I love a great lasagna but can take a while to assemble and bake. I really like this Lasagna Soup because it takes exactly like lasagna but is much less time-consuming to make. It’s also nice because I can keep it in the fridge for the kids to enjoy and heat up whenever they want it for lunch or a snack. This is much more convenient than a whole casserole of leftover lasagna, I think.  This premise of this soup is that the beef or meat of your choice is cooked and served in a

Green beans are a great vegetable that can matched with almost any meal. However, when it comes to festive occasions, I like to dress them up a little bit. I think they are a little too bland served on their own when there is lamb or beef as the main course. This is when I make these delicious Garlic String Beans. I always start by blanching the green beans because I like it when they're cooked and have a little crispy crunch. This also helps them hold up against the sauce an

Mediterranean cuisine is famous for it's mezze. That is, small platters of dips and snacks served with breads and vegetables for dipping. You may have noted I make a lot of Greek-inspired dips on this show and there's a reason why! Today's dip is Hot Honey, Feta & Olive Dip. It's inspired by a classic mezze, but it's given a modern twist with the use of hot honey, not just regular honey. I make hot honey by adding chili flakes to regular honey. Sometimes I do a big container

We all need a few "wow" recipes in our back pocket for dinner parties and treasured guests. If you're looking for one this holiday season I highly recommend this Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Sour Cherry-Port Sauce. It's a real showstopper, everyone loves it, and it's surprisingly easy to make. The key here is to use the highest quality ingredients. Since I'm presuming you'll make this for a fancy party be sure to go to a good butcher and ask for the freshest, highest quality d

I think one of the hardest things about parties is finding quick, unique appetizers to serve. I like to have a wide variety of foods available and this is something people ask me about all the time. It's really easy to slip into having a lot of one thing - like dips or cheeses - but I really encourage choosing a couple of things from each category. This Whipped Feta & Pomegranate Crostini is one of those great recipes everyone loves because they're unique but still familiar.

This recipe was really fun to film because they're so popular in Greece. Kourabiethes are traditional Greek cookies that are frequently served around Christmas. There's a little liquor in them but I want to assure you the alcohol burns off in the oven so they're totally safe to serve to kids. I love these because they are kind of like an almond shortbread. They are nice and buttery with a hint of anise flavor from the ouzo, and a little crunch on top from the almonds. This re

This was a really fun one to film because it put me in the Christmas spirit. This Christmas Lasagna gets its name from the red, white, and green layers. I love it when the dish color coordinates with the holiday! I like to make lasagna during the holidays because it feeds a crowd and can be prepared ahead of time. It also is one of those rare dishes that pleases my whole family. My kids aren't terribly picky eaters, but everyone gets a little particular here and there and it'

This is one of those dishes you see at restaurants but never seem to pull together at home because you assume it’s out of reach, or you consider it too gourmet for home cooking. Good news, Arugula & Burrata is neither! It’s actually very easy to pull together when you have the ingredients on hand and it can taste exactly like the dish you order at the restaurant.  I either serve this on a tray when I’m presenting it to a group, or plate it individually for a more formal dinne

Do we ever have enough pasta recipes? I don’t. Now that my children are older, I can make them a little more fun and interesting than just pasta with tomato sauce. This recipe is for a One Pan Creamy Tomato Spinach Pasta, the perfect weeknight meal that even manages to make spinach palatable to the most discerning eater.  I love the ease with which this recipe comes together. It’s so nice to have all the ingredients go into one pan. By the time you reach the last step it’s a

Pasta is a go-to in my house on weeknights. You can dress it up with all kinds of flavors and my kids always, always  eat it. My children are mostly past the age of being small, picky eaters, but they still always love a meal like this Chicken Alfredo Pasta. In a way it’s become comfort food for them because I’ve been making it since they were so little.  Making alfredo sauce can sound intimidating to some people, but I assure you it’s not. This is why I like to film these re

