Just Putzing Around the Kitchen

Blackberry-Mint Lemonade

Weekend in Chico aside, it’s been a very mild summer. Unlike last year, there hasn’t been a single day so far where I’ve felt like it’s too hot to go on living. No 100+ degree days with a billion percent humidity. No relentlessly sunny days without a hint of cloud cover. It’s actually been a…read more »

Lemonade Spritzers with Berry Ice Cubes

Last weekend Dan and I flew to Chico, CA for our friends’ Sarah and Lucas’s wedding. The ceremony was beautiful, the reception was amazing (Sarah is a DIY genius), and the BBQ was the best I’ve ever eaten. But, it was a little hot. Like…holy-crap-it’s-110-degrees-are-those-tears-or-are-my-eyeballs-sweating hot. Luckily, Lucas and Sarah are smart, and provided a…read more »

No-Churn Strawberry Fudge-Swirl Ice Cream

Guys, it’s really hard to photograph ice cream. It’s not even that hot outside, but my scoops starting melting basically as soon as they hit the bowl. And while goopy, melted ice cream is delicious, that deliciousness doesn’t really translate well visually. Which is why you’re only getting one picture of this fabulous strawberry fudge-swirl ice…read more »

Korean BBQ Short Ribs (Kalbi)

This post is dedicated to my friend Susan who, after months and months of promising to do guest posts of her family’s favorite Korean dishes, finally just sent me her mom’s Kalbi recipe so that I would stop harassing her while she was neck deep in finals and bar exam prep. I still want to…read more »

GF Banana Bread With Crunchy Streusel Topping

Short post today, guys. Just wanted to let you know about this amazing banana bread I made this weekend. Moist and tender crumb, tons of delicious banana flavor, and topped with delightfully crunchy sweet streusel bits. It’s perfect for breakfast, as a snack, or…pretty much any time you want a delicious treat. And, did I mention…read more »

Chili Crab Deviled Eggs

Have you ever noticed how people have really strong opinions about mayonnaise? It’s such an unassuming condiment, yet it incites so much passion in some people. For example, one of my friends at work would rather go hungry than eat the free sandwiches at our firm-sponsored lunch meetings when they come pre-slathered with mayo. Me?…read more »

Fudgy GF Brownies

Happy belated Memorial Day, everyone! Did you guys have a good time? Dan and I went up to Massachusetts with my parents this weekend, and it was so much fun. Dan’s mom threw me an amazing bridal shower with awesome food, and I had a blast hanging out with my favorite ladies and opening all…read more »

Garden Scramble

When I told Dan I wanted to go GF, his immediate reaction was confusion (what’s gluten?), followed closely by panic. Was this the end of his gluten eating days? No more bread? No more cookies? OMG, was I trying to starve him? No. I was not. In fact, we’ve been eating better than ever since I…read more »

Single-Serving GF Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie

For the last two weeks, I’ve been going gluten-free. Not for health reasons — thinking back on the amount of wheat-packed bread and baked goods I’ve happily consumed over the years, I’m pretty positive I’m not allergic to gluten. No, this is all about vanity. It all started when I was griping to my friend…read more »

Restaurant-Style Queso

If you’re going to drink a whole lot of margaritas, you definitely need a hearty, tasty snack or appetizer to go with them. My personal favorite is chips & dip. Crunchy, salty chips to cut through the tangy sweetness of the margaritas, and thick, creamy cheese sauce (or guacamole) to help those chips slide down real…read more »