I once was afraid to carry a tray of full martinis.  

During my college summers, I worked as a hostess at one of my favorite fancy seafood restaurants in Seattle.  If guests went to the bar for martinis before their table was ready. . .

Salt makes everything taste like a better version of itself—whether it’s a filet, pizza, steamed broccoli, or even a salad.  A sprinkling of salt will transform your food.  But there are so many types of salt so it’s important to know the difference, and when to use each.

Freeze dried raspberries are a favorite for many reasons, but mainly because they offer a quick aesthetic (and flavorful!) fix to just about anything. Here are a few of my favorite uses.

Today, Kirstin is answering your most burning cheese questions.  Next week, we’re going to teach you how to make an easy cheese at home, and finally, we’re going to…..well, actually, we’re going to keep that part a surprise.  But trust me—it’s going to be gouda.

As we reflect on 2018 and list our ideas to better ourselves in 2019, I offer this:  A New Year is a perfect time to make these big plans—I’ve always loved annual goal setting and the satisfaction of reviewing last year’s achievements—but our daily choices (even if we make them in July) have so much more power than a long list or vision board we peek at once a month. 

I’ve always wanted to be Oprah (for many, obvious, more important reasons).  But how fun would it be to gift your tribe with ALL your favorite things?!  As much as I love you, it’s just not in the budget this year (stick with me though, people).  So in lieu, I’ll share my secret sources and favorite products—for gifts and stocking stuffers—that light me up on a daily basis. 

Last week I got to chat with Gunilla of Gunilla Skin Alchemy, not about fancy expensive natural products to buy, but about healing foods you can use to nurture your face. 

Christina told me so many of her clients say “I suck at cooking.”, “I’m a horrible cook.”, “I don’t even know where to start.”  I was so excited to sit down with her because there are so many easy remedies for this, and I got to gush about them for almost a whole HOUR. 

Several months ago, I hosted a Facebook Live segment highlighting five of my must-have kitchen tools.  What I love most about this list?  I laugh thinking about myself navigating my little kitchen without these things. Like, what was I thinking!? 

They’re just on their way out of the season, so head to the grocery store and grab as many as you can (I had to have my local Whole Foods dig around in the back).  Toss together a jar of pickled kumquats then slice for salads, grain bowls, seafood, or even a festive cheese platter. 

Most of us open Champagne just a few celebratory times a year, but my macaron classes feature bottomless bubbles so I get in some solid bottle-poppin’ practice. Here’s the trick to gently easing the cork out so it doesn’t hit a dear friend . . .

My top ten favorite cooking items and little treats that make life easier and more joyful.

So how do you make your house feel festive, cozy, and full of holiday cheer without the risk of dinner turning into a fistful of cookie dough?!  Try a simmer pot. 

We’re still getting basketfuls of tomatoes in California, so I wanted to share a few of my favorite tips for processing and using this fruit.

Earlier in the summer I was recruited by The Stylist LA and Wine Country Colbert Group to host an intimate dinner party at a beautiful home in Sonoma for some of the ladies from The Bachelor

Yesterday, I received an email that a podcast I was interviewed for, Discover Your Talent Do What You Love, had just been published.  Here’s the scenario that played out in my head: