If there’s one trick every hostess must to master, it’s how to build a cheese board that will knock guests’ socks off. And the truth is, an incredibly artful cheese board is actually incredibly easy and quick to assemble! In the past couple years I’ve reached the point where I can put a magazine-worthy one […]
Anyone who avoids ingredients like grains, refined sugar, and dairy is pretty familiar with a standard refrain: “Mmm, it’s good…for something that’s grain free!” Or, “Yeah! It’s not bad…for sugar free!” In other words, living with dietary restrictions is sometimes like living in a world of caveats and conditions. In my case, I’ve not been […]
Ever since the beginning of the year, after the hubbub of the holidays calmed down, I have felt reborn in the kitchen. I’ve been cooking up a storm! My renewed interest is mostly due to the fact that our kitchen is so functional now that the renovation is complete, but I’ve also gained more of an […]
If I could only eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, it would be Mexican with no questions asked. I was a huge taco fan decades before #TacoTuesday was a thing, and my adoration for that country’s food has only evolved in recent years since marrying into Ivan’s large and loving Mexican family […]
I have mixed feelings about New Year’s resolutions. I’ve definitely experienced how easy it is to go overboard with January goal-setting, placing unrealistic expectations on myself and eventually feeling like a failure because I can’t possibly overhaul everything at once. Yet undertaken mindfully, the new year can be a convenient time to make small, doable […]
I’ve been making this soup every New Year’s Day for the past several years. According to tradition, eating black-eyed peas on the first day of the year ushers in twelve months of prosperity and good fortune—but even better than that, this detox soup recipe is the perfect light and nourishing antidote to the holiday indulgences […]
Just two more days ’til Christmas! While Santa is greasing the runners on his sleigh and carbo-loading the reindeer for their marathon trek around the globe, here in Toronto (where I’ve landed for a visit with my family) we’re racing around town for all our last-minute supplies. My mom and I always make the rounds […]
I’m not a huge drinker (fun fact: I have never even been drunk!) so it takes a lot to get me excited about a cocktail recipe. It has to be really, really good, and yup, it has to look gorgeous too. After all, we imbibe with our eyes as much as with our tastebuds, do we […]
This post was created in partnership with Truvia. Whenever December arrives, memories start flooding my mind. I have so many fond recollections of holiday seasons past, most of them involving time spent with my mom for our many festive preparations! We’d hit the flower market for pine boughs to adorn the house, pop into the German […]
This post was created in partnership with Bed Bath & Beyond. As life gets busier and busier—and it does seem to be speeding up exponentially, doesn’t it?—the absolute best gift you can give someone is the gift of downtime. But if the loved ones on your holiday shopping list are anything like me, even when they do get some […]
I didn’t used to be a kombucha person. The bubbly probiotic on everyone’s lips these days is certainly an acquired taste. But then, I toured the Health-Ade brewery here in LA, and ever since, I’m a kombucha convert! Getting a peek behind the curtain at how this miracle elixir is made really gave me an appreciation […]
I almost can’t believe I just typed the title of this post. Holiday entertaining is upon us, and I’m feeling a mix of giddy enthusiasm and grit-my-teeth apprehension. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that in in years past, I’ve been issued invitations to guests for cocktail drop-ins, weekend brunches, and other festive to-do’s, only to rescind […]