Gatherings

Hosting Tips

How to host a dinner party? You’ll find it right here, with unique ideas for gatherings that foster connection and build community with an intentional mindset.
Food

Banana Split Shortcake

One of my favorite memories from growing up was when my mom would surprise us on a random weeknight with the announcement: “Banana splits for dinner!” She’d set out bowls with bananas and vanilla ice cream, then all the accompaniments: homemade hot fudge, whipped cream, fresh berries, toasted pecans, strawberry sauce, and of course, cherries […]

Recipes

Avocado-Kale Caesar Salad

Click here to see the full “Recipes for Clean Green Summer Meals” story.  “This perfect to-die-for pairing of super-green superfood ingredients is also super simple to throw together-kale, apple, avocado, with some hemp seeds for added omegas. Top with some tangy Light Caesar Dressing and-voila!– a weeknight dinner in a hot second!” Candice Kumai 

Recipes

Lemon-Soy Edamame Barley Bowl

Click here to see the full “Recipes for Clean Green Summer Meals” story. “The distinctive flavors of lemon, sesame oil, soy sauce, and oregano combined beautifully in this perfectly balanced “power lunch.” I love to use fiber-rich barley as a base for hearty lunch bowls – it has such a great texture and is really […]

Food

A Clean Green Summer Meal

If you’re struggling to think of delicious, filling, yet healthy dishes that are easy to prepare, look no further. Today’s three-course menu from author, chef, journalist, and all-around lovely person Candice Kumai, is the answer to serving a nutritious summer meal at home. Tired of that same ole’ Caesar salad? Candice’s take on the classic gets an upgrade with apple, avocado, and […]

Food

Roman Caprese

Click here to see the full “Garden-to-table Summer Feast” story. “We had this salad at a small restaurant in the Monti district of Rome. We ate there three times in one week and always ordered the same thing: Caprese salad, Eggplant Parmigiana and a litre of the house red. Every morning, the owner’s mother would […]

Gatherings

A Garden-to-Table Summer Feast

Summer is blazing by, and it’s made me realize that we’re a quarter-way through July and I still haven’t hosted a proper al fresco dinner party… shame! Granted, we have been experiencing a disproportionately rainy summer this year, but that’s still no excuse. Today’s refreshing party from Sophie Collins — what with its picturesque backyard setting, […]

Food

Tomato, Nectarine and Mozzarella Salad

This salad, you guys. There’s a lot I could say about it, but it comes down to this: for a gorgeous, simple, couldn’t-be-more-refreshing summer dish, look no further. It’s no surprise that tomato, nectarines and basil all complement each other so well — they can all be grown in your own backyard this time of […]

Gatherings

Noomi’s Garden Party in Paris

Have you ever been to Paris? If so, can you remember that feeling you had when you first set foot on its streets? If you thought something along the lines of, “I have to live here,” you’re not alone. For most that sensation is fleeting, but for Texas native Ajiri Aki, life in The City of Lights was an undeniable […]

Food

Blueberry & Ricotta Skillet Cake

Summer fruit is giving me life these days. Whether it’s raw, baked or preserved, I truly can’t get enough. This blueberry ricotta cake is the perfect way to highlight summer berries & serve a gorgeous, crowd-pleasing sweet. While it’s technically a “cake”, we highly suggest you give it a try for breakfast. After all, summer’s […]

Food

Ember-Roasted Strawberries

I have a serious crush on Francis Mallman. The Argentinean chef takes the best ingredients and cooks them over live fire to create food that’s sensuous and rustic, lusty and delicious. Watch him on Chef’s Table and fall in love with him yourself. Watch, and like me, you’ll want to invite your friends over and […]

Recipes

Fourth of July Dessert Bar

Taken a look at the calendar lately? It’s hard to believe how quickly this summer is racing by and that the Fourth of July is only 3 days away! The 4th is one of my favorite food days of the year, and I’ve been scouring my recipe files for ideas on what to toss on the grill (there’s still […]

Food

Cherry Almond Tart

Click here for the full “Fourth of July Dessert Bar” blog post photography by Jessica Attie

Recipes

Waffle Bar Party

I’m a big fan of brunch as one of the most fun times to invite friends over for a meal. It always feels way more laid-back than a dinner party, and everyone arrives feeling relaxed and happy after sleeping in that morning. For the first post in our series with Blue Diamond Almonds, I decided to organize […]

Food

Melon & Citrus Popsicles

First things first, can I get a collective HOORAY for summer’s arrival?! It’s officially here, and the longer days and warmer weather have put me in an unusually peppy mood, even for a gal who spends most of her time hopped up on sugar. And since I no longer have the luxury of spending two long months […]

Food

Recipes for a Middle Eastern Dinner Party

Today’s mouthwatering dinner menu comes to us from a very special guest. Maureen Abood is the blogger-turned-author behind Rose Water & Orange Blossoms, and ever since her book arrived on our office doorstep we’ve been mesmerized by her fresh and classic Lebanese recipes. Think flower waters, fresh herbs and vegetables, toasted nuts, grains, lean meats and spices like […]

Design

Kids’ Moroccan Tassel Necklace

I went into making this DIY fully intent on gifting the necklaces to little Phoebe, but by the time they were finished, she practically had to pry them out of my hands. They just turned out too adorable, and the sweet sorbet colors of those beads make them look borderline delicious… I couldn’t bear the thought of handing them […]