try these favorite recipes before summer is over! Hey friends... Well my personal summer is about to come to a sudden, painful, emotional, (insert all of the dramatic adjectives here) ending. Yes indeed: schools in Hawaii start in August, and though we're one of those crazy … [Read more...]
Easy Roasted Vegetables
I've been slightly obsessed with roasting vegetables lately. And since my promise to you has always been to share what our family is actually eating, I figured I ought to share. We've been eating roasted veggies along with all kinds of things: With fish, steak, garden … [Read more...]
Grandma’s Quick and Easy “Pantry Soup.”
As I mentioned in last week's post, my son Josiah and I took off last week for a quick visit with my family in Gig Harbor, Washington. We made the visit to attend my Uncle’s funeral, so we knew the visit would be a combination of happy and sad. The weather was supposed to be … [Read more...]
3 Burrito Bowls Your Family Will Love
When you serve a meal that makes your kids say (and I quote) "I could eat this every single night!" you know you did something right. But when that meal happens to be filled with: healthy protein, a rainbow variety of veggies, wholesome (gluten-free) grains, and it is … [Read more...]
(Easy) homemade ranch dressing. {Getting kids to eat their veggies}
Somehow we raised three (out of four) little boys who ate their vegetables willingly. I mean, they ate their vegetables gladly. Like: no battles. Sure, they avoided a few specific varieties: mushrooms and beets I believe, but from asparagus, to steamed broccoli, to spinach … [Read more...]
Monica’s Mini Meatball Minestrone
Monica's mini meatball minestrone. Go ahead, I know you want to: Say it five times fast. Well done. But really, this is serious business: You see, if you haven't decided what to make for Christmas Eve dinner yet, then I'm pretty sure this post was written especially … [Read more...]
How to make every day the perfect day for Barbecue
If you know me at all, you know that I love nothing more than enjoying great meals with family and friends. It's kind of in my blood. My Grandpa was a butcher and a grocery store owner, (not to mention a farmer on the side) and I grew up in a family where the day kind of centered … [Read more...]
Grilling Fish with Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce
Spring and summer are upon us, and there is nothing better than barbecuing with family and friends this time of the year. Fish is one of our favorite things to cook on the barbecue. I think grilling fish is the easiest, tastiest, and best way to cook fish without … [Read more...]
Tropical Mango Salsa.
Isn't this such a great time of year? The sun has been popping out all over the place, (I mean, besides just in Hawaii) and everyone seems to be a little extra happy. Plus, Mother's Day is just around the corner, and despite the fact that my five-year old accused me of making … [Read more...]
Vegetarian Split Pea Soup with Kale
I love soup. Maybe you get tired of me saying that, but it's true. I have some funny dreams for my life, and one of them is to write an entire recipe book full of soup recipes. Of course people would be like "Soup? Who eats SOUP in Hawaii?" and I'd just shrug my … [Read more...]
Thai Peanut Chicken Coconut Soup
You guys know by now that I love soup. Like, I could eat it every day. Even here in Hawaii, and even all year-long. No shame. All kinds of soup. love love love. Well, now I have a confession: I have been making this delicious coconuty, peanut-buttery, … [Read more...]
Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Soup is my love language. Soup makes me happy and comfy, and just the thought of it gives me all of the feels. I could eat soup every day for the rest of my life. Yep, even here in tropical Hawaii. So you know how loved I felt … [Read more...]
Tortellini Salad with Grilled Chicken and Veggies.
Have I ever mentioned that we don't have a dining room table in our house? Well, there's your little bit of Swanson-trivia for the day. No dining room. No dining tables inside the house. (We do have a large kitchen counter with seven stools, but that's it for indoor … [Read more...]
Quinoa Fiesta Salad with Black Beans, Kale, and Corn
Summer, and salad. They're just a match made in hot, lazy, summertime heaven. amiright? Well, we're back from California, and one thing is for sure: After five weeks of traveling, I am so ready to dive back in the kitchen and create some great meals for our … [Read more...]
White Bean Chicken Chili. For Cowboys and the rest of us.
I started playing with a recipe for White Bean Chicken Chili last fall. I love all of the spices and flavors in chili, and wanted to master my own chicken-version. With just enough spice, diced green chilis, and corn. Then last December Bryan Jennings was on island filming … [Read more...]
Basil Almond Pesto.
