To set out appropriately into weekend recovery mode, John grabbed me late on Friday afternoon and said “we need a break from the craziness.” 2 minutes later we were in the car on our way to The Sicilian Butcher. Thankfully, we had childcare until 6pm. It had been one of THOSE weeks fraught with emotional
The Sicilian Butcher / The Sicilian Baker Read More »
It’s grape leaf season in Arizona. Our back yard is FULL of tender fresh grape leaves that are ready to be picked. I learned early how to harvest grape leaves in Minnesota where I grew up. Each year I remember going with my mother to gather grape leaves down by the lakes in Minneapolis. Many
Yubbra-Lebanese Grape Leaves Read More »
The amount of expectations leading up to Paris were monumental. High school trips, family and friends talking about how it’s the most amazing place, and the beautiful museums. I had heard about how amazing Paris was my entire life, so it was a guaranteed 1000% an awesome place to visit. But the truth is, once
France: Paris & the Eiffel Tower Read More »
Barcelona is an amazing city to see and explore, but nothing compares to Montserrat. No such a place has ever touched my heart quite like this mountain refuge. From Barcelona, you will need to take a train (or 2) to Montserrat located about 38 miles northeast. This is a fully recommended day trip and I
Spanish memories part 2: Montserrat Read More »
Since we’re all in lockdown and not able to travel, I figured it would be best to recount some of my most memorable and celebrated trips abroad. I will begin with Barcelona because that was literally the last place outside of the US that I was with my husband prior to having kids and long
Spanish memories part 1: Barcelona, Spring 2017 Read More »
Springtime in Arizona means perfect outdoor weather, patio lunches and park dates. It also means preparing or planting your garden for the season. I’m not a natural gardener by any means. Many a plant have succumbed to an ill fated death on my watch and I’m not proud of it. In Minnesota, where I grew
3-4 medium sized tomatoes (heirloom for a more beautiful plate) 1 loaf of crusty bread 2 -3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for frying + 1 tablespoon for the tomatoes ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar 2-4 sprigs of fresh basil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper First, pour yourself a glass of wine. I would recommend a
Foolproof Bruschetta Read More »
When visiting Spain you can count on pork and potatoes- or jamon & patatas bravas as they are better known. These cubed sized bites are just crispy and soft enough to make you feel like you’re eating fried food when you are not. The more traditional recipe involves first boiling the potatoes and then frying them in
It’s almost Easter time and in our home that means Polish Easter traditions. The tradition of a Polish Easter comes from my husband’s side of the family. His 91 year old grandfather, Gene, who is still living, celebrates his family legacy through our Easter meal. His parents both immigrated from Poland and brought with them
I’ve had curly hair my entire life and tried many products to tame my hair. I’ve experimented with salon based brands to drug store favorites such as L’oreal and Tresemme. Those products are good and have worked in a pinch, but I prefer Aveda’s Be Curly any day of the week. For the past 15
Aveda Junkie For Life Read More »
