Fall | Life Tastes Like Food

Split Pea Soup with Smoked Ham

Dec 062012

I’ve just discovered the greatness of homemade split pea soup. It’s so simple to make, your house smells like stew, and it’s great to eat on a rainy day. It’s been raining like crazy in San Francisco but it’s ok because that means that there’s going to be a lot of snow in Tahoe this winter! YES! Soooooooo a pound of dried split peas cost me $1.39 at Whole Foods. So cheap. I love it!! The most expensive item in this soup is the ham hock (shank?…what’s the difference??) and it was about $8. So for just over $10 I was able to make a HUGE pot of soup which fed about 8 people…multiple times. MORE IMPORTANTLY: Do you guys remember The Holiday Project last year????? Well this year, it’s back!!! I’ve been keeping it a secret but now it’s time to share because it’s all coming together! I started the [Continue Reading...]

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Baking, Dessert, Food, Holiday, Life, Recipe 5 Responses »

Nov 302012

It’s Friday (TGIF!) so we’re celebrating :) I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW…pumpkin was so last month. But you know what? Pumpkin will never go out of style, no matter what people say. And neither will cheesecake. It’s just the truth. I’m so ready for the weekend! Life has been a little hectic and busy lately. But I guess life has to be crazy every once in a while or else it wouldn’t be any fun, right? I’m excited to grab some dinner with friends tonight and then spend the weekend baking my little heart out. And watching Christmas movies, of course. And listening to this song (I just LOVE it!!). Oh, and I’ll also be channeling all of my strength towards NOT buy everything from Sur La Table regardless of how many sale/find the perfect gift emails and catalogs they send me! You guys, I also have something really, REALLY [Continue Reading...]

Mulled Cider with Fresh Fruit and Spiced Rum

Drinks, Holiday, Life, Recipe 5 Responses »

Nov 262012

Mulled Cider with Fresh Fruit and Spiced Rum

Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving? I think my favorite part of Thanksgiving was when I caught my adult cousin literally licking her plate clean :) Trust me, I was thinking of doing the sammme thing…she just beat me to it. Now that Turkey Day over, the Christmas season is starting to set in! Warm fires, snow, hot drinks, fudge, cookies, ugly sweaters, Christmas movies, Christmas SONGS. The list goes on. My favorite drink? This mulled cider!! It’s so warm and tasty. One sip makes me want to curl up under a blanket and watch Christmas movies back-to-back all weekend long (too bad it’s Monday!). And if you’re not a grandma like me who enjoys the occasional spiked drink while watching movies on a Saturday night, I guaranteeeee that this cider would be a hit at any holiday party!! It’s really easy to make and one pot serves a small gathering. [Continue Reading...]

Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese with Sage

Baking, Dinner, Food, Holiday, Life, Recipe, Side Dishes 11 Responses »

Nov 212012

Y’all know it’s that time of the year. Thanksgiving is tomorrow (I can’t WAIT!!), the weather is getting chillier, and comfort food is a must. So whether you’re looking for a last-minute side dish to bring for dinner tomorrow or if you’re simply craving something cheesy, this is your dish. It’s made with whole wheat shells (you can use regular pasta too!) and there are three kinds of cheese. I had about 10 people taste test this dish, and I think it’s safe to say that this recipe is a keeper. The dish also feeds a ton of people so if you’re going to a big event, this mac and cheese is perfect! The pumpkin flavor doesn’t over power the dish and the crispy sage that’s thrown into the breadcrumb topping is amazing. The sage is cooked in butter… …and then the browned butter and sage are mixed into the [Continue Reading...]

Grain-Free Gingerbread Men

Baking, Dessert, Food, Guest post, Holiday, Life, Recipe 2 Responses »

Dec 012011

Today’s Blogger Guest Post for The Holiday Project: Jenna from The Paleo Project [I love reading Jenna's blog for her delicious recipes, fun pictures, stories, and book recommendations. She strives hard to follow the paleo lifestyle, and I think that's so amazing!] ***************************************************************** Before I learned to cook, or even cared to cook for that matter, the all-consuming task of holiday prep, revolved around one thing: presents. Gifts. Thinking of them, saving for them, buying them, wrapping them, delivering them, and usually without fail, watching them remain untouched for the following year, because you can really never know what your boyfriend’s mother wants for Christmas. You do your best based on a few years hanging around their home. You see the products she loves, the kitchenware she swears by, the name on the bag she brings home after Sunday shopping trips with her girls. But you can never really pinpoint [Continue Reading...]