• Vegan chili on a yellow, blue, and green tablecloth with a pitcher of sangria mocktail
    Food

    Vegan Chili

    Healthy, cozy comfort foods belong in our weekly meal rotation, and this vibrant chili delivers plenty of plant-based goodness. With a special blend of seasonings, it hits all the savory notes we expect in a meat-based version, except the protein comes from two different types of beans. Consider vegan chili a great option for meatless Monday or simply treat yourself when you’re in the mood for the tastiest dinner. The beans and vegetables in this recipe can easily be swapped for your favorites, especially when garden and farmers’ market options are plentiful. Backyard peppers and squash become so abundant at a certain point in summer that you’ll be happy to…

  • Coconut cookies with lemon curd filling and fresh flowers on a kitchen counter
    Baking

    Coconut Cookies with Lemon Curd Filling

    Springtime calls for sunny desserts that brighten the season’s celebrations. With zesty lemon curd sandwiched between toasty coconut cookies, this recipe hits all the bright and lightly sweet notes we need this time of year. Beyond these cookies, you will find so many uses for the lemon curd itself. Serve it with fresh fruit, dollop it on a slice of pound cake, fill cupcakes, or enjoy it by the spoonful. Much as the winter holidays wouldn’t be complete without a linzer cookie on the dessert table, these coconut sandwich cookies have become a spring staple in my home. Flower cut-outs allow the sunny color of the filling to pop through.…

  • Jam swirl brownies on heart decorated plate
    Baking

    Jam Swirl Brownies

    Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday for the meaningful and sweet ways we can celebrate. Below you’ll find a list of my favorites from volunteer efforts to sending beautiful language into the world. Maybe you’ll share a little love with the pollinators who keep our gardens plentiful by planning a spring garden full of their favorite perennials. Perhaps you’ll gift a packet of flower seeds to a friend. There are so many ways to enjoy the day, including chocolate indulgences such as these jam swirl brownies that can be made with berry jam or even cherry preserves. If you’ve participated in my Sweet and Savory Sides of Chocolate…

  • Tiny handheld bouquet of ranunculus and garden flowers
    Living

    Living Well in the New Year

    If you’ve taken one of my cooking classes, you know that I consider making beautiful food to be an essential part of loving ourselves and those around us. When I hear that one of my recipes has become part of your regular meal rotation, or a special indulgence, it fills me with joy to know that you have found a new way to enjoy time in the kitchen. Perhaps you find the time we spend together to be that moment of inspiration in the week that fuels your own creativity and helps you to approach meal making in a new way. Often I hear our time allows you to relax,…

  • Food

    Roasted Tomato Soup

    With all the recent snow, it’s time for a clean comfort food recipe that’s satisfying and relies on pantry staples you can stock up on before the next storm. Since whole peeled tomatoes are packed at the point of peak flavor, they are reliable throughout the year and preferable during the months when garden grown ones are still months away. Roasting them increases their sweetness. Just make sure to reserve their juice as this will be added to the soup as well. For a vegan version, substitute vegetable stock and use olive oil instead of the tiny amount of butter. Pure tomato goodness is the best way to describe the…