So, I’ve never made genuinely homemade enchiladas. Yes, I’ve put together a pan of these Mexican delights with a jar of store bought enchilada sauce but they are always just mediocre. Homemade enchilada sauce always seemed so intimidating. So time consuming. But after a little trustee old interweb research I finally found a super simple method that blows any store bought sauce out of the water. Thank you, Emeril Lagasse. From the bottom of my Mexican-food-loving heart. Continue reading
“Spaghetti” doesn’t happen often around here and every time I make this recipe for Quick Bolognese Sauce I ask myself why. Its like one of those basic recipes that I forget to come back to. But just yesterday, as the leaves began to fall a bit, I took a break from grilling and salads and lightness galore and ended up with this pot of gold on my stove. Continue reading
All kinds of greed enters my body when I am faced with this stuff, you guys. The rich flavor. The brightness. The textures. The sauce dripping down my hand as I shovel it in. Hail to the Kafta, I do. Continue reading
My husband? He’s pretty amazing. Sensitive. Kind. Strong. Intelligent. Nearly the whole shebang, that Nickyboy is. But a zucchini lover he is not…it’s the texture. I can let the toilet seat thing go. The all-too-often-frat-house-vibe I get from living with him, fine, I’ll get over it (please, just put the toilet seat down. And the toothpaste…just clean the remains out of the sink before you finish!) But the lack of love for a little tiny thing called ‘summer squash’ that is very near and dear to my heart? I can’t. I won’t. This is a part of our marriage…for better or for worse. You’ve committed to me? You’ve committed to summer squash. Have I mentioned that he’s passed this turn-your-nose-up mentality of it on to my daughter? Oy vey. I’m in trouble. Continue reading
Well, friends. I’m just going to lay it all out there. Consider this a no-judgement zone. Tell me your deepest and darkest secrets….it’s safe here. This is a blog made up of love, compassion and trust between you and I. The tree of trust, lets say. Ate all your kids Easter candy before it made it to the baskets and told yourself it was for their own good? Confess here, you’re in the tree of trust. Do you secretly love the “get cash” option when you are checking out with your Red Card at Target so that you can disguise your coffee addiction? Tree of trust. What? It was just a random guess. I would never do something like that. Friends. My name is Melissa, and I have a major crush on Chef Michael Symon. Continue reading
Guys…I’m just not sure what to write. What do you want me to say? That this is the most awful burger I’ve ever put in my mouth? That I’d positively never, EVER advise you to eat such a disgrace? That the spicy, creamy sauce is a joke…and that teaming it up with a grilled burger, gooey, rich egg yolk and a juicy tomato is just disgusting? Well thats surely not going to happen. It’s pure heaven in my belly, people. PURE. HEAVEN. Continue reading
Well, we’ve come and gone from our winter getaway. Sun, warmth and peace was had and, much to my dismay, winter greeted us back home with a big, fat hello. Every year we go away around this time. And every year as we are sitting on the beach the sun soaks all of its optimism into my body. We talk about how the winter will always be so much more bearable if we make it a priority to get away somewhere warm for a short time. And how we aren’t even sure if we could live in a place so consistently warm all year around. How much we love the seasons change in Minnesota. And how our winters are really not that bad. And then it happens. The airplane lands back in our home state. Continue reading
Have we shared gyro love stories in the past? I don’t recall. But if you are reading this I have a good feeling our taste buds are a match made in heaven…and if that is, in fact, the case, there’s a good chance you have a slight adoration for the gyro sandwich. Our favorite in our neighborhood comes from this joint. Yes, my friends, you will arrive at a gas station. And you will walk right past the gas pumps and in through those old, worn doors into a convenience store that has a few shotty tables sprinkled in among a a sparse inventory of mediterranean groceries and a kitchen that pumps out some of the best gyros around. Its a hole-in-the-wall. A gem. And our go-to for a majority of the times we eat out with the kids. It’s my kind of spot, without a doubt.
I don’t make gyros at home because I just can’t compete with theirs. But this recipe for Weeknight Gyro Bowls gives me the same flavors right in the comfort of my own kitchen. Aside from the fact that they taste top notch…they’re so very healthful and fast to make. You’ll get them on the table in way less than 30 minutes, start to finish. Continue reading
2015. Say it out loud, it just sounds weird. 2015. Although it took literally one second to turn from 2014 to 2015 the sound of our new year makes me feel like we’ve taken a ten year leap forward. 2015? It sounds like the Jetsons could be living next door. Does it seem a lot more drastic than 2014 to you? 2015. It screams futuristic and I am unsure of how we have gotten here. Quite honestly it makes me feel like I should throw all my Apple products and remote controls out the window, revert to a trustee old pen, paper(and my brain) and pretend like time is not going as quickly as it is. I need babies to stay babies around here. Toddlers to remain toddlers. Whats that they say? The days are long but the years are short? My gosh it is so very true. 2014 seemed like it was 10 minutes long. So next time I am complaining that I can’t wait for my husband to get home…or that I can’t wait for the weekend…or that Im tired….or need some quiet time…please remind me of how very short the years are. That Ill probably never get the cuddles back. Or the tantrums. Or the most genuine, innocent I love you, mommy’s. This new year has begun with so much gratitude around here. Another healthy, heart-beaming, wonderful year has been had and it’s been such a blessing to share it with all of you. Heres to wishing you a truly incredible 2015, friends! Continue reading
And so it begins. Winter. Snow. The works. Business just isn’t as usual around here these days. Its cold and my laziness begins to sink in. Some days, taking the extra 20 minutes to get the kids bundled up and out the door just doesn’t sound so appealing so home we stay. And on those kinds of days, this stew tends to happen. Its been a very long time favorite of mine. Super deep, rich flavors and textures galore. Warmth in a bowl. I typically make the meatballs in the morning while the kids are playing and keep them in the fridge until I throw the rest together late afternoon; it makes putting the stew together so simple. And as it simmers the amazing smells soak into every inch of our home…and I always welcome them to stay as long as they would like. It’s even better leftover, too, but the chances of having leftovers are just not likely. Serve it on top of brown rice or mashed cauliflower….it’s so incredibly yummy. Continue reading
nourishedpeach.com 