Kicking off your baby sisters wedding season! It’s the summer of Katie and Nick, we are all here for it 💕 What an absolute joy to watch so many people you love in one place at the same time. So incredibly grateful for moments and traditions like this. We are so excited for these two! Buckys daughters are officially off the market ❤️ let’s expand this crazy family once more ! #bridalshowerideas #bridalshowerdecor #familymemories
Does it even matter that this a creamy lemon sauce when you put a ball of burrata on top of it ?! Maybe it does so I’ll drop the recipe below 👇 Ps – Mariah Carey Fantasy Friday, you are welcome ! 4tbsp unsalted butter 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp finely sliced shallots Juice of one lemon 🍋 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 balls of burrata 1 tbsp chopped Basil Cook pasta according to packaged directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining . I’m a large sauté pan melt the butter then add in the olive oil and shallots. Sauté on a low heat about 4 minutes, until opaque. Add ok the lemon juice stir gently to combine , then add in the heavy cream, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine . Let it simmer together for about 4 minutes add in reserved pasta water and cooked pasta, toss gently to combine , add in basil and toss once more. Divide the desired pasta between two plates and top with burrata and enjoy ! #burratta #burratagram #easydinner #pastalover #dishitgirl #summerrecipe #lemonpasta
This is my team 💕 No, I’m not kidding, haha! I think most people assume there are assistants, social mangers, agents, PR, and I dunno what else is out there . Maybe one day I’ll learn how to “scale” or have people call my people lol. I will never forget crockpots in my hotel room over night to cook for a segment in the morning. Driving hours and hours. God opened doors, I would walk through. He has also shut them too, however it was always because he wanted me to be ready for a better one. It was such a joyful moment to walk into a studio with the two of them for the first time after a brief hiatus due to cancer. They will always be the greatest gifts, these two are my biggest supporters. Along with my parents. This was such a busy week from the conference to the segment , these two helped mommy in big ways ! They will always be my first priority 💕it’s taking time but we are learning to be a team ! Brian edits any videos that actually look nice, he taught me how to use a camera. Fun fact , he made my first photography backgrounds ten years ago. He is my tech guy when it comes to zoom segments. And he makes sure I do my taxes 🫣. One time I was sent to exhibit at a restaurant conference when I shouldn’t have been , Brian helped me serve over 1,000 people. I’ve had my share of being taken advantage of. But I have always been a hard worker and good to those I meet regardless. God has brought some wonderful opportunities and people into my life along the way. And that’s how I have been able to operate this little corner of life that is DishItGirl . I will say cookbook has been the first time I had a true team and I am forever grateful to them, and @kathleen_kerr along with @convergent_books for the God given chance to do this ❤️ It truly is always better when we are together, and thank you for encouraging us along the way over the past 9 years ! And for those who stopped along the way to pull me up 😘 #dishitgirl #encouragement #betterwhenweretogether
This Coconut Chicken and Chickpea Chili is a great way to brighten up a gray winter day! Or give your regular game day chili a break! I had so much fun with @hodaandjenna this morning. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share recipes from my kitchen to yours. Thank you for being here and cheering me on. I hope I can continue to help with family meal solutions and encouragement in everyday life as 2023 moves on! Recipe link: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/coconut-chicken-white-bean-chili #dishitgirl #dishspiration #easymeals #chilirecipe #healthyish #todayfood #winterrecipes #cozymeal
