LUNCH
EAT / LUNCH
White Bean Soup
© Sunshine UrbaniakThis Tuscan style white bean soup is chock-full of silky cannellini beans, leeks, celery, carrots, spinach, garlic, rosemary, and sage. It only takes about an hour to make but it tastes like it took all afternoon with its rich, deep flavors. My...
Prosciutto Mascarpone Pizza
© Sunshine UrbaniakI once had the pleasure of eating the 'sonja pizza' at Diavola Pizzeria in Geyserville, California. It was heavenly and left me craving more. A week later I tried recreating it at home. Aside from the fact I didn't have a wood-burning pizza oven, it...
Huevos Rancheros
© Sunshine UrbaniakHuevos Rancheros is in my top five ways to eat eggs for sure, and it's so quick and easy to make. You can prepare the bean mixture and the pico de gallo a day ahead to shorten prep time even more. Just remember you'll need to warm up the beans...
Banana Muffins
© Sunshine UrbaniakThese banana muffins are SO good! They're moist and fluffy, which can be hard sometimes with banana muffins or bread. We've all had our fair share of dry, dense banana bread. And sometimes you barely taste the banana. My secret: I add a teaspoon of...
Chicken Tortilla Soup
© Sunshine UrbaniakI first fell in love with chicken tortilla soup when I moved to California back in 2000. In our town of Alameda, there was a local Mexican restaurant we used to order chicken tortilla soup from often. After many years, in my usual style, I wanted to...
Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw
© Sunshine UrbaniakThese shrimp tacos with cilantro lime slaw are so quick to cook up you might find yourself making them often as a last-minute dinner fix. Shrimp take no time to marinate and cook so they're the perfect main ingredient for a fast meal. When making...
Panzanella Spring Mix Salad
© Sunshine UrbaniakThe idea for this salad came about one day when I had vine ripe tomatoes and basil from my garden, leftover sourdough bread and a huge craving for a yummy salad. I love Caprese salads so I thought, why not make a Caprese salad Panzanella style but...
Spring Clean Your Life
We all get the urge to start cleaning our homes when spring emerges each year. We open the windows and "shake out our house." Whether we reorganize closets, clean up the dust, or scrub the floors, there's excitement in welcoming the new season. That's because spring...
Embracing Your Emotions
I think it's safe to say that most of us have been on a rollercoaster of emotions since COVID-19 shelter-in-place has become the new normal. For me, there are days I'm perfectly fine, and others I feel slightly depressed and trapped. Seeing all the new measures in...
Love Your Reflection
© Lesly JuarezA Mind, Body, and Soul Approach to Weight Loss Abraham Hicks told a great story of Ester and Jerry having dinner with a friend in San Francisco. She was thin and attractive, like a model. She ordered two complete meals and ate them herself, then ate...
New Year Intentions
For most people, the new year inspires resolutions, which sounds good, but the truth is they can lead to disappointment when not achieved. That's because most people don't have a plan for their resolutions. They simply start listing all the things they want to change...
Designing with Indoor Plants
Monstera aka “Swiss Cheese Plant” © FeelPicAt one point in my life, I had over 30 indoor plants. But then my husband and I started havings kids, and I gave some away. Then we moved across the country, and I had to part with many, taking only about five with me. That...
Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta with Red Bell Pepper
© Sunshine UrbaniakI once worked in a restaurant in Oakland, California that served this creamy pasta with chicken, andouille sausage, mushrooms, and red bell pepper that I loved ordering. As usual, eventually, I ended up trying to recreate it at home. This recipe...
Embracing The Shadow Season
For many, fall means pumpkins, the changing of leaves, cooler air, and cozy sweaters. It’s that magical time of year when we transition from warm summer days to the dark, cold winter nights. Those three months when the Earth slowly falls into a long slumber, preparing...
Making a Healthy Fall Transition
© FilippoBacciI was enjoying a morning walk around my local river a couple of weeks into the fall season. It was a chilly morning, but the sun was warm on my face. I couldn't help but notice all the leaves changing colors, flocks of geese gathering to prepare their...