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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

A 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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Gardening (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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...