The husband and I both have summer birthdays, one month apart, which means there have been lots of treats and indulgent meals lately. When we’re not in celebration mode, we’ve been opting for healthier fare to help balance things out, and these falafel and hummus bowls have quickly become a new favorite! ...
Entrées
Penne with Quick Green Chile Marinara Sauce
This penne with quick green chile marinara sauce is an old recipe, not only because I first posted it several years ago (in my pre-DSLR days) but also because it has been a family favorite for nearly as long as I can remember. In fact, when I asked my dad about the origins of the recipe (and of its obscure name, “penne al boccalone”), all he could tell me was that he found the recipe in a ...
Chicken and Butternut Squash Chili
Last week I was on a video call with my family, including my adorable baby nephew, and the conversation turned to babies and food preferences, since my nephew has recently started trying solid foods. I asked my parents what I was like at that stage, and of course, they said that I was an avid eater. No surprise there, right?! Squash was one of my favorite foods, and at one point, the bottoms of my ...
Sausage and Peppers with Polenta
Polenta was one of the first things I learned to make when I took an active interest in cooking, and it was basically everything I could have asked for as a college student: easy, cheesy, inexpensive, and versatile. To this day, it’s still one of my go-to recipes when I want something quick and comforting. ...
Mexican-Inspired Hummus Bowls
Earlier this summer, I came up with a recipe to imitate Trader Joe’s cowboy caviar, and I’ve made it three additional times since then. The only downside to making it at home is that it doesn’t keep as long as the store-bought version—and I suppose that’s the natural tradeoff when there are fewer preservatives involved. Since the recipe makes quite a bit, I’ve been finding new uses ...
Bacon Cheeseburger Gnocchi
This summer has been remarkably busy so far—how is it already mid-July?!—but I’ve been doing my best to make the most of it, especially since it’s the last one I’ll be spending in Michigan (fingers crossed for completing my dissertation this next year!). ...
Chipotle-Peach Chicken Salad
This chipotle-peach chicken salad is the first thing I’ve made in the kitchen in two weeks, and I’m not even sure it counts, given how many shortcuts I took. I used rotisserie chicken that I had shredded and frozen weeks ago. Too lazy overheated to turn on the oven, I bought pecans that had already been roasted. ...
Chickpea and Apricot Salad
This will come as a surprise to, well, approximately no one, but wow - wedding planning sure involves a lot of work! Things are slowly starting to move along, but I feel like my approach leaves a lot to be desired in the way of logic and order. ...
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 ...
Three-Cheese Turkey Lasagna
Things have been a little hectic around here lately, as I understand is par for the course when someone in your household is preparing to defend his or her PhD dissertation. The good news? Mr. Cake Pants passed his defense and is now officially Dr. Cake Pants! In the days leading up to (and after) the big day, I’ve been busy supporting him the best way I know how: by cooking and baking all his ...