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I want to share this recipe for Traditional Bread Stuffing in case you’re in need of one. I’ve published a few less traditional stuffing recipes in the past, but sometimes you really just need a classic one. This is the one my children love the most and I think any beginning cook can make. In fact, if this is one of your first Thanksgivings and you’re just getting use to cooking for it you’ll love this recipe.  The whole thing start

As a mom of four I’m well aware of the importance of having just as many recipes for the kids as the adults at any holiday. These Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are one of those recipes that all ages enjoy. Since my kids are capable in the kitchen these days, I often hand this recipe off to make from scratch. However, it can be really fun to make them when you’re looking for a baking project to complete together.  I love making recipes like this because they also travel well. If you’r

I like to mix classic recipes with more modern dishes at my holiday tables. Creamy Scalloped Potatoes are one example of this. It’s a classic recipe I’ve been eating since I was a child and remains popular at holidays to this day. The premise is so simple. A creamy cheese sauce is layered with thinly sliced potatoes and popped in the oven. It’s decadent and delicious in every way.   One of the tips I like to give people when making this is to make sure the potato slices and b

There’s pumpkin cheesecake and there are pumpkin muffins, and then there are Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins. This delicious dessert is exactly what you imagine them to be. They are individual pumpkin cheesecakes served in muffin cups and eaten like a cupcake. I honestly don’t know of any more popular dessert with the younger set of kids in my household.  To make these gems you start with a traditional pumpkin cheesecake batter. This is very easy to make. My only tip to you is tha

Sweet potatoes are so delicious, but I find I become limited in what I make with them sometimes. Most of the time I have them in my kitchen I make bake sweet potato fries or mashed sweet potatoes or sweet potato casserole. They are all excellent, but it can get a little repetitive. This is why I started making Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds with Honey & Feta. They are delicious baked sweet potato sounds with a drizzle of sweet honey and topped with savory feta.  I bake these in

Today I'm sharing recipes for three fall cocktails that are perfect for your next gathering. You'll absolutely love these for the season. You'll notice they're somewhat familiar as I designed the recipes by giving fresh twists to old favorites. These are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas, or anytime you want to infuse cocktail hour with a little fall flavor. Pumpkin Margarita   Serves 1  Ingredients:  2 ounces silver or reposado tequila  1 ounce Cointreau  1 ounce fresh

I love this Greek Potato with Celery and Tomato Paste because it takes me back to my childhood. This bears all the marks of a traditional Mediterranean vegetable dish. The ingredients are readily available in many backyard gardens, and it’s made on the stovetop with water or broth. My mother-in-law remembers eating this dish for dinner with fresh feta on top when she was growing up! I like to serve it as a hearty side dish with protein and a green salad alongside.   I don’t h

I had so much fun making this Brownie Espresso Dessert Martini for you. Making desserts I know everyone will love always puts me in a good mood! I started this recipe by making brownies from scratch. As I said in the episode, you can definitely use a boxed mix if you want. However, if you have the time, I promise you’ll love the homemade brownie recipe. When they’re still warm from the oven pour the Kahlúa on top so it soaks in thoroughly and evenly.  Once the brownies are re

I’ve made Pastitsio before for this show. It’s probably one of the most popular Greek dishes in the world and we eat it frequently, so I made it fairly early on in filming . I still direct people to the recipe on my website a lot because they want to know how to make it! For today’s episode I did a little riff on the classic recipe and made Pastitsio Croquettes. They’re made with the traditional method but breaded and fried into delicious balls that are fun for everyone.  The

As we get closer to the holidays, I like to try out new dishes I might want to serve on the side this year. I’ve always enjoyed the combination of Brussel sprouts and bacon, but this year I’m adding apples to make Sautéed Apples with Brussel Sprouts and Bacon. Oh my, this is truly one of the most delicious side dishes you’ve ever tasted. The sweet apple adds a whole new dimension to the savory sprouts and salty, crunchy bacon.  The key to making this dish sing is cooking the