Family traditions are something I love to pass down to my kids. I grew up eating old-fashioned peanut butter cookies. Both my mother and my grandmother made them in huge batches and stored them in large glass jars to keep them fresh. There was always a delicious treat waiting to enjoy any time of the day. Times have changed since I …
It Begins at the Table Cookbook Sneak Peek: Lemon Zucchini Bread Recipe with Sweet Turmeric Glaze
Lemon Zucchini Bread with sweet turmeric glaze is my version of my grandmother’s old classic zucchini bread recipe. Baked with most of the same delicious ingredients she used and infused with a delightful lemon flavor that takes my grandma’s method to the next level — topped with a sweet turmeric glaze for a touch of international flavor. Have you ever …
Banana Coconut Mango Cake | Gluten-Free & Dairy-free
With the holidays upon us, it’s time to plan the menu for those festive gatherings. Today, I experimented in the kitchen with a new dessert idea. Gluten-free, dairy-free banana coconut mango cake delightfully combines your favorite fruit topped over a moist coconut almond flour cake and dairy-free coconut whipped cream. I had my daughter, Lexi, in mind when I created this …
Healthy Asian Coleslaw Recipe
Asian Coleslaw is the newest addition to my spring/summer salad recipe collection. It’s a refreshing detour from the softer lettuce-based salads, especially when you’re in the mood for something crunchy and fresh to pair with a meal or even as the meal itself. I especially love the variety of healthy vegetables you get with every bite. My biggest pet peeve …
Turmeric Bread and Butter Pickles
Life is full, and the days of preserving the summer harvest to enjoy during the long winter month seem to be a thing of the past. In the age of fast food eating and DoorDash where you can order in from a large selection of your favorite restaurants, the desire to can and preserve foods like fruit jams and old-fashioned …
Jamaican Piña Colada Recipe | Caribbean Style
They say, “Summers are for Piña coladas.” But I say this creamy tropical drink is perfect any time of the year! A few winters ago, I vacationed in Jamaica to take a break from the chilly Minnesota weather. It was on this tropical island paradise that I fell head over heels in love with their unique approach to creamy Piña …
Jamaican Festival Bread Recipe
Festival is a celebrated tradition in Jamaica. I’m not referring to an outdoor street party, though I adore the festive steel drum music they play near the pool. Jamaican Festival bread is a traditional bread side served with dishes like Jerk Chicken and Escovitch Fish. The actual name is Jamaican Festival Dumpling, but it looks and tastes more like a …
Chinese Spicy Chili Sauce Recipe | 辣椒酱 Làjiāo jiàng
Sichuan China is known for its spicy cuisine. Chinese Spicy Chili Sauce is a recipe created by my friend, Rachel, who was born in Sichuan and she brought her technique of creating authentic Chinese cuisine with her when she migrated to the United States many years ago. Rachel created this recipe for her Chinese Sichuan Beef. A recipe you can find in …
Chinese Spicy Beef Recipe | Shaved Beef Bites
Chinese Spicy Beef is a recipe I learned to make from my friend, Rachel, who makes simple Chinese cooking look like a walk in the park. She has an incredible gift of taking basic ingredients and turning them into a feast fit for a king in less time than it takes most people to get the dishes done. This beef …
Chinese Smashed Cucumbers
Here in Minnesota, Chinese restaurants are a popular option amidst the sea of eating establishments. I love the five flavors of salty, spicy, sour, sweet, and bitter infused into traditional Chinese cooking, but prefer to avoid the MSG found in most of the food at these restaurants. I asked my friend Rachel to teach me how to make delicious, healthy, …