A bubbly foamy root beer float is the quintessential summer treat. Do you remember the first time you had a root beer float? Have you ever been to Arizona in the summer? Elise Bauer Must be why I find Sacramento so tolerable. Let’s just say it’s hot. Sometimes my father added the scoops of ice cream to our root beers. Elise Bauer But usually it was ice cream first, because then you could control the foam up more carefully....

Marmalade-style rose hip jam. No added pectin needed! My young friends preferrose hip jelly, but I prefer the jam. Elise Bauer It’s best to make on an overcast or otherwise beach-unfriendly day, only because it takes time. Making rose hip jelly is easy, the jam, a bit more complicated. (But in my opinion, well worth the effort!) Elise Bauer Other than the orange and apple, there is no added pectin....

Collect wild rose hips and turn them into a memorable and unique jelly. “Can we make rose hip jelly?” And mom says people make jelly out of them." Elise Bauer We were surrounded by thousands of them. Thank God for the Internet. A Quick Rose Hip Primer So, what are rose hips? Elise Bauer Wild beach roses are perfect, as are dog roses and sweet briars. Rose hips do not taste like roses....

Light caramel flan with a hint of roses, custard made with whole milk, sugar, and eggs. I’m forever grateful my friend’s mother Senora Arguelles didn’t give up on me that day. After finally submitting to one bite, I ate all that remained in the pot! Elise Bauer Ever since that day flan is one dessert that I simply cannot refuse. This recipe makes a fabulous flan, giving you the scent of roses with every bite....

Set aside the time to make this easy focaccia and be rewarded with a rich, herb-scented bread. Have you ever made your own focaccia bread? No excuses, kimosabe. Elise Bauer Make Focaccia Your Way This recipe makes enough dough for 2 good-sized loaves. Purely selfish motives that was, to save myself from an embarrassing chat with the scale. Storing and Freezing Focaccia Like most breads, this focaccia freezes well. Elise Bauer...

Sparkling punch spritzer made with vibrant pink rhubarb and accented with rosemary and lemon juice. Perfect for a spring brunch. If you are adventurous, like rhubarb, and like rosemary, I urge you to try this concoction. Elise Bauer The following recipe would make a great punch for a celebratory shower gathering. Or a birthday party of 6 year olds who love unicorns and rainbows. I served it to a group of Sacramento food bloggers to rave reviews....

“This is going to sound as cheesy as my Nanas potatoes … I’m so grateful for this life that I have.” I think about lunch when I’m eating breakfast. Simply Recipes / The Drew Barrymore Show / Ash Bean I think about dinner when I’m eating lunch, reveals Mathews. Mathews grew up in Mt. Vernon, Washington, a little farm town north of Seattle and south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Growing up, he says, his extended family took turns hosting Thanksgiving....

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Roti rounds out so many Indian meals and it easy to make. Simply Recipes / Prerna Singh It is amazing, the popularitynaanhas gained, especially in the Western world today. But will you believe it if I told you that naan is not an everyday bread in Indian homes? Simply Recipes / Prerna Singh Naan is something we either enjoy at a celebratory gathering or in restaurants. The day-to-day bread in most Indian homes is roti or chapati....

Bright green kale and walnut pesto makes this a kid-friendly dinner into a nutritional powerhouse. Boost the protein by adding lemon pepper chicken. Simply Recipes / Nick Evans Green food can be off-putting, hence, the classic Dr. Seuss book. Simply Recipes / Nick Evans This is especially true if the green in question is brown-green like some pesto. Ive struggled getting my kids to eat jarred pesto for this reason....

Super kid-friendly rotisserie chicken Alfredo in just 25 minutes. Learning to be a competent home cook is mostly about learning which shortcuts are worth it and which arent. It should just hang on to the pasta without being gloopy. Nick Evans It cuts way down on the prep with no noticeable taste difference, in my opinion! What Is Alfredo Sauce? Alfredo is a creamy pasta sauce. Nick Evans Its basically just cream and butter, slowly simmered together....

Give classic stroganoff a twist with shredded rotisserie chicken! The rotisserie chicken should be in your arsenal if you are a busy personand who isn’t? But the whole roasted chicken doesn’t always have to be the main event. Nick Evans I like to use rotisserie chickens more as an ingredient to make other mealslike this easy chicken stroganoff! Classic Beef Stroganoff . Add some flour to thicken, and then the chicken stock, which turns the sauce into a gravy....

A simple twist on the classic cocktail, the rum old fashioned celebrates of the flavors of aged rum. A dash of bitters, a little simple syrup, and an orange peel round it out. Rum is varied, and I enjoy drinks that highlight the unique aspects of a particular bottle. Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski A classic daiquiri does that, and so does the rum old fashioned. I like to use an aged rum to mimic whiskey in the original, retaining what makes anold fashionedspecial....