Once upon a time, I made an eBook named Chris Loves Burgers. It houses all of my favorite burger recipes for beef, pork, poultry, crab/seafood, and vegetarian patties. There are also instructions for not only the patty but everything that is assembled in the burger to make it out of this world. I discuss it […]
One of my favorite things to do in the summer is break out the grill and create some simple, tasty recipes. The grill is a great place to experiment and skewers are the perfect place to start. Plus what's better than grilling on the 4th of July? Especially mouth-watering skewers. The only thing better than a […]
Carne Asada can be used for a lot of things, and having a simple, delicious version to whip up whenever you need is super helpful. Though I've never met a carne asada I didn't love, there are some versions with chilis that have been a bit too much for my kids. So for me, I […]
What is it they say? The best time to start grilling was 10 years ago but the second best time to start is today? I don't actually know if anybody says that, but I stand by it. Grilling can seem intimidating if you don't know where to start, but the only requisite to joining grill […]
Salsa has been tricky for me, which sounds silly. I've made several versions, and historically the best ones I've made have used canned tomatoes. As someone who is trying to move to "fresh" as much as I can, that's been frustrating. But it makes sense, because canned tomatoes usually contain additional things that make the […]
Let me introduce to you a recipe that you'll make over and over gain. This pan-fried pancetta gnocchi is an evergreen meal that Julia and the girls request frequently! Of course I happily oblige because it's just that good. This recipe is very allergy friendly (we opt for gluten-free gnocchi), but I promise there's no […]
It's no secret we have some food allergies in this house, which can make dessert kind of tricky. I kid you not, our dessert woes are forever over because of this one kitchen appliance. Totally not sponsored, the Ninja CREAMi whips up frozen treats by simply freezing fruit (along with whatever else you want), and […]
Asian food is tricky for a lot of food allergies, particularly grain & gluten. For example, sweet & sour sauce. Typically made with rice vinegar, thickened with corn starch, seasoned with soy sauce (which most often contains gluten). But with a few substitutions, this version hits all the highs without the dietary lows that can […]
I recently had the honor of showing my parents around this new place we call home and it was a delight. Also a delight was making this coconut mango breakfast tart for my mom. Happy Mother's Day Mom! Patting myself on the back here, but this tart checks all the boxes of light, creamy, tart, […]
Curry is one of those comfort dishes I get a hankering for and this vegetable coconut curry is no exception. Packed with vegetables and rich, aromatic spices, vegetable curry satisfies without leaving me feeling blah. If you know, you know. The balance of coconut is what brings the curry home! It's delicious as is, but […]
Every food blogger starts their post with "This is my favorite XYZ." Well, guess what. This actually is my favorite salad. Of all time. 2nd place isn't even close. The flavor of this Thai beef salad is unmatched and perfectly balanced without adding any cooking oils. Vase | Peach Stems | Bay Leaf Branch | Bowls […]
Unfortunately for tofu, it gets a bad rap and I'm willing to bet you've tasted some mediocre tofu before! Most don't know that tofu can actually be delicious if it's prepared properly and bonus points if it's crispy tofu! I'm sharing my favorite way to make and eat tofu. Spoiler alert: it's delicious. I like […]
There are a few things I have a pretty good handle on, culinarily speaking. Ham is one of them. I know how to make a ham! But the flavors of my glaze change with the season, and this one is perfect for Spring. Pitcher | Copper Canisters | Marble Bowl | Ginger Jar | Vase | […]
Deviled eggs–you either love 'em or hate 'em. I'd say I'm in the "for" category, emphatically - especially with these babies. Smoked salmon and egg is a great pair, and with all the other flavors, it balances perfectly and will really surprise and delight anyone you make them for. Vase | Pendant | Table | […]
Easter is just around the corner and I've been testing out different recipes for our Easter dinner menu. These grilled carrots are the star side dish, appropriately so. But let's be honest, I would eat these as a side any day. Gingham Napkin | Porcelain Bunny | Pepper Mill | Faux Artichokes | Marble Bowl […]
I'm not typically a smoothie guy. I prefer to eat my calories rather than drink them, but not with this mango smoothie. I was wanting something a bit sweeter, a bit tangier, so I whipped up this mango, citrus & coconut smoothie to curb the craving! There's also just a hint of ginger, but it's […]
I've been trying to get creative with how I cook my vegetables, so that I want to eat more vegetables. Hence the shaved asparagus! Not everyone is a fan of asparagus, but if you haven't tried them in this noodle-like form you might really like them! I prepared them with some of my favorite asian-inspired […]
This post is sponsored by Magic Spoon To all those not willing to compromise flavor when it comes to nutrition, this post is for you. I hear you, I see you, I am you. Recently I heard of Magic Spoon and was curious if it was worth all the hype so I had to try […]
Let me tell you, this is not the shepherd's pie you grew up with. Technically it's actually a cottage pie since it's made with ground beef rather than lamb (I also added pork sausage but we'll get to that). All I'm saying is that if you're looking for a cottage pie, reinvented with elevated flavors, […]
Last week I shared a recipe for my chipotle chickpea crunch, a kickin' condiment I've been putting on everything these days. So good. I wanted to share one of the several thousand ways it can be used, paired with an ingredient some people aren't big fans of–mushrooms. Mixing Bowl | Tongs | Knife | Pot […]
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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