Had a good time with @abcgma3 yesterday sharing all my picnic packing tips! This segment was also extra special to me because my lower thirds read “author.” I have waited almost a decade for that . Take a peek at some of my top tips below 👇 ☀️Think about your sandwich ingredients: opt for crusty or toasted breads, skip the dressings opt for spreads like cream cheese or mayo, wrap your sandwiches in wax or parchment paper. Use the bread bag to pack the sandwiches. ☀️Think outside of the bread! Try deconstructing your sandwich and using skewers, or using graham crackers.I love making Siena graham cracker sandwiches with fluff, chocolate peanut butter, and bananas! ☀️Make snackleboxes haha! Put your fav snacks or charcuterie items in a compartmentalized container like ones used to house craft items ! Sounds crazy, but keeps everything separate and secure! Plus, kids love helping fill them up ! ☀️Have your snacks pull double duty as ice packs! Freeze those yogurt and smoothie pouches, frozen grapes on the beach are the best! Better yet your picnic basket will be lighter on the way home ! #dishitgirl #picnicparty #beachtipsforkids #momhacks
I like to show the in-betweens. If you have been with me awhile, you know showing this is important. Because there was a time where my comparison game was strong. Becoming a mom didn’t come as naturally as I thought it would. Nothing looked like I had anticipated, from the emergency birth, to blood transfusions, to the NICU. To being diagnosed with PPD and PTSD. I wasn’t bringing my baby on planes to tv segments let alone the mall. However, now you see me walking into the studio with Siena. It seems I do it all with her, but friends, that came in time. In between the television segments, book news, fancy videos, trips, and whatever else you see that makes you say “I wish.” There is this in-between. Its been seasons of confusion, depression, victories, failures, illness, disappointment, exhaustion. And sometimes ,in fact a lot times, simply cleaning toliets, changing diapers, making dinner, driving to dance lessons, folding laundry. You name it, you get it. But let me encourage you, the in-between also gives way to the breakthrough, redirection, recovery, and gratitude. It gives way to the change of season, and the storm subsiding. I have found myself explaining often that the valleys are not necessarily the worst places to be. Because that is where we find the opportunity for deeper faith, for God to show us what he is capable of and what we are capable of through him. If given the chance valleys can strengthen us and refine us. So that we not only appreciate the mountain top but we do not fear our next descent down. There is a deeper contentment to be found Because we now know he walks so closely with us, and that he uses even what is meant to destroy us. I may still struggle at points but my will to press on with him is stronger than before. There are blessings in the in-between, spend time counting them. You may be surprised to find your valley is not as deep and dark as you. Don’t compare your in-between to someone else’s end result. Happy Mother’s Day <3
Instant elevation right here ! Just take a couple of minutes to grill up some eggplant rounds and put them on the platter with your tomato and fresh mozzarella! I throw some olive oil on a grill pan and grill the rounds for about 2 1/2 minutes on each side. As they grill I sprinkle them with kosher salt , give the a drizzle of honey and a tiny splash of balsamic . Then I flip them over . I hope everyone enjoying the long weekend and taking a moment to be grateful for those who have worked to ensure we have the freedom to gather and celebrate! #eggplant #hardcoreitalians #dishitgirl #caperesesalad #tomatomozzarella #summersalad #summerentertaining
Happy National Donut Day! Lots of places (DD, KK, Duck) giving away free donuts today. Make sure you get one…or two…or seven. #thedonuthunter #donuts
Happy National Donut Day! Lots of places (DD, KK, Duck) giving away free donuts today. Make sure you get one…or two…or seven. #thedonuthunter #donuts
Happy National Donut Day! Lots of places (DD, KK, Duck) giving away free donuts today. Make sure you get one…or two…or seven. #thedonuthunter #donuts
What if it’s just a wave? Lately, I ask myself this often. Over the past couple of years I have walked through some tough seasons. From cancer to deep depression from postpartum issues and loss. Then there were the instances where I have had to deal with what seemed like one disappointment after another. Long valleys where I felt like all I could was wait, feeling a bit lost. Some of these times there was a call for grieving or prolonged period of healing. The situations warranted long periods of wading in some strong emotions or taking it day by day. But I have learned there is difference between waves that come and go, and true storms. Some situations call for endurance, a fight or even rest. Others I have learned can be weathered a bit quicker. Before I declare I am drowning now I cling a bit quicker, and hold on a bit tighter. Knowing that some challenges or disappointments are just waves that I can ride out. Not storms that need to completely wreck my boat so to speak. Taking a beat to put this in perspective has helped me not capsize as many times as I could have recently. A couple weeks ago many of you asked about some of the verses I used to maintain my faith through my most recent storm. This was one of them, and I can’t wait to share more! Make sure to sign up for my substack community where I will be writing more in depth devotionals for you each week, a long with recipe and meal plan inspiration. Link in bio and stories! #dishspiration #christianposts #christianblogger #encouragingwords
Puréing your own watermelon and strawberry juice may be a little extra, but it certainly is delicious! 1 bottle rose wine 2 cups watermelon puréed and strained 1 cup strawberries puréed and strained 1 1/2 cups club soda 1/4 cup simple syrup Juice of 2 limes *simple syrup is one cup water , one cup sugar in a small saucepan , heat until dissolved, let cool. Pour the rose wine into a large pitcher. Add the watermelon (about 3 cups cubed) to a blender, blend until smooth. Set a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl or large liquid measuring cup. Pour the watermelon juice through the strainer . Then add two cups worth of the juice to the pitcher. Repeat the same process with the strawberries, about 2 cups worth of strawberries into the blender . Strain and add to the pitcher. Then add in your simple syrup and lime juice, followed by the club soda. Stir gently to combine, add some ice cubes or place in fridge til ready to serve ! #watermelon #sangria #summerrecipes #cocktailrecipes
Spontaneous day trips most often turn out to be our favorite trips. We often look for that offbeat warm day in January or February to head to the beach. We love our little adventures where we find donut shops and bakeries to stop at. Stumble upon a great shop or bookstore, and we are always on the lookout for a good food market. We almost always find a park to run around at. There are so many towns in NJ that are full of great stuff for kids and adults. We also like to venture to upstate New York quite a bit. Back in March we spent a day walking around Princeton, New Jersey. There are a ton of shops and restaurants. A lot of mainstream stores and open air shopping. It would be impossible to name them all! We started the day getting baked goods at the @thegingeredpeach , it’s not in Princeton but a good stop on the way. We love their cinnamon rolls and it’s not a bad stop for coffee! Then we went into the Japanese Market @maruichi_princeton for some Onigiri, which is Siena’s favorite! Took a break in the Children’s section at the @labyrinth.books bookstore. Then picked out a new record to listen for Siena and Brian to dance around too, @princeton_record_exchange I grabbed a pretty dress for Siena at the @toobydoo shop. Had to check out the Lindt chocolate store across the way. Where we each got a truffle and saw some melted chocolate goodness on display. The @thebentspoon ice cream shop had too long of a line for us to wait on. But I have had their ice cream before, their flavors are so unique! It is worth the wait but we just had other plans! #thefamilythateats #daytrips #njeats #funthingstodowithkids
Bring It or Beach It |Ep 1 This is my go to pasta salad of the summer. It’s perfect to bring to BBQs and great to revisit all week long for lunch. Some of my pasta salad tips ⭐️This creamy basil and balsamic dressing gets some extra flavor from a tablespoon of pesto, and a little bit of mayo , it helps it adhere to the pasta . ⭐️ I like to mix the pasta by itself first then add in the the rest of the ingredients and toss gently. ⭐️Let it sit in the fridge for a little before serving. Then re-season the top and mix through before serving. I’ll add a drizzle mor of olive oil and vinegar with a touch more salt. 1lb pasta, cooked according to package directions 3/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup mayo 1 1/2 tbsp pesto( jar or freshly made) 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh Basil 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved 1 1/2 cup mozzarella balls (bocconcini ) halved In a large bowl whisk together all ingredients. Then add pasta, toss until coated. Place in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes. Then add the tomatoes and mozzarella over top. Drizzle with about a tablespoon more of olive oil and then a tablespoon more of vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste, mix all ingredients together gently, again until we’ll coated. #pastasalad #summerrecipes #bringit #bbqrecipes #entertaining #mozzarella #pastarecipe
