a lifestyle blog
Thanksgiving & Christmas may be long gone, but cranberry season is still in full effect around my household. So if you too are a fan of this seasonal berry and happen to be hosting a New Year’s Eve party this Tuesday, I’ve got a great two-ingredient, appetizer perfect for ringing in 2025!
Continue reading “Cranberry, Goat Cheese Pastries – The Perfect Holiday Appetizer”
Every year as a child, my mother made corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty’s Day, a uniquely Irish-American pairing. And yes, you heard correctly; this famous holiday duo is not a traditional Irish dish for those who were wondering. But as you all know, it remains a signature meal for festive Americans of both Irish and non-Irish descent every seventeenth day of March here in the States. For all those celebrating today, keep reading for my simple yet delicious 3-part recipe.
Continue reading “A Simply Delicious St. Patrick’s Day Dinner”
The air is crisp, and the leaves are falling which means that soup season is officially upon us! I had a beautiful butternut squash sitting in my kitchen and decided to whip up a quick soup last night using a few seasonal spices and some fresh rosemary that was growing in my garden. The end product was so delicious that I knew I had to publish the recipe just in case any of you were interested in making a soup course for your Thanksgiving dinner this year!
Continue reading “Savory & Spiced Up Butternut Squash Soup”
If you enjoy fluffy banana bread that isn’t too sweet, check out my recipe below. It’s incredibly easy to make and quite tasty if I say so myself!
Continue reading “Simple & Delicious Banana Bread”
After a few summers of actively grilling chicken and using different marinades, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer dry rubs when grilling over an open flame. I, for one, think it yields a crispier skin and less unwanted char compared to a wet marinade. And the best thing about a dry rub is that you can always brush on your favorite barbecue sauce or hot sauce over the grilled chicken during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking or when the poultry is off the heat and resting.
So if you feel like grilling up some chicken this 4th of July alongside your burgers and hot dogs, keep on reading for my super simple recipe!
Continue reading “Delicious Grilled Chicken Legs – A Perfect Addition To Any Summer Barbecue”
I made this dish on a whim one night when I was home alone and hungry for dinner. I hadn’t thought about what I was going to prepare that day so I just opened the fridge, glanced in the pantry, pulled some ingredients that sounded good, and got to cooking! After taking my first bite, I can honestly say that this simple dish hit the mark in every way for me. It was warm, cozy, and packed with Mediterranean flavors. So if you also enjoy easy-to-prepare, tasty dinners – keep on reading to discover how to make this quick, 20-minute meal.
Continue reading “A 20-Minute Chicken & Chickpea Dinner with Herbed Feta & Fried Onions”
I make this colorful salad quite often because it literally takes just 5-minutes to prepare, always tastes amazing, and adds a nice pop of acid and much needed crunch to any hearty meat dish. And now that it’s grilling season – I figured I would share this quick, hassle-free recipe since coleslaw is the perfect side dish for any spring or summer barbecue! I personally have always preferred a bright, crisp coleslaw made with large strips of cabbage to the finely grated, mayonnaise drenched, sweeter alternative. So if you, too, appreciate the flavors of fresh cruciferous veggies and a light, tangy dressing, you’ll surely enjoy this easy recipe.
Continue reading “Deliciously Crunchy Coleslaw”
I make this hearty, meat sauce at least three times a month and typically serve it with pappardelle or gnocchi. I almost always use grass-fed ground beef but have also prepared this exact recipe with ground turkey, chicken, and pork on various occasions. It’s a favorite in my household and a hit amongst dinner guests which is why I figured it was about time that I share my easy Ragù alla Bolognese recipe for all to enjoy.
Continue reading “A Simply Irresistible Ragù alla Bolognese”
As a child, my parents often hosted a large Christmas Eve party for family & friends. The dinner that my mom cooked was of a different cuisine every year, but the appetizers were pretty much always the same. Some of those traditional starters included meatballs, spicy oyster shooters, and of course, potato balls from Porto’s. In addition to these items, my mom always baked up a slew of savory, puff pasty hors d’oeuvres! One batch would be filled with seasoned ground beef, and the other batch would be filled with roasted red bell peppers and spinach. The best part was that my brother, grandma, dad, and I were always allowed to have a warm pastry straight out of the oven before guests arrived! The flaky pockets were, of course, delicious and a special treat that I looked forward to my mom making every holiday season! The following recipe is inspired by my mother’s joy of cooking, old family traditions, and my obsession with all things puff pastry.
Continue reading “Flaky & Delicious Mushroom & Havarti Puffs”
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I visited Charleston for the first time this past August and was really excited to indulge in some good ol’ southern style biscuits while there. Since I love researching eateries before vacationing in a new city, I quickly discovered that Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit was a beloved staple and immediately made plans to visit one of their cafes before leaving South Carolina.
