Set the Table with Love

Category: Food wonderful Food

  • Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, Purple Sweet Potatoes in red wine with toasted quinoa and almonds

    Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, Purple Sweet Potatoes in red wine with toasted quinoa and almonds

    Thanksgiving is next month and I am always thinking about what will I do differently this year. Then I remember that I go out of town each year and visit my family, so it’s more like what will I do differently for Christmas this year. Lately, for the past 3 years I have been doing…

  • Butternut Squash Pilaf

    Butternut Squash Pilaf

    The Butternut Squash Pilaf stands as a fantastic stuffing alternative this year, being gluten-free, packed with vegan protein, and, most importantly, absolutely delicious. I had the pleasure of presenting this dish at a cooking demo for Healthy Holiday Thanksgiving Side Dishes at William Sonoma’s event recently. The audience’s reactions when trying new flavors, especially the…

  • Honey, how do I lower my carbs, but still have the snacks I love? 🤔

    Okay, so my biggest client is my husband. He is in amazing shape… and the Oscar goes to his wife, that’s me, for making him delicious and healthy meals, everyday. Yes everyday, well almost everyday. Lol 😂 He went for his yearly annual and his doctor told him most everything looked awesome, just had to…

  • Penne Pasta with Sweet Peas Roasted Tomatoes Mint and Lemon Zest with a Green Apple Mint Salad

    Penne Pasta with Sweet Peas Roasted Tomatoes Mint and Lemon Zest with a Green Apple Mint Salad

    Yes! It’s winter and our bodies are craving those wonderful comfort foods, like l a big bowl of chili with jalapeno and cheddar cornbread or some creamy mac and cheese, but it’s good to give the digestive tract a little rest, even in the cold wintry months. Today I was missing summer, so I decided…

  • Vegan Coconut Curry Sweet Potato Soup with Spicy Chickpeas

    It is sniffle season and we all are looking for ways to keep the yuckies away. I love to use food to help my family stay healthy and to get us back on our feet when the household is being raided by a stubborn cold.  My go to is a good clean, healing soup. I…

  • Millet and Red Quinoa Balls

    I love this dish, because it is one that brings beautiful memories of me sitting in my friend’s garden, enjoying a nice glass of Pinot Noir, along side her olive tree, with yummy crusty bread on the side, lots of laughs and a few tears. One of my favorite memories, is just watching the hummingbirds…

  • Guacamole Stuffed Zucchini Cups

    This week I am sharing recipes from my cookbook, Set the Table with Love. I hope you enjoy these recipes and share them with your family and friends. I had so much fun doing this shoot with my friends and eating all the yummy food afterwards. Photography credit: ROB POLANCO. Art Design by: KEEGAN LEIBA.…

  • If life gives you Lemons, Make Meyer Lemon Confit

    If life gives you Lemons, Make Meyer Lemon Confit

    I love trying new things.  My new love outside of poaching white fish in butter, is this making confits.  What does confit mean: Confit (/kɒnfi/, French pronunciation: [kɔ̃fi]) comes from the French word confire which means literally “to preserve,” a confit being any type of food that is cooked slowly over a long period of time…

  • Farm to Williams Sonoma’s Table Cooking Demo Recipes

    What a fun day?!  I so enjoy coming out and cooking for the customers and staff of Williams Sonoma in the Forum. The staff is like family! I have been demoing and educating the customers about eating and supporting local farmers for the past 6 months and it has been a beautiful partnership.  So many…

  • Valentine’s Day Chocolate Heart Shaped Quinoa Coconut Macaroons 

    This is one of my favorite holidays. I am such a hopeless romantic. I love Love.❤❤❤ Valentine’s Day can be decadent and nourishing. We usually see quinoa used for savory dishes, but this is one of my favorites. You guys know how much I love quinoa. Check out all the delicious recipes here on my…

  • Harissa Roasted Chickpea salad with acorn squash, mint and pumpkin seeds

    Harissa Roasted Chickpea salad with acorn squash, mint and pumpkin seeds

    This recipe is so delicious and full of exotic flavors, well at least I think so. LOL. This salad will fill you up and give you tons of plant based vegan protein. You do not have to be a vegan to enjoy this salad. It’s important to incorporate more plant based foods in our diets,…

  • Mediterranean Kale, Chard and White Bean Salad with Artichokes and Gluten Free Toast with Olive Tapenade

    Mediterranean Kale, Chard and White Bean Salad with Artichokes and Gluten Free Toast with Olive Tapenade

    There is nothing like a beautifully delicious salad, but sometimes it’s really hard to eat salad during the winter. So I opt out to making warm salads. Yes, salads can be warm, you still get your greens and veggies but sautéed a bit. Here is one of my favorite salads. I love mediterranean ingredients, like…

  • Veggie Plate Special of the Day ~ Roasted Eggplant, Charred Okra, Lemons and Sautéed Northern Georgia Candy Squash.

    Veggie Plate Special of the Day ~ Roasted Eggplant, Charred Okra, Lemons and Sautéed Northern Georgia Candy Squash.

    I remember growing up and going to those cafeterias with my family, that served the, Blue Plate Special, which included one meat, two veggies, bread and a drink. My family loved these deals, they were inexpensive and you got a good amount of food for the price. It was a great deal for a family…

  • Healthy Holiday Thanksgiving sides dishes at William Sonoma ~ Turnips and Greens with Orange, Rosemary and Pomegranate

    Healthy Holiday Thanksgiving sides dishes at William Sonoma ~ Turnips and Greens with Orange, Rosemary and Pomegranate

    Yesterday was an amazing day at William Sonoma in Norcross, at the Peachtree Forum. I had the privilege of preparing delicious food for their customers. The focus of the evening was on creating Farm to Table Healthy Holiday Side Dishes. One of my core beliefs about food is to EAT LOCAL and SUPPORT FARMERS, along…

  • Quinoa two ways ~ Toasted and Roasted

    Quinoa is one of the only complete protein grains in the vegan/vegetarian circle of life. Quinoa is considered a whole grain, but in actuality,  it is a seed, from a leafy plant that is related to the spinach family. I do enjoy a good bowl of sweet or savory quinoa, but I love to explore…