Why Homemade Granola is a Staple in Our Home Homemade granola has become such a staple in our house that I often forget what store-bought versions taste like. From what I remember, store-bought granola resembles overly sweetened cardboard—yet, for some reason, I used to buy it. I liked the convenience of having granola on hand,…
Summer Tomato Pie
Celebrating Summer’s Bounty at Bay Area Farmer’s Markets It’s late July, and the local farmer’s markets in the Bay Area are bursting with the vibrant colors and flavors of summer produce. While my weekly shopping list varies depending on what’s on the meal plan, one constant from June until at least late September is tomatoes….
Marinated Beans with Garlic and Herbs
Easy Seasonal Summer Meal for the Whole Family One way to enjoy a summer evening at home is to have an easy, stress-free seasonal meal planned. Even better if it’s a hit with the whole family! Grilled tri-tip, sautéed fresh corn with red onion and basil, and marinated beans with garlic and herbs. My 10-year-old…
Meal Planning: Meal Ideas With Roasted Chicken
Keep Calm and Roast a Chicken: A Simple and Comforting Recipe It’s supposed to be sunny and warm outside—it’s mid-May in California, after all. The sun is coming, we just have to wait several more days. For now, keep calm and roast a chicken! There is something so satisfying about knowing how to roast a…
Meal Planning: Make-Ahead Celebratory Spring Menu
Spring Has Sprung in Northern California Spring has definitely sprung in Northern California! The temperatures in the Bay Area have my kids barefoot and jumping in the chilly pool after school. In the non-food world, Spring to me means baseball season is in full swing, NBA playoffs are underway, it’s light outside until after dinner,…
Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Preparing for a Stress-Free Flight with Homemade Snacks Last week, I made these little muffins when I should have been packing for a big family vacation. I knew we had an early morning flight, and the idea of relying on a snack-size pack of nuts and a drink from the beverage cart makes this already…
Post-Vacation Meal Planning: Simplify With These Easy Tips
The Post-Vacation Reality: From Relaxation to Real Life We’ve been home from a Hawaiian vacation for less than 24 hours, and the relaxation is already a distant memory! Sound familiar? So much fun, sun, sand, water, and wonderful family memories were made this spring break, but back to dreary, cloudy skies is enough to suck…
SFCS: Externship and Beyond
The ultimate goal of Restaurant Week, beyond showcasing our new skills and amazing food, was to get us ready for our externships and working in a restaurant for 2 months. After meeting with the founder of our school, Jodi Liano, we were carefully and thoughtfully placed in a restaurant that would work with our…
Cooking School: Weeks 14-16
With just days to go before we had to begin preparing for our big Restaurant Week finale, we enjoyed a few super fun days at school. Early December in San Francisco calls for Crab (and Octopus!) Day. It is one of our founder’s favorite foods and the mascot of our school, afterall. Caught only…
Cooking School: Weeks 11-14
Weeks 11-14 of cooking school have come and gone, as they took place in November. Any parent knows that once the first holiday of the season hits- October 31- it’s full steam ahead! To say that the time between Halloween and just before Christmas was crazy busy is an understatement. It’s always a fun, but…