Who dislikes the taste of water? My kids, apparently. Staying hydrated is an absolutely must in this blazing Texas heat, so you know what they say: when life gives you 100 degree temps, you make lemonade! I started making my kiddos this healthy 3-ingredient lemonade over the summer and it’s quickly become a family favorite. It’s a fast and easy recipe even my five-year-old can make, and swapping the sugar for
Read MoreMy Favorite Winter Kale Salad
I harvested all my kale before the big snow storm in Texas last week, so I’m making big batches of my favorite winter kale salad from Planted.Kitchen.
Read MoreWhat We’ve Been Cooking in Quarantine
We’ve always cooked a lot in the Padalecki household, but man—I’ve never cooked so much (or done so many dishes!) in my entire life as I have these last two months. And I know I’m not alone. With restaurants closed and takeout much harder to get these days, I’m pretty sure everyone is spending a lot more time in the kitchen cooking in quarantine. To battle the food boredom and
Read MoreMy Aunt’s Famous Biscotti Recipe
Growing up, my family was traditional in the sense that every Christmas we picked out our tree, scattered ornaments around the floor, and discussed (and fought over) which ornament went where—and who got to hang the angel. We drove through neighborhoods strung with lights and with Santas flying over chimneys and voted on which house we loved the most that year. We did the obligatory smile-for-the-camera Christmas photos, but that
Read MoreGluten Free Christmas Cookies
There’s nothing the kids and I love more than turning on some holiday tunes and getting silly while making and decorating Christmas cookies. But that’s gotten a bit trickier to do since I’ve gone gluten free. So, I asked my friend and cookie connoisseur Lindsey Johnson (check out her Instagram @ladyinthewildwest) for ideas. She was sweet enough to share this holiday cookie recipe that is both gorgeous and gluten free! The
Read MoreA Conversation About Food, Family & Sustainability with Candace Nelson
Conversations with friends are one of those simple, soul-nourishing activities I could do for hours and my recent conversation with Candace Nelson was further proof. You might know Candace as the founder of the tremendously successful Sprinkles Cupcakes (now in over 24 locations!) or her TV appearances on shows like Cupcake Wars and Sugar Rush. She’s also helped me make her ultimate vanilla cupcakes and delicious gluten-free granola bars during
Read MoreFall Recipe: Pickled Apples and Pears
I’ve been trying to limit our food waste. So, when we recently had an abundance of apples and pears that I didn’t know what to do with, I reached out to my chef friend Brock Lane for ideas. His suggestion: PICKLE them. Say what? I’d never thought to pickle fruit, but I did it and I have to say, the results were delicious and gorgeous.
Read MoreWeekend Reset: A Living Room Campout
This chilly Austin weather has got us a feeling a little stir crazy, so I decided to bring a little of the outside inside for an indoor campout. The kids couldn’t get enough and it was just what we needed to reconnect after a busy week.
Read MoreRoasted Veggie Power Bowl Recipe
This power bowl recipe by my uber-talented friend and chef, Brock Lane, proves that healthy meals don’t have to be bland and boring.
Read MoreBerry Compote Breakfast Bowl
I’m always looking for simple, healthy meals I can prep on Sundays that will help minimize the chaos of the coming week. A new favorite is this fruit-filled breakfast bowl from our talented friend and chef, Brock Lane. We first met Brock around [American] Thanksgiving in Vancouver. Jared and I were gearing up to run the Seattle marathon (half-marathon for me) and realized our holiday diet of green bean casserole
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