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 ...
gluten-free
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Cranberry Sweet Potato Quinoa
When we awoke this past Saturday morning, we found the outside world blanketed with a layer of fresh powdery whiteness. With a backdrop of swirling snowflakes, it felt like the perfect day to spend some quality time in the kitchen! Number one on the list of things to make was this colorful cranberry sweet potato quinoa ...
Easy One-Pot Jambalaya
I often watched my parents prepare dinner when I was growing up, and one of the main lessons I learned from them was the importance of being resourceful. Pretty much anyone can pick a recipe and go out to the store to buy the necessary ingredients, but making do with what you have at home requires a pinch of creativity and flexibility. ...
Pesto Caprese Egg Tacos + Third Blogiversary!
One of my favorite things about summer is fresh, homegrown produce. Unfortunately, I’ve got a remarkably brown thumb. I know lots of people say that, but I’ve even killed ivy…by accident. Luckily for me, the boyfriend enjoys and is good at taking care of plants, and his garden is thriving this summer. The most abundant crops so far are tomatoes and basil, which led me to the idea for this quick ...
Tzatziki Potato Salad
Happy Tuesday! I’m posting today instead of yesterday because of the holiday weekend—I was so busy with other things that I didn’t have time to write a post until late last night. And I know, I know…I’m posting a recipe for potato salad the day after the Fourth of July, but in my defense, I firmly believe that potato salad ought to be enjoyed all summer long (if not all year long), rather than ...
Chipotle-Peach Three-Bean Salad
Meals right before and right after trips are generally far from ideal. Before a trip, I usually end up stuffing myself silly with various fruits and vegetables in an effort to use up all the fresh produce in the house. A dinner salad with two whole bell peppers, an apple, a crown of broccoli, and three tomatoes? Pretty typical. When I return from a trip, however, the situation is often much ...
Chipotle-Peach Quinoa Salad
We’re gearing up for summer in my household: I’m brainstorming fruity recipes and barbecue menus, the boyfriend is preparing to plant his garden, and Phoebe is busy shedding her winter coat like whoa. Unfortunately, Michigan weather has other plans, because yesterday…it snowed. ...