Dinner Planner – Week of September 4, 2023

Happy Labor Day Weekend, aka the unofficial end of summer! Some people love the start of the new school year and the structure it brings, and others long for an endless summer with fewer commitments and better weather.  I get it. Hubs and I are taking one last mini trip this weekend to visit friends in Aspen.  The Rocky Mountains are such a magnificent part of the US and I am looking forward to spending time outdoors and having an active weekend.

My latest cooking class has been uploaded!  The theme for September is “Family Dinners” and this is the flexible menu: Chicken Florentine with Spinach, Roasted Salmon over Red Lentils, Warm Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad, Zucchini-Pesto Rice Bake, and Apple Coffee Cake.  I give substitution suggestions for the big allergens and dietary preferences, so even if you’re vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, or grain-free, I have you covered!  Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Roasted Beet Greek Salad with Olive Vinaigrette Recipe

I had a roasted beet Greek salad with olive vinaigrette at a favorite LA restaurant, Jon & Vinny’s, and asked myself, “why didn’t I think of this??” The olive vinaigrette was a great twist (instead of having whole olives in the salad) and I am always trying to find ways to enjoy beets since they’re so good for you. If you hate olives, no big deal. Just omit and add a little more salt to the dressing to taste. You may try some capers instead which are also briny and salty. Since restaurant prices and extra fees are making dining out a very expensive activity, I have been posting more and more restaurant dupes on my social media channels.

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Dinner Planner – Week of August 28, 2023

We just moved Mr. Picky into his first off-campus house and WHOA! it was a lot of work.  The boys were starting from nothing, but they were very organized about setting up the common areas (especially the kitchen) with the help of the moms, of course!  If you take my monthly online cooking class, look out for the September class later this week.  It’s all about healthy family dinners!  I will also hold live “office hours” on Wednesday 8/30 at noon PST if you need help with anything or want to just hang out.  🙂 Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Hatch Chile Spinach Dip Recipe

This dip was something I made up on a recent IG live and I was not sure how it would turn out.  I knew it would be good enough to eat, but I was not prepared for how insanely delicious it was!!  I have made it several times since then and it is a new favorite.  Hatch chiles are in season right now and if you can find them, they are special.  Hatch chiles have a little heat, but they’re also kind of nutty and earthy. But when you roast them, they become almost sweet and smoky.  They are delicious and people buy cases of them right now, roast them, peel and seed them and freeze them to enjoy during the year.Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of August 21, 2023

I hope you are enjoying the last bits of summer!  I know some kids are already back in school and lots of kids are heading back to college.  So much transition is in the air! We had a lovely week on Long Island but now it’s time to bring Mr. Picky back to college.  It’s always a bittersweet time. Here’s your dinner planner for the week:Continue reading

Panzanella with Chickpeas, Tomato Vinaigrette and Parmesan Croutons Recipe

Panzanella is a great way to use up leftover stale bread and you know how I love to NOT waste food! You can use any bread you like – gluten-free, grain-free all work too. It is classic to make panzanella with juicy tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and basil, but you can switch it up during different seasons.  Chickpeas are not a common ingredient in panzanella, but I love adding them to make this a main dish.  Also, the vinaigrette in this recipe is amazing. You can also make a crouton-less and chickpea-less version of this salad + the vinaigrette and use that as a topping for grilled steak, chicken or a side of fish. Just chop up the veg a little smaller! 

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Dinner Planner – Week of August 14, 2023

This week I’ll be at my mom’s house on Long Island with the fam!  We will be doing the usual – packing a lot of people into one house, playing games, making pizza, swimming, going for walks, taking the canoe out, going for Italian ice runs etc etc.  Hubs goes crazy on Italian food like every meal is his last supper LOL. Follow along on Instagram to see how we cook for a crowd! Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Herbed Summer Squash and Potato Torte Recipe

herbed summer squash potato torte

When I see what is circulating on social media and what generates the most views and clicks, it’s not recipes like this.  There isn’t a massive cheese pull or 20 ingredients + 2 sauces. This is just simple, pure food but still flavorful and satisfying.  I love any kind of layered casserole.  It’s not complicated to make, but it’s still impressive enough to serve to guests.  My husband ate this recently and (as usual) said, “Wow!  This is actually really delicious!”  Moral of this story is don’t sleep on these simple, but wonderful recipes!Continue reading