Ideas for relaxed, beautiful living — because this season deserves to be savored
Split Pea Soup with Smoked Ham Hocks
Thick, hearty split pea soup with smoked ham hocks and simple vegetables. Call it Swamp Soup for Halloween—or make it whenever a good bowl of soup sounds right.
BOURBON & BROOMSTICKS — AN APPLE CIDER BOURBON COCKTAIL
Bourbon & Broomsticks: an apple cider bourbon cocktail with lemon, ginger beer, and an alcohol-free option. Five minutes, no shaker—and a little bourbon research from my brother Greg.
PUMPKIN BUNDT CAKE
Pumpkin Bundt cake with warm fall spices and cream cheese icing. Mrs. Tindel’s recipe earns a place at Halloween dinner—and beside tomorrow’s coffee.
Sugar Roll-Out Cookies
Witch hats, pumpkins, and spiderwebs dress up these Halloween sugar cookies. Sally’s rollout recipe, a little icing, and your own decorating style—no perfect piping required.
Navy Bean Soup
When Arizona’s forecast finally drops below 100, it’s soup weather. Mom’s navy bean soup is full of white beans, vegetables and spinach, with a few quick pulses for a creamy broth.
Ridiculously Easy Key Lime Pie
This easy Key lime pie has a creamy sweet-tart filling, homemade graham cracker crust and lime-zest whipped cream. Make it ahead and chill until dessert.
AUNT SHARON’S APPLE PIE
Aunt Sharon’s handwritten recipe called for twelve apples and very few rules. This version keeps the family spirit, with a flaky all-butter crust, three kinds of apples and just enough rebellion.
Grilled Lemon-Herbed Chicken
This grilled lemon-herb chicken is marinated with olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs for juicy chicken with a subtle lemon flavor.
Linda’s Fresh Watermelon Salad
Watermelon, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and fresh mint come together in this colorful summer salad from my sister Linda, finished with a simple lemon and olive oil dressing.
Whipped Boursin with Honey and Toasted Pecans
Creamy whipped Boursin topped with toasted pecans, fresh thyme, and honey. A beautiful appetizer that takes just minutes to put together.
Crispy Beer Battered Fish Tacos
Crispy beer-battered fish tacos topped with fresh pico de gallo, avocado, and creamy lime sauce. These are the tacos that converted our resident fish skeptic.
Blended Margarita
This frozen blended margarita is cold, citrusy and made for patio happy hour—because some Arizona afternoons call for the blender.
Big-Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies for Sharing
These really good chocolate chip cookies are loaded with milk and semisweet chocolate chips. Keep the chips frozen, skip chilling the dough, and bake a batch worth sharing—or hiding in the freezer.
Easy Traeger Ribs for Game Day
Easy Traeger ribs with a sticky BBQ-honey sauce — most of the work happens ahead of time, so you're free to enjoy Game Day instead of babysitting the grill. Feeds a crowd.
Grumpy Sicilian Pizza
Thick, golden and cheesy, this Sicilian-style pizza is made for game day, casual dinners and feeding a hungry crowd. Make the dough from scratch or take the easy shortcut.
Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd and Cream Cheese Frosting
This three-layer lemon cake has bright citrus flavor, lemon curd between every layer, and a rustic cream cheese frosting. I first made it for our son’s engagement party, and it has been a celebration cake ever since.
Italian Marinated Olives
These Italian marinated olives are warmed with garlic, citrus zest, fresh herbs, and a little red pepper. An easy make-ahead appetizer with plenty of attitude.
Lin’s Tabouli Recipe: A Fresh, Lemony Favorite
This fresh, lemony tabouli recipe came from my sister Linda. It’s filled with parsley, tomatoes, green onions, and bulgur—and served with torn flour tortillas for scooping.
Chinese Chicken Salad
Teriyaki chicken, crisp cabbage, ramen noodles, almonds, and a simple sesame dressing come together in this fresh Chinese Chicken Salad—an easy lunch or make-ahead patio favorite.
Mango Chicken Salad
Fresh mango, chicken, avocado, crisp greens, and a bright citrus dressing make this an easy warm-weather lunch or patio dinner—one I could happily eat three times a week.