This year for Thanksgiving, I'm all about quick prep (we're talking as few as 5 minutes) and big flavor payoff. My Thanksgiving menu will be a mix of tried-and-true classics from the Chris Cooks archives, plus some new recipes that I created this fall. But what this Thanksgiving dinner won't be is stuffy, overly formal, […]
This year, I'm doing Thanksgiving easy-style. While I have over 30 recipes for Thanksgiving that I've created over the years, This year, I want to spend more time out of the kitchen with my family and less time prepping and cooking. (Enter supporting dishes like candied ham skewers and roasted honeynut squash.) To top it […]
I do a lot of cooking for food restrictions, but this recipe is none of those things. These dinner rolls are my mom's recipe, and they're one of her signature dishes. She has made them for almost every gathering since I was a kid. The smell of these...it's the smell of every family event in […]
There's a new squash in town that everyone's talking about, and that's the honeynut squash. A smaller and slightly sweeter descendant of the butternut squash, it's quickly become one of my favorite fall vegetables. And it makes an incredible side dish for your Thanksgiving table. This season, I'm all about high-impact, low effort dishes, and […]
As a home cook, this is my favorite time of year: the time leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. But this year, I want to focus on low-effort, high-impact dishes. Something that can serve a crowd but is not too hard to make. And these spicy candied ham bites are just the ticket. Shop The […]
I use our Ninja CREAMi all the time. It’s just so easy to make a super delicious dessert with almost no effort (other than an overnight freeze.) If you have someone in your house who can't have dairy, this little ice cream maker comes in clutch. It really can turn almost anything into something frosty, […]
When the sheet pan dinner craze started, I was all on board. What's not to like about a dinner with minimal prep, minimal effort and maximum flavor? I decided to take advantage of that one-pan method, but I use a roasting pan as my sheet pan—shhh, don't tell anyone. That way, I can layer the […]
I'm excited to share today's recipe with you because it's more than just a dessert—this baked pears & rosemary caramel recipe inspired a lip balm flavor! That's right, we launched a collaboration with our friends at Poppy & Pout based on three fall desserts that I developed just for you. We love Poppy & Pout […]
Shop CLJ x Poppy & Pout Lip Balm Trio I'm even more excited to share today's recipe with you because it's more than just a dessert—it inspired a lip balm flavor! That's right, we just launched a collaboration with our friends at Poppy & Pout based on three fall desserts that I developed just for […]
I'm even more excited to share today's recipe with you because it's more than just a dessert—it inspired a lip balm flavor! That's right, we just launched a collaboration with our friends at Poppy & Pout based on three fall desserts that I developed just for you. We love Poppy & Pout because they're just […]
I'm straying a bit from our typical gluten and dairy-free theme this week, sharing one of the things I make my two daughters who don't have food restrictions. Everyone loves a good mac and cheese, but something I struggle with the number of commonplace foods that are just differently shaped combinations of grain and dairy. […]
Bowls (similar) | Platter | Copper Candlestick (similar) | Taper Candles | Wooden Serving Utensils | Plaid Tablecloth (similar) Late summer hits, and it's like the world collectively moves on to fall. But there is still an abundance of tomatoes and bright greens at the market. And it's actually the perfect time of year to […]
I love ordering crab cakes out—they're such a treat. But if I want to make crab cakes at home, they need to cater to our food restrictions. That means they have to be delicious AND have no eggs, dairy, wheat, gluten or grains. Well these knock it out of the park, thanks to some secret […]
I love a good dip, and it’s even better when they’re bubbling hot. It can be a challenge to find some really great dairy-free creamy dips, but this one delivers. And unlike many white bean dips, this one is not shy about big, bold flavors! So let's get down to the nitty-gritty of how I […]
Shop The Kitchen Fall is my favorite food season. I love the warm spices, apples, sweet potatoes, squash — there are so many wonderful flavors and textures to work with. To herald September, I put together this crisp Harvest Punch that looks like fall in a glass. It is the perfect beverage to serve at […]
The girls are back in school, and all is right with the world of routines again! Speaking of routines, the ritual of weekly meal prep is one of my favorite things to do — I love to create healthy, nutrient-rich meals that can power us through the day. Breakfast, as we all know, is one […]
I don't bake often (I like to be more freeform with my recipes than baking allows), but when I do, I like to make something like this. A super-simple, fruit-forward dessert that's not too sweet, but packed with flavor. The best part? It's gluten-free, dairy-free, and only takes less than 5 minutes of active work […]
Jules has really been into Brussels sprouts lately (as she showed in our fridge tour), and while she could eat them the same way every day, if I'm gonna enjoy it then I gotta mix it up. Roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts are a timeless pair - add a roasted red pepper sauce and this […]
Have you ever played that game with friends where you ask, "What would you choose for your last meal?" Well, steak frites is my pick. While this traditional dish of steak and fries is often served in European brasseries, I love Asian flavors, so I came up with this unexpected — but entirely tasty — […]
I have a thing for tacos. They're just everything you could want in a tasty little handheld package. I've done smash burger tacos, chicharron de ribeye tacos, al pastor tacos, and grilled steak tacos. But when I want to serve tacos to some of my vegan friends and family members, I put mushroom tacos on […]
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Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations