10 Subtle Signs Spring Is Finally Here

featured 12213

It’s been a while since I last posted—some longtime readers even reached out to ask if I was okay, which I really appreciate.

All is well. I’ve just been busy wearing other hats. Much of my time now goes to providing tech support for bloggers, and I’ve been building Healthy Ads, an online advertising network I launched to connect genuinely healthful companies with health-focused bloggers and readers. Those product ads you see below my photo? That’s Healthy Ads in action.

I’ve also had a couple of personal distractions lately: we adopted Molly, a wonderful dog, in November, and we’re getting solar panels installed on our home. I’ll share more about both in future posts.

There’s a strange dynamic to blogging—if you stop for a while, the next post can feel like it must be spectacular. That pressure to create something extraordinary can be paralyzing and it becomes a self-fulfilling spiral. I also tend to feel a little worn out every year after October Unprocessed. Still, a small, meaningful moment is often enough to nudge me back into writing.

Read more

Peppermint Blossom Cookies: Festive Mint Chocolate Treats

featured 30479

These peppermint blossom cookies are a beautiful addition to any holiday cookie tray. Slightly crumbly and very buttery, they pair tender vanilla sugar cookie dough with a white chocolate peppermint KISS in the center for a classic seasonal flavor. ❤️ Why you’ll love it Quick and easy to prepare Festive and attractive for holiday gatherings … Read more

Blackstone Grilled Queso Dip Recipe: Smoky Skillet Cheese for Parties

featured 12226

Make Blackstone Queso for a quick, cheesy side everyone will love. This easy queso uses just three simple ingredients and melts perfectly on the griddle for a creamy, crowd-pleasing dip. This Blackstone queso is a restaurant-quality Velveeta dip you can make in a cast iron skillet on the griddle. With just Velveeta, Rotel and browned … Read more

Honoring a Mother’s Purim Legacy: Stories with Lauren Kandel

featured 779

For Lauren and her sister Jenny, Purim centers on two things: hamantaschen and honoring their mother, Maxine. Each year, without fail, the sisters continue Maxine’s tradition of baking hundreds of hamantaschen to share with their children, neighbors and community. It’s easy to understand why this ritual endures — these soft, flaky triangular cookies offer a … Read more

Lemon French Toast with Blueberry Compote Recipe

featured 5049

Fluffy, sweet and bursting with fresh lemon and blueberry flavors! If summer was a breakfast food, this would be it! French toast was my favorite growing up. I never loved pancakes or waffles as much—french toast was always my go-to. With summer approaching and lemon showing up in everything lately, this easy lemon french toast … Read more

Amish Brown Butter Noodles Recipe – Rich, Buttery Pasta in Minutes

featured 5606

While I have your attention, let’s talk about Amish brown butter noodles. Buttered noodles are one of the simplest, most comforting dishes to make. Kid-friendly and versatile, they pair well with many meals and are comfort food at its best. These Amish brown butter noodles are rich, slightly creamy, full of flavor, and incredibly buttery. … Read more

Lemon Pound Cake Recipe for True Lemon Lovers

featured 6842

Here’s my updated “Van Halen” Lemon Pound Cake — what I believe is the best lemon pound cake you’ll ever taste. It layers lemon flavor in three ways: zest, juice, and a touch of lemon extract or oil for a bright, authentic profile. I include a video demonstrating the creaming method used for this cake. … Read more

Watermelon, Feta & Verjus Vinaigrette Salad Recipe

featured 5893

Watermelon and feta salad with verjus dressing — a super-easy, refreshing summer salad. Ver-what? Verjus (pronounced ver-jue) is an old ingredient—literally “green juice”—made from unripened grapes. Used since the Middle Ages as a sauce component, tenderizer and condiment, verjus delivers a gentle, tart brightness more like green apple than the sharp bite of vinegar. It’s … Read more

Brown Butter Graham Crust Pistachio Cheesecake Recipe

featured 3978

Enjoy a luscious pistachio cheesecake that combines rich, creamy filling with a nutty pistachio flavor and a brown-butter graham cracker crust. The cheesecake filling is enriched with pistachio butter for a subtle, balanced sweetness, while the brown butter adds depth and a toasty aroma to the crust—perfect for entertaining or a special treat. What is … Read more

Lemony White Bean, Kale & Orzo Soup Recipe

featured 8994

Lemony Soup with White Beans, Kale & Orzo. This month many people have been knocked down by a fast-moving flu, and I was no exception. I felt awful until I tried a comforting recipe for Lemony Soup with White Beans, Kale & Pasta from Flourishing Foodie. The bright, lemony broth soothed my scratchy throat and … Read more