blog - For the Love of Gourmet

Arugula Salad with Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese

For me, when the weather is warm, I have a smoothie almost every day for breakfast and a hearty salad almost every day for lunch. But as we get into fall and winter, the last thing I want in the morning is a smoothie after my workout, and I would definitely prefer a cozy soup for lunch over a salad. This arugula salad with butternut squash and goat cheese is the exception. Peppery arugula paired with sweet roasted squash and creamy goat cheese is the perfect combination to start your ... continue reading...

Mains Recipes Soups and Salads

Lentil Sausage Soup

Even if September still feels like summer to you, I think October can officially kick off soup season. I make soup once a week here, usually with enough for leftovers. I'll serve it with biscuits, cornbread, honey butter beer bread, or sometimes even just a crusty loaf of sourdough. Now that the boys have discovered that they can dip bread into soup, they love it even more. This lentil sausage soup is a hearty, healthy one that is perfect for this time of year. I'm 37 weeks ... continue reading...

Desserts Recipes

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies

When it comes to dessert, I almost always need to have chocolate in it. Sure, once in a while I enjoy a fruity or vanilla dessert, but my favorites always have chocolate in them. Kevin tends to prefer desserts that are less on the chocolate side, but one time we can meet in the middle is for chocolate chip cookies. These brown butter chocolate chip blondies are like chocolate chip cookies more decadent cousin, and they are perfect to enjoy for any occasion. A lot of chocolate ... continue reading...

Recipes Soups and Salads

Tomato and White Bean Soup

Tomato soup with grilled cheese is one of my all-time favorite food combinations. It's so cozy and comforting any time of year, but especially in the fall. If you're going to make tomato soup from scratch, you usually need the best summer tomatoes you can find, but this recipe uses canned tomatoes. That means you can make this soup all fall and winter long and it will taste just as good! For the days that I don't want to take the extra step of making grilled cheese, or maybe I ... continue reading...

Breakfast Desserts Recipes

Chai-Spiced Apple Cake

Happy first day of fall! I tend to view anything after Labor Day as fall, even though it technically isn't yet, but now we are officially in the season of pumpkin and apples and falling leaves. Here in Washington the weather is starting to cool off and you can feel a crispness in the air in the morning. It's hard for me to pick a favorite season in the Pacific Northwest because the summers are so strikingly beautiful, but fall was always my favorite season as a kid growing up in the ... continue reading...