LUNCH
EAT / LUNCH
Mushroom and Spinach Quiche
© Sunshine UrbaniakQuiches are a great baked dish good for any time of the day—breakfast, brunch, even dinner. Pair it with a yummy side and it's quite a filling meal. I love serving quiche alongside a spring mix salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. The contrast in...
Veggie Lasagna
© Sunshine UrbaniakThis veggie lasagna recipe is inspired by lasagne I had from Whole Foods back in 1997. I frequently lunched there while working at a design firm in Palo Alto, CA. At least once a week I'd get the veggie lasagna. It was the complete opposite of what...
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...
Orange and Fennel Salad
© Sunshine UrbaniakI just love this orange and fennel salad, especially in the winter. Its fresh flavor is a nice palette pick-me-up when it's cold outside. I add in five romaine leaves for some added crunch, feel free to leave them out or add in more—just remember to...
Perception Shift Can Help Reduce Stress
I was having one of those days. You know, when everything around you seems to be caving in. Between my workload, family, social commitments, laundry, yard work, and home reno projects, my plate was overflowing and I was super stressed out. The last thing I had time...
Mushroom Orecchiette with Bell Pepper & Goat Cheese
© Sunshine UrbaniakThis orecchiette pasta salad with mushrooms, bell pepper and goat cheese is so creamy and delicious it might become your go-to for potlucks. Quick and simple to make yet yields such rich flavor from the mushrooms cooked in marsala wine. Marsala...
Tomato Basil Bagel
© Sunshine UrbaniakThis isn't so much a recipe as a delicious suggestion to start your day with something savory versus sweet. Many people choose to top their bagel with jelly or jam—and there's nothing wrong with that. But for those days when you wake up and prefer a...
Greek Salad
© Sunshine UrbaniakGreek salads are so easy and quick to make, plus it's full of healthy ingredients. The red wine vinegar in the dressing really compliments the salty feta cheese and kalamata olives. The trick to a really tasty greek salad is patience. After making...
Getting Old is a Gift
This year I turn 45. Back when I was a kid that sounded old. My Mom was just 20 years old when she gave birth to me, so I had a young Mom growing up. She was always active and exploring her passions, and told me that age is just a number, and that life is a state of...
Apple Filled Pancakes
© Sunshine UrbaniakEbelskivers are Danish pancakes that are spherical in shape with apple filling, like bits of apples or applesauce. Traditionally they're eaten at Christmas time and often served with mulled wine. They're dusted with powdered sugar and served with...
Are We Addicted to Busyness?
In the ever-quickening pace of society, people are busier than ever. They're over-scheduling and over-planning, whether it's work, family, friends, volunteering, yoga, or traveling. And in between all that, they're glued to screens watching more busyness on social...
Coconut & Curry Chicken Bisque
© Sunshine UrbaniakI first had this soup from Safeway in California, in one of those take-home containers you find in the prepared food section. I fell in love with the rich flavors—red curry, coconut milk, ginger, and lemongrass. The broth alone was like gold. After...
Planting a Shade Garden
Shade gardens can be stunning if planted properly and come with some advantages, like slower growth and longer-lasting flowers. Of course, there are also challenges like soil that’s too wet, encouraging root rot or slugs, or soil that’s too dry, unable to get adequate...
Just One Thing
© FilippoBacciLife can be stressful for many different reasons. Right now, COVID-19 is at the top of the list for most. Between home quarantining, mask-wearing, remote schooling, lack of social life, and reduced workflow, my anxiety levels skyrocket on some days. I do...
Five Tips for Designing Small Spaces
Don’t let IKEA have all the fun—you too can design a small space spectacularly! If you asked 10 interior designers how to design for small spaces you’d probably get a lot of different ideas because each space has its own story to tell. What works in one room may not...