Recipes

Recently, my friends at TheMotherhood asked me to be a part of a local blogger get-together sponsored by Frito-Lay.  The focus was “perfect pairings” – of chips and dips.  Since my family already buys Frito-Lay’s Tostitos for gatherings at our home and I liked the challenge of creating my own dip, I signed on.  We entertain at our home several times a month. Tostitos chips are often part of the snacks. Both kids and adults enjoy dipping with them!

Last Wednesday, I met up with a few mom bloggers at Suzanne’s lovely home. We had a lovely time eating the various chips and dips that we had prepared.  Suzanne had also graciously made a ton of food (burgers, hot dogs, pasta, etc.) to go along with the chips and dip.  Lisa had prepared some tasty cupcakes to end our meal.  (I, on the other hand, just barely brought myself and my dip!)

Read More

When I was asked to make a salsa or dip, I immediately thought of a salsa that I had tasted at a recent theater opening.  I remember remarking to the hostess that the salsa was delicious.  “Oh, I bought it at Costco,” she admitted.  I was so surprised because it tasted homemade!  Anyway, I decided to try to recreate the Costco salsa at home.

Of course, the first thing that I did was do a search on google for “Costco Mango salsa”.  Santa Barbara Mango Peach Salsa popped up.  The Costco ingredients were Mango, (Filtered Water, Dried Mango), Tomatoes, Assorted Chiles and Peppers, Onions, Peaches, Evaporated Cane Juice, Tomato Paste, Cilantro, Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Spices, Salt and Garlic Powder.

Read More

One of the best parts of the summer is the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and to get a group of friends together for a picnic in the park. This relatively inexpensive option is a great way to share some of your favorite recipes as well as sample some of your friend’s culinary masterpieces. Although BBQ fare and sandwiches are usually the go-to food items at picnics I really love trying sides like coleslaw, hummus, fruit salads¸ pasta and potato salad, which are usually unique recipes to the person that made them. This week, I made a healthy coleslaw that included a blend of broccoli, cabbage, carrots with apples and raisins for sweetness, a small amount of Nayonaise and some walnuts for a nice crunch. I also made a homemade pesto with whole-wheat pasta, kale, and tomatoes. This easy pesto can also be used in a variety of pasta dishes and makes for great dishes – hot or cold. Enjoy the park and delicious picnic food this summer!

Read More

I love the summer for so many reasons including more daylight hours and fun outdoor activities. Perhaps my favorite thing about summer is the access that I have to delicious seasonal fruits such as fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and watermelon. Since the heat is currently raging in the city, I have been seeking refuge by enjoying light and refreshing fruit-based smoothies. Instead of just adding fruit and ice, I have been experimenting with various fresh herbs like rosemary and mint as well as with adding flax seeds and light sweeteners (like almond extract and honey) to compliment the healthy, natural flavors from the fruit. I hope that you enjoy these three refreshing fruit smoothies as you stay cool and healthy this summer.

Read More