Welcome to 2023, zesters! I don’t know about you, but by the end of last year I was ready for a hard reset. 2022 was one of the best years I’ve had so far, with tons of traveling, lots of friend and family time, and my wedding in France in October. While it was a …
I love risotto. While it sounds like it could be a menu item at a fancy restaurant (and sometimes is), it’s actually very easy to make, and it’s become kind of a weeknight staple for me. You can dress it up a bunch of different ways with various ingredients, spices, herbs, and cheeses. This particular …
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which has gotten me thinking about some of my favorite dishes. Turkey is great, but at least for me, Thanksgiving is all about the sides. Honestly, if my turkey got burnt in the oven or I just forgot about it, I would still have a fabulous dinner and probably …
brussels sprouts with dried cherries and pickled mustard seeds Read More »
When it’s butternut squash season, I definitely don’t go easy on cooking up new recipes with the autumnal fruit. Whether it’s soups, pasta, lasagna, or just some good old roasted squash, I never tire of it and savor the few months they’re overflowing the bins at the grocery store. While I’m no stranger to cooking …
Chickpeas are some of those versatile ingredients that are great by themselves but can also be used in various different recipes. They’re filling and nutritious, and if you adhere to a vegetarian lifestyle, their high protein content makes them an awesome meat replacement. I know chickpeas. what is falafel? Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern …
This hearty lamb ragù with pappardelle is the ultimate Italian comfort food. The sauce packs immense flavor while the ricotta adds a fluffy finish. Topping the dish with fresh spring herbs seals the deal. Ragù for you? It’s a term you have probably seen on many an Italian restaurant menu, but what exactly is ragù. …
When I was younger, one of my favorite comfort meals was broccoli cheddar soup from Panera in a big bread bowl. Yummmm! It always hit the spot on a cold winter’s day. Not to knock Panera, but when I got older and started to pay attention to the ingredients in my favorite foods, I realized …
I know I’ve been kind of on a butternut squash kick lately, but it’s just such a great fall/winter veggie! And when paired with one of my favorite Italian dishes–risotto–it’s even better. This recipe is pretty easy to make; the most important things are roasting the squash and getting the risotto to the right consistency …
With a Mexican flare, these stuffed peppers are like a burrito, but the tortilla is a juicy bell pepper. I love making stuffed peppers as a weeknight meal, because they’re so easy to throw together and are both nutritious and delicious. They’re also the perfect meal if you’re craving your favorite Mexican dish but want …
One of my favorite easy weeknight meals is vegetable risotto. Granted, it takes a bit of time on the stove to get the risotto to the right consistency, but it otherwise takes very little effort and only a few ingredients. This seasonal take on the classic risotto, includes both mushrooms and roasted asparagus. I wanted …