Some of our favorite family recipes and encouragement around food, family, and personal goals around meal time.
Meal Planning: Social Distance Style
Because of social distancing, grocery stores have been unpredictable. We need to change the way we approach meal planning. Take the stress out of planning dinners with this simple four-step approach!
Simple Ideas to Foster Family Togetherness on Thanksgiving Day
Find simple ways to allow your kids to participate in Thanksgiving preparation, and facilitate lasting memories of family togetherness.
Chasing That “Good Enough” Feeling
Can I make a confession? The holidays hit me hard this year. I got dragged down by a serious overconsumption of sugar and carbs. I've been tired, moody, and taking consistent snack breaks because my body wanted more sweet and salty treats. I was chasing that "good...
Food and Fitness: Choosing a Better Frame of Mind
My mom loves the arts. Theater, photography, music, painting—you name it, she’s done it and done it well. For a while she got really into building her own picture frames. She would make time to go to the arts and crafts shop where she would carefully select the wood,...
Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp scampi used to be a dish I could only hope for at a fancy seafood restaurant. I didn't think I could actually do a seafood dish the right way until I found the right recipe. I first tried shrimp scampi in a deep pan on the stove and was amazed at how the lemon...
Homemade Chicken Soup with Gluten Free Pasta
This chicken soup recipe is as quick as it is easy. It might quickly become your new family favorite soup because it takes almost no time at all in the Instant Pot. You can find Barilla Gluten Free Pasta here on Amazon, a great alternative to regular pasta. You can...
Beef and Potato “Poor Mans” Tacos
Tacos have grown in popularity as one of the simplest meals to make and take and they come in a variety of flavors and fusions. National chains like Taco Bell have their version of spiced meat and crispy corn shells, but "street tacos" you will find in Mexico have...
Episode 027 | Back to the Book Nutrition – Part 2
Food is important, but more critically is sleep and stress. Unless you address these consistently, you will not get everything out of the perfect diet. Join me for the second part of my conversation with Dena Norton, registered dietician, as she shares practical tips...
Episode 026 | Back to the Book Nutrition – Part 1
Has proper nutrition been a difficult thing to control in your life? Do you find yourself reaching for snacks, even if you're not hungry? When we look at nutrition through a lens of God's purpose and order, we can learn to nourish & strengthen our body instead of...
Mexican Pozole
Mexican Pozole - Traditional Mexican soup dish, New Mexico chili base with hominy (corn family), and chicken thigh meat. Can also be made with beef or pork. Served hot with traditional toppings: cabbage, cilantro, green onion, radishes, lime...
10 Ways to Enjoy Thanksgiving Leftovers
Ah Thanksgiving. One of many holidays dedicated to food. For many of us, the overproduction and overconsumption of food. Oh glorious feast of mashed potatoes and turkey, swimming in gravy and lapped up with a warm roll. I digress. Unless you invite an army over for...
Episode 006 | Easy Nutrition for Busy Families
Easy Nutrition for Busy Families Who has time to prepare healthy food when there are so many unhealthy grab-and-go options? Sarah Jonsgaard talks real food for real families from navigating through grocery stores to helping kids choose healthy snacks. [iframe...
How to Grow an Indoor Garden
Grow your own vegetables in virtually any space "What? I could barely grow seeds in styrofoam cup in kindergarten. How am I supposed to grow an indoor garden?" What if growing a garden was not only easy, but possible to do in your small apartment and with no dirt?...
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
When I visit a Mexican restaurant for the first time, I always try to taste their beans, rice, tacos, and enchiladas. Tacos for the meat inside and enchiladas for their sauce. Las Palmas Green Chile Enchilada Sauce is our family's favorite sauce (I know, it's from a...
Beef Stew & Mashed Potatoes
I am a meat and potatoes girl. All the way. If I had to choose a last meal, this would be it. Beef stew, even a local Hawaii favorite. Mashed potatoes, satisfies my inner cravings for Thanksgiving food. (See our post on how to use Thanksgiving Leftovers!) When beef...
Cornbread Cake
Be warned, that this cornbread is laden with sugar. But it is oh so tasty when paired with Portuguese Bean Soup or another kind of stew that is more salty or savory. It's a family recipe that was passed down through my husband's family. He grew up in Hawaii, and here...
Vegetable Curry
Since moving to Hawaii, I've had to learn to venture out and try new things, like sushi, dim sum, and curry. Sure, those dishes were available in my homeland of Southern California, but the predominance of asian restaurants here has challenged me to reach beyond the...
“Sopita” Mexican Shells & Cheese
We all knew when Mom was making Sopita. The savory smell would waft through the air and we came running. Some liked it soupy, some liked it chunky, some hot, some cold the next day. Mom made it for always every family gathering because her Dad made it for them as...
Portuguese Bean Soup
This recipe is a cold and rainy night staple, full of flavor, and very family friendly. One of our favorite comfort foods, best paired with our Cornbread Cake recipe. Portuguese Bean Soup is a local Hawaii favorite, and this one in particular was passed down from my...
Living Whole: Baby Steps to a Healthier You
Here we are with January coming to a close and statistically speaking about 25% of you who made New Year’s resolutions didn’t even make it the first week. Oops! Do you fall into that 25% or are you still going strong? Isn’t it funny how nothing physically changes...