Food at the Table – Backdoor Hospitality

Grain-Free Cardamom Sticky Biscuits

Christmas mornings meant dad pulling out all the stops when it came to getting ready in the morning, and the breakfast. Oh man, the breakfast. While the other 364 days of the year he would make oatmeal or Cream of Wheat, he decided to sizzle up bacon and fry up over easy eggs, making freshContinue reading “Grain-Free Cardamom Sticky Biscuits”

Summer Medley of Sliced Fennel, Beets, Radishes, & Carrots with Orange Vinaigrette

Last summer our family of five traveled to Arizona along the I-5 corridor making a surprise stop in Disneyland. I still remember the thrill in our daughter’s eyes when we woke up in a hotel to reveal our surprise of entering Disneyland that day. After an “let’s cram it all in” sort of day, weContinue reading “Summer Medley of Sliced Fennel, Beets, Radishes, & Carrots with Orange Vinaigrette”

Whole 30 Approved Kale, Apple, & Carrot Salad with Creamy Cashew Dressing

Two fried eggs served alongside buttered toast with their drippy yolks. Just enough salt and pepper atop inviting me for another taste. My first meal after returning home from the hospital with my firstborn. Bean and bacon soup with far too much sodium gingerly biting down. Sitting in my bed watching tv, and being nursedContinue reading “Whole 30 Approved Kale, Apple, & Carrot Salad with Creamy Cashew Dressing”

One Bowl Grain-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

Many, many years ago I baked some peanut butter cookies for my dad. My mom would always make chocolate chip cookies; but, I somehow thought peanut butter was more fitting. Upon eating them he mentions to my mom how peanut butter cookies were his favorite. Much to my mother’s chagrin, as she was always toldContinue reading “One Bowl Grain-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars”

Easy Peasy Limey Squeezy Carne Asada

If you’re familiar with cuts of a cow; then, you know you are only alloted two flanks in one beef cow. There are so many recipes, which call for a flank. Prior to ever buying our own cow I had never given it much thought. Like most Americans, you simply go to the store andContinue reading “Easy Peasy Limey Squeezy Carne Asada”

Mango-Avocado Salsa Salad

As I stood in my kitchen the other day dreaming up ideas of Whole30 meals, mangos and avocados came to mind. Originally I pictured these long sliced avocados with slices of mango and freshly squeezed lime poured over them with a sprinkling of salt. I wanted to keep it simple. The idea morphed into meContinue reading “Mango-Avocado Salsa Salad”

Children Need to be in the Kitchen & at the Table

Today I was the parent helper in Cadence’s preK class, which means Tuesday is cooking day. We made homemade granola, which would go on top of the yogurt and fruit. Most often, there are only a handful of kids helping in the process. However, today it seemed the majority of the class took part inContinue reading “Children Need to be in the Kitchen & at the Table”

Roasted Beet-Orange-Fennel & Shallot Salad Which My Seven Year old Loves

I have a love-love relationship for beets. As a child, the only way I could get them was found at the salad bar at a restaurant I affectionately called, “Tom & Tates.” I guess you could call me the oddball kid in the family (perfectly in the middle), who choked down dry lima beans, gladlyContinue reading “Roasted Beet-Orange-Fennel & Shallot Salad Which My Seven Year old Loves”

Preserved Meyer Lemons

In my freshman year of college I lived with my older brother in a run down house in a seedy part of town (I got car jacked in that same neighborhood). I would wake up M-F and head to my morning classes at Mesa Community College, then drive directly to work as the pizza deliveryContinue reading “Preserved Meyer Lemons”