A Cocktail, Food, Photography and Travel Blog
I recently became a Seattle Art Museum member just to get a sneak peek during the Member Preview event for Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style exhibit. The show officially opens today, October 11, and runs until January 8. It’s beautiful and inspiring. The walls of the gallery are lined with his sketches and […] Read more…
My lovely friend, Ashley, decided we should go to the first annual SparkleFest, from the folks at Bar Ferd’nand and The Old Chaser Farm on Vashon Island. “It’s called SparkleFest and it’s on your birthday, so it’s like they created this event just for you!” I couldn’t disagree. That was obviously the case. They are throwing me a party, so of […] Read more…
As I sat in the dentist chair at Joseph Zimmer’s office for my routine 6-month cleaning—looking up at the massive glitter art piece on the ceiling—I felt inspired to write this post. One of the reasons I actually look forward to visiting my dentist, besides the fact that he’s a very good doctor and has […] Read more…
This versatile fruit salad made with nectarines, blueberries and mozzarella, is perfect for lunch, as complement to dinner, or as a party dish. The sweet nectarines are perfectly balanced by the creamy mozzarella, making this a refreshing fruit salad with substance. Read more…
The hubby and I, and our good friends The Underdowns, took the train from Seattle to Vancouver for a long weekend. It was my first time traveling by train and it was a lovely experience. We sat back and relaxed without the exhaustion of driving or the annoyance of traffic (plus going through customs is just a […] Read more…
Renee Erickson’s roasted chicken is one of my favorite dishes to order at her restaurants, so I was excited to recreate her recipe from “A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus.” In just a few steps you’ll have the most amazing tasting chicken. Read more…
Preserved lemons are incredibly easy to make, keep for a year in the fridge, and can be used in so many dishes that there’s no excuse not to always have them on hand. Try using Meyer Lemons when they are in season. Read more…
The dessert is great for the person who doesn’t like cake—I know, I know, but these people do exist in my life, and I’m still friends with them—and it’s also a light, refreshing summertime treat that can be made with any seasonal berry. Try it with raspberry, blackberry, marionberry, etc. and let me know what […] Read more…
This fruit crumble is a favorite go-to of mine, especially during berry season—I like to use raspberries, blueberries, or peaches—and it’s easy to toss everything into one baking dish for a party, or divide into individual ramekins for a quick weeknight treat. You can even assemble it in advance and bake when ready. Read more…
One month ago, I subscribed to Blue Apron when my friend, Angela, sent me a promo code for a week’s worth of free meals. I had been cooking at home more and was falling into a recipe rut, so I thought I’d give it a try. It was really easy to create an account, sign up, […] Read more…
At the first hint of sunny weather I get the itch to grill every kind of meat! I like how easy this smoky-spicy-sweet dry rub recipe is to make with a few pantry staples—and it’s great on grilled pork tenderloin, steak, and chicken, too. Give it a try this weekend! Read more…
I really love bite-side food. Maybe that’s why I love spanish tapas and why I like to make a bunch of appetizers when I entertain. I also love bite-size dessert, so these mini whoopie pies fit right into my bite-size food obsession. Read more…
This recipe from Real Simple is one of my favorites. The roasted lemon makes the dish bright and the fennel gives it depth. If you want to add more flavor (and a reason to heat up the grill) leave the skin on the salmon fillets and grill (skin side down) on cedar planks, over medium […] Read more…
This breakfast casserole is great for weekend brunch with friends. Or, you can pre-make and portion out for a few quick weekday morning meals. Use the recipe as your base and customize it by adding your favorite omelet ingredients such as mushrooms, bell pepper, bacon crumbles, spinach, etc. Read more…
My good friend, Alex, recently became a citizen after living in the U.S. for 28 years. He’s originally from London, England and has lived all over the states, and he recently decided it was time to make himself “official.” I’ve never been to an oath ceremony and I thought it would be fun to support my […] Read more…
Grilled pizza is one of my go-to dishes during the summer months when it’s peak peach season, but I also like to substitute grilled figs in the fall. I haven’t experimented with pizza sauce yet—my version usually incorporates ingredients that work well with just a little olive oil brushed on the crust. Read more…
I can’t get enough of this healthy, crunchy bread salad. Sometimes I make it in the beginning of the week and eat it for lunch the next few days, but is also makes a great refreshing dinner on hot summer evenings. Read more…
These days I’m loving the simplicity of a delish crockpot meal. These meatballs were easy to make, and got a big thumbs up from the hubby, who considers himself a meatball expert of sorts. INGREDIENTS Low moisture mozzarella cheese ball 1 pound ground beef 1 pound hot Italian sausage 1 jar of your favorite tomato […] Read more…
Happy Easter! Nothing reminds me of today’s celebration more than deviled eggs. My grandmother and great-grandmother always made a sure we had plenty of this delightful treat for our Easter family gatherings. Now that the Easter Bunny has left you with a basketful of hard-boiled eggs, try this twist on the classic recipe. Read more…
Homemade vanilla extract is one of my favorite gifts to make and give during the holidays. It’s fun, easy, and lasts a long time. I like to personalize the bottles by creating my own handwritten labels and tags. Don’t forget to make an extra bottle to keep for yourself! Read more…