Kitchen Featured Recipes

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we gather, laugh, cry, eat, drink, tell stories. Growing up I was blessed to have two nanas who made sure a homemade meal was always on the table when you visited. A creation crafted in the kitchen, good or bad, warms your soul and feeds your heart. I lost both of my nanas early in life, so I could never properly learn all their specialties. I do have a few. I make sure to honor them as is, but also recreate them with my flavor.

I learned much of what I know on my own starting in the college days. I figured, no one is going to cook for me, so I have to learn to fend for myself. Honestly, my first meal I cooked in the dorm was romen noodles! If you can boil water, you can do anything! I love testing other family and friends recipes and put a twist on them. There is no greater satisfaction than to cater to guests, fill their bellies, and make sure they feel the love in the food.

My partner and I are blessed with two amazing kids. I made sure to make all of their baby food and now it come full circle. They too love being in the kitchen with me. That’s what it is all about: food, family, and fun. I hope you get inspired to try some of the recipes out yourself. Make it a family activity and let’s have some fun in the kitchen together.

Newest Recipe Posts

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SPICE UP YOUR PUMPKIN BREAD
SPICE UP YOUR PUMPKIN BREAD

Fall isn’t complete until you’ve filled the kitchen with the smell of fresh baked bread. Oh and wait, bread with the aromas of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. What makes this bread hit an even higher note is the gooey, sweet, spiced topping that drizzles down the sides. This will not only check off the dessert list, but even more versatile than you think.

OMG PUMPKINS FOR ME
OMG PUMPKINS FOR ME

There is nothing more tasty than baking your favorite pumpkin flavored holiday treat with the freshest, most important ingredient. Pumpkin puree is smooth, creamy, and so easy to make. But just remember one thing, it's what's on the inside of the pumpkin that matters most, you'll see why.

Past Recipe Posts

 
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SUMMER-LIKE SPROUT SALAD
SUMMER-LIKE SPROUT SALAD

If you’re looking for an easy, bright, light, crisp, summer-like salad in the middle of winter, look no further. Ditch the lettuce and bring on the brussels! Brussel sprouts are a perfect vessel for a healthy, crunchy salad. Gone are the days when your grandparents cooked them until they were soggy. This salad will unify the bitter, the sweet, the nutty, the salty, and the citrus. Recently I’ve been obsessed by this salad and vinaigrette and find myself making it weekly for lunch. If you love to prep lunches for the week, you can make this in less than 20 minutes and will last you three to four days!

THYME FOR TOMATO SOUP
THYME FOR TOMATO SOUP

During the cold winter months, tomato soup is one of those dishes that comes to mind to comfort and warm the soul. As a boy, canned tomato soup was always an option in our pantry. So naturally as an adult who loves to cook, I made sure to create a recipe that elevates the classic for my family. Off season tomatoes can be bland, so I have a way of bringing out their flavor and adding a natural sweetener to the dish. It is the perfect balance of acidity, to sweetness, to spice. This is a healthy, delicious recipe the whole family can enjoy. My daughter couldn't get enough and loved dipping her crisp in the soup to combine that salty, herb infused cheese with the bright flavor of the tomato.

HOMEMADE CHICKEN STOCK
HOMEMADE CHICKEN STOCK

Chicken stock is one of those key ingredients used in so many recipes. Soups, gravy, risotto, stews, and more. Sure it is easy to buy the ready made cans at the store, but the flavor is bland and can be full of sodium. This easy "how to video" will elevate your next dish and one batch will last you months! It is a one pot drop recipe that you'll be glad you tried. I have some great tips on how to make it on the dime by saving scraps and containers.

BOOST YOUR BREAKFAST
BOOST YOUR BREAKFAST

Kick start your day with a delicious smoothie packed with the power to energize you all day. We need to compare our body's to an engine and fuel that machine to run smoothly today, tomorrow, and beyond. This smoothie is creamy, satisfying, healthy, delicious, and will keep you full for hours. Best part about it, you can limit it to 340 healthy calories! This is my breakfast every single morning before I hit the gym. It not only prepares my muscles, but helps them to recover quicker. It's great for digestion, bones, joints, skin, hair, nails, and regulate blood sugar. Give it a shot, it only takes a few minutes to make! To a healthy you in 2020.

A SAUCY SENSATION
A SAUCY SENSATION

I have to believe that just about every household has served a form of spaghetti and meatballs. What makes that dish is how the sauce (or gravy for some) marries the two. My nana was known for her meatballs and sauce. Any gathering and her signature dish was on the menu. I can still remember the smell in the house when she cooked it, and we are talking nearly 20 years ago. Nothing made her more happy than to feed people. This is in honor of her and what a pleasure to make it with my mom. It is a simple red sauce (gravy), but it is the memory and taste of home to me. Nothing beat finishing the dish by wiping off the leftover sauce with a piece of butter laden bread.

CHOCOHOLICS DREAM DESSERT
CHOCOHOLICS DREAM DESSERT

Chocolate lovers, this is the dessert you have been waiting for. It is super simple to whip up, and requires very little baking. It is the perfect combination of a silky, sweet dessert with a crunchy exterior in every bite. This was a last minute addition to my Christmas dessert list, and the first to be wiped off the table. Not having to measure too much, bake too much, and a simple list of ingredients, this needs to be on your radar!

BRIGHTEN UP YOUR BROWNIES
BRIGHTEN UP YOUR BROWNIES

This is one of those last minute, fun, easy, desserts you can do! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and if you need a last minute idea for a cute dessert, this is it. Everyone loves brownies, right? These brownie Christmas trees, will start a buzz in your home and have guests asking "tell me how you make these." It all starts with a box of brownie mix.

FOR GOODNESS BAKES-SUGAR COOKIES!
FOR GOODNESS BAKES-SUGAR COOKIES!

With Santa's arrival in just over a week, it is time to make one of his favorite cookies. Sugar cookies are a staple in my home every Christmas holiday. There is something about the chewy center and crunch edge that sends you back for more. If you are a lover of royal icing, I added the "how to" in the video as well. Enjoy some time in the kitchen with the little ones this season by making a batch. I promise you will love the way I make them. Hint: it does have some alcohol in it!

SQUASHING IT UP
SQUASHING IT UP

My love for both spaghetti and butternut squash is beyond crazy. This kind of crazy is a good thing since both are healthy and good for you. I typically eat them separately, but I recently came up with an idea to combine them. This is one of those dishes that you can eat as a stand alone, or pair it up with your favorite protein on the side. Karl was thrilled how it came out and I know you will agree! The perfect late fall, early winter dish.

EGG-CELLENT EGGS
EGG-CELLENT EGGS

If you don't have a lot of time like me in the morning, I have two easy ways to make eggs you'll love. One is for those rushing out the door, the other is if you have a few extra minutes. I do pose a question: are you making your scrambled eggs right? I predict you will be surprised by the proper way.