out or if you just want to feel like you’re having fair-food. If you live in Fort Worth you know that the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo started this weekend. It is a much-anticipated, highly-attended event here, not just for the rodeo, but for the food. We weren’t able to make it on opening weekend this year, so … Read more - Meatball Soup with Asian Flavors and Bok Choy
Meatball soup with asian flavors and bok choy is an easy, customizable winter meal that is filling, healthy and flavorful. If you’ve followed me for long you know I love soups. Chicken soup, soups with Italian flavors, pumpkin soup and several varieties of vegetable soups have populated my Instagram feed. This one is a family favorite because you can switch it up to include noodles or rice, or even wontons if you want. If you’re in … Read more - Gluten-free Tuscan Peasant Soup with SausageWhen my sister-in-law first gifted me a copy of Marcella Hazan’s “Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking” for my birthday, I spent a week of reading it cover to cover. It’s an amazing cookbook, especially if you are a cookbook fangirl like I am. One recipe stuck out to me — the Tuscan Peasant Soup With Cabbage and Beans, or, Aquacotta. It’s the perfect post-holiday meal for when you’re tired of the richness of December food and … Read more
- Super Simple Baking For Kids: A Review
My seven-year-old, Ellie, was lucky enough to be gifted Super Simple Baking For Kids by Charity Mathews for Christmas (thank you Aunt Ali!). Naturally, we had to try it out this week. First, we skimmed the recipes. She initially wanted to try the “big pretzel.” However, after looking at the rest of the recipes, we settled on our first attempt being the chocolate chip cookie. We made this decision because (direct Ellie quote) “Everyone needs to … Read more - Holiday Cocktails on my top 5 list for New Year’s
New Year’s is coming and we all know that means one more round of holiday cocktails. If you are like me, New Year’s Eve is a favorite holiday. I love this holiday for its simplicity — no gifts, no feasts, no wild traditions, just good snacks, good friends and, most importantly, good booze. Champagne is an old stand-by for this holiday but sometimes you just want to punch it up a bit and have something truly … Read more - Gluten-free cinnamon scones
It’s rare that I come up with a recipe in the pastry or bread category that comes out perfect the first time. Now, this is a pretty basic gluten-free cinnamon scones recipe, but I altered the ratios of butter, cream and yogurt and played with the spices and extracts for a flavor I knew I’d love. These scones came out perfect… biscuit-y without being too crumbly, the perfect dryness of a scone with enough moisture to … Read more - Spirulina smoothie with mango and grassfed whey
This spirulina smoothie is a trick I have for getting back on track after a day of over-indulging. Today, we are craving something extra healthy since we’ve just indulged to the max with holiday treats. Cookies, cakes, salty ham, and all the other rich foods we’ve been eating this week have taken their toll! Why spirulina? Smoothies are not something I make a lot, but they really do help get in nutrients and de-bloating agents when … Read more - Vodka herb-infused cocktail: Thyme n’ Lime
I’ve been wanting to make herb-infused vodka for awhile now and finally tried it with some excess thyme that lives in my garden. Herbs are so fun to use in different ways, and if you have a garden you know you can really have a lot of them! I strained it after three days and it really made a nice, subtle, earthy difference in the flavor of this cocktail, which is kind of a limey, peachy, … Read more - Green chili and eggs – a frittata recipe
Green chili and eggs to start the day off right! - Sidecar cocktail with pomegranate
Occasionally a brand contacts me with a product so good, I can’t help but to write about it. This is one off those occasions, and this pomegranate sidecar wouldn’t have been as great as it was without Molassity’s pomegranate molasses. The molasses added flavor, tartness, color, and depth to this cocktail. This cocktail is a classic, and adding pomegranate flavor gave it a nice holiday twist. Brandy cocktails always mean the holidays to me — there … Read more - Lamb tacos with vermouth-soaked chickpeas
These lamb tacos are exceptionally tasty and simple.