I learned many years ago that tomatoes are technically classified as a fruit, but only recently that pumpkins and zucchini fall into the same category. A few weeks ago, the husband and I were at a party, and an acquaintance informed us that the French don’t consider corn a vegetable—that they view it solely as a source of carbohydrates, like bread or pasta. ...
Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
Falafel and Hummus Bowls
The husband and I both have summer birthdays, one month apart, which means there have been lots of treats and indulgent meals lately. When we’re not in celebration mode, we’ve been opting for healthier fare to help balance things out, and these falafel and hummus bowls have quickly become a new favorite! ...
Lemon Basil Cake with Berries + Fifth Blogiversary!
Five years ago, after completing my first year in grad school, I flew home to visit my parents, and it was then that I photographed, wrote, and published my very first blog post! Shortly thereafter, I shared the story behind the silly name of the blog, but I’ve never really talked much about why I started a blog in the first place. ...
Penne with Quick Green Chile Marinara Sauce
This penne with quick green chile marinara sauce is an old recipe, not only because I first posted it several years ago (in my pre-DSLR days) but also because it has been a family favorite for nearly as long as I can remember. In fact, when I asked my dad about the origins of the recipe (and of its obscure name, “penne al boccalone”), all he could tell me was that he found the recipe in a ...
Chocolate Irish Cream Poke Cake
Hi friends! It’s time to put on your cake pants—or cake shorts, since summer has officially arrived—because I’ve got a new cake recipe that you won’t want to miss! But before I get to that, let’s catch up for a minute. Things have been pretty topsy-turvy in the Cake Pants household, but in a good way! ...
Almond Poppy Seed Shortbread Cookies
People say that change is the only constant in life, and I’m not going to lie: most of the time, change and the uncertainty that it often involves scare me. I’m the type of person who likes to have an hour-by-hour outline of my activities (plus an idea of what’s for dinner!) for the following day before I go to bed each night. These next few weeks will introduce an entirely new chapter in my life: ...
Chicken and Butternut Squash Chili
Last week I was on a video call with my family, including my adorable baby nephew, and the conversation turned to babies and food preferences, since my nephew has recently started trying solid foods. I asked my parents what I was like at that stage, and of course, they said that I was an avid eater. No surprise there, right?! Squash was one of my favorite foods, and at one point, the bottoms of my ...
Irish Cream Oatmeal
The recipe I’m sharing today is so easy that you can make it while half-asleep, which is particularly good news for those of us in the United States who just lost an hour and so are likely to be groggy and disoriented in the morning for a least a few days! ...
Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta Vinaigrette
Spring has not yet sprung in Michigan, but I’m excited to be emerging from my blog hibernation at long last! A lot has happened in the three months since my most recent post. ...
Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread Cookies
Given that this year’s Thanksgiving fell relatively early, I managed to recover from my food coma in time to hit the ground running with all things Christmas by the first day of December. The apartment is decorated, the shopping is well under way, and the first batch of Christmas cookies is, uh, almost gone. ...