For our first two and half years together in Washington, Kevin and I lived in Tacoma. Some people think Tacoma has a bad reputation, but I'm convinced these people have never actually been there. We loved living there and found so many things to do. We also love our life in the suburbs now, but we're back there frequently with the kids. There's a grocery store near the apartment we had there that sells these amazing dips and whenever we're in Tacoma we stop by to pick up a few. They used ... continue reading...
Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad
Summertime calls for quick and easy dinners with minimal oven time, am I right? This salad is a spicy take on the classic chicken Caesar and so delicious. The homemade dressing is super easy and quick to whip up. I know that traditional caesar dressing calls for anchovy paste, but I left it out and found that the dressing doesn't even need it! Most of the other ingredients for the dressing you may already have on hand, making it even easier to throw together. If anchovy paste is your jam and you ... continue reading...
Berry Almond Butter Crisp
I love farmers markets, and the town where we live has an especially good one! This past weekend I took my older son, Lleyton, to the farmers market while my younger son was home napping. I scored 4 pints of strawberries that were picked the day before, instead of fresh that morning, for just $5. I knew that with strawberries that ripe and sweet, they needed to be enjoyed immediately. Lleyton showed he felt the same way and was happy to snag a few from the box himself. This is the first ... continue reading...
Roasted Chickpea Buddha Bowls
When Buddha bowls first came on the scene, I googled "what is a Buddha bowl?" I found that they are "sometimes referred to as hippie bowls." I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I think they can basically be called "health bowls." Maybe hippies lead the charge for healthy eating? Who knows. These bowls are full of grains, yummy veggies, and protein from the chickpeas. I topped them with roasted sunflower seeds and hemp hearts, which are optional but highly encouraged. They are ... continue reading...
Summer Gnocchi with Corn and Tomatoes
Gnocchi might be my favorite form of pasta. If I'm at a restaurant where it's on the menu, I'd be hard-pressed not to order it. The sauce on it is irrelevant, I just love those little pillow dumplings of goodness. This version doesn't have a traditional sauce. Instead it combines two of the freshest vegetables you can find at your local farmers market (yes I know tomatoes are a "fruit," I'm still calling them vegetables). This recipe comes together with a little bit of time as you make ... continue reading...