How This Recipe Came to Be Some recipes arrive quietly not planned or tested in a big kitchen, but dreamed up in motion. Born out of what you have and what you crave. This one came to me somewhere between Austin and home. I had made a batch of Smoked Butter Beans, an Ottolenghi-inspired recipe that […]
A Nostalgic Tradition Worth Reviving In the Midwest, the relish tray wasn’t a trend — it was a ritual. It appeared at every gathering, no matter the occasion. Before the meal, before the main event, there it was: a platter of small bites meant to welcome you in. I grew up with the same ingredients […]
Let’s get one thing straight: this is not the tiramisu you’ve had at one of those chain restaurants. This version is soft, airy, and subtly sweet — the kind of dessert that feels like a little secret indulgence at the end of a good meal. It’s the real deal, made with crisp, Italian-style ladyfingers (none of that sponge […]
Some recipes transport you — not just in flavor, but in feeling. This one takes me straight back to Montalcino. In 2023, Scot and I had one of those unforgettable meals at a quiet little restaurant tucked into the hills of this beautiful Tuscan town. The food was simple, soulful, and cooked with the kind […]
A Hill Country Summer in Italy I’ve just returned from Italy, and while my suitcase may be unpacked, my heart (and tastebuds) are still very much abroad. There’s something about the rhythm of Italian life — the way meals unfold slowly, the way ingredients sing on their own without needing much fuss, the way herbs […]
Chicken Diane, a classic French dish, traditionally features pan-seared beef in a creamy sauce. But today, we’re putting a modern twist on this elegant recipe, swapping out the beef for tender chicken and infusing the dish with the earthy flavors of locally sourced wild mushrooms. Why This Recipe Works: Tips & Variations: Enjoy this delicious […]
I love soup! If you go through the history of my blog posts or on Instagram, you will see that I share a lot of soup recipes. I think that my love for soup stems from my mom. There was something about smelling soup on the stove as a kid that makes me want to […]
When my husband and I started dating, I would say his palate was a bit bland. Thank the good Lord that he was willing to try and experiment, but when it comes down to it he is an Irish/Scottish New Englander aka meat and potatoes kind of guy. The first time that I made roast […]
Hello my friend and welcome to the inaugural week of Mastering the Ease of Home Cooking ™! I am so excited that you are here and have found the answer to the most annoying question, “what’s for dinner?”. Let me tell you a bit of how the idea for this came to be. In September […]
