My mom borrowed our minivan last week. She and my dad were off adventuring with 4 of their out of state tween-age grandkids (my nieces and nephews), and they only have a 5 passenger car. And since technically my family still fits into a sedan, we swapped. It really wasn’t that big a deal. My mom has a pretty nice car (don’t ask me what it is. I don’t do cars....
But wait, why am I even making to-do lists? It’s quarantine time, yo. Our 2020 planners were the worst investment so far this year, amiright? I mean when was the last time you got within sneezing distance of someone you didn’t know while at the beach? I’m way too busy making sure my kids are not drowning, and trying to stop them from dumping bucketfuls of sand directly on top of my head....
I love fruity cocktails, they’re super refreshing and are perfect for summer get-togethers. Loquats are now in season, and our loquat trees are very generous this year. How to Make Loquat Cocktail To make this cocktail you will (obviously) need loquats, but if you don’t, then you can use apricots to make the loquat/apricot syrup. You also need freshly squeezed lemon juice, soda, ice cubes and of course some good quality vodka!...
Do you just have to take a trip through the drive-thru as soon as you see the first ad for Shamrock Shakes at McDonald’s appear? For me, this green milkshake is a sure sign of Spring, St. Patrick’s Day, and the eventual end of the cold winter, so I’m usually first in line to get one. McDonald’s shakes are pretty good, right? Thick, creamy, and super sweet, a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is delicious, and also kind of a splurge....
Even as someone who loves cooking for my family and coming up with new recipes, I am dreading dinner time right now. It feels like my life is one long stretch of making meals and cleaning dishes. And I know a lot of you are feeling the same. I will continue to come up with dinners that are easy to make and that your whole family will love, and this meatloaf is the latest addition....
One of my favorite desserts to make is this super easy fudge. It’s almost impossible to screw up and there are so many different things that you can do with it. It’s like a blank canvas. I’ve made it so many different ways now (you can check out my fudge recipes here) that I tend to think that I won’t have another one in me. But then I will be laying in bed at night and more fudge will creep in....
Eric just said to me, after listening in on our kids, “I get this sense of inner turmoil whenever I hear the kids pronounce it “Star Wers” instead of Star Wars. On the one hand, it’s super cute. On the other hand it’s very wrong, and makes it sound like they don’t know what they’re talking about.” Now that he knows I’m writing this down he’s backtracking. “Not inner turmoil!...
This spin on a traditional Mimosa is great for the holidays and even better to take you into the New Year! I’m proud to be partnering with Perrier to bring you this amazingly easy and delicious mocktail! Did you have a good holiday? We did! It was full of presents, time with family, relaxing, and lots and lots of delicious food. I think my body is mostly made up of sugar cookies and appetizers at this point....
Out of sheer laziness, Eric and I have managed to convince our kids that “milk-water” is a thing. Like if they finish their milk at dinner and want some water, we don’t rinse out the cup. Tonight I poured Charlotte’s water for her and she goes, “It looks like a swamp!” Why yes dear. Yes it does. Drink up. My parental neglect is only going to get more pronounced over the next few months....
The other day Eric says to me, “Karen, I have something very important to show you.” He hooks the computer to the TV and pulls a trailer up from Youtube. “Are you ready for this?” Uh…I guess? STAR WARS. We watch it. And then we watch it one more time. And then we watch it again, but this time we pause it on every scene (yes, really) so that we can analyze the characters and try to figure out exactly who BB-8 might be (R2-D2’s droid-baby?...
The marinade used for this Paneer Tikka recipe is made simply with plain yogurt and a mix of spices. Since paneer can take on flavours very easily, you don’t need much time to marinate and so this recipe is perfect when you need dinner on the table extremely quick. The flavors added in Paneer Tikka are fairly easy to imitate and they cook extremely well in a regular convection oven or over a grill....
You guys, I blinked and summer is half over! I kind of can’t believe it!! Like how the heck did this happen?? I mean . . . I know exactly how it happened. I crammed our summer with kid’s activities, trips, work stuff, and a surgery. Ugh. Add to that the fact that we still don’t have a yard and I guess it explains why I kind of want to crawl into a hole with a jar of creamy peanut butter and a bottle of wine (weird combo?...
This morning I was reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I’ve read it before and love every bit of it. I came across a passage that I didn’t remember, and I liked it so much that I read it 3 or 4 times and marked the page so that I can bring it up at my book club when we discuss this book. My brother Nathan often puts philosophical quotes on his Gmail chat status, and I thought to myself, I bet Nathan would love this....
All the other young moms are hanging out in their yoga pants, their neon green and hot pink running shirts, and their snappy ponytails. And sunglasses, can’t forget those. I am clearly not stopping by the park after my morning stroller jog like everyone else. I have makeup on. SO not cool. I’m seriously tempted to just roll out of bed and head over one day, I would fit in better....
If you’re entertaining this holiday season. Wow your holiday guests with this pomegranate panna cotta (Italian for cooked cream) with it’s impressive presentation. The panna cotta fancy layering effect is acheived by angling the glass and pouring in the cream mixture and allowing to set with the glass angled (see picture below). Pomegranate juice with gelatin is then added on top of the set panna cotta, garnish with a couple of pomegranate seeds and that’s it....
If there is one treat that I absolutely cannot make it is Puppy Chow. They are way too good, and I can never stop at one handful. Well, I just made them even more irresistible by throwing some pumpkin spice into the mix. This fall twist on everyone’s favorite dessert is incredible. These Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies are perfect for Halloween parties, fall festivals, and Sunday’s watching football. No judgement if you need to make a double batch....
I’ve never been one to meal plan on weekly basis. I know its advantages and have sincerely tried to follow through many times. But, unless and until I hit the stores and check out the fresh produce they have to offer, I’m not motivated. I love feeling the freshness of the bright coloured fruits and veggies, checking out the cheese display and rummaging through the aisles for new spices and flavours....
If you’ve never tried the cousin of the Reuben sandwich, the Rachel, you must! We swap the corned beef for turkey and the sauerkraut for coleslaw. It is easy to make, and the ultimate combo of ingredients. It makes for a perfect grilled cheese sandwich that you will love. This is comfort food at it’s best. My preference is to make the homemade dressing. It’s a great way to control the flavor and also the ingredients....
This vegan chutney is perfect with phulka rotis, steaming brown rice, poppadoms, salads, vegetarian curries like my 30 minutes chana masala—pretty much anything you fancy! Ingredients Mango: I use raw, unripe mangoes for this chutney. Just peel and chop them into small pieces. Ripe mangoes won’t work here. Fresh Coriander: This is a key ingredient, giving the chutney its fresh, vibrant flavor. You can also add fresh mint leaves for a variation....
What are Fingerling Potatoes? Fingerling potatoes are small, shaped like fingers, and a great choice for many tasty dishes. Their size is natural, and they’re well-known for their lovely thin skin and unique shape. When these potatoes are cooked, especially roasted, they change into a nice golden color. Their thin skin becomes crispy while the inside remains soft and creamy. One great thing about fingerling potatoes is you don’t have to peel them....
