Raise your hand if you’re scared of the candy thermometer….. Hand raised HIGH here. The vanilla bean caramels I tried to make once? Fail. But Homemade Espresso Marshmallows? Major win. So much easier to make than I thought. I really wanted to try making my own fluffy, homemade marshmallows. Besides my fear of the candy […]
Tags: Chocolate
December 18, 2013
this … When fresh Wisconsin cranberries begin to appear in early November at the farmer’s market it’s like nature signaling the holidays are here. With their scarlet red hue matching the universal color of the season, they brighten many Thanksgiving tables in the form of relish or a smooth sauce, but this Cranberry Orange Salsa […]

November 24, 2013
this … Not only did I realize this week that I’m getting older, but I did some reflecting on how my life differs from many of my peers because I’m not a parent. After lunch with a college girlfriend who has an infant son (he’s cuter than cute by the way), I got to thinking […]

October 27, 2013
Saturday night was the first time this year it truly felt like fall. Dampness in the air from intermittent rain brought a chill to the bones, scarlet and golden bronze leaves floated to the ground with their last breath. As I cozied in for the evening after cleaning up the huge mess I’d made constructing […]

October 23, 2013
this … The vegetable side dish you’ve been looking for. This flavor pairing of brussels sprouts and butternut squash is so good! Black pepper dusted pecans, dried cranberries, & a touch of orange zest in a light buttery glaze. A sweet & savory combo gets me every time. With inspiration that stemmed from an addicting […]

October 14, 2013
One thing I’m constantly striving to incorporate into my kitchen is less waste and preserving more vegetables before they end up in the trash. I love making a batch of no-peel tomato jam each summer, and of course we love eating chard for the big leafy greens, but did you know you could quick pickle […]

September 25, 2013
Canning may seem intimidating, but honestly, it just takes one or two times to get the hang of it. Grab your favorite summer produce, find a canning recipe that appeals to you, whether it’s Red Wine Fig Jam, or Hot Pepper Jelly preserve the harvest one jar at a time like I did with this […]

Tags: Tomatoes
September 11, 2013
Is it possible to enjoy the Minnesota State Fair even though you’re gluten free? In true Minnesotan dialect I’ll give that a “Heck Yes!”. You can even pair Minnesota wines with them to capture a true local feel. On Sunday, Stephanie Meyer had a wonderful time speaking on this very topic at Minnesota Wine Country, […]

September 2, 2013
What Inspired This Sweet Corn Ice Cream Recipe? You may think the idea of sweet corn ice cream is just plain weird, but I’m telling you – it just works. I was inspired by a few of my favorite summer foods, as well as an unforgettable evening a few years ago at the Minnesota State […]

August 20, 2013
Tofu is one of those ingredients that I find people to be skeptical of if you didn’t grow up eating it. But it’s absolutely delicious when made well. With a few simple preparation steps, you can create savory tofu recipes that even a non-vegetarian will enjoy. Tofu is a wonderful source of protein and soaks […]

August 13, 2013
First of all, thank you so much for all the warm wishes about my cookbook. I spent the better part of yesterday smiling from ear to ear. I can’t wait to inspire you with many different types of squash recipes and I’m so grateful for all of you who have volunteered to be testers! Now […]

August 5, 2013
this … Life sure seems to be speeding by lately, which explains why I’ve been a little absent from this spot. There’s been lots of work & joy around a few special happenings I’d like to share with you: the launch of a project I’ve been working on for the company best known by the […]

August 4, 2013