Chinese five spice adds flare to this dish and elevates ordinary ingredients into a supper that you won’t soon forget. When you crave stick-to-your ribs goodness, serve an easy stew that will have everyone wanting seconds. Here’s a savory stew that got a huge thumbs up from all my kids. I’ve made it both on the stove top and in my slow cooker. I don’t always plan ahead far … Continue reading Slow Cooker Five Spice Beef Stew
Cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger whirl together with the cherries, cocoa and coconut to yield a deliciously satisfying smoothie that’s practically a meal on its own. Now I finally have a workout routine to go along with all the protein smoothies I’ve been enjoying! After reading about how to raise healthy daughters, I recognized that I need to do a better job of leading by example and … Continue reading Cherry Chocolate Chai Smoothie
These are no ordinary meatballs. Glazed in a zingy sauce made from Thai sweet chili sauce and lemongrass, the intermingling of Asian flavors is lively and intense.I appreciate the expert way the Vietnamese use lemongrass to season meats and seafood. Since leaving Viêtnam a decade ago, I’ve missed tasting those dishes on a regular basis. Sweet and spicy flavors dominate southern Vietnamese cuisine, which has quite a bit of … Continue reading Viet-Thai Sweet and Sour Meatballs {Gluten Free}
Ready to move beyond ho-hum Asian fare? Jap chae is one of the simplest, most authentic ways to enlighten your palate. Transparent noodles meld with sesame oil and soy sauce for a perfect flavor balance in each chewy bite. Bonus points if you know the country of origin for this noodle dish. Any guesses? It’s a place that will soon be celebrating the Lunar New Year. And sesame oil … Continue reading Jap Chae Noodles with Mushrooms and Bok Choy
As a lifelong chewy oatmeal cookie fan, these new cookies have me convinced that apricots are amazing in a cookie. And when you toss crunchy almonds into the mix? Triple win. If offered a choice between a chocolate chip cookie and an oatmeal cookie, I will pick the oatmeal every time. Unless it’s a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. That just doesn’t sit right with me. I’ll take fruit with my … Continue reading Apricot Almond Oatmeal Cookies {Gluten-Free}
Grapefruit season is in full swing; the latest fruit I sampled was at its prime, practically bursting with juicy sweetness! The tangy citrus flavors pair perfectly with coconut panna cotta in this healthy gelatin dessert. For a middle of winter pick-me-up, fresh citrus fruit is an optimum choice. The scent of citrus may improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. So save the rind and inhale deeply as you make … Continue reading Grapefruit Coconut Panna Cotta
Swirls and Spice 