meatballs&milkshakes's Profile

Yum! So excited for ramp season! Can't wait to bring back some favorites from last year like eggs with ramps and bacon jam and asparagus, ramp, and leek soup! I might try some ramp pesto this year...

Prosciutto and goat cheese stuffed dates have always been a huge hit and are definitely my go-to appetizer. I also love making this baccala and spreading it on crostini. It's normally made around Christmas, but I love it all year long because you can make it ahead of time and just reheat before people come over.

We're an ice cream house, it's our favorite go-to pretty much all the time. When I'm making a big dinner and don't have time to also make a complicated dessert, I go to these boozy bourbon milkshakes. It's always a surprise to the uninitiated that they are so good. Plus, who would turn down a little bourbon? And in the summer, I always turn to these lemon bars, they are the best ones I've found yet, and I love a bright citrusy end to the meal. And for the chocolate people out there, I frequently go to my favorite classic chocolate chip cookies, you can't go wrong.

Yes, I do have a couple go-to recipes when I absolutely have to have dinner done in 30 minutes. For a lighter meal if I'm going to a concert or something, I like this angel hair with butternut squash and sage with a simple roasted vegetable like broccoli florets or frozen artichokes. If I want something a little more substantial, I make this chicken with cilantro chimichurri along with some couscous or bulgur wheat and the same types of roasted vegetables. Both of these are even quicker than ordering in, so I have no excuses!

I love the opportunity to have a hot sandwich or some soup that I can make from scratch, rather than have to reheat. One of my favorites in a nice bowl of roasted tomato soup with a grilled cheese. I put slices of apple or peach (in season) on the grilled cheese, or maybe just a slather of whatever fruit jam I have in the fridge. Mozzarella in carozza is the Italian version of a grilled cheese, and just takes a few more steps for a nice gooey sandwich to dunk. And if I'm feeling really decadent, I might slather some bacon jam on my grilled cheese for some smoky goodness.

I use my George Foreman exclusively for panini making, it works great!

I do this all the time with herbs (except basil because it wilts faster), although I don't use the plastic bag because I don't routinely have ones that will fit. Like flowers, you can just clip the bottoms after a week to keep them soaking up water.

I always reach for the ginger tea first. My favorite soup when I'm sick is Ochazuke, a Japanese soup with tea, rice, and a little salmon. It's total comfort food and I love it even when I'm not sick, plus it makes a nice change from chicken noodle soup.

I am going to try going cheese and pasta-less for as long as i can hold out....my two favorite vices, but it's a big attempt to lose a few!

I love mixing it with lavender in a healthier lower fat lavender meyer lemon ice cream . Serve with some berries and you can feel good about dessert!