filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Pot Roast Pottage | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Pot Roast Pottage | Chris Cooks
This is a great spin on a traditional pot roast, turning the cooking liquid into a rich and flavorful pottage (soup whose thick and creamy texture comes from cooked down vegetables) instead of straining and using thickeners to create a gravy. This whole meal is very allergy-friendly (free of grain, gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts […]
read more
October 30, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Testing 17 of The Softest Plush Blankets (Perfect for Snuggling)
Product Tests
Testing 17 of The Softest Plush Blankets (Perfect for Snuggling)
For the last couple of weeks, Chris and I have been hard at work, lounging around with the softest, plush blankets we could find. It's taxing work, but we'll do what it takes to find the bestest (should be a word), softest snuggle blankets for you. These blankets are different than throw blankets! To me, […]
read more
October 26, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
5-minute Side: Fall-Spiced Blistered Shishito Peppers | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
5-minute Side: Fall-Spiced Blistered Shishito Peppers | Chris Cooks
Blistered shishito peppers are a great appetizer you can find at a lot of restaurants right now. If you're unfamiliar, shishito peppers are not spicy (maybe one out of a handful has a tiny kick to it), and their flesh is pretty thin. That means you can cook them at a super high heat, and […]
read more
October 23, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Baked Blueberries with Pancetta Pecan Crumble | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Baked Blueberries with Pancetta Pecan Crumble | Chris Cooks
If you look at most desserts, gluten and dairy are part of almost all of them. For your friends and family that may have food restrictions, this can feel a little isolating - I've seen it happen to Jules and our daughters countless times. And while they're always positive and good sports about it, it's […]
read more
October 16, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
EPIC Twice Baked Potatoes - cooking without gluten, grain and dairy
Chris Cooks
EPIC Twice Baked Potatoes - cooking without gluten, grain and dairy
This post is sponsored by EPIC Provisions. Get 20% off everything on their site with code CLJ20. When we first started adjusting our diets for Julia's restrictions, I was constantly trying to find things that I could use to make food taste exactly like it did before. But over the years, we've come to approach […]
read more
October 9, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Beef Tips Braised with Sweet Potato & Cinnamon | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Beef Tips Braised with Sweet Potato & Cinnamon | Chris Cooks
I love Fall. So, so much, I love it. And though I am a huge fan of grilling, I would say that this upcoming season is most "me" when it comes to my natural cooking style. I love to roast, stew, simmer and broil. But of all the cooking techniques that seem to naturally come […]
read more
October 2, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Our Favorite Things | September 2022
Best Of
Our Favorite Things | September 2022
The weather in North Carolina is officially starting to turn. Temperatures are dropping and I'm putting on my boots and layers, but not mad about it at all. Last year we learned that fall actually lasts longer than a couple weeks here in North Carolina! In Idaho we were used to temperatures and leaves dropping […]
read more
September 29, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Blender Wars! Testing and Ranking 7 of the Best Blenders
Product Tests
Blender Wars! Testing and Ranking 7 of the Best Blenders
Welcome to Blender Wars!–Where we test 7 of the best blenders and tell you which one takes the cake (or blends the cake?). In our house, the blender is our most used kitchen appliance! We are daily smoothie drinkers and so we want a blender that's going to get the job done and hold up […]
read more
September 22, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Honey Garlic Peas - 5 Minute Side
Chris Cooks
Honey Garlic Peas - 5 Minute Side
When I'm prepping for dinner, there's always that one thing I'm excited to make that gets almost all of my attention and time. The meal hinges around it, and so I really want to nail it. But what of the sides? Having a list of 5-minute side dishes has been so helpful, so I can […]
read more
September 18, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Putting Kitchen Towels to the Test
Product Tests
Putting Kitchen Towels to the Test
Whenever Chris is doing anything in the kitchen, he's got a kitchen towel tossed over his shoulder. It's a little trick of the trade he's been doing ever since I can remember and it's purely practical. Chris is all about doing things effectively and efficiently, even down to wiping up messes. When he's cooking he […]
read more
