Spiced Almond and Apple Granola

Casual breakfasts are the key to a stress free day here in our household. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... everyday here is packed with a schedule and places to go! At least once a week I make a big batch of this granola. This is an adapted recipe that my mom happened to get from one of the cooks at our church's (Calvary Chapel) Retreat Center here in our local San Bernardino Mountains. What...

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holiday chocolate almond bark

Who doesn't love chocolate.. and what better, than to make it and give it away as gifts! In  my home it's a tradition to start our baking when the kids have Thanksgiving break. This week our youngest was off earlier than usual so here we are, celebrating mom and daughter time and looking forward to the holidays with Peppermint Chocolate Cherry Almond Bark.  This is the easiest...

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Broccoli Rapini with a Garlic & Lemon Sauté

Broccoli Rapini, also known as Broccoli Rabe, is a flavorful but bitter vegetable . Rapini is not a mild flavored green at all! Although it is more closely related to it's Chinese brother Brassica, the Italian cultivar is pungent with a nutty flavor but even more bitter than radicchio, another one of my favorite Italian vegetables. Rapini is common and now readily available across the continental...

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Collard Greens with Andouille Sausage

This recipe is for my sweet dad.. Last week when I was visiting my parents’, he asked me if I had ever made collard greens. I love greens.. but collards weren’t one of the vegetables we grew up with in our Italian home. My research and investigation began at the grocery store with my first purchase of this Southern favorite.  The texture is hearty and firm with a mild taste. This vegetable...

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The Inspired Plate | Fresh From the Market | August 2013

Welcome to August's issue of The Inspired Plate's food photography challenge. This month in the heat of the Summer we're tackling "Fresh from the Market". I chose one of the hottest days to drag my poor husband and daughter to Old Town Temecula. As fun as it was browsing the vendor stalls.. we were literally there to pick up our herbs and produce and get back to the cool of the truck. This time around...

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Seasonal | The Inspired Plate | Strawberries and Cream

Seasonal was this months challenge for The Inspired Plate team, I wasn't going to participate this month, and actually am a day late, but my sweet girlfriends from TIP linked me in anyway! LOVE them!!! We had a seasonal lunch treat yesterday for my kids.. Strawberries fresh from the garden!The TIP gals cooked and baked up some delicious treats for your eye pleasure.. please make your...

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Gluten Free Almond Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar

These almond oatmeal bars are amazing and a must try! :)  Hope you all have a Happy 4th of July!!Gluten Free Almond Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars3/4 cup oil1 cup brown sugar1/2 cup white sugar1 egg1/4 cup milk2 teaspoons vanilla1 teaspoon baking soda3/4 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum 2 cups Almond Flour or Meal1 cup Quick Oats (GF)1 cup Gluten Free Baking Mix (Arrowhead...

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The Inspired Plate | Frozen Dessert | June 2013

Welcome to The Inspired Plate's, June edition of our food photography challenge!  This month.. and just in time for the heat of summer, we celebrate with Frozen Desserts. I think I can safely say this was a favorite! Everything came together without stress and time constraints, and, I even had my mom's drawer of beautiful serviettes to chose the perfect color napkin to go with the berry...

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Carnations

As a child I remember spending countless hours in my grandfathers garden.  His thumb.. the most glorious color green you could imagine! :) He had fruit trees, vegetable plants, flowers.. and carnations! The carnations grew in rows, all lined up and held by strings running length wise. I never thought to ask my grandfather about his passion for carnations.. but it was...

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An Open Face Sandwich DMC Style

My favorite way to eat a snack.. :)French bread drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive OilFreshly Grated Parmesan CheeseSliced Roma TomatoesBuffalo MozzarellaDried OreganoFresh Cracked PepperSea Salt (to taste)Fresh Basil chiffonaudExtra basil to top after broiledI first toast the bread on one side in the broiler at 500 degrees.. for just around 30 seconds to get crisp and golden. ** Watch CAREFULLY!! Top...

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The Inspired Plate | February | Eggs

Welcome to The Inspired Plate’s February edition of our monthly food photography challenge. Today we are celebrating the “Egg”.  This was a last minute photo shoot for me and I needed to make something quick! With the cold weather we have been experiencing ‘Egg Flower Soup’ sounded like the perfect choice! Although.. I really wasn’t pleased with the lack of “egg lustre”. Eggs really are the prettiest...

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The Inspired Plate Monthly Challenge | January | Healthy

Welcome to The Inspired Plate January challenge. This month our theme is "Healthy". Whew!! I have total baking and heavy food fare burnout. It has been so refreshing cooking on the lighter side with a New Years resolution I am trying to commit to.With our cool weather I have still been craving dishes on the warmer side, so using Pinterest as a design tool, I pinned salad ideas, fruits and hearty...

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