A Salute to the End of Summer

First day of Fall is tomorrow…. goodbye summer.  Summer reminds me of camping with the family, fishing for trout, making s’mores over the fire, and watching the sun set over the lake/beach/mountains. No bonfires this year, but I can still toast my marshmallows over the stovetop flame (on a piece of wire clothes hanger) and…

Cheesecake Brownies

These brownies are always a crowd-pleaser.  Part cheesecake, part brownie – the best of both worlds. I’ve made them several times for various events, and everyone loves them! (Unless they’re not chocolate fans. Which is another issue altogether…)  I found inspiration for my recipe from Ina Garten’s “Outrageous Brownies” (the secret ingredient: coffee!).  Don’t worry,…

White Bean and Chickpea Hummus

This is a super simple way to make veggies disappear (and a great excuse to whip out that food processor).  This hummus is totally customizable to your taste as far as add-ins – chopped olives, fresh parsley,  roasted red peppers, basil or pesto – anything goes.  The white beans help make a smoother texture in…