I just made a very important decision about dinner tonight.  You see, I’ve had two pretty healthy meals today, both of which included vegetables and protein.  Okay, it was only one vegetable, but I did have it for both breakfast and lunch, so I’m counting broccoli as two vegetables today.  Either way, I’ve decided that I’ve had enough vegetables today.  And fruit.  And protein.  On top of that, I went to the dentist today and found out that I have no cavities and I do a good job of flossing.  So after all my healthy eating and all that praise I received from my dentist and hygienist, not to mention it being my birthday month, I’m feeling like I should treat myself. Continue reading →

I’ve been seeing pictures of grilled avocados and grilled guacamole all over the place lately and I’ve been dying to try it.  Around here, we like to throw just abut anything on the grill, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to grill avocados, especially since we eat them at least a few times a week. Continue reading →

While living in Sicily, my diet revolved around a few main staples during the warmer months: tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, olive oil, and bread.  I never grew tired of simple dishes like Insalata Caprese and Bruschetta al Pomodoro and I don’t think I ever will.  Each year, as the weather warms up, I start looking forward to tomato season, knowing it will bring plates of layered tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and trays of toasted bread topped with chopped tomato to my table once again. Continue reading →

Food Blog Friday is back and this week I’m featuring some delicious Coconut Bars from Elana’s Pantry.  These moist dessert bars are packed with coconut flavor and made with all natural ingredients.  They are grain and gluten-free and lightly sweetened with honey rather than processed sugar. Continue reading →

I’m joining in on Summer Fest again this year, but I can hardly believe it’s summer.  In some ways, it seems like I just moved back to Fresno, but as the temperatures recently started up into the hundreds, I had flashbacks to last year and realized that this is my second summer here.  I’ve been back here, in the place where I grew up, for more than a year.  Well, it’s definitely starting to feel like home again and I’m happy to be here. Continue reading →

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but there probably hasn’t been a whole lot of “me” showing up in the blog lately.  Sure, I’ve been sharing recipes, might have talked about the weather or the Farmer’s Market a few times, but I’ve been pretty guarded about what I share.  Yes, I’ve mentioned the divorce, and all the moving I’ve done in the past year, but there’s been something else going on with me lately. Continue reading →

I love plain roasted almonds, but sometimes I crave something with a little more pizazz.  Flavored almonds from the store can be good, but they’re often overwhelmingly salty, not to mention expensive.  So, I decided to come up with my own recipe for spiced roasted almonds.  Continue reading →

Most baked dips, while usually delicious, aren’t exactly healthy.  I love a nice creamy baked artichoke dip or a warm pinto bean dip covered with melted cheese, but they aren’t something I feel like I can indulge in all the time.

That’s why I’m so happy I discovered this Baked White Bean Dip with Rosemary and Parmesan from Faith Durand’s new cookbook, Not Your Mother’s Casseroles.  It satisfies my craving for a decadent warm dip, but is healthy enough to enjoy whenever I want.  The dip is a snap to make and uses pantry staples like canned beans, olive oil, and bread crumbs so it’s easy to throw together for unexpected guests or impromptu gatherings. Continue reading →