Lemon Roasted Salmon With Pepita Pesto Quinoa & Tomatoes

Lately I’ve felt like I’ve been stewing in some sort of creative rut.

The words aren’t flowing freely from my fingers. Perhaps this is why I’ve signed up to write an entire novel in the month of November. Clearly, I’m a glutton for punishment. The graph of my current word count tells me that I will most likely be finishing this “novel” (I use quotations since my “novel” has turned out to be  a collection of non-fiction stories about my very real, very awkward life) sometime around mid December. Nothing inspires a person more than being approximately sixteen days behind on a writing project when you’re already suffering from an intense bout of writer’s block. Can you see my sarcastic-smirk face right now? Because, that. Is hibernation an option for humans? I kind of want to sign up. Maybe they have a month dedicated to napping. Count this girl in.  […]

Spaghetti Squash Pesto Pasta With Chard & Sun Dried Tomatoes {Gluten-Free, Paleo & Vegan Option}

Have you ever tried to recreate a food memory? We all have them, right? Things that were simmering or baking during significant moments in our lives. Certain dishes that remind us of someone or something special. They can also go the other way on you… for example, I will most likely never again put a Sun Chip in my mouth — Thank you windy road to the beach for all the memories #nope.
When I was making this dish, I wanted to recreate what I ordered on my first date with my husband. The smell of pesto always brings me back to that evening. I wore a denim skirt that in hindsight was gloriously too short. He wore a button down that looked just like the checkered table cloths at the Italian restaurant. He was nervous. He wiped his mouth incessantly with his napkin. We joked. We laughed. Our waitress was totally drunk and boisterously exclaimed “You’re such a beautiful couple! When’s the wedding?!” Perfect for a first date. After the date, I asked him if he wanted to come over and meet my cat, Gunther. Smooth, right?  I made out with his face. The rest is history. Some might consider Gunther our Yenta (Fiddler On The Roof reference, anyone? )  Classic love story, right? Totally.  […]

Spinach & Pepita Pesto {Gluten-Free, Vegan & Paleo Option}

I came to my computer this morning with every intention of writing you a fantastic post on pesto. Fast forward thirty minutes… I am staring semi-blankly at my computer screen a step away from drooling. I look down and a big-ugly-flying bug has committed suicide in my smoothie. Is this an omen? Yikes. At least my Monday is going slightly better than Mr. Ugly Bug’s. I could be face down somewhere  in a liquid vat of coconut milk and greens. Rough.
I message my husband on G-chat. I complain that the hamster in my brain refuses to jog. The wheel is not turning. I need some pesto inspiration. I ask him for some thoughtful words on pesto. He responds with a factual “It’s green”. This is going well. I ask him if he has anymore slightly less literal thoughts on the subject, to which he confesses “No idea. I barely understand it.” His hamster is tired too. I get it. Pesto can be kind of mysterious. I’m gonna help you all demystify it. […]

If You Like It Then You Should Have Put An Egg On It…| A Brunch Time Recipe

My husband has some solid beliefs when it comes to food.  His philosophy is strongly sandwich-based.  He believes that everything can be made into a sandwich. This has become such a thing in my family that I find myself texting my brother pictures of meals that my husband has turned into sandwiches. He is famous for it. In fact,  I have caught him daydreaming before while we are driving around and doing Sunday errands.  I asked him  “Hey Hun, what are you thinking about?” to which he replied “I was just dreaming about a sandwich that I am going to make when we get home.  It has ham and salami and an egg on it.  Ooooh, and cheddar.”

He is a dreamer, what can I say.  He believes in breakfast.  He believes that everything is better with an egg on it.  I cannot entirely disagree with him.  Put an egg on almost anything and you got yourself a brunch. […]