HYMNS IN THE KITCHEN

This almost felt too simple of a recipe to share, but my husband convinced me. Everyone roasts their vegetables a little differently, adding different spices and herbs. This is my most commonly used spice blend for simple roasted vegetables but you can use whatever spices you like. This is an excellent side dish of choice for any occasion. Add a few springs of rosemary for woodiness, maybe a light drizzle of honey and soy sauce for an Asian twist; whatever you like, really. M

This is an easy kid-pleasing meal that adults will enjoy too! Cheeseburger flavors, quick prep and clean up- but it didn't come out of a box! I've used one of my very favorite spice mix- Trader Joe's Onion Salt, but I have given an option of substitute spices (see notes below). I hope you give this one a try, and enjoy! Cheesy Hamburger Macaroni Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 1/2 lb ground beef 2 cups macaroni pasta (any pasta will work) 2 cups assorted cheese (such as mozzarella

It seemed to me that as soon as my toddler turned the glorious age of THREE, her eating habits began to change. Cooked pasta with mama's homemade herbed tomato sauce? No. Beautifully seared stuffed chicken breast that took mama hours to make? No. Steamed vegetables with a delicious garlic butter drizzle? Not a chance. So I had to find sneaky ways to get vegetables and a variety of grains into her diet. A sweet banana apple smoothie disguising the addition of spinach. Yogurt w

This is a good make-ahead meal. The reason I say this is because once this Lo Mein has had some time to sit in its own juices, it develops a better taste. I'm not kidding. I don't know what happens in this pot overnight, but I've tried this recipe twice now and both times it tasted better reheated the next day. Which, for me, is perfect. We love having company over and often have a large potluck-style dinner to attend or host, so I'm always on a lookout for overnight meals fo

This meal was a memorable one, to be sure. There are bright flavors like lemon, cilantro and jalapeños in the Spicy Avocado Hummus (which by the way, the recipe will make a large batch of- we finished ours as a guacamole with chips the next day!). The fish itself has sliced jalapeños resting on it as soon as the fish comes off the heat- an old trick I learn from my cousin. You don't necessarily need to eat the sliced jalapeños if you don't want to. The point of this is that w

Spring always brings with it a feeling of rejuvenation. New air, after the rains. New flowers budding, bushes trimmed, trees clipped. All is ready for the arrival of new life. The sky is still a little hazy, sleepily waking up and stretching out of winter's hug, but the sun peeks out and warms the air. It's a wonderful time. Here where we live the air is quick to turn hot and dry after spring is settled, so I relish this time, the month of March and April. This is the time wh

Bread was always one of those things I'd rather buy instead of make. Strangely enough, because I truly enjoy creating with yeast and flour. I've always thought bread would take too long to make, never add up to my expectations, or simply end in angry clouds of flour in my kitchen. So, I never tried. Until I stumbled across this recipe on Jo Cooks; no knead, very few ingredients, and best of all- 2 and a half hours from start to finish! I was sold. I switched out 2 cups for ry

It's raining today. I'm wearing my thick-knit socks and a sweater. No dinner guests tonight, as I imagine most people want to curl up in their own homes in weather like this, so I'm just serving my family tonight. I love to cook, of course, but believe me when I say there are days I don't want to be in the kitchen all day. Today is like that, so I need an easy recipe. This Lasagna Soup is so quick, with minimal prep and clean up time, so I have more time to snuggle with my hu