Continue reading “Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits: A Make-At-Home Treat”
I had a deep craving for caprese a few weeks ago so I went into my garden to pick some cherry tomatoes and basil. Unfortunately, the tomatoes weren’t as ripe as I would have liked so I left them on the vine. With caprese still on the brain, I had to pivot. To my luck, I quickly remembered that I had a fresh, juicy peach in the kitchen. I had never made caprese with peaches before but knew the pairing would be delicious. With a new game plan, I picked some fresh mint and sage to go with the basil and headed back inside to whip up lunch.
Continue reading “Summer Peach Caprese Over Toasted Bread”
With spring in the air, a thriving herb garden, and a hankering for chicken salad – I whipped up something new and extra delicious this past weekend. This chicken salad is so good that I’ve eaten it every afternoon for lunch over the past four days and will definitely be making it again in the future! If you love fresh herbs as much as I do, this flavor packed dish will definitely hit the spot. My recipe is light, bright, and perfect for a variety of occasions ranging from a casual meal at home to a cute brunch or picnic with friends & family. Plus, who doesn’t love a good twist on an old classic?
Continue reading “Green Goddess Chicken Salad”
Whether you know it as baba ganoush, baba ghanouj, mutabbal, or by another name or spelling – this classic eggplant dip is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. If you are unfamiliar with this traditional appetizer, it is essentially hummus made with roasted eggplant instead of chickpeas. Baba Ghanoush is without a doubt one of my favorite dishes because it’s filling, incredibly healthy, and a great accompaniment to grilled meat, vegetables, and pita.
Continue reading “Simple & Delicious Baba Ghanoush”
Whenever I buy a rotisserie chicken, I make a large pot of stock once the bird’s been fully eaten. A few months ago, before we were able to devour the entire hen, I decided to use the remaining breast meat and some fresh thyme growing in my garden to put together an elevated chicken noodle soup perfect for any season. Keep reading to discover my easy to follow recipe.
Continue reading “Lemon & Herb Chicken Noodle Soup”
I love a good potato leek soup but had personally never made one until last summer. It was a chilly, June afternoon along the Marin coast, and I was in the mood for something warm and cozy. I stumbled upon some gorgeous leeks at the neighborhood farmstand earlier that day, and my boyfriend’s parents had a ton of homegrown potatoes that were begging to be dug up and eaten. With those two ingredients on hand, it was clear that a classic was on the menu for dinner. At the end of the day, my impromptu recipe worked out well and my humble soup was an absolute winner! The best thing about that meal, other than the taste, were the locally grown ingredients and how quickly it came together.
Continue reading “When Life Gives You Leeks – Make Soup!”
Preparing tasty appetizers can sometimes be an arduous task. However, these three skewers are as simple to make as they are to eat. My favorite thing about these appetizers is that there’s no actual cooking involved which makes them an excellent option for summer days when it’s just too hot to turn on the stove or oven. The flavors are also light, bright, and refreshing. Keep reading for my easy to follow recipe.
Continue reading “Super Simple, Italian Inspired Appetizer Skewers”
When it comes to breakfast, I am an egg girl all the way. However, on rare occasions, I do have a hankering to start my mornings off with something sugary, and nothing does the trick like a few fluffy pancakes. They always satisfy my sweet tooth, but the figurative icing on the cake is how incredibly easy they are to make. A lot of pancake recipes call for oil, melted butter, and sugar which I personally find unnecessary. My go-to batter has only 6 ingredients, takes just minutes to prepare, tastes delicious, and always yields perfectly, pillowy flapjacks.
Continue reading “Perfectly Fluffy Pancakes”
If you’re a fan of my blog, you already know that Middle Eastern food was a huge part of my childhood because my mom attended university in Lebanon before moving to the states. And since I grew up in LA, my parents also had access to the best Middle Eastern restaurants, markets, and butcher shops on days they wanted kebabs but didn’t feel like cooking from scratch. I love all types of meat on a stick, but minced meat kebabs [aka: lula, lule, or luleh] are my absolute favorite! I hope you enjoy my quick and simple recipe as much as my family does.
Continue reading “Quick & Easy Kebabs”
I started making spicy tuna rice bowls at home a few months ago. The very first time I made these bowls for dinner, I found some wrinkling cucumbers in my fridge and decided to give them a quick Japanese-inspired pickle to put alongside the spicy tuna. I hadn’t pickled anything in ages but grabbed a few ingredients, threw them into a bowl, and had a tasty topper for my rice bowls in less than thirty minutes. Since that evening last September, I’ve been whipping up these quick pickles about once a month. The recipe couldn’t be simpler. Enjoy!
Continue reading “Japanese-Style, Quick Pickled Cucumbers”
I make this dish at least twice a month, sometimes more. The salad pairs wonderfully with a variety of meals but also tastes great by itself. It’s a favorite of my boyfriend and goes well with my hummus recipe. Overall, I would categorize my mediterranean salad as a happy hybrid of a Greek Salad and a Shirazi Salad. This recipe takes no time at all and just requires a bit of chopping. Enjoy!
Continue reading “No Fuss Mediterranean Salad”
HOMEMADE IN LA 