Many of my friends consider me their color guru, and I’m the one they call when they have dilemmas and/or paralysis about interior painting. They’d say this is because I’m good at it, but I’d say that it’s really because I’m not scared of paint and I have a process. In general, I think many folks are afraid of paint, and I’ve never quite understood why. I see paint as the quickest fix out there, an …

There’s nothing quite like putting yourself on record about something and then promptly changing your mind. Take these little slices of humble pie, for instance – so good they made it onto trivia napkins at our wedding:

As you know, my relocated-from-Dallas, in-love self has been house-shopping with her pink-shirted, very relationship-material husband for some time now. It’s been pretty painful. But it’s also been full of funny moments, in a trying-to-maintain-a-good-sense-of-humor-about-things way:

I …

This recipe rocked my world, plain and simple. I wanted to make out with it, in all its gooey yummy glory. Egg pasta is showcased at its absolute best here, and one of my very favorite ingredients – chestnuts – are highlighted in a way that elevates every bite. This dish begs for red wine. It whispers sweet nothings of elegance and earthiness in your ears. It romances and nurtures, suggests slipping into something more comfortable. Make …

I adore blood oranges. While all manner of citrus is a welcome burst of brightness during seasonal winter eating, blood oranges in particular always call out to me from the market. They’re so lush, vibrant, and well… sexy. See what I mean?

{image courtesy of author’s personal collection}

Since blood oranges are everywhere right now, here’s a simple way to prepare them that’s sure to please.

{image courtesy of author’s personal collection}

Blood Orange Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette
Adapted from The Arugula Files

For the Salad:

Ingredients:

5 …

You know those days when for no reason at all, you wear red lipstick, or a pair of sparkly shoes, or call for a champagne toast? That’s the best kind of indulgence, in my opinion: a moment meant purely to celebrate itself. This is a dish that embodies those qualities for me. It feels luxurious, and might beg the question “Why?” I answer, of course, with “Why not?”

I adore plane-jane brussels sprouts, and nine times …

I’ll be frank: making this lasagna is kind of a pain in the ass. But in the spirit of the New Year, where I for one am hoping there are some big “worth the trouble and the wait” results in store for us, I’m spreading the love, because it is soooooooo good.

Use pre-cut squash if you’d like, but please don’t skimp on the spiced roasting, resulting puree, or the completely lovely (and better the slower …

It’s freezing outside. Full-on, brrrr-cold freezing outside. Hey, when you’re already facing temperatures in the teens in mid-December, you’re allowed to be dramatic. In fact, preparation can be fun! Despite the fact that we moved to DC last winter during a blizzard, I stuck it out until spring with the one pair of (heeled, unsuitable-for-ice) boots that life in previously warmer climates required. Can you see where I’m going with this? By the time winter weather rolled around this year, I was …

The weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving always seem like the fastest ones of the year to me. Retail stores are so anxious for us to move on to Christmas and Hanukkah that it can be tough to stand still and simply be in the moment of late fall. (Really? Holiday music already?) I’d rather take my time and enjoy the now before diving into the holidays myself. And as you’ll see, I’m finding inspiration in my everyday surroundings (not to …

Maybe it’s because I always loved being a student, but the onset of fall is perennially full of significance for me. The air takes on a luscious crispness, long-neglected sweaters call out to goosebumped arms, Le Creuset pots beckon summer grillers back to the stove, and somehow, some way, every single year, there is a decision to made, one that hangs in the air just like that brand new school year once did. Most folks make resolutions on New Year’s …

As the summer winds down, here’s a new spin on an old dish to take to those last patio potlucks. For those of you who also like your potato salads light, crispy, and packed with flavor, this one’s for you! (Note: any cukes and chiles will work fine!)

Tzatziki Potato Salad

via Food & Wine

Ingredients:
2 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
3/4 cup Greek-style, plain fat-free yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3 Kirby cucumbers – peeled, seeded and …