Classic chicken roast: just like Grandma’s Sunday dinner

Baking a whole chicken is not something I do often. Believe it or not, it is actually cheaper to buy a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store than it is to buy a whole uncooked chicken, generally. How is that even possible? Here's the only conclusion that makes sense to me: the store must price …

The myth of the perfect mom

Perhaps because raising a child is so all-encompassing and life-changing, the pressure to do it “perfectly” feels equally intense. Being a mom is such an incredible experience. You simply cannot imagine what it will be like until you’ve lived it. At times the rewards of being a mom can feel so much greater than expected, …

Chicken drumsticks with warm spice – mandarin orange sauce

6 chicken legs (drumsticks)2 cloves garlic2 shallots1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil1 Tbsp butter1/2 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp nutmeg (freshly grated)1/4 tsp allspice about 1/2 cup watersalt, to tastejuice from 1-2 mandarin orangesparsley garnish Cut the shallots into small sections, and slice the garlic cloves in half. Place them in a skillet or frying pan together …

Sauteed beet greens with lemon: Super good, super easy, super food

Beets are a vegetable that seem to either be loved or hated. I happen to love them, but I don't think you need to be a beet lover to like beet greens. They are great as tender shoots in a salad, or delicious sauteed as a cooked vegetable. Here's my take on an easy, healthy, …

Melt-in-your-mouth meatballs seasoned with garlic, lemon, and parsley

These meatballs are amazing! This is an adaptation of a recipe I learned from a French lady years ago. I hope you enjoy it. Ingredients 1 1/4 lb ground beef1/2 cup oatmeal ("quick oats")1/3 cup milk (of choice, I used unsweetened almond)1/2 medium onion, diced small2 large cloves garlic, diced small5-6 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped1/2 …

Roasted cauliflower with lemon, garlic, and fresh dill

We had a head of cauliflower in the house that was just calling out to me to be cooked. It lent itself perfectly to this nice roasted cauliflower recipe that I put together. The garlic gives it tons of flavor and the lemon adds a nice, tangy zing. The fresh dill builds the flavor even …

Delicate lemon cake with royal icing roses

Last week my sister came back after having lived abroad for a while, so I had a perfect opportunity to make a cake. What better way to welcome someone home than a homemade cake? For the cake itself I found a lovely vanilla cake recipe and changed this a bit by adding lemon juice and …

Mom and dad need time-outs, too: “me” time for parents

Isn't it funny how our perspectives change over time? I'm telling you: it wasn't that long ago when a month felt much longer. By the way, how is it February already? Now, in my thirties, the seasons seem to come and go much more swiftly than they did even five years ago. Never mind when …