Chilled Cucumber Soup

Beat the heat with this healthy Chilled Cucumber Soup!

Beat the heat with this healthy Chilled Cucumber Soup!

It was crazy-hot in the Bay Area this weekend and my AC-less apartment was like a sauna. For pretty much everyone else in Canada and the USA this is totally normal, but for us in San Francisco we aren’t used to such extreme temperatures. At its peak, temperatures soared to 32C/91F and I retreated to the beach with my main squeeze and perhaps a watermelon beer or two.

CUCUMBERS+MINT+DILL+JALAPEÑO+LEMON

CUCUMBERS+MINT+DILL+JALAPEÑO+LEMON

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Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil

Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil. A simply addicting appetizer!

Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil. A simply addicting appetizer!

YUM! This olive tapenade makes me want to dance. It’s so freaking good! I just can’t deal. This is DELISH served on Baked Parmesan Crisps, alongside a cheese platter, slathered on crusty bread or on slices of cucumber for a healthier approach. I made this the other night to have with a cheese platter and it was just as good as I remembered…. 

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Mushroom & Arugula Fusili with Pistachio Mint Pesto

This addicting recipe transpired when I had a craving for pesto pasta but didn’t have any basil at home. My basil obsession prevailed and we ate our entire supply. I’m still impatiently waiting on a new batch to flourish. In the mean time, what could I make that would satisfy my craving?… 

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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata & Balsamic Glaze

A SIMPLE DRIZZLE OF BALSAMIC GLAZE AND A FEW BASIL LEAVES HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE FINAL PRESENTATION

A SIMPLE DRIZZLE OF BALSAMIC GLAZE AND A FEW BASIL LEAVES HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE FINAL PRESENTATION

Bur-ra-ta translated from Italian literally means ‘buttered’. It is a a typical product of Puglia, a region in the south of Italy and it is absolutely one of my favorite cheeses. Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese made from a combination of mozzarella and cream.  The outer shell is solid mozzarella, while the inside is a combination of both mozzarella and cream, producing a unique, soft texture. It’s so delicate and just plain decadent! Even

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Sinfully Simple Watermelon Salad

REFRESHING SALAD YOU CAN ENJOY IN THE HEAT!

REFRESHING SALAD YOU CAN ENJOY IN THE HEAT!

If you were to open my fridge at any given time, you could pretty much guarantee there would be watermelon inside. It’s definitely my favorite fruit; I often snack on it when I’m blogging. Sounds messy right? Nah! Watermelon is simply misunderstood.

I texted my mom the other day asking her why we didn’t have watermelon when I was growing up. I remember eating it at my friends houses but never at home. I thought maybe it was really expensive and my mom was just being economical(totally something she would do). She responded, explaining it was too high maintenance; it wasn’t about… 

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Baked Parmesan Crisps

DRESS UP YOUR CHEESE PLATE WITH THESE EASILY MADE CRISPS

DRESS UP YOUR CHEESE PLATE WITH THESE EASILY MADE CRISPS

These are quite possibly the most delicious cracker alternative ever! You will never want to buy crackers again; they are that good.

I was having friends over one night and planned on putting together a cheese platter with a few other snacks. I had to run to the market to grab a fresh loaf of bread and shocker; I forgot it! I left the market without the one thing I went there to buy. I know I can’t be the only one out there who’s done this. It’s so … 

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Lazy Pea Soup with Fresh Mint & Crème Fraîche

SERVE IN A WHITE DISH TO MAXIMIZE THE POP OF COLOR

SERVE IN A WHITE DISH TO MAXIMIZE THE POP OF COLOR

This recipe is a freaking all-star in my eyes for a variety of reasons. It’s insanely quick and simple to make and the combination of flavors is on point. I’ve never made this for someone and not had them ask for seconds and/or the recipe. That’s always a promising sign!

FROZEN PEAS ONLY TAKE 3 MINUTES TO BOIL

FROZEN PEAS ONLY TAKE 3 MINUTES TO BOIL

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Rustic Pasta with fresh Bread Crumbs

THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WOULD CALL A 'PANTRY PASTA'

THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WOULD CALL A ‘PANTRY PASTA

Wondering what to do with that day old baguette? This pasta totally transpired on a whim because I was absolutely sick of throwing things away!!! I feel like every week I’m throwing out veggies or leftovers we thought we would eat. It really irritates me. This year I’m really trying to use what I have, with efforts to reduce the amount of waste I produce on a daily basis. I’m making a conscious effort to think of ways to use… 

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Garlicky Dilly Pickles

FARMERS MARKET DILL PICKLE INSPIRATION

FARMERS MARKET DILL PICKLE INSPIRATION

Crunchy Dill Pickles are in my opinion the best snack ever created! They’ve been my #1 snack since I was a toddler and I still pack them in my lunch kit when I’m away flying. Their crunchy texture, vinegary taste and low calorie count, make for a healthier snack option.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO CRUSH THE CUCUMBERS WHEN PUTTING THEM IN THE JAR

BE CAREFUL NOT TO CRUSH THE CUCUMBERS WHEN PUTTING THEM IN THE JAR

When my fiancé and I first met, we immediately bonded over our shared love of the German soccer team, olives and DILL PICKLES! So random, right? As you can see, we really fell in love over intelligent conversations. We’ve been lucky… 

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Speedy Greek Style Chicken & Lemon Soup

ENJOY THIS SIMPLE SOUP ALL WEEK LONG. IT'S EVEN BETTER THE NEXT DAY!

ENJOY THIS SIMPLE SOUP ALL WEEK LONG. IT’S EVEN BETTER THE NEXT DAY!

I was recently asked what my favorite comfort food was and it didn’t take me long to decide on soup. I have no real favorite, although I’m fond of Cream of Wild Mushroom  and Lazy Pea Soup with Mint & Crème Fraîche; any bowl of delicious soup will do the trick. This lemony chicken soup is my take on the soups I enjoyed so much in Greece & Albania…. 

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