I love pesto. I have always loved pesto, but somehow the idea of making my own has always intimidated me. Is that weird? I figure we all have those things that we just assume are too hard, or too fancy, or like somehow we'd just never get them right. That's me with … [Read more...]
Weeknight Ricotta Pasta Bake
There is one little thing about kids and food that I am 99% sure of. But first, I should ask your opinion. WHAT IS THE ONE DINNER FOOD THAT ALL KIDS LOVE? Did you say spaghetti? Yes! I knew it! If you said hot dogs or hamburgers you might be right too, but I think … [Read more...]
Easy Crockpot Burrito Bar
I used to try to think of creative, lovely, or unique recipes to make and share here on the blog. Like this dinner and this dessert...(and those are both really great recipes.) But somewhere along the way, I decided that maybe you'd benefit more from my showing what we really … [Read more...]
Family Favorite Coconut Curry
If you were to come to my house for dinner this week, there's a good chance this is what I'd be serving. We would gather around the big round table on the front deck, and watch the sunset while we dunked crusty bread into the sweet and spicy curry in our bowls... The boys … [Read more...]
Healthy Butternut Squash Mexican Casserole
It's Thanksgiving week. And here I am posting a Mexican casserole. What IS wrong with me? I'm really not trying to throw the Universe out of order, but I figure that there's a few more days left before Thanksgiving. And you might just want this for a warm, sweet and … [Read more...]
Sweet Potato Soup, w/ Okinawa Sweet Potatoes: {Gluten Free, and Vegan Version}
It's November. You know what that means, right? SOUP! I am a big fan of soup: Veggie soups, creamy soups, bean soups, chowders, and especially... But before we talk about this soup: I need to take a poll: Here in Hawaii, we have the most wonderful purple "Okinawa … [Read more...]
One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta w/ Grilled Chicken
This post falls under the category of: I had no intention of blogging about this but it's too good not to. And you've got to hear the story of how this all came to be, because that falls under the category of: Life changing. You see, though Hurricane Ana (or was it … [Read more...]
Barbecue Chicken Salad
This salad is so much a staple in our diet, I've never even thought to post it. It's my go-to, family-favorite, crowd-pleasing dinner. I mean, I'm pretty sure I've made it more than any other meal in our family's history (unless you count PBJ's, obviously.) But when I … [Read more...]
Family Favorite Fish Tacos
Does your family have some favorite meal or food traditions? Like pizza on Fridays, pancakes on Sundays, or maybe something like breakfast in bed on birthdays?... Well, somewhere along the way, Taco Tuesdays started happening in our family. And that is kind of a big deal, … [Read more...]
Quinoa, Chickpea, Avocado Salad…
I've confessed before that I am not a good lunch mom. Lunches stump me. Bore me. I have very little interest or enthusiasm for most lunch options, at least as far as eating in my own home goes. (Take me out to lunch and I'll love you forever. But then again take me out … [Read more...]
Easy Coconut Rice with Papaya and Pistachios
I have a theory about people... Most people fall into one of two categories: They are either of the PASTA-persuasion, or more RICE-oriented. Which one are you? I like both, but I'm definitely more of a rice girl. I LOVE rice! I prefer it mixed up with flavors and … [Read more...]
Lightened-Up Turkey Veggie Meatballs!
I'm not sure what started it, but lately I've been craving meatballs. Spaghetti and meatballs, Swedish meatballs, you name it… No, I'm not pregnant. Meatballs. I don't remember ever making meatballs before, however my family tells me I did once. (That's always a little … [Read more...]
Sweet Hot Thai Style Grilled Chicken Thighs {Guest post from Pineapple and Coconut}
Aloha Friends! Today I am super excited to feature my super talented, creative, lovely, and FUNNY friend Shanna, from Pineapple and Coconut blog. Though we've never met in person--I have no doubt we will meet one day. And when we do, I have a good feeling that it will feel … [Read more...]
Coconut Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi {Gluten Free or regular}
From the ocean…to our table….Now THAT'S what we're talking about. Remember THIS 40 pound Mahi Mahi catch? Well, besides being the highlight of my boys' summer---That catch turned into approximately 32 fabulous meals! {Four meals, each serving eight people (my family … [Read more...]
Lighter Manicotti–Two Ways
First of all--sorry if you tried to visit this place Sunday and found the blog MIA! I have no idea what happened. I tried not to panic, but it did last most of the day. By the time I checked back, it was all here again (thank God!) but that left me no time to finish the post … [Read more...]
