Blueberry Lemon Scented Muffins
“I want blues!” When I was little, I remember begging my parents to go blueberry picking in the summer months. It was always a sweaty activity but running around with a plastic pail and hearing the “kerplunk” sound as I dropped fat, juicy blueberries in my bucket was one of my fondest summer memories as a kid. To this day, the sweet yet tart taste of native blueberries brings me…
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The Trials of Finding the “One”
Every life decade has its own set of challenges. My mom always said the 20s are the most turbulent, and I’m finally really understanding what that means! At 25, I feel like I’m steering a paddle boat through a thunderstorm (can anyone relate?!). I’m three years removed from college and I’m still finding my sea legs. I’m experimenting with careers, my parents are getting older and I’m realizing life is…
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Greek Pasta Salad
Happy Fourth of July weekend! Like me, I’m sure many of you are headed to a picnic at some point this weekend. It’s not always easy to find something to bring that’s portable, delicious, and summery. This pasta salad is all these. AND it’s quite healthy (which is a major plus when you’re already sipping beers, eating ‘dogs, chips, dips, and shoving desserts in your mouth like me!). Get all…
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Yesterday I Quit My Corporate Job
Today feels like the first day of my life. Yesterday I quit my job, and today I’m starting my dream career. I grew up in a family where cooking was the absolute center of everything. I still remember the smell of Sunday mornings in the kitchen, when my dad would prep an elaborate “family dinner,” as we called it. Oftentimes the aroma of braised meat would permeate the whole…
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Scallops with Basil Sweet Pea Puree, Pancetta & Balsamic Cipollini Onions
Spring has sprung in New England. I went to a farm stand for the first time since October this past weekend. There’s something weirdly magical about the first time driving to the farm stand after a long winter and thawing spring. This time I picked up some fresh sweet peas and basil that was so aromatic, the scent perfumed my car as I drove home. With the sweet peas and…
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Rustic Stuffed Peppers
Most stuffed peppers have ground beef and rice. This stuffed pepper recipe is what I like to call “rustic Italian” stuffed peppers. They’re cheesy and gooey on the inside and crispy on the outside. They’re so ridiculously simple but so delicious. Make them meatless – simply with bread, cheese, onion and garlic – or add some spicy Italian sausage. Either way, lose the mushy rice and try these elevated stuffed…
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Filet Mignon with Mushroom Wine Reduction Sauce
Yes, you can go to a fancy steakhouse and spend 300 dollars, and walk away with a full belly and a happy heart — but very empty pockets! Instead, you can save a ton of money and have a fabulous steak dinner that is JUST as good right at home. I swear — you can do it! Start with a good-quality piece of filet mignon (AKA tenderloin) and whip up…
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Grated Brussel Sprout Salad
I went to dinner with my lovely mom for her thirtieth (plus a few) birthday. For an appetizer over happy hour, we got this absolutely incredible grated brussel sprout salad. I’d never seen brussel sprouts so finely shaven into a beautiful salad, so of course I couldn’t help myself but to come up with my own version at home. The concept here is that every single ingredient added to the…
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Anchovy Peasant Pasta with Crushed Marcona Almonds
How strange is it to have anchovies as the main ingredient of a dish…never mind a pasta dish! In Italy, anchovies are actually often a “main ingredient,” bringing the taste of the sea to the table. I must admit, when I first created this recipe, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Now it’s become a family and fiancé favorite! Al dente tagliatelle is delicately coated in an anchovy-infused…
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French Tomato Tartlet With Crispy Pancetta
A while back when I was a “wee-little thing,” my parents took my sister and me to Paris (I still feel lucky). I remember roaming through the bustling streets, neck craning to get a glimpse of the tiny window cafes. Each window was stacked high with the most beautiful pastries I’d ever seen. Walking down the street on an empty stomach wasn’t for the faint hearted. To this day, the…
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