Entertaining should be an enjoyable experience. I don’t want to be in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove while my guests are enjoying conversation and cocktails. I want to be a part of the party too. This is my favorite go-to recipe for a casual dinner with friends or family. It can be made ahead, it tastes amazing (even kids love it!) and best of all, it’s not difficult to make. You can enjoy spending time with your guests and then…
Winter in California is when our citrus trees are bursting with fruit. One of my favorites is my small Meyer lemon tree that, despite it’s size, graces me with plenty of lemons for myself, family, and friends! In the past I’ve shared my lemon ricotta lasagne recipe, but this time I’m sharing a recipe for a lemon drop cocktail…something (until recently) I hadn’t had in about 10 years! It was an Instagram friend who gave me the idea and the…
Recently, Coastal Living did a photo shoot of our home. The stylist wanted to use lemons for one particular shot…a whole lot of lemons. Luckily, my little Meyer lemon tree had a bumper crop this year! After the shoot, I gave some away but was still left with a bowlful. I decided to make Meyer Lemonade. Meyer lemons are smaller and rounder than regular lemons. They have a smooth thin skin that is deep yellow to orange. But the best part is they are…
Months ago, I had planned a trip to Big Sur when my parents would be visiting me in Santa Barbara. Our daughter and a friend were coming too. Nature had other ideas. With one of the wettest winters on record (over 80″ of rain) and five years of drought, the damage was severe. Mudslides, rockslides, and the loss of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge cut a major part of the beautiful Highway 1 and Big Sur off from the rest of the…