Well, technically this is Jamaican food done southern style, but still. I am pretty much hooked on this whole southern thing. I seem to go through these phases, and currently southern comfort/ light and fresh summertime food is it. I am obviously very much enjoying this phase. Not sure how southern comfort + light and fresh summer food go together, but I feel like it’s a good balance of buttah and fruit....

Aloo Palak Aloo = Potatoes , Palak = Spinach and Sabji/Sabzi = “Dry Curry”. Both these wonderful vegetables cooked together make aloo palak. In Indian cuisine, often the dry sabjis (dry vegetarian preparations) are called just by naming the ingredients, a little weird no? Dishes like palak paneer or palak chole similarly get their name from the main ingredients. My non-indian friends find it a little mind boggling, however that’s how it is....

Count this as another recipe perfect for lockdown – simple, easy to make Appalam Kuzhambu. Very minimal ingredients and almost no chopping – all you need are a few appalams, tamarind and sambar powder apart from other kitchen staples. Appalam – urad dal based sun dried crisp is usually served deep fried as a side dish for rice. But when you are low on vegetables, it comes quite handy in making a flavorful delicious curry for rice....

Yes, seventeen. What is this number you ask? Seventeen is the number of people that will be in our house from Christmas day to January 2nd. That would be 8 days, 17 people, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and one kitchen table that seats 8. It being the holiday’s and the fact that we live in vacation town we have visitors pretty often. Although, most of the time they seem to be random friends (mostly looking to snowboard and free place to stay) my brothers invite in....

I love to grill during the summer months, some of our favorite recipes include grilled swordfish, marinated flank steak and this super easy beer can chicken. Grilling a whole chicken is simple with this beer can chicken recipe. This dish has just a handful of ingredients, and produces perfectly juicy and tender chicken each and every time. Ingredients for this recipe This recipe just has a handful of ingredients including a whole chicken (remove the giblets!...

We’re taking things back with these yummy quesadillas. Some of you may remember that quesadillas are one of the main reasons I began to love cooking so much. I used to make them ALL THE TIME for my brothers when I was in high school. The quesadillas really did ignite my love for cooking and sharing food with the ones around me. When my brothers and I were in school, they’d often get out around 12 or 1 pm to go snowboarding in the afternoon....

It might still be September, but October is just two days away. And with chillier temps arriving (we have potential snow on tonight and Thursday), it’s time for fall soup. I held out until the end of the month to share this recipe. But it’s one I’ve been excited about for a while now. Do you guys remember those hard cider pretzels I made a few weeks ago? Well, I made them as an awesome game day snack....

Now if that isn’t a proper title than I don’t know what is. I’m showing my old school Half Baked Harvest colors today and bringing you guys a recipe with the longest title ever (any long time readers know just what I’m talking about), which naturally includes the most delicious flavor profile. Again brown butter lobster with polenta and tomatoes. I really don’t even need to say anything more…but of course I will, because it’s me, and you all know how I love to ramble, especially on Mondays....

I made us french toast on the grill!! And you guys, it is officially my new favorite way of cooking french toast. INCREDIBLE. You know how this summer, grilled bread, is like “the thing”? Ahh ok, maybe it is not “the thing” for you, but it kind of has been for me. I think it is just awesome. Although, now that I think of it, I pretty much think most things on the grill are awesome....

Here’s the deal, I realize that look-wise these muffins are nothing exquisite, but when it comes to taste and texture? These muffins are spot on, and without a doubt one of my staple HBH recipes. What’s a staple HBH recipe? Well, considering I just made that up, I’m not entirely sure. But I’m thinking that a staple HBH recipe would be a recipe that I remake time and time again....

Pasta that’s almost too pretty to eat!! Almost being the key word…obviously. For real though, this is the ultimate fall carbonara! Some of you might be questioning that pomegranate roasted squash and asking yourself what that heck is that, but trust me, it’s so delicious, and perfect atop this creamy, cheesy carbonara! Configuration Wizard So guys, I have a confession. I have a serious love for carbonara style pasta. I just finished editing a very summery carbonara recipe that I have in the cookbook (umm spoiler alert!...

I made my first caprese themed recipe of the year. Ok, fine I guess it’s not my first since last August. I did make these awesome Roasted Asparagus Caprese Melts with a Fried Egg, but it’s been a few months and fresh spring produce is finally starting to pop up in the grocery store! My very, very favorite summer herb is basil and very, very favorite way to use it is in a caprese salad....

When it comes to food, the end of April and the beginning of May is one of my favorite times of the year. First of all, it’s deep into spring which means that the produce is plentiful, and recipes have a much fresher feel to them. And two? Cinco de Mayo is May 5th, which means Mexican inspired recipes for the next week. Now I know Cinco de Mayo may not be a holiday that’s actually very celebrated in Mexico, but it’s heavily celebrated here in the US, and I’m all about it....

Today I am sharing an amazing recipe from my friend Ali’s cookbook. Some of you may already be familiar with Ali’s blog and book, both are aptly named Inspiralized, and honestly, this book is the best! So creative and filled to the brim with healthy yet satisfying recipes. Like if you are looking for new ways to use up all those end of summer veggies, this is your book! You will see veggies in a whole new light....

Chicken taquitos are an easy yet unexpected appetizer that’s perfect to feed a crowd – I have instructions for both baking and frying these crispy bites of goodness! Serve your taquitos with sides such as salsa fresca, black bean soup, cilantro lime rice and Chipotle guacamole for a complete meal. I have to admit, for the longest time I thought of chicken taquitos only as a food you buy in the freezer section of the grocery store for a quick snack....

I feel like because it is now October I can freely talk about all things pumpkin!! Pretty pumped about this. Especially after spending the last few days in Orlando at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter experiencing pumpkin juice, pumpkin pasties and OK, chocolate frogs and Butterbeer too! Since I’m on the topic of Harry Potter, thank you guys all so much for your incredibly awesome recommendations. Like you all had said, Universal Studios is HUGE, and there is just so much to see!...

The last few weeks I’ve been in serious baking mode, a non-chocolate, berry filled baking mode. It’s been delicious, fun, and pretty. But today I felt like we needed some chocolate, and we needed it to be on the healthier side. And yes, I’m going to go as far as saying that these peanut butter bars are healthy, because their ingredient list is top-notch. Dark chocolate, creamy peanut butter, dates, and just a touch of real maple syrup....

Chocolate and fruit are a pairing that can’t be beat; when I’m looking for a sweet treat I often make chocolate fondue, brownie pizza or these fabulous chocolate dipped strawberries. Chocolate covered strawberries are a classic treat that never goes out of style. Buying store bought chocolate dipped berries can be expensive though, and you can make your own at home for a fraction of the cost! They’re the perfect gift for loved ones on Valentine’s Day....

It’s so different from anything I thought I would ever make. I mean lemons and ricotta mixing with my chocolate? That’s just weird, for me at least. You all know I really do not like mixing my fruit and my chocolate, my one exception – bananas, in which case I stinking love, but the truth is, if you ever see any raspberries (strawberries, blueberries, etc) alongside chocolate it’s pretty much guaranteed I put them there to make things look pretty....

Today I am sharing a very simple Kootu recipe using Chow Chow – also known as Chayote or Bangalore Kathirikai (in Tamil). Kootu is a name given in Tamil cuisine for all curries based on vegetables and lentils – it is thicker and can be served as a side dish for Kara Kuzhambu/Vathal Kuzhambu or just with plain white rice or rotis. The recipe I am sharing today is Chow Chow Poricha Kootu – a kootu what with fresh ground South Indian spices and coconut....