This pasta salad may be easy to make, but it really delivers when it comes to flavor! You’ve got the tangy and creamy ranch sauce, smokiness from the bacon and a dash of fresh zest from the veggies. The protein from the chicken really makes this a hearty side dish, and it can even be a quick leftover main dish lunch!

Whenever I have a BBQ gathering coming up, or I need to make a potluck dish for work, this is one of my go-to recipes. If you have a busy schedule, you can make it ahead of time and leave it the refrigerator overnight. It can be served warmed up or at room temperature, either way its delicious!

Once you’ve got all the ingredients purchased, prep work for this recipe just requires chopping up the veggies, cubing the chicken and mixing up the sauces. Next it’s time to cook the pasta and bacon, chop the bacon, and then mix it all up. If you’re working diligently, you can make this recipe in under 30 minutes, and it yields a large amount of pasta salad to feed a crowd.

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This light and aromatic cocktail recipe is a delight for the senses. The blood orange adds a sweet and tart zing, while the lavender and vanilla are fresh and botanical. For the for the piest de resistance, we used fresh lavender that cut ourselves on a California lavender farm.

This summer cocktail is perfect for any warm weather gathering such as the 4th of July or a grown-up birthday party. Your guests will love this smooth and refreshing cocktail which you can serve with a small food bites on a charcuterie board.

For this cocktail recipe we partnered with the expert mixologists from The Mixer who helped us deliver this elegant and elevated cocktail (and mocktail) recipe.

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I love using blood oranges for cocktails because they add a splash of drama and color to the evening. I always prefer to use freshly-squeezed juice, and then some fruit slices as garnish. This cocktail recipe is super simple but full of sweet citrus flavor, the orange and lime really complement each other.

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We are officially entering into the month of December, which means the magical holiday season is upon us. It’s a time for gathering with family and friends, spending quality time with loved ones.

Putting out a spread of food is a must and one of my favorite ways to feed a crowd is with an impressive charcuterie board filled with an abundance of foodie favorites.

If you’re new to building charcuterie boards, fret not! These culinary creations may look tricky or intimidating, but I promise it’s actually quite simple when you follow my easy steps. And the best part is that there’s really no wrong way to build a charcuterie board, it’s all about what you and guests like to eat!

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Although my entire my family was born in California, we have British heritage and growing up we went to England fairly frequently. One of my favorite British traditions is afternoon tea time. This long standing tradition has also become an American favorite and is the perfect party theme for gatherings with family and friends.

In this guide I will give you brief background to British afternoon tea, provide over 50 easy tea party recipes, hosting tips and finally a helpful shopping guide to plan your own tea party soirée.t actually cross the pond I was inspired to re-create my own Downtown Abbey afternoon garden tea party.

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Back a few years ago when avocado toast hit the foodie scene it changed the simple breakfast toast forever. Now enter hummus garden toast, the newest culinary showstopper to take over toast.

For me the name garden toast has a double meaning. It can refer to picking fresh herbs and veggies from your garden to use as ingredients. It can also mean using those fresh veggie ingredients to depict an artistic garden scene on your toast. Either way, garden toast is filled with fresh and nutritious whole foods that will fuel your soul and nourish your body.

This hummus toast recipe is simple to put together yet also so versatile. It can make for a healthy breakfast or even a quick lunch. You can always take it up a notch and make it fancier for a brunch or meal to share with friends or your significant other.

At its core all you need for garden hummus toast is a slice of bread, hummus and veggie toppings. These are things most vegans already have in their refrigerator on any given week.

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This extra buttery pancake recipe has been a staple in my house for several years now. Pancake breakfast is a Saturday morning tradition for us with the kids - it’s one of the few meals that everyone in the house loves without question!

I have no idea where this recipe originally came from, it’s been scribbled down on a piece of binder paper in my kitchen drawer for years. I have finally taken the time to properly document this recipe so I can share it with friends and family.

The thing that makes this recipe unique is the mix of both melted butter and oil in the batter. When the melted butter hits the cold milk in the bowl it turns into little butter crystals. These intentionally stay “clumpy” in the batter until it’s poured on to the hot frying pan. Then the butter crystals melt while they’re grilling on the pan and the end result is very buttery pancakes with a perfect buttered glazed finish.

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There are recipes that I make multiple times a month simply because they are both easy to make and oh so delicious. My keto ramen soup is one of them!

This ramen recipe is by no means authentic or culturally correct, it’s just a culinary jewel I whipped up in my kitchen while playing around with flavors. I like to make healthier versions of “junk food”, especially when I’m having cravings for savory and spicy things. This is such an easy replacement for high carb noodles and keeps your healthy eating on track.

You can easily whip this up in less than 20 minutes without cutting any corners or compromising taste. It just takes a little bit of food prep and then throw it all into a frying pan. Most of the ingredients are items you’ll already find in your pantry and fridge.

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The tropical party theme is perfect for events and gatherings such as baby showers, gender reveal parties, bridal parties, birthdays, Galentine’s Day and more. For example if you’re hosting a home reception for an island destination wedding, a tropical themed grazing table can really help to cultivate those island vibes in your hometown.

Hosts putting on summer parties can also benefit from the colors and flavors of tropical-themed foods. On hot days the fresh fruit and lighter eats really compliment the summer vibes and atmosphere. The tropical theme can also lend itself to a Hawaiian Luau or even Caribbean inspired parties.

In my guide I will give tropical-themed food suggestions along with decor and hosting ideas. While there are many well-known foods and symbols associated with all those tropical vibes, I promise you’ll find some new and unexpected surprises in this blog post.

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In my own personal opinion, pesto pizza gives the traditional red-sauced pizza a run for its money. The savory and salty flavor of homemade pesto adds a new layer of seasoning, and it’s complimentary to so many different toppings. It’s very easy to customize your pesto pizza to create a crowd-pleasing culinary dish.

This cashew pesto pizza recipe is also incredibly versatile. You can alter the recipe to make it vegan, vegetarian, plant-based and even keto. Either way you decide to make this favorite food, it’s always a healthy yet still satisfying and filling.

Making your pesto with cashew nuts instead of the traditional pine nuts is a very easy swap, and the flavor is not terribly different. Both cashew and pine nuts have an abundance of healthy fats, which give your pesto a creamy texture and flavor. Cashews are also less expensive than pine nuts so you can save some cash too.

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This beet, watermelon and feta salad is the perfect addition to your summer backyard picnic table. The sweet and savory flavors compliment each other and the presentation is bright and colorful. It makes a great light side dish to entrees such as BBQ, sandwiches, burgers and kabobs.

This recipe only has a small handful of ingredients so it's fairly quick and easy to make. I've also listed alternate ingredients and dressings, so you can customize your salad for your guests.

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In California we are so lucky to have a bounty of fresh produce available all year long. We are an agriculture state and many of our favorite fruits and vegetables are grown not far from where we live. I try use locally and seasonal produce whenever I cook and food prep. Making your charcuterie board with seasonal fruits and vegetables can both ensure freshness and make it extra festive special events.

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This blog post is just another excuse to host a happy hour gathering with friends and family. I've put together my gin with citrus cocktail recipe which is simple to make but full of sweet flavor.

Gin is one of those alcohols where you definitely don’t want to skimp on quality. A cheap gin will have poor texture and taste like rubbing alcohol, yuck! For any boozy gin beverage I always choose Prairie Organic Spirits because of their high quality extra smooth and full-bodied gin. Prairie gin also has notes of citrus (which makes it perfect for this citrus cocktail recipe!).

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