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! ...
dairy-free
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 ...
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 ...
Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SameSilkySmoothTaste #CollectiveBias It’s not too early to start counting down the days until the holidays, right? Although fall is by far my favorite season in Michigan and I’m not at all in a hurry to see it turn into winter (my least favorite season in Michigan), I’m already looking ...
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 ...
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. ...
Chocolate Raspberry French Toast Casserole
I’ve spent the past week or so visiting family, and one thing this trip has done—in addition to providing plenty of laughs and an abundance of old stories—is reaffirmed how much I enjoy cooking for loved ones. This is something I don’t get to do very often, since my family, the fiancé, and I all currently live in different states. ...
Mediterranean Rice Pilaf
A few weeks ago, after passing his defense and going from Mr. Cake Pants to Dr. Cake Pants, the fiancé moved to California to start a new job. One of the biggest changes for both of us (in terms of practical matters, anyway) has been making the transition to meal planning and cooking for one. Since I’m finding myself busier than ever, I’m not terribly keen on the idea of making partial recipes and ...
Chocolate Snack Cake with Strawberry Frosting
Over the last few months, I’ve realized that food is my love language. If I want to show my affection or support for someone—a friend, a family member, Dr. Cake Pants, Phoebe, etc.—I turn to food. So naturally, with the most love-centric holiday on the horizon, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to create a special dessert: chocolate snack cake with strawberry frosting! ...