Panzanella Salad with Lemon-Basil Dressing
Hold up! Summer is not over yet. Is it? Well even if it is this Panzanella Salad with grilled veggies and a beautiful grilled lemon-basil dressing is a hit year round. It's a hearty salad, more of a side dish than just a salad, and it won't wilt in the summer heat so it's perfect for a picnic or barbeque if you are lucky enough to squeeze one last one in this Labor Day weekend. Panzanella is a Tuscan inspired 'bread' salad with fresh vegetables where the day-old bread soaks up the ...
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Fresh Fig, Peach and Brie Crostini
It's fig season! And peach season! And crostini season? Well....it's no secret that I love a good crostini. It's my 'go to' for entertaining because you can pile pretty much anything fresh and seasonal on some bread and call it a day. Right? Well almost. This fresh fig, peach and brie crostini dish is the perfect example of how balance is everything and using fresh, seasonal ingredients to make a beautiful bite for the senses is an art in itself. Less is more. It's all ...
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No-Bake Peanut Butter and Honey Oat Bars
Nothing reminds me of home and being a kid more than a peanut butter and honey sandwich. I LOVED them growing up. So as part of my segment for KCRA on Dorm Room Dishes I decided to come with an easy, no-bake treat that had the flavors of a peanut butter and honey sandwich AND that could be made in the microwave. Perfect for a college dorm room, right? Now I'm not normally a microwave kind of cook unless it's reheating something but I have to say these really turned out delicious! ...
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Spicy Garlic and Parmesan Pasta
This is Spicy Garlic and Parmesan Pasta is one of the easiest pasta dishes you could ever make but seriously one of my all time favorites. Something magical happens with the combination of crushed red pepper flakes, basil, and fresh chopped garlic mixed with olive oil and then gently heated. And then when you add that salty, nutty parmesan cheese to the mix it's just out of this world delicious. A combination made in culinary heaven. Best of all it's fast and inexpensive! Which ...
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Tuna fish three ways
There is nothing more fun than taking a simple dish - like tuna fish - and finding new ways to present it and eat it. It's all about options with this tuna trio. I came up with these ideas as part of my cooking segment for KCRA3 on what college kids can make in their dorm room kitchens. Unless things have changed dramatically since I went to college, which is possible, it's all about cheap, quick and easy. Also, tuna fish is a very healthy option for college kids who may be concerned ...
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Back To School Party
Why not kick off the school season the way we do the summer with a back to school party to get the kids excited? It doesn't have to be big. Just your kids and one or two friends that maybe they haven't seen over the summer or a new friend who may be in your class next year! The more important thing is to involve your kids and make it fun and easy by serving a few kid-friendly favorites and letting them help. I grabbed a roll of white wrapping paper and let them make the sign, which ...
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Mac-N-Cheese Bites
These mini bites of mac-n-cheese are hit in our house. Whether it's a snack before soccer practice or served as part of my Back To School Party menu cooking mac-n-cheese in mini-muffin tins seems to bring new excitement to a classic. It's the creamy, cheesy flavors you and your kids crave but with a little crunch from the breadcrumbs and parmesan.
My recipe for these little gems starts with a traditional homemade mac-n-cheese. I freshly grate medium cheddar and white cheddar, but use ...
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