For St. Patrick’s Day, I enjoy making a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner for the family. We’re not Irish, but when you live in Saint Paul, MN — a very Irish town that celebrates with a parade and all sorts of festivities — it just feels right to have a little fun around this holiday. (more…)
One Friday recently I took a day off with no real plans in mind. I decided it was going to be a day in the kitchen doing one of the things I love to do most – bake. I started the day making two pans of bars. One was for a friend who won my church auction donation of a “batch of cookies a month.” The other was for new neighbors down the block. (more…)
For my day job as a graphic designer, I work with a fantastic team of people. Most of us are local, but we also have a few members on the East Coast. While we are in contact with our long-distance friends regularly through email and conference calls, we also make a point to get together once a year for a team meeting here in the midwest. This gives us the opportunity to brainstorm together in person, strategize, and - most importantly - get to know one another better. (more…)
Christmas morning…It’s probably one of the happiest mornings our family shares every year. Presents aside, it’s always a great feeling to wake up in a warm home filled with people you love. That’s enough for me. No presents needed. (more…)
True confessions: I have a weakness for lattes. In any other form, I avoid caffeine - I don’t drink soda or energy drinks - but put a nice, hot vanilla latte in front of me and I can’t say “No”. (more…)
When I saw the Land O’Lakes recipe for Cheesy Bacon Snack Bread, I thought it would be a perfect family movie night treat! My younger daughter started reading the Harry Potter series a couple weeks ago, and just finished the third book. As soon as she finishes a book, we rent the corresponding movie and the whole family watches together. (more…)
When you live in Minnesota, even if you have no Scandinavian blood in your veins, you are surrounded by Scandinavian food. Lefse (traditional Norwegian potato flatbread served with butter, sugar and cinnamon), Swedish meatballs, and kringle (a yummy Danish pastry) are a few of the delicious treats the Scandinavians have shared. (more…)
We get a weekly box of vegetables from a local farm in the summer and we have our own garden, so every August we have more veggies than we can handle – almost! We’ve been making a lot of soups, and I’ve found that adding a special bread can turn a simple soup into a fun summer meal fit for entertaining. This easy basil and tomato quick bread with herbed butter is perfect. It’s like a big buttery biscuit laced with parmesan cheese and dotted with delicious sun-dried tomato, basil and herbs. (more…)
If you’re like me and love a good Margherita pizza, this simple Grilled Tomatoes & Basil Pita Bread has your name written all over it! It’s quick, requires very few ingredients and because you crisp it on the grill, it’s the perfect appetizer for when you plan to cook out. (more…)
When I feel like baking, quick breads are on the top of my list. Why? Because, they are “quick” to make. They don’t require kneading or rising time like yeast breads. (more…)