Introducing Owen Astra Lee Batten. 6 pounds 8 ounces and 20.5 inches of pure love. Brock and I can’t believe he’s real. And he’s ours! And we get to keep him!! It’s been 6 8 12 16 weeks since I gave birth to Owen and I wanted to share his birth story while it’s still fresh(ish) in my […]
I can’t believe it was just six months ago that Brock and I exchanged vows. After 12 years of calling him my boyfriend, best friend, soul mate, and #1 recipe tester, I’m happy to finally add husband to that extensive list. Most recently, we added baby daddy to that list too! (More on that coming […]
Like most cooking enthusiasts, I’ve accumulated quite the collection of kitchen gadgets. I have 2+ junk drawers of “stuff” that I don’t really use often, but can’t bear to part with quite yet. (Hey, I might make spaetzle next week or need to grind some sausage, but that’s for another post!) Since I’ve been nesting so hard, […]
Back in 2010, when I invested in spendy masticating juicer, I really wondered if it was a worthy investment. Would it pay for itself? Would I even use it or would it be relegated to the garage (aka the land where things go to be forgotten about FOREVER)? Well, I’m happy to report that […]
I recently heard on a podcast that your tastebuds begin developing in utero, which is pretty crazy but explains a lot. My parents owned a doughnut shop when my mom was carrying me, which could WELL explain my penchant for fried dough, especially a perfect raised doughnut or apple fritter. (Side note: my dad says apple […]
A well-cooked turkey makes the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. By well-cooked, I mean juicy, flavorful, moist (sorry!) with a nice crispy skin. To combat dryness, I’ve made a butter, Dean’s Ranch Dip, and herb compound to inject flavor into the breast and keep it succulent. You have to get it all under the […]
Up until a few years ago, Brock didn’t eat eggs, which meant I didn’t cook a whole lot of eggs. Well now he’s seen the light and enjoys a runny yolk as much as I do (a lot!). I’m giving thanks for his food revelation with this recipe for deviled eggs as part of my […]
I’m always bummed out that I don’t get to be with my family up north for Thanksgiving any more; it’s just too far to travel for the weekend, especially so close to Christmas. I know you hear me. A lot of my friends in LA are transplants too, so we end up doing a friendsgiving […]
For a spicy twist on a Thanksgiving classic, I’m adding Dean’s Sriracha Dip to my classic baked macaroni and cheese recipe. It adds just the right amount of creaminess with a little spice. It’s the kind of heat that makes you you want to keep eating it vs. burning your taste buds off. Feel […]
Thanksgiving can end up being a pretty heavy, food coma-inducing meal, so I like to balance it out with a little freshness. Instead of roasting my Brussels Sprouts this year, I kept them raw and crisp for this slaw with pumpkins seeds and pomegranate. The secret here is to shave the Brussels Sprouts […]