September 15, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Dairy-Free Golden Milk Recipe | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Dairy-Free Golden Milk Recipe | Chris Cooks
I'm starting to feel it in the air, y'all. Fall is definitely creeping in and I love it so, so much. Of course one of the downsides is the rise of cold and flu (and covid) season, as well. Boo. That's where this Golden Milk recipe comes in. Pitcher | Dish Towel | Jar Glasses […]
read more
September 11, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Dairy-Free Rosemary Salted Caramel Sauce | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Dairy-Free Rosemary Salted Caramel Sauce | Chris Cooks
This is the one, folks. This is the recipe that changed it all for me. I have to be honest - as someone who loves to cook and experience every kind of food, once Jules and Greta developed their food allergies, there were times I would feel a little like my hands were tied behind […]
read more
September 4, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Our Favorite Things | August 2022
Best Of
Our Favorite Things | August 2022
Our girls started school this last week and I've said it before, but this is my favorite time of year. I really thrive off of routine and it's just nice to get back into the groove of things. Fall is on the cusp, but we've just been soaking up as much time in the pool […]
read more
September 1, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
5 Minute Side - Carrot Slaw with Honey & Dill | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
5 Minute Side - Carrot Slaw with Honey & Dill | Chris Cooks
I've shared a few of my 5-minute side dishes in the past - dishes that require no cooking, come together in about 5 minutes with minimal ingredients you probably have on hand. This carrot slaw is another one, and really is quite special. Task Lamp | Wood Bowl | Serving Platters | Cutting Board | […]
read more
August 28, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Gluten Free Meatloaf (Also Grain, Dairy & Egg Free) | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Gluten Free Meatloaf (Also Grain, Dairy & Egg Free) | Chris Cooks
Meatloaf is classically made with breadcrumbs (or milk-soaked bread if you're a bit extra), eggs, and often grated hard cheese of some kind. And when food allergies pop up, it can start to feel like you'll never enjoy the classics again. And while we still wait and hope for suitable replacements for some things (lookin' […]
read more
August 21, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Roasted Vegetable & Turkey Breakfast Hash | Meal Prep
Chris Cooks
Roasted Vegetable & Turkey Breakfast Hash | Meal Prep
For Jules and me, most mornings we see each other mostly in passing as she gets home for the gym and I'm rushing out to drop off our daughters. But whether or not you have kids starting school, we could all use a little more time in our mornings and this roasted vegetable breakfast hash […]
read more
August 14, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
We tested 8 rug pads--here's our favorite!
Lifestyle
We tested 8 rug pads--here's our favorite!
I learned many years ago, when we purchased our very first wall-to-wall carpet in our first home in Utah, that the comfort level you experience is not solely in the carpet you buy. It's actually more dependent on the carpet pad underneath. One time we splurged on a 10 pound memory foam pad to go […]
read more
August 11, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Quick Garden Chicken Salad with Spicy Thousand Island | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Quick Garden Chicken Salad with Spicy Thousand Island | Chris Cooks
Salad is typically my least favorite way to consume vegetables, but there are some flavor combos that are so good, it feels like treating yourself even when the ingredient list seems ho-hum. This salad is about halfway to my mother's "taco salad," stopping shy of crunched up corn chips and a handful of delicious though […]
read more
August 7, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Living With Peace of Mind
Lifestyle
Living With Peace of Mind
*This post is sponsored by ADT We lived in small towns most of our marriage. Places where you never really thought about getting a security system because everyone knew everyone. Wallpaper But as many readers know, in February 2019, we were coming to the end of a cabin renovation, and it tragically caught fire and burned down one […]
read more
August 3, 2022
filter by
scroll to view all or filter by:
Show AllCasual fridayChris cooksCleaning & OrganizationEntertainingFashionhealth & beautyLifestyle
Three 5-Minute Side Dishes | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
Three 5-Minute Side Dishes | Chris Cooks
Last week on Instagram, I mentioned how I thought it was important that everyone have a handful of side dishes that took 5 minutes and only a handful of ingredients to throw together, and required no cooking. Things that could just be thrown together at a moment's notice. I also mentioned that I have about […]
read more
July 31, 2022
