LUNCH
EAT / LUNCH
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...
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...
Clever Accent Walls
© BRIO Interior DesignThe idea of an accent wall may sound like an exciting way to add pop to a room, and it’s certainly easier than painting all of the walls but don’t break open that can of paint just yet. Your room needs to meet certain criteria in order to...
Tomatillo Salsa
© Sunshine UrbaniakThis recipe won a local salsa contest and I have to say, it's that good! But be warned—to get it right you almost ALWAYS have to make adjustments due to the ripeness of the tomatillos or the heat of the jalapeño. Sometimes you need to add more salt,...
Baked Mediterranean Cod
© Sunshine UrbaniakI am in love with this dish! Nothing beats a one-skillet, healthy fish dinner on a weeknight—and my whole family eats it (literally can not ask for anything more). I serve this with jasmine rice and a green vegetable like green beans. But let's talk...
Avocado Toast with Egg and Pickled Onions
© Sunshine UrbaniakThis avocado toast with egg isn't complicated or anything new, but it truly satisfies your tastebuds with its building flavors of garlicky mayo aioli, spicy arugula, creamy avocado, warm egg yolk, and tangy-sweet pickled onions. To me, it's the...
Tofu and Pear Salad with Miso Ginger Vinaigrette
© Sunshine UrbaniakThis is a great salad to incorporate more tofu into your diet. The red miso marinade helps flavor the tofu and a quick bake in the oven keeps it healthy and crispy. I recommend marinating the tofu overnight to get the best flavor, then pop it out of...
Guacamole
© Sunshine UrbaniakI can't tell you how many compliments I get on my guacamole. It's really not a secret or a secret ingredient. It's really all about the adjustments made after you let it rest. Depending on the ripeness of your avocado or the tartness of your limes,...