Once upon a time, Ina Garten made this completely drool-worthy Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake on Barefoot Contessa (it was one of those moments where I wished I could reach into the television and grab a slice), and she used this impossibly thin chocolate cookies to ensure it set perfectly. I'd [...]
When we need a quick, relatively healthy meal when the pantry and freezer are empty, our go-to is usually a burrito bowl or tacos from Chipotle. It doesn't hurt that the nearest one is roughly five minutes from home, making it insanely convenient. But one day when I found myself [...]
Ask any writer about his/her favorite way to procrastinate when he/she is supposed to be, ahem, lovingly crafting memorable, must-read prose, and you’d probably get a gazillion different answers. For me, there’s always been something oddly therapeutic about making homemade soup. So when the temperature ventures into even slightly chilly [...]
One of the best things about writing a novel where Italian food plays a starring role is all the delicious research of course. Like a method actor getting “into character,” I was more than happy to sip and savor all that Italian cuisine has to offer. And one of the [...]
Of all the dishes in my regular repertoire, I probably make chicken lettuce wraps the most. They're fast, super delicious, totally customizable, and after ordering them at P.F. Chang's approximately 4,345 times, I still can't get over how much easier (and cheaper) they are to make at home. After trying [...]
Boring ol’ cauliflower is starring in a LOT of recipes these days, and I’ll confess that I’m not crazy about it as a pizza crust. Or “riced” in place of, well, rice, in Asian stir fries. Some people also swear it makes for a convincing mashed potato alternative with a [...]
Given we had exactly two unsightly bananas gracing the counter, I thought the only responsible thing to do was make banana bread. And considering how good it smells in the house as we speak, I’m glad I followed my instincts. I’m thinking it’ll make for a pretty good breakfast tomorrow [...]
I’m about to let you in on a little secret… Almost every morning, we eat toast for breakfast at the Banister house. It’s quick, it’s tasty, and with a little peanut or almond butter, there’s a nice kick of protein with the whole grains. But my favorite part of the [...]
Ever notice how salads taste SO much better when you order them at a restaurant? Well, it’s been my goal to remedy that, so I started experimenting with one of my all-time favorites, my beloved Greek. One of the qualities that immediately separates the salads of home cooks and professional [...]
Anyone know how Taco Tuesday became a thing? I know, I know, I could Google it, but aren’t tacos pretty fantastic any day of the week? I know one Ashlee Jordan would wholeheartedly agree. Anyway, when Casey came to visit recently, we took our taco game to the next level [...]