DIY Sangria Bar is perfect for this upcoming holiday weekend! Let your guests customize your drinks without having to serve 10 different things! I like to go with a recipe that follow a white and rose wine! Full details and recipes on dishitgirl.com . I think I may have figured out that comment below and you get a DM with the link contraption! #sangria #diyentertaining #summerrecipes
DIY Sangria Bar is perfect for this upcoming holiday weekend! Let your guests customize your drinks without having to serve 10 different things! I like to go with a recipe that follow a white and rose wine! Full details and recipes on dishitgirl.com . I think I may have figured out that comment below and you get a DM with the link contraption! #sangria #diyentertaining #summerrecipes
My new favorite way to start the day. Dumping this cracked olive mix from TJs into the pan before I put my two whisked eggs into the pan. It’s truly the little changes or tweaks to our everyday dishes that can make a huge difference. That’s why every once in awhile when budget allows I like to buy a new spice or condiment to put into rotation! What’s your go to for “fun” ingredient? #morningvibes #dishitgirl #omletterecipe #easyrecipe #morningroutine #halfwayhomemade #traderjoesfinds
If you are strawberry picking this month make sure you throw them in a salad! Along with some feta cheese, sunflower seeds, and some chopped red onion. Make sure to use the balsamic basil vinaigrette below! Adding strawberries to the salad might just be the way to get your littles to try it out. This past week Brian was traveling, Siena and I had some Mommy and Me dinners. She’s always loved apples in salad now she’s a big fan of strawberries! I really do believe eating with your kids helps them become curious and encouraged at the table ! Make sure to follow @dishitgirldina for everyday recipes for your summer table ! 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1/2 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons minced garlic Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil #strawberrysalad #saladrecipe #summerfood #healthyfood #easyrecipe
The seasons are changing which means the supplies in my “car box” need to be updated. We often go on long drives to visit family. Siena and I make random stops at the park or a farm if we pass by. Often times our plans change midday on summer weekends. We like to be ready for anything! And you know that when you aren’t ready that is when the “anything” happens. So, I like to be as prepared as possible, especially with kids in tow! I have all the products linked in my stories, they will be saved under the “favorites” highlight. You can also find the round-up on dishitgirl.com along with links to my LTK page. For now here is a list of my “must haves.” Grab a small storage cube or plastic bin, it doesn’t need to be fancy. Place a beach towel or small blanket in the bin, and a sweatshirt or light jacket. I have disposable ponchos on hand, and ALWAYS baby wipes. I like to have little zip up bags to organize everything in, I found a bunch at 5 below, you can also use Ziploc bags. In one bag I have an extra swimsuit, underwear, pjs, pair of shorts, googles, sunglasses and sunscreen. Also love to have travel size @fairytaleshaircare sun and swim products on hand. A lot the travel items like the googles , q tips, zip bags, ponchos, and lotions I found @fivebelow for a great price, obv. In the other bag it is more first aid. I love to have one @getwelly kit which has band aids, and ointment. Bug spray is always helpful. Cotton swabs have come in handy in so many ways! I also try to put a little treat or lollipop in with this. There are so many times where it helps distract from blood gushing out of a cut! I also put tide pens in there! And of course there are non-pershiable snacks. Ones that won’t melt in the hot car like pretzels or crackers, a beef jerky stick for protein purposes. #summerhacks #caremergencykit #roadtrip #momhacks #summertravel #traveltips
Get ready to kick off this Memorial Day weekend with your new favorite summer condiment! Caramelized onions and mushrooms are great to have on hand during the grilling season. It takes some time to let the caramelization happen, but it is totally worth it! You can use them to elevate burgers, steak or chicken sandwiches. I made these little sliders with shredded gruyere cheese, and some greens. Then topped them off with the mushrooms and onions, it was incredible. The easy recipe is below. However, I am not sure if I am giving away my secret burger patty recipe just yet…Maybe I will save that for DishSpiration subscribers! 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 1 yellow onion, sliced thin into half moons 2 tbsp sugar ¼ tsp kosher salt 1/8 tsp pepper ½ tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 ½ cup sliced baby bella mushrooms ¾ cup gruyere cheese divided slider or burger buns Melt the butter in a large saute pan over a low heat. Add the onions, try to make sure they are in one even layer, let them saute for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle the sugar over top, gently move around the pan. Let them saute for another 15 minutes, stirring periodically. After 15 minutes add the mushrooms to the pan, season with salt and pepper. Gently move around the pan to combine. Pour balsamic vinegar over top, let the mushrooms and onions saute for another ten minutes. Make sure you are maintaining a low heat and moving the mushrooms and onions around the pan periodically to prevent them from burning. You want the onions to have a deep golden brown color. Remove from the heat and keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Great on top of burgers, steak or chicken sandwiches! #memorialdayweekend #burgerrecipe #grillmaster #summerrecipes #cookout #caramelizedonions #easyrecipes
Don’t get me wrong I love the holidays ! But to be honest , I love the sunshine and the bounty of fresh produce even more ! All summer long I will be slicing up tomatoes, layering them on crusty bread 🥖 every chance I get . Specifically with mayo, salt, red pepper flakes , basil, complete with a drizzle of olive oil. My fav red pepper flakes are from @burlapandbarrel and my olive oil of choice these days has been @partannafoods ! Watch out for a recipe for a tomato galette and a the best BLT this week ! #summerrecipes #farmersmarketfinds #tomatoseason #sandwiches
Can anyone hear this song without thinking of the dance scene from She’s All That ?! Lol ! When Matthew Lillard, “Brock” did that ridiculous dance ? Ok, well I guess if your not that generation now you think I am old and crazy lol! I’ll tell you what’s truly crazy is how delicious and easy this salmon dish is ! Grab yourself a jar of @traderjoes Crunchy Chili Onion and get to work! Serve it up with sone crispy potatoes , maybe some charred broccoli, and your in business in 25 minutes ! 1lb salmon filet 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup chili onion crunch 2 tsp white miso 2 tbsp honey 1/2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp orange juice Sprinkle on top of salmon : 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper Place parchment paper on top of a rimmed baking sheet . Place the salmon skin side down on the parchment paper. Season with salt and pepper . Whisk ingredients together and spoon about half of the mixture onto the salmon as evenly as possible. Place in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes. Spoon leftover mixture over the finished salmon once out of the oven . #halfwayhomemade #easyrecipe #dinnerin30 #dishitgirl #salmondinner #salmonrecipe
Halfway Homemade for the week! You have seen some version of this on my feed before. A greek mezze inspired board is one of my fav dinner ideas. And guess what?! Siena tried both tzatziki sauce and the gyro slices this time around! Further proving that if you just keep putting it in front of them, they just might go for it! It takes all of 2 minutes to cook the Gyro slices from @traderjoes, and I serve it with a salad tossed in a red wine vinegar dressing, with pita on the side. Pre-made grape leaves, and some chunks of feta, along with olives are piled onto the tray. Then I made my chickpea fritters (which will be in the book!). Other ideas for this platter, try marinated chickpeas, hummus, halloumi cheese, or an eggplant spread. Buy some spanakopita from the freezer aisle! What would you add ? Follow @dishitgirldina for more #halfwayhomemade episodes and #dishspiration #easyrecipes #greekfood #boardinspo #easyentertaining
Didn’t make brunch reservations ?! No, problem! Grab a pineapple, some brown sugar, and redeem yourself! Full recipe for these caramelized pineapple pancakes are here : https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/caramelized-pineapple-pancakes I will put the link in my stories as well! #dishitgirl #pancakerecipe #brunchideas
