Lemon-Garlic Aquafaba Dressing Recipe

Little secret – I love using vegan mayo in salad dressings when I want a thick and creamy dressing. I am not a mayo fan otherwise, and I especially do not care for traditional egg-based mayonnaise. It’s too eggy tasting for me.  I’m not trying to yuck on your yum!  But I know a lot of people do not like using mayonnaise for a variety of reasons. Other swaps may include raw cashew butter + water, Greek yogurt, or aquafaba, the liquid leftover from cooking chickpeas.  I shared an aquafaba chocolate mousse recipe recently and now I want to share a totally different way to use this unique ingredient that you have probably thrown away a thousand times:  in salad dressing!Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of June 13, 2022

My baby, affectionately referred to since the inception of this website as Mr. Picky, is graduating high school this weekend!  OMG.  Very emotional week for me.  I am proud of course, excited for his future, and a bit weepy that he will be fleeing the nest in a few months.  I am grateful Hubs and I can take it all in.  

For my monthly cooking class subscribers, I am doing our monthly live zoom on Tuesday at 5:00 pm PT.  Come with all your questions, or just hang out and listen to the conversation.  I’d love to see you!  Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Key Lime Pie Recipe

I eat desserts like Key Lime Pie usually once a week when I go out to a restaurant or if I’m entertaining at home.  Key Lime Pie is one of my absolute favorite go-to spring/summer desserts and I have made it dozens and dozens of times for friends including my husband’s tiki birthday party last month.  Everyone always goes crazy for it and you know what? It is the EASIEST dessert ever.  The only hard part is juicing almost 2 pounds of Key Limes, but I will not tell anyone if you use regular limes.  Key limes are tiny and tart, but not quite as acidic as regular limes.  I’ll be honest, I have made this pie with both types of limes and I cannot tell the difference! Some people swear by bottled Key lime juice, but I have never been a fan of bottled citrus juice.  The big difference in this recipe is that I use Greek yogurt instead of egg yolks and I MUCH prefer this version.Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of June 6, 2022

Mr Picky just came back from 20 days backpacking out in the middle of nowhere with his class and I could not be more excited to have him home.  He requested branzino, roasted cauliflower, roasted asparagus, and grilled artichokes.  Done!  

I have had so many questions recently about when I will resume in-person cooking classes, and unfortunately, I will not be teaching in-person until at least 2023 and even then it will be special occasion classes, not monthly.  There’s no better time than now to join my monthly online cooking classes. They’re great and the same format as my in-person classes.  There are different subscription options, including one where you have access to the ENTIRE library of classes.  It’s a great value and I promise you will learn how to be a better cook! Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Quinoa Salad with Cherries, Almonds, Celery, and Pecorino Recipe

This is one of my favorite salad recipes that I don’t make very often because cherries are in season for 5 minutes a year! It follows a classic formula that I love which is a green + a grain + a seasonal fruit + a cheese + a nut or seed.  It’s simple and easy to switch up.  I usually opt for arugula with fruit since the peppery greens balance the sweetness of the fruit, but I know arugula is not everyone’s favorite and takes some getting used to for kids. I love this salad for a main course lunch or dinner or to bring to a potluck (just bring the dressing in a jar and toss with the salad right before serving.)Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of May 30, 2022

It is probably your last opportunity to take a bootcamp live with me!  I am repeating two very popular bootcamps, Back to Basics AND Meal Planning | Meal Prepping | Batch Cooking, at a time that I think is perfect.  Summer is more relaxed; people may be traveling, but there are fewer commitments, especially for kids. If you know someone who is graduating from college or getting married, either of these bootcamps would be the perfect way to start learning how to cook more at home. If YOU are still struggling cooking at home and not quite feeling your best, take my classes and let me help you! You do NOT have to attend the the classes live, but I do answer questions live during the class and have a supplemental live Q&A session immediately following which is a really valuable perk to taking the classes live. For my community, I want to share a $100 discount on both courses.  Use BB100 for the Basics course and MEAL100 for the Meal Prep course.  There are payment plans available too!  Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette and a Grilled Vegetable Primer

As you know, I am on a mission to get you to live your best, healthiest life.  The way I am going to do that is to help you cook more often at home with whole, minimally processed ingredients.  I am here to show you that making delicious, healthful food is easier than you think!  Recipes on my website can give you a little taste, but taking online classes and bootcamps are where the change happens quickly!  I have two bootcamps starting next week and they will change the game for you, your kids, your grandkids or anyone you care about.  Gift a course to yourself or someone else! You can follow live or on your own time.  For the Meal Prepping | Meal Planning course, use the code MEAL100 for $100 off. For Back to Basics, use the code BB100 for $100 off.  Click on the links to learn more!Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of May 23, 2022

I am offering two bootcamps live next month and they are PERFECT for new cooks, college graduates, and newlyweds especially!  Back to Basics and Meal Planning| Meal Prep are both starting live the week of May 31.  You can OF COURSE watch self-paced on your own time with no expiration date, but many people like the live Q&A feature so they can interact with me and ask specific questions.  The format is a zoom WEBINAR, which means no one sees or hears you, so you can watch in your PJ’s or your birthday suit!  If you would like to gift someone one of my bootcamps, please email Erika [email protected] and she’ll help you out!  For my online community, I always offer a $100 discount. Use code BB100 for the Basics course and MEAL100 for the Meal Prep course.  These are both life-changing courses and will 100% get anyone to be a better, more confident cook and more organized and streamlined in the kitchen!

Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading