Growing up in New York on Saturday night my parents would usually get take-out. If it wasn’t pizza it was usually Chinese food. Living in a city as culturally diverse as New York didn’t matter, our house clung on to those take-out staples. My mom also clung on to loads of soy sauce packets and chopsticks (as if we would run out – love you Mom!) that would come with the food … no matter how much we ordered, the chopstick/food ratio was always off.
Pumpkin Alfredo Chicken Skillet Pasta
As much as Target and Pinterest remind me that fall season has been here for two weeks now, I need to actually see piles of those charming pumpkins before I get into the fall season. Only then do I start thinking about hearty, comforting foods and oh yes, the scent of pumpkin spice in the air. It’s been too long.
Shrimp Tacos with apricot salsa fresca and avocado crema {gluten free, dairy free, soy free}
My boys love tacos, so do I… especially shrimp tacos. Tell me you love tacos, if you do you’re gonna LOVE this! My take is with apricots and a mean avocado cream sauce I call crema just to make it sound fancy.
Going out for some tacos at our local Mexican place is not so easy when allergies are involved — too many risks of contamination with all the flour and cheese lying around so I make them at home and let me tell you they are easy to make with just some prep work for the toppings. Even if you can eat all the gluten, and dairy with no problem you will still want to shovel eat this right up.
Easy Cherry Quinoa Salad + Honey Ginger Dressing
Michael and Ely (my twin boys) started school today (5th grade already!), Mr. teenager started high school (yikes!) last week. With all three in school now I decided to take a breather for a minute to enjoy some quiet time sitting outside, slowly sipping my americano and letting the sounds of nature consume me.
Easy Green Enchiladas
Shrimp ’n Slaw Sandwich + Onion Rings
Hellooooo everyone, so thrilled to be back cooking for you guys again!! That maintenance mode page was so annoying – sorry and thank you for your patience!
I can’t believe Memorial Day is just about here. I know I say this all the time, but time just goes way too fast for me! If you happen to be cooking this weekend and want to kick off the unofficial let’s pretend start of summer in true casual, kick-back style then have I got a sandwich and side for you!
Light and Easy Spaghetti with Lemon, Fennel, Basil, and Langoustine
When I think of pasta I think big bowls smothered in sauce. And although most pasta dishes kind of make you wish you had those big, stretchy sweatpants on … not today. Light and easy is on my mind.
Can you believe this is Los Angeles? Need a pick-me-up.
In need of some of mother nature’s sunshine: lemons. Pasta, sans sauce, full of lemon and fennel with langoustine is dinner tonight. A light pasta perfectly suited for my slow and aging metabolism.
Leg of Lamb with roasted fennel, onions, and carrots {gluten free, dairy free, soy free}
Artichoke with pesto bread crumbs
Spring is here. I wish I can say the same for everyone, but according to my Mom who lives in Queens, NY it doesn’t feel like spring yet with the remainder of a blizzard that hit on the official day.
Though it may not feel like spring outside for some, this artichoke with pesto bread crumbs will give you the impression of warm sunshine. At least, I hope it does. Sweet artichoke with heaping spoons of bright, fragrant spring herbs and citrus fruit (lemon is the shining fruit in here) is something we need to welcome some spring in.
Tomato Free Barbecue Sauce Beef Bolognese (gluten free, dairy free, soy free)
My teenage son and twin boys’ have developed a strong sensitivity to tomatoes a couple of years ago. So much so that they develop a rash on their torso and have trouble sleeping. I never realized how much tomato, and tomato-based products we eat until I had to remove it from the kitchen. One of the condiments that we sorely missed was barbecue sauce (tomato being the main ingredient in most), but now we don’t have to!