During the blooming warmth of June, take a cruise along the rural farmland roads of Oregon, and you’re bound to stumble across a local farm with a hand-painted “U-Pick Strawberries” sign proudly displayed out front. If you dream of strawberry season every year as I do, you will have your car parked with a bucket in hand before your eyes have time to adjust to the sunny, red-speckled field before you. After a few blinks, the once eagerly empty bucket will overflow with the ripest and most mouthwatering strawberries that grocery stores could only dream of. If you can resist devouring the entire ruby-red bounty on the way home, these precious berries deserve to shine in a dessert that highlights their vibrant yet delicate flavors, reminiscent of early summer.

Cheesecake is something that most people would agree is pretty darn delicious. The rich, creamy, and endlessly versatile nature of cheesecake easily makes it a top-tier dessert for me. Plain, chocolate, raspberry, caramel, blueberry—you name it, there is almost certainly a cheesecake out there that boasts every flavor and topping in the book. Believe it or not, even wasabi cheesecake is a thing! Admittedly, my tastebuds have yet to be brave enough to give it a try, but I was fascinated by the confounding creation, nonetheless.

Growing up in a small-town baseball family, I spent many sweltering hot summer days melting away on dusty bleachers and impatiently waiting in line at the local ballpark concession stand. It was at this very ballpark where I came to discover one thing, which admittedly has very little to do with baseball: the controversy over condiments. Not a single foil-wrapped hotdog appeared to present the same selection of toppings, including my own, which I piled high with each and every condiment in sight. Ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise—you name it; everyone has their unique feelings about them. At the center of condiment controversy seems to be the richly thick and tangy sauce we all know and (some) love: mayo.

As someone who has spent the majority of my life proclaiming a distaste for baking, I have found myself hovering over my stand-mixer and setting the oven to 350º Fahrenheit a lot lately. My newfound bug for baking began with an attempt to perfect my favorite pizza dough recipe and has since turned into a full-fledged baking extravaganza. Although my overworked oven may not relate, my loved ones and coworkers with mouths full of homemade sweets don’t seem to mind my new hobby one bit! Now that I’ve come to grasp the basics of baking—with a few floury disasters sprinkled between—I’ve started experimenting by introducing unexpected flavors and textures into classic cookies, cakes, and confectioneries. My latest experimental success combined the blank canvas of the cookie world, sugar cookies, with the grassy-hued, umami-rich green tea we all know and love: matcha! 

There is something I need to come clean about: I have never tried a Peep® before. I know, I know—what in the world am I doing writing a blog about the very confectionery in question? Well, let me explain! My mouth has yet to cross paths with one of those sickly-sweet, fluffy marshmallow chicks because my sweet tooth did not emerge until long after my baby teeth came and went. Although I’m not entirely sure why I did not have a particular fondness for sweets and treats growing up, I can say for certain that my adult self has developed quite an impressive sweet tooth since then! With the Easter bunny hopping right around the corner, there seems to be no better time to spring into my newfound passion for Peeps®.

These pickle-themed recipes started out as an April Fool's joke, but quickly turned into a reality when I realized how many people love ALL things pickles.  Even body care! Whether you are a pickle connoisseur, or are looking for a fun (or gag) gift for the pickle lovers in your life, these simple recipes are quick and easy to craft and are a whole lot of fun to share. 

If you are a person who finds traditional face soap to be too drying, you just may fall in love with cream cleansers! Most conventional face cleaners strip the skin of natural oils (called sebum), which can result in unbalanced skin. This can cause a host of problems, including breakouts, redness, itchiness, and ironically oily skin! What I love about cream cleansers is that they help to remove dirt and excess oil, but in a gentle and restorative way. 

Strength, Community, and Hope in a Changing Climate

As the world around us shifts, many of us are feeling a deeper awareness of our connection to nature. While change can bring uncertainty, it also sparks innovation, resilience, and a renewed commitment to caring for the planet and each other. The challenges we face today are real, but so is our ability to adapt, support one another, and create a thriving future.

 
When Mountain Rose Herbs launched its organic Thai Tea, I knew I had to craft something new and special with it. When I visited Thailand many moons ago, I enjoyed a lot of Thai iced tea, and it was very different from the kind served here in the US. It didn’t have the same added spices (or food coloring)and I have to admit, I missed the added spices, but not the coloring. When I saw the ingredients in the new Mountain Rose Herbs tea, I knew I was going to have to craft something really special with it.

I am a firm believer that soup is one of mankind’s greatest culinary creations. When you think about it, there are not many dishes out there that are dippable, slurpable, and all-around irresistible, but soup boasts all of these qualities and then some! Growing up as a cooking connoisseur-to-be, I vividly recall soup being one of my earliest culinary experiments. However, being the rather creative and chaotic child I was, my recipes often incorporated a few unusual ingredients (the stars of my soup were grass and puddle water—if that helps paint a picture). I’ve since refined my definition of what is considered “edible” and have learned to swap grass clippings and puddles for herbs and broth. Although my secret ingredients may be a bit different now, soup still stands as my all-time favorite dish to make! 

There's a special kind of comfort that comes from a steaming bowl of soup, especially when it's crafted with ingredients designed to support your immune system. Soup can be much more than just a cozy meal; it can be a nourishing elixir packed with essential nutrients. By incorporating herbs and fresh produce, you can create a flavorful dish that not only warms you up but also fortifies your body's defenses. Let's delve into the art of making an immune-supporting soup, blending taste and wellness into one delightful pot.