I’m kind of a stickler when it comes to rules—rules set by other people, that is. Unfortunately (or perhaps naturally?), over the course of my graduate school career I’ve gotten a bit lax about some of my self-imposed rules (e.g. making the bed every morning, hanging up my clothes every night, washing all the dirty dishes before going to bed, etc.). But you know which Mara-made rule I always abide ...
Appetizers
Roasted Sweet Potato Hummus
The lead-up to Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of year. As a kid, I would spend hours sketching various possible designs for my Jack-o’-lantern, my mom would help brainstorm and create my costume, and my friends and I would swap tips on the best trick-or-treating routes. As I’ve gotten older, my love for Halloween remains, but mostly in a nostalgic sort of way, since my actual ...
Copycat Trader Joe’s Cowboy Caviar
When I was deciding where to go to grad school, I found that the advice I received fell into two different camps: some people urged me to consider the location and general atmosphere of the university, while others insisted that I should only pay attention to the reputation of the program and what it had to offer academically. Ultimately, since I’m not the kind of person who can happily exist in a ...
Fiesta Beer Cheese Pinwheels
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Constellation Brands. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #CervezaCelebration #CollectiveBias Despite growing up in California, where I’ve found that Cinco de Mayo celebrations are, on the whole, a bit more common and a bit rowdier than in the Midwest, my all-time ...
Jaeger Sloppy Joes
Messaging below is intended for ages 21+ and is intended to be enjoyed responsibly, in moderation. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeersAndBuns #CollectiveBias It’s a good thing that I don’t make diet-related New Year’s resolutions, because if I did, I would have broken them about a dozen times in the first week of ...
Whipped Feta Crostini
When I first started hosting dinner parties for friends, I thought it was crucial to make as much of the menu as possible from scratch. As the menus grew more elaborate, however, I found that the preparation started stretching into a full-day event…and then even into the preceding day. Eventually I realized that it’s not about having a 100% from-scratch meal, but rather, it’s about knowing where ...
Butter Chicken Naan Pizza
Years ago, when I received my first Indian cookbook as a gift, I was living by myself and cooking for one. The recipe for butter chicken was among the first I tried, and since it didn’t naturally lend itself to being halved (I can’t be the only one whose leftover half cans of tomato paste languish in the fridge for months, right?), I went all in and made the full amount. One of my friends came ...
Easy Spiced Nuts
Confession: I feel a little silly adding “easy” to this recipe title, because I’m of the opinion that if you’re making spiced nuts that are anything but easy, you’re probably doing it wrong. But having a recipe title with only two words seemed weirdly skimpy to me, so here you have it: “easy spiced nuts”! ...
Lighter Swedish Meatballs
Swedish meatballs were on my radar (and my plate) long before I ever set foot in an IKEA. My mom got the recipe from her sister-in-law, who has Scandinavian ancestry, and it has been a part of her cooking repertoire for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until I started living in an apartment and furnishing it with Klobos and Fjellses and Börjes, however, that I realized that my family does ...
Tzatziki Hummus
Having a routine is often beneficial. Routines provide structure and a certain amount of comfort—those of us with pets or small children know this especially well! But sometimes, routines can turn into ruts, and I find this to be particularly true when it comes to food. In order to prevent food burn-out—like my major aversion to turkey sandwiches, which I mentioned the other week—it’s important to ...