Easy Everyday

Easy Everyday

Introduction

Close your eyes. Now imagine this: You’ve spent your whole day on the beach, and now you’re
freshly showered, sun-kissed, and no longer salty. The dinner that awaits you starts with stone crabs and melted butter. Warm, garlicky lobster rolls, crisp asparagus, lemony arugula, and truffle fries. Chilled prosecco and raspberry sorbet complete the meal, with just one square of dark chocolate.

Or maybe you’re on the bleachers, cheering on your favorite sports team, sitting next to a thermos filled with spiked peppermint hot chocolate, eating melty cheese nachos and snacking on homemade trail mix.

Or you’ve just stepped outside onto a deck overlooking trees and sparkling water, with
streams of sunlight shining down through the branches before the sun dips for the evening.
Peppers and halloumi are on the grill; a giant bowl of hot pasta tossed with pesto and Parmesan cheese is waiting for you. An icy, chilled glass of sauvignon blanc is calling your name.

My choice? I’d be transported in time to a cozy kitchen with glittering lights, the smell of warm garlic butter and fresh bread, braised short ribs, and roasted carrots wafting through the air. The table is set, Michael Bublé croons through the speakers, and a wooden bowl piled high with salad greens is just waiting for the drizzle of dressing. Salted maple old-fashioneds are on the menu, complete with gooey caramel cookies.

Food is my favorite form of nourishing, cozy comfort. But it’s always who I’m with—who shares the meal with me—that stands out most in my mind.

Food has meant so many different things to me over the years. But there is one constant that reigns supreme: tradition. Tradition and family heritage, leaving a legacy to those I love through recipes. Feeding their bodies but also their souls, making memories with each bite. All with easy, uncomplicated, favorite recipes.

When I think back to my childhood, one of the strongest memories I have is being around
the table. I see flashes of our weeknight dinners, where my mom made tacos every Monday night and chicken marsala every Wednesday. The times I’d snort water through my nose because my brothers made me laugh so hard, and even my parents couldn’t contain the giggles.

I see my grandmother’s table, complete with her frozen cranberry salad on tiny plates to the left and demitasse cups to the right, along with a stack of peppermint swizzle sticks for after-dinner coffee.

Or my mom’s fancy dining room that she’d set up for her card club—the club that still meets to this day, fifty years later. I can still see the wax from taper candles dripping on the tablecloth and empty glasses with the remains of Baileys Irish Cream, plates scraped clean from her Oreo ice cream dessert.

Nothing is quite as strong as the memories of the dinners we had together daily, the dishes my mom made embedded in my brain. How she appeared to serve us with ease and comfort, even on the rare occasion that it was scrambled eggs or cereal for dinner. It still felt like family dinner.

The memories of these meals that my family enjoyed together—the classic, traditional dishes that have been the base inspiration for so many of my own creations—evoke emotions in my heart that scream love, joy, togetherness, and family heritage. It’s those moments, memories, and recipes that inspired me to put together a book for you filled with easy everyday recipes. Recipes that can make your life easier while at the same time provide togetherness and shared love around the table each day and night.

Over the years, my family managed to create these memories with uncomplicated, unfussy,
fabulous recipes that have stood the test of time. It has always inspired me to create recipes that are simple but memorable, easy but unique, classic with a modern twist.

Alas, all dreaminess aside, today the world is bonkers. Every day is fast-paced and busy, and it feels like we are always racing to the next thing. I’m a product of the internet generation, where I have been able to access everything almost instantly. But I’m lucky enough to also remember those days (and meals!) where things were enjoyed, consumed, and cooked slowly and deliberately.

So, it means something to me to take the time to prepare a meal. The thing is, I just don’t always have that time. Who does? Sure, I love taking my time in the kitchen every now and then. I pop on a killer playlist, grab a glass of wine, and take my good old time to impart flavor into a meal that will take more than an hour to come together. But it’s not feasible for everyday life. So, every single meal—and I’m talking breakfast, lunch, and dinner—must check a few boxes for me.

The first box? The meals must be approachable. I don’t want to think too much when I glance at a recipe. The last thing I want is to be stressed out. Next, I also only want dinners to take me about 30 to 45 minutes to make, preferably even less. Sure there is the occasional meal that takes around an hour, and you’ll find just a handful of those here. Breakfasts and lunches have to come together almost instantly, unless it’s a special occasion or I find myself with a luxurious chunk of time. Weekend specials aside.

Of course, I want everything to taste delicious! Sounds ridiculous, but it’